1.Inheritance and Current Research Status of Major Spleen-Stomach Theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ling HU ; Fengyun WANG ; Xudong TANG ; Beihua ZHANG ; Yunkai DAI ; Xu CHEN ; Shiqi LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):87-94
This paper systematically reviews the core concepts and lines of theoretical inheritance of major spleen-stomach theories in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including spleen deficiency theory, spleen-stomach damp-heat theory, and liver-spleen disharmony theory. It is found that these theories have all undergone a developmental trajectory characterized by classical foundation, refinement of therapeutic methods, systematization of pathogenesis, and modern innovation. The evolution of spleen-stomach theory has achieved a shift from a singular focus on tonifying the spleen to regulating dynamic middle-jiao (焦) balance, and from localized spleen-stomach regulation to the circular movement of qi involving all five zang organs. In terms of modern disease-syndrome integrative research, spleen deficiency syndrome is shown to be closely associated with impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, metabolic disorders, and gene polymorphisms related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases. Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is closely linked to hyperactive energy metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, and abnormal expression of aquaporins. Liver-spleen disharmony syndrome is mainly associated with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and microbiota-related metabolic disorders. It is proposed that future research on spleen-stomach diseases and syndromes should further elucidate their potential multidimensional differential biological characteristics, thereby promoting the modernization of the TCM discipline of spleen-stomach studies.
2.Improvement mechanism study of kushenol F on ulcerative colitis mice by regulating gut microbiota and immune response
Xudong HE ; Chengzhu SONG ; Haoyu NI ; Yunkai HU ; Min LI ; Dajun CHEN ; Wentao SU ; Jie YU ; Xingxin YANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(17):2088-2095
OBJECTIVE To explore the action mechanism of kushenol F (KSCF) in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. METHODS The potential targets of KSCF intervening in UC were predicted with network pharmacology and molecular docking. C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided by body weight into model group, positive control group (sulfasalazine, 703 mg/kg), KSCF group (100 mg/kg), and normal group, with 6 mice per group. The UC model of mice was induced by dextran sulfate sodium solution. During the modeling period, the mice were given relevant medicine intragastrically, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. After the last administration, the disease activity index (DAI) of the mice was scored; the length of the mice’s colon was measured; pathological changes in the colon tissue of mice were observed; the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the colon were detected in mice; the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in colon tissue of mice were detected; the proportions of CD3+T, CD4+T, and CD8+T lymphocytes in the spleen and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were detected; changes in colonic microbiota were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS Results of network pharmacology indicated that KSCF may treat UC by regulating signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF- κB). Molecular docking results showed that KSCF bound most stably with NF-κB p65 protein. Animal experiment results demonstrated that, compared with the model group, the pathological characteristics of colon tissue in mice were improved in KSCF group. DAI scores, serum levels of LPS, the levels of MPO,NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and NLRP3 protein expression in the colon, and the proportion of CD8+T lymphocytes in the spleen were reduced significantly (P<0.05). Body weight, SOD levels, expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in the colon, proportions of CD3+T and CD4+T lymphocytes, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the spleen were significantly increased (P<0.05); the abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Akkermansia, and Lactobacillus genera were increased, while Proteobacteria decreased; the microbial community structure tended towards that of the normal group. CONCLUSIONS KSCF alleviates UC by restoring intestinal microbial imbalance, enhancing immune response, and inhibiting colonic inflammatory responses, thereby improving intestinal barrier integrity.
3.Molecular mechanism of lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma
Xiaomeng YAO ; Keke SUN ; Yunkai LIN ; Hui WANG ; Liwei DONG ; Lei CHEN ; Heping HU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(12):2524-2530
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the liver and poses serious health burdens on China and the whole world. However, most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are already in the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, with fewer opportunities for surgery and limited treatment options. In recent years, the advances in molecular targeted therapies have brought new hope for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Among these therapies, lenvatinib is the second first-line drug after sorafenib approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and it has attracted widespread attention for its powerful anti-tumor properties. However, the efficacy of lenvatinib is severely limited by its drug resistance. This article reviews the research advances in the molecular mechanisms of lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma and discusses possible ways to improve the efficacy of lenvatinib, so as to improve its efficacy.
4.Intervention effect of kushenol F on ulcerative colitis mice
Xudong HE ; Haoyu NI ; Jinbiao HE ; Min LI ; Yunkai HU ; Dihong GONG ; Jinling YAO ; Jie YU ; Xingxin YANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(4):419-424
OBJECTIVE To investigate the intervention effect of kushenol F (KSC-F) on ulcerative colitis (UC) mice. METHODS Totally 30 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, positive drug group (sulfasalazine, 703 mg/kg), KSC-F 50 mg/kg group (KSC-F50 group), and KSC-F 100 mg/kg group (KSC-F100 group), with 6 mice in each group. Except for the normal group, the mice in the remaining groups were given 3% dextran sulfate sodium solution continuously for 7 days to induce UC model. Concurrently, administration groups received corresponding drug solution intragastrically, once a day, for 10 consecutive days. During the experiment, the changes in body weight and bowel movements of the mice were observed. Disease activity index scoring was performed after the last administration. The histopathological morphology of colonic tissue was examined. The levels of inflammatory factors in the serum and colon tissue were measured. Additionally, the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, and the protein expressions of inflammation-related proteins [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), forkhead box O1(FOXO1), phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK), phosphorylated p38 MAPK(p-p38 MPAK) and phosphorylated protein kinase B(p- Akt)] were determined in colonic tissue. RESULTS KSC-F could alleviate weight loss and colonic tissue damage in UC mice. KSC- F reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum, as well as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and TNF- α in colonic tissue to varying degrees and increased the levels of IL-10 in both serum and colonic tissue (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, KSC-F decreased the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-17 and TNF-α mRNA, as well as p-PI3K, p-p38 MAPK, and p- Akt proteins in colonic tissue to varying degrees, and increased the expression levels of IL-10 mRNA and FOXO1 protein in colonic tissue (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS KSC-F effectively alleviates UC symptoms in mice by inhibiting PI3K, Akt and p38 MAPK activation, mitigating the release of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF- α,promoting the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 secretion, and reducing inflammation-induced colonic tissue damage.
5.Generated SecPen_NY-ESO-1_ubiquitin-pulsed dendritic cell cancer vaccine elicits stronger and specific T cell immune responses.
Yunkai YANG ; Xiaohan GUO ; Bo HU ; Peng HE ; Xiaowu JIANG ; Zuohuan WANG ; Huaxing ZHU ; Lina HU ; Minghua YU ; Meiqing FENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021;11(2):476-487
Dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines (DC vaccines) have been proved efficient and safe in immunotherapy of various cancers, including melanoma, ovarian and prostate cancer. However, the clinical responses were not always satisfied. Here we proposed a novel strategy to prepare DC vaccines. In the present study, a fusion protein SNU containing a secretin-penetratin (SecPen) peptide, NY-ESO-1 and ubiquitin was designed and expressed. To establish the DC vaccine (DC-SNU), the mouse bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) were isolated, pulsed with SNU and maturated with cytokine cocktail. Then peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from C57BL/6 mice inoculated intraperitoneally with DC-SNU were separated and cocultured with MC38/MC38
6.Association between different parent-child separation types and emotion regulation strategies among preschool children
Chinese Journal of School Health 2019;40(2):232-235
Objective:
To understand effects of timing and duration of separation experiences from parents on emotion regulation of left-behind preschoolers,and to provide the reference for phychological instruction and intervention among the special groups of children.
Methods:
Children’s emotion regulation strategy and the relevant information among 1 373 left-behind preschool children from Funan county in Fuyang.Qianshan county in Anqing,Changfeng county and Fexi county inFeixi were investigated.
Results:
Children with left-behind experiences younger than 18 months old tend to use less cognitive restructuring (P=0.03) and alternative action strategies (P=0.00) than non-left behind children. Children separated from father less than 47 months (median) and 36 months (median) from mother tend to use less cognitive restructuring (P=0.00) and alternative action strategies (P=0.00) than non-left behind children.
Conclusion
Separation experiences from parents younger than 18 months old exert severe damage on children’s emotional regulation. With the duration of separation increases, children show resilience of emotion regulation, which might be a protective factor for negative emotion due to parent-child separation.
7. Epidemiological and pathogenic features of a bacillary dysentery outbreak in a boarding school caused by Shigella sonneri
Zhaoqian MENG ; Ran DUAN ; Ge BU ; Guoxia GUO ; Liangzi GUO ; Yunkai HU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2019;40(8):988-991
Objective:
To investigate the etiologic and epidemiologic features of an infectious diarrhea outbreak in a boarding school in Fuyang city, Anhui province.
Methods:
Traceability hypothesis of this study was tested according to the epidemiological characteristics of the cases. Feces, anal swabs, water samples and food residues related to the patients and chefs were collected for pathogen isolation and detection. Biochemical identification, virulence gene detection, drug susceptibility test, PFGE and multilocus sequence typing were performed.
Results:
The incidence rate (3.41%) of different dormitory buildings within the water supply area by shallow wells was higher than that (0.98%) of the deep wells, with statistical significance (
8.Gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of hysterical tendencies in adolescents from three eastern Chinese provinces.
Qinglin CHENG ; Li XIE ; Yunkai HU ; Jinfeng HU ; Wei GAO ; Yongxiang LV ; Yong XU
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2018;23(1):5-5
BACKGROUND:
Few studies have attempted to compare the differences in the prevalence and impact factors of hysterical tendencies (HTs) in adolescents. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of adolescents' HTs across three eastern Chinese provinces (Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang).
METHODS:
A multicenter, school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in three provinces (Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang) in China in 2014. The sample included 10,131 middle-school students aged 13-18 years who were randomly selected using a multiphase, stratified, cluster sampling technique. A two-stage appraisal procedure was used to determine the adolescents' HTs. We also designed a multicenter, school-based, case control (1329 cases with 2661 control individuals) study to collect data on the common factors affecting this population using a common protocol and questionnaire.
RESULTS:
An overall positive rate of HTs among adolescents across the three eastern Chinese provinces studied was found at 13.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.5-13.8%), at 14.5% (95% CI 13.3-15.7%) for females, and at 12.2% (95% CI 11.1-13.4%) for males. Gender-stratified, multiple conditional regression analyses revealed that superstitious beliefs pertaining to life, somatotype, teacher-student satisfaction, and family achievement orientation were significantly linked to HTs only in males, while left-behind adolescents, emotional and social adaptation, teacher-student support, family cohesion, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - depression scores were significantly associated with female HTs only. The models indicated that of all the independent variables studied, family medical history was the strongest impact factor for both male HTs (adjusted matched odds ratio (amOR) = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.84-4.86) and female HTs (amOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.59-4.98).
CONCLUSIONS
HTs are prevalent among adolescents in the three eastern Chinese provinces studied. Gender differences in the prevalence and impact factors of HTs are significant in adolescents, and HTs seem to affect more females than males. Therefore, sex-specific intervention programs against HTs in adolescents should be considered to reduce HT prevalence in adolescents by modifying influential social, school, and family factors.
Adolescent
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Adolescent Behavior
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psychology
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China
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epidemiology
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Female
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Histrionic Personality Disorder
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epidemiology
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psychology
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Humans
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Male
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Prevalence
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Risk Factors
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Sex Factors
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Students
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psychology
9.The value of color Doppler ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant testicular tumors in children
Huiyong HU ; Yaqing CHEN ; Yunfeng XU ; Lifeng WANG ; Shengli GU ; Yunkai ZHU ; Hairong WANG
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2018;27(3):226-231
Objective To investigate the value of color Doppler ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant testicular tumors in children. Methods The sonographic findings of 63 children pathologically confirmed testicular tumors were retrospectively analyzed.All children were divided into benign group and malignant group according to pathologic diagnosis. The tumor size,shape,border, echo texture,calcification and color blood flow were compared between two groups. Logistic regression analysis was employed to predict sonographic features of benign and malignant testicular tumors.Receiver operating curve (ROC) was employed to assess the diagnostic performance of sonographic features. Results Among the 63 cases of pediatric testicular tumors,42 cases were histologically confirmed as benign testicular tumors (66.7% ),and the rest 21 cases were malignant testicular tumors (33.3% ). The maximum diameter of tumor in benign tumors was significantly smaller than that in malignant tumors[(1.75 ± 0.75) cm vs (2.90 ± 1.22)cm,P =0.000].In the sonographic features,malignant testicular tumors were more likely to present with solid masses,and benign testicular tumors were more likely to be cystic or cystic-solid ( P =0.024).Calcification was more common in benign tumors than that in malignant tumors ( P =0.000).Compared with benign tumors,malignant tumors had increased blood flow on color Doppler images ( P =0.000).Logistic regression analysis indicated that flow grade was the independent prognostic factors for malignant tumor. By using Alder grade of 2 or above as threshold,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 95.2%,78.6% and 84.1%,respectively. Conclusions The sonographic features vary between benign and malignant testicular tumors. Blood flow is the independent factors for predicting malignant tumor. Color Doppler ultrasonography is an important method for differential diagnosis of testicular tumors in children.
10.The status of anxiety and its influential factors of preschool children in rural areas
Wei WU ; Guangbo QU ; Lingling WANG ; Xue TANG ; Jian ZHANG ; Jingjing YAO ; Mingchun CHEN ; Liang SUN ; Yunkai HU ; Qing GUO ; Yehuan SUN
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2018;27(10):920-926
Objective To know the anxiety status of preschool children in rural areas and to explore its influential factors. Methods Subjects of 1363 rural preschool children aged 3-6 years were selected from Anhui Province( Changfeng and Feixi county of Hefei city; Qianshan county of Anqing city; Funan county of Fuyang city) . The primary caregivers of preschool children were investigated by Chinese version of Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale (SPAS),Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers (DECA-P2) ,Neglect Norms for Children Aged 3 to 6 Years in Rural Areas of China,Adaptation Partnership Growth Affection Resolve (APGAR),Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Self-rating depression (SDS). Result-s Among the 1363 preschool children,the positive rate of anxiety was 14. 7%. Physical injury fears score was highest (1. 24±0. 84),followed by social phobia anxiety (0. 86±0. 75) and separation anxiety (0. 85± 0. 74) . Except for obsessive compulsive disorder,the other four types of anxiety and total anxiety scores were negatively correlated with the total protective factors of mental resilience (r=-0. 054- -0. 070,P<0. 05). Besides,all anxiety scores were positively correlated with behavioral problems(r=0. 121-0. 237,P<0. 05)and neglect degree (r=0. 157-0. 269,P<0. 05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis of different anxiety types showed that gender,family type,family income status,parental rearing pattern was consistent or inconsistent,children' s neglect degree,behavior problem and anxiety/depression status of primary caregivers were the main factors affecting the anxiety level of preschool children in rural areas. Conclusions In order to reduce or avoid anxiety of preschool children,it is necessary to establish a good family environment,im-prove parents' upbringing level,and take effective education intervention.


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