1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Hyperoside Alleviates LPS-induced Inflammation in Zebrafish Model via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway
Qing LAN ; Anna WANG ; Feifei ZHOU ; Keqian LIU ; Zhao LI ; Wenjing YU ; Shuyao TANG ; Ping LI ; Shaowu CHENG ; Sisi DENG ; Zhenyan SONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(22):63-72
ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effects and mechanisms of the flavonoid hyperoside (Hyp) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the zebrafish model. MethodsZebrafish larvae were either microinjected with 0.5 g·L-1 LPS or immersed in 1 g·L-1 LPS for the modeling of inflammation. The larvae were then treated with Hyp at 25, 50, and 100 mg·L-1 through immersion for four consecutive days. The inflammatory phenotypes were assessed by analyzing the mortality rate, malformation rate, body length, and yolk sac area ratio. Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the inflammatory stress responses, and macrophage migration was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, the mRNA levels of inflammation-related genes, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine C-X3-C motif receptor 1 (CX3CR1), chemokine C-C motif receptor 2 (CCR2), and genes associated with the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, were measured by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR). ResultsCompared with the pure water injection group, the model group exhibited increased mortality, malformation rates and yolk sac area ratio (P0.01), reduced body length (P0.01), increased total swimming distance and high-speed swimming duration (P0.01), and up-regulated mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6, CCL2, CX3CR1, and CCR2 (P0.01). Hyp at low, medium and high doses, as well as aspirin, reduced the mortality and malformation rates (P0.05,P0.01), increased the body length (P0.05,P0.01), decreased the yolk sac area ratio (P0.01), reduced the high-speed swimming duration (P0.01), and down-regulated the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6, CCL2, CX3CR1, and CCR2 (P0.05,P0.01) compared with the model group. ConclusionHyp may modulate the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway to ameliorate inflammatory phenotypes and alleviate stress conditions in zebrafish, thereby exerting the anti-inflammatory effect.
3.The preliminary therapeutic effect of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt
Jiali MA ; Zhenglin AI ; Julong HU ; Yu JIANG ; Yuling ZHOU ; Xiuxia LIANG ; Hongshan WEI ; Ping LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(4):734-738
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt (GRS). MethodsThe patients who attended Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, due to liver cirrhosis and gastric varices from February to June 2023 were enrolled, and all patients were confirmed to have GRS and received endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips. The primary evaluation index was alleviation or disappearance of varicose veins after surgery, and the secondary evaluation indices were surgical completion and complications. ResultsA total of 11 patients were enrolled in this study, among whom there were 7 male patients and 4 female patients, with a median age of 55 years. Of all patients, 1 had Child class A liver function, 7 had Child class B liver function, and 3 had Child class C liver function. The maximum (median) diameter of the shunt was 8 mm, and the minimum (median) diameter of the shunt was 4 mm. The median blood flow velocity of the target vessel was 11 cm/s before treatment and 5 cm/s after occlusion with metal clips. The median amount of tissue adhesive injected was 2 mL, and the amount of lauromacrogol used was 1 mL. Disappearance of blood flow signals was observed in all patients after surgery (100%), and the success rate of surgery was 100%. No patient experienced rebleeding after follow-up for 6 weeks. Gastroscopy at 1 month after surgery showed that gastric varices were eradicated or almost disappeared in 9 patients and were alleviated in 2 patients. ConclusionEndoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment method for cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and GRS.
4.Effect of type of carrier material on the in vitro properties of solid dispersions of progesterone
Jing-nan QUAN ; Yi CHENG ; Jing-yu ZHOU ; Meng LI ; Zeng-ming WANG ; Nan LIU ; Zi-ming ZHAO ; Hui ZHANG ; Ai-ping ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(3):735-742
This study investigated the effect of different carrier materials on the
5.Clinical effect of levosimendan combined with recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in the treatment of acute heart failure
Bo ZHOU ; Changqing YU ; Qingkai YAN ; Ping ZHANG ; Wenping LUO
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(5):700-706
Objective To study the clinical effect of levosimendan combined with recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide(rhBNP)on patients with acute heart failure.Methods A total of 100 patients with acute heart failure in the hospital from December 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the research sub-jects.According to different treatment options,the subjects were divided into the control group,levosimendan group,rhBNP group and combined treatment group,with 25 cases in each group.The control group received traditional conventional diuretic,tube expansion and other treatment;the levosimendan group was treated with levosimendan on the basis of the control group;the rhBNP group was treated with rhBNP on the basis of the control group;the combined treatment group was treated with levosimendan and rhBNP on the basis of the control group.The improvement of New York Heart Association(NYHA)classification,death,rehospitaliza-tion rate,6-minute walking distance,improvement of serological indicators and adverse reactions were recor-ded in each group.Results Before treatment,there was no significant difference in baseline data between the groups(P>0.05).On the 1 st and 3 rd day after treatment,the improvement of NYHA classification in the combined treatment group was better than that in the other groups(P<0.05),and the improvement of NY-HA classification in the levosimendan group and rhBNP group was better than that in the control group(P<0.05).The readmission rate within 6 months after treatment in the combined treatment group was lower than that in the other groups(P<0.05).At 5 and 9 days after treatment,the 6-minute walking distance in the combined treatment group was longer than that in the other groups(P<0.05).At 9 days after treatment,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)in the combined treatment group was higher than that in the other groups(P<0.05),and the level of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the combined treatment group was lower than that in the other groups(P<0.05).No significant difference was found in the comparison of the occurrence of adverse reactions among the four groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The combina-tion of levosimendan and rhBNP in the treatment of patients with acute heart failure is superior to traditional treatment and monotherapy in early clinical improvement,and dose not increase the incidence of adverse reactions.
6.The biological function and mechanism of IDH1 gene in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell HuCCT1
Mei-Jia LIN ; Yu-Qing LEI ; Zhou-Jie YE ; Li-Ping ZHU ; Xin-Rui WANG ; Xiong-Fei HUANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(2):194-203
Objective To explore the role and possible molecular mechanism of Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1(IDH1)gene in proliferation and migration of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(iCCA)cell HuCCT1.Methods HuCCT1 cells with IDH1 gene knockout(HuCCT1IDH1-/-)were constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology.To investigate the capacities of proliferation,migration and invasion of HuCCT1WT(HuCCT1 cells with wild-type IDH1 gene)and HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells,assays of CCK-8,clone formation,scratch and transwell were performed.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)associated proteins E-cadherin,N-cadherin,Vimentin,MMP-9,Wnt3a and β-catenin in two groups of cells.The transcriptome sequencing data of HuCCT1WT and HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells were analyzed by bioinformatics methods,Western blotting was used to verify the expression of signaling pathway-related proteins.Results Compared with HuCCT1WT cells,HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells showed the number of proliferation and clone formation significantly reduced(P<0.05),the proportion of cells blocked in G2/M phase was significantly increased(P<0.01),the rate of scratch healing was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the number of migrated cells(P<0.001)and invaded cells(P<0.05)was significantly reduced.qRT-PCR assay showed that the expression levels of IDH1,Vimentin,MMP-9 and genes related to the regulation of G2/M cycle proliferation,Cyclin A2,Cyclin B1 and CDK1 mRNA were down-regulated in HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells(P<0.05),and the expression of CDH1 mRNA encoding E-cadherin was up-regulated(P<0.01);Western blotting assay showed that the expression level of E-cadherin in HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells was significantly increased(P<0.05),and the expression level of N-cadherin,Vimentin and MMP-9 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05)than that in HuCCT1WT cells.Data of transcriptome sequencing revealed 1476 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between two groups of HuCCT1 cells.Go enrichment analysis showed the DEGs were significantly enriched in cell biological processes associated with inflammatory response,cell signaling and cell metabolism.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis suggested that the DEGs may be involved in some signaling pathways such as Wnt,MAPK,Rap1,Hippo and TNF,which are closely related to the regulation of proliferation and invasion of tumor cells.Western blotting verification results showed that compared with HuCCT1WT cells,the relative expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin proteins of HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusions IDH1 gene may participate in the control of biological functions of HuCCT1 cells,including cell proliferation,migration,invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition.The mechanism may be related to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
7.Studies on the Influence of Three-level Assistance Model Based on Narrative Nursing Theory on the Mental Health of Medical Staff
Zhijun REN ; Shuping GAO ; Yumei ZHOU ; Yu XI ; Ping HE
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2024;45(1):187-192
Objective To explore the impact of the three-level assistance model based on the narrative nursing theory on the mental health status of medical staff.Methods 140 medical staff working in a third class hospital in Xiangyang City were selected as the research object.The three-level assistance model based on narrative nursing theory was used to intervene them from September 2021 to July 2022.The symptom self-assessment scales before and after the intervention were compared.Results Before the intervention,the total score of SCL-90(156.37±32.56)points and the scores of various symptom factors of medical staff were higher;After the intervention,the total score of SCL-90(133.35±43.48)points and the scores of various symptom factors were lower than those before the intervention and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The three-level assistance model based on narrative nursing theory can reduce the total score of SCL-90 and the scores of various symptom factors,improve the mental health status and mental health level.
8.Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Promotes PGC-1α Mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Antioxidant Stress to Protect Cognitive Function in Vascular Dementia Rats
Ji-Liang KANG ; Ke HU ; Jun-Yue LU ; Zi-Wei HU ; Biao-Ping XU ; Xiao-Mao LI ; Jun-Jie ZHOU ; Yu JIN ; Min TANG ; Rong XU ; You-Liang WEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):1191-1202
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on cognitive function of vascular dementia (VD) rats and its mechanism. MethodsVD rat model was established by modified two-vessel occlusion (2-VO). After modeling, TEAS and electroacupuncture (EA) were used to stimulate Baihui and Zusanli points of rats respectively for 14 d. After treatment, novel object recognition test, Morris water maze test, and Y maze test were used to evaluate the spatial memory and learning ability of rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of hippocampal mitochondria. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to detected the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, MDA and ROS in serum of rats. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PGC-1α, TFAM, HO-1, NQO1 proteins in the hippocampus, Keap1 protein in the cytoplasm and Nrf2, NRF1 proteins in the nucleus. ResultsAfter treatment for 14 d, compared to the model group, the escape latency of VD rats decreased, while the discrimination index, the times of rats crossing the original platform area, the residence time in the original platform quadrant, and the percentage of alternation increased. TEAS can improve the structure of hippocampal neurons and mitochondria of VD rats, showing that neurons were arranged more regularly and distributed more evenly, nuclear membrane and nucleoli were clearer, and mitochondrial swelling were reduced, mitochondrial matrix density were increased, and mitochondrial cristae were more obvious. The levels of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT in serum increased significantly, while the concentration of MDA and ROS decreased. TEAS also up-regulated the expression levels of PGC-1α TFAM, NQO1 and HO-1 proteins in the hippocampus and Nrf2, NRF1 proteins in the nucleus, but down-regulated the Keap1 protein in the cytoplasm. ConclusionTEAS can improve cognition, hippocampal neurons and mitochondrial structure of VD rats, and the effect is better than EA. The mechanism may be the activation of PGC-1α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant stress, which also provides a potential therapeutic technology and experimental basis for the treatment of VD.
9.Application Study of Enzyme Inhibitors and Their Conformational Optimization in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Chao-Yang CHU ; Biao XIAO ; Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Kai XIE ; Shu-Jun XU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1510-1529
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment, and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat AD clinically. Existing medications for the treatment of AD, such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Aducanumab, only serve to delay symptoms and but not cure disease. To add insult to injury, these medications are associated with very serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore effective therapeutic drugs for AD. Recently, studies have shown that a variety of enzyme inhibitors, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors, secretase inhibitors, can ameliorate cholinergic system dysfunction, Aβ production and deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress damage, and the decline of synaptic plasticity, thereby improving AD symptoms and cognitive function. Some plant extracts from natural sources, such as Umbelliferone, Aaptamine, Medha Plus, have the ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity and act to improve learning and cognition. Isochromanone derivatives incorporating the donepezil pharmacophore bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can inhibit AChE activity and ameliorate cholinergic system disorders. A compound called Rosmarinic acid which is found in the Lamiaceae can inhibit monoamine oxidase, increase monoamine levels in the brain, and reduce Aβ deposition. Compounds obtained by hybridization of coumarin derivatives and hydroxypyridinones can inhibit MAO-B activity and attenuate oxidative stress damage. Quinoline derivatives which inhibit the activation of AChE and MAO-B can reduce Aβ burden and promote learning and memory of mice. The compound derived from the combination of propargyl and tacrine retains the inhibitory capacity of tacrine towards cholinesterase, and also inhibits the activity of MAO by binding to the FAD cofactor of monoamine oxidase. A series of hybrids, obtained by an amide linker of chromone in combine with the benzylpiperidine moieties of donepezil, have a favorable safety profile of both cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. Single domain antibodies (such as AAV-VHH) targeted the inhibition of BACE1 can reduce Aβ production and deposition as well as the levels of inflammatory cells, which ultimately improve synaptic plasticity. 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid from the extract of Ligustrum lucidum can specifically inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, thereby rescuing the long-term potentiation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice. Inhibiting γ-secretase activity which leads to the decline of inflammatory factors (such as IFN-γ, IL-8) not only directly improves the pathology of AD, but also reduces Aβ production. Melatonin reduces the transcriptional expression of GSK-3β mRNA, thereby decreasing the levels of GSK-3β and reducing the phosphorylation induced by GSK-3β. Hydrogen sulfide can inhibitGSK-3β activity via sulfhydration of the Cys218 site of GSK-3β, resulting in the suppression of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which ameliorate the motor deficits and cognitive impairment in mice with AD. This article reviews enzyme inhibitors and conformational optimization of enzyme inhibitors targeting the regulation of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, secretase, and GSK-3β. We are hoping to provide a comprehensive overview of drug development in the enzyme inhibitors, which may be useful in treating AD.
10.Clinical trial of brexpiprazole in the treatment of adults with acute schizophrenia
Shu-Zhe ZHOU ; Liang LI ; Dong YANG ; Jin-Guo ZHAI ; Tao JIANG ; Yu-Zhong SHI ; Bin WU ; Xiang-Ping WU ; Ke-Qing LI ; Tie-Bang LIU ; Jie LI ; Shi-You TANG ; Li-Li WANG ; Xue-Yi WANG ; Yun-Long TAN ; Qi LIU ; Uki MOTOMICHI ; Ming-Ji XIAN ; Hong-Yan ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(5):654-658
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50%(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40%(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P>0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P>0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00%vs.64.50%,P>0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

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