1.Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study on Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Shexiang Baoxinwan in Treating Stable Angina Pectoris Complicated with Anxiety and Depression in Coronary Artery Disease
Jie WANG ; Linzi LONG ; Zhiru ZHAO ; Feifei LIAO ; Jieming LU ; Tianjiao LIU ; Yuxuan PENG ; Hua QU ; Changgeng FU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):159-169
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of Shexiang Baoxinwan in treating stable angina pectoris with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) complicated with anxiety and depression and explore its underlying mechanisms. MethodsThis study employed a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial design. Patients admitted to the hospital were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group, with 52 patients in each group. Patients in the observation and control groups received Shexiang Baoxinwan and placebo, respectively, both in combination with conventional Western medication. The dose was 45.0 mg, three times daily, for a total duration of eight weeks. The primary outcome was the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores before and after treatment. Secondary outcomes included changes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), inflammatory markers [interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), CD40, etc.], monoamine neurotransmitters [e.g., dopamine (DA)], vascular endothelial function markers [e.g., endothelin-1(ET-1)], adipokines, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA). Adverse reactions were also recorded. ResultsA total of 92 patients completed the study, with 44 in the observation group and 48 in the control group. Compared with baseline, both groups showed significant decreases in PHQ-9, GAD-7, and TCM syndrome scores following treatment (P<0.05), along with a significant increase in SAQ scores (P<0.05). In the observation group, DA levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), while levels of IL-18, TNF-α, CD40, ET-1, and IMA were decreased (P<0.05). In contrast, the control group exhibited significantly increased CD40 levels (P<0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, the observation group showed significant improvements in the SAQ dimensions of physical limitation, angina stability, treatment satisfaction, and disease perception, as well as in TCM syndrome score, PHQ-9 score, IL-18, CD40, ET-1, and IMA (P<0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either group during treatment. ConclusionShexiang Baoxinwan can improve anxiety and depression, alleviate angina symptoms, and reduce TCM symptoms of Qi stagnation and blood stasis in CAD patients. The mechanism may involve anti-inflammation, improvement of vascular endothelial function, reduction of IMA, and increase of monoamine neurotransmitter levels.
2.Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study on Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Shexiang Baoxinwan in Treating Stable Angina Pectoris Complicated with Anxiety and Depression in Coronary Artery Disease
Jie WANG ; Linzi LONG ; Zhiru ZHAO ; Feifei LIAO ; Jieming LU ; Tianjiao LIU ; Yuxuan PENG ; Hua QU ; Changgeng FU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):159-169
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of Shexiang Baoxinwan in treating stable angina pectoris with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) complicated with anxiety and depression and explore its underlying mechanisms. MethodsThis study employed a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial design. Patients admitted to the hospital were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group, with 52 patients in each group. Patients in the observation and control groups received Shexiang Baoxinwan and placebo, respectively, both in combination with conventional Western medication. The dose was 45.0 mg, three times daily, for a total duration of eight weeks. The primary outcome was the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores before and after treatment. Secondary outcomes included changes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), inflammatory markers [interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), CD40, etc.], monoamine neurotransmitters [e.g., dopamine (DA)], vascular endothelial function markers [e.g., endothelin-1(ET-1)], adipokines, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA). Adverse reactions were also recorded. ResultsA total of 92 patients completed the study, with 44 in the observation group and 48 in the control group. Compared with baseline, both groups showed significant decreases in PHQ-9, GAD-7, and TCM syndrome scores following treatment (P<0.05), along with a significant increase in SAQ scores (P<0.05). In the observation group, DA levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), while levels of IL-18, TNF-α, CD40, ET-1, and IMA were decreased (P<0.05). In contrast, the control group exhibited significantly increased CD40 levels (P<0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, the observation group showed significant improvements in the SAQ dimensions of physical limitation, angina stability, treatment satisfaction, and disease perception, as well as in TCM syndrome score, PHQ-9 score, IL-18, CD40, ET-1, and IMA (P<0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either group during treatment. ConclusionShexiang Baoxinwan can improve anxiety and depression, alleviate angina symptoms, and reduce TCM symptoms of Qi stagnation and blood stasis in CAD patients. The mechanism may involve anti-inflammation, improvement of vascular endothelial function, reduction of IMA, and increase of monoamine neurotransmitter levels.
3.The Near-infrared II Emission of Gold Clusters and Their Applications in Biomedicine
Zhen-Hua LI ; Hui-Zhen MA ; Hao WANG ; Chang-Long LIU ; Xiao-Dong ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2068-2086
Optical imaging is highly valued for its superior temporal and spatial resolution. This is particularly important in near-infrared II (NIR-II, 1 000-3 000 nm) imaging, which offers advantages such as reduced tissue absorption, minimal scattering, and low autofluorescence. These characteristics make NIR-II imaging especially suitable for deep tissue visualization, where high contrast and minimal background interference are critical for accurate diagnosis and monitoring. Currently, inorganic fluorescent probes—such as carbon nanotubes, rare earth nanoparticles, and quantum dots—offer high brightness and stability. However, they are hindered by ambiguous structures, larger sizes, and potential accumulation toxicity in vivo. In contrast, organic fluorescent probes, including small molecules and polymers, demonstrate higher biocompatibility but are limited by shorter emission wavelengths, lower quantum yields, and reduced stability. Recently, gold clusters have emerged as a promising class of nanomaterials with potential applications in biocatalysis, fluorescence sensing, biological imaging, and more. Water-soluble gold clusters are particularly attractive as fluorescent probes due to their remarkable optical properties, including strong photoluminescence, large Stokes shifts, and excellent photostability. Furthermore, their outstanding biocompatibility—attributed to good aqueous stability, ultra-small hydrodynamic size, and high renal clearance efficiency—makes them especially suitable for biomedical applications. Gold clusters hold significant potential for NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Atomic-precision gold clusters, typically composed of tens to hundreds of gold atoms and measuring only a few nanometers in diameter, possess well-defined three-dimensional structures and clear spatial coordination. This atomic-level precision enables fine-tuned structural regulation, further enhancing their fluorescence properties. Variations in cluster size, surface ligands, and alloying elements can result in distinct physicochemical characteristics. The incorporation of different atoms can modulate the atomic and electronic structures of gold clusters, while diverse ligands can influence surface polarity and steric hindrance. As such, strategies like alloying and ligand engineering are effective in enhancing both fluorescence and catalytic performance, thereby meeting a broader range of clinical needs. In recent years, gold clusters have attracted growing attention in the biomedical field. Their application in NIR-II imaging has led to significant progress in vascular, organ, and tumor imaging. The resulting high-resolution, high signal-to-noise imaging provides powerful tools for clinical diagnostics. Moreover, biologically active gold clusters can aid in drug delivery and disease diagnosis and treatment, offering new opportunities for clinical therapeutics. Despite the notable achievements in fundamental research and clinical translation, further studies are required to address challenges related to the standardized synthesis and complex metabolic behavior of gold clusters. Resolving these issues will help accelerate their clinical adoption and broaden their biomedical applications.
4.Analysis of T7 RNA Polymerase: From Structure-function Relationship to dsRNA Challenge and Biotechnological Applications
Wei-Chen NING ; Yu HUA ; Hui-Ling YOU ; Qiu-Shi LI ; Yao WU ; Yun-Long LIU ; Zhen-Xin HU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2280-2294
T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) is one of the simplest known RNA polymerases. Its unique structural features make it a critical model for studying the mechanisms of RNA synthesis. This review systematically examines the static crystal structure of T7 RNAP, beginning with an in-depth examination of its characteristic “thumb”, “palm”, and “finger” domains, which form the classic “right-hand-like” architecture. By detailing these structural elements, this review establishes a foundation for understanding the overall organization of T7 RNAP. This review systematically maps the functional roles of secondary structural elements and their subdomains in transcriptional catalysis, progressively elucidating the fundamental relationships between structure and function. Further, the intrinsic flexibility of T7 RNAP and its applications in research are also discussed. Additionally, the review presents the structural diagrams of the enzyme at different stages of the transcription process, and through these diagrams, it provides a detailed description of the complete transcription process of T7 RNAP. By integrating structural dynamics and kinetics analyses, the review constructs a comprehensive framework that bridges static structure to dynamic processes. Despite its advantages, T7 RNAP has a notable limitation: it generates double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a byproduct. The presence of dsRNA not only compromises the purity of mRNA products but also elicits nonspecific immune responses, which pose significant challenges for biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review provides a detailed exploration of the mechanisms underlying dsRNA formation during T7 RNAP catalysis, reviews current strategies to mitigate this issue, and highlights recent progress in the field. A key focus is the semi-rational design of T7 RNAP mutants engineered to minimize dsRNA generation and enhance catalytic performance. Beyond its role in transcription, T7 RNAP exhibits rapid development and extensive application in fields, including gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccines. This review systematically examines the structure-function relationships of T7 RNAP, elucidates the mechanisms of dsRNA formation, and discusses engineering strategies to optimize its performance. It further explores the engineering optimization and functional expansion of T7 RNAP. Furthermore, this review also addresses the pressing issues that currently need resolution, discusses the major challenges in the practical application of T7 RNAP, and provides an outlook on potential future research directions. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of T7 RNAP, ranging from its structural architecture to cutting-edge applications. We systematically examine: (1) the characteristic right-hand domains (thumb, palm, fingers) that define its minimalistic structure; (2) the structure-function relationships underlying transcriptional catalysis; and (3) the dynamic transitions during the complete transcription cycle. While highlighting T7 RNAP’s versatility in gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccine production, we critically address its major limitation—dsRNA byproduct formation—and evaluate engineering solutions including semi-rationally designed mutants. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying key challenges, this work aims to provide novel insights for the development and application of T7 RNAP and to foster further thought and progress in related fields.
5.Discussion on the Pathogenesis of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Under the System of Non-uniform Settlement During Bone Resorption and Multidimensional Composite Bowstring Working in Coordination with the Theory of Liver-Kidney and Muscle-Bone Based on the Concept of Liver and Kidney Sharing the Common Source
Gui-Xin ZHANG ; Feng YANG ; Le ZHANG ; Jie LIU ; Zhi-Jian CHEN ; Lei PENG ; En-Long FU ; Shu-Hua LIU ; Chang-De WANG ; Chun-Zhu GONG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(1):239-246
From the perspective of the physiological basis of liver and kidney sharing the common source in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),and by integrating the theory of kidney dominating bone,liver dominating tendon,and meridian sinew of TCM as well as the bone resorption and collapse theory,and non-uniform settlement theory and lower-limb musculoskeletal bowstring structure theory of modern orthopedics,the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH)under the system of non-uniform settlement during bone resorption and multidimensional composite bowstring working in coordination with the theory of liver-kidney and muscle-bone was explored.The key to the TCM pathogenesis of ONFH lies in the deficiency of the liver and kidney,and then the imbalance of kidney yin-yang leads to the disruption of the dynamic balance of bone formation and bone resorption mediated by osteoblasts-osteoclasts,which manifests as the elevated level of bone metabolism and the enhancement of focal bone resorption in the femoral head,and then leads to the necrosis and collapse of the femoral head.It is considered that the kidney dominates bone,liver dominates tendon,and the tendon and bone together constitute the muscle-bone-joint dynamic and static system of the hip joint.The appearance of collapse destroys the originally balanced muscle-bone-joint system.Moreover,the failure of liver blood in the nourishment of muscles and tendons further exacerbates the imbalance of the soft tissues around the hip joint,accelerates the collapse of the muscle-bone-joint dynamic and static system,speeds up the process of femoral head collapse,and ultimately results in irreversible outcomes.Based on the above pathogenesis,the systematic integrative treatment of ONFH should be based on the TCM holistic concept,focuses on the focal improvement of internal and external blood circulation of the femoral head by various approaches,so as to rebuild the coordination of joint function.Moreover,attention should be paid to the physical constitution of the patients,and therapy of tonifying the kidney and regulating the liver can be used to restore the balance between osteogenesis and osteoblastogenesis,and to reconstruct the muscle-bone-joint system,so as to effectively delay or even prevent the occurrence of ONFH.
6.A new hexacyclic triterpenoid with 13α ,27-cyclopropane ring from Glechoma longituba
Qian ZHANG ; Mei-long LU ; Tian-zi LIU ; Yue-ting ZHANG ; Ao ZHU ; Li-li DING ; Zhu-zhen HAN ; Li-hua GU ; Zheng-tao WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(5):1334-1340
In order to study the compounds from
7.Role of intestinal flora in hypertension complicated with osteoporosis
Mei-Long SI ; Hua JIN ; Min-Ke LIU ; Shuang-Fang LIU ; Bi-Shi LING ; Shang-Wen QI ; Xue-Li MA
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(3):449-453
Hypertension and osteoporosis(OP)are common diseases in middle-aged and elderly people,and the number of patients with both diseases has gradually increased in recent years.Because the onset of the disease is hidden,it is easy to cause fractures and serious complications of heart,brain and kidney in the later stage,which not only seriously damages the quality of life of patients,but also increases the difficulty of clinical treatment.Therefore,it is particularly necessary to strengthen the research on this disease.More and more studies have found that the disorder of intestinal flora will lead to the occurrence of OP,while the intestinal flora of patients with hypertension is obviously out of balance.Therefore,this paper thinks that intestinal flora may be the key influencing factor of hypertension complicated with OP,and the imbalance of intestinal flora will lead to the imbalance of short-chain fatty acid metabolism,immune inflammatory reaction and increased sympathetic nerve activity,thus causing the imbalance of bone homeostasis and promoting the occurrence of OP.Therefore,it is suggested that regulating intestinal flora may be a new way to intervene hypertension complicated with OP.
8.Application status and research progress of tranexamic acid in the perioperative period of joint replacement and arthroscopic surgery
Bao-Hua YUAN ; Hai-Ping LIU ; Xing-Yong LI ; Xiao-Ting LIU ; Ji-Hai MA ; Xu-Sheng ZHANG ; Hao-Fei YANG ; Jin-Sheng LI ; Sheng-Long HAN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(7):1080-1084
Tranexamic acid is widely used in joint orthopedic surgery.At the same time,it has high safety and few adverse drug reactions.It can effectively improve intraoperative bleeding and promote early functional recovery of patients.This article reviews the mode of administration,safe dose,administration time and adverse drug reactions of tranexamic acid in the perioperative period of joint replacement and arthroscopic surgery,in order to provide reference for the clinical application of tranexamic acid.
9.Proguanil induces bladder cancer cell apoptosis through mediating oxidation-reduction driven ferroptosis
Qing-Hua PAN ; Yin-Long LIU ; Yong LIU ; Bao-Chun LIAO ; Jian HU ; Zhi-Jian ZHU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(20):2988-2992
Objective To explore the potential mechanism of proguanil on the proliferation and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells.Methods 253J cells were randomly divided into control group(normal treatment),proguanil group(42.06 μmol·L-1 proguanil),pcDNA group(transfected with pcDNA+42.06 μmol·L-1 proguanil),FADS2 group[transfected fatty acid desaturase gene 2(FADS2)+42.06 μmol·L-1 proguanil],si-NC(transfection si-NC),si-FADS2(transfection si-FADS2),Ferrostatin-1 group(transfected with si-FADS2+10 μmol·L-1 ferrostatin-1).Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)assay was used to detect mRNA expression of related genes;Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of each protein;apoptosis was detected by TdT mediated dUDP nick end labeling(Tunel)assay;5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)assay to detect cell proliferation;the Transwell assay measures the ability of cells to migrate;Fe2+levels were determined by kit method;DCFH-DA probe was used to detect ROS levels.Results The mRNA levels of FADS2 in control group,proguanil group,pcDNA group and FADS2 group were 1.00±0.11,0.47±0.09,0.49±0.06 and 2.09±0.21,respectively;cell proliferation rate were(100.00±3.50)%,(54.31±4.90)%,(56.46±5.17)%and(78.76±6.50)%,respectively;the apoptosis rate were(3.92±0.53)%,(28.79±3.30)%,(27.20±2.90)%and(7.34±0.68)%,respectively;the migration number were 132.70±9.81,70.10±5.05,68.70±537 and 101.80±11.25,respectively;Fe2+level were(100.00±8.14)%,(201.33±17.84)%,(192.38±21.34)%and(116.70±10.90)%,respectively;GPX4 protein relative expression level were 0.77±0.05,0.31±0.05,0.34±0.05 and 0.68±0.06,respectively.The above indexes in proguanil group were compared with those in control group,the above indexes in FADS2 group were compared with those in pcDNA group,all the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The ROS levels of si-NC,si-FADS2 and Ferrostatin-1 groups were 9.72±1.18,40.94±5.63 and 13.77±1.40,respectively.Compared the si-FADS2 group with the si-NC group,Ferrostatin-1 group compared with si-FADS2 group,ROS level were significantly different(all P<0.05).Conclusion Proguanil can induce the apoptosis of bladder cancer cells by inhibiting FADS2 expression mediated by oxidation-reduction driven ferroptosis pathway.
10.A new strategy for quality evaluation of Panax notoginseng based on the correlation between macroscopic characteristics and chemical profiling
Zi-ying WANG ; Wen-xiang FAN ; Long-chan LIU ; Mei-long LU ; Li-hua GU ; Lin-nan LI ; Li YANG ; Zheng-tao WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(8):2326-2336
The traditional commodity specifications of Chinese medicinal materials are mainly divided into different grades based on macroscopic characteristics. As the basis for high quality and good price, there is still a lack of systematic evaluation on whether they are consistent with the current standards and whether they can reflect the internal quality of medicinal material.

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