1.Potential Mechanism of Zuojinwan in Improving Liver Fibrosis Based on Hepatic Tissue Metabolomics
Yiting JIANG ; Kexin LIU ; Yixi QIAN ; Rui ZHANG ; Feng ZHANG ; Hongyan WU ; Li CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):54-61
ObjectiveThis study aims to elucidate the potential mechanism of Zuojinwan in improving liver fibrosis through hepatic tissue metabolomics analysis. MethodsTwenty-four mice were randomly allocated into normal group, model group , positive drug group (silymarin, 100 mg·kg-1), and Zuojinwan group (Zuojinwan solution, 2.5 g·kg-1), with per group six mice. Liver fibrosis model was induced via intraperitoneal injection of olive oil solution with 10% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (0.5 μL·g-1, three times weekly for 8 weeks) in all groups except the normal group. During the final 4 weeks, the silymarin group received silymarin (100 mg·kg-1) by gavage thrice weekly, while the Zuojinwan group was administered Zuojinwan solution (2.5 g·kg-1) under the same regimen. After the last administration, the levels of liver fibrosis indicators and liver injury markers in serum were detected. The pathological morphological changes of the liver tissues were observed. The levels of liver fibrosis markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Ⅰ(ColⅠ) were detected. Metabolomics was analyzed on mice's liver tissues. The mice's serum was collected for metabolomics analysis. ResultsCompared with the model group, Zuojinwan significantly improved indicators related to liver fibrosis and liver injury. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly elevated levels of fibrosis markers such as laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen typeⅢ (PC-Ⅲ), and type Ⅳ Collagen (Ⅳ-C), while liver injury indicators such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total bilirubin (TBIL), exhibited a marked upward trend (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the silymarin group showed a significant decrease in the aforementioned indicators (P<0.05). Notably, compared with the model group, the Zuojinwan group exhibited a significant reduction in all these indicators (P<0.05), with efficacy comparable to that of the silymarin group. Zuojinwan reduced mRNA and protein levels of α-SMA and ColⅠ in the liver tissue. Metabolomics results revealed that compared with the model group, Zuojiinwan significantly reduced levels of glucose metabolism-related metabolites such as D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), sodium beta-D-fructose 6-phosphate (F6P), dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), fumaric acid, and D-glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) (P<0.05). Serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect glucose metabolism indicators and further validate the regulatory effect of Zuojinwan on glucose metabolism. ConclusionThese results suggest that Zuojinwan may improve liver fibrosis by regulating the dysregulated levels of glucose metabolism during the progression of liver fibrosis.
2.Topical adhesive spatio-temporal nanosystem co-delivering chlorin e6 and HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizic acid for in situ psoriasis chemo-phototherapy.
Lijun SU ; Yixi ZHU ; Xuebo LI ; Di WANG ; Xiangyu CHEN ; Zhen LIU ; Jingjing LI ; Chen ZHANG ; Jinming ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):1126-1142
Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained considerable attention as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of psoriasis. Unfortunately, the activation of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) by PDT triggers innate and adaptive immune responses, which exacerbate skin inflammation. Herein, we combined glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a natural anti-inflammatory compound and immunomodulator derived from the herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., with PDT actuated by the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) by co-loading them in GA-based lipid nanoparticles coated with a catechol-modified quaternary chitosan salt (GC NPs/QCS-C). GC NPs/QCS-C exhibited high drug loading efficacy, uniform size distribution, an ideal topical adhesive property, enhanced skin retention and penetration in psoriasis-like lesions, and high intracellular uptake in epidermal cells compared with the counterparts. Subsequently, the transdermal administration of GC NPs/QCS-C followed by near-infrared laser radiation in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model significantly ameliorated psoriasis symptoms, promoted the apoptosis of hyperproliferative epidermal cells, and alleviated the inflammatory cascade. The significant therapeutic outcomes of GC NPs/QCS-C were attributed to the synergistic effects of GA and PDT on modulating immune cell recruitment and inhibiting dendritic cell maturation. Our results demonstrated that the topical bio-adhesive nanosystem that combines GA and Ce6 offers a synergistic chemo-phototherapeutic strategy for psoriasis treatment.
3.Research progress of spinal bone cement augmented screw techniques
Yang XIAO ; Rui ZHANG ; Maimaiti ABULIKEMU· ; Yixi WANG ; Hailong GUO ; Rexiti PAERHATI·
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(5):310-316
The frequent challenges encountered in spinal surgeries utilizing pedicle screws for osteoporotic patients include inadequate fixation strength and postoperative screw loosening or displacement, often requiring reinforcement or surgical revision. The bone cement-augmented technique, without altering the diameter, length, or material of the screws, can solidly enhance the stability of internal fixation and improve surgical efficacy. The bone cement types that are widely applied in clinical practice encompass Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Calcium Phosphate Cement (CPC), and their composite series.The bone cement reinforcement techniques are mainly divided into two categories: bone cement augmentation within pedicle screw pathway and hollow lateral-hole screw reinforcement. The technique of pedicle screw pathway bone cement augmentation significantly enhances the stability of internal fixation by pre-injecting bone cement into the pedicle screw pathway before inserting the screw. However, it poses potential risks such as difficulty in precisely controlling the distribution of bone cement and susceptibility to leakage. In comparison, hollow lateral-hole screw augmentation, through the optimization of bone cement injection techniques and screw design, not only augments screw stability but also effectively decreases the incidence of complications such as bone cement leakage, especially exhibiting outstanding performance in both primary and revision surgeries. For patients with severe osteoporosis or those requiring revision surgery due to compromised pedicle screw tracts, the bone cement-augmented cortical bone trajectory (CBT) exhibits favorable mechanical properties. By adjusting the screw placement pathway, it may potentially avoid the central venous sinus of the vertebra, thereby reducing the risk of bone cement leakage and embolism. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings. With the rapid development of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement technology, the precision and safety of spinal screws augmented with bone cement have been significantly enhanced, effectively minimizing surgical trauma and reducing the risk of complications. In the future, clinicians will make more scientific and objective selections of appropriate screw types and method of screw placement based on patients' bone quality, further reducing complications and adhering to the principle of personalized treatment. This will continuously enhance patient outcomes and prognosis, ultimately providing safer and more effective treatment options for patients.
4.TCMKD: From ancient wisdom to modern insights-A comprehensive platform for traditional Chinese medicine knowledge discovery.
Wenke XIAO ; Mengqing ZHANG ; Danni ZHAO ; Fanbo MENG ; Qiang TANG ; Lianjiang HU ; Hongguo CHEN ; Yixi XU ; Qianqian TIAN ; Mingrui LI ; Guiyang ZHANG ; Liang LENG ; Shilin CHEN ; Chi SONG ; Wei CHEN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101297-101297
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding a crucial position in the medical field. However, the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization, completeness, and accuracy, primarily due to the decentralized distribution of TCM resources. To address these issues, we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery (TCMKD, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/). Seven types of data, including syndromes, formulas, Chinese patent drugs (CPDs), Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs), ingredients, targets, and diseases, were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD. To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine, TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining, enrichment analysis, and network localization and separation. These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights. In addition to its analytical capabilities, a quick question and answer (Q&A) system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently, thereby improving the interactivity of the platform. The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool, offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining. Overall, TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM, delving into the pharmacological foundations of TCM treatments, but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems, extending beyond just TCM.
5.Association between TCF7L2 rs290487 gene polymorphism and the hypoglycaemic efficacy of exenatide
Yibing ZHANG ; Yuhan HUANG ; Yanan YU ; Tingting ZHOU ; Yixi WU ; Xiaotong WANG ; Tao WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(3):374-384
AIM:To examine the impact of the transcription factor 7 analogue 2(TCF7L2)gene polymorphism on the hypoglycaemic effect of ex-enatide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS:A total of 100 newly diagnosed Han Chinese patients with T2DM who had not re-ceived any drug treatment were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and treated with exenatide monotherapy for 6 months.The TCF7L2 rs290487 was genotyped by SnaPshot method,and blood glucose levels,lipids profiles and pancreatic function evaluation indica-tors were measured at baseline,3 months and 6 months after exenatide treatment.Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to assess the cor-relation between each indicator and the reduction in glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels after 6 months of exenatide treatment.The expression of TCF7L2 protein in the plasma of T2DM patients was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit.Furthermore,western blotting was con-ducted to ascertain TCF7L2 expression in pancreat-ic tissues obtained from db/db mice and INS-1 cells cultured under high glucose conditions.Lentivirus transfection was used to overexpress or knock down TCF7L2 in insulinoma cell line(INS-1)cells,followed by measurement of KSIS activity and insu-lin content after a 24-hour intervention with exena-tide.RESULTS:The distribution pattern of TCF7L2 rs290487 was found to be in accordance with Har-dy-Weinberg equilibrium(P>0.05).Following 6 months of exenatide treatment,there was a nota-ble reduction in blood glucose levels and an im-provement in lipid profiles when compared to base-line values.Additionally,there was a significant in-crease in the homeostasis model assessment of be-ta-cell function(HOMA-B)values.Patients with the TT genotype exhibited significantly lower postpran-dial plasma glucose(PPG)levels and HbA1c values compared to those with the CC or CT genotypes(P<0.05).After adjusting for age,gender,body mass in-dex(BMI),and waist to hip ratio(WHR)in the mul-tiple linear regression model,a significant associa-tion was observed between the rs290487 TT geno-type,baseline HbA1c levels,and family history of diabetes with the reduction in HbA1c after six months of exenatide treatment(P<0.05).Further-more,individuals with the rs290487 TT genotype demonstrated a notable elevation in TCF7L2 expres-sion in plasma among T2DM patients in comparison to those with the CC genotype(P<0.05).In particu-lar,pancreatic tissue from db/db mice exhibited markedly elevated TCF7L2 expression compared to db/m mice.However,this up-regulation was re-versed by exenatide treatment.Similarly,INS-1 cells cultured under high glucose conditions dem-onstrated an increase in TCF7L2 expression,which was ameliorated upon exenatide administration.The knockdown of TCF7L2 using shRNA enhanced the KSIS function of pancreatic β cells and aug-mented the insulinotropic effect of exenatide.Con-versely,the upregulation of TCF7L2 impaired the KSIS function of pancreatic β cells and attenuated the insulinotropic effect of exenatide.CONCLU-SION:The TCF7L2 rs290487 gene polymorphism is closely associated with the hypoglycaemic efficacy of exenatide therapy.The risk allele C may diminish the effectiveness of exenatide by impacting the lev-els of PPG and HbA1c in T2DM patients.The muta-tion at TCF7L2 rs290487 site(C→T)influenced the expression of TCF7L2 protein.By exerting its regula-tory effect,exenatide may be capable of regulating the impact of TCF7L2 on the function of pancreaticβ cells.
6.TCMKD:From ancient wisdom to modern insights-A comprehensive platform for traditional Chinese medicine knowledge discovery
Wenke XIAO ; Mengqing ZHANG ; Danni ZHAO ; Fanbo MENG ; Qiang TANG ; Lianjiang HU ; Hongguo CHEN ; Yixi XU ; Qianqian TIAN ; Mingrui LI ; Guiyang ZHANG ; Liang LENG ; Shilin CHEN ; Chi SONG ; Wei CHEN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):1390-1402
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge,holding a crucial position in the medical field.However,the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization,completeness,and accuracy,primarily due to the decen-tralized distribution of TCM resources.To address these issues,we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery(TCMKD,https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/).Seven types of data,including syndromes,formulas,Chinese patent drugs(CPDs),Chinese medicinal materials(CMMs),ingredients,targets,and diseases,were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD.To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine,TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining,enrichment analysis,and network localization and separation.These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights.In addition to its analytical capabilities,a quick question and answer(Q&A)system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently,thereby improving the interactivity of the platform.The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool,offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining.Overall,TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM,delving into the pharmaco-logical foundations of TCM treatments,but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems,extending beyond just TCM.
7.Research progress of spinal bone cement augmented screw techniques
Yang XIAO ; Rui ZHANG ; Maimaiti ABULIKEMU· ; Yixi WANG ; Hailong GUO ; Rexiti PAERHATI·
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(5):310-316
The frequent challenges encountered in spinal surgeries utilizing pedicle screws for osteoporotic patients include inadequate fixation strength and postoperative screw loosening or displacement, often requiring reinforcement or surgical revision. The bone cement-augmented technique, without altering the diameter, length, or material of the screws, can solidly enhance the stability of internal fixation and improve surgical efficacy. The bone cement types that are widely applied in clinical practice encompass Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Calcium Phosphate Cement (CPC), and their composite series.The bone cement reinforcement techniques are mainly divided into two categories: bone cement augmentation within pedicle screw pathway and hollow lateral-hole screw reinforcement. The technique of pedicle screw pathway bone cement augmentation significantly enhances the stability of internal fixation by pre-injecting bone cement into the pedicle screw pathway before inserting the screw. However, it poses potential risks such as difficulty in precisely controlling the distribution of bone cement and susceptibility to leakage. In comparison, hollow lateral-hole screw augmentation, through the optimization of bone cement injection techniques and screw design, not only augments screw stability but also effectively decreases the incidence of complications such as bone cement leakage, especially exhibiting outstanding performance in both primary and revision surgeries. For patients with severe osteoporosis or those requiring revision surgery due to compromised pedicle screw tracts, the bone cement-augmented cortical bone trajectory (CBT) exhibits favorable mechanical properties. By adjusting the screw placement pathway, it may potentially avoid the central venous sinus of the vertebra, thereby reducing the risk of bone cement leakage and embolism. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings. With the rapid development of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement technology, the precision and safety of spinal screws augmented with bone cement have been significantly enhanced, effectively minimizing surgical trauma and reducing the risk of complications. In the future, clinicians will make more scientific and objective selections of appropriate screw types and method of screw placement based on patients' bone quality, further reducing complications and adhering to the principle of personalized treatment. This will continuously enhance patient outcomes and prognosis, ultimately providing safer and more effective treatment options for patients.
8.Analysis of in Vitro Activity and Mechanism of Dunhuang Yifang Daxiefei Decoction on Pneumonia Based on Chemical Bioinformatics
Jia LIN ; Xiaojie JIN ; Chenghao LI ; Ruifeng WANG ; Yehu HOU ; Yixi ZHANG ; Hao LIU ; Min ZHANG ; Juan YAO ; Jintian LI ; Yongqi LIU
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(7):871-886
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effectiveness, potential mechanism and compatibility characteristics of efficacy groups of Dunhuang medical prescription Daxiefei decoction in preventing and treating pneumonia based on chemical bioinformatics method.
METHODS
To study the effect of Daxiefei decoction freeze-dried powder solution on the proliferation activity of lung epithelial cells through cell experiments. Daxiefei decoction was divided into three groups: clearing away heat group, resolving phlegm group, and nourishing Yin group according to its efficacy characteristics. The chemical components of Daxiefei decoction were obtained by TCMSP database and literature search, and the targets were predicted in Swiss Target Prediction database. Pneumonia disease targets were obtained by DrugBank, TTD, Genecards and DisGeNET databases. STRING database and Cytoscape were used to construct the intersection target interaction network and "drug-component-target- pathway" network and DAVID database was used for KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The network was used to analyze the scientific connotation of the compatibility of efficacy groups. Furthermore, molecular docking was used to evaluate the target-compound affinity and molecular dynamics was used to explore the dynamic molecular mechanism.
RESULTS
Cell experiments showed that Daxiefei decoction can maintain the proliferation of lung epithelial cells, reverse the decrease of mitochondrial activity induced by LPS and reduce apoptosis. Complex network analysis showed that the pathways enriched by the three functional groups contained in Daxiefei decoction were mainly distributed in two modules: inflammation regulation and reducing airway mucus hypersecretion. Each module was connected by a common target gene and had its own focus. The results of molecular docking showed that the components quercetin, baicalein, isorhamnetin etc. might be the effective multi-target components of Daxiefei decoction. SRC, EGFR, PPARA etc. had good affinity with each potential active component, which might be a potential target of Daxiefei decoction for preventing and treating pneumonia. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the potential active component quercetin formed stable intermolecular interactions with SRC.
CONCLUSION
This study initially reveal the material basis and molecular mechanism of Daxiefei decoction in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia. It also explores the scientific connotation of Daxiefei decoction in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia with different efficacy groups, and its modern development and clinical application provide chemical bioinformatics basis.
9.Analysis of influencing factors and pathway of self-regulatory fatigue in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Haojie ZENG ; Li ZHAO ; Chen ZHANG ; Yixi FAN ; Wenyu LUO ; Jinfeng ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2024;59(2):156-164
Objective Based on the process theory of stress effect,the structural equation model of the influencing factors of self-regulatory fatigue in maintenance hemodialysis patients is constructed,which provides theoretical bases and references for the formulation of intervention programs to relieve self-regulatory fatigue in patients.Method A total of 420 maintenance hemodialysis patients were surveyed using General Information Questionnaire,Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale,Dialysis Symptom Index,Life Orientation Test-Revised,Perceived Social Support Scale,Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and Medical Coping Styles Questionnaire.Results Total score of self-regulatory fatigue in maintenance hemodialysis patients was(49.52±10.93),and self-regulatory fatigue showed significant positive correlation with symptom distress,the illness perception,avoidance coping style,yieldly coping(r=0.476,0.428,0.303,0.611,all P<0.01);self-regulatory fatigue showed significant negative correlation with perceived social support and dispositional optimism(r=-0.410,-0.652,all P<0.01);it showed no significant correlation with facing coping(r=-0.032,P>0.05).The Bootstrap analysis revealed that the mediation effect of yielding coping,dispositional optimism,perceived social support,and illness perception between symptom distress and self-regulatory fatigue was significant(95%CI:0.027~0.203).The overall effect of symptom distress on self-regulatory fatigue was(P<0.001,95%CI:0.576~0.751);the direct effect was(P<0.001,95%CI:0.170~0.357);the indirect effect was(P<0.001,95%CI:0.332~0.485);the mediation effect accounted for 61.1%of the total effect value.Conclusion Maintenance hemodialysis patients have a high degree of self-regulatory fatigue,which needs to be further improved.Medical staff should timely identify and evaluate the symptom distress of patients,focus on guiding patients to adjust optimistic disease,provide patients with psychological guidance and stress coping strategies,reduce the negative coping behavior tendency,guide the patients correctly perceive support and care in social relations,help patients set up the correct disease cognition,thus reducing the patient's self-regulatory fatigue.
10.Stakeholder analysis of prevention and control of obesity among middle school students
PAN Shasha, LIN Yixi, ZHANG Youjie
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(9):1269-1274
Objective:
To identify the stakeholders of prevention and control of obesity among middle school students and analyze their motivations and interest demands for participation, in order to provide constructive recommendations for facilitating their effective engagement of stakeholders in prevention and control of obesity among middle school students.
Methods:
Stakeholders and their types were identified through a combination of literature analysis and consultation with 17 experts in children and adolescents for prevention and control of obesity. From December 2023 to January 2024, by applying convenience sampling, face to face semi structured interviews were conducted with 11 individuals engaged in prevention and control of obesity for middle school students and focus group interviews were conducted with 48 students and parents. Thematic analysis was employed to obtain motivations and interest demands for stakeholder involvement in prevention and control of obesity.
Results:
A total of 29 subcategories within 7 major categories of stakeholders were identified, including government and relevant functional departments, non profit organizations and communities, forprofit organizations and individuals, schools, professional and technical personnel, families and individuals, and scientific research institutions, with 28 subcategories being confirmed stakeholders. Among these stakeholders, there were 3 types of cooperative relationships:management, cooperation, and service. There were some factors hindering cooperation among stakeholders including imperfections in specialized policies and lack of long term cooperative mechanisms, flaws and interest conflicts in the evaluation system, insufficiency of material resources, and poor health values. In response to these challenges, interviewees proposed to convene a working group for the prevention and control of adolescent obesity. They also suggested making a contract of responsibility, strengthening supervision over for profit organizations, enhancing advocating efforts for prevention and control of obesity, and increasing financial support.
Conclusions
The prevention and control of obesity for middle school students can be facilitated by forming a collaborative alliance based on the roles and relationships of stakeholders identified in the present study. Perceived conflicts of interest among stakeholders can be reconciled by employing strategies of interest integration, goal alignment, and spiritual integration, to enhance the feasibility, participation and sustainability of obesity intervention.


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