1.Danggui Shaoyaosan Combined with Yinchenhaotang Regulates Lipid Metabolism to Ameliorate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Complicated with Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Yilin XU ; Liu LI ; Junju ZOU ; Hong LI ; Rong YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):38-47
ObjectiveTo explore the regulatory effect and mechanism of Danggui Shaoyaosan combined with Yinchenhaotang on lipid metabolism in the mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) based on network pharmacology and animal experiments. MethodsTwenty-four MKR transgenic diabetic mice were randomly allocated into 4 groups: Model, low-dose (12.6 g·kg-1) Chinese medicine (concentrated decoction of Danggui Shaoyaosan combined with Yinchenhaotang), high-dose (25.2 g·kg-1) Chinese medicine, and Western medicine (metformin, 0.065 g·kg-1). Six FVB mice were used as the normal group. All groups were treated for 6 consecutive weeks. The mice in the drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage, and those in the normal group and model group received the same volume of distilled water. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, liver weight, glucose tolerance, liver function indicators, blood lipid levels, and pathological changes in the liver were evaluated for each group. Network pharmacology was employed to analyze the targets and pathways of Danggui Shaoyaosan combined with Yinchenhaotang in the treatment of T2DM complicated with MASLD. Molecular biological techniques were used to verify the enriched key targets. ResultsCompared with the model group, each treatment group showed reduced fasting blood glucose, body weight, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and liver weight (P<0.01). The high-dose Chinese medicine group was superior to the low-dose group in reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL), increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and recovering glucose tolerance (AUC) and ALT (P<0.05), with the effect similar to that of the Western medicine group. Morphologically, Chinese medicine groups showed reduced lipid accumulation and alleviated pathological damage in the liver tissue, with the high-dose group demonstrating more significant changes. Network pharmacology results showed that Danggui Shaoyaosan combined with Yinchenhaotang may exert therapeutic effects through multiple targets such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), MYC oncogene (MYC), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Western blot showed that compared with the model group, the treatment groups demonstrated down-regulated protein levels of FAS and ACC (P<0.01) and up-regulated protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and UCP1 (P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose Chinese medicine group, the high-dose Chinese medicine group exhibited down-regulated protein levels of FAS and ACC and up-regulated protein levels of PGC-1α and UCP1 (P<0.05). ConclusionDanggui Shaoyaosan combined with Yinchenhaotang has the effect of ameliorating T2DM complicated with MASLD and can improve the liver lipid metabolism by up-regulating the protein levels of Fas and ACC and down-regulating the protein levels of PGC-1α and UCP1.
2.Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase: Possible Functions and Mechanisms
Xin-Rong LU ; Yong-Liang TONG ; Wei-Li KONG ; Lin ZOU ; Dan-Feng SHEN ; Shao-Xian LÜ ; Rui-Jie LIU ; Shao-Xing ZHANG ; Yu-Xin ZHANG ; Lin-Lin HOU ; Gui-Qin SUN ; Li CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):985-999
Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) is widely distributed in various organisms. The first reported ENGase activity was detected in Diplococcus pneumoniae in 1971. The protein (Endo D) was purified and its peptide sequence was determined in 1974. Three ENGases (Endo F1-F3) were discovered in Flavobacterium meningosepticum from 1982 to 1993. After that, the activity was detected from different species of bacteria, yeast, fungal, plant, mice, human, etc. Multiple ENGases were detected in some species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Trichoderma atroviride. The first preliminary crystallographic analysis of ENGase was conducted in 1994. But to date, only a few ENGases structures have been obtained, and the structure of human ENGase is still missing. The currently identified ENGases were distributed in the GH18 or GH85 families in Carbohydrate-Active enZyme (CAZy) database. GH18 ENGase only has hydrolytic activity, but GH85 ENGase has both hydrolytic and transglycosylation activity. Although ENGases of the two families have similar (β/α)8-TIM barrel structures, the active sites are slightly different. ENGase is an effective tool for glycan detection andglycan editing. Biochemically, ENGase can specifically hydrolyze β‑1,4 glycosidic bond between the twoN-acetylglucosamines (GlcNAc) on core pentasaccharide presented on glycopeptides and/or glycoproteins. Different ENGases may have different substrate specificity. The hydrolysis products are oligosaccharide chains and a GlcNAc or glycopeptides or glycoproteins with a GlcNAc. Conditionally, it can use the two products to produce a new glycopeptides or glycoprotein. Although ENGase is a common presentation in cell, its biological function remains unclear. Accumulated evidences demonstrated that ENGase is a none essential gene for living and a key regulator for differentiation. No ENGase gene was detected in the genomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and three other yeast species. Its expression was extremely low in lung. As glycoproteins are not produced by prokaryotic cells, a role for nutrition and/or microbial-host interaction was predicted for bacterium produced enzymes. In the embryonic lethality phenotype of the Ngly1-deficient mice can be partially rescued by Engase knockout, suggesting down regulation of Engase might be a solution for stress induced adaptation. Potential impacts of ENGase regulation on health and disease were presented. Rabeprazole, a drug used for stomach pain as a proton inhibitor, was identified as an inhibitor for ENGase. ENGases have been applied in vitro to produce antibodies with a designated glycan. The two step reactions were achieved by a pair of ENGase dominated for hydrolysis of substrate glycoprotein and synthesis of new glycoprotein with a free glycan of designed structure, respectively. In addition, ENGase was also been used in cell surface glycan editing. New application scenarios and new detection methods for glycobiological engineering are quickly opened up by the two functions of ENGase, especially in antibody remodeling and antibody drug conjugates. The discovery, distribution, structure property, enzymatic characteristics and recent researches in topical model organisms of ENGase were reviewed in this paper. Possible biological functions and mechanisms of ENGase, including differentiation, digestion of glycoproteins for nutrition and stress responding were hypothesised. In addition, the role of ENGase in glycan editing and synthetic biology was discussed. We hope this paper may provide insights for ENGase research and lay a solid foundation for applied and translational glycomics.
3.Research progress of lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration
Yu SHANG ; Rong ZOU ; Yuanzhi YUAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2024;31(5):819-825
Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is the first permanent cause of vision loss in developed countries,which is also a disease with high incidence and blindness rate in China.Studies have demonstrated that lipid metabolism is one of the key mechanisms of AMD.However,the precise mechanism remains unclear and medications for AMD treatments based on this mechanism have not yet been established.In this review,we critically review relevant studies to examine the associations between lipid metabolism and AMD from the perspectives of lipoproteins,lipid metabolism-related molecular,and lipid metabolism-related treatments,aiming to help understand the roles that lipid metabolism mechanisms play in the development and progression of AMD and to provide ideas for future targeted lipid metabolism therapies.
4.Evaluation on the effect of applying comprehensive interventions on pro-moting pathogen detection before antimicrobial therapy in hospitalized pa-tients
ZHUYi ; Jian-Wen ZHUANG ; Ying-Ying PAN ; Li-Na ZOU ; Yu-Rong HUANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(5):600-604
Objective To explore the effect of applying comprehensive interventions on promoting pathogen detec-tion before antimicrobial therapy in hospitalized patients.Methods Hospitalized patients who received therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in a tertiary first-class hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the research subjects.Comprehensive intervention measures were implemented from January 2021.The pathogen detec-tion rates,detection classification,and detection rates of key monitored departments before antimicrobial therapy were compared between the pre-intervention group(January-December 2020)and the post-intervention group(Janu-ary-December 2021).Results A total of 10 239 hospitalized patients who received therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents were included in analysis,4 526 cases were in the pre-intervention group and 5 713 cases in the post-interven-tion group.The pathogen detection rates before antimicrobial therapy,before restricted grade antimicrobial therapy,and before special grade antimicrobial therapy after intervention were 94.56%,94.72%,and 96.03%,respective-ly,which were higher than 83.74%,84.47%,and 84.95%before intervention,with statistical significance(all P<0.05).The detection rate of targeted pathogens after intervention was 64.87%,higher than that before interven-tion(28.04%),with statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The pathogen detection rates before therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in departments of critical care medicine,pulmonary and critical care medicine,pediatrics,neurosurgery,and general surgery after intervention were 93.20%,91.17%,92.20%,94.12%,and 91.15%,re-spectively,higher than the rates before intervention,namely 85.00%,82.19%,83.20%,83.33%,and 83.03%,respectively,with statistical significance(all P<0.05).Conclusion The application of comprehensive intervention measures can improve the pathogen detection rate before antimicrobial therapy of hospitalized patients.Close atten-tion should be paid to the pathogen detection indicators related to healthcare-associated infection diagnosis and for the detection of sterile body fluid.
5.Progress of intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for symptomatic Modic alterations
Gui LIAO ; Yu-Min MENG ; Zhuan ZOU ; Kai-Zhen XIAO ; Guang-Yu HUANG ; Rong-He GU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(4):423-428
Chronic lumbar and back pain caused by degenerative vertebral endplates presents a challenging issue for pa-tients and clinicians.As a new minimally invasive spinal treatment method,radiofrequency ablation of vertebral basal nerve in bone can denature the corresponding vertebral basal nerve through radiofrequency ablation of degenerative vertebral endplate.It blocks the nociceptive signal transmission of the vertebral base nerve,thereby alleviating the symptoms of low back pain caused by the degenerative vertebral endplate.At present,many foreign articles have reported the operation principle,opera-tion method,clinical efficacy and related complications of radiofrequency ablation of the vertebral basal nerve.The main pur-pose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current relevant research,and provide a reference for the follow-up clinical research.
6.Effect of Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in MKR Mice with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Yiyang WANG ; Junju ZOU ; Yuanyuan LU ; Qin XIANG ; Rong YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(10):102-109
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan prescription (ZJQP) in improving glucose and lipid metabolism in loss of skeletalmuscle-specific insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor function (MKR) mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MethodNAFLD was induced by high-fat diet feeding for 8 weeks in MKR mice, which were randomly divided into model group, metformin group (0.067 g·kg-1), and ZJQP high and low-dose groups(14.8, 7.4 g·kg-1). Ten FVB mice of the same age were used as the normal group. After 8 weeks of drug treatment, the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, the serum was taken to detect triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), and the wet weight of the mouse liver was weighed. Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and oil red O staining were performed to assess histopathology of liver. The mRNA expression and protein expression of Fork head box protein O1 (FoxO1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), and apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC-Ⅲ) in liver tissues were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (Real-time PCR) and Western blot, respectively. ResultAs compared with the normal group, the levels of fasting blood glucose, liver index, serum TG, TC, and OGTT of mice in the model group increased significantly (P<0.01). As compared with model group, the fasting blood glucose and liver index of the mice in the metformin group and the ZJQP group decreased significantly (P<0.01), the serum levels of TG and TC in the high-dose ZJQP group decreased significantly (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the OGTT of mice in the metformin group and the high-dose ZJQP group improved (P<0.05). In histopathology, as compared with the normal group, mice in the model group showed decreased lipid droplets and vacuoles in hepatocytes, and their volumes became larger. Compared with the model group, the ZJQP group and metformin group showed that the lipid droplets in liver tissues were reduced, the vacuoles in liver cells were reduced, and the volume was smaller. At the molecular level, as compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein levels of FoxO1, PEPCK, G6Pase, and ApoC-Ⅲ in liver tissues of mice in the model group were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the mRNA and protein levels of FoxO1, PEPCK, G6Pase, and ApoC-Ⅲ in the ZJQP group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). ConclusionZJQP can improve the glucose and lipid metabolism of T2DM with NAFLD and repair the pathological damage of liver, which may be through regulating the expression of FoxO1, PEPCK, G6Pase, ApoC-Ⅲ-related proteins in liver tissues to achieve the effects of regulating lipid, lowering glucose, and delaying hepatic steatosis.
7.Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription promotes recovery of intestinal mucosal barrier in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by improving intestinal flora homeostasis.
Jun-Ju ZOU ; Hong LI ; Min ZHOU ; Qiu-Qing HUANG ; Yong-Jun WU ; Rong YU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(2):525-533
This study aimed to investigate the recovery effect of Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription on intestinal flora homeostasis control and intestinal mucosal barrier in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet. NAFLD was established in MKR transgenic mice(T2DM mice) by a high-fat diet(HFD), and subsequently treated for 8 weeks with Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription(7.5, 15 g·kg~(-1)) and metformin(0.067 g·kg~(-1)). Triglyceride and liver function were assessed using serum. The hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining were used to stain the liver tissue, while HE staining and AB-PAS staining were used to stain the intestine tissue. 16S rRNA sequencing was utilized to track the changes in the intestinal flora of the mice in each group. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and immunofluorescence were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1. The results demonstrated that Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription increased the body mass of T2DM mice with NAFLD and decreased the hepatic index. It down-regulated the serum biomarkers of liver function and dyslipidemia such as alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST), and triglycerides(TG), increased insulin sensitivity, and improved glucose tolerance. According to the results of 16S rRNA sequencing, the Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription altered the composition and abundance of the intestinal flora, increasing the relative abundances of Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Bacteroidota and decreasing the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae, Firmicutes, Deslfobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Desulfovibrionaceae. According to the pathological examination of the intestinal mucosa, Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescritpion increased the expression levels of the tight junction proteins ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1, promoted intestinal mucosa repair, protected intestinal villi, and increased the height of intestinal mucosa villi and the number of goblet cells. By enhancing intestinal mucosal barrier repair and controlling intestinal microbiota homeostasis, Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Prescription reduces intestinal mucosal damage induced by T2DM and NAFLD.
Mice
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Animals
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism*
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome
;
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism*
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Occludin/pharmacology*
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Claudin-1/metabolism*
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Intestinal Mucosa
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Liver
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Triglycerides/metabolism*
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Diet, High-Fat
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Homeostasis
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
8.Effect and mechanism of gerbeloid J from Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. on cycle and apoptosis of breast cancer cells
Jing-rong LI ; Ling-yu LI ; Chen-xu ZHAO ; Hai SHANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Zhong-mei ZOU ; Lei WAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2023;58(4):938-945
Breast cancer has become the most prevalent malignant tumor among women, putting the health of women at serious risk. Screening for lead compounds in the active ingredients of plant that are effective and less toxic continues to be an important strategy for treating breast cancer. Gerbeloid J, a coumarin isolated from
9.Necessity of slit-lamp training during ophthalmology clerkships from the perspective of medical students
Xuan-Wei LIANG ; Yu-Xian ZOU ; Shu LIU ; Zi-Wei MENG ; Xin-Yue YU ; Ye-Hong ZHUO ; Rong-Xin CHEN
International Eye Science 2023;23(1):4-9
AIM: To evaluate the necessity of slit-lamp biomicroscopy(referred to here as “slit-lamp”)training from the student's perspective and reach a consensus on slit-lamp training in medical students during ophthalmology clerkship.METHODS: A controlled before-after clerkship study was performed on 117 students of the class of 2017 enrolled in clinical medicine at Sun Yat-sen University. All medical students underwent slit-lamp training during ophthalmology clerkship. We evaluated the students' cognition, perceived need and recommendations for slit-lamp teaching, using a self-completed questionnaire survey and compared the students' scores in these aspects before and after their ophthalmology clerkships. Additionally, the efficiency of slit-lamp training was evaluated by subjective student assessment after the ophthalmology clerkship. Each item was scored on a five-point Likert Scale. Statistical analysis was performed by IBM SPSS(Version 20.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).RESULTS: A total of 116(99.1%)medical students completed the survey. The average score before clerkship was 19.99±3.03, which indicated a high level of cognition regarding slit-lamp utility; However, this score significantly increased to 22.97±2.37 after clerkship(P<0.001). The average score regarding perceived need was also higher for post-clerkship students than for pre-clerkship students(24.62±3.15 vs. 23.60±2.36, P=0.009). Moreover, 86.2% of post-clerkship students reported that hands-on slit-lamp practice could help promote clerkship quality. More than three-quarters of the surveyed students tended to agree that slit-lamp practice time should be increased(76.7% and 77.6% before and after clerkship, respectively).CONCLUSION: A hands-on approach to slit-lamp training is more favored by medical students in ophthalmology clerkships, and this training should be recommended in ophthalmology clerkships given its potential usefulness for improving clerkship quality.
10.Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Formula improves glucolipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating FoxO1/MTP/APOB signaling pathway.
Yi-Xin XIANG ; Ya-Lan HUANG ; Min ZHOU ; Jun-Ju ZOU ; Xiu LIU ; Zi-Yu LIU ; Fan XIAO ; Rong YU ; Qin XIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(16):4438-4445
This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Formula(ZGJTQG) on the glucolipid metabolism of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). NAFLD was induced by a high-fat diet(HFD) in MKR mice(T2DM mice), and a model of T2DM combined with NAFLD was established. Forty mice were randomly divided into a model group, a metformin group(0.067 g·kg~(-1)), and high-and low-dose ZGJTQG groups(29.64 and 14.82 g·kg~(-1)), with 10 mice in each group. Ten FVB mice of the same age were assigned to the normal group. Serum and liver tissue specimens were collected from mice except for those in the normal and model groups after four weeks of drug administration by gavage, and fasting blood glucose(FBG) and fasting insulin(FINS) levels were measured. The levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein(LDL) were detected by the single reagent GPO-PAP method. Very low-density lipoprotein(VLDL) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate ami-notransferase(AST) were determined by the Reitman-Frankel assay. The pathological changes in the liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR) and Western blot were adopted to detect the mRNA and protein expression of forkhead transcription factor O1(FoxO1), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein(MTP), and apolipoprotein B(APOB) in the liver. The results showed that high-dose ZGJTQG could signi-ficantly reduce the FBG and FINS levels(P<0.05, P<0.01), improve glucose tolerance and insulin resistance(P<0.05, P<0.01), alleviate the liver damage caused by HFD which was reflected in improving liver steatosis, and reduce the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL, VLDL, ALT, and AST(P<0.05, P<0.01) in T2DM mice combined with NAFLD. The findings also revealed that the mRNA and protein expression of FoxO1, MTP, and APOB in the liver was significantly down-regulated after the intervention of high-dose ZGJTQG(P<0.05, P<0.01). The above study showed that ZGJTQG could effectively improve glucolipid metabolism in T2DM combined with NAFLD, and the mechanism was closely related to the regulation of the FoxO1/MTP/APOB signaling pathway.
Mice
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Animals
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism*
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism*
;
Liver
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Lipoproteins, LDL/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*
;
RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

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