1.Research progress on Sophora Flavescens of traditional Chinese medicine
Mengxiao LIU ; Linlin CHEN ; Yan WANG ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(4):156-162
Sophora Flavescens is the dried root of the leguminous plant Sophora Flavescens Ait. It was first published in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic. Sophora Flavescens contains a variety of active ingredients, mainly including matrine and oxymatrine, with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-arrhythmia, disease-resistant pathogenic microorganisms and other pharmacological effects. Clinically, the compound preparations of Sophora Flavescens include Compound KuShen injection and KuShen gel and so on, which can be used to treat many types of cancers and improve skin, mucous pruritus, pain and other symptoms. Due to the poor bioavailability, the structure of matrine needs to be reformed. MASM, matrine derivative, only needs a low concentration to have a good therapeutic effect on sepsis and liver fibrosis. In this article, the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, compound preparations and structural modification of matrine were mainly discussed, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Sophora Flavescens and the development of new drugs.
2.Clinical Practice of Coronary Microvascular Disease with the Integrated Approach of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Aolin LI ; Xinnong CHEN ; Lerong YU ; Jun GE ; Wei ZHOU ; Kangzheng GUO ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1662-1667
This paper analyzed the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medical understanding of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) from the three dimensions of "disease-syndrome-symptom". In western medicine, by summarizing the suspected diagnosis and understanding of CMVD, it is believed that inflammatory responses and vascular endothelial damage are the key mechanisms of the pathogenesis. From the perspective of TCM, the disease location is at blood, vessels and heart, and the fundamental cause is spleen and kidney depletion, closely realted to phlegm, stasis, toxin, wind and qi. Integrating the understanding of both TCM and western medicine, clinical treatment advocates taking the CMVD pathology as the base, and the TCM understanding of pathogenesis as the main focus. The properties of Chinese herbal medicinals is used as the guidance for medication, and the pharmacological understanding as the assisstance of treatment, with the medical history and the severity of the condition are additionally considered. It is finally proposed that during the acute phase, the methods of nourishing yin and resolving toxins, softening hardness and dissipating masses, dispelling wind and unblocking collaterals should be applied to alleviate the emergency. In the subacute phase, the focus should be on raising and lifting qi promote its movement, with flexible use of medicinals that can unblock yang. In the remission phase, the method of tonifying spleen and fortifying kidney should be used to maintain the stability of the condition.
3.Mitochondrial Quality Control Affects Diabetic Cardiomyopathy:Based on Theory of Qi Deficiency and Stagnation
Aolin LI ; Lu LIAN ; Xinnong CHEN ; Yingyu XIE ; Zhipeng YAN ; Wenhui CAI ; QianQian ZHANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Junping ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):197-205
With the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in recent years, cardiomyopathy caused by diabetes mellitus has aroused wide concern and this disease is characterized by high insidiousness and high mortality. The early pathological changes of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) are mitochondrial structural disorders and loss of myocardial metabolic flexibility. The turbulence of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is a key mechanism leading to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and loss of myocardial metabolic flexibility, which, together with elevated levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, trigger changes in myocardial structure and function. Qi deficiency and stagnation is caused by the loss of healthy Qi, and the dysfunction of Qi transformation results in the accumulation of pathogenic Qi, which further triggers injuries. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), DCM is rooted in Qi deficiency of the heart, spleen, and kidney. The dysfunction of Qi transformation leads to the generation and lingering of turbidity, stasis, and toxin in the nutrient-blood and vessels, ultimately damaging the heart. Therefore, Qi deficiency and stagnation is the basic pathologic mechanism of DCM. Mitochondria, similar to Qi in substance and function, are one of the microscopic manifestations of Qi. The role of MQC is consistent with the defense function of Qi. In the case of MQC turbulence, mitochondrial structure and function are impaired. As a result, Qi deficiency gradually emerges and triggers pathological changes, which make it difficult to remove the stagnant pathogenic factor and aggravates the MQC turbulence. Ultimately, DCM occurs. Targeting MQC to treat DCM has become the focus of current research, and TCM has the advantages of acting on multiple targets and pathways. According to the pathogenesis of Qi deficiency and stagnation in DCM and the modern medical understanding of MQC, the treatment should follow the principles of invigorating healthy Qi, tonifying deficiency, and regulating Qi movement. This paper aims to provide ideas for formulating prescriptions and clinical references for the TCM treatment of DCM by targeting MQC.
4.Effects of sleep disorders on hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow of irradiated mice
Kangfu SUN ; Lijing YANG ; Zeyu FU ; Baichuan XU ; Shilei CHEN ; Junping WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2024;44(2):96-104
Objective:To investigate the effects of sleep disorders (SD) on the radiation injury of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in bone marrow (BM).Methods:Totolly 56 C57BL/6J male mice aged 6-8 weeks were enrolled in this study. They were subjected to whole body irradiation of 60Co γ-rays with doses of 5.0 and 7.5 Gy. A SD model was established using a SD device. According to the random number table method, the mice were divided into seven groups: the control group (Con group), the SD group, the mere radiation group (IR group), the group of post-irradiation SD (IR+ SD group), the group of post-irradiation SD treated with phosphate buffer solution (IR+ SD+ PBS group), the group of post-irradiation SD treated with GSK2795039 (IR+ SD+ GSK group), and the group of post-irradiation SD treated with N-acetylcysteine (IR+ SD+ NAC group), with in eight mice each group. The changes in the peripheral blood of the mice after 5.0 Gy irradiation were detected using the collected tail venous blood, and the survival rates of the mice after 7.5 Gy irradiation were observed. The changes in the density and count of bone marrow cells were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The number of hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow (LSK cells), as well as their apoptosis level and changes in cell cycle, were detected using flow cytometry. Furthermore, indicators of LSK, such as reactive oxygen species(ROS) and mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (mtROS), were analyzed. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+ /NADPH) and glutathione (GSSG/GSH) were detected using an enzyme microplate reader in order to observe the oxidative stress level of LSK. Furthermore, flow cytometry was employed to sort the LSK cells from the mice, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinnase-1(Caspase-1), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors such as NOX1-4, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 18 (IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Results:Compared to the IR group, the IR+ SD group exhibited significantly slower recovery of white blood cells (WBC) and platelets (PLT) ( t = 4.39, 6.37, P < 0.05), the bone marrow cell count decreasing from (2.14 ± 0.38) × 10 7 to (3.59 ± 0.29) × 10 7 ( t = 8.55, P < 0.05), significantly decreased proportion of G 0-phase LSK cells, significantly increased proportion of apoptotic cells ( t = 7.53, 8.21, P < 0.05), and significantly increased DCFH-DA, MitoSOX, and NADP+ /NADPH ( t = 22.99, 29.47, 3.77, P<0.05). In the case of IR, SD further promoted the activation of NOX2 and led to increases in the mRNA expression of downstream inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α ( t = 6.95, 6.01, 8.39, 4.91, 5.56, P < 0.05). Inhibition of NOX2-ROS could prevent the SD-induced aggravation of post-irradiation hematopoietic injury. This significantly reduced the apoptotic rate of LSK cells and the expression of inflammatory factors, ultimately accelerating the hematopoietic recovery of LSK cells ( t = 9.24, 3.92, P < 0.05). Conclusions:SD can aggravate the IR-induced injury of hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow, primarily by activating the NOX2-ROS-Caspase-1 axis. This will increase the levels of intracellular inflammatory factors and ROS, promote cell apoptosis, and ultimately inhibit the hematopoietic recovery of bone marrow.
5.Aerobic exercise upregulates the thioredoxin system and inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis in aging rats
Zheng XU ; Xiaoqin ZHAO ; Xiaodan CHEN ; Jiapu WANG ; Fenmiao BAO ; Liang YU ; Junping LI ; Yan WEI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(34):5508-5515
BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that cardiomyocyte apoptosis is closely related to cardiac decompensation and the cardiac aging process.Appropriate exercise can alter heart pump function in patients with heart failure as well as attenuate aging-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis,hypertrophy,and fibrotic damage. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of long-term aerobic exercise on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the thioredoxin system in aging rats. METHODS:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and divided into three age groups:3-month-old young group,9-month-old middle-aged group,and 18-month-old elderly group,with 12 rats in each group.Within each age group,rats were randomly assigned to sedentary and exercise subgroups(n=6 per group).The sedentary groups did not undergo any exercise intervention.The exercise groups were acclimated to a treadmill environment and subsequently subjected to treadmill exercise for 45 minutes per day,at a speed of 15 m/min,5 days per week for 10 weeks in total.At 24 hours after the final intervention,ELISA was employed to measure serum levels of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in rats.TUNEL assay was utilized to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis,while western blot assay was employed to assess the protein expression of Bax,Bcl-2,Caspase 3,thioredoxin-1,thioredoxin-2,thioredoxin reductase-1,thioredoxin reductase-2,thioredoxin-interacting protein,apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1,and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat myocardial tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Serum levels of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in the elderly sedentary group were significantly higher than those in the young and middle-aged sedentary groups and elderly exercise group(P<0.01).Serum levels of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in the elderly sedentary group were significantly higher than those in the young and middle-aged exercise groups and elderly exercise group(P<0.01).Positive apoptotic cells in rat myocardial tissue,along with increased protein expression of Bax and Caspase 3,exhibited an age-related upward trend,while Bcl-2 protein expression showed a declining trend.In comparison with the sedentary groups within each age category,the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes and the expression of Bax and Caspase 3 proteins were reduced to different degrees,and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was increased to different degrees in the corresponding exercise groups.Compared with the young sedentary group,middle-aged sedentary group and elderly exercise group,elderly sedentary rats showed a significant decrease in the expression of myocardial thioredoxin 1,thioredoxin 2,thioredoxin reductase 1,and thioredoxin reductase 2 proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression of myocardial thioredoxin 1,thioredoxin 2,and thioredoxin reductase 2 proteins was lower in the elderly exercise group than in the young exercise group(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the expression of thioredoxin reductase 1 and thioredoxin reductase 2 proteins was lower in the elderly exercise group than in the middle-aged exercise group(P<0.01).The protein expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein,apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1,and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat myocardium was significantly higher in the elderly sedentary group than the young sedentary group,middle-aged sedentary group and elderly exercise group(P<0.01).The protein expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein,apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1,and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat myocardium was significantly higher in the elderly exercise group than the young exercise group and middle-aged exercise group(P<0.01).To conclude,aerobic exercise may enhance the anti-apoptotic effects of thioredoxin by down-regulating the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein in aging rat hearts,leading to the downregulation of apoptosis signal-regulated kinase 1 and P38 mitogen-activated kinase protein,thereby alleviating myocardial cell apoptosis in aging rat hearts.
6.Multicenter evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of jaundice color card for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
Guochang XUE ; Huali ZHANG ; Xuexing DING ; Fu XIONG ; Yanhong LIU ; Hui PENG ; Changlin WANG ; Yi ZHAO ; Huili YAN ; Mingxing REN ; Chaoying MA ; Hanming LU ; Yanli LI ; Ruifeng MENG ; Lingjun XIE ; Na CHEN ; Xiufang CHENG ; Jiaojiao WANG ; Xiaohong XIN ; Ruifen WANG ; Qi JIANG ; Yong ZHANG ; Guijuan LIANG ; Yuanzheng LI ; Jianing KANG ; Huimin ZHANG ; Yinying ZHANG ; Yuan YUAN ; Yawen LI ; Yinglin SU ; Junping LIU ; Shengjie DUAN ; Qingsheng LIU ; Jing WEI
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(6):535-541
Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and practicality of the Jaundice color card (JCard) as a screening tool for neonatal jaundice.Methods:Following the standards for reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies (STARD) statement, a multicenter prospective study was conducted in 9 hospitals in China from October 2019 to September 2021. A total of 845 newborns who were admitted to the hospital or outpatient department for liver function testing due to their own diseases. The inclusion criteria were a gestational age of ≥35 weeks, a birth weight of ≥2 000 g, and an age of ≤28 days. The neonate′s parents used the JCard to measure jaundice at the neonate′s cheek. Within 2 hours of the JCard measurement, transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) was measured with a JH20-1B device and total serum bilirubin (TSB) was detected. The Pearson′s correlation analysis, Bland-Altman plots and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used for statistic analysis.Results:Out of the 854 newborns, 445 were male and 409 were female; 46 were born at 35-36 weeks of gestational age and 808 were born at ≥37 weeks of gestational age. Additionally, 432 cases were aged 0-3 days, 236 cases were aged 4-7 days, and 186 cases were aged 8-28 days. The TSB level was (227.4±89.6) μmol/L, with a range of 23.7-717.0 μmol/L. The JCard level was (221.4±77.0) μmol/L and the TcB level was (252.5±76.0) μmol/L. Both the JCard and TcB values showed good correlation ( r=0.77 and 0.80, respectively) and agreements (96.0% (820/854) and 95.2% (813/854) of samples fell within the 95% limits of agreement, respectively) with TSB. The JCard value of 12 had a sensitivity of 0.93 and specificity of 0.75 for identifying a TSB ≥205.2?μmol/L, and a sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity of 0.35 for identifying a TSB ≥342.0?μmol/L. The TcB value of 205.2?μmol/L had a sensitivity of 0.97 and specificity of 0.60 for identifying TSB levels of 205.2 μmol/L, and a sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity of 0.26 for identifying TSB levels of 342.0 μmol/L. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of JCard for identifying TSB levels of 153.9, 205.2, 256.5, and 342.0 μmol/L were 0.96, 0.92, 0.83, and 0.83, respectively. The AUC of TcB were 0.94, 0.91, 0.86, and 0.87, respectively. There were both no significant differences between the AUC of JCard and TcB in identifying TSB levels of 153.9 and 205.2 μmol/L (both P>0.05). However, the AUC of JCard were both lower than those of TcB in identifying TSB levels of 256.5 and 342.0 μmol/L (both P<0.05). Conclusions:JCard can be used to classify different levels of bilirubin, but its diagnostic efficacy decreases with increasing bilirubin levels. When TSB level are ≤205.2 μmol/L, its diagnostic efficacy is equivalent to that of the JH20-1B. To prevent the misdiagnosis of severe jaundice, it is recommended that parents use a low JCard score, such as 12, to identify severe hyperbilirubinemia (TSB ≥342.0 μmol/L).
7.Mutation analysis of TNC gene in a familial hearing loss pedigree
Fei LIANG ; Junping LIU ; Xiaoyan ZHAN ; Binbin YANG ; Miao'an CHEN ; Yanhua ZHENG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(11):712-716
OBJECTIVE Exploring the TNC gene mutations in a family with hereditary hearing loss and their relationship with clinical phenotypes.METHODS Draw the family pedigree chart,analyze the inheritance pattern,and assess the clinical phenotypes of family members using audiologic,imaging,and vestibular function tests.Perform whole exome sequencing on six members of the family to identify candidate mutations potentially related to hearing loss,and validate the distribution of these candidate mutations within the family and in normal controls using Sanger sequencing.RESULTS A heterozygous mutation c.5110G>T(p.Ala1704Ser)in exon 17 of the TNC gene on chromosome 9 was identified in the family.This mutation is associated with hereditary hearing loss.Carriers of this gene mutation all presented with normal hearing at birth and hearing decline during childhood;imaging examinations showed no abnormalities in the middle ear or inner ear structures.CONCLUSION This study reports for the first time the association between the heterozygous mutation c.5110G>T(p.Ala1704Ser)in the TNC gene and hereditary hearing loss,providing new evidence for molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling in cases of hereditary hearing loss.
8.Comparison of Short-term Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combined with Chemotherapy and Surgery Alone for Locally Advanced Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
LI HAITIAN ; LIU QING ; LI BIN ; CHEN YUZHEN ; LIN JUNPING ; MENG YUQI ; FENG HAIMING ; ZHENG ZHIZHONG ; HUI YIMING
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2024;27(6):421-430
Background and objective Lung cancer is the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality rates in China,and non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)accounts for 80%-85%of all malignant lung tumors.Currently,surgical treat-ment remains the primary treatment modality for lung cancer.In recent years,the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibi-tors for NSCLC has become a consensus,and neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy(nICT)has shown promising efficacy and safety in early to intermediate stage NSCLC.However,there are fewer studies related to nICT for locally advanced NSCLC.This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nICT therapy in locally advanced resectable NSCLC.Methods 85 con-firmed resectable stage ⅢA and ⅢB patients treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery,Second Hospital of Lanzhou University,from January 2021 to April 2024,were divided into the nICT group(n=32)and the surgery alone group(n=53).Clinical baseline data,perioperative indicators,postoperative complications,imaging response rate,pathological response rate,incidence of adverse events,and quality of life were compared between the two groups.Results There were no statisti-cally significant differences in clinical baseline data between the two groups(P>0.05).Incidence of choosing thoracotomy was higher in the nICT group than in the surgery alone group(P=0.002).There were no significant differences in surgical time,intraoperative blood loss,number of dissected lymph nodes,duration of chest tube placement,postoperative hospital stay,and R0 resection rate between the two groups(P>0.05).The overall incidence of postoperative complications was 31.25%in the nICT group and 22.64%in the surgery alone group,with no statistically significant difference(P=0.380).In the nICT group,the objective response rate(ORR)was 84.38%,with 5 cases of complete response(CR)(15.63%),22 cases of partial response(PR)(68.75%),15 cases of pathological response rate(pCR)(46.88%),and 11 cases of major pathological reaponse(MPR)(34.38%).During nICT treatment,12 cases(37.50%)experienced grade 3 treatment-related adverse events,no death induced by adverse events or immune related adverse events.Moreover,the symptoms of the patients were improved after nICT treat-ment.Conclusion Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy shows promising efficacy in locally advanced resectable NSCLC,with manageable treatment-related adverse events.It is a safe and feasible neoadjuvant treatment modality for locally advanced resectable NSCLC.
9.Analysis of imaging and clinical features of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor
Junping LAN ; Jiageng XIE ; Yushi PENG ; Yimin CHEN ; Zhe XIAO ; Hanzhe WANG ; Xiangwu ZHENG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(12):2029-2032
Objective To explore the clinical and imaging features of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor(PMT).Methods The clinical presentations,laboratory examinations,and imaging manifestations of seven patients with PMT diagnosed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among the 7 patients,four patients had clinical presentations of long-term fatigue and bone pain.All patients showed preoperative blood phosphorus reduction in varying degrees.X-ray examination showed systemic osteomalacia and osteoporosis,accompanied by multiple pathological fractures.On CT,the primary tumor appeared as a soft tissue density mass or a ground glass high-density nodule with irregular calcification and local bone destruction.MRI showed long T1,long T2 signal intensity,and irregular low signal foci were scattered in the T2WI fat-suppressed sequence.The enhanced scans showed moderate to significant inhomogeneous enhancement.One patient who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and two patients who underwent 18F-ALF-NOTA-Octreotide(18F-OC)PET/CT examinations showed varying degrees of radioactive concentration in the lesions.Conclusion The clinical presentations and laboratory examinations of patients with PMT have certain characteristics.Systemic osteomalacia with pseudofracture line,calcification matrix within the tumor,and significant inhomogeneous enhancement of the lesion are the key imaging features for diagnosing PMT.18F-OC PET/CT examination plays a crucial role in the systemic localization diagnosis of tumors.
10.Prediction of invasiveness in follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma using nomograms based on ultrasonic features
YuXin ZHENG ; Yajiao ZHANG ; Liyu CHEN ; Kefeng LU ; Jiangyan LOU ; Junping LIU ; Dong XU
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2024;33(9):800-806
Objective:To explore the relationship between ultrasound characteristics and invasiveness in the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), and to integrate multiple ultrasound parameters for visual assessment of predictive outcomes by using Nomogram.Methods:A total of 312 FVPTC patients who were pathologically confirmed through surgery in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2013 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected.Based on defined criteria, FVPTC patients were categorized into high-invasion and low-invasion groups. The dataset was divided into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7 to 3. Clinical information and ultrasound feature parameters were collected. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed on the training set. A predictive model for FVPTC invasiveness was constructed based on ultrasound features. The model′s discriminative ability and calibration were evaluated in the validation set, and a nomogram was generated.Results:The training set included a total of 218 patients with FVPTC, among which 131 were classified as high invasive.The validation set consisted of 94 patients, with 53 cases of high invasive FVPTC patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis on the training set revealed that tumor multifocality ( OR=6.505, P=0.016), hypoechoic ( OR=3.235, P=0.103), shape ( OR=0.521, P=0.049), and microcalcifications ( OR=2.479, P=0.004) were independent influencing factors for predicting invasiveness in FVPTC. In the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) of the ultrasound predictive model was 0.704 (95% CI=0.634-0.771), and in the validation set, the AUC was 0.650 (95% CI=0.531-0.770), indicated good discriminative ability.The calibration curve showed good alignment with the ideal curve, demonstrating favorable calibration performance. Conclusions:Ultrasound features provide valuable information for assessing the invasiveness of FVPTC, and the model constructed by combining ultrasound features demonstrates good predictive efficacy for the invasiveness of FVPTC.

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