1.Effect of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤) on the VAPB-PTPIP51 Complex and Autophagy of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Colon of Slow Transit Constipation Model Rats
Chuyue WANG ; Jiacheng LI ; Yingqi YANG ; Sicheng SHEN ; Zhiyang CHEN ; Zhizhong XU ; Bensheng WU ; Meiyao CHEN ; Ziwei XIONG ; Jinhui GU ; Xiaopeng WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):985-993
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤, TD) in treating slow transit constipation (STC). MethodsTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, TD group, and mosapride group, with 6 rats per group. Except for the normal group, STC models were established by intragastric administration of loperamide hydrochloride combined with normal saline. On the day following successful model establishment, rats in the TD group received 18.63 g·kg⁻¹ of TD by gavage, while those in the mosapride group received 1.605 mg·d⁻¹ of mosapride, and those in the normal group and the model group received 10 ml·kg⁻¹ of normal saline by gavage. All treatments were administered once daily for 7 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, fecal pellet number and fecal water content were measured. After intragastric administration of a 10% activated charcoal suspension, the small intestinal transit rate was calculated 30 minutes later. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were measured by ELISA. Colonic histopathology was observed by HE staining, and mucus secretion by Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining. Ultrastructure of colon tissue was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Protein expression levels of C-kit, stem cell factor (SCF), autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), Beclin1, vesicle-associated membrane protein B (VAPB), and protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (VAPB-PTPIP51) were measured by Western Blot, and the mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect SCF, C-kit, Beclin1, and ATG5 expression. The calcium content in colon tissue was determined by ELISA. ResultsCompared to the normal group, rats in the model group showed significantly reduced fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, and serum GAS and MTL levels (P<0.01); the number of goblet cells decreased, and the mucosal and muscular layers of the colon became thinner; mRNA and protein expression levels of ATG5 and Beclin1 in colon tissue significantly increased, while calcium content decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and electron microscopy revealed vacuolar degeneration and increased autophagosomes in colonic cells. Compared to the model group, both TD group and mosapride group showed increased fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, serum GAS and MTL levels, and colonic calcium content, along with decreased Beclin1 and ATG5 protein levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the mucosal thickness and goblet cell number increased significantly, and autophagosomes decreased; in the TD group, ATG5 and Beclin1 mRNA levels decreased; in the mosapride group, SCF, VAPB, and PTPIP51 mRNA levels increased, while Beclin1 mRNA decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the mosapride group, the TD group showed higher fecal pellet number, fecal water content, serum GAS levels, colonic calcium content, and C-kit expression, along with lower ATG5 and Beclin1 levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionTD may improve constipation symptoms by upregulating the VAPB-PTPIP51 complex during mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions, reducing autophagy of interstitial cells of Cajal, and promoting intestinal motility.
2.Effect of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤) on the VAPB-PTPIP51 Complex and Autophagy of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Colon of Slow Transit Constipation Model Rats
Chuyue WANG ; Jiacheng LI ; Yingqi YANG ; Sicheng SHEN ; Zhiyang CHEN ; Zhizhong XU ; Bensheng WU ; Meiyao CHEN ; Ziwei XIONG ; Jinhui GU ; Xiaopeng WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):985-993
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤, TD) in treating slow transit constipation (STC). MethodsTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, TD group, and mosapride group, with 6 rats per group. Except for the normal group, STC models were established by intragastric administration of loperamide hydrochloride combined with normal saline. On the day following successful model establishment, rats in the TD group received 18.63 g·kg⁻¹ of TD by gavage, while those in the mosapride group received 1.605 mg·d⁻¹ of mosapride, and those in the normal group and the model group received 10 ml·kg⁻¹ of normal saline by gavage. All treatments were administered once daily for 7 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, fecal pellet number and fecal water content were measured. After intragastric administration of a 10% activated charcoal suspension, the small intestinal transit rate was calculated 30 minutes later. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were measured by ELISA. Colonic histopathology was observed by HE staining, and mucus secretion by Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining. Ultrastructure of colon tissue was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Protein expression levels of C-kit, stem cell factor (SCF), autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), Beclin1, vesicle-associated membrane protein B (VAPB), and protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (VAPB-PTPIP51) were measured by Western Blot, and the mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect SCF, C-kit, Beclin1, and ATG5 expression. The calcium content in colon tissue was determined by ELISA. ResultsCompared to the normal group, rats in the model group showed significantly reduced fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, and serum GAS and MTL levels (P<0.01); the number of goblet cells decreased, and the mucosal and muscular layers of the colon became thinner; mRNA and protein expression levels of ATG5 and Beclin1 in colon tissue significantly increased, while calcium content decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and electron microscopy revealed vacuolar degeneration and increased autophagosomes in colonic cells. Compared to the model group, both TD group and mosapride group showed increased fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, serum GAS and MTL levels, and colonic calcium content, along with decreased Beclin1 and ATG5 protein levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the mucosal thickness and goblet cell number increased significantly, and autophagosomes decreased; in the TD group, ATG5 and Beclin1 mRNA levels decreased; in the mosapride group, SCF, VAPB, and PTPIP51 mRNA levels increased, while Beclin1 mRNA decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the mosapride group, the TD group showed higher fecal pellet number, fecal water content, serum GAS levels, colonic calcium content, and C-kit expression, along with lower ATG5 and Beclin1 levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionTD may improve constipation symptoms by upregulating the VAPB-PTPIP51 complex during mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions, reducing autophagy of interstitial cells of Cajal, and promoting intestinal motility.
3.Based on Experimental Verification, Mechanism of Euphorbia humifusa in Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury was Explored
Lijuan ZHANG ; Xuehai JIA ; Yaping GUO ; Shunying LI ; Lu YANG ; Dahong YAO ; Ke ZHANG ; Hangyu WANG ; Jinhui WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):166-176
ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and mechanism of Euphorbia humifusa on acute kidney injury (AKI) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification. MethodsThe active components and targets of E. humifusa were retrieved from TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction database, and the AKI targets were screened by GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) databases. The drug targets and disease targets were intersected to construct a protein-protein interaction network, and the intersection targets were subjected to gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Discover Studio software was used to verify the molecular docking of key components and core targets. Gentamicin (GM) was used to induce AKI rat model. Control group, model group, verapamil (16 mg·kg-1) group, E. humifusa extract (18, 54, 162 mg·kg-1·d-1) group and E. humifusa 70% ethanol extract (423 mg·kg-1) group were continuously administered for 14 days. Urine volume was detected 24 h after modeling and administration. Serum creatinine (SCr), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24-hour urine protein (24 hUTP) and uric acid (UA) content; the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), carbon monoxide synthase (NOS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in kidney were measured. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit. The pathological changes of renal tissue were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PI3K/protein kinase B(Akt)/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins. ResultsIn this study, 13 active components such as kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, gallic acid and quercetin were screened and identified from E. humifusa. Through bioinformatics analysis, these components and AKI have a total of 289 targets, of which 62 are core targets, including Akt1, TNF, tumor protein p53(TP53) and IL-1β. These targets are mainly involved in the regulation of biological processes such as NF-κB signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway. In animal experiments, we successfully constructed a GM-induced AKI model in rats. Compared with the model group, E. humifusa extract could significantly reduce the levels of 24 hUTP, BUN and SCr in rats (P<0.01), indicating its improvement effect on renal function. In addition, the extract of E. humifusa also significantly reduced LDH activity and MDA content in rat kidney tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly increased SOD, NOS activity and GSH content (P<0.05), indicating that the extract of E. humifusa has the potential of anti-oxidation and protection of renal function. Further analysis of inflammatory factors showed that the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum of rats treated with E. humifusa extract were significantly decreased (P<0.01), indicating that E. humifusa extract had anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the extract of E. humifusa can also regulate the protein expression of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway, which further confirmed its mechanism of reducing GM-induced AKI. ConclusionThe extract of E. humifusa has a significant therapeutic effect on acute kidney injury through its multi-component and multi-target mechanism. Its effect is reflected in improving renal function, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and regulating immune response. These findings provide a scientific basis for the application of E. humifusa in the treatment of acute kidney injury, and point out the direction for future drug development and clinical research.
4.Key Ligand-receptor Axes Between CD8+ T Cells and Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells in Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Drive Stromal Activation and T-cell Reprogramming
Chunyu YANG ; Yidan QIAO ; Zhangyue SUN ; Jiajia WANG ; Jinhui CUI ; Jie CHEN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(3):482-495
ObjectiveTo identify key ligand-receptor axes that may improve immunotherapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). MethodsSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from normal tissues (Norm) and PVTT cells were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, integrated, and annotated. CellChat was used to infer intercellular communication and compare pathway activities to screen significantly differential candidate ligand-receptor axes. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) was then performed to evaluate the spatial distribution of signals related to candidate axes at the tissue level. The expression of key ligands and receptors was validated by qPCR and flow cytometry in peripheral blood-derived CD8+ T cells and the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2. Functional effects were further assessed in vitro using recombinant proteins and antagonists or neutralizing blockers. ResultsThe analysis revealed strong bidirectional communication between CD8+ T cells and activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) in PVTT. The SPP1-CD44 axis was the most prominent in the direction from CD8+ T cells to aHSCs, whereas the MIF-(CD74+ CD44) axis was strongly supported in the opposite direction. These axes were consistently supported by bioinformatic screening, tissue spatial analysis, and cellular or functional validation. ConclusionThe SPP1-CD44 and the MIF-(CD74+ CD44) axes may collectively shape the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME) of PVTT through stromal activation and T-cell functional reprogramming, suggesting potential targets for improving immunotherapeutic responsiveness in patients with PVTT.
5.ResNet-Vision Transformer based MRI-endoscopy fusion model for predicting treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: A multicenter study.
Junhao ZHANG ; Ruiqing LIU ; Di HAO ; Guangye TIAN ; Shiwei ZHANG ; Sen ZHANG ; Yitong ZANG ; Kai PANG ; Xuhua HU ; Keyu REN ; Mingjuan CUI ; Shuhao LIU ; Jinhui WU ; Quan WANG ; Bo FENG ; Weidong TONG ; Yingchi YANG ; Guiying WANG ; Yun LU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(21):2793-2803
BACKGROUND:
Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery has been a common practice for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, but the response rate varies among patients. This study aimed to develop a ResNet-Vision Transformer based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-endoscopy fusion model to precisely predict treatment response and provide personalized treatment.
METHODS:
In this multicenter study, 366 eligible patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery at eight Chinese tertiary hospitals between January 2017 and June 2024 were recruited, with 2928 pretreatment colonic endoscopic images and 366 pelvic MRI images. An MRI-endoscopy fusion model was constructed based on the ResNet backbone and Transformer network using pretreatment MRI and endoscopic images. Treatment response was defined as good response or non-good response based on the tumor regression grade. The Delong test and the Hanley-McNeil test were utilized to compare prediction performance among different models and different subgroups, respectively. The predictive performance of the MRI-endoscopy fusion model was comprehensively validated in the test sets and was further compared to that of the single-modal MRI model and single-modal endoscopy model.
RESULTS:
The MRI-endoscopy fusion model demonstrated favorable prediction performance. In the internal validation set, the area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy were 0.852 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.744-0.940) and 0.737 (95% CI: 0.712-0.844), respectively. Moreover, the AUC and accuracy reached 0.769 (95% CI: 0.678-0.861) and 0.729 (95% CI: 0.628-0.821), respectively, in the external test set. In addition, the MRI-endoscopy fusion model outperformed the single-modal MRI model (AUC: 0.692 [95% CI: 0.609-0.783], accuracy: 0.659 [95% CI: 0.565-0.775]) and the single-modal endoscopy model (AUC: 0.720 [95% CI: 0.617-0.823], accuracy: 0.713 [95% CI: 0.612-0.809]) in the external test set.
CONCLUSION
The MRI-endoscopy fusion model based on ResNet-Vision Transformer achieved favorable performance in predicting treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and holds tremendous potential for enabling personalized treatment regimens for locally advanced rectal cancer patients.
Humans
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Rectal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*
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Male
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods*
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Aged
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Adult
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Chemoradiotherapy/methods*
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Endoscopy/methods*
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Treatment Outcome
6.Monitoring results of mosquito-ovitraps placed in different orientations in multi-storey residential areas
Caixiong LIU ; Bin GE ; Haibing ZHANG ; Lin WANG ; Tao YANG ; Yujiao WEI ; Haiying XIE ; Yu ZHANG ; Hongxia LIU ; Juntao SHEN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(2):109-113
ObjectiveTo find out whether there is any difference in the monitoring results of mosq-ovitraps placed in different orientations in multi-storey residential areas, so as to provide a scientific basis for routine and emergency monitoring of Aedes albopictus with mosq-ovitraps in residential areas. MethodsFrom July 6th to October 26th 2023, one mosquito ovitrap was set up in each of the 4 orientations of east, south, west and north around the buildings in a multi-storey residential area in Jinhui Town, Fengxian District, Shanghai. Data was collected and recorded 72 hours after placement. The chi-square test was used to compare the mosquito ovitrap indices (MOIs) of two independent samples, and the Kruskal⁃Wallis H test was used to compare the MOIs of multiple independent samples. ResultsAfter 16 weeks of surveillance, 997 mosquito ovitraps were recovered, of which 211 were positive, with the mosquito ovitrap index (MOI) of 21.16% and the Aedes albopictus density index of 1.03 mosquitoes·ovitrap-1. The MOIs were higher in September (24.22%) and October (23.96%), and the MOIs in the west, south and north within the two months were all above 20.00%. From July to October, the MOIs in the east, west, south and north were 20.70%, 22.20%, 25.50% and 16.20%, respectively, and the difference in MOIs among the 4 orientations was not statistically significant (χ2=6.647, P=0.084). Stratified analysis by month showed that in August, the south side of the multi-storey residential areas had the highest MOI (31.30%), the north side had the lowest MOI (1.30%), and there was a statistically significant difference in MOI in the east, west, south and north (χ2=25.986, P<0.001). In October, the MOI in the west was the highest (33.30%) and the MOI in the east was the lowest (6.30%), the difference in MOIs of the 4 orientations was statistically significant (χ2=12.007, P=0.007). The MOIs in the south side of the building in the outskirts of the residential area from the 1st week in July to the 4th week in October was lower (19.20%) than that in the south side of the inner building (31.70%), and the difference in MOI was statistically significant (χ2=5.118, P=0.024). ConclusionThe study of MOI in different orientations in a multi-storey residential area is a preliminary exploration based on field work, and the results show that there is a difference in MOIs in different orientations during the peak breeding period of mosquitoes. Further indicators such as temperature, humidity and wind speed in different orientations can be collected to explore the influencing factors of MOIs.
7.Study on Clinical Characteristics and Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types in Patients with Colorectal Polyps and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression
Zhiqing LI ; Zeying OU ; Yueming GU ; Minlian LIANG ; Jinhui YANG ; Xinlei MA
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(1):18-25
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,distribution of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome types,and the anxiety and depression status in patients with colorectal polyps.Methods From January 2022 to December 2023,a total of 200 cases of patients with colorectal polyps(polyp group)and 100 patients without intestinal abnormalities(non-polyp group)under colonoscope who received colonoscopy or treatment at the Endoscopy Center of Dongguan Hospital,Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled.The relevant medical information of the patients in the two groups were collected,and then TCM syndrome differentiation of patients with colorectal polyps were carried out,the general infromation including gender,age,body mass index(BMI),smoking history and alcohol-intake history was recorded,and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HAD)score was calculated for assessing their anxiety and depression status.Results(1)The investigation of clinical characteristics showed that between the polyp group and the non-polyp group,the differences in the general information of gender,age,BMI,smoking history and alcohol-intake history were statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01).As for the gender,the polyp group was predominated by the male(63.5%),while the non-polyp group was predominated by the female(58.0%),indicating that male patients were more likely to suffer from colorectal polyps.In terms of the age,the age group of 51-60 years old accounted for a higher percentage(36.0%)in the polyp group,while the age group of 41-50 years old accounted for a higher percentage(38.0%)in the non-polyp group,indicating that the polyp group had an elder average age than the non-polyp group.In addition,the percentages of patients with obesity(BMI≥28.0 kg/m2),smoking history,and alcohol-intake history in the polyp group were higher than those in the non-polyp group.(2)The analysis of features of colorectal polyps showed that the polyps were mostly seen in the left colon,accounting for 53.5%in the polyp group;adenomatous polyps accounted for 57.0%of all polyps;the size of colorectal polyps was usually less than one centimeter,accounting for 81.5%of all polyps;single colorectal polyps accounted for 45.5%,and multiple colorectal polyps accounted for 54.5%,indicating that colorectal polyps were usually multiple.(3)Among the 200 patients with colorectal polyps,there were 93 cases of syndrome of stagnation dampness due to spleen deficiency(46.5%),59 cases of dampness-heat in large intestine syndrome(29.5%),27 cases of liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome(13.5%),and 21 cases of dampness and blood stasis obstruction syndrome(10.5%).There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among colorectal polyp patients with different genders,ages,BMIs and alcohol consumption(P>0.05).The difference in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among colorectal polyp patients with or without smoking history was statistically significant(P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were shown in the distribution of TCM syndrome types among the colorectal polyp patients with various foci,number of polyps,and pathological types(P>0.05).The difference in the distribution of TCM syndrome types in colorectal polyp patients with different polyp sizes was statistically significant(P<0.05).In the patients with the polyp size
8.Clinical Efficacy of Gushang External Wash Granules Combined with Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Early-to-Middle-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis of Cold-Damp Obstruction Type
Jinhui YANG ; Zhaoping LU ; Zhongsen YE ; Zhichao TAN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(8):1898-1905
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Gushang External Wash Granules combined with extracorporeal shockwave therapy(ESWT)in treating early-to-middle-stage knee osteoarthritis(KOA)with cold-damp obstruction syndrome.Methods A total of 84 patients diagnosed as early-to-middle-stage KOA(cold-damp obstruction syndrome)at the Orthopedic Outpatient Clinic of Dongguan Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine(Dongguan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)from July 2022 to July 2023 were enrolled.Patients were randomly assigned to either the observation group or control group using a random number table,with 42 cases in each group.Both groups received ESWT,while the observation group additionally underwent topical washing with Gushang External Wash Granules.The treatment course lasted 4 weeks for both groups.The changes in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores for pain,and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)scores in the two groups were measured before and after treatment,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment.Results(1)After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate was 95.24%(40/42)in the observation group versus 76.19%(32/42)in the control group.Intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed significantly superior efficacy in the observation group(P<0.05).(2)After treatment,both groups demonstrated significant reductions in VAS pain scores compared to those before treatment(P<0.01),while no statistically significant difference was found between groups(P>0.05).(3)WOMAC scores were decreased significantly in both groups after treatment(P<0.01),and the observation group showed significantly greater reduction than the control group(P<0.01),with statistically significance.(4)After treatment,the scores for the TCM symptoms of intolerance of cold and limb chilling,restricted flexion-extension,and stiffness and numbness in the extremities were significantly reduced in both groups(P<0.01),and the observation group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in all TCM syndrome scores than the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The combination of Gushang External Wash Granules and ESWT demonstrates significant efficacy for the patients with early-to-middle-stage KOA of cold-damp obstruction type,and is effective on alleviating clinical symptoms and improving knee function and quality of life of the patients.
9.Predictive value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in the prognosis of primary biliary cholangitis
Huiling ZHU ; Mengyao ZHENG ; Wenbin LI ; Yaqin HUANG ; Lili ZHANG ; Wenting YANG ; Min ZHOU ; Jinhui YANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(7):652-659
Objective:To predict pre-treatment clinical parameters that are associated with poor response and prognosis to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and to use second-line treatment drugs in the early stages to delay the progression of the disease so that patients can benefit from early-stage treatment.Methods:Patients diagnosed with PBC at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from 2013 to 2022 were collected. Two hundred fifty-seven cases were screened in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The response and prognosis conditions one year after treatment were followed up in outpatient and inpatient departments, as well as through telephone calls. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis according to different data. Results:A total of 257 PBC cases were included, with 223 females (86.80%) and 34 males (13.20%). Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses showed that baseline high albumin levels [odds ratio ( OR): 0.882, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.805~0.967, P=0.008] were a protective factor for PBC patients' response to UDCA treatment after adjusting for different confounding factors, while baseline high alkaline phosphatase ( OR: 1.012, 95% CI: 1.008~1.016, P<0.001) and baseline high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) level ( OR: 1.462, 95% CI:1.079~1.981, P=0.014) were risk factors for a poor response to UDCA. Trend analysis showed that the baseline NLR quantile was positively correlated with the risk of poor response to UDCA ( OR: 5.512, 95% CI: 1.040~29.216, P=0.045) in patients with PBC. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis identified that age [hazard ratio ( HR): 1.050, 95% CI: 1.019~1.082] and NLR value ( HR:1.089, 95% CI:1.021~1.161) were independent influencing risk factors for all-cause mortality in PBC patients ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Baseline high albumin levels are protective factors against a poor biochemical response to UDCA, while baseline high alkaline phosphatase levels and high NLR are risk factors for a poor biochemical response to UDCA in patients with PBC. Additionally, baseline high NLR values are positively correlated with poor biochemical response to UDCA treatment.
10.Recommendations for Standardized Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis of Animal Experiments
Qingyong ZHENG ; Donghua YANG ; Zhichao MA ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Yang LU ; Jingyu WANG ; Lina XING ; Yingying KANG ; Li DU ; Chunxiang ZHAO ; Baoshan DI ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):496-507
Animal experiments are an essential component of life sciences and medical research. However, the external validity and reliability of individual animal studies are frequently challenged by inherent limitations such as small sample sizes, high design heterogeneity, and poor reproducibility, which impede the effective translation of research findings into clinical practice. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis represent a key methodology for integrating existing evidence and enhancing the robustness of conclusions. Currently, however, the application of systematic reviews and meta-analysis in the field of animal experiments lacks standardized guidelines for their conduct and reporting, resulting in inconsistent quality and, to some extent, diminishing their evidence value. To address this issue, this paper aims to systematically delineate the reporting process for systematic reviews and meta-analysis of animal experiments and to propose a set of standardized recommendations that are both scientific and practical. The article's scope encompasses the entire process, from the preliminary preparatory phase [including formulating the population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) question, assessing feasibility, and protocol pre-registration] to the key writing points for each section of the main report. In the core methods section, the paper elaborates on how to implement literature searches, establish eligibility criteria, perform data extraction, and assess the risk of bias, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement, in conjunction with relevant guidelines and tools such as Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) and a risk of bias assessment tool developed by the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE). For the presentation of results, strategies are proposed for clear and transparent display using flow diagrams and tables of characteristics. The discussion section places particular emphasis on how to scientifically interpret pooled effects, thoroughly analyze sources of heterogeneity, evaluate the impact of publication bias, and cautiously discuss the validity and limitations of extrapolating findings from animal studies to clinical settings. Furthermore, this paper recommends adopting the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to comprehensively grade the quality of evidence. Through a modular analysis of the entire reporting process, this paper aims to provide researchers in the field with a clear and practical guide, thereby promoting the standardized development of systematic reviews and meta-analysis of animal experiments and enhancing their application value in scientific decision-making and translational medicine.

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