1.Perturbation response scanning of drug-target networks:Drug repurposing for multiple sclerosis
Yitan LU ; Ziyun ZHOU ; Qi LI ; Bin YANG ; Xing XU ; Yu ZHU ; Mengjun XIE ; Yuwan QI ; Fei XIAO ; Wenying YAN ; Zhongjie LIANG ; Qifei CONG ; Guang HU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):1277-1290
Combined with elastic network model(ENM),the perturbation response scanning(PRS)has emerged as a robust technique for pinpointing allosteric interactions within proteins.Here,we proposed the PRS analysis of drug-target networks(DTNs),which could provide a promising avenue in network medicine.We demonstrated the utility of the method by introducing a deep learning and network perturbation-based framework,for drug repurposing of multiple sclerosis(MS).First,the MS comorbidity network was constructed by performing a random walk with restart algorithm based on shared genes between MS and other diseases as seed nodes.Then,based on topological analysis and functional annotation,the neurotransmission module was identified as the"therapeutic module"of MS.Further,perturbation scores of drugs on the module were calculated by constructing the DTN and introducing the PRS analysis,giving a list of repurposable drugs for MS.Mechanism of action analysis both at pathway and structural levels screened dihydroergocristine as a candidate drug of MS by targeting a serotonin receptor of se-rotonin 2B receptor(HTR2B).Finally,we established a cuprizone-induced chronic mouse model to evaluate the alteration of HTR2B in mouse brain regions and observed that HTR2B was significantly reduced in the cuprizone-induced mouse cortex.These findings proved that the network perturbation modeling is a promising avenue for drug repurposing of MS.As a useful systematic method,our approach can also be used to discover the new molecular mechanism and provide effective candidate drugs for other complex diseases.
2.Microbial community mediated by microbial agents improves the quality of Epimedium pubescens Maxim.
Kunyang LAI ; Xiufu WAN ; Jiancai XIAO ; Hongyang WANG ; Shangxuan SHI ; Binbin YAN ; Chaogeng LYU ; Chengcai ZHANG ; Yufei ZHANG ; Feng YUAN ; Zhe ZHAO ; Shoudong ZHU ; Chuanzhi KANG ; Yan ZHANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(3):270-281
Background: Optimizing cultivation techniques for traditional Chinese medicine has become a crucial means to improve the quality of medicinal materials. Microbial agents, as environmentally friendly and efficient plant growth promoters and soil conditioners, have increasingly attracted attention in eco-agriculture research. Objective: Our understanding remains limited regarding how the application of microbial agents, alone or in combination, affects changes in the rhizosphere microbiome and its association with the bioactive components of medicinal materials. Methods: In this study, Epimedium pubescens Maxim. was employed as a model plant to examine the effects of 2 microbial agents(Paenibacillus mucilaginosus and Bacillus subtilis) applied individually and in combination on plant growth and the accumulation of bioactive components. Additionally, this study explored the relationship between the rhizosphere microbiome and plant development. Results: The application of microbial agents increased the yield of E. pubescens leaves by 20.30% to 33.66% and enhanced the total flavonol glycosides content by 11.40% to 29.94%. Meanwhile, microbial treatments reshaped the rhizosphere microbiome, promoted the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms (e.g., Frankia and Paenibacillus), suppressed phytopathogenic fungi such as Didymella and Scytalidium, and enhanced the stability of the soil microbial co-occurrence network. The partial least squares path model suggested that microbial agents not only directly impact the quality of medicinal herbs but also indirectly alter the accumulation of bioactive components by modulating the soil microbiome. Conclusion: These findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between medicinal plant quality and rhizosphere microbiomes as mediated by microbial agents. They also provide a basis for designing and manipulating synthetic microbial communities to promote sustainable development in eco-agriculture.
3.Effects of rice wine type and wine processing method on chemical constituents and anti-coagulation effect of Angelicae sinensis Radix
Ying WANG ; Ya-yi DENG ; Xue-qi GE ; Hui ZHU ; Yu DUAN ; Xiao-ning YAN ; Hao CAI ; Ke PEI
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(5):1443-1448
AIM To investigate the effects of rice wine type and wine processing method on chemical constituents and anti-coagulation effect of Angelicae sinensis Radix.METHODS Wine-washed products and wine-stir-fried products were prepared by different types and ages of rice wine,respectively,after which HPLC was adopted in the content determination of tryptophan,chlorogenic acid,vanillic acid,phthalic acid,ferulic acid,senkyunolide I,senkyunolide H,coniferyl ferulate and ligustilide,and PT,APTT,TT were detected in rabbit plasma.RESULTS Phenolic acids and volatile constituents demonstrated lower contents in the wine-stir-fried products than those in the raw product(P<0.05),while those in the wine-washed products displayed no obvious changes(except for senkyunolide I)(P>0.05).The contents of volatile constituents in the wine-washed products were higher than those in the wine-stir-fried products(P<0.05).After being processed with dry rice wine,various constituents exhibited increased contents as compared with those after being processed with sweet rice wine(P<0.05).Compared with the raw product,prolonged PT,APTT and TT were observable in the processed products prepared by 3-year semi-dry rice wine(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The optimal rice wine type is determined to be 3-year semi-dry.Wine-washed Angelicae sinensis Radix shows high contents of ferulic acid and volatile constituents,whose activating blood and resolving stasis effect may be stronger.
4.Application effect of gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillary approach in early thyroid tumor
Yan HE ; Mian ZHOU ; Tong SHI ; Qi ZHANG ; Xiao-chao ZHU
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(4):329-332
Objective To explore the effects of gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillary approach on neck function and aesthetic effect in patients with early thyroid tumor.Methods A prospective study was conducted on 116 patients with early thyroid tumor admitted to our hospital from December 2020 to December 2023.They were divided into the observation group and the control group according to block random method,with 58 cases in each group.Patients in the control group underwent open thyroidectomy,while patients in the observation group underwent gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillary approach.The surgical indicators,neck function,cosmetic effect,and complications of patients in the two groups were compared.Results Compared with the control group,the observation group had a longer surgical time(P<0.05),less intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage volume(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in terms of the time point,inter-group and interaction effects of the neck injury index and the time point and inter-group effects of swallowing disorder index of patients between the two groups(P<0.05).Compared with 3 days after surgery,the neck injury index and swallowing disorder index at 6 months and 12 months after surgery of patients in both groups decreased(P<0.05),and the neck injury index and swallowing disorder index at 6 months and 12 months after surgery of patients in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the observation group had better cosmetic effects(P<0.05).The total incidence of complications of patients in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillary approach has better efficacy for early thyroid tumor,which can effectively improve neck function and aesthetic effect,promote the recovery of patients,and has high safety and patient satisfaction.
5.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance in the bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units in China:results from 2020 to 2022
Jing LIU ; Huiyuan YAN ; Gangfeng YAN ; Guoping LU ; Pan FU ; Chuanqing WANG ; Danqun JIN ; Wenjia TONG ; Chenyu ZHANG ; Jianli CHEN ; Yi LIN ; Jia LEI ; Yibing CHENG ; Qunqun ZHANG ; Kaijie GAO ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Shufang XIAO ; Juan HE ; Li JIANG ; Huimin XU ; Yuxia LI ; Hanghai DING ; Hehe CHEN ; Yao ZHENG ; Qunying CHEN ; Ying WANG ; Hong REN ; Chenmei ZHANG ; Zhenjie CHEN ; Mingming ZHOU ; Yucai ZHANG ; Yiping ZHOU ; Zhenjiang BAI ; Saihu HUANG ; Lili HUANG ; Weiguo YANG ; Weike MA ; Qing MENG ; Pengwei ZHU ; Yong LI ; Yan XU ; Yi WANG ; Yanqiang DU ; Huijun CAI ; Bizhen ZHU ; Huixuan SHI ; Shaoxian HONG ; Yukun HUANG ; Meilian HUANG
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(3):303-311
Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2%)and gram-negative organisms(60.8%).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6%,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0%,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9%,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1%,19.4%,8.8%,30.9%,67.4%,and 28.8%,respectively.Overall,more than 50%of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25%of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80%of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3%in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.
6.Correlation between serum uric acid and incident chronic kidney disease in middle-aged and elderly Chinese population and gender differences
Qing MIN ; Han ZHANG ; Zi-yan SHEN ; Shi-qi LYU ; Cheng ZHU ; Xiao-yan ZHANG ; Xiao-qiang DING
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(3):317-325
Objective To investigate the correlation between serum uric acid(SUA)levels and incident chronic kidney disease(CKD)in middle-aged and elderly Chinese population and gender differences.Methods Based on the longitudinal survey data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2015,the CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration cystatin C formula was used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),and 4 119 participants with normal renal function(eGFR≥60 mL·min-1·1.72 m-2)at baseline were included.Incident CKD was defined as eGFR<60 mL·min-1·1.72 m-2 at the follow-up in 2015.Logistic regression analysis was used to analysis the association of SUA levels at baseline and incident CKD among different genders.Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to analyze the dose-response relationship.Results After 4-year follow-up,127 participants developed incident CKD,including 57 males and 70 females.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated SUA levels were independently associated with the risk of incident CKD(OR=1.532,P<0.001).For each 1 mg/dL increase in SUA,the risk of incident CKD increased by 33.6%in males(OR=1.336,P=0.012)and 77.5%in females(OR=1.755,P<0.001).Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a linear positive correlation between SUA levels and incident CKD in both males and females.Participants were divided into four groups according to SUA quartiles(Q1-Q4).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated a significant increase in the risk of incident CKD in Q3 group(3.75 mg/dL
7.Establishment and application of ultra-fast real-time PCR for Brucella detection
Zhen-na XU ; Zhi-peng WU ; Wei-bin HONG ; Zhi-shen GUAN ; Qi-ming LIN ; Zuan-lan MO ; Yi-fei YE ; Hai-yan XIE ; Min LI ; Yan-qiu ZHU ; Xiao-jun LI ; Xian-peng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):278-283
This study was aimed at establishing a method of ultra-fast quantitative PCR for Brucella detection.We used an exogenous recombinant plasmid as the internal reference and targeted the T4SS secretion system,an important Brucella viru-lence factor,to design specific primers and probes.The sensitivity,specificity,and repeatability of this method were evaluated,and a standard curve was constructed.The coincidence rate of detection findings with this method versus quantitative PCR was determined.This method markedly decreased the detection time to only 10 minutes.The standard curve demonstrated a good linear relationship(Y=-3.410 7x+38.357,R2=0.998 5)with a low minimum detection limit of 10 copies/μL.The method exhibited good specificity and did not specifically amplify several common clinical bacteria other than Brucella.The de-tection of three concentrations of positive plasmids yielded coefficients of variation(CVs)of 0.20%to 0.91%,thus demonstra-ting the method's excellent repeatability.Furthermore,140 clinical samples were analyzed concurrently with the fluorescence PCR method,which yielded a 100%compliance rate and consistent results.Our findings indicated that the Brucella ultra-fast quantitative PCR was ultrafast;had high sensitivity,high specificity,and good specificity;and can be used for the clinical de-tection of Brucella and emergency investigation of epidemics.Therefore,this method is valuable for the early diagnosis of Bru-cella.
8.Subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets
Qiu-jin QU ; Ling-xiao SUN ; Xiao-fei WANG ; Fu-yu ZHU ; Guo-xi CHE ; Jing XU ; Xiao-yan WANG ; Nai-shui HAN ; Xiao-xia SUN ; Chun-xia QIAO
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(10):29-35
Objective To evaluate the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets using hydroxyethyl starch(HES)130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as an extraction medium.Methods Firstly,40 Sprague Dawley(SD)rats including 20 male and 20 female ones were seleted and randomly enrolled into a sample group and a control group by sex,with 20 ones in each group.Secondly,instead of plasma HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection was used to leach disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets to prepare the test solution by simulating clinical application such as lighting,adsorption and filtration and storage.Finally,the test solution and HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection were injected into the tail vein of the SD rats at a dose of 20 mL/kg for 28 d in the sample group and in the control group respectively,and the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets and the feasibility of using HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as the extraction medium to assess their subchronic systemic toxicity were evaluated with clinical observation,body mass monitoring,clinical pathology examination,gross necropsy and histopathology examination.Results The sample group and control group had no significant differences in mortality rates,clinical observation results,body mass,gross necropsy results,hematological and coagulation examination results and organ weight(all P>0.05);blood biochemical examinations showed the male rats in the sample group had the cholesterol(CHO)values higher while the creatinine(CR)values lower than those in the control group,with the differences being statistically significant(both P<0.05)and the two indexes within the range of the laboratory's historical reference data,and other blood biochemical indexes were not significantly different(all P>0.05);the sample group had the spleen weight-to-body mass ratios of the female rates lower significantly than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the ratios of other organ weight to body mass had significant differences(all P>0.05);histopathology examination showed slight pathological changes in liver,spleen and kidney of female rats and in spleen and kidney of male rats in the sample group,and the female and male rats in the control group had similar pathological changes found in the sample group,which might be caused by HES metabolites.Conclusion Disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets prove to have no significant subchronic systemic toxicity,and its feasible to use HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as the extraction medium to evaluate the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(10):29-35]
9.The synergistic effect and mechanism verification of effective components of Biejia-Ezhu against triple-negative breast cancer based on network pharmacology and component compatibility theory
Dou-dou FENG ; Xiao-shan LUO ; Yan-yun MENG ; Jing-zhe ZHAO ; Jiu-long ZHU ; Ya-zhen HUANG ; Qing XIE ; Xiang-Li LING ; Su XIE
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):950-959
Aim To explore the compatibility and po-tential mechanism of effective components of Biejia-Ezhu against triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)and verify it by experiments.Methods Effective compo-nents and targets of Biejia-Ezhu were obtained by TC-MSP and Swiss Target Prediction.Disease targets of TNBC were obtained from OMMI and GeneCards data-bases.The PPI network was constructed using STRING database.GO and KEGG path enrichment analysis was performed using DAVID database.Cytoscape3.9.1 software was used to construct the"drug-component-target-disease"network,screen key targets and compo-nents for molecular docking,and further verify the com-patibility of key components and targets in vitro.Re-sults ① A total of 71 effective components were iden-tified in the Biejia-Ezhu drug pair.There were 146 drug targets associated with the disease.A total of 113 signaling pathways were identified by KEGG analysis.The 71 potential active components of Biejia-Ezhu mainly acted on key targets such as mTORC1,ULK1,TNF,EGFR,ESR1,STAT3,HIF1A,and PTGS2.Mo-lecular docking results showed that glycine and curcu-min were the key active components of Biejia-Ezhu,and both had strong docking activity against key target proteins mTORC1 and ULK1.②The results of in vitro experiment showed that glycine combined with curcu-min significantly inhibited the proliferation and clonal formation ability of TNBC cells(P<0.05),up-regula-ted the expression of autophagy marker LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ,down-regulated the expression of EGFR,down-regula-ted the expression of pathway protein mTORC1,p-mTOR,p-ULK1,and promoted the expression of path-way protein ULK1(P<0.05).Conclusion The key component of Biejia-Ezhu against triple-negative breast cancer is glycine-curcumin,the mechanism of which may be related to the regulation of the mTORC1/ULK1 signaling pathway to promote autophagy.
10.Expression and significance of m6A reader IGF2BP2 in pancreatic cancer
Weidong ZHU ; Wei XIANG ; An YAN ; Zhengrong OU ; Hongwei ZHU ; Xiao YU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(3):485-494
Background and Aims:N6-methyladenosine(m6A)epigenetic modification plays a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation and various physiological and pathological processes,including tumorigenesis.The m6A reader IGF2BP2 significantly enhances mRNA stability and translation efficiency and is abnormally expressed in multiple cancers.However,the specific biological function of IGF2BP2 in pancreatic cancer remains unclear.Therefore,this study investigated the expression of the m6A reader IGF2BP2 in pancreatic cancer and its effects on pancreatic cancer cell functions.Methods:The expression levels of m6A-related writers,erasers,and readers were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA),the Genotype-Tissue Expression(GTEX)database,and the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between IGF2BP2 expression and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.Immunohistochemistry was used to validate IGF2BP2 expression in clinical specimens of pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues.Functional experiments,including CCK-8 assay,flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis,colony formation assay,and Transwell migration assay,were performed to evaluate changes in cell proliferation,cell cycle distribution,colony formation ability,and migration capacity after IGF2BP2 knockdown in pancreatic cancer cells.Results:TCGA-GTEX and GEO database analyses showed that IGF2BP2 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues(both P<0.05)and that its high expression was associated with poor overall survival(both P<0.05).Immunohistochemical staining of clinical specimens confirmed that IGF2BP2 protein expression was higher in pancreatic cancer than in adjacent normal tissue.Functional experiments demonstrated that IGF2BP2 knockdown significantly reduced the proliferation ability of pancreatic cancer cells,arrested more cells in the G0-G1 phase,decreased colony formation,and impaired cell migration(all P<0.05).Conclusion:The m6A reader IGF2BP2 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and is closely associated with poor prognosis in patients with this disease.Its mechanism of action may be related to the promotion of cancer cell growth and migration.

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