A novel strategy of integrating network pharmacology and transcriptome reveals antiapoptotic mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in treating intracerebral hemorrhage

Hemodynamic evaluation of endovascular techniques of stenting and coiling for the treatment of internal carotid artery aneurysm: a computational study

The selection optimum endovascular method for the treatment of different cerebral aneurysms has been the main challenge for surgeons. In the present article, the computational technique is used for the hemodynamic evaluation of two main endovascular techniques of stent and coiling for the reduction of the hemorrhage risk of ICA aneurysms. Comprehensive analyses of the blood flow are performed to detect potential regions with high risk at critical stages of the cardiac cycle. Two coiling porosity conditions and stent deformation have been investigated via computational study to reveal the main change related to hemodynamics when these techniques are implemented. The hemodynamic results of this study show that the endovascular technique is more efficient in small aneurysms rather than giant ones. Meanwhile, the stent treatment of the giant saccular aneurysm is effective when the parent vessel of this type of aneurysm is fully aligned and limited blood flow enters the sac area.

Exploring the Antiviral Potential of Artemisia annua Through JAK-STAT Pathway Targeting: A Network Pharmacology Approach

BACKGROUND

Artemisia annua, a plant with antiviral potential, has shown promise against various viral infections, yet its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. This study explores A. annua's antiviral effects using network pharmacology and molecular docking, focusing on key active compounds and their interactions with viral protein targets, particularly within the JAK-STAT signaling pathway-a critical mediator of immune responses to viral infections.

METHODS

From the TCMSP database, we identified eight active compounds and 335 drug targets for A. annua, with 19 intersecting targets between A. annua compounds and viral proteins. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network highlighted 10 key hub genes, analyzed further through Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathways to understand their immune and antiviral roles. ADMET properties of the active compound Patuletin (MOL004112) were assessed, followed by 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations to examine its stability in complex with JAK2.

RESULTS

PPI analysis identified JAK2, MAPK3, MAPK1, JAK1, PTPN1, HSPA8, TYK2, RAF1, MAPT, and HMOX1 as key hub genes, with JAK2 emerging as a critical regulator of immune and antiviral pathways. ADMET analysis confirmed Patuletin's favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and molecular dynamics simulations showed a stable Patuletin-JAK2 complex, with FEL analysis indicating minimal disruption to JAK2's intrinsic flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight JAK2 as a promising target in the antiviral activity of A. annua compounds, particularly Patuletin, supporting its potential as an antiviral agent and providing a foundation for further research on A. annua's therapeutic applications.

Enhancing understanding of stent-induced deformation in MCA aneurysms: a hemodynamic study

This article provides a comprehensive hemodynamic assessment of two endovascular techniques for treating cerebral aneurysms. Through finite volume simulations of pulsatile blood flow in saccular aneurysms, we evaluated hemodynamic factors under two coiling conditions with varying porosities and deformation stages to determine the most effective treatment for each case. Our analysis shows that stent and coiling treatments are more effective for aneurysms with smaller sac volumes. In particular, stent placement is found to be more effective than coiling for managing saccular aneurysms. The results indicate that stent-induced deformation effectively redirects the main blood flow, significantly lowering the risk of aneurysm rupture near the ostium. Obtained results emphasize the role of deformation and porosity in controlling wall shear stress, which is essential for understanding aneurysm progression and potential rupture risk.

Global research hotspots and trends of Buyang huanwu decoction: A visual analysis of the literature based on CiteSpace

BACKGROUND

Buyang huanwu decoction (BYHWD) has shown significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of several diseases, particularly stroke. However, bibliometric research has not been comprehensive.

METHODS

BYHWD articles were collected from literature databases published from January 1, 1915, to March 31, 2024, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, Wanfang, Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. Knowledge network graphs of annual publication volume, authors, institutions, countries, keywords, and references were constructed.

RESULTS

Nine thousand two hundred thirty-eight Chinese literature and 559 English articles published between 1915 and 2024 showed an overall upward trend. The countries, institutions, journals, and authors with the highest output were China, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangxian Cai, and Changqing Deng, respectively. Research teams outside China were located at Daejeon University, Gachon University, Aga Khan University, Yale University, etc. The results of keyword co-occurrence and burst analysis included clinical applications, animal experiments, action mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and safety evaluations based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Literature co-citation analysis revealed that BYHWD was highly correlated with neuroprotection and reduction of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

CONCLUSION

Both Chinese and English literature have shown overall growth trend since 1984 and 1989, respectively. Clinical applications, pharmacological effects, mechanisms, active ingredients, evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety, modified BYHWD, methods, and biological techniques may be hotspots and focus of future research on BYHWD. Hotspot analytical methods and biological techniques include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Future valuable research fields may include studies on neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory activity, ischemic stroke, bioactive compounds, and their underlying mechanisms.

Integration of network pharmacology and transcriptomics to explore the mechanism of isoliquiritigenin in treating heart failure induced by myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The inflammatory response and myocardial remodeling play critical roles in the progression of heart failure (HF) following myocardial infarction (MI). Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) possesses anti-inflammatory properties and has been investigated in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, the effects and mechanism of ISL on MI-induced HF remain unclear. This research aimed to explore the effects and mechanism of ISL in the treatment of HF on the basis of network pharmacology, transcriptomics, and experimental verification.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We established an MI-induced HF mouse model in which ISL was administered via gavage for 28 days. Ultrasonic cardiogram data were collected from the mice, and pathological staining was conducted. Then, network pharmacology and molecular docking were performed. Transcriptomic analysis was also conducted on mouse myocardial tissue. Ultimately, we integrated transcriptomic data and network pharmacology to reveal the underlying mechanism, with the results verified through in vivo experiments. Our experiments indicated that ISL improved cardiac function, preserved myocardial structure, inhibited collagen fiber accumulation, reduced inflammatory factor secretion, and mitigated myocardial cell apoptosis in mice with MI-induced HF. A combination of transcriptomics and network pharmacology analysis revealed that core targets of ISL related to HF were significantly enriched in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) signaling pathway. Molecular docking validation demonstrated that ISL shows strong binding to these core targets. Additionally, in vivo experiments verified that ISL protects against HF post-MI by inhibiting the TNF signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

We clarified the anti-inflammatory and antimyocardial remodeling mechanisms of ISL in the treatment of HF post-MI, which involves the TNF signaling pathway.

Combining systems pharmacology, metabolomics, and transcriptomics to reveal the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza-Cortex moutan herb pair for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS), predominantly triggered by blockages in cerebral blood flow, is increasingly recognized as a critical public health issue. The combination of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Cortex moutan (CM), traditional herbs in Eastern medicine, are frequently used for managing heart and brain vascular conditions. However, the exact mechanisms by which this herb pair (SC) combats IS remain largely unexplored. This investigation focuses on pinpointing the active constituents in SC that contribute to its protective role and deciphering the mechanisms countering cerebral ischemia, particularly in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. We employed UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS alongside network pharmacology for predicting SC's target actions against IS. Key ingredients were examined for their interaction with principal targets using molecular docking. The therapeutic impact was gauged through H&E, TUNEL, and Nissl staining, complemented by transcriptomic and metabolomic integration for mechanistic insights, with vital genes confirmed via western blot. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis revealed that the main components of SC included benzoylpaeoniflorin, salvianolic acid B, oxypaeoniflora, salvianolic acid A, and others. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that SC's mechanism in treating IS primarily involves inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell apoptosis-related pathways, potentially through targets such as AKT1, TNF, PTGS2, MMP9, PIK3CA, and VEGFA. Molecular docking underscored strong affinities between these constituents and their targets. Our empirical studies indicated SC's significant role in enhancing neuroprotection in IS, with transcriptomics suggesting the involvement of the VEGFA/PI3K/AKT pathway and metabolomics revealing improvements in various metabolic processes, including amino acids, glycerophospholipids, sphingomyelin, and fatty acids metabolisms.

MiRNAs as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage

Non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke, most often occurring between the ages of 45 and 60. Hypertension is most often the cause of ICH. Less often, atherosclerosis, blood diseases, inflammatory changes in cerebral vessels, intoxication, vitamin deficiencies, and other reasons cause hemorrhages. Cerebral hemorrhage can occur by diapedesis or as a result of a ruptured vessel. This very dangerous disease is difficult to treat, requires surgery and can lead to disability or death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs (about 18-22 nucleotides) that are involved in a variety of biological processes including cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, etc., through gene repression. A growing number of studies have demonstrated miRNAs deregulation in various cardiovascular diseases, including ICH. In addition, given that computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are either not available or do not show clear signs of possible vessel rupture, accurate and reliable analysis of circulating miRNAs in biological fluids can help in early diagnosis for prevention of ICH and prognosis patient outcome after hemorrhage. In this review, we highlight the up-to-date findings on the deregulated miRNAs in ICH, and the potential use of miRNAs in clinical settings, such as therapeutic targets and non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic biomarker tools.