1.A new glycoside from Alstonia mairei Lévl.
Li-ke WANG ; Bing-yan LI ; Zhen-zhu ZHAO ; Yan-zhi WANG ; Xiao-kun LI ; Wei-sheng FENG ; Ying-ying SI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):191-195
Nine compounds were isolated and purified from 90% ethanol extract of
2.Chemical consitituents and hypoglycemic activity of Qinhuai No. 1 Rehmannia glutinosa
Meng YANG ; Zhi-you HAO ; Xiao-lan WANG ; Chao-yuan XIAO ; Jun-yang ZHANG ; Shi-qi ZHOU ; Xiao-ke ZHENG ; Wei-sheng FENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):205-210
Eight compounds were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate part of 70% acetone extract of
3.The effect of rutaecarpine on improving fatty liver and osteoporosis in MAFLD mice
Yu-hao ZHANG ; Yi-ning LI ; Xin-hai JIANG ; Wei-zhi WANG ; Shun-wang LI ; Ren SHENG ; Li-juan LEI ; Yu-yan ZHANG ; Jing-rui WANG ; Xin-wei WEI ; Yan-ni XU ; Yan LIN ; Lin TANG ; Shu-yi SI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):141-149
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D303)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.
4.Therapeutic potential of ion channel modulation in Alzheimer's disease.
Bing HUANG ; Cheng-Min YANG ; Zhi-Cheng LU ; Li-Na TANG ; Sheng-Long MO ; Chong-Dong JIAN ; Jing-Wei SHANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(2):327-344
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prototypical neurodegenerative disorder, encompasses multifaceted pathological processes. As pivotal cellular structures within the central nervous system, ion channels play critical roles in regulating neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and neurotransmitter release. Extensive research has revealed significant alterations in the expression and function of ion channels in AD, implicating an important role of ion channels in the pathogenesis of abnormal Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disruptions in calcium homeostasis and neural network functionality. This review systematically summarizes the crucial roles and underlying mechanisms of ion channels in the onset and progression of AD, highlighting how these channel abnormalities contribute to AD pathophysiology. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of ion channel modulation in AD treatment, emphasizing the importance of addressing multifactorial nature and heterogeneity of AD. The development of multi-target drugs and precision therapies is proposed as a future direction of scientific research.
Alzheimer Disease/therapy*
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Humans
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Ion Channels/physiology*
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Oxidative Stress
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Animals
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Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism*
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Synaptic Transmission
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Calcium/metabolism*
5.Randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, multicenter, equivalence clinical trial of Jiuwei Xifeng Granules(Os Draconis replaced by Ostreae Concha) for treating tic disorder in children.
Qiu-Han CAI ; Cheng-Liang ZHONG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Xin-Min LI ; Zhi-Chun XU ; Hui CHEN ; Ying HUA ; Jun-Hong WANG ; Ji-Hong TANG ; Bing-Xiang MA ; Xiu-Xia WANG ; Ai-Zhen WANG ; Meng-Qing WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Yi-Qun TENG ; Yi-Hui SHAN ; Sheng-Xuan GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1699-1705
Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Double-Blind Method
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Tic Disorders/drug therapy*
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Treatment Outcome
6.Comparison between sinking and floating fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, fingerprinting, and chemometrics.
Shi-Long LIU ; Hong-Wei ZHANG ; Zhen-Ling ZHANG ; Han-Ting JIA ; Zhi-Jun GUO ; Rui-Sheng WANG ; Hong-Wei ZHANG ; Shuo WANG ; Yi-Jian ZHONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3918-3929
This study aims to explore the scientific connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality and compare the quality between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole electrostatic field Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was employed to detect the chemical components in floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. The fingerprint of fresh Rehmanniae Radix was established by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and four index components were determined simultaneously. The cluster analysis, principal component analysis(PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were conducted to compare the quality of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. An evaporative light-scattering detector was used to compare the content of five sugars. The extract yield and drying rate were determined, and the quality connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality was explained by multiple indicators. A total of 41 components were preliminarily identified from fresh Rehmanniae Radix by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, including 7 iridoid glycosides, 9 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 amino acids, 4 sugars, 3 phenolic acids, 5 nucleosides, 3 organic acids, 1 ionone, 1 furan, 1 coumarin, and 1 phenylpropanoid. The results showed that the main chemical components were consistent between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix. Nine common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 15 batches of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples, and the similarity of fingerprints was greater than 0.9. The cluster analysis, PCA, and OPLS-DA classified floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix sasmples into two categories, indicating differences in the quality between them. The total content of catalpol, rehmannioside D, ajugol, and verbascoside in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was catalpol. The total content of fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was stachyose. The extract yield and drying rate of the sinking samples were higher than those of floating samples. This study preliminarily showed that floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples had the same components but great differences in the content of medicinal substance basis. The total content of four glycosides and five sugars, extract yield, and drying rate of sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples is higher than that of floating samples of the same batch and specification. These findings, to a certain extent, explains the scientificity of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality recorded in ancient books and provide a reference for the quality control and clinical application of fresh Rehmanniae Radix.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Rehmannia/chemistry*
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Chemometrics
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Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Quality Control
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Principal Component Analysis
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Plant Extracts
7.AI-Ready Competency Framework for Biomedical Scientific Data Literacy.
Zhe WANG ; Zhi-Gang WANG ; Wen-Ya ZHAO ; Wei ZHOU ; Sheng-Fa ZHANG ; Xiao-Lin YANG
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2025;40(3):203-210
With the rise of data-intensive research, data literacy has become a critical capability for improving scientific data quality and achieving artificial intelligence (AI) readiness. In the biomedical domain, data are characterized by high complexity and privacy sensitivity, calling for robust and systematic data management skills. This paper reviews current trends in scientific data governance and the evolving policy landscape, highlighting persistent challenges such as inconsistent standards, semantic misalignment, and limited awareness of compliance. These issues are largely rooted in the lack of structured training and practical support for researchers. In response, this study builds on existing data literacy frameworks and integrates the specific demands of biomedical research to propose a comprehensive, lifecycle-oriented data literacy competency model with an emphasis on ethics and regulatory awareness. Furthermore, it outlines a tiered training strategy tailored to different research stages-undergraduate, graduate, and professional, offering theoretical foundations and practical pathways for universities and research institutions to advance data literacy education.
Artificial Intelligence
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Humans
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Biomedical Research
8.The observational chart for traumatic limb swelling enhances diagnostic accuracy for osteofascial compartment syndrome.
Zhi-Wei YANG ; Zhao-Di WANG ; Jun-Sheng YANG ; Liang-Cheng TONG ; Lei ZHAO ; Wei DAI ; Kun PANG ; Ying LI
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(6):454-461
PURPOSE:
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the observational chart for traumatic limb swelling (OCTLS) for osteofascial compartment syndrome (OCS).
METHODS:
This was a descriptive-longitudinal study. Data of 316 patients who underwent surgical treatment for tibial fractures in our department from January 2015 to December 2023 were collected. Patients with Gustilo type II or higher open fractures, vascular injury, or bilateral fractures were excluded from the study. Two groups of double-blinded investigators independently assessed patients for the presence of OCS using 2 distinct diagnostic methods. Three senior orthopedic trauma surgeons evaluated patients with post-fracture calf swelling for OCS and the need for fasciotomy based on clinical signs and their extensive clinical experience. Subsequently, fasciotomy was performed according to their judgment, followed by postoperative examination of muscle and soft tissue conditions. Additionally, a follow-up evaluation was conducted to assess for complications such as ischemic muscle contracture. Another 3 trained researchers used OCTLS to grade swelling severity and determine the need for fasciotomy. The final diagnostic gold standard of OCS was determined by referring to whether there was escape of muscles at fasciotomy and/or color change in the muscles or muscle necrosis intraoperatively, and neurological abnormality or contracture at the last follow-up. The results of the 2 diagnostic methods were compared with the final diagnostic result. Kappa consistency test, paired χ2 test (McNemar test), and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the 2 diagnostic methods.
RESULTS:
Of the 316 patients, 211 were finally included in the study, including 160 males and 51 females, with an average follow-up time of (14.5 ± 2.7) months. Among the 211 patients with tibial fracture-associated swelling, 42 were definitively diagnosed with OCS. Based on clinical symptoms and signs judgment, among the 65 fasciotomy patients, 38 were confirmed as correct, while among the 146 non-fasciotomy patients, 4 developed ischemic muscle contractures. Based on the OCTLS for assessment, fasciotomy was correctly recommended in 36 out of 43 cases, while 6 out of 168 non-fasciotomy patients developed OCS. Compared to the use of the gold standard, clinical signs judgment showed moderate consistency (McNemar's test p < 0.001, Kappa = 0.618, p < 0.001), whereas OCTLS demonstrated strong agreement (McNemar's test p = 1.000, Kappa = 0.808, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed higher diagnostic accuracy for OCTLS (area under curve = 0.908, 95% CI: 0.843 - 0.972) compared to clinical signs judgment (area under curve = 0.872, 95% CI: 0.812 - 0.933). OCTLS achieved superior accuracy (93.8% vs. 85.3%, χ2 = 8.221, p < 0.001) and a lower fasciotomy rate (20.4% vs. 30.8%, χ2 = 6.023, p = 0.014).
CONCLUSION
Compared to clinical signs judgment, OCTLS significantly reduces unnecessary fasciotomy, improves diagnostic accuracy for OCS, and enables non-invasive, dynamic, and quantitative assessment, making it a valuable tool for clinical practice.
Humans
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Compartment Syndromes/etiology*
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Male
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Female
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Adult
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Tibial Fractures/surgery*
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Middle Aged
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Fasciotomy
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Edema/etiology*
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Longitudinal Studies
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Aged
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Young Adult
9.mRNA Vaccines and Drugs: a New Favorite for Cancer Immunotherapy
Zhi-Meng WEI ; Sheng DANG ; Guang-Chen LI ; Lan-Zhu GAO ; Jing-Bo ZHAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(9):2115-2132
mRNA vaccines and drugs enter host cells through delivery vectors and produce target proteins using the protein synthesis mechanism of cells. mRNA and target proteins can induce the body to produce innate immunity and adaptive immunity, and the target protein itself can also play a corresponding role. Tumor cells are inhibited and cleared under the above immune effects and target proteins. This article reviews the immunogenicity of mRNA, that is, the specific mechanism of stimulating the body to produce an immune response.At the same time, the main types of cells transfected by mRNA vaccine were briefly introduced. (1) Muscle cells, epidermal cells, dendritic cells and macrophages at the injection site; (2) immune cells in peripheral lymphoid organs;(3) liver cells and spleen cells, etc. Although transfected with a variety of cells, it is mainly enriched in immune cells and liver cells because immune cells express toll-like receptors and liver cells express low-density lipoprotein receptors. mRNA vaccines and drugs are mainly divided into non-replicating mRNA (nrmRNA),self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA).This article reviews how these 4 types of vaccines and drugs work, and compares their advantages and disadvantages. Due to its inherent immunogenicity, instability, and low delivery efficiency in vivo, mRNA vaccines and drugs have been unable to enter the clinic. This article describes in detail how to reformation and modify the 5'cap, 5'UTR, 3'UTR, ORF, 3'Poly(A) and some nucleotides of mRNA to eliminate its immunogenicity and instability. Due to the low efficiency of the delivery carrier, the researchers optimized it. This article briefly introduces the application of non-viral vectors and their targeting, specifically involving the mechanism of action of various types of delivery vectors and their advantages and disadvantages, and summarizes some of the current targeting vectors. Targeted carriers can improve the delivery efficiency of mRNA to specific tissues and prevent side effects of systemic exposure, such as liver injury. The specific methods of using mRNA vaccines and drugs to treat cancer are as follows: mRNA can be used to encode and transcribe tumor-associated antigens, tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), therapeutic antibodies, cytokines, tumor suppressors, oncolytic viruses, CRISPR-Cas9, CARs and TCRs, so as to play an anti-tumor role. In this paper, the specific mechanism of the above methods and the current research and development of corresponding mRNA vaccines and drugs are briefly reviewed. The successful development of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine has brought mRNA technology to the attention of the world and brought new and effective means for the prevention and treatment of cancer. mRNA vaccines and drugs have the advantages of short development cycle, dual immune mechanism, safety, high efficiency and large-scale production. At the same time, there are also many areas that need further improvement, such as the development of ideal target TSAs, the in-depth development of saRNA, taRNA and circRNA, the development of targeted nano-delivery for different tissues and organs, the expansion of mRNA administration routes, and the development of mRNA that can be stably stored at room temperature or even high temperature. These problems need to be further studied and solved. In addition to cancer therapy, mRNA vaccines and drugs can also be used in the treatment of infectious diseases, genetic diseases, regenerative medicine and anti-aging. mRNA vaccines and drugs are a very promising platform, and we believe that they will benefit cancer patients in the near future.
10.Downregulation of MUC1 Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis by Inactivating NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Shou-Wu WU ; Shao-Kun LIN ; Zhong-Zhu NIAN ; Xin-Wen WANG ; Wei-Nian LIN ; Li-Ming ZHUANG ; Zhi-Sheng WU ; Zhi-Wei HUANG ; A-Min WANG ; Ni-Li GAO ; Jia-Wen CHEN ; Wen-Ting YUAN ; Kai-Xian LU ; Jun LIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(9):2182-2193
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of mucin 1 (MUC1) on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its regulatory mechanism. MethodsThe 60 NPC and paired para-cancer normal tissues were collected from October 2020 to July 2021 in Quanzhou First Hospital. The expression of MUC1 was measured by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in the patients with PNC. The 5-8F and HNE1 cells were transfected with siRNA control (si-control) or siRNA targeting MUC1 (si-MUC1). Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assay, and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis in the 5-8F and HNE1 cells. The qPCR and ELISA were executed to analyze the levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Western blot was performed to measure the expression of MUC1, NF-кB and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2). ResultsThe expression of MUC1 was up-regulated in the NPC tissues, and NPC patients with the high MUC1 expression were inclined to EBV infection, growth and metastasis of NPC. Loss of MUC1 restrained malignant features, including the proliferation and apoptosis, downregulated the expression of p-IкB、p-P65 and Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of Bax in the NPC cells. ConclusionDownregulation of MUC1 restrained biological characteristics of malignancy, including cell proliferation and apoptosis, by inactivating NF-κB signaling pathway in NPC.

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