1.Current Status,Challenges,and Strategies of Basic Research on the Brain-Gut Interaction Theory for Spleen and Stomach Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ting CHEN ; Jinxia ZHU ; Xiaohua HOU ; Xiaoli ZHANG ; Lifei ZHENG ; Lei ZHANG ; Xinxin WANG ; Xuan LI ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):517-522
The brain-gut interaction theory is a multidimensional integrative concept based on the brain-gut axis, involving neural, endocrine, and immune regulatory networks as well as the gut microbiota. Zang-fu organs (脏腑) theory in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows a high degree of consistency with the brain-gut interaction theory, and the core functions such as the spleen and stomach governing the ascending of the clear and descending of the turbid, the liver governing the free flow of qi, and the heart governing mental and emotional activities are closely associated with the multi-level regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis. TCM therapy can modulate brain-gut interactions through multiple pathways in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases, including the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone secretion, neurotransmitter levels, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses, as well as the gut microecology. However, current basic research on the brain-gut interaction theory in TCM for spleen and stomach diseases still faces several challenges, such as difficulties in integrating TCM spleen-stomach theory with modern pathophysiology, lack of innovation in research concepts, and limitations in research methodologies. It is therefore proposed that multidisciplinary collaboration, multi-omics technologies, and targeted research approaches should be adopted to provide more comprehensive methods for basic research on TCM spleen and stomach diseases, thereby promoting the in-depth development of brain-gut interaction theory.
2.Fluid Suppression Techniques Combined With Amide Proton Transfer-Weighted Imaging for the Evaluation of Adult-Type Diffuse Gliomas
Hongquan ZHU ; Yuanhao LI ; Yujie DING ; Yufei LIU ; Nanxi SHEN ; Yan XIE ; Su YAN ; Dong LIU ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Li LI ; Wenzhen ZHU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(3):252-263
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic potential of fluid suppression (FS) techniques combined with amide proton transferweighted imaging (APTw) for assessment of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, glioma subtypes, and tumor proliferation.
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective study included 117 patients with adult-type diffuse gliomas. Conventional APTw, FSAPTw, and spillover-corrected FS-APTw (SCFS-APTw) metrics were calculated from 3T MRI data in tumor parenchyma, necrotic or cystic regions, and contralateral normal-appearing white matter. APTw signals were compared across the three techniques within each region, between IDH-mutant and IDH-wildtype gliomas, and among astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma subtypes. Diagnostic performance for distinguishing IDH mutation status and glioma subtypes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Correlations between APTw metrics and Ki-67 expression were also analyzed.
Results:
Both FS-APTw and SCFS-APTw significantly reduced signal intensity in tumor parenchyma and necrotic or cystic regions, with SCFS-APTw demonstrating a stronger suppression effect. IDH-wildtype gliomas showed significantly higher APTw metrics than IDH-mutant gliomas (all P < 0.001). Glioblastomas exhibited significantly higher metrics than oligodendrogliomas (all corrected P ≤ 0.015) and astrocytomas (all corrected P < 0.001). SCFS-APTw achieved the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.846 for identification of IDH mutation status. For differentiation between astrocytomas and glioblastomas, the 90th percentile of APTw yielded the highest AUC (0.860), followed by SCFS-APTw (0.849). For discrimination between oligodendrogliomas and glioblastomas, the highest AUC (0.832) was obtained using the 90th percentile of SCFS-APTw. None of these metrics successfully differentiated oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas. SCFS-APTw demonstrated the strongest correlation with Ki-67 expression (r = 0.451).
Conclusion
FS techniques effectively reduce elevated APTw signals originating from fluid compartments. Their combination with APTw imaging enables evaluation of IDH mutation status, glioma subtypes, and tumor proliferative activity in adulttype diffuse gliomas.
3.Downregulated vascular endothelial growth factor A as a biomarker of immunosenescence in benign prostatic hyperplasia
Junduo WANG ; Jun ZHU ; Yanbo CHEN ; Meng GU ; Jiatai HE ; Bin XU ; Qi CHEN
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(1):67-77
Objective To identify potential immunosenescence markers in benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and to explore BPH-related senescent phenotypes. Methods Three transcriptome datasets and one single-cell RNA-sequencing(scRNA-seq)dataset for BPH and normal prostate tissues were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database. The GSE7307 and GSE119195 were combined to analyze differentially expressed genes(DEGs). Enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were used to explore aging-related changes in the immune microenvironment. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis(WGCNA)was applied to identify immune-related genes in GSE132714. ScRNA-seq data were employed to investigate the transcriptomic landscape, luminal cell heterogeneity, and aging-related alterations in BPH through cell-cell communication and pseudotime analysis. Finally, the results were validated with in vitro experiments. Results A total of 1202 DEGs and 627 immune-related genes were identified in BPH and normal prostate tissues. Enrichment analysis indicated that the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)signaling pathway exhibited a downregulated aging phenotype in BPH. In scRNA-seq analysis, 9 cell types were identified. The VEGF signaling pathway in BPH exhibited an aging-related expression pattern, characterized by decreased vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA)in luminal cells. Conclusion Our study identified VEGFA as a marker of immunosenescence in BPH, with changes of the VEGF pathway. Meanwhile, low expression of VEGFA, coupled with high expression of placental growth factor(PlGF)and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR), represented a senescent phenotype of the prostate.
4.From mechanism to clinical practice: advances and challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(4):680-687
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the most common late complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with an incidence rate of 30% to 70%. It significantly affects the long-term survival of patients. The clinical manifestations of this disease are highly heterogeneous and can involve multiple organs such as the skin, mouth, eyes, lungs and liver. Its core mechanism involves chronic inflammation, disruption of immune tolerance and dysregulation of T and B cells, ultimately leading to tissue fibrosis. In recent years, with the deepening of research on the pathogenesis, the treatment of cGVHD has evolved from traditional glucocorticoids to targeted drugs targeting key signaling pathways such as JAK, ROCK2 and BTK, biological agents that deplete pathogenic immune cells, and cell therapies for reestablishing immune tolerance, forming a diversified and precise treatment landscape. This article reviews the progress in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic assessment and treatment strategies of cGVHD. Current evidence suggests that combined and sequential treatment targeting fibrosis and immune tolerance is a key direction for breaking through the current treatment bottleneck of cGVHD.
5.New perspectives in the research of cell therapy in chronic graft-versus-host disease
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(5):852-858
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a major challenge affecting the long-term survival of patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, especially for those who are resistant to glucocorticoid. In recent years, cell therapy, as an "active drug", has brought breakthroughs in the treatment of cGVHD by actively regulating immunity rather than using traditional broad-spectrum immunosuppression. Mesenchymal stem cells have shown potential in reducing the incidence of cGVHD and treating refractory patients, but their efficacy is affected by the cell source and heterogeneity; regulatory T cell (Treg) has performed outstandingly in restoring immune tolerance and are gradually evolving towards antigen-specific and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-Treg in a precise direction; in addition, CAR-T cell therapies targeting pathogenic B cell, plasma cell, or fibroblast, as well as novel strategies such as regulatory B cell and myeloid-derived suppressor cell, have further expanded the treatment options. Despite challenges such as product standardization, efficacy prediction and cost, in the future, through the integration of combination therapy, universal products and genetic engineering technologies, cell therapy is expected to drive cGVHD towards an individualized and precise treatment era.
6.Chinese expert consensus on the application of jejunal interposition for esophageal reconstruction in complex esophageal cancer surgery (2026 edition)
Wenshu CHEN ; Lilan ZHAO ; Zhaoxian LIN ; Debin OU ; Zhigang LI ; Chengchu ZHU ; Longqi CHEN ; Shuoyan LIU ; Xiangnan LI ; Chao CHENG ; Ni ZHANG ; Songping XIE ; Xufeng GUO ; Xu LI ; Xinyu MEI ; Xuefeng LENG ; Jianqun MA ; Zhijun HUANG ; Guojun GENG ; Lin ZHANG ; Hongyan WANG ; Yi ZHANG ; Weijie WANG ; Jiangbo LIN ; Jinbiao XIE ; Jun GUAN ; Rongqi HE ; Xing LIN ; Xiuhua TU ; Yong LI ; Lijie TAN ; Xiaojie PAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(10):1527-1543
Objective Jejunal interposition is an important option for restoring gastrointestinal continuity in patients with complex esophageal cancer in whom the stomach is unavailable for reconstruction due to previous gastrectomy, tumor involvement, failed gastric conduit, or other constraints. Although the jejunum offers a caliber similar to the esophagus, a rich blood supply, and preserved peristaltic function, anatomical variations in mesenteric length and vascular arcades render long-segment and high-level reconstruction susceptible to excessive tension, mesenteric torsion, venous congestion, and inadequate distal perfusion. This consensus aims to provide standardized recommendations for the application of jejunal interposition in this specific patient population. Methods This consensus was developed in accordance with the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development and Chinese national guideline development standards, with reference to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Ⅱ(AGREE Ⅱ), Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT), and Scientific, Transparent and Applicable Rankings (STAR) checklists. The project was registered on the international practice guidelines registry platform (PREPARE-2026CN1384). The working group systematically searched Chinese and English evidence addressing 12 clinical questions. Evidence was graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) 2009 system, with structured appraisal of risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision. Recommendations were formulated through two rounds of Delphi surveys and a face-to-face consensus meeting, with an agreement threshold of ≥75%. Results The consensus generated 12 recommendations covering indications, selection between jejunum and colon, preoperative assessment, surgical approach and reconstruction route, pedicled jejunal interposition (PJI), supercharged pedicled jejunal interposition (SPJ), indocyanine green (ICG) perfusion assessment, perioperative nutrition, management of anastomotic leakage, long-term follow-up, and special treatment scenarios. Given that the available direct evidence is predominantly derived from single-center retrospective cohorts and case series, recommendations extrapolated from general esophagectomy or other gastrointestinal surgical evidence are deliberately phrased with caution. Conclusion Jejunal interposition is a safe and effective approach for digestive tract reconstruction in patients with complex esophageal cancer in whom the stomach is unavailable. This consensus emphasizes that clinical decision-making should be individualized based on the patient's prior treatment history, reconstruction height, vascular anatomy, technical availability, and institutional experience in the Chinese context.
7.Research progress of ferroptosis in the occurrence and development of periodontitis
SUN Ruiman ; QIN Xu ; ZHU Guangxun
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(4):336-343
Periodontal disease is a chronic infectious disease characterized by chronic inflammation and progressive destruction of the periodontal tissue. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death, is primarily characterized by altered iron homeostasis, weak antioxidant defense, and accumulation of lipid peroxides and plays an important role in a variety of diseases. Recent research has shown the correlation between ferroptosis and the occurrence and development of periodontal disease. Through in-depth research of relevant literature on periodontal ligament fibroblasts, periodontal ligament stem cells, human immortalized oral epithelial cells, human gingival fibroblasts, dental pulp stem cells, MLOY4 cells, mouse mandibular osteoblast, and macrophages, we found that ferroptosis is widely suppressed in periodontal disease. This phenomenon is primarily related to lipid metabolism, iron metabolism, cysteine/glutamate transporter system xc-/glutathione/glutathione peroxidase 4, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate/ferroptosis suppressor protein 1/coenzyme Q10, kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1/nuclear factor E2 related factor 2, and p53. Current research indicates that ferroptosis plays an important role in regulating the destruction of periodontal soft and hard tissues, inflammatory response, and periodontopathogen-induced progression of systemic diseases. Although there are several studies on the mechanism of ferroptosis in periodontal disease, there are many uncertainties in the application of ferroptosis in periodontal therapy. Therefore, further studies are required to explore and develop ferroptosis-related drugs for the treatment of periodontal disease.
8.Diphenylemestrins A-E: diketopiperazine-diphenyl ether hybrids from Aspergillus nidulans.
Aimin FU ; Qin LI ; Yang XIAO ; Jiaxin DONG ; Yuanyang PENG ; Yu CHEN ; Qingyi TONG ; Chunmei CHEN ; Yonghui ZHANG ; Hucheng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):727-732
A chemical investigation of secondary metabolites (SMs) from Aspergillus nidulans resulted in the identification of five novel dioxopiperazine (DKP)-diphenyl ether hybrids, designated as diphenylemestrins A-E (1-5). These compounds 1-5 represent the first known dimers combining DKP and diphenyl ether structures, with compound 4 featuring an uncommon dibenzofuran as the diphenyl ether component. The structural elucidation and determination of absolute stereochemistry were accomplished through spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Notably, diphenylemestrin C (3) exhibited moderate cytostatic activity against NB4 cells, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 21.99 μmol·L-1, and induced apoptosis at higher concentrations.
Aspergillus nidulans/metabolism*
;
Diketopiperazines/pharmacology*
;
Molecular Structure
;
Phenyl Ethers/pharmacology*
;
Humans
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
9.(±)-Talapyrones A-F: six pairs of dimeric polyketide enantiomers with unusual 6/6/6 and 6/6/6/5 ring systems from Talaromycesadpressus.
Meijia ZHENG ; Xinyi ZHAO ; Chenxi ZHOU ; Hong LIAO ; Qin LI ; Yuling LU ; Bingbing DAI ; Weiguang SUN ; Ying YE ; Chunmei CHEN ; Yonghui ZHANG ; Hucheng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(8):932-937
(±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6), six pairs of dimeric polyketide enantiomers featuring unusual 6/6/6 and 6/6/6/5 ring systems, were isolated from the fungus Talaromyces adpressus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and HR-ESI-MS data, and their absolute configurations were elucidated using a modified Mosher's method and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. (±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6) possess a 6/6/6 tricyclic skeleton, presumably formed through a Michael addition reaction between one molecule of α-pyrone derivative and one molecule of C8 poly-β-keto chain. In addition, compounds 2/3 and 4/5 are two pairs of C-18 epimers, respectively. Putative biosynthetic pathways of 1-6 were discussed.
Polyketides/isolation & purification*
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Talaromyces/chemistry*
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Stereoisomerism
;
Molecular Structure
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Circular Dichroism
;
Pyrones/chemistry*
10.Advances in phage immunoprecipitation sequencing technology.
Yuhao ZHU ; Wenlong ZHU ; Yujie LAI ; Mengjia ZHANG ; Wentao LI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):2987-3007
Phage immunoprecipitation sequencing (PhIP-Seq) is a high-throughput and low-cost method for analyzing the specific binding of target proteins to peptide libraries. The method uses oligonucleotide library synthesis (OLS) to encode proteome-scale peptide libraries for display on phages, and then immunoprecipitates these library phages with target proteins (such as antibodies) for subsequent analysis by high-throughput DNA sequencing. PhIP-Seq enables the screening of peptide targets that react specifically with hundreds of proteins or pathogens. PhIP-Seq has been successfully applied in various fields such as disease detection, screening of autoimmune disease biomarkers, vaccine development, and allergen detection, becoming a high-throughput diagnostic technology. This article systematically describes the development, applications, and result evaluation of PhIP-Seq, in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the application and future development prospects of this technology in various fields.
Peptide Library
;
Humans
;
Immunoprecipitation/methods*
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High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods*
;
Bacteriophages/genetics*


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