1.Application of Symptomatic Treatment from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine State Theory
Binbin CHEN ; Yang WANG ; Wen TANG ; Shijie QIAO ; Changsha LAI ; Candong LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(14):1439-1443
Although symptomatic treatment is widely applied in clinical practice, it is often regarded as a relatively low-level therapeutic method. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) state theory, the macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic characterization parameters of TCM symptomatology are horizontally integrated, the full life cycle of states (pre-disease, incipient disease, manifest disease, post-disease) is vertically covered, and the cognitive system of "symptoms" is reconstructed from multiple dimensions. Accordingly, the application approach of symptomatic treatment at different state stages is proposed: implementing preventive intervention in the pre-disease state, strengthening the interception of disease progression in the incipient disease state, regulating dynamic development and treatment in the manifest disease state, and formulating a staged diagnosis and treatment strategy which focuses on functional rehabilitation in the post-disease state.
2.Construction and phenotypic analysis of p2rx2 knockout zebrafish lines.
Yong ZHANG ; Qingying SHI ; Hao XIE ; Binling XIE ; Lihua LI ; Weijing WU ; Huaping XIE ; Zi'an XIAO ; Dinghua XIE ; Ruosha LAI
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(6):919-930
OBJECTIVES:
The purinergic receptor P2X2 (P2RX2) encodes an ATP-gated ion channel permeable to Na+, K+, and especially Ca²⁺. Loss-of-function mutations in P2RX2 are known to cause autosomal dominant nonsyndromic deafness 41 (DFNA41), which manifests as high-frequency hearing loss, accelerated presbycusis, and increased susceptibility to noise-induced damage. Zebrafish, owing to their small size, rapid development, high fecundity, transparent embryos, and high gene conservation with humans, provide an ideal model for studying human diseases and developmental mechanisms. This study aims to generate a p2rx2 knockout zebrafish model using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to investigate the effect of p2rx2 deficiency on the auditory system, providing a basis for understanding P2RX2-related hearing loss and developing gene therapy strategies.
METHODS:
Two CRISPR targets (sgRNA1 and sgRNA2) spaced 47 bp apart were designed within the zebrafish p2rx2 gene. Synthesized sgRNAs and Cas9 protein were microinjected into single-cell stage Tübingen (TU)-strain zebrafish embryos. PCR and gel electrophoresis verified editing efficiency at 36 hours post-fertilization (hpf). Surviving embryos were raised to adulthood (F0), tail-clipped, genotyped, and screened for positive mosaics. F1 heterozygotes were generated by outcrossing, and F2 homozygous mutants were obtained by intercrossing. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with sequencing verified mutation type and heritability. At 5 days post-fertilization (dpf), YO-PRO-1 staining was used to examine hair cell morphology and count in lateral line neuromasts and the otolith region. Auditory evoked potential (AEP) thresholds at 600, 800, 1 000, and 2 000 Hz were measured in nine 4-month-old wild type and mutant zebrafish per group.
RESULTS:
A stable p2rx2 knockout zebrafish line was successfully established. Sequencing revealed a 66 bp insertion at the first target site introducing a premature stop codon (TAA), leading to early termination of protein translation and loss of function. Embryos developed normally with no gross malformations. At 5 dpf, mutants exhibited significantly reduced hair cell density in the otolith region compared with wild type, although lateral line neuromasts were unaffected. AEP testing showed significantly elevated auditory thresholds at all 4 frequencies in homozygous mutants compared with wild type (all P<0.001), indicating reduced hearing sensitivity.
CONCLUSIONS
We successfully generated a p2rx2 loss-of-function zebrafish model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. p2rx2 deficiency caused hair cell defects in the otolith region and increased auditory thresholds across frequencies, indicating its key role in maintaining zebrafish auditory hair cell function and hearing perception. The phenotype's restriction to the otolith region suggests tissue-specific roles of p2rx2 in sensory organs. This model provides a valuable tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of P2RX2-related hearing loss and for screening otoprotective drugs and developing gene therapies.
Animals
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Zebrafish/genetics*
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Receptors, Purinergic P2X2/deficiency*
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CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics*
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Gene Knockout Techniques
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Phenotype
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Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
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Disease Models, Animal
3.Analysis of diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-related disease involving the nasal cavity and skull base(with 8 case reports).
Wei ZHONG ; Xuan YUAN ; Lai MENG ; Jiaxin JIA ; Shaobing XIE ; Shumin XIE ; Junyi ZHANG ; Hua ZHANG ; Weihong JIANG ; Zhihai XIE
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(6):553-558
Objective:To investigate the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-related disease(IgG4-RD) primarily involving the nasal cavity and skull base. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 8 patients with IgG4-RD primarily involving the nasal cavity and skull base who visited the Nasal and Skull Base Surgery Department at Xiangya Hospital from October 2017 to January 2024. The cohort comprised 4 males and 4 females, aged 8 to 69 years. Clinical data, laboratory examination results, imaging findings, histopathological results, and treatment plans were collected. The clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up results of IgG4-RD primarily involving nasal cavity and skull base were summarized and previous literature were also reviewed. Results:The initial symptoms in the 8 patients included nasal congestion, headache, sensory function decline, and facial deformities. Three patients also had parotid and pulmonary involvement. Among the 8 patients, 4 underwent partial surgical resection combined with glucocorticoid therapy; 1 underwent partial surgical resection combined with glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant therapy; 1 received glucocorticoid therapy alone; and 2 received glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressant therapy. Follow-up was conducted one month after treatment, lasting from 5 to 79 months. During the follow-up period, recurrence was observed in 1 patient treated with glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressants and in 1 patient treated with glucocorticoid alone, while the other 6 patients achieved significant remission. Conclusion:The diagnosis of nasal cavity and skull base IgG4-RD requires the combination of histopathology, laboratory tests, and imaging results. Treatment primarily includes glucocorticoids or combined immunosuppressants. For patients with significant compression symptoms, sensory function impairment, or facial deformities, surgical resection is an important treatment option. Given the high risk of recurrence, early intervention, active treatment, and long-term follow-up are crucial.
Humans
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Male
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Skull Base/pathology*
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Retrospective Studies
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Aged
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Nasal Cavity/pathology*
;
Adult
;
Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease/therapy*
;
Immunoglobulin G
;
Child
;
Young Adult
;
Adolescent
4.Artificial intelligence and anti-cancer drugs' response.
Xinrui LONG ; Kai SUN ; Sicen LAI ; Yuancheng LIU ; Juan SU ; Wangqing CHEN ; Ruhan LIU ; Xiaoyu HE ; Shuang ZHAO ; Kai HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3355-3371
Drug resistance is one of the key factors affecting the effectiveness of cancer treatment methods, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Its occurrence is related to factors such as mRNA expression and methylation within cancer cells. If drug resistance in patients can be accurately identified early, doctors can devise more effective treatment plans, which is of great significance for improving patients' survival rates and quality of life. Cancer drug resistance prediction based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology has emerged as a current research hotspot, demonstrating promising application prospects in guiding clinical individualized and precise medication for cancer patients. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the research progress in utilizing AI algorithms to analyze multi-omics data including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, radiomics, and histopathology, for predicting cancer drug resistance. It provides a detailed exposition of the processes involved in data processing and model construction, examines the current challenges faced in this field and future development directions, with the aim of better advancing the progress of precision medicine.
5.Ferrum@albumin assembled nanoclusters inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway for NIR enhanced acute lung injury immunotherapy.
Xiaoxuan GUAN ; Binbin ZOU ; Weiqian JIN ; Yan LIU ; Yongfeng LAN ; Jing QIAN ; Juan LUO ; Yanjun LEI ; Xuzhi LIANG ; Shiyu ZHANG ; Yuting XIAO ; Yan LONG ; Chen QIAN ; Chaoyu HUANG ; Weili TIAN ; Jiahao HUANG ; Yongrong LAI ; Ming GAO ; Lin LIAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):5891-5907
Acute lung injury (ALI) has been a kind of acute and severe disease that is mainly characterized by systemic uncontrolled inflammatory response to the production of huge amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the lung tissue. Given the critical role of ROS in ALI, a Fe3O4 loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanocluster (BF) was developed to act as a nanomedicine for the treatment of ALI. Combining with NIR irradiation, it exhibited excellent ROS scavenging capacity. Significantly, it also displayed the excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions for lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced macrophages (RAW264.7), and Sprague Dawley rats via lowering intracellular ROS levels, reducing inflammatory factors expression levels, inducing macrophage M2 polarization, inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway, increasing CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios, as well as upregulating HSP70 and CD31 expression levels to reprogram redox homeostasis, reduce systemic inflammation, activate immunoregulation, and accelerate lung tissue repair, finally achieving the synergistic enhancement of ALI immunotherapy. It finally provides an effective therapeutic strategy of BF + NIR for the management of inflammation related diseases.
6.Effects of Electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC6) - "Zhongwan" (RN12) for Rats with Functional Dyspepsia on Gastric Motility and Metabolites of Antral Tissue
Jingying ZHOU ; Hongzhi YIN ; Qian LIU ; Xuan XU ; Yitian LAI ; Guoshan ZHANG ; Huan ZHONG ; Mi LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(14):1478-1487
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC6) and "Zhongwan" (RN12) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). MethodsSPF male SD rats were randomly divided into model group, Neiguan (PC6) group, Zhongwan (RN12) group, and Neiguan-Zhongwan (PC6-RN12) group, with 8 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the other groups of rats were cogavaged with 0.1% sucrose iodoacetamide solution combined with small platform standing training to establish FD rat models. After successful modeling, the rats in the normal group and model group were tied up for 30 min/d for 7 days; the Neiguan group, Zhongwan group, and Neiguan-Zhongwan group were treated with electroacupuncture intervention at "Neiguan" (PC6), "Zhongwan" (RN12), and "Neiguan" - "Zhongwan" (PC6-RN12) acupoints, respectively, using continuous wave, frequency of 2 Hz, current intensity of 1 mA, 30 min/d, and continuous intervention for 7 days. The general condition of rats in each group was observed. After treatment, the body weight and food intake of rats were measured, and the gastric emptying rate was calculated; HE staining was performed on the gastric antrum tissue of rats to observe the histopathologic changes; the expressions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and Ghrelin protein in gastric antrum were detected by Western Blot; the metabolites in gastric antrum tissues were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and differential metabolites were screened by correlation analysis, then Metabo Analyst 5.0 and KEGG databases were used for metabolic pathway analysis. ResultsUnder light microscope, the gastric antrum structure was complete and the glands were abundant. No obvious inflammation and edema were found in gastric mucosa. Compared with the normal group, the body weight, food intake, and gastric emptie rate of rats in model group decreased, the expression of Ghrelin protein decreased and the expression of CGRP protein increased in gastric antrum tissue (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the body weight, food intake, and gastric emptance rate of rats in Neiguan group, Zhongwan group and Neiguan-Zhongwan group all increased, CGRP protein expression decreased in Neiguan group, and Ghrelin protein expression increased and CGRP protein expression decreased in Zhongwan group and Neiguan-Zhongwan group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with Neiguan-Zhongwan group, Ghrelin protein expression decreased and CGRP protein expression increased in Neiguan group and Zhongwan group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Metabolomics results showed that compared with normal group, the content of metabolites adenosine diphosphate ribose, adenosine monophosphate and adenosine diphosphate in gastric antrum tissue of model group decreased; compared with model group, the contents of adenosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate and citicoline in Neiguan group increased, the contents of nicotine adenine dinucleotide, cytidine diphosphate ethanolamine and citicoline in Zhongwan group increased, and the contents of adenosine diphosphate, cytidine diphosphate and citicoline in Neiguan-Zhongwan group increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with model group, the main metabolic pathways of different metabolites in PC6-RN12 group were glycerophospholipid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, purine metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at “Neiguan” and “Zhongwan” acupoints can effectively regulate gastrointestinal motility and improve FD symptoms in FD rats, and the effect is better than that of "Neiguan" or "Zhongwan" acupoints alone. The mechanism may be related to the influence of related metabolites on energy metabolism, glucose metabolism and nucleotide metabolism, thereby regulating gastrointestinal motility hormones.
7.Multicenter expert recommendations on interventional valve-in-valve technology for mitral bioprosthetic valve destruction in China
Haibo ZHANG ; Xiangbin PAN ; Yingqiang GUO ; Lai WEI ; Jian YANG ; Daxin ZHOU ; Yongjian WU ; Xu MENG ; Liming LIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;31(08):1090-1095
Mitral valve replacement is one of the most common heart valve surgeries in China. In recent years, with the increase in degenerative valve diseases, older patients, and the progress of anti-calcification technology of biological valves, the proportion of mitral valve biological valve replacement has been increasing year by year. After the damage of traditional mitral valve biological valves, re-operation of valve replacement with thoracotomy is required. However, the adhesion between the heart and sternum, as well as the damage caused by cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest, can cause significant trauma to elderly patients and those with multiple organ dysfunction, leading to increased mortality and complication rates. In recent years, interventional valve surgery, especially transcatheter valve-in-valve surgery, has developed rapidly. This procedure can correct the damaged mitral valve function without stopping the heart, but there are still many differences between its technical process and conventional aortic valve replacement surgery. Therefore, organizing and writing multicenter expert recommendations on the technical process of transcatheter valve-in-valve surgery for damaged mitral valve biological valves is of great significance for the training and promotion of this technology.
8.Effects of Moxibustion at "Feishu (BL13)" and "Tianshu (ST25)" on Airway Remodeling,Immune Cell Differentiation and Intestinal Short-chain Fatty Acids in Bronchial Asthma Model Rats
Ling REN ; Jingying ZHOU ; Yitian LAI ; Yizhuo QU ; Guoshan ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(21):2240-2249
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion at "Feishu (BL13)" and "Tianshu (ST25)" in treatment of bronchial asthma. MethodsA total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=12) and modeling group (n=36). The bronchial asthma rat model was established by sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) injection and aerosol provocation. Thirty-two successfully modeled rats were further randomly divided into four groups including model group, Feishu group, Tianshu group, and Feishu-Tianshu group, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were tied and fixed without intervention, while those in the Feishu group received moxibustion at bilateral of "Feishu (BL13)" for 30 minutes; rats in the Tianshu group received moxibustion at bilateral "Tianshu (ST25)" for 30 minutes, and those in the Feishu-Tianshu group received moxibustion at both "Feishu (BL13)" and "Tianshu (ST25)" bilaterally for 15 minutes each. One hour after the intervention, 1% OVA solution was aerosolized for 20 minutes in all groups except the normal group, which was given the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution instead of OVA solution for aerosol stimulation. The above interventions were performed once daily for 14 days. Behavioral observations were performed after modeling and during the interventions. The samples were collected 24h after the last intervention. HE and Masson staining were used to observe pathological morphological changes of lung tissues, and the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area was counted. The levels of leukocyte differentiation antigen11b (CD11b), leukocyte differentiation antigen 40 (CD40), leukocyte differentiation antigen 86 (CD86), and programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) in serum, as well as the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-11 (IL-11), interleukin-27 (IL-27) in lung tissue, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot was used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) proteins in lung tissue. The content of six short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid in feces was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. ResultsCompared to the normal group, the rats in the model group gradually showed mental depression or restlessness, dull hair, slow activity, reduced food intake, unformed stool, accompanied by symptoms of shortness of breath and wheezing. The pathological results showed severe abnormalities in lung tissue structure in the model group, including extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells around the bronchi, thickening of the airway smooth muscle layer, and substantial deposition of collagen fibers. Significant increases were observed in the levels of serum CD11b, CD40, CD86, and PD-L2, levels of IL-8, IL-11, and IL-27 in the lung tissue, as well as protein expression levels of MMP-9, TGF-β, and TIMP-1 in lung tissue, while the fecal levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and n-caproic acid significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to those in the model group, the spirit, hair, activity, drinking and eating condition, shortness of breath, and wheezing symptoms of rats in the Feishu group, Tianshu group, and Feishu-Tianshu group were improved; the stool was basically formed, and the pathological morphology of lung tissue were improved; the levels of serum CD11b, CD40, CD86 and PD-L2, the levels of IL-8 and IL-27 in the lung tissue, the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area, and the TGF-β protein expression notably decreased; content of IL-11 and MMP-9 in the lung tissue and protein expression of T1MP-1 in Feishu group and Feishu-tianshu group significantly decreased; content of six SCFAs in the Feishu-Tianshu group increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to those in the Feishu group, the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area and TIMP-1 protein expression in lung tissue in the Feishu-Tianshu group significantly decreased, while the fecal levels of acetic acid and butyric acid notably increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to those in the Tianshu group, the serum level of CD40 in the Feishu-Tianshu group was significantly reduced, and the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area, the content of IL-11, and the protein expressions of MMP-9, TGF-β and TIMP-1 in the lung tissue notably decreased, while the fecal levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionMoxibustion at "Feishu (BL13)" and "Tianshu (ST25)" exhibits a favorable therapeutic effect on airway remodeling in bronchial asthma rats, and the combined application of "Feishu (BL13)" and "Tianshu (ST25)" acupoints demonstrates a synergistic effect. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of intestinal SCFAs content, influencing the differentiation of immune cells, and reducing airway inflammation.
10.Summary of Application Strategies for Traditional Chinese Medical Diagnostic Thinking in the Absence of Symptoms for Differentiation
Binbin CHEN ; Yang WANG ; Wen TANG ; Zhibin WANG ; Changsha LAI ; Candong LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(7):669-673
The essence of asymptomatic syndrome differenciation is that the disease is in a special stage or state. To perform traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis when there was no symptoms for differentiation is a key scientific issue in current TCM diagnosis and treatment. The reasons include limitations in doctor-patient behaviors and relationships, as well as limitations in cognitive thinking. To address such situations, the following strategies can be adopted from a thinking perspective,i.e. grasping the occurrence and development of diseases based on a holistic concept, using dialectical thinking to summarize the laws of diseases, integrating clinical practice with experiential thinking, and introducing new thinking modes through interdisciplinary collaboration. These strategies help TCM practitioners make accurate diagnoses in the absence of obvious symptoms, thereby providing better medical services for patients.

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