1.Mechanistic Interpretation of Zheng’s San Qi San Powder in Treating Skeletal Muscle Injury via Bioinformatics Prediction, Chemical Analysis and Experimental Verification
Ding-Rui WANG ; Yun-Xin LIU ; Jun-Jie XU ; Liu YANG ; Jia-Hao LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Lei LÜ ; Bei-Bei QIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1028-1047
ObjectiveZheng’s San Qi San (ZSQS) power, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for treating soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify pharmaceutically active ingredients and their candidate biomolecule targets, and further elucidate the molecular mechanism of ZSQS in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to construct “ZSQS-component-target”, “protein-protein interaction (PPI)” and “active ingredient-core protein-pathway” networks to predict the key active ingredients and potential core targets of ZSQS for skeletal muscle injury. The predicted results were then validated via microarray data from the GEO database. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding ability between the screened active ingredients of ZSQS and the candidate core targets. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis to verify the active components of the drug and ZSQS serum. Finally, an animal model of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury and a myotube cell model of oxidative stress-induced injury were established to validate the effects of ZSQS and its interventional effects on the biological functions of critical targets, thereby demonstrating the potential therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. ResultsAmong the 111 active components identified in ZSQS and their corresponding 204 targets related to the skeletal muscle injury repair process, 14 core targets (including AKT1) and 4 core active components (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and β‑sitosterol) were screened out, while the corresponding metabolites of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were detected in the ZSQS serum. Among these targets, 5 candidate genes (IL-6, CASP3, HIF1A, STAT3, and JUN) overlapped with the differential expression screening results with GEO data, and IL-6 was confirmed to be enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combined with the prediction results of the AKT expression levels, these findings suggest that the phosphorylation level of AKT1 plays a core role in the therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the PH domain of AKT1 had high binding energy with all 4 core active components, as verified by LC-MS. Finally, animal model studies have shown the promoting effect of ZSQS administration on skeletal muscle injury repair and its possible antioxidant damage mechanism. Cell model studies further demonstrated that ZSQS-containing serum, core active ingredient combination therapy, and quercetin monomer could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT, promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, upregulate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GR), and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby alleviating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. ConclusionZSQS alleviates skeletal muscle injury mainly by activating the AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and modernized development of ZSQS.
2.Treatment of 149 cases of large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia with blue laser vaporization
Haifeng CHENG ; Chao WANG ; Quan DU ; Guoxiong LIU ; Zhenwei FAN ; Xiaoliang FU ; Nan LI ; Wanglong YUN ; Xiaofeng XU
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(5):443-445
Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of blue laser vaporization in the treatment of large-volume (>80 mL) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 149 BPH patients with prostate volume>80 mL who underwent blue laser vaporization at our hospital during Aug. 2023 and Aug. 2025. The 1-month postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and international prostate symptom score (IPSS), operation time, postoperative hemoglobin drop, bladder irrigation volume, catheter indwelling time, and incidence of postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. Results All operations were successfully completed, without conversion to other approaches. The operation time was (41.47±11.05) minutes, postoperative hemoglobin drop (2.78±1.19) g/L, bladder irrigation volume (9.97±1.49) bags, and catheter indwelling time (3.30±1.85) days. One month after surgery, the Qmax was significantly higher than the preoperative value [(20.19±3.39) mL/s vs. (2.39±2.17) mL/s], while the IPSS was significantly lower [(4.46±0.87) vs. (27.69±2.06)], with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). Postoperative complications included 1 case of incontinence (0.67%), 2 cases of urethral stricture/bladder neck contracture (1.34%), and 1 case of secondary bleeding (0.67%), all of which improved with symptomatic treatment. Conclusion Blue laser vaporization is effective for treating large-volume BPH, with advantages such as minimal bleeding risk, short operation time, fast recovery and safety.
3.Peripheral Immune Response Patterns Under Vital Qi-Strengthening and Toxin-Eliminating Therapy and Their Value in Assessing Vital Qi Deficiency in Lung Cancer Metastasis: A Group-Based Trajectory Modeling
Fan XU ; Jianhui TIAN ; Yuan YAO ; Zhenyang CHENG ; Yanhong WANG ; Bin LUO ; Jialiang YAO ; Wang YAO ; Xinyi LU ; Yuchen BAO ; Xiaoyu YANG ; Youjun LIU ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Jianchun WU ; Minghua LI ; Wenfei SHI ; Yajing CUI ; Qingzhong LIU ; Yan LI ; Yun YANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(9):711-717
Objective On the basis of the theory of the tumor metastatic state, this work aims to explore the metastasis trajectories and peripheral immune response patterns in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving vital qi-strengthening and toxin-eliminating therapy (Fuzheng Juandu) and reveal the value of peripheral immunity in assessing vital qi deficiency during metastasis. Methods A retrospective study design was adopted. Patients with NSCLC admitted from January 1, 2018, to October 31, 2025 were enrolled. Data on metastasis status and peripheral immune indices were collected at the follow-up time points of one, two, three, and five years. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to fit metastasis trajectories, and the independent predictors of trajectory grouping were analyzed through multifactor and multiclassification logistic regression. Results A total of 184 patients with NSCLC were included, and three different groups of metastasis trajectories were identified, namely, the low-risk stable (46.74%, n=86), low-risk rising (13.59%, n=25), and high-risk stable (39.67%, n=73) groups. Univariate analysis revealed substantial differences in peripheral immune indices among the three trajectory groups. Multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage, absolute neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count, platelet volume, SAA:CRP ratio, and NLR were independent predictors of the low-risk rising group, whereas TNM stage, absolute monocyte count, basophil count, SII, and NLR were independent predictors of the high-risk stable group. Conclusion Under Fuzheng Juandu therapy, patients with NSCLC exhibit three distinct metastasis trajectories, each
4.Brain-heart Axis in Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Comorbidity: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Biomarkers
Xu-Lin LIU ; Ying-Ao XIE ; Yun-Fei WANG ; Jing CHENG ; Qiao-Qiao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2558-2582
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart failure (HF) and coronary artery disease (CAD), are major chronic disorders associated with population aging. Their frequent coexistence in clinical practice suggests that they may not progress independently, but may instead be linked through bidirectional pathological communication within the brain-heart axis. Epidemiological evidence underscores this clinical burden: systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported pooled relative risks for dementia of approximately 1.27 among individuals with a history of CAD and 1.60 among those with HF, while the pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in patients with HF has been estimated at approximately 41.42% and 19.79%, respectively. This review synthesizes current evidence on the mechanistic links, disease-state manifestations, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic strategies involved in the comorbidity between NDs and CVDs from the perspective of the brain-heart axis. The brain and heart communicate through autonomic, neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, vascular, and humoral pathways. Sympathetic activation, parasympathetic withdrawal, vagal dysfunction, cerebral hypoperfusion, endothelial injury, blood-brain barrier (BBB) alterations, peripheral immune activation, and circulating inflammatory mediators may jointly contribute to cross-organ pathological signaling. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are not specific to the brain-heart axis; rather, they may act as candidate amplifying processes within this network. Mitochondrial dysfunction and NADPH oxidase activation can increase the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which may activate nuclear factor-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and mitogen-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. These pathways can promote the release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor‑α, and other inflammatory mediators, which may in turn aggravate mitochondrial injury, endothelial dysfunction, immune cell activation, and further oxidant generation. Cytokines, chemokines, oxidized lipids, mitochondrial DNA, damage-associated molecular patterns, and extracellular vesicles may transmit these signals between the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, whereas autonomic reflexes provide an additional route for bidirectional amplification. Distinct disease states illustrate different manifestations of this network. The association between AD and CVDs may involve vascular risk factors, impaired amyloid-β clearance, abnormal cholesterol homeostasis, cerebral microvascular injury, neuroinflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. HF-related cognitive impairment may be linked to reduced cardiac output, recurrent cerebral hypoperfusion, hypoxia-related signaling, BBB dysfunction, circulating inflammation, and impaired autonomic feedback. In PD, cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure regulation may interact with vascular injury, reduced cerebral perfusion, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, the relationship between PD and CAD remains heterogeneous and may be modified by age, ethnicity, medication use, metabolic factors, and coexisting diseases. Biomarker evaluation should therefore move beyond isolated indicators. Traditional markers, including malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6, reflect systemic oxidative or inflammatory burden but lack sufficient specificity to distinguish primary neurodegeneration, cardiovascular injury, or a comorbid state involving both. Greater clinical value may be obtained from cross-system panels that combine oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with cardiac stress or injury biomarkers, such as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; glial or neuronal biomarkers, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain; BBB- or endothelial injury-related biomarkers; and omics-derived candidates, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation signatures, metabolites, and proteins. Multi-omics integration and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis may support risk stratification, disease monitoring, and prediction of treatment response. However, these approaches require standardized analytical platforms, validation in independent cohorts, and careful distinction between associative findings and causal mechanisms. Potential interventions include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondria-targeted, and multi-target combination strategies, together with emerging approaches such as nanodelivery, CRISPR/Cas9- or CRISPR/dCas9-based regulation, mesenchymal stem cell-mediated mitochondrial transfer, and ergothioneine supplementation. Nevertheless, most available evidence is indirect, preclinical, or derived from other disease indications, and no single drug or technology can currently be regarded as specific to brain-heart axis comorbidity. The clinical relevance of these strategies will depend on whether they can be matched to dominant pathological phenotypes and improve both neurological and cardiovascular outcomes. Overall, comorbidity between NDs and CVDs is more appropriately understood as a heterogeneous cross-organ regulatory network than as a disorder driven by a single pathway. Future research should prioritize multicenter longitudinal cohorts, standardized clinical phenotyping, validation of cross-system biomarker panels, and mechanism-guided interventions in clearly defined patient subgroups, with integrated assessment of cognitive function, cardiovascular events, quality of life, long-term safety, and treatment response.
5.Factors affecting direct-acting antiviral agents therapy among cases with hepatitis C virus infection in Zhejiang Province
YANG Jiezhe ; ZHOU Xin ; JIANG Jun ; XU Yun ; CHAI Chengliang ; CHEN Lin ; CHENG Wei
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(3):246-250
Objective:
To analyze the factors affecting direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy among cases with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide evidence for optimizing local HCV prevention and treatment strategies and improving DAA treatment coverage.
Methods:
Eight counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province were selected as survey sites. Consecutive sampling was used to enroll HCV cases reported from November 2022 to June 2024. Demographic information, diagnosis and treatment status, DAA therapy, and awareness of relevant medical insurance policies were collected through questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting DAA therapy among cases with HCV infection were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model.
Results:
A total of 412 questionnaires were distributed, and 404 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective rate of 98.06%. There were 291 males (72.03%) and 113 females (27.97%). The median age was 49.00 (interquartile range, 11.00) years. A total of 303 cases received DAA therapy, with a proportion of 75.00%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that HCV cases aged 40-<50 years (OR=3.469, 95%CI: 1.228-9.345) and with per capita monthly household income >3 000 yuan (>3 000-5 000 yuan, OR=3.198, 95%CI: 1.597-6.403; >5 000 yuan, OR=5.391, 95%CI: 2.230-13.033) had higher likelihood of receiving DAA therapy. HCV cases diagnosed in non-infectious disease departments (OR=0.334, 95%CI: 0.173-0.643), concerned about economic burden of DAA therapy (OR=0.309, 95%CI: 0.160-0.599), and unaware of HCV payment policy by disease type (OR=0.262, 95%CI: 0.111-0.622) had lower likelihood of receiving DAA therapy.
Conclusions
The proportion of DAA therapy among cases with HCV infection in Zhejiang Province is relatively high. Age, per capita monthly household income, department of diagnosis, concerns about DAA therapy, and medical insurance/payment policies are factors influencing DAA therapy among cases with HCV infection.
6.Dingchan Granule (定颤颗粒) for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation with Syndrome of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis:A Randomized,Double-Blinded,Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Xiaozhen CHENG ; Xingjuan CHEN ; Weina LI ; Lu XIAO ; Yunhan WANG ; Yun XU ; Yueyue NIU ; Ling FENG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(12):1233-1240
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of Dingchan Granule (定颤颗粒) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis. MethodsUsing a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study method, 90 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were divided into 45 cases each in the treatment group and the control group. Both groups were given conventional western medicine treatment, and the treatment group was additionally treated with Dingchan Granule, while the control group was treated with Dingchan Granule placebo, both of which were taken orally for 8 g each time twice a day. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. We compared the clinical effectiveness, the improvement of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms and the recovery rate of atrial fibrillation between the two groups. We compared the number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes, TCM symptoms score, atrial fibrillation symptom classification, 24-hour average ventricular rate, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), anxiety index, depression index before and after treatment, and evaluated the safety of the two groups. ResultsThe total clinical effectiveness rate in the treatment group was 82.22% (37/45), which was better than 60.00% (27/45) in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of TCM syndrome effectiveness in the treatment group was 88.89% (40/45), which was better than 66.67% (30/45) in the control group (P<0.05); and the rate of atrial fibrillation regression in the treatment group was 26.67% (12/45), better than 6.67% (3/45) in the control group (P<0.05). The number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in both groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the number and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The TCM syndrome scores of both groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores of the treatment group was lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The severity of atrial fibrillation symptoms and the grading of atrial fibrillation symptoms in both groups after treatment were improved (P<0.01), and the degree of symptom improvement in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P<0.01). The 24-hour average ventricular rate of both groups after treatment was significantly lower (P<0.01). The PSQI, anxiety index and depression index of the treatment group were all lower than before treatment (P<0.01), while the PSQI and anxiety index of the control group were both lower than before treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05), the PSQI, anxiety index and depression index of the treatment group being lower than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No adverse events occurred in both groups, and no abnormalities were observed in blood, urine, stool routine, liver and kidney function, and coagulation function indexes. ConclusionDingchan Granule for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome can alleviate clinical symptom, improve TCM symptom scores, increase atrial fibrillation recovery rate, stabilise the average ventricular rate, and significantly improve the quality of sleep, alleviate the anxiety and depression, with a good safety profile.
7.Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis.
Yuan CHENG ; Yun-Na TIAN ; Man HUANG ; Jun-Peng XU ; Wen-Jie CAO ; Xu-Guang JIA ; Li-Yi YOU ; Wan-Tie WANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(3):465-471
The present study aimed to explore whether hydrogen sulfide (H2S) improved hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) in rats by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group, normal+NaHS group, hypoxia group, and hypoxia+NaHS group, with 6 rats in each group. The control group rats were placed in a normoxic (21% O2) environment and received daily intraperitoneal injections of an equal volume of normal saline. The normal+NaHS group rats were placed in a normoxic environment and intraperitoneally injected with 14 μmol/kg NaHS daily. The hypoxia group rats were placed in a hypoxia chamber, and the oxygen controller inside the chamber maintained the oxygen concentration at 9% to 10% by controlling the N2 flow rate. An equal volume of normal saline was injected intraperitoneally every day. The hypoxia+NaHS group rats were also placed in an hypoxia chamber and intraperitoneally injected with 14 μmol/kg NaHS daily. After the completion of the four-week modeling, the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of each group was measured using right heart catheterization technique, and the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was weighed and calculated. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue, Masson staining was used to observe fibrosis of lung tissue, and Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels of hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), GSDMD-N-terminal domain (GSDMD-N), Caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in lung tissue. ELISA was used to detect contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in lung tissue. The results showed that, compared with the normal control group, there were no significant changes in all indexes in the normal+NaHS group, while the hypoxia group exhibited significantly increased mPAP and RVHI, thickened pulmonary vascular wall, narrowed lumen, increased collagen fibers, up-regulated expression levels of aerobic glycolysis-related proteins (HK2 and PKM2), up-regulated expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, GSDMD-N, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), and increased contents of IL-1β and IL-18. These changes of the above indexes in the hypoxia group were significantly reversed by NaHS. These results suggest that H2S can improve rat HPH by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis.
Animals
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Male
;
Hypertension, Pulmonary/metabolism*
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Glycolysis/drug effects*
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Hydrogen Sulfide/therapeutic use*
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Hypoxia/complications*
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Rats
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Pyroptosis/drug effects*
8.Chemical constituents of bulbs of Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis.
Ling-Xia XU ; Xin-Xin HUANG ; Ji-Cheng SHU ; Ting TAN ; Yun LUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2404-2410
The 95% ethanol extract from bulbs of Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis(BNTC) was eluted with 30%, 60%, and pure methanol on D-101 macroporous resin. The elution fractions were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, D-101 macroporous resin, semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and HPLC. The purified compounds were identified using one-dimensional and two-dimensional spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and other techniques. A total of 15 compounds were isolated and identified as 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-N-methyl-3,6-dihydropyridine-2(1H)-one(1), 3,5-di(hydroxyphenyl)-N-methyl-3,6-dihydropyridine-2(1H)-one(2), protocatechualdehyde(3), protocatechuic acid(4), 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone(5), syringic acid(6), vanillic acid(7), p-hydroxybenzoic acid(8),(2S)-4'-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan(9), 2,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone(10), N-trans-ferulic acid p-hydroxyphenylethylamine(11), N-cis-p-coumaroyltyramine(12), N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine(13), piscidic acid(14), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(15). Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds with similar structure that have not been reported yet, named narcissus A and narcissus B. Compounds 8-13 were isolated and identified from the genus Narcissus for the first time, and compounds 14 and 15 were isolated from BNTC for the first time. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the release of NO from RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)(P<0.001), with compound 1 having an IC_(50) value of(72.76±2.97) μmol·L~(-1) and compound 2 having an IC_(50) value of(63.59±0.96) μmol·L~(-1).
Mice
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Animals
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Narcissus/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
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Plant Roots/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Macrophages/immunology*
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RAW 264.7 Cells
9.Development of oral preparations of poorly soluble drugs based on polymer supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery technology.
Xu-Long CHEN ; Jiang-Wen SHEN ; Wei-Wei ZHA ; Jian-Yun YI ; Lin LI ; Zhang-Ting LAI ; Zheng-Gen LIAO ; Ye ZHU ; Yue-Er CHENG ; Cheng LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4471-4482
Poor water solubility is the primary obstacle preventing the development of many pharmacologically active compounds into oral preparations. Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems(SNEDDS) have become a widely used strategy to enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs by inducing a supersaturated state, thereby improving their apparent solubility and dissolution rate. However, the supersaturated solutions formed in SNEDDS are thermodynamically unstable systems with solubility levels exceeding the crystalline equilibrium solubility, making them prone to drug precipitation in the gastrointestinal tract and ultimately hindering drug absorption. Therefore, maintaining a stable supersaturated state is crucial for the effective delivery of poorly soluble drugs. Incorporating polymers as precipitation inhibitors(PPIs) into the formulation of supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems(S-SNEDDS) can inhibit drug aggregation and crystallization, thus maintaining a stable supersaturated state. This has emerged as a novel preparation strategy and a key focus in SNEDDS research. This review explores the preparation design of SNEDDS and the technical challenges involved, with a particular focus on polymer-based S-SNEDDS for enhancing the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. It further elucidates the mechanisms by which polymers participate in transmembrane transport, summarizes the principles by which polymers sustain a supersaturated state, and discusses strategies for enhancing drug absorption. Altogether, this review provides a structured framework for the development of S-SNEDDS preparations with stable quality and reduced development risk, and offers a theoretical reference for the application of S-SNEDDS technology in improving the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.
Solubility
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Administration, Oral
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Polymers/chemistry*
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Drug Delivery Systems/methods*
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Humans
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Emulsions/chemistry*
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Biological Availability
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Animals
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Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage*
10.4-Octyl itaconate inhibits synovitis in the mouse model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis and alleviates pain.
Yu-Zhen TANG ; Wan CHEN ; Bao-Yun XU ; Gang HE ; Xiu-Cheng FAN ; Kang-Lai TANG
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(1):50-61
PURPOSE:
To investigate the pathological changes of the synovium in mice with post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) treated with 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) and evaluate the therapeutic effects of 4-OI.
METHODS:
In the phenotypic validation experiment, the mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: wild-type (WT) group, sham group, and destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) group. Through MRI, micro-CT, and histological analysis, it was determined that the DMM surgery induced a mouse PTOA model with significant signs of synovitis. At 12 weeks post-DMM surgery, synovial tissues from the DMM group and WT group mice were collected for ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis. In the 4-OI treatment experiment, mice were randomly divided into the sham group, DMM group, DMM + 4-OI (50 mg/kg) group, and DMM + 4-OI (100 mg/kg) group. Von Frey tests and open field tests were conducted at intervals during the 12 weeks following the DMM surgery. After 12 weeks of surgery, the efficacy of 4-OI treatment on PTOA in mice was evaluated using MRI, micro-CT, histological analysis, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, we utilized network pharmacology analysis to predict the mechanism of 4-OI in treating PTOA synovitis and conducted preliminary validation. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
The DMM surgery effectively induced a PTOA mouse model, which displayed significant symptoms of synovitis. These symptoms included a notable increase in both the number of calcified tissues and osteophytes (p < 0.001), an enlargement of the calcified meniscus and synovial tissue volume (p < 0.001), and thickening of the synovial lining layer attributable to M1 macrophage accumulation (p = 0.035). Additionally, we observed elevated histological scores for synovitis (p < 0.001). Treatment with 4-OI inhibited the thickening of M1 macrophages in the synovial lining layer of PTOA mice (p < 0.001) and reduced fibrosis in the synovial stroma (p = 0.004). Furthermore, it reduced the histological scores of knee synovitis in PTOA mice (p = 0.006) and improved the inflammatory microenvironment associated with synovitis. Consequently, this treatment alleviated pain in PTOA mice (p < 0.001) and reduced spontaneous activity (p = 0.003). Bioinformatics and network pharmacology analyses indicated that 4-OI may exert its therapeutic effects by inhibiting the differentiation of synovial Th17 cells. Specifically, compared to the lipopolysaccharide stimulation group, 4-OI reduced the levels of positive regulatory factors of Th17 cell differentiation (IL-1: p < 0.001, IL-6: p < 0.001), key effector molecules (IL-17A: p < 0.001, IL-17F: p = 0.004), and downstream effector molecules in the IL-17 signaling pathway (CCL2: p < 0.001, MMP13: p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
4-OI is effective in inhibiting synovitis in PTOA, thereby alleviating the associated painful symptoms.
Animals
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Synovitis/etiology*
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Mice
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Osteoarthritis/etiology*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Male
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Succinates/pharmacology*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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X-Ray Microtomography


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