1.Exploring Mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway to Improve Learning and Memory Ability of Insomnia Rats with Liver Depression Syndrome Based on Transcriptomics
Jiamin LIU ; Yale WANG ; Hai HUANG ; Yue LI ; Xin FAN ; Pengpeng LIANG ; Shizhao ZHANG ; Mei YAN ; Guiyun LI ; Hongyan WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):114-125
ObjectiveBased on transcriptomics, to explore the mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway to improve the learning and memory ability of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome. MethodsSixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, eszopiclone group (0.09 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan (3.82, 7.65, 15.30 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other groups were induced insomnia rat model with liver depression by chronic restraint, tail clamping stimulation and intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Each treatment group received intragastric administration according to the specified dosage, once a day for 14 consecutive days. The pentobarbital sodium cooperative sleep test, open field test, and Morris water maze test were used to test the sleep quality, depressive-like behavior, and learning and memory abilities of rats. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nitric oxide (NO) in hippocampus. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe pathological changes of the hippocampal tissue, while terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to evaluate apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Transcriptomic sequencing technology was employed to identify differentially expressed genes in hippocampus between the model group and the blank group, as well as between the medium-dose group of Hei Xiaoyaosan and the model group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting genes. Subsequently, the enriched key genes and signaling pathways were analyzed and verified. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was utilized to assess the mRNA expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-like protein 11 (BCL2L11), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) in hippocampus, and Western blot was employed to evaluate the protein expressions of PI3K, phosphorylation (p)-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved Caspase-3 in the same tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight, an increase in sleep latency, and a decrease in sleep duration (P<0.01). Additionally, rats showed obvious depression-like behavior, and their learning and memory abilities decreased. Furthermore, the contents of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in hippocampus decreased (P<0.01). Histological examination revealed a disorganized cell arrangement in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, characterized by irregular cell shapes, a reduced cell count, deeply stained and pyknotic nuclei, increased vacuolar degeneration, and an elevated apoptosis rate (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight of the high and medium dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan increased, the sleep latency shortened and the sleep time prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.01). Additionally, depression-like behavior and learning and memory abilities of rats were significantly improved, the levels of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in the hippocampus increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). These interventions also ameliorated pathological damage in the hippocampal CA1 area and reduced the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons (P<0.01). Transcriptomic sequencing results indicated that Hei Xiaoyaosan might exert a therapeutic effect by regulating PI3K/Akt pathway through key mRNAs such as PTEN, BCL2L11, and MAPK1. The roles of these key mRNAs and proteins within PI3K/Akt pathway were further validated. In comparison to the blank group, the expression levels of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats in the model group were increased (P<0.01), while the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 were decreased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan could down-regulate the expressions of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNAs (P<0.01), up-regulate the expressions of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 proteins (P<0.01), and down-regulate the protein expressions of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by down-regulating expressions of key genes such as PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1, and thus improve the learning and memory abilities of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome.
2.Exploring Pharmacodynamic Material Basis and Mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan in Improving Learning and Memory Ability of Insomnia Rats Based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and Network Pharmacology
Jiamin LIU ; Hai HUANG ; Pengpeng LIANG ; Yale WANG ; Guiyun LI ; Hongyan WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):19-30
ObjectiveBased on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), network pharmacology and pharmacodynamics, to investigate the pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan in improving learning and memory ability of insomnia rats. MethodUPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to characterize the chemical constituents of Hei Xiaoyaosan. Network pharmacology was applied to construct the network of active ingredients-intersecting targets-pathways, and molecular docking was performed on key ingredients and core targets. Sixty 8-week-old male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into blank group, model group, Hei Xiaoyaosan low, medium, and high dose groups(3.82, 7.65, 15.30 g·kg-1), and zolpidem tartrate group(0.5 mg·kg-1), with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the insomnia model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine(PCPA) for 4 consecutive days. Rats in each dosing group were administered the corresponding dose by gavage, once a day for 14 consecutive days. Morris water maze test was utilized to assess the learning and memory ability of rats, transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the ultrastructure of hippocampal synapses, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was conducted to analyze the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in hippocampal tissues, and Western blot was performed to detect the expression levels of tumor suppressor protein p53(TP53), rat sarcoma virus(RAS), epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-response element binding protein(CREB) binding protein(CREBBP), glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β), protein kinase B1(Akt1), nitric oxide synthase 1(NOS1), phosphorylated(p)-Akt1, and p-GSK-3β in hippocampal tissues. Additionally, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was used to assess the mRNA expression levels of TP53, RAS, EGFR, CREBBP, GSK-3β, Akt1 and NOS1. ResultA total of 176 components were identified in Hei Xiaoyaosan, mainly flavonoids, triterpene saponins, phenylpropanoids and other compounds. Network pharmacological analysis revealed that TP53, V-Ha-Ras Harvey Rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(HRAS), neuroblastoma sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(NRAS), EGFR, CREBBP, GSK-3β, Akt1 and NOS1 were the key targets of Hei Xiaoyaosan in treating insomnia. The core targets were predominantly associated with cAMP, RAS, Ras-associated protein 1(Rap1), advanced glycation end products(AGE)/receptor for AGE(RAGE), and EGFR signaling pathways, and the key active ingredients of Hei Xiaoyaosan in treating insomnia were 8-shogaol, ligustilide F, 6-gingerol, levistilide A and senkyunolide E. Animal experiment results demonstrated that Hei Xiaoyaosan medium and high dose groups significantly increased body weight, shortened sleep latency and prolonged sleep duration in insomnia rats(P<0.01), significantly decreased escape latency and increased platform crossing frequency(P<0.01), and improved the pathological changes of hippocampal synaptic ultrastructure. Meanwhile, the two groups could significantly elevate 5-HT level, Akt1 mRNA expression, Akt1 and p-Akt1 protein expression(P<0.01), reduce inflammatory factor levels(P<0.01), and down-regulate protein expression levels of TP53, RAS, NOS1, EGFR, CREBBP, GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β(P<0.01), as well as mRNA expression levels of TP53, RAS, NOS1, EGFR, CREBBP and GSK-3β in hippocampal tissues(P<0.01). ConclusionThis study determined that the five key active ingredients(8-shogaol, ligustilide F, 6-gingerol, levistilide A and senkyunolide E) in Hei Xiaoyaosan may improve the learning and memory ability of insomnia rats by regulating signaling pathways such as cAMP, RAS, and EGFR, providing an important reference for its mechanism research and clinical application.
3.Health status analysis of blood donors: based on the ordinal multinomial logistic regression model
Fanfan FENG ; Guiyun XIE ; Xuecheng DENG ; Jian OUYANG ; Chong CHEN ; Xiaochun HONG ; Sihai ZENG ; Yue ZHANG ; Manyu HUANG ; Jinyan CHEN ; Xia RONG ; Shijie LI
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(11):1281-1287
[Objective] To explore the characteristics of lifestyle behaviors and mental health status among blood donors in Guangzhou, and to investigate the correlation between donation frequency and these factors. [Methods] A cross-sectional study was conducted among 13 042 whole blood donors from 17 street blood donation sites of Guangzhou Blood Center from May to August 2020. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the characteristics of lifestyle behaviors and mental health status among blood donors in Guangzhou. Ordinal multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between donation frequency and these factors. [Results] It was found that some of 13 042 blood donors had unhealthy habits, such as 6.8% (698/10 214,2 828 missing values) had severe tobacco dependence, 30.6% (3 997/13 042) had low exercise levels, 38.8%(5 056/13 042)had poor sleep quality, and 2.2% (271/12 159,883 missing values) had alcohol dependence. In addition, 2.8% (364/13 042) and 1.3% (172/13 042) of the donors may have moderate to severe depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The results of the ordinal multinomial logistic regression model showed that exercise level was significantly negatively correlated with the degree of depression and anxiety among blood donors. With the decrease in exercise level, the possibility of depression and anxiety among donors increased significantly. BMI, household income, education level, marital status, donation frequency, alcohol consumption and smoking had no significant correlation with the mental health status of donors. [Conclusion] Improving the exercise habits of blood donors may help enhance their mental health level. It is recommended that blood station staff strengthen the content of exercise when providing health education to blood donors to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It also suggests that there may be a certain degree of under-diagnosis of mental health problems in the process of health consultation before blood donation, and conducting more comprehensive and effective mental health assessments for blood donors is recommended.
4.Research progress on the application of light therapy in patients with bipolar depression
Tao LIU ; Xu DAI ; Hebin HUANG ; Ningning CHEN ; Xinhe TIAN ; Wenjing ZHENG ; Weicong LU ; Guiyun XU ; Kwok-Fai SO ; Kangguang LIN
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2024;50(4):252-256,封3
Existing antidepressant treatments are generally suboptimal for patients with bipolar disorder(BD).Several studies have explored the efficacy of light therapy(LT)in patients with bipolar depression,along with investigating parameters,devices,and safety aspects of LT.This paper provides a review of these aspects.Numerous meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials have indicated that LT could significantly improve depressive symptoms in BD patients,with both low and high intensity white light having this effect,while the antidepressant effect of blue light remains unclear.LT takes effect rapidly,preferably in the morning,with each session lasting between 30 to 60 minutes,but there is no consensus on the most beneficial LT course for BD patients.The most commonly used device for LT is a lightbox.However further exploration is need regarding the safety of LT glasses.When LT devices that meet safety standards is selected,the overall safety of LT will be high and risk of manic or hypomanic switch will be low for BD patients.In conclusion,LT holds promise for patients with bipolar depression,and further research on LT for BD patients should be conducted to explore LT strategies and develop LT prescriptions.
5.The formula of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids improving cognitive impairment in patients with depres-sion:a clinical randomized double-blind controlled trial
Rong MA ; Shiyun WU ; Cai SONG ; Xu DAI ; Yong-Ping ZHANG ; Hebin HUANG ; Weicong LU ; Runhua WANG ; Guiyun XU ; Kangguang LIN
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2023;49(10):591-597
Objective To investigate the effects of different ratios of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(ω-3 PUFA)on depression and cognitive impairment in patients with major depression.Methods A randomized,double-blinded controlled trial was used to randomly assign patients with depression to a cognitive improvement group,a depression improvement group,and a placebo group.The cognitive improvement group took 1388 mg of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)and 692 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)every day and the depression improvement group took 1248 mg of EPA and 832 mg of DHA every day.The placebo group took the same dose of soybean oil for 12 weeks,during which psychiatric medication was maintained.The 24-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-24)was used to evaluate depressive symptoms,and the standardized MATRICS consensus cognitive battery(MCCB)was used to evaluate cognitive function after 6 weeks and 12 weeks,respectively.Results The study recruited a total of 46 patients with depression including 22 in the cognitive improvement group,12 in the depression improvement group,and 12 in the placebo group.After 6 weeks of treatment,the HAMD-24 scores were significantly lower in the depression improvement group(19.00±10.70)and cognitive improvement group(16.58±9.39)than in the placebo group(31.10±10.03)(P<0.01).After 12 weeks of treatment,HAMD-24 scores were significantly lower in the depression improvement group(13.58±8.43)than in the placebo group(28.10±15.04)(P=0.02).No significant interaction effect was found on the cognitive assessment scores in any dimension after 6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment(P>0.05).The incidence rate of adverse events in the depression improvement group was 16.7%(2/12),and no adverse events were reported in the other two groups.There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events among the three groups(P=0.13).Conclusion Treatment with ω-3PUFA for 6 weeks can improve the depressive symptoms of patients with depression.The formula with a higher ratio of EPA exhibits higher effectiveness while the two groups of ω-3PUFA formulas with different ratios do not improve cognitive function.
6.Trends and forecast of hepatocellular carcinoma in Nantong, China: mortality rates from 1999 to 2011.
Jing XIAO ; Jianping HUANG ; Min ZHANG ; Jingying ZHU ; Guiyun WU ; Yuexia GAO
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2015;23(9):663-668
OBJECTIVETo investigate the mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Nantong,China from 1999 to 2011, in order to uncover dynamic trends and provide reasoned advice on intervention strategies to decrease HCC incidence and mortality in Nantong in the future.
METHODSVersions 10 and 9 of the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 and ICD-9) were used to determine the number of HCC deaths in Nantong,China for the study's range of years. Thex2 test was applied to compare the HCC mortality rates according to sex and age. The Grey system GM(1,1) model was used to predict the next-5-year HCC mortality for Nantong.
RESULTSAnalysis of the standardized mortality in Nantong showed a slight decreasing trend from 1999 to 2011 (x2=57 545.98, P less than 0.001),with males showing a steeper decrease than females. The total mortality of HCC during these years was 53.41 per 100,000 people,with mortality among males being significantly higher than that among females (80.81 per 100,000 people vs. 26.94 per 100,000 people; x2=13 625.42, P less than 0.001). In general, HCC mortality increased with increase in age (general trend:x2=57 545.98, P less than 0.001; male trend: x2=39 878.8, P less than 0.001; female trend: x2=20 105.3, P less than 0.001). However,HCC mortality increased significantly in women after the age of 40 and in men after the age of 35. The GM(1,1) equation was: Yt=-1265.28e(-0.0375t)+1315.5, which predicted that the HCC mortality will decrease to 25.56 per 100,000 people in 2016.
CONCLUSIONAlthough HCC mortality generally decreased from 1999 to 2011, the rate remained high. Public health intervention strategies may be more effective if they focus on males over the age of 35 and females over the age of 40.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; Male
7.Association study of LIS1 and TSNAX genes with bipolar disorder in Chinese Han population.
Xuan LI ; Lijie GUAN ; Yin LIN ; Xiaofei ZHANG ; Wenhao DENG ; Zhenxing YANG ; Xiaohong MA ; Guohui LAO ; Biyu YE ; Weijie HUANG ; Zeyu JIANG ; Guodong MIAO ; Guiyun XU ; Wentao LIU ; Yingcheng WANG ; Tao LI ; Liping CAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2014;31(3):357-361
OBJECTIVETo assess the association of neural development-related genes LIS1and TSNAX with bipolar disorder in a Chinese Han population.
METHODSThree hundred and eight five patients (including 188 males and 197 females) from Guangzhou Brain Hospital with bipolar disorder meeting the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Bipolar Disorder (BDI) (Fourth Edition) criteria and 475 healthy controls from the local community were recruited. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the LIS1 and TSNAX genes were genotyped by GoldenGate genotyping assay on an Illumina Beadstation 500 machine. Association analyses of SNPs and haplotypes were performed with Plink 1.07 software.
RESULTSAnalysis of the total sample has failed to find any association of SNP or haplotype of the two genes with BDI (P> 0.05). When patients were divided into subgroups with or without psychotic symptom, no significant association of the two genes was found with psychotic BDI or non-psychotic BDI (P> 0.05). No significant association was found between any SNP and haplotype of two genes and female BDI or male BDI, nor were significant association found between age of onset and LIS1 and TSNAX gene polymorphisms.
CONCLUSIONOur results indicated that LIS1 and TSNAX genes are not associated with susceptibility to bipolar I disorder in Chinese Han population.
1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Bipolar Disorder ; ethnology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult
8.The effect of Shuxuening intra-articular injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis and its influence on cyto-kines in synovial fluid
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2014;(15):2319-2320
Objective To investigate the effect of Shuxuening intra-articular injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis and its infullence on cytokines in synovial fluid .Methods According to the digital table ,120 patients with osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups ,60 cases in each group.The observation group received Shuxuening injection in articular cavity treatment ,and the control group was given sodium hyaluronate .The efficacy and levels of interleukin-1(IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) in synovial fluid were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the score in the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(t=16.282,P<0.05).The total effective rate of the observation group was 95.0%,which was signifi-cantly higher than 81.7%of the control group(χ2 =5.175,P<0.05).After treatment,the IL-1βand TNF-αlevels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (t =4.95,6.656,all P<0.05). Conclusion Shuxuening intra-articular injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis can not only alleviate the symp-toms,improve the curative effect ,but also can reduce the IL-1 βand TNF-αlevels in synovial fluid .
9.The causative factors and treatment of RPE cell-related eye diseases
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2014;32(1):88-93
Retinal pgment epithelial (RPE) cells plays a key role in maintaining the normal physiological function and structure of retina and choroids.However,RPE cells are vulnerably damaged by many detrimental factors,such as anoxia,physical and chemical elements,pharmic,immunizing factors and oxidant stress,etc.The damage of RPE cells lead to multiple eye diseases,and therefore cause severe abnormality of visual function.To understand the causative factors of RPE cell-related eye diseases is very important for the prevention and treatment of these diseases.Recently,many studies about damage factors and treatments for RPE cells have received more attention.This article reviews the advances in RPE cell-related eye diseases.
10.Effects of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion on brain in rats
Jun ZHOU ; Wenqi HUANG ; Cai LI ; Guiyun WU ; Yunsheng LI ; Shihong WEN ; Wanlong LEI ; Kexuan LIU
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2011;31(6):739-742
Objective To investigate the effects of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) on the brain in rats. Methods Sixty-four healthy male SD rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly allocated to one of 2 groups (n = 32 each): sham operation group (S) and intestinal I/R group (I/R). Intestinal I/R was produced by occlusion of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 90 min followed by reperfusion. Eight animals were sacrificed at each of the following time points: 2, 6, 12 and 24 h of reperfusion (T1-4) in each group. After a median sternotomyblood samples were taken from left ventricle for measurement of plasma TNF-α and IL-6 (by ELISA). Intestine and brain tissue was harvested for microscopic examination and detection of apoptosis ( by TUNEL). The cognitive function was tested using Morris water maze at 24 h. Results No abnormality was found in intestine and brain tissue in group S. Intestinal damage and neurodegeneration were detected in group I/R. Intestinal I/R significantly increased cerebral apoptosis in group I/R compared with group S. Plasma TNF-a and IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher at T1-4 in group I/R than in group S. The escape latency and swimming distance were significantly increased, while the number of crossing the platform was decreased in group I/R compared with group S. There was no significant difference in the swimming speed between the 2 groups. Conclusion Intestinal I/R can induce brain injury and lead to cognitive dysfunction. I/R-induced release of inflammatory mediators and neuronal apoptosis are involved in the underlying mechanism.

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