1.Investigation of Component Difference of Astragali Radix Before and After Rice Stir-frying by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Combined with Chemometrics
Miaoshi YAO ; Yimeng ZHAO ; Zekun WANG ; Minglu LI ; Chenxi LIU ; Chen CHEN ; Yajun CHEN ; Yachun SHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):189-197
ObjectiveA qualitative analysis method was established for the composition of Astragali Radix(AR) before and after rice stir-frying. On the basis of systematic characterization of the chemical compositions in AR and stir-fried AR with rice(ARR), the structures of their major compounds were deduced and identified, and the differential compositions between them were analyzed. MethodsUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used to detect the samples of AR and ARR in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. The compounds were analyzed and identified through self-constructed databases, literature, and reference standards, etc. And the data were analyzed by chemometrics, in order to screen for the differential components between AR and ARR. ResultsA total of 123 compounds were identified in AR and ARR, including 41 flavonoids, 19 terpenoids, 26 organic acids, 8 amino acids, 5 nucleotides, 5 carbohydrates and 19 other compounds. Among them, there were 95 common components in both, 18 unique components in AR, and 10 unique components in ARR. Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) results both showed that there were significant differences in the chemical constituents of AR before and after rice stir-frying, and a total of 26 constituents with differences in the content were screened out, including L-canavanine, L-pyroglutamic acid, L-phenylalanine, cis-caffeic acid, and malonylastragaloside Ⅰ. Among them, 19 constituents of ARR were down-regulated and 7 constituents were up-regulated by comparing with AR. ConclusionThis study clarifies that the chemical composition of AR and ARR is mainly composed of flavonoids, terpenoids, and organic acids, and analyzes the components with significant differences in content between the two in combination with chemometrics, and the differential components are dominated by amino acids, organic acids and terpenoids, which can provide reference for the subsequent quality control and material basis research.
2.Effects of a multidisciplinary integrated weight management intervention in Beilun District
XU Chunxia ; Ding Yajun ; YUAN Yunyun ; ZHOU Yachun ; PAN Xiaohua ; ZHANG Jingjing ; CHEN Lili
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(11):1103-1107,1112
Objective:
To evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary weight management intervention, so as to provide a reference for the formulation of overweight and obesity intervention measures.
Methods:
From April to September 2025, overweight and obese residents aged 18-60 years who participated in a weight loss competition at the Health Management Center of Beilun People's Hospital in Ningbo City were selected as study subjects. They were divided into a control group and an intervention group. The control group received conventional weight management, while the intervention group received the multidisciplinary integrated weight management in addition to the conventional weight management, for a total intervention period of 8 weeks. Weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and blood pressure were collected before and after the intervention through physical examinations and laboratory tests. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) method was employed to analyze the differences in indicators between the two groups before and after the intervention.
Results:
The control group comprised 241 participants, including 161 females (66.80%), with a mean age of (35.66±7.80) years. The intervention group consisted of 127 participants, including 86 females (67.72%), with a mean age of (36.80±7.05) years. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups at baseline in terms of age, gender, weight, BMI, or waist-to-hip ratio (all P>0.05). Results from the GEE analysis indicated significant interactions between group and time for weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference (all P<0.05) with greater reductions in these parameters observed in the intervention group compared to the control group before and after the intervention. Similarly, significant interactions between group and time were observed for FBG, TG, TC, and LDL-C (all P<0.05), with the intervention group demonstrating larger decreases in these markers compared to the control group. However, no statistically significant interactions between group and time were observed for waist-to-hip ratio, HDL-C, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (all P>0.05). Following the intervention, a weight loss exceeding 10% was achieved by 13 participants (5.39%) in the control group and 62 participants (48.82%) in the intervention group. The proportion of individuals with a weight loss exceeding 10% was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Compared to conventional weight management, multidisciplinary integrated weight management demonstrated greater efficacy in improving weight-related indicators and blood glucose, blood lipids, and enhancing weight loss outcomes among overweight and obese residents.
3.Apelin promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in bladder cancer by activating the FGF2/FGFR1 pathway.
Wei SU ; Houhua LAI ; Xin TANG ; Qun ZHOU ; Yachun TANG ; Hao FU ; Xuancai CHEN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1289-1296
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the role of apelin in regulating proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of bladder cancer cells and the possible regulatory mechanism.
METHODS:
GEO database was used to screen the differentially expressed genes in bladder cancer tissues and cells. Bladder cancer and paired adjacent tissues were collected from 60 patients for analysis of apelin expressions in relation to clinicopathological parameters. In cultured bladder cancer J82 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the effects of transfection with an apelin-overexpressing plasmid or specific siRNAs targeting apelin, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) on proliferation and migration of J82 cells and tube formation in HUVECs were examined using plate cloning assay, Transwell assay, and angiogenesis assay; the changes in FGF2 expression and FGFR1 phosphorylation were detected using Western blotting.
RESULTS:
The expression level of apelin was significantly higher in bladder cancer tissues than adjacent tissues, and bladder cancer cell lines (T24 and J82) also expressed higher mRNA and protein levels of apelin than SV-HUC-1 cells. Apelin expression level in bladder cancer tissues was correlated with tumor invasion, distant metastasis and advanced TNM stages. Apelin knockdown significantly suppressed proliferation and migration of J82 cells and decreased the total angiogenic length of HUVECs. In contrast, apelin overexpression significantly promoted proliferation and migration and enhanced FGFR1 phosphorylation in J82 cells, and increased the total angiogenesis length in HUVECs, but this effects were effectively mitigated by transfection of the cells with FGF2 siRNA or FGFR1 siRNA.
CONCLUSIONS
High expression of apelin promotes J82 cell proliferation and migration and HUVEC angiogenesis by promoting activation of the FGF2/FGFR1 pathway.
Humans
;
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/blood supply*
;
Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism*
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Cell Movement
;
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism*
;
Neovascularization, Pathologic
;
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Signal Transduction
;
Apelin
;
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics*
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Female
;
Male
;
Angiogenesis
4.Identification of the sugarcane β-1,3-glucanase gene family and analysis of their expression under various stress conditions.
Tingchen HUANG ; Yifei XIA ; Yurong LUO ; Shoujian ZANG ; Yan CHEN ; Qinghong LIU ; Yingying LI ; Yue ZHANG ; Wenyue ZHANG ; Yachun SU ; Chuihuai YOU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(7):2913-2933
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important sugar crop. Biotic and abiotic stresses such as diseases, cold, and drought are major factors limiting sugarcane production. β-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.39), a member of the pathogenesis-related protein family, plays an essential role not only in the plant defenses against pathogens but also in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. To systematically investigate the sugarcane β-1,3-glucanase gene family, 132 glycoside hydrolase (GH) 17 family members were identified in the genomes of the sugarcane wild species Saccharum spontaneum 'Np-X', the tropical species S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', and the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570'. The results of the phylogenetic analysis categorized them into four subfamilies, of which subfamily Ⅳ had the largest proportion of members (102). The members of the sugarcane GH17 gene family contained five conserved motifs and 0-16 introns. The majority of the GH17 genes exhibited a genome-wide replication pattern, with 89.50% originating from S. spontaneum 'Np-X' and S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', while 58.10% of them in the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570' belonged to the discrete replication type. Four major classes of cis-acting elements were identified in the promoters, including the elements related to plant growth, development, and tissue-specific expression (14.21%), light-responsive elements (38.24%), biotic or abiotic stress-responsive elements (9.18%), and hormone-responsive elements (38.37%), which suggested that this gene family was involved in plant growth, development, hormone responses, and stress responses. Transcriptome and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses showed that the sugarcane GH17 genes exhibited tissue-specific expression and were differentially expressed under low temperature, drought, and hormone treatments, as well as during the interactions between different sugarcane genotypes and Sporisorium scitamineum, suggesting their potential roles in plant defenses. In addition, some SsGlu genes (SsGlu5, SsGlu20, SsGlu21, SsGlu25, SsGlu28, and SsGlu39) were expected to serve as candidate stress-related genes. This study lays a foundation for further revealing the molecular mechanisms of the stress resistance of sugarcane via β-1,3-glucanase genes.
Saccharum/physiology*
;
Stress, Physiological/genetics*
;
Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase/metabolism*
;
Multigene Family
;
Phylogeny
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Plant Proteins/genetics*
5.Application of multimodal analgesia regimen in postoperative pain management after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Min CHEN ; Hongshan DAI ; Zhiwei JIANG ; Shupei LI ; Miaoshi YAO ; Yachun SHU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(21):2658-2662
OBJECTIVE To explore the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a multimodal analgesic regimen in patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy under the guidance of enhanced recovery after surgery principles. METHODS Data from weight loss patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at our hospital were retrospectively collected. The trial group patients received a multimodal analgesic regimen, which included the use of 0.375% ropivacaine for local infiltration of the surgical incision before the end of surgery; intravenous infusion of flurbiprofen axetil 50 mg twice daily; intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone 40 mg once daily and oral administration of extended-release hydrocodone hydrochloride tablets 10 mg twice daily after surgery. The control group patients received a conventional analgesic regimen, which included intravenous infusion of flurbiprofen axetil 100 mg twice daily, with a daily dose twice that of the trial group; and intravenous injection of dexamethasone 5 mg once daily. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline data between the two groups. Then the pain scores during movement and at rest at 2, 12, 24 and 36 hours postoperatively, as well as the length of postoperative hospital stay, total length of hospital stay, time to first ambulation after surgery, adverse reactions during hospitalization, total drug costs, and costs of antimicrobial drugs during hospitalization were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The trial group had significantly lower pain scores during movement at 2, 24 and 36 hours postoperatively, and at rest at 2, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively compared to the control group (P<0.05). The time to first ambulation after surgery, total length of hospital stay, and length of postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the trial group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of shoulder and back soreness, and costs of antimicrobial drugs were significantly lower in the trial group compared to the control group (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the total incidence of drug-related adverse reactions and total drug costs during hospitalization between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The multimodal analgesic regimen provides marked pain relief, demonstrates good safety profiles, and has a more economic advantage than the conventional analgesic regimen.
6.Identification and functional analysis of the transcriptional factor GeERF4B-1 in Gelsemium elegans.
Chuihuai YOU ; Ruiqi CHEN ; Xinlu SUN ; Yingying LI ; Yachun SU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2024;40(11):4198-4210
Gelsemium elegans, a vine plant of Loganiaceae, has both medicinal and forage values. However, it is susceptible to low temperatures during growth. Exploring low temperature response genes is of great significance for cold resistance breeding of G. elegans. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) are the transcription factors of the AP2/ERF superfamily and play a crucial role in plant stress response. In this study, based on the unigene GeERF involved in the response to low temperature stress in the transcriptome of G. elegans, a full-length cDNA sequence of the transcription factor GeERF4B-1 was cloned from the leaves of G. elegans by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Bioinformatics analysis showed that GeERF4B-1 had an open reading frame of 759 bp, encoding a protein composed of 252 amino acid residues and with a relative molecular weight of 27 kDa. The deduced protein was predicted to be an unstable, alkaline, and hydrophilic protein. The phylogenetic tree showed that GeERF4B-1 was in the same clade as the B-4 subfamily of the ERF family. The results of the subcellular localization experiment revealed that GeERF4B-1 was located in the nucleus. Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis indicated that GeERF4B-1 was expressed in the root, stem, and leaf of G. elegans, with the highest expression level in the root. Compared with the control, the treatments with a low temperature (4 ℃), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and abscisic acid (ABA) up-regulated the expression level of GeERF4B-1, which reached the peak at 24-48 h. This result revealed that GeERF4B-1 actively responded to low temperature, MeJA, and ABA stresses. However, both sodium chloride (NaCl) and drought treatments down-regulated the expression of GeERF4B-1. In addition, a prokaryotic expression vector of GeERF4B-1 was constructed, and a fusion protein of approximately 52 kDa was yielded after induced expression. The results of the plate stress assay showed that compared with the control, the prokaryotic strain expressing GeERF4B-1 demonstrated enhanced tolerance to low temperatures and sensitivity to salt and mannitol stresses. This study provides theoretical references and potential genetic resources for breeding G. elegans varieties with stress resistance.
Transcription Factors/metabolism*
;
Plant Proteins/metabolism*
;
Gelsemium/metabolism*
;
Acetates/pharmacology*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Phylogeny
;
Cold Temperature
;
Amino Acid Sequence
;
Cyclopentanes/metabolism*
;
Oxylipins/metabolism*
;
Stress, Physiological/genetics*
;
Abscisic Acid/metabolism*
;
Cloning, Molecular
7.Investigation on the mechanism of Compound zaoren granules in improving insomnia based on serum meta-bonomics
Zekun WANG ; Shenlin LIU ; Xiaocong YU ; Danting LI ; Lingfeng ZHANG ; Yimeng ZHAO ; Chen CHEN ; Yajun CHEN ; Yachun SHU
China Pharmacy 2023;34(9):1093-1098
OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of Compound zaoren granule in improving insomnia. METHODS Forty-nine mice were divided into blank group, model group, positive control group 1 (Estazolam tablets 0.5 mg/kg),control group 2 (Shumian capsule 0.6 g/kg), Compound zaoren granule low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups (2.5, 5, 10 g/kg), with 7 mice in each group. The insomnia model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with 4-chloro-DL- phenylacetic acid. The behavioral changes of mice were investigated through open field test and pentobarbital sodium synergistic hypnosis experiment, as well as the pathomorphology of mice hypothalamus tissue was observed by HE staining. The metabonomics analysis and multivariate statistical analysis of serum in mice were performed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, and the differential metabolites were screened out; the metabolic pathway analysis was conducted based on MetaboAnalyst 5.0 database. RESULTS Compared with blank group, the total travelling distance, the number of entering the central region and the moving distance in the central region of the model group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), the proportion of total rest time was significantly increased (P<0.05), the sleep duration of mice was significantly shortened (P<0.05), and hypothalamic nerve cells damaged and severely vacuolated. Compared with model group, the total travelling distance of Compound zaoren granule low-dose and medium-dose groups were increased significantly and the proportions of total rest time of those groups were decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the sleep duration of mice in Compound zaoren granule high-dose group was prolonged significantly (P<0.05); the hypothalamic nerve cells of mice in each administration group recovered to varying degrees, and the hypothalamus histiocytes of mice in the Compound zaoren granules high-dose group were closer to those in the blank group. A total of 18 differential metabolites (such as phenylalanine, taurine, norvaline, methionine) and 4 important amino acid metabolic pathways (L-phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis; taurine and hypotaurine metabolism; L-phenylalanine metabolism; cysteine and methionine metabolism) were identified through metabolomics analysis. CONCLUSIONS Compound zaoren granules can normalize the disordered metabolism in vivo by regulating differential metabolites such as phenylalanine, taurine, and four amino acid metabolic pathways, so as to improve insomnia.
8.Investigation on the mechanism of Kuaisong yin in the prevention and treatment of constipation based on metabonomics
Xiaocong YU ; Shenlin LIU ; Zekun WANG ; Danting LI ; Yimeng ZHAO ; Chen CHEN ; Yajun CHEN ; Yachun SHU
China Pharmacy 2023;34(17):2121-2127
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Kuaisong yin in the prevention and treatment of constipation. METHODS Slow transit constipation (STC) model was established with Compound difenoxylate tablet in mice and rats. Two batches of mice were divided into blank group, model group, positive control group (Maren soft capsule, 0.64 g/kg), Kuaisong yin low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups (3.2, 6.4, 12.8 g/kg), with 10 mice in each group. The effect of Kuaisong yin on constipation in mice was evaluated by intestinal propulsion experiment and defecation experiment. Rats were divided into blank group, model group, positive control group (Maren soft capsule,0.36 g/kg), Kuaisong yin low-dose and high-dose groups (2.4, 4.8 g/kg), with 7 or 8 rats in each group. They were given relevant medicine once a day for 1 week. The metabonomics of serum and urine of rats were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology. RESULTS Compared with model group, the ink propulsion rate and 5 h defecation volume of mice in Kuaisong yin high-dose group were significantly increased (P<0.05); the first defecation time of mice in Kuaisong yin medium-dose and high-dose groups was significantly shortened, and the quality of defecation was significantly reduced within 5 h (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Serum metabonomics screened 16 compounds (such as proline, propionylcarnitine, hemolytic phosphatidylcholine, etc.) and 6 metabolic pathways (such as sphingomyelin metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, sphingolipid biosynthesis-lactose and neolactone series). Urine metabonomics screened 20 different metabolites (such as prostaglandin A2, L-valine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, etc.) and 8 metabolic pathways (such as valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, sphingomyelin metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, etc.). CONCLUSIONS Kuaisong yin can play a role in improving constipation by regulating different metabolites such as hemolytic phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine, prostaglandin A2, L-valine, proline, and regulating metabolic pathways such as multiple amino acid metabolism, sphingomyelin metabolism, etc.
9.Clinical efficacy and safety of decitabine combined with CAG regimen in treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a Meta-analysis
Rong CHEN ; Feng ZHANG ; Guilan LAI ; Yachun CHEN ; Guoxian CUI ; Jianzhen SHEN
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2020;29(8):488-494
Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of decitabine combined with CAG regimen in treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods:Decitabine combined with CAG regimen (experimental group) and CAG regimen alone (control group) were used to treat elderly patients with AML. The randomized controlled trials (RCT) were retrieved from PubMed database, Cochrane Library, Embase database, China Notional Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and VIP database and references listed in all studies. The data of RCT that met the inclusion criteria were extracted, and the quality was evaluated and cross-checked independently according to Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and then Meta-analysis was conducted by using StataMP 14.0 software.Results:A total of 16 studies and 1 090 patients were included. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a higher complete remission rate and total effective rate, and the differences were statistically significant ( RR=1.63, 95% CI 1.40-1.89, P < 0.01; RR=1.39, 95% CI 1.27-1.51, P < 0.01). In terms of adverse reactions, the incidence of fever in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( RR=2.06, 95% CI 1.54-2.75, P < 0.01). Conclusion:Meta-analysis showed that decitabine combined with CAG regimen has a better clinical efficacy in the treatment of elderly patients with AML, but there are more severe adverse reactions.
10.Normoalbuminuric diabetic kidney disease
Chen CHAO ; Wang CHANG ; Hu CHUN ; Han YACHUN ; Zhao LI ; Zhu XUEJING ; Xiao LI ; Sun LIN
Frontiers of Medicine 2017;11(3):310-318
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the primary causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Early diagnosis is very important in preventing the development of DKD.Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are widely accepted as criteria for the diagnosis and clinical grading of DKD,and microaibuminuria has been recommended as the first clinical sign of DKD.The natural history of DKD has been divided into three stages:normoalbuminuria,microalbuminuria,and macroalbuminuria.However,this clinical paradigm has been questioned recently,as studies have shown that a portion of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with normoalbuminuria have progressive renal insufficiency,referred to as normoalbuminuric diabetic kidney disease (NADKD) or nonalbuminuric diabetic nephropathy.Epidemiologic research has demonstrated that normoalbuminuric diabetic kidney disease is common,and the large number of NADKD patients suggests that the traditional paradigm needs to be shifted.Currently,the pathogenesis of NADKD remains unclear,but many clinical studies have identified some clinical and pathological features of NADKD.In addition,the long-term outcomes of NADKD patients remain controversial.In this article,we reviewed the latest studies addressing the pathogenesis,pathology,treatment and prevention of NADKD.


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