Publications by authors named "Si-Min Chen"

Article Synopsis
  • * Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) play a crucial role in maintaining gut health by regulating nutrient absorption and the protective barrier, influenced by various signaling pathways such as WNT, BMP, and NOTCH, among others.
  • * The review focuses on understanding how ISCs respond to radiation damage and discusses current treatment strategies, with the goal of developing new therapies to prevent intestinal harm caused by radiation.
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  • Chronic kidney disease can be exacerbated by obesity and hyperuricemia, with red ginseng showing potential benefits in addressing renal injury but needing further exploration in obese cases.
  • The study investigates red ginseng extract (RGE) on kidney damage in HUA mice induced by a high-fat diet, focusing on weight, metabolic function, and kidney health.
  • Results indicate that RGE improves kidney function and structure by regulating metabolic parameters and reducing harmful proteins associated with inflammation and fibrosis.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory disease affecting the colon and rectum with an etiology that remains elusive. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used on long-term UC treatment to better maintain the efficacy than traditional aminosalicylic acid or glucocorticosteroids and to ease financial burden of patients. Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction (QCWZD) is a modern TCM decoction with established clinical efficacy but the mechanism of its protection on intestinal barrier function remains unclear.

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  • This research investigates how hydrogen sulfide (HS) helps alleviate cognitive impairment caused by chronic stress, focusing on the role of growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and its effect on hippocampal pyroptosis.* -
  • Experiments conducted on rats exposed to chronic mild stress demonstrated that HS increased GDF11 levels and reduced pyroptosis, which is linked to cognitive decline, through tests measuring behavioral performance.* -
  • The findings suggest that GDF11 is essential for HS's protective effects against cognitive impairment and support the idea that inhibiting NLRP3/caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in the hippocampus can improve cognitive function.*
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This study aims to examine the effect of superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizomaon on natural perimenopausal syndrome in rats and explore the underlying mechanism. To be specific, a total of 60 female SD rats(14-15 months old) with estrous cycle disorder were screened by the vaginal smear and randomized into model control group, β-estradiol 3-benzoate group(0.1 mg·kg~(-1)), superfine powder of Polygonati Rhizoma group(0.

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Sub-health status, in which a person's mind and body exist in a low-quality state of being between disease and health, has become an urgent public health problem that cannot be ignored globally. One of the most apparent sub-health symptoms is fatigue, and it also shows a significant decrease in mental vitality and adaptability caused by disruption of the neuroendocrine-immune system. (DOF) has a long history of use in China as a medicinal food with immune-regulating, anti-fatigue, anti-oxidant, and hypoglycemic effects.

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  • - This study investigates the role of ferroptosis markers in predicting outcomes for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, addressing a gap in existing research.
  • - Researchers analyzed tissue samples using immunohistochemistry and mRNA data, identifying three key genes (GPX4, NOX1, and ACSL4) linked to prognosis; higher GPX4 and lower NOX1 and ACSL4 levels correlate with worse clinical outcomes.
  • - The findings suggest that a low ferroptosis score indicates better survival and treatment responses, with an association between lower scores and higher immune cell infiltration, positioning IFN-γ as a crucial link between ferroptosis and immune response in CRC.
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  • Aging can cause problems with the gut, leading to diseases that affect older people.
  • A study showed that Gastrodia elata and its ingredient parishin help keep the gut healthy in older mice.
  • These substances help prevent inflammation and keep the good bacteria in the gut balanced, which can make aging effects less severe.
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  • Infections pose a significant risk to immunocompromised patients, with high mortality rates from invasive candidiasis, highlighting the need for effective long-term vaccines.
  • The study developed an antifungal nanovaccine using Hsp90-CTD as an antigen and Polyethyleneimine (PEI) as an adjuvant, which successfully stimulated B cells to produce long-lived plasma cells.
  • Results indicated that the nanovaccine not only created stable nanoparticles but also led to a sustained antibody response in mice, lasting up to 12 months post-immunization.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leonurus japonicus Houtt., also known as motherwort, is a traditional Chinese medicine that was first identified in Shennong Bencao Jing, the first and essential pharmacy monograph in China. L.

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The emergence of antibiotic resistance in has necessitated the development of innovative anti-infective agents acting on novel targets. Alpha-hemolysin (Hla), a key virulence factor of , is known to cause various cell damage and death. In this study, with bioassay-guided fractionation, a pair of unusual epimeric lignan trimers, ligustchuanes A and B ( and ), were isolated from the rhizomes of Hort, together with two known phthalides being identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS.

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Due to the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance in , antivirulence therapy may be a promising alternative for the effective control of the spread of resistant pathogens. The Chinese Materia Medica has been widely used for the treatment of diseases and production of health foods, and it remains a valuable resource for the discovery of compounds possessing antivirulence activity. Through a infection model, an EtOAc-soluble fraction of 80% EtOH extract of Bunge (SMEA) was found to possess potential anti-infective activity against .

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Recent decades have seen a significant increase in invasive fungal infections, resulting in unacceptably high mortality rates. Anidulafungin (AN) is the newest echinocandin and appears to have several advantages over existing antifungals. However, its poor water solubility and burdensome route of administration (i.

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Homocysteine (Hcy) is an important intermediate in methionine metabolism and generation of one-carbon units, and its dysfunction is associated with many pathological states. Although Hcy is a non-protein amino acid, many studies have demonstrated protein-related homocysteine metabolism and possible mechanisms underlying homocysteinylation. Homocysteinylated proteins lose their original biological function and have a negative effect on the various disease phenotypes.

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  • - The study examined how different doses of ketoconazole (KCZ) impact liver and testis functions in Kunming mice, dividing them into four groups: a normal group and three KCZ treatment groups with varying doses (30 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg).
  • - After 3 weeks of treatment, results showed that KCZ significantly increased liver enzyme levels (AST and ALT) and decreased testicular enzyme activities (γ-GT, ACP, LDH) compared to the normal group, indicating physiological damage.
  • - Histological analysis revealed pathological changes, including denatured liver cells and reduced spermatogenic cells in the testis, with greater damage observed at higher doses of KCZ,
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Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) belongs to secondary osteoporosis caused by diabetes; it has the characteristics of high morbidity and high disability. In the present study, we constructed a type 1 diabetic rat model and administered chondroitin sulfate (200 mg/kg) for 10 weeks to observe the preventive effect of chondroitin sulfate on the bone loss of diabetic rats. The results showed that chondroitin sulfate can reduce blood glucose and relieve symptoms of diabetic rats; in addition, it can significantly increase the bone mineral density, improve bone microstructure, and reduce bone marrow adipocyte number in diabetic rats; after 10 weeks of chondroitin sulfate administration, the SOD activity level was upregulated, as well as CAT levels, indicating that chondroitin sulfate can alleviate oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

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This study aims to investigate the preventive effect of Dendrobium officinale in LPS-induced intestinal mucosal damage. Forty SPF-grade C57 BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into normal group(NC), model group(LPS), and two superfine powder groups of Dendrobium officinale(DOF)(DOF-L, 0.30 g·kg~(-1)and DOF-H, 0.

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Background: Microcirculatory disturbance is closely associated with multiple diseases such as ischemic and septic stroke. Luteolin (3,4,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a vascular protective flavonoid present in several dietary foods. However, how luteolin plays a role in microcirculatory disturbance is still unknown.

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is a common fungal pathogen in humans that colonizes the skin and mucosal surfaces of the majority healthy individuals. How disseminates into the bloodstream and causes life-threatening systemic infections in immunocompromised patients remains unclear. Plasminogen system activation can degrade a variety of structural proteins and is involved in several homeostatic processes.

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Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is deemed to a severe surgical complication without effective treatment. Previous work has confirmed the important modulatory role of hydrogen sulfide (HS) in cognitive function. This study was proposed to explore whether HS relieves POCD and the possible mechanisms.

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Tobacco smoke is the major risk factor for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Viral infection is a major cause of COPD exacerbation, which lacks effective drug treatments. In the present study, to mimic the pathogenesis of COPD, we employed a TLR3 ligand [Poly (I:C), PIC] to mimic viral infection to determine whether it enhances the effects of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced airway inflammation and remodeling.

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Invasive candidiasis (IC) is one of the leading causes of death among immunocompromised patients. Because of limited effective therapy treatment options, prevention of IC through vaccine is an appealing strategy. However, how to induce the generation of direct candidacidal antibodies in host remains unclear.

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