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ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Zuoguiwan in ameliorating polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） by network pharmacology and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS）-based metabolomics. MethodThe active ingredients and potential targets of Zuoguiwan for treating PCOS were predicted by bioinformatics. SD rats were assigned into a control group and a modeling group. The rat model of PCOS was established by gavage with letrozole （1 mg·kg-1） combined with feeding with a high-fat diet. At the end of modeling， the modeled rats were assigned into model （normal saline）， metformin （300 mg·kg-1）， and Zuoguiwan （concentrate 1.62 g·kg-1） groups. The body weight and oestrous cycle of each rat were recorded， and the ovary was stained with hematoxylin and eosin for observation of ovarian morphology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， anti-mullerian hormone （AMH）， testosterone （T）， and estradiol （E2）， and the LH/FSH ratio was calculated. Serum metabolomics of rats was conducted by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） to screen the metabolite-enriched pathways. Furthermore， network pharmacology and association analysis were employed construct the compound-response-enzyme-gene network. ResultA total of 503 potential targets of Zuoguiwan and 5 843 targets of PCOS were screened out， with 271 common targets. The Gene Ontology enrichment analysis revealed that the common targets were involved in the response to lipopolysaccharide， etc.， and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment yielded 119 pathways. Animal experiments showed that compared with the control group， the model group presented increased body weight （P<0.01）， elevated LH and AMH levels （P<0.01）， increased LH/FSH ratio （P<0.01）， lowered E2 level （P<0.01）， and increased cystic follicles. Compared with the model group， Zuoguiwan and metformin decreased the body weight （P<0.01）， reduced atretic follicles and cystic follicles， increased mature follicles and corpus luteum， and thickened the granulosa layer. Moreover， Zuoguiwan lowered the T， FSH， LH， and AMH， and LH/FSH levels （P<0.01） and elevated the E2 level （P<0.01）. The principal component analysis and OPLS-DA in metabolomics showed that the differential metabolites between Zuoguiwan and model groups included 26 up-regulated metabolites in the Zuoguiwan group. There were 8 common pathways predicted by the KEGG enrichment analysis in network pharmacology and the metabolite enrichment in metabolomics. The results of topological analysis revealed the pathways of steroid hormone biosynthesis and glycerol-phospholipid metabolism， and the constructed compound-response-enzyme-gene network revealed that the key targets were protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， epithelial growth factor receptor （EGFR）， prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 （PTGS2）， and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 （MAPK1）. ConclusionZuoguiwan regulated the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway to recover hormone levels， promote follicle production and development， and improve ovarian function， which may be the potential mechanism of this medicine in treating PCOS.
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To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qingwen Baiduyin on acute lung injury （ALI） in mice induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. MethodA total of 144 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the following groups： a normal group， a model group （LPS， 5 mg·kg-1）， a dexamethasone group （5 mg·kg-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose Qingwen Baiduyin groups （14.105， 28.21， 56.42 g·kg-1）. The mice were treated once daily for 5 days. One hour after the final administration， the ALI model was established by intratracheal instillation of LPS， and samples were collected at 6 h and 24 h after modeling. The arterial blood gas index of mice was analyzed. The total protein content， total cell count， Evans blue dye （EBD） content， and lung tissue wet-to-dry weight ratio （W/D） of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to assess the pathological changes in mouse lung tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of key proteins in the Janus kinase 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/interferon regulatory factor 1 （JAK1/STAT1/IRF1） signaling pathway in lung tissue. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced arterial oxygen pressure （pO2）， oxygen saturation （SO2）， and lung tissue W/D （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased carbon dioxide pressure （pCO2）， total protein content， total cell count， EBD content， interferon-γ （IFN-γ）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， chemokine CXC ligand 1 （CXCL1）， chemokine CXC ligand 2 （CXCL2）， chemokine CXC ligand 9 （CXCL9）， and chemokine CXC ligand 10 （CXCL10） content （P<0.05， P<0.01）， thickening of the alveolar walls， fusion of alveolar cavities， and infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue， increased proportion of M1 macrophage polarization and lung cell apoptosis （P<0.05）， and increased protein expression levels of JAK1， phosphorylated JAK1 （p-JAK1）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， STAT1， phosphorylated STAT1 （p-STAT1）， IRF1， gasdermin D （GSDMD）， and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein （MLKL） （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Qingwen Baiduyin significantly increased pO2， SO2， and lung tissue W/D （P<0.05， P<0.01）， improved the pathological changes in lung tissue， and reduced pCO2， total protein content， total cell count， EBD content， IFN-γ， TNF-α， IL-1β， CXCL1， CXCL2， CXCL9， and CXCL10 content， proportion of M1 macrophage polarization， and protein expression levels of JAK1， p-JAK1， iNOS， STAT1， p-STAT1， IRF1， GSDMD， and MLKL （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQingwen Baiduyin can improve the lung inflammatory response and reduce lung cell apoptosis in mice with ALI by inhibiting the JAK1/STAT1/IRF1 signaling pathway， thereby exerting a lung-protective effect.
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ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Zuojinwan （ZJW） in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） through network pharmacology and experimental validation. MethodUsing network pharmacology and molecular docking， the active components and potential mechanism of ZJW in treating UC were preliminarily identified. Forty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a sulfasalazine group （300 mg·kg-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose ZJW groups （1.82， 3.64， 7.28 g·kg-1）. The UC model was induced by dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）， and oral administration of drugs began on the third day of modeling， lasting for 7 days. The general condition of mice was observed daily， and the disease activity index （DAI） was evaluated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe histopathological changes in colon tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-6， and IL-10 in mouse serum. The molecular mechanism was validated using Western blot. ResultNetwork pharmacology predicted that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway might be a key pathway in the regulation of UC by ZJW. Molecular docking results showed good binding ability between the key components of ZJW and core targets. Animal experiment results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group had shortened colon length （P<0.01）， increased DAI scores， spleen index， colon tissue pathology scores， and levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased PI3K， phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt）， and B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X protein （Bax） expression in colon tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased serum IL-10 levels and colon tissue Bcl-2 protein expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the ZJW groups showed significant improvement in UC symptoms， relieved colon tissue pathological damage， downregulated levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in serum （P<0.01）， inhibited expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and Bax proteins in colon tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased serum IL-10 levels and colon tissue Bcl-2 protein expression （P<0.01）， with the high-dose group showing the best effect. ConclusionZJW effectively alleviates DSS-induced UC， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and regulation of apoptosis-related protein expression.
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Objective:To investigate the incidence and treatment of gastric cancer in 16 medical centers in Tianjin from 2020 to 2021.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 3 122 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery in 16 medical centers, including Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, et al, in Tianjin from 2020 to 2021 were collected. There were 2 112 males and 1 010 females, aged (64±11)years. Observation indicators: (1) general data of patients; (2) treatment situations; (3) postoperative complications. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were descri-bed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted by the chi-square test. Results:(1) General data of patients. From 2020 to 2021, a total of 3 122 gastric cancer patients received surgeries in 16 medical centers in Tianjin, including 2 112 males and 1 010 females. There were 1 443 cases in 2020, including 976 males and 467 females, aged (63±11) years. There were 1 679 cases in 2021, including 1 136 males and 543 females, aged (65±11) years. Of the 3 122 pati-ents, cases in stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ were 696, 667, 1 466, 293, accounting for 22.293%(696/3 122), 21.365%(667/3 122), 46.957%(1 466/3 122), 9.385%(293/3 122), respectively. Cases with early gastric cancer, locally advanced gastric cancer, advanced gastric cancer account for 17.265%(539/3 122), 73.350%(2 290/3 122), 9.385%(293/3 122). There were 2 829 patients without distant metastasis and 293 patients with distant metastasis. For the 2 829 patients without distant metas-tasis, cases in stage T1, T2, T3, T4a, T4b accounted for 19.053%(539/2 829), 12.089%(342/2 829), 20.148%(570/2 829), 41.499%(1 174/2 829), 7.211%(204/2 829)respectively, cases in stage N0, N1, N2, N3 account for 37.328%(1 056/2 829), 16.331%(462/2 829), 15.836%(448/2 829), 30.505%(863/2 829). For the 293 advanced gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis, 190 cases had peri-toneal metastasis, 47 cases had lymph node metastasis, 27 cases had ovarian metastasis, 37 cases had liver metastasis, 14 cases had other metastasis (some patients had ≥2 distant metastases). (2) Treatment situations. ① For the 539 with early gastric cancer, cases undergoing endoscopic submu-cosal dissection, laparoscopic surgery, open surgery were 22, 150, 86 in 2020, versus 19, 212, 50 in 2021, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=19.42, P<0.05). For the 498 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic or open surgery, cases undergoing open surgery including total gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy, proximal gastrectomy were 25, 81, 30, and cases undergoing laparoscopic surgery including total gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy, proximal gastrec-tomy were 18, 309, 35, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=40.62, P<0.05). For the 2 290 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, cases undergoing open surgery and laparoscopic surgery were 446 and 617 in 2020, versus 410 and 817 in 2021, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=17.75, P<0.05). For the 2 290 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, cases undergoing open surgery including total gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy, proxi-mal gastrectomy were 336, 377, 143, and cases undergoing laparoscopic surgery including total gastrectomy, distal gastrectomy, proximal gastrectomy were 377, 920, 137, respectively, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=89.64, P<0.05). Of the 293 patients with advanced gastric cancer, 175 cases underwent surgeries due to hemorrhage, stenosis, perforation, 76 cases under-went surgery after chemotherapy, 42 cases underwent surgery directly. ② For 756 cases of 3 122 pati-ents undergoing total gastrectomy, 357 and 4 cases received open digestive tract reconstruction including Roux-en-Y and other anastomosis, versus 380 and 15 cases with laparoscopic digestive tract reconstruction including Roux-en-Y and other anastomosis, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=5.57, P<0.05). For 1 687 cases undergoing distal gastrectomy, 84, 160, 158, 55 cases received open digestive tract reconstruction including Billroth Ⅰ anastomosis, Billroth Ⅱ + Braun anastomosis, Roux-en-Y anastomosis, uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis, versus 154, 489, 417, 170 cases with laparoscopic digestive tract reconstruction including Billroth Ⅰ anastomosis, Billroth Ⅱ + Braun anastomosis, Roux-en-Y anastomosis, uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=10.90, P<0.05) . Of the 539 patients with early gastric cancer, 65 cases had lymph node metastasis, in which 18 of 306 stage T1a cases had lymph node metastasis and 47 of 233 stage T1b cases had lymph node metastasis. The number of detected lymph nodes for the 2 290 patients with advanced gastric cancer was 31±15, including ≥16 for 2 059 cases and ≥30 for 1 276 cases. Of the 3 122 patients, cases with neoadjuvant therapy, complete response and incomplete response was 128, 13 and 115 in 2020, versus 250, 49 and 201 in 2021, showing a significant difference between them ( χ2=5.51, P<0.05). (3) Postoperative complications. Of the 3 122 patients, 746 cases had postoperative complications, with an incidence of 23.895%(746/3 122). There were 62 patients with grade 3 or more complications. Reoperation was conducted in 34 patients. There were 14 cases of postoperative death. The duration of postoperative hospital stay and hospital expense were (11±5)days and (98 114±46 598)yuan for the 3 122 patients, (26±14)days and (122 066±68 317)yuan for cases with complications, (40±21)days and (196 926±12 747)yuan for cases with grade 3 or more complications. Conclusion:Compared with 2020, cases undergoing laparoscopic surgery and distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in Tianjin increases in 2021, and the digestive tract reconstruction also differs. The number of patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and complete response rate for advanced gastric cancer increases.
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Objective To investigate the association of copy number variations (CNVs) in the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes with different outcomes and disease progression after hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 841 patients with chronic HBV infection and 296 patients with self-limited HBV infection, an according to the degree of disease progression, the patients with chronic HBV infection were further divided into chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group, liver cirrhosis (LC) group, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group. The AccuCopy technique was used for the quantitative analysis of CNVs in the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes in peripheral blood. The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and a one-way analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for comparison between multiple groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The chi-square test was also used to investigate the difference in the distribution of CNVs in the FCGR3 gene between different groups. The age-and sex-adjusted logistic regression model was used to investigate the influence of CNVs on the chronicity of HBV infection. Results There was a significant difference in the frequency distribution of CNVs in the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes between the chronic HBV infection group and the self-limited HBV infection group ( χ 2 =11.406 and 19.143, both P < 0.05). As for disease progression after chronic HBV infection, there were no significant differences in CNVs of the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes between the CHB group, the LC group, and the HCC group (FCGR3A: χ 2 =3.125, P =0.537; FCGR3B: χ 2 =5.274, P =0.260). There were also no significant differences in CNVs of the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes between the HBeAg-positive group and the HBeAg-negative group (FCGR3A: χ 2 =1.025, P =0.599; FCGR3B: χ 2 =0.712, P =0.701). Reduction or deletion of the copy number of the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes was a risk factor for the chronicity of HBV infection (FCGR3A: odds ratio [ OR ]=0.621, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 0.513-0.752; FCGR3B: OR =0.594, 95% CI : 0.491-0.719). Conclusion Reduction or deletion of the copy number of the FCGR3A and FCGR3B genes may be a genetic susceptibility factor for the chronicity of HBV infection, but it is not associated with disease progression.
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The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is considered an immune privileged system as it is separated from the periphery by the blood brain barrier (BBB). Yet, immune functions have been postulated to heavily influence the functional state of the CNS, especially after injury or during neurodegeneration. There is controversy regarding whether adaptive immune responses are beneficial or detrimental to CNS injury repair. In this study, we utilized immunocompromised SCID mice and subjected them to spinal cord injury (SCI). We analyzed motor function, electrophysiology, histochemistry, and performed unbiased RNA-sequencing. SCID mice displayed improved CNS functional recovery compared to WT mice after SCI. Weighted gene-coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) of spinal cord transcriptomes revealed that SCID mice had reduced expression of immune function-related genes and heightened expression of neural transmission-related genes after SCI, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis and was consistent with better functional recovery. Transcriptomic analyses also indicated heightened expression of neurotransmission-related genes before injury in SCID mice, suggesting that a steady state of immune-deficiency potentially led to CNS hyper-connectivity. Consequently, SCID mice without injury demonstrated worse performance in Morris water maze test. Taken together, not only reduced inflammation after injury but also dampened steady-state immune function without injury heightened the neurotransmission program, resulting in better or worse behavioral outcomes respectively. This study revealed the intricate relationship between immune and nervous systems, raising the possibility for therapeutic manipulation of neural function via immune modulation.
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Objective To study the effect of Exendin-4 on oxidative stress and neural apoptosis following spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Adult male SD rats, with weight between 200-250 g, were randomly divided into three groups (12 in each group):Sham group, SCI group and Exendin-4 group (Ex-4 group). Rats in Sham group achieved spinal cord exposure. SCI group and Ex-4 group were induced according to Allen′s test (using a weight-drop device). Rats in Ex-4 group were ad?ministrated with Exendin-4 (10 μg/rat) through intraperitoneal injection immediately after establishment of SCI models. Rats in Sham group and SCI group were given the same volume of normal saline solution instead. Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of catalase (CAT) were assessed in spinal cord tissues 24 hour after drug administrations. Neural apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining and the expression levels of caspase-9 and AIF were determined using Western blot. Results Compared with Sham group, the levels of MDA, caspase-9 and AIF as well as neuronal apoptosis rate in?creased obviously, while activity of CAT decreased markedly in SCI group(P<0.01). Compared with SCI group, the levels of MDA, caspase-9 and AIF as well as the neuronal apoptosis rate decreased obviously, while activity of CAT increased re?markably in Exendin-4 group(P < 0.01). Conclusion Exendin-4 restrain neural apoptosis following spinal cord injury through relieving oxidative damage.
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Objective To investigate the effects of edaravone (EDA) on cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticu?lum stress (ESR) after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods Thirty-six healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided in?to three groups (12 rats for each group):Sham group, SCI group and EDA group. The rat model of SCI was made by Allen’s method and the sham group was only received laminectomy and kept the spinal cord intact. Rats in sham group and SCI group accepted the same volume and frequency of saline injection as EDA group. The EDA group was given 10 mg/kg EDA once every 12 h intraperitoneally. Three days after injuring, the spinal cords were harvested, and the protein levels of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), Cleaved caspase-12 and Cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blot assay. Immunofluo?rescence staining was used to analyze the positive ratio of caspase-12 and CHOP in spinal cord of three groups. Meanwhile, TUNEL staining was used to identify cell apoptosis of spinal cord. Results Compared with sham group, the protein levels of CHOP, Cleaved caspase-12 and Cleaved caspase-3 were obviously higher in SCI group (P<0.01);the proportion of Cas?pase-12 and CHOP positive cells was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the apoptotic rates were also significantly in?creased in spinal cord (P<0.01). However, compared with SCI group, the protein levels of CHOP , Cleaved caspase-12 and Cleaved caspase-3 were significantly decreased in EDA group (P<0.01);the proportion of Caspase-12 and CHOP positive cells was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the apoptotic rates were also significantly decreased in spinal cord (P<0.01). Conclusion EDA has neuroprotective potential to spinal cord injury. The mechanism of its neuroprotective effect may asso?ciate with its inhibitory effect to the cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress after SCI.
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Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide on autophagy and the apoptosis after acute spinal cord injury in rats. Methods Thirty-six adult male SD rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided into three groups (n=12 for each group):sham operation group (Sham group), spinal cord injury group (Model group) and hydrogen sulfide pre-treatment group (H2S group). Allen’s method was used to establish the rat model of spinal cord injury. Rats of sham operation group re?ceived only laminectomy. Rats of H2S group received sodium hydrosulphide injection intraperitoneally (50μmol/kg) 1h after spinal cord injury, and Model group was given the same amount of saline solution. Rats in the three groups were sacrificed 24 h after spinal cord injury, then the spinal cord was removed. The expressions of LC3, p70S6K and Cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blot assay. The expression of LC3 was also detected by immunofluorescence. The cell apoptosis was as?sessed by TUNEL stain. Results Compared with Sham group, the expression levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰand Cleaved caspase-3 were increased in Model group, but the expression of p70S6K decreased and cell apoptosis increased in Model group (P<0.01). Compared with Model group, the expression levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰand Cleaved caspase-3 were decreased significant?ly, while the expression of p70S6K increased and cell apoptosis decreased significantly in H2S group (P < 0.01). Conclu?sion Hydrogen sulfide can inhibit autophagy and reduce cell apoptosis after acute spinal cord injury in rats.
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Objective To explain the differences between zingiber officinale and its sulfur fumigation products on chromatography fingerprints by HPLC-DAD;To discuss the influence of sulfur-fumigation on the quality of zingiber officinale. Methods HPLC, diode array detector, and ZORBAX SB-C18 column were used with acetonitrile-water as the mobile phase, gradient elute, volume flow rate of 1 mL/min, column temperature of 25 ℃, and detection wavelength of 280 nm. HPLC-DAD technology was applied to establish the fingerprints of zingiber officinale before and after sulfur-fumigating process, in order to analyze the HPLC fingerprints of zingiber officinale before and after sulfur-fumigating process. External standard method was used to do the quantitative determination of 6-gingerol. Results The 17 common peaks were identified through the comparison of 3 batches of fingerprints of zingiber officinale and their sulfur-fumigated samples. The peak areas of NO.3, NO.10, NO.11, and NO.17 were reduced by 50.68%, 64.41%, 67.68%, and 21.23%respectively. The content of 6-gingerol had no significant change. Conclusion The chemical composition of zingiber officinale changed at different degrees after sulfur-fumigated process. The safety and effectiveness of sulfur fumigation products of zingiber officinale require more researches.
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Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothial growth faetor(VEGF) proliferating cell nudear antigen(PCNA) and their biological significance was studied in papillary thyroid carcinoma and normal thyroid tissues. Methods Immuohistochemismy S-P technique was used to examine the expression of VEGF and PCNA in specimens of 58 papillary thyroid carcinoma and 19 normal thyroid tissues. Results The positive rates of VEGF and PCNA in papillary thyroid were higher than those in normal thyroid tissues( P＜0.01 ), and a positive correlation between these two expressions existed in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusion VEGF and PCNA could be regarded as parameters to evaluate the biological behavior and they might be the indices for juvant diagnosis and evaluation of papillary thyroid cancer.