1.Characteristic Analysis of Effective Components and Compounds of TCM for Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway Targeting
Haoyang WANG ; Lin GUO ; Hui ZHAO ; Lihua CAO ; Na LI ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):282-290
Breast cancer is a kind of malignant tumor with a complex mechanism, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing year by year, which seriously threatens women's health. At present, the main clinical treatments are surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and drug therapy, but they are often accompanied by side effects and adverse reactions, which affect the therapeutic effect. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the advantages of multi-component and multi-target treatment in the fight against breast cancer. The wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the classic pathways in cancer research. Abnormally activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibits β-catenin degradation by blocking the formation of Axin/glycogen synthase kinase 3β/adenomatous polyposis coli complex, thus promoting β-catenin nuclear metastasis, and it binds to T cell transcription factor/lymphoenhancer factor-1 to initiate downstream target genes and further interfere with the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells to affect the tumor process. Previous studies have shown that TCM monomers and compounds can mediate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit the malignant phenotype of breast cancer cells, thus playing an anti-breast cancer role, and the biochemical process involved in the regulation of therapeutic drugs has not been systematically combed. By analyzing and collating Chinese and foreign literature at the present stage, this paper discussed the association mechanism between Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and breast cancer and analyzed the internal mechanism of TCM monomers and compounds in mediating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to exert anti-breast cancer effect. The statistical results showed that the flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids in TCM monomers could target the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and block the further development of malignant phenotype of breast cancer cells. TCM compounds with functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and tonifying kidney and liver were commonly used to intervene in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to prevent breast cancer. Compared with the current inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the application of TCM monomers and compounds is expected to bring low-toxicity and high-efficiency breast cancer treatment drugs to the clinical practice, and the existing results provide a reference for the subsequent screening, research, and development of TCM small-molecule compounds and TCM compounds against breast cancer.
2.Efficacy and mechanism of Cistanches Herba extract in treating reproductive dysfunction in rats with kidney-Yang deficiency based on metabolomics.
Ze-Hui LI ; Pan-Yu XU ; Jia-Shan LI ; Li GUO ; Yuan LI ; Si-Qi LI ; Na LIN ; Ying XU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1850-1860
This study investigates the reproductive protective effect and potential mechanism of Cistanches Herba extract(CHE) on a rat model of kidney-Yang deficiency induced by adenine. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal, model, low-dose CHE(0.6 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), high-dose CHE(1.2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and L-carnitine(100 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). The rats were administered adenine(200 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) by gavage for the first 14 days to induce kidney-Yang deficiency, while simultaneously receiving drug treatment. After 14 days, the modeling was discontinued, but drug treatment continued to 49 days. The content of components in CHE was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The adenine-induced kidney-Yang deficiency model was assessed through symptom characterization and measurement of testosterone(T) levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Pathological damage to the testis and epididymis was evaluated based on the wet weight and performing hematoxylin-eosin staining. Sperm density and motility were measured using computer-aided sperm analysis, and sperm viability was assessed using live/dead sperm staining kits, and sperm morphology was evaluated using eosin staining, thereby determining rat sperm quality. Metabolomics was used to analyze changes in serum metabolites, enrich related metabolic pathways, and explore the mechanism of CHE in improving reproductive function damage in rats with kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome. Compared to the normal group, the model group exhibited significant kidney-Yang deficiency symptoms, reduced T levels, decreased testicular and epididymal wet weights, and significant pathological damage to the testis and epididymis. The sperm density, motility, and viability decreased, with an increased rate of sperm abnormalities. In contrast, rats treated with CHE showed marked improvements in kidney-Yang deficiency symptoms, restored T levels, alleviated pathological damage to the testis and epididymis, and improved various sperm parameters. Metabolomics results revealed 286 differential metabolites between the normal and model groups(191 upregulated and 95 downregulated). Seventy-five differential metabolites were identified between the model and low-dose CHE groups(21 upregulated and 54 downregulated). A total of 24 common differential metabolites were identified across the three groups, with 22 of these metabolites exhibiting opposite regulation trends between the two comparison groups. These metabolites were primarily involved in linoleic acid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis, as well as metabolites including 13-hydroperoxylinoleic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, and pantethine. CHE can improve kidney-Yang deficiency symptoms in rats, alleviate reproductive organ damage, and enhance sperm quality. The regulation of lipid metabolism may be a potential mechanism through which CHE improves reproductive function in rats with kidney-Yang deficiency. The potential bioactive compounds of CHE include echinacoside, verbascoside, salidroside, betaine, and cistanoside A.
Animals
;
Male
;
Rats
;
Yang Deficiency/physiopathology*
;
Metabolomics
;
Kidney/physiopathology*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Cistanche/chemistry*
;
Kidney Diseases/metabolism*
;
Testis/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Reproduction/drug effects*
;
Testosterone/blood*
3.Exploring the causal relationship between leukocyte telomere length and prostatitis, orchitis, and epididymitis based on a two-sample Mendelian randomization.
Dan-Yang LI ; Shun YU ; Bo-Hui YANG ; Jun-Bao ZHANG ; Guo-Chen YIN ; Lin-Na WU ; Qin-Zuo DONG ; Jin-Long XU ; Shu-Ping NING ; Rong ZHAO
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(4):306-312
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the genetic causal relationship of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).
METHODS:
Using LTL as the exposure factor and prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis as outcome factors, we mined the Database of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Then, we analyzed the causal relationship of LTL with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by Mendelian randomization using inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the main method and weighted median and MR-Egger regression as auxiliary methods, determined the horizontal multiplicity by MR-Egger intercept test, and conducted sensitivity analysis using the leaving-one-out method.
RESULTS:
A total of 121 related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in this study. IVW showed LTL to be a risk factor for prostatitis (OR = 1.383, 95% CI: 1.044-1.832, P = 0.024), and for orchitis and epididymitis as well (OR = 1.770, 95% CI: 1.275-2.456, P = 0.000 6).
CONCLUSION
Genetic evidence from Mendelian randomized analysis indicates that shortening of LTL reduces the risk of prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis.
Humans
;
Male
;
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
;
Epididymitis/genetics*
;
Prostatitis/genetics*
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Leukocytes
;
Orchitis/genetics*
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Telomere
;
Risk Factors
4.Integrative transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis identifies BCL6B as a novel regulator of human pluripotent stem cell to endothelial differentiation.
Yonglin ZHU ; Jinyang LIU ; Jia WANG ; Shuangyuan DING ; Hui QIU ; Xia CHEN ; Jianying GUO ; Peiliang WANG ; Xingwu ZHANG ; Fengzhi ZHANG ; Rujin HUANG ; Fuyu DUAN ; Lin WANG ; Jie NA
Protein & Cell 2025;16(11):985-990
5.Effects of Hot Night Exposure on Human Semen Quality: A Multicenter Population-Based Study.
Ting Ting DAI ; Ting XU ; Qi Ling WANG ; Hao Bo NI ; Chun Ying SONG ; Yu Shan LI ; Fu Ping LI ; Tian Qing MENG ; Hui Qiang SHENG ; Ling Xi WANG ; Xiao Yan CAI ; Li Na XIAO ; Xiao Lin YU ; Qing Hui ZENG ; Pi GUO ; Xin Zong ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):178-193
OBJECTIVE:
To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality.
METHODS:
A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters.
RESULTS:
The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights.
CONCLUSION
Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans
;
Male
;
Semen Analysis
;
Adult
;
Sperm Motility
;
Hot Temperature/adverse effects*
;
China
;
Middle Aged
;
Spermatozoa/physiology*
;
Young Adult
6.Effect of Chlorambucil Combined with Ibrutinib on Mantle Cell Lymphoma Cell Line Jeko-1 and Its Related Mechanism
Ni-Na CAI ; Wan-Yi LIU ; Zhi-Qiang LIU ; Jia-Hui GONG ; Yi-Ling LIN ; Ze-Chuan WANG ; Yue-Qin HUANG ; Jian-Xin GUO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(1):132-137
Objective:To investigate the toxic effect of chlorambucil combined with ibrutinib on mantle cell lymphoma(MCL)cell line Jeko-1 and its related mechanism.Methods:The MCL cell line Jeko-1 was incubated with different concentrations of chlorambucil or ibrutinib or the combination of the two drugs,respectively.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of the cells,and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of BCL-2,caspase-3,PI3K,AKT and P-AKT.Results:After Jeko-1 cells were treated with chlorambucil(3.125,6.25,12.5,25,50 μmol/L)and ibrutinib(3.125,6.25,12.5,25,50 μmol/L)alone for 24,48,72h respectively,the cell proliferation was inhibited in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Moreover,the two drugs were applied in combination at low doses(single drug inhibition rate<50%),and the results showed that the combination of two drugs had a more significant inhibitory effect(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the apoptosis rate of the single drug group of chlorambucil(3.125,6.25,12.5,25,50 μmol/L)and ibutinib(3.125,6.25,12.5,25,50 μmol/L)was increased in a dose-dependent manner.The combination of the two drugs at low concentrations(3.125,6.25,12.5 μmol/L)could significantly increase the apoptosis rate compared with the corresponding concentration of single drug groups(all P<0.05).Compared with control group,the protein expression levels of caspase-3 in Jeko-l cells were upregulated,while the protein expression levels of BCL-2,PI3K,and p-AKT/AKT were downregulated after treatment with chlorambucil or ibrutinib alone.The combination of the two drugs could produce a synergistic effect on the expressions of the above-mentioned proteins,and the differences between the combination group and the single drug groups were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Chlorambucil and ibrutinib can promote the apoptosis of MCL cell line Jeko-1,and combined application of the two drugs shows a synergistic effect,the mechanism may be associated with the AKT-related signaling pathways.
7.Clinical Characteristics and Survival Analysis of Single Center Adult Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase
Xia-Xia JIAO ; Yuan-Yuan ZHANG ; Jing PAN ; Lei-Na SONG ; Cai-Qin LIN ; Hui-Zhen SHI ; Bin ZHU ; Su-Li WANG ; Shao-Ying PAN ; Zhi-Yong DING ; Wen-Li ZHAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1381-1387
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of single center adult chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase(CML-CP).Methods:Clinical data of 41 adult CML-CP patients in Department of Hematology,Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital from January 2015 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients between<60 years group and ≥ 60 years group were compared.Results:The 41 patients included 27(65.9%)males and 14(34.1%)females.The median age of the patients was 56(19-84)years,with 22 cases(53.7%)<60 years and 19 cases(46.3%)≥60 years.Univariate analysis indicated that the proportions of patients with comorbidities,intermediate/high-risk Sokal score,myelofibrosis,and lactate dehydrogenase ≥1 000 U/L were significantly increased in ≥60 years group compared with<60 years group at initial diagnosis(all P<0.05).There were no statistical differences in the distribution of sex,ELST score,white blood cell count,platelet count,peripheral blood basophil percentage,peripheral blood eosinophil percentage and bone marrow primitive cell percentage between the two groups(P>0.05).The proportion of patients taking reduced-dose imatinib in≥60 years group significantly increased(P<0.001).Patients<60 years had a higher proportion of molecular biological remission after treatment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)than patients ≥ 60 years(P<0.001).The incidence of non-hematologic adverse reactions to TKI therapy significantly increased in patients ≥ 60 years(P<0.001).Multivariate analysis showed that no adverse factors affecting the efficacy and prognosis of TKI.Conclusion:Compared with adult CML-CP patients<60 years,patients ≥ 60 years gain fewer benefits from TKI treatment and increased adverse reactions.
8.Preparation Methods and Evaluation Criteria Analysis of Animal Models for Perimenopausal Syndrome
Tianwei LIANG ; Yasheng DENG ; Hui HUANG ; Na RONG ; Xin LIU ; Yujie WANG ; Jiang LIN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2024;44(1):74-84
Objective To comprehensively analyze the reported preparation methods for animal models of perimenopausal syndrome (PS), to compare the advantages and disadvantages of various preparation elements and detection indexes, so as to provide useful references for the optimization of the relevant animal models as well as the standardization of their application in the efficacy evaluation of new drugs.MethodsIn this paper, literature research methods were applied using "perimenopausal syndrome" as the subject term. The publication period of the literature was limited to January 2016 to February 2023. Relevant literature on the preparation of PS animal models was retrieved from databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, and PubMed. After screening the experimental literature that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, detailed information on experimental animal strains, modeling methods, duration of drug administration, positive drugs, detection indexes and other relevant information were collected. After the above information was standardized, the PS animal model database was established using Excel 2010 software. The model preparation elements and evaluation indexes were summarized systematically, and the statistical results were processed and analyzed using Excel 2010 software.Results A total of 247 articles were screened. SD rats (164 times, 65.86%) and Wistar rats (35 times, 14.06%) were often used to prepare PS animal models. Bilateral ovariectomy (139 times, 53.87%) and natural aging (43 times, 16.80%) were chosen as modeling methods. The ages of rats used for modeling ranged from 7 weeks to 18 months, with 3-month-old rats (22 times, 21.78%) being the most common. The detection indexes were comprehensively evaluated from multiple perspectives, including serum biochemistry, vaginal exfoliated cell smear, histomorphology, general observation, behavioral observation, and organ tissue protein immunoblotting. Western medical evaluation indexes were commonly used to test the successful preparation of models, with vaginal exfoliated cell smears being the most frequently used method (125 times, 85.04%). A model was considered successfully prepared when estrous cycle disorder or irregularity was observed. Some literature also determined modeling success by detecting a significant decrease in serum estradiol levels (5 times, 3.04%). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome evaluation often used a combination of Chinese and Western medical evaluation indexes for comprehensive evaluation, with researchers determining the TCM syndrome through vaginal exfoliated cell smears supplemented by general observation (3 times, 2.04%).Conclusion There are many methods for preparing PS animal models, but there are still significant differences in the selection of animal species, age, criteria for successful modeling, and TCM syndrome evaluation in the related literature.
9.Idioms reflecting the interplay between cognition and emotion in cognitive behavioral therapy
Jingren XU ; Hua YANG ; Chenchen LIN ; Na LIU ; Hui MA ; Tao PEI ; Mingyu HU ; Ning ZHANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2024;37(4):360-363
Background Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)is a widely used and empirically supported psychotherapy method.In recent years,the localization of CBT related to culture has received increasing attention from Chinese scholars.However,there is still a lack of systematic research on the localization of CBT using idioms as materials.Objective To explore whether idioms reflect the mutual influence between the two core therapeutic elements of CBT(cognition and emotion)and to use them as CBT treatment tools among college students,so as to provide references for the localization of CBT.Methods Using the Xinhua Idiom Dictionary(second edition)published by the Commercial Press,a three-round manual screening method was used to select idioms that reflected the mutual influence between cognition and emotion in CBT.Based on the selected idioms,a survey questionnaire titled"survey on idiom understanding level"was developed.From August to October,2022,stratified sampling was conducted among college students from different majors and universities,and 815 valid questionnaires were obtained through the Questionnaire Star platform.By analyzing the understanding of each idiom among college students,idioms that could be used as CBT treatment tools were identified.Results In the Xinhua Idiom Dictionary(second edition),there were 13 idioms that reflected the influence of cognition on emotion and 5 idioms that reflected the influence of emotion on cognition.12 idioms could be used as CBT treatment tools,including 8 idioms that reflected the influence of cognition on emotion and 4 idioms that reflected the influence of emotion on cognition.Conclusion There may be idioms that reflect the mutual influence between the two core therapeutic elements of CBT(cognition and emotion)and these idioms can be attempted as a therapeutic tool for CBT among college students.
10.Correlation analysis of functional constipation and its related factors with acute appendicitis in children
Na FAN ; Anding ZHANG ; Chunhui WANG ; Lingchao ZENG ; Yuanxia LI ; Yan LIN ; Xia YU ; Yalong ZHANG ; Yaxing HUI ; Yang DAI ; Xun JIANG
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2024;31(8):597-601
Objective:To explore the correlation between functional constipation (FC)and its related factors with acute appendicitis(AA)in children,so as to provide a reference for the prevention and clinical diagnosis and treatment of children with AA. Methods:A case-control study was conducted on 170 children diagnosed with AA in the Department of Pediatrics,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University,from August 2022 to March 2023,and 170 non-AA children during the same period were selected as control objects.The clinical data,incidence of FC,symptoms related to FC,Bristol stool classification,past constipation history and other information were compared between two groups.Results:The incidence of FC in 170 children with AA was 22.9%(39/170),which was significantly higher than 10.6%(18/170)in the non-AA group( P<0.01);For children under four years old,the proportion of faecal retention in AA group was higher than that in non-AA group(25.6% vs. 9.3%, P<0.05);For children ≥ 4 years old,the proportion of faecal retention and dyschezia in AA group were higher than those in non-AA group(28.2% vs. 6.9%,29.0% vs. 16.4%,respectively,all P<0.05).The proportion of past constipation history in AA group was higher than that in non-AA group(29.4% vs.14.1%).The duration of constipation in AA group was longer than that in non-AA group [0.00(0.00,1.25)month vs. 0.00(0.00,0.00)month,all P<0.01].The proportion of children with low Bristol stool classification in AA group was higher than that in non-AA group( P<0.01).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that faecal retention[ OR=6.186(95% CI 2.336~16.380)] and long constipation time [ OR=1.310(95% CI 1.095~1.567)]were independent risk factors for AA in children(all P<0.05). Conclusion:The incidence of faecal retention in children with AA is higher than that in children without AA,and the median duration of constipation is longer than that in children without AA.Fecal retention and long-term constipation are independent risk factors for AA in children.

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