1.Process Optimization and Health Risk Assessment of Calcined Haematitum Based on QbD Concept
Yue YANG ; Jingwei ZHOU ; Jialiang ZOU ; Guorong MEI ; Yifan SHI ; Lei ZHONG ; Jiaojiao WANG ; Xuelian GAN ; Dewen ZENG ; Xin CHEN ; Lin CHEN ; Hongping CHEN ; Shilin CHEN ; Yuan HU ; Youping LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):187-196
ObjectiveTo investigate the processing technology of calcined Haematitum based on the concept of quality by design(QbD) and to assess its health risk. MethodsTaking whole iron content, Fe2+ dissolution content and looseness as critical quality attributes(CQAs), and calcination temperature, calcination time, spreading thickness and particle size as critical process parameters(CPPs) determined by the failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA), the processing technology of calcined Haematitum was optimized by orthogonal test combined with analytic hierarchy process-criteria importance through intercriteria correlation(AHP-CRITIC) hybrid weighting method. The contents of heavy metals and harmful elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the health risk assessment was carried out by daily exposure(EXP), target hazard quotient(THQ) and lifetime cancer risk(LCR), and the theoretical value of the maximum limit was deduced. ResultsThe optimal processing technology for calcined Haematitum was calcination at 650 ℃, calcination time of 1 h, particle size of 0.2-0.5 cm, spreading thickness of 1 cm, and vinegar quenching for 1 time[Haematitum-vinegar(10:3)]. The contents of 5 heavy metals and harmful elements in 13 batches of calcined Haematitum were all decreased with reductions of up to 5-fold. The cumulative THQ of 2 batches of samples was>1, while the cumulative THQ of all batches of Haematitum was>1. The LCR of As in 1 batches of Haematitum was 1×10-6-1×10-4, and the LCR of the rest was<1×10-6, and the LCRs of calcined Haematitum were all<1×10-6, indicating that the carcinogenic risk of calcined Haematitum was low, but special attention should still be paid to Haematitum medicinal materials. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu, As, Cd, Pb and Hg were formulated as 1 014, 25, 17, 27, 7 mg·kg-1. ConclusionThe optimized processing technology of calcined Haematitum is stable and feasible, and the contents of heavy metals and harmful elements are reduced after processing. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu, As, Cd, Pb and Hg are formulated to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of standards for the limits of harmful elements in Haematitum.
2.Process Optimization and Health Risk Assessment of Calcined Haematitum Based on QbD Concept
Yue YANG ; Jingwei ZHOU ; Jialiang ZOU ; Guorong MEI ; Yifan SHI ; Lei ZHONG ; Jiaojiao WANG ; Xuelian GAN ; Dewen ZENG ; Xin CHEN ; Lin CHEN ; Hongping CHEN ; Shilin CHEN ; Yuan HU ; Youping LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):187-196
ObjectiveTo investigate the processing technology of calcined Haematitum based on the concept of quality by design(QbD) and to assess its health risk. MethodsTaking whole iron content, Fe2+ dissolution content and looseness as critical quality attributes(CQAs), and calcination temperature, calcination time, spreading thickness and particle size as critical process parameters(CPPs) determined by the failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA), the processing technology of calcined Haematitum was optimized by orthogonal test combined with analytic hierarchy process-criteria importance through intercriteria correlation(AHP-CRITIC) hybrid weighting method. The contents of heavy metals and harmful elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the health risk assessment was carried out by daily exposure(EXP), target hazard quotient(THQ) and lifetime cancer risk(LCR), and the theoretical value of the maximum limit was deduced. ResultsThe optimal processing technology for calcined Haematitum was calcination at 650 ℃, calcination time of 1 h, particle size of 0.2-0.5 cm, spreading thickness of 1 cm, and vinegar quenching for 1 time[Haematitum-vinegar(10:3)]. The contents of 5 heavy metals and harmful elements in 13 batches of calcined Haematitum were all decreased with reductions of up to 5-fold. The cumulative THQ of 2 batches of samples was>1, while the cumulative THQ of all batches of Haematitum was>1. The LCR of As in 1 batches of Haematitum was 1×10-6-1×10-4, and the LCR of the rest was<1×10-6, and the LCRs of calcined Haematitum were all<1×10-6, indicating that the carcinogenic risk of calcined Haematitum was low, but special attention should still be paid to Haematitum medicinal materials. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu, As, Cd, Pb and Hg were formulated as 1 014, 25, 17, 27, 7 mg·kg-1. ConclusionThe optimized processing technology of calcined Haematitum is stable and feasible, and the contents of heavy metals and harmful elements are reduced after processing. Preliminary theoretical values of the maximum limits of Cu, As, Cd, Pb and Hg are formulated to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of standards for the limits of harmful elements in Haematitum.
3.tRF Prospect: tRNA-derived Fragment Target Prediction Based on Neural Network Learning
Dai-Xi REN ; Jian-Yong YI ; Yong-Zhen MO ; Mei YANG ; Wei XIONG ; Zhao-Yang ZENG ; Lei SHI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2428-2438
ObjectiveTransfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are a recently characterized and rapidly expanding class of small non-coding RNAs, typically ranging from 13 to 50 nucleotides in length. They are derived from mature or precursor tRNA molecules through specific cleavage events and have been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes. Increasing evidence indicates that tRFs play important regulatory roles in gene expression, primarily by interacting with target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to induce transcript degradation, in a manner partially analogous to microRNAs (miRNAs). However, despite their emerging biological relevance and potential roles in disease mechanisms, there remains a significant lack of computational tools capable of systematically predicting the interaction landscape between tRFs and their target mRNAs. Existing databases often rely on limited interaction features and lack the flexibility to accommodate novel or user-defined tRF sequences. The primary goal of this study was to develop a machine learning based prediction algorithm that enables high-throughput, accurate identification of tRF:mRNA binding events, thereby facilitating the functional analysis of tRF regulatory networks. MethodsWe began by assembling a manually curated dataset of 38 687 experimentally verified tRF:mRNA interaction pairs and extracting seven biologically informed features for each pair: (1) AU content of the binding site, (2) site pairing status, (3) binding region location, (4) number of binding sites per mRNA, (5) length of the longest consecutive complementary stretch, (6) total binding region length, and (7) seed sequence complementarity. Using this dataset and feature set, we trained 4 distinct machine learning classifiers—logistic regression, random forest, decision tree, and a multilayer perceptron (MLP)—to compare their ability to discriminate true interactions from non-interactions. Each model’s performance was evaluated using overall accuracy, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the corresponding area under the ROC curve (AUC). The MLP consistently achieved the highest AUC among the four, and was therefore selected as the backbone of our prediction framework, which we named tRF Prospect. For biological validation, we retrieved 3 high-throughput RNA-seq datasets from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) in which individual tRFs were overexpressed: AS-tDR-007333 (GSE184690), tRF-3004b (GSE197091), and tRF-20-S998LO9D (GSE208381). Differential expression analysis of each dataset identified genes downregulated upon tRF overexpression, which we designated as putative targets. We then compared the predictions generated by tRF Prospect against those from three established tools—tRFTar, tRForest, and tRFTarget—by quantifying the number of predicted targets for each tRF and assessing concordance with the experimentally derived gene sets. ResultsThe proposed algorithm achieved high predictive accuracy, with an AUC of 0.934. Functional validation was conducted using transcriptome-wide RNA-seq datasets from cells overexpressing specific tRFs, confirming the model’s ability to accurately predict biologically relevant downregulation of mRNA targets. When benchmarked against established tools such as tRFTar, tRForest, and tRFTarget, tRF Prospect consistently demonstrated superior performance, both in terms of predictive precision and sensitivity, as well as in identifying a higher number of true-positive interactions. Moreover, unlike static databases that are limited to precomputed results, tRF Prospect supports real-time prediction for any user-defined tRF sequence, enhancing its applicability in exploratory and hypothesis-driven research. ConclusionThis study introduces tRF Prospect as a powerful and flexible computational tool for investigating tRF:mRNA interactions. By leveraging the predictive strength of deep learning and incorporating a broad spectrum of interaction-relevant features, it addresses key limitations of existing platforms. Specifically, tRF Prospect: (1) expands the range of detectable tRF and target types; (2) improves prediction accuracy through multilayer perceptron model; and (3) allows for dynamic, user-driven analysis beyond database constraints. Although the current version emphasizes miRNA-like repression mechanisms and faces challenges in accurately capturing 5'UTR-associated binding events, it nonetheless provides a critical foundation for future studies aiming to unravel the complex roles of tRFs in gene regulation, cellular function, and disease pathogenesis.
4.BMP9 down-regulates HIF-1α to inhibit aerobic glycolysis,migration and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells
Tao YU ; Yuan-Xiang CHEN ; Shi-Yan LIU ; Huo-Mei YU ; De-Yu LIAO ; Shi-Yu YANG ; Tao ZENG ; Lan WEI ; Yan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(5):840-846
Aim To investigate the effects of bone-forming protein BMP9 on aerobic glycolysis,migration and invasion ability in triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and the underlying mechanisms.Methods The experimental group infected MDA-MB-231 cells with human BMP9 recombinant adenovirus(AdBMP9),while the control group infected cells with empty GFP adenovirus.Lactate,glucose and ATP as-say kits were used to detect glucose uptake,lactate and ATP production.The correlation between BMP9 and key glycolytic enzyme genes in pancarcinoma was ana-lyzed using GEPIA2 database.The mRNA expression levels of GLUT1,HK2,PKM2 and LDHA in MDA-MB-231 cells after overexpression of BMP9 were detec-ted by qRT-PCR.Potential targets of BMP9 inhibiting MDA-MB-231 aerobic glycolysis were analyzed in STRING database.The expression levels of HIF-1αand downstream protein were detected by Western blot.The changes of cell migration and invasion ability after different treatments were evaluated by the scratch heal-ing assay and Transwell assay.Results Compared with the control group,BMP9 down-regulated glucose uptake,lactate production,ATP level(P<0.01),and inhibited HIF-1α and its downstream protein ex-pression in MDA-MB-231 cells.Overexpression of HIF-1α in rescue experiment reversed the inhibitory effect of BMP9 on aerobic glycolysis,migration and in-vasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.Conclu-sion BMP9 down-regulates HIF-1α to inhibit the aer-obic glycolysis and migration and invasion ability of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
5.SNHG3-mediated autophagy promotes proliferation,migration and invasion of breast cancer cells
Yuan-Xiang CHEN ; Huo-Mei YU ; Shi-Yan LIU ; De-Yu LIAO ; Tao YU ; Shi-Yu YANG ; Tao ZENG ; Yan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(6):1097-1104
Aim To investigate the effects of autophagy regula-ted by LncRNA SNHG3 on the proliferation,migration,invasion and EMT of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.Methods The expression of SNHG3 in breast cancer and breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was analyzed by bioinformatics and real-time fluores-cent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR);RNAi technology was used to construct MCF-7 recombinant cell lines with knockdown SNHG3(siSNHG3)and control(siNC),and Western blot and cellular immunofluorescence were applied to detect autophagy markers;autophagosome lysosomal fusion inhibitor BafA1 or ear-ly autophagosome formation inhibitor 3-MA was employed to treat MCF-7 cells with or without SNHG3 knockdown,Western blot was used to detect the expression of LC3-Ⅱ or p62,and the effect on autophagic vesicle formation or autophagic degradation was observed;clone formation experiment,CCK8 experiment,wound healing experiment,and Transwell experiment were used to detect the effects of siSNHG3 combined or not combined with BafA1 or 3-MA on the proliferation,lateral migration,longitudi-nal migration,and invasion of MCF-7 cells.Western blot was used to detect its effect on the EMT of MCF-7 cells.Results Bioinformatics analysis and RT-qPCR confirmed that SNHG3 was highly expressed in breast cancer and breast cancer cell line MCF-7;Western blot and cellular immunofluorescence confirmed that knockdown of SNHG3 could activate autophagy in breast cancer;the clone formation,CCK-8,wound healing,and Tran-swell experiment confirmed that downregulation of SNHG3 ex-pression could inhibit tumor proliferation,migration,and inva-sion by activating autophagy;Western blot confirmed that SNHG3 promoted EMT process of breast cancer through negative regulation of autophagy.Conclusions SNHG3 is abnormally overexpressed in breast cancer and negatively regulates autoph-agy,and can enhance the proliferation,migration,invasion and EMT process of breast cancer cells through negatively regulating autophagy,suggesting that SNHG3 is a potential target for diag-nosis and treatment of breast cancer.
6.Discussion on the revision of the general chapter for lotions in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Volume Ⅳ
Jiana OU ; Shujuan LI ; Mei YANG ; Liangyong WU ; Weiling LI ; Wenxue ZENG ; Jinqian WANG ; Yuesheng WANG
Drug Standards of China 2024;25(5):443-445
Objective:To analyze the general chapter for lotions 0127 of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Vol-ume Ⅳ,and discuss how to improve the general technical requirements of lotions 0127 in the Chinese Pharma-copoeia.Methods:By comparing the general chapter for lotions in domestic and international pharmacopoe-ias,the definition,classification,process,storage and corresponding inspection requirements were analyzed.Results and Conclusions:The general chapter for lotions 0127 of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia should be revised,including improvement of the definition,increasement of forms of preparations,and expansion of included varieties,so as to promote scientific regulation for drugs and exhibit a guiding role of the Chinese pharmacopoeia in drug control.
7.The Causes of Platelet Aggregation in Version 6.4 Trima Accel Automated Blood Collection System and the Comparison of Two Intervention Measures
Shu-Ming HUANG ; Xiao-Mei LIN ; Hui-Wei TANG ; Jia ZENG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(4):1207-1211
Objective:To explore the causes of platelet aggregation in version 6.4 Trima Accel automated blood collection system and the effect of 2 intervention measures.Methods:The data on platelet aggregation(n=61)and non-aggregation(n=323)of 61 donors in 2020 were collected and the causes of aggregation were analyzed.Then the 72 donors with platelet aggregation in 2021 were randomized into intervention group A(increasing the anticoagulant-to-blood ratio)and intervention group B(wrapping the donor's arm with an electric blanket to keep warm and improve the blood flow speed).The collection time,average blood flow speed,number of machine alarms,anticoagulant usage,deaggregation and citrate reaction of the two groups were compared.Results:Platelet aggregation was negatively correlated with the average blood flow speed(r=-0.394)and positively correlated with the collection time(r=0.458).The equations for predicting aggregation and non-aggregation were constructed based on Bayesian and Fisher discriminant analysis,and the predicted accuracy was 77.1%.The comparison of the effects of two intervention measures showed that the average blood flow speed in group B was higher than that in group A;the collection time,number of machine alarms,anticoagulant usage and proportion of citrate reaction in blood donors in group B were all lower than those in Group A,all these differences were significant(P<0.05).In the entire cohort in 2021,90.28%of the products were immediately deaggregated after collection,and 9.72%of the products were deaggregated within 4 hours.There was no statistically significant difference in deaggregation between the two intervention groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:During apheresis platelet collection,the predictive equations for aggregation and non-aggregation can be used to predict the occurrence probability of aggregation,and the intervention can be made in advance.Both intervention measures are effective in reducing platelet aggregation,however,measure B has the advantages of improving the speed of blood collection,shortening the collection time,reducing the alarm frequency and the anticoagulant usage,and reducing the incidence of citrate reaction in blood donors.
8.Study on the construction of evaluation index system for multisectoral cooperation in chronic disease prevention and control under the strategy of Healthy China
Yu-Mei HUANG ; Li-Zheng GUAN ; Li-Guang SUN ; You-Li HAN ; Ning ZHANG ; Yan-Bing ZENG ; Cheng-Yu MA
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2024;17(6):10-16
Objective:In order to construct a multisectoral cooperation evaluation index system for chronic disease prevention and control in the Healthy China strategy,so as to provide a reference for the evaluation and improvement of multisectoral cooperation work.Methods:The initial indicator system was constructed based on D'Amour's cooperative structure model.Fifteen public health experts were selected to refine the evaluation indicators through two rounds of expert consultation using the Delphi method.Then weights of indicators were assigned according to AHP.Results:Experts'positive coefficient,level of authority and coordination of opinions were confirmed.The finalized evaluation index system for multisectoral cooperation in chronic disease prevention and control contains 5 first-level indicators,12 second-level indicators and 34 third-level indicators.According to the weight,the indicators in first level were Shared Goals and Vision(0.222 8),Internalization(0.158 7),Formalization(0.252 3),Governance(0.154 5)and Cooperation effects(0.211 8).Conclusions:The evaluation index system applicable to multisectoral cooperation in the prevention and control of chronic diseases in counties(cities/districts)is preliminarily established,which is highly scientific and operable,and lays the foundation for the next step of application and promotion.
9.Median effective dose of sufentanil in inhibiting responses to tracheal intubation when combined with ciprofol in patients with Parkinson′s disease
Fengmei MEI ; Wenbin ZHANG ; Qiong ZENG ; Yifeng RUAN ; Jun LU
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2024;44(6):714-717
Objective:To determine the median effective dose (ED 50) of sufentanil in inhibiting responses to tracheal intubation when combined with ciprofol in patients with Parkinson′s disease. Methods:This was a prospective study. American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients with Parkinson′s disease, aged 18-64 yr, with body mass index of 18.5-30.0 kg/m 2, of Mallampati grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing elective deep brain stimulator implantation with tracheal intubation in the Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from July 2022 to January 2024, were selected. Sufentanil, ciprofol 0.40 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.60 mg/kg were administrated intravenously and sequentially, and endotracheal intubation was performed after onset of muscle relaxation. A positive response was defined as an increase in heart rate or mean arterial pressure by more than 20% of the baseline value within 2 min after tracheal intubation. The initial dose of sufentanil was set at 0.36 μg/kg, the dose in the next patient was determined according to the response to tracheal intubation, and the ratio between the two successive doses was 1.2. The ED 50 and 95% confidence interval of sufentanil in inhibiting responses to tracheal intubation were calculated using the Dixon-Mood method. Results:The ED 50 (95% confidence interval) of sufentanil in inhibiting responses to tracheal intubation was 0.335 (0.298-0.378) μg/kg when combined with ciprofol. Conclusions:When combined with ciprofol 0.40 mg/kg, the ED 50 of sufentanil in inhibiting responses to tracheal intubation is 0.335 μg/kg in patients with Parkinson′s disease.
10.Ameliorative effects of Ziyin Mingmu Pills on mouse retinitis pigmentosa by activating the sonic hedgehog factor signaling pathway
Mei-Yan ZENG ; Meng XIONG ; Hou-Pan SONG ; Chen OU ; Chao-Jun FU ; Qing-Hua PENG ; Yu-Hui QIN
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(8):2551-2561
AIM To explore the ameliorative effects of Ziyin Mingmu Pills on mouse retinitis pigmentosa(RP)and the possible mechanism.METHODS The RP transgenic mice(rd10)were randomly divided into the model group,the Leding group(0.15 g/kg)and the low and high dose Ziyin Mingmu Pills groups(4.50,9.00 g/kg),in contrast to the C57BL/6 mice of the normal group,with 12 mice in each group.The mice had their retinal pathological changes detected by HE staining;their visual function detected by electroretinogram(ERG);their fundus conditions and retinal thickness detected by optical coherence tomography(OCT);their retinal blood perfusion detected by laser speckle blood flow technique;their mRNA expressions of Shh,Ptc,Smo,Gli1,N-myc and Cyclin mRNA detected by digital PCR;and their protein expressions of Shh,Ptc,Smo,Gli1,N-myc and Cyclin detected by immunofluorescence staining.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the model group displayed pathological changes in the fundus and retina and decreased amplitudes of ERG a wave and b wave(P<0.01);decreased retinal thickness(P<0.01);decreased retinal blood perfusion(P<0.01);and decreased retinal expressions of Shh,Ptc,Smo,Gli1,N-myc,Cyclin mRNA and protein(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with Ziyin Mingmu Pills or Leding shared improved pathological changes in the fundus and retina tissue,and increased retinal thickness(P<0.01);increased retinal blood flow(P<0.01);increased amplitudes of ERG a wave and b wave(P<0.01);and increased retinal Shh,Ptc,Smo,Gli1,N-myc and Cyclin mRNA and protein expressions(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Ziyin Mingmu Pills can improve the fundus pathological changes and visual function to delay RP in mice because of their efficacy in ameliorating retinal thickness and blood flow possibly by activating Shh signaling pathway.

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