1.Sesquiterpene ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum Improves Neuroinflammation by Regulating JNK Phosphorylation
Ziyu YIN ; Yun GAO ; Junjiao WANG ; Weigang XUE ; Xueping PANG ; Huiting LIU ; Yunfang ZHAO ; Huixia HUO ; Jun LI ; Jiao ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):139-145
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo study the pharmacological substances and mechanisms through which sesquiterpene ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum improves neuroinflammation. MethodsBV-2 microglial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce neuroinflammation. The cells were divided into the normal group, the model group, and the ZH-13 low- and high-dose treatment groups (10, 20 μmol·L-1). The model group was treated with 1 μmol·L-1 LPS. Cell viability was assessed using the cell proliferation and activity assay (CCK-8 kit). Nitric oxide (NO) release in the cell supernatant was measured using a nitric oxide kit (Griess method). The mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, ZH-13 dose-dependently reduced NO release from BV-2 cells under LPS stimulation (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the 20 μmol·L-1 ZH-13 treatment group, the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6 were significantly reduced compared to the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In both the low- and high-dose ZH-13 groups, the expression of the inflammatory factor TNF-α and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the upstream MAPK pathway were significantly reduced (P<0.05). After stimulation with the JNK agonist anisomycin (Ani), both low- and high-dose ZH-13 treatment groups showed reduced phosphorylation of JNK proteins compared to the Ani-treated group (P<0.01). ConclusionThe sesquiterpene compound ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum significantly ameliorates LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses in BV-2 cells by inhibiting excessive JNK phosphorylation and reducing TNF-α expression. These findings elucidate the pharmacological substances and mechanisms underlying the sedative and calming effects of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
2.Exploring the Relationship Between Liver and Executive Function Decline Based on "the Liver Governs the Designing of Strategy"
Lei HUO ; Yanan DENG ; Jinchai DENG ; Yan ZHANG ; Xueyuan DU ; Xianghong ZHAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):201-204
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			The concept of "spirit" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aligns closely with "the liver governs the designing of strategy". By exploring the relationship between the liver and executive function decline, it is proposed that prolonged liver constraint leads to indecisiveness in strategy designing, which is the initiating factor for executive function decline; liver blood deficiency causes difficulties in executing strategy, which forms an essential foundation for the progression of executive function decline; obstruction in the "liver-du mai-brain" pathway leads to unclear strategy designing, which accelerates executive function decline. This relationship is examined from the perspectives of TCM, modern medicine, and cognitive psychology, aiming to provide insights into addressing executive function decline through treatments focused on the liver. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Strengthening the construction of hospitals' organ donation and transplantation work systems and the ethics committees for organ transplantation in accordance with laws and regulations
Feng HUO ; Hongtao ZHAO ; Xiaomei ZHAI
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(1):52-58
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			The implementation of the "Regulations on Organ Donation and Transplantation" (hereinafter referred to as the new "Regulations") and supporting documents has laid a solid foundation for improving the organ donation and transplantation work system in accordance with laws and regulations. In order to better publicize, implement, and carry out the new "Regulations" and supporting documents, and in response to the problems and challenges encountered in actual work, combined with the development of the national human organ donation and transplantation work system and the national work on determination of brain death, this article analyzes and discusses the construction of hospitals' organ donation and transplantation work systems and the systematic multidisciplinary collaboration mechanism for organ donation, as well as several issues that need attention by the ethics committees for organ transplantation. The aim is to provide references for the construction of ethics committees for organ transplantation in China and to promote the continuous and healthy development of China's organ donation and transplantation cause.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Anticoagulation therapy analysis and pharmaceutical care for a breast cancer patient with pulmonary thromboem-bolism accompanied by multiple comorbidities
Meng HUO ; Qijian CHENG ; Jiayuan LIN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):219-224
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for anticoagulant therapy and pharmaceutical care of the breast cancer patient with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) accompanied by multiple comorbidities. METHODS Clinical pharmacists participated in the diagnosis and treatment of a breast cancer patient with PTE accompanied by severe thrombocytopenia and suspected antiphospholipid syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, and provided personalized pharmaceutical care as developing individualized anticoagulation plans and monitoring patient bleeding. For the occurrence of PTE, the clinical pharmacist recommended stopping all breast cancer drugs. The clinical pharmacists also cleared that severe thrombocytopenia was not the absolute contraindication for anticoagulant treatment and suggested fondaparinux sodium as the initial anticoagulation regimen. Further, warfarin was recommended as the long-term anticoagulation regimen with a recommended treatment course of at least 3-6 months by the clinical pharmacists. Whether to continue indefinite anticoagulation therapy was based on the results of the antiphospholipid antibodies after 12 weeks combined with the tumor treatment regimen. RESULTS The physicians adopted the advice of the clinical pharmacists. After treatment, the patient’s blood phlegm and anhelation disappeared and the platelets returned to normal. The patient was allowed to be discharged with medication. CONCLUSIONS Taking the “anticoagulation-bleeding” as the starting point, the clinical pharmacists develop individualized medication plans for patients so as to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medication in the patient by providing pharmaceutical care, such as analyzing the causal relationship between breast cancer treatment-related drugs and PTE, assessing the risk of bleeding and thrombus recurrence, and monitoring patients’ bleeding symptoms and signs and coagulation indicators.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
5.Anticoagulation therapy analysis and pharmaceutical care for a breast cancer patient with pulmonary thromboem-bolism accompanied by multiple comorbidities
Meng HUO ; Qijian CHENG ; Jiayuan LIN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):219-224
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for anticoagulant therapy and pharmaceutical care of the breast cancer patient with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) accompanied by multiple comorbidities. METHODS Clinical pharmacists participated in the diagnosis and treatment of a breast cancer patient with PTE accompanied by severe thrombocytopenia and suspected antiphospholipid syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, and provided personalized pharmaceutical care as developing individualized anticoagulation plans and monitoring patient bleeding. For the occurrence of PTE, the clinical pharmacist recommended stopping all breast cancer drugs. The clinical pharmacists also cleared that severe thrombocytopenia was not the absolute contraindication for anticoagulant treatment and suggested fondaparinux sodium as the initial anticoagulation regimen. Further, warfarin was recommended as the long-term anticoagulation regimen with a recommended treatment course of at least 3-6 months by the clinical pharmacists. Whether to continue indefinite anticoagulation therapy was based on the results of the antiphospholipid antibodies after 12 weeks combined with the tumor treatment regimen. RESULTS The physicians adopted the advice of the clinical pharmacists. After treatment, the patient’s blood phlegm and anhelation disappeared and the platelets returned to normal. The patient was allowed to be discharged with medication. CONCLUSIONS Taking the “anticoagulation-bleeding” as the starting point, the clinical pharmacists develop individualized medication plans for patients so as to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medication in the patient by providing pharmaceutical care, such as analyzing the causal relationship between breast cancer treatment-related drugs and PTE, assessing the risk of bleeding and thrombus recurrence, and monitoring patients’ bleeding symptoms and signs and coagulation indicators.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Application of Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy in downstaging and conversion of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report
Ziwei LIANG ; Tiantian ZHANG ; Yong LIAO ; Xin HUANG ; Bin LIANG ; Zhongbin HANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Lin ZHANG ; Xiaobin FENG ; Li HUO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):41-45
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			This case report describes a 68-year-old male patient diagnosed with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After receiving Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (90Y-SIRT), the tumor significantly reduced in size, and tumor markers alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and abnormal prothrombin (PIVKA-Ⅱ) decreased. Postoperative pathological results showed minimal residual tumor cells, indicating that 90Y-SIRT has good efficacy and safety in downstaging and conversion of HCC, thereby facilitating subsequent surgical resection.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
7.Study on Compatibility and Efficacy of Blood-activating Herb Pairs Based on Graph Convolution Network
Jingai WANG ; Qikai NIU ; Wenjing ZONG ; Ziling ZENG ; Siwei TIAN ; Siqi ZHANG ; Yuwen ZHAO ; Huamin ZHANG ; Bingjie HUO ; Bing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):228-234
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a prediction model for the compatibility of Chinese medicinal pairs based on Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN), named HC-GCN. The model integrates the properties of herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms to predict pairs with specific therapeutic effects. It serves as a demonstration by applying the model to predict and validate the efficacy of blood-activating herb pairs. MethodsThe training dataset for herb pair prediction was constructed by systematically collecting commonly used herb pairs along with their characteristic data, including Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target genes. Integrating traditional characteristics of herb with modern bioinformatics, we developed an efficacy-oriented herb pair compatibility prediction model (HC-GCN) using graph convolutional networks (GCN). This model leverages machine learning to capture the complex relationships in herb pair compatibility, weighted by efficacy features. The performance of the HC-GCN model was evaluated using accuracy (ACC), recall, precision, F1 score (F1), and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Its predictive effectiveness was then compared to five other machine learning models: eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), logistic regression (LR), Naive Bayes, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). ResultsUsing herb pairs with blood-activating effects as a demonstration, a prediction model was constructed based on a foundational dataset of 46 blood-activating herb pairs, incorporating their Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target gene characteristics. The HC-GCN model outperforms other commonly used machine learning models in key performance metrics, including ACC, recall, precision, F1 score, and AUC. Through the predictive analysis of the HC-GCN model, 60 herb pairs with blood-activating effects were successfully identified. Among of these potential herb pairs, 44 include at least one herb with blood-activating effects. ConclusionIn this study, we established an efficacy-oriented compatibility prediction model for herb pairs based on GCN by integrating the unique characteristics of traditional herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms. This model demonstrated high predictive performance, offering a novel approach for the intelligent screening and optimization of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, as well as their clinical applications. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
8.Relationship Between Severe Pneumonia and Signaling Pathways and Regulation by Chinese Medicine: A Review
Cheng LUO ; Bo NING ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Yuzhi HUO ; Xinhui WU ; Yuanhang YE ; Fei WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):294-302
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Severe pneumonia is one of the most common and critical respiratory diseases in clinical practice. It is characterized by rapid progression, difficult treatment, high mortality, and many complications, posing a significant threat to the life and health of patients. The pathogenesis of severe pneumonia is highly complex, and studies have shown that its occurrence and development are closely related to multiple signaling pathways. Currently, the treatment of severe pneumonia mainly focuses on anti-infection, mechanical ventilation, and glucocorticoids, but clinical outcomes are often not ideal. Therefore, finding safe and effective alternative therapies is particularly important. In recent years, with the deepening of research into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it has gained widespread attention in the treatment of severe pneumonia. This paper reviewed the relationship between severe pneumonia and relevant signaling pathways in recent years and how TCM regulated these pathways in the treatment of severe pneumonia. It was found that TCM could regulate the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways, playing a role in reducing the inflammatory response, inhibiting cell apoptosis and pyroptosis, improving oxidative stress, and other effects in the treatment of severe pneumonia. Among these pathways, it was found that all of them regulated inflammation to treat severe pneumonia. Therefore, reducing inflammation is the core mechanism by which Chinese medicine treats severe pneumonia. This review provides direction for the clinical treatment of severe pneumonia and offers a scientific basis for the research and development of new drugs. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
9.Effect of Go-Ichi-Ni-San complex subunit 1 on disease progression and chemotherapy resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma
Yishan HUO ; Dawei LI ; Xiangbing DUAN ; Yuyu MA ; Guojun ZHANG ; Kainan ZHANG ; Xiumin MA
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(3):485-492
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of Go-Ichi-Ni-San complex subunit 1 (GINS1) in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the development of chemotherapy resistance. MethodsThe tumor database GEPIA2 was used to analyze the differential expression of GINS1 between HCC patients and healthy individuals, and pathological tissue samples were collected from 40 HCC patients who were admitted to The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2017 to January 2021. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the difference in the expression of GINS1 between HCC tissue and corresponding adjacent tissue, and the correlation between the expression level of GINS1 and the clinical TNM stage of HCC was analyzed. Western blot was also used to measure the difference in the expression of GINS1 between HCC Huh7/Hep3B/Li-7/MHCC97H cell lines and normal human QSG7701 hepatocytes. The method of lentivirus transfection was used to establish the MHCC97H cell line with stable GINS1 knockdown and its negative control cell line. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were used to measure cell proliferative capacity; scratch assay was used to measure cell migration ability; Transwell assay was used to measure cell invasion ability; cells were treated with oxaliplatin to measure their sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. Nude mice were used to establish a tumor-bearing model and observe the effect of GINS1 knockdown on the growth of HCC in vivo. Western Blot was used to measure the expression levels of the proteins associated with the Notch pathway and the JAK/STAT pathway. The cells were treated with the Notch receptor agonist Jagged-1 to analyze the association between GINS1 and the Notch/JAK/STAT pathway. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThe expression of GINS1 was upregulated in HCC patients, HCC tissue, and HCC cell lines (all P<0.05), and the expression level of GINS1 was positively correlated with the clinical TNM stage of HCC (r=0.822, P=0.011). Compared with the negative control cells, the GINS1-knockdown MHCC97H cells showed significant reductions in proliferation, migration, and invasion activities (all P<0.01) and a significantly enhanced sensitivity to oxaliplatin (P<0.01). Compared with the nude mice in the control group, GINS1 knockdown caused significant inhibition of tumor weight and volume in vivo in nude mice (all P<0.001). Compared with the negative control cells, the GINS1-knockdown MHCC97H cells showed significant reductions in the expression levels of Notch1, Notch3, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3 (all P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in the overall expression levels of JAK2 and STAT3 (P>0.05). After Jagged-1 treatment, the GINS1-knockdown MHCC97H cells showed significant increases in proliferation, migration, and invasion activities and a significant reduction in sensitivity to oxaliplatin, as well as significant increases in the levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 (all P<0.05). ConclusionGINS1 is upregulated in HCC and can promote HCC progression and chemotherapy resistance through the Notch/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
10.Bugansan Regulates R-spondin1/Wnt3a-mediated Intestinal Injury to Ameliorate Digestion and Absorption Dysfunction in Rat Model of Aging Induced by D-galactose
Yixuan WANG ; Ran HUO ; Jin TIAN ; Fang FANG ; Na LIU ; Jiepeng WANG ; Chaoyi FANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):19-27
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo elucidate the correlation between alterations in digestion and absorption functions and hepatic deficiency states in aging rats based on the R-spondin1/Wnt3a signaling pathway, and reveal the intervention mechanism of Bugansan. MethodsForty-eight SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups: blank control, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (7.03, 14.06, 28.12 g·kg-1, respectively) Bugansan, and vitamin E (suspension, 27 mg·kg-1), with 8 rats in each group. The rat model of aging was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose (400 mg·kg-1), while the blank control group was injected with normal saline. Since the day of modeling, rats in intervention groups received corresponding agents by gavage, and those in blank control and model groups received an equal volume of normal saline (10 mL·kg-1). General biological features such as fur color, activity, body mass, water intake, and food intake were observed. Meanwhile, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the serum were measured to assess aging. Grip strength and the content of total bile acids (TBA) and the activity of α-amylase (AMY) in the serum were measured to evaluate hepatic deficiency states. The activity of β-galactosidase (β-gal) in the duodenum was measured to evaluate intestinal senescence. The levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and D-xylose in the serum were determined to assess digestion and absorption functions of the small intestine. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to observe pathological changes of the duodenum to assess the small intestine damage. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to visualize the expression of B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi1) and leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) in the duodenal tissue. Moreover, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was utilized to quantify the mRNA levels of Ki67, Bmi1, and Lgr5 to assess proliferation and regeneration of the small intestine. Additionally, the mRNA levels of R-spondin1, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and the protein levels of R-spondin1, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) in the duodenum were determined by Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, to analyze the mechanisms of intestinal digestion and absorption dysfunction in aging rats and the regulatory characteristics of Bugansan. ResultsCompared with blank control group, the model group showed decreases in body mass, water intake, food intake, grip strength, activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and AMY in the serum and content of GLP-1, VIP and D-xylose in the serum (P<0.05), increases in the content of MDA and TBA in the serum and β-gal activity in the duodenum (P<0.05), reductions in villus length, villus width, crypt depth, and villi/crypt (V/C) value, down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Ki67, Lgr5, Bmi1, R-spondin1, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and up-regulated level of GSK-3β, phosphorylation (p)-GSK-3β (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Bugansan increased the body mass, water intake, food intake, grip strength, and activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and AMY and levels of GLP-1, VIP and D-xylose in the serum (P<0.05), while decreasing the content of MDA and TBA in the serum and β-gal activity in the duodenum (P<0.05). Furthermore, Bugansan increased the villus length, villus width, crypt depth, and V/C value, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Ki67, Lgr5, Bmi1, R-spondin1, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and down-regulated the level of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β (P<0.05). ConclusionAging rats exhibit obvious impairments in digestion and absorption functions, accompanied by a state of hepatic deficiency. The traditional Chinese medicine approach of tonifying liver Qi effectively ameliorates aging-related changes by modulating the R-spondin1/Wnt3a signaling pathway to mitigate intestinal senescence and enhance digestion and absorption functions, ultimately contributing to the delay of aging. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            
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