1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
2.Research progress of nano drug delivery system based on metal-polyphenol network for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases
Meng-jie ZHAO ; Xia-li ZHU ; Yi-jing LI ; Zi-ang WANG ; Yun-long ZHAO ; Gao-jian WEI ; Yu CHEN ; Sheng-nan HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):323-336
Inflammatory diseases (IDs) are a general term of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation as the primary pathogenetic mechanism, which seriously affect the quality of patient′s life and cause significant social and medical burden. Current drugs for IDs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and antioxidants, but these drugs may cause gastrointestinal side effects, induce or worsen infections, and cause non-response or intolerance. Given the outstanding performance of metal polyphenol network (MPN) in the fields of drug delivery, biomedical imaging, and catalytic therapy, its application in the diagnosis and treatment of IDs has attracted much attention and significant progress has been made. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the types of IDs and their generating mechanisms, then sort out and summarize the different forms of MPN in recent years, and finally discuss in detail the characteristics of MPN and their latest research progress in the diagnosis and treatment of IDs. This research may provide useful references for scientific research and clinical practice in the related fields.
3.Development of intelligent equipment for rapid microbial detection of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces based on measurement technology for traditional Chinese medicine manufacturing.
Yang LIU ; Wu-Zhen QI ; Yu-Tong WU ; Shan-Xi ZHU ; Xiao-Jun ZHAO ; Qia-Tong XIE ; Yu-Feng GUO ; Jing ZHAO ; Nan LI ; Shi-Jun WANG ; Qi-Hui SUN ; Zhi-Sheng WU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4610-4618
Microbial detection and control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are crucial for the quality control of TCM preparations. It is also a key area of research in the measurement technology and equipment development for TCM manufacturing. Guided by TCM manufacturing measurement methodologies, this study presented a design of a novel portable microbial detection device, using Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces as a demonstration. Immunomagnetic separation technology was employed for specific isolation and labeling of target microorganisms. Enzymatic signal amplification was utilized to convert weak biological signals into colorimetric signals, constructing an optical biosensor. A self-developed smartphone APP was further applied to analyze the colorimetric signals and quantify target concentrations. A portable and automated detection system based on Arduino microcontroller was developed to automatically perform target microbial separation/extraction, as well as mimetic enzyme labeling and catalytic reactions. The developed equipment specifically focuses on the rapid and quantitative microbial analysis of TCM active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates in TCM manufacturing, and final TCM products. Experimental results demonstrate that the equipment could detect Salmonella in samples within 2 h, with a detection limit as low as 5.1 × 10~3 CFU·mL~(-1). The equipment enables the rapid detection of microorganisms in TCM decoction pieces, providing a potential technical solution for on-site rapid screening of microbial contamination indicators in TCM. It has broad application prospects in measurement technology for TCM manufacturing and offers strong technical support for the modernization, industrialization, and intelligent development of TCM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis*
;
Atractylodes/microbiology*
;
Rhizome/microbiology*
;
Biosensing Techniques/methods*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Colorimetry/instrumentation*
;
Quality Control
4.Clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute erythroleukemia in children.
Ping ZHU ; Wen-Jing QI ; Ye-Qing TAO ; Ding-Ding CUI ; Guang-Yao SHENG ; Chun-Mei WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(1):88-93
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute erythroleukemia (AEL) in children.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data, treatment, and prognosis of 8 children with AEL treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023.
RESULTS:
Among the 7 patients with complete bone marrow morphological analysis, 4 exhibited trilineage dysplasia, with a 100% incidence of erythroid dysplasia (7/7), a 71% incidence of myeloid dysplasia (5/7), and a 57% incidence of megakaryocytic dysplasia (4/7). Immunophenotyping revealed that myeloid antigens were primarily expressed as CD13, CD33, CD117, CD38, and CD123, with 4 cases expressing erythroid antigens CD71 and 2 cases expressing CD235a. Chromosomal analysis indicated that 2 cases presented with abnormal karyotypes, including +8 in one case and +4 accompanied by +6 in another; no complex karyotypes were observed. Genetic abnormalities were detected in 4 cases, with fusion genes including one case each of dup MLL positive and EVI1 positive, as well as mutations involving KRAS, NRAS, WT1, and UBTF. Seven patients received chemotherapy, with 6 achieving remission after one course of treatment; 2 underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and all had disease-free survival. Follow-up (median follow-up time of 6 months) showed that only 3 patients survived (2 cases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 1 case during treatment).
CONCLUSIONS
Children with AEL have unique clinical and biological characteristics, exhibit poor treatment response, and have a poor prognosis; however, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve overall survival rates.
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Prognosis
;
Child, Preschool
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child
;
Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/diagnosis*
;
Infant
;
Adolescent
5.Clinical implication of post-angioplasty quantitative flow ratio in the patients with coronary artery de novo lesions underwent drug-coated balloons treatment.
Yun-Hui ZHU ; Xu-Lin HONG ; Tian-Li HU ; Qian-Qian BIAN ; Yu-Fei CHEN ; Tian-Ping ZHOU ; Jing LI ; Guo-Sheng FU ; Wen-Bin ZHANG
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(3):332-343
BACKGROUND:
Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) holds significant value in guiding drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment and enhancing outcomes. However, the predictive capability of post-angioplasty QFR for long-term clinical events in patients with de novo lesions who receive DCB treatment remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to explore the potential significance of post-angioplasty QFR measurements in predicting clinical outcomes in patients underwent DCB treatment for de novo lesions.
METHODS:
Patients who underwent DCB-only intervention for de novo lesions were enrolled. QFR was conducted after DCB treatment. The patients were then categorized based on post-angioplasty QFR. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), encompassing all-cause death, cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and target vessel revascularization.
RESULTS:
A total of 553 patients with 561 lesions were included. The median follow-up period was 505 days, during which 66 (11.8%) MACEs occurred. Based on post-procedural QFR grouping, there were 259 cases in the high QFR group (QFR > 0.93) and 302 cases in the low QFR group (QFR ≤ 0.93). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative incidence of MACE in the low QFR group (log-rank P = 0.004). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between QFR and the occurrence of MACEs (HR = 0.522, 95%CI: 0.289-0.942, P = 0.031). Landmark analysis indicated that high QFR had a significant reducing effect on the cumulative incidence of MACEs within 1 year (log-rank P = 0.016) and 1-5 years (log-rank P = 0.026).
CONCLUSIONS
In patients who underwent DCB-only treatment for de novo lesions, higher post-procedural QFR values (> 0.93) were identified as an independent protective factor against adverse prognosis.
6.Developing a polygenic risk score for pelvic organ prolapse: a combined risk assessment approach in Chinese women.
Xi CHENG ; Lei LI ; Xijuan LIN ; Na CHEN ; Xudong LIU ; Yaqian LI ; Zhaoai LI ; Jian GONG ; Qing LIU ; Yuling WANG ; Juntao WANG ; Zhijun XIA ; Yongxian LU ; Hangmei JIN ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Luwen WANG ; Juan CHEN ; Guorong FAN ; Shan DENG ; Sen ZHAO ; Lan ZHU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(4):665-674
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans
;
Female
;
Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Risk Assessment/methods*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Multifactorial Inheritance
;
Aged
;
Risk Factors
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
Case-Control Studies
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Adult
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Genetic Risk Score
;
East Asian People
7.Effects of tilianin combined with aerobic training on cognitive function in rats with Alzheimer's disease
Bo HUANG ; Wei-Dong WU ; Zheng WANG ; Jing-Sheng ZHU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(11):1618-1622
Objective To explore the effect of tilianin combined with aerobic training on cognitive function of rats with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods Rats were divided into 7 groups:blank group,model group,control group,low dose experimental group,medium dose experimental group,high dose experimental group and combination group,12 rats in each group.The rats in blank group were sham operated,and other groups were AD model rats established by bilateral hippocampal injection of amyloid-beta peptide 1-42(A(31-42).One week after modeling,the rats in control group and combination group were trained on the treadmill,and the rats in other groups were fed quietly.The rats in blank group,model group and control group were given 0.5%carboxymethyl cellulose sodium(CMC)2 mL.The rats in low,medium and high dose experimental groups were given intragastric administration of 5,10 and 20 mg·kg-1·d-1tilianin 2 mL.The rats in combined group were given 20 mg·kg-1·d-1 tilianin 2 mL by gavage.The drug was given for 6 weeks.Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze test.The level of Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme protein 1(BACE1)mRNA in hippocampus was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.The phosphorylation level of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)p65 in hippocampus was detected by Western blot.Results The escape latencies of blank group,model group,control group,low dose experimental group,medium dose experimental group,high dose experimental group and combination group were(20.16±2.06),(60.45±6.55),(46.52±2.90),(42.80±3.15),(41.19±2.54),(35.66±2.82)and(28.49±1.97)s;the relative expression of BACE1 mRNA were 1.00±0.06,7.88±0.49,6.02±0.38,4.96±0.57,3.01±0.21,1.98±0.17 and 1.48±0.11;the relative phosphorylation levels of NF-κB p65 were 0.11±0.03,1.46±0.11,0.89±0.10,0.71±0.06,0.37±0.05,0.29±0.02 and 0.15±0.01.Compared between model group and blank group,comparison between low,medium,high dose experimental group and model group,comparison between combination group and high dose experimental group all showed statistically significant differences(all P<0.05).Conclusion Tilianin combined with aerobic training can improve the cognitive function of AD rats,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of inflammation mediated by NF-κB signal pathway.
8.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Sepsis Based on TLR4 Signaling Pathway: A Review
Jing YAN ; Sheng XIE ; Laian GE ; Guangyao WANG ; Zhu LIU ; Bingjie HAN ; Yaoxuan ZENG ; Jinchan PENG ; Jincheng QIAN ; Liqun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(19):282-291
Sepsis is one of the common severe diseases caused by the dysregulated host response to infection, which seriously threatens the life and health of human beings all over the world. The incidence and mortality of the disease are extremely high, and it has always been an urgent problem to be solved in the field of acute and critical diseases. At present, anti-infection, fluid resuscitation, mechanical ventilation and other programs are most used in clinic to treat sepsis, but their poor prognosis and high cost and other issues remain to be resolved. Therefore, it is necessary to explore a new, efficient, safe and inexpensive drug and treatment model at this stage. The treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on syndrome differentiation and holistic concept. It can effectively regulate the progression of sepsis, maintain the homeostasis of the body, and has fewer adverse reactions. It has achieved good clinical results. In recent years, a large number of studies have shown that TCM can reduce the inflammatory response by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) signaling pathway, thereby reducing the severity and mortality of sepsis patients. However, there is still a lack of systematic exposition of TCM regulating TLR4 signaling pathway in the treatment of sepsis. Therefore, this article summarizes the relationship between TLR4 signaling pathway and sepsis and the mechanism of TCM in the disease by searching and consulting relevant literature in recent years. It is found that some Chinese medicine monomers and active ingredients, Chinese medicine compounds and Chinese medicine preparations can effectively reduce systemic inflammatory response, repair organ damage and improve the prognosis of sepsis by inhibiting the activation of TLR4 signaling pathway. However, due to various limitations, some studies have directly focused on the differential expression and function of TLR4, ignoring the downstream molecular expression and phenotypic effects of TLR4. The alternative mechanism, relationship and specific molecular mechanism of the pathway are still unclear. There are problems such as unclear pharmacokinetics and unclear mechanism in the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance, which need to be further studied and explored in order to provide new ideas for the potential treatment and drug development for sepsis.
9.A new pyrazine from Hypecoum erectum L.
Yun LIU ; Meng-ya HU ; Wen-jing ZHANG ; Yu-xin FAN ; Rui-wen XU ; Deng-hui ZHU ; Yan-jun SUN ; Wei-sheng FENG ; Hui CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):183-187
Four pyrazines were isolated from the
10.PENG Peichu's Experience in Staged Differentiation and Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Xinyu XU ; Yu PENG ; Wenjing ZHU ; Jing ZHAI ; Dongya SHENG ; Mingyang WANG ; Yiqun SHAO ; Boyang LI ; Qi ZHONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(7):678-683
This paper summarized Professor PENG Peichu's experience in the differentiation and treatment of prostate cancer in three phases and four stages. It is considered that prostatic cancer is categorized into root deficiency and branch excess, with depletion of healthy qi as the root, and the accumulation of cancer toxin as the minifestation. Clinical diagnosis and treatment of prostatic cancer can be divided into three phases and four stages according to the exuberance and decline of pathogenic and healthy qi and the changes of deficiency and excess of yin and yang. In the initial accumulation phase of cancer toxin (yang excess stage), the key pathogenesis is the accumulation of dampness, heat and static blood, and internal generation of cancer toxin, and the treatment should be resolving toxins, fighting cancer and dispelling yang excess. In the phase of healthy qi deficiency and toxin accumulation (yin deficiency stage), with the lung and kidney yin deficiency, dampness, heat and static toxin accumulation as the key pathogenesis, the treatment should be centered on mutual generation between metal and water to nourish kidney yin, supplemented with the method of clearing heat and draining dampness, activating blood and resolving toxins, for which self-made Nanbei Formula(南北方)is usually used. In the phase of yang deficiency and cold stagnation (yang deficiency stage and yin excess stage), with the spleen and kidney yang deficiency, cold dampness stagnation, static heat and toxin accumulation as the key pathogenesis, the treatment should be warming and tonifying spleen and kidney to dissipate cold accumulation; for deficiency of both yin and yang, and excess pathogen obstruction, modified Yanghe Decoction(阳和汤) is recommended, while for yang deficiency, cold congealing and blood stasis, self-made Wenshen Sanjie Formula(温肾散结方) can be used, and for cold dampness binding with cancer toxin, and cold complex with heat, self-made Quanan Formula (泉安方) is advised.

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