1.Molecular Mechanisms of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Its Active Ingredients against Colorectal Cancer: A Review
Jianing GUO ; Xiaochen NI ; Kaiyuan ZHANG ; Wei FAN ; Chuhang WANG ; Chao XU ; Jianbo HUANG ; Tao JIANG ; Guangji ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):307-314
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers, with its incidence ranking high among cancers. It stands as the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In the early stages, CRC lacks specific symptoms, and most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, making it a major research focus in the field of gastrointestinal tumors. Currently, clinical CRC treatments face several common challenges, including high surgical risks, frequent metastasis and recurrence, drug resistance, and significant side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With the development and application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it has been found that TCM and its active ingredients can effectively inhibit CRC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis, and promote apoptosis and autophagy, thereby slowing the progression of CRC. This has become a key focus of CRC treatment research. Salvia Miltiorrhiza has multiple pharmacological effects, including activating blood circulation to dispel blood stasis, unlocking meridians to relieve pain, clearing heat to calm irritability, and cooling blood to reduce abscesses. It contains a variety of chemical components, including diterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, nitrogen-containing compounds, steroids, and lactone compounds. This review summarized the molecular mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza and its active ingredients in the treatment of CRC. It is found that these ingredients exert anti-CRC effects through various molecular mechanisms, including cell cycle arrest, promotion of apoptosis, inhibition of cell invasion and migration, induction of autophagy, suppression of tumor angiogenesis, and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. The review aims to provide new insights for the drug development and clinical application of Salvia miltiorrhiza in CRC treatment.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervening Mitochondrial Dysfunction for Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Review
Xiaochen WEN ; Ying WANG ; Ruoshi LIU ; Ziying LIU ; Xiaoyan MA ; Chengjun GONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):300-311
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a microvascular complication of diabetes, with a complex pathogenesis, in which mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be the core of DKD development. Taking mitochondria as a target to regulate mitochondrial energy metabolism, mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dynamic function represents a promising strategy for the DKD prevention and treatment, with good prospects in clinical application. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has great potential to mediate mitochondrial dysfunction in the DKD prevention and treatment. This article deeply explores the intrinsic relationship between various forms of mitochondrial dysfunction and DKD, and summarizes the current research status of various Chinese herbal compounds and Chinese herbal formulas in targeting mitochondrial dysfunction for the DKD prevention and treatment. This article aims to provide new targets and strategies for the DKD prevention and treatment, and the research and development of TCM.
3.Empirical study of input, output, outcome and impact of community-based rehabilitation stations
Xiayao CHEN ; Ying DONG ; Xue DONG ; Zhongxiang MI ; Jun CHENG ; Aimin ZHANG ; Didi LU ; Jun WANG ; Jude LIU ; Qianmo AN ; Hui GUO ; Xiaochen LIU ; Zefeng YU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(1):83-89
ObjectiveTo investigate the present situation of input, output, outcome and impact of all registered community-based rehabilitation stations in Inner Mongolia in China, and analyze how the input predict the output, outcome and impact. MethodsFrom March 1st to April 30th, 2025, a questionnaire survey was conducted on all registered community-based rehabilitation stations in Inner Mongolia, covering four dimensions: input, output, outcome and impact. A total of 1 365 questionnaires were distributed. The input included four items: laws and policies, human resources, equipment and facilities, and rehabilitation information management. The output included two items: technical paths and benefits/effectiveness. The outcome included three items: coverage rates, rehabilitation interventions and functional results. The impact included two items: health and sustainability. Each item contained several questions, all of which were described in a positive way. Each question was scored from one to five. A lower score indicated that the situation of the community-based rehabilitation station was more in line with the content described in the question. Regression analysis was performed using the total score of each item of input dimension as independent variables, and the total scores of the output, outcome and impact dimensions as dependent variables. ResultsA total of 1 262 valid questionnaires were collected. The mean values of input, output, outcome and impact of community-based rehabilitation stations were 1.827 to 1.904, with coefficient of variation of 45.892% to 49.239%. The regression analysis showed that, rehabilitation information management, human resources, and laws and policies significantly predicted the output dimension (R² = 0.910, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, all four items in the input dimension predicted both the outcome (R² = 0.850, P < 0.001) and impact dimensions (R² = 0.833, P < 0.001). ConclusionInput, output, outcome and impact of the community-based rehabilitation stations in Inner Mongolia were generally in line with the content of the questions, although some imbalances were observed. Additionally, the input of community-based rehabilitation stations could significantly predict their output, outcome and impact.
4.Clinical efficacy of artificial intelligence-based pelvic floor optimization training system using human body motion analysis technique
Xiaochen LUO ; Jialing YAO ; Jinle XIE ; Qiang WU ; Jiayang HE ; Yangyun WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(6):528-535
Objective To apply an artificial intelligence (AI) -based pelvic floor optimization training system using human motion analysis technique in patients undergoing pelvic floor rehabilitation, so as to assist clinicians in providing guidance, improving clinical efficiency, and enhancing the efficacy of patients' independent training. Methods A total of 60 patients with overactive bladder (OAB) complicated with urgent urinary incontinence (UUI) treated in our hospital during Sep. 2024 and Dec. 2025 were enrolled and randomly divided into the routine guidance group (n=30) and AI guidance group (n=30). The routine guidance group received conventional pelvic floor optimization training under clinicians' instruction, while the AI guidance group underwent training with the AI-based pelvic floor optimization system using human motion analysis. After 6 weeks of intervention, outcomes were compared between the two groups, including the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICI-Q-SF), incontinence quality of life scale (I-QoL), overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), patient's perception of bladder condition (PPBC) score, pelvic floor muscle function (myoelectric values in the preresting, post-resting, type Ⅰ muscle, type Ⅱ muscle, and endurance test phases), urine output, average flow rate (Qavg), and maximum flow rate (Qmax). Results After 6 weeks of treatment, the ICI-Q-SF, I-QoL, OABSS, PPBC score, type I muscle myoelectric value, Qavg and Qmax were significantly improved in both groups compared with baseline (P<0.05). After 6 weeks of intervention, the I-QoL score was significantly higher in the AI guidance group than in the routine guidance group[81.82 (79.55, 84.38) vs.77.84 (75.00, 79.55) ], with significant difference (P<0.05). Compared with the routine guidance group, the AI guidance group showed significant improvements in myoelectric values in the pre-resting, post-resting, type I muscle and endurance testing phases (P<0.05). Conclusion The AI-based pelvic floor optimization training system can effectively assist clinicians in guiding patients to complete pelvic floor optimization training, improve rehabilitation efficiency and efficacy of independent exercise, and reduce dependence on specialized clinicians, which exhibits favorable safety.
5.Construction of a multi-epitope gene vaccine for chicken infectious bronchitis and evaluation of its immunization effect
Tingting LIU ; Xinyuan WANG ; Xiaochen ZHU ; Haoyu LIU ; Dongchao ZHANG ; Tian-ming JIN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(9):1857-1867
To construct a safe and effective multi-epitope vaccine against the S1 protein of chicken infectious bronchitis virus(IBV).In this study,homologous and non-homologous dominant epitopes of IBV M41,T,QX and H120 virulent strain S1 proteins were screened by various online bioprediction software,respectively,and a new peptide W with high immunogenicity was construc-ted by connecting the screened B-cell and T-cell epitopes with a linker peptide.W was ligated to the truncated sequence of the four viral strains by T2A yietding to the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1,and it was identified by PCR and double digestion,the obtained recombinant plasmid was transfected into HEK293A cells and target protein expression was measured by Western blot.The constructed plasmid was injected intramuscularly twice to detect the antibody level,cytokine level,and peripheral blood T cell subsets were detected after two immunizations.The epitope pro-tein W was successfully constructed,which was structurally stable,antigenic,and soluble;the re-combinant plasmid pEGFP-WMQtH,pEGFP-W,and pEGFP-MQtH matched the expected size;anti-IBV IgG antibody levels in pEGFP-N1 was increased greatly compared to the PBS group.cyto-kines IL-2,and γ interferon(IFN-γ)were increased greatly(P<0.05);peripheral blood CD4+/CD8a value(P<0.05)was increased greatly.The W epitope protein was successfully constructed,which can effectively activate the humoral immunity and cellular immunity against four infectious bronchitis viruses(IBV),laying a foundation for the development of an effective vaccine against IB.
6.Targeting 5-HT to Alleviate Dose-Limiting Neurotoxicity in Nab-Paclitaxel-Based Chemotherapy.
Shuangyue PAN ; Yu CAI ; Ronghui LIU ; Shuting JIANG ; Hongyang ZHAO ; Jiahong JIANG ; Zhen LIN ; Qian LIU ; Hongrui LU ; Shuhui LIANG ; Weijiao FAN ; Xiaochen CHEN ; Yejing WU ; Fangqian WANG ; Zheling CHEN ; Ronggui HU ; Liu YANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(7):1229-1245
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a severe dose-limiting adverse event of chemotherapy. Presently, the mechanism underlying the induction of CIPN remains unclear, and no effective treatment is available. In this study, through metabolomics analyses, we found that nab-paclitaxel therapy markedly increased serum serotonin [5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT)] levels in both cancer patients and mice compared to the respective controls. Furthermore, nab-paclitaxel-treated enterochromaffin (EC) cells showed increased 5-HT synthesis, and serotonin-treated Schwann cells showed damage, as indicated by the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling. Venlafaxine, an inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, was found to protect against nerve injury by suppressing the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling in Schwann cells. Remarkably, venlafaxine was found to significantly alleviate nab-paclitaxel-induced CIPN in patients without affecting the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. In summary, our study reveals that EC cell-derived 5-HT plays a critical role in nab-paclitaxel-related neurotoxic lesions, and venlafaxine co-administration represents a novel approach to treating chronic cumulative neurotoxicity commonly reported in nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy.
Paclitaxel/toxicity*
;
Animals
;
Albumins/adverse effects*
;
Serotonin/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride/therapeutic use*
;
Neurotoxicity Syndromes/metabolism*
;
Middle Aged
;
Schwann Cells/metabolism*
;
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy*
;
Antineoplastic Agents
7.Identify drug-drug interactions via deep learning: A real world study.
Jingyang LI ; Yanpeng ZHAO ; Zhenting WANG ; Chunyue LEI ; Lianlian WU ; Yixin ZHANG ; Song HE ; Xiaochen BO ; Jian XIAO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101194-101194
Identifying drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is essential to prevent adverse effects from polypharmacy. Although deep learning has advanced DDI identification, the gap between powerful models and their lack of clinical application and evaluation has hindered clinical benefits. Here, we developed a Multi-Dimensional Feature Fusion model named MDFF, which integrates one-dimensional simplified molecular input line entry system sequence features, two-dimensional molecular graph features, and three-dimensional geometric features to enhance drug representations for predicting DDIs. MDFF was trained and validated on two DDI datasets, evaluated across three distinct scenarios, and compared with advanced DDI prediction models using accuracy, precision, recall, area under the curve, and F1 score metrics. MDFF achieved state-of-the-art performance across all metrics. Ablation experiments showed that integrating multi-dimensional drug features yielded the best results. More importantly, we obtained adverse drug reaction reports uploaded by Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from 2021 to 2023 and used MDFF to identify potential adverse DDIs. Among 12 real-world adverse drug reaction reports, the predictions of 9 reports were supported by relevant evidence. Additionally, MDFF demonstrated the ability to explain adverse DDI mechanisms, providing insights into the mechanisms behind one specific report and highlighting its potential to assist practitioners in improving medical practice.
8.G protein-coupled estrogen receptor alleviates lung injury in mice with exertional heat stroke by inhibiting ferroptosis.
Ziwei HAN ; Jiansong GUO ; Xiaochen WANG ; Zhi DAI ; Chao LIU ; Feihu ZHOU
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(3):268-274
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate whether the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) can attenuates acute lung injury in mice with exertional heat stroke (EHS) by inhibiting ferroptosis.
METHODS:
Sixty SPF-grade male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (control group), EHS model group (EHS group), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent group (EHS+DMSO group), and GPER-specific agonist G1 group (EHS+G1 group), with 15 mice in each group. All mice underwent 14 days of adaptive training at 24-26 centigrade before modeling, and the EHS model was established using a high-temperature treadmill device. After successful modeling, the mice were allowed to cool naturally at room temperature. In the EHS+G1 group, 40 μg/kg of the GPER-specific agonist G1 was slowly injected intraperitoneally immediately after modeling. In the EHS+DMSO group, 40 μg/kg of DMSO was slowly injected intraperitoneally immediately after modeling. The control group received no treatment. Five hours after modeling, abdominal aortic blood was collected, and lung tissues were harvested after euthanasia. The lung coefficient was calculated to evaluate lung injury. Lung histopathological changes were observed under a light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and a lung histopathological score was assigned. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Fe2+ in lung tissue. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of GPX4, ferroportin 1 (FPN1), and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expression of GPX4, FPN1, and FTH1.
RESULTS:
Compared with the control group, the lung coefficient and lung histopathological score were significantly increased in the EHS group. HE staining showed significant thickening and unevenness of the alveolar septa and alveolar walls, partial alveolar collapse, and extensive erythrocyte, inflammatory cell, and plasma-like material extravasation in the alveolar spaces. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, MDA, and Fe2+ were significantly elevated. Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant decrease in GPX4-positive expression in lung tissue. Western blotting and RT-PCR showed significantly reduced protein and mRNA expression of GPX4, FPN1, and FTH1 in lung tissue. Compared with the EHS group, the EHS+G1 group showed a significant reduction in lung coefficient and lung histopathological score [lung coefficient (mg/g): 3.9±0.1 vs. 4.6±0.3, lung histopathological score: 4.2±0.2 vs. 6.9±0.2, both P < 0.05]. HE staining revealed reduced severity of lung tissue fluid extravasation, inflammatory infiltration, decreased hemorrhage, and less severe alveolar structural damage. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, MDA, and Fe2+ were significantly reduced [TNF-α (ng/L): 44.3±0.2 vs. 64.6±0.3, IL-1β (ng/L): 69.3±0.4 vs. 97.8±0.2, MDA (nmol/L): 2.8±0.3 vs. 3.6±0.5, Fe2+ (nmol/L): 0.021±0.004 vs. 0.028±0.004, all P < 0.05]. Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant decrease in GPX4-positive expression in lung tissue (fluorescence intensity: 35.53±2.41 vs. 16.45±0.31, P < 0.05). RT-PCR and Western blotting showed significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of GPX4, FPN1, and FTH1 in lung tissue [mRNA expression: GPX4 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.44±0.05 vs. 0.09±0.01, FPN1 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.77±0.17 vs. 0.42±0.14, FTH1 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.75±0.04 vs. 0.58±0.01; protein expression: GPX4/β-actin: 0.96±0.11 vs. 0.24±0.04, FPN1/β-actin: 1.26±0.21 vs. 0.44±0.14, FTH1/β-actin: 0.27±0.12 vs. 0.15±0.07; all P < 0.05]. However, there were no statistically significant differences in any of the above indicators between the EHS+DMSO group and the EHS group.
CONCLUSION
Activation of GPER can attenuate EHS-related lung injury in mice, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of the GPX4 signaling pathway and inhibition of ferroptosis.
Animals
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Heat Stroke/metabolism*
;
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
;
Ferroptosis
;
Receptors, Estrogen
;
Acute Lung Injury/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Lung Injury
;
Lung/metabolism*
9.Effect of Xibining Formula (膝痹宁) on Knee Cartilage Tissue Damage and the cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway in Knee Osteoarthritis Model Mice
Houyu FU ; Xiaochen LI ; Zijian GONG ; Lishi JIE ; Jiangyu LIU ; Yingqi CHEN ; Peimin WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(12):1257-1264
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of action of Xibining Formula (膝痹宁) for cartilage damage in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) through the cyclic guanosine-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)- stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups (10 per group), sham operation group, KOA model group, low-dose Xibining Formula group, high-dose Xibining Formula group, and high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group. The KOA models were constructed using the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) method in all groups but the sham surgery group. Two weeks after surgery, the low- and high-dose Xibining Formula groups were administered Xibining Formula at doses of 3.58 g/(kg·d) and 14.32 g/(kg·d) respectively via gavage. The high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group received 14.32 g/(kg·d) of Xibining Formula via gavage followed by an intraperitoneal injection of Vadimezan (DMXAA) at 25 mg/kg. The sham surgery group and the KOA model group mice were given an equivalent volume of normal saline at 5 ml/(kg·d) via gavage, once daily for four consecutive weeks. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA; pathological changes in cartilage tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining. Pathological changes were scored according to the Mankin scoring system; the levels of cartilage tissue matrix regulation-related indicators such as matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS), type-Ⅱ collagen (CⅡ) and aggregated proteoglycan (Aggrecan), and also cGAS-STING pathway-related protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by Western blot and qPCR methods. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group, the KOA model group showed severe cartilage edge destruction, significantly increased Mankin scores, significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of COLⅡ and Aggrecan, and significantly increased protein and mRNA expression levels of cGAS, STING, MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, serum level of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α in all the intervented groups decreased (P<0.01), while compared with high-dose Xibining Formula group, level of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in low-dose Xibining Formula group and high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group increased (P<0.01). Compared with the KOA model group, all the intervention groups exhibited alleviated cartilage pathological changes, signi-ficantly reduced Mankin scores, significantly increased protein and mRNA expression levels of COLⅡ and Aggrecan, and significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of cGAS, STING, MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 (P<0.01). Compared with high-dose Xibining Formula group, high-dose Xibining Formula + agonist group showed cartilage edge destruction, significantly increased Mankin scores, significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of COLⅡ and Aggrecan, and increased protein and mRNA expression levels of cGAS, STING, MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 (P<0.01). ConclusionXibining Formula may improve KOA cartilage damage by inhibiting the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, decreasing matrix degradation-related proteins, and elevating matrix composition-related proteins.
10.Impact of leadership empowerment on work engagement of clinical research nurses: a chain mediating effect of professional identity and positive coping
Xingyan WANG ; Li WU ; Xiaochen NIU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(27):3715-3720
Objective:To explore the chain mediating role of professional identity and positive coping between leadership empowerment and work engagement of clinical research nurses (CRNs) .Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 250 CRNs working in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from August to September 2024 for the study. The survey was conducted with the General Information Questionnaire, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Empowering Leadership Behavior Scale, Professional Identification Scale for Nurse, and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. The chain mediating effects were tested using Model 6 of the SPSS PROCESS program.Results:A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, 236 questionnaires were recovered, and 223 valid questionnaires were recovered after excluding the regularly answered questionnaires, with an effective recovery rate of 89.20% (223/250). Mediating effect analysis revealed that leadership empowerment directly and positively predicted work engagement of CRNs, with a direct effect value of 0.194, accounting for 67.60% of the total effect. Leadership empowerment also had an impact on work engagement of CRNs through three mediating paths. Mediating path 1: leadership empowerment→professional identity→ work engagement, with an effect value of 0.036, accounting for 12.54% of the total effect. Mediating path 2: leadership empowerment → positive coping → work engagement, with an effect value of 0.049, accounting for 17.07% of the total effect. Mediating path 3: leadership empowerment → professional identity → positive coping → work engagement, with an effect value of 0.008, accounting for 2.79% of the total effect. The total mediating effect was 0.093, accounting for 32.40% of the total effect.Conclusions:Leadership empowerment can not only directly affect work engagement of CRNs, but also indirectly affect it through the mediating role of professional identity and positive coping.

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