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.Global burden of non-communicable diseases attributable to kidney dysfunction with projection into 2040.
Jing CHEN ; Chunyang LI ; Ci Li Nong BU ; Yujiao WANG ; Mei QI ; Ping FU ; Xiaoxi ZENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(11):1334-1344
BACKGROUND:
Spatiotemporal disparities exist in the disease burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to kidney dysfunction, which has been poorly assessed. The present study aimed to evaluate the spatiotemporal trends of the global burden of NCDs attributable to kidney dysfunction and to predict future trends.
METHODS:
Data on NCDs attributable to kidney dysfunction, quantified using deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study in 2019. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of age-standardized rate (ASR) was calculated with linear regression to assess the changing trend. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the association between ASR and sociodemographic index (SDI) for 21 GBD regions. A Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict future trends up to 2040.
RESULTS:
Between 1990 and 2019, the absolute number of deaths and DALYs from NCDs attributable to kidney dysfunction increased globally. The death cases increased from 1,571,720 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1,344,420-1,805,598) in 1990 to 3,161,552 (95% UI: 2,723,363-3,623,814) in 2019 for both sexes combined. Both the ASR of death and DALYs increased in Andean Latin America, the Caribbean, Central Latin America, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, the age-standardized metrics decreased in the high-income Asia Pacific region. The relationship between SDI and ASR of death and DALYs was negatively correlated. The BAPC model indicated that there would be approximately 5,806,780 death cases and 119,013,659 DALY cases in 2040 that could be attributed to kidney dysfunction. Age-standardized death of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and CKD attributable to kidney dysfunction were predicted to decrease and increase from 2020 to 2040, respectively.
CONCLUSION
NCDs attributable to kidney dysfunction remain a major public health concern worldwide. Efforts are required to attenuate the death and disability burden, particularly in low and low-to-middle SDI regions.
Humans
;
Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiology*
;
Global Burden of Disease
;
Disability-Adjusted Life Years
;
Male
;
Female
;
Risk Factors
;
Middle Aged
;
Kidney Diseases/epidemiology*
;
Bayes Theorem
;
Adult
;
Aged
;
Global Health
;
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
4.Study on mechanism of naringin in alleviating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury based on DRP1/LRRK2/MCU axis.
Kai-Mei TAN ; Hong-Yu ZENG ; Feng QIU ; Yun XIANG ; Zi-Yang ZHOU ; Da-Hua WU ; Chang LEI ; Hong-Qing ZHAO ; Yu-Hong WANG ; Xiu-Li ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2484-2494
This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism by which naringin alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(CI/R) injury through DRP1/LRRK2/MCU signaling axis. A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, the model group, the sodium Danshensu group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose(50, 100, and 200 mg·kg~(-1)) naringin groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the sham group, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(tMCAO/R) model was established in SD rats using the suture method. Longa 5-point scale was used to assess neurological deficits. 2,3,5-Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining was used to detect the volume percentage of cerebral infarction in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining were employed to assess neuronal structural alterations and the number of Nissl bodies in cortex, respectively. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 gene(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cleaved cysteine-aspartate protease-3(cleaved caspase-3), mitochondrial calcium uniporter(MCU), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), and P62. Mitochondrial structure and autophagy in cortical neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence assay was used to quantify the fluorescence intensities of MCU and mitochondrial calcium ion, as well as the co-localization of dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1) with leucine-rich repeat kinase 2(LRRK2) and translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20(TOMM20) with LC3 in cortical mitochondria. The results showed that compared with the model group, naringin significantly decreased the volume percentage of cerebral infarction and neurological deficit score in tMCAO/R rats, alleviated the structural damage and Nissl body loss of cortical neurons in tMCAO/R rats, inhibited autophagosomes in cortical neurons, and increased the average diameter of cortical mitochondria. The Western blot results showed that compared to the sham group, the model group exhibited increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MCU, and the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio in the cortex and reduced protein levels of Bcl-2 and P62. However, naringin down-regulated the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MCU and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio and up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and P62 proteins in cortical area. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis showed that compared with the model group, naringin and positive drug treatments significantly decreased the fluorescence intensities of MCU and mitochondrial calcium ion. Meanwhile, the co-localization of DRP1 with LRRK2 and TOMM20 with LC3 in cortical mitochondria was also decreased significantly after the intervention. These findings suggest that naringin can alleviate cortical neuronal damage in tMCAO/R rats by inhibiting DRP1/LRRK2/MCU-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation and the resultant excessive mitophagy.
Animals
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Reperfusion Injury/genetics*
;
Flavanones/administration & dosage*
;
Rats
;
Dynamins/genetics*
;
Male
;
Brain Ischemia/genetics*
;
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
5.Identification and expression analysis of AP2/ERF family members in Lonicera macranthoides.
Si-Min ZHOU ; Mei-Ling QU ; Juan ZENG ; Jia-Wei HE ; Jing-Yu ZHANG ; Zhi-Hui WANG ; Qiao-Zhen TONG ; Ri-Bao ZHOU ; Xiang-Dan LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4248-4262
The AP2/ERF transcription factor family is a class of transcription factors widely present in plants, playing a crucial role in regulating flowering, flower development, flower opening, and flower senescence. Based on transcriptome data from flower, leaf, and stem samples of two Lonicera macranthoides varieties, 117 L. macranthoides AP2/ERF family members were identified, including 14 AP2 subfamily members, 61 ERF subfamily members, 40 DREB subfamily members, and 2 RAV subfamily members. Bioinformatics and differential gene expression analyses were performed using NCBI, ExPASy, SOMPA, and other platforms, and the expression patterns of L. macranthoides AP2/ERF transcription factors were validated via qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the 117 LmAP2/ERF members exhibited both similarities and variations in protein physicochemical properties, AP2 domains, family evolution, and protein functions. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that AP2/ERF transcription factors were primarily differentially expressed in the flowers of the two L. macranthoides varieties, with the differentially expressed genes mainly belonging to the ERF and DREB subfamilies. Further analysis identified three AP2 subfamily genes and two ERF subfamily genes as potential regulators of flower development, two ERF subfamily genes involved in flower opening, and two ERF subfamily genes along with one DREB subfamily gene involved in flower senescence. Based on family evolution and expression analyses, it is speculated that AP2/ERF transcription factors can regulate flower development, opening, and senescence in L. macranthoides, with ERF subfamily genes potentially serving as key regulators of flowering duration. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further research into the specific functions of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family in L. macranthoides and offer important theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying floral phenotypic differences among its varieties.
Plant Proteins/chemistry*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Transcription Factors/chemistry*
;
Lonicera/classification*
;
Flowers/metabolism*
;
Phylogeny
;
Gene Expression Profiling
;
Multigene Family
6.Analysis of Gene Mutations Distribution and Enzyme Activity of G6PD Deficiency in Newborns in Guilin Region.
Dong-Mei YANG ; Guang-Li WANG ; Dong-Lang YU ; Dan ZENG ; Hai-Qing ZHENG ; Wen-Jun TANG ; Qiao FENG ; Kai LI ; Chun-Jiang ZHU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1405-1411
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the distribution characteristics of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) mutations and their enzyme activity in newborns patients with G6PD deficiency in Guilin region.
METHODS:
From July 2022 to July 2024, umbilical cord blood samples from 4 554 newborns in Guilin were analyzed for G6PD mutations using fluorescence PCR melting curve analysis. Enzyme activity was detected in 4 467 cases using the rate assay.
RESULTS:
Among 4 467 newborns who underwent G6PD activity testing, 162 newborns (3.63%) were identified as G6PD-deficient, including 142 males (6.04%) and 20 females (0.94%), the prevalence of G6PD deficiency was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.001). Genetic analysis of 4 554 newborns detected G6PD mutations in 410 cases (9%), including 171 males (7.13%) and 239 females (11.09%), with a significantly higher mutation detection rate in females than in males (P < 0.001). A total of nine single mutations and four compound heterozygous mutations were identified. The most common mutations were c.1388G>A (33.66%), c.1376G>T (23.66%) and c.95A>G (16.34%). Among newborns who underwent both enzyme activity and genetic mutation testing, males with G6PD mutations had significantly lower enzyme activity than that of females with G6PD mutations(P < 0.001). Specifically, among newborns carrying the mutations c.1388G>A, c.1376G>T, c.95A>G, c.1024C>T or c.871G>A, males consistently exhibited lower enzymatic activity than females with the same mutations (P < 0.001). Furthermore, in male G6PD-deficient newborns, the enzyme activity levels in those carrying c.1388G>A, c.1376G>T, c.95A>G, c.1024C>T, or c.871G>A were lower than those in both the control group and the c.519C>T group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study provides a comprehensive profile of G6PD deficiency incidence and mutation spectrum in the Guilin region. By analyzing enzyme activity and genetic mutation results, this study provides insights into potential intervention strategies and personalized management approaches for the prevention and treatment of neonatal G6PD deficiency in the region.
Humans
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/epidemiology*
;
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/genetics*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Mutation
;
China/epidemiology*
7.Additional role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the risk of osteoporosis in men with or without coronary heart disease: a real-world longitudinal study.
Jing ZENG ; Zi-Mo PAN ; Ting LI ; Ze-Yu CHEN ; Xiao-Yan CAI ; Mei-Liang GONG ; Xin-Li DENG ; Sheng-Shu WANG ; Nan LI ; Miao LIU ; Chun-Lin LI
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(2):219-228
BACKGROUND:
Early control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is crucial for reducing the progress of cardiovascular disease. However, its additional role to the risk of primary osteoporosis in men with coronary heart disease was inconclusive. Our study aims to determine the association of LDL-C and its trajectories for osteoporosis risk in the middle-aged and aged men of China.
METHODS:
The retrospective cohort study of 1546 men aged 69.74 ± 11.30 years conducted in Beijing, China from 2015 to 2022. And the incidence of primary osteoporosis was annually recorded. LDL-C trajectories were further identified by latent class growth model using repeated measurements of LDL-C. The association of baseline LDL-C for osteoporosis was estimated using hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI in Cox proportional hazard model, while mean level and trajectories of LDL-C for osteoporosis were evaluated using odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI in logistic regression model.
RESULTS:
During the median 6.2-year follow-up period, 70 men developed primary osteoporosis. The higher level of baseline LDL-C (HR = 1.539, 95% CI: 1.012-2.342) and mean LDL-C (OR = 2.190, 95% CI: 1.443-3.324) were associated with higher risk of osteoporosis in men with coronary heart disease after adjusted for covariates. Compared with those in the LDL-C trajectory of low-stable decrease, participants with medium-fluctuant trajectory, whose longitudinal LDL-C started with a medium LDL-C level and appeared an increase and then decrease, were negatively associated with osteoporosis risk (OR = 2.451, 95% CI: 1.152-5.216). And participants with initially high LDL-C level and then a rapid decrease demonstrated a tendency towards reduced risk (OR = 0.718, 95% CI: 0.212-2.437).
CONCLUSIONS
Elevated LDL-C level and its long-term fluctuation may increase the risk of primary osteoporosis in men. Early controlling a stable level of LDL-C is also essential for bone health.
8.Endoplasmic reticulum membrane remodeling by targeting reticulon-4 induces pyroptosis to facilitate antitumor immune.
Mei-Mei ZHAO ; Ting-Ting REN ; Jing-Kang WANG ; Lu YAO ; Ting-Ting LIU ; Ji-Chao ZHANG ; Yang LIU ; Lan YUAN ; Dan LIU ; Jiu-Hui XU ; Peng-Fei TU ; Xiao-Dong TANG ; Ke-Wu ZENG
Protein & Cell 2025;16(2):121-135
Pyroptosis is an identified programmed cell death that has been highly linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dynamics. However, the crucial proteins for modulating dynamic ER membrane curvature change that trigger pyroptosis are currently not well understood. In this study, a biotin-labeled chemical probe of potent pyroptosis inducer α-mangostin (α-MG) was synthesized. Through protein microarray analysis, reticulon-4 (RTN4/Nogo), a crucial regulator of ER membrane curvature, was identified as a target of α-MG. We observed that chemically induced proteasome degradation of RTN4 by α-MG through recruiting E3 ligase UBR5 significantly enhances the pyroptosis phenotype in cancer cells. Interestingly, the downregulation of RTN4 expression significantly facilitated a dynamic remodeling of ER membrane curvature through a transition from tubules to sheets, consequently leading to rapid fusion of the ER with the cell plasma membrane. In particular, the ER-to-plasma membrane fusion process is supported by the observed translocation of several crucial ER markers to the "bubble" structures of pyroptotic cells. Furthermore, α-MG-induced RTN4 knockdown leads to pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-dependent conventional caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavages for pyroptosis progression. In vivo, we observed that chemical or genetic RTN4 knockdown significantly inhibited cancer cells growth, which further exhibited an antitumor immune response with anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1). In translational research, RTN4 high expression was closely correlated with the tumor metastasis and death of patients. Taken together, RTN4 plays a fundamental role in inducing pyroptosis through the modulation of ER membrane curvature remodeling, thus representing a prospective druggable target for anticancer immunotherapy.
Pyroptosis/immunology*
;
Humans
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Nogo Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Xanthones/pharmacology*
;
Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Mice, Nude
9.Research status of anti-inflammatory effect of traditional Chinese medicine based on NLRP3 inflammatory body
Fu-Mei XU ; Jun-Yuan ZENG ; Lei ZHAO ; Qi-Li ZHANG ; Peng-Fei XIA ; Yin-Qiang JIA ; Jie WANG ; Peng-Xia FANG ; Yan-Li XU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(6):923-927
Inflammasome is a kind of intracellular polyprotein complex,which is an important component of the complex system of local inflammatory microenvironment after human tissue damage.When the inflammasome is activated,it induces the activation of cysteine aspartate proteinase 1(caspase-1),mediates the maturation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines,such as interleukin(IL)-1 β and IL-18,and induces cell death,which plays an important role in regulating the host immune response to pathogen infection and tissue repair of cell damage.Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammatory body,which is composed of NLRP3,pro-cysteine aspartic acid specific protease-1(pro-caspase-1)and apoptosis-related spot-like protein(ASC),is the most deeply and widely studied type of inflammatory body,which plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation.When NLRP3 inflammatory bodies are activated,inflammatory mediators are produced and released,which participate in the occurrence and development of a variety of inflammatory diseases.Some studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine can improve the pathological state of a variety of diseases by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory bodies,and play a role in the prevention and treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases,including cardiovascular diseases,joint inflammation,diabetes and so on.This paper systematically combs the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies,and summarizes the latest research reports on the effects of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription,traditional Chinese medicine monomers and traditional Chinese medicine extracts on NLRP3 inflammatory bodies in the treatment of inflammatory diseases,in order to provide new ideas for the further study of the pathogenesis and drug treatment of many inflammatory diseases.
10. Effect Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition of pulmonary artery endothelial cells and its mechanism
Zuo-Mei ZENG ; Xin-Yue WANG ; Lei-Yu TIAN ; Li-Dan CUI ; Jian GUO ; Yu-Cai CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):155-161
Aim To investigate the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1 ) -induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells ( PMVEC), and further analyze the mechanism related to the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Method To construct an EndMT cell model, PMVEC was treated with TGF-β1 (5 μg · L

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