1.Chinese Materia Medica by Regulating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Prevention and Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Yasheng DENG ; Lanhua XI ; Yanping FAN ; Wenyue LI ; Tianwei LIANG ; Hui HUANG ; Shan LI ; Xian HUANG ; Chun YAO ; Guochu HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):321-330
Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the colonic mucosa and submucosa, and its complex pathogenesis involves immune abnormality, oxidative stress and other factors. The nuclear transcription factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), encoded by the Nfe212 gene, plays a central role in antioxidant responses. It not only activates various antioxidant response elements such as heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1), but also enhances the activity of glutathione-S-transferase(GST) and superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1), effectively eliminating reactive oxygen species(ROS) accumulated in the body, and mitigating oxidative stress-induced damage to intestinal mucosa. In addition, Nrf2 can reduce the release of inflammatory factors and infiltration of immune cells by regulating immune response, cell apoptosis and autophagy pathways, thereby alleviating intestinal inflammation and promoting the repair and regeneration of damaged mucosa. Based on this, this paper reviews the research progress of Chinese materia medica in the prevention and treatment of UC by modulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. It deeply explores the physiological role of Nrf2, the molecular mechanism of activation, the protective effect in the pathological process of UC, and how active ingredients in Chinese materia medica regulate the Nrf2 signaling pathway through multiple pathways to exert their potential mechanisms. These studies have revealed in depth that Chinese materia medica can effectively combat oxidative stress by regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. It can also play a role in anti-inflammatory, promoting autophagy, inhibiting apoptosis, protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier, and promoting intestinal mucosal repair, providing new ideas and methods for the multi-faceted treatment of UC.
2.Clinical Observation of Modified Zhigancao Tang in Treating Patients with Liver and Kidney Deficiency of Parkinson's Disease and Its Effect on Neuronal Signal-related Proteins
Yifo WEI ; Furong LYU ; Jia YAO ; Guonian LI ; Xianyi LUO ; Meng LUO ; Zhengzheng WEN ; Qiuqi LI ; Yihan LIU ; Linlin YANG ; Rui ZUO ; Wenxin DANG ; Fang MI ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Zhigang CHEN ; Fan LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):166-173
ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 (MAP-2), alpha-tubulin (α-tubulin), and synaptophysin (SYP) are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein (α-Syn) and its oligomers, MAP-2, α-tubulin, and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease (PD), analyzed their correlation, and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine, and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score, TCM syndrome score, and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers, MAP-2, α-tubulin, and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment, the TCM syndrome score, UPDRS score, UPDRS-Ⅱ score, and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The UPDRS score, UPDRS-Ⅱ score, and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% (19/30), and that of the treatment group was 86.7% (26/30). The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group (Z=-2.03, P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.136, P<0.05). After treatment, the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers, as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group, were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD (P<0.05, P<0.01) but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin (P<0.05, P<0.01) but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 (P<0.05). ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.
3.Hypoglycemic Effect and Mechanism of ICK Pattern Peptides
Lin-Fang CHEN ; Jia-Fan ZHANG ; Ye-Ning GUO ; Hui-Zhong HUANG ; Kang-Hong HU ; Chen-Guang YAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):50-60
Diabetes is a very complex endocrine disease whose common feature is the increase in blood glucose concentration. Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to blindness, kidney and heart disease, neurodegeneration, and many other serious complications that have a significant impact on human health and quality of life. The number of people with diabetes is increasing yearly. The global diabetes prevalence in 20-79 year olds in 2021 was estimated to be 10.5% (536.6 million), and it will rise to 12.2% (783.2 million) in 2045. The main modes of intervention for diabetes include medication, dietary management, and exercise conditioning. Medication is the mainstay of treatment. Marketed diabetes drugs such as metformin and insulin, as well as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are effective in controlling blood sugar levels to some extent, but the preventive and therapeutic effects are still unsatisfactory. Peptide drugs have many advantages such as low toxicity, high target specificity, and good biocompatibility, which opens up new avenues for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Currently, insulin and its analogs are by far the main life-saving drugs in clinical diabetes treatment, enabling effective control of blood glucose levels, but the risk of hypoglycemia is relatively high and treatment is limited by the route of delivery. New and oral anti-diabetic drugs have always been a market demand and research hotspot. Inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) peptides are a class of multifunctional cyclic peptides. In structure, they contain three conserved disulfide bonds (C3-C20, C7-C22, and C15-C32) form a compact “knot” structure, which can resist degradation of digestive protease. Recent studies have shown that ICK peptides derived from legume, such as PA1b, Aglycin, Vglycin, Iglycin, Dglycin, and aM1, exhibit excellent regulatory activities on glucose and lipid metabolism at the cellular and animal levels. Mechanistically, ICK peptides promote glucose utilization by muscle and liver through activation of IR/AKT signaling pathway, which also improves insulin resistance. They can repair the damaged pancrease through activation of PI3K/AKT/Erk signaling pathway, thus lowering blood glucose. The biostability and hypoglycemic efficacy of the ICK peptides meet the requirements for commercialization of oral drugs, and in theory, they can be developed into natural oral anti-diabetes peptide drugs. In this review, the structural properties, activity and mechanism of ICK pattern peptides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism were summaried, which provided a reference for the development of new oral peptides for diabetes.
4.Mechanisms of Intestinal Microecology in Hyperuricemia and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention:A Review
Mingyuan FAN ; Jiuzhu YUAN ; Hongyan XIE ; Sai ZHANG ; Qiyuan YAO ; Luqi HE ; Qingqing FU ; Hong GAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):329-338
In recent years, hyperuricemia (HUA) has shown a rapidly increasing incidence and tends to occur in increasingly young people, with a wide range of cardiac, renal, joint, and cancerous hazards and all-cause mortality associations. Western medicine treatment has limitations such as large liver and kidney damage, medication restriction, and easy recurrence. The intestine is the major extra-renal excretion pathway for uric acid (UA), and the intestinal microecology can be regulated to promote UA degradation. It offers great potential to develop UA-lowering strategies that target the intestinal microecology, which are promising to provide safer and more effective therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can treat HUA via multiple targets and multiple pathways from a holistic view, with low toxicity and side effects. Studies have shown that intestinal microecology is a crucial target for TCM in the treatment of HUA. However, its specific mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Focusing on the key role of intestinal microecology in HUA, this review explores the relationship between intestinal microecology and HUA in terms of intestinal flora, intestinal metabolites, intestinal UA transporters, and intestinal barriers. Furthermore, we summarize the research progress in TCM treatment of HUA by targeting the intestinal microecology, with the aim of providing references for the development of TCM intervention strategies for HUA and the direction of future research.
5.Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on quadriceps muscle strength and walking for patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Zhijiao FAN ; Lanqi JIN ; Zhibin HUANG ; Yige LI ; Sihan YAO ; Yubao MA
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2025;31(2):242-248
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on quadriceps muscle strength and walking for patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). MethodsThirty-four patients after ACLR were selected at Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital of Capital Medical University from July, 2022 to October, 2023, and randomly divided into control group (n = 17) and experimental group (n = 17). Both groups received routine rehabilitation and functional training, and the experimental group received NMES during the functional training, while the control group received sham NMES, for eight weeks. Quadriceps peak torque-to-weight ratio, single-leg support phase and plantar impulses during walking were measured before and after intervention. ResultsTwo cases in the control group and three in the experimental group dropped down. Quadriceps peak torque-to-weight ratio improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 17.578, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t = 4.714, P < 0.001); while the affected single-leg support phase and the affected/unaffected single-leg support phase ratio improved in both groups (|t| > 16.882, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 3.234, P < 0.01); and plantar impulses of all zones optimized in both groups (t > 9.221, P < 0.001), and were better in the experimental group than in the control group(|t| > 2.852, P < 0.01). ConclusionNMES may further improve quadriceps muscle strength, plantar pressure distribution during walking and single-leg support in patients after ACLR.
6.Progress in the treatment of giant cell tumors of extremities with pathological fracture
Wenhao YAO ; Daoyang FAN ; Xieyuan JIANG ; Weifeng LIU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(1):81-85
Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a common locally aggressive junctional primary bone tumor, whose clinical treatment becomes more difficult once combined with pathological fracture. Extended curettage and en-bloc resection are common surgical procedures for treating GCTB, and drugs such as receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL) inhibitors and bisphosphonates have been successfully used. Curettage is recommended for patients with Campanaccigrade Ⅱor Campanaccigrade Ⅲ with localized soft tissue invasion only and simple fractures with intact bone structure. Resection may be considered for Campanaccigrade Ⅲ with extensive soft tissue invasion or complex fractures with incomplete bone structure. RANKL inhibitors such as denosumab may be recommended if surgery is not possible or before performing resection. This article summarizes the common treatment modalities of pathological fractures combined with giant cell tumors of extremities, including the current status of surgical and pharmacological treatments, analyzing the choice of surgical modalities in different clinical situations, in order to provide clinical inspirations for diagnosis and treatment.
7.Progress in the treatment of giant cell tumors of extremities with pathological fracture
Wenhao YAO ; Daoyang FAN ; Xieyuan JIANG ; Weifeng LIU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(1):81-85
Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a common locally aggressive junctional primary bone tumor, whose clinical treatment becomes more difficult once combined with pathological fracture. Extended curettage and en-bloc resection are common surgical procedures for treating GCTB, and drugs such as receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL) inhibitors and bisphosphonates have been successfully used. Curettage is recommended for patients with Campanaccigrade Ⅱor Campanaccigrade Ⅲ with localized soft tissue invasion only and simple fractures with intact bone structure. Resection may be considered for Campanaccigrade Ⅲ with extensive soft tissue invasion or complex fractures with incomplete bone structure. RANKL inhibitors such as denosumab may be recommended if surgery is not possible or before performing resection. This article summarizes the common treatment modalities of pathological fractures combined with giant cell tumors of extremities, including the current status of surgical and pharmacological treatments, analyzing the choice of surgical modalities in different clinical situations, in order to provide clinical inspirations for diagnosis and treatment.
8.Association between sleep and blood pressure among primary and secondary school students with different nutritional status
YANG Fan, ZHU Weiwei, YAO Qingbing, LU Shenghua
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(1):124-128
Objective:
To explore the association between sleep quality, sleep duration with blood pressure in primary and secondary school students with different nutritional status, so as to provide a reference for targeted intervention measures.
Methods:
By using stratified cluster random sampling method, a total of 10 871 students aged 7 to 18 years were selected from 36 primary and secondary schools in 6 counties of Yangzhou from October to November 2023. Physical examination and questionnaire survey were conducted respectively. Student Health Status and Influencing Factors Questionnaire was used to collected basic information. The overweight/obesity and sleep quality of primary and secondary school students were determined according to the Screening for Overweight and Obesity among School age Children and Adolescents and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale. The χ 2 test was used to compare the prevalence of elevated blood pressure in different groups of primary and secondary school students. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between sleep and blood pressure in primary and secondary school students.
Results:
The prevalence of elevated blood pressure among primary and secondary school students in Yangzhou was 13.86 %, higher among boys (15.13%) than girls (12.62%) ( χ 2=14.30, P <0.01). The elevated blood pressure rate of obese and overweight primary and secondary school students were 26.98% and 14.90%, respectively, higher than 8.71% of non overweight and obese children ( χ 2=482.58, P <0.01). There were statistically significant differences in elevated blood pressure rate among primary and secondary school students in different sleep quality and sleep duration ( χ 2= 8.45, 71.58, P <0.05). After controlling for gender, residence, educational stage, parental education, sedentary time, the results of multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that no correlation between sleep quality and elevated blood pressure under different nutritional status was found among primary and secondary school students. In primary and secondary school students with obesity, prevalence of elevated blood pressure was higher among those with sleep duration <8 and 8 to <9 h/d ( OR=1.54, 1.72, P <0.05). However, there was no significant association found in the other groups ( OR=1.04-1.28, P >0.05). In gender stratification, sleep duration < 8, 8 to <9 and 9 to <10 h/d of obese boys were positively correlated with elevated blood pressure ( OR=1.97, 2.09, 1.86, P <0.05).
Conclusion
Among obese primary and secondary school students, sleep duration <9 h/d is associated with an increased risk of elevated blood pressure, especially among obese boys.
9.Association between vitamin D levels and sleep in children and adolescents
PENG Chan, LI Fan, LI Yanyan,LI Yan, XIONG Jingfan, YAO Ping
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(2):239-243
Objective:
To explore the association between vitamin D levels and sleep in children and adolescents,so as to provide a reference for promoting the sleep health of children and adolescents.
Methods:
From October to December, 2021, 4 827 primary and middle school students aged 6-17 in Shenzhen were selected by multistage cluster random sampling method, and their demographic information, family background, lifestyle and sleep status were obtained by facetoface questionnaire survey, and their fasting venous blood in the morning was collected to detect the serum 25(OH)D level. The relationship between serum vitamin D level and sleep characteristics was analyzed by binary Logistic regression, and stratified analysis was carried out according to gender.
Results:
The proportion of vitamin D deficiency was 41.1%, and the proportion of sleep deficiency was 19.4%. With the increase of vitamin D level, daily sleep duration of children and adolescents tended to increase (r=0.10,P<0.01). After adjusting for covariates such as gender and age, it was found that children and adolescents with insufficient vitamin D levels were more likely to experience sleep insufficiency, social jetlag, and late sleep on weekdays, with ORs being 1.32(95%CI=1.12-1.56), 1.35(95%CI=1.19-1.54), and 1.26(95%CI=1.05-1.52)(P<0.05). Sexstratified analysis showed that, among boys, vitamin D deficiency was associated with sleep deficiency, social jetlag, and late bedtime on weekdays and weekends[OR(95%CI)=1.42(1.14-1.77),1.25(1.04-1.49),1.39(1.06-1.82),1.86(1.19-2.92),P<0.05]. In girls, however, serum vitamin D levels were only associated with social jetlag with OR being 1.47 (95%CI=1.21-1.79, P<0.05).
Conclusion
Vitamin D levels are associated with various sleep characteristics in children and adolescents, with this association being more pronounced among boys.
10.Predicting Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer Using Urine Metabolomics via Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Chung-Hsin CHEN ; Hsiang-Po HUANG ; Kai-Hsiung CHANG ; Ming-Shyue LEE ; Cheng-Fan LEE ; Chih-Yu LIN ; Yuan Chi LIN ; William J. HUANG ; Chun-Hou LIAO ; Chih-Chin YU ; Shiu-Dong CHUNG ; Yao-Chou TSAI ; Chia-Chang WU ; Chen-Hsun HO ; Pei-Wen HSIAO ; Yeong-Shiau PU ;
The World Journal of Men's Health 2025;43(2):376-386
Purpose:
Biomarkers predicting clinically significant prostate cancer (sPC) before biopsy are currently lacking. This study aimed to develop a non-invasive urine test to predict sPC in at-risk men using urinary metabolomic profiles.
Materials and Methods:
Urine samples from 934 at-risk subjects and 268 treatment-naïve PC patients were subjected to liquid chromatography/mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics profiling using both C18 and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column analyses. Four models were constructed (training cohort [n=647]) and validated (validation cohort [n=344]) for different purposes. Model I differentiates PC from benign cases. Models II, III, and a Gleason score model (model GS) predict sPC that is defined as National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-categorized favorable-intermediate risk group or higher (Model II), unfavorable-intermediate risk group or higher (Model III), and GS ≥7 PC (model GS), respectively. The metabolomic panels and predicting models were constructed using logistic regression and Akaike information criterion.
Results:
The best metabolomic panels from the HILIC column include 25, 27, 28 and 26 metabolites in Models I, II, III, and GS, respectively, with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging between 0.82 and 0.91 in the training cohort and between 0.77 and 0.86 in the validation cohort. The combination of the metabolomic panels and five baseline clinical factors that include serum prostate-specific antigen, age, family history of PC, previously negative biopsy, and abnormal digital rectal examination results significantly increased AUCs (range 0.88–0.91). At 90% sensitivity (validation cohort), 33%, 34%, 41%, and 36% of unnecessary biopsies were avoided in Models I, II, III, and GS, respectively. The above results were successfully validated using LC-MS with the C18 column.
Conclusions
Urinary metabolomic profiles with baseline clinical factors may accurately predict sPC in men with elevated risk before biopsy.


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