1.Mechanistic study of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside in improving nephrotic syndrome via regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 pathway
Yifan TAO ; Chundong SONG ; Xu WANG ; Chong ZHANG ; Ying SU ; Xidong JIA ; Haoran JIANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(5):602-606
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside (TWM) on nephrotic syndrome in rats. METHODS The nephrotic syndrome model was established by intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein. The modeling rats were randomly divided into the model group (distilled water), prednisone group (10 mg/kg), and TWM high- and low-dose groups (10 and 5 mg/kg, respectively). Additionally, blank group (distilled water) without model induction was established. Each group consisted of 9 rats. Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or distilled water by gavage, once a day, for 6 consecutive weeks. The histopathological morphology of kidney tissues in rats was observed; the levels of 24-hour urinary protein (24 h-UTP) and serum biochemical indicators [albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglyceride (TG)] in rats were determined; the levels of oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)] in kidney tissue of rats were determined; expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/microRNA-155-5p (miR-155-5p)/nuclear factor erythriod 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway-related mRNA and protein in the renal tissues of rats were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group, the rats in the model group exhibited disordered renal tissue structure, with a small amount of glomerular necrosis and edema of the renal tubular epithelial cells. 24 h-UTP, serum levels of SCr, BUN, CHOL and TG, MDA content, mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α and Keap1 as well as the expression of miR-155-5p in renal tissues were increased significantly ( P <0.05). Serum level of ALB, SOD level in renal tissue as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 were decreased significantly ( P <0.05). Compared with the model group, TWM high-dose and low-dose groups exhibited significant improvements in renal injury, with notable reversals in the levels of the above quantitative indicators ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS TWM can alleviate oxidative stress-induced damage and thereby improve nephrotic syndrome in rats by regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
2.Research progress on vitamin D deficiency and cognitive decline
Journal of Shenyang Medical College 2025;27(5):449-453,460
As a common nutrient,vitamin D participates in neuronal development,synaptic plasticity and neuroinflammation by binding to vitamin D receptors.Cognitive decline,a prodromal stage of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease,has become a major global public health challenge.It not only seriously affects the quality of life of patients,increases the burden of family care,but also brings heavy pressure to the social economy.Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may be potentially associated with cognitive decline.This article systematically reviews the existing research evidence,focusing on the potential biological mechanisms by which vitamin D affects cognitive function,key findings from preclinical studies(animal experiments),as well as the current status and controversies in population studies.The aim is to provide theoretical basis for exploring related mechanisms and clinical intervention.
3.Construction Method of Drug Adverse Reaction Knowledge Graph Based on Knowledge-Driven Technology Path
Wei REN ; Yan XU ; Qing WANG ; Zitong PEI ; Tao WANG ; Ying LIU ; Yexiang ZHANG
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(4):565-569
Objective In view of the potential threat of adverse drug reaction(ADR)to patients'health and the limitations of traditional monitoring methods,this study investigates the construction method of an ADR knowledge graph based on a knowledge-driven technology path to promote the intelligent upgrading of pharmacovigilance field.Methods In this study,an adverse drug reaction knowledge base was established,and the data within the knowledge base were preprocessed.The BERT-CRF model was utilized to identify and extract the relevant entities,relationships and attribute information,and knowledge alignment was carried out by combining the rule method and statistical method.The knowledge fusion data was stored in the Neo4j graph database to construct the knowledge graph.Results Based on the established knowledge base,this study explored the method of constructing knowledge graph of adverse drug reaction by knowledge-driven technology,laying the groundwork for data mining and the development of intelligent auxiliary system tools based on knowledge graph.Conclusions The study on the construction method of an ADR knowledge graph based on a knowledge-driven technology path provides a new perspective and technical path for the intelligent upgrading of pharmacovigilance field.It holds important theoretical and practical significance for improving drug safety,protecting patients'health,and promoting the healthy development of pharmaceutical industry.
4.The Histone Methyltransferase EZH2 is Downregulated in the Terminal Differentiation of Cardiomyocytes
Wan-Yi ZHANG ; Wan-Lei ZHANG ; Yuan-Yuan LIU ; Ling-Er DING ; Qi-Kai TANG ; Zhen-Hang LI ; Hao-Ying YANG ; Tao LI
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):415-425
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)is a histone methyltransferase It mediates trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3,thereby facilitating the epigenetic silencing of downstream genes.In conjunc-tion with SUZ12,EED,and other components,it constitutes the polycomb repressive complex 2(PRC2)complex.While EZH2 is intricately involved in cellular proliferation and cardiac development,the chan-ges in its expression during cardiac terminal differentiation remain elusive.In this study,we employed differential gene expression analysis of embryonic and adult myocardial cells using the GEO database,and found that EZH2 is highly expressed in embryonic myocardium,but is present at very low levels in adult myocardium(P<0.0001).Conversely,the expression changes of PRC2 members SUZ12 and EED are not as pronounced.Online analysis through the Tabula Muris database indicates that under physiological conditions,various cell subpopulations in the adult mouse heart exhibit negligible expression of EZH2.Immunohistochemical staining of mouse cardiac tissues shows that EZH2 is highly expressed in embryonic and neonatal myocardium but declines progressively from the first day after birth(P<0.0001),becoming almost undetectable by the third day.Western blotting further confirms the rapid disappearance of EZH2 expression post-birth(P<0.05),with EZH1 compensating for the downregulation of EZH2 to maintain H3K27me3 modification levels.Additionally,using the P19 teratocarcinoma stem cell model for cardio-myocyte differentiation,it is observed that EZH2 is significantly upregulated during the transition from cardiac progenitor cells to spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes,correlating with the expression of the cardiomyocyte transcription factor Gata4(P<0.01).Targeted degradation of EZH2 using the small mole-cule drug MS1943 significantly inhibits the proliferation of induced cardiomyocytes,as evidenced by 5-e-thynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)incorporation assays(P<0.01),and RT-qPCR reveals a marked in-crease in the expression of the proliferation inhibitor CDKN1A(P<0.01).In summary,the high expres-sion of EZH2 in embryonic myocardial cells is associated with enhanced cell proliferation.The rapid loss of EZH2 expression postnatally correlates with the loss of proliferative capacity in cardiomyocytes,mark-ing it as a key indicator of cardiac terminal differentiation.
5.Construction Method of Drug Adverse Reaction Knowledge Graph Based on Knowledge-Driven Technology Path
Wei REN ; Yan XU ; Qing WANG ; Zitong PEI ; Tao WANG ; Ying LIU ; Yexiang ZHANG
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(4):565-569
Objective In view of the potential threat of adverse drug reaction(ADR)to patients'health and the limitations of traditional monitoring methods,this study investigates the construction method of an ADR knowledge graph based on a knowledge-driven technology path to promote the intelligent upgrading of pharmacovigilance field.Methods In this study,an adverse drug reaction knowledge base was established,and the data within the knowledge base were preprocessed.The BERT-CRF model was utilized to identify and extract the relevant entities,relationships and attribute information,and knowledge alignment was carried out by combining the rule method and statistical method.The knowledge fusion data was stored in the Neo4j graph database to construct the knowledge graph.Results Based on the established knowledge base,this study explored the method of constructing knowledge graph of adverse drug reaction by knowledge-driven technology,laying the groundwork for data mining and the development of intelligent auxiliary system tools based on knowledge graph.Conclusions The study on the construction method of an ADR knowledge graph based on a knowledge-driven technology path provides a new perspective and technical path for the intelligent upgrading of pharmacovigilance field.It holds important theoretical and practical significance for improving drug safety,protecting patients'health,and promoting the healthy development of pharmaceutical industry.
6.Clinical effects of Pinggan Xifeng Huatan Tongluo Decoction on elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with hypertension
Ying-lu JIANG ; Miao-miao ZHANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Xue-jun LI
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(10):3274-3278
AIM To explore the Clinical effects of Pinggan Xifeng Huatan Tongluo Decoction on elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with hypertension.METHODS Eighty-six patients were randomly assigned into control group(43 cases)for intervention of conventional treatment,and observation group(43 cases)for intervention of both Pinggan Xifeng Huatan Tongluo Decoction and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,TCM symptom effects,TCM symptom score,NIHSS score,FMA score,ambulatory blood pressure indices(SBP,DBP,pulse pressure difference,variation coefficient for systolic blood pressure,variation coefficient for diastolic blood pressure),cerebral hemodynamic indices(PSV,EDV,PI,RI),Leptin,RBP4 and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rates of clinic and TCM symptoms than the control group(P<0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed decreased TCM symptom score,NIHSS score,ambulatory blood pressure indices,PSV,EDV,RI,Leptin,RBP4(P<0.05),and increased FMA score,PI(P<0.05),especially for the observation group(P<0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION For the elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with hypertension,Pinggan Xifeng Huatan Tongluo Decoction can safely and effectively relieve clinical symptoms,enhance anti-hypertensive effect,improve the perfusion of cerebral blood flow,and reduce the levels of serum leptin and RBP4.
7.The Histone Methyltransferase EZH2 is Downregulated in the Terminal Differentiation of Cardiomyocytes
Wan-Yi ZHANG ; Wan-Lei ZHANG ; Yuan-Yuan LIU ; Ling-Er DING ; Qi-Kai TANG ; Zhen-Hang LI ; Hao-Ying YANG ; Tao LI
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):415-425
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)is a histone methyltransferase It mediates trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3,thereby facilitating the epigenetic silencing of downstream genes.In conjunc-tion with SUZ12,EED,and other components,it constitutes the polycomb repressive complex 2(PRC2)complex.While EZH2 is intricately involved in cellular proliferation and cardiac development,the chan-ges in its expression during cardiac terminal differentiation remain elusive.In this study,we employed differential gene expression analysis of embryonic and adult myocardial cells using the GEO database,and found that EZH2 is highly expressed in embryonic myocardium,but is present at very low levels in adult myocardium(P<0.0001).Conversely,the expression changes of PRC2 members SUZ12 and EED are not as pronounced.Online analysis through the Tabula Muris database indicates that under physiological conditions,various cell subpopulations in the adult mouse heart exhibit negligible expression of EZH2.Immunohistochemical staining of mouse cardiac tissues shows that EZH2 is highly expressed in embryonic and neonatal myocardium but declines progressively from the first day after birth(P<0.0001),becoming almost undetectable by the third day.Western blotting further confirms the rapid disappearance of EZH2 expression post-birth(P<0.05),with EZH1 compensating for the downregulation of EZH2 to maintain H3K27me3 modification levels.Additionally,using the P19 teratocarcinoma stem cell model for cardio-myocyte differentiation,it is observed that EZH2 is significantly upregulated during the transition from cardiac progenitor cells to spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes,correlating with the expression of the cardiomyocyte transcription factor Gata4(P<0.01).Targeted degradation of EZH2 using the small mole-cule drug MS1943 significantly inhibits the proliferation of induced cardiomyocytes,as evidenced by 5-e-thynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)incorporation assays(P<0.01),and RT-qPCR reveals a marked in-crease in the expression of the proliferation inhibitor CDKN1A(P<0.01).In summary,the high expres-sion of EZH2 in embryonic myocardial cells is associated with enhanced cell proliferation.The rapid loss of EZH2 expression postnatally correlates with the loss of proliferative capacity in cardiomyocytes,mark-ing it as a key indicator of cardiac terminal differentiation.
8.Innovative clinical trial designs for vaccine development
Dan-ni ZHAO ; Zhuo-ying HUANG ; Jie TIAN ; Tao ZHANG ; Wei-bing WANG
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(2):311-316
During sudden outbreaks of major infectious diseases,traditional vaccine clinical trials often fail to deliver timely and meaningful outcomes.To address this,innovative trial designs are essential to accelerate or restructure the traditional three-phase clinical trial process while maintaining adherence to scientific principles of drug candidate safety and efficacy.This paper presents various innovative vaccine clinical trial designs and concepts,along with critical considerations for their application,to serve as a methodological reference for related research.Adaptive designs provide flexibility by dynamically adjusting trial parameters—such as dose selection,population stratification,and sample size reestimation—based on interim analysis results.Bayesian designs incorporate historical data and prior information,reducing sample size requirements.Master protocol designs enable the evaluation of multiple treatments or target populations within a unified framework,significantly improving efficiency.Additionally,real-world data(RWD),including electronic health records vaccination records and insurance claims,supports the creation of virtual control groups,addressing ethical concerns while enhancing trial feasibility.A hybrid design combining randomized controlled trials(RCTs)with RWD is also proposed to leverage the strengths of both methodologies.These innovative designs optimize the research process,accelerating vaccine development and regulatory approval.By integrating these approaches,robust evidence-based insights can be generated,advancing precision medicine goals and strengthening public health responses to emerging infectious diseases.
9.Functional Analysis of the Promoter of the deSUMOylation Enzyme senp8 and Its Relationship with Lipid Metabolism in Yellow Catfish(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)
Fu-Xuan DUAN ; Zhi-Wei HAO ; Tao LIU ; Chang-Chun SONG ; Tian-Hua ZHANG ; Chong-Chao ZHONG ; Xiao-Ying TAN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(4):607-616
To investigate the transcriptionally regulatory mechanism of the senp8 promoter in yellow cat-fish(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco);this study used P.fulvidraco as the research subject.Dual-luciferase re-porter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were employed to analyze the functional activity of the promoter;coupled with in vivo experiments.The results indicated that the 2 045 bp senp8 promoter se-quence contained key transcription factor binding sites such as SP1;TATA-Box;CCAAT-Box;SREBP1;PPARα;and PPARγ.The binding sites of SREBP1(-901/-910 bp);PPARα(-1 291/-1 308 bp);and PPARγ(-1 292/-1 306 bp)in the senp8 promoter positively regulate its activity;and oleic acid or palmitic acid promote this binding.Furthermore;high-fat feeding promoted the expression of the senp8 gene and its protein in the liver of P.fulvidraco;oleic acid or palmitic acid treatment significantly en-hanced the activity of the senp8 promoter;and this enhancement could be achieved through the regulatory effects of SREBP1;PPARα;and PPARγ response elements.Additionally;high-fat feeding influenced the mRNA and protein expression levels of genes related to deSUMOylation modification in the liver of P.fulvidraco.This study provides new insights into the relationship between deSUMOylation modification and the regulation of lipid metabolism in the vertebrates.
10.Role of the prostate health index and its derivatives in the early screening of patients with PI-RADS score 3
Tong-qing ZHANG ; Qiang FU ; Hao LIU ; Ying-tao LIU ; Ke-qin ZHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(7):612-618
Objective:To explore the role of prostate health index(PHI)and its derivatives for early screening in patients with PI-RADS score 3 and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)levels of 4-20 μg/L.Methods:Clinical data of 203 patients with a score of 3 on the PI-RADS v2.1 scoring system who underwent ultrasound-guided transperineal prostate aspiration biopsy from April 2021 to April 2024 from Provincial Hospital of Shandong First Medical University,Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Weifang People's Hospital were collected.Patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into prostate cancer(PCa)group(62 cases)and benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)group(141 cases).Serum total prostate-specific antigen(tPSA),serum free prostate-specific an-tigen(fPSA),and PSA isoform 2(p2PSA)were routinely detected after admission.And prostate-specific antigen density(PSAD),prostate health index(PHI)and prostate health index density(PHID)were calculated with the basic personal information being col-lected.The efficacy of each parameter in early screening of patients with PI-RADS score of 3 and PSA level of 4-20 μg/L was as-sessed using ROC curve approach.Results:There was no statistical difference in tPSA,fPSA and fPSA/tPSA between the two groups(P>0.05).There was a statistical difference in p2PSA,PSAD,PHI,PHID and age between the two groups(P<0.05).PHI(AUC=0.783 7,95%CI:0.711 3-0.856 1)and PHID(AUC=0.782 3,95%CI:0.708 3-0.856 4)showed a good pre-dictive ability in the early screening of prostate cancer.In the clinically significant prostate cancer(csPCa)group,the ROC curve are-as of PHI and PHID were 0.823 0 and 0.788 5,respectively,which showed better predictive efficacy of prediction of csPCa.The ROC curves of the combined diagnostic indexes were plotted on the basis of the independent ROC curves,and the area under the curve of PHI combined with age,p2PSA and PHID(AUC=0.843 6)was the largest and had the best predictive ability among all the com-bined diagnostic indexes.Conclusion:In patients with PI-RADS score 3 and PSA level between 4 and 20 μg/L,PHI and its deriva-tives(PHI and PHID)provide a new way for early screening of prostate cancer compared with the traditional index tPSA,which has a high value of application in reducing the over-penetration.

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