OBJECTIVE: Huachansu injection (HCSI), a promising anti-cancer Chinese medicine injection, has been reported to have the potential for reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy and improving the quality of life for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The objective of this study is to explore the synergistic and detoxifying effects of HCSI when used in combination with irinotecan (CPT-11). METHODS: To investigate the effect of HCSI on anti-CRC efficacy and intestinal toxicity of CPT-11, we measured changes in the biological behavior of LoVo cells in vitro, and anti-tumor effects in LoVo cell xenograft nude mice models in vivo. Meanwhile, the effect of HCSI on intestinal toxicity and the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) expression was investigated in the CPT-11-induced colitis mouse model. Subsequently, we measured the effect of HCSI and its 13 constituent bufadienolides on the expression of UGT1A1 and organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B3 (OATP1B3) in HepG2 cells. RESULTS: The combination index (CI) results showed that the combination of HCSI and CPT-11 exhibited a synergistic effect (CI < 1), which significantly suppressing the LoVo cell migration, enhancing G2/M and S phase arrest, and inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, the damage to intestinal tissues was attenuated by HCSI in CPT-11-induced colitis model, while the increased expression of UGT1A1 in HepG2 cells and in mouse was observed. CONCLUSION The co-therapy with HCSI alleviated the intestinal toxicity induced by CPT-11 and exerted an enhanced anti-CRC effect. The detoxifying mechanism may be related to the increased expression of UGT1A1 and OATP1B3 by HCSI and its bufadienolides components. The findings of this study may serve as a theoretical insights and strategies to improve CRC patient outcomes. Please cite this article as: Jiang B, Meng ZY, Hu YJ, Chen JJ, Zong L, Xu LY, Zhang XQ, Zhang JX, Han YL. Huachansu injection enhances anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of irinotecan and alleviates its induced intestinal toxicity through upregulating UGT1A1-OATP1B3 expression in vitro and in vivo. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):576-590.
Irinotecan/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics* ; Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Nude ; Mice ; Up-Regulation/drug effects* ; Male ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Hep G2 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Intestines/drug effects* ; Amphibian Venoms

OBJECTIVE: miR-34c-3p is down-regulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The biological role of miR-34c-3p in NPC and its underlying mechanisms are unknown and were explored in this study. METHODS: Flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining were employed to detect cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86) and cluster of differentiation 206 (CD206) expression; quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were employed to examine mRNA expression and protein levels; cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and transwell assays were employed to assess cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to assess pathological changes in tumor tissues. RESULTS: Our results revealed that the miR-34c-3p mimic markedly inhibited M2 polarization of macrophages by targeting SLC7A11, and M2 macrophages transfected with the miR-34c-3p mimic inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC cells. The in vivo experiments further confirmed that miR-34c-3p mimics blocked tumor growth and reduced inflammatory infiltration in tumor tissues. CONCLUSION This study provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of NPC and a new treatment strategy.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/genetics* ; Humans ; Animals ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Macrophages/physiology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Cell Proliferation ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Cell Movement ; Male ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Mice, Nude ; Female

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of foam macrophages (FMs) on the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and identify the molecular mechanisms influencing MTB survival. METHODS: An in vitro FM model was established using oleic acid induction. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to identify the key molecular pathways involved in FM-mediated MTB survival. RESULTS: Induced FMs effectively restricted MTB survival. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed distinct changes in gene and metabolite expression in FMs during MTB infection compared with normal macrophages. Integrated analyses identified significant alterations in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, indicating that its activation contributes to the FM-mediated restriction of MTB survival. CONCLUSIONS FMs inhibit MTB survival. The cAMP signaling pathway is a key contributor. These findings enhance the understanding of the role of FMs in tuberculosis progression, suggest potential targets for host-directed therapies, and offer new directions for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/physiology* ; Transcriptome ; Metabolomics ; Foam Cells/microbiology* ; Humans ; Metabolome ; Tuberculosis/microbiology* ; Gene Expression Profiling

Objective To assess the blood pressure control and its influencing factors among hypertensive patients in communities in different time periods by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(24 h ABPM)and provide reference for optimizing the health management services for hypertension in communities. Methods A total of 765 hypertensive patients registered in the hypertension management project of national essential public health services in Sanxiang Town,Zhongshan City from October 2022 to September 2023 were identified as target subjects.The 24 h ABPM devices were distributed for blood pressure monitoring and a questionnaire survey was conducted to analyze the influencing factors of blood pressure control. Results Of all the participants,16.5% did not monitor blood pressure regularly,and 59.2% monitored blood pressure 1-2 times per week.The patients who were not on night shifts/staying up late had higher mean rates of achieving the target blood pressure and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure during 24 h,nighttime,and early morning than those who were on night shifts/staying up late(all P<0.05).The patients who never drank alcohol had higher rate of achieving the target blood pressure in early morning than those who drank alcohol(P=0.012).The average blood pressure during daytime,nighttime,and 24 h were different by sex(all P<0.05).The average blood pressure during nighttime was different by age and job types(all P<0.05).The average blood pressure during daytime,nighttime,and 24 h were different in patients with different body weight types(all P<0.05).The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that uncontrolled blood pressure during daytime was more likely to occur in male patients(OR=1.394,95%CI=1.045-1.858,P=0.024),and that during nighttime was more likely to be associated with male patients(OR=1.573,95%CI=1.088-2.275,P=0.016)and night shifts(OR=2.467,95%CI=1.198-5.077,P=0.014).It was difficult to achieve blood pressure control in early morning for the patients who drank alcohol for more than three times per week(OR=4.567,95%CI=1.629-12.807,P=0.004),woke up at night(OR=1.800,95%CI=1.125-2.878,P=0.014),and had night shifts(OR=1.579,95%CI=1.102-2.465,P=0.044).The patients on night shifts were more likely to have abnormal circadian rhythm of blood pressure(OR=1.753,95%CI:1.018-3.018,P=0.043). Conclusions The personal characteristics and lifestyle of hypertensive patients significantly affect the blood pressure control in different time periods(daytime,nighttime,and early morning)and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure.The family doctor team of community healthcare institutions can implement targeted and precise intervention measures for hypertensive patients according to the influencing factors of blood pressure control in different time periods,so as to achieve better management effects.
Humans ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Circadian Rhythm ; Blood Pressure ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Adult ; Aged ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) could become a gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography. Deep learning (DL)-based CT-FFR has shown promise when compared to invasive FFR. To evaluate the performance of a DL-based CT-FFR technique, DeepVessel FFR (DVFFR). METHODS: This retrospective study was designed for iScheMia Assessment based on a Retrospective, single-center Trial of CT-FFR (SMART). Patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and undergoing both CTA and invasive FFR examinations were consecutively selected from the Beijing Anzhen Hospital between January 1, 2016 to December 30, 2018. FFR obtained during invasive coronary angiography was used as the reference standard. DVFFR was calculated blindly using a DL-based CT-FFR approach that utilized the complete tree structure of the coronary arteries. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty nine patients (60.5 ±10.0 years and 209 men) and 414 vessels with direct invasive FFR were included in the analysis. At per-vessel level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of DVFFR were 94.7%, 88.6%, 90.8%, 82.7%, and 96.7%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.95 for DVFFR and 0.56 for CTA-based assessment with a significant difference (P < 0.0001). At patient level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of DVFFR were 93.8%, 88.0%, 90.3%, 83.0%, and 95.8%, respectively. The computation for DVFFR was fast with the average time of 22.5 ± 1.9 s. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that DVFFR was able to evaluate lesion hemodynamic significance accurately and effectively with improved diagnostic performance over CTA alone. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a critical disease in which coronary artery luminal narrowing may result in myocardial ischemia. Early and effective assessment of myocardial ischemia is essential for optimal treatment planning so as to improve the quality of life and reduce medical costs.

OBJECTIVE To provide standardized whole-process guidance on drug traceability codes for medical institutions in Sichuan province， ensuring medication safety and compliance with medical insurance supervision requirements. METHODS Based on evidence-based principles and expert consensus， Expert Consensus on Whole-process Management of Drug Traceability Codes in Medical Institutions of Sichuan Province （hereinafter referred to as the Consensus） was formulated through systematic literature review， field investigations， establishment of a multidisciplinary expert committee and multiple rounds of questionnare consultation via the modified Delphi method， and finalized through consensus meetings. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The Consensus clarifies key operating procedures for code verification， code assignment and code return， whole-process operational standards for drug warehouse acceptance and storage， drug warehouse outbound delivery and pharmacy acceptance check， drug distribution and dispensing in pharmacy and intravenous admixture center， medication administration in nursing units and examination departments， as well as drug return process. Key recommendations are proposed such as improving the core functions of the drug traceability system， unifying the hospital-wide traceability code database， strengthening the management of traceability codes for backup medications， establishing a management organization and institutional framework， and optimizing the architectural design and data governance requirements of the drug traceability system. The release of the Consensus will provide scientific， standardized and implementable practical guidelines for medical institutions of Sichuan province， helping to improve closed-loop management of the drug traceability system， strengthen medication safety and fulfil medical insurance fund supervision.