1.Delivery of Sophora flavescens Ait. using a dissolving microneedle enables enhanced psoriasis treatment
Zihan Zhou ; Jie Zhang ; Yiwen Chen ; Bingbing Wang ; Ping Hou ; Zifan Ding ; Luzheng Zhang ; Jianlin Wang ; Nailiang Yang ; Cong Yan
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2025;2025(2):277-286
ObjectiveTo assess the efficiency of a Sophora flavescens Ait (S. flavescens, Ku Shen)-soluble microneedle (SFA-MN) for improving skin lesion symptoms in mice with psoriasis.MethodsSFA-MNs were prepared using a two-mold molding process with 20% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone and 15% w/v polyvinyl alcohol. The SFA-MNs were assessed for morphology, mechanical properties, in vitro dissolution, identification of components, and skin lesion improvement in imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice.ResultsThe SFA-MNs demonstrated good mechanical properties for efficiently penetrating the dermis, facilitating efficient drug delivery. Furthermore, they effectively inhibited mast cell levels in the dorsal lesion area of psoriasis mice and reduced the expression of the T-lymphocyte factor cluster of differentiation 3 and tumor necrosis factor-α. In addition, this system alleviated skin inflammation, splenic swelling, and thymic atrophy in the psoriasis-like mouse model. Seven major components were detected from SFA-MNs by comparison of the mass-to-nucleus ratios (m/z) of the secondary fragments N-methylcytisine, 5α, 9α-dihydroxymatrine, sophoramine, matrine, oxysophocarpine, oxymatrine, and kushenol O.ConclusionThe drug delivery strategy combining traditional herbal S. flavescens with soluble microneedle technology provides more targeted and effective immune regulation for treating psoriasis-like mice models, enabling enhanced therapeutic effects compared with the control group.
2.Efficiency analysis and improvement strategies for operating room from a phenomenological perspec-tive:a case study from a tertiary TCM orthopedic hospital
Xiao DU ; Peng YUAN ; Zhuo FU ; Shuhui ZHAI ; Zifan WANG ; Xiang ZHOU
Modern Hospital 2025;25(2):198-201
Objective To explore the efficiency of operating room(OR)and its influencing factors from a phenomeno-logical perspective,proposing corresponding improvement strategies.Methods A phenomenological method was adopted,invol-ving in-depth interviews with 13 surgical team members from a tertiary Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)orthopedic hospital in Henan Province,to collect and analyze their multifaceted understanding of OR efficiency.Results The study demonstrated eight interpretative ways of efficiency among team members.The overall framework was largely organization-oriented,with addi-tional human-centered considerations regarding the factors influencing efficiency.Conclusion A unified understanding is crucial for improving both efficiency and quality.This study suggests strategies to optimize OR processes through lean management and human-centered team development to enhance operating room efficiency.Additionally,it highlights the need for future research to incorporate more patient views.
3.In vitro inhibitory and clinical application effect of Sophora flavescens,Philo-dendron extracts and copper sulfate on Trichomonas gallinae
Yifei LONG ; Liangming KUANG ; Xingchen ZHAO ; Ming GAO ; Yihong SUN ; Zifan WANG ; Shuo ZHOU ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(9):1918-1926
Aimed to find a safe and effective drug to replace nitroimidazole drugs in aquaculture pro-duction for the prevention and treatment of Trichomoniasis in pigeons,which can improve the eco-nomic benefits of meat pigeon breeding and ensure food safety.Firstly,Trichomonas was isolated and cultured from the crop of diseased pigeons and identified.After stable passage,a quantitative method for in vitro detection of Trichomonas was established by combining an automated cell counter and quantitative real-time PCR technology.To prepared the drug,powders of Sophora fla-vescent and Philodendron were made into herbal water extracts(SFPA)and mixed with copper sulfate(CS)solution.Then added the drug to the culture medium of Trichomonas to determine the effective concentration of it.A total of 135 pairs each of Silver King and Mimas breeding pigeons in the same laying period were selected and randomly divided into three groups,with 6 replicates in each group and 15 pairs of breeding pigeons in each replicate.Four days before brooding,the three groups were fed with 200 mL of pure water,0.5 g/L metronidazole(MDZ)solution,and a mixed solution of 30 g/L SFPA and 0.5 g/L CS,respectively.The feeding experiment lasted for 26 d.Results showed that the mixed solution of SFPA and CS had a significant killing effect on Trichomonas in vitro(P<0.05).Feeding the drug to breeding pigeons significantly reduced the in-fection rate of breeding pigeons by Trichomonas(P<0.05).The drug had no significant effect on the serum biochemical indexes,antioxidant properties,immunoglobulin levels of breeding pigeons,the average cage weight,immune organ indexes,meat quality and slaughter performance of squabs(P>0.05).The results suggested that adding SFPA and CS to pigeons can effectively prevent and treat Trichomoniasis and improve production performance.It can replace nitroimidazole drugs without affecting the immune level of breeding pigeons and the weight,immune level,slaughter performance and meat quality of squabs,thereby reduce drug residues in poultry products and en-hance the food safety.
4.In vitro inhibitory and clinical application effect of Sophora flavescens,Philo-dendron extracts and copper sulfate on Trichomonas gallinae
Yifei LONG ; Liangming KUANG ; Xingchen ZHAO ; Ming GAO ; Yihong SUN ; Zifan WANG ; Shuo ZHOU ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(9):1918-1926
Aimed to find a safe and effective drug to replace nitroimidazole drugs in aquaculture pro-duction for the prevention and treatment of Trichomoniasis in pigeons,which can improve the eco-nomic benefits of meat pigeon breeding and ensure food safety.Firstly,Trichomonas was isolated and cultured from the crop of diseased pigeons and identified.After stable passage,a quantitative method for in vitro detection of Trichomonas was established by combining an automated cell counter and quantitative real-time PCR technology.To prepared the drug,powders of Sophora fla-vescent and Philodendron were made into herbal water extracts(SFPA)and mixed with copper sulfate(CS)solution.Then added the drug to the culture medium of Trichomonas to determine the effective concentration of it.A total of 135 pairs each of Silver King and Mimas breeding pigeons in the same laying period were selected and randomly divided into three groups,with 6 replicates in each group and 15 pairs of breeding pigeons in each replicate.Four days before brooding,the three groups were fed with 200 mL of pure water,0.5 g/L metronidazole(MDZ)solution,and a mixed solution of 30 g/L SFPA and 0.5 g/L CS,respectively.The feeding experiment lasted for 26 d.Results showed that the mixed solution of SFPA and CS had a significant killing effect on Trichomonas in vitro(P<0.05).Feeding the drug to breeding pigeons significantly reduced the in-fection rate of breeding pigeons by Trichomonas(P<0.05).The drug had no significant effect on the serum biochemical indexes,antioxidant properties,immunoglobulin levels of breeding pigeons,the average cage weight,immune organ indexes,meat quality and slaughter performance of squabs(P>0.05).The results suggested that adding SFPA and CS to pigeons can effectively prevent and treat Trichomoniasis and improve production performance.It can replace nitroimidazole drugs without affecting the immune level of breeding pigeons and the weight,immune level,slaughter performance and meat quality of squabs,thereby reduce drug residues in poultry products and en-hance the food safety.
5.Efficiency analysis and improvement strategies for operating room from a phenomenological perspec-tive:a case study from a tertiary TCM orthopedic hospital
Xiao DU ; Peng YUAN ; Zhuo FU ; Shuhui ZHAI ; Zifan WANG ; Xiang ZHOU
Modern Hospital 2025;25(2):198-201
Objective To explore the efficiency of operating room(OR)and its influencing factors from a phenomeno-logical perspective,proposing corresponding improvement strategies.Methods A phenomenological method was adopted,invol-ving in-depth interviews with 13 surgical team members from a tertiary Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)orthopedic hospital in Henan Province,to collect and analyze their multifaceted understanding of OR efficiency.Results The study demonstrated eight interpretative ways of efficiency among team members.The overall framework was largely organization-oriented,with addi-tional human-centered considerations regarding the factors influencing efficiency.Conclusion A unified understanding is crucial for improving both efficiency and quality.This study suggests strategies to optimize OR processes through lean management and human-centered team development to enhance operating room efficiency.Additionally,it highlights the need for future research to incorporate more patient views.
6.Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. administered by dissolving microneedles achieves systemic therapeutic effects at low doses
Yiwen Chen ; Zihan Zhou ; Luzheng Zhang ; Zifan Ding ; Pengyue Li ; Cong Yan
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2024;11(3):340-350
Objective:
To determine the main components of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge (A. membranaceus, Huang Qi), Astragaloside IV (AIV) and Astragalus polysaccharides (AP), to characterize their properties, evaluate their in vivo efficacy, and to analyze drug diffusion using dissolving microneedle (DMN) technology in vivo.
Methods:
Respectively, AIV- and AP-loaded DMNs comprising chitosan (CTS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared via dual-mold forming. Their morphology, mechanical properties, in vivo solubility, and skin irritation characteristics were tested. In vivo efficacy was assessed in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice, in vivo diffusion of AIV and AP by DMNs and conventional methods was compared, and the rheological properties of AIV-CTS-PVA and AP-CTS-PVA mixtures were measured.
Results:
Subcutaneous dissolution and absorption of AIV-CTS-PVA and AP-CTS-PVA microneedles (MNs) at low doses (50%–17% of intraperitoneal AIV injection and 12%–4% of intravenous AP injection) reduced the spleen index and acid phosphatase activity in immunosuppressed mouse models, increased the thymus index, and achieved equivalent or better systemic therapeutic effects. Compared with injections, AIV and AP achieved controllable solid-liquid conversion through delivery with CTS-PVA MNs, resulting in highly localized aggregation within 48 h, reducing the initial explosive effect of the drug, and achieving stable and slow drug release.
Conclusion
The present study enhances our understanding of the efficacy and remote effects of drug-loaded DMNs from a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) perspective, thereby promoting the development of precise and efficient delivery of TCM and further expanding the drug-loading range and application scenarios for DMNs.
7.Role of dendritic cells in MYD88-mediated immune recognition and osteoinduction initiated by the implantation of biomaterials.
Zifan ZHAO ; Qin ZHAO ; Hu CHEN ; Fanfan CHEN ; Feifei WANG ; Hua TANG ; Haibin XIA ; Yongsheng ZHOU ; Yuchun SUN
International Journal of Oral Science 2023;15(1):31-31
Bone substitute material implantation has become an important treatment strategy for the repair of oral and maxillofacial bone defects. Recent studies have shown that appropriate inflammatory and immune cells are essential factors in the process of osteoinduction of bone substitute materials. Previous studies have mainly focused on innate immune cells such as macrophages. In our previous work, we found that T lymphocytes, as adaptive immune cells, are also essential in the osteoinduction procedure. As the most important antigen-presenting cell, whether dendritic cells (DCs) can recognize non-antigen biomaterials and participate in osteoinduction was still unclear. In this study, we found that surgical trauma associated with materials implantation induces necrocytosis, and this causes the release of high mobility group protein-1 (HMGB1), which is adsorbed on the surface of bone substitute materials. Subsequently, HMGB1-adsorbed materials were recognized by the TLR4-MYD88-NFκB signal axis of dendritic cells, and the inflammatory response was activated. Finally, activated DCs release regeneration-related chemokines, recruit mesenchymal stem cells, and initiate the osteoinduction process. This study sheds light on the immune-regeneration process after bone substitute materials implantation, points out a potential direction for the development of bone substitute materials, and provides guidance for the development of clinical surgical methods.
Biocompatible Materials/metabolism*
;
HMGB1 Protein/metabolism*
;
Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
;
Bone Substitutes/metabolism*
;
Dendritic Cells/metabolism*
8.Functional annotation map of natural compounds in traditional Chinese medicines library: TCMs with myocardial protection as a case.
Xudong XING ; Mengru SUN ; Zifan GUO ; Yongjuan ZHAO ; Yuru CAI ; Ping ZHOU ; Huiying WANG ; Wen GAO ; Ping LI ; Hua YANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(9):3802-3816
The chemical complexity of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) makes the active and functional annotation of natural compounds challenging. Herein, we developed the TCMs-Compounds Functional Annotation platform (TCMs-CFA) for large-scale predicting active compounds with potential mechanisms from TCM complex system, without isolating and activity testing every single compound one by one. The platform was established based on the integration of TCMs knowledge base, chemome profiling, and high-content imaging. It mainly included: (1) selection of herbal drugs of target based on TCMs knowledge base; (2) chemome profiling of TCMs extract library by LC‒MS; (3) cytological profiling of TCMs extract library by high-content cell-based imaging; (4) active compounds discovery by combining each mass signal and multi-parametric cell phenotypes; (5) construction of functional annotation map for predicting the potential mechanisms of lead compounds. In this stud TCMs with myocardial protection were applied as a case study, and validated for the feasibility and utility of the platform. Seven frequently used herbal drugs (Ginseng, etc.) were screened from 100,000 TCMs formulas for myocardial protection and subsequently prepared as a library of 700 extracts. By using TCMs-CFA platform, 81 lead compounds, including 10 novel bioactive ones, were quickly identified by correlating 8089 mass signals with 170,100 cytological parameters from an extract library. The TCMs-CFA platform described a new evidence-led tool for the rapid discovery process by data mining strategies, which is valuable for novel lead compounds from TCMs. All computations are done through Python and are publicly available on GitHub.
9.Clinical outcomes of redo median sternotomy on proximal aortic repair
Ningning LIU ; Zifan ZHOU ; Jun WANG ; Longfei WANG ; Yongmin LIU ; Junming ZHU ; Lizhong SUN
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2022;38(4):199-203
Objective:To summarize the clinical outcomes and experience of redo median sternotomy on proximal aortic repair. Investigate the relationship between first operation and reoperation, reoperation indications, cardiopulmonary bypass strategy, intraoperative technical details, early and mid-term postoperative results.Methods:There were 28 patients underwent 29 times of redo median sternotomy on proximal aorta from April 2017 to December 2019. There were 23 males (79.3%) with an average age of (45.1±12.7) years (26-79 years), 15 Marfan syndrome (15/29, 51.7%) and 3 Behcet's disease (3/29, 10.3%). The primary operation included aortic valve or mitral valve replacement, Bentall procedure, ascending aortic replacement, simultaneous abdominal aortic replacement, Sun's procedure and coronary artery bypass grafting. The indications for reoperation were: aortic root aneurysm or coronary artery aneurysm, anastomotic leakage, perivalvular leakage due to inflammatory aortic disease, acute or chronic type A aortic dissection and aortic root abscess, aortic arch aneurysm. The surgical methods were Bentall, Cabrol, wheat, aortic valve sparing root replacement with replantation, anastomotic leakage repair, CABG, total arch replacement + stent elephant trunk implantation (Sun's procedure), ascending aorta to abdominal aorta bypass, abdominal aortic replacement.Results:One patient (3.4%) died in hospital because of severe postoperative pulmonary complications, consolidation of both lungs, ARDS and hypoxia. Postoperative low cardiac output was occurred in 2 cases (6.9%), 1 case was cured by ECMO, and 1 case died half a year after operation during follow up period. Re-exploration for postoperative hemorrhage was occurred in three cases (10.3%). Renal failure requires dialysis was 3 cases (10.3%), and transient paresis was 1 cases (3.4%), respectively. All of them were recovered before discharge. During the follow-up period, one patient died of multiple organ failure due to low cardiac output, and one patient underwent total thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. One patient underwent Cabrol for aneurysm of the coronary artery after Bentall procedure. One year later, type A dissection occurred again and Sun's procedure was performed through a median sternotomy.Conclusion:Reoperation of proximal aorta after cardiac and aortic surgery is safe and effective, with good short-term and medium-term results. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation, successful sternotomy, establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass and effective organ protection are the key to successful operation. Patients with aortic diseases, especially Marfan syndrome, are more likely to undergo reoperation. Close follow-up and timely reoperation are necessary to avoid aortic rupture. Sun's procedure is suitable for redo complex arch operation.
10.Application of aortic valve sparing root replacement with reimplantation technique
Ningning LIU ; Zifan ZHOU ; Jun WANG ; Longfei WANG ; Lizhong SUN
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2021;37(2):65-71
Objective:To summarize our clinical experience in the treatment of aortic root aneurysm by aortic valve sparing root replacement.Methods:From May 2017 to October 2019, a total of 20 patients with aortic root aneurysm underwent aortic valve sparing root replacement by reimplantation method. There were 17 males and 3 females, with an average age of(35.6±15.8) years(12-63 years). There were 11 cases of Marfan syndrome, 5 cases of bicuspid aortic valve, and 1 case of redo operation. The preoperative diameter of ascending aorta was(40.6±9.7)mm, the diameter of aortic sinus was(52.2±9.2)mm, and the diameter of aortic valve ring was(27.1±3.6)mm. There were 10 cases of no or mild regurgitation, 5 cases of moderate regurgitation and 5 cases of severe regurgitation. In the whole group of patients, the root replacement of aortic valve was retained by reimplantation, and the artificial graft were selected as: 26, 28 and 30mm straight vessels, 1, 3 and 6 cases, respectively, 26 and 28mm artificial graft with valsalva sinus, 4 and 6 cases, respectively. During the operation, aortic valve cusp repair was performed in 6 cases, such as plication of the free margin( 4 cases), decalcification(1 case) and raphe release(1 case).Results:None of the patients died in hospital or underwent rethoracotomy for hemostasis. During the operation, the duration of CPB time was(171.0±25.6) minutes and the duration of cross-clamp time was(134.0±23.2) minutes. There were 12 cases of aortic valve regurgitation and 8 cases of mild regurgitation. The mean follow-up was(15.1±9.8) months(4-33 months). During the follow-up period, there were 2 cases with moderate aortic regurgitation no need reoperation, while the rest of the patients had no or mild regurgitation. There are no patients undergoing reoperation. During the follow-up, 1 patient suffered coronary artery embolism in left circumflex artery and recovered after medicine treatment.Conclusion:Reimplantation with aortic valve sparing root replacement is safe and effective in the treatment of aortic root aneurysm, and the early and mid-term follow-up results are satisfactory, which can avoid anticoagulation-related complications and is suitable for young patients.


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