1.The Role and Mechanism of Circadian Rhythm Regulation in Skin Tissue Regeneration
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Xiao-Meng MA ; Zhen-Kai JIN ; Kun LI ; Min WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1165-1178
Circadian rhythm is an endogenous biological clock mechanism that enables organisms to adapt to the earth’s alternation of day and night. It plays a fundamental role in regulating physiological functions and behavioral patterns, such as sleep, feeding, hormone levels and body temperature. By aligning these processes with environmental changes, circadian rhythm plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and promoting optimal health. However, modern lifestyles, characterized by irregular work schedules and pervasive exposure to artificial light, have disrupted these rhythms for many individuals. Such disruptions have been linked to a variety of health problems, including sleep disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction, underscoring the critical role of circadian rhythm in human health. Among the numerous systems influenced by circadian rhythm, the skin—a multifunctional organ and the largest by surface area—is particularly noteworthy. As the body’s first line of defense against environmental insults such as UV radiation, pollutants, and pathogens, the skin is highly affected by changes in circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm regulates multiple skin-related processes, including cyclic changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as DNA repair mechanisms and antioxidant defenses. For instance, studies have shown that keratinocyte proliferation peaks during the night, coinciding with reduced environmental stress, while DNA repair mechanisms are most active during the day to counteract UV-induced damage. This temporal coordination highlights the critical role of circadian rhythms in preserving skin integrity and function. Beyond maintaining homeostasis, circadian rhythm is also pivotal in the skin’s repair and regeneration processes following injury. Skin regeneration is a complex, multi-stage process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, all of which are influenced by circadian regulation. Key cellular activities, such as fibroblast migration, keratinocyte activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling, are modulated by the circadian clock, ensuring that repair processes occur with optimal efficiency. Additionally, circadian rhythm regulates the secretion of cytokines and growth factors, which are critical for coordinating cellular communication and orchestrating tissue regeneration. Disruptions to these rhythms can impair the repair process, leading to delayed wound healing, increased scarring, or chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent information on the interactions between circadian rhythms and skin physiology, with a particular focus on skin tissue repair and regeneration. Molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation in skin cells, including the role of core clock genes such as Clock, Bmal1, Per and Cry. These genes control the expression of downstream effectors involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, oxidative stress response and inflammatory pathways. By understanding how these mechanisms operate in healthy and diseased states, we can discover new insights into the temporal dynamics of skin regeneration. In addition, by exploring the therapeutic potential of circadian biology in enhancing skin repair and regeneration, strategies such as topical medications that can be applied in a time-limited manner, phototherapy that is synchronized with circadian rhythms, and pharmacological modulation of clock genes are expected to optimize clinical outcomes. Interventions based on the skin’s natural rhythms can provide a personalized and efficient approach to promote skin regeneration and recovery. This review not only introduces the important role of circadian rhythms in skin biology, but also provides a new idea for future innovative therapies and regenerative medicine based on circadian rhythms.
2.Mechanism of Wendantang in Intervention of ApoE-/- Hyperlipidemic Mice Based on Liver Metabolomics
Yun ZHOU ; Songren YU ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Keming YU ; Min XIA ; Zhijun ZENG ; Yanhua JI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):1-9
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of action of Wendantang on ApoE-/- hyperlipidemic mice using non-targeted metabolomics technology. MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice served as the normal control group (n=6), and they were fed with regular chow, while male ApoE-/- mice constituted the high-fat group (n=30), and they were fed with a 60% high-fat diet. After 11 weeks of model establishment, the mice in the high-fat group were randomly divided into the model group, simvastatin group (3.3 mg·kg-1), and high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of Wendantang (26, 13, 6.5 g·kg-1, respectively, in terms of crude drug amount), with six mice in each group. The normal control group and the model group were gavaged with an equivalent volume of normal saline, and all groups continued to be fed their respective diets, receiving daily medication for 10 weeks with weekly body weight measurements. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), free fatty acids (NEFA), blood glucose (GLU), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected in the mice. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was employed for metabolomic analysis of mouse liver tissue. ResultsCompared to the normal control group, the model group exhibited significantly increased body weight, blood lipid levels, and liver function (P<0.05, P<0.01), with disordered liver tissue structure, swollen hepatocytes, and accompanying vacuolar fatty degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to the model group, the simvastatin group and Wendantang groups showed significantly reduced body weight, TG, NEFA, GLU, ALT, and AST levels (P<0.05, P<0.01), with a significant increase in HDL-C levels (P<0.05, P<0.01), demonstrating a dose-dependent effect. The lesion of the liver tissue section was obviously improved after administration, tending towards a normal liver tissue morphology. Analysis of liver metabolites revealed 86 differential metabolites between the normal control group and the model group, with the high-dose group of Wendantang able to regulate 56 of these metabolites. Twenty-two differential metabolites associated with hyperlipidemia were identified, mainly including chenodeoxycholic acid, hyocholic acid, taurine, glycocholic acid, dihydroceramide, hydroxy sphingomyelin C14∶1, arachidonic acid, and linoleic acid, enriching 22 metabolic pathways, with 4 being the most significant (P<0.05), namely primary bile acid biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism pathways. ConclusionWendantang can improve blood lipid levels and liver function in ApoE-/- hyperlipidemic mice, which may be related to the regulation of primary bile acid biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism pathways.
3.Investigation of Effect of Different Drying Conditions on Appearance Characteristics and Internal Indicators of Pinelliae Rhizoma Based on Standardization
Suqing LIU ; Xueli ZHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Cong YANG ; Changfu YANG ; Jun YU ; Bingpeng ZHENG ; Huiwu LI ; Yanhua JIANG ; Chang LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):208-215
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of different drying conditions on the appearance and intrinsic quality indicators of Pinelliae Rhizoma for screening suitable drying conditions, so as to provide reference for its standardized production and quality evaluation. MethodsDifferent dried samples of Pinelliae Rhizoma were prepared by lime-assisted sweating method and intermittent drying method. Visual analysis was employed to measure the color brightness values(L*) of the surface, cross-section and powder of the samples, texture analyzer was used to determine the hardness of the samples under different drying conditions. The total starch content was calculated by measuring the contents of amylose and amylopectin in the samples with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the contents of seven nucleoside components(uracil, hypoxanthine, uridine, inosine, guanosine, β-thymidine and adenosine) in the samples. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between the external characteristics and intrinsic indicators of the different dried samples. Principal component analysis(PCA) was used to comprehensively rank the data of various indicators, and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) was used to screen differential components with variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1. Furthermore, the difference between the optimal drying condition for Pinelliae Rhizoma and the traditional sun-drying method was explored by independent samples t-test. ResultsWith the increase of temperature, the color of the intermittently dried samples gradually deepened, while their hardness gradually decreased. Concurrently, the contents of extract, total starch, uridine and adenosine exhibited an upward trend, whereas the contents of uracil, hypoxanthine and inosine displayed a downward trajectory. Compared with the intermittent drying group, the content of extract in the samples subjected to lime-assisted sweating increased. With the increase of lime dose, the hardness and the total content of nucleoside components in the samples showed a downward trend, while the total starch content showed an upward trend. Correlation analysis showed that the comprehensive score of L* was negatively correlated with the contents of uracil, hypoxanthine and inosine, and positively correlated with the contents of uridine, guanosine and adenosine. Hardness was negatively correlated with adenosine content, and positively correlated with the contents of inosine, uracil and hypoxanthine. Through comprehensive consideration and comprehensive score of principal components, the method of 5% lime-mixed sweating for 6 days emerged as the top-ranking approach. Except for the extract, the results of independent samples t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the 5% lime-mixed sweating for 6 days and the traditional sun-drying in terms of other content indicators. ConclusionThe whiteness and firmness of Pinelliae Rhizoma exhibit significant correlations with its chemical composition, while uridine, uracil, guanosine, adenosine and inosine are the key constituents responsible for the quality difference of Pinelliae Rhizoma under different drying conditions. The lime-assisted sweating method optimized in this study can be proposed as a viable alternative to the traditional sun-drying method. This method not only ensures the quality of the medicinal material but also effectively reduces the drying time and prevents mold contamination, which provides a valuable reference for the standardization of drying conditions and the establishment of quality evaluation criteria for Pinelliae Rhizoma.
4.Clinical study on the combination of Jianpi Bushen Jiedu Prescription with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and targeted therapy for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer
Yuying HUANG ; Juan CHEN ; Tao GONG ; Miao MA ; Yanhua ZHAO ; Zihan LIN ; Haina DU ; Xiaokang TIAN ; Mingzhi FANG ; Min LI
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(8):1059-1065
Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Jianpi Bushen Jiedu Prescription combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy and targeted therapy for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer patients with liver and kidney yin deficiency combined with spleen deficiency pattern.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 72 hospitalized patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated at the Department of Oncology, Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from October 2022 to January 2024 were enrolled as study subjects. Using a random number table method, they were allocated into two groups, with 36 patients in each group. The control group received the mFOLFOX6/FOLFIRI combined with bevacizumab regimen, while the treatment group was administered additional oral Jianpi Bushen Jiedu Prescription on the basis of the control group. Two weeks was a cycle in both groups, with a total of 6 cycles of treatment. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) were detected using electrochemiluminescence; the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale was utilized to evaluate patients' functional status; vital signs were continuously monitored, and adverse reactions were recorded. The short-term efficacy and TCM syndrome efficacy of patients were evaluated.Results:The treatment group demonstrated higher objective response rate (ORR) [31.25% (10/32) vs. 21.88% (7/32), χ2=0.72] and disease control rate (DCR) [84.38% (27/32) vs. 71.88% (23/32), χ2=1.46] compared to the control group, without statistical significance ( P>0.05). Post-treatment levels of CEA [4.09 (3.31,8.57) μg/L vs. 10.07 (4.55,22.35) μg/L, Z=-2.10] and CA72-4 [4.54 (2.04,10.99) mU/L vs. 9.48 (4.34,18.95) mU/L, Z=-2.52] in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The total effective rate of TCM syndrome was significantly higher in the treatment group [78.13% (25/32)] compared with the control group [50.00% (16/32)], with statistical significance ( χ2=5.50, P=0.019). Post-treatment KPS scores in the treatment group [80.0 (80.0, 80.0) vs. 70.0 (62.5, 80.0), Z=-2.76] were significantly higher compared with the control group ( P<0.01). During the treatment period, the treatment group showed statistical significance compared with the control group in the incidence of hemoglobin decrease ( χ2=4.66), leukopenia decrease ( χ2=4.27), and peripheral neuropathy ( χ2=3.93), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The addition of Jianpi Bushen Jiedu Prescription to 5-FU-based chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy demonstrates significant clinical benefits in advanced colorectal cancer patients, including reducing tumor marker levels, alleviating clinical symptoms, improving quality of life, and mitigating treatment-related toxicities, with a good safety.
5.Construction and Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Postoperative Constipation in Patients With Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Fracture Undergoing Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
Xiaofeng LIU ; Yanhua WU ; Lin KANG ; Shuhui LIN ; Ziming CAI ; Wenping LIN
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(5):1305-1312
Objective To develop an instrument for predicting postoperative constipation risks in patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture(OTLF)who have undergone percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP).Methods A total of 858 OTLF patients who underwent PKP surgery between January 2020 and December 2024 were enrolled.The patients were randomly assigned to a training set(n=600)and a validation set(n=258)in a 7∶3 ratio.According to whether the patients had postoperative constipation,the training set was divided into a constipation group(n=205)and a non-constipation group(n=395),and the validation set was divided into a constipation group(n=90)and a non-constipation group(n=168).Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the factors influencing postoperative constipation in OTLF patients after PKP,and a nomogram model was constructed accordingly.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the calibration curve of the model were plotted,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test for goodness of fit was performed.Results A total of 205 OTLF patients(34.17%)in the training set and 90 OTLF patients(34.88%)in the validation set experienced constipation after PKP.Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the constipation and non-constipation groups in terms of operative time,postoperative water intake,time to first postoperative meal,postoperative bed rest time,the levels of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,Enterococcus,and Enterobacter,the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002(NRS-2002)score,and the levels of sodium,potassium,and HbA1c(P<0.05).Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression was performed and operative time,time to first postoperative meal,the levels of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,Enterococcus,and Enterobacter,the NRS-2002 score,and the levels of sodium,potassium,and HbA1c were identified as candidate predictors.Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the time to first postoperative meal,the levels of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus,the NRS-2002 score,and the levels of sodium and HbA1c were influencing factors of postoperative constipation in OTLF patients(P<0.05).The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the training set was 0.842(95%CI:0.793-0.892),while that of the validation set was 0.860(95%CI:0.830-0.889).The calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between the prediction curve and the standard curve in both the training set and the validation set.Conclusion The time to the first postoperative meal,the NRS2002 score,and the levels of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,sodium,and HbA1c are influencing factors of post-PKP constipation in OTLF patients.The nomogram model built based on these factors exhibited good predictive performance.
6.Evaluation of radiation-induced intestinal injury via a new human intestinal organ-on-a-chip model
Liang HU ; Lin LÜ ; Xuan TANG ; Sihan WANG ; Zuyin YU ; Yanhua LI
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(3):171-177
Objective To establish a human intestinal organ-on-a-chip model using a multi-array chip array to simulate the microphysiological structure of the human intestine and to investigate the impact of ionizing radiation on radiation-induced damage to human intestinal cells.Methods Caco-2 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were co-cultured in an organ chip.The cells were subjected to fluid shear stress via a precision shaker.After 7 days of dynamic culture,the morphological structure of intestinal epithelial cells and venous endothelial cells within the intestinal organ chip was examined using phase contrast microscopy,immunofluorescence staining,and confocal microscopy for three-dimensional(3D)imaging.γ-H2AX and TUNEL immunofluorescence staining were employed to assess DNA damage and apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells two days post-irradiation.Villin immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate villus height three days post-irradiation.EdU incorporation assay and Ki67 immunofluorescence staining were conducted to observe the effects of ionizing radiation on the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells.Results After 7 days of dynamic culture,phase contrast microscopy and immunofluorescence staining combined with confocal 3D imaging revealed that the upper intestinal epithelial cells in the middle compartment of the chip formed a 3D intestinal villus structure,while the vascular endothelial cells in the lower compartment developed a vascular network structure.The chip was subsequently irradiated by 10 Gy X-ray.Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the mean fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX and TUNEL in the irradiated group was significantly higher than in the non-irradiated group 2 days after irradiation(P<0.01),and that the proportion of EDU+and Ki67+cells in the irradiated group was significantly lower than in the non-irradiated group three days after irradiation(P<0.05).Conclusion Caco-2 cells and HUVECs co-culture on an organ chip can generate the biomimetic structure of human intestinal villus.Ionizing radiation has been found to shorten intestinal villus,increase DNA damage and apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells,and inhibit the proliferation of these cells.
7.Application of seasonal ARIMA model in predicting the monthly incidence of foodborne diseases
Xuepei ZHANG ; Lin ZHOU ; Min LIU ; Aiying TENG ; Yanhua LI ; Wei MA
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2024;35(5):6-9
Objectives To explore the trend characteristics of foodborne diseases in Jinan City and apply the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model (SARIMA) for prediction. Methods The incidence data of foodborne diseases from two active monitoring sentinel hospitals in Jinan City from 2014 to 2020 were collected to establish a time series. The SARIMA model was used to fit the incidence situation. The numbers of cases in 2021 were compared with the predicted values to validate the model and evaluate the predictive effect. Results The SARIMA (2, 0, 1) (0, 1, 1)12 model was established and fitted the time series of food borne diseases in Jinan well, with AIC=687.22. Using Ljung Box function, P=0.499 was obtained, indicating that the residual error belonged to the white noise series. The data in 2021 was used to test the model extrapolation effect, and the actual values fell within the 95% confidence interval of the predicted value. The model prediction effect was relatively ideal. Conclusion SARIMA (2, 0, 1) (0, 1, 1)12 model can better fit the temporal change of foodborne diseases, and therefore can be used to fit and predict the monthly incidence of foodborne diseases.
8.Discussion on the problems and countermeasures of human genetic resource management in the field of stomatology
Lin ZHANG ; Yanhua SHAN ; Mingming XU ; Yan LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Science Research Management 2024;37(1):14-17
Objective:To analyze the problems in human genetic resource management in the field of stomatology and explore corresponding strategies.Methods:By organizing and analyzing stomatological projects related to the disclosure of information on human genetic resources by the Ministry of Science and Technology, combined with literature analysis and interviews with research management leaders, the problems in human genetic resource management in stomatological institutions were summarized and management strategies were proposed.Results:61 projects were approved for the utilization of human genetic resources in the field of stomatology, showing an increasing trend year by year. Among them, 43 projects were approved by stomatological institutions as the team leader unit; There are problems in the management of human genetic resources in stomatological institutions, such as insufficient resource development and utilization, urgent development of biological sample banks, and incomplete resource sharing mechanisms. The interview results show that the management of human genetic resources needs to be improved, and the management departments and professional management personnel, system construction, and training need to be strengthened.Conclusions:Stomatological colleges and institutions should comprehensively coordinate the management of human genetic resources, establish a sound management system, strengthen the construction of biological sample banks, expand shared resources through multiple channels, fully utilize human genetic resources for research, and promote the high-quality development of stomatology.
9.Analysis of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions and Drug Interactions in 360 Cases
Yanhua LIN ; Xiaoqun LYU ; Weifang REN ; Yujuan LIU ; Kang JIANG ; Huaqiao JIANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(5):696-701
OBJECTIVE
To analyze and evaluate serious adverse drug reaction(SADR) and drug-drug interactions(DDIs) in the real-world, so as to obtain the clinical evidence of DDIs-related SADR, and to provide a reference for rational clinical use.
METHODS
The SADR reports reported to the National Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Center from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected, and Lexi-Interaction® software in UpToDate was used to analyze ≥2 drugs in SADR to evaluate whether there were potential DDIs. And the possible adverse drug reactions caused by DDIs were statistically analyzed.
RESULTS
Among the 360 cases of SADR, males were slightly more than females(50.83% vs 49.17%), the mean age was (65.27±14.71) years old, and 56.39% were ≥65 years old. Cardiovascular agents were the most common implicated pharmacological group, and the gastrointestinal system was the most frequently affected system, and aspirin was the most frequently reported drug. Among 150 cases of SADR with at least two suspected drugs, 64 cases had potential DDIs, while 42 cases had clinically significant DDIs, of which only 16 and 2 cases of SADR were caused by actual DDIs in category D and X, respectively. The majority of reports(71.43%) were caused by additive pharmacodynamic interactions. Aspirin was the most common drug in both potential DDIs and actual DDIs, while aspirin and clopidogrel was the most commonly involved drug pair in actual DDIs, with gastrointestinal bleeding being the most common SADR.
CONCLUSION
Attention should be paid to the influence of drug interactions on SADR, and prescription should be optimized, especially in the elderly population. According to the results of potential DDIs, therapeutic drugs should be rationally selected. Meanwhile, monitoring of cardiovascular drugs and key populations should be strengthened to ensure drug safety.
10.Clinical and genetic analysis of a Chinese patient with Alstr?m syndrome
Jiayue LI ; Jie GAO ; Lin WANG ; Yanhua LI ; Ming ZHANG ; Xietian PAN ; Xinhong GUO
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(5):596-600
Objective:To explore the genetic etiology for a patient with Alstr?m syndrome (ALMS) presenting as dilated cardiomyopathy.Methods:A 41-year-old male patient who had presented at the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital on October 20, 2021 was selected as the study subject. Clinical and laboratory examinations were carried out. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed for genetic testing, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and pathogenicity analysis.Results:The patient had a 14-year medical history characterized by dilated cardiomyopathy, complete atrioventricular block, visual impairment, sensorineural hearing loss, truncal obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, renal dysfunction, and paranoid delusions. Genetic testing revealed that he has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the ALMS1 gene, namely c. 6823C>T (p.Arg2275Ter) and c. 9442_9445dup (p.Ser3149LysfsTer2). Sanger sequencing confirmed that they were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1_VeryStrong+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3+ PP3, PVS1_VeryStrong+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3). Literature review indicated that the complete atrioventricular block in the patient was a phenotype unreported previously. Conclusion:The c. 6823C>T (p.Arg2275Ter) and c. 9442_9445dup (p.Ser3149LysfsTer2) compound heterozygous variants of the ALMS1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this patient. Above findings have expanded the phenotypic spectrum of ALMS and provided insights for clinicians dealing with similar cases.


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