1.Pharmacological Effects and Mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Its Active Components in Treating Depression: A Review
Ziyang HUANG ; Zhiyi WANG ; Zibo LI ; Erping XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):288-296
Depression is a common mental disorder in clinical practice, and it falls under the category of depression syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM, Qi depression is considered as the root cause of all depression syndromes. Qi depression can lead to blood stasis, which is a key cause of diseases due to depression syndrome. Therefore, treating stasis is an important therapeutic approach for depression syndrome. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, a representative herbal medicine for activating blood and removing stasis, is effective in activating blood, removing stasis, dredging meridians, and alleviating pain. Currently, it is primarily used in clinical practice to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as neurasthenia, coronary heart disease, insomnia, and palpitations. The active components of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are complex and exhibit a variety of pharmacological effects. These components include water-soluble salvianolic acids and lipid-soluble tanshinones. Modern pharmacological studies have proven that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active components possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fibrosis, and neuroprotective properties. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active components in treating depression. This paper systematically reviews the antidepressant mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its main active components from the regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotrophic factors, and neuroinflammation. In addition, this paper summarizes the clinical applications of the prescriptions containing Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of depression, providing new insights for further research on the pharmacological mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in treating depression.
2.Mechanism of Mitochondrial Autophagy and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Renal Fibrosis: A Review
Shuqi MIN ; Chenghua ZHANG ; Qiwang HE ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Zhiyi LI ; Meifeng ZHU ; Shenju WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):314-321
With the main pathological features of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, renal fibrosis is a key pathological process causing chronic kidney disease to progress to end-stage disease. As a cellular autophagic process, mitochondrial autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial mass and functional stability. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be one of the key factors driving the progression of fibrosis. Phosphatase and tension protein homologue (PTEN) induce various signalling pathways such as putative kinase 1/parkin, Nip3-like protein X/Bcl-2 interacting protein 3, and FUN14 structural domain-containing protein 1 to activate mitochondrial autophagy to participate in the regulation of fibrogenic factors, amelioration of oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory response and apoptosis, which in turn effectively slows down the progression of renal fibrosis. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound preparations, including phenolics, terpenoids, ketones, and alkaloids, can regulate mitochondrial autophagy-related signalling pathways and achieve significant clinical efficacy in intervening in the progression of renal fibrosis for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. This paper summarized the mechanism of mitochondrial autophagy and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in renal fibrosis to provide new ideas for the study of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treating renal fibrosis.
3.Mechanism of Mitochondrial Autophagy and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Renal Fibrosis: A Review
Shuqi MIN ; Chenghua ZHANG ; Qiwang HE ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Zhiyi LI ; Meifeng ZHU ; Shenju WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):314-321
With the main pathological features of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, renal fibrosis is a key pathological process causing chronic kidney disease to progress to end-stage disease. As a cellular autophagic process, mitochondrial autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial mass and functional stability. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be one of the key factors driving the progression of fibrosis. Phosphatase and tension protein homologue (PTEN) induce various signalling pathways such as putative kinase 1/parkin, Nip3-like protein X/Bcl-2 interacting protein 3, and FUN14 structural domain-containing protein 1 to activate mitochondrial autophagy to participate in the regulation of fibrogenic factors, amelioration of oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory response and apoptosis, which in turn effectively slows down the progression of renal fibrosis. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound preparations, including phenolics, terpenoids, ketones, and alkaloids, can regulate mitochondrial autophagy-related signalling pathways and achieve significant clinical efficacy in intervening in the progression of renal fibrosis for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. This paper summarized the mechanism of mitochondrial autophagy and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in renal fibrosis to provide new ideas for the study of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treating renal fibrosis.
4.Evaluation of surgical efficacy in patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023
Xixi CHENG ; Yu FENG ; Xu WANG ; Zhiyi WANG ; Jiaxi LEI ; Mingzhe JIANG ; Guobing YANG ; Xiaojuan ZHANG ; Shijie YANG ; Liying WANG
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(3):247-254
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy for surgical treatments among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023, so as to provide insights into optimization of the diagnosis and treatment strategies against hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Methods The demographic and clinical data of all echinococcosis cases included in central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control and undergoing surgical treatments in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023 were captured. Hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients with complete medical records and follow-up data were included in the study, and patients’ characteristics, including hospital where patients received diagnosis and treatment, methods of case identification, year of surgery, classification of lesions, number of lesions, size of lesions, course of disease, surgical methods, and post-surgical follow-up data. The cure and recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were evaluated according to the Guidelines for Management of Echinococcosis Patients in the Central Government Fiscal Transfer Payment Program, and the cure and recurrent rates were calculated. Results Data were collected from 1 686 surgical patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments were included during the period from 2006 to 2022, including 1 166 cured patients (95.42%) and 88 patients with postsurgical recurrence (7.20%), and the cure rate of surgical treatments appeared a tendency towards a rise among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis from 2008 to 2022 (χ2trend = 19.39, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 100% (177/177), 94.81% (128/135) and 94.62% (861/910) among patients detected through regular physical examinations, screened by the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control, and those who passively sought healthcare services, respectively (χ2 = 9.95, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 95.96% (1 046/1 090) among patients with a disease course of 2 years and less and 90.90% (120/132) among patients with a disease course of over 2 years (χ2 = 6.87, P < 0.05), and there were significant differences in the cure rates among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of number of lesions (χ2 = 24.44, P < 0.05) and surgical methods (P < 0.05). The cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (96.06%, 1 096/1 141) than before the program (86.42%, 70/81) (χ2 = 16.06, P < 0.05), and the cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher in designated hospitals (96.48%, 741/768) than in non-designated hospitals (93.37%, 366/392) (χ2 = 5.78, P < 0.05). The median follow-up period was 4 (interquartile range, 7) years among 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments. The recurrent rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline from 2008 to 2022 (χ2trend = 36.86, P < 0.05), with a reduction from 23.08% (9/39) in 2008 to 1.85% (1/54) in 2021, and the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was lower following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (5.87%, 67 / 1 141) than before the program (25.93%, 21/81) (χ2 = 45.51, P < 0.05). In addition, the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was higher in non-designated hospitals (10.46%, 41/392) than in designated hospitals (5.60%, 43/768) (χ2 = 9.12, P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the post-surgical recurrence rate among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of surgical methods (P < 0.05), with the highest recurrence rate (11.54%) seen among patients undergoing percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of cyst fluids-based surgical procedures (P < 0.05). Conclusion Since the initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control in Gansu Province in 2006, an increase in the surgical cure rate and a reduction in the recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis had been found among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis, indicating a high overall therapeutic efficacy.
5.Research Progress in the Clinicopathology of Ocular Accessory Lymphoma
Zhiyi QI ; Xinghua WANG ; Zixuan SU
Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2024;53(1):123-128
Ocular adnexal lymphoma is a common orbital malignant tumor.The incidence of ocular adnexal lymphoma is in-creasing rapidly each year,and the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of the disease are not specific.Therefore,the diagnosis of the disease relies on pathological tissue analysis.Accurate diagnosis of ocular adnexal lymphoma relies on mor-phology,immunohistochemistry,molecular and cytogenetics.With in-depth research on the disease,it has been found that the clinical prognosis of this tumor is characterized by high recurrence.This article mainly explains the correlation between high dis-ease recurrence rate and histopathological characteristics.
6.Therapeutic effect of Xiayuxue decoction on a mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat diet and its mechanism
Linqi HOU ; Zhiyi WANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Jie ZHANG ; Wenting MA ; Xuling LIU ; Wei ZHANG ; Le TAO ; Cheng LIU ; Liu WU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(4):712-719
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Xiayuxue decoction in inhibiting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by high-fat diet in mice by regulating nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor containing pyrin domain protein 6 (NLRP6). MethodsA total of 15 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into low-fat diet (LFD) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, and Xiayuxue decoction-HFD group (XYXD group), with 5 mice in each group. Liver function parameters (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) and blood lipid metabolic indicators (triglycerides [TG] and total cholesterol [TC]) were measured; HE staining and oil red O staining were performed for liver tissue to observe histomorpholoty and lipid droplet deposition; quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], interleukin-18 [IL-18], and NLRP6) in liver tissue; Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of NLRP6, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and NF-κB p65; immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of NLRP6 and CD68. Mouse Raw264.7 cells were treated with palmitic acid (PA), lipopolysaccharide, and serum containing Xiayuxue decoction to observe inflammation. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the LFD group, the HFD group had significant increases in the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, and TG (all P<0.05). Liver histopathological examination showed that the HFD group had marked hepatic steatosis and a signficant increase in NAS score (P<0.05), and quantitative real-time PCR showed significant increases in the inflammatory factors such as IL1β and IL-18 and a significant reduction in the expression of NLRP6 (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of NLRP6 showed a similar trend as that of the macrophage marker CD68. Western blot showed that after the downregulation of NLRP6 expression, there was a significant increase in phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (P<0.05). Compared with the HFD group, Xiayuxue decoction effectively improved liver inflammation, upregulated the expression of NLRP6, and downregulated phosphorylated NF-κB p65 in HFD mice (all P<0.05). After Raw264.7 cells were treated with PA, NLRP6 was downregulated to promote the progression of inflammation (P<0.05), and treatment with Xiayuxue decoction could upregulate NLRP6 and inhibit inflammation NF-κB (P<0.05). ConclusionXiayuxue decoction can effectively improve hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation in a mouse model of NAFLD, possibly by regulating NLRP6/NF-κB to alleviate macrophage activation.
7.Prognostic significance of lactate dehydrogenase in salvage intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma before treatment
Zhiyi DENG ; Yijing YE ; Dingbo LI ; Xianhai ZENG ; Zaixing WANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(1):1-6
OBJECTIVE To investigate the prognostic value of pre-treatment serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)levels in patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)treated with salvage intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)and to determine its association with rT staging.METHODS The records of 97 patients with locally relapsed and non-metastatic NPC who received salvage IMRT treatment in our center from January 2018 to April 2022 were collected,including 51 patients who died,18 patients with distant metastases,30 patients with local failure,and 67 patients with prognostic adverse events(death,distant tumors/local metastases).Clinical data,local failure-free survival(LFFS),distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS)and overall survival(OS)were obtained from all patients,and the relationship between LDH and the prognosis of salvage IMRT therapy in NPC patients was analyzed.RESULTS The serum LDH level before salvage IMRT was significantly higher in the death[221.25(178.24,339.13)U/L vs.124.82(79.0,159.50)U/L,Z=-5.122],local failure[230.75(170.89,394.50)U/L vs.157.85(91.78,216.95)U/L,Z=-3.442],distant metastasis[261.62(153.55,465.50)U/L vs.168.98(101.75,237.75)U/L,Z=-2.478]and poor prognosis group[220.05(167.20,506.16)U/L vs.93.45(69.95,154.35)U/L,Z=-6.018],and all P<0.05.Serum LDH levels were divided into dichotomous variables according to median values(≥177.50 U/L vs.<177.50 U/L),the Cox univariate model found that the hazard ratios of LDH affecting LFFS,DMFS,OS and toxic-related death(TRD)were 3.759(1.660-8.558),4.217(1.383-12.861),3.226(1.715-6.069),3.363(1.750-6.463),P<0.05.LDH remained an independent prognostic factor for LFFS,DMFS,OS,and TRD in multivariate regression analysis(P<0.05).Compared with patients with LDH<177.50 U/L,more patients in the LDH≥177.50 U/L group had local progression-related death,and the no LFFS stage,no DMFS stage and OS were shorter in the LDH≥177.50 U/L group(log rank=11.624,7.559,14.758),P<0.05.In predicting overall survival,adding LDH to the rT stage is preferable to the rT stage alone.CONCLUSION LDH is an important factor in predicting LFFS,DMFS,OS,and TRD after saving IMRT in patients with locally relapsed,non-metastatic NPC,and the value of LDH combined with rT staging in predicting overall survival is high.
8.Effects of catalpol on H2O2-induced osteoblast injury and its mechanism
Bo DUAN ; Lichuan CHEN ; Zhiyi MA ; Zhao YU ; Jing LIU ; Jinjun WANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(10):1220-1225
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of catalpol on H2O2-induced osteoblast injury and its mechanism. METHODS The osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 were separated into control group, model group, empty group (transfected with empty plasmid), catalpol group (100 μmol/L), catalpol+forkhead box O3 (FoxO3) overexpression group (100 μmol/L catalpol+ transfected with FoxO3 overexpression plasmid). After catalpol treatment and transfection, except for control group, other groups were induced with H2O2 to establish osteoblast oxidative stress model. The cell viability, apoptotic rate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, optical density (OD) value of calcium nodule, mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzyme activity [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)], the levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β], and the expressions of FoxO3/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins were detected in each group. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the cell viability, ALP activity, OD value of calcium nodule, activities of antioxidant enzyme, and the protein expressions of Wnt and β-catenin were decreased significantly in the model group, while apoptotic rate, MFI levels of ROS, inflammatory factor levels and the protein expression of FoxO3 were all increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, above indicators of the empty group had no significant change (P>0.05), while those of catalpol group were reversed significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the catalpol group, the reversal effect of the changes in the above indicators was significantly weakened in the catalpol+FoxO3 overexpression group cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Catalpol can activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by down-regulating FoxO3, thereby inhibiting H2O2-induced MC3T3-E1 oxidative stress and inflammation reaction, enhancing cell viability and osteogenic differentiation activity, and alleviating apoptosis injury.
9.3D-printed methacrylated gelatin scaffold loaded with fibroblasts promoting angiogenesis in vitro
Hui SUN ; Lijun WANG ; Aixin CUI ; Pingping LI ; Zhiyi LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(22):3484-3489
BACKGROUND:Combining seed cells with 3D bioprinting technology enables the specific construction of various tissues and organs to meet the demands of tissue repair.However,further research is needed on the promotion of angiogenesis in damaged tissues. OBJECTIVE:By cultivating a 3D scaffold structure of methacrylated gelatin loaded with fibroblasts,obtaining the supernatant,and mixing it in different proportions with a complete culture medium to simulate the cellular microenvironment during tissue repair,this study aimed to explore the role of various cellular microenvironments in promoting angiogenesis in endothelial cells. METHODS:A methacrylated gelatin scaffold structure loaded with fibroblasts was prepared using an extrusion-based 3D bioprinting process.Hydrogel scaffold extract was prepared and mixed with a complete culture medium in ratios of 1:1,1:2,and 1:4 to obtain conditioned medium.Mouse embryonic fibroblasts BALB3T3 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were co-cultured with complete medium(control group)and hydrogel scaffold extract,respectively.Cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay and cell viability was analyzed using live/dead staining.Three kinds of conditioned medium and complete medium(control group)were used to co-culture with human umbilical vein endothelial cells for tube formulation assay,vascular genetic testing,and immunofluorescence staining of CD31. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the methacrylated gelatin scaffold exhibited a porous structure,and rheological results demonstrated excellent mechanical properties of the hydrogel.CCK-8 assay and live/dead cell staining showed that the hydrogel scaffold extract had no obvious cytotoxicity.(2)Tube formulation assay indicated that the hydrogel showed the total length of cell tubules in 1:1 conditioned medium group was smaller than that in the control group(P<0.05).There were no statistical differences among the four groups in the number of vascular branches formed by endothelial cells(P>0.05).(3)qRT-PCR results showed that for vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression,the 1:2 conditioned medium group was lower than the 1:1 conditioned medium group on day 1(P<0.01).On day 3,the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor in the 1:2 conditioned medium group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.01).On day 5,the cytokine expression level in the 1:2 conditioned medium group was significantly higher than that in the other three groups(P<0.01 or P<0.000 1).The expression in the 1:1 conditioned medium group was significantly lower than that in the other three groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01).On day 1,the expression level of basic fibroblast growth factor in the 1:1 conditioned medium group was significantly higher than that in the control group and 1:4 conditioned medium group(P<0.01,P<0.05).The expression was higher in the 1:2 conditioned medium group than that in the control group(P<0.05).On day 3,the expression levels of cytokines in the 1:4 conditioned medium group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).(4)On day 3,the expression of CD31 in the 1:2 conditioned medium group was higher than that in the control group and the 1:4 conditioned medium group(P<0.05).(5)The results indicate that the resulting conditioned media can simulate the microenvironment of vascular regeneration after tissue damage,promoting the vascularization process of endothelial cells.The best promotion of vascularization in endothelial cells was observed when the ratio of supernatant to complete culture medium was 1:2.
10.The effect of different concentrations of ropivacaine ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane block on postoperative pain and stress response in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Min ZHOU ; Renji LIU ; Zhiyi WANG ; Maohua ZHANG
Journal of Chinese Physician 2024;26(1):93-97
Objective:To explore the effects of different concentrations of ropivacaine ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane block on postoperative pain and stress response in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 120 obese patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at the Puren Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology from July 2020 to July 2022. According to the random number table method, all patients were divided into a control group, a low concentration group, and a high concentration group, with 40 cases in each group. All three groups underwent ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane block after general anesthesia induction. The control group was injected with physiological saline, while the low concentration group and high concentration group were injected with 0.25% and 0.50% ropivacaine, respectively. Stress response indicators before and after surgery in three groups [adrenaline (E), cortisol (Cor), free thyroxine (FT4), and C-reactive protein (CRP)], hemodynamic indicators [mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR)], glucose and lipid metabolism indicators [fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2-hour PBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG)] and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score were compared before and after surgery. Results:On the 1st day after surgery, the levels of E, Cor, FT4, CRP, FBG, 2-hour PBG, HbA 1c, TC, and TG in the high concentration group were lower than those in the control group and low concentration group (all P<0.05); 15 minutes after anesthesia and 2 hours after surgery, the MAP and HR of the high concentration group were higher than those of the control group and the low concentration group (all P<0.05); At 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery, the VAS score of the high concentration group was lower than that of the control group and the low concentration group (all P<0.05); There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of airway reactions during anesthesia induction among the three groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, administering 0.50% concentration of ropivacaine ultrasound-guided plane block of the transverse abdominis muscle has a strong postoperative analgesic effect, which can improve E, Cor, FT4, and CRP levels, and is worthy of clinical application.

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