1.Study on Reducing Hepatotoxicity and Retaining Anti-osteoporosis Activity of Psoraleae Fructus Though Salt Processing Based on Zebrafish
Yiqi LIU ; Xuan WANG ; Qiqi FAN ; Zehua CHANG ; Shuo FAN ; Na WANG ; Zheng LI ; Xinfang XU ; Chongjun ZHAO ; Xiangri LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):79-90
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of salt processing of Psoraleae Fructus (PF) through modern analytical techniques and biotechnology, focusing on its effects related to hepatotoxicity and anti-osteoporosis activity. MethodsThe zebrafish model was utilized to evaluate the impact of PF and salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus (SPF) on the hepatotoxicity (using 134.17 , 178.89, 268.34 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of PF, 135.04, 180.06, 270.08 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of SPF, respectively) and anti-osteoporotic activity (using 33.54 , 67.08 and 134.17 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of PF, 33.76, 67.52, 135.04 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of SPF, respectively), which was using alizarin red skull staining of zebrafish as an indicator of different batches of PF. The specific dosage of a batch of PF was taken as an example. Then ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis was employed to identify the chemical composition of PF before and after salt processing, and PCA, OPLS-DA, and independent sample t-test were used to elucidating the compositional changes associated with the effects of salt processing on hepatotoxicity and anti-osteoporosis activity. ResultsUnder specific conditions, PF induced notable hepatotoxicity in zebrafish while simultaneously demonstrating protective effect against prednisolone-induced osteoporosis. In comparison to PF, SPF showed alleviated hepatotoxicity while retaining significant anti-osteoporosis activity. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed that after salt processing, the overall chemical composition of PF showed a downward trend, with 69 components showing a decrease in content, represented by psoralen, and 13 components showing an increase, represented by 4′-O-methyl psoralen B. Further multivariate statistical analysis revealed 11 key differential components before and after salt processing of PF, including psoralen and bakuchiol. ConclusionSalt processing effectively diminishes hepatotoxicity without impairing therapeutic efficacy against osteoporosis of PF, which may be related to the compositional changes before and after salt processing of PF and provides key evidence to reveal the scientific significance of salt processing of PF.
2.Sclera Vessel Segmentation Based on Fusion Filtering and Reflection Suppression
Ming-Xuan FAN ; Zong-Qing MA ; Chu-Xiang GAO ; Yi-Xuan SHI ; Zi-Hang ZHANG ; Zhe-Xuan JIA ; Fan FAN ; Guo-Liang HUANG ; Jiang ZHU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1195-1206
ObjectiveIn traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the foundational doctrine that the eyes reflect the essence of the internal viscera establishes ocular observation as a cornerstone of diagnostic practice. Specifically, the morphological characteristics and coloration variations of the scleral microvasculature serve as critical clinical indicators for assessing the dynamic balance of Qi and Blood, as well as the pathological status of internal organs. Historically, however, TCM eye diagnosis has relied predominantly on the subjective clinical experience and visual acuity of individual practitioners, leading to inherent challenges in standardization and reproducibility. While automated computer-aided diagnostic systems offer a promising solution, existing vessel segmentation algorithms encounter significant domain-specific bottlenecks when applied to scleral imagery. These challenges primarily stem from the highly reflective and moist nature of the ocular surface, which generates severe reflective interference. Furthermore, the inherent low contrast of fine capillary networks against complex background textures, compounded by non-uniform illumination, frequently results in high false-positive rates, misdetections, and severe vessel fragmentation. To address these critical limitations and advance the objective quantification of TCM diagnostics, this paper proposes a novel, highly robust sclera vessel segmentation framework that innovatively integrates Frangi-Sato dual-filter adaptive enhancement with pixel-level reflection detection. MethodsThe proposed methodology systematically addresses the segmentation pipeline through three synergistic stages. First, to overcome the structural limitations of single-filter approaches, a multi-scale weighted fusion strategy is meticulously designed to harness the complementary extraction capabilities of both Frangi and Sato filters. This adaptive enhancement optimally balances the preservation of main vessel trunk continuity with the heightened sensitivity required for delineating delicate, low-contrast peripheral capillaries. Second, to tackle the persistent issue of reflective highlights, a sophisticated multi-feature synergistic reflection detection module is introduced. By jointly analyzing local information entropy, gradient field variations, and intensity statistical distributions, this module achieves precise, pixel-level identification and elimination of reflective artifacts without compromising the underlying vascular structures. Finally, a dual-level adaptive thresholding strategy, featuring an innovative “core protection” mechanism, is implemented. This critical step effectively suppresses complex background noise while rigorously preserving the structural and topological integrity of the intricate vessel network, preventing the structural breaks often seen in conventional binarization methods. ResultsThe efficacy of the proposed framework was rigorously evaluated using both self-constructed clinical datasets specifically acquired for TCM research and standardized public datasets. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method consistently outperforms state-of-the-art traditional approaches and contemporary deep learning models. Specifically, the proposed method achieves a Dice similarity coefficient of approximately 0.71 on the private clinical dataset, and secures the best performance across the majority of quantitative metrics on both datasets. Notably, the framework exhibits exceptional robustness and generalization capabilities in highly challenging scenarios characterized by intense reflective interference, low signal-to-noise ratios, and cross-domain image variations. ConclusionThis study successfully realizes the high-integrity, automated segmentation of scleral vessel networks under complex clinical imaging conditions. By overcoming the fundamental algorithmic challenges of reflection interference and micro-vessel loss, the proposed methodology provides potential support for the digitization, objective standardization, and intelligent advancement of modern TCM eye diagnosis systems.
3.Sclera Vessel Segmentation Based on Fusion Filtering and Reflection Suppression
Ming-Xuan FAN ; Zong-Qing MA ; Chu-Xiang GAO ; Yi-Xuan SHI ; Zi-Hang ZHANG ; Zhe-Xuan JIA ; Fan FAN ; Guo-Liang HUANG ; Jiang ZHU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1195-1206
ObjectiveIn traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the foundational doctrine that the eyes reflect the essence of the internal viscera establishes ocular observation as a cornerstone of diagnostic practice. Specifically, the morphological characteristics and coloration variations of the scleral microvasculature serve as critical clinical indicators for assessing the dynamic balance of Qi and Blood, as well as the pathological status of internal organs. Historically, however, TCM eye diagnosis has relied predominantly on the subjective clinical experience and visual acuity of individual practitioners, leading to inherent challenges in standardization and reproducibility. While automated computer-aided diagnostic systems offer a promising solution, existing vessel segmentation algorithms encounter significant domain-specific bottlenecks when applied to scleral imagery. These challenges primarily stem from the highly reflective and moist nature of the ocular surface, which generates severe reflective interference. Furthermore, the inherent low contrast of fine capillary networks against complex background textures, compounded by non-uniform illumination, frequently results in high false-positive rates, misdetections, and severe vessel fragmentation. To address these critical limitations and advance the objective quantification of TCM diagnostics, this paper proposes a novel, highly robust sclera vessel segmentation framework that innovatively integrates Frangi-Sato dual-filter adaptive enhancement with pixel-level reflection detection. MethodsThe proposed methodology systematically addresses the segmentation pipeline through three synergistic stages. First, to overcome the structural limitations of single-filter approaches, a multi-scale weighted fusion strategy is meticulously designed to harness the complementary extraction capabilities of both Frangi and Sato filters. This adaptive enhancement optimally balances the preservation of main vessel trunk continuity with the heightened sensitivity required for delineating delicate, low-contrast peripheral capillaries. Second, to tackle the persistent issue of reflective highlights, a sophisticated multi-feature synergistic reflection detection module is introduced. By jointly analyzing local information entropy, gradient field variations, and intensity statistical distributions, this module achieves precise, pixel-level identification and elimination of reflective artifacts without compromising the underlying vascular structures. Finally, a dual-level adaptive thresholding strategy, featuring an innovative “core protection” mechanism, is implemented. This critical step effectively suppresses complex background noise while rigorously preserving the structural and topological integrity of the intricate vessel network, preventing the structural breaks often seen in conventional binarization methods. ResultsThe efficacy of the proposed framework was rigorously evaluated using both self-constructed clinical datasets specifically acquired for TCM research and standardized public datasets. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method consistently outperforms state-of-the-art traditional approaches and contemporary deep learning models. Specifically, the proposed method achieves a Dice similarity coefficient of approximately 0.71 on the private clinical dataset, and secures the best performance across the majority of quantitative metrics on both datasets. Notably, the framework exhibits exceptional robustness and generalization capabilities in highly challenging scenarios characterized by intense reflective interference, low signal-to-noise ratios, and cross-domain image variations. ConclusionThis study successfully realizes the high-integrity, automated segmentation of scleral vessel networks under complex clinical imaging conditions. By overcoming the fundamental algorithmic challenges of reflection interference and micro-vessel loss, the proposed methodology provides potential support for the digitization, objective standardization, and intelligent advancement of modern TCM eye diagnosis systems.
4.Differentiation and Treatment of Impaired Glucose Regulation from the Perspective of "Internal Generation of Turbid Pathogen"
Xuan YANG ; Junlin LIU ; Jiayao QU ; Xiangyu LI ; Xinrong FAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(11):1220-1224
Impaired glucose regulation (IGR) is an intermediate state between normal blood glucose and diabetes, falling under the category of splenic pure heat in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The core pathogenesis is believed to be the dysfunction of the zang-fu (脏腑) organs, leading to metabolic abnormalities of subtle essence and the generation of "turbid pathogen". Its accumulation can block qi movement, damage the vessel collaterals, and promote the disease progression toward diabetes. The concept of "turbid pulse" is proposed as an early sign of IGR, characterized by full and heavy sensation with stagnated and astringent circulation, which can serve as an effective supplement to clinical screening. The differentiation and treatment approach in clinical practice is summarized as follows. If the ascending and descending mechanisms of qi movement in the middle jiao (焦) are disrupted, with mutual interference between the clear and the turbid, treatment should focus on harmonizing the ascending and the descending, and transforming dampness with aromatic medicinals. For spleen-stomach qi deficiency due to long-term restriction of the spleen and stomach's function of transportation and transformation, it is suggested to fortify spleen and harmonize stomach, and transport turbid with sweet-warm medicinals. For spleen deficiency and liver constraint induced by internal generation of damp-heat in the middle jiao, the treatment should focus on soothing the liver and opening constraint, and directing the turbid downward with sour-sweat medicinals. For solid accumulation and stagnation caused by liver qi constraint, it is recommended to unblock intestine and remove stagnation, and discharge turbid with bitter-cold medicinals. When the disease is transmitted to the lower jiao, and the kidneys are affected, the treatment should be regulating spleen and kidney, and rectifying turbid with salty-sour medicinals. In conclusion, it is emphasized to promote the transformation of turbid pathogen to restore metabolic homeostasis, providing methods for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IGR.
5.Establishment and Evaluation of Hyperuricemia Mouse Model with Damp-Turbidity Internal Accumulation Syndrome
Yue ZHANG ; Xiangyu LI ; Xuan YANG ; Shenzhi WANG ; Xinrong FAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1538-1545
ObjectiveTo establish and evaluate a hyperuricemia (HUA) mouse model with the damp-turbidity internal accumulation syndrome. MethodsThirty-six C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, chemically induced model group (Model), and model combined with high-fat and fatigue group (Model+HF). Twenty-four uricase gene knockout (UOX
6.Establishment and Evaluation of Hyperuricemia Mouse Model with Damp-Turbidity Internal Accumulation Syndrome
Yue ZHANG ; Xiangyu LI ; Xuan YANG ; Shenzhi WANG ; Xinrong FAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1538-1545
ObjectiveTo establish and evaluate a hyperuricemia (HUA) mouse model with the damp-turbidity internal accumulation syndrome. MethodsThirty-six C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, chemically induced model group (Model), and model combined with high-fat and fatigue group (Model+HF). Twenty-four uricase gene knockout (UOX
7.Analysis of pharmaceutical clinic service in our hospital over the past five years
Li FAN ; Shuyan QUAN ; Xuan WANG ; Menglin LUO ; Fei YE ; Lang ZOU ; Feifei YU ; Min HU ; Xuelian HU ; Chenjing LUO ; Peng GU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):748-751
OBJECTIVE To summarize the current situation of pharmaceutical clinic service in our hospital over the past five years, and explore sustainable development strategies for service models of pharmaceutical clinics. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the consultation records of patients who registered and established files at the pharmaceutical clinic in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. Statistical analysis was performed on patients’ general information, medication- related problems, and types of pharmaceutical services provided by pharmacists. RESULTS A total of 963 consultation records were included, among which females aged 20-39 years accounted for the highest proportion (66.04%); obstetrics and gynecology- related consultations accounted for the largest number of cases. Additionally, 80 patients attended follow-up visits at our hospital’s pharmaceutical clinic. A total of 1 029 medication-related issues were resolved, including 538 cases of drug consultations (52.28%), 453 medication recommendations (44.02%), 22 medication restructuring(2.14%), and 16 medication education (1.55%); the most common types of medication-related problems identified were adverse drug events(70.07%). CONCLUSIONS Although the pharmaceutical clinic has achieved recognition from clinicians and patients, challenges such as low awareness among healthcare providers and the public persist. Future efforts should focus on strengthening information technology construction, enhancing pharmacist training, and establishing various forms of outpatient pharmaceutical service models.
8.Construction of lentiviral vectors for solute carrier family 1 member 5 overexpression and knockdown and stably transfected RAW264.7 cell line
Daxin GUO ; Susu FAN ; Zhendong ZHU ; Jianhong HOU ; Xuan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(7):1414-1421
BACKGROUND:Solute carrier family 1 member 5(SLC1A5)plays a potential role in a variety of diseases,but the exact mechanism of action is unclear.The construction of stable SLC1A5 overexpression and knockdown cell models can provide a powerful experimental tool for in-depth study of the exact role and mechanism of SLC1A5 in diseases and the discovery of potential therapeutic targets. OBJECTIVE:To construct lentiviral vectors for overexpression and knockdown of mouse SLC1A5 and establish stable transfected RAW264.7 cell lines,so as to provide an experimental foundation for further investigation of the role of SLC1A5 in inflammation. METHODS:Primers were designed and synthesized based on the SLC1A5 gene sequence,and the gene segment was amplified using polymerase chain reaction.Subsequently,the target gene segment was directionally inserted into the GV492 vector plasmid,which had been digested with AgeI/NheI enzymes,to construct recombinant lentiviral plasmids.Positive clones were further selected,and their sequences were confirmed.The pHelper1.0 plasmid vector and pHelper2.0 plasmid vector,along with the target plasmid vector,was co-cultured with 293T cells for transfection,resulting in the production and titration of lentiviral stocks.Furthermore,RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro,and the working concentration of puromycin was determined.Lentiviruses were separately co-cultured with RAW264.7 cells,and transfection efficiency was determined by measuring fluorescence intensity.Stable transfected cells were selected using puromycin,and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot assay were employed to assess the gene and protein expression levels of SLC1A5 in stably transfected cell lines. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Sequencing results indicated a perfect match between the sequencing and target sequences,confirming the successful construction of recombinant lentiviral vectors.(2)The titer for the overexpression SLC1A5 lentivirus was 1×109 TU/mL,while the titer for the knockdown SLC1A5 lentivirus was 3×109 TU/mL.(3)The working concentration of puromycin for RAW264.7 cells was determined to be 3 μg/mL.(4)The optimal conditions for transfecting RAW264.7 cells with overexpression/knockdown expression of SLC1A5 lentivirus involved the use of HiTransG P transfection enhancer with a multiplicity of infection value of 50.(5)A significant upregulation of the gene and protein expression levels of SLC1A5 was detected in cell lines stably overexpressing SLC1A5,while gene and protein expression levels of SLC1A5 were significantly decreased in the knockdown stable cell lines.These findings indicate that lentiviral vectors for mouse SLC1A5 overexpression and knockdown have been successfully constructed and a stably transfected RAW264.7 cell line has been obtained.
9.Short-term efficacy of right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy for ventricular septal defect repair in infants weighing no more than 5 kg
Weijie LIANG ; Heqi ZHANG ; Hua CAO ; Haoju DONG ; Maozheng XUAN ; Dong LIANG ; Taibing FAN
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2025;40(6):442-447
Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy technique (RVIAT) versus traditional median sternotomy (MS) for ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair in infants weighing ≤5 kg.The study further investigates the safety and feasibility of these two surgical approaches.Methods:Retrospective case-series study.Three hundred and fourteen children weighing no more than 5 kg who received VSD repair in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from January 2020 to June 2024 were analysized.Of these children, 252 cases who underwent RVIAT were included in the RVIAT group, and 62 cases who received traditional MS were classified as the MS group.Clinical data such as day age, body mass, the VSD type and diameter were compared between the 2 groups.The operation time, extracorporeal circulation time, block and postoperative mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment time, 24-hour postoperative chest drainage volume and intraoperative bleeding, postoperative secondary intubation, and cardiac arrhythmia of the 2 groups of patients were recorded.Children with unstable blood pressure and active bleeding after taking vasoactive and hemostatic drugs underwent a secondary surgery.The peak airway pressure, oxygenation index, and lung dynamic compliance of the 2 groups of children were recorded before chest opening, immediately after surgery, and 24 hours after surgery. t test, χ2 test and rank sum test were used to compare the clinical data, perioperative results, complications and lung function data of the two groups. Results:(1) No significant differences were observed between the two groups in gender, age, body mass, VSD type and diameter, preoperative pneumonia, and mechanical ventilation rate (all P>0.05).(2) One-stage VSD repair was successfully completed in all cases.In the MS group, 1 infant required a secondary surgery for pericardial tamponade due to excessive bleeding.In the RVIAT group, 1 case necessitated a secondary surgery for third-degree atrioventricular block.Two cases in the MS group and 3 cases in the RVIAT group suffered postoperative arrhythmia, all of who supplemented electrolytes, received a secondary surgery to remove patches and adjust suture positions, and took antiarrhythmic drugs to restore sinus rhythm.(3) The operation time [(137.4±9.1) minutes], hospital stay [(8.2±2.1) days], postoperative mechanical ventilation time [8.0 (6.0, 13.0) hours], postoperative ICU stay [2.9 (2.0, 3.6) days], 24-hour postoperative chest drainage volume [(11.3±1.2) mL], intraoperative bleeding [(11.6±1.2) mL], and hospital costs [(70±7) thousand yuan], the postoperative incidence of incision infection [0.4%(1/252)] and the postoperative incidence of sternal malformation (0) in the RVIAT group were significantly lower than those in the MS group [(151.9±20.2) minutes, (13.1±1.7) days, 12.0 (9.0, 15.0) hours, 2.9 (2.5, 3.7) days, (14.3±1.6) mL, (15.8±2.0) mL, (78±4) thousand yuan, 4.8%(3/62), and 4.8%(3/62), respectively] (all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in extracorporeal circulation time, aortic occlusion time, postoperative arrhythmia rate, residual shunt, and atelectasis between the two groups (all P>0.05).(4) The peak airway pressure, oxygenation index and lung dynamic compliance before chest opening, immediately after surgery, and 24 hours after surgery did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:In infants with low body mass (≤5 kg), RVIAT for VSD repair offers good exposure through a small incision, capable of reducing operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hospital stay, and hospital costs, and facilitating faster recovery.With high safety and effects, RVIAT can be considered as a viable alternative to MS.
10.Analysis of a child with X-linked intellectual disability type 100 due to variant of KIF4A gene and a literature review.
Xiaoxuan FAN ; Zhengfang CHEN ; Xiaoyan XUAN ; Xiaoke ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(10):307-313
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the clinical phenotype and variants of KIF4A gene associated with X-linked intellectual disability type 100 (XLID100) in a child by whole-exome sequencing (WES).
METHODS:
A child presented at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University in September 2023 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was retrospectively analyzed. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and his family members for WES analysis. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity of the candidate variant was rated based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). The variant was also searched in dbSNP, OMIM, HGMD, ClinVar and gnomAD databases. Amino acid sequences of the KIF4A protein across various species were retrieved from the Ensembl Genome Browser Database and analyzed using Clustal Omega software. Relevant literature on KIF4A gene mutations associated with XLID100 was reviewed. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No. 202402022-1).
RESULTS:
The child, a 3-year-6-month-old male, had manifested intellectual impairment, language delay, autism, and choroid cyst revealed by cranial magnetic resonance imaging. No facial dysmorphism, tooth anomaly, gross motor development delay or regression, and history of seizure and febrile convulsion was noted. WES revealed that he has harbored a c.3385delinsTATC (p.Thr1129delinsTyrPro) variant of the KIF4A gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that his mother and sister have harbored the same variant, whilst his father was of the wild type. Both of his parents had a normal phenotype. The variant was classified as of uncertain significance based on the guidelines from the ACMG. It was not recorded by the dbSNP, OMIM, HGMD, ClinVar and the gnomAD database. Conservative analysis suggested that the variant site, which normally encodes a cysteine, is highly conserved among various species. A review of the literature had retrieved 6 relevant articles documenting a total of 27 cases of KIF4A gene mutations, with only one case from China.
CONCLUSION
The c.3385delinsTATC (p.Thr1129delinsTyrPro) variant of the KIF4A gene probably underlay the XLID100 in this child. Above finding has provided a reference for the clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling and enriched the mutation spectrum of the KIF4A gene.
Humans
;
Kinesins/genetics*
;
Male
;
Child, Preschool
;
Intellectual Disability/genetics*
;
Mutation
;
Exome Sequencing
;
X-Linked Intellectual Disability/genetics*
;
Phenotype

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail