1.Analysis of Potential Active Components and Molecular Mechanism of Baoxin Granules Regulating Ferroptosis in Treatment of Heart Failure
Yu CHEN ; Maolin WANG ; Yun WANG ; Yifan ZHAO ; Jing XU ; Hongwei WU ; Fang WANG ; Xiaoang ZHAO ; Youming LI ; Jixiang TIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):202-209
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), network pharmacology, molecular docking and cell experiments, the active ingredients, possible targets and molecular mechanisms of Baoxin granules(BXG) regulating ferroptosis in the treatment of heart failure(HF) were explored. MethodsBXG intestinal absorption fluid was prepared by everted gut sac and the chemical composition contained therein were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. According to the obtained components, the potential targets of BXG were predicted, and the HF-related targets and related genes of ferroptosis were retrieved at the same time, and the intersecting targets were obtained by Venn diagram. In addition, the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network and the component-target network were constructed, and the core components and core targets were obtained by topological analysis. Then Gene Ontology(GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the core targets, and molecular docking validation of the key targets and main components was carried out by AutoDockTools 1.5.7. H9c2 cells were used to establish a oxygen-glucose deprivation model, and the protective effect of BXG on cells was investigated by detecting cell viability, cell survival rate and reactive oxygen species(ROS) level. The protein expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), phosphorylation(p)-STAT3 and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) were detected by Western blot to clarify the regulatory effect of BXG on ferroptosis. ResultsA total of 61 chemical components in BXG intestinal absorption fluid were identified, and network pharmacology obtained 27 potential targets of BXG for the treatment of HF, as well as 139 signaling pathways. BXG may act on core targets such as STAT3, tumor protein p53(TP53), epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), JUN and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2) through core components such as glabrolide and limonin, which in turn intervene in lipid and atherosclerosis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), endocrine resistance and other signaling pathways to exert therapeutic effects on HF. Molecular docking showed that the docking results of multiple groups of targets and compounds were good. In vitro cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group, the cell viability and survival rate of the model group were significantly decreased, the level of ROS was significantly increased(P<0.01), the expression levels of STAT3, p-STAT3, p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell viability and survival rate of the BXG group were significantly increased, the ROS level was significantly decreased(P<0.01), the STAT3, p-STAT3, p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 protein levels were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBXG may inhibit the occurrence of ferroptosis by up-regulating the expression of STAT3 and GPX4, thus exerting a therapeutic effect on HF, and flavonoids may be the key components of this role. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
2.Analysis of Potential Active Components and Molecular Mechanism of Baoxin Granules Regulating Ferroptosis in Treatment of Heart Failure
Yu CHEN ; Maolin WANG ; Yun WANG ; Yifan ZHAO ; Jing XU ; Hongwei WU ; Fang WANG ; Xiaoang ZHAO ; Youming LI ; Jixiang TIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):202-209
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), network pharmacology, molecular docking and cell experiments, the active ingredients, possible targets and molecular mechanisms of Baoxin granules(BXG) regulating ferroptosis in the treatment of heart failure(HF) were explored. MethodsBXG intestinal absorption fluid was prepared by everted gut sac and the chemical composition contained therein were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. According to the obtained components, the potential targets of BXG were predicted, and the HF-related targets and related genes of ferroptosis were retrieved at the same time, and the intersecting targets were obtained by Venn diagram. In addition, the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network and the component-target network were constructed, and the core components and core targets were obtained by topological analysis. Then Gene Ontology(GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the core targets, and molecular docking validation of the key targets and main components was carried out by AutoDockTools 1.5.7. H9c2 cells were used to establish a oxygen-glucose deprivation model, and the protective effect of BXG on cells was investigated by detecting cell viability, cell survival rate and reactive oxygen species(ROS) level. The protein expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), phosphorylation(p)-STAT3 and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) were detected by Western blot to clarify the regulatory effect of BXG on ferroptosis. ResultsA total of 61 chemical components in BXG intestinal absorption fluid were identified, and network pharmacology obtained 27 potential targets of BXG for the treatment of HF, as well as 139 signaling pathways. BXG may act on core targets such as STAT3, tumor protein p53(TP53), epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), JUN and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2) through core components such as glabrolide and limonin, which in turn intervene in lipid and atherosclerosis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), endocrine resistance and other signaling pathways to exert therapeutic effects on HF. Molecular docking showed that the docking results of multiple groups of targets and compounds were good. In vitro cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group, the cell viability and survival rate of the model group were significantly decreased, the level of ROS was significantly increased(P<0.01), the expression levels of STAT3, p-STAT3, p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell viability and survival rate of the BXG group were significantly increased, the ROS level was significantly decreased(P<0.01), the STAT3, p-STAT3, p-STAT3/STAT3 and GPX4 protein levels were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBXG may inhibit the occurrence of ferroptosis by up-regulating the expression of STAT3 and GPX4, thus exerting a therapeutic effect on HF, and flavonoids may be the key components of this role. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Implications of Approval of Cassiae Semen-based Health Food Products for Development and Supervision of Substances with both Edible and Medicinal Values
Peng DU ; Dan WANG ; Jixiang TIAN ; Yun WANG ; Mingxia SUN ; Guangyao CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(18):228-234
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Cassiae Semen is a substance with both edible and medicinal uses approved by the National Health Administration, and it is widely used in health food products in China. In this study, an information database of Cassiae Semen-based health food products was constructed, and the common patterns of functional claims, major raw materials, and dosage forms were analyzed. The Apriori algorithm and network method were used to analyze the association rules of high-frequency ingredients with the three major functional claims: Maintaining blood lipid (cholesterol/triglyceride) level, controlling fat, and relaxing bowel. Secondly, based on the positioning and regulatory requirements of health food and the recent research progress in Cassiae Semen, this paper analyzed the problems in technology review and product development from safety, function claim, and quality controllability. Finally, suggestions were put forward to promote the inheritance and carry forward China's traditional healthcare culture and the achievement of the Healthy China Initiative. These suggestions included classifying and optimizing the access management of health food, innovating the traditional healthcare function claims, and strengthening the quality system construction and information disclosure of post-marketing evaluation. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Effect of Thyme Herbal Tea on Proliferation of Human Coronavirus OC43 in vitro and in vivo
Jixiang TIAN ; Tongtong ZHANG ; Yuning CHANG ; Peifang XIE ; Shuwei DONG ; Xiaoang ZHAO ; Yun WANG ; Chunhui ZHAO ; Hongwei WU ; Amei ZHANG ; Haizhou LI ; Xueshan XIA ; Huamin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):81-89
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of thyme herbal tea (BLX) on the proliferation of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe chemical composition of BLX was analyzed by UPLC-MS. The cytotoxicity of BLX in HRT-18 cells and the effect of BLX treatment on the proliferation of HCoV-OC43 in cells were analyzed. Copies of viral gene were detected by real-time PCR. The effect of BLX treatment on the life cycle of HCoV-OC43 was detected by time-of-addition assay. The maximum tolerated dose of BLX and the influences of BLX on the body weight and survival time of suckling mice infected with HCoV-OC43 were determined. The expression of viral protein in the brain and lung tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. ResultThere were 11 chemical components identified in BLX by UPLC-MS. BLX showed the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of (13 859.56±319) mg·L-1, the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of (1 439.09±200) mg·L-1, and the selection index of 8.26-11.44 for HCoV-OC43 in HRT-18 cells. Compared with the cells infected with HCoV-OC43, BLX at the concentrations of 1 500, 1 000, 500 mg·L-1 inhibited the proliferation of this virus (P<0.05, P<0.01). BLX exhibited antiviral effect in the early stage of virus infection, and the inhibition role in the attachment stage was more significant than that in the entry stage (P<0.05). In the suckling mice infected with HCoV-OC43, BLX at 1200 and 600 mg·kg-1·d-1 alleviated the symptoms, prolonged the survival period, reduced the death rate, and down-regulated the mRNA level of nucleocapsid protein in the mice. Moreover, BLX at 1 200 mg·kg-1·d-1 down-regulated the expression of nucleocapsid protein in the brain (P<0.01) and the lung (P<0.01). ConclusionBLX contained multiple antiviral ingredients. It inhibited the proliferation of HCoV-OC43 both in vitro and in vivo by interference with viral attachment. This study provides theoretical reference for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infection with HCoV-OC43 and for further development and application of BLX. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
5.Immune cell-mediated causal relationship between plasma metabolites and knee osteoarthritis:a Mendelian randomization study
Zhenyu WANG ; Hongmei ZHANG ; Lin JING ; Qi YAN ; Jixiang TANG ; Qirui GE
Military Medical Sciences 2024;48(10):778-785
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To evaluate both the causal relationship between plasma metabolites and the risk of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and the potential mediating or masking effect of immune cells using Mendelian randomization(MR)systems.Methods The GWAS data on 1400 plasma metabolites,731 immune cell traits and KOA was retrieved from the genome-wide association study(GWAS)database.Two-way MR analysis was used to evaluate the causal relationship between plasma metabolism and KOA.Two-step mediation MR analysis was conducted to evaluate immune cell traits that might have mediating or masking effects.Results After sensitivity analysis and screening,65 plasma metabolites and 35 immune cell traits were found to have causal relationships with KOA(P<0.05).Mediation analysis found that CD45RA+CD28-CD8br%CD8br had a mediating effect in the causal relationship between three metabolites(2-hydroxyhi-ppurate,X-07765,X-23739)and the risk of KOA.2-hydroxyhippurate(salicylic acid)exerted a masking effect,and the effect ratio was 0.0412.Conclusion A variety of plasma metabolites and immune cell traits are causally related to KOA,which should not be regarded as a simple degenerative joint disease.The protective effect of salicylic acid against KOA may be weakened by its role in inducing the differentiation of Treg cells,which is worthy of more studies.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Relationship between white matter microstructural features and cognitive function in patients with bipolar disorder
Junfan LIANG ; Hua LIU ; Xinyin GUO ; Xuehua LI ; Jixiang YUAN ; Minglan YU ; Tingting WANG ; Rongfang HE ; Bo XIANG ; Kezhi LIU ; Xuemei LIANG
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2024;38(10):833-839
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To explore the white matter structural characteristics in patients with bipolar disorder(BD)using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and investigate their relationship with cognitive function.Methods:A total of 15 patients with BD type Ⅰ and 26 patients with BD type Ⅱ who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition(DSM-Ⅳ)diagnostic criteria and 37 normal controls were included.Cognitive function was assessed with the Trail Making Test(TMT)and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsy-chological Status(RBANS).The tract-based spatial statistics(TBSS)method was used to explore the differences in fractional anisotropy(FA)and mean diffusivity(MD)among the three groups and perform correlation analyses with cognitive function.Results:Patients with BD Ⅰ and BD Ⅱ had lower scores in attention(P<0.001),delayed memory(P<0.01),and total scores(P<0.001)on the RBANS compared to the normal control group.They also exhibited lower FA values in the corpus callosum and right superior corona radiata compared to the normal control group(P<0.05).In the BD Ⅰ group,there was a positive correlation between FA values in the genu of corpus cal-losum and visuospatial/constructional scores(r=0.74,P<0.05),while in the BD Ⅱ group,a positive correlation was found between FA values in the same region and language function scores(r=0.55,P<0.05).Conclusion:It suggests that patients with bipolar disorder may have impaired white matter integrity in the corpus callosum and right superior corona radiata,which may be associated with cognitive impairment.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
7.Clinical first aid of acute laryngeal obstruction in adults and etiological analysis
Yanfeng JIA ; Yuxiao DU ; Tao ZHANG ; Ying WANG ; Xiangli YANG ; Jixiang LIU
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(16):2472-2475,2481
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical first aid characteristics and etiology classi-fication of adult acute laryngeal obstruction so as to guide the targeted treatment in clinic.Methods The clini-cal data of the patients with the main symptoms such as suffocation and inspiratory dyspnea visiting in this hospital from January 2015 to December 2021 were collected.They conducted emergency tracheotomy for first aid,and their etiological distribution and characteristics were analyzed.Results A total of 94 patients with a-cute laryngeal obstruction and emergency tracheotomy caused by various causes were collected,73 males and 21 females,aged (65.44±12.23)years old.The proportions of disease causes from high to low were in turn 60 cases of tumor (63.83%),12 cases of bilateral vocal cord paralysis (12.77%),11 cases of inflammation (11.70%),5 cases of trauma (5.32%),2 cases of laryngeal edema (2.13%),2 cases of giant foreign matter (2.13%) and 2 cases of tube taking off after tracheotomy (2.13%).The age had the statistical difference a-mong different etiologies (F=4.463,P=0.001).The age in the patients with tumor,infection and bilateral vocal cord paralysis was greater than that of the other groups with statistical difference[(67.21±10.45)years old vs.(52.00±16.42)years old,t=2.993,P=0.012].The male patients with different severities of acute la-ryngeal obstruction were more than female patients,but the difference in the sex composition was not statisti-cally significant (P=0.469).Among the patients with emergency tracheotomy,there were 6 cases of compli-cating incision bleeding and 5 cases of subcutaneous emphysema;1 case of right pneumothorax complicating apposite side atelectasis,and all were improved by symptomatic treatment.Conclusion Acute laryngeal ob-struction in adults is critical.The common causes include tumor,bilateral vocal cord paralysis and inflamma-tion.The risk of emergency tracheotomy and complications occurrence risk are relatively high.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
8.Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism population structure of Yersinia pestis in natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Juan JIN ; Yiting WANG ; Sheng LI ; Xiaoyan YANG ; Jian HE ; Youquan XIN ; Jixiang BAI ; Li ZHANG ; Wenqi DU ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2024;43(6):452-455
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To learn about the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) population structure and regional distribution characteristics of Yersinia pestis in the natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Methods:A total of 319 representative strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1954 to 2020 were selected, and 2 298 SNP loci included in the global Yersinia pestis phylogenetic tree were compared by whole genome sequencing technology. MEGA 6.0 software was used to construct phylogenetic trees of 319 strains of Yersinia pestis from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, determine the SNP population structure of Yersinia pestis in the focus, and describe its regional distribution characteristics. Results:The 319 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau natural plague foci were distributed in 5 clades, namely 1.IN, 2.ANT, 3.ANT, 0.PE and 2.MED. The 1.IN clade contained 209 strains (65.52%, 209/319), which was the dominant population of strains in Qinghai Province, accounting for 90.51% (143/158). The 2.ANT clade contained 83 strains (26.02%, 83/319), which was the dominant population in Tibet Autonomous Region, accounting for 67.24% (78/116). The 3.ANT, 0.PE, and 2.MED clades contained 12 (3.76%, 12/319), 9 (2.82%, 9/319) and 6 strains (1.88%, 6/319), respectively, which were scattered in Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Sichuan Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region under the jurisdiction of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Conclusion:The SNP population structure of Yersinia pestis in natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is relatively rich, and the strains are distributed in 5 clades: 1.IN, 2.ANT, 3.ANT, 0.PE and 2.MED, showing the distribution characteristics of specific regions.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
9.The research progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine regulating pyroptosis in dia-betes cardiomyopathy
Nan ZHANG ; Yunzhu JIA ; Jixiang TIAN ; Yun WANG
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2024;32(9):813-820,828
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Diabetes cardiomyopathy(DCM)is a cardiovascular disease with structural damage and dysfunction of myocardium under the condition of glucose and lipid metabolism disorder in diabetes.The main pathological characteristics are ventricular hypertrophy,myocardial remodeling and cardiomyocyte death,which induce heart failure.DCM has become one of the main causes of death in patients with diabetes.As a pro-inflammatory programmed cell death pathway,pyroptosis mediated by inflammasomes is considered an important driver of chronic inflammation due to its exces-sive activation.Recently,it was found that the over activation of pyroptosis promoted the course of DCM and became the hub connecting the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes and myocardial injury.With the discovery of more and more roles of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in regulating pyroptosis,TCM affects the occurrence and develop-ment of DCM by regulating pyroptosis or protein expression,which has become a research hotspot of myocardial protection strategies in diabetes.This article reviews the mechanism of pyroptosis in DCM and the research progress of TCM mono-mers and compound prescriptions in regulating the process of pyroptosis in DCM,in order to provide new ideas and targets for clinical research and treatment of DCM.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
10.Efficacy observation of clinical medication guided by genetic testing of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia
Haiyan WANG ; Jianfeng CAO ; Liping FU ; Liangcheng XIANG ; Tao TIAN ; Jixiang WANG ; Ming SHI ; Xiaojun LI ; Chunguang TANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2024;37(5):420-426
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Background Results of genetic testing for antipsychotic drugs can guide the rational use of drugs in clinical practice and help improve the clinical symptoms of patients with schizophrenia.However,there is currently limited evidence in China regarding the impact of genetic testing results on medication adherence,social function and drug side effects of antipsychotic drug treatment.Objective To explore the improvement of clinical symptoms,medication adherence and social function in patients with schizophrenia under the guidance of antipsychotic drug gene testing results and examine the safety of drug treatment,so as to provide references for ifor precise treatment of schizophrenia patients.Methods Patients with acute schizophrenia who received hospitalization at Dazhou Minkang Hospital from July 2019 to August 2021 as well as met the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Diseases,tenth edition(ICD-10)were selected as research subjects(n=144).Based on random number table,subjects were divided into study group and control group,with 72 cases in each group.Control group received drug treatment based on the doctor's clinical experience,while study group received drug treatment based on the results of gene testing for antipsychotic drug.Both treatments lasted for 12 weeks.At baseline as well as 2,4,8 and 12 weeks after treatment,Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale(MMAS-8),Social Functional Rating Scale(SFRS)and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale(TESS)were adopted for assessment.Result Time effect and group effect of the reducing rate of PANSS,MMAS-8 and SFRS scores in the groups were statistically significant(Ftime=95.251,6.650,14.101,Fgroup=38.055,58.175,128.221,P<0.01).The interaction effect of the reduction rates of MMAS-8 scores in two groups was statistically significant(Finteraction=5.837,P<0.01).The group effect and interaction effect of the severity scores of drug side effects and patient pain scores in two groups were statistically significant(Fgroup=7.553,81.533,Finteraction=8.693,9.322,P<0.01).Conclusion In terms of improving clinical symptom relief,medication adherence,social function and drug side effects,medication for patients with schizophrenia guided by genetic testing of antipsychotic drugs may be more effective than that relying on medication based on clinical experience.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            
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