1.Current status of research on the mechanism of action of emodin in the prevention and treatment of chronic liver diseases
Yajie CHEN ; Xin WANG ; Yunjuan WU ; Ying SU ; Yuhan WANG ; Jinxue ZHANG ; Ning YAO ; Ying QIN ; Xiaoning ZUO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):228-234
Chronic liver diseases are a group of diseases in which the liver is subjected to a variety of injuries over a long period of time, resulting in irreversible pathological changes that last longer than 6 months. Emodin (EMO) is a natural anthraquinone derivative derived from Rheum officinale, and its pharmacological effect has been extensively studied, exhibiting a variety of biological properties and involving multiple signaling molecules and pathways. Western medicine or surgical treatment is currently the main treatment regimen for chronic liver diseases, and the advance in treatment is limited by various reasons such as side effects and high costs. Due to its natural origin and efficacy, EMO has unique advantages in the treatment of chronic liver diseases and has now become a research hotspot. This article summarizes the therapeutic effect of EMO on chronic liver diseases and its mechanism, in order to provide a certain scientific basis for the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of chronic liver diseases and the development of drugs in clinical practice.
2.Analysis of depressive symptoms and associated factors among primary and secondary school students in the in depth monitoring counties Rural Nutrition Improvement Program
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(2):219-222
Objective:
To understand the prevalence and related factors of depressive symptoms among primary and secondary school students in the in depth monitoring counties of China s Rural Compulsory Education Nutrition Improvement Program, so as to provide a basis for prevention and psychological intervention of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in rural areas.
Methods:
In November 2022, a stratified random sampling method was adopted to collect height and weight data, basic personal and family information of 7 949 primary and secondary school students from grade three to grade nine through physical measurements and questionnaires in 56 key monitoring schools implementing the Student Nutrition Improvement Program in 7 in depth monitoring counties (Jalaid Banner in Inner Mongolia, Jinzhai County in Anhui, Mao Xian in Sichuan, Tiandeng County in Guangxi, Mian County in Shaanxi, Zhaozhou County in Heilongjiang and Youxi County in Fujian), and to obtain the information related to their depressive symptoms through the self assessment questionnaire on depression. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the prevalence of depressive symptoms among primary and secondary school students, as well as their related factors.
Results:
The detection rate of depressive symptoms among primary and secondary school students in the in depth monitored counties was 23.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability of detecting depressive symptoms was higher among female students, middle school students, students whose video screen duration per day was >2 h, and students whose parents marital status was divorced or widowed ( OR =1.40, 1.64, 1.60, 1.24), and students whose sleep duration reached the recommended standard, whose parents usually accompanied them daily for time was 60-<120 min and ≥120 min, and students whose mothers literacy level was middle school graduation had lower probability of detecting depressive symptoms ( OR =0.85, 0.84, 0.71, 0.76) ( P < 0.05 ).
Conclusion
The detection rate of depressive symptoms among students in the in depth monitoring area is high, and targeted interventions need to be developed for students to reduce the risk of mental health problems.
3.Diagnostic and Treatment Approach to Coronary Microvascular Disease from the Perspective of "Disharmony of Blood Collaterals and Dysfunction of Qi Transformation"
Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Jianguo LIN ; Xiaoning SUN ; Ziyi SUN ; Tong TONG ; Wenqian ZUO ; Zeqi WANG ; Kuiwu YAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(7):755-759
The study explores the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic and treatment approach to coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) from the perspective of "disharmony of blood collaterals and dysfunction of qi transformation". It is proposed that the core pathogenesis of CMVD lies in these two mechanisms. From an integrative medicine perspective, different CMVD types are analyzed based on their specific pathogenesis. Through clinical practice, four targeted treatment methods, i.e. warming, unblocking, tonifying, and activating, are formulated. CMVD caused by atherosclerosis is primarily associated with myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization, with corresponding pathological mechanisms of latent pathogenic obstruction, toxic accumulation in the collaterals, and deficiency with collateral stasis. The disease progression exhibits characteristics of correlation, staging, and transformation. Accordingly, treatment principles include warming to assist qi transformation, unblocking obstruction and dispelling turbidity, activating to disperse toxic stasis and invigorate collaterals, and tonifying to eliminate stasis and nourish collaterals. For CMVD unrelated to atherosclerosis, attention should be paid to the underlying disease, analyzing the main syndromes of blood and collateral disharmony. An approach combining disease-syndrome differentiation with blood and collateral regulation is emphasized for precise treatment.
4.Analysis of health-related lifestyles among primary and secondary school students in nutrition improvement program regions of China between 2021 and 2023
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(6):788-791
Objective:
To analyze the features of unhealthy lifestyle patterns among primary and secondary school students in the nutrition improvement program for rural compulsory education students (NIPRCES) areas in China in 2021 and 2023, so as to provide data support for lifestyle promotion and healthy development among primary and secondary school students.
Methods:
Adopting a cluster random sampling method, data on primary and secondary students aged 7-15 years from nutrition and health surveillance of China NIPRCES in 2021 and 2023 were collected. The prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles among primary and secondary students such as physical inactivity, outdoor inactivity, excessive screen time, and sleep deprivation by gender, school section, urban/rural, and region were analyzed. The reporting rates of the above indicators among primary and secondary students were compared by Chi-square test.
Results:
In 2021 and 2023, the rates of moderate to vigorous physical inactivity among primary and secondary school students were 79.2% and 80.4%, the rates of outdoor inactivity were 42.8% and 49.3%, the rates of excessive video time were 2.6% and 2.9%, the rates of sleep deprivation were 32.9% and 22.6%, and the differences were statistically significant( χ 2=51.86,1 071.48,18.36,3 296.99, P <0.05). In 2023, the rate of outdoor inactivity for primary and secondary students increased by 6.5 percentage points compared with 2021, and the rate of sleep deprivation decreased by 10.3 percentage points compared with that in 2021. In 2021 and 2023, the reporting rates of moderate to vigorous physical inactivity, outdoor inactivity, and sleep deprivation among girls and junior high school students were higher than those among boys ( χ 2=174.41,180.11; 175.75, 85.46 ;92.22,151.35) and elementary school students ( χ 2=136.64,5.75; 40.55,4.71;162.80,3 291.61); the reporting rates of moderate to vigorous physical inactivity( χ 2=194.43,118.60) and sleep deprivation ( χ 2=969.66,983.72) among urban students were higher than those among rural students; the reporting rates of excessive video time for boys and junior high school students were higher than those for girls ( χ 2=103.62,84.85) and elementary school students ( χ 2=810.09,626.51)( P <0.05). From a regional distribution perspective, the reporting rates of moderato to vigorous physical inactivity, outdoor inactivity, and excessive video time among primary and seconday school students in the central and western regions were lower than those in the eastern region ( χ 2= 663.44,302.78; 356.97,82.10;50.89,81.83) ( P <0.05).
Conclusions
Unhealthy lifestyles remain prevalent among primary and secondary students in NIPRCES areas of China. These findings underscore the need to strengthen policy implementation for promoting healthy lifestyles among primary and secondary school students.
5.Elevated blood pressure and its association with dietary patterns among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-17 years
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(6):863-867
Objective:
To understand the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and its association with dietary patterns in children and adolescents in China, providing evidence for developing dietary intervention of hypertension in children and adolescents.
Methods:
Data were derived from the China Children s Nutrition and Health System Survey and Application Project(2019-2021). A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to include 7 933 participants from 28 survey sites in seven major regions of Northeast, North, Northwest, East, Central, South and Southwest China. Multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between demographic characteristics, nutritional status and elevated blood pressure. Exploratory factor analysis identified dietary patterns, which were divided into three quartile groups (T3, T2, T1) based on factor scores (compliance for dietary pattern) from high to low, and multivariate Logistic regression model assessed the correlation between elevated blood pressure and dietary patterns.
Results:
The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 15.4% among Chinese children aged 7-17 years. Significant differences were observed across nutritional status (reference: underweight; normal weight: OR =1.57; overweight: OR = 2.61 ; obesity: OR =3.85), urban/rural residence (reference: rural; urban: OR =0.86), and paternal education (reference: junior high school and below; bachelor degree or above: OR =0.68) ( P <0.05). The detection rates of high blood pressure in T3 group children and adolescents with four dietary patterns (staple food, animal based food, snacks, vegetables and fruits) were 15.7%, 14.6%, 16.8%, and 15.8%, respectively. After adjusting for residence, paternal education, and nutritional status, the "snack dietary pattern" (mainly candy, sugar sweetened beverages, and processed snacks) showed positive associations with elevated blood pressure in T2 ( OR =1.21) and T3 ( OR =1.19) tertiles ( P <0.05).
Conclusions
The snack dietary pattern is a related factor for elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents. Restricting unhealthy snack intake may promote cardiovascular health.
6.Capsaicin (CAP) exerts a protective effect against ethanol-induced oxidative gastric mucosal injury by modulating the chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)/Src/p47phox signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo.
Zhiru YANG ; Haolin GUO ; Pengfei ZHANG ; Kairui LIU ; Junli BA ; Xue BAI ; Shiti SHAMA ; Bo ZHANG ; Xiaoning GAO ; Jun KANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(2):191-202
Ethanol (EtOH) is a common trigger for gastric mucosal diseases, and mitigating oxidative stress is essential for attenuating gastric mucosal damage. Capsaicin (CAP) has been identified as a potential agent to counteract oxidative damage in the gastric mucosa; however, its precise mechanism remains unclear. This study demonstrates that CAP alleviates EtOH-induced gastric mucosal injuries through two primary pathways: by suppressing the chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)/Src/p47phox axis, thereby reducing oxidative stress, and by inhibiting the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB) p65, resulting in diminished inflammatory responses. These findings elucidate the mechanistic pathways of CAP and provide a theoretical foundation for its potential therapeutic application in the treatment of gastric mucosal injuries.
Ethanol/toxicity*
;
Animals
;
Gastric Mucosa/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Capsaicin/pharmacology*
;
Male
;
NADPH Oxidases/genetics*
;
Mice
;
Humans
;
src-Family Kinases/genetics*
7.Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition)
Jianling FAN ; Tiejun WANG ; Pengfei YANG ; Keke DING ; Xiaoning HAO ; Sunfang JIANG ; Ankang LÜ ; Jianping LU ; Sheng RONG ; Weibin SHI ; Shengwei SUN ; Yan TAN ; Qilei TU ; Zhiping WANG ; Bing WANG ; Jianyun WANG ; Weijian WANG ; Yan WANG ; Qun XU ; Chenli ZHANG ; Fan ZHANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Yansong ZHENG ; Jieru ZHOU ; Dan CHEN ; Jiaoyang ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(6):1097-1111
Obesity, as a chronic recurrent disease, has become a major public health challenge in China. To implement the requirements of the Healthy China Initiative (2019—2030), under domestic guidelines or consensus statements on overweight and obesity, and in alignment with the latest scientific advances globally, the Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition) was developed. This protocol was drafted by the Health Management Center of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and formulated through multiple rounds of deliberation by experts in China’s health examination quality control field. The protocol establishes unified standards for screening facilities, personnel qualifications, and measurement or testing procedures. It defines specific screening items, outlines a standardized screening pathway, and sets requirements for the final medical review, ensuring the scientific validity, effectiveness, and safety of the screening process. The implementation of this protocol will enhance the consistency of weight management practices for adults across health examination institutions and strengthen the quality control of overweight and obesity screening programs.
8.Role of NF-κB Signaling Pathway in "Reflux Esophagitis-esophageal Cancer" and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention:A Review
Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Xin LIU ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jing HUANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):221-233
Reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of esophageal mucosa damage caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Its incidence is on the rise, and it has become an important precancerous disease of esophageal cancer. Studies have shown that the continuous inflammatory response stimulates the esophageal mucosa, causing abnormal proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells and damage to esophageal mucosal tissue, which eventually leads to the occurrence of heterogeneous hyperplasia and even carcinogenesis. The nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is one of the most classical inflammatory and cancer signaling pathways. It has been found that abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial to the development and prognosis of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. It is widely involved in the proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of esophageal epithelial cells and tumor cells, accelerating the transformation of reflux esophagitis to esophageal cancer and making it a potential target for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. Currently, there is no specific treatment for reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, and large side effects often appear. Therefore, finding a promising and safe drug remains a top priority. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine scholars have conducted a lot of research on NF-κB signaling pathway, and the results indicate that NF-κB signaling pathway is an important potential target for traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, but there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic elaboration. Therefore, this paper summarized the relevant studies in recent years, analyzed the relationship among NF-κB signaling pathway, reflux esophagitis, esophageal cancer, and transformation from inflammation to cancer, and reviewed the research literature on the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer.
9.Effects and Mechanisms of Electroacupuncture at Zhongwan (CV12) on Gastric Nociceptive Response Induced by Gastric Acid Stimulation in Rats
Hong SHI ; Zhaokun YANG ; Xiaoyu WANG ; Wei HE ; Yangshuai SU ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Hongye WAN ; Zhengyang QU ; Xianghong JING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(2):213-218
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture at Zhongwan (CV12) on gastric nociceptive response induced by gastric acid stimulation and explore the underlying mechanisms associated with nuclei of the medullary viscerosensory and visceral motor neurons. MethodsTwenty SD rats were given intragastric administration of 0.5 mol/L diluted hydrochloric acid (0.5 ml/100 g) to induce gastric nociceptive response induction. Eight rats were randomly selected to record the gastric slow wave (GSW) area under the curve, and extracellular discharge frequency of neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) before intragastric administration and at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 minutes after intragastric administration. The remaining 12 rats received electroacupuncture intervention at Zhongwan within 5 to 25 minutes after intragastric administration of diluted hydrochloric acid, with a duration of one minute. The GSW area under the curve and extracellular discharge frequency of NTS and DMV neurons were compared between the 1-minute intervals before and after electroacupuncture intervention. ResultsCompared to the baseline before intragastric administration, the area under the curve of GSW significantly increased at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 minutes after intragastric administration, and the extracellular discharge frequency of excitatory neurons in the NTS (accounting for 90%, 57/63) significantly increased at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 minutes, both reaching peak values at 1 minute after intragastric administration (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The extracellular discharge frequency of inhibitory neurons in the DMV (accounting for 91%, 20/22) showed a non-significant increase at 1 minute after intragastric administration (P>0.05), but significantly decreased at other timepoints (P<0.05). Compared to the baseline before electroacupuncture intervention, the GSW area under the curve and the extracellular discharge frequency of excitatory neurons in the NTS significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the extracellular discharge frequency of inhibitory neurons in the DMV showed no significant difference (P>0.05). ConclusionElectroacupuncture at Zhongwan can improve gastric nociceptive response induced by gastric acid stimulation, possibly by reducing the transmission of visceral sensation and decreasing the excitability of NTS neurons in the medulla.
10.Discussion on the Differentiation Treatment Strategy of Borderline Hypertension Based on the Theory of "Examining the Symptoms First, Identifying the Constitutions as Reference, and Combining the Diseases and Patterns"
Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Qingqing WANG ; Jinlong DUAN ; Jianguo LIN ; Ziyi SUN ; Xiaoning SUN ; Wenqian ZUO ; Kuiwu YAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(12):1224-1229
Based on the clinical thinking of combining diseases and patterns, we combined disease identification, pattern differentiation, and constitution identification, and put forward the theory of identifying and treating critical hypertension, which is "examining the symptoms first, identifying the constitutions as reference, and combining the diseases and patterns". Firstly, the starting point of identifying the disease is to examine the symptoms, and those with precise diagnosis and strong specificity will be diagnosed with the disease, while those with relatively broad diagnosis and fuzzy characteristics will be emphasised on identifying constitutions and differentiating patterns. Focusing on the impact of constitution identification on disease identification and pattern differentiation, constitution identification could be the basis when no symptoms to identify, and based on the theory of "constitution-disease correlation" and "constitution-pattern correlation" to improve the understanding of borderline hypertension from the group and individual level, which helps to identify and predict the development of the diseases and patterns; if the symptoms are complicated and difficult to identify, it is necessary to take syndrome as the outline, use the syndrome to unify the disease, and then refer to the constitution to legislate and prescribe medications. This paper summarizes the traditional Chinese medicine clinical differentiation and treatment strategy of borderline hypertension clear and easy to grasp, with a view to provide a feasible and efficient reference for prevention and treatment of borderline hypertension with traditional Chinese medicine.


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