1.Bioinformatics Reveals Mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu Precription in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Autophagy
Xin KANG ; Chaodi SUN ; Jianping LIU ; Jie REN ; Mingmin DU ; Yuan ZHAO ; Xiaomeng LANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):166-173
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription in regulating autophagy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) by bioinformatics and animal experiments. MethodsThe differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the colonic mucosal tissue of UC patients was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and those overlapped with autophagy genes were obtained as the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DEARGs). DEARGs were imported into Metascape and STRING, respectively, for gene ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (GO/KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Finally, 15 key DEARGs were obtained. The core DEARGs were obtained by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. The CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm was used to analyze the immunoinfiltration of UC patients and the correlations between core DEARGs and immune cells. C57BL/6J mice were assigned into a normal group and a modeling group. The mouse model of UC was established by free drinking of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium. The modeled mice were assigned into low-, medium-, and high-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription and mesalazine groups according to the random number table method and administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 7 days. The colonic mucosal morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein and mRNA levels of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 1 (Caspase-1), cathepsin B (CTSB), C-C motif chemokine-2 (CCL2), CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4), and hypoxia-inducing factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the colon tissue were determined by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. ResultsThe dataset GSE87466 was screened from GEO and interlaced with autophagy genes. After PPI analysis, LASSO regression, and ROC analysis, the core DEARGs (Caspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, and CXCR4) were obtained. The results of immunoinfiltration analysis showed that the counts of NK cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, and dendritic cells in the colonic mucosal tissue of UC patients had significant differences, and core DEARGs had significant correlations with these immune cells. This result, combined with the prediction results of network pharmacology, suggested that the HIF-1α signaling pathway may play a key role in the regulation of UC by Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription. The animal experiments showed that Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription significantly alleviated colonic mucosal inflammation in UC mice. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of caspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, CXCR4, and HIF-1α, which were down-regulated after treatment with Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription or mesalazine. ConclusionCaspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, and CXCR4 are autophagy genes that are closely related to the onset of UC. Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription can down-regulate the expression of core autophagy genes to alleviate the inflammation in the colonic mucosa of mice.
2.Improvement effects of 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone of Fructus Aurantii on rats with damp blockage of the middle energizer
Wenhui GONG ; Yating XIE ; Li XIN ; Shihao YAN ; Beibei ZHAO ; Yuqing ZHENG ; Jingying GUO ; Jie SHANG ; Peng ZHENG ; Jinlian ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(7):819-824
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effects of 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone (HMF) of Fructus Aurantii on rats with damp blockage of the middle energizer. METHODS The rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive control group (Raceanisodamine tablet, 1 mg/kg), HMF low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 mg/kg), with 7 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the other groups were modeled by internal and external composite factors. After successful modeling, the rats in each group were given the corresponding drug or normal saline, once a day, for 14 days. The general behavioral states such as dietary intake, water intake and mental state of the rats were observed, and the fecal water content rate and saliva flow rate were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological and morphology in gastric and small intestinal tissues of rats. The plasma content of aldosterone was detected, and the expression of aquaporins (AQP3) in the gastric tissue of rats was determined. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the dietary intake and water intake of the model group rats were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the fecal water content rate, salivary flow rate, plasma content of aldosterone and the expression of AQP3 in gastric tissue were increased significantly (P<0.01). Gastric tissue injury invaded the mucosal muscle layer, resulting in mucosal muscle layer rupture; pathological and morphological changes such as small intestinal villous erosion and glandular structure destruction were observed in the small intestine. Compared with the model group, the dietary intake and water intake of rats were increased in HMF groups; fecal water content rate, salivary flow rate, plasma content of aldosterone, the expression of AQP3 in gastric tissue were decreased, most of the above differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The pathological and morphological changes in the gastric and small intestine tissues of rats had been improved to varying degrees. CONCLUSIONS HMF of Fructus Aurantii with dry property HMF could improve the symptoms of rats with damp blockage of middle energizer, the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the content of plasma aldosterone and down-regulating the expression of gastric AQP3.
3. The regulatory mechanism of physiological sleep-wake
Wei-Jie LU ; Kai LIU ; Xin-Ke ZHAO ; Qian-Rong LI ; Ying-Dong LI ; Guo-Tai WU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(3):421-426
This paper explains the mechanism of the mutual switching between physiological sleep and wakefulness from the aspects of the sleep circadian system and the sleep homeostasis system. In the circadian rhythm system, with the suprachiasmatic nucleus as the core, the anatomical connections between the suprachiasmatic nucleusand various systems that affect sleep are summarized, starting from the suprachiasmatic nucleus, passing through the four pathways of the melatonin system, namely, subventricular area of the hypothalamus, the ventrolateral nucleus of the preoptic area, orexin neurons, and melatonin, then the related mechanisms of their regulation of sleep and wakefulness are expounded. In the sleep homeostasis system, with adenosine and prostaglandin D2 as targets, the role of hypnogen in sleep arousal mechanisms in regulation is also expounded.
4.Therapeutic effect of Xiayuxue decoction on a mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat diet and its mechanism
Linqi HOU ; Zhiyi WANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Jie ZHANG ; Wenting MA ; Xuling LIU ; Wei ZHANG ; Le TAO ; Cheng LIU ; Liu WU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(4):712-719
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Xiayuxue decoction in inhibiting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by high-fat diet in mice by regulating nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor containing pyrin domain protein 6 (NLRP6). MethodsA total of 15 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into low-fat diet (LFD) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, and Xiayuxue decoction-HFD group (XYXD group), with 5 mice in each group. Liver function parameters (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) and blood lipid metabolic indicators (triglycerides [TG] and total cholesterol [TC]) were measured; HE staining and oil red O staining were performed for liver tissue to observe histomorpholoty and lipid droplet deposition; quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], interleukin-18 [IL-18], and NLRP6) in liver tissue; Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of NLRP6, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and NF-κB p65; immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of NLRP6 and CD68. Mouse Raw264.7 cells were treated with palmitic acid (PA), lipopolysaccharide, and serum containing Xiayuxue decoction to observe inflammation. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the LFD group, the HFD group had significant increases in the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, and TG (all P<0.05). Liver histopathological examination showed that the HFD group had marked hepatic steatosis and a signficant increase in NAS score (P<0.05), and quantitative real-time PCR showed significant increases in the inflammatory factors such as IL1β and IL-18 and a significant reduction in the expression of NLRP6 (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of NLRP6 showed a similar trend as that of the macrophage marker CD68. Western blot showed that after the downregulation of NLRP6 expression, there was a significant increase in phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (P<0.05). Compared with the HFD group, Xiayuxue decoction effectively improved liver inflammation, upregulated the expression of NLRP6, and downregulated phosphorylated NF-κB p65 in HFD mice (all P<0.05). After Raw264.7 cells were treated with PA, NLRP6 was downregulated to promote the progression of inflammation (P<0.05), and treatment with Xiayuxue decoction could upregulate NLRP6 and inhibit inflammation NF-κB (P<0.05). ConclusionXiayuxue decoction can effectively improve hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation in a mouse model of NAFLD, possibly by regulating NLRP6/NF-κB to alleviate macrophage activation.
5.Improvement of Colonic Mucosa Inflammatory Response in Mice with Ulcerative Colitis by Xiezhuo Jiedu Recipe Through miRNA-155-5p/JAK2/STAT3 Pathway
Chaodi SUN ; Mengmeng ZHAO ; Xiaomeng LANG ; Jie REN ; Xin KANG ; Jiancong CUI ; Sujie JIA ; Yujing MA ; Yue LIU ; Qiang CHUAI ; Wenjing ZHAI ; Jianping LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):174-182
ObjectiveThe differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) between the active stage and the remission stage of ulcerative colitis (UC) was analyzed by bioinformatics method, and the regulatory relationship was constructed by screening the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The mechanism of Xizhuo Jiedu recipe in the treatment of UC was speculated and verified by animal experiments. MethodThe miRNAs data set of colonic mucosa tissue of UC patients was obtained from the gene expression database (GEO), and the most differentially expressed miRNAs were screened by GEO2R, Excel, and other tools as research objects. TargetScan, miRTarbase, miRDB, STRING, TRRUST, and Matescape databases were used to screen key DEGs, predict downstream transcription factors (TFs), gene ontology (GO), and conduct Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The key signaling pathways were selected for animal experiments. In animal experiments, the UC mouse model was prepared by making the mouse freely drink 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Xiezhu Jiedu recipe and mesalazine were given by gavage for seven days, and the inflammatory infiltration of colonic mucosa was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-155-5p in colon tissue. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of cytokine signal transduction inhibitor (SOCS1), phosphorylated transcriptional signal transductor and activator 3 (p-STAT3), phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), and retinoic acid-associated orphan receptor-γt (ROR-γt). The expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultThe GSE48957 dataset was screened from the GEO database, and miR-155-5p was selected as the research object from the samples in the active and remission stages. 131 DEGs were screened. The GO/KEGG enrichment analysis was closely related to biological processes such as positive regulation of miRNA transcription and protein phosphorylation, as well as signaling pathways such as stem cell signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and helper T cell 17 (Th17) cell differentiation. The Matescape database was used to screen out 10 key DEGs, among which SOCS1 was one of the key DEGs of miR-155-5p. Further screening of the TFS of key DEGs revealed that STAT3 was one of the main TFs of SOCS1. The results of animal experiments showed that Xiezhu Jiedu Recipe could effectively down-regulate the mRNA expression of miR-155-5p and protein expression of p-STAT3, p-JAK2, and ROR-γt in colon tissue of UC mice and the expression of IL-17 and IL-6 in serum of UC mice, up-regulate the protein expression of SOCS1 and the expression of TGF-β and IL-10, increase the level of anti-inflammatory factors, and reduce inflammatory cell infiltration. ConclusionIt is speculated that Xizhuo Jiedu recipe may interfere with SOCS1 by regulating the expression of miR-155-5p in UC mice, inhibit the phosphorylation of STAT3, inhibit the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th17 cells, reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-17 and IL-6), and increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β and IL-10). As a result, the inflammation of colon mucosa in UC mice was alleviated.
6.Developing Syllabus for Rare Breast Diseases Using the Integrated Multimodality of Case-/Problem-/Resource-Based Learning
Ru YAO ; Jiahui ZHANG ; Jie LIAN ; Yang QU ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Xin HUANG ; Lu GAO ; Jun ZHAO ; Li HUANG ; Yingzi JIANG ; Linzhi LUO ; Songjie SHEN ; Feng MAO ; Qiang SUN ; Bo PAN ; Yidong ZHOU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2024;3(3):391-399
Objective This study aims at establishing a teaching catalog and content for breast rare dis-eases and developing the syllabus for the breast rare disease using integrated multimodality of case-/problem-/resource-based learning(CBL+PBL+RBL).Methods By conducting bibliometrics co-occurrence analysis,we collected 6291 articles on breast rare disease published from January,1975 to June,2024.Additionally,we re-trieved the Textbook on Rare Diseases,the Catalog of Chinese Rare Disease,and Second Batch of Rare Dis-ease Catalog and then decided the teaching content.Results From 16,387 keywords,1000(6.1%)keywords were identified through co-occurrence analysis,including 50(0.3%)candidate diseases.These were classified into three categories:rare primary breast diseases,rare genetic mutation-related diseases associated with breast cancer,and rare systemic multi-system diseases involving the breast.From the candidate list,20(0.1%)rare primary breast diseases were further selected for their notable clinical teaching significance,and significant multi-systemic diseases affecting the breast,whether related to gene mutations or not.Teaching plans were draf-ted using a diversified parallel teaching approaches,taking into account the characteristics of different diseases and the focus of different teaching methods.Conclusions This study initiated the development of the teaching content for breast rare diseases and developed the teaching syllabus using the CBL+PBL+RBL integrated multi teaching model and targeting each rare breast disease for the critical point for teaching.
7.Analysis of osteoporosis-related biomarker levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Jie ZHENG ; Ruixue DUAN ; Yuxiang ZHAO ; Xin LI ; Xiaoqin CHEN ; Shiwei LIU
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2024;18(4):279-283
Objective:To investigate the levels of osteoporosis-related biomarkers in individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A cross-sectional study. From January 2021 to June 2022, 40 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, 40 patients with type 2 diabetes, 40 patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 40 individuals receiving physical examination in Shanxi Bethune Hospital were selected as subjects in this study. The glucose and lipid metabolism indexes and bone metabolism indexes of the subjects were detected, and the differences and correlations of the metabolic indexes among the groups were analyzed by t-tests, nonparametric tests or correlation analysis. Results:Compared with healthy group, beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen (β-CTX) level in type 2 diabetes group was higher [(344.60±125.61) vs (227.56±68.33) pg/ml] ( t=-5.176, P<0.001), osteocalcin (OC) and total procollagen type 1 aminoterminal peptide (t-PINP) were both lower [(15.76±4.70) vs (28.02±5.83)ng/ml, (43.49±13.63) vs (59.58±15.80) ng/ml] ( t=10.352, t=4.874, P<0.001). The β-CTX level in type 2 diabetes patients complicated with hypothyroidism was higher than that in patients with simple subclinical hypothyroidism [(380.51±122.22) vs (212.41±44.17) pg/ml] ( t=-8.180 ,P<0.001), but the levels of OC and t-PINP were both lower [(13.67±4.06) vs (26.12±4.55) ng/ml, (38.76±9.53) vs (61.50±12.31) ng/ml] ( t=12.897, P<0.001); but there was no significant difference in the three biomarkers between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by subclinical hypothyroidism and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus alone. [β-CTX: (380.51±122.22) vs (344.60±125.61) pg/ml, OC: (13.67±4.06) vs (15.76±4.70) ng/ml, t-PINP: (38.76±9.53) vs (43.49±13.63) ng/ml] ( t=1.296,1.890,-1.799 ,all P>0.05). In the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by subclinical hypothyroidism, the β-CTX was positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)( r=0.293,0.487,all P<0.05), while OC and t-PINP were negatively correlated with FBG and HbA1c ( r=-0.560,-0.502,-0.289,-0.326, P<0.05). Conclusion:Changes of serum osteoporosis-related biomarkers in subclinical hypothyroidism patients with type 2 diabetes indicate the increased risk of osteoporosis in those patients.
8.Evaluating the application efficiency of the MHSeqTyper47 kit in kinship identification
Lishuai TAN ; Xin JIN ; Yaosen FENG ; Kelai KANG ; Wenhua MA ; Mingguang LI ; Chi ZHANG ; Jie ZHAO ; Jian YE ; Le WANG
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;39(1):75-81
Objective To investigate the application value of the MHSeqTyper47 kit in kinship identification.Methods Multiplexed amplification and library preparation were performed for DNA samples from 113 related individuals by using the MHSeqTyper47 kit.The libraries were sequenced on a MiSeq FGx sequencer,and the data were analyzed using MHTyper for microhaplotype genotyping.The kinship indexes were calculated to evaluate the application efficiency of this kit in kinship identification and compared with those of the GlobalFilerTM kit.Results For the MHSeqTyper47 kit,the CPI values in trio identification were 1.43× 1011~6.15×1018.The CPI values in duo identification were 1.02× 105~1.53× 1013.The CFSI values in full sibling identification were 7.73×101~2.59×1016.Trios,duos and full siblings could be completely distinguished from unrelated pairs.The combined efficiency of these two kits in 2nd-degree kinship identification was 0.466 2.Conclusion The application value of MHSeqTyper47 kit is relatively higher in the identification of lst-degree kinships.If jointly used with the GlobalFilerrM kit,2nd-degree kinship identification could be achieved in some cases.
9.Research progress on drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib in radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer
En-Tao ZHANG ; Hao-Nan ZHU ; Zheng-Ze WEN ; Cen-Hui ZHANG ; Yi-Huan ZHAO ; Ying-Jie MAO ; Jun-Pu WU ; Yu-Cheng JIN ; Xin JIN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(13):1986-1990
Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have a good prognosis after radioiodine-131 therapy,but a small number of patients are insensitive to radioiodine-131 therapy and even continue to develop disease.At present,some targeted drugs can improve progression-free survival in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer(RAIR-DTC),such as sorafenib and levatinib,have been approved for the treatment of RAIR-DTC.However,due to the presence of primary and acquired drug resistance,drug efficacy in these patients is unsatisfactory.This review introduces the acquired drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)pathways and proposes related treatment strategies,in order to provide a reference for similar drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib and effective treatment of RAIR-DTC.
10.Clinical characteristics of 6 cases of relapsing polychondritis in children with airway involvement
Guixiang WANG ; Fengzhen ZHANG ; Jing ZHAO ; Hongbin LI ; Qingchuan DUAN ; Jie ZHANG ; Caifeng LI ; Xin NI ; Hua WANG
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2024;59(11):1210-1215
Objective:To investigate the pathogenesis, clinical signs and diagnosing procedures of relapsing polychondritis(RP) in children with airway involvement.Methods:The medical history, clinical symptoms, physical examination, electronic laryngoscopy and imaging findings of six patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients diagnosed as relapsing polychondritis with involving the airway from January 2018 to December 2021 were in our hospital. The clinical features of the 6 cases were summarized.Results:All 6 patients were male, ranging in age from 8 years 1 month to 14 years 1 month, with a median age of 12.04 years. Stridor and dyspnea were observed in all patients, with hoarseness in 2 patients and frequently nocturnal dyspnea during sleep in 2 patients. Initially, all children were diagnosed as laryngitis or laryngotracheitis, and were treated symptomatically with glucocorticoids and aerosol inhalation. Immunosuppressants and targeted therapy with biologics were given after patients diagnosed as RP. All patients were ultimately required tracheostomy. The time from the onset of airway symptoms to tracheostomy ranged from 1 month to 27 months. Two children had a history of endotracheal intubation prior to tracheostomy. All 6 patients underwent electronic laryngoscopy, revealing involvement of the laryngeal and subglottic mucosa and cartilage structures, which showed gradual improvement with medical therapy. Computed tomography (CT) of the trachea with three-dimensional reconstruction was performed in all patients, demonstrating moderate to severe subglottic stenosis. Two patients exhibited complete airway obstruction at the C4-C6 cervical level. Three children underwent suspension laryngoscopy under general anesthesia and endotracheal mucosal biopsy.Of the 6 children, 3 presented with nasal tip collapse or saddle nose, 2 had auricular cartilage changed, and 1 had scleralinvolvement. One patient underwent PET-CT scanning, which revealed tracheal collapse, diffuse increase in FDG(Flurodeoxyglucose)metabolism with increased FDG uptake in the nasal alar regions. All children were followed up for 2-3 years, 1 child died, while the remaining five continued to receive medical treatment.Conclusions:Relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement has an insidious onset and is difficult to diagnose. The airway stenosisresulting from RP is always severe and necessitating tracheotomy to maintain airway patency in the majority of cases.The treatment coursef or RP is prolonged, requiring long-term tracheostomy tube placement.

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