1.Effects of subanesthetic dose of esketamine on postoperative anxiety and recovery in patients undergoing laparo-scopic cholecystectomy
Zhangzhen ZHONG ; Xian ZHENG ; Ting XU ; Jie WANG ; Hui CAO ; Xinggen ZHOU ; Hui LI ; Jiacheng ZHAO ; Hui LIU ; Chao ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(2):204-209
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of subanesthetic dose of esketamine on postoperative anxiety and recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS A total of 200 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from January 2023 to December 2024 were randomly assigned to control group (n=100) and observation group (n=100). One minute before the initiation of anesthesia, patients in the control group received intravenous injections of Propofol emulsion injection, Sufentanil citrate injection, and Succinylcholine chloride injection. On this basis, patients in the observation group received an intravenous injection of Esketamine hydrochloride injection. The anxiety status of patients in both groups was compared, along with their general intraoperative conditions (including sufentanil dosage, duration of pneumoperitoneum, operative time, anesthesia time, and extubation time), postoperative recovery, incidence of adverse reactions, and the need for dezocine rescue analgesia. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure, entropy index (state entropy and response entropy), inflammatory marker levels [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)], numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain intensity were compared between the two groups at different time points. RESULTS No significant differences were found between the two groups in pneumoperitoneum duration, operative time, anesthesia time,extubation time, incidence of postoperative dry mouth, entropy index or length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significantly lower postoperative STAI-S scores, reduced intraoperative sufentanil consumption, decreased incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and shivering, the need for dezocine rescue analgesia, as well as lower plasma IL-6 and CRP levels at 24 h after surgery, and NRS (P<0.05). The heart rate and mean arterial pressure of patients in the observation group at the start of surgery, end of surgery, and during extubation were all significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Subanesthetic dose of esketamine can effectively alleviate postoperative anxiety, reduce intraoperative opioid consumption, suppress postoperative inflammatory response, relieve postoperative pain, and promote recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
2.Expert consensus on neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitors for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (2026)
LI Jinsong ; LIAO Guiqing ; LI Longjiang ; ZHANG Chenping ; SHANG Chenping ; ZHANG Jie ; ZHONG Laiping ; LIU Bing ; CHEN Gang ; WEI Jianhua ; JI Tong ; LI Chunjie ; LIN Lisong ; REN Guoxin ; LI Yi ; SHANG Wei ; HAN Bing ; JIANG Canhua ; ZHANG Sheng ; SONG Ming ; LIU Xuekui ; WANG Anxun ; LIU Shuguang ; CHEN Zhanhong ; WANG Youyuan ; LIN Zhaoyu ; LI Haigang ; DUAN Xiaohui ; YE Ling ; ZHENG Jun ; WANG Jun ; LV Xiaozhi ; ZHU Lijun ; CAO Haotian
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(2):105-118
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.
3.Changes of levels of serum sST2 and ALB in patients with chronic heart failure and correlation with prognosis
Qian ZHONG ; Renyu ZHANG ; Yongling ZHENG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):103-107
Objective To analyze the changes of levels of serum soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (sST2) and albumin (ALB) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and their correlation with prognosis. Methods The data of 216 patients with CHF (CHF group) and 98 healthy subjects with physical examination (healthy control group) were retrospectively analyzed. The changes in levels of serum sST2 and ALB between both groups and among different grades of New York Heart Association (NYHA), and their correlation with NYHA grading and cardiac function and their diagnostic value on the prognosis in patients with CHF were compared. Results The level of serum sST2 and LVEF value of CHF group were significantly higher than those of healthy control group (P<0.05) while the level of serum ALB was significantly lower than that of healthy control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the levels of serum sST2 and ALB and LVEF value among patients with different HYHA grades and pairwise comparison between the any two grades (P<0.05). Serum sST2 level in patients with CHF was positively correlated with NYHA grading (P<0.001) and was negatively correlated with LVEF (P<0.001), and serum ALB level was negatively correlated with NYHA grading (P<0.001), and was positively correlated with LVEF (P<0.001). Serum sST2 level of poor prognosis group was significantly higher than that of good prognosis group (P<0.05) while serum ALB level was significantly lower than that of good prognosis group (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis of serum sST2 combined with ALB in diagnosing poor prognosis in CHF patients showed that the AUC and sensitivity were 0.907 and 98.04%, which were higher than the single diagnosis, and the specificity was 81.82%, which was lower than the single diagnosis. Conclusion The levels of serum sST2 and ALB in patients with CHF are correlated with NYHA grading and cardiac function, and the combination of the two indicators has high diagnostic value on predicting the poor prognosis of patients.
4.MCC950 Targeted Inhibition of TXNIP-NLRP3 Axis-mediated Podocyte Pyroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Hong ZHENG ; Zhong-Cheng MO ; Hang LIU ; Xi-Zhang PAN ; Bing WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):418-430
Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.
5.MCC950 Targeted Inhibition of TXNIP-NLRP3 Axis-mediated Podocyte Pyroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Hong ZHENG ; Zhong-Cheng MO ; Hang LIU ; Xi-Zhang PAN ; Bing WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):418-430
Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.
6.Mechanisms of Babaodan in Attenuating Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Injury via Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammatory Pathways
Ying ZHANG ; Yuchang AN ; Xiang ZHU ; Mei ZHONG ; Yanfang ZHENG ; Mingqing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):122-130
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Babaodan (BBD) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) based on transcriptomics. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 per group): normal group, model group, N-acetylcysteine group (NAC, 120 mg·kg-1), and BBD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (BBD-L, BBD-M, BBD-H groups, 75, 150, 300 mg·kg-1, respectively). Except for the normal group, all other groups were subjected to APAP-induced ALI. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in each group. Hepatic levels or activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using commercial kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the degree of liver histopathological damage. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify differential pathways involved in BBD intervention against ALI. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were applied to validate the expression of differential genes and related pathway proteins. Additionally, glucose (GLU) consumption, as well as lactate (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were assessed across all mouse groups. ResultsPharmacodynamic evaluation showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.01), significantly increased MDA level (P<0.01), and significantly decreased GSH-Px level (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BBD intervention at different doses significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased GSH-Px level (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly decreased MDA level (P<0.01), and ameliorated hepatic histopathological injury. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that, following high-dose BBD intervention, the core genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to inflammatory responses and energy metabolic reprogramming, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycolysis. Real-time PCR validation demonstrated that, compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression levels of glycolysis-related genes [hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), pyruvate kinase M (PKM), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)], as well as inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were significantly upregulated in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of HK1, HK2, PFKFB3, PFKFB4, PKM, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that, compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased expression of glycolysis-related proteins [glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), HK1, PFKFB3, and PKM], inflammatory proteins [interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and IL-1β], and phosphorylated (p)-PI3K and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group exhibited significantly decreased expression of GLUT1, HK1, PFKFB3, PKM, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, p-PI3K, and p-Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolic indicator measurements showed that, compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly reduced GLU consumption, LD and ATP content (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBBD may alleviate APAP-induced ALI through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses, potentially via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
7.Mechanisms of Babaodan in Attenuating Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Injury via Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammatory Pathways
Ying ZHANG ; Yuchang AN ; Xiang ZHU ; Mei ZHONG ; Yanfang ZHENG ; Mingqing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):122-130
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Babaodan (BBD) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) based on transcriptomics. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 per group): normal group, model group, N-acetylcysteine group (NAC, 120 mg·kg-1), and BBD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (BBD-L, BBD-M, BBD-H groups, 75, 150, 300 mg·kg-1, respectively). Except for the normal group, all other groups were subjected to APAP-induced ALI. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in each group. Hepatic levels or activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using commercial kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the degree of liver histopathological damage. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify differential pathways involved in BBD intervention against ALI. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were applied to validate the expression of differential genes and related pathway proteins. Additionally, glucose (GLU) consumption, as well as lactate (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were assessed across all mouse groups. ResultsPharmacodynamic evaluation showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.01), significantly increased MDA level (P<0.01), and significantly decreased GSH-Px level (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BBD intervention at different doses significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased GSH-Px level (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly decreased MDA level (P<0.01), and ameliorated hepatic histopathological injury. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that, following high-dose BBD intervention, the core genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to inflammatory responses and energy metabolic reprogramming, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycolysis. Real-time PCR validation demonstrated that, compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression levels of glycolysis-related genes [hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), pyruvate kinase M (PKM), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)], as well as inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were significantly upregulated in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of HK1, HK2, PFKFB3, PFKFB4, PKM, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that, compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased expression of glycolysis-related proteins [glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), HK1, PFKFB3, and PKM], inflammatory proteins [interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and IL-1β], and phosphorylated (p)-PI3K and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group exhibited significantly decreased expression of GLUT1, HK1, PFKFB3, PKM, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, p-PI3K, and p-Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolic indicator measurements showed that, compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly reduced GLU consumption, LD and ATP content (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBBD may alleviate APAP-induced ALI through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses, potentially via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
8.The efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon α1b in the treatment of pediatric respiratory syncytial viral associated lower respiratory tract infections: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ⅲ clinical study
Xiaohui LIU ; Baoping XU ; Yunxiao SHANG ; Han ZHANG ; Zhenkun ZHANG ; Guangyu LIN ; Ju YIN ; Aihua CUI ; Guocheng ZHANG ; Zhaoling SHI ; Liwei GAO ; Chunming JIANG ; Junmei BIAN ; Yongjian HUANG ; Rongfang ZHANG ; Xiaomei LIU ; Xiaoqing YANG ; Yu TANG ; Lili ZHONG ; Hongmei QIAO ; Chuangli HAO ; Yuqing WANG ; Qubei LI ; Ling CAO ; Yungang YANG ; Ling LU ; Rongjun LIN ; Xingzhen SUN ; Wei ZHOU ; Qiang CHEN ; Jikui DENG ; Yuejie ZHENG ; Lin ZHAO ; Tao AI ; Xiaohong LIU ; Xiaoxia LU ; Ning JIANG ; Ming LI
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2025;40(3):180-186
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon (IFN) α1b injection in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children.Methods:A randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled add-on design was used.Children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis aged 2 months to 5 years who tested positive for RSV antigen within 72 hours of onset from 30 clinical trial sites including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University between February 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on a stratified-block method.Both groups received basic treatments such as cough control, asthma relieving, expectorant treatment, fever reduction, oxygen therapy, etc.The experimental group received additional nebulized inhalation of IFN α1b injection at a dose of 2.0 μg/(kg·time), twice a day.The control group received nebulized inhalation of placebo twice a day.Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on indicators such as the duration of clinical symptoms and signs, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the median and 95% CI of the duration of clinical symptoms and signs.The Log-rank test was used to compared data between groups.Safety was assessed through the incidence of adverse reactions and laboratory tests, and the Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results:There were 123 children in the experimental group and 122 children in the control group.The median durations of all the 5 clinical symptoms and signs [including shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea (visible retractions), decreased transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and abnormal mental state] in the experimental group after treatment were slightly shortened than those in the control group [2.7 d(95% CI: 1.9-3.0 d)] vs.[2.9 d(95% CI: 2.6-3.6 d), P=0.027].The improvement in dyspnea (retractions) was especially pronounced in the experimental group, with a relief rate of 50.0% (0, 100%) on the first day of administration[compared with 0 (0, 50.0%) in the control group ( Z=2.002, P=0.025)].The median duration of dyspnea in the experimental group was nearly 1 day shorter than that in the control group [1.0 d(95% CI: 0.7-1.7 d) vs.1.8 d(95% CI: 1.0-2.5 d), P=0.046].There were no significant difference in hospital stay [6.0(5.0, 8.0) d vs.6.5(5.0, 8.0) d, Z=0.675, P=0.500], oxygen therapy duration [32.0(14.0, 96.3) h vs.39.0 (24.0, 83.2) h, Z=0.094, P=0.925], the recovery rate from clinical symptoms during treatment [(105/106, 99.1%) vs.(96/101, 95.0%)], and recurrence rate [(0/106, 0) vs.(2/101, 2.0%)] between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).However, the above-mentioned four indicators in the experimental group showed a trend of clinical benefits.The quantitative virus detection results showed that the RSV viral load in both groups decreased after treatment compared to before treatment.After 2 days of treatment, the decline rate of RSV viral load from the baseline was 0.90 lg copies/(mL·d) in the experimental group and 0.25 lg copies/(mL·d)in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups ( P>0.05).Importantly, no drug-related serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:The nebulized inhalation therapy of IFN α1b demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating pediatric RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections.It particularly offers outstanding clinical therapeutic value for severe children.
9.Mechanistic study on the male flower of Eucommia ulmoides-Sanchi flower herb pair for improving glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus model mice
Ning WANG ; Congyi LIU ; Ying DING ; Xinyu ZHONG ; Zimeng HUANG ; Na ZHENG ; Qiu'e ZHANG ; Ruifeng YANG ; Lili WU ; Lingling QIN ; Tonghua LIU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(10):1390-1403
Objective Based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of"simultaneous regulation of the liver and kidney,"this study integrated network pharmacology prediction,molecular docking,and animal experimental validation to analyze the multi-target regulatory network of Duzhong Xionghua(the male flower of Eucommia ulmoides)-Sanqi Hua(Sanchi flower)herb pair(hereinafter called"herb pair")in modulating glucolipid metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),thereby elucidating its underlying molecular mechanism.Methods Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals,and Wanfang Data were used to obtain the active ingredients of the male flower of Eucommia ulmoides and Sanchi flower.PubChem Compound,SwissTargetPrediction,and SuperPred were used to screen and predict the targets of the drugs;The Human Gene Database,The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man,and Therapeutic Target Database were used to screen the key gene targets of T2DM.A"component-target-pathway"network diagram was constructed using Cytoscape software,and Gene Ontology functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were employed to identify the functions of the relevant target genes and pathways.Molecular docking was used to verify the binding activities of the core components and the key targets.For animal experiments,spontaneous T2DM model mice were used,in which the normal group consisted of six mice(wild type)from the same litter,and the 24 successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into model,metformin(0.26 g/kg),high-dose herb pair(2.6 g/kg),and low-dose herb pair groups(1.3 g/kg)according to the blood glucose levels and body weights,with six mice per group.The drugs were administered by gavage daily for six consecutive weeks.The body weight and fasting blood glucose(FBG)levels were measured weekly,and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in the fifth week.At the end of drug administration,body weight,naso-anal length,liver and bilateral epididymal adipose mass were measured;pathological changes in the liver were observed using HE staining;serum levels of aspartate transaminase(AST),alanine amino-transferase(ALT),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected using colorimetric assay;and liver tissue phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β)signaling pathway protein expressions were determined using Western blotting.Results Network pharmacology screening identified 38 active components and 669 potential targets of the herb pair.Intersection analysis with 1,275 T2DM-related targets yielded 185 common targets.Protein-protein interaction network analysis and pathway enrichment revealed the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway as a key mechanism.Molecular docking confirmed the strong binding affinity of the core components to key targets such as AKT1,suggesting that the herb pair may activate the PI3K/AKT pathway and inhibit GSK-3β activity via beta-sitosterol etc.Animal experiments demonstrated that,compared with the model group,the metformin group exhibited reduced FBG,AST,and ALT levels(P<0.01),but failed to improve body weight,Lee's index,or epididymal fat coefficient.Both herb pair doses significantly lowered Lee's index,hepatic index,and the epididymal fat coefficient(P<0.01),with the low-dose herb pair group showing attenuated body weight gain in mice.In contrast,the high-dose herb pair group exhibited decreased FBG,improved glucose tolerance,reduced TC,TG,and LDL-C levels,and increased HDL-C level(all P<0.01).HE staining revealed that all metformin and the herb pair markedly restored hepatic structure and alleviated steatosis in model mice,with more pronounced effects in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group.Western blotting result indicated that in the low-dose herb pair group,phospho-PI3K(p-PI3K),AKT,and phospho-GSK-3β(p-GSK-3β)protein expressions significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),whereas GSK-3β decreased(P<0.05).The high-dose group exhibited enhanced PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,phospho-AKT,and p-GSK-3β protein expressions(all P<0.01),accompanied by reduced GSK-3β expression(P<0.01).Conclusion The male flower of Eucommia ulmoides-Sanchi flower herb pair may ameliorate T2DM-related glucolipid metabolic disorders by modulating the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway.
10.Clinicopathological analysis of 15 cases of odontogenic myxoma
Yue JIANG ; Min WU ; Yangyu ZHENG ; Yi ZHONG ; Jiaxiang XIE ; Wei ZHANG
STOMATOLOGY 2025;45(10):731-735
Objective To investigate the clinicopathological features of odontogenic myxoma(OM).Methods The clinicopath-ologic data of 15 patients with odontogenic myxoma(OM)diagnosed by routine pathology in Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from January 2013 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Results(1)The most common cases were female(66.7%),20-40 years old(73.3%),mandible(60.0%)and posterior dental area(93.3%).(2)The characteristic imaging findings were multilocular cystic low-density radiography,resembling honey comb/tennis racket/soap bubble structures.(3)Microscopi-cally,star or spindle tumor cells can be seen scattered in the background of light blue mucoid matrix,and occasionally a few odonto-genic epithelial clusters.(4)In 15 odontogenic myxoma(OM)samples,①β-catenin was not expressed in 1 case of mucous type,par-tially or diffusely expressed in 6 cases,not expressed in 2 cases of fibrous type,partially or diffusely expressed in 6 cases;②CD34 and S100 were negative;③Ki-67 index was lower than 1%.(5)Of the 15 patients,only one relapsed,and the rest had a good prognosis.(6)Surgical treatment is the main treatment plan at present,and the appropriate surgical plan should be selected according to the size of the tumor,the scope of the lesion and the situation of the patient.Conclusion Although odontogenic myxoma is a benign tumor,it is locally invasive and recurrent.It is necessary to distinguish it from low-grade malignant myxosarcoma,chondromyxoid fibroma and odontogenic fibroma.Understanding of and familiarity with its clinicopathological features is helpful to its diagnosis and improving the prognosis of patients.


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