1.Effect of Wulao Qisun Prescription on Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of AS Fibroblasts by Regulating Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Juanjuan YANG ; Ping CHEN ; Haidong WANG ; Zhendong WANG ; Haolin LI ; Zhimin ZHANG ; Yuping YANG ; Weigang CHENG ; Jin SU ; Jingjing SONG ; Dongsheng LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):67-73
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of the Wulao Qisun prescription on pathological new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). MethodsSynovial fibroblasts were isolated from the hip joints of AS patients and observed under a microscope to assess cell morphology. The cells were identified using immunofluorescence staining. The isolated AS fibroblasts were divided into blank group, low drug-containing serum group, medium drug-containing serum group, high drug-containing serum group, and positive drug group. After drug intervention, cell proliferation was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay to observe fibroblast growth and determine the optimal intervention time. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured using the alkaline phosphatase assay. Protein expression of osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) was detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of Wnt5a, β-catenin, and Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). ResultsCompared with the blank group, each drug-containing serum group of Wulao Qisun prescription and the positive drug group inhibited the proliferation of AS fibroblasts and reduced ALP expression (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the low drug-containing serum group of Wulao Qisun prescription downregulated β-catenin mRNA expression (P<0.05). The medium and high drug-containing serum groups and the positive drug group significantly downregulated Wnt5a and β-catenin mRNA expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the positive drug group showing the most pronounced effect (P<0.01). The high drug-containing serum group and the positive drug group significantly upregulated DKK-1 mRNA expression (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the low drug-containing serum group of Wulao Qisun prescription inhibited the expression of OPN and Runx2 proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the medium and high drug-containing serum groups and the positive drug group inhibited the expression of OCN, OPN, and Runx2 proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Wulao Qisun prescription can inhibit the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of AS fibroblasts, thereby delaying the formation of pathological new bone in AS. The possible mechanism involves the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin-related gene expression, further inhibiting the transcription of downstream target genes.
2.Effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Before and After Steaming with Wine on Intestinal Flora and Immune Environment in Constipation Model Mice
Yaya BAI ; Rui TIAN ; Yajun SHI ; Chongbo ZHAO ; Jing SUN ; Li ZHANG ; Yonggang YAN ; Yuping TANG ; Qiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):192-199
ObjectiveTo study on the different therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(RH) before and after steaming with wine on constipation model mice. MethodsFifty-four male ICR mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, lactulose group(1.5 mg·kg-1), high, medium and low dose groups of RH and RH steaming with wine(PRH)(8, 4, 1 g·kg-1). Except for the control group, the constipation model was replicated by gavage of loperamide hydrochloride(6 mg·kg-1) in the other groups. After 2 weeks of modeling, each administration group was gavaged with the corresponding dose of drug solution, and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of normal saline, 1 time/d for 2 consecutive weeks. After administration, the feces were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing, the levels of gastrin(GAS), motilin(MTL), interleukin-6(IL-6), γ-interferon(IFN-γ) in the colonic tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), the histopathological changes of colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion changes of CD4+, CD8+ and regulatory T cell(Treg) in peripheral blood. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed significantly decrease in fecal number in 24 h, fecal quality and fecal water rate(P<0.01), the colon was seen to have necrotic shedding of mucosal epithelium, localized intestinal glands in the lamina propria were degenerated, necrotic and atrophied, a few lymphocytes were seen to infiltrate in the necrotic area in a scattered manner, the contents of GAS and MTL, the proportions of CD4+, CD8+ and Treg were significantly reduced(P<0.01), the contents of IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly elevated(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the fecal number in 24 h, fecal quality and fecal water rate of high-dose groups of RH and PRH were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the pathological damage of the colon was alleviated to varying degrees, the contents of GAS, MTL, IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly regressed(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ were significantly increased(P<0.01), although the proportion of Treg showed an upward trend, there was no significant difference. In addition, the results of intestinal flora showed that the number of amplicon sequence variant(ASV) and Alpha diversity were decreased in the model group compared with the control group, and there was a significant difference in Beta diversity, with a decrease in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and an increase in the relative abundances of Bacillus and Helicobacter. Compared with the model group, the ASV number and Alpha diversity were increased in the high-dose groups of RH and PRH, and there was a trend of regression of Beta diversity to the control group, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased, and the relative abundances of Bacillus and Helicobacter decreased. ConclusionRH and PRH can improve dysbacteriosis, promote immune system activation, inhibit the release of inflammatory factors for enhancing the gastrointestinal function, which may be one of the potential mechanisms of their therapeutic effect on constipation.
3.Discussion on the Application of Warm-Yang Method in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Infertility
Pengxuan YAN ; Haiyan ZHANG ; Yukun ZHAO ; Yabei GAO ; Kun LI ; Jingchun ZHANG ; Yuping ZHAO ; Zixiao WEI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):312-316
It is believed that there is a pathogenesis of yang deficiency in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) infertility, and it is concluded that warm-yang method has a better effect in improving endometrial abnormality, enhancing the quality of follicles, correcting endocrine disorders, and resolving or alleviating clinical symptoms in PCOS infertility. Based on Yanghe Decoction (阳和汤), a representative traditional Chinese medicine decoction for warming yang, Yanghe Xiaonang Decoction (阳和消囊汤) was formulated, combining with warm medicinals according to symptoms, and aerobic exercise was also advocated to help generate and develop yang qi, in order to provide ideas for clinical treatments.
4.Evidence-based research on the nutritional and health effects of functional components of tea
Zhijian HE ; Yuping LI ; Fan BU ; Jia CUI ; Xinwen BI ; Yuanjie CUI ; Zhiyuan GUO ; Ming LI
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(2):190-198
As a traditional nutritional and healthy cash crop in China, tea has certain significance in promoting human health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases. Studies have shown that the nutritional health effect of tea is due to its rich functional components, mainly including tea polyphenols, tea pigments, tea polysaccharides, theanine, alkaloids and other bioactive substances. At present, researchers from the academic circles have continuously carried out animal and human experiments on the health effects of various functional components of tea, which has accumulated abundant research data and materials. Based on this, this article reviews the literature on the nutritional and health effects of the main functional components of tea, and adopts the method of evidence-based research to screen and extract relevant data for qualitative and quantitative meta-analysis. Subsequently, the nutritional health effects of the five functional components of tea, namely tea polyphenols, tea pigments, tea polysaccharides, theanine, and alkaloids, are summarized and outlined. Studies have shown that tea polyphenols, tea pigments, tea polysaccharides, theanine and alkaloids have different health effects and are expected to play their unique roles in promoting human health and preventing and controlling diseases.
5.Construction and Validation of a Large Language Model-Based Intelligent Pre-Consultation System for Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yiqing LIU ; Ying LI ; Hongjun YANG ; Linjing PENG ; Nanxing XIAN ; Kunning LI ; Qiwei SHI ; Hengyi TIAN ; Lifeng DONG ; Lin WANG ; Yuping ZHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):895-900
ObjectiveTo construct a large language model (LLM)-based intelligent pre-consultation system for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to improve efficacy of clinical practice. MethodsA TCM large language model was fine-tuned using DeepSpeed ZeRO-3 distributed training strategy based on YAYI 2-30B. A weighted undirected graph network was designed and an agent-based syndrome differentiation model was established based on relationship data extracted from TCM literature and clinical records. An agent collaboration framework was developed to integrate the TCM LLM with the syndrome differentiation model. Model performance was comprehensively evaluated by Loss function, BLEU-4, and ROUGE-L metrics, through which training convergence, text generation quality, and language understanding capability were assessed. Professional knowledge test sets were developed to evaluate system proficiency in TCM physician licensure content, TCM pharmacist licensure content, TCM symptom terminology recognition, and meridian identification. Clinical tests were conducted to compare the system with attending physicians in terms of diagnostic accuracy, consultation rounds, and consultation duration. ResultsAfter 100 000 iterations, the training loss value was gradually stabilized at about 0.7±0.08, indicating that the TCM-LLM has been trained and has good generalization ability. The TCM-LLM scored 0.38 in BLEU-4 and 0.62 in ROUGE-L, suggesting that its natural language processing ability meets the standard. We obtained 2715 symptom terms, 505 relationships between diseases and syndromes, 1011 relationships between diseases and main symptoms, and 1 303 600 relationships among different symptoms, and constructed the Agent of syndrome differentiation model. The accuracy rates in the simulated tests for TCM practitioners, licensed pharmacists of Chinese materia medica, recognition of TCM symptom terminology, and meridian recognition were 94.09%, 78.00%, 87.50%, and 68.80%, respectively. In clinical tests, the syndrome differentiation accuracy of the system reached 88.33%, with fewer consultation rounds and shorter consultation time compared to the attending physicians (P<0.01), suggesting that the system has a certain pre- consultation ability. ConclusionThe LLM-based intelligent TCM pre-diagnosis system could simulate diagnostic thinking of TCM physicians to a certain extent. After understanding the patients' natural language, it collects all the patient's symptom through guided questioning, thereby enhancing the diagnostic and treatment efficiency of physicians as well as the consultation experience of the patients.
6.Risk factors for liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with high metabolic risks and establishment of a predictive model
Yuping ZOU ; Li YAO ; Jun ZOU ; Liwei LI ; Fuqing CAI ; Jiean HUANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1105-1112
ObjectiveTo investigate the main risk factors for liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with high metabolic risk, to establish a noninvasive predictive model, and to compare the diagnostic efficiency of this model and other models including fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio (GPR), and Forns index. MethodsA total of 527 CHB patients with high metabolic risks who were admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from September 1, 2017 to October 31, 2022 were enrolled as subjects, and they were randomly divided into modeling group with 368 patients and validation group with 159 patients at a ratio of 7∶3. The LASSO regression analysis and the multivariate Logistic regression analysis were performed for the modeling group to identify independent risk factors, and a nomogram model was established. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the calibration curve, and the decision curve analysis were used to validate the nomogram prediction model in the modeling group and the validation group and assess its discriminatory ability, calibration, and clinical practicability. The Delong test was used to compare the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the nomogram prediction model and other models. ResultsThe multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that prealbumin (odds ratio [OR] = 0.993, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.988 — 0.999, P= 0.019), thrombin time (OR=1.182, 95% CI: 1.006 — 1.385, P=0.047), log10 total bilirubin (TBil) (OR=1.710, 95%CI: 1.239 — 2.419, P=0.001), and log10 alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (OR=1.327, 95%CI: 1.052 — 1.683, P=0.018) were independent influencing factors for liver cirrhosis in CHB patients with high metabolic risks. A nomogram model for risk prediction was established based on the multivariate analysis, which had an AUC of 0.837 (95%CI: 0.788 — 0.888), a specificity of 73.5%, and a sensitivity of 84.7%, as well as a significantly higher diagnostic efficiency than the models of FIB-4 (0.739), APRI (0.802), GPR (0.800), and Forns index (0.709) (Z=2.815, 2.271, 1.989, and 2.722, P=0.005, 0.017, 0.045, and 0.006). ConclusionThe nomogram model established based on prealbumin, thrombin time, log10 TBil, and log10 AFP has a certain clinical application value.
7.The Path Analysis of Integrating Sun Simiao’s Medical Ethics Thought into the Humanistic Spirit of Medical Students
Min SHI ; Qi WEI ; Qian LI ; Simin MA ; Yuping HU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2024;35(3):322-325
Medicine is the subject of studying human and its inherent humanistic attribute endows medicine with the temperature it deserves. However, with the continuous improvement of medical testing technology and treatment technology, medical workers pay more attention to diseases and ignore humanistic care, which has become an important factor in the aggravation of patients’ burden and the tension relationship between doctors and patients. There are many virtues in Chinese traditional culture. Sun Simiao’s medical ethics thought of "great doctor with professionalism and sincerity" embodies the core value of the humanistic spirit of Chinese traditional medicine. In his medical ethics thought, the moral and ethics of "great doctor with professionalism and sincerity", the medical practice attitude of "being cautious and diligent", the values of "benevolence for the world" and the professional conduct of "honesty and truth" still have strong practical significance at present. It is the good material to cultivate the humanistic spirit of medical students. This is of great value to integrate Sun Simiao’s medical ethics thought into cultivate medical students with both "professionalism" and "sincerity", practice the original intention of medical and health undertakings, and carry forward cultural self-confidence.
8.Ameliorative effect and mechanism of curcumin on diabetes model rats with depression
Hongyan ZHANG ; Yuping ZHANG ; Yanjiao ZHANG ; Jingjing ZHENG ; Rui BIAN ; Wenhui LI ; Weidong REN
China Pharmacy 2024;35(8):942-947
OBJECTIVE To study the ameliorative effect and potential mechanism of curcumin on diabetes model rats with depression based on cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway. METHODS The diabetes model rat with depression was established by high fat and high sugar diet+intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin+chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, positive control group (0.18 g/kg metformin and 1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine, gavage), curcumin low-dose and high-dose groups (30, 60 mg/kg, gavage) and curcumin high-dose+CREB inhibitor group [60 mg/kg curcumin (gavage)+5 mg/kg CREB inhibitor 666-15 (intraperitoneal injection)], with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 healthy rats were selected as the normal group. Each group was given a corresponding intervention for 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose level of rats was detected, and the depression of rats was assessed. The levels of corticosterone (CORT) and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin- 1β (IL-1β), IL-6] in serum, and the levels of norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in hippocampal tissue were determined. The pathological changes and neuronal apoptosis were observed in the hippocampal tissue of rats in each group; the expression levels of CREB, BDNF mRNA and protein in hippocampal tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the hippocampal tissue of rats in the model group was severely damaged, and neurons were scattered, while the fasting blood glucose, the forced swimming immobility time, the tail suspension immobility time, serum levels of CORT, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and neuron apoptosis indexes were all increased or prolonged significantly (P<0.05). The levels of NE and 5-HT, the number of surviving neurons, and the expression levels of CREB and BDNF mRNA and protein in hippocampal tissue were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the 的model group, the damage to hippocampal tissue was relieved in the positive control group and curcumin groups, while the above indexes were improved significantly (P<0.05). The improvement effect of curcumin high-dose group was better than that of curcumin low-dose group (P<0.05). CREB inhibitor could significantly reverse the ameliorative effect of high-dose curcumin on the model rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Curcumin can improve the depression of diabetes model rats with depression, and relieve neuronal damage and inflammatory response, the mechanism of which may be associated with activating CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.
9.Zinc deficiency during pregnancy and its effect on pregnancy outcome
Yunlong LI ; Rui LI ; Yuping ZHANG ; Rui WANG ; Yanping LIU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(4):422-427
Zinc deficiency during pregnancy is common and has been significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous preterm birth(PTB),recurrent abortion(RA),low birth weight(LBW),small-for-gestational-age infant(SGA),preeclampsia(PE),and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Unfortunately,there is no specific biomarkers which are sensitive,easy-to-collect and detect available for the clini-cal evaluation of zinc nutritional status.However,recent studies have identified metallothionein and the ratio of oleic acid to dihydroxymethyl gamma-linolenic acid(LA/DGLA)as potentially candidates of biomarkers.This article focuses on summarizing and discussing the progress of domestic and international researches on zinc deficiency dur-ing pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes,potential zinc biomarkers,and zinc deficiency treatments,aiming at providing ideas for perinatal nutritional guidance.
10.Research progress of strontium and pregnancy and pregnancy diseases
Rui WANG ; Rui LI ; Yunlong LI ; Yuping ZHANG ; Kang YU ; Yanping LIU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(4):428-433
Strontium(Sr)is a trace element naturally found in the human skeletal system.In recent years,the po-tential impact of strontium on bone and cardiovascular health has called significant attention,particularly during pregnancy,when alterations in mineral metabolism may affect the health of both the mother and the fetus.This com-prehensive review assesses the current understanding of the role of strontium as a nutritional substance during preg-nancy,its effects on maternal health and fetal development,and its potential associations with pregnancy complica-tions such as preeclampsia,gestational hypertension,and lactation-induced osteoporosis.The review also summarizes the possible effects of strontium deficiency,excess,and supplementation,and provides information for developing prenatal nutrition supplementation guideline.

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