1.Autophagy Abnormalities in PCOS and Targeted Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Xinxin YANG ; Zhicheng JIA ; Mengyu SHI ; Yongqian LI ; Peixuan WANG ; Ying GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):313-322
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine and reproductive disorder,with the main clinical manifestations including ovulation failure,insulin resistance,hyperandrogenism,and obesity. Its occurrence and development are closely related to cellular regulatory mechanisms such as apoptosis,autophagy,oxidative stress,and inflammatory response. Autophagy,as a clearance mechanism that maintains cellular homeostasis,plays a crucial role in maintaining the growth,development,and maturation of oocytes. Exploring the mechanism of autophagy during the occurrence and development of diseases can help develop treatment methods for PCOS by regulating autophagy. Studies have shown that autophagy plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PCOS,and it can affect the occurrence and development of PCOS through multiple pathways,levels,and targets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulates autophagy in ovarian granulosa cells or endometrium of patients with PCOS by targeting the expression of autophagy signaling pathways,regulatory factors,and non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules,thereby alleviating inflammation,regulating metabolism disorders,and balancing hormone levels in PCOS. Accordingly,TCM can ameliorate pathological conditions such as insulin resistance,hyperandrogenism,and ovulation failure in PCOS. This article summarizes the TCM formulas and extracts for the treatment of PCOS,as well as the main autophagy pathways and regulatory factors involved,aiming to provide reference and suggestions for the future treatment of PCOS with TCM by regulating autophagy.
2.Prevention and Treatment of Age-related Ovarian Hypofunction with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Zhicheng JIA ; Yongqian LI ; Peixuan WANG ; Yang LIU ; Wenhan JU ; Fang LIAN ; Zhengao SUN ; Ying GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(11):255-265
Age-related ovarian hypofunction includes a decrease in follicle quantity and quality as well as alterations in the ovarian microenvironment,the mechanisms of which are mainly related to mitochondrial dysfunction,free radical and antioxidant systems,telomere and telomerase alterations,and apoptosis,and is one of the major factors contributing to infertility in advanced maternal age (AMA). Despite the tremendous progress in assisted reproductive technology in recent decades,few breakthroughs have been made in alleviating age-related ovarian hypofunction and improving reproductive outcomes for AMA. In recent years,there has been an increasing number of studies on the multi-level and multi-targeted mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to improve age-related ovarian hypofunction by modulating mitochondrial homeostasis,alleviating oxidative stress,and inhibiting apoptosis,while more high-quality randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of TCM in assisted reproductive technology. Given this,this article presented a systematic review of recent research and randomized controlled trials on the mechanism of Chinese medicine active ingredients,single Chinese medicine, and Chinese medicine compounds in delaying age-related ovarian hypofunction,to clarify the current status and shortcomings of the research. This paper provides medication management of TCM for effectively alleviating age-related ovarian hypofunction and improving reproductive outcomes for AMA.
3.Mitochondrial Function Reveals Connotation of "Seven-Seven" Theory of Huangdi's Internal Classic and Mechanism of Herbal Intervention for Elderly Women Undergoing IVF-ET
Zhicheng JIA ; Ying GUO ; Hao LAI ; Fang LIAN ; Haixia GAO ; Yongqian LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(12):128-134
ObjectiveTo study the changes of mitochondrial function of ovarian granulosa cells in women of different ages and the effect of Erzhi-Tiangui prescription on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes for elderly women, so as to verify the connotation of the "Seven-Seven" theory in the Huangdi's Internal Classic (《黄帝内经》). MethodA total of 150 infertility patients undergoing IVF-ET at the Reproductive and Genetic Center of Integrative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited and assigned into "hree-Seven/Four-Seven (30 cases), Five-Seven (60 cases), and Six-Seven (60 cases) groups according to the "Seven-Seven" theory. The Five-Seven and Six-Seven groups were further assigned into control and Chinese medicine subgroups using the random number plus envelope method, and the Chinese medicine group was administrated with Erzhi Tiangui prescription from the start day of controlled ovulation stimulation cycle to the trigger day. The IVF outcome was observed, and Western blot was employed to determine the levels of mitofusin 1 (MFN1), mitofusin 2 (MFN2), and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in the ovarian granulosa cells. ResultCompared with the Three-Seven/Four-Seven group, the control subgroups of the Five-Seven and Six-Seven groups showed decreased retrieved oocytes, two pronuclear (2PN) embryos, available embryos, high-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate (P<0.05). Moreover, the control subgroup of the Six-Seven group showed decreased fresh embryo transfer rate(P<0.05). Compared with the control subgroup of the Five-Seven group, that of the Six-Seven group showed reduced retrieved oocytes, 2PN embryos, available embryos, high-quality embryos, and clinical pregnancy rate (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine subgroup had more retrieved oocytes, 2PN oocytes, and available embryos than the control subgroup in the Five-Seven groups (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine subgroup had more retrieved oocytes, than the control subgroup in the Six-Seven groups (P<0.05). The control subgroup of the Six-Seven group showed lower expression levels of Mfn1 and Mfn2 and higher level of Drp1 than the control subgroup of the Five-Seven group (P<0.05), which indicated that the levels of Mfn1 and Mfn2 in ovarian granulosa cells were down-regulated while the expression of Drp1 was up-regulated with aging (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine subgroup had higher Mfn2 level and lower Drp1 level than the control subgroup in the Five-Seven group (P<0.05), and the Chinese medicine subgroup had higher Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels and lower Drp1 level than then control subgroup in the Six-Seven group (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe prognosis of IVF in women after "Five-Seven" became worse with aging, and the mitochondria in ovarian granulosa cells showed decreased fusion ability and increased fission, which verified the connotation of the "Seven-Seven" theory from the mitochondrial function. Erzhi Tiangui prescription can regulate the mitochondrial function of ovarian granulosa cells in elderly women, up-regulate the expression levels of Mfn1 and Mfn2 to promote mitochondrial fusion, and down-regulate the expression of Drp1 to reduce mitochondrial fission, thus alleviating the ovarian hypofunction caused by aging, improve the development potential of oocytes, and improve the IVF outcomes of elderly women. However, this prescription has limited efficacy for the elderly women in the age range of "Six-Seven".
4.Analysis of the therapeutic efficacy and factors influencing sequential combination of nucleos(t)ide analogues with pegylated interferon alpha for 48~96 weeks in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B
Rui JIA ; Wenxin WANG ; Zhiping ZHOU ; Weimin NIE ; Yongqian CHENG ; Jun ZHAO ; Fang LIAN ; Junqing LUAN ; Fusheng WANG ; Junliang FU
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2023;31(12):1290-1296
Objective:To explore the therapeutic efficacy and factors influencing the sequential combination of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) with pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN-α) in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods:144 CHB cases with NAs treatment for more than 1 year, HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) quantification < 3 000 IU/ml, treated with a sequential combination of Peg-IFN-α treatment for 48 to 96 weeks, and followed up were selected from the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between May 2018 and May 2020. Intention-to-treat analysis was used to measure the HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compute the cumulative HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the factors influencing HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks of sequential combination therapy. Univariate and multifactorial COX proportional hazard models were used to analyze the factors influencing HBsAg clearance following 96 weeks of prolonged PEG-IFN-α treatment. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the predictive value of factors influencing HBsAg clearance. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the measurement data between groups. The count data was compared using the χ2 test between groups. Results:41 (28.47%) cases achieved HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks of sequential combination therapy. The HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks was 40.28% (58/144) by intention-to-treat analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method computed that the cumulative HBsAg clearance rate at 96 weeks was 68.90%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HBsAg quantification at baseline ( OR = 0.090, 95% CI: 0.034-0.240, P < 0.001) and a 24-week drop in HBsAg level ( OR = 7.788, 95% CI: 3.408-17.798, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of HBsAg clearance in CHB patients treated sequentially in combination with NAs and Peg-IFN-α for 48 weeks. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the baseline HBsAg quantification [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 0.911, 95% CI: 0.852-0.952)] and 24-week drop in HBsAg level (AUC = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.814-0.930) had equally good predictive value for 48-week HBsAg clearance, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two ( Z = 0.638, P = 0.523). The value of the combination of baseline HBsAg quantification and 24-week drop in HBsAg level (AUC = 0.981, 95% CI: 0.941-0.997) was superior to that of single baseline HBsAg quantification ( Z = 3.017, P = 0.003) and 24-week drop in HBsAg level ( Z = 3.214, P = 0.001) in predicting HBsAg clearance rate at 48 weeks. Multivariate COX proportional hazards model analysis showed that HBsAg quantification at 48 weeks ( HR = 0.364, 95% CI: 0.176-0.752, P = 0.006) was an independent predictor of HBsAg clearance with a prolonged course to 96 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment. Conclusion:The HBsAg clearance rate can be accurately predicted with baseline HBsAg quantification combined with a 24-week drop in HBsAg level in patients with CHB who are treated with a sequential combination of NAs and Peg-IFN-α therapy for 48 weeks. Prolonging the course of Peg-IFN-α treatment can enhance the HBsAg clearance rate's capability. An independent predictor of HBsAg clearance is HBsAg quantification at 48 weeks of sequential combination therapy with a prolonged course of 96 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment.
5.A systematic review and meta-analysis of severe risk in patients with common chronic diseases and coronavirus disease 2019
Liang WU ; Ping ZHAO ; Jianjun WANG ; Jiaye LIU ; Xiaoyan JIA ; Jing ZHANG ; Honghong LIU ; Song QING ; Yuanjie FU ; Tao YAN ; Xueyuan JIN ; Yongqian CHENG
Chinese Journal of Infectious Diseases 2021;39(1):2-8
Objective:To systematically review the severe risk in common chronic diseases and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.Methods:PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biology Medicine disc, medRxiv, SSRN and ChinaXiv were searched for clinical and epidemiological studies that reported chronic diseases in patients with COVID-19. Only studies of severe COVID-19 in comparison with non-severe controls were included. The prevalence rates of chronic diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, malignant tumor, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and chronic liver disease were estimated. Pooled odds ratio ( OR) with 95% confidence interval ( CI) between patients with severe COVID-19 and non-severe groups were calculated. R 3.6.3 software was used for meta-analysis. Results:The search yielded 2 455 articles. A total of 19 eligible comparative studies with 4 792 patients were included in a quantitative analysis. Meta-analysis showed that there was a proportion of 55.0% (95% CI 40.0%-80.0%) male among patients with COVID-19, and the overall pooled prevalence of any chronic diseases in COVID-19 cases was 30.4% (95% CI 24.0%-37.0%). The most prevalent comorbidity was hypertension (16.9%(95% CI 14.0%-20.0%)), followed by diabetes mellitus (8.3%(95% CI 8.0%-9.0%)). The proportion of male patients with severe COVID-19 was higher than that of male patients with non-severe COVID-19 (64.4% vs 52.8%, OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.05, Z=4.63, P<0.01). The prevalence rates of COPD, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumor in severe COVID-19 patients were higher than those of non-severe patients ( OR=5.77, 95% CI 3.80-8.74; OR=4.47, 95% CI 2.71-7.38; OR=3.55, 95% CI 2.86-4.40; OR=3.05, 95% CI=1.76-5.28; OR=2.82, 95% CI=1.96-3.97; OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.77-3.23; OR=2.15, 95% CI 1.27-3.66, respectively, Z=8.37, 6.01, 11.60, 4.20, 5.46, 5.71, 3.12, all P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic liver disease between severe and non-severe patients ( OR=1.35, 95% CI 0.84-2.17, P=0.11). Conclusion:COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases have higher risk of developing severe disease, and the ORs from high to low are COPD, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumor.
6.Research progress on prognostic factors of primary central nervous system lymphoma
Shuoting WANG ; Jie GAO ; Qianqing SHEN ; Yongqian JIA
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2021;34(4):428-431
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and special kind of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemotherapy based on high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is considered a standard therapy for newly diagnosed PCNSL, but the prognosis of PCNSL is poor due to its high invasiveness and recurrence rate. Risk stratification and prognosis assessment of PCNSL in diagnosis is particularly important in clinical treatment. At present, MSKCC (the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG) and Nottingham/Barcelona scoring models are mostly used to classify the risk and evaluate the prognosis of PCNSL. With the further understanding of immunohistochemistry and molecular genetics of PCNSL, potential prognostic factors continue to emerge.
7.Early reduction of serum RANTES can predict HBsAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with peginterferon alpha
Rui JIA ; Wenxin WANG ; Yingying GAO ; Junqing LUAN ; Fei QIAO ; Jiaye LIU ; Jinhong YUAN ; Yongqian CHENG ; Fusheng WANG ; Junliang FU
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2021;29(7):666-672
Objective:To observe the dynamic changes of serum RANTES during the treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with pegylated interferon alpha (peginterferon-α), and further analyze the predictive effect of RANTES on HBsAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods:98 cases of chronic hepatitis B with quantitative HBsAg < 3 000 IU/ml and HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml after≥1 year NAs treatment were enrolled. Among them, 26 cases continued to receive NAs monotherapy, 72 cases received NAs combined with pegylated interferon alpha therapy. The changes in RANTES during treatment were observed. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the early changes of RANTES to predict the HBsAg clearance during 48 weeks.Results:During 48 weeks, 15 cases (20.83%) had achieved HBsAg clearance in combination group, while no patient had achieved HBsAg clearance in NAs group. The overall serum RANTES level had decreased from baseline in NAs and combination group. At week 48, in the combination group, the serum RANTES level was decreased more significantly in patients with HBsAg clearance than patients without. Further analysis showed that, in combination group, HBsAg clearance rate of patients with serum RANTES decreased at week 12 and 24 was higher than patients with elevated (29.17% vs. 4.17%, P = 0.014; 28.00% vs. 4.55%, P = 0.052), and quantitative HBsAg reduction was larger significantly [(1.49 ± 1.26) log 10IU/ml vs. (0.73 ± 0.81) log 10IU/ml, P = 0.017; (1.54 ± 1.27) log 10IU/ml vs. (0.57 ± 0.56) log 10IU/ml, P = 0.004]. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the baseline quantitative HBsAg and the reduction in quantitative HBsAg and serum RANTES during the early period were predictors of HBsAg clearance after 48-week combination therapy. Furthermore, the combination of baseline quantitative HBsAg and 12 - or 24-week reduction of serum RANTES were better predictors of HBsAg clearance than that of baseline quantitative HBsAg combined with HBsAg decrease at week 12 or 24. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the former was 0.925 and 0.939, while that of the latter was 0.909 and 0.929, respectively. Conclusion:Early reduction of serum RANTES at week 12 and 24 can predict HBsAg loss in CHB patients receiving addition of peginterferon-α to ongoing NAs Therapy, so serum RANTES could be one of the key immunological markers for predicting HBsAg clearance.
8. Effects of artesunate combined with bortezomib on apoptosis and autophagy of acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro and its mechanism
Lianjie HU ; Tao JIANG ; Fujue WANG ; Shihua HUANG ; Xiaomin CHENG ; Yongqian JIA
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2019;40(3):204-208
Objective:
To investigate the effects of artesunate combined with bortezomib on the proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy of human acute myeloid leukemia cell lines MV4-11, and its mechanisms.
Methods:
MTT method was used to determine the anti-proliferation effect of different concentrations of artesunate, bortezomib and their combination on MV4-11 cells. The cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of cleaved-Caspase-3, Bcl-2 family protein (Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bim, Bax) and autophagy-related protein LC3B were assayed by Western blot.
Results:
Artesunate displayed a proliferation inhibition effect on MV4-11 with dose- and time-dependent manner, the IC50 of artesunate on MV4-11 after 48 hours was 1.44 μg/ml. Bortezomib displayed a proliferation inhibition effect on MV4-11 with dose-dependent manner, the IC50 of bortezomib on MV4-11 after 48 hours was 8.97 nmol/L. The combination of artesunate (0.75, 1.0 μg/ml) and Bortezomib (6, 8 nmol/L) showed higher inhibition on MV4-11 than artesunate or bortezomib alone in the same concentration gradient after 48 hours (
9. A real-world study of paritaprevir/ritonavir-ombitasvir combined with dasabuvir in the treatment of genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C
Junping LIU ; Yongqian CHENG ; Jiming ZHANG ; Huiming JIN ; Huibin NING ; Kuan LI ; Mengyang MA ; Yanan WU ; Zhen PENG ; Hui YIN ; Cuiping LIU ; Jia SHANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2018;26(12):927-932
Objective:
To recognize the efficacy and safety of paritaprevir/ritonavir-ombitasvir combined with dasabuvir (OBV/PTV/RTV+DSV) in the treatment of genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C.
Methods:
Patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C who were admitted to the People's Hospital of Henan Province, Huashan Hospital of Shanghai and the Fifth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army of China between November 2017 to August 2018 were enlisted. All patients received OBV/PTV/RTV+DSV antiviral therapy. HCV RNA levels were measured at baseline, weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, and 24, then 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after completion of treatment; patients’ comorbidity, concomitant medications, and clinical adverse events were recorded.
Results:
108 patients were enrolled in the study, with an average age of 49.1 years, 44 patients were male (40.8%), 96.3% (104/108) were newly diagnosed, and four patients had previous treatment history, of whom three were treated with IFN and one with IFN + DAA. Ninety-eight cases completed 12 weeks treatment and 89 cases were in follow up for 12 weeks, after discontinuation of the drug. Overall, 89 cases (100%) achieved SVR12.One patient treated with PR and DAA had HCV RNA level of 869175 IU/mL at 4 weeks of treatment, which was significantly higher than the baseline HCV RNA level (301776IU/ML), and was judged as failure of treatment; and follow-up was discontinued. Of all enrolled patients, 19 (17.6%) had underlying diseases and 15 (13.9%) had combined medications. During treatment, adverse events (AE) occurred in 11 patients (10.1%). The main adverse events were pruritus and elevated bilirubin.
Conclusion
Combined antiviral therapy (OBV/PTV/RTV+DSV) of 12 weeks are highly effective with good safety profile in the treatment of Chinese patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C.
10.Curative Efficacy of Decitabine Combine with CAG Gegimen in Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Its Effects on IFN-γ, HBDH and LDH Levels
Na ZHANG ; Yongqian JIA ; Shenglan QING ; Feng XU ; Jie ZHOU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2017;17(25):4963-4966
Objective:To study the curative efficacy of decitabine combine with CAG regimen in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and its effects on the serum Interferon-γ (IFN-γ),alpha hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.Methods:70 cases of patients with acute myeloid leukemia who were treated from February 2013 to October 2016 in our hospital were selected as research objects.According to the random number table,the patients were divided into the observation group (n=35) and the control group (n=35).Both groups of patients were treated conventional treatment.The control group was treated with CAG scheme,intravenous injection of aclarubicin,20 mg each time,granulocyte colony stimulating factor,300 μg each time,subcutaneous intravenous cytarabine,10~15 mg/m2 each time,while the observation group was treated with intravenous drip of decitabine on the basis of control group,15 mg/m2 each time.Then the therapeutic effect,serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ),alpha hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels before and after treatment,incidence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups.Results:After treatment,the total effective of observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group [91.42%(32/35)vs68.57%(24/35)] (P <0.05);the serum IFN-γ,HBDH,LDH levels were significantly higher than those of the control group [(3.21± 1.01)pg/ml vs.(5.13 ± 1.90)pg/mL,(103.62± 26.39)U/L vs.(118.80± 28.60)U/L,(101.36± 27.32)U/L vs.(123.08 ± 30.59)U/L] (P <0.05);the incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly lower than that of the control group [20.00%(7/35) vs.42.85%(15/35)(P <0.05)].Conclusion:Decitabine combined with CAG regimen was more effective for acute myeloid leukemia than CAG regimen alone,which might be related to reduce the serum levels of IFN-γ, HBDH and LDH.

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