1.Analysis of Pharmacodynamic Material Basis, Mechanisms, and Efficacy-related Quality Markers of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix with Different Therapeutic Effect
Xiaowei MENG ; Zhenzhen YANG ; Wenting WU ; Ronghua LIU ; Yongmei GUAN ; Hui OUYANG ; Liping HUANG ; Yaqi WANG ; Qiong LI ; Huanhuan DONG ; Jianping GONG ; Weifeng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(18):269-281
Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix are the dried roots of Pueraria lobata and Pueraria thomsonii of the Leguminosae family, respectively. Since their separate inclusion in the 2005 edition of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, the two herbs have been individually recorded. Although they share the same functions and indications, the required content of puerarin differs by a factor of up to eightfold between them. The current quality standard relies solely on a single indicator, puerarin, which fails to reflect the correlation between chemical constituents and core therapeutic effects. This has resulted in prominent issues of mixed use in clinical practice and production, thereby constraining the high-quality development of the industry. Modern research has demonstrated that Puerariae Lobatae Radix contains a comprehensive range and higher content of isoflavonoid constituents, while Puerariae Thomsonii Radix is rich in starch and polysaccharides. Puerariae Lobatae Radix exhibits stronger effects in antipyresis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, and central analgesia, while Puerariae Thomsonii Radix demonstrates greater advantages in anti-inflammation, hypoglycemia, and peripheral analgesia. Based on this, the chemical material bases of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix at both the macromolecule and micromolecule levels were systematically reviewed and compared. The pharmacodynamic material bases and mechanisms of action underlying their three core therapeutic effects, namely "relieving exterior syndrome and clearing heat", "promoting fluid production to quench thirst", and "dredging channels and activating collaterals", were summarized. The most highly correlated common metabolic pathway shared by both herbs for these three therapeutic effects is the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, and their common core target is prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2). This review provided clinical application recommendations based on the therapeutic differences between the two herbs, elucidated the scientific connotation of their "same origin but different effects", and, grounded in the quality marker (Q-Marker), proposed the concept of efficacy-related Q-Marker based on "substance-efficacy-syndrome" association, as well as a novel strategy for efficacy-oriented quality evaluation. Preliminary screening of quality markers associated with different therapeutic effects was also conducted. This study aims to provide critical scientific evidence for the precise clinical application of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix, the improvement of quality standards, and the high-quality development of the industry.
2.Correlation analysis of incidence trends of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and meteorological factors in Weifang city, Shandong province, 2015-2024
Ziliang FAN ; Xiyuan HUO ; Yaqi SHEN ; Cuimei GU ; Zhu YANG ; Senmei YUAN ; Miaomiao SHAN ; Jian ZHOU ; Ye ZHANG ; Dongying LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(2):154-161
Objective:To investigate the potential causes of the rising epidemic of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Weifang, Shandong province.Methods:The temporal trend of SFTS epidemic was segmented using Joinpoint regression analysis. Changes in epidemiological characteristics across different periods were compared, and correlation analysis was conducted to identify meteorological factors influencing the epidemic trend.Results:Joinpoint regression revealed two distinct periods for SFTS epidemic in Weifang: 2015-2021 and 2022-2024. No significant trend was observed during 2015-2021 ( P=0.634), while a sharp annual increase of 46.69% occurred from 2022 to 2024 ( P=0.006). Spatial autocorrelation analysis demonstrated a global Moran’s I of 0.42 ( Z=8.55, P<0.001) for 2015-2021, with 15 high-high clustering areas identified. For 2022-2024, the global Moran’s I decreased to 0.37 ( Z=7.31, P<0.001), with 13 high-high clusters, including newly emerging hotspots in Anqiu and Zhucheng in the southeastern region. High-risk populations remained individuals aged ≥50 in mountainous and hilly areas, with a marked rise in incidence in these groups. The male-to-female ratio of cases was higher in plain areas than in mountainous/hilly regions. Autumn (September-November) temperatures from the preceding year showed a positive correlation with annual case numbers ( P=0.004, r=0.82). The linear regression expression is y=40.61x-580.78 (y is the annual incidence, and x is the average daily temperature of last autumn). Conclusions:The SFTS epidemic in Weifang is showing a rising trend. There is a linear correlation between the temperature of the previous autumn and the scale of SFTS epidemic in the following year. This correlation allows for predicting the subsequent year′s epidemic, thereby enabling early warning of SFTS.
3.Development and validation of a DCE-MRI radiomics-based machine learning model for predicting HER-2 status in breast cancer
Yan ZHANG ; Zhijian ZHU ; Jihua HAN ; Honglei LUO ; Yaqi SONG ; Wei HUANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(6):811-818
Objective To analyze dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) radiomic features using machine learning algorithms, and to develop and validate a predictive model for HER-2 status in breast cancer. Methods The DCE-MRI images of 272 treatment-naive female patients with breast cancer between 2020 and 2022 were included in this study. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually segmented using 3d-Slicer software, and radiomic features were extracted. All patients were randomly divided into training sets or validation sets at a ratio of 4∶1. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used for feature screening on the training set, followed by the development of predictive models using six machine learning algorithms. Internal cross-validation was performed to compare the performance differences between the models. The best-performing model was selected, trained on the training set, and evaluated on the validation set. Evaluation metrics included area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, precision, and recall rate. Results The clinical data of patients in the training set and validation set showed no significant differences. Five features were identified by the LASSO algorithm. With these features, six machine learning models were developed on the training set, and their predictive performance was internally cross-validated using the bagging method. XGBoost model had the highest mean AUC (0.696), followed by RF model (0.690); XGBoost model had the highest mean precision (0.756), followed by LR and RF models. Therefore, XGBoost was the optimal model. An HER-2 predictive model was built using the XGBoost algorithm on the training set and applied to the validation set. The AUC, precision, sensitivity, and specificity of the predictive model on the validation set were calculated, and ROC curves, precision-recall curves, calibration curves, and decision-making curves were plotted. Conclusion This study constructed and evaluated different DCE-MRI radiomics-based machine learning models for predicting HER-2 status in breast cancer. Among them, XGBoost algorithm performed the best and has the potential to become a new non-invasive method for preoperative prediction of HER-2 status, providing reliable evidence for personalized clinical diagnosis and treatment.
4.P4HA1 mediates YAP hydroxylation and accelerates collagen synthesis in temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma.
Xueru LI ; Gangfeng YU ; Xiao ZHONG ; Jiacheng ZHONG ; Xiangyu CHEN ; Qinglong CHEN ; Jinjiang XUE ; Xi YANG ; Xinchun ZHANG ; Yao LING ; Yun XIU ; Yaqi DENG ; Hongda LI ; Wei MO ; Yong ZHU ; Ting ZHANG ; Liangjun QIAO ; Song CHEN ; Fanghui LU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(16):1991-2005
BACKGROUND:
Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is a significant challenge in treating glioblastoma (GBM). Collagen remodeling has been shown to be a critical factor for therapy resistance in other cancers. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of TMZ chemoresistance by GBM cells reprogramming collagens.
METHODS:
Key extracellular matrix components, including collagens, were examined in paired primary and recurrent GBM samples as well as in TMZ-treated spontaneous and grafted GBM murine models. Human GBM cell lines (U251, TS667) and mouse primary GBM cells were used for in vitro studies. RNA-sequencing analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to explore the mechanisms involved in collagen accumulation. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to assess the role of the collagen regulators prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) and yes-associated protein (YAP) in sensitizing GBM cells to TMZ.
RESULTS:
This study revealed that TMZ exposure significantly elevated collagen type I (COL I) expression in both GBM patients and murine models. Collagen accumulation sustained GBM cell survival under TMZ-induced stress, contributing to enhanced TMZ resistance. Mechanistically, P4HA1 directly binded to and hydroxylated YAP, preventing ubiquitination-mediated YAP degradation. Stabilized YAP robustly drove collagen type I alpha 1 ( COL1A1) transcription, leading to increased collagen deposition. Disruption of the P4HA1-YAP axis effectively reduced COL I deposition, sensitized GBM cells to TMZ, and significantly improved mouse survival.
CONCLUSION
P4HA1 maintained YAP-mediated COL1A1 transcription, leading to collagen accumulation and promoting chemoresistance in GBM.
Temozolomide
;
Humans
;
Glioblastoma/drug therapy*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*
;
YAP-Signaling Proteins
;
Hydroxylation
;
Dacarbazine/pharmacology*
;
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism*
;
Transcription Factors/metabolism*
;
Collagen/biosynthesis*
;
Collagen Type I/metabolism*
;
Prolyl Hydroxylases/metabolism*
;
Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/therapeutic use*
5.Meta-integration of the real experiences and needs of caregivers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Xiazhen LIU ; Hong LI ; Taoran TANG ; Yaqi ZHU ; Shilin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(8):585-592
Objective:A systematic evaluation of the real experiences and needs of carers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), provide a reference point for developing individualized support strategies.Methods:Computerized searches were conducted for qualitative studies on the experience of caregivers of children with ADHD in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Cinahl, Cochrane Library, China Knowledge Network (CKN), Wipro database, Wanfang database, and China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). The search timeframe was from the construction of the database to July 2024, and the quality of the included literature was evaluated according to the JBI Center for Evidence-Based Health Care Quality Assessment Criteria for Qualitative Research, and the results were integrated using Meta-integration methods.Results:The final inclusion of 15 papers distilled 64 themes into 10 categories, resulting in 3 integrative outcomes: caregiving experiences affect carers in many ways; carers face multiple challenges in coping with illness; positively commissioned and benefited from growth with multiple sources of support.Conclusions:Healthcare professionals should increase the importance and support of carers of children with ADHD, develop specialised guidance strategies to reduce the burden of care, and reinforce positive emotions to assist with positive coping.
6.Meta-integration of the real experiences and needs of caregivers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Xiazhen LIU ; Hong LI ; Taoran TANG ; Yaqi ZHU ; Shilin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(8):585-592
Objective:A systematic evaluation of the real experiences and needs of carers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), provide a reference point for developing individualized support strategies.Methods:Computerized searches were conducted for qualitative studies on the experience of caregivers of children with ADHD in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Cinahl, Cochrane Library, China Knowledge Network (CKN), Wipro database, Wanfang database, and China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). The search timeframe was from the construction of the database to July 2024, and the quality of the included literature was evaluated according to the JBI Center for Evidence-Based Health Care Quality Assessment Criteria for Qualitative Research, and the results were integrated using Meta-integration methods.Results:The final inclusion of 15 papers distilled 64 themes into 10 categories, resulting in 3 integrative outcomes: caregiving experiences affect carers in many ways; carers face multiple challenges in coping with illness; positively commissioned and benefited from growth with multiple sources of support.Conclusions:Healthcare professionals should increase the importance and support of carers of children with ADHD, develop specialised guidance strategies to reduce the burden of care, and reinforce positive emotions to assist with positive coping.
7.Correlation analysis of incidence trends of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and meteorological factors in Weifang city, Shandong province, 2015-2024
Ziliang FAN ; Xiyuan HUO ; Yaqi SHEN ; Cuimei GU ; Zhu YANG ; Senmei YUAN ; Miaomiao SHAN ; Jian ZHOU ; Ye ZHANG ; Dongying LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(2):154-161
Objective:To investigate the potential causes of the rising epidemic of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Weifang, Shandong province.Methods:The temporal trend of SFTS epidemic was segmented using Joinpoint regression analysis. Changes in epidemiological characteristics across different periods were compared, and correlation analysis was conducted to identify meteorological factors influencing the epidemic trend.Results:Joinpoint regression revealed two distinct periods for SFTS epidemic in Weifang: 2015-2021 and 2022-2024. No significant trend was observed during 2015-2021 ( P=0.634), while a sharp annual increase of 46.69% occurred from 2022 to 2024 ( P=0.006). Spatial autocorrelation analysis demonstrated a global Moran’s I of 0.42 ( Z=8.55, P<0.001) for 2015-2021, with 15 high-high clustering areas identified. For 2022-2024, the global Moran’s I decreased to 0.37 ( Z=7.31, P<0.001), with 13 high-high clusters, including newly emerging hotspots in Anqiu and Zhucheng in the southeastern region. High-risk populations remained individuals aged ≥50 in mountainous and hilly areas, with a marked rise in incidence in these groups. The male-to-female ratio of cases was higher in plain areas than in mountainous/hilly regions. Autumn (September-November) temperatures from the preceding year showed a positive correlation with annual case numbers ( P=0.004, r=0.82). The linear regression expression is y=40.61x-580.78 (y is the annual incidence, and x is the average daily temperature of last autumn). Conclusions:The SFTS epidemic in Weifang is showing a rising trend. There is a linear correlation between the temperature of the previous autumn and the scale of SFTS epidemic in the following year. This correlation allows for predicting the subsequent year′s epidemic, thereby enabling early warning of SFTS.
8.Application of Jacobian determinant of reverse deformation field to evaluation of deformation registration algorithm
Enting LI ; Wanjia ZHENG ; Jinxing LIAN ; Weiting ZHU ; Su ZHOU ; Yaqi AN ; Sijuan HUANG ; Xin YANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2024;44(2):133-139
Objective:To effectively quantify and evaluate the quality of different deformation registration algorithms, in order to enhance the possibility of implementing deformation registration in clinical practice.Methods:The Jacobian determinant mean (JDM) is proposed based on the Jacobian determinant (JD) of displacement vector field (DVF), and the Jacobian determinant error (DJDE) is introduced by incorporating the JD of the inverse DVF. The optical flow method (OF-DIR) and fast demons method with elastic regularization (FD-DIR) were tested on nasopharyngeal and lung cancer datasets. Finally, JDM and DJDE with the Jacobian determinant negative percentage (JDNP), inverse consistency error (ICE) and normalized mean square error (NMSE) were used to evaluate the registration algorithms and compare the differences evaluation indicators in different tumor images and different algorithms, and the receiver operating curve (ROC) was analyzed in evaluation.Results:In lung cancer, OF-DIR outperformed FD-DIR in terms of JDM, NMSE, DJDE and ICE, and the difference was statistically significant( z = -2.24, -4.84, t = 4.01, 6.54, P<0.05). In nasopharyngeal carcinoma, DJDE, ICE and NMSE of OF-DIR were superior to FD-DIR, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 4.46, -7.49, z = -2.22, P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in JDM ( P>0.05). In lung cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, JDNP of OF-DIR was worse than that of FD-DIR, and the difference was statistically significant ( z = -4.29, -4.02, P<0.01). In addition, DJDE is more specific and sensitive on ROC curve (AUC=0.77), and has different performance result for tumor images at different sites. Conclusions:The JDM and DJDE evaluation metrics proposed are effective for deformation registration algorithms. OF-DIR is suitable for both lung cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, while the influence of organ motion on the registration effect should be considered when using FD-DIR.
9.Long non-coding RNA AW112010 improves insulin resistance in adipocytes of aging mice through the miR-204/POU2F2 axis
Rui WANG ; Shuwen WANG ; Yifan ZHANG ; Yaqi HU ; Qi YUAN ; Yuan WEN ; Xiaoling CHEN ; Ting LU ; Ying ZHENG ; Zhiyong LIN ; Mengzhen XUE ; Yaqi WANG ; Fangqi XIA ; Leiqi ZHU ; Chengfu YUAN
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2024;40(1):44-52
Objective:To investigate whether long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) AW112010 can improve insulin resistance in aging adipocytes through the miR-204/POU2F2 signaling pathway.Methods:In vivo experiment: C57BL/6 mice were divided into young control group(4 months old) and aging model group(18 months old) based on body weight. The expression levels of AW112010, miR-204-5p, POU2F2, aging related indicators(p16, p21), and insulin signaling pathway genes [insulin receptor(INSR), insulin receptor substrate 1(IRS1), phosphatidylinositol kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(AKT)] in epididymal adipose tissue were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. In vitro experiment: Using adriamycin(ADR) to induce 3T3-L1 aging adipocyte model, β-gal staining was used to observe cellular senescence, and miR-204 inhibitor and miR-204 mimic small interfering RNA were successfully constructed and transfected into 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Results:RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the young group, the expression of AW112010 in the adipose tissue of aging mice was increased, while the expression of miR-204-5p was decreased. The expressions of POU2F2, p16, and p21 in the adipose tissue of aging mice were increased, while the expressions of INSR, IRS1, PI3K, GLUT4 mRNA and protein were decreased. The β-gal stainging results showed that the number of 3T3-L1 senescent adipocytes induced by ADR was significantly increased, and the expression levels of AW112010, POU2F2, p16, and p21 in ADR-induced senescent adipocytes were increased compared with the control group, while the expression levels of miR-204-5p, INSR, IRS1, PI3K, GLUT4 were decreased, and remaining glucose in the culture medium was increased. Compared with control, overexpression of miR-204 resulted in decreased expressions of aging indicators p16, p21, and target gene POU2F2 while the expressions of INSR and GLUT4 were increased.Conclusion:Upregulation of lncRNA AW112010 in adipocytes of aging mice may induce insulin resistance by targeting miR-204-5p/POU2F2/IRS1.
10.Effect and Mechanism of Total Saponins from Panax Japonicus on White Adipose Tissue Browning/Brown Adipose Tissue Activation in High-fat Diet-induced Mice
Shuwen WANG ; Yaqi HU ; Rui WANG ; Yifan ZHANG ; Mengzhen XUE ; Yaqi WANG ; Fangqi XIA ; Leiqi ZHU ; Chengfu YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):71-78
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of total saponins from Panax japonicus (TSPJ) on white adipose tissue (WAT) browning/brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation in C57BL6/J male mice fed on a high-fat diet (HFD). MethodThirty-two C57BL6/J male mice (8-week-old) were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a low-dose TSPJ group, and a high-dose TSPJ group. The mice in the low-dose and high-dose TSPJ groups were given TSPJ for four months by gavage at 25, 75 mg·kg-1·d-1, respectively, and those in the other groups were given 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) accordingly. After four months of feeding, all mice were placed at 4 ℃ for acute cold exposure, and the core body temperature was monitored. Subsequently, all mice were sacrificed, and BAT and inguinal WAT (iWAT) were separated rapidly to detect the corresponding indexes. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes in each group. The effect of TSPJ on the mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), cytochrome C (CytC), PR domain-containing protein 16 (PRDM16), elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 3 (ELOVL3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in iWAT and BAT was detected by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Western blot was also used to detect the protein expression of UCP1, PRDM16, PPARγ, and PGC-1α in BAT and iWAT of each group. The effect of TSPJ on UCP1 expression in BAT and iWAT was detected by immunohistochemistry. Result① Compared with the model group, TSPJ could decrease the body weight and proportions of iWAT and BAT in the HFD-induced mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). ② The body temperature of mice in the model group decreased compared with that in the normal group in the acute cold exposure tolerance test (P<0.05). The body temperature in the high-dose TSPJ group increased compared with that in the model group (P<0.01). ③ Compared with the normal group, the model group showed increased adipocyte diameter in iWAT and BAT and decreased number of adipocytes per unit area. Compared with the model group, the TSPJ groups showed significantly reduced cell diameter and increased number of cells per unit area, especially in the high-dose TSPJ group. ④ Compared with the normal group, the model group showed decreased mRNA expression of FABP4, UCP1, CytC, PRDM16, ELOVL3, PGC-1α, and PPARγ in adipose tissues of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, after intervention with TSPJ, the mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). ⑤ Compared with the normal group, the model group showed decreased protein expression of UCP1, PRDM16, PPARγ, and PGC-1α in adipose tissues of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, after intervention with TSPJ, the protein expression increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionTSPJ could induce the browning of iWAT/BAT activation and enhance adaptive thermogenesis in obese mice induced by HFD. The underlying mechanism may be attributed to the activation of the PPARγ/PGC-1α signaling pathway.

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