1.Unlocking the role of wound microbiome in diabetic, burn, and germ-free wound repair treated by natural and synthetic scaffolds.
Zeyu XU ; Lixiang ZHANG ; Qinghan TANG ; Chenxi YANG ; Xiaotong DING ; Ziyu WANG ; Rizhong HUANG ; Ruihan JIANG ; Joannake MAITZ ; Huaikai SHI ; Xin YAN ; Mei DONG ; Jun CHEN ; Yiwei WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):611-626
In current clinical practice, various dermal templates and skin substitutes are used to enhance wound healing. However, the role of wound commensal microbiome in regulating scaffold performance and the healing process remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the influence of both natural and synthetic scaffolds on the wound commensal microbiome and wound repair in three distinct models including diabetic wounds, burn injuries, and germ-free (GF) wounds. Remarkably, synthetic electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were observed to positively promote microbiome diversity, leading to enhanced diabetic wound healing compared to the natural scaffolds Integra® (INT) and MatriDerm® (MAD). In contrast, both natural and synthetic scaffolds exhibited comparable effects on the diversity of the microbiome and the healing of burn injuries. In GF wounds with no detectable microorganisms, a reversed healing rate was noted showing natural scaffold (MAD) accelerated wound repair compared to the open or the synthetic scaffold (PCL) treatment. Furthermore, the response of the wound commensal microbiome to PCL scaffolds appears pivotal in promoting anti-inflammatory factors during diabetic wound healing. Our results emphasize that the wound commensal microbiome, mediated by different scaffolds plays an important role in the wound healing process.
2.A retrospective cohort study of the efficacy and safety of oral azvudine versus nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged over 60 years.
Bo YU ; Haiyu WANG ; Guangming LI ; Junyi SUN ; Hong LUO ; Mengzhao YANG ; Yanyang ZHANG ; Ruihan LIU ; Ming CHENG ; Shixi ZHANG ; Guotao LI ; Ling WANG ; Guowu QIAN ; Donghua ZHANG ; Silin LI ; Quancheng KAN ; Jiandong JIANG ; Zhigang REN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1333-1343
Azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) are recommended for COVID-19 treatment in China, but their safety and efficacy in the elderly population are not fully known. In this multicenter, retrospective, cohort study, we identified 5131 elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 32,864 COVID-19 patients admitted to nine hospitals in Henan Province, China, from December 5, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The primary outcome was all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was composite disease progression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control for confounding factors, including demographics, vaccination status, comorbidities, and laboratory tests. After 2:1 PSM, 1786 elderly patients receiving azvudine and 893 elderly patients receiving Paxlovid were included. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses revealed that compared with Paxlovid group, azvudine could significantly reduce the risk of all-cause death (log-rank P = 0.002; HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.573-0.883, P = 0.002), but there was no difference in composite disease progression (log-rank P = 0.52; HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.877-1.260, P = 0.588). Four sensitivity analyses verified the robustness of above results. Subgroup analysis suggested that a greater benefit of azvudine over Paxlovid was observed in elderly patients with primary malignant tumors (P for interaction = 0.005, HR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18-0.57) compared to patients without primary malignant tumors. Safety analysis revealed that azvudine treatment had a lower incidence of adverse events and higher lymphocyte levels than Paxlovid treatment. In conclusion, azvudine treatment is not inferior to Paxlovid treatment in terms of all-cause death, composite disease progression and adverse events in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
3.Deciphering the significant impact of natural glycosylation on human insulin.
Yaohao LI ; Wenqiang LIU ; Dan LIU ; Ruihan WANG ; Yajing ZHANG ; Xin LI ; Jinyuan GONG ; Shiying SHANG ; Zhongping TAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):5880-5890
In the century-long evolution of insulin pharmaceuticals, each transformative advancement in this drug class has been closely tied to the ability to obtain new insulin isoforms for research. Despite this, the recently discovered naturally occurring isoforms of glycosylated human insulin have remained largely unattainable for proper characterization. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that total chemical synthesis can be used to generate all isoforms. This achievement required maintaining the correct positions of the interchain disulfide bonds while effectively removing protecting groups on complex glycans. Notably, the availability of seven glycoforms reveals the important effects of natural sialylated glycans in suppressing insulin self-association and enhancing its solubility, surpassing the performance of currently employed rapid-acting insulin drugs. This work not only offers a readily adaptable platform for exploring natural O-glycosylation in other therapeutic proteins and peptides but also lays the groundwork for further research into harnessing natural glycosylation for therapeutic applications.
4.Chrysophanol affects macrophage polarization by promoting mitochondrial biosynthesis through AMPK/PGC-1α pathway
Lele Wang ; Caixia Tan ; Wei Zhang ; Ruihan Ge ; Chen Li ; Xinmin Wang ; Le Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(3):488-494
Objective :
To explore whether chrysophanol(CHR) affects macrophage polarization by promoting mitochondrial biosynthesis through AMPK/PGC-1α pathway.
Methods :
The molecular docking and binding ability of CHR with AMPK and PGC-1α were predicted by Autodock vina software. Human monocytes(THP-1) were induced to M0 macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate(PMA), and to M1 macrophages by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) combined with interferon-γ(IFN-γ), which were set as Control group. M1 macrophages treated with CHR were set as CHR group. M1 macrophages treated with CHR combined with AMPK inhibitor(Compound C) were set as CHR+Compound C group. The mRNA expression levels of M1 macrophage markers(iNOS, CD86) and mitochondrial biosynthesis related genes(PGC-1α, NFR-1, TFAM) were detected by Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR). The expression level of M1 macrophage marker iNOS was detected by immunofluorescence. The protein expression levels of AMPK, p-AMPK and PGC-1α were detected by Western blot.
Results :
The docking results showed that the binding energies of CHR with AMPK and PGC-1α were-8.4 kcal/mol and-7.4 kcal/mol, respectively. qRT-PCR results showed that the in vitro model of M1 macrophages was successfully established. Compared with the Control group, CHR treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of mitochondrial biosynthesis-related genes PGC-1α, NFR-1, and TFAM(P<0.001). Compared with CHR treatment group, CHR combined with Compound C treatment significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of mitochondrial biosynthesis-related genes PGC-1α, NFR-1, and TFAM(P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that CHR treatment inhibited the protein expression of iNOS compared with the Control group(P<0.001). Compared with CHR treatment group,CHR combined with Compound C treatment reversed the inhibitory effect of CHR on i NOS protein expression(P<0.05). Western blot results showed that compared with the Control group,the CHR treatment group had significant increase in the protein expression levels of p-AMPK and PGC-1α(P<0.001).Compared with CHR treatment group,CHR combined with Compound C treatment significantly decreased the protein expression levels of p-AMPK and PGC-1α(P<0.05).
Conclusion
Chrysophanol may inhibit macrophage polarization to M1 by activating AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway to promote mitochondrial biosynthesis.
5.Correlation and diagnostic value analysis of VEGF, RDW and myocardial damage in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Xuehui ZHANG ; Jingjing HAN ; Yuyan ZHANG ; Ruihan LIU
Journal of Chinese Physician 2024;26(3):418-422
Objective:To explore the correlation between myocardial damage and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and myocardial enzyme spectrum in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.Methods:Sixty children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and myocardial damage admitted to Jining Medical University from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected as the observation group, and 60 children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia admitted during the same period were selected as the control group. The differences in clinical data and imaging features between the two groups were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis; The logistic regression method was applied to analyze the influencing factors of myocardial damage in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. The value of VEGF and RDW in predicting myocardial damage in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), VEGF, RDW, creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05), and the duration of fever, application of macrolide drugs, and glucocorticoid application time were significantly longer than those in the control group (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in pulmonary imaging characteristics between the observation group and the control group (all P>0.05). The VEGF and RDW in the observation group were positively correlated with CK-MB and cTnI (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that duration of fever, VEGF, RDW, and duration of macrolide drug use were the influencing factors for myocardial damage in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of VEGF combined with RDW in predicting myocardial damage in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was 0.899, significantly higher than that predicted by VEGF and RDW alone (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The serum VEGF and RDW levels in children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia accompanied by myocardial damage are elevated and positively correlated with myocardial enzyme spectrum indicators, which has certain application value in predicting myocardial damage.
6.The c.91C>T mutation in DNAJB2 gene associated distal hereditary motor neuropathy and early-onset Parkinson′s disease: a family report
Yu SU ; Lingchun LIU ; Ruihan YANG ; Mingzhi ZHANG ; Da LIU ; Qiang MENG
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(3):283-289
A family carrying a homozygous variant of DNAJB2 gene C.91C>T (p.His31Tyr) with distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) associated with early-onset Parkinson′s disease was reported. The patient presented with distal limb weakness and atrophy at the early stage of the disease, and developed Parkinson′s symptoms more than 10 years later. Neuroelectrophysiological examination suggested motor and sensory axonal involvement. This mutation site had not been reported and was considered to be a neogenic mutagenicity of dHMN, excluding other mutations that can cause early-onset Parkinson′s disease.
7.Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Osteoking in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Based on Real-world Data
Ruihan LI ; Jun ZHOU ; Zhi LIANG ; Shuai GAO ; Rui QUAN ; Xisheng WENG ; Yanqiong ZHANG ; Na LIN ; Weiheng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(24):63-71
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of Osteoking in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in real-world practice, so as to provide a basis for the rational clinical use of Osteoking. MethodFrom the Osteoking for knee osteoarthritis case registration system, 638 KOA cases treated with Osteoking were selected and analyzed in SPSS 26.0. The clinical data were collected from 20 hospitals in China from May 2020 to December 2021. Descriptive analyses of patient age, gender, body mass index, course of treatment and other parameters were performed. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster universities arthritis index (WOMAC) scores before and after treatment. The integrative pharmacology-based research platform of traditional Chinese medicine (TCMIP) v2.0 was used for network analysis of the core targets of Osteoking in treating knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, 20 KOA patients treated with Osteoking in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from October to December in 2022 were enrolled in the treatment group, and 20 healthy volunteers in the control group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of related indicators to verify the prediction results. ResultA total of 638 KOA patients were treated with Osteoking, including 429 (67.24%) receiving Osteoking alone and 209 (32.76%) receiving Osteoking combined with other therapies. The female patients (415, 65.05%) were more than the male patients (223, 34.95%). The patients showed the mean age of (63.48±13.51) years, mean body mass index of (24.09±2.98) kg·m-2, and mean course of treatment of (15.78±9.66) days. Most of the patients were rated as grades Ⅱ (46.24%) and Ⅲ (34.64%) in Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading and in the relief stage (82.45%) in clinical staging. There was no significant correlation between clinical staging and K-L grading results. The cluster analysis identified three TCM syndromes: Qi stagnation and blood stasis, cold-dampness obstruction, and liver-kidney deficiency. The overall clinical efficacy evaluation showed that VAS score decreased from (6.01±0.85) scores before treatment to (2.54±1.73) scores after treatment (P<0.05), and the WOMAC score decreased from (93.25±25.91) scores before treatment to (50.73±25.14) scores after treatment (P<0.05). The network analysis predicted that Osteoking might regulate the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways to exert the therapeutic effect. The clinical trial showed elevated TGF-β1 level (P<0.01) and lowered NF-κB subunit RELA and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 1A (TNFRSF1A) levels (P<0.05) after treatment. The synergistic effects of these changes provide a multidimensional and comprehensive therapeutic efficacy for KOA, alleviating the joint pain and limited mobility in patients. ConclusionOsteoking showed significant therapeutic efficacy in treating KOA. Osteoking may act on multiple pathways involved in cartilage metabolism and inflammation. The findings provide experimental evidence and theoretical support for elucidating the multi-target mechanism of Osteoking in treating KOA.
8.A Real-World Clinical Study of Osteoking Combined with Intra-Articular Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Rui QUAN ; Jun ZHOU ; Yan JIA ; Yan YAN ; Shuai GAO ; Zhi LIANG ; Ruihan LI ; Shuwen LI ; Yanqiong ZHANG ; Xisheng WENG ; Na LIN ; Baohong MI ; Weiheng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(24):72-79
ObjectiveTo investigate the improvement of the efficacy of Osteoking in patients with knee osteoarthritis in the onset and remission stage and to systematically explore its potential intervention mechanism, so as to provide a certain reference for improving the clinical application value of Osteoking and guiding its clinical rational drug use. MethodThrough the real-world study of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with Osteoking, the data was obtained and entered into the "Osteoking for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis case registration system", and 105 patients with episodic and remission knee osteoarthritis from the outpatient or inpatient orthopedic department of 20 medical institutions, including the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Wangjing Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Hunan Aerospace Hospital, from May 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, were selected in the system. It included 60 patients treated with Osteoking and joint injection, and 45 patients treated with joint injection alone. The WOMAC osteoarthritis index score, visual analogue (VAS) pain score, individual types of pain symptoms (cold pain, hot pain, tingling, dull pain, soreness) and other TCM symptoms were observed and compared between the two groups, and statistically analyzed. In order to further elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of Osteoking combined with joint injection in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in the treatment of onset and remission, this study used the "Bone Injury Cross Database (
9.Clinical Study of Osteoking Combined with Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Zhi LIANG ; Jun ZHOU ; Rui QUAN ; Shuai GAO ; Ruihan LI ; Shuwen LI ; Baohong MI ; Yanqiong ZHANG ; Na LIN ; Weiheng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(24):80-86
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of Osteoking combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis based on real-world data and provide a basis for clinical medication. MethodFrom May 2020 to December 2021, the data of a total of 1 002 patients with knee osteoarthritis who did not undergo knee joint replacement surgery was collected through the registration method. 952 patients were ultimately included, including 133 cases orally taking Osteoking combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as the observation group and 73 cases orally taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone as the control group. Statistical analysis was conducted on the baseline data, VAS scores, WOMAC scores, and other items. The visit point is the 4th and 8th weeks after registration. In order to further elucidate the clinical efficacy of Osteoking combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, the effective components of Osteoking and the relevant gene sets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and knee osteoarthritis were obtained through network pharmacology methods and retrieval in bone injury cross database, TCMSP, and other databases. Venn analysis was performed on the relevant gene sets, and a PPI network diagram was constructed. Then key core targets were screened out, and enrichment GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted. ResultThe VAS score of the observation group decreases by an average of (-2.79±1.206) scores in the 4th week, which is better than the control group [(-2.73±1.575) scores, P<0.05]. The VAS score of the observation group decreases by an average of (-3.97±1.308) scores in the 8th week, which is better than the control group [(-3.89±1.822) scores, P<0.05]. The total WOMAC score of the observation group decreases by an average of (-52.07±21.677) scores points in the 8th week, which is significantly better than the control group [(-46.75±25.368) scores, P<0.05]. The observation group has an average decrease of (-10.99±4.229) scores in WOMAC (pain) score in the 8th week, which is better than the control group [(-10.03±5.535) scores, P<0.05]. The observation group has an average decrease of (-1.49±2.901) in WOMAC (stiffness) score in the 4th week, which is better than the control group [(-0.92±1.998) scores, P<0.05], and the observation group has an average decrease of (-1.90±3.200) scores in WOMAC (stiffness) score in the 8th week, which is better than the control group [(-1.26±2.230) scores, P<0.05]. The observation group shows an average decrease of (-39.17±16.562) scores in WOMAC (joint function) score in the 8th week, which is significantly better than the control group [(-35.47±20.098) scores, P<0.05]. According to network pharmacology analysis, the core network target of Osteoking in treating knee osteoarthritis is manifested as regulating signal pathways such as signal transduction transcription activator 3(STAT3), vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to regulate cell signaling, angiogenesis, chondrocyte proliferation and migration, and inflammatory cells, thereby inhibiting inflammatory reactions, reducing damage, and delaying the development of the disease. ConclusionAfter a 4-week and 8-week course of treatment for knee osteoarthritis with Osteoking combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there is a significant therapeutic effect on relieving pain and joint stiffness and improving joint function. In network pharmacology, Osteoking is involved in regulating inflammatory factors, metabolic response-related biological processes, the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes, etc. in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, resulting in anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and improving joint mobility and joint stiffness. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
10.Research progress in vaccines of SARS-CoV-2.
Xinbin GE ; Qigan QU ; Zeguang WANG ; Shungeng ZHANG ; Yan CHI ; Chunhui SHAN ; Ruihan LIU ; Qing ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2023;39(10):946-951
Since the outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), viral strains have mutated and evolved. Vaccine research is the most direct and effective way to control COVID-19. According to different production mechanisms, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines included inactivated virus vaccine, live attenuated vaccine, mRNA vaccine, DNA vaccine, viral vector vaccine, virus-like particle vaccine and protein subunit vaccine. Among them, viral protein subunit vaccine has a wide application prospect due to its high safety and effectiveness. Viral nucleocapsid protein has high immunogenicity and low variability which could be a new direction for vaccine production. We summarized the current development of vaccine research by reviewing the current progress, vaccine safety and vaccine immune efficiency. It is hoped that the proposed possible development strategies could provide a reference for epidemic prevention work in future.
Humans
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SARS-CoV-2/genetics*
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COVID-19/prevention & control*
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Protein Subunits
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Vaccines, DNA
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Nucleocapsid Proteins


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