1.Effect of Serum Containing Zhenwutang on Apoptosis of Myocardial Mast Cells and Mitochondrial Autophagy
Wei TANG ; Meiqun ZHENG ; Xiaolin WANG ; Zhiyong CHEN ; Chi CHE ; Zongqiong LU ; Jiashuai GUO ; Xiaomei ZOU ; Lili XU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):11-21
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of serum containing Zhenwutang on myocardial mast cell apoptosis induced by angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ) and the mechanism of the correlation between apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy. MethodsIn this experiment, AngⅡ and serum containing Zhenwutang with different concentrations were used to interfere with H9C2 cardiomyocytes for 24 h, and the survival rate of H9C2 cardiomyocytes was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) to screen the optimal concentration for the experiment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the content of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in cell culture supernatant, and immunofluorescence was used to detect the cell surface area to verify the construction of the myocardial mast cell model. Subsequently, the experiment was divided into a blank group (20% blank serum), a model group (20% blank serum + 5×10-5 mol·L-1 AngⅡ), low-, medium-, and high-dose (5%, 10% and 20%) serum containing Zhenwutang groups, an autophagy inhibitor group (1×10-4 mol·L-1 3-MA), and autophagy inducer group (1×10-7 mol·L-1 rapamycin). The apoptosis level of H9C2 cells and the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential were detected by flow cytometry. The lysosomal probe (Lyso Tracker) and mitochondrial probe (Mito Tracker) co-localization was employed to detect autophagy. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect Caspase-3, Caspase-9, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), and cytochrome C (Cyt C) in apoptosis-related pathways and the relative mRNA expression of ubiquitin ligase (Parkin), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), and p62 protein in mitochondrial autophagy-related pathways. Western blot was used to detect cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, Bax, Bcl-2, and Cyt C in apoptosis-related pathways, phosphorylated ubiquitin ligase (p-Parkin), phosphorylated PTEN-induced kinase 1 (p-PINK1), p62, and Bcl-2 homology domain protein Beclin1 in mitochondrial autophagy-related pathways, and the change of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio. ResultsCCK-8 showed that when the concentration of AngⅡ was 5×10-5 mol·L-1, the cell activity was the lowest, and there was no cytotoxicity. At this concentration, the surface area of cardiomyocytes was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the content of BNP in the supernatant of culture medium was significantly increased (P<0.05). Therefore, AngⅡ with a concentration of 5×10-5 mol·L-1 was selected for the subsequent modeling of myocardial mast cells. Compared with the blank group, the model group and the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA group had a significantly increased apoptosis rate (P<0.01) and significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (P<0.01). The results of immunofluorescence co-localization showed that compared with the blank group, the model group had a significantly decreased number of red and green fluorescence spots. The results of Real-time PCR showed that compared with that in the blank group, the relative mRNA expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Cyt C, and p62 in the model group was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01), while the relative mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Parkin, and PINK1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). In addition, the relative protein expression of Bax, cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, Cyt C, and p62 was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). The LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ was significantly decreased, and the relative protein expression of Bcl-2, p-Parkin, p-PINK1, and Beclin1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum containing Zhenwutang groups and the autophagy inducer group had significantly decreased apoptosis rate (P<0.01), and the decrease ratio of mitochondrial membrane potential is significantly lowered (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, both red and green fluorescence spots became more in these groups. In the 3-MA group, the number of red and green fluorescence spots decreased significantly. The relative mRNA expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Cyt C, and p62 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), while that of Bcl-2, Parkin, and PINK1 was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). In the serum containing Zhenwutang groups, the relative protein expression levels of Bax, cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, Cyt C, and p62 were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01). The LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ was significantly increased, and the relative protein expression levels of Bcl-2, p-Parkin, p-PINK1, and Beclin1 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). ConclusionThe serum containing Zhenwutang can reduce the apoptosis of myocardial mast cells and increase mitochondrial autophagy. This is related to the inhibition of intracellular Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 apoptosis pathway and regulation of Parkin/PINK1 mitochondrial autophagy pathway.
2.Modified Wenshen Yixin Formula (温肾益心方加减) for Coronary Heart Disease Complicated with Hypothyroidism of Spleen-kidney Yang Deficiency:A Prospective Real-world Study of 51 Cases
Aolin LI ; Zhipeng YAN ; Lu LIAN ; Qianqian ZHANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Boyu ZHU ; Lei WEI ; Zhihan YANG ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(20):2116-2125
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and relative mechanism of the Modified Wenshen Yixin Formula (温肾益心方加减, MWYF) as an auxiliary treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) complicated with hypothyroidism of spleen-kidney yang deficiency. MethodsA total of 135 CHD patients complicated with hypothyroidism and spleen-kidney yang deficiency were included and divided into control group (67 cases) and experimental group (68 cases) according to the patients' wishes of herbal medicine administration. The control group was given conventional western medicine, while the treatment group was additionally given MWYF, 1 dose per day; both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, angina scores, SF-36 scores, thyroid function indicators including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), as well as serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), monocyte chemoattractant ligand 2 (CCL2), and tumor necrosis factor-related activator protein (CD40L) levels before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The dosage and reduction and discontinuation rate of thyroid hormone preparations after treatment were compared between the two groups. The effectiveness regarding TCM syndrome and angina pectoris was evaluated, and the safety was assessed. ResultsBias was adjusted by matching on propensity score, and 102 cases were finally included in the statistical analysis, with 51 cases in each group. The total effective rate regarding TCM syndrome [94.12% (48/51) versus 64.71% (33/51)], the total effective rate regarding angina pectoris [80.39% (41/51) versus 62.75% (32/51)], and the reduction and discontinuation rate of thyroid hormone preparation [39.21% (20/51) versus 5.88% (3/51)] were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). After treatment, the total TCM syndrome score, individual scores of major symptoms , the major symptoms score, the secondary symptoms score, angina pectoris score, and TSH level were significantly reduced (P<0.01), while all dimensions of SF-36 scores, T4, T3, and cAMP levels significantly increased in both groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The dosage of thyroid hormone preparations and the levels of cGMP, CCL2, and CD40L in the experimental group significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.01). When compared between the two groups after treatment, the total TCM syndrome score, the major symptoms score, the scores of individual major symptom (chest tightness, chest pain, fear of cold, cold limbs, waist and kness soreness and weakness), the secondary symptoms score, angina pectoris score, TSH, cGMP, CCL2, and CD40L levels of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while all dimension scores of SF-36, T4, T3, and cAMP levels were significantly higher (P<0.01). A total of three adverse events occurred during treatment, none of which were judged to be related to the interventions of this study. ConclusionMWYF can significantly ameliorate the TCM syndrome, angina pectoris, quality of life and thyroid function in CHD patients complicated with hypothyroidism and spleen-kidney yang deficiency, and can promote the reduction and disconti-nuation of thyroid hormone preparations. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of cAMP/cGMP balance, the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid metabolic axis and the reduction of immune inflammation.
3.Visualized Analysis of Application Research of Wuling San in Recent 10 Years
Qi GUO ; Wei-Chi LU ; Zhang-Zhi ZHU
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(8):2195-2202
Objective A visualized analysis of the relevant literature on the application of Wuling San(Five-Ingredient Powder Containing Poria)in China in the recent 10 years was conducted to explore the application of Wuling San.Methods The applied research of Wuling San issued in the academic journals of CNKI from January 1,2013 to December 31,2022 were retrieved.The corresponding knowledge graphs were drawn with CiteSpace software,and the keywords of the literature were visualized and analyzed.Results A total of 1 121 articles related to the applied research of Wuling San were obtained after preliminary retrieval,and 1 104 articles were included for visual analysis after screening.The results of keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that Wuling San was usually used for treating cirrhosis ascites,chronic heart failure,diabetic nephropathy and other multi-system diseases,and it was mostly used by the compatibility of Taohong Siwu Decoction,Zhenwu Decoction,Xiaochaihu Decoction,Shenqi Pills and Linggui Zhugan Decoction.Wuling San was indicated for the symptoms of edema,dysuria and urinary retention.The commonly-used research methods for Wuling San included network pharmacology,molecular docking,etc.The results of keyword burst analysis showed that the hotspots of Wuling San applied research were as follows:cirrhosis in 2013,Yinchenhao Decoction in 2015,cerebral edema in 2018,and network pharmacology,novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia and cardiac function since 2020.Conclusion Wuling San is widely used in the clinic,and is indicated for water metabolism disorders.Wuling San in the treatment of cirrhotic ascites,chronic heart failure and diabetic nephropathy becomes the research hotspots in recent years.The applied researches of Wuling San on novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia and on improving cardiac function have become the trend and focus of current research.
4.Artificial intelligence predicts direct-acting antivirals failure among hepatitis C virus patients: A nationwide hepatitis C virus registry program
Ming-Ying LU ; Chung-Feng HUANG ; Chao-Hung HUNG ; Chi‐Ming TAI ; Lein-Ray MO ; Hsing-Tao KUO ; Kuo-Chih TSENG ; Ching-Chu LO ; Ming-Jong BAIR ; Szu-Jen WANG ; Jee-Fu HUANG ; Ming-Lun YEH ; Chun-Ting CHEN ; Ming-Chang TSAI ; Chien-Wei HUANG ; Pei-Lun LEE ; Tzeng-Hue YANG ; Yi-Hsiang HUANG ; Lee-Won CHONG ; Chien-Lin CHEN ; Chi-Chieh YANG ; Sheng‐Shun YANG ; Pin-Nan CHENG ; Tsai-Yuan HSIEH ; Jui-Ting HU ; Wen-Chih WU ; Chien-Yu CHENG ; Guei-Ying CHEN ; Guo-Xiong ZHOU ; Wei-Lun TSAI ; Chien-Neng KAO ; Chih-Lang LIN ; Chia-Chi WANG ; Ta-Ya LIN ; Chih‐Lin LIN ; Wei-Wen SU ; Tzong-Hsi LEE ; Te-Sheng CHANG ; Chun-Jen LIU ; Chia-Yen DAI ; Jia-Horng KAO ; Han-Chieh LIN ; Wan-Long CHUANG ; Cheng-Yuan PENG ; Chun-Wei- TSAI ; Chi-Yi CHEN ; Ming-Lung YU ;
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(1):64-79
Background/Aims:
Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy.
Methods:
We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment.
Results:
The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset.
Conclusions
Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.
5.Short-term effect evaluation of self-management group projects for chronic disease patients in Suzhou
Xiao-lin WEI ; Lin-chi WANG ; Yan LU ; Xue-fei WU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2023;34(1):136-140
Objective To evaluate the short-term effect of self-management group project for chronic disease patients in Suzhou. Methods Eight to ten streets / towns were randomly selected from 10 cities and districts under the jurisdiction of Suzhou. Each street / town set up a chronic disease self-management group and carried out group activities. The awareness rate of chronic disease related knowledge, health management behavior and health status of the group members after and before the activities were compared to evaluate the short-term effect of the self-management group project. Results A total of 89 chronic disease self-management groups were set up in Suzhou in 2020. Among them, there were 47 hypertension groups and 42 diabetes groups. A total of 1176 people were surveyed at baseline, and 1161 people participated in the evaluation survey after the group activities. By setting up self-management groups, the awareness rates of chronic disease-related knowledge (BMI range, variety of food intake per day per week, moderate-intensity activity time per week, daily salt intake, harm of excessive salt intake, diagnostic criteria for hypertension, sodium content in low sodium salt, fasting blood glucose criteria, low-density lipoprotein control targets) in hypertension and diabetes patients after the intervention were improved compared with those before the intervention, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The proportion of "having a blood pressure monitor at home" in the two groups together increased from 49.87% before the intervention to 57.62%, and the proportion of “self-monitoring blood pressure” increased from 52.80% before the intervention to 66.32%, while the proportion of "having a blood glucose monitoring system at home" increased from 52.80% before the intervention to 66.32%, and the proportion of “self-monitoring blood glucose” increased from 25.67% before the intervention to 38.67%. The percentage of "drinking alcohol in the past 30 days" dropped from 12.14% before the intervention to 8.35%. All these differences were statistically significant. There was no difference in the number of "smoking in the past 30 days" compared with before the activity (P≥0.05). The number of days with poor health resulting from injuries in the past 30 days also decreased but the difference was not statistically significant (P≥0.05). In terms of the severity of depression, the number of people with moderate and severe depression decreased after the intervention, and the number of people who turned into mild depression increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The self-management group project for chronic disease patients in Suzhou has achieved good results and is suitable for continued promotion and application in this region.
6.Harm Avoidance is Correlated with the Reward System in Adult Patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Tsung-Hua LU ; Shih-Hsien LIN ; Mei Hung CHI ; Ching-Lin CHU ; Dong-Yu YANG ; Wei Hung CHANG ; Po See CHEN ; Yen Kuang YANG
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2023;21(1):99-107
Objective:
Hypoactivity in the reward system among patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a well-known phenomenon. Whether the activity in the reward pathway is related to harm avoidance, such as in sensitivity to punishment, is unclear. Evidence regarding the potential difference between ADHD patients and controls in terms of this association is scarce.
Methods:
Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on subjects performing the Iowa gambling test. Fourteen adults with ADHD and 14 controls were enrolled in the study.
Results:
Harm avoidance was found to be positively correlated with the activities of the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex and right insula in individuals with ADHD. A group difference was also confirmed.
Conclusion
Understanding the roles of harm avoidance and brain activation during risk tasks is important.
7.Experimental study on concentration selection of immunohistochemical antibodies for retinal endoplasmic reticulum stress
Xiao-Hong CHEN ; Wan-Jiao LIANG ; Shi-Shu HUANG ; Yan SUN ; Xin LUO ; Lu LAI ; Zhao-Sheng CHI ; Mei-Zhu CHEN ; Yun-Peng WANG ; Wei-Ming YAN
International Eye Science 2023;23(1):32-38
AIM: To explore the optimal concentration of endoplasmic reticulum stress immunohistochemical(IHC)staining antibody in mouse retinitis pigmentosa(RP)model, which provides the corresponding index detection method for studying the pathogenesis and intervention measures of RP.METHODS: Clean male C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea(MNU, 60mg/kg)to prepare RP mouse model. Electroretinogram(ERG)and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining were performed on 7d after modeling to verify the successful modeling. The expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins(IRE1, ATF6, PERK, GRP78, Caspase-12)was detected by IHC staining.RESULTS: The following proteins, including IRE1, ATF6, PERK, GRP78 and Caspase-12, were positively expressed in retina of RP mouse. The optimal concentrations of the above proteins were as follows: IRE1 antibody concentration was 1:1000, ATF6 antibody concentration was 1:500 and 1:1000(with no difference in positive expression, P>0.05), PERK antibody concentration was 1:1500, GRP78 antibody concentration was 1:200 and Caspase-12 antibody concentration was 1:100, the proteins were well expressed at the above concentrations, and the positive expressions of corresponding proteins were different from those of other antibody concentrations(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The optimal concentrations for IHC staining in different proteins of mouse RP models were as follows: the concentrations of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein antibodies were 1:1000 in IRE1, 1:500 and 1:1000 in ATF6, 1:1500 in PERK, 1:200 in GRP78, and 1:100 in Caspase-12.
8.Fortify clinical advantages and promote innovative development: comparison of the Chinese Colorectal Cancer Surgery Database with foreign databases.
Jun Hao ZHANG ; Rui Qing LIU ; Yuan GAO ; Hong Wei YAO ; Ying Chi YANG ; Zhong Tao ZHANG ; Yun LU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2023;61(5):362-367
With the continuous development of evidence-based medicine, increasing attention has been paid to the construction of a large medical database to ensure a source of high quality real-world data. The Chinese Medical Association Colorectal Surgery Group created the Chinese Colorectal Cancer Surgery Database (CCCD), whose objective is to promote the development of colorectal surgery and improve patient prognosis with evidence-based medicine theory. Compared to major databases around the world, CCCD contains more comprehensive information on colorectal cancer surgical cases, recording the main epidemiological characteristics and detailed surgical information, but perioperative treatment data still need to be strengthened. It is necessary to continuously expand the coverage, enrich perioperative data and strengthen data, quality control. In the future, CCCD is expected to play a role in promoting homogenization of medical services, promoting smooth and effective graded diagnosis and treatment, giving full role to the characteristics of each center to achieve integrated development, and connecting real-world data and artificial intelligence.
9.CD47 blockade improves the therapeutic effect of osimertinib in non-small cell lung cancer.
Wei-Bang YU ; Yu-Chi CHEN ; Can-Yu HUANG ; Zi-Han YE ; Wei SHI ; Hong ZHU ; Jia-Jie SHI ; Jun CHEN ; Jin-Jian LU
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(1):105-118
The third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor osimertinib (OSI) has been approved as the first-line treatment for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aims to explore a rational combination strategy for enhancing the OSI efficacy. In this study, OSI induced higher CD47 expression, an important anti-phagocytic immune checkpoint, via the NF-κB pathway in EGFR-mutant NSCLC HCC827 and NCI-H1975 cells. The combination treatment of OSI and the anti-CD47 antibody exhibited dramatically increasing phagocytosis in HCC827 and NCI-H1975 cells, which highly relied on the antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis effect. Consistently, the enhanced phagocytosis index from combination treatment was reversed in CD47 knockout HCC827 cells. Meanwhile, combining the anti-CD47 antibody significantly augmented the anticancer effect of OSI in HCC827 xenograft mice model. Notably, OSI induced the surface exposure of "eat me" signal calreticulin and reduced the expression of immune-inhibitory receptor PD-L1 in cancer cells, which might contribute to the increased phagocytosis on cancer cells pretreated with OSI. In summary, these findings suggest the multidimensional regulation by OSI and encourage the further exploration of combining anti-CD47 antibody with OSI as a new strategy to enhance the anticancer efficacy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC with CD47 activation induced by OSI.
Humans
;
Mice
;
Animals
;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism*
;
Lung Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
Acrylamides/pharmacology*
;
ErbB Receptors/metabolism*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
CD47 Antigen/therapeutic use*
10.Clinical Application of Supplementing Essence and Boosting Marrow Method in the Treatment of Encephalopathy Based on the Marrow Sea Theory
Hongxi LIU ; Mengying LU ; Xiao LIANG ; Jingjing WEI ; Yue LIU ; Yunmeng CHEN ; Xiansu CHI ; Guojing FU ; Yunling ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;64(18):1877-1884
As the guiding theory for the diagnosis and treatment of encephalopathy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), The marrow sea theory has important theoretical connotation and clinical value. This paper summarized the clinical research literature on the differentiation and treatment of common encephalopathy based on the marrow sea theory published in recent years, analyzed the treatment method and effects from eight aspects in terms of stroke, dizziness, insomnia, headache, constraint syndrome, dementia, tremor syndrome, and atrophy syndrome, and discussed the possible mechanism based on the relevant basic research. It is believed that marrow sea depletion is the common pathogenesis of encephalopathy in TCM. Guided by the method of supplementing essence and boosting marrow, the corresponding formulas and medicinals are recommended in accordance with differentiated syndromes, which can effectively improve the symptoms of the disease, delay the progression, increase the daily life ability of the patients, and improve the quality of life. Based on the marrow sea theory, the method of supplementing essence and boosting marrow, rectifying healthy qi and dispelling pathogen can be used to highlight the advantages of TCM and provide ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of encephalopathy in TCM.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail