1.Yimei Baijiang Formula Treats Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Qian WU ; Xin ZOU ; Chaoli JIANG ; Long ZHAO ; Hui CHEN ; Li LI ; Zhi LI ; Jianqin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):119-130
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Yimei Baijiang formula (YMBJF) on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in mice. MethodsSixty male Balb/c mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomized into 6 groups: Normal, model, capecitabine (0.83 g
2.Yimei Baijiang Formula Treats Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Qian WU ; Xin ZOU ; Chaoli JIANG ; Long ZHAO ; Hui CHEN ; Li LI ; Zhi LI ; Jianqin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):119-130
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Yimei Baijiang formula (YMBJF) on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in mice. MethodsSixty male Balb/c mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomized into 6 groups: Normal, model, capecitabine (0.83 g
3.Multicenter machine learning-based construction of a model for predicting potential organ donors and validation with decision curve analysis
Xu WANG ; Wenxiu LI ; Fenghua WANG ; Shuli WU ; Dong JIA ; Xin GE ; Zhihua SHAN ; Tongzuo LI
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):106-115
Objective To evaluate the predictive value of different machine learning models constructed in a multicenter environment for potential organ donors and verify their clinical application feasibility. Methods The study included 2 000 inpatients admitted to five domestic tertiary hospitals from January 2020 to December 2023, who met the criteria for potential organ donation assessment. They were randomly divided into a training set and an internal validation set (7∶3). Another 300 similar patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2024 to April 2025 were included as an external validation set. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and F1-score of three models were compared, and the consistency of the potential organ donor determination process was tested. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors of potential organ donors. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was employed to verify the resource efficiency of each model, and the threshold interval and intervention balance point were assessed. Results Apart from age, there were no significant differences in other basic characteristics among the centers (all P>0.05). The consistency of the potential organ donor determination process among researchers in each center was good [all 95% confidence interval (CI) lower limits >0]. In the internal validation set, the XGBoost model had the best predictive performance (AUC=0.92, 95% CI 0.89-0.94) and the best calibration (P=0.441, Brier score 0.099). In the external validation set, the XGBoost model also had the best predictive performance (AUC=0.91, 95% CI 0.88-0.94), outperforming logistic regression and random forest models. Multivariate logistic regression showed that mechanical ventilation had the greatest impact (odds ratio=2.06, 95% CI 1.54-2.76, P<0.001). DCA indicated that the XGBoost model had the highest net benefit in the threshold interval of 0.2-0.6. The “treat all” strategy only had a slight advantage at extremely low thresholds. The recommended threshold interval, which balances intervention costs and clinical benefits, considers ≥50% positive predictive value (PPV) and ≤50 referrals per 100 high-risk patients. Conclusions The XGBoost model established in a multicenter environment is accurate and well-calibrated in predicting potential organ donors. Combined with DCA, it may effectively guide the timing of clinical interventions and resource allocation, providing new ideas for the assessment and management of organ donation after brain death.
4.Analysis of Changes on Volatile Components of Ligusticum sinense cv. Chaxiong Rhizome Before and After Wine Processing Based on Electronic Nose and HS-GC-MS
Wen ZHANG ; Peng ZHENG ; Jiangshan ZHANG ; Xiaolin XIAO ; Zaodan WU ; Li XIN ; Wenhui GONG ; Jinlian ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):173-181
ObjectiveBy comparing the composition and content of volatile components in raw products, wine-washed products and wine-fried products of Ligusticum sinense cv. Chaxiong rhizome(LSCR), to investigate the influence of wine processing on the volatile components of LSCR, in order to provide a basis for the development of quality standards for LSCR and its processed products. MethodsElectronic nose was used to identify the odors of LSCR, wine-washed and wine-fried LSCR, and their volatile components were detected by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-GC-MS), and the relative mass fractions of these components were determined by peak area normalization method. Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were performed on the obtained sample data by SIMCA 14.1 software, and the differential components of LSCR, wine-washed and wine-fried LSCR were screened according to the variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between volatile differential flavor components and electronic nose sensors. ResultsElectronic nose detection results showed that there were significant differences in the odors of LSCR, wine-washed and wine-fried LSCR, mainly reflected in the sensors S2, S4, S5, S6, S11, S12, S13. And a total of 62 compounds were identified from LSCR and its wine-processed products, among which 46, 50 and 51 compounds were identified from LSCR, wine-fried and wine-washed LSCR, respectively. There were 21 differential components between the raw products and wine-fried products, of which 10 components were increased and 11 were decreased after processing. There were 20 differential components between the raw products and wine-washed products, of which 11 constituents increased and 9 decreased after processing. There were 17 differential components between the wine-wash products and wine-fried products. Compared with the wine-washed products, the contents of 13 components in the wine-fried products increased, and the contents of 4 components decreased. The increasing trend of the content of phthalides in the wine-washed products was more obvious than that in the wine-fried products, but the content of total volatile components was higher in the wine-fried products than the wine-washed products. Correlation analysis showed that there were different degrees of correlation between the 7 differential sensors of electronic nose and 24 differential volatile components, mainly phthalides and olefins. ConclusionThe odor and the content of volatile components in LSCR changed obviously after wine processing, and n-butylphthalide, Z-butylidenephthalide and E-ligustilide can be used as the candidate differential markers of volatile components in LSCR before and after wine processing.
5.Discriminating Tumor Deposits From Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study Utilizing Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Xue-han WU ; Yu-tao QUE ; Xin-yue YANG ; Zi-qiang WEN ; Yu-ru MA ; Zhi-wen ZHANG ; Quan-meng LIU ; Wen-jie FAN ; Li DING ; Yue-jiao LANG ; Yun-zhu WU ; Jian-peng YUAN ; Shen-ping YU ; Yi-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):400-410
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs.
Results:
All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027).
Conclusion
The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.
6.Exploring Mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway to Improve Learning and Memory Ability of Insomnia Rats with Liver Depression Syndrome Based on Transcriptomics
Jiamin LIU ; Yale WANG ; Hai HUANG ; Yue LI ; Xin FAN ; Pengpeng LIANG ; Shizhao ZHANG ; Mei YAN ; Guiyun LI ; Hongyan WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):114-125
ObjectiveBased on transcriptomics, to explore the mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway to improve the learning and memory ability of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome. MethodsSixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, eszopiclone group (0.09 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan (3.82, 7.65, 15.30 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other groups were induced insomnia rat model with liver depression by chronic restraint, tail clamping stimulation and intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Each treatment group received intragastric administration according to the specified dosage, once a day for 14 consecutive days. The pentobarbital sodium cooperative sleep test, open field test, and Morris water maze test were used to test the sleep quality, depressive-like behavior, and learning and memory abilities of rats. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nitric oxide (NO) in hippocampus. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe pathological changes of the hippocampal tissue, while terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to evaluate apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Transcriptomic sequencing technology was employed to identify differentially expressed genes in hippocampus between the model group and the blank group, as well as between the medium-dose group of Hei Xiaoyaosan and the model group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting genes. Subsequently, the enriched key genes and signaling pathways were analyzed and verified. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was utilized to assess the mRNA expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-like protein 11 (BCL2L11), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) in hippocampus, and Western blot was employed to evaluate the protein expressions of PI3K, phosphorylation (p)-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved Caspase-3 in the same tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight, an increase in sleep latency, and a decrease in sleep duration (P<0.01). Additionally, rats showed obvious depression-like behavior, and their learning and memory abilities decreased. Furthermore, the contents of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in hippocampus decreased (P<0.01). Histological examination revealed a disorganized cell arrangement in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, characterized by irregular cell shapes, a reduced cell count, deeply stained and pyknotic nuclei, increased vacuolar degeneration, and an elevated apoptosis rate (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight of the high and medium dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan increased, the sleep latency shortened and the sleep time prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.01). Additionally, depression-like behavior and learning and memory abilities of rats were significantly improved, the levels of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in the hippocampus increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). These interventions also ameliorated pathological damage in the hippocampal CA1 area and reduced the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons (P<0.01). Transcriptomic sequencing results indicated that Hei Xiaoyaosan might exert a therapeutic effect by regulating PI3K/Akt pathway through key mRNAs such as PTEN, BCL2L11, and MAPK1. The roles of these key mRNAs and proteins within PI3K/Akt pathway were further validated. In comparison to the blank group, the expression levels of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats in the model group were increased (P<0.01), while the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 were decreased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan could down-regulate the expressions of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNAs (P<0.01), up-regulate the expressions of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 proteins (P<0.01), and down-regulate the protein expressions of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by down-regulating expressions of key genes such as PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1, and thus improve the learning and memory abilities of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome.
7.Mechanism of Shenqi guben formula in improving cancer-related fatigue by regulating IL-17 signaling pathway
Xin LI ; Chongkai FANG ; Yue HUANG ; Yaoxuan LI ; Haifu HUANG ; Xianlin WU ; Zhesheng CHEN ; Meng LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(14):1722-1729
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Shenqi guben formula (SQGB) in improving cancer-related fatigue (CRF) based on network pharmacology and cellular experiments. METHODS Active components of SQGB and CRF-related targets were identified on the basis of databases such as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform. An in vitro CRF cell model was established by inducing A549 cells with interleukin-17 (IL-17). Cells were treated with low (1.0 mg/mL) or high (1.5 mg/mL) concentrations of SQGB. The effects on cell viability, migration, apoptosis, inflammatory factors, mRNA expression, apoptosis-related proteins and key proteins 011) of IL-17 signaling pathway were evaluated using scratch assay, flow cytometry, ELISA, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS SQGB contained 84 active components acting on 209 potential CRF targets. Among E-these, quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin were identified as the core components of the compound. Core targets included tumor protein p53, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). IL-17, TNF and phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase-serine/threonine protein kinase (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways were identified as crucial pathways. Compared with IL-17 intervention group, the cell migration rate, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein expression, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatant, mRNA expression of IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA), TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as the protein expression of IL-17RA and nuclear factor kappa-B p65 subunit (p65), and phosphorylated (p)-p65/p65 ratio in IL-17+SQGB low- and high- quality concentration groups were all significantly decreased or down-regulation (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate, expression levels of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3 protein, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, the expression level of p-p38 protein, and the p- p38/p38 ratio were all significantly increased or up-regulated (P<0.05). Moreover, the improvement effects of these indicators were mostly better in the high-quality concentration groups compared to the low-quality concentration groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS SQGB ameliorates CRF by regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway, inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors, and activating p38 MAPK-dependent apoptosis pathway.
8.Discriminating Tumor Deposits From Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study Utilizing Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Xue-han WU ; Yu-tao QUE ; Xin-yue YANG ; Zi-qiang WEN ; Yu-ru MA ; Zhi-wen ZHANG ; Quan-meng LIU ; Wen-jie FAN ; Li DING ; Yue-jiao LANG ; Yun-zhu WU ; Jian-peng YUAN ; Shen-ping YU ; Yi-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):400-410
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs.
Results:
All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027).
Conclusion
The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.
9.Research progress in chemical constituents and processing methods of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata.
Jia-Hao HU ; Wen-Ru LI ; Qing-Xin SHI ; Cheng-Wu SONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1458-1470
This article aims to study the processing methods by exploring the main chemical constituents of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and the toxicity-attenuating mechanisms. The relevant articles were retrieved from multiple databases with the time interval of 1960-2024, and the chemical constituents of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and the toxicity-attenuating mechanisms of its processing methods were summarized. The review revealed that the chemical constituents of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata included 32 diester-type alkaloids, 36 monoester-type alkaloids, 43 alkanolamine-type alkaloids, and 8 lipid-type alkaloids. At the same time, other chemical constituents such as water-soluble alkaloids were also studied, and their pharmacological activities were summarized. The toxicity-attenuating mechanisms of the processing methods included constituent loss, hydrolysis, ester exchange, and ion-pair action. The processing methods of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata have developed from being traditional to modern, with simplified operation and increased retention amounts of active constituents, which have improved the efficacy of processed Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata products and have facilitated the industrial production. However, the existing processing methods of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata cannot completely solve the problem of possible reduction in efficacy during toxicity attenuation. More toxicity-attenuating mechanisms and lipid-type alkaloids of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata should be explored, which is expected to reduce its toxicity while retaining its efficacy.
Aconitum/toxicity*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
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Alkaloids/chemistry*
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Animals
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Humans
10.Color-component correlation and mechanism of component transformation of processed Citri Reticulatae Semen.
Kui-Lin ZHU ; Jin-Lian ZOU ; Xu-Li DENG ; Mao-Xin DENG ; Hai-Ming WANG ; Rui YIN ; Zhang-Xian CHEN ; Yun-Tao ZHANG ; Hong-Ping HE ; Fa-Wu DONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2382-2390
High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the content of three major components in Citri Reticulatae Semen(CRS), including limonin, nomilin, and obacunone. The chromaticity of the CRS sample during salt processing and stir-frying was measured using a color difference meter. Next, the relationship between the color and content of the salt-processed CRS sample was investigated through correlation analysis. By integrating the oil bath technique for processing simulation with HPLC, the changes in the relative content of nomilin and its transformation products were analyzed, with its structural transformation pattern during processing identified. Additionally, RAW264.7 cells were induced with lipopolysaccharides(LPSs) to establish an inflammatory model, and the anti-inflammatory activity of nomilin and its transformation product, namely obacunone was evaluated. The results indicated that as processing progressed, E~*ab and L~* values showed a downward trend; a~* values exhibited a slow increase over a certain period, followed by no significant changes, and b~* values remained stable with no significant changes over a certain period and then started to decrease. The limonin content remained barely unchanged; the nomilin content decreased, and the obacunone increased significantly. The changing trends in content and color parameters during salt-processing and stir-frying were basically consistent. The content of nomilin and obacunone was significantly correlated with the colorimetric values(L~*, a~*, b~*, and E~*ab), while limonin content showed no significant correlation with these values. By analyzing HPLC patterns of nomylin at different heating temperatures and time, it was found that under conditions of 200-250 ℃ for heating of 5-60 min, the content of nomilin significantly decreased, while the obacunone content increased pronouncedly. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity results indicated that compared to the model group, the group with a high concentration of nomilin and the groups with varying concentrations of obacunone showed significantly reduced release of nitric oxide(NO)(P<0.01). When both were at the same concentration, obacunone showed better performance in inhibiting NO release. In this study, the obvious correlation between the color and content of major components during the processing of CRS samples was identified, and the dynamic patterns of quality change in CRS samples during processing were revealed. Additionally, the study revealed and confirmed the transformation of nomilin into obacunone during processing, with the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of obacunone significantly greater than that of nomilin. These findings provided a scientific basis for CRS processing optimization, tablet quality control, and its clinical application.
Mice
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Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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RAW 264.7 Cells
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Limonins/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Citrus/chemistry*
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Color
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Benzoxepins/chemistry*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry*

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