1.Mechanism of Astragaloside Ⅳ in Regulating PI3K/Akt Molecular Pathway in Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Complications: A Review
Kexin HU ; Jinru ZHU ; Qing WU ; Shengmao WANG ; Mengfan WANG ; Ai QIAN ; Zhaohui FANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):307-314
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency and reduced insulin sensitivity in peripheral cells, posing a serious threat to global health. Chronic complications arising in the later stages of DM can lead to the decline or even loss of function in multiple organs, including the eyes, heart, liver, kidneys, nerves, and feet, making them the primary cause of mortality in DM patients. Although modern medicine has made some progress in the treatment of these complications, challenges such as high costs and adverse drug reactions remain. Thus, identifying highly effective drugs with minimal adverse effects has become a top priority. Astragalus membranaceus is a shining gem in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine. Numerous studies have shown that its primary active component, astragaloside Ⅳ, possesses various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects, as well as benefits for cardiac and cerebral function, nerve conduction, and myocardial protection. Meanwhile, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, and autophagy. Extensive research has highlighted the significant role of this pathway in various DM complications, leading to widespread studies on its interaction with astragaloside Ⅳ. This review summarizes research findings on how astragaloside Ⅳ alleviates pancreatic cytotoxicity in DM patients by modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Additionally, it highlights its protective effects on basic cardiac function, inhibition of retinal cell damage, improvement of cerebral nerve dysfunction, reduction of chronic kidney and liver damage, and mitigation of neurovascular toxicity in the lower limbs. These insights provide a valuable reference for the clinical application of A. membranaceus and its active monomer, astragaloside Ⅳ, in the treatment of DM and its complications.
2.Circular RNA hsa_circ_0081621 promotes malignant biological behavior of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells
LIU Shenghui1,2 ; AI Xueying1,2 ; XU Yuru1 ; LI Shuqi1,2 ; LIU Meng1 ; HU Guobin1 ; SHAN Baoen2,3
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;32(6):579-586
[摘 要] 目的:探究环状RNA hsa_circ_0081621对人喉鳞状细胞癌AMC-HN-8和TU177细胞恶性生物学行为的影响。方法:常规培养AMC-HN-8和TU177细胞,用转染试剂将si-NC、si-hsa_circ_0081621、空载体(vector)和hsa_circ_0081621过表达载体(hsa_circ_0081621-OE)转染至AMC-HN-8和TU177细胞,分别记作si-NC、si-hsa_circ_0081621、vector和hsa_circ_0081621-OE组。用CCK-8法、克隆形成实验、划痕愈合实验和Transwell小室实验分别检测敲减或过表达hsa_circ_0081621对AMC-HN-8和TU177细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭能力的影响。结果:在AMC-HN-8和TU177中成功地敲减或过表达了hsa_circ_0081621;敲减或过表达hsa_circ_0081621能显著抑制或促进AMC-HN-8和TU177细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭能力(P < 0.01或P < 0.001或P < 0.000 1)。结论:hsa_circ_0081621可促进人喉鳞状细胞癌AMC-HN-8和TU177细胞的恶性生物学行为。
3.Mediating role of mental fatigue between nature exposure and mental health of prison police
Qingqi ZHANG ; Junze XIAO ; Ke QI ; Hongwen HU ; Jing LIU ; Ai MA ; Xiaoqian LIU ; Yuze ZENG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(3):311-317
Background The mental health status of prison officers is crucial to the efficiency, security, and stability of a prison, and it is essential to pay attention to the factors that influence their mental health. Objective To understand the mental health status of prison officers, and analyze how nature exposure affects their mental health problems and a potential mediating role of mental fatigue. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out from May to June 2022 among 1392 prison officers from eight prisons in a province, and a total of 1284 valid questionnaires were recovered. The Nature Exposure Scale, Mental Fatigue Scale, and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale were used to assess nature exposure, mental fatigue, and mental health indicators among prison officers, and to explore the effect of nature exposure on mental health problems and a potential mediating role of mental fatigue. Results The recruited prison officers showed high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were 59.11% (759/1284), 60.67% (779/1284),and 43.93% (564/1284), respectively. The results of correlation analysis revealed that nature exposure was negatively related with mental fatigue and mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and stress) (rs=−0.242, −0.308, −0.235, −0.254, P<0.01), while mental fatigue was positively correlated with mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and stress) (rs=0.546, 0.533, 0.536, P<0.01). The PROCESS macro results showed that the level of nature exposure among prison officers negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (β=−0.180, −0.104, −0.123), and mental fatigue played a mediating role, with indirect effects of −0.200, −0.192, and −0.199, respectively. Conclusion The levels of depression, anxiety, and stress of prison officers are higher than those of other occupations. Nature exposure negatively associates with depression, anxiety, and stress, that is, it may directly alleviate the mental health problems of prison officers; and it may also alleviate mental health problems by relieving mental fatigue.
4.Prevalence and consultation behavior of childhood respiratory diseases in a hospital in Zhejiang Province in 2019-2021
Kaiyi YANG ; Guoqiang QI ; Zhiwen ZHU ; Jian HUANG ; Shasha HU ; Gang YU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2024;35(2):12-16
Objective To analyze the causes of changes in the prevalence of respiratory diseases and the reason for changes in medical visit behavior of children in Zhejiang Province during the winter and spring seasons of 2019-2021, and to provide important reference for the allocation of hospital resources, implementation of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, and epidemic prevention and control. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 256 937 outpatient medical records from January 23rd to April 23rd of each year from 2019 to 2021 at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Statistical methods were used for data analysis. Results A total of 256 937 cases were selected in the present study, including 157 000 cases in 2019, 22 192 cases in 2020, and 77 745 cases in 2021. The number of patients to the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from outside Hangzhou accounted for 41.74%, 14.36% , and 18.53% in 2019-2021, respectively. For 0~2 years old , 3~6 years old , and 7~14 years old groups , the percentages of patients with upper respiratory tract infections were 49.54%, 45.95%, and 46.74%, respectively ; with lower respiratory tract infections were 42.90% , 31.76% , and 22.95% ; with influenza were 2.23% , 3.15% and 4.09%; and with asthma were 1.37%, 5.08%, and 8.15%, respectively. Conclusion From 2019 to 2021, there have been significant changes in the total number of respiratory diseases in children, the proportion of disease types, and the proportion of children's geographical composition. It is necessary to continue to monitor children's respiratory diseases, grasp the dynamic changes in their medical visits in real time, adjust the hospital admission model , implement the graded treatment policy, and promote the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in children.
5.The preliminary therapeutic effect of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt
Jiali MA ; Zhenglin AI ; Julong HU ; Yu JIANG ; Yuling ZHOU ; Xiuxia LIANG ; Hongshan WEI ; Ping LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(4):734-738
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt (GRS). MethodsThe patients who attended Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, due to liver cirrhosis and gastric varices from February to June 2023 were enrolled, and all patients were confirmed to have GRS and received endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips. The primary evaluation index was alleviation or disappearance of varicose veins after surgery, and the secondary evaluation indices were surgical completion and complications. ResultsA total of 11 patients were enrolled in this study, among whom there were 7 male patients and 4 female patients, with a median age of 55 years. Of all patients, 1 had Child class A liver function, 7 had Child class B liver function, and 3 had Child class C liver function. The maximum (median) diameter of the shunt was 8 mm, and the minimum (median) diameter of the shunt was 4 mm. The median blood flow velocity of the target vessel was 11 cm/s before treatment and 5 cm/s after occlusion with metal clips. The median amount of tissue adhesive injected was 2 mL, and the amount of lauromacrogol used was 1 mL. Disappearance of blood flow signals was observed in all patients after surgery (100%), and the success rate of surgery was 100%. No patient experienced rebleeding after follow-up for 6 weeks. Gastroscopy at 1 month after surgery showed that gastric varices were eradicated or almost disappeared in 9 patients and were alleviated in 2 patients. ConclusionEndoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment method for cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and GRS.
6.Study on the Analgesic Effect and Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Rats
Jing ZHAO ; Jian ZHANG ; Ai-Min HU
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(4):1002-1010
Objective To investigate the analgesic effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)rats.Methods Sixty rats were divided into normal group,model group,low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Chinese medicine,and high-dose + H-89[protein kinase A(PKA)inhibitor]group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,rats in all other groups were fed with high-fat and high-sugar chow combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)method to construct DPN model.At the end of drug administration,the foot thermal pain threshold of rats was detected,the motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV)and sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV)of rats was measured,the intraepidermal nerve fiber(IENF)in the epidermis was observed by immunohistochemistry,and serum fasting insulin(FINS),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR),and the interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),angiopoietin 1(Ang-1),CD34 levels,cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)concentration in the sciatic nerve tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and Western Blot assay to detect the PKA and the carbohydrate responsive element binding(CREB)in the sciatic nerve tissues.Results Compared with the normal group,foot thermal pain threshold,TC,TG,LDL-C,HOMA-IR,IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05),HDL-C,FINS,VEGF,Ang-1,CD34,IENF,MNCV and SNCV values,cAMP concentration levels,PKA and CREB phosphorylation levels were significantly reduced(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the above indexes were significantly improved in the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Chinese medicine(P<0.05)in a dose-dependent manner.Compared with the Chinese medicine high-dose + H-89 group,all the indexes were reversed in the Chinese medicine high-dose group.Conclusion Buyang Huanwu Decoction can improve insulin resistance and lipid metabolism,reduce limb pain,improve local microcirculation disorder,and protect nerve function in DPN rats,which reflects the therapeutic characteristics of"activating blood circulation and relieving pain".The pain-relieving effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction may be related to the improvement of local microcirculation,inhibition of inflammatory factor release and regulation of cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway protein expression.
7.Development of a predictive model for perioperative blood transfusion in elderly patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty
Han ZANG ; Ai HU ; Xuanqi XU ; Li XU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(1):98-102
Objective To analyze risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion in elderly patients undergoing uni-lateral primary total hip arthroplasty and develop a prediction model.Methods The study retrospectively collected 467 elderly patients receiving unilateral primary total hip arthroplasty between January 2013 and October 2021 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.The 70%of the data were used as the training set and the 30%of the data were used as the testing set.Patients were divided into the transfusion and no-transfusion groups based on the presence or absence of perioperative blood transfusion.Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to analyze patient demographic characteristics,surgical information,and preoperative laboratory tests for identifying risk factors.Clinical experience was combined to establish a prediction model and draw the nomogram.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and calibration curve were used to evaluate the model in the tes-ting set.Results A total of 91 patients(19.5%)received perioperative blood transfusion.Multivariable logistic re-gression suggested the history of coronary artery disease,prolonged operation time,and lower preoperative hemoglo-bin were risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion(P<0.05).The prediction model was constructed based on the results of statistical analysis and clinical experience,including the history of coronary artery disease,operation time,preoperative hemoglobin,age,and American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)physical status>Ⅱ.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of the model was 0.809.Conclusions The prediction model for perioperative blood transfusion in elderly patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty had a good performance and could assist in clinical practice.
8.The expression changes and clinical significance of serum microRNA-155 and 135b-5p in patients with peptic ulcer complicated with Helicobacter pylori infection
Kuankuan AI ; Ruirui HU ; Yuan XUE ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2024;47(3):237-241
Objective:To investigate the expression levels and clinical significance of serum microRNA (miR) -155 and miR-135b-5p in patients with peptic ulcer complicated with Helicobacter pylori ( Hp) infection. Methods:A prospective study was conducted, and 263 patients with peptic ulcer were selected consecutively from July 2021 to February 2023 at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College. Among them, 146 cases were confirmed as Hp infection ( Hp infection group) and 117 cases were not complicated with Hp infection (non Hp infection group) by 14C breath test; type Ⅰ Hp infection was in 110 cases, and type Ⅱ Hp infection was in 36 cases by immunoblotting method. The serum expression levels of miR-155 and miR-135b-5p were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, serum gastrin level was detected by radioimmunoassay method, and the serum pepsinogen (PG) Ⅰ and PG Ⅱ were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The clinical data were recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of Hp infection in patients with peptic ulcer; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of serum miR-155 and miR-135b-5p in diagnosis the Hp infection in patients with peptic ulcer. Results:The gastrin, PG Ⅰ, PG Ⅱ, ulcer bleeding rate and recurrence rate in Hp infection group were significantly higher than those in non Hp infection group: (108.47 ± 15.35) ng/L vs. (79.63 ± 10.58) ng/L, (295.41 ± 37.26) pg/L vs. (236.75 ± 29.17) pg/L, (44.08 ± 8.52) pg/L vs. (39.29 ± 6.74) pg/L, 25.34% (37/146) vs. 15.38% (18/117) and 21.92% (32/146) vs. 11.97% (14/117), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). The serum miR-155 and miR-135b-5p in Hp infection group were significantly higher than those in non Hp infection group (1.94 ± 0.63 vs. 0.95 ± 0.29 and 1.86 ± 0.57 vs. 1.03 ± 0.31), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). The serum miR-155 and miR-135b-5p in patients with typeⅠ Hp infection were significantly higher than those in patients with type Ⅱ Hp infection (2.05 ± 0.66 vs. 1.60 ± 0.54 and 1.97 ± 0.61 vs. 1.52 ± 0.45), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that serum miR-155, miR-135b-5p, gastrin and PG Ⅰwere independent risk factors of Hp infection in patients with peptic ulcer ( OR = 1.443, 1.436, 1.452 and 1.438; 95% CI 1.165 to 1.787, 1.146 to 1.799, 1.187 to 1.777 and 1.150 to 1.798; P<0.01). ROC curve analysis result showed that the area under the curve of serum miR-155 combined with miR-135b-5p in the diagnosis of Hp infection in patients with peptic ulcer was significantly greater than that of serum miR-155 and miR-135b-5p alone (0.907 vs. 0.839 and 0.836, Z = 2.57 and 2.81, P = 0.010 and 0.005). Conclusions:The serum levels of miR-155 and miR-135b-5p are high in patients with peptic ulcer complicated with Hp infection, and the combination of the two has high diagnostic value for Hp infection in patients with peptic ulcer.
9.Application and progress of index of microcirculatory resistance
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2024;32(2):96-100
With the deepening of the research on coronary artery related diseases,people gradually realize that coronary microcirculation disorders have an important impact on the occurrence,development,curative effect and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases,and coronary microcirculation diseases have received more and more attention in ischemic heart disease.Since coronary microvessels cannot be directly observed through imaging,there are currently some indicators to evaluate coronary microcirculation function in clinical practice,among which the index of microcirculatory resistance(IMR)is widely used for the evaluation of coronary microcirculation function.Computational fluid dynamics derived IMR is accurate,easy to perform,and has a broad application prospect.This article provides a comprehensive review of the establishment,development,clinical applications,and progress of IMR.
10.Virulence determinants and genetic diversity of foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from Wenzhou
Ai-Rong XIE ; Yi LI ; Hui-Huang LOU ; Zhong-Bi XIE ; Le-Yi ZHANG ; Yu-Qin HU ; Yue-Jin WU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(1):40-45
The aim of this study was to investigate the virulence determinants and genetic diversity of foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica from Wenzhou.A total of 71 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated from food and foodborne diarrhea ca-ses in Wenzhou,and their biotypes,serotypes,and drug resistance were analyzed.On the basis of whole genome sequencing,we assessed virulence gene profiles,and performed multilocus sequence typing(MLST)and core gene multilocus sequence typ-ing(cgMLST).A total of 94.4%(67/71)of isolates belonged to biotype 1A,and the highest proportion had serotype lA/O∶5(29.6%,21/71).The sensitivity rates of the isolates to 14 antibiotics exceeded 95.8%.A total of 16 categories and 126 viru-lence genes were identified,with two strains carrying the pYV plasmid and chromosome-related virulence genes.ST3(31.6%,12/38)was the most widespread MLST type,and cgMLST analysis revealed no dense clusters of genotypes except for strains sharing the same ST.In conclusion,pathogenic strains were identified from foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica in Wenzhou and were found to exhibit high genetic polymorphism.Enhanced regulatory supervision is essential to prevent the outbreak of food-borne diseases caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.


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