1.Effect of Tuina at "Weizhong (BL 40)" on Spinal Microglial Activation-related Proteins and the IL-10/β-EP Pathway in a Rat Model of Chronic Sciatic Nerve Compression Injury
Tianwei ZHANG ; Xiangqian LYU ; Yani XING ; Liuchen ZHU ; Qingguang ZHU ; Lingjun KONG ; Yanbin CHENG ; Zhen YAN ; Wuquan SUN ; Min FANG ; Zhiwei WU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(7):734-740
ObjectiveTo investigate the analgesic effect of Tuina at the "Weizhong (BL 40)" on neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and its potential central spinal mechanisms. MethodsThirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 rats in each group), sham-operated group, model group, Tuina group, and blockade group. The CCI model was established in the model group, Tuina group, and the blockade group by ligating the sciatic nerve with catgut, while the sham-operated group underwent only sciatic nerve exposure without ligation. From postoperative day 4 to day 14, rats in the Tuina group and the blockade group received Tuina manipulation at the "Weizhong (BL 40)" using a dynamic pressure distribution measurement system (5 N pressure, 2 Hz frequency, 10 min per session, once daily). The blockade group also received intraperitoneal injections of the microglial inhibitor minocycline (10 mg/kg) once daily. The sham-operated and the model group underwent the same handling and fixation as the Tuina group without actual Tuina. Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were measured before surgery and on day 3, 7, 10, and 14 post-surgery. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate sciatic nerve injury and repair, measuring axon diameter and total myelinated fiber diameter to calculate the g-ratio. Western Blotting was performed to detect the protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), CD206, CD68, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and β-endorphin (β-EP) precursor pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. ResultsCompared with the sham-operated group, the model group showed significantly reduced MWT and PWL on day 3, 7, 10, and 14 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Tuina group and the blockade group showed increased MWT and PWL on day 10 and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the Tuina group, the blockade group exhibited higher MWT on day 7, 10, and 14, and higher PWL on day 10 (P<0.05). Sciatic nerve pathological morphology revealed intact and well-structured myelin in the sham-operated group, while the model group exhibited myelin collapse, distortion, and myelin ovoid formation. The Tuina group displayed partially irregular myelin with occasional myelin collapse, whereas the blockade group exhibited partial myelin irregularities and phospholipid shedding. Compared with the sham-operated group, the model group showed a decreased g-ratio and increased levels of Iba-1 and CD68 in the spinal dorsal horn (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Tuina group and the blockade group exhibited an increased g-ratio and reduced Iba-1 and CD68 levels. Additionally, the Tuina group showed elevated levels of CD206, IL-10, and POMC, whereas the blockade group had decreased CD206 levels (P<0.05). ConclusionTuina at "Weizhong (BL 40)" alleviates neuropathic pain in CCI rats, potentially by regulating microglial activation in the spinal cord, inhibiting M1 polarization while promoting M2 polarization, and activating the IL-10/β-EP pathway to exert analgesic effects.
2.Diagnosis and Treatment of Cough Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease from Collaterals Deficiency with Latent Wind
Fang SUN ; Shiqi SUN ; Yan XUE ; Wei ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(10):1057-1059
It is believed that the basic mechanism of cough associated with interstitial lung disease is collaterals deficiency with latent wind: the deficiency of the lung organs and lung collaterals is the basis of its pathogenesis, and latent wind in lung collaterals is the key mechanism of the cough which is difficult to cure. Treatment is based on the principle of supplementing deficiency and treating wind, dispelling the pathogens and unblocking the collaterals. Supplementing deficiency should supplement lungs, boost kidneys, and strengthen spleens to consolidate the root and banking up the origin, and regulate and tonify the lung collaterals; dispelling the pathogens should treat the internal and external winds at the same time, and taking into account the combined pathogens of phlegm, stasis and dampness to clear the stagnation of the lung collaterals.
3.The role of gut microbiota homeostasis in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma and targeted intervention strategies
Yan CUI ; Junzhe JIAO ; Ruijuan YAN ; Shuguang YAN ; Hailiang WEI ; Zhanjie CHANG ; Haibo ZHANG ; Jingtao LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(9):1913-1919
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as the sixth most common malignant tumor worldwide, poses a serious threat to human health due to its insidious onset and high mortality rate. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms and intervention strategies of gut microbiota (GM) homeostasis in the development and progression of HCC, in order to provide new ideas for the intervention and treatment of HCC. Studies have shown that GM dysbiosis, intestinal leakage, microbial-associated molecular pattern, bacterial translocation, and metabolic products play key roles in the progression of HCC. GM imbalance may lead to immune escape, thereby promoting tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. This article elaborates on the association between GM and HCC, deeply analyzes the mechanism of action of GM in the development and progression of HCC, investigates the role of bile acid-related metabolites, short-chain fatty acid-related metabolites, and other metabolites in HCC, and explores the strategies for targeting GM in the treatment of HCC, including probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, Toll-like receptor 4 antagonists, and fecal microbiota transplantation. This article emphasizes that maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier and GM homeostasis is of great significance in the prevention and treatment of HCC, which provides a direction for developing new diagnosis and treatment strategies.
4.Mechanism of Flavonoids in Patriniae Herba in Affecting Occurrence and Development of Colorectal Cancer
Pingping ZHNAG ; Ru JIA ; Rong CEN ; Hongjie LIU ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):240-247
Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in the digestive system, ranking third in incidence and second in the cause of death worldwide. In recent years, the incidence of colorectal cancer is on the rise, and the age of patients with colorectal cancer tends to be younger, with a heavy cancer burden. It is of great significance to prevent the occurrence, development, recurrence, and metastasis of colorectal cancer to reduce the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. Patriniae Herba has the effects of clearing heat, removing toxins, eliminating carbuncle, and discharging pus and shows good therapeutic efficacy on inflammatory bowel disease, digestive tract tumors, pelvic inflammation, gynecological tumor, and so on. Patriniae Herba is often used in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer, but its mechanism of action is not clear. Modern studies have found that Patriniae Herba contains triterpenoids, saponins, iridoids, flavonoids, and other chemical components, with antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and other pharmacological effects. The main anti-tumor components of Patriniae Herba are flavonoids. The analysis of network pharmacology and the spectrum-effect relationship has suggested that quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, isoorientin, and isovitexin play a major role in inhibiting the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that flavonoids in Patriniae Herba can play an anti-tumor role in various ways, such as preventing precancerous lesions of colorectal cancer, inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, blocking cancer cell cycle, promoting cancer cell apoptosis, and reversing drug resistance of colorectal cancer. The oral availability of flavonoids is low. The gut is the main metabolic site of flavonoids in the body, its metabolic pathway is closely related to gut microbiota. This paper reviewed the anti-tumor mechanism of flavonoids and their influence on gut microbiota to provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of Patriniae Herba against colorectal cancer and its clinical application.
5.Progress in role of silent information regulator 3 in improving idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by regulating mitochondrial dysfunction
Shusen YANG ; Yushan LIU ; Yilin ZHANG ; Yi HUI ; Jingtao LI ; Shuguang YAN
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(2):358-364
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology,with a rapid disease course,poor prognosis,and the absence of effective therapeutic drugs.Mitochondrial dys-function is one of the crucial causes of inducing IPF.Silent information regulator 3(SIRT3)can restore mitochondrial ho-meostasis by inhibiting mitochondrial oxidative stress,repairing mitochondrial DNA damage,and ameliorating abnormal mitochondrial lipid metabolism.This paper summarizes the role and mechanism of SIRT3 in attenuating mitochondrial dys-function based on delineating the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and IPF,aiming to provide references for finding effective treatment methods for IPF.
6.Research advances in liver macrophages regulating malignant transformation of hepatic precancerous lesions
Ruijuan YAN ; Junzhe JIAO ; Yu HUANG ; Shuguang YAN ; Hailiang WEI ; Zhanjie CHANG ; Yingjun GUO ; Jingtao LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(5):1039-1043
Liver macrophages are important immune cells in the liver,and they express proinflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory factors through polarization into M1 type and M2 type,respectively,thereby playing a role in regulating inflammatory damage response.The malignant transformation of hepatic progenitor cells is the core mechanism of the malignant progression of hepatic precancerous lesions,and its key factor is the continuous stimulation of inflammatory microenvironment,which is closely associated with M1/M2 macrophage polarization.This review mainly focuses on the association between macrophage polarization,chronic inflammation,and malignant transformation of hepatic progenitor cells,so as to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of hepatic precancerous lesions.
7.Analysis of image features of fundus blood vessel in healthy human eye based on deep learning techniques
Mengyu HUI ; Jinglin SHI ; Xiaohan YU ; Jian LI ; Yan ZHANG ; Zhengli TANG ; Shanghai YU ; Yue GAO ; Ping LIU ; Hua ZHANG
International Eye Science 2024;24(10):1542-1550
AIM:To explore the fundus vascular characteristics of healthy individuals based on deep learning techniques, with a view to discovering the range of normal values of the fundus arteries and veins, as well as the relationship between physiological factors, such as gender, age, body mass index(BMI), blood pressure, and fundus vasculature characteristics.METHODS:Fundus images of healthy people were taken from a professional fundus camera, and the subject's blood pressure and laboratory test was collected. Additionally, the fundus arteries and veins were segmented by the improved U-Net model, and the color, morphology and Haralick texture features of the vessels were extracted from computer vision technology.RESULTS:A total of 4 487 cases fundus images were taken and 326 cases with healthy and clear fundus images were screened, including 200 males and 126 females. There were differences in the morphology, color, and textural characteristics of the left and right eyes, as well as of the fundus arterioles and veins, with a mean vessel width(width)of 1.146 in the arteries and 1.430 in the veins, and an arteriovenous ratio about 4:5. Fundus artery and vein characteristics in healthy individuals of different ages(21-30, 31-40, 41-50): compared with the healthy population aged 21-30 and 31-40 years, arterial and venous inverse difference moment(idm), f12 and venous angular second moment(asm)values increased, and arterial and venous contrast(con), entropy(ent), difference entropy(den), and venous sum entropy(sen)values decreased in 41-50 years. Compared with the 21-30 years age group, arterial f12 values increased and venous con values decreased in 31-40 years(all P<0.05). Fundus vascular characteristics of healthy individuals of different sexes: compared with male, fundus arterial and venous sum average(sav), sum variance(sva)values, arterial curved values, and venous b mean, bsd, variance(var), sen, ent values increased in female, while venous area value of female decreased(all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in fundus arteriosus and venous features in healthy subjects with different levels of BMI(all P>0.05). Fundus characteristics of healthy people with different degrees of blood pressure: there were statistically significant differences in fundus arteriosus area, width, and venous con, idm, dva, and den values between the normal blood pressure and high blood pressure groups(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The characteristics of the left and right eyes as well as the fundus arteries and veins differ in healthy individuals and correlate with physiological factors such as gender, age and blood pressure, which have the value of a potential microcirculation marker.
8.Exploration on the Mechanism of Xiaomudan Granules in the Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on mTORC1/USP20/HMGCR Pathway
Yu HUANG ; Ruijuan YAN ; Junzhe JIAO ; Shuguang YAN ; Hailiang WEI ; Zhanjie CHANG ; Jingtao LI ; Qian BIAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(8):110-116
Objective To observe the effects of Xiaomudan Granules on cholesterol synthesis in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD);To explore its mechanism on the treatment of NAFLD based on mTORC1/USP20/HMGCR pathway.Methods Totally 60 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Western medicine group(polyene phosphatidylcholine)and TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage groups(Xiaomudan Granules).The blank group was fed with ordinary diet,and the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish NAFLD rat model.After successful modeling,each administration group was given the corresponding drug intragastric administration,and the blank group and model group were given aseptic distilled water intragastric administration for 4 weeks.Body mass and liver mass of rats were recorded,liver index was calculated,and serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)contents were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer,the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed by HE staining and oil red O staining,real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect ribosome S6 kinase(S6K),ubiquitin specific protease 20(USP20),3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reduction enzyme(HMGCR)mRNA and p-S6K,S6K,USP20,HMGCR protein expression in liver tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the body mass,liver mass and liver index of rats in model group significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05),the volume of liver lobe increased,the edge was blunted;the contents of serum ALT,AST,TC,TG and LDL-C significantly increased,while HDL-C content significantly decreased(P<0.01);most hepatocytes showed steatosis,significant vacuole and inflammatory infiltration,increased lipid droplets,and significantly increased mRNA expression of USP20 and HMGCR in liver tissue(P<0.01)and protein expressions of p-S6K,USP20 and HMGCR(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,TCM high-dosage group and Western medicine group could significantly decrease body mass,liver mass and liver index of rats(P<0.01,P<0.05),and improve the appearance of liver;decrease the contents of ALT,AST,TC and LDL-C in serum,and increase the content of HDL-C(P<0.01,P<0.05);alleviate hepatocyte steatosis and balloon-like degeneration,reduce lipid droplet deposition,and decrease USP20,HMGCR mRNA and p-S6K,USP20,HMGCR protein expression in liver tissue(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Xiaomudan Granules may regulate cholesterol synthesis through mTORC1/USP20/HMGCR pathway,and thus play a role in the treatment of NAFLD in rats.
9.Exploration on the Mechanism of Yipi Yanggan Prescription for the Treatment of Liver Precancerous Lesion Based on M1 Type Macrophage Polarization-Chronic Inflammation-Liver Cell Malignant Transformation
Yu HUANG ; Xueyuan GOU ; Xi GUAN ; Junzhe JIAO ; Shuguang YAN ; Zhanjie CHANG ; Ruijuan YAN ; Jingtao LI
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(10):81-88
Objective To explore the mechanism of Yipi Yanggan Prescription in the treatment of precancerous lesion of liver in rats based on M1 type macrophage polarization-chronic inflammation-liver cell malignant transformation.Methods Totally 90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Hugan Tablet group and Yipi Yanggan Prescription high-,medium-and low-dosage groups,with 15 rats in each group.The blank group was injected distilled water intraperitoneally,and the other groups were injected 5 mL/kg of diethylnitrosamine intraperitoneally at 50 mg/kg per week(twice per week)for 16 weeks to induce the precancerous lesion of liver model.Starting from the second day of modeling,Yipi Yanggan Prescription high-,medium-and low-dosage groups were orally administered with 1.2,0.6 and 0.3 g/mL Yipi Yanggan Prescription,respectively.The Hugan Tablet group was orally administered with 921 mg/kg Hugan Tablet solution,the blank group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of physiological saline for 16 consecutive weeks.The appearance of the liver was observed,ELISA was used to detect serum ALT,AST,ALP,AFU,as well as TNF-α,IL-6,iNOS and MCP-1 content,HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the morphology of liver tissue,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of liver cell malignancy markers OV6,CK19,CD133 and EpCAM,qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of CK19,CD133 and EpCAM in liver tissue,immunofluorescence co-localization was used to detect the co-expressions of M1 type macrophage markers CD68 with IL-6 and TNF-α.Results Compared with the blank group,the liver of the model group rats was hard,with a rough surface and dull edges,and a large number of nodules were visible,the contents of serum ALT,AST,ALP,AFU,TNF-α,IL-6,iNOS and MCP-1 significantly increased(P<0.01),there were large areas of dysplasia nodules,inflammatory cell infiltration,and increased collagen fibers in liver tissue,the expressions of OV6,CK19,CD133 and EpCAM in liver tissue significantly increased,and the co-expressions of CD68 with IL-6 and TNF-α significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number and size of liver nodules in each treatment group of rats decreased,the contents of serum ALT,AST,ALP,AFU,TNF-α,IL-6,iNOS and MCP-1 were significantly decreased(P<0.01),hepatocellular dysplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly improved,collagen fibers decreased,and the expressions of OV6,CK19,CD133 and EpCAM in liver tissue were significantly decreased,the co-expressions of CD68 with IL-6 and TNF-α significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yipi Yanggan Prescription may alleviate inflammation by inhibiting polarization of M1 type macrophages,improve liver cell malignancy,and exert therapeutic effects on rats with precancerous lesion of liver induced by diethylnitrosamine.
10.Research Progress in Complement Receptor of the Immunoglobulin Superfamily in Regulating Liver Immunity
Shusen YANG ; Jingtao LI ; Shuguang YAN ; Junzhe JIAO
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2024;46(4):603-609
Kupffer cells(KC),an important subset of immune cells in the liver,are essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis and responding quickly to liver damage.The complement receptor of the immuno-globulin superfamily(CRIg)is a receptor protein on the KC membrane.CRIg can not only capture pathogens in the blood flowing through the liver by complement binding but also mediate immune responses by regulating im-mune cells in the liver.Recent studies have confirmed the role of CRIg in regulating liver immunity.This article reviews the main modes of action of CRIg and the research progress of CRIg in regulating liver immunity.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail