1.Hypolipidemic effect and mechanism of Arisaema Cum Bile based on gut microbiota and metabolomics.
Peng ZHANG ; Fa-Zhi SU ; En-Lin ZHU ; Chen-Xi BAI ; Bao-Wu ZHANG ; Yan-Ping SUN ; Hai-Xue KUANG ; Qiu-Hong WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1544-1557
Based on the high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, this study aimed to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of Arisaema Cum Bile and explore its mechanisms, providing experimental evidence for its clinical application. Biochemical analysis was used to detect serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), triglycerides(TG), and total cholesterol(TC) to assess the lipid-lowering activity of Arisaema Cum Bile. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics techniques were employed to jointly elucidate the lipid-lowering mechanisms of Arisaema Cum Bile. The experimental results showed that high-dose Arisaema Cum Bile(PBA-H) significantly reduced serum ALT, AST, LDL-C, TG, and TC levels(P<0.01), and significantly increased HDL-C levels(P<0.01). The effect was similar to that of fenofibrate, with no significant difference. Furthermore, Arisaema Cum Bile significantly alleviated hepatocyte ballooning and mitigated fatty degeneration in liver tissues. As indicated by 16S rDNA sequencing results, PBA-H significantly enhanced both alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota in the model rats, notably increasing the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Subdoligranulum species(P<0.01). Liver metabolomics analysis revealed that PBA-H primarily regulated pathways involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, vitamin B_6 metabolism, and steroid biosynthesis. In summary, Arisaema Cum Bile significantly improved abnormal blood lipid levels and liver pathology induced by a high-fat diet, regulated hepatic metabolic disorders, and improved the abundance and structural composition of gut microbiota, thereby exerting its lipid-lowering effect. The findings of this study provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of Arisaema Cum Bile and the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
Animals
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
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Rats
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Male
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Metabolomics
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Hyperlipidemias/microbiology*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Hypolipidemic Agents/pharmacology*
;
Liver/metabolism*
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Humans
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Alanine Transaminase/metabolism*
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Triglycerides/metabolism*
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Aspartate Aminotransferases/metabolism*
2.Cervical spondylosis: innovative understanding from traditional Chinese medicine and treatment by classic formulas.
Heng CHEN ; Cong-Yang XUE ; Shuang CHEN ; Zi-Ting CHEN ; Tian TANG ; Xin LIU ; Zhi-Peng XI ; Ran KANG ; Lin XIE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2596-2604
As one of the chronic diseases with high incidence in contemporary society, cervical spondylosis has increasing patient groups who gradually present a low age, and it seriously affects social and public health. Although modern medicine has made great progress in the pathological research and clinical treatment of cervical spondylosis, patients still face gastrointestinal side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), neck pain, limited mobility, upper limb numbness, and other symptoms after conservative or surgical treatment. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), cervical spondylosis belongs to the categories of "Bi syndrome" "stiff neck" "stiff Bi", etc. With the change of the times, the change of lifestyle, and the application of western medicine treatment, the etiology and pathogenesis of TCM in cervical spondylosis also show new characteristics. In terms of etiology and pathogenesis, it involves the invasion of wind, cold, and dampness, long-term strain, liver and kidney deficiency, Qi and blood stasis, which are associated with factors such as cervical degeneration, muscle tension and spasm, intervertebral disc herniation, and nerve root compression in modern medicine. In terms of the evolution of pathogenesis, in the early stage, wind, cold, and dampness, were more common in Xuanfu, resulting in unfavorable muscles and bones, poor flow of Qi and blood, and cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy. Medium-term phlegm stasis and internal knots, sluggish muscles and veins, and long-term weathering and fire are more likely to occur in the vertebral artery and sympathetic radiculopathy. In the later stage, the positive Qi is depleted; the true Yin is damaged, and the viscera Qi and blood are deficient, which is most common in cervical myelopathy. The strategy of treating cervical spondylosis with TCM classic formulas applies Gegen Decoction, Wutou Decoction, Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction, Mahuang Jiazhu Decoction to patients with wind, cold, and dampness. Patients with phlegm dampness and blood stasis are treated with Huoxue Xiaoling Dan, Jinlingzi Powder, Siwu Decoction, Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction, Shuanghe Decoction, etc. For those patients with liver, spleen, and kidney deficiency, Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction, Tianma Gouteng Decoction, Guishao Dihuang Pills, Shenling Baizhu Powder, and Lizhong Decoction are used to invigorate the spleen, nourish Qi and blood, and tonify liver and kidney. In clinical practice, the authors advocate a safe and effective treatment plan of classic formulas based on deficiency and excess, the integration of formulas and syndromes, and the combination of modern research results, so as to relieve symptoms, reduce recurrence, and reduce medical burden.
Humans
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Spondylosis/drug therapy*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Cervical Vertebrae/pathology*
3.Pien Tze Huang Attenuates Cell Proliferation and Stemness Promoted by miR-483-5p in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.
Li-Hui WEI ; Xi CHEN ; A-Ling SHEN ; Yi FANG ; Qiu-Rong XIE ; Zhi GUO ; Thomas J SFERRA ; You-Qin CHEN ; Jun PENG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(9):782-791
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of miR-483-5p on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells proliferation and stemness, as well as the attenuating effect of Pien Tze Huang (PZH).
METHODS:
Differentially expressed miRNA between HepG2 cells and hepatic cancer stem-like cells (HCSCs) were identified by a miRNA microarray assay. miR-483-5p mimics were transfected into HepG2 cells to explore the effects of miR-483-5p on cell proliferation and stemness. HepG2 cells and HCSCs were treated with PZH (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mg/mL) to explore the effects of PZH on the proliferation and stemness, both in non-induced state and the state induced by miR-483-5p mimics.
RESULTS:
miR-483-5p was significantly up-regulated in HCSCs and its overexpression increased cell proliferation and stemness in HepG2 cells (P<0.05). PZH not only significantly inhibited proliferation in HepG2 cells, but also significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and self-renewal of HCSCs (P<0.05). The effects of miR-483-5p mimics on proliferation and stemness of HepG2 cells were partially abolished by PZH.
CONCLUSIONS
miR-483-5p promotes proliferation and enhances stemness of HepG2 cells, which were attenuated by PZH, demonstrating that miR-483-5p is a potential molecular target for the treatment of HCC and provide experimental evidence to support clinical use of PZH for patients with HCC.
Humans
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MicroRNAs/metabolism*
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Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
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Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy*
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Hep G2 Cells
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Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*
4.Histaminergic Innervation of the Ventral Anterior Thalamic Nucleus Alleviates Motor Deficits in a 6-OHDA-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.
Han-Ting XU ; Xiao-Ya XI ; Shuang ZHOU ; Yun-Yong XIE ; Zhi-San CUI ; Bei-Bei ZHANG ; Shu-Tao XIE ; Hong-Zhao LI ; Qi-Peng ZHANG ; Yang PAN ; Xiao-Yang ZHANG ; Jing-Ning ZHU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(4):551-568
The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K+ channels, or Ca2+-activated K+ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals
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Histamine/metabolism*
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Male
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Oxidopamine/toxicity*
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Rats
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Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Disease Models, Animal
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Parkinson Disease/metabolism*
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Neurons/physiology*
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Humans
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Optogenetics
5.Role of problem chain and course ideological and political cases teaching method in enhancing clinical medication ability research
Zhi-Hua QIN ; Long-Xi PENG ; Gao-Shuang LAN ; Xiao-Bin ZHANG ; Jiao-Jiao YANG ; Liang ZHU ; Xi-Long QIU ; Yun-Long CHEN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(11):1650-1653
Nowadays,with the continuous deepening and development of vocational education teaching reform,medical higher vocational education always takes moral education as the fundamental task.As an independent type of education,vocational education should always deepen the integration of industry and education and the integration of science and education.Through the teaching research of"problem chain+course ideological and political case",this study innovates the coordinated education team of drug nursing curriculum,the collaborative education method and the collaborative education evaluation,and improves the teaching effect.
6.Clinical trial on the combination of dinald cream and sertraline hydrochloride for skin itching in hemodialysis patients with uremic blood
Xiao-Xia CHEN ; Xi-Sheng XIE ; Zhi-Peng ZHAN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(20):2978-2982
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of desonide cream in combination with cetirizine hydrochloride for the treatment of skin itching in patients with uremia undergoing hemodialysis.Methods Patients with skin itching associated with uremia and hemodialysis were divided into control group and treatment group by random number table.The control group received oral cetirizine hydrochloride,10 mg per dose,once daily for 8 weeks.Patients in the treatment group were treated with desonide cream appropriate amout for external use on the basis of the treatment in the control group,once in the morning and once in the evening every day,and smeared on the pruritus of the patient's skin for 8 weeks.The clinical efficacy of the two groups were compared,and the pruritus symptoms,sleep quality and safety evaluation of the two groups were compared.Results During the trial,a total of 36 cases dropped out,with 52 cases ultimately included in the treatment and control groups,respectively.Following treatment,the total effective rates in the treatment and control groups were 82.69%(43 cases/52 cases)and 63.46%(33 cases/52 cases),respectively,showing statistically significant difference(P<0.05).After treatment,the visual analog scale(VAS)scores for the treatment and control groups were(2.87±1.29)and(3.62±1.76)points,respectively;the modified Dou's analogue grading(Dou's VAG)were(18.24±3.23)and(20.13±4.59)points,respectively;the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)scores were(9.57±1.72)and(10.34±2.01)points,respectively.Compared with the control group,the above indexes in treatment group were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The adverse drug reactions of the treatment group were dizziness,nausea and vomiting,and the adverse drug reactions of the control group were dizziness,nausea and vomiting.The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in the treatment group and the control group was 9.62%(5 cases/52 cases)and 7.69%(4 cases/52 cases),respectively,and the difference was no statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion The combination of desonide cream and cetirizine hydrochloride has better efficacy and safety than cetirizine hydrochloride alone in treating the itching symptoms of uremic hemodialysis patients.
7.Analysis of problems and countermeasures in the construction of geriatric department in hospitals of China
Peng QIAN ; Zhi LIU ; Liwei JING ; Xi GAO
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2024;40(6):415-418
Developing geriatric department is an important measure to address the aging population. In recent years, there had been some progress in the construction of geriatric departments in hospitals of China, but there was still significant room for improvement in the context of rapid aging. At present, the geriatric departments in hospitals were mainly facing problems and difficulties such as low attention within the hospital, shortage of geriatric medical professionals, imperfect payment systems, inapplicable performance evaluation indicators, and low social awareness. This study suggested that we should further strengthen the construction of geriatric departments in hospitals, accelerate the construction of geriatric medicine talent teams, promote the reform of payment methods related to geriatric medicine services, optimize the performance evaluation methods of geriatric medicine departments, and enhance the social identity of geriatric medicine departments, so as to provide references for promoting the sustainable and high-quality development of geriatric medicine departments in hospitals of China.
8.Prediction and identification of B-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 E protein
Peng-Fei ZHANG ; Jun LIU ; Zi-Yang ZOU ; Xi-Long KANG ; Li SONG ; Xin-An JIAO ; Chuang MENG ; Zhi-Ming PAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(9):807-813
This work was aimed at predicting and verifying B-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 E protein through bioinformatics methods,and clarifying the dominant B cell epitopes with mouse polyclonal antibody serum prepared through SARS-CoV-2 re-combinant E protein immunization and human positive serum vaccinated with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.The structural and B-cell linear epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 E protein were predicted with SOPMA,Expasy,SWISS-MODEL,IEDB database,and Bepid-2.0 software.Candidate epitopes were expressed as GST-tagged recombinant protein fragments in an E.coli sys-tem,and their immunoreactivity with mouse and human poly-clonal positive serum against SARS-CoV-2 E protein was de-tected by western blotting and indirect ELISA,respectively.The epitope prediction results showed that E protein contained linear B cell epitopes Ser6-Val14 and Tyr57-Pro71,and the conformational epitopes of Glu8-Val12,Leu39-Tyr59,and Ser60-Leu65.The GST tagged recombinant E protein fragments of E1 and E3,containing Ser6-Val14 and Tyr57-Pro71 epitopes,respectively,as well as E2 without an epitope sequence as a control,were expressed in an E.coli expression system and successfully purified with an Ni-NTA column.Western blotting and indirect ELISA analysis indicated that all mouse and human SARS-CoV-2 positive sera positively reacted with only E1 and E3 proteins,but negatively reacted with E2 protein,thus indicating that the corresponding epitope prediction with Ser6-Val14 and Tyr57-Pro71 was correct.This study successfully predicted and preliminarily identified two linear B cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 E protein,thus providing a reference for the preparation of new coronavirus vaccines and the analysis of immune response characteristics.
9.Effect of chemokine CXC ligand 9 on cognitive function impairment in breast cancer patients with brain metastases receiving whole-brain radiotherapy
Cong WANG ; Zhi-Lin ZHANG ; Jin-Qiu LI ; Xiao SONG ; Qiang XI ; Huan MA ; Yong-Peng PANG ; Long TIAN
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(11):1281-1288
Objective To investigate the effect of chemokine CXC ligand 9(CXCL9)on cognitive function impairment in patients with breast cancer brain metastases undergoing whole-brain radiotherapy(WBRT)using bioinformatics methods.Methods The mRNA of breast cancer brain metastases datasets GSE43837 and GSE12276 and Alzheimer's disease(AD)dataset GSE161199 were screened and downloaded from GEO database.Limma method and Venn diagrams were used to identify common differentially expressed genes(DEGs),and protein-protein interaction and functional prediction through GeneMANIA website assays were performed.A total of 42 patients with breast cancer brain metastases who first visited the Department of Radiotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected.Patients were divided into normal cognitive function group and cognitive function impairment group based on cognitive status.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to detect serum CXCL9 levels one week before and three months after radiotherapy.The mini-mental state examination(MMSE)was used to assess patients'cognitive function.Results The DEGs from datasets GSE43837 and GSE12276 included PKP1,POLDIP2,SPAG5,ALDOC,PTPRZ1,PKIA,TLCD1,CPE,PMP22 and CXCL9.The DEGs from GSE161199 included RPS16,CD79A,LYPD3,RPL28,HBG2,RPL23AP7,TRNR,CXCL9.Venn diagram showed that CXCL9 was a common DEG between breast cancer brain metastasis and AD.Functional enrichment analysis indicated that CXCL9 was involved in cellular responses to chemokines,negative regulation of immune system processes,negative regulation of vascular morphogenesis,Toll-like receptor signaling pathway,nucleotide oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway,and JAK-STAT signaling pathway.Before radiotherapy,patients with cognitive function impairment and normal cognitive function accounted for 61.9%and 38.1%,respectively,with a statistically significant difference in MMSE scores[(24.53±2.19)vs.(28.89±1.36),P<0.01].Compared with normal cognitive function group,patients with cognitive function impairment had a significantly increased number of brain metastases and significantly lower Karnofsky performance status(KPS)scores and serum CXCL9 levels(P<0.05).Three months after radiotherapy,patients with cognitive function impairment and normal cognitive function accounted for 47.6%and 52.4%,respectively,with a statistically significant difference in MMSE scores[(25.16±1.98)vs.(28.18±1.08),P<0.01].Compared with normal cognitive function group,patients with cognitive function impairment had significantly lower CXCL9 levels(P=0.003).In patients with normal cognitive function,CXCL9 levels were remarkably lower after radiotherapy compared to those before radiotherapy(P=0.009).Conclusions Patients with cognitive function impairment had significantly lower CXCL9 levels than those with normal cognitive function,and whole-brain radiotherapy may be related to a certain degree of reduction in CXCL9 levels.
10.Effect and mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharide on peritoneal fibrosis and angiogenesis in peritoneal dialysis rats
Xue FENG ; Bin PENG ; Li FENG ; Shuangyi ZHU ; Xi HU ; Wei XIONG ; Zhi GAO
China Pharmacy 2024;35(6):712-717
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on peritoneal fibrosis and angiogenesis in rats with peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS Rats were randomly divided into normal control group (Control group), model group (PD group), 70 mg/kg APS group (APS-L group), 140 mg/kg APS group (APS-H group), and 140 mg/kg APS+40 mg/kg hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) agonist DMOG group (APS-H+DMOG group), with 12 rats in each group. PD rat models were constructed in the last four groups of rats. Administration groups were given APS intragastrically and DMOG intraperitoneally. Control group and PD group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last medication, the peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF), mass transfer of glucose (MTG), the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were detected in rats; peritoneal histomorphology and peritoneal fibrosis (peritoneal thickness and proportion of collagen fiber deposition) were observed; the microvascular density and the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), laminin (LN), HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins were detected in peritoneal tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with Control group, the mesothelium of rats in the PD group was loosely arranged and shed, inflammatory cells infiltrated, the peritoneal thickness and proportion of collagen fiber deposition were increased significantly (P<0.05). The levels of MTG, Scr and BUN in serum, microvascular density and the expressions of α-SMA, LN, HIF-1α and VEGF proteins were significantly increased, while the level of UF was significantly decreased (P< 0.05); compared with PD group, the levels of above indexes were significantly reversed in APS-L and APS-H groups (P<0.05), and the improvement of APS-H group was better than APS-L group (P<0.05). Compared with APS-H group, the levels of above indexes in APS-H+DMOG group were all reversed (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS APS inhibits peritoneal fibrosis and angioge-nesis in PD rats by inhibiting HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway.

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