1.Treatment of Hyperthyroidism Combined with Atrial Fibrillation:from the Liver
Yao XU ; Yan ZHOU ; Hui LI ; Yifang HAO ; Jintao ZHANG ; Longmei YAN ; Yaxuan XING ; Jingchun ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(11):1225-1230
Hyperthyroidism (HT) is frequently complicated by atrial fibrillation (AF) in clinical practice. Based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) zang-xiang (藏象) theory and clinical experience, both HT and AF are closely associated with dysfunction of the liver. The pathogenesis is initiated by the liver failing to govern the free flow of qi, and liver constraint and qi stagnation, with the key turning points being liver constraint transforming into fire and the internal stirring of liver wind, ultimately leading to liver blood depletion and insufficient nourishment of the heart spirit. Thus, it is proposed to treat the disease from the liver, with stage-specific therapeutic approaches according to the evolution of the disease. In the early stage, the treatment should focus on soothing the liver and relieving constraint to reduce goiter and calm the heart, while in the progressive stage, the method of clearing liver and draining fire is suggested to subdue yang and stabilize palpitations. In the acute stage, the strategy is calming the liver and nourishing yin to subdue yang and extinguish wind. In the later stage, it is suggested to soften the liver and benefit qi, so as to nourish yin and restore pulse. These methods are sequentially applied to synergistically reduce goiter and stabilize palpitations, providing a therapeutic approach for HT complicated by AF.
2.Consideration of Health Economics Evidence in Clinical Practice Guidelines: Methods and Steps
Dongrui PENG ; Qi ZHOU ; Xufei LUO ; Zijun WANG ; Hui LIU ; Junxian ZHAO ; Jinghong HUANG ; Hongyu HU ; Xin XING ; Jing WU ; Shitong XIE ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):862-870
Health economics evidence plays an important role in linking clinical value evidence with health resource allocation decisions in the development of clinical practice guidelines. It can not only effectively balance clinical effectiveness and economic feasibility but also avoid forming "idealized" recommendations that are detached from the affordability of the healthcare system or the burden-bearing capacity of patients. To promote guideline developers to use health economics evidence more standardizedly and fully, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the current application status, existing challenges, access channels, and application processes of health economics evidence in current guidelines, and on this basis, puts forward considerations and suggestions for strengthening and standardizing the application of health economics evidence in China's clinical practice guidelines.
3.The Neural Circuit Characteristics of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Over The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for The Treatment of Migraine
Chen-Xia JIN ; Bo-Lin TAN ; Yang YE ; Ji-Qing HE ; Ling-Yan WANG ; Zhong-Ming GAO ; Yu-Jun WANG ; Hui-Li LIU ; Yong-Xing YAN ; Xian-Wei CHE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1953-1968
ObjectiveMigraine is a leading neurological disorder and the fourth most common cause of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting nearly 116 million individuals. Although pharmacological treatments are available, their efficacy is often limited by side effects and variable response rates. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) offers a safe, non-invasive alternative for migraine management. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms, particularly how rTMS modulates local cortical excitability and distributed pain-related circuits, remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and improving clinical outcomes. MethodsThis study employed concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate neuroplastic and neurocircuitry mechanisms of DLPFC-rTMS in migraine. Study 1 compared 30 migraineurs and 28 healthy controls to identify abnormalities in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and significant current density (SCD) within sensory-discriminative regions including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and posterior insula (pINS), cognitive-affective regions including the anterior insula (aINS) and midcingulate cortex (MCC), and a descending modulatory region, the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Study 2 used a single-blind, crossover, sham-controlled design in 34 healthy participants. Each participant received both active (10 Hz, 80% RMT, 1 500 pulses) and sham DLPFC-rTMS in counterbalanced order. TMS-EEG and cold pain tolerance were assessed before and after each session. ResultsIn Study 1, migraineurs showed a significantly less negative N120 amplitude compared to healthy controls (P=0.027, Cohen’s d=0.60), indicating local intracortical disinhibition. No group differences were observed for N40, P60, or P180 components. At the source level, migraineurs exhibited significantly higher SCD in the S1, pINS, aINS, and MCC (allQ<0.05), but not in the ventroposterior thalamus (vpTHAL), mediodorsal thalamus (mdTHAL), or PAG. In Study 2, active rTMS significantly reduced SCD from pre- to post-stimulation in the S1, aINS, and MCC (all Q<0.05). Sham stimulation also reduced SCD in the S1 (Q<0.05) but not in the aINS or MCC. Although no significant group-level analgesic effect was observed between active and sham conditions (P=0.107), correlation analyses revealed that greater SCD reductions in the S1 and MCC were significantly associated with higher post-rTMS pain tolerance (R=-0.487 and -0.495, both Q<0.01) and larger improvements in pain tolerance(R=-0.487 and -0.451, both Q<0.05). No such correlations were found following sham stimulation, suggesting that the behavioural relevance of neural changes is specific to active rTMS. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that migraineurs exhibit both local neuroplastic abnormalities (reduced N120 amplitude) and hyperactivity in key pain-processing regions (S1, pINS, aINS, MCC). A single session of DLPFC-rTMS reduced hyperactivity in the aINS, MCC, and S1. Notably, greater reductions in the S1 and MCC were associated with improved pain tolerance. These findings identify distinct cortical circuitries, particularly within the cognitive-affective pain network, that may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing rTMS treatment in migraine and other chronic pain conditions. Future studies should validate these results in patient populations experiencing spontaneous migraine attacks and explore multi-session or accelerated rTMS protocols.
4.Clinical Evidence Profile of Eleven Expensive Chinese Patent Medicines: A Scoping Analysis
Yajing LI ; Miaomiao LI ; Le ZHANG ; Wenya WANG ; Hui ZHAO ; Xing LIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):227-238
ObjectiveThis study employed the scoping review method to systematically retrieve and analyze the basic information and clinical research evidence of expensive Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), aiming to provide a basis for future related research and clinical applications. MethodsEight Chinese and English databases were systematically searched for the clinical research evidence on expensive CPMs. ResultsEleven expensive CPMs (Angong Niuhuang Wan, Jufang Zhibao Wan, Suhexiang Wan, Pien Tze Huang, Niuhuang Qingxin Wan, Qinggong Shoutao Wan, Compound Realgar Natural Indigo Tablets, Xihuang Wan, Dingkun Wan, Babao Wan, and Guilingji Capsules) were selected. A total of 365 related studies were included in this review, comprising 331 clinical studies (of which 291 were randomized controlled trials), 30 systematic reviews and Meta-analyses, 3 expert consensus, and 1 rapid health technology assessment. Among the 11 CPMs, 2(Angong Niuhuang Wan and Jufang Zhibao Wan) had a daily price over 500 yuan. The famous and precious Chinese medicinal materials involved included Moschus (frequency of 7), Bovisc Alculus (7), and Borneol (5). The dosage forms included pills, capsules, oral liquid, tablets, and lozenges. The diseases treated by these CPMs mainly included malignant tumors, cerebrovascular diseases, gynecological diseases, and hepatobiliary system diseases. The sample sizes of the clinical studies were mainly concentrated within the range of 51-100 cases, and the main control form was CPM + basic Western medicine treatment vs. basic Western medicine treatment. The 331 clinical studies reported a total of 44 adverse events occurred, of which 36 were determined to be adverse reactions. ConclusionThe scarcity of raw materials leads to the high prices of expensive CPMs. The difficulty of conducting clinical research and the critical and severe cases treated lead to a lack of clinical research evidence with large sample sizes. The uneven distribution of existing studies, incomplete information on medicine package, and non-standard clinical research designs remain to be addressed in the future.
5.Structure and Function of GPR126/ADGRG6
Ting-Ting WU ; Si-Qi JIA ; Shu-Zhu CAO ; De-Xin ZHU ; Guo-Chao TANG ; Zhi-Hua SUN ; Xing-Mei DENG ; Hui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):299-309
GPR126, also known as ADGRG6, is one of the most deeply studied aGPCRs. Initially, GPR126 was thought to be a receptor associated with muscle development and was primarily expressed in the muscular and skeletal systems. With the deepening of research, it was found that GPR126 is expressed in multiple mammalian tissues and organs, and is involved in many biological processes such as embryonic development, nervous system development, and extracellular matrix interactions. Compared with other aGPCRs proteins, GPR126 has a longer N-terminal domain, which can bind to ligands one-to-one and one-to-many. Its N-terminus contains five domains, a CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1) domain, a PTX (Pentraxin) domain, a SEA (Sperm protein, Enterokinase, and Agrin) domain, a hormone binding (HormR) domain, and a conserved GAIN domain. The GAIN domain has a self-shearing function, which is essential for the maturation, stability, transport and function of aGPCRs. Different SEA domains constitute different GPR126 isomers, which can regulate the activation and closure of downstream signaling pathways through conformational changes. GPR126 has a typical aGPCRs seven-transmembrane helical structure, which can be coupled to Gs and Gi, causing cAMP to up- or down-regulation, mediating transmembrane signaling and participating in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. GPR126 is activated in a tethered-stalk peptide agonism or orthosteric agonism, which is mainly manifested by self-proteolysis or conformational changes in the GAIN domain, which mediates the rapid activation or closure of downstream pathways by tethered agonists. In addition to the tethered short stem peptide activation mode, GPR126 also has another allosteric agonism or tunable agonism mode, which is specifically expressed as the GAIN domain does not have self-shearing function in the physiological state, NTF and CTF always maintain the binding state, and the NTF binds to the ligand to cause conformational changes of the receptor, which somehow transmits signals to the GAIN domain in a spatial structure. The GAIN domain can cause the 7TM domain to produce an activated or inhibited signal for signal transduction, For example, type IV collagen interacts with the CUB and PTX domains of GPR126 to activate GPR126 downstream signal transduction. GPR126 has homology of 51.6%-86.9% among different species, with 10 conserved regions between different species, which can be traced back to the oldest metazoans as well as unicellular animals.In terms of diseases, GPR126 dysfunction involves the pathological process of bone, myelin, embryo and other related diseases, and is also closely related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors such as breast cancer and colon cancer. However, the biological function of GPR126 in various diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target still needs further research. This paper focuses on the structure, interspecies differences and conservatism, signal transduction and biological functions of GPR126, which provides ideas and references for future research on GPR126.
6.Effect of Wechat reminder combined with 4R crisis management on rehabilitation of patients with chronic valvular heart disease
Chao-ran XING ; Hui LIU ; Jing SHAO
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;34(3):399-404
Objective:To explore the effect of Wechat reminder combined with 4R crisis management on cardiac function,psychological state,quality of life,inflammatory factors,compliance,adverse events and mortality in pa-tients with chronic valvular heart disease.Methods:This randomized controlled study enrolled 127 patients with chronic valvular heart disease admitted to Qingdao Municipal Hospital between May 2021 and April 2023.Patients were divided into control group(n=62)and intervention group(n=65).Patients in the control group was given routine management mode intervention comparing to those in the intervention group receiving Wechat reminder combined with 4R crisis management intervention.Both groups were treated for 3 months and followed up for 1 month.Cardiac function indexes,Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90),China Questionnaire of Quality of life in pa-tients with Cardiovascular diseases(CQQC)scores,levels of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),cardiac troponin I(cTnI)and inflammatory factors,intervention compliance rate,incidence rate of adverse events and mortality were compared between two groups.Results:Compared to patients in the control group,those in the intervention group had significant higher stroke volume(SV)[(66.48±2.74)ml vs.(58.02±3.32)ml],left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)[(56.25±2.66)%vs.(48.11±3.05)%],CQQC score[(135.37±2.26)points vs.(103.08±3.56)points](P<0.001 all),and significant lower SCL-90 score[(0.97±0.06)points vs.(2.06±0.07)points],BNP[(267.25±28.14)pg/ml vs.(317.63±28.63)pg/ml],cTnI[(69.15±5.81)ng/ml vs.(81.32±6.28)ng/ml],tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)[(13.38±0.87)pg/mlvs.(21.48±1.03)pg/ml],high sensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP)[(15.73±2.19)mg/L vs.(36.76±3.08)mg/L]and platelet activating factor(PAF)[(7.51±0.73)μg/L vs.(10.53±0.91)μg/L](P<0.001 all).Compared to patients in the control group,those in the intervention group had significant higher total compliance rate(93.33%vs.80.00%,P=0.032),and significant lower incidence of adverse events(10.00%vs.25.00%,P=0.031).Conclusion:Wechat reminder combined with 4R crisis management could significantly improve cardiac function,compliance,mental state and quality of life,and reduce levels of inflammatory factors,BNP and cTnI with high safety in patients with chronic valvular heart disease.
7.Effect of a novel cryoprotectant in tissues and cells
Qingfang WANG ; Fen ZHANG ; Guangping CHANG ; Zihan LI ; Lan XING ; Hao PENG ; Xiuping ZENG ; Guiqiang ZHONG ; Hui CHEN ; Bo LIU ; Zhenyu LIU ; Xiao LIANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(36):7816-7826
BACKGROUND:The cryopreservation technology enables tissues/cells to be stored for a long time in a low-temperature environment while maintaining the integrity of their activity and function,which is of great significance for the construction of cell therapy,tissue engineering and biological sample banks.Cryoprotective agents often contain dimethyl sulfoxide and serum.To avoid the toxic side effects of dimethyl sulfoxide,the complexity of serum components and immune responses,although some finished cryoprotective agents have been marketed,they are faced with many difficulties such as high cost and limited application.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop a cryoprotective agent with clear components and the ability to solve the above problems.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of a novel cryoprotectant on cryopreservation efficiency of different tissue and cell sources.METHODS:By applying the novel cryoprotectant as an experimental group with the commercially available and widely used cryoprotectant(control group)to umbilical cord Wharton's jelly tissue,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,umbilical cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,NK and CIK cells,comparative analyses were conducted in terms of cell morphology,number,viability,surface markers,differentiation potential,and cell-killing toxicity assay before cryopreservation and after resuscitation thawing.We confirmed the cryopreservation effect of the new cryoprotectant and its potential application value.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The novel cryoprotectant facilitated the normal growth of cryopreserved Wharton's jelly tissue upon recovery,exhibiting mesenchymal stem cell morphology.No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in terms of cell recovery rate,surface markers,and differentiation potential.(2)There was no significant difference in the number and viability of cells between the experimental group and the control group after cryopreservation of cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,and the cryo-resuscitated cell numbers and viability of derived NK cells/CIK cells did not show significant difference between the experimental and control groups.(3)For NK cells derived and differentiated from cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,there was no significant difference in the proportion of CD56+CD16+cell subpopulations between the experimental group and the control group.For CIK cells derived and differentiated from cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,there was no significant difference in the proportions of CD3+CD8+and CD3+CD56+cell subpopulations between the experimental group and the control group.(4)In terms of cytotoxicity testing,when the effective-target ratio of immune cells and melanoma cell line Mel624 was 20:1,whether it was NK cells/CIK cells derived from cord blood or peripheral blood mononuclear cells,there was no significant difference in the tumoricidal activity of cells between the experimental group and the control group.These findings suggest that the novel cryoprotectant can replace existing commercially available and widely used cryoprotectants,and is applicable to Wharton's jelly tissue,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,umbilical cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,as well as NK and CIK cells,providing a solid technical foundation for the scaling,standardization,and commercialization of universal cryoprotectants.
8.Transcatheter electrosurgery:an emerging interventional technology in cardiac disease
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(2):101-105
Transcatheter electrosurgery has emerged as an innovative interventional technique for treating structural heart disease in recent years.This technology utilizes radiofrequency energy delivered through catheter systems to perform puncture,cutting,or ablation of cardiovascular tissues,providing new treatment options for patients with complex structural heart disease.The technique has evolved from simple valve perforation to sophisticated valve modifications,developing various innovative procedures to address key clinical challenges in interventional treatment.The basic principle involves using radiofrequency energy to heat and vaporize target tissues while minimizing damage to surrounding structures.This review comprehensively discusses the fundamental principles,technical characteristics,clinical applications,and future prospects of transcatheter electrosurgery.Current applications include recanalization of occlusive lesions,intracardiac chamber access,and tissue modification for structural interventions.While showing promising results in various complex cases,the technology still faces challenges such as the learning curve and the need for specialized equipment.As the field continues to develop,transcatheter electrosurgery is expected to play an increasingly important role in structural heart interventions,though more long-term data is needed to fully evaluate its safety and efficacy.
9.Research Progress on Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Jin GONG ; Jinjin ZHANG ; Lili CHEN ; Hui WANG ; Yanchao XING
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):75-82
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by synovial inflammation, cartilage loss. Often manifesting as joint pain and limited mobility, it severely affects the quality of life of patients. Traditional treatment methods such as pharmacological injections and surgical interventions primarily aim to alleviate symptoms but have limited effects on cartilage repair. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs), due to their anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic capabilities, is considered a new hope for the treatment of KOA. This article synthesizes the latest research findings from both domestic and international sources to discuss the theoretical basis for the clinical application of hUC-MSCs in treating KOA, clinical study design, and efficacy evaluation. It also addresses the challenges in the clinical application of hUC-MSCs and explores future directions, in the hope of providing feasible theoretical support for the treatment of KOA with hUC-MSCs.
10.Prognostic value of prolymphocyte percentage in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Zhaoliang ZHANG ; Jiahao ZHOU ; Lingxiao XING ; Yan WANG ; Tonglu QIU ; Rong WANG ; Hui WANG ; Lei FAN ; Huayuan ZHU ; Yi MIAO ; Jianyong LI
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(2):140-146
Objective:To investigate the impact of peripheral blood prolymphocyte percentage on the prognosis of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) .Methods:This study included 300 patients diagnosed with CLL at the Department of Hematology of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital from October 2011 to December 2020. The association between prolymphocyte percentage and other parameters was analyzed, and the optimal cutoff prolymphocyte percentage was determined by X-tile analysis. Further survival analysis and prognostic model construction were used to validate the predictive value of prolymphocyte percentage.Results:Of the 300 eligible patients with CLL who were enrolled, 50 received Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) as first-line treatment. The group with higher prolymphocyte percentage comprised more patients in the advanced stages ( P=0.010) and had higher β 2-microglobulin ( P<0.001), unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region gene ( P<0.001), and TP53 aberration ( P=0.004). The optimal cutoff percentage of prolymphocytes was 1%. Patients with a prolymphocyte percentage >1% had significantly shorter treatment-free survival (TFS) ( P<0.001) and overall survival time ( P=0.007) than patients with a prolymphocyte percentage ≤1%. On multivariate analysis, prolymphocyte percentage >1% tended to have an independent prognostic value for TFS [ HR=1.405 (95% CI 0.971~2.032), P=0.071]. Compared with the nomogram of CLL international prognostic index (CLL-IPI) alone, the nomogram of CLL-IPI combined with prolymphocyte percentage showed better discrimination (area under the curve: 0.778 vs. 0.637; P=0.006). In addition, patients with a prolymphocyte percentage >1% were more likely to progress after BTKi treatment ( P=0.038) . Conclusion:Peripheral blood prolymphocyte percentage was associated with various clinical and biological parameters and prognosis among patients with treatment-naive CLL.

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