ShaoJun Zheng

Prunus mume (PM), the dried flower bud of a Rosaceae plant, has a long history of use for its liver‐soothing, depression‐relieving, and appetite‐stimulating effects. Recently, PM has gained attention for its anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and uric acid‐lowering properties. The chemical composition of PM was analyzed using network pharmacology and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). The therapeutic potential of PM for hyperuricemia‐induced kidney damage was evaluated in a quail model. Antioxidant activity in an HK‐2 cell model of hyperuricemia was assessed by measuring the levels of MDA, SOD, and GSH. Additionally, the anti‐inflammatory potential was examined using ELISA to measure TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels. Western blotting was employed to study the effects on URAT1, GLUT9, and the PI3K/AKT pathway. LC‐MS identified 284 compounds in PM, with 35 predicted active ingredients. The quail model demonstrated PM's protective effects on the kidneys under hyperuricemic conditions. In vitro, PM reduced oxidative stress and lowered TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels. It also modulated URAT1 and GLUT9 expression and influenced the PI3K/AKT pathway. PM shows promise in protecting kidneys from hyperuricemia‐induced damage, likely through its anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant activities, as well as the regulation of urate transport proteins and the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Zheng S, et al. J Vet Sci. 2025 Apr;26:e34. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.24313

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), identify influencing factors, and inform ticagrelor treatment optimization. Materials and methods: Data from 195 ACS patients, including 491 plasma ticagrelor concentration timepoints and clinical information, were analyzed using NONMEN for pharmacokinetic (PK) parameter factors. The model underwent internal validation with bootstrap methodology. Results: The PK curve of ticagrelor was well delineated using a one disposition compartment model with first-order absorption rate constant, 0.67/h. When the direct bilirubin levels and white plasma cell counts increased, female patients showed decreased glomerular filtration rate, decreased ticagrelor clearance rate, and increased exposure. When the direct bilirubin levels increased and body weight and hemoglobin decreased, rs6787801 was GG compared with AA and GA, the ticagrelor metabolite clearance rate decreased and exposure increased. Conclusion: The study offers key insights into ticagrelor's dose-exposure relationship postpercutaneous coronary intervention in ACS patients, highlighting factors critical for personalized treatment strategies.

Background and Objective Platelets play a pivotal role in thrombotic events associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), making oral antiplatelet therapy a cornerstone in antithrombotic strategies. The dosing regimen for the oral antiplatelet drug ticagrelor warrants evaluation to ensure its appropriateness in clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the real-world clinical application of ticagrelor by determining the optimal therapeutic concentration of ticagrelor in Chinese patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods We enrolled a cohort of 912 patients who underwent PCI with drug-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of ACS. We measured steady-state plasma drug concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The therapeutic drug concentration range at steady state was established on the basis of clinical pharmacodynamic indices, with verification of reliability through concentration-effect analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve assessment. Results Analysis of plasma samples from the 912 patients revealed significant variations in the steady-state trough concentration of ticagrelor associated with factors such as gender, age, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. On the basis of this analysis, the optimal therapeutic range for steady-state trough concentration was determined to be 240.65–335.83 ng/mL. Furthermore, the upper limit values for steady-state concentration were established at 439.97 ng/mL for male patients and 347.06 ng/mL for female patients. Conclusions This study provides robust and reliable insights into the optimal therapeutic steady-state trough concentrations of ticagrelor in Chinese patients with post-percutaneous coronary intervention. These findings have significant implications for guiding the rational use of antiplatelet drugs and facilitating precise drug administration in Chinese patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: This research examines the intestinal‐associated flora of patients with depression compared with healthy volunteers to identify the characteristics and differences of flora associated with depression. It provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of depression through intestinal micro‐ecological regulation.Methods: We recruited 30 patients with depression to participate in the patient group (PG), and 30 volunteers were recruited for the healthy control group (HG) from the Beijing Hui‐long‐guan Hospital. Thereafter, the 16S rRNA high‐throughput sequencing method, using the Hamilton Depression Scale, was applied to analyze patient and healthy groups.Results: PG and HG microflora were different regarding phylum, Family, Genus, and Order. The results showed that Barnesiella was the dominant flora in depression patients, while Lachnospiraceae and Alloprevotella were the dominant bacteria in healthy participants. The proportion of Betaproteobateria (Proteobacteria), Alcaligenaceae (proinflammatory), Peptostreptococcaceae, Catenibacterium, Romboutsia, Sutterella, and Burkholderiales in the anxiety‐negative depressed group was significantly higher than in the anxiety‐positive group; and the proportion of Anaerostipes (inflammation) and Faecalibacterium (anti‐inflammatory) bacteria was significantly lower than that of patients with anxiety.Conclusion: Results showed there were differences in intestinal micro‐ecology between patients with depression and healthy volunteers. We found that the level of inflammation‐related bacteria in anxiety‐positive patients was lower than that in anxiety‐negative patients. These results enrich the knowledge of relationships between depression and intestinal flora and provide a theoretical basis for probiotics to assist in the treatment of depression.