1.Role of Autophagy in Cardiovascular Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment: A Review
Yiting ZHAO ; Hewei QIN ; Xia WEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):284-292
Cardiovascular diseases, a group of major non-infectious diseases, are characterized by high morbidity and mortality, significantly influencing patients' quality of life. Hence, it is imperative to discover a secure and efficacious treatment approach. As a form of programmed cell death, autophagy has been demonstrated to be associated with the pathogeneses of hypertension, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders. It serves as one of the potential targets for the clinical intervention in cardiovascular diseases by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Autophagy exerts dual regulatory effects on the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and its specific effect predominantly depends on the extent of autophagy and the pathological stage of diseases. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases by directly regulating autophagy or interacting with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis under the regulation of autophagy, exhibiting the unique advantages of multiple targets, multiple components, and mild adverse reactions. This article reviews the experimental research progress in the role of autophagy and the intervention by active components and compound prescriptions of TCM and Chinese patent medicines in common cardiovascular diseases (such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, and atherosclerosis) in recent years and summarizes the research shortcomings, providing a theoretical basis and strategies for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
2.Role of Autophagy in Cardiovascular Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment: A Review
Yiting ZHAO ; Hewei QIN ; Xia WEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):284-292
Cardiovascular diseases, a group of major non-infectious diseases, are characterized by high morbidity and mortality, significantly influencing patients' quality of life. Hence, it is imperative to discover a secure and efficacious treatment approach. As a form of programmed cell death, autophagy has been demonstrated to be associated with the pathogeneses of hypertension, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders. It serves as one of the potential targets for the clinical intervention in cardiovascular diseases by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Autophagy exerts dual regulatory effects on the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and its specific effect predominantly depends on the extent of autophagy and the pathological stage of diseases. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases by directly regulating autophagy or interacting with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis under the regulation of autophagy, exhibiting the unique advantages of multiple targets, multiple components, and mild adverse reactions. This article reviews the experimental research progress in the role of autophagy and the intervention by active components and compound prescriptions of TCM and Chinese patent medicines in common cardiovascular diseases (such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, and atherosclerosis) in recent years and summarizes the research shortcomings, providing a theoretical basis and strategies for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
3.Mechanism of imperatorin in ameliorating doxorubicin resistance of breast cancer based on transcriptomics
Yiting LI ; Wei DONG ; Xinli LIANG ; Hu WANG ; Yumei QIU ; Xiaoyun DING ; Hao ZHANG ; Huiyun BAO ; Xianxi LI ; Xilan TANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):529-534
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect and potential mechanism of imperatorin (IMP) on doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in breast cancer. METHODS The effects of maximum non-toxic concentration (100 μg/mL) of IMP combined with different concentrations of DOX (12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/mL) on the proliferation of MCF-7/DOX cells were determined by MTT method. MCF-7/DOX cells were divided into blank control group (1‰ dimethyl sulfoxide), DOX group (50 μg/mL), IMP+DOX group (100 μg/mL IMP+50 μg/mL DOX) and IMP group (100 μg/mL). mRNA and protein expressions of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 in each group were measured. The relevant pathways and targets involved in the improvement of DOX resistance in breast cancer cells by IMP were screened and validated by using transcriptome sequencing technology, along with gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. RESULTS Compared with DOX alone, the combination of IMP and DOX reduced the half inhibitory concentration of DOX on MCF-7/DOX cells from 81.965 μg/mL to 43.170 μg/mL, the reverse fold was 1.90, and the mRNA expression of MDR1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). The results of GO enrichment analyses and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the reversal of DOX resistance in breast cancer by IMP was mainly associated with the regulation of biological processes such as detoxification, multiple biological processes, and cell killing. The main pathway involved was the p53 signaling pathway, and the key targets mainly included constitutively photomorphogenic protein 1 (COP1), cyclin E1 (CCNE1), growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 45A E-mail:tangxilan1983@163.com (GADD45A) and GADD45B. The results of the verification experiments showed that compared with DOX group, there was a trend of up-regulation of COP1 mRNA, and significant down- regulation of CCNE1, GADD45A, and GADD45B mRNA expression in IMP+DOX group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The effect of IMP in ameliorating DOX resistance in breast cancer is related to its regulation of COP1, CCNE1, GADD45A and GADD45B targets in the p53 signaling pathway.
4.Spatial Distribution Patterns and Environmental Influencing Factors of Flavonoid Glycosides in Epimedium sagittatum
Mengxue LI ; Wenmin ZENG ; Yiting WEI ; Fengqin LI ; Shengfu HU ; Xinyi WANG ; Zhangjian SHAN ; Yanqin XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):217-226
ObjectiveTo explore the spatial distribution patterns of flavonoid glycosides in Epimedium sagittatum and the influences of environmental factors on the accumulation of these components. MethodsThe spatial statistical analysis and GeoDetector model were used to analyze the distribution patterns of epimedin A,epimedin B,epimedin C,icariin,and total flavonoid glycosides in E. sagittatum samples from 92 different production areas in 36 cities of 13 provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions of China,as well as the effects of 28 environmental factors on the accumulation of each component. ResultsThe average content of flavonoid glycosides 64 (69.56%) producing areas and 30 (83.33%) cities met the quality standard of no less than 1.50% of total flavonoid glycosides in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Epimedin A,epimedin B,epimedin C,icariin,and their sum showed significantly high accumulation.The hot spots regions of epimedin A and epimedin B were similar with each other,mainly located in western Hunan,eastern Hubei,eastern Guizhou,and northern Guangxi.The common hot spot areas of epimedin C and total flavonoid glycosides were in western and southwestern Hunan,southern Henan,northern Anhui,eastern Guizhou,and southern Chongqing.The hot spots areas of icariin were in southern Chongqing,western Hunan,and eastern and northeastern Guizhou.The interactions between environmental factors had stronger explanatory power for the accumulation of components than single factors.The strongest single factor and interactive factor affecting the accumulation of epimedin C were precipitation of wettest quarter (q=0.16) and its interaction with temperature seasonality (q=0.35),respectively.The strongest single factor influencing both the accumulation of icariin and total flavonoid glycosides was the precipitation of coldest quarter (q equals 0.15 and 0.22,respectively).The strongest interactions were observed between precipitation of coldest quarter and gravel content (q=0.34),as well as between precipitation of coldest quarter and aspect (q=0.35). ConclusionThirteen cities,including Zhumadian and Nanyang in Henan,Huaihua,Shaoyang,and Zhangjiajie in Hunan,and Zunyi,Qiandongnan,and Tongren in Guizhou,were hot spots of total flavonoid glycosides in E.sagittatum.Precipitation,gravel content,temperature seasonality,and aspect significantly influence the accumulation of flavonoid glycosides in E.sagittatum.This study provides reference for the utilization and production zoning of E.sagittatum.
5.Research progress of ubiquitination involved in autophagy in regulating innate immune response
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(7):1525-1535
Innate immune response is the first line of immune defense in our body against invaded pathogens.After receive pathogen stimulation,immune cells synthesize abundant type Ⅰ interferons(IFNs)through activating three different signaling path-ways to establish strong antiviral immune response.Mounting evidences have revealed that selective autophagy participates in the regu-lation of innate type Ⅰ IFN response and prevents the excessive activation of immune responses.E3 ubiquitin ligases transfer different type of polyubiquitin chains to some key signaling proteins,and trigger the selective degradation of these proteins through autophago-some-lysosome pathway.Therefore,autophagy and E3 ubiquitin ligases integrate the spatiotemporal regulation of innate type Ⅰ IFN response.In this review,we summarized current data elucidating the critical role of autophagy and E3 ubiquitin ligases in the regula-tion of innate immune response.
6.A systematic review of cognitive intervention studies of mindfulness training in older adults
Yiting WEI ; Shaoxia FAN ; Qing GUAN ; Jieting ZHANG ; Wenyi LIN ; Yuejia LUO ; Haobo ZHANG
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2024;38(6):500-509
Mindfulness training has shown beneficial effects on cognitive functions in older adults.Howev-er,the studies on this topic have used different methods and populations,and their results were inconsistent.No sys-tematic review has synthesized and evaluated these findings.This review aims to address this gap by categorizing the studies based on the training methods and cohorts of older adults,and summarizing the effects of mindfulness training on cognitive function.The review finds that mindfulness training had different effects depending on the lev-el of cognitive decline and the training method.Both standardized and unstandardized training methods improved cognitive performance in older adults with normal or subjective cognitive decline.However,the effect of mindful-ness training diminished as cognitive decline worsened,being inconsistent in mild cognitive impairment and non-sig-nificant in dementia.The review also discusses the possible mechanisms and suggested directions for future re-search.
7.Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism population structure of Yersinia pestis in natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Juan JIN ; Yiting WANG ; Sheng LI ; Xiaoyan YANG ; Jian HE ; Youquan XIN ; Jixiang BAI ; Li ZHANG ; Wenqi DU ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2024;43(6):452-455
Objective:To learn about the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) population structure and regional distribution characteristics of Yersinia pestis in the natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Methods:A total of 319 representative strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1954 to 2020 were selected, and 2 298 SNP loci included in the global Yersinia pestis phylogenetic tree were compared by whole genome sequencing technology. MEGA 6.0 software was used to construct phylogenetic trees of 319 strains of Yersinia pestis from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, determine the SNP population structure of Yersinia pestis in the focus, and describe its regional distribution characteristics. Results:The 319 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau natural plague foci were distributed in 5 clades, namely 1.IN, 2.ANT, 3.ANT, 0.PE and 2.MED. The 1.IN clade contained 209 strains (65.52%, 209/319), which was the dominant population of strains in Qinghai Province, accounting for 90.51% (143/158). The 2.ANT clade contained 83 strains (26.02%, 83/319), which was the dominant population in Tibet Autonomous Region, accounting for 67.24% (78/116). The 3.ANT, 0.PE, and 2.MED clades contained 12 (3.76%, 12/319), 9 (2.82%, 9/319) and 6 strains (1.88%, 6/319), respectively, which were scattered in Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Sichuan Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region under the jurisdiction of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Conclusion:The SNP population structure of Yersinia pestis in natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is relatively rich, and the strains are distributed in 5 clades: 1.IN, 2.ANT, 3.ANT, 0.PE and 2.MED, showing the distribution characteristics of specific regions.
8.Explorations about the correlation between biological changes of meninges in periodontitis mice and cognitive impairment via single-cell RNA sequencing
Yiting JIANG ; Lina XU ; Xuri ZHAO ; Hui SHEN ; Che QIU ; Zhiyan HE ; Wei ZHOU ; Zhongchen SONG
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2024;59(6):595-603
Objective:To clarify the potential correlation between biological changes of meninges in periodontitis mice and cognitive impairment by analyzing the biological changes of meninges in periodontitis mice using single-cell RNA sequencing.Methods:Thirty C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups by using random number table method (15 mice in each group). Mice in the control group were locally administered 2% carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) without Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) on both buccal sides. A mixture of Pg W83 and 2% CMC was applied on both buccal sides in the experimental group mice three times a week, lasting for 16 weeks in total. The absorption of alveolar bone, locomotor activity and cognitive function, the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the cortex were observed and assessed. The mRNA expression levels of Occludin in meninges and brain were detected in two groups. Single-cell RNA sequencing data of meninges were processed by uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP). Differential genes expressions of endothelial cells were processed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. In addition, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the expressions of transcription activating factor 3 (Atf3) and apolpoprotein L domain-containing 1 (Apold 1). Results:Methylene blue staining found the distances of buccal and palatal cement-enamel junction-alveolar bone crest in experimental mice [(185.60±17.60), (206.90±13.37) μm] increased significantly compared with the control group [(135.33±9.57), (163.05±14.98) μm] ( t=5.02, P=0.002; t=4.37, P=0.005). Open field experiment showed the total distance and average speed of mice in the experimental group [(971.88±164.57) cm, (3.25±0.55) cm/s] were not statistically significant compared with the control group [(914.24±278.81) cm, (3.05±0.93) cm/s] ( t=0.65, P=0.525; t=0.65, P=0.520). The recognition index of the experimental group [(48.02±16.92) %] was lower than the control group [(66.27±17.90) %] ( t=2.40, P=0.027) by novel object recognition tests. Compared with the control group [(63.56±11.88) %], the alternation of experimental group [(50.99±14.17) %] was significantly decreased in Y maze tests ( t=2.33, P=0.030). Immunohistochemistry results showed microglia and astrocytes were activated in the cortex of experimental mice. Compared with the control group (1.02±0.25, 1.04±0.31), the relative mRNA expressions of Occludin decreased significantly in the meninges and brain of periodontitis mice, respectively (0.61±0.10, 0.64±0.20) ( t=3.47, P=0.010; t=2.66, P=0.024). By single-cell RNA sequencing, meninges cells were divided into 11 types, such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, immune cells and so on. Endothelial cells were the main cell types in meninges [the control group: 26.47% (1 589/6 004), the experimental group: 26.26% (807/3 073)]. Compared with the control group [5.56% (334/6 004)], the percentage of granulocytes increased in the periodontitis mice [11.65% (358/3 073)]. Using clustering analysis to further focus on endothelial cells, GO enrichment analysis revealed differential genes were mainly related to angiogenesis, cell adhesion, apoptosis and so on. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that differential genes were related to signaling pathways of interleukin-17, relaxin and so on. The relative mRNA expressions of Atf3 and Apold1 in meninges of periodontitis mice (0.42±0.24, 0.54±0.27) were significantly lower than the control group (1.03±0.26, 1.02±0.23) ( t=3.88, P=0.005; t=3.02, P=0.017). Conclusions:The mice chronically infected with Pg W83 occurred memory impairment, neuroinflammation and changes of barrier function. In the meninges of periodontitis mice, there were infiltration of immune cells and down-regulation expressions of Atf3 and Apold1 by single-cell RNA sequencing. Meningeal immunity and changes of barrier function may play an important role in the cognitive impairment caused by periodontitis.
9.Effect of interindividual biological characteristics and blood collection time on troponin T concentrations
Yiting LIN ; Yan ZHOU ; Jiaye ZHOU ; Chunyan ZHANG ; Beili WANG ; Baishen PAN ; Wei GUO
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(3):259-263
Objective:To investigate the correlation between gender, age, blood collection time, season and changes in cTnT concentration.Methods:In this study, 3548 patients (non-cardiovascular diseases) in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were selected from 1 January to 31 December 2019. The basic data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, time of blood collection, medical history, clinical diagnosis, and results of cTnT testing. 1 840 males and 1 708 females were finally enrolled, with an age distribution of 65 (53, 75) years. The distribution of the data was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test, where non-normally distributed data were expressed as M( Q1, Q3). The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare cTnT concentrations between men and women, and to analyse the influence of gender on cTnT results. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare cTnT levels between gender groups, to analyse the correlation between different times of blood collection, seasons, and other factors and cTnT concentrations. Result:cTnT concentrations increased with age in both males and females over the age of 60 years. cTnT levels were highest in individuals over the age of 90 years (0.028 ng/ml in males and 0.018 ng/ml in females). cTnT levels were higher in males (0.012 ng/ml) than in females (0.009 ng/ml) in all age groups ( H=6.340, P<0.01). The concentrations of cTnT varied at different time points of blood collection. In both males and females, cTnT concentrations reached a maximum at 8:00 and 13:00 (0.013 ng/ml and 0.012 ng/ml, respectively). Analysis of the physiological effect of season on cTnT secretion showed that cTnT levels were generally higher in spring and winter(0.012 ng/ml) than in summer and autumn(0.010 ng/ml). Conclusions:cTnT concentration is influenced by gender, age, time of blood collection and season. When analysing cTnT results in clinical practice, the gender and age of the individual should be taken into account, as well as the time point of blood collection and seasonal factors.
10.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection among people aged 60 and above in Beijing City
Xiaofeng WEI ; Maozhong LI ; Yiting WANG ; Qi HUANG ; Cheng GONG ; Luodan SUO ; Fang HUANG
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;58(7):952-958
Objective:To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of RSV among patients aged ≥60 years in Beijing from 2015 to 2023.Methods:Based on the respiratory pathogen surveillance system, samples of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (nsCAP) and severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) among people aged ≥60 years were collected from 28 sentinel hospitals in 16 districts of Beijing from January 2015 to December 2023. Swab samples were collected from URTI within one week, and lower respiratory tract samples from nsCAP and sCAP were collected. Demographic and epidemiological data were also collected. Various respiratory pathogens including RSV were detected.Results:From January 2015 to December 2023, a total of 20 349 cases of acute respiratory infections aged ≥60 years were included, with the RSV-positive rate of 1.54% (313/20 349, 95% CI: 1.39%-1.68%). Among them, the total RSV-positive rates of older people during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods of COVID-19 were 1.59% (207/13 006, 95% CI: 1.38%-1.81%), 0.82% (38/4 650, 95% CI: 0.56%-1.08%) and 2.53% (68/2 693, 95% CI: 1.93%-3.12%), respectively. The difference in RSV-positive rate was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Based on the sampling time of cases, the RSV epidemic season for older people in Beijing was from October to March of the following year, with a peak period in December or January of the following year. In the post COVID-19 pandemic, there were very few RSV-positive cases detected in the elderly from April to June 2023, with only one positive case detected in May and one in June. The RSV-positive rate of older people increased significantly from October to December, reaching 11.75% (51/383) in December. Among 263 RSV-positive cases in the elderly, RSV-A, RSV-B and unclassified type accounted for 43.35% (114/263), 29.28% (77/263) and 27.38% (72/263), respectively. Since 2020, there has been a subtype conversion, with RSV-B being the main focus. Among 197 elderly cases that have complete clinical data, the main symptoms were cough (86.8%, 171/197), sputum (80.2%, 158/197) and fever (73.60%, 145/197). About 24.87% (49/197) of elderly cases experienced complications. The hospitalization mortality rate was 4.57% (9/197), and the hospitalization rate was 78.68% (155/197). The ICU occupancy rate was 1.99% (36/197). The mechanical ventilation usage rate was 13.32% (33/197), and the length of hospital stay [ M ( Q1, Q3)] was 12 (9, 16) days. Conclusion:In Beijing, the RSV infection rate is relatively low during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the prevalence of COVID-19 is relatively high. In 2023, there was no out-of-season outbreak of RSV infection among the elderly. Elderly RSV infection cases have multiple complications, severe diseases, and poor prognosis.

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