1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Depression Based on Signaling Pathway Regulation: A Review
Jinjiang XU ; Li WU ; Qi ZHANG ; Yasheng DENG ; Jingjing XIE ; Haobin CHEN ; En ZHAO ; Man ZHANG ; Jianye DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):319-328
Depression is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent low mood or mental disorders. Current treatments primarily focus on regulating neurotransmitter levels, but their effectiveness is limited. The mechanisms underlying its onset are complex, and there is no unified consensus. Abnormal signaling pathway transmission plays a crucial role in the development of depression, involving multiple pathways, including Toll-like receptor 4/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (TLR4/NLRP3), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B (BDNF/TrkB), cyclic AMP/protein kinase A/cAMP response element-binding protein (cAMP/PKA/CREB), and others. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is based on a holistic approach and the principle of treatment based on the differentiation of syndromes, regulating the balance of multiple systems and organ functions from a macroscopic perspective. This approach has shown unique advantages in the treatment of depression. TCM attributes the onset of depression to dysfunction of the organ systems, involving liver Qi stagnation, heart spirit deficiency, kidney essence depletion, and spleen dysfunction. TCM compound treatments focus on soothing the liver, strengthening the spleen, calming the heart, and replenishing essence, with formulas such as Xiaoyaosan, Zishui Qinggan Yin, and Chahu Jia Guizhi Longgu Muli Tang. The active components of Chinese herbs mainly aim to tonify and regulate Qi, such as salidroside, ginsenoside Rb1, astragaloside, and muscone. External TCM treatments, primarily acupuncture, aim to open the orifices and invigorate the spirit. Acupoints such as Baihui, Shenting, and Yintang are commonly used. Additionally, massage and moxibustion therapy can intervene in depression by regulating signaling pathways. This article reviews the core role of signaling pathways in the development of depression and the mechanism of TCM regulation of signaling pathways to intervene in depression, aiming to discover new therapeutic approaches that can improve the symptoms of depressed patients.
2.Xixin Decoction improves learning and memory ability of SAMP8 by enhancing neuroprotective effect and inhibiting neuroinflammation.
En-Long ZHAO ; Yong-Chang DIWU ; Hu ZHANG ; Li-Qi DUAN ; Xin-Yue HAN ; Ya-Li WANG ; Yuan ZHOU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(18):5032-5040
This study aimed to explore the possible effect of Xixin Decoction(XXD) on the learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's disease(AD) model senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8(SAMP8) and the related mechanism in enhancing neuroprotective effect and reducing neuroinflammation. Forty SAMP8 were randomly divided into a model group(10 mL·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a probiotics group(0.39 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a high-dose group of XXD granules(H-XXD, 5.07 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a medium-dose group of XXD granules(M-XXD, 2.535 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a low-dose group of XXD granules(L-XXD, 1.267 5 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). Eight senescence-accelerated mouse-resistant 1(SAMR1) of the same age and strain were assigned to the control group(10 mL·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After ten weeks of intragastric administration, the Morris water maze was used to test the changes in spatial learning and memory ability of mice after treatment. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the positive expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products(AGER), Toll-like receptor 1(TLR1), and Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) in the hippocampal CA1 region of mice. Western blot was employed to test the protein expression levels of silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1(SIRT1), AGER, TLR1, and TLR2 in the hippocampus of mice. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was applied to assess the levels of Aβ_(1-42) in the hippocampus of mice and the levels of nuclear factor κB p65(NF-κB p65), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in the serum and hippocampus of mice. Compared with the model group, XXD significantly improved the spatial learning and memory ability of SAMP8, increased the expression of neuroprotective factors in the hippocampus, decreased the levels of neuroinflammatory factors, and inhibited the expression of Aβ_(1-42). In particular, H-XXD significantly increased the expression of SIRT1 in the hippocampus of mice, reduced the expression levels of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the serum and hippocampus of mice, and decreased the expression of AGER, TLR1, and TLR2 in the hippocampus of mice(P<0.05 or P<0.01). XXD may improve the spatial learning and memory ability of AD model SAMP8 by enhancing the neuroprotective effect and inhibiting neuroinflammation.
Humans
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Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use*
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Sirtuin 1/metabolism*
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Toll-Like Receptor 2/metabolism*
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NF-kappa B/metabolism*
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
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Neuroinflammatory Diseases
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
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Toll-Like Receptor 1/metabolism*
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Alzheimer Disease/genetics*
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Hippocampus
3.Publishing clinical prActice GuidelinEs (PAGE): Recommendations from editors and reviewers.
Nan YANG ; Wei ZHAO ; Wen-An QI ; Chen YAO ; Chong-Ya DONG ; Zhen-Guo ZHAI ; Tong CHEN ; En-Mei LIU ; Guo-Bao LI ; You-Lin LONG ; Xin-Yi WANG ; Zi-Jun WANG ; Ruo-Bing LEI ; Qi ZHOU ; Yao-Long CHEN ; Liang DU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2022;25(6):312-316
Transparency Ecosystem for Research and Journals in Medicine (TERM) working group summarized the essential recommendations that should be considered to review and publish a high-quality guideline. These recommendations from editors and reviewers included 10 components of essential requirements: systematic review of existing relevant guidelines, guideline registration, guideline protocol, stakeholders, conflicts of interest, clinical questions, systematic reviews, recommendation consensus, guideline reporting and external review. TERM working group abbreviates them as PAGE (essential requirements for Publishing clinical prActice GuidelinEs), and recommends guideline authors, editors, and peer reviewers to use them for high-quality guidelines.
Humans
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
4.A prospective cohort study on refractive status of schoolchildren in Huangzhong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province.
Qi LIN ; En Tuan YANG ; Li LI ; Ji Feng YU ; Xue LIU ; Hua Xin ZUO ; Man Jun LIU ; Hui Hui CHU ; Yin Zheng ZHAO ; Jidi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;56(9):1251-1256
Objective: To determine the characteristics and progress of the visual acuity and refractive state of schoolchildren in Huangzhong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province in China. Methods: Cohort study. Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Children's Hospital carried out a cohort study by collecting the visual acuity and refractive state of Grade 1-5 schoolchildren among 16 primary schools in Huangzhong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province in September 2020 and July 2021. Cycloplegic retinoscopy with eye drop which contained tropicamide (0.5%) and phenylephrine hydrochloride (0.5%) was performed in children with low vision(<1.0). Myopia was defined as the spherical equivalent (SE) ≤-0.5 D after cycloplegic retinoscopy. Measurement data was analyzed by t-test and enumeration data was analyzed by χ2 test. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: The 2 489 individuals with repeated tests in two years were included in the follow-up study, among whom the prevalence of myopia was 26.24%(653/2 489) in 2020, while 32.94% (820/2 489)respectively in 2021. The incidence of myopia in one school year from grades 1 to 5 was 11.19%(47/420), 5.44%(21/386), 6.39%(25/391), 11.52%(44/382) and 11.67%(30/257). The average SE of children in all grades in 2021 increased negatively from the previous year (Grade 1 to Grade 5 increased respectively: 0.40 D, 0.69 D, 0.62 D, 0.52 D and 0.37 D). Conclusions: The prevalence of myopia among schoolchildren in Huangzhong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province was relatively high. There were two peaks of myopia incidence in the first, fourth and fifth grades. Female, age, and the baseline of SE were the related influencing factors for myopia progression.
Child
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Cohort Studies
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Mydriatics
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Myopia/epidemiology*
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Ophthalmic Solutions
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Phenylephrine
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Prevalence
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Prospective Studies
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Tropicamide
5. Research progress on therapeutic strategies for improving pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
Xiang-Yun GAI ; En-Qi ZHAO ; Yan-Feng HE ; Yue-Fu ZHAO ; Jin-Yu WANG ; Feng-Run LI ; Xiang-Yun GAI ; En-Qi ZHAO ; Yan-Feng HE ; Yue-Fu ZHAO ; Jin-Yu WANG ; Feng-Run LI ; Zhan-Qiang LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2022;38(11):1612-1616
Pulmonary hypertension(PH)is a chronic,progressive,high-mortality disease characterized by a continuous increase in pulmonary vascular pressure. All types of PH have the same characteristics,i.e.,the excessive proliferation,anti-apoptosis and inflammation of pulmonary artery endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells,which leads to progressive thickening of pulmonary small vessels,resulting in pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary vascular resistance,ultimately leading to right ventricular hypertrophy,heart failure,and death. The drugs used to treat PH mainly include L-type calcium channel blockers,phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors,guanosine cyclase activators,endothelin receptor antagonists,and synthetic prostacyclin and its analogues. These drugs reduce pulmonary artery pressure by relaxing pulmonary blood vessels but do not cure the patient,and their prognosis remains poor. Therefore,the development of drugs that can effectively improve or even reverse pulmonary vascular remodeling is the key to treating PH. In recent years,studies on pulmonary vascular remodeling mainly included(1)the synthesis of new small-molecule compounds;(2)the transformation of mature drugs,such as the use of drug combinations and dosage form transformation,etc.;(3)the pharmacodynamic evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines and derived compounds based on the theory of "lung distension";(4)research into monomers of traditional Chinese medicine; and(5)research into new targets.
6. Research progress on hypoxia-induced imbalance of calcium homeostasis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and its treatment
Xiang-Yun GAI ; En-Qi ZHAO ; Jin-Yu WANG ; Yue-Fu ZHAO ; Yan-Feng HE ; Peng-Cheng LIN ; Xiang-Yun GAI ; En-Qi ZHAO ; Jin-Yu WANG ; Yue-Fu ZHAO ; Yan-Feng HE ; Peng-Cheng LIN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2022;38(4):492-496
Chronic hypoxic lung diseases are major causes of disability and mortality worldwide, which are typically aggravated by hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.The pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is complex, and its mechanism has not been fully elucidated.The previous studies have shown abnormally elevated levels of free Ca + in the cytoplasm of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells to be the predominant drivers of pulmonary hypertension , causing continuous contraction and remodeling of the pulmonary vessels.This article briefly summarizes the mechanism of hypoxia-induced imbalance in calcium homeostasis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, together with its related drug research, based on the existing literature.Hypoxia induces an imbalance in calcium homeostasis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1, K+ , store-operated calcium channel, receptor-operated calcium channel, the Ca +-sensing myosin contractile mechanism by binding to calmodulin, leading to pulmonary vasoconstriction.Ca + can also activate PKC/ MAPKs and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways, leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling.
7.Mechanism of pulmonary artery remodeling induced by calcium overload induced by hypoxia
Jin-yu WANG ; Yue-fu ZHAO ; En-qi ZHAO ; Xiang-yun GAI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2021;56(8):2164-2168
Patients with hypoxia pulmonary hypertension (HPH) are often accompanied by dyspnea, fatigue, and headache. With the development of the disease, the right ventricle gradually collapses and eventually leads to death. Hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling is an important pathological basis of HPH, and the remodeled pulmonary vessels will form permanent thickening. The mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling is relatively complex. At present, there are few studies on drugs for pulmonary vascular remodeling on the market, mainly focusing on the alleviation of pulmonary vasoconstriction. It was found that hypoxia induces calcium overload in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), resulting in the proliferation of PASMCs. The main mechanisms include: ① abnormal expression of calcium pumps; ② abnormal calcium channels in the plasma membrane of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells; ③ overexpression of calcium-sensitive receptors in cells; ④ the expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger type-1 was abnormal. This review summarized several mechanisms of hypoxia induced calcium overload leading to pulmonary artery remodeling, hoping to provide a new idea for the treatment of HPH.
8. Calcium signal transduction in mitochondria in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension
En-Qi ZHAO ; Xiang-Yun GAI ; Ping YE ; En-Qi ZHAO ; Xiang-Yun GAI ; Xiang-Yun GAI ; Ping YE
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2021;37(11):1503-1507
Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is characterized by hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (H P V) and hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling(HPVR). Previous studies have shown that intracellular Ca
9. Effect of Berbamine Hydrochloride on Intestinal Absorption Characteristics of Berberine Hydrochloride by Rat Everted Intestinal Sac Model
Yu-nan XIANG ; Xiao-yan WANG ; Hui FENG ; Ya ZHAO ; Qi-en LI ; Xian-jia LI ; Xian-rong LAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2019;25(17):98-103
Objective: To investigate the effect of berbamine hydrochloride on the absorption characteristics of berberine hydrochloride in different intestinal segments of rats in normal environment and high calcium environment. Method: Taking rat everted intestinal sac model,the content of berberine hydrochloride in absorbent solution of everted intestinal sac from different compatibility groups was determined by HPLC,and the uptake per unit area in different groups was analyzed by One-way ANOVA. Result: Compared with the normal J70 group(in normal environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L-1) at the same time point,the uptake per unit area of the normal J70+Ver100 group(in normal environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L-1,adding verapamil hydrochloride to a concentration of 100 mg·L-1) was significantly increased in the ileum(P<0.05) at 120 min;the uptake per unit area values of the high calcium J70+A35 group(in high calcium environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L-1,adding berbamine hydrochloride to a concentration of 35 mg·L-1) were significantly increased in the duodenum(P<0.05) at 30,60,90 min;and the uptake per unit area values of the high calcium J70+A70 group(in high calcium environment,the concentration of berberine hydrochloride was 70 mg·L-1,adding berbamine hydrochloride to a concentration of 70 mg·L-1) were significantly increased in the ileum(P<0.05) at 30,90,120 min.By comparing with the normal group with the same mass concentration,the intestinal absorption of berberine hydrochloride was better in the high calcium J70+A35 group and the high calcium J70+A70 group. Conclusion: Berbamine hydrochloride can promote the absorption of berberine hydrochloride in intestine to a certain extent,especially in the high calcium environment.
10. Optimization of Purification Process of Total Alkaloid Extract of Berberis dictyophylla Cortex by Macroporous Resin and Investigation of Its Quality Standard
Hui FENG ; Ya ZHAO ; Xiao-yan WANG ; Yu-nan XIANG ; Lu HAO ; Qi-en LI ; Xian-jia LI ; Xian-rong LAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2019;25(16):97-103
Objective: To optimize purification process of total alkaloid extract of Berberis dictyophylla cortex by macroporous resin,and to establish its quality standard. Method: Acid dye colorimetry was used to investigate the purification process of total alkaloid extract of B. dictyophylla cortex,the process parameters included concentration of sample solution,speed of sampling,diameter-height ratio of resin column,water washing amount,concentration and dosage of eluent,flow rate of elution,etc.In order to determine the optimum process,HPLC was employed to determine the contents of four alkaloids(magnoflorine,jatrorrhizine hydrochloride,palmatine hydrochloride,and berberine hydrochloride) with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution for gradient elution and detection wavelength at 270 nm.After being purified,quality standard of total alkaloid extract of B. dictyophylla cortex was investigated according to the requirements in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Result: Optimal purification conditions were as following:10 g of HPD100 macroporous adsorption resin with a column diameter-height ratio of 1:8,sampling solution concentration of 11 g·L-1,the loading flow rate of 1 mL·min-1,sampling solution volume of 50 mL,washed with 4 BV of water(1 BV=15 mL) and added 9 BV of 30% ethanol,after being purified,the transfer rate of total alkaloids was>80%,and its purity was>65%.The quality standard of total alkaloid extract of B. dictyophylla cortex was established,there were 19 common peaks in the characteristic chromatogram,and the overall similarity was>0.99. Conclusion: This optimized purification process is stable and feasible, and the established quality standard is controllable.

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