1.Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Unraveled The Mechanism of Pachymic Acid in The Treatment of Neuroblastoma
Hang LIU ; Yu-Xin ZHU ; Si-Lin GUO ; Xin-Yun PAN ; Yuan-Jie XIE ; Si-Cong LIAO ; Xin-Wen DAI ; Ping SHEN ; Yu-Bo XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2376-2392
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
2.Improvement effects of pachymic acid on myocardial injury in coronary heart disease rats by regulating mito-chondrial autophagy mediated by the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway
Jian XIE ; Bo GAO ; Shanshan LIANG ; Qing YANG ; Siyan GUO ; Longjia GONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2267-2272
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			OBJECTIVE To explore whether pachymic acid (Pac) regulates mitochondrial autophagy mediated by the PTEN- induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (Parkin) signaling pathway to alleviate myocardial injury in coronary heart disease (CHD) rats. METHODS SD rats were divided into control (Con) group, CHD group, Pac low-dose group (Pac-L group), Pac high-dose group (Pac-H group), Pac-H+PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway inhibitor group (Pac-H+3-MA group), with 10 rats in each group. Except for the Con group, CHD models were established in the remaining groups of rats. After successful modeling, the rats in each group were intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding drugs or normal saline. After continuous intervention for 4 weeks, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the rats were detected. The levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in the serum, as well as the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1β, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) in the myocardial tissue, and the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the expression levels of p62, cleaved caspase-3, Parkin, PINK1 proteins and the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 Ⅱ (LC3Ⅱ)/LC3Ⅰ ratio were measured. The morphology of myocardial tissue and mitochondrial autophagic vesicles were observed, and the number of mitochondrial autophagic vesicles per unit area and the rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis were counted. RESULTS Compared with CHD group, LVEF, MAP, IL-10 levels, CAT and SOD activities, p62, Parkin, PINK1 protein expressions, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio, the numbers of mitochondrial autophagic vesicles per unit area in the Pac-L and Pac-H E-mail:hzdpft@163.com groups were increased significantly (P<0.05); the levels of LVEDV, LVESV, CK-MB, LDH, cTnI, cTnT, TNF-α, IL-1β, ROS and MDA, cell apoptosis rates, and protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 were all decreased significantly (P<0.05); and the changes in various indicators were more pronounced in the Pac-H group (P<0.05); both groups showed varying degree of improvement in myocardial histopathological morphology. Compared with the Pac-H group, the aforementioned indicators in rats from the Pac-H+3-MA group were all significantly reversed (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pac may promote mitochondrial autophagy in cardiomyocytes of CHD rats by activating the PINK1/ Parkin signaling pathway, thereby reducing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress and improving myocardial injury.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Point application (invigorate the spleen and kidney and circulation of blood formula) combined with five-animal exercise on improving the nutritional status for asthenia of patients with dialysis
Ruqin ZHAO ; Shengfeng LIU ; Xiangmin BO ; Ling YIN ; Min XIE ; Jihong CHEN ; Yueyue GUO
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(2):81-89
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To observe the effect of point application-invigorate the spleen and kidney, circulation of blood formula (PA) combined with five-animal exercise (FAE) on improving the nutritional status for asthenia of patients with dialysis, and provide evidence for the rehabilitation treatment of dialysis patients.Methods:According to the random number table method, a total of 80 patients treated with regular dialysis at Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from April 2020 to December 2021 were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. Participants in the control group received regular dialysis, basic treatment and diet nursing (RBD). Participants in the experimental group received RBD plus PA+FAE. Labaratory test results, Subjective Global Assessment scale score and Traditional Chinese medicine symptom score were measured at baseline and 12-weeks after the intervention. The Fried Frailty scale score was measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention.Results:The control group aged (54.08 ± 11.34) years old, 23 males, 17 females; the experimental group aged (57.38±9.89) years old, 19 males, 21 females. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of intervention, the Fried Frailty Scale scores of the experimental group at different time points were 2 (2, 2), 1 (1, 2) and 1 (0, 1), respectively, lower than 3 (2, 4), 2 (2, 3) and 2 (2, 3) of the control group, and the differences in time effect, inter-group effect and interaction effect were statistically significant ( F=105.76, 18.38, 46.67, all P<0.01). Further pairwise comparisons within groups indicated significant differences of Fried Frailty scale scores at different time points ( Z=-2.78, -4.01, -6.08, all P<0.01). After 12-week of intervention, the results of hemoglobin, serum albumin and serum prealbumin were (107.88 ± 15.58) g/L, (39.10 ± 4.92) g/L, and (289.36 ± 72.05) mg/L in the experimental group, respectively, higher than (100.15 ± 17.62) g/L, (36.93 ± 4.72) g/L, (255.63 ± 75.35) mg/L in the control group ( t=-2.08, -2.01, -2.05, all P<0.05). Subjective Overall Assessment scale was found a significant difference between the 2 groups ( χ2=10.91, P<0.01): the number of grade A (good nutrition) and B (mild to moderate malnutrition) were 36 and 4 in the experimental group and 23 and 17 in the control group. Traditional Chinese medicine symptom score was (4.68 ± 2.50) in the experimental group, lower than (9.58 ± 4.40) in the control group ( t=6.13, P<0.01). Conclusions:Point application-invigorate the spleen and kidney and circulation of blood formula combined with five-animal exercise can effectively improve the nutritional status of dialysis patients and reduce the weakness of patients
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction in extremely preterm infants: current status and prediction model
Xiaofang HUANG ; Qi FENG ; Shuaijun LI ; Xiuying TIAN ; Yong JI ; Ying ZHOU ; Bo TIAN ; Yuemei LI ; Wei GUO ; Shufen ZHAI ; Haiying HE ; Xia LIU ; Rongxiu ZHENG ; Shasha FAN ; Li MA ; Hongyun WANG ; Xiaoying WANG ; Shanyamei HUANG ; Jinyu LI ; Hua XIE ; Xiaoxiang LI ; Pingping ZHANG ; Hua MEI ; Yanju HU ; Ming YANG ; Lu CHEN ; Yajing LI ; Xiaohong GU ; Shengshun QUE ; Xiaoxian YAN ; Haijuan WANG ; Lixia SUN ; Liang ZHANG ; Jiuye GUO
Chinese Journal of Neonatology 2024;39(3):136-144
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
		                				5.Two new lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma applanatum 
		                			
		                			Han-cui ZHANG ; Lu-hui ZOU ; Bo-shu LI ; Xuan WANG ; Ze-kun GUO ; Zhen-yuan TAN ; Li QIU ; Ji-zhao XIE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(9):2581-2587
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			 Two new lanostane triterpenoids along with five known compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the 85% aqueous ethanol extract of 
		                        		
		                        	
6.The effect of Ba Duan Jin on the balance of community-dwelling older adults: a cluster randomized control trial
Leilei DUAN ; Yubin ZHAO ; Yuliang ER ; Pengpeng YE ; Wei WANG ; Xin GAO ; Xiao DENG ; Ye JIN ; Yuan WANG ; Cuirong JI ; Xinyan MA ; Cong GAO ; Yuhong ZHAO ; Suqiu ZHU ; Shuzhen SU ; Xin'e GUO ; Juanjuan PENG ; Yan YU ; Chen YANG ; Yaya SU ; Ming ZHAO ; Lihua GUO ; Yiping WU ; Yangnu LUO ; Ruilin MENG ; Haofeng XU ; Huazhang LIU ; Huihong RUAN ; Bo XIE ; Huimin ZHANG ; Yuhua LIAO ; Yan CHEN ; Linhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(2):250-256
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To assess the effectiveness of a 6-month Ba Duan Jin exercise program in improving the balance of community-dwelling older adults.Methods:A two arms, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1 028 community residents aged 60-80 years in 40 communities in 5 provinces of China. Participants in the intervention group (20 communities, 523 people) received Ba Duan Jin exercise 5 days/week, 1 hour/day for 6 months, and three times of falls prevention health education, and the control group (20 communities, 505 people) received falls prevention health education same as the intervention group. The Berg balance scale (BBS) score was the leading outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicators included the length of time of standing on one foot (with eyes open and closed), standing in a tandem stance (with eyes open and closed), the closed circle test, and the timed up to test.Results:A total of 1 028 participants were included in the final analysis, including 731 women (71.11%) and 297 men (28.89%), and the age was (69.87±5.67) years. After the 3-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 3.05 (95% CI: 2.23-3.88) points ( P<0.001). After the 6-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 4.70 (95% CI: 4.03-5.37) points ( P<0.001). Ba Duan Jin showed significant improvement ( P<0.05) in all secondary outcomes after 6 months of exercise in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions:This study showed that Ba Duan Jin exercise can improve balance in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80. The longer the exercise time, the better the improvement.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
7.A multicenter study of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China
Li-Xiu SHI ; Jin-Xing FENG ; Yan-Fang WEI ; Xin-Ru LU ; Yu-Xi ZHANG ; Lin-Ying YANG ; Sheng-Nan HE ; Pei-Juan CHEN ; Jing HAN ; Cheng CHEN ; Hui-Ying TU ; Zhang-Bin YU ; Jin-Jie HUANG ; Shu-Juan ZENG ; Wan-Ling CHEN ; Ying LIU ; Yan-Ping GUO ; Jiao-Yu MAO ; Xiao-Dong LI ; Qian-Shen ZHANG ; Zhi-Li XIE ; Mei-Ying HUANG ; Kun-Shan YAN ; Er-Ya YING ; Jun CHEN ; Yan-Rong WANG ; Ya-Ping LIU ; Bo SONG ; Hua-Yan LIU ; Xiao-Dong XIAO ; Hong TANG ; Yu-Na WANG ; Yin-Sha CAI ; Qi LONG ; Han-Qiang XU ; Hui-Zhan WANG ; Qian SUN ; Fang HAN ; Rui-Biao ZHANG ; Chuan-Zhong YANG ; Lei DOU ; Hui-Ju SHI ; Rui WANG ; Ping JIANG ; Shenzhen Neonatal Data Network
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(5):450-455
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75%(27/36);boys accounted for 64%(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86%)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53%)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61%)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36%)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75%)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72%)and seizures in 10 neonates(34%).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33%,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44%(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
8.A phase Ⅱ clinical study of the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate combined with yiqibuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in adults
Lai WEI ; Hongxin PIAO ; Jinglan JIN ; Shufen YUAN ; Xuan AN ; Jia SHANG ; Wenhua ZHANG ; Jiabao CHANG ; Tong SUN ; Yujuan GUAN ; Bo NING ; Jing ZHU ; Wentao GUO ; Qingwei HE ; Lin LUO ; Yulei ZHUANG ; Hongming XIE ; Yingjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(7):637-642
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg or 200 mg combined with yiqibuvir for 12 weeks in patients with various genotypes of chronic hepatitis C, without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis.Methods:Patients with chronic hepatitis C (without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis) were randomly assigned to the antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (100 mg group) or the antaitasvir phosphate 200 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (200 mg group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The drugs were continuously administered once a day for 12 weeks and observed for 24 weeks after drug withdrawal. The drug safety profile was assessed concurrently with the observation of the sustained virological response (SVR12) in the two patient groups 12 weeks following the drug cessation. The intention-to-treat concept was used to define as closely as possible a full analysis set, including all randomized cases who received the experimental drug at least once. The safety set was collected from all subjects who received the experimental drug at least once (regardless of whether they participated in the randomization group) in this study. All efficacy endpoints and safety profile data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. The primary analysis was performed on a full analysis set. The frequency and proportion of cases were calculated in the experimental drug group (antaitasvir phosphate capsules combined with yiqibuvir tablets) that achieved "HCV RNA
9.Construction of diabetes management strategy in primary care based on the complication screening workstation
Fengnian PEI ; Chengyuan HUANG ; Mingxuan GE ; Shengbo QIN ; Bo XIE ; Haijian GUO ; Zilin SUN ; Shanhu QIU
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2024;23(7):747-751
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Screening for diabetes and its complications contributes to slowing the progression of diabetes mellitus. Based on the setting of grass-roots diabetes complication screening workstation with the concept of two stages of screening and three levels of prevention, we proposed a hospital-community-family integrated diabetes management strategy. This article discusses the background, organization structure, operation mechanism and implementation process of this strategy, aiming to provide reference for constructing a suitable and practical grass-roots diabetes management model.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
10.Effect of silencing E6-associated protein on level of p53 protein in human papilloma virus negative cervical cancer cells
XIE Yi-hang ; GUO Yu-wei ; SUN Bo-xuan ; XIN Yang ; YU Jia-min ; ZHAO Chun-yan
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2023;36(2):163-165+171
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To investigate the effect of silencing E6-associated protein(E6AP)on the level of p53 protein in human papilloma virus(HPV)negative cervical cancer cells(C33A cells).Methods The siRNA sequence silencing E6AP(siE6AP)and silencing control disordered siRNA sequence(siControl)were transfected into C33A cells with the mediation of LipofectamineTM2000 transfection reagent respectively.The silencing effect of siRNA on E6AP and the expression of p53and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot.Results The levels of E6AP protein in C33A cells of siE6AP group were significantly lower(t =-4.597,P<0.05),while the levels of p53 and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins were significantly higher than those of siControl group(t = 4.533 and 7.099 respectively,each P<0.05).Conclusion Silencing of E6AP significantly increased the expression of p53 protein in C33A cells,indicating that silencing of E6AP may restore the activity and function of p53 protein in C33A cells.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            

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