1.Mechanism of Intervening with Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Rats with Spleen Deficiency by Xingpi Capsules Through Regulating 5-HT-RhoA/ROCK2 Pathway
Gang WANG ; Lingwen CUI ; Xiangning LIU ; Rongxin ZHU ; Mingyue HUANG ; Ying SUN ; Boyang JIAO ; Ran WANG ; Chun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(6):60-69
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of Xingpi capsules (XPC) in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with spleen deficiency and elucidate its potential molecular mechanisms. MethodsA rat model of IBS-D with spleen deficiency was established by administering senna leaf in combination with restrained stress and swimming fatigue for 14 d. Ten specific pathogen free (SPF)-grade healthy rats were used as the normal control group. After successful modeling, SPF-grade rats were randomly divided into a model group, a pinaverium bromide group (1.5 mg·kg-1), and low- and high-dose XPC groups (0.135 and 0.54 g·kg-1), with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal control group and the model group were given distilled water by gavage, while the remaining groups were administered corresponding drug solutions by gavage once a day for 14 consecutive days. The rat body weights and fecal condition were observed every day, and the Bristol score was recorded. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in serum and colon tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the microvilli and tight junctions in the colon. The integrity of the colonic barrier, intestinal motility, and expression of related pathway proteins were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group, rats in the model group showed a significantly decreased body weight and increased diarrhea rate, diarrhea grade, and Bristol score (P<0.01). HE staining revealed incomplete colonic mucosa in the model group, with evident congestion and edema observed. Electron microscopy results indicated decreased density and integrity of the colonic barrier, shedding and disappearance of microvilli, and significant widening of tight junctions. The expression levels of colonic tight junction proteins Occludin and Claudin-5 were downregulated (P<0.01), and the levels of 5-HT in serum and colon tissue were elevated (P<0.01). The small intestine propulsion rate significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression of contractile proteins Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) and Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) in colon and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC20) were upregulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the treatment groups showed alleviated diarrhea, diarrhea-associated symptoms, and pathological manifestations of colon tissue to varying degrees. Specifically, high-dose XPC exhibited effectively relieved diarrhea, promoted recovery of colonic mucosal structure, significantly reduced congestion and edema, upregulated expression of Occludin and Claudin-5 (P<0.01), decreased levels of 5-HT in serum and colon tissue (P<0.05,P<0.01), significantly slowed small intestine propulsion rate (P<0.01), and significantly downregulated expression of contractile proteins RhoA and ROCK2 in colon and phosphorylation of MLC20 (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionXPC effectively alleviates symptoms of spleen deficiency and diarrhea and regulates the secretion of brain-gut peptide. The characteristics of XPC are mainly manifested in alleviating IBS-D with spleen deficiency from the aspects of protecting intestinal mucosa and inhibiting smooth muscle contraction, and the mechanism is closely related to the regulation of the 5-HT-RhoA/ROCK2 pathway expression.
2.Cross lag analysis of cumulative ecological risk and future orientation with health risk behaviors among higher vocational college students
ZENG Zhi, FU Gang, LI Ke, WANG Meifeng, WU Lian, ZHANG Tiancheng, ZHANG Fulan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):348-352
Objective:
To explore the causal link of cumulative ecological risk and future orientation with health risk behaviors among higher vocational college students, so as to provide reference for reducing and preventing health risk behaviors among higher vocational college students.
Methods:
A longitudinal follow up study was conducted on 612 students using convenience sampling from 2 vocational colleges in Hunan Province. The Cumulative Ecological Risk Scale, Future Orientation Scale, and Health Risk Behavior Scale were used during three follow up visits (T1: September 2022, T2: June 2023, T3: March 2024), and a cross lagged panel model was constructed to examine the longitudinal causal relationship of cumulative ecological risk, future orientation and health risk behaviors. Analysis of longitudinal intermediary effect between variables by Bootstrap.
Results:
The cumulative ecological risk scores of T1, T2 and T3 among higher vocational college students were (2.94±1.44,2.99±1.63,3.02±1.54), future orientation scores (40.49±4.71,41.51±5.72,41.06±4.35) and health risk behavior scores (3.73±2.01,3.49±2.00,3.23±2.00). The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that the future orientation score of T2 was higher than that of T1, and the main effect of measurement time was statistically significant ( F=5.09,P<0.01,η 2=0.02). The health risk behavior score of T1 was higher than that of T2, and the health risk behavior score of T2 was higher than that of T3, and the main effect of measurement time was statistically significant ( F=10.12,P<0.01,η 2=0.03).The cross lagged model showed good adaptability, with χ 2/df =7.20 ( P <0.01), relative fitting indicators GFI=0.98, CFI=0.99, TLI=0.96, IFI=0.99, NFI =0.99, and absolute fitting indicator RMSEA =0.06. Among them, the T1, T2 cumulative ecological risk showed negatively predictive effects on T2, T3 future orientation ( β =-0.24, -0.47 ), and T1, T2 cumulative ecological risk positively predicted T2, T3 health risk behavior ( β =0.20, 0.24), while T1, T2 future orientation negatively predicted T2, T3 health risk behavior ( β =-0.25, -0.18) ( P <0.01). Bootstrap test analysis found that T2 future orientation had a longitudinal mediating effect ( β=0.04, P <0.01) on the T1 cumulative ecological risk and T3 health risk behavior.
Conclusions
The accumulation of ecological risk among higher vocational college students can positively predict health risk behaviors, while future orientation can negatively predict healthrisk behaviors. Moreover, future orientation plays a longitudinal mediating role between accumulated ecological risks and health risk behaviors.
3.Construction of evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):438-442
Objective:
To construct a scientific and perfect evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities, so as to provide reference tools for colleges and universities to effectively respond to infectious disease.
Methods:
The initial framework of the evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities was constructed by using literature analysis method. Experts familiar with infectious disease prevention and control or school health work were selected to conduct two rounds( n =16,18) of Delphi expert consultation for determining the evaluation index system. Analytical hierarchy process was used to calculate the index weights and combined weights. About 198 prevention and control personnel were conveniently selected from 3 universities in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to comprehensively evaluate the evaluation indicators by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.
Results:
After two rounds of Delphi consultation questionnaire, the effective recovery rates were 80.0% and 90.0%, the expert authority levels were 0.89 and 0.86, the expert harmony coefficients for Kendall W were 0.166 and 0.310, and the variation coefficient of each index was <0.25. Finally, the evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability of colleges and universities included 4 first level indicators, 14 second level indicators and 75 third level indicators. The weights of prevention and monitoring and early warning, organizational system guarantee, emergency management, rehabilitation and summary were 0.176, 0.476, 0.268 and 0.080, respectively. The top 3 weights of the secondary indexes were 0.623 for infectious disease surveillance and early warning, 0.595 for loss assessment and 0.370 for emergency response. The score of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of the index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities was 79.148, suggesting a high level.
Conclusion
The established evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities is scientific and reasonable, which is conducive to provide tool reference for the evaluation of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities.
4.Correlation Between Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and eGFR in Diabetic Patients: A Cross-sectional Analysis Based on NHANES Data
Chunyu JIA ; Gangan WANG ; Jiahui WANG ; Gang CHEN ; Ke ZHENG ; Xuemei LI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):379-385
To investigate the association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) andestimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with diabetes using large-scale data. Across-sectional analysis was conducted using data from diabetic patients in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database from 2009 to 2014. Differences in NLR between patients with and without chronickidney disease (CKD) were compared. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models wereapplied to assess the relationship between NLR and eGFR. A total of 857 diabetic patients were included, with 190 (22.2%) having CKD and 667 (77.8%) without CKD. NLR was significantly higher in patients with CKD compared to those without CKD (2.94±1.69 vs.2.36±1.98, NLR is independently negatively associatedwith eGFR in diabetic patients, demonstrating potential clinical value as an indicator of kidney function declineand CKD risk in this population.
5.Improving the Certainty of Evidence in Animal Experiment Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis: An Empirical Study of the GRADE Method
Tengfei LI ; Qingyong ZHENG ; Jianguo XU ; Yiyi LI ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Mingyue ZHANG ; Jiexiang TIAN ; Gang WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(1):101-111
Animal experiments are essential tools in biomedical research, serving as a bridge between basic research and clinical trials. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) of animal experiments are crucial methods for integrating evidence from animal experiment, which can facilitate the translation of findings into clinical research, reduce translational risks, and promote resource integration in basic research. With the continuous development of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, its application in SRs/MAs of animal experiments has gained increasing attention. This article first outlines the principles and specific applications of the GRADE methodology in SRs/MAs of animal experiments, including qualitative descriptive systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and network meta-analyses. It then deeply analyzes the misuse of the GRADE methodology in practice, including incorrect evidence grading, improper classification of evidence, misapplication in qualitative systematic reviews, inconsistencies between the documentation of the upgrading and downgrading process and results, and inappropriate use for making recommendations. Furthermore, this article comprehensively discusses the factors influencing the grading of evidence certainty in SRs/MAs of animal experiments, including the impact of bias risk, indirectness, inconsistency, imprecision, and publication bias on evidence downgrading, as well as the role of large effect sizes and cross-species consistency in evidence upgrading. Finally, in response to the issues discussed, improvement strategies are proposed, including further research and optimization of the GRADE methodology for SRs/MAs of animal experiments, the development of reporting guidelines tailored to the characteristics of SRs/MAs in animal experiment research, and enhanced professional training for researchers in the GRADE methodology. This article aims to improve the quality of evidence in SRs/MAs of animal experiments, strengthen their reliability in clinical decision-making, and promote the more efficient translation of findings from animal experiment research into clinical practice.
6.Determination of biological activity of teduglutide by a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence method
Xiao-ming ZHANG ; Ran MA ; Li-jing LÜ ; Lü-yin WANG ; Ping LÜ ; Cheng-gang LIANG ; Jing LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):211-217
In this study, we constructed a GLP-2R-HEK293 cell line and established a method for the determination of the
7.Analysis of Mechanism of Xingpi Capsules in Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia Based on Transcriptomics
Rongxin ZHU ; Mingyue HUANG ; Keyan WANG ; Xiangning LIU ; Yinglan LYU ; Gang WANG ; Fangfang RUI ; Qiong DENG ; Jianteng DONG ; Yong WANG ; Chun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):164-172
ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of Xingpi capsules on functional dyspepsia(FD) and the potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD neonatal rats(7 days old) were randomly divided into the normal group(n=12) and the modeling group(n=48), and the FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide gavage in the modeling group. After the model was successfully prepared, the rats in the modeling group were randomly divided into the model group, the low-dose and high-dose groups of Xingpi capsules(0.135, 0.54 g·kg-1) and the domperidone group(3 mg·kg-1), with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and model groups were gavaged with distilled water, and rats in the rest of the groups were gavaged with the corresponding medicinal solution, once a day for 7 d. The general survival condition of the rats was observed, and the water intake and food intake of the rats were measured, the gastric emptying rate and the small intestinal propulsion rate were measured at the end of the treatment, the pathological damage of the rat duodenum was examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the expressions of colonic tight junction protein(Occludin) and zonula occludens protein-1(ZO-1) were detected by immunofluorescence. The differentially expressed genes in the duodenal tissues of the model group and the normal group, and the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules and the model group were detected by transcriptome sequencing after the final administration, and Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out. The transcriptomic results were validated by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR), and the active ingredients of Xingpi capsules were screened for molecular docking with the key targets. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the general survival condition of rats in the model group was poorer, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly reduced(P<0.05), inflammatory infiltration was seen in duodenal pathology, and the fluorescence intensities of Occludin and ZO-1 in the colon were significantly reduced(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the general survival condition of rats in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules improved significantly, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly increased(P<0.05), the duodenal pathology showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration, and the fluorescence intensities of colonic Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased(P<0.01). Transcriptomic results showed that Xingpi capsules might exert therapeutic effects by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) through the key genes such as Slc5a1, Abhd6. The validation results showed that compared with the normal group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins, the protein expression level of interleukin(IL)-1β, and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3, Slc5a9 and other key genes were significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt, the protein expression level of IL-1β and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules were significantly reduced(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3 and Slc5a9 were significantly reduced(P<0.05). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and molecular docking results showed that E-nerolidol and Z-nerolidol in Xingpi capsules were well bound to ABDH6 protein, and linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine were well bound to Slc5a1 protein. ConclusionXingpi capsules can effectively improve the general survival and gastrointestinal motility of FD rats, its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to alleviate the low-grade inflammation of duodenum, and E-nerolidol, Z-nerolidol, linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine may be its key active ingredients.
8.Analysis of Mechanism of Xingpi Capsules in Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia Based on Transcriptomics
Rongxin ZHU ; Mingyue HUANG ; Keyan WANG ; Xiangning LIU ; Yinglan LYU ; Gang WANG ; Fangfang RUI ; Qiong DENG ; Jianteng DONG ; Yong WANG ; Chun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):164-172
ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of Xingpi capsules on functional dyspepsia(FD) and the potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD neonatal rats(7 days old) were randomly divided into the normal group(n=12) and the modeling group(n=48), and the FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide gavage in the modeling group. After the model was successfully prepared, the rats in the modeling group were randomly divided into the model group, the low-dose and high-dose groups of Xingpi capsules(0.135, 0.54 g·kg-1) and the domperidone group(3 mg·kg-1), with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and model groups were gavaged with distilled water, and rats in the rest of the groups were gavaged with the corresponding medicinal solution, once a day for 7 d. The general survival condition of the rats was observed, and the water intake and food intake of the rats were measured, the gastric emptying rate and the small intestinal propulsion rate were measured at the end of the treatment, the pathological damage of the rat duodenum was examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the expressions of colonic tight junction protein(Occludin) and zonula occludens protein-1(ZO-1) were detected by immunofluorescence. The differentially expressed genes in the duodenal tissues of the model group and the normal group, and the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules and the model group were detected by transcriptome sequencing after the final administration, and Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out. The transcriptomic results were validated by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR), and the active ingredients of Xingpi capsules were screened for molecular docking with the key targets. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the general survival condition of rats in the model group was poorer, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly reduced(P<0.05), inflammatory infiltration was seen in duodenal pathology, and the fluorescence intensities of Occludin and ZO-1 in the colon were significantly reduced(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the general survival condition of rats in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules improved significantly, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly increased(P<0.05), the duodenal pathology showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration, and the fluorescence intensities of colonic Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased(P<0.01). Transcriptomic results showed that Xingpi capsules might exert therapeutic effects by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) through the key genes such as Slc5a1, Abhd6. The validation results showed that compared with the normal group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins, the protein expression level of interleukin(IL)-1β, and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3, Slc5a9 and other key genes were significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt, the protein expression level of IL-1β and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules were significantly reduced(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3 and Slc5a9 were significantly reduced(P<0.05). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and molecular docking results showed that E-nerolidol and Z-nerolidol in Xingpi capsules were well bound to ABDH6 protein, and linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine were well bound to Slc5a1 protein. ConclusionXingpi capsules can effectively improve the general survival and gastrointestinal motility of FD rats, its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to alleviate the low-grade inflammation of duodenum, and E-nerolidol, Z-nerolidol, linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine may be its key active ingredients.
9.Molecular mechanism of Shenling Baizhu powder in treatment of cancer cachexia based on network pharmacology
Gang KE ; Qingke DONG ; Shirong XIAO ; Qian GONG ; Rong LI ; Daijie WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(5):242-250
Objective To analyze the pharmacological mechanism of Shenling Baizhu powder in the treatment of cancer cachexia based on the network pharmacological method and provide a reference for the clinical application of classical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions. Methods Through TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases, the main chemical components and their targets of the TCM prescription of Shenling Baizhu powder were obtained, and the active components of the TCM were screened according to ADME. The main targets of cancer cachexia were obtained through OMIM, Genecards, Disgenet and DRUGBANK databases, and protein interaction analysis was conducted using String platform to build a PPI network. The “drug-active ingredient-target” network of Shenling Baizhu powder was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, and then the biological processes and pathways involved were analyzed by using Metascape platform. Finally, molecular docking verification was conducted by Discovery Studio. Results The core active ingredients of Shenling Baizhu powder in the treatment of cancer cachexia were quercetin, kaempferol, pyrolignous acid, stigmasterol, luteolin, β-sitosterol, etc. The core targets were AKT1, TP53, TNF, IL-6, MAPK3, CASP3, JUN, CTNNB1, HIF1A, EGFR, etc. The molecular docking test also showed that the top 10 active ingredients, such as pyrolignous acid, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol, had good binding activities with most of the target sites. The biological pathway of Shenling Baizhu powder in treating cancer cachexia wss mainly to regulate tumor related pathway, metabolism related pathway, inflammatory factors and appetite related pathway. Conclusion This study preliminarily revealed the mechanism of action of Shenling Baizhu powder in treating cancer cachexia with multi components, multi targets and multi pathways, which provided a basis for the clinical development and utilization of Shenling Baizhu powder.
10.Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
Pei SUN ; Hong HAN ; Yi-Kang SUN ; Xi WANG ; Xiao-Chuan LIU ; Bo-Yang ZHOU ; Li-Fan WANG ; Ya-Qin ZHANG ; Zhi-Gang PAN ; Bei-Jian HUANG ; Hui-Xiong XU ; Chong-Ke ZHAO
Ultrasonography 2025;44(2):112-123
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations.
Methods:
This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits.
Results:
Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01).
Conclusion
Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.


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