1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Diabetic Nephropathy via Pathways Related to Pyroptosis: A Review
Jintao SHI ; Zhiyi ZHANG ; Yunfei WEI ; Jiarui HAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):290-300
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease, shows increasing prevalence and mortality, seriously affecting the physical and mental health of patients. As a crucial link in the occurrence and development of DKD, pyroptosis can lead to kidney cell injury and inflammation through the abnormal activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/NLRP3, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/NLRP3, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/NLRP3 signaling pathways, which accelerate the progression of DKD. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has demonstrated definite efficacy in the treatment of DKD via multiple targets and pathways. Studies have shown that various TCM active components, including glycosides, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, as well as TCM compound prescriptions for clearing heat and detoxifying, tonifying deficiency and consolidating root, and eliminating stasis and descending turbidity, can target relevant signaling pathways to inhibit pyroptosis and intervene in the development of DKD, providing new possibilities for precision treatment of DKD. This article systematically reviews the relevant pathways of pyroptosis and summarizes the research achievements and mechanisms of TCM active components and compound prescriptions in the treatment of DKD via pyroptosis in recent years. This review aims to provide new directions and ideas for the treatment and research of DKD with TCM and promote the modernization and development of TCM.
2.Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway to Intervene in Lung Cancer: A Review
Jiarui CAO ; Bo FENG ; Chunzheng MA ; Weixia CHEN ; Jiangfan YU ; Shasha CAO ; Zhenyu ZHANG ; Wenhui OUYANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):265-276
Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rates globally. Current treatment methods for lung cancer primarily include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, the main limitations of these treatments are their side effects, the drug resistance, and the economic burden they impose. As a critical cancer pathway, the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway regulates tumor occurrence and development through multiple mechanisms by influencing various downstream targets. Consequently, the JAK/STAT signaling pathway offers a promising avenue for lung cancer treatment research. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays a key role in the proliferation and growth of lung cancer cells, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metabolic alterations, remodeling of the immune microenvironment, and the development of treatment resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered increasing attention due to its minimal side effects, low economic burden, and its potential to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity when used in conjunction with Western medicine. In addition to traditional Chinese medicine compounds, a growing number of Chinese medicine monomers have come into the spotlight because of their more targeted effects. Numerous studies investigating the regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of lung cancer have demonstrated that TCM can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells, tumor angiogenesis, and EMT, improve the inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironments, and enhance treatment sensitivity by intervening in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, thereby impeding the progression of lung cancer. In recent years, the research on the regulation of this pathway by TCM in the treatment of lung cancer has been updated rapidly. However, the summary of these studies has not been updated in time. This review summarizes and reflects on the recent research findings regarding the regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by TCM to intervene in lung cancer from three aspects, introducing the JAK/STAT pathway, elaborating the mechanism of this pathway in lung cancer, and exploring the intervention of TCM in the treatment of lung cancer through this pathway, to provide more reference for the treatment of lung cancer in the future.
3.Threshold of kurtosis on occupational hearing loss associated with non-steady noise
Yang LI ; Haiying LIU ; Linjie WU ; Jinzhe LI ; Jiarui XIN ; Hua ZOU ; Xin SUN ; Wei QIU ; Changyan YU ; Meibian ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(7):779-785
Background Kurtosis reflecting noise's temporal structure is an effective metric for evaluating noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and its threshold is still unclear. Objective To explore the energy range of kurtosis and the threshold of NIHL induced by kurtosis in this energy rangeMethods Using cross-sectional design,
4.Adjustment terms and coefficients of nonlinear regression-based kurtosis-adjusted equivalent sound level method
Jinzhe LI ; Anke ZENG ; Jiarui XIN ; Yang LI ; Linjie WU ; Haiying LIU ; Yan YE ; Meibian ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(7):786-792
Background Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prevalent occupational health problem in workplace settings, with non-steady noise exposure being particularly widespread. Although kurtosis-adjusted equivalent sound level (
5.Roles of A- and C-weighted kurtosis adjustment for equivalent sound level in evaluating occupational hearing loss
Haiying LIU ; Linjie WU ; Yang LI ; Jinzhe LI ; Jiarui XIN ; Hua ZOU ; Wei QIU ; Tong SHEN ; Meibian ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(7):793-799
Background Temporal kurtosis (without frequency weighting, i.e., Z-weighted kurtosis) can evaluate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, few studies have considered the function of frequency weighting (A- or C-weighted) kurtosis on NIHL. Objective To study the significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis adjustment for equivalent sound level (L'EX,8 h) in evaluating occupational hearing loss. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to select 973 noise-exposed workers in seven industries as the subjects. The noise exposure of all workers was assessed by distributions of A-, C-, and Z-weighted kurtosis (e.g., KA, KC, and KZ) and respective adjusted equivalent sound level (e.g., L'EX,8 h-KA, L'EX,8 h-KC, and L'EX,8 h-KZ). The significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis in evaluating NIHL was evaluated by correlations between three types of L'EX,8 h and NIHL, and improvement of noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) underestimation predicted by the ISO prediction model (Acoustics—Estimation of noise-induced hearing loss, ISO 1999-2013). Results The median KA, KC, and KZ were 68.33, 28.22, and 19.82, respectively. The binary logistic regression showed that LEX, 8 h-KA, LEX, 8 h-KC, and L'EX, 8 h-KZ were risk factors for NIHL (OR>1, P<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that when the outcome variable was noise-induced hearing impairment (NIHI), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'EX,8 h-KA, L'EX,8 h-KC, and L'EX,8 h-KZ were 0.625, 0.628, and 0.625, respectively. When the outcome variable was high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'EX,8 h-KA, L'EX, 8 h-KC, and L'EX,8 h-KZ were 0.624, 0.623, and 0.622, respectively (P<0.05). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'EX,8 h for NIPTS1234 was: L'EX,8 h-KA (4.68 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KC (4.38 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KZ (4.28 dB HL) (P<0.001). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'EX,8 h-K for NIPTS346 was: L'EX,8 h-KA (7.20 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KC (6.83 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KZ (6.71 dB HL) (P<0.001). Conclusion The adjustment of A- and C-weighted kurtosis to equivalent sound level LEX,8 h can effectively improve the accuracy of the ISO 1999 prediction model in NIPTS prediction, and compared with the C-weighted, the A-weighted kurtosis can improve the result of the ISO 1999 prediction model in terms of underestimating NIPTS.
6.Survey and analysis on fertility status of female employees aged 22-35 years by industries
Changyan YU ; Jiarui XIN ; Ming XU ; Zhenxia KOU ; Wenlan YU ; Meibian ZHANG ; Xuefei LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(4):397-402
Background As the population ages, there has been a growing focus on the decline in fertility. Research has identified age and fertility history as the primary influencing factors. Nevertheless, there is a deficiency in fundamental data regarding the fertility status among different industries. Objective To investigate the fertility status and influencing factors among female workers aged 22-35 years in different industries. Methods From July 2020 to February 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using a staged sampling approach. This survey specifically targeted 22-35-year-old married female workers with a history of pregnancy in industries such as education, healthcare, finance, and telecommunications, totaling 22903 participants. The survey encompassed industry, demographic characteristics, pregnancy history, time to pregnancy (TTP), and other influencing factors. The influencing factors of decline in fertility were identified by chi-square test and Cox proportional hazards regression. Subsequent industry-specific Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compared fertility decline patterns across a spectrum of industries after selected influencing factors were adjusted. Results Among the 22903 respondents, 19194 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid recovery rate of 83.8%. The cumulative pregnancy rates (CRP) of 1-6 months and 1-12 months for the 22-35-year-old female workers were 67.23% and 91.33% respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that region, age, education level, personal annual income, housework time, coping style, gravidity, parity, and spontaneous abortion were influencing factors of fertility decline (P<0.05). Female workers with ≥3 gravidities and ≥2 spontaneous abortions had a higher risk of fertility decline, with hazard ratios (HR) and associated 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 0.633 (0.582, 0.688) and 0.785 (0.670, 0.921) respectively (P<0.01). Compared to the education industry, the healthcare and finance industries showed a higher risk of fertility decline, with HR (95%CI) values of 0.876 (0.834, 0.920) and 0.909 (0.866, 0.954), respectively (P<0.05). These two HR (95%CI) values remained statistically significant [0.899 (0.852, 0.948) and 0.882 (0.833, 0.934) respectively, P<0.05)] after further adjustment with nine influencing factors such as region and age. Conclusion Regions, age, education level, personal annual income, housework time, coping style, pregnancy and childbirth times, and natural abortion times are influencing factors of fertility decline in female workers. Compared to the education industry, the healthcare and finance industries have a higher risk of declining fertility.
7.Effects of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist on synaptic plasticity in sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction in aged rats and its mechanism
Jiarui ZOU ; Keyan CHEN ; Zhen ZHANG
Journal of China Medical University 2024;53(1):60-66,74
Objective To investigate the effect of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist on synaptic plasticity in flurane-induced cognitive dys-function in aged rats.Methods Thirty 18-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control,model,and drug groups.The model group inhaled a 50%oxygen gas mixture(2 L/min)and 2%sevoflurane and were then treated with 5μL 0.9%NaCl;the drug group inhaled a 50%oxygen mixture(2 L/min)and 2%sevoflurane for 4 h and then the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist(3μg)was injected into the left ventricles of the rats;and the control group inhaled a 50%oxygen mixture(2 L/min)for 4 h.The water maze method was used to assess the learning memory of the rats and histopathological changes in the rat hippocampus were examined by HE staining.Nissl and Golgi staining were used to identify any changes to the neurons and synapses in hippocampal tissue.The MeCP2,p250GAP,PSD-95,GAP-43,and Syn expression levels were determined by immunofluorescence assay and the PKA,CREB1,and BDNFmRNA levels were determined using real-time PCR.Western blotting was performed to determine the PKA,CREB1,p-CREB1,and BDNF expression levels.Results The water maze data showed that the escape latency was significantly prolonged in the model group compared to the control group and,after treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist,the escape latency significantly decreased in the drug group compared to that of the model group(P<0.05).Moreover,the number of platform crossings was significantly lower in the model group than in the control group,but the number of platform crossings in the drug group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P<0.05).Compared to the control group,the hippocampal neurons in the model group had irregular morphology,loosely arranged and enlarged sur-rounding tissue gaps,deeply stained nuclei,a reduced number of Nissl bodies in the neurons,and a significantly reduced dendritic spine density and number of branches.After treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist,the hippocampal neurons in the drug group had a regular morphology,relatively complete structure,uniform arrangement,increased numbers of Nissl bodies in the neurons,and a signifi-cantly increased dendritic spine density and number of dendritic branches.Compared to the control group,MeCP2,PSD-95,GAP-43,Syn,PKA,CREB1,p-CREB1,and BDNF expression levels significantly decreased and p250GAP expression significantly increased in the rat brain tissue from the model group(P<0.05),but the PKA,CREB1,and BDNF mRNA levels significantly decreased(P<0.05).Furthermore,compared to the model group,the MeCP2,PSD-95,GAP-43,Syn,PKA,CREB1,p-CREB1,and BDNF expres-sion levels significantly increased along with the PKA,CREB1,and BDNF mRNA levels(P<0.05)in the drug group.However,the p250GAP protein expression level significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion The 5-HT1A receptor antagonist improves learning memory in rats with sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction.Specifically,it enhances PSD-95,GAP-43,and Syn expression levels,pro-motes synaptic remodeling,and protects rat hippocampal neuronal cells by activating the CREB/BDNF pathway.
8.Pertussis toxin in involves the development of interstitial lung disease in an experimental autoimmune myositis mice modelby inducing the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps
Ling BAI ; Wenlan MA ; Feifei LI ; Peipei ZHAO ; Jiarui ZHU ; Sigong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Rheumatology 2024;28(1):50-55
Objective:To test the hypothesis that Pertussis toxin (PTX) can promote the occurrence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in experimental autoimmune myositis (EAM) model and clarify the potential pathogenic mechanism.Methods:EAM mice model were induced by Skeletal muscle thomogenate with or without PTX, and the relationship between ILD phenotypes and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) infiltration was analyzed by histopathological and serological studies in EAM with PTX group and EAM without PTX group. Healthy mice were given PTX alone intraperitoneally to clarify whether NETs formation could be induced in vivo, and neutrophils separated from healthy human blood were intervened with PTX to induce NETs formation in vitro. The data was tested for normality using Shapiro-Wilk. Statistical methods and were analyzed using t-test or ANOVA, and multiple comparisons between different groups were tested using Tukey test. Results:Compared with EAM without PTX group, lung tissues in EAM with PTX group had multiple pathological changes similar to polymyositis/dermatomyositis-related ILD. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia were the main pathological types. The pulmonary interstitial lesions were accompanied by significant infiltration of NETs; and serum NETs markers levels were obviously elevated in EAM with PTX group, compared with the control group [ n=5, (87±10) ng/ml], cfDNA levels were statistically significantly elevated in both the EAM without PTX group [ n=4, (115±27) ng/ml] and the EAM with PTX group [ n=7, (150±50) ng/ml] ( F=4.24, P=0.038); Cit-H3-DNA levels were elevated in the EAM without PTX group ( n=4, 0.24±0.09), and in the EAM EAM with PTX group ( n=6, 0.33±0.11) compared with the control group ( n=4, 0.13±0.02) ( F=6.21, P=0.016). After PTX intervention, serum cfDNA levels were higher in the PTX group [ n=3, (100±40) ng/ml] than in the control group [ n=3, (45±12) ng/ml, t=2.27, P=0.086]; PTX also induced neutrophils to form NETs in vitro. Conclusion:PTX may promote the development of ILD in EAM mice model by inducing the formation of NETs, indicating that EAM mice can serve as a model for targeting NETs to study the pathogenesis ILD.
9.Investigation and analysis of the current status of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt treatment for portal hypertension in China
Haozhuo GUO ; Meng NIU ; Haibo SHAO ; Xinwei HAN ; Jianbo ZHAO ; Junhui SUN ; Zhuting FANG ; Bin XIONG ; Xiaoli ZHU ; Weixin REN ; Min YUAN ; Shiping YU ; Weifu LYU ; Xueqiang ZHANG ; Chunqing ZHANG ; Lei LI ; Xuefeng LUO ; Yusheng SONG ; Yilong MA ; Tong DANG ; Hua XIANG ; Yun JIN ; Hui XUE ; Guiyun JIN ; Xiao LI ; Jiarui LI ; Shi ZHOU ; Changlu YU ; Song HE ; Lei YU ; Hongmei ZU ; Jun MA ; Yanming LEI ; Ke XU ; Xiaolong QI
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2024;58(4):437-443
Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.
10.Expression profiling of miRNAs in chrysotile-exposed lung epithelial cells
Jiarui HE ; Juan SONG ; Yujun WANG ; Xu ZHANG ; Jie YANG ; Tingting HUO ; Faqin DONG ; Jianjun DENG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(11):1277-1282
Background Chrysotile is widely used in construction and industry. Research has shown that it is associated with lung fibrosis in occupational groups, but the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in chrysotile-induced lung fibrosis has been less well studied, and the specific mechanism is still unclear. Objective Using next-generation sequencing technology to analyze the effects of chrysotile exposure on the miRNAs expression profiles of human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells), to explore the variations of differentially expressed miRNAs and related signaling pathways, and to identify potential targets and molecular mechanisms of chrysotile-induced lung fibrosis. Methods Chrysotile was analyzed with a laser particle size analyzer and an X-ray diffractometer for particle size and physical phase. BEAS-2B cells were exposed to chrysotile for designed time sessions (12, 24, and 48 h) and doses (0, 50, 100, and 200 μg·mL−1). Cell viability was detected with a cell viability assay kit (CCK8); expression levels of Fibronectin, Collagen-Ⅰ, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by Western blot after exposure to 200 μg·mL−1 chrysotile for 24 h. Sample correlation and changes in miRNAs expression profiles between the chrysotile-exposed and the control groups were analyzed by next-generation sequencing technology. The target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Results The average particle size of the chrysotile dust sample used in this study was 3.58 μm, and the results of X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the characteristic peaks of chrysotile. Compared with the control group, the chrysotile gradually inhibited the survival rate of BEAS-2B cells with increasing concentration and exposure time (P<0.01). The survival rates of the 50, 100, and 200 μg·mL−1 chrysotile-exposed cells after 12 h exposure were 83.88%±1.86%, 78.07%±3.97%, and 71.95%±2.99%, respectively; the survival rates after 24 h exposure were 77.41%±1.58%, 69.57%±2.23%, and 62.79%±3.65%, respectively; the survival rates after 48 h exposure were 74.31%±4.93%, 65.84%±2.71%, and 52.74%±6.31%, respectively. The Fibronectin, Collagen-Ⅰ, and α-SMA protein expression levels were elevated in the 200 μg·mL−1 chrysotile-exposed BEAS-2B cells (P <0.05). The results of principal component analysis showed that there were differences in the composition of the samples between the chrysotile exposure group and the control group, and a total of 163 differential miRNAs were screened, of which 79 were up-regulated and 84 were down-regulated. The results of GO analysis showed that the differential miRNAs were mainly associated with biological processes such as regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, regulation of DNA templated transcription, cellular differentiation, protein phosphorylation, lipid metabolism, and cell cycle, cellular components such as nucleus, cytomembrane, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, as well as molecular functions such as protein binding, metal ion binding, transferase activity, and DNA binding. The results of KEGG analysis revealed that the differential miRNAs were mainly enriched in cancer pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/ protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway, Ras-associated protein 1 (Rap1) pathway, calcium pathway, cyclic guanosine monophosphate/ protein kinase G (cGMP-PKG) pathway, Hippo pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway, and Ras pathway. Conclusion Chrysotile exposure could significantly inhibit BEAS-2B cell survival, elevate the expression of lung fibrosis-associated proteins, and induce differential miRNAs expression, affecting biological processes (such as lipid metabolism, protein phosphorylation, and cell cycle) and cell components (such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum), and interfering with PI3K/AKT pathway, Hippo pathway, cAMP pathway, Rap1 pathway, and Ras pathway.

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