1.Clinical Application of Green Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine:Problems and Solution Strategies
Yike SONG ; Zhijun BU ; Wenxin MA ; Kai LIU ; Yuyi WANG ; Yuan SUN ; Yang SHEN ; Hongkui LIU ; Jianping LIU ; Zhaolan LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(11):1094-1098
Green prescription is a written prescription aimed at improving health by promoting physical activity and improving diet, with advantages such as high cost-effectiveness, strong feasibility, and minimal harm to patients. The theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) green prescription integrates the health philosophy of "following rule of yin and yang, and adjusting ways to cultivating health", the exercise philosophy of balancing yin-yang and the five elements, and the dietary philosophy of moderation and balance, which embody core TCM concepts such as treating disease before its onset and harmony between humans and nature. It has also developed traditional exercise practices like Tai Chi, Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, Yi-Gin-Ching, and Qigong, as well as dietary adjustments like medicated diet and herbal wines. However, it is believed that the TCM green prescription currently suffers from insufficient evidence-based research, low patient awareness and acceptance, and weak basic research. Based on this, it is proposed that large-sample clinical trials should be conducted in the future to improve the quality of evidence-based medicine, basic research can be carried out with the help of artificial intelligence and other methods in research design, the hospital information system (HIS) can be used for control at the implementation level, and publicity and patient education can be strengthened through the new media, so as to promote the development and application of the TCM green prescriptions in the field of global health treatment.
2.Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy.
Muhammad HAMZA ; Shuai WANG ; Hao WU ; Jiayi SUN ; Yang DU ; Chuting ZENG ; Yike LIU ; Kun LI ; Xili ZHU ; Huiying LIU ; Lin CHEN ; Motao ZHU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2640-2654
Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death triggered by excess intracellular copper, has emerged as a promising cytotoxic strategy for cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of copper ionophores such as elesclomol (ES) is often hindered by cellular copper homeostasis mechanisms that limit copper influx and cuproptosis induction. To address this challenge, we developed a nanoagent utilizing outer membrane vesicle (OMV) derived from Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) for co-delivery of antioxidant 1 copper chaperone (Atox1)-targeting siRNA and ES (siAtox1/ES@OMV) to tumors. In vitro, we demonstrated that Atox1 knockdown via siRNA significantly disrupted copper export mechanisms, resulting in elevated intracellular copper levels. Simultaneously, ES facilitated efficient copper influx and mitochondrial transport, leading to Fe-S cluster depletion, increased proteotoxic stress, and robust cuproptosis. In vivo, siAtox1/ES@OMV achieved targeted tumor delivery and induced pronounced cuproptosis. Furthermore, leveraging the immunomodulatory properties of OMVs, siAtox1/ES@OMV promoted T-cell infiltration and the activation of tumor-reactive cytotoxic T cells, enhancing tumor immune responses. The combination of siAtox1/ES-induced cuproptosis and immunogenic cell death synergistically suppressed tumor growth in both subcutaneous breast cancer and orthotopic rectal cancer mouse models. This study highlights the potential of integrating copper homeostasis disruption with a copper ionophore using an immunomodulatory OMV-based vector, offering a promising combinatorial strategy for cancer therapy.
4.Optimizing blood-brain barrier permeability in KRAS inhibitors: A structure-constrained molecular generation approach.
Xia SHENG ; Yike GUI ; Jie YU ; Yitian WANG ; Zhenghao LI ; Xiaoya ZHANG ; Yuxin XING ; Yuqing WANG ; Zhaojun LI ; Mingyue ZHENG ; Liquan YANG ; Xutong LI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(8):101337-101337
Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) protein inhibitors are a promising class of therapeutics, but research on molecules that effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains limited, which is crucial for treating central nervous system (CNS) malignancies. Although molecular generation models have recently advanced drug discovery, they often overlook the complexity of biological and chemical factors, leaving room for improvement. In this study, we present a structure-constrained molecular generation workflow designed to optimize lead compounds for both drug efficacy and drug absorption properties. Our approach utilizes a variational autoencoder (VAE) generative model integrated with reinforcement learning for multi-objective optimization. This method specifically aims to enhance BBB permeability (BBBp) while maintaining high-affinity substructures of KRAS inhibitors. To support this, we incorporate a specialized KRAS BBB predictor based on active learning and an affinity predictor employing comparative learning models. Additionally, we introduce two novel metrics, the knowledge-integrated reproduction score (KIRS) and the composite diversity score (CDS), to assess structural performance and biological relevance. Retrospective validation with KRAS inhibitors, AMG510 and MRTX849, demonstrates the framework's effectiveness in optimizing BBBp and highlights its potential for real-world drug development applications. This study provides a robust framework for accelerating the structural enhancement of lead compounds, advancing the drug development process across diverse targets.
5.Methodological breakthroughs and challenges in research of soil phage microecology.
Xiaofang WANG ; Shuo WANG ; Keming YANG ; Yike TANG ; Yangchun XU ; Qirong SHEN ; Zhong WEI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(6):2310-2323
Phages, as obligate bacterial and archaeal parasites, constitute a virus group of paramount ecological significance due to their exceptional abundance and genetic diversity. These biological entities serve as critical regulators in Earth's ecosystems, driving biogeochemical cycles, energy fluxes, and ecosystem services across terrestrial and marine environments. Within soil microbiomes, phages function as microbial "dark matter," maintaining the soil-plant system balance through precise modulation of the microbial community structure and functional dynamics. Despite the growing research interests in soil phages in recent years, the proportion of such studies in environmental virology remains disproportionately low, which is primarily attributed to researchers' limited familiarity with the research methodologies for phage microecology, incomplete technical frameworks, and inherent challenges posed by soil environmental complexity. To address these challenges, this review synthesizes cutting-edge methodologies for soil phage investigation from four aspects: (1) tangential flow filtration (TFF)-based phage enrichment strategies; (2) integrated quantification approaches combining double-layer agar plating, epifluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry; (3) multi-omics analytical pipelines leveraging metagenomics and viromics datasets; and (4) computational frameworks merging machine learning algorithms with eco-evolutionary theory for deciphering phage-host interaction networks. Through comparative analysis of methodological principles, technical merits, and application scopes, we establish a comprehensive workflow for soil phage research. Future research in this field should prioritize: (1) construction of soil phage resource libraries, (2) exploration of RNA phages based on transcriptomes, (3) functional characterization of unknown genes, and (4) deep integration and interaction validation of multi-omics data. This systematic methodological synthesis provides critical technical references for addressing fundamental challenges in characterizing soil phages regarding the community structure, functional potential, and interaction mechanisms with hosts.
Bacteriophages/physiology*
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Soil Microbiology
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Ecosystem
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Microbiota
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Metagenomics/methods*
6.Identification of a Novel Threeimmunogene Diagnostic Signature for Alopecia Areata
Xiuwen CHEN ; Wenzi LIANG ; Changmin LIN ; Yike LIN
Annals of Dermatology 2025;37(1):22-31
Background:
Autoimmune mechanisms have important roles in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA).
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the exact biological and clinical importance of immunogenes in AA patients using bioinformatic methods.
Methods:
Five AA scalp gene expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between AA and control groups were identified. An immune-related gene diagnostic signature (IRGDS) was established by protein-protein interaction network analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and logistic regression analysis.
Results:
A total of 102 immune-related DEGs were identified. We developed an IRGDS composed of CD8A, CSF1R and CXCL10 for AA molecular pathological assessment and diagnosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]=0.962). We also validated the diagnostic value of the IRGDS in an external cohort (AUC=0.955). Patients with high IRGDS scores presented with a higher abundance of immune cell infiltration and expression of genes associated with immune recruitment and immune activation, suggesting adverse biological alterations.
Conclusion
In our study, an IRGDS model with accurately diagnostic capacity for AA was established, and biological alterations were deciphered in AA. The IRGDS may be used as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for AA.
7.The Connotation and Clinical Significance of “Spleen Governs Time” based on the Zangxiang (藏象) Time-space View
Ruochong WANG ; Shuran MA ; Yike SUN ; Yuxiao QIN ; Jiayu WEN ; Yawen ZHANG ; Ran GAO ; Leilei LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(2):121-127
There are different views on the theory of “spleen governs time”, which is still a hot spot in the study of Zangxiang (藏象) theory. Based on Zangxiang time-space view, it is found that the thinking mode of the spleen governing time theory follows space-time logic. It is believed that the different time views of the spleen governing time are all formed based on the space view that the spleen belongs to earth and resides in the center, and the zang time theory is developed with the unified time and space logic. Guided by Zangxiang time-space view, the origin of the spleen belonging to earth and residing in the center is traced, and the theoretical connotation and its clinical application of spleen governing time under different time-space logic are explored with reference to the four season and five zang theory, five season and five zang theory, six season and six zang theory, and eight season and eight zang theory.
8.Genetic Diversity Analysis and Molecular ID Card Construction of Pinellia ternata Based on Phenotypic Traits and SSR Markers
Yike XU ; Shuang LI ; Peiwen KOU ; Changle LIU ; Xiaochun SUN ; Wenjing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):134-142
ObjectiveTo study the genetic diversity and genetic relationship of Pinellia ternata germplasm resources and provide the basis for germplasm identification, variety breeding, and resource conservation. MethodIn this study, 27 P. ternata were used as experimental materials to determine seven phenotypic characters, such as plant height, leaf length, and leaf width. Simple sequence repeats (SSR) primers were designed based on P. ternata transcriptome data, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was performed on 27 P. ternata samples. The genetic diversity of P. ternata germplasm was analyzed by POPGENE32, PowerMarker V3.25, and NTSYS-PC 2.10e software. ResultA total of 10 pairs of highly polymorphic primers (PIC>0.5) and four pairs of moderately polymorphic primers (0.25
9.Advances in the Mechanism of Action of Hydrogel in Repairing Spinal Cord Injury
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(5):785-796
Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a severe central nervous system disease with poor prognosis,and the resulting severe sensory,motor or autonomic dysfunction greatly reduces patients'quality of life.Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment and care of SCI,the clinical efficacy and prognosis of SCI are not satisfactory due to the inability of drugs to be delivered directly to the site of SCI through the blood-spinal cord barrier and the fact that the local microenvironment after SCI is not conducive to the survival,differentiation,and proliferation of implanted stem cells.Due to its excellent mechanical properties,plasticity,and good biocompatibility and biodegradability,hydrogel can be used as a delivery system for loading stem cells or drugs,providing a favorable environment and controlling their release,and as a biological scaffold to support and guide axonal regeneration,which can effectively improve the therapeutic effect of spinal cord injury.This paper mainly reviews the classification and functional properties of hydrogels,and further discusses the research progress of hydrogels in SCI repair to improve the inhibitory microenvironment of spinal cord injury,promote nerve regeneration,promote angiogenesis,and promote the repair of the blood-spinal cord barrier,with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of hydrogels in the treatment of SCI as well as for exploring and developing future spinal cord regeneration strategies.
10.Kuwanon G inhibits growth,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
Zhijun GENG ; Jingjing YANG ; Minzhu NIU ; Xinyue LIU ; Jinran SHI ; Yike LIU ; Xinyu YAO ; Yulu ZHANG ; Xiaofeng ZHANG ; Jianguo HU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(8):1476-1484
Objective To investigate the effects of kuwanon G(KG)on proliferation,apoptosis,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells and the molecular mechanisms.Methods The effects of KG on proliferation and growth of gastric cancer cells were assessed with CCK-8 assay and cell clone formation assay,by observing tumor formation on the back of nude mice and using immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67.The effect of KG on cell apoptosis was analyzed using Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit,Western blotting and TUNEL staining.The effects of KG on cell migration and invasion were detected using Transwell migration and invasion assay and Western blotting for matrix metalloproteinase(MMP).The role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway in KG-mediated regulation of gastric cancer cell proliferation,migration,and invasion was verified by Western blotting and rescue assay.Results KG significantly inhibited proliferation and reduced clone formation ability of gastric cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner(P<0.05).KG treatment also increased apoptosis,enhanced the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax,down-regulated Bcl-2,lowered migration and invasion capacities and inhibited the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in gastric cancer cells(P<0.05).Mechanistic validation showed that KG inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway,and IGF-1,an activator of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway,reversed the effects of KG on proliferation,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells(P<0.05).Conclusion KG inhibits proliferation,migration and invasion and promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer cells at least in part by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

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