1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Mendelian Randomization Analysis of Correlation Between Interleukin and Risk of Gynecological Tumors
Xinying ZHOU ; Hu ZHANG ; Haiyan DAI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(6):511-519
Objective To investigate the relationship between different interleukins (ILs) and gynecological tumors, including cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and uterine leiomyoma using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods IL and gynecological tumor data were obtained from European populations by using the IEU OpenGWAS open database. Two-sample MR analysis was applied, different interleukins were used as exposure factors, significant SNP in GWAS data were selected as instrumental variables, and the instrumental variables were independent of each other. The risk of three kinds of gynecological tumors was analyzed separately to explore the causal relationship between ILs predicted by genes and outcome indicators. The TwoSampleMR package in R language (4.3.1) software was used for statistical analysis. MR analysis was performed using inverse variance weighted, MR Egger regression, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods. Results IL-18 receptor 1 (P=0.039) and IL-24 (P=0.025) were negatively correlated with the risk of cervical cancer. IL-4 (P=0.040), IL-21 (P=0.026), and IL-37 (P=0.027) were positively correlated with the risk of endometrial cancer. IL-15 receptor subunit alpha (P=0.005) was negatively correlated with the risk of endometrial cancer. IL-17A (P=0.005) and IL-37 (P=0.018) were negatively correlated with the risk of uterine leiomyoma. IL-21 (P=0.035) was positively correlated with the risk of uterine leiomyoma. Conclusion Genetically predicted IL-4, IL-15Rα, IL-17A, IL-18R1, IL-21, IL-24, and IL-37 are causally associated with the risk of three gynecological tumors. Further exploration of the molecular mechanism of ILs in gynecological tumors may provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of gynecological tumors.
3.Establishment and application of a precise management model for the centralized preparation of cytotoxic drugs in PIVAS
Shuai LIU ; Daiyi LI ; Jinhuan SU ; Shangjun GU ; Ningbo MOU ; Yunli ZHOU ; Yan LAI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(19):2437-2441
OBJECTIVE To establish the precise management model for the centralized preparation of cytotoxic drugs in pharmacy intravenous admixture services (PIVAS), and evaluate the effects of its application. METHODS Pharmacists in PIVAS established the precise management model by soliciting clinical opinions and consulting literature on the centralized preparation of cytotoxic drugs and continuously refining every step of the preparation of cytotoxic drugs, based on data feedback from the information closed-loop management system and the limit of stability time of finished solutions. The indicators such as the preparation time, delivery time, the storage time of finished infusion solutions after preparation, and the completion rate of infusion within the stability time limit were analyzed before the implementation (January to December 2023) and after the implementation (January to December 2024) of this model, to evaluate its application effectiveness. RESULTS The overall framework for the precise management model included upgrading the functions of the prescription review system, improving the prescription review database, providing specialized training for PIVAS pharmacists, managing dynamic batch decision for drug preparation, managing special drugs, managing finished infusion distribution, and establishing a continuous improvement mechanism. Compared with before implementation, the average preparation time of the second and third batches of cytotoxic drugs with more concentrated morning preparation tasks in this model was significantly shorter than before implementation (P<0.05); the delivery time of finished infusion after implementation ([ 11.49±2.92) min] was significantly shorter than the delivery time before implementation ([ 22.11±5.03) min] (P<0.001); the storage time of some drugs with shorter stable time limit and carboplatin in combination regimens (paclitaxel or docetaxel+carboplatin) was significantly shortened compared to before implementation (P<0.05), and the completion rate of infusion within the stability time limit was significantly improved compared to before implementation (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our hospital has successfully established a precise management model for the centralized preparation of cytotoxic drugs in PIVAS. This mode can significantly shorten the preparation time of each batch of PIVAS in the morning, make batch decisions more reasonable and improve the infusion completion rate within the stable time limit of the finished product.
4.Correlation of peritumoral edema with aggressiveness of breast invasive ductal carcinoma in magnetic resonance imaging
Lingli YAO ; Kai HONG ; Jiabo ZHANG ; Jiali ZHOU ; Yu GUO ; Peilu FANG
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(1):59-62
Objective To investigate the correlation between the characteristics of peritumoral edema and the aggressiveness of breast invasive ductal carcinoma in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Methods A total of 79 patients(79 lesions)who underwent radical mastectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University from January 2020 to May 2021 and were pathologically diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma were included in invasive ductal carcinoma group,and 45 patients(49 lesions)with benign breast lesions were included in benign lesion group during the same period.The difference of peritumoral edema between two groups and the relationship between different pathological features of invasive ductal carcinoma and peritumoral edema were compared.Results The peritumoral edema in benign lesion group was significantly less severe than that in invasive ductal carcinoma group(χ2=25.330,P<0.05).The tumor size of invasive ductal carcinoma group was positively correlated with the degree of peritumoral edema(r=0.381,P<0.05).There were significant differences in molecular type,histological grade,T stage,lymph node metastasis and Ki-67 expression level among patients with different peritumoral edema grades(P<0.05).Ki-67 expression level and the number of lymph node metastasis were positively correlated with the degree of peritumoral edema(r=0.348,0.273,P<0.05).Conclusion The degree of peritumoral edema in MRI correlates with the aggressiveness of breast invasive ductal carcinoma and can be used as one of the tools to evaluate breast carcinoma.
5.Different clinical effect between xiaozhi decoction in the treatment of hyperlipidemia in different classification of physical constitution in TCM
Lujia CHEN ; Hongfei LIU ; Yanhua DENG ; Jianyang ZHOU
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(2):57-61
Objective To analyze the effect of Xiaozhi Decoction in the treatment of hyperlipidemiain different classification of physical constitution in TCM.Methods We screened 206 patients with Hyperlipidemia in our hospital and had been treated with drugs during May 2020 to March 2023.Totally 103 patients in the TCM group were treated with Xiaozhi Decoction,103 patients in the western medicine group were treated with atorvastatin.Selected total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and liver transaminase before and after a period of treatment.The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(non-HDL-C)will be calculated,too.Results In the Phlegm-Dampness constitution,TC,TG,LDL-C and non-HDL-C decreased significantly all in the TCM group(P<0.05);TC,TG and non-HDL-C decreased significantly all in the western medicine group(P<0.05).The TCM group is superior to the western medicine group in TC,LDL-C,non-HDL-C(P<0.05).In the Qi-Deficiency constitution,TC,TG,LDL-C and non-HDL-C decreased significantly all in the TCM group(P<0.05);TC,LDL-C and non-HDL-C decreased significantly all in the western medicine group(P<0.05).The TCM group is superior to the western medicine group in non-HDL-C(P<0.05).In the Blood-Stasis constitution,TC,TG,LDL-C and non-HDL-C decreased significantly all in the western medicine group only(P<0.05).The western medicine group is superior to the TCM group in TC,LDL-C,non-HDL-C(P<0.05).In the Yin-Yang Harmony constitution,TC and non-HDL-C decreased significantly both in the TCM group(P<0.05).TC,LDL-C and non-HDL-C decreased significantly all in the western medicine group(P<0.05).The western medicine group is superior to the TCM group in TC,LDL-C,non-HDL-C(P<0.05).Conclusion Xiaozhi Decoction is superior to the the atorvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia for the Phlegm-Dampness constitution and Qi-deficiency constitution groups.But it is not superior to the atorvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia for the Blood-Stasis constitution and Yin-Yang Harmony constitution groups.
6.Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Promotes PGC-1α Mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Antioxidant Stress to Protect Cognitive Function in Vascular Dementia Rats
Ji-Liang KANG ; Ke HU ; Jun-Yue LU ; Zi-Wei HU ; Biao-Ping XU ; Xiao-Mao LI ; Jun-Jie ZHOU ; Yu JIN ; Min TANG ; Rong XU ; You-Liang WEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):1191-1202
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on cognitive function of vascular dementia (VD) rats and its mechanism. MethodsVD rat model was established by modified two-vessel occlusion (2-VO). After modeling, TEAS and electroacupuncture (EA) were used to stimulate Baihui and Zusanli points of rats respectively for 14 d. After treatment, novel object recognition test, Morris water maze test, and Y maze test were used to evaluate the spatial memory and learning ability of rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of hippocampal mitochondria. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to detected the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, MDA and ROS in serum of rats. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PGC-1α, TFAM, HO-1, NQO1 proteins in the hippocampus, Keap1 protein in the cytoplasm and Nrf2, NRF1 proteins in the nucleus. ResultsAfter treatment for 14 d, compared to the model group, the escape latency of VD rats decreased, while the discrimination index, the times of rats crossing the original platform area, the residence time in the original platform quadrant, and the percentage of alternation increased. TEAS can improve the structure of hippocampal neurons and mitochondria of VD rats, showing that neurons were arranged more regularly and distributed more evenly, nuclear membrane and nucleoli were clearer, and mitochondrial swelling were reduced, mitochondrial matrix density were increased, and mitochondrial cristae were more obvious. The levels of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT in serum increased significantly, while the concentration of MDA and ROS decreased. TEAS also up-regulated the expression levels of PGC-1α TFAM, NQO1 and HO-1 proteins in the hippocampus and Nrf2, NRF1 proteins in the nucleus, but down-regulated the Keap1 protein in the cytoplasm. ConclusionTEAS can improve cognition, hippocampal neurons and mitochondrial structure of VD rats, and the effect is better than EA. The mechanism may be the activation of PGC-1α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant stress, which also provides a potential therapeutic technology and experimental basis for the treatment of VD.
7.Application Study of Enzyme Inhibitors and Their Conformational Optimization in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Chao-Yang CHU ; Biao XIAO ; Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Kai XIE ; Shu-Jun XU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1510-1529
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment, and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat AD clinically. Existing medications for the treatment of AD, such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Aducanumab, only serve to delay symptoms and but not cure disease. To add insult to injury, these medications are associated with very serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore effective therapeutic drugs for AD. Recently, studies have shown that a variety of enzyme inhibitors, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors, secretase inhibitors, can ameliorate cholinergic system dysfunction, Aβ production and deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress damage, and the decline of synaptic plasticity, thereby improving AD symptoms and cognitive function. Some plant extracts from natural sources, such as Umbelliferone, Aaptamine, Medha Plus, have the ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity and act to improve learning and cognition. Isochromanone derivatives incorporating the donepezil pharmacophore bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can inhibit AChE activity and ameliorate cholinergic system disorders. A compound called Rosmarinic acid which is found in the Lamiaceae can inhibit monoamine oxidase, increase monoamine levels in the brain, and reduce Aβ deposition. Compounds obtained by hybridization of coumarin derivatives and hydroxypyridinones can inhibit MAO-B activity and attenuate oxidative stress damage. Quinoline derivatives which inhibit the activation of AChE and MAO-B can reduce Aβ burden and promote learning and memory of mice. The compound derived from the combination of propargyl and tacrine retains the inhibitory capacity of tacrine towards cholinesterase, and also inhibits the activity of MAO by binding to the FAD cofactor of monoamine oxidase. A series of hybrids, obtained by an amide linker of chromone in combine with the benzylpiperidine moieties of donepezil, have a favorable safety profile of both cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. Single domain antibodies (such as AAV-VHH) targeted the inhibition of BACE1 can reduce Aβ production and deposition as well as the levels of inflammatory cells, which ultimately improve synaptic plasticity. 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid from the extract of Ligustrum lucidum can specifically inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, thereby rescuing the long-term potentiation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice. Inhibiting γ-secretase activity which leads to the decline of inflammatory factors (such as IFN-γ, IL-8) not only directly improves the pathology of AD, but also reduces Aβ production. Melatonin reduces the transcriptional expression of GSK-3β mRNA, thereby decreasing the levels of GSK-3β and reducing the phosphorylation induced by GSK-3β. Hydrogen sulfide can inhibitGSK-3β activity via sulfhydration of the Cys218 site of GSK-3β, resulting in the suppression of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which ameliorate the motor deficits and cognitive impairment in mice with AD. This article reviews enzyme inhibitors and conformational optimization of enzyme inhibitors targeting the regulation of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, secretase, and GSK-3β. We are hoping to provide a comprehensive overview of drug development in the enzyme inhibitors, which may be useful in treating AD.
8.Progress of PARP inhibitors in radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for NSCLC
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(8):760-765
Radiotherapy is the traditional means of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a major breakthrough in the treatment of NSCLC in recent years. Following the PACIFIC study, several clinical studies of radiotherapy combined with ICB have been carried out successively and achieved better results, but the efficacy of NSCLC still needs to be further improved. Poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) may be a target to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy combined with ICB. Studies have shown that PARP inhibitors can exert synergistic effects in combination with radiotherapy and ICB. In this paper, we describe the research progress of PARP inhibitors in radiotherapy combined with ICB in the treatment of NSCLC from the mechanism of PARP inhibitors in the treatment of NSCLC, the current status of radiotherapy combined with ICB, and the mechanism and application of PARP inhibitors in radiotherapy combined with ICB in the treatment of NSCLC, in order to assess the potential of the combination therapy in the treatment of NSCLC, and to provide some references for the development of clinical trials in NSCLC.
9.Risk of Hematologic Malignancies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies
Xiaoshuai ZHOU ; Qiufeng ZHANG ; Dongying WANG ; Zhiyi XIANG ; Jiale RUAN ; Linlin TANG
Gut and Liver 2024;18(5):845-856
Background/Aims:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may contribute to the development of hematologic malignancies. In this study, the potential relationship between IBD and hematologic malignancies was investigated.
Methods:
We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for all cohort studies comparing the incidence of hematologic malignancies in non-IBD populations with that in IBD patients, and we extracted relevant data from January 2000 to June 2023 for meta-analysis.
Results:
Twenty cohort studies involving 756,377 participants were included in this study. The results showed that compared with the non-IBD cohort, the incidence of hematologic malignancies in the IBD cohort was higher (standardized incidence ratio [SIR]=3.05, p<0.001). According to the specific types of IBD, compared with the non-IBD patients, the incidences of hematologic malignancies in ulcerative colitis patients (SIR=2.29, p=0.05) and Crohn's disease patients (SIR=3.56, p=0.005) were all higher. In the subgroup analysis of hematologic malignancy types, compared with the control group, the incidences of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR=1.70, p=0.01), Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR=3.47, p=0.002), and leukemia (SIR=3.69, p<0.001) were all higher in the IBD cohort.
Conclusions
The incidence of hematologic malignancies, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and leukemia is higher in patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) than in non-IBD patients.
10.Cloning and functional analysis of flavanone 3-hydroxylase gene in Rhododendron hybridum Hort.
Baoxin JIANG ; Zehang WU ; Guoxia YANG ; Sijia LÜ ; Yonghong JIA ; Yueyan WU ; Ruoyi ZHOU ; Xiaohong XIE
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2023;39(2):653-669
Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of phycocyanidins. In this experiment, the petals of red Rhododendron hybridum Hort. at different developmental stages were used as experimental materials. The R. hybridum flavanone 3-hydroxylase (RhF3H) gene was cloned using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques, and bioinformatics analyses were performed. Petal RhF3H gene expression at different developmental stages were analyzed by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A pET-28a-RhF3H prokaryotic expression vector was constructed for the preparation and purification of RhF3H protein. A pCAMBIA1302-RhF3H overexpression vector was constructed for genetic transformation in Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium-mediated method. The results showed that the R. hybridum Hort. RhF3H gene is 1 245 bp long, with an open reading frame of 1 092 bp, encoding 363 amino acids. It contains a Fe2+ binding motif and a 2-ketoglutarate binding motif of the dioxygenase superfamily. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the R. hybridum RhF3H protein is most closely related to the Vaccinium corymbosum F3H protein. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of the red R. hybridum RhF3H gene tended to increase and then decrease in the petals at different developmental stages, with the highest expression at middle opening stage. The results of the prokaryotic expression showed that the size of the induced protein of the constructed prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a-RhF3H was about 40 kDa, which was similar to the theoretical value. Transgenic RhF3H Arabidopsis thaliana plants were successfully obtained, and PCR identification and β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining demonstrated that the RhF3H gene was integrated into the genome of A. thaliana plants. qRT-PCR, total flavonoid and anthocyanin contentanalysis showed that RhF3H was significantly higher expressed in the transgenic A. thaliana relative to that of the wild type, and its total flavonoid and anthocyanin content were significantly increased. This study provides a theoretical basis for investigating the function of RhF3H gene, as well as for studying the molecular mechanism of flower color in R. simsiib Planch.
Arabidopsis/metabolism*
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Rhododendron/metabolism*
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Anthocyanins/metabolism*
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Phylogeny
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Flavonoids/metabolism*
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Cloning, Molecular
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Plant Proteins/metabolism*

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