1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Signaling Pathways Related to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Review
Shenglong LI ; Ganggang LU ; Yonglin LIANG ; Xu MA ; Meisheng GONG ; Hui LI ; Yuanbo ZHAO ; Dacheng TIAN ; Yongqiang ZHAO ; Xixiang LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):287-295
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic progressive disease in middle-aged and elderly men, characterized by prostate enlargement and bladder outlet obstruction, leading to symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and difficulty urinating. The pathogenesis of BPH involves factors such as aging, hormonal metabolic abnormalities, inflammatory responses, and imbalances in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Currently, the main treatment methods for BPH include medication, physical therapy, and surgical intervention. However, medication may cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and hypotension, physical therapy has limited efficacy, and surgery carries risks and postoperative complications. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safer and more effective treatment options. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its focus on treatment based on syndrome differentiation and a holistic approach, offers therapeutic advantages through multiple pathways and mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that TCM regulates pathways such as phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE), androgen receptor (AR), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor (HIF-1α/VEGF) to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory response, reduce prostate cell proliferation, and promote apoptosis, thus exerting therapeutic effects. This article summarizes and analyzes the roles of these signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of BPH and the mechanisms of TCM intervention, aiming to provide scientific evidence for clinical treatment and drug development for BPH.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Signaling Pathways Related to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Review
Shenglong LI ; Ganggang LU ; Yonglin LIANG ; Xu MA ; Meisheng GONG ; Hui LI ; Yuanbo ZHAO ; Dacheng TIAN ; Yongqiang ZHAO ; Xixiang LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):287-295
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic progressive disease in middle-aged and elderly men, characterized by prostate enlargement and bladder outlet obstruction, leading to symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and difficulty urinating. The pathogenesis of BPH involves factors such as aging, hormonal metabolic abnormalities, inflammatory responses, and imbalances in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Currently, the main treatment methods for BPH include medication, physical therapy, and surgical intervention. However, medication may cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and hypotension, physical therapy has limited efficacy, and surgery carries risks and postoperative complications. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safer and more effective treatment options. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its focus on treatment based on syndrome differentiation and a holistic approach, offers therapeutic advantages through multiple pathways and mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that TCM regulates pathways such as phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE), androgen receptor (AR), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor (HIF-1α/VEGF) to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory response, reduce prostate cell proliferation, and promote apoptosis, thus exerting therapeutic effects. This article summarizes and analyzes the roles of these signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of BPH and the mechanisms of TCM intervention, aiming to provide scientific evidence for clinical treatment and drug development for BPH.
3.Study on the disease burden and prediction of substance use disorder in China based on age-period-cohort model
Hui BI ; Danhua MA ; Guili XU ; Yunpeng HUA ; Liang XING
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2024;33(7):760-769
Objective To analyze the incidence and disease burden of substance use disorder(SUD)in China from 1990 to 2019,to evaluate the impact of different ages,periods and birth cohorts on the disease burden of SUD,and to predict disease burden of SUD from 2020 to 2034,so as to provide strategies for the prevention of SUD.Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019(GBD 2019)database,the disease burden was described by incidence,years of life lost(YLLs),years lived with disability(YLDs)and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs).The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trend of standardized incidence and standardized DALYs rate of SUD.Based on the age-period-cohort model,the age,period and cohort effects of SUD were discussed.The grey prediction model GM(1,1)was used to fit the trend of the incidence and standardized incidence of SUD and the trend of disease burden,and to predict the incidence and disease burden of SUD in 2020-2034.Results From 1990 to 2019,the standardized incidence of SUD of amphetamines[average annual percentage change(AAPC)=-0.9%]and cocaine(AAPC=-0.5%)in China showed a downward trend(P<0.001),and the standardized incidence of SUD of cannabis(AAPC=0.9%)showed an increasing trend year by year(P<0.001).The trend of standardized incidence of opioid abuse disorders was not obvious(P>0.05).The DALYs rate caused by the 4 SUD showed a decreasing trend year by year(AAPCamphetamines=-2.2%,AAPCcocaine=-1.5%,AAPCcannabis=-1.0%,AAPCopioids=-1.0%,P<0.001).The results of age-period-cohort effect showed that the peak incidence of amphetamine,cocaine,cannabis and opioid use disorders was in the 25-30 age group.The DALYs rate caused by cannabis SUD increased with age,while the DALYs rates of amphetamines,cocaine and opioids SUD reached the peak in the 25-29,30-34 and 35-39 age groups,respectively.The results of period effect showed that the risk of SUD in propylamines,cocaine and cannabis decreased first and then increased,while the risk of SUD in opioids increased and then decreased and increased again.The results of birth cohort effect showed that the risk of SUD of amphetamines,cocaine and opioids showed a decreasing trend as a whole except for a small fluctuation in individual birth cohorts.The risk of DALYs rate caused by SUD of amphetamines,cocaine and opioids showed a decreasing trend as a whole,while the risk of DALYs rate caused by SUD of cannabis showed an increasing trend year by year.The prediction results showed that the incidence of SUD of amphetamines,cocaine and opioids showed a downward trend from 2020 to 2034,and the incidence of SUD of cannabis showed a fluctuating upward trend.The DALYs attributed to SUD of amphetamines,cocaine,cannabis and opioids showed a decreasing trend year by year.Conclusion The disease burden of SUD in China is decreasing year by year in the future.The incidence and disease burden are affected by age effect,period effect and cohort effect to varying degrees.Early prevention and effective intervention are the key measures to control SUD.
4.REDH: A database of RNA editome in hematopoietic differentiation and malignancy
Jiayue XU ; Jiahuan HE ; Jiabin YANG ; Fengjiao WANG ; Yue HUO ; Yuehong GUO ; Yanmin SI ; Yufeng GAO ; Fang WANG ; Hui CHENG ; Tao CHENG ; Jia YU ; Xiaoshuang WANG ; Yanni MA
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(3):283-293
Background::The conversion of adenosine (A) to inosine (I) through deamination is the prevailing form of RNA editing, impacting numerous nuclear and cytoplasmic transcripts across various eukaryotic species. Millions of high-confidence RNA editing sites have been identified and integrated into various RNA databases, providing a convenient platform for the rapid identification of key drivers of cancer and potential therapeutic targets. However, the available database for integration of RNA editing in hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic malignancies is still lacking.Methods::We downloaded RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of 29 leukemia patients and 19 healthy donors from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and RNA-seq data of 12 mouse hematopoietic cell populations obtained from our previous research were also used. We performed sequence alignment, identified RNA editing sites, and obtained characteristic editing sites related to normal hematopoietic development and abnormal editing sites associated with hematologic diseases.Results::We established a new database, "REDH", represents RNA editome in hematopoietic differentiation and malignancy. REDH is a curated database of associations between RNA editome and hematopoiesis. REDH integrates 30,796 editing sites from 12 murine adult hematopoietic cell populations and systematically characterizes more than 400,000 edited events in malignant hematopoietic samples from 48 cohorts (human). Through the Differentiation, Disease, Enrichment, and knowledge modules, each A-to-I editing site is systematically integrated, including its distribution throughout the genome, its clinical information (human sample), and functional editing sites under physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, REDH compares the similarities and differences of editing sites between different hematologic malignancies and healthy control.Conclusions::REDH is accessible at http://www.redhdatabase.com/. This user-friendly database would aid in understanding the mechanisms of RNA editing in hematopoietic differentiation and malignancies. It provides a set of data related to the maintenance of hematopoietic homeostasis and identifying potential therapeutic targets in malignancies.
5.Research progress on longitudinal predictive factors of benefit finding
Jiaxue PANG ; Qiankun LIU ; Yang XU ; Chunlu ZENG ; Xiaoqing MA ; Hui XIE
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(24):3331-3335
Serious diseases and other negative events bring serious physical and mental damage to individuals, but there are still some individuals can construct positive meaning of life from adversity, which is closely related to the role of benefit finding. According to the theory of stress system, if negative events such as disease are taken as stressors, benefit finding can be regarded as a good manifestation of individual psychological stress response. At present, most of the studies on benefit finding are cross-sectional studies, ignoring the characteristics of its dynamic development and the predictive role of individual advantages and disadvantages on benefit finding. This paper reviews the predictive factors in the longitudinal study of benefit finding from protective factors and risk factors, in order to reduce the adverse effects of risk factors on the basis of exploring individual protective factors and provide a starting point for the research design of positive psychological cognitive intervention.
6.Epidemiological characteristics and spatial clustering of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Nanjing from 2010 to 2023
Tao MA ; Cong CHEN ; Song-Ning DING ; Qing XU ; Jun-Jun WANG ; Heng-Xue WANG ; Zi-Kang YAN ; Meng-Yuan TIAN ; Yuan-Zhao ZHU ; Hui-Hui LIU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(9):841-847
This study was aimed at understanding the trends in,and scope of,severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)in Nanjing,analyzing the spatial distribution pattern,detecting high incidence cluster areas and key popula-tions,and scientifically guiding prevention and control strategies and measures.We obtained data on SFTS cases from 2010 to 2023 in Nanjing from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System,and described the time,popu-lation,and spatial distribution characteristics.We used joinpoint regression to calculate the annual percentage change(APC)in incidence,then used FleXScan spatial clustering scan analysis to explore spatial clustering areas at the street level.A total of 507 SFTS cases were reported from 2010 to 2023 in Nanjing.The APC was 31.8%(95%CI:22.5%-41.9%,P<0.001),and the reported incidence in 2023 was 1.42/100 000(134 cases).The seasonal indices from May to August were 2.7,2.1,3.0,and 1.3,respectively,accounting for 76.1%of the total cases.The median age was 66(IQR:55,73)years,which gradually increased from 59 years in 2010-2011 to 68 in 2022-2023(P<0.001);94.1%of cases were in individuals 45 years or older.Farmers,homemakers/unemployed individuals,and retirees accounted for 90.1%.The epidemic area increased from 11 streets in four districts in 2010-2011 to 58 streets in 11 dis-tricts in 2022-2023.Except for 2012-2013,global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed positive Moran's I values(0.224-0.526,P<0.001),and FlexScan scan indicated that several streets in Lishui District and Jiangning District were the most likely clusters.Four streets in Pukou District were the secondary clusters from 2018 to 2023,and three streets in Luhe District in 2022-2023 were the secondary clusters(all P<0.05).The reported incidence of SFTS in Nanjing showed a rapid upward trend,with spread of epidemic areas.The spatial distribution pattern was clustered.Strengthened training in diagnosis and treatment technology and detection ability of medical institutions,surveillance in high-incidence areas,tracing of case flow,and health education of tick and disease prevention knowledge are recommended.
7.Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response by gallic acid in human THP1 macrophages
Jiawen DIAO ; Hui XU ; Xinyue MA ; Jishu QUAN
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(4):41-53
Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of gallic acid(GA)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in human THP1 macrophages.Methods THP1 monocytes were differentiated into macrophages with phorbol myristate acetate.A macrophage inflammation model was established with LPS induction,and GA was added at different concentrations.The safe concentrations of LPS and GA for THP1 cells were screened using the CCK-8 method,and a normal group,model group(100 μg/L LPS),and GA group(100 μg/L LPS+different concentrations of GA)were set up.ELISA was used to detect the levels of interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and IL-1β in the cell culture media of each group.The microplate method was used to detect lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)activity and NO content in the cell cultures,and fluorescence staining was used to detect the reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels,cell damage,and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential in each group.Western blot was performed to detect the levels of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),HMGB1,c-Jun amino-terminal kinase(JNK),extracellular-regulated protein kinase(ERK),P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P38),nuclear transcription factor-KB(NF-κB),NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1,IL-1β,and gasdermin D(GSDMD).Results Compared with the normal group,the model cell group's secretion of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,and NO was increased(P<0.05);the secretion of COX-2,HMGB1,p-ERK,p-JNK,and p-P38 and expression of p-NF-KB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β were elevated(P<0.05);expression of GSDMD protein activation fragment was reduced(P<0.05);ROS generation and cellular damage were significantly increased;mitochondrial transmembrane potential was significantly lower;and LDH activity was elevated(P<0.05).In comparison with the model group,the GA group cells'secretion of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,and NO was decreased(P<0.05);expression of COX-2,HMGB1,p-ERK,p-JNK,p-P38,p-NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,and IL-1β was decreased(P<0.05);GSDMD protein activation fragment expression level was increased(P<0.05);ROS generation and cellular damage were decreased;mitochondrial transmembrane potential gradually increased;and LDH activity was decreased(P<0.05).Conclusions GA had an inhibitory effect on the LPS-induced inflammatory response in THP1 macrophages,and its anti-inflammatory mechanism may involve the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.
8.Prognostic Significance of Progression of Disease within 24 Months in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Rui-Xue MA ; Qian-Qian ZHANG ; Hui-Min CHEN ; Jin HU ; Feng-Yi LU ; Qian-Nan HAN ; Zhen-Yu LI ; Kai-Lin XU ; Wei CHEN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(3):702-707
Objective:To investigate the effect of progression of disease within 24 months(POD24)on overall survival(OS)in patients with mantle cell lymphoma(MCL),and compare the clinical characteristics between POD24 and non-POD24 patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 50 MCL patients with treatment indications and regular treatment who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2010 to August 2020.According to the occurrence of POD24,the patients were grouped for prognostic evaluation and clinical characteristics comparison.Results:Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that POD24,PLT,albumin,MIPI score,ECOG PS score,LDH were the factors influencing OS in newly diagnosed MCL patients(all P<0.05).The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that POD24[HR=16.797(95%CI:3.671-76.861),P<0.001],albumin<40 g/L[HR=3.238(95%CI:1.095-9.572),P=0.034]and ECOG PS score≥2[HR=4.005(95%CI:1.033-15.521),P=0.045]were independent risk factors influencing OS in MCL patients.The incidence of PLT<100 × 109/L(33.3%vs 5.9%,P=0.033)and ECOG PS score≥2(45.5%vs 5.9%,P=0.040)were significantly higher in POD24 patients than those in non-POD24 patients.Conclusion:POD24 is an independent poor prognostic factor affecting the OS of MCL patients,and the patients with PLT<100 × 109/L and ECOG PS score ≥2 at diagnosis have a higher probability of POD24.
9.Effect of Endothelial Activation and Stress Index(EASIX)on Prognosis of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Patients
Hui-Min CHEN ; Rui-Xue MA ; Qian-Qian ZHANG ; Feng-Yi LU ; Jin HU ; Qian-Nan HAN ; Zhen-Yu LI ; Kai-Lin XU ; Wei CHEN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1394-1400
Objective:To investigate the effect of endothelial activation and stress index(EASIX)on the prognosis of patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma(AITL)and peripheral T-cell lymphoma,not otherwise specified(PTCL-NOS),and to compare the clinical characteristics of patients in the low EASIX and high EASIX groups.Methods:The clinical data of 59 newly diagnosed AITL and PTCL-NOS patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2010 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The optimal cut-off value of EASIX was determined by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve;The chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between EASIX and clinical features of patients with AITL and PTCL-NOS;The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)of the patients;Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by using Cox proportional hazards model.Results:The optimal cut-off value of EASIX was 0.95,based on which the patients were divided into a low EASIX(<0.95)group and a high EASIX(≥ 0.95)group.Compared with the low EASIX group,the high EASIX group had a higher proportion of patients with advanced Ann Arbor stage,higher risk according to IPI,elevated LDH,hypoproteinemia,anemia,B symptoms,extranodal involvement,and bone marrow involvement.Survival analysis showed that the OS and PFS of patients in the high EASIX group were significantly shorter than those in the lower EASIX group(P<0.001).The multivariate analysis showed that EASIX was an independent risk factor for OS[HR=7.217(95%CI:1.959-26.587),P=0.003]and PFS[HR=2.718(95%CI:1.032-7.161),P=0.043]of PTCL patients.Conclusion:High EASIX in newly diagnosed patients with AITL and PTCL-NOS suggests a poor prognosis,and high EASIX is a risk factor affecting prognosis of the patients.
10.Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway in acne inversa by high-throughput sequencing: a preliminary study
Yanyan HE ; Xiao MA ; Yun HUI ; Wenzhu WANG ; Baoxi WANG ; Rong ZENG ; Haoxiang XU
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2024;57(4):309-315
Objective:To explore the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of acne inversa (AI) .Methods:Skin tissue samples were obtained from 8 AI patients and 4 healthy controls from Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College from 2013 to 2019, and high-throughput sequencing was performed for tissue-specific mRNA expression profiling. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were carried out. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot analysis were performed to verify the results of high-throughput sequencing.Results:Analysis of the specific expression profiles showed that 2 738 differentially expressed genes were screened out in the AI patients compared with the healthy controls, of which 1 328 genes were significantly up-regulated and 1 410 genes were significantly down-regulated. GO analysis demonstrated that the positive regulation of interferon γ secretion, T cell receptor complex and C-X-C chemokine receptor activity were significantly enriched in the AI lesions. KEGG analysis demonstrated that the signaling pathways associated with primary immuno‐deficiency, PPAR, and chemokine-chemokine receptor interaction were significantly enriched in the AI lesions. GSEA demonstrated that the PPAR signaling pathway was significantly weakened in the AI lesions. The mRNA expression levels of PPARA and PPARG were significantly lower in the AI patients (0.336 ± 0.120, 0.253 ± 0.078, respectively) than in the healthy group (1.000 ± 0.146, 1.000 ± 0.172, t = 3.50, 3.95, respectively, both P < 0.05), so were their protein levels. However, there was no significant difference in the PPARD mRNA expression level between the two groups ( t = 0.34, P = 0.750). The mRNA expression levels of nuclear hormone receptor 9-cis retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA), RXRG and fatty acid-binding protein 4 were significantly lower in the AI patients than in the healthy controls ( t = 2.96, 2.96, 4.62, respectively, all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:The PPAR signaling pathway was restrained and lipid metabolism was disordered in AI patients.

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