1.Research progress on the mechanism of action of rosmarinic acid in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Ke CAI ; Sheng-ru HUANG ; Fang-fang GAO ; Xiu-juan PENG ; Sheng GUO ; Feng LIU ; Jin-ao DUAN ; Shu-lan SU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):12-21
With the rapid development of social economy and the continuous improvement of human living standard, the incidence, fatality and recurrence rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are increasing year by year, which seriously affects people's life and health. Conventional therapeutic drugs have limited improvement on the disability rate, so the search for new therapeutic drugs and action targets has become one of the hotspots of current research. In recent years, the therapeutic role of the natural compound rosmarinic acid (RA) in CVD has attracted much attention, which is capable of preventing CVD by modulating multiple signalling pathways and exerting physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, as well as anti-coagulation and endothelial function protection. In this paper, the role of RA in the prevention of CVD is systematically sorted out, and its mechanism of action is summarised and analysed, with a view to providing a scientific basis and important support for the in-depth exploration of the prevention value of RA in CVD and its further development as a prevention drug.
2.Diagnostic Techniques and Risk Prediction for Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
Song HOU ; Lin-Shan ZHANG ; Xiu-Qin HONG ; Chi ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Cai-Li ZHANG ; Yan ZHU ; Hai-Jun LIN ; Fu ZHANG ; Yu-Xiang YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2585-2601
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and metabolic disorders are the 3 major chronic diseases threatening human health, which are closely related and often coexist, significantly increasing the difficulty of disease management. In response, the American Heart Association (AHA) proposed a novel disease concept of “cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome” in October 2023, which has triggered widespread concern about the co-treatment of heart and kidney diseases and the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders around the world. This review posits that effectively managing CKM syndrome requires a new and multidimensional paradigm for diagnosis and risk prediction that integrates biological insights, advanced technology and social determinants of health (SDoH). We argue that the core pathological driver is a “metabolic toxic environment”, fueled by adipose tissue dysfunction and characterized by a vicious cycle of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which forms a common pathway to multi-organ injury. The at-risk population is defined not only by biological characteristics but also significantly impacted by adverse SDoH, which can elevate the risk of advanced CKM by a factor of 1.18 to 3.50, underscoring the critical need for equity in screening and care strategies. This review systematically charts the progression of diagnostic technologies. In diagnostics, we highlight a crucial shift from single-marker assessments to comprehensive multi-marker panels. The synergistic application of traditional biomarkers like NT-proBNP (reflecting cardiac stress) and UACR (indicating kidney damage) with emerging indicators such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Klotho protein facilitates a holistic evaluation of multi-organ health. Furthermore, this paper explores the pivotal role of non-invasive monitoring technologies in detecting subclinical disease. Techniques like multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) and impedance cardiography (ICG) provide a real-time window into microcirculatory and hemodynamic status, enabling the identification of early, often asymptomatic, functional abnormalities that precede overt organ failure. In imaging, progress is marked by a move towards precise, quantitative evaluation, exemplified by artificial intelligence-powered quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT). By integrating AI-QCT with clinical risk factors, the predictive accuracy for cardiovascular events within 6 months significantly improves, with the area under the curve (AUC) increasing from 0.637 to 0.688, demonstrating its potential for reclassifying risk in CKM stage 3. In the domain of risk prediction, we trace the evolution from traditional statistical tools to next-generation models. The new PREVENT equation represents a major advancement by incorporating key kidney function markers (eGFR, UACR), which can enhance the detection rate of CKD in primary care by 20%-30%. However, we contend that the future lies in dynamic, machine learning-based models. Algorithms such as XGBoost have achieved an AUC of 0.82 for predicting 365-day cardiovascular events, while deep learning models like KFDeep have demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting kidney failure risk with an AUC of 0.946. Unlike static calculators, these AI-driven tools can process complex, multimodal data and continuously update risk profiles, paving the way for truly personalized and proactive medicine. In conclusion, this review advocates for a paradigm shift toward a holistic and technologically advanced framework for CKM management. Future efforts must focus on the deep integration of multimodal data, the development of novel AI-driven biomarkers, the implementation of refined SDoH-informed interventions, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration to construct an efficient, equitable, and effective system for CKM screening and intervention.
3.Recombinant human LAG3 lentiviral vector and its stable expression in mouse fibroblast cells
China Tropical Medicine 2025;25(3):328-
Objective To construct a recombinant lentiviral expression vector for human lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) and generation of monoclonal cell lines that preferentially express LAG3 by transfection of the vector into mouse fibroblast cells 3T3. Methods After extracting total RNA extracted from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the RNA is reversely transcribed into cDNA. The LAG3 extracellular and transmembrane region sequences are amplified by PCR using high-fidelity DNA polymerase. The PCR products are double-digested with the restriction endonucleases EcoRⅠ and NotⅠ, then ligated with the lentiviral vector pTSB-copGFP to construct the recombinant expression vector pTSB-LAG3-copGFP, which is subsequently transformed into Escherichia coli DH5α. Positive clonal bacteria are selected by PCR, and the plasmids are extracted and sequenced for verification. The recombinant vector pTSB-LAG3-copGFP, along with packaging plasmids psPAX2 and pMD2.0G, are co-transfected into human embryonic kidney 293T cells to assemble and release virus particles, the virus infected 3T3 cells were collected. During the puromycin selection of infected 3T3 cells, the limited dilution method is used to obtain 3T3 monoclonal cells that stably express LAG3. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were utilized to verify the transcription of LAG3 mRNA and the expression of LAG3 protein respectively. Results Sequencing of the recombinant pTSB-LAG3-copGFP lentiviral vector plasmid reveals that the amplified LAG3 sequence contains a synonymous mutation in the His codon at nucleotide position 1 697 bp within the LAG3 transmembrane region, which aligns with the standard LAG3 sequence (accession number NM_002286.6) in GenBank. The 3T3 cells infected by pTSB-LAG3-copGFP packaging virus screened with puromycin. A total of 20 LAG3+copGFP+-3T3 monoclonal cell lines were obtained, all of which exhibited transcription of LAG3 mRNA. The monoclonal cell line MC-6 exhibits the highest transcriptional level of LAG3. Effective expression and distribution of LAG3 protein on the cell membrane and cytoplasmic organelle membranes in MC-6 indicated by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Conclusion The pTSB-LAG3-copGFP lentiviral vector was successfully constructed. LAG3+copGFP+-3T3 monoclonal cell lines overexpressing lymphocyte activating 3 were efficiently established, laying the foundation for subsequent studies on the relationship between LAG3 and the development of chronic infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, as well as the interventional treatment of LAG3.
4.Molecular characteristics and genetic evolution analysis of CRISPR loci in Listeria monocytogenes
DU Bo ; WU Ying ; CAI Nannan ; REN Yanyan ; XIU Min ; LIU Wenxin
China Tropical Medicine 2025;25(3):343-
Objective To detect clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in Listeria monocytogenes, and analyze the structure and homology of CRISPR loci. Methods Totally 34 strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated in our laboratory were identified, PCR amplified and sequenced. The repeat sequence structure and spacer sequence homology in CRISPR loci were analyzed by bioinformatics software. Results A total of 7 CRISPR loci were detected in 34 strains. The mutation rate of the first 2 and last 2 bases of the Repeat sequence of CRISPR loci was higher, while the mutation rate of the middle part was lower. Seven CRISPR sites form eight CRISPR structural types, among which the Repeat sequences of CRISPR1 and CRISPR2 are relatively conserved, while the Repeat sequences of CRISPR1 and CRISPR5 can form dumbbell shaped secondary structures. The number of Spacer sequences contained in each CRISPR site ranges from 2 to 15, with an average of 2.43. The 136 Spacer sequences detected were not only homologous to Listeria plasmids and bacteriophages, but also homologous to uncultured virus sequences, staphylococcal bacteriophages, and Listeria innocua. The same CRISPR genotype did not show large-scale clustering, but some strains in the same year were in the same evolutionary cluster with close genetic relationships. Conclusion The CRISPR structure of Listeria monocytogenes in this study exhibits high specificity, and its homology with bacteriophages provides a theoretical basis for the application of bacteriophages in the control and prevention of Listeria monocytogenes.
5.Development of DUS testing guidelines for new Atractylodes lancea varieties.
Cheng-Cai ZHANG ; Ming QIN ; Xiu-Zhi GUO ; Zi-Hua ZHANG ; Hao-Kuan ZHANG ; Xiao-Yu DAI ; Sheng WANG ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1515-1523
Atractylodes lancea is a perennial herbaceous plant of Asteraceae, with rhizomes for medical use. However, A. lancea plants from different habitats have great variability, and the germplasm resources of A. lancea are unclear and mixed during production. Therefore, it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. lancea. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of new plant varieties is the foundation of plant variety protection, and the DUS testing guidelines are the technical basis for variety approval agencies to conduct DUS testing. In this study, the phenotypic traits of 94 germplasm accessions of A. lancea were investigated considering the breeding and variety characteristics of A. lancea in China. The traits were classified and described, and 24 traits were preliminarily determined, including 20 basic traits that must be tested and four traits selected to be tested. The 20 basic traits included 3 quality traits, 5 false quality traits, and 12 quantitative traits, corresponding to 1 plant traits, 2 stem traits, 8 leaf traits, 6 flower traits, and 3 seed traits. The measurement ranges and coefficients of variation of eight quantitative traits were determined, on the basis of which the grading criteria and codes of the traits were determined and assigned. The guidelines has guiding significance for the trait evaluation, utilization, and breeding of new varieties of A. lancea.
Atractylodes/growth & development*
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China
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Phenotype
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Guidelines as Topic
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Plant Breeding
6.Randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, multicenter, equivalence clinical trial of Jiuwei Xifeng Granules(Os Draconis replaced by Ostreae Concha) for treating tic disorder in children.
Qiu-Han CAI ; Cheng-Liang ZHONG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Xin-Min LI ; Zhi-Chun XU ; Hui CHEN ; Ying HUA ; Jun-Hong WANG ; Ji-Hong TANG ; Bing-Xiang MA ; Xiu-Xia WANG ; Ai-Zhen WANG ; Meng-Qing WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Yi-Qun TENG ; Yi-Hui SHAN ; Sheng-Xuan GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1699-1705
Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Double-Blind Method
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Tic Disorders/drug therapy*
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Treatment Outcome
7.Current situation of medicinal animal breeding and research progress in sustainable utilization of resources.
Cheng-Cai ZHANG ; Jia WANG ; Yu-Jie ZHOU ; Xiao-Yu DAI ; Xiu-Fu WAN ; Chuan-Zhi KANG ; De-Hua WU ; Jia-Hui SUN ; Sheng WANG ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4397-4406
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the pillar for the development of motherland medicine, and animal medicine has a long history of application in China, characterized by wide resources, strong activity, definite efficacy, and great benefits. It has significant potential and important status in the consumption market of raw materials of TCM. In the context of global climate change, farming system alterations, and low renewability, the depletion of wild medicinal animal resources has accelerated. Accordingly, the conservation and sustainable utilization of wild resources of animal medicinal materials has become a problem that garners increasing attention and urgently needs to be solved. This paper summarizes the current situation of domestic and foreign medicinal animal breeding and research progress in industrial application in recent years and points out the issues related to standardized breeding, germplasm selection and breeding, and quality evaluation standards for medicinal animals. Furthermore, this paper discusses standardized breeding, quality standards, resource protection and utilization, and the search for alternative resources for rare and endangered medicinal animals. It proposes that researchers should systematically carry out in-depth basic research on animal medicine, improve the breeding scale and level of medicinal animals, employ modern technology to enhance the quality standards of medicinal materials, and strengthen the research and development of alternative resources. This approach aims to effectively address the relationship between protection and utilization and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of medicinal animal resources and the animal-based Chinese medicinal material industry.
Animals
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Breeding
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China
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Conservation of Natural Resources
8.Schistosoma infection, KRAS mutation status, and prognosis of colorectal cancer.
Xinyi LI ; Hongli LIU ; Bo HUANG ; Ming YANG ; Jun FAN ; Jiwei ZHANG ; Mixia WENG ; Zhecheng YAN ; Li LIU ; Kailin CAI ; Xiu NIE ; Xiaona CHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(2):235-237
9.Mitochondrial Regulation of Tumor-associated Macrophages
Xiu-E CAI ; Shi-Cheng SU ; Jiang LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(10):2560-2569
Tumor immune microenvironment is an important microecology for tumor development, where tumor-associated macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the tumor immune microenvironment, with high plasticity and heterogeneity. Under the regulation of various environmental factors, tumor-associated macrophages can differentiate into different subgroups. Though complex and variable, all these environmental factors ultimately regulate tumor-associated macrophages by influencing the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of these cells’ internal components, structure, and functions. Mitochondrion are important organelles, responsible for energy production, metabolism, and centers of multiple signal transduction. More and more studies have found that mitochondria can regulate cell functions through various mechanisms such as morphological change, metabolic reprogramming, intermediate metabolites or mitochondrial genetic material. Mitochondrial disorders are involved in many diseases and pathological processes. Here, we review the mechanisms by which mitochondria regulate the polarization of macrophages and thus reshape the tumor immune microenvironment. Further, we discuss and prospect the current status of macrophage mitochondria-related tumor immunotherapy.
10.Correlation between Combined Urinary Metal Exposure and Grip Strength under Three Statistical Models: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Guangxi
Jian Yu LIANG ; Hui Jia RONG ; Xiu Xue WANG ; Sheng Jian CAI ; Dong Li QIN ; Mei Qiu LIU ; Xu TANG ; Ting Xiao MO ; Fei Yan WEI ; Xia Yin LIN ; Xiang Shen HUANG ; Yu Ting LUO ; Yu Ruo GOU ; Jing Jie CAO ; Wu Chu HUANG ; Fu Yu LU ; Jian QIN ; Yong Zhi ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(1):3-18
Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95% confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

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