1.UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology reveals effect and mechanism of Gentianella turkestanorum total extract in ameliorating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Wu DAI ; Dong-Xuan ZHENG ; Ruo-Yu GENG ; Li-Mei WEN ; Bo-Wei JU ; Qiang HOU ; Ya-Li GUO ; Xiang GAO ; Jun-Ping HU ; Jian-Hua YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1938-1948
This study aims to reveal the effect and mechanism of Gentianella turkestanorum total extract(GTI) in ameliorating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed to identify the chemical components in GTI. SwissTarget-Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD were utilized to screen the targets of GTI components and NASH. The common targets shared by GTI components and NASH were filtered through the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.9.0 to identify core targets, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. AutoDock was used for molecular docking of key components with core targets. A mouse model of NASH was established with a methionine-choline-deficient high-fat diet. A 4-week drug intervention was conducted, during which mouse weight was monitored, and the liver-to-brain ratio was measured at the end. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Sirius red staining, and oil red O staining were employed to observe the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The levels of various biomarkers, including aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), hydroxyproline(HYP), total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione(GSH), in the serum and liver tissue were determined. RT-qPCR was conducted to measure the mRNA levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), interleukin 6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), collagen type I α1 chain(COL1A1), and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Western blotting was conducted to determine the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and potential drug targets identified through network pharmacology. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified 581 chemical components of GTI, and 534 targets of GTI and 1 157 targets of NASH were screened out. The topological analysis of the common targets shared by GTI and NASH identified core targets such as IL-1β, IL-6, protein kinase B(AKT), TNF, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARG). GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the ameliorating effect of GTI on NASH was related to inflammatory responses and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT pathway. The staining results demonstrated that GTI ameliorated hepatocyte vacuolation, swelling, ballooning, and lipid accumulation in NASH mice. Compared with the model group, high doses of GTI reduced the AST, ALT, HYP, TC, and TG levels(P<0.01) while increasing the HDL-C, SOD, and GSH levels(P<0.01). RT-qPCR results showed that GTI down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COL1A1, and α-SMA(P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that GTI down-regulated the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K), phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT), phosphorylated inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha(p-IκBα), and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)(P<0.01). In summary, GTI ameliorates inflammation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress associated with NASH by regulating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics*
;
Mice
;
Network Pharmacology
;
Male
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Liver/metabolism*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Humans
;
Mass Spectrometry
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
2.Studies on pharmacological effects and chemical components of different extracts from Bawei Chenxiang Pills.
Jia-Tong WANG ; Lu-Lu KANG ; Feng ZHOU ; Luo-Bu GESANG ; Ya-Na LIANG ; Guo-Dong YANG ; Xiao-Li GAO ; Hui-Chao WU ; Xing-Yun CHAI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(11):3035-3042
The medicinal materials of Bawei Chenxiang Pills(BCPs) were extracted via three methods: reflux extraction by water, reflux extraction by 70% ethanol, and extraction by pure water following reflux extraction by 70% ethanol, yielding three extracts of ST, CT, and CST. The efficacy of ST(760 mg·kg~(-1)), CT(620 mg·kg~(-1)), and CST(1 040 mg·kg~(-1)) were evaluated by acute myocardial ischemia(AMI) and p-chlorophenylalanine(PCPA)-induced insomnia in mice, respectively. Western blot was further utilized to investigate their hypnosis mechanisms. The main chemical components of different extracts were identified by the UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS technique. The results showed that CT and CST significantly increased the ejection fraction(EF) and fractional shortening(FS) of myocardial infarction mice, reduced left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole(LVIDd) and left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole(LVIDs). In contrast, ST did not exhibit significant effects on these parameters. In the insomnia model, CT significantly reduced sleep latency and prolonged sleep duration, whereas ST only prolonged sleep duration without shortening sleep latency. CST showed no significant effects on either sleep latency or sleep duration. Additionally, both CT and ST upregulated glutamic acid decarboxylase 67(GAD67) protein expression in brain tissue. A total of 15 main chemical components were identified from CT, including 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone and 6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone. Six chemical components including chebulidic acid were identified from ST. The results suggested that chromones and terpenes were potential anti-myocardial ischemia drugs of BCPs, and tannin and phenolic acids were potential hypnosis drugs. This study enriches the pharmacological and chemical research of BCPs, providing a basis and reference for their secondary development, quality standard improvement, and clinical application.
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology*
;
Humans
;
Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy*
;
Myocardial Ischemia/drug therapy*
3.Mechanism of isorhamnetin in alleviating acute lung injury by regulating pyroptosis medicated by NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis.
Ya-Lei SUN ; Yu GUO ; Xin-Yu WANG ; Ya-Su ZHANG ; Xue CHENG ; Ke ZHU ; Li-Dian CHEN ; Xiao-Dong FENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4120-4128
This study aims to explore the intervention effects of isorhamnetin(Isor) on acute lung injury(ALI) and its regulatory effects on pyroptosis mediated by the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC)/cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1(caspase-1) axis. In the in vivo experiments, 60 BALB/c mice were divided into five groups. Except for the control group, the other groups were administered Isor by gavage 1 hour before intratracheal instillation of LPS to induce ALI, and tissues were collected after 12 hours. In the in vitro experiments, RAW264.7 cells were divided into five groups. Except for the control group, the other groups were pretreated with Isor for 2 hours before LPS stimulation and subsequent assessments. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue, while lung swelling, protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), and myeloperoxidase(MPO) levels in lung tissue were measured. Cell proliferation toxicity and viability were assessed using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, and the N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D(GSDMD-N) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. The results showed that in the in vivo experiments, Isor significantly improved pathological damage in lung tissue, reduced lung swelling, protein levels in BALF, MPO levels in lung tissue, and levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and inhibited the high expression of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis and the pyroptosis core gene GSDMD-N. In the in vitro experiments, the safe dose of Isor was determined through cell proliferation toxicity assays. Isor reduced cell death and inhibited the expression levels of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis, GSDMD-N, and inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, Isor may alleviate ALI by modulating pyroptosis mediated by the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis.
Animals
;
Pyroptosis/drug effects*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
;
Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology*
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Quercetin/pharmacology*
;
Caspase 1/genetics*
;
CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins/genetics*
;
Male
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
;
Humans
;
Lung/metabolism*
4.Protocol for development of Guideline for Interventions on Cervical Spine Health.
Jing LI ; Guang-Qi LU ; Ming-Hui ZHUANG ; Xin-Yue SUN ; Ya-Kun LIU ; Ming-Ming MA ; Li-Guo ZHU ; Zhong-Shi LI ; Wei CHEN ; Ji-Ge DONG ; Le-Wei ZHANG ; Jie YU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(10):1083-1088
Cervical spine health issues not only seriously affect patients' quality of life but also impose a heavy burden on the social healthcare system. Existing guidelines lack sufficient clinical guidance on lifestyle and work habits, such as exercise, posture, daily routine, and diet, making it difficult to meet practical needs. To address this, relying on the China Association of Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences took the lead and joined hands with more than ten institutions to form a multidisciplinary guideline development group. For the first time, the group developed the Guidelines for Cervical Spine Health Intervention based on evidence-based medicine methods, strictly following the standardized procedures outlined in the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development and the Guiding Principles for the Formulation/Revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines in China (2022 Edition). This proposal systematically explains the methods and steps for developing the guideline, aiming to make the guideline development process scientific, standardized, and transparent.
Humans
;
Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards*
;
Cervical Vertebrae
;
China
5.Clinical and genetic characteristics of congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a retrospective analysis.
Cai-Jun WANG ; Ya-Wei ZHANG ; Da-Peng LIU ; Juan JIN ; Zhao-Hui LI ; Jing GUO ; Yao-Dong ZHANG ; Hai-Hua YANG ; Wen-Qing KANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(11):1367-1372
OBJECTIVES:
To study the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
METHODS:
Clinical data, laboratory findings, and genetic test results of 63 children diagnosed with CAH at Henan Children's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2024 were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS:
Of the 63 patients, the mean age at the first visit was (21 ± 14) days; 29 (46%) were of male sex and 34 (54%) were of female sex. The predominant clinical manifestations were poor weight gain or weight loss (92%, 58/63), poor feeding (84%, 53/63), skin hyperpigmentation (83%, 52/63), and female external genital anomalies (100%, 34/34). Laboratory abnormalities included hyponatremia (87%, 55/63), hyperkalemia (68%, 43/63), metabolic acidosis (68%, 43/63), and markedly elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (92%, 58/63), testosterone (89%, 56/63), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (81%, 51/63). Among 49 patients who underwent genetic testing, CYP21A2 variants were identified in 90% (44/49), with c.293-13A/C>G (33%, 30/91) and large deletions/gene conversions (29%, 26/91) being the most frequent; STAR (8%, 4/49) and HSD3B2 (2%, 1/49) variants were also detected. Following hormone replacement therapy, electrolyte disturbances were corrected in 57 cases, with significant reductions in 17-hydroxyprogesterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and testosterone levels (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
CAH presenting in neonates or young infants is characterized by electrolyte imbalance, external genital anomalies, and abnormal hormone levels. Genetic testing enables definitive subtype classification; in CYP21A2-related CAH, c.293-13A/C>G is a hotspot variant. These findings underscore the clinical value of genetic testing for early diagnosis and genetic counseling in CAH. Citation:Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 2025, 27(11): 1367-1372.
Humans
;
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital/diagnosis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Infant
;
Infant, Newborn
6.Development of cardiovascular clinical research data warehouse and real-world research.
Dan-Dan LI ; Ya-Ni YU ; Zhi-Jun SUN ; Chang-Fu LIU ; Tao CHEN ; Dong-Kai SHAN ; Xiao-Dan TUO ; Jun GUO ; Yun-Dai CHEN
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(7):678-689
BACKGROUND:
Medical informatics accumulated vast amounts of data for clinical diagnosis and treatment. However, limited access to follow-up data and the difficulty in integrating data across diverse platforms continue to pose significant barriers to clinical research progress. In response, our research team has embarked on the development of a specialized clinical research database for cardiology, thereby establishing a comprehensive digital platform that facilitates both clinical decision-making and research endeavors.
METHODS:
The database incorporated actual clinical data from patients who received treatment at the Cardiovascular Medicine Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2012 to 2021. It included comprehensive data on patients' basic information, medical history, non-invasive imaging studies, laboratory test results, as well as peri-procedural information related to interventional surgeries, extracted from the Hospital Information System. Additionally, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered interactive follow-up system had been developed, ensuring that nearly all myocardial infarction patients received at least one post-discharge follow-up, thereby achieving comprehensive data management throughout the entire care continuum for high-risk patients.
RESULTS:
This database integrates extensive cross-sectional and longitudinal patient data, with a focus on higher-risk acute coronary syndrome patients. It achieves the integration of structured and unstructured clinical data, while innovatively incorporating AI and automatic speech recognition technologies to enhance data integration and workflow efficiency. It creates a comprehensive patient view, thereby improving diagnostic and follow-up quality, and provides high-quality data to support clinical research. Despite limitations in unstructured data standardization and biological sample integrity, the database's development is accompanied by ongoing optimization efforts.
CONCLUSION
The cardiovascular specialty clinical database is a comprehensive digital archive integrating clinical treatment and research, which facilitates the digital and intelligent transformation of clinical diagnosis and treatment processes. It supports clinical decision-making and offers data support and potential research directions for the specialized management of cardiovascular diseases.
7.Re-Exploration for Dietary Iodine Intake in Chinese Adults using the Obligatory Iodine Loss Hypothesis.
Xiao Bing LIU ; Jun WANG ; Ya Jie LI ; Hong Xing TAN ; De Qian MAO ; Yan Yan LIU ; Wei Dong LI ; Wei YU ; Jun An YAN ; Jian Hua PIAO ; Chong Zheng GUO ; Xiao Li LIU ; Xiao Guang YANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):952-960
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to reexplore minimum iodine excretion and to build a dietary iodine recommendation for Chinese adults using the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis.
METHODS:
Data from 171 Chinese adults (19-21 years old) were collected and analyzed based on three balance studies in Shenzhen, Yinchuan, and Changzhi. The single exponential equation was accordingly used to simulate the trajectory of 24 h urinary iodine excretion as the low iodine experimental diets offered (iodine intake: 11-26 μg/day) and to further deduce the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for iodine, including estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended nutrient intake (RNI).
RESULTS:
The minimum iodine excretion was estimated as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day in three balance studies, respectively. Moreover, it was further suggested as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day for iodine EAR, and 80, 81, and 71 μg/day for iodine RNI or expressed as 1.42, 1.41, and 1.20 μg/(day·kg) of body weight.
CONCLUSION
The iodine DRIs for Chinese adults were established based on the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis, which provides scientific support for the amendment of nutrient requirements.
Humans
;
Iodine/administration & dosage*
;
Male
;
Female
;
China
;
Young Adult
;
Diet
;
Adult
;
Nutritional Requirements
;
East Asian People
8.Mechanism of SIRT2 in Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Kaixuan DONG ; Ya ZHENG ; Yuping WANG ; Qinghong GUO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(6):1382-1388
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by abnormal lipid deposition in the liver and its mechanism is closely related to insulin resistance, lipid metabolism disorders, oxidative stress, and abnormalities of the gut-liver axis. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease. Silent information regulator 2 (SIRT2) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylase which performs various pathophysiological functions by interacting with different substrates. For example, it is involved in improving metabolic homeostasis, alleviating liver inflammation, promoting liver regeneration, and delaying the progression of MASLD. In this paper, we present a review of the mechanism of action of SIRT2 in MASLD to analyze the potential value of SIRT2 as a therapeutic target in MASLD.
9.Development of a High-throughput Sequencing Platform for Detection of Viral Encephalitis Pathogens Based on Amplicon Sequencing
Li Ya ZHANG ; Zhe Wen SU ; Chen Rui WANG ; Yan LI ; Feng Jun ZHANG ; Hui Sheng LIU ; He Dan HU ; Xiao Chong XU ; Yu Jia YIN ; Kai Qi YIN ; Ying HE ; Fan LI ; Hong Shi FU ; Kai NIE ; Dong Guo LIANG ; Yong TAO ; Tao Song XU ; Feng Chao MA ; Yu Huan WANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(3):294-302
Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing. Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing. Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing. Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.
10. Ligustilide delays senescence of auditory cortex in mice by inhibiting ferritinophagy
Ying-Dong ZHOU ; Meng-Xian ZHANG ; Qing-Ling WANG ; Hao-Ran KANG ; Zhi-Cheng ZHANG ; Xiang-Dong GUO ; Qing-Lin WANG ; Ya-Min LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(3):455-461
Aim To investigate the mechanism of ligu aged 2 months of the same strain were used as the constilide (LIG) in delaying the senescence of auditory trol (Ctrl) group. Auditory brainstem response test was cortex and treating central presbycusis. Methods used to detect the auditory threshold of mice before and Forty C57BL/6J mice aged 13 months were randomly di after treatment. Levels of serum MDA and activity of vided into ligustilide low-dose(L-LIG) group, ligustil serum SOD were detected to display the level of oxidative ide medium-dose (M-LIG) group, ligustilide high-dose stress. The pathological changes of auditory cortex were (H-LIG) group and aging (Age) group, and 10 mice observed by HE staining. Ferroptosis was observed by

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail