1.Study on the effects and mechanisms of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. in improving sleep
Ming QIAO ; Yao ZHAO ; Yi ZHU ; Yexia CAO ; Limei WEN ; Yuehong GONG ; Xiang LI ; Juanchen WANG ; Tao WANG ; Jianhua YANG ; Junping HU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(1):24-29
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. in improving sleep. METHODS Network pharmacology was employed to identify the active components of L. ruthenicum and their associated disease targets, followed by enrichment analysis. A caffeine‑induced zebrafish model of sleep deprivation was established , and the zebrafish were treated with L. ruthenicum Murr. extract (LRME) at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL, respectively; 24 h later, behavioral changes of zebrafish and pathological alterations in brain neurons were subsequently observed. The levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT)], and neurotransmitters [5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid (Glu), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE)] were measured. The protein expression levels of protein kinase B1 (AKT1), phosphorylated AKT1 (p-AKT1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), sarcoma proto-oncogene,non-receptor tyrosine kinase (SRC), and heat shock protein 90α family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1) in the zebrafish were also determined. RESULTS A total of 12 active components and 176 intersecting disease targets were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Among these, apigenin, naringenin and others were recognized as core active compounds, while AKT1, EGFR and others served as key targets; EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathway was identified as the critical pathway. The sleep improvement rates in zebrafish of LRME low-, medium-, and high-dose groups were 54.60%, 69.03% and 77.97%, 开发。E-mail:hjp_yft@163.com respectively, while the inhibition ratios of locomotor distance were 0.57, 0.83 and 0.95, respectively. Compared with the model group, the number of resting counts, resting time and resting distance were significantly increased/extended in LRME medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05). Neuronal damage in the brain was alleviated. Additionally, the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, MDA, Glu, DA and NE, as well as the protein expression levels of AKT1, p-AKT1, EGFR, SRC and HSP90AA1, were markedly reduced (P<0.05), while the levels of IL-10, SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, 5-HT and GABA, as well as Bcl-2 protein expression, were significantly elevated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS L. ruthenicum Murr. demonstrates sleep-improving effects, and its specific mechanism may be related to the regulation of inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter balance, and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathway.
2.Genetic differentiation of Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) based on COⅠ and ITS2 sequences
Gang WANG ; Chun-juan SHI ; Dan KONG ; Xuan ZHU ; Ji HE ; Ming-hui ZHAO ; Chong-cai WANG
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):90-95
Objective Exploring genetic differences among geographic strains of Anopheles sinensis in China. Methods Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I(COⅠ )and ribosomal the second internal transcribed spacer(ITS2), genetic distance analyses were conducted on An. sinensis samples collected nationwide. Results Genetic differentiation was observed within An. sinensis geographic strains, primarily reflected in the genetic distances of COⅠ sequences, with some distances between samples exceeding those between closely related species. However, ITS2 sequences showed relatively low levels of differentiation within geographic strains. No significant separation was observed, and gene exchange exhibited a random pattern among geographic strains. Conclusions Significant differences in genetic distance were observed among An. sinensis samples, along with evidence of interspecific continuity among sibling species. For the identification of closely related species using wild-collected Anopheles mosquitoes samples, reliance solely on commonly used barcodes such as COⅠ and ITS2 may be insufficient. Additional molecular markers, including COⅡ and D3 gene fragments, should also be considered. Caution should be exercised when using COⅠ genes to identify cryptic species, especially within Anopheles mosquitoes.
3.Analysis of transurethral water vapor thermal therapy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Ming-yang PANG ; Yong WEI ; Jian-zhong LIN ; Jun WANG ; Ming-yu LIU ; Fu-yang LIU ; Yi-bo MA ; Tong ZHAO ; Qing-yi ZHU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(7):603-607
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of transurethral water vapor thermal therapy(WVTT)using the Rezūm system for benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)in the real world.Methods:A total of 181 patients with BPH were recruited from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2022 to December 2023,of whom 173 patients were treated with WVTT using the Rezūm system,while 8 patients were treated with WVTT combined with TURP.They were followed up at 1,3,and 6 months postoperatively to assess changes in the IPSS,QoL,Qmax,IIEF-5,and the occurrence of any complications.Results:All 181 surgeries in this group were successfully completed.The operation time of the Rezūm system was(4.6±1.4)mi-nutes.The postoperative indwelling catheterization time was(8.0±2.1)days.With a follow-up of at least 6 months,there was a significant decrease in PV,IPSS and QoL,and a remarkable increase had been found in Qmax as well(P<0.05).There was no sig-nificant difference in IIEF-5 before and after the operation(P>0.05).In this groups of patients,postoperative complications mainly included 95 cases(52.5%)of gross hematuria,6 cases(3.3%)of retrograde ejaculation,5 cases(2.8%)of urethral stricture,4 cases(2.2%)of prostatitis,and 10 cases(5.5%)of urinary tract infection.Four cases(2.2%)underwent surgical retreatment for BPH after surgery.Conclusion:In the real world,the use of Rezūm thermal steam ablation system for the treatment of BPH has sat-isfactory short-term effect,short surgical time,and significant improvement in IPSS,QoL,Qmax,which does not adversely affect sexu-al function.
4.Refined management practices of in vitro diagnostic reagent catalogs in multi-campus medical institutions
Si-rui HUANG ; Ming ZHU ; Zhao CHEN ; Xin HUANG ; Di XIE ; Yuan XIONG
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(4):88-92
The current situation of the in vitro diagnostic(IVD)reagent management was described,and a standard dictio-nary library of IVD reagents was constructed.An IVD reagent catalog information management system with the functions of management and price comparison was introduced in terms of its development process and application effect.Some mainte-nance and management measures for IVD reagent standard dictionary library were put forward including the establishment of an IVD reagent catalog management group and regular data maintenance and updating.References were provided for solving the problems due to the inconsistency of reagent catalog management and medical devices and materials without medical insurance codes in multi-campus medical institutions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(4):88-92]
5.Postdischarge cancer and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease: a retrospective cohort study.
Yi-Hao WANG ; Shao-Ning ZHU ; Ya-Wei ZHAO ; Kai-Xin YAN ; Ming-Zhuang SUN ; Zhi-Jun SUN ; Yun-Dai CHEN ; Shun-Ying HU
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(6):578-586
BACKGROUND:
Our understanding of the correlation between postdischarge cancer and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains incomplete. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between postdischarge cancers and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients.
METHODS:
In this retrospective cohort study, 25% of CAD patients without prior cancer history who underwent coronary artery angiography between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015, were randomly enrolled using SPSS 26.0. Patients were monitored for the incidence of postdischarge cancer, which was defined as cancer diagnosed after the index hospitalization, survival status and cause of death. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the association between postdischarge cancer and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients.
RESULTS:
A total of 4085 patients were included in the final analysis. During a median follow-up period of 8 years, 174 patients (4.3%) developed postdischarge cancer, and 343 patients (8.4%) died. A total of 173 patients died from cardiovascular diseases. Postdischarge cancer was associated with increased all-cause mortality risk (HR = 2.653, 95% CI: 1.727-4.076, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality risk (HR = 2.756, 95% CI: 1.470-5.167, P = 0.002). Postdischarge lung cancer (HR = 5.497, 95% CI: 2.922-10.343, P < 0.001) and gastrointestinal cancer (HR = 1.984, 95% CI: 1.049-3.750, P = 0.035) were associated with all-cause mortality in CAD patients. Postdischarge lung cancer was significantly associated with cardiovascular death in CAD patients (HR = 4.979, 95% CI: 2.114-11.728, P < 0.001), and cardiovascular death was not significantly correlated with gastrointestinal cancer or other types of cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
Postdischarge cancer was associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients. Compared with other cancers, postdischarge lung cancer had a more significant effect on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients.
6.Morin inhibits ubiquitination degradation of BCL-2 associated agonist of cell death and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibitor in gastric cancer cells.
Yi WANG ; Xiao-Yu SUN ; Fang-Qi MA ; Ming-Ming REN ; Ruo-Han ZHAO ; Meng-Meng QIN ; Xiao-Hong ZHU ; Yan XU ; Ni-da CAO ; Yuan-Yuan CHEN ; Tian-Geng DONG ; Yong-Fu PAN ; Ai-Guang ZHAO
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(3):320-332
OBJECTIVE:
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies seen in clinic and requires novel treatment options. Morin is a natural flavonoid extracted from the flower stalk of a highly valuable medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris L., which exhibits an anti-cancer effect in multiple types of tumors. However, the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of morin in treating GC remains elusive. The study aims to explore the therapeutic effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of morin in GC.
METHODS:
For in vitro experiments, the proliferation inhibition of morin was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation assay in human GC cell line MKN45, human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS, and human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1; for apoptosis analysis, microscopic photography, Western blotting, ubiquitination analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, flow cytometry, and RNA interference technology were employed. For in vivo studies, immunohistochemistry, biomedical analysis, and Western blotting were used to assess the efficacy and safety of morin in a xenograft mouse model of GC.
RESULTS:
Morin significantly inhibited the proliferation of GC cells MKN45 and AGS in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but did not inhibit human gastric epithelial cells GES-1. Only the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was able to significantly reverse the inhibition of proliferation by morin in both GC cells, suggesting that apoptosis was the main type of cell death during the treatment. Morin induced intrinsic apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in GC cells, which mainly relied on B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) associated agonist of cell death (BAD) but not phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1. The upregulation of BAD by morin was due to blocking the ubiquitination degradation of BAD, rather than the transcription regulation and the phosphorylation of BAD. Furthermore, the combination of morin and BCL-2 inhibitor navitoclax (also known as ABT-737) produced a synergistic inhibitory effect in GC cells through amplifying apoptotic signals. In addition, morin treatment significantly suppressed the growth of GC in vivo by upregulating BAD and the subsequent activation of its downstream apoptosis pathway.
CONCLUSION
Morin suppressed GC by inducing apoptosis, which was mainly due to blocking the ubiquitination-based degradation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD. The combination of morin and the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-737 synergistically amplified apoptotic signals in GC cells, which may overcome the drug resistance of the BCL-2 inhibitor. These findings indicated that morin was a potent and promising agent for GC treatment. Please cite this article as: Wang Y, Sun XY, Ma FQ, Ren MM, Zhao RH, Qin MM, Zhu XH, Xu Y, Cao ND, Chen YY, Dong TG, Pan YF, Zhao AG. Morin inhibits ubiquitination degradation of BCL-2 associated agonist of cell death and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibitor in gastric cancer cells. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 320-332.
Humans
;
Flavonoids/therapeutic use*
;
Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Animals
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Ubiquitination/drug effects*
;
Mice
;
Drug Synergism
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Mice, Nude
;
Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
;
Flavones
7.The Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Human Health in China: A Call for more Ambitious Action.
Shi Lu TONG ; Yu WANG ; Yong Long LU ; Cun de XIAO ; Qi Yong LIU ; Qi ZHAO ; Cun Rui HUANG ; Jia Yu XU ; Ning KANG ; Tong ZHU ; Dahe QIN ; Ying XU ; Buda SU ; Xiao Ming SHI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):127-143
As global greenhouse gases continue rising, the urgency of more ambitious action is clearer than ever before. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the countries affected most by climate change. The evidence about the impacts of climate change on the environment and human health may encourage China to take more decisive action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts. This article aimed to review the evidence of environmental damages and health risks posed by climate change and to provide a new science-based perspective for the delivery of sustainable development goals. Over recent decades, China has experienced a strong warming pattern with a growing frequency of extreme weather events, and the impacts of climate change on China's environment and human health have been consistently observed, with increasing O 3 air pollution, decreases in water resources and availability, land degradation, and increased risks for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Therefore, China's climate policy should target the key factors driving climate change and scale up strategic measures to curb carbon emissions and adapt to inevitable increasing climate impacts. It provides new insights for not only China but also other countries, particularly developing and emerging economies, to ensure climate and environmental sustainability whilst pursuing economic growth.
Climate Change
;
China
;
Humans
;
Greenhouse Gases
;
Air Pollution
;
Sustainable Development
;
Environment
8.Molecular Characterization of New Recombinant Human Adenoviruses Detected in Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Beijing, China, 2022-2023.
Yi Nan GUO ; Ri DE ; Fang Ming WANG ; Zhen Zhi HAN ; Li Ying LIU ; Yu SUN ; Yao YAO ; Xiao Lin MA ; Shuang LIU ; Chunmei ZHU ; Dong QU ; Lin Qing ZHAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1071-1081
OBJECTIVE:
Recombination events are common and serve as the primary driving force of diverse human adenovirus (HAdV), particularly in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). Therefore, continual monitoring of these events is essential for effective viral surveillance and control.
METHODS:
Respiratory specimens were collected from children with ARIs between January 2022 and December 2023. The penton base, hexon, and fiber genes were amplified from HAdV-positive specimens and sequenced to determine the virus type. In cases with inconsistent typing results, genes were cloned into the pGEM-T vector to detect recombination events. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed to characterize the recombinant HAdV genomes.
RESULTS:
Among 6,771 specimens, 277 (4.09%, 277/6,771) were positvie for HAdV, of which 157 (56.68%, 157/277) were successfully typed, with HAdV-B3 being the dominant type (91.08%, 143/157), and 14 (5.05%, 14/277) exhibited inconsistent typing results, six of which belonged to species B. The penton base genes of these six specimens were classified as HAdV-B7, whereas their hexon and fiber genes were classified as HAdV-B3, resulting in a recombinant genotype designated P7H3F3, which closely resembled HAdV-B114. Additionally, a partial gene encoding L1 52/55 kD was identified, which originated from HAdV-B16.
CONCLUSION
A novel recombinant, P7H3F3, was identified, containing sequences derived from HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, which is similar to HAdV-B114, along with additional sequences from HAdV-B16.
Humans
;
Adenoviruses, Human/isolation & purification*
;
Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology*
;
Child, Preschool
;
Child
;
Recombination, Genetic
;
Male
;
Beijing/epidemiology*
;
Infant
;
Female
;
Phylogeny
;
Adenovirus Infections, Human/epidemiology*
;
Acute Disease
;
Genome, Viral
9.Clinical characteristics and prognosis analysis of Crohn's disease complicated with secondary upper gastrointestinal fistulas
Jie XU ; Ming DUAN ; Jiajia ZHAO ; Yi LI ; Weiming ZHU
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(4):303-309
Objective:To evaluate the clinical characteristics of Crohn's disease (CD) patients with secondary upper gastrointestinal fistulas and analyze risk factors for recurrence.Methods:A restrospective observational research method was performed. Clinical data of CD patients with secondary upper gastrointestinal fistulas treated at Eastern Theater General Hospital of PLA from January 2010 to August 2024 were analyzed. Based on postoperative recurrence of upper gastrointestinal fistulas, the patients were divided into recurrence group and non-recurrence group. Differences in clinical data between the two groups were compared, and further multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for fistula recurrence.Results:A total of 72 CD patients with secondary upper gastrointestinal fistulas were included, consisting of 48 males and 24 females, with a mean age of 39±12 years and a disease duration of 97±56 months, accounting for 2.8% of all CD patients undergoing surgeries during the same period. Among these patients, 75 upper gastrointestinal fistulas from 72 patients were identified, including 67 patients of simple duodenal fistula, 2 of simple gastric fistula, and 3 of double fistulas (2 of double duodenal fistulas and 1 of duodenal fistula combined with gastric fistula) .The preoperative diagnostic positivity rates were 55.6% (40/72) for gastroscopy, 54.2% (39/72) for upper gastrointestinal contrast imaging, 22.2% (16/72) for abdominal CT, and 22.2% (16/72) for colonoscopy. A history of biologic therapy was present in 33.3% (24/72) of patients, but none achieved fistula healing. All 72 patients underwent surgical treatment, with primary lesion surgical approaches including resection with anastomosis (37 patients, 51.4%) and resection with stoma (35 patients, 48.6%). Except for one gastric fistula treated by resection, all other fistulas underwent primary repair. During a median follow-up of 69 (40, 113) months, 8 patients (11.1%) required reoperation due to recurrent upper gastrointestinal fistulas (classified as the recurrence group), while the remaining 64 patients were assigned to the non-recurrence group. Univariate analysis revealed that the recurrence group had a higher proportion of patients aged 30-40 years ( P = 0.003), malnutrition ( P = 0.040), and anastomosis near the duodenum ( P = 0.047), but a lower proportion of postoperative biologic use ( P = 0.007) .Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that malnutrition and anastomosis near the duodenum were not the risk factors for duodenal fistula recurrence (both P > 0.05) . Conclusions:Upper gastrointestinal fistulas secondary to CD are rare, predominantly presenting as simple duodenal fistulas. Diagnosis primarily relies on gastroscopy and gastrointestinal contrast imaging. Biologic therapy shows poor efficacy, and most patients do not recur after the primary repair surgery of duodenal fistulas.
10.Prognostic value of ultrasound carotid plaque length in patients with coronary artery disease.
Wendong TANG ; Zhichao XU ; Tingfang ZHU ; Yawei YANG ; Jian NA ; Wei ZHANG ; Liang CHEN ; Zongjun LIU ; Ming FAN ; Zhifu GUO ; Xianxian ZHAO ; Yuan BAI ; Bili ZHANG ; Hailing ZHANG ; Pan LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(14):1755-1757


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail