1.Mechanism of Paeonol in Alleviating Alcohol-induced Liver Injury in Mice Through Regulating SCFAs-GPR43/MAPK Signaling Pathway Mediated by Intestinal Flora
Shengnan JIANG ; Qifeng WU ; Zining WANG ; Hao PU ; Guiming YAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):129-139
ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of paeonol on acute alcohol-induced hepatic inflammation in mice via the regulation of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-specific receptor GPR43/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group, model group, low-dose paeonol group (120 mg·kg-1), high-dose paeonol group (480 mg·kg-1), and silybin group (36.8 mg·kg-1). A mouse model of alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) was established by ad libitum administration of a Lieber-DeCarli alcohol liquid diet. Serum lipid levels, liver function, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Liver hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Oil Red O staining were performed to validate successful modeling. Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Claudin-1, and proteins related to the GPR43/MAPK signaling pathway in the colonic tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the protein expression of GPR43, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 in the colon. Then 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to analyze differences in intestinal flora between the model group and the high-dose paeonol group. Additionally, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments were conducted to validate the regulatory effect of paeonol on ALD via modulation of intestinal flora. ResultsCompared with the blank control group, the model group showed significantly elevated serum lipid levels, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokine expression (P<0.01). Liver histology revealed increased inflammatory infiltration and lipid droplet accumulation. Colonic mucosal injury and impaired intestinal barrier function were observed. Levels of MAPK pathway-related proteins in the colonic tissue were upregulated (P<0.01), while GPR43, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 protein expression levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The composition and abundance of the intestinal flora were markedly altered, with a reduced Bacteroidetes-to-Firmicutes ratio and decreased relative abundances of Eubacterium, Parabacteroides, Erysipelothrix, and Adlercreutzia, alongside increased abundances of Clostridium butyricum, Enterococcus, and Helicobacter pylori in the model group. Compared with the model group, paeonol significantly reduced serum lipid levels, oxidative stress responses, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in ALD mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). It also attenuated hepatic lipid accumulation, restored intestinal barrier function, and repaired the structural integrity of liver and colonic tissues. The protein expression levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and GPR43 in the colonic tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while those of MAPK pathway-related proteins were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The intestinal flora dysbiosis was effectively alleviated, rendering its composition closer to that of normal mice. The efficacy of paeonol in modulating ALD was further confirmed by FMT experiments, supporting its mechanistic involvement in the SCFAs-GPR43/MAPK signaling pathway. ConclusionPaeonol exerts a protective effect against ALD in mice, which may be mediated through regulation of the SCFAs-GPR43/MAPK signaling pathway, thereby achieving anti-inflammatory effects and improving intestinal barrier function.
2.Mechanism of Paeonol in Alleviating Alcohol-induced Liver Injury in Mice Through Regulating SCFAs-GPR43/MAPK Signaling Pathway Mediated by Intestinal Flora
Shengnan JIANG ; Qifeng WU ; Zining WANG ; Hao PU ; Guiming YAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):129-139
ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of paeonol on acute alcohol-induced hepatic inflammation in mice via the regulation of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-specific receptor GPR43/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group, model group, low-dose paeonol group (120 mg·kg-1), high-dose paeonol group (480 mg·kg-1), and silybin group (36.8 mg·kg-1). A mouse model of alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) was established by ad libitum administration of a Lieber-DeCarli alcohol liquid diet. Serum lipid levels, liver function, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Liver hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Oil Red O staining were performed to validate successful modeling. Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Claudin-1, and proteins related to the GPR43/MAPK signaling pathway in the colonic tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the protein expression of GPR43, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 in the colon. Then 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to analyze differences in intestinal flora between the model group and the high-dose paeonol group. Additionally, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments were conducted to validate the regulatory effect of paeonol on ALD via modulation of intestinal flora. ResultsCompared with the blank control group, the model group showed significantly elevated serum lipid levels, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokine expression (P<0.01). Liver histology revealed increased inflammatory infiltration and lipid droplet accumulation. Colonic mucosal injury and impaired intestinal barrier function were observed. Levels of MAPK pathway-related proteins in the colonic tissue were upregulated (P<0.01), while GPR43, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 protein expression levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The composition and abundance of the intestinal flora were markedly altered, with a reduced Bacteroidetes-to-Firmicutes ratio and decreased relative abundances of Eubacterium, Parabacteroides, Erysipelothrix, and Adlercreutzia, alongside increased abundances of Clostridium butyricum, Enterococcus, and Helicobacter pylori in the model group. Compared with the model group, paeonol significantly reduced serum lipid levels, oxidative stress responses, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in ALD mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). It also attenuated hepatic lipid accumulation, restored intestinal barrier function, and repaired the structural integrity of liver and colonic tissues. The protein expression levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and GPR43 in the colonic tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while those of MAPK pathway-related proteins were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The intestinal flora dysbiosis was effectively alleviated, rendering its composition closer to that of normal mice. The efficacy of paeonol in modulating ALD was further confirmed by FMT experiments, supporting its mechanistic involvement in the SCFAs-GPR43/MAPK signaling pathway. ConclusionPaeonol exerts a protective effect against ALD in mice, which may be mediated through regulation of the SCFAs-GPR43/MAPK signaling pathway, thereby achieving anti-inflammatory effects and improving intestinal barrier function.
3.Inhibition of Alcoholic Liver Injury by Paeonol Through Eubacterium-mediated TGR5/PKA/CREB Signaling Pathway
Luning ZHANG ; Lingling LIU ; Shengnan JIANG ; Qifeng WU ; Guiming YAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(12):78-86
ObjectiveTo investigate whether paeonol exerts a protective effect on mice with alcoholic liver injury by regulating the takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5)/protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response binding element (CREB) signaling pathway mediated by Eubacterium. MethodC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group, model group, paeonol group (480 mg·kg-1), antibiotic group (Abs group), and antibiotic + paeonol group. Lieber-DeCarli liquid was used to feed C57BL/6 mice on the second day of modeling for 10 days. The blood lipids, liver function, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress levels in mice were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and oil red O staining were used to observe the morphological changes and fat accumulation in liver tissue. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to detect the diversity of intestinal microbiota in the blank, model, and paeanol groups. Western blot was used to detect the effect of paeonol on the expression levels of protein related to the signaling pathway of atresia band protein 1 (ZO-1), Claudin-1, and TGR5/PKA/CREB in mouse ileal tissue. ResultCompared with those in the blank group, the blood lipids, liver function, oxidative stress levels, and the expression of inflammatory factors in the model group increased (P<0.01), and the liver fat vacuoles were obvious. The ileal mucosa was seriously damaged, and the protein contents of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and TGR5/PKA/CREB in the ileal tissue decreased significantly (P<0.01). The intestinal microbiota changed, and the proteobacteria phylum increased significantly. The ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes decreased. The relative abundance of Dubosiella newyorkensis, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and other genera decreased, while the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Morganella, Providencia, and Proteus increased significantly. Compared with the model group, paeonol significantly reduced the blood lipids, liver function, oxidative stress levels, and expression of inflammatory factors in mice with alcohol diet-induced liver injury (P<0.05), decreased liver fat vacuoles, improved and restored the ileal intestinal barrier, and restored the normal structure of hepatocytes and ileal cells. The intestinal microbiota disorder caused by alcohol was improved, and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Eubacterium spp. was increased. The protein expression levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and TGR5/PKA/CREB in ileal tissue were increased (P<0.05). ConclusionPaeonol has a protective effect on alcoholic liver injury in mice, and the mechanism of action is achieved by regulating the Eubacterium-mediated TGR5/PKA/CREB signaling pathway to ensure anti-inflammatory effect and improve the intestinal barrier.
4.Klinefelter syndrome with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome: a case report and literature review
Qiong CHEN ; Xue WU ; Lili GE ; Shengnan WU ; Haihua YANG ; Bingyan CAO ; Haiyan WEI
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2024;39(4):310-313
The clinical data of a patient with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) complicated by partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) was retrospectively analyzed.The patient, a 2-month-and-22-day-old baby, was admitted to Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University due to abnormal external genitalia in October 2021.Upon birth, the patient exhibited abnormal external genitalia, manifested as clitoral hypertrophy.Hormonal examinations were consistent with those of peers, while chromosomal analysis revealed 47, XXY.Due to the severe undermasculinization, whole exome sequencing was conducted, indicating a heterozygous variant of the AR gene (c.1847G>A, p.Arg616His). The patient was diagnosed with PAIS, and her elder sister was diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome.For further treatment, a multidisciplinary comprehensive evaluation is needed.This is a rare case of KS combined with PAIS, suggesting the possibility of AR gene mutations in KS children with severe undermasculinization.
5.Clinical and genetic analysis of two children with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency
Xue WU ; Dongxia FU ; Huizhen WANG ; Shengnan WU ; Dongxiao LI ; Yongxing CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(2):199-204
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic variants of two children with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase deficiency (HMGCLD).Methods:Two children with HMGCLD diagnosed at Henan Provincial Children′s Hospital respectively in December 2019 and June 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data and results of laboratory testing were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Both children had manifested with repeated convulsions, severe hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis and liver dysfunction. Blood amino acids and acylcarnitine analysis showed increased 3-hydroxy-isovalyl carnitine (C5OH) and 3-hydroxy-isovalyl carnitine/capryloyl carnitine ratio (C5OH/C8), and urinary organic acid analysis showed increased 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl glutaric acid, 3-methyl glutaric acid, 3-methyl glutacoic acid, 3-hydroxyisoglycine and 3-methylprotarylglycine. Child 1 was found to harbor homozygous c. 722C>T variants of the HMGCL gene, which was rated as uncertain significance(PM2_Supporting+ PP3). Child 2 was found to harbor homozygous c. 121C>T variants of the HMGCL gene, which was rated as pathogenic(PVS1+ PM2_Supporting+ PP4). Conclusion:Acute episode of HMGCLD is usually characterized by metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia and metabolic acidosis, and elevated organic acids in urine may can facilitate the differential diagnosis, though definite diagnosis will rely on genetic testing.
6.Clinical features and genetic analysis of three children with β -ketothiolase deficiency
Xue WU ; Yuan LI ; Qiong CHEN ; Shengnan WU ; Chang SU ; Dongxiao LI ; Yongxing CHEN ; Haiyan WEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(3):289-293
Objective:To explore the clinical features and genetic variants in three children suspected for β-ketothiolase deficiency (BKTD).Methods:Clinical manifestations, laboratory examination and genetic testing of three children suspected for BKTD at Henan Children′s Hospital between January 2018 and October 2022 were collected, and their clinical and genetic variants were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The children were all males with a age from 7 to 11 months. Their clinical manifestations have included poor spirit, shortness of breath, vomiting, convulsions after traumatic stress and/or infection. All of them had severe metabolic acidosis, elevated ketone bodies in blood and urine, hypoglycemia, with increased isoprenyl-carnitine and 3-hydroxyisovalyl-carnitine in the blood, and 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate and methylprotaroyl glycine in the urine. All of them were found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the ACAT1 gene, including c. 1183G>T and a large fragment deletion (11q22.3-11q23.1) in child 1, c. 121-3C>G and c. 826+ 5_826+ 9delGTGTT in child 2, and c. 928G>C and c. 1142T>C in child 3. The variants harbored by children 2 and 3 were known to be pathogenic or likely pathogenic. The heterozygous c. 1183G>T variant in child 1 was unreported previously and rated as a variant of unknown significance (PM2_Supporting+ PP3+ PP4) based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The large segment deletion in 11q22.3-11q23.1 has not been included in the DGV Database and was rated as a pathogenic copy number variation. Conclusion:The variants of the ACAT1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of BKTD in these three children.
7.A Case of EML4-ALK Fusion V1 Subtype Lung Adenocarcinoma Detected by RNA-based NGS
XU YUE ; MU NING ; LIU MEI ; WU SHENGNAN ; MA CHUNHUA
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2024;27(6):480-484
Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rate worldwide.For lung adenocarcinoma,identifying specific gene mutations,fusions,and giving corresponding targeted drugs can greatly improve the survival time of the patients.Among them,anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)fusion occurs in 3%-7%of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).In clinical practice,a variety of detection methods can be used to determine the ALK fusion status,but false negative test results are possible.This paper retrospectively analyzed the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with lung adeno-carcinoma,judged the ALK fusion status by various detection methods.Among them,immunohistochemistry(IHC)(Ventana D5F3),RNA based next-generation sequencing(RNA-based NGS)confirmed positive echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4(EML4)-ALK fusion,while DNA-based NGS was negative.This paper analyzed the detection methods of ALK fusion,in order to clarify which detection method is the most accurate and simple to choose in different clinical cases and guide the subsequent treatment.
8.Meta-analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of High-dose Dual Therapy for the First-line Helicobacter pylori Infection
Luyue HUO ; Shengnan WU ; Shuaishuai ZHUANG
Journal of Medical Research 2024;53(2):74-80
Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose dual therapy(HDDT)versus quadruple ther-apy(QT)for the first-line helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection.Methods The randomized controlled trial(RCT)about HDDT versus QT for the first-line treatment of Hp infection were searched from CNKI,VIP,Wanfang,CBM,PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library and other databases from the establishment of databases to 3 July 2022.RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0software were used for Meta-analysis.Results A total of 1l studies with 4015 patients were included.The results of Meta-analysis showed that:the eradication rate of HDDT was statistically superior to that of QT(RR=1.04,95%CI:1.01-1.06,P<0.01)in the intention-to-treat analysis;the eradica-tion rate of the two groups was not statistically significant(RR=1.02,95%CI:1.00-1.04,P=0.08)in the coincidence protocol a-nalysis.HDDT had a significantly lower rate of adverse reactions than QT(RR=0.47,95%CI:0.36-0.61,P<0.01);but HDDT and QT both had achieved a similar eradication rate(RR=1.01,95%CI:1.00-1.02,P=0.06)in the per-protocol analysis.Conclusion The efficacy of HDDT in eradicating Hp infection for the first time is better than that of QT,and the safety is better,so it can be used as a first-line treatment in clinic.
9.Preferred retinal locus and its clinical application
Shengnan LI ; Jinglin ZHANG ; Dezheng WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2024;42(7):680-688
Macular diseases usually lead to central vision loss, accompanied by a significant unstable fixation, resulting in disorders of fine vision, reading, and even face recognition, which seriously affect the quality of life of patients.There is no clear and effective treatment to reverse the visual impairment caused by atrophic macular diseases, yet patients with central vision loss secondary to macular diseases commonly adopt a region outside the central macular area as the surrogate fovea for vision, which is named preferred retinal locus (PRL).However, natural PRLs are not optimal in common for low-vision rehabilitation.Therefore, some patients need eccentric fixation training for PRL relocation to achieve better visual rehabilitation.Studies have shown that eccentric fixation training based on biofeedback can stabilize the natural PRL or induce a new PRL to improve low-vision rehabilitation in patients with macular diseases.So far, the development and location characteristics of PRL and the clinical applications and efficacy of training remain controversial.This review concludes the concept and features of PRL, including the characteristics and possible rationale of PRL development, the location and relocation of PRL, and the evaluation indicators of PRL relocation.Furthermore, in order to provide clinical guidance for low-vision rehabilitation of patients with central vision loss, the programs and efficacy of eccentric fixation training for low-vision rehabilitation are also reviewed.
10.Correlation between brachial and ankle pulse wave velocity and cardiac structure and function in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Zhenya WU ; Hongmei MA ; Lijuan WANG ; Shengnan LIU ; Fanfan LI ; Jingjuan LI ; Ruifei YANG ; Yuanyuan LIU ; Jinyang WANG
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2024;32(9):641-645
Objective To explore the correlation between brachial and ankle pulse wave conduction velocity(baPWV)and cardiac structure and function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 443 patients with T2DM who were treated in The Endocrinology Department of Gansu Provincial People's Hospital were enrolled in this study from June 2022 to October 2023.All the patients were divided into simple T2DM group(T2DM,baPWV<1400 cm/s,n=221)and atherosclerosis group(AS,baPWV≥1400 cm/s,n=222)based on baPWV.The cardiac ultrasound diagnostic instrument was used to record left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),end diastolic left ventricular diameter(LVd),end diastolic interventricular septal thickness(IVSd),end diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWd),ratio of early to late diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve annulus(E/A),and ratio of early diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve orifice to early diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve annulus(E/E').Results Age,DM duration,SBP,DBP,HbA1c,TG,ABI,LVEF,IVSd,LVPWd,E/A<1,E/E'>14,were higher in AS group than in T2DM group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Spearman correlation analysis shows that E/A<1 was positively correlated with age,DM duration,BMI,SBP,DBP,and ABI(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while negatively correlated with baPWV(P<0.01).Pearson correlation analysis shows that LVPWd was positively correlated with age,DM duration,BMI,SBP,DBP,baPWV,and Scr(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Logistic regression analysis shows that baPWV,ABI,and SBP were the influencing factors for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.The analysis of the working characteristic curve of the subjects shows that the area under the curve of baPWV,SBP and ABI for predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is 0.647,0.643,and 0.624,with the best cutoff points being 1398.5 cm/s,125.5 mmHg,and 1.107.Conclusions baPWV is closely related to cardiac structure and function in T2DM patients.As baPWV increases,the risk of left ventricular diastolic insufficiency and hypertrophy rises.

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