1.Mechanism and Combination Therapy of Berberine in Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty liver Disease:A Review
Xiaojie WANG ; Heng ZHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Lihui ZHANG ; Wenxia ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):269-281
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. Because of its complex pathogenesis, high clinical prevalence and large population, it poses a great threat and challenge to public health in the world. Therefore, active intervention measures are needed. Currently, western medicine is effective in reducing weight, reducing liver fat content, improving glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. However, for patients with NAFLD-related fibrosis and cirrhosis, there is still a lack of sufficient histological evidence to support its benefits, and randomized controlled trials are still needed to clarify. Lifestyle intervention is an important cornerstone for the treatment of NAFLD, but there are many problems such as poor implementation and low compliance of patients, and the clinical efficacy is not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has the significant advantages of multiple pathways and multiple targets. Berberine, the active ingredient of TCM, can interfere with the production of NAFLD from multiple pathways, including increasing energy consumption, weight loss, improving glucose-lipid metabolism, improving insulin resistance, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, regulating intestinal flora, restoring bile acid homeostasis, anti-fibrosis and so on, which can play a positive role in the treatment of NAFLD. At the same time, it was found that the combination of BBR with Chinese and western medicines had significant advantages in promoting drug absorption, improving oral bioavailability, increasing the highest biological distribution in the liver, enhancing the overall therapeutic effect of NAFLD, and reducing adverse drug reactions, which could provide reference for clinical medication.
2.Causal relationship between mental disorders and hypercholesterolemia: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Qian ZOU ; Ni TANG ; Huanhui LIU ; Hanjing ZHANG ; Xiaojie MA
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(2):123-130
BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent in patients with mental disorders, including elevated diastolic or systolic blood pressure, elevated fasting glucose, hypercholesterolemia, abdominal obesity and so on. As an important component of MetS, the relationship between hypercholesterolemia and mental disorder has been extensively reported, whereas few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted to identify the causal role of mental disorders in hypercholesterolemia. ObjectiveTo explore the potential causal relationship between mental disorders and hypercholesterolemia by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method. MethodsSummary data from GWAS were analyzed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly associated with mental disorders were chosen as instrumental variables, and hypercholesterolemia was used as outcome variable. MR analysis utilized inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression and weighted median estimation (WME) as the primary analytical tool, and supplemented by simple mode (SM) and weighted mode (WM). The causal relationship between mental disorders and the risk of hypercholesterolemia was illustrated in terms of odds ratio (OR). ResultsA total of 36 SNPs associated with mental disorders were identified as instrumental variables. The primary findings from IVW revealed existence of a causal relationship between mental disorders and hypercholesterolemia (IVW: OR=1.067, 95% CI: 1.026~1.109, P=0.001). Findings from the additional methods (MR-Egger regression, WME, SM, WM) were basically consistent with those reported in IVW method. Further verification indicated that the causal relationship between mental disorders and the risk of hypercholesterolemia was not affected by genetic polymorphism (P>0.05). The absence of heterogeneity was confirmed through Cochran's Q test and MR-Egger regression (P>0.05). Furthermore, no causal association in the reverse direction was found (P>0.05). ConclusionThere is a causal relationship between mental disorders and hypercholesterolemia, and patients with mental disorders may have an increased probability of suffering from hypercholesterolemia.
3.Macrophages in xenotransplantation
Xuyuan ZHU ; Yu ZHANG ; Yuxiang CHEN ; Tao LI ; Xiaojie MA ; Hongtao JIANG
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(4):495-501
Xenotransplantation is one of the effective ways to overcome the shortage of donor organs. However, the molecular incompatibility between xenotransplantation donors and recipients can cause rejection, which greatly limits the clinical application of xenotransplantation. In recent years, researchers have deeply explored the mechanism of xenotransplantation rejection through xenotransplantation models of pig-to-monkey and pig-to-brain death recipients, and found that the innate immune system plays an important role in rejection. Macrophages, as phagocytes in the innate immune system, not only damage xenografts through phagocytosis but also interact with other immune cells to influence the immune microenvironment of xenotransplantation. However, due to the heterogeneity of macrophages, their phenotypes and functions in xenotransplantation rejection remain unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the role of macrophages in xenotransplantation rejection. This article reviews the latest research progress of macrophages in xenotransplantation rejection, aiming to explore the mechanisms of macrophages in xenotransplantation rejection and provide references for future research.
4.Study on relationships of MS4A1 gene polymorphism with blood concentration and efficacy of rituximab in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Feng SHI ; Tao LIU ; He HUANG ; Caifu FANG ; Shaoxing GUAN ; Zhang ZHANG ; Zhao WANG ; Xiaojie FANG ; Zhuojia CHEN ; Shu LIU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(13):1641-1647
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of CD20 coding gene (MS4A1) polymorphism on the blood concentration and efficacy of rituximab in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted on 160 newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients who received the R-CHOP regimen at the Sun Yat Sen University Cancer Center from January 2016 to December 2020, with a minimum follow-up period of approximately 5 years. The blood concentration of rituximab was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MS4A1 tagSNPs were selected by Haploview4.2 software, including rs1051461, rs17155034, rs4939364, and rs10501385. The genotype of MS4A1 was detected by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Univariate linear regression analysis was employed to examine the correlation between various factors(demographic, clinical, and genotypic variables) in patients and the steady-state trough concentration of rituximab during the first course of treatment, followed by multivariate linear regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Using MS4A1 genotype and tumor stage as independent variables, Cox regression model was employed to evaluate the factors influencing patient prognosis. RESULTS The blood concentration of rituximab in MS4A1 rs10501385 CC carriers was 15.20 μg/mL,which was significantly lower than 21.95 μg/mL in AA+AC carriers (P<0.05). The multivariate linear regression model incorporating tumor stage and MS4A1 rs10501385 polymorphism explained 7.3% of the interindividual variability in rituximab concentrations. Compared with MS4A1 rs1051461 CC carriers, CT+TT carriers had significantly prolonged PFS and OS (P<0.05). The Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that the MS4A1 rs1051461 CC genotype (HR=4.406, 95%CI:1.743-11.137, P<0.05) and tumor Ⅲ&Ⅳ (HR=3.233, 95%CI: 1.413-7.399, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for PFS. CONCLUSIONS The tumor staging and MS4A1 rs10501385 polymorphism are key influencing factors for blood concentration of rituximab, and MS4A1 rs1051461 polymorphism significantly affects PFS in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients.
5. The application of positron emission tomography in the research and development of central nervous system drugs
Size LI ; Xiaojie WU ; Jing ZHANG ; Qi HUANG ; Yihui GUAN ; Fang XIE ; Qi HUANG ; Yihui GUAN ; Fang XIE ; Shaonan WANG ; Jing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2024;29(3):316-327
Positron emission tomography (PET) now plays an important role in the research and development (R&D) of central nervous system (CNS) drugs. PET could characterize the biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and receptor binding of CNS drugs quantitatively. The present review summarized the quantitative methods of PET used in the pharmacokinetics and receptor occupancy analysis of CNS drugs. Moreover, the present review listed various applications of PET supporting R&D of CNS drugs, which could provide a new direction for the R&D of CNS drugs.
6.Relationship between serum perlecan,neurociliin-1 levels and disease condition,perinatal outcome of gestational hypertension patients in late pregnancy
Jinling ZHANG ; Lihong GUO ; Xiaojie WANG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;45(4):495-499
Objective To explore the relationship between the levels of serum perlecan and neurociliin-1(NRP-1)and disease condition,perinatal outcome of gestational hypertension patients in late pregnancy.Meth-ods A total of 103 gestational hypertension patients in late pregnancy admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected as the subjects of this study.According to the severity of the disease,they were divided into simple hypertension group(n=46),mild eclampsia group(n=35)and severe eclampsia group(n=22).The perinatal outcomes of the patients were recorded and divided into good outcome group(n=72)and poor outcome group(n=31).Serum perlecan and NRP-1 levels were detected by enzyme-related immunosorbent assay,and the predictive value of serum perlecan and NRP-1 on perinatal outcomes in gesta-tional hypertension patients in late pregnancy was investigated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors of peri-natal outcomes in gestational hypertension patients in late pregnancy.Results The serum levels of perlecan and NRP-1 in mild eclampsia group and severe eclampsia group were lower than those in simple hypertension group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);Serum levels of perlecan and NRP-1 in severe eclampsia group were lower than those in mild eclampsia group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The serum levels of perlecan and NRP-1 in the good outcome group were higher than those in the bad outcome group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The clinical efficacy of serum perlecan and NRP-1 combined in predicting perinatal outcomes of gestational hypertension patients in late pregnancy was better than that of single index.The proportion of age≥35 years old,pre-pregnancy body mass index(BMI)≥24 kg/m2,history of abortion,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and 24 h urinary protein in the adverse outcome group were higher than those in the good outcome group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-pregnancy BMI≥24 kg/m2,history of abortion,high systolic blood pressure,perlecan≤8.63 nmol/L and RNP-1≤4.37 ng/mL were independent risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes in gestational hypertension patients in late pregnancy(P<0.05).Conclusion The decrease of serum perlecan and NRP-1 levels is associated with the aggravation of the disease and adverse perinatal outcomes in gestational hypertension patients in late preg-nancy,and the two indicators can be used as biological markers to predict the perinatal outcomes of patients.
7.Effect of ureteral obstruction on renal pelvic function and pacemaker cells in neonatal rats
Chuanchuan REN ; Guangyang CHENG ; Xiaojie LI ; Yan WANG ; Zhuo YE ; Guoxian ZHANG ; Qingwei WANG ; Jianguo WEN
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2024;39(3):215-220
Objective:To investigate the effects of unilateral ureteral obstruction on renal pelvic peristalsis and pacemaker cells in neonatal rats.Methods:An animal experimental study.Thirty-six 2-day-old newborn SD rats were randomly divided into the partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO) group, complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (CUUO) group, and sham operation group, with 12 rats in each group.One week after surgery, all rats were subjected to renal pelvic pressure (RPP) measurement by puncture.After measurement, the rats were euthanized, and their left renal pelvis and ureter were removed and fixed for histological examination.Parameters such as RPP, peristaltic wave frequency and amplitude at different perfusion speeds were recorded and compared, and the changes in pacemaker cells (atypical smooth muscle cells and Cajal-like interstitial cells) were also compared.The independent samples t-test was used for comparison between 2 groups, and the one-way ANOVA of variance was used for comparison among 3 groups. Results:In the sham operation group, the RPP increased gradually with the increase of perfusion speed; the frequency of peristaltic waves rose rapidly and then dropped after reaching the highest level with the increase of perfusion speed; similarly, the amplitude of peristaltic waves first increased and then decreased as the perfusion speed increased.In the PUUO group, the RPP increased rapidly with the increase of perfusion speed, higher than that in the sham operation group; the frequency of peristaltic waves was higher than that in the sham operation group, and it was relatively constant under the perfusion speed of 40 mL/h, but when the perfusion speed increased again, the frequency began to decline; the amplitude of peristaltic waves increased quickly and then declined at a faster rate than the sham operation group with the increase of perfusion speed.In the CUUO group, the basic RPP was 12 cmH 2O(1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa); at the perfusion speed of 5 mL/h, the RPP rose gradually, and no plateau appeared; when the RPP reached 73 cmH 2O, the perfusate retrograded from the side of the puncture needle, then the RPP slightly decreased and then balanced, and no regular peristaltic waves were observed in the renal pelvis throughout the whole perfusion process.Immunofluorescence staining analysis showed the pacemaker cells were all located in the smooth muscle of the renal pelvic wall.The sham operation group had the highest positive rate, followed by the PUUO group and then the CUUO group. Conclusions:Ureteral obstruction has a significant impact on the peristalsis of the renal pelvis, and its impact on the peristaltic wave frequency and amplitude and RPP can be predicted.The reduction of pacemaker cells in the renal pelvis may be involved in the changes of renal pelvic peristalsis caused by ureteral obstruction, but further research is needed on how pacemaker cells regulate the peristalsis of the renal pelvis and ureter.
8.Anxiety and depression in primary and middle school students quarantined in hotels during the COVID-19 epidemic
Min CHEN ; Lu TONG ; Guohua LI ; Yanhua YU ; Lihui GAO ; Yunhe ZHANG ; Zhanzhou YU ; Yanyan CHEN ; Xiaojie SUI ; Yinxia BAI
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2024;38(3):260-264
Objective:To investigate symptoms of anxiety and depression among primary and middle school students quarantined in hotels during the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods:Anxiety and depression symptoms among 726 primary and middle school students quarantined in hotels were investigated with The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders(SCARED)and Depression Self-rating Scale for Children(DSRSC)from September to October 2022 in Chifeng City,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.There were 624 students completed investi-gation with response rate of 86%.The positive score of SCARED was ≥23 and DSRSC was ≥ 15.Results:The detection rates of anxiety and depression were 17.9%and 15.4%respectively.The detection rates of anxiety and depression were higherin middle school students than inprimary school students(Ps<0.05).The scores of general-ized anxiety and social phobia factors were higher in female students than in male students(Ps<0.05).The scores of dissociative anxiety factor and depression were higher in middle school students than in primary school students(Ps<0.05).Conclusion:During the COVID-19 epidemic,middle school students quarantined in hotels are more likely to have anxiety and depression symptoms than primary school students,and female students are more likely to have anxiety symptoms than male students.
9.Analysis of in Vitro Activity and Mechanism of Dunhuang Yifang Daxiefei Decoction on Pneumonia Based on Chemical Bioinformatics
Jia LIN ; Xiaojie JIN ; Chenghao LI ; Ruifeng WANG ; Yehu HOU ; Yixi ZHANG ; Hao LIU ; Min ZHANG ; Juan YAO ; Jintian LI ; Yongqi LIU
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(7):871-886
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effectiveness, potential mechanism and compatibility characteristics of efficacy groups of Dunhuang medical prescription Daxiefei decoction in preventing and treating pneumonia based on chemical bioinformatics method.
METHODS
To study the effect of Daxiefei decoction freeze-dried powder solution on the proliferation activity of lung epithelial cells through cell experiments. Daxiefei decoction was divided into three groups: clearing away heat group, resolving phlegm group, and nourishing Yin group according to its efficacy characteristics. The chemical components of Daxiefei decoction were obtained by TCMSP database and literature search, and the targets were predicted in Swiss Target Prediction database. Pneumonia disease targets were obtained by DrugBank, TTD, Genecards and DisGeNET databases. STRING database and Cytoscape were used to construct the intersection target interaction network and "drug-component-target- pathway" network and DAVID database was used for KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The network was used to analyze the scientific connotation of the compatibility of efficacy groups. Furthermore, molecular docking was used to evaluate the target-compound affinity and molecular dynamics was used to explore the dynamic molecular mechanism.
RESULTS
Cell experiments showed that Daxiefei decoction can maintain the proliferation of lung epithelial cells, reverse the decrease of mitochondrial activity induced by LPS and reduce apoptosis. Complex network analysis showed that the pathways enriched by the three functional groups contained in Daxiefei decoction were mainly distributed in two modules: inflammation regulation and reducing airway mucus hypersecretion. Each module was connected by a common target gene and had its own focus. The results of molecular docking showed that the components quercetin, baicalein, isorhamnetin etc. might be the effective multi-target components of Daxiefei decoction. SRC, EGFR, PPARA etc. had good affinity with each potential active component, which might be a potential target of Daxiefei decoction for preventing and treating pneumonia. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the potential active component quercetin formed stable intermolecular interactions with SRC.
CONCLUSION
This study initially reveal the material basis and molecular mechanism of Daxiefei decoction in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia. It also explores the scientific connotation of Daxiefei decoction in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia with different efficacy groups, and its modern development and clinical application provide chemical bioinformatics basis.
10.Inhibitory Effect of Curcumin and Its Derivatives on TGF-β Induced Fibrosis of LX-2 Cells
Yidan SHAO ; Tingting SHI ; Yanmei ZHAO ; Xi ZOU ; Jianjun XI ; Jing ZHANG ; Xiaojie JIANG ; Rangxiao ZHUANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(13):1750-1757
OBJECTIVE
To study the inhibitory effect and mechanism of curcumin and its derivatives A and B on TGF-β induced LX-2 cell fibrosis.
METHODS
Established the liver fibrosis model of LX-2 cells induced by TGF-β(10 ng·mL−1).The effects on cell proliferation were detected by CCK-8. The effects on cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The effects on fibrosis related factors(Collagen I, Collagen Ⅳ, Fibronectin, Vimentin, α-SMA, PDGFRβ, TGFβR1, TGFβR2, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1 and TIMP2) protein expression and gene transcription levels were detected by Western blotting and q-PCR.
RESULTS
The curcumin and its derivative A and B had the inhibition effects on normal LX-2 cells, and the IC25 values were 15.7, 2.6, 10.2 μmol·L−1, respectively. Compared to the model group, the curcumin(15.7 μmol·L−1) and its derivative A(2.6 μmol·L−1) and B(10.2 μmol·L−1) had the significant inhibition effects on cell proliferation of the TGF-β induced LX-2 cells(P<0.05). The cell apoptosis rate of curcumin derivative B group was higher than the model group(P<0.05). Collagen I, Fibronectin, Vimentin, α-SMA, TGFβR1 and TIMP-1 protein expression levels in curcumin group were lower, while the protein expression level of MMP-9 was higher(P<0.05). The protein expression levels of Collagen I, Collagen IV, Fibronectin, Vimentin, α-SMA, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in curcumin derivative A group were lower, while the protein expression level of MMP-2 was higher(P<0.05). The protein expression levels of Collagen I, Collagen IV, Fibronectin, Vimentin, α-SMA, PDGFRβ, TGFβR1, TGFβR2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in curcumin derivative B group were lower, while the protein expression level of MMP-2 was higher(P<0.05). The gene transcription levels of Collagen I, Fibronectin, α-SMA and TIMP-1 in curcumin group were lower(P<0.05). The gene transcription levels of Collagen I, Fibronectin and α-SMA in curcumin derivative A and B groups were lower(P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Curcumin and its derivatives A and B inhibit the abnormal activation and proliferation of TGF-β-induced LX-2 cells, inhibit the excessive secretion and accumulation of its extracellular matrix components, and promote its degradation, thus playing an anti-fibrotic effect in vitro, especially the curcumin derivative B.


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