1.Compound Xishu Granules Inhibit Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Regulating Ferroptosis
Yuan TIAN ; Yuxi WANG ; Zhen LIU ; Yuncheng MA ; Hongyu ZHU ; Xiaozhu WANG ; Qian LI ; Jian GAO ; Weiling WANG ; Wenhui XU ; Ting WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):37-45
ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of compound Xishu granules (CXG) in inhibiting the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating ferroptosis. MethodsThe transplanted tumor model of human Huh7 was established with nude mice and the successfully modeled mice were randomized into model, Fufang Banmao (0.21 g·kg-1), low-dose (1.87 g·kg-1) CXG, medium-dose (3.74 g·kg-1) CXG, and high-dose (7.49 g·kg-1) CXG groups. Mice were administrated with drinking water or CXG for 28 days, and the body weight and tumor volume were measured every 4 days. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the histopathological changes of tumors. The cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to examine the survival rate of Huh7 cells treated with different concentrations (0, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1 000 mg·L-1) of CXG for 24 h and 48 h. CA-AM, DCFH-DA, and C11-BODIPY581/591 fluorescent probes were used to determine the intracellular levels of ferrous ion (Fe2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxide (LPO), respectively. The colorimetric method was employed to measure the levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), respectively. ResultsIn the animal experiment, compared with the model group, the drug treatment groups showed reductions in the tumor volume from day 12 (P<0.01). After treatment, the Fufang Banmao and low-, medium-, and high-dose CXG groups had lower tumor volume, relative tumor volume, and tumor weight than the model group (P<0.05), with tumor inhibition rates of 48.99%, 79.93%, 91.38%, and 97.36%, respectively. Moreover, the CXG groups had lower tumor volume and relative tumor volume (P<0.05 in all the three dose groups) and lower tumor weight (P<0.05 in medium-dose and high-dose groups) than the Fufang Banmao group. Compared with the model group, the drug treatment groups showed reduced number of tumor cells, necrotic foci with karyopyknosis, nuclear fragmentation, and nucleolysis, and the high-dose CXG group showed an increase in the proportion of interstitial fibroblasts. In the cell experiment, compared with the blank group, CXG reduced the survival rate of Huh7 cells in a dose-dependent manner after incubation for 24 h and 48 h (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the RSL3 group and the low-, medium-, and high-dose CXG groups showed a decrease in the relative fluorescence intensity of CA-AM and increases in the fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA and fluorescence ratio of C11-BODIPY581/591, which indicated elevations in the levels of Fe2+ (P<0.01), ROS (P<0.05), and LPO (P<0.01), respectively. Compared with the blank group, the RSL3 and low-, medium-, and high-dose CXG groups showed lowered levels of GSH and SOD (P<0.05). In addition, the RSL3 group and the medium- and high-dose CXG groups showed down-regulated expression of GPX4 and FTH1 (P<0.05), and the low- and high-dose CXG groups presented up-regulated expression of TFR1 (P<0.05). ConclusionCXG suppresses the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing ferroptosis via downregulating the GSH-GPX4 signaling axis and increasing intracellular Fe2+and LPO levels.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
3.The Impairment Attention Capture by Topological Change in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Hui-Lin XU ; Huan-Jun XI ; Tao DUAN ; Jing LI ; Dan-Dan LI ; Kai WANG ; Chun-Yan ZHU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):223-232
ObjectiveAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with communication and social interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviors. Previous studies have indicated that individuals with ASD exhibit early and lifelong attention deficits, which are closely related to the core symptoms of ASD. Basic visual attention processes may provide a critical foundation for their social communication and interaction abilities. Therefore, this study explores the behavior of children with ASD in capturing attention to changes in topological properties. MethodsOur study recruited twenty-seven ASD children diagnosed by professional clinicians according to DSM-5 and twenty-eight typically developing (TD) age-matched controls. In an attention capture task, we recorded the saccadic behaviors of children with ASD and TD in response to topological change (TC) and non-topological change (nTC) stimuli. Saccadic reaction time (SRT), visual search time (VS), and first fixation dwell time (FFDT) were used as indicators of attentional bias. Pearson correlation tests between the clinical assessment scales and attentional bias were conducted. ResultsThis study found that TD children had significantly faster SRT (P<0.05) and VS (P<0.05) for the TC stimuli compared to the nTC stimuli, while the children with ASD did not exhibit significant differences in either measure (P>0.05). Additionally, ASD children demonstrated significantly less attention towards the TC targets (measured by FFDT), in comparison to TD children (P<0.05). Furthermore, ASD children exhibited a significant negative linear correlation between their attentional bias (measured by VS) and their scores on the compulsive subscale (P<0.05). ConclusionThe results suggest that children with ASD have difficulty shifting their attention to objects with topological changes during change detection. This atypical attention may affect the child’s cognitive and behavioral development, thereby impacting their social communication and interaction. In sum, our findings indicate that difficulties in attentional capture by TC may be a key feature of ASD.
4.Characteristics and influencing factors of occupational injuries among workers in a cable manufacturing enterprise
Ting XU ; Juan QIAN ; Yishuo GU ; Daozheng DING ; Jianjian QIAO ; Yong QIAN ; Xiaojun ZHU ; Jingguang FAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):140-144
Background Workers in the cable manufacturing industry are exposed to high-speed machinery and equipment for a long time, coupled with heavy workload, which poses significant risks to their physical health. However, the issue of occupational injuries in this industry has not received enough attention yet. Objective To understand the incidence of occupational injury of workers in cable manufacturing industry and to analyze the influencing factors. Method A basic information questionnaire and an occupational injury questionnaire were developed to investigate the occupational injuries of 1 343 workers in a cable manufacturing enterprise in the past year, and a total of 1 225 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 91.2%. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the causes, injury locations, injury types, and other characteristics of employees’ occupational injuries. Chi-square test was used to analyze the occupational injury status of groups with different demographic characteristics, occupational characteristics, lifestyles, and interpersonal relationships. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of occupational injuries. Result The incidence of occupational injuries among workers in a cable manufacturing enterprise in the past year was 8.6%, which mainly happened in male workers (80.0%) and occurred from May to July in summer (45.7%). The main causes were mechanical injuries (32.4%) and object blows (27.6%). The main sources of damage were machinery and equipment (36.2%) as well as raw materials and products (15.2%). The main injuries were located in upper limbs (53.3%) and lower limbs (22.9%). The main types of injuries were fractures (33.3%) and abrasions/contusions/puncture wounds (19.0%). The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant variations in the incidence of occupational injuries by gender, overtime, pre-job training, years of service in current position, alcohol consumption, physical exercise per week, and co-worker relationship (P<0.05). The logistic regression model showed that workers who exercised less than twice a week, did not participate in pre-job training, worked overtime, and had fair/poor/very poor colleague relationship had a higher risk of occupational injury, while women had a lower risk of occupational injury. Conclusion The distribution of occupational injury population is mainly male, and the time distribution is mainly from May to July. Gender, physical exercise, pre-job training, overtime, and colleague relationship are the influencing factors of occupational injuries. We should strengthen pre-job training, arrange work hours reasonably, and create a good working atmosphere to reduce the occurrence of occupational injuries.
5.Relationship between occupational stress and occupational injury of workers in a cable manufacturing enterprise by decision tree model
Ting XU ; Juan QIAN ; Yishuo GU ; Daozheng DING ; Jianjian QIAO ; Yong QIAN ; Xiaojun ZHU ; Jingguang FAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):145-150
Background Social psychological factors have emerged as a key area of research in occupational injury prevention. Occupational stress, a significant component of social psychology, has garnered widespread attention due to its potential impact on occupational injury. Objective To analyze the factors influencing occupational stress among cable manufacturing workers and explore the relationship between occupational stress and occupational injury, and to provide scientific evidence for reducing occupational stress and injury. Methods A questionnaire on basic demographics, occupational injury, and occupational stress (Effort-Reward Imbalance, ERI) was used to investigate
6.Effect of Modified Chunzetang on Bladder Fibrosis and Detrusor Function in Rats with Neurogenic Bladder Urinary Retention Induced by Spinal Cord Injury via Regulating NF-κB/TGF-β1 Signaling Pathway
Zhenhua XU ; Yanjie LI ; Yafeng REN ; Haoyuan LIU ; Bochao ZHU ; Juan LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):95-103
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of modified Chunzetang on bladder fibrosis and detrusor function in rats with neurogenic bladder urinary retention induced by spinal cord injury. MethodsIn this study, an improved Hassan Shaker spinal cord transection method was used to establish a model of neurogenic bladder urinary retention induced by spinal cord injury, and rats with a spinal cord injury behavior score of 0 were selected for follow-up experiments. The selected rats were randomly divided into a model group (normal saline gavage), low-dose traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group (gavage of 14.4 g·kg-1 modified Chunzetang), high-dose TCM group (gavage of 28.8 g·kg-1 modified Chunzetang), positive drug group [intraperitoneal injection of 0.05 g·kg-1 nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)], and combination group (intraperitoneal injection of 0.05 g·kg-1 PDTC + gavage of 28.8 g·kg-1 modified Chunzetang). The rats in these groups were administrated with corresponding drugs once a day for four weeks. The BL-420s biofunction acquisition system was used in the experiment to calculate the urodynamic indexes, and the isolated bladder was quickly weighed. The detrusor traction experiment was used to record the minimum bladder contraction tension and frequency in each group. The pathological morphology and tissue fibrosis of detrusor in each group observed by Hematoxycin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were compared. The expression level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of NF-κB p65, nuclear transcription factor-κB suppressor protein α (IκBα), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), type Ⅰ collagen (ColⅠ), and type Ⅲ collagen (ColⅢ) in bladder tissue of rats in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the changes in serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. ResultsCompared with that in the sham operation group, the pressure at the urinary leakage point in the model group decreased (P<0.01), and the bladder mass, bladder contractile tension, maximum bladder capacity, and bladder compliance increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). HE staining showed that the arrangement of bladder epithelial cells was disordered, and the pathological manifestations such as mucosa and myometria neutrophil infiltration were obvious. The lamina propria structure was destroyed, and the muscle fiber arrangement was disordered. The interstitial widening and tissue edema were obvious. Masson staining showed that the bladder wall of the model group had more collagen fiber deposition, and the degree of detrusor fibrosis was more severe. The content of detrusor in the visual field was reduced. At the same time, the protein expressions of NF-κB p65, TGF-β1, IκBα, ColⅠ, and ColⅢ in bladder tissue of rats in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with that in the model group, the pressure at the urinary leakage point in the modified Chunzetang and positive drug groups was increased (P<0.05), and the wet bladder weight, minimum bladder contractile tension, maximum bladder capacity, and bladder compliance were restored (P<0.05, P<0.01). HE and Masson showed that the bladder epithelial cells were relatively neatly arranged, and the structure of the bladder lamina propria was relatively stable. The detrusor bundles were arranged in an orderly manner, and the interstitium was narrow. The degree of tissue edema was relatively low, and the degree of bladder detrusor fibrosis in the modified Chunzetang and positive drug groups was reduced, while the degree of bladder detrusor fibrosis in the positive drug group and combination groups was not obvious. The results of Western blot showed that the expression of NF-κB p65, IκBα, TGF-β1, ColⅠ, and ColⅢ in bladder tissue, as well as the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in modified Chunzetang and positive drug groups were significantly lower, and the expression of bladder tissue-related proteins and the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the TCM groups decreased significantly with the increase in dose (P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry suggested that modified Chunzetang could fully affect the expression of α-SMA in bladder tissue. ConclusionModified Chunzetang can inhibit collagen deposition in bladder tissue of rats with urinary retention induced by spinal cord injury, delay the occurrence and development of bladder fibrosis, and protect the normal contractile function of bladder detrusor, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the NF-κB/TGF-β1 signaling pathway, reducing the production of NF-κB p65, IκBα, TGF-β1, ColⅠ, ColⅢ, and other related proteins, and protecting the muscle strength of detrusor.
7.Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in Normal and Acute Kidney Injury Rats
Yunhui ZHANG ; Yanli LIU ; Qiongming XU ; Shuding SUN ; Hongjin ZHU ; Di ZHAO ; Suxiang FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):203-210
ObjectiveBased on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap-linear ion-trap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid-MS), the plasma concentration of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ was determined at different time points after oral administration, and its pharmacokinetic characteristics in normal rats and rats with acute kidney injury were compared. MethodsRats were randomly divided into normal group and model group, the model group received intraperitoneal cisplatin(10 mg·kg-1) to establish the acute kidney injury model, the normal group was given the same volume of saline. After successful modeling, rats in the normal and model groups were randomly divided into the normal low, medium and high dose groups(2.5, 5, 7.5 mg·kg-1) and the model low, medium and high dose groups(2.5, 5, 7.5 mg·kg-1), 6 rats in each group, and the plasma was collected at different time points after receiving the corresponding dose of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ. Then, the concentration of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in rat plasma was determined by UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid-MS, and the drug-time curve was poltted. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Kinetica 5.1 software, and the differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between different administration groups were compared by independent sample t-test with SPSS 22.0. ResultsThe pharmacokinetic results showed that after receiving the different doses of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ, its concentration increased first and then decreased, and all of them reached the maximum plasma concentration at about 0.5 h. The area under the curve(AUC0-t) and mean retention time(MRT0-t) of normal and model rats increased with the increased dose, and the clearance(CL) decreased with the increasing dose. Compared with the normal group, the AUC0-t was significantly increased(P<0.01), peak concentration(Cmax) and CL decreased in model rats at different doses, indicating that the physiological state of the rats could affect the absorption and elimination of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in vivo. ConclusionThe pharmacokinetic characteristics of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ are quite different in normal rats and acute kidney injury model rats, which may be due to the change of the body environment in the pathological state, then lead to changes in absorption and metabolic processes.
8.Over 20-year Follow-up Result of Total Knee Arthroplasty for Knee Arthropathy: A Single Center Cohort Study
Yiming XU ; Mingwei HU ; Wei ZHU ; Muyang YU ; Jin LIN ; Jin JIN ; Wenwei QIAN ; Bin FENG ; Xisheng WENG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):35-41
To evaluate long-term survival and clinical outcomes of patients with knee osteo-arthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through long-term follow-up. This study was based on a previous cohort study that had completed follow-up. We retrospectively collected clinical data of patients with knee arthropathy (including knee osteoarthritis and knee rheumatoid arthritis) who received the first TKA operation in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1993 to 2002 and were followed up for more than 20 years, and conducted a unified follow-up on them in November 10, 2024 (the last follow-up). Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate the survival rate. Hospitals for special surgery (HSS) scores and joint range of motion (ROM) were compared before surgery, 10 years after surgery and at the last follow-up to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TKA. Likert scale was used to evaluate patient satisfaction at the last follow-up. A total of 226 patients (246 knees) received their first TKA in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1993 to 2002 and were followed up for more than 10 years. Among them, 104 patients (131 knees) were included in the study at the last follow-up, including 21 patients (24 knees) with prosthesis in place, 18 patients (18 knees) who underwent reoperation for various reasons, and 65 patients (89 knees) who died from non-TKA surgical causes. Up to the last follow-up, there were 29 patients (35 knees) with an average follow-up of more than 20 years, and 12 patients (16 knees) completed HSS score, ROM measurement and patient satisfaction evaluation. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, and 25-year survival rates were 93.6%, 92.4%, 89.8%, and 71.8%, respectively. The HSS score at the last follow-up was lower than that at 10- year postoperative follow-up[(84.69±11.03) scores TKA treatment for knee arthropathy has high long-term prosthesis survival rate, significant improvement of knee joint function and high patient satisfaction.
9.Early Postoperative Safety of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Xingdong YANG ; Muyang YU ; Yiming XU ; Wei ZHU ; Mingwei HU ; Xisheng WENG ; Bin FENG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):42-49
To analyze the occurrence of early complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The data of patients who underwent THA at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2012 to April 2024 were retrospectively and consecutively collected. The patients were categorized into SLE group and control group based on the presence or absence of SLE. Using propensity score matching, we matched patients in the two groups at a 1∶1 ratio according to gender, age, and surgical side. Subsequently, we compared the clinical characteristics, incidence of major complications within 30 days postoperatively, and allogeneic blood transfusion rates between the two groups. A total of 270 patients in the SLE group who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. Within 30 days postoperatively, 18 cases (6.67%) experienced major complications, including 2 cases (0.74%) of upper respiratory tract infection, 2 cases (0.74%) of pulmonary infection, 3 cases (1.11%) of urinary tract infection, 2 cases (0.74%) of other systemic infection, 5 cases (1.85%) of poor wound healing, 1 case (0.37%) of wound infection, 1 case (0.37%) of gastrointestinal complications, 1 cases (0.37%) of shock, and 1 case (0.37%) of SLE flare-up. The allogeneic blood transfusion rate was 22.59% (61/270). After propensity score matching, 163 cases from SLE and control groups were included for analysis. (1) Regarding medical complications, compared with control group, SLE group showed significant differences in osteoporosis, respiratory system disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, urinary system disorders, hematologic abnormalities, and secondary or concomitant rheumatic diseases (all The incidence of major complications within 30 days following THA in patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in non-SLE patients, while the rate of allogeneic blood transfusion remained comparable. To ensure the safety of THA surgery for patients with SLE, it is important to optimize the patient's condition and achieve stabilization prior to surgery. Additionally, strict perioperative management must be forced.
10.Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram model for patients with the lower third and abdominal oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Zhengshui XU ; Dandan LIU ; Jiantao JIANG ; Ranran KONG ; Jianzhong LI ; Yuefeng MA ; Zhenchuan MA ; Jia CHEN ; Minxia ZHU ; Shaomin LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):201-207
Objective To establish an individualized nomogram model and evaluate its efficacy to provide a possible evaluation basis for the prognosis of lower third and abdominal part of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methods Lower third and abdominal part of EAC patients from 2010 to 2015 were chosen from the SEER Research Plus Database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The patients were randomly allocated to the training cohort and the internal validation cohort with a ratio of 7∶3 using bootstrap resampling. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine significant contributors to overall survival (OS) in EAC patients, which would be elected to construct the nomogram prediction model. C-index, calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed to evaluate its efficacy. Finally, the efficacy to evaluate the OS of EAC patients was compared between the nomogram prediction model and TNM staging system. Results In total, 3945 patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC were enrolled, including 3475 males and 470 females with a median age of 65 (57-72) years. The 2761 patients were allocated to the training cohort and the remaining 1184 patients to the internal validation cohort. In the training and the internal validation cohorts, the C-index of the nomogram model was 0.705 and 0.713, respectively. Meanwhile, the calibration curve also suggested that the nomogram model had a strong capability of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. The nomogram also had a higher efficacy than the TNM staging system in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. Conclusion This nomogram prediction model has a high efficiency for predicting OS in the patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC, which is higher than that of the current TNM staging system.

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