1.Targeted Regulation of Inflammation-related Signaling Pathways by Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis: A Review
Shuang ZHAO ; Mingxue ZHANG ; Ning LIU ; Jianan SU ; Yuhan AO ; Jing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):273-283
Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases and seriously threatens human quality of life. Its prevention and treatment urgently need breakthroughs. The inflammatory response, which runs through the physiological and pathological evolution process of AS, is one of the important mechanisms for AS occurrence. Currently, the treatment methods for AS in Western medicine are relatively mature. However, they have adverse reactions such as abnormal liver and kidney function, drug tolerance, target vessel restenosis, and stent thrombosis, which remain the key bottleneck restricting clinical efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by multiple components, multiple targets, and multi-pathway synergy, shows unique clinical application potential and efficacy advantages in the intervention of AS. This article reviewed the research progress of TCM in intervening in AS by regulating inflammatory-related signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), in the past five years. It summarized the combined mechanism of action of TCM monomers, TCM pairs, and compound preparations in inhibiting the inflammatory cascade reaction through multiple targets, regulating lipid metabolism disorders, and improving vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalance of the microenvironment. It deepened the research on the molecular mechanism of TCM in anti-AS, so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical transformation application and related theoretical research of TCM in anti-AS.
2.Targeted Regulation of Inflammation-related Signaling Pathways by Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis: A Review
Shuang ZHAO ; Mingxue ZHANG ; Ning LIU ; Jianan SU ; Yuhan AO ; Jing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):273-283
Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases and seriously threatens human quality of life. Its prevention and treatment urgently need breakthroughs. The inflammatory response, which runs through the physiological and pathological evolution process of AS, is one of the important mechanisms for AS occurrence. Currently, the treatment methods for AS in Western medicine are relatively mature. However, they have adverse reactions such as abnormal liver and kidney function, drug tolerance, target vessel restenosis, and stent thrombosis, which remain the key bottleneck restricting clinical efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by multiple components, multiple targets, and multi-pathway synergy, shows unique clinical application potential and efficacy advantages in the intervention of AS. This article reviewed the research progress of TCM in intervening in AS by regulating inflammatory-related signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), in the past five years. It summarized the combined mechanism of action of TCM monomers, TCM pairs, and compound preparations in inhibiting the inflammatory cascade reaction through multiple targets, regulating lipid metabolism disorders, and improving vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalance of the microenvironment. It deepened the research on the molecular mechanism of TCM in anti-AS, so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical transformation application and related theoretical research of TCM in anti-AS.
3.Mechanism of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis Extract in Treating Parkinson's Disease Based on Lipidomics
Ningxia LU ; Ao GAO ; Yehao WANG ; Jinjin YANG ; Yi LU ; Fang LU ; Shumin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):91-99
ObjectiveAbnormal lipids in neurons can cause the accumulation of α-synuclein(α-syn). This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis extract (ASH) in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) mice using lipidomics combined with network pharmacology. MethodsMice were divided into the blank group, model group and ASH (45.5 mg·kg-1) group. Motor ability was evaluated by pole climbing time and autonomous activity count; The oxidative stress indicators were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Lipid biomarkers in brain tissues were screened and identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and metabolic pathway analysis was conducted. The key targets of ASH for PD treatment were explored using network pharmacology. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was used for pathway enrichment analysis, and the "compound-reaction-enzyme-gene" network was constructed using the MetScape plugin. The protein expression levels of glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), glutathione S-transferase Mu 2 (GSTM2), prostaglandin peroxide synthase 1 (PTGS1), prostaglandin peroxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES) were validated by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed significantly prolonged pole climbing time and reduced autonomous activity count (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the ASH group demonstrated significantly faster pole climbing and increased autonomous activity count (P<0.01). The model group exhibited significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in brain tissues compared with the blank group (P<0.01). The ASH group showed increased SOD and GSH-Px levels and decreased MDA level compared with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Lipidomics analysis identified 10 differential metabolites and 8 differential metabolic pathways. Network pharmacological analysis revealed 213 intersection targets between ASH components and PD, with KEGG enrichment involving the sphingolipid signaling pathway, lipid arteriosclerosis, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, and hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1) signaling pathway. Integrated lipidomics and network pharmacology analysis highlighted the central role of the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. The Western blot results showed that ASH effectively up-regulated GSTP1, GSTM2, and PTGS1 protein expression, and down-regulated PTGS2 and PTGES protein expression. ConclusionASH can ameliorate behavioral deficits, exert antioxidant effects, regulate lipid differential metabolites and the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, thereby exerting therapeutic effects in PD model mice.
4.Network Meta analysis on the effects of different exercise modalities on executive function in school aged children
XU Hongru, LIU Mingyi, WANG Haolin, CHU Pengyi, LU Donglei, KONG Nianxin, CAI Jingjie, PENG Li ao
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(2):256-262
Objective:
To explore the intervention effects of different exercise modalities on executive function in school aged children, providing references for formulating exercise prescriptions to promote school aged children executive function.
Methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and CBM to identify studies on the effects of exercises on executive function in school aged children. The search period spanned from the database inception to August 2025. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Network Meta analysis was performed using Stata 16.0.
Results:
A total of 51 studies involving 5 710 school aged children and seven modalities of exercises(control group,small ball sports,large ball sports,aerobic exercise,combined exercise,sport game,gymnastic and dance sports) were finally included. Network Meta analysis showed that, in terms of inhibitory control development of school aged children, small ball sports ( SMD =-0.98,95% CI =-1.32 to -0.64 ), large ball sports ( SMD =-0.64,95% CI =-0.91 to -0.36), and mixed sports ( SMD =-0.26,95% CI =-0.50 to -0.02]) were more effective than the control group; in terms of working memory, largeball sports ( SMD =-1.26,95% CI =-1.88 to -0.65) and small ball sports ( SMD =-0.91,95% CI =-1.64 to -0.19) were superior to the control group; in terms of improving cognitive flexibility, large ball sports ( SMD =-1.02,95% CI =-1.28 to -0.76), gymnastics and dance sports ( SMD =-0.80,95% CI =-1.21 to -0.40), and small ball sports ( SMD =-0.75,95% CI =-1.15 to -0.36) were more effective than the control group (all P <0.05). Surface under cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) showed that small ball sports had the highest value (SUCRA=98.9%) in improving inhibitory control, while large ball sports achieved the highest score(SUCRA=92.6%) in enhancing working memory, and large ball sports also had the highest value(SUCRA=94.7%) in promoting cognitive flexibility.
Conclusions
For developing inhibitory control in school aged children, small ball sports are recommended as a priority. For enhancing working memory and cognitive flexibility, large ball sports are recommended.
5.Establishment of a high-risk medication list and preventive and therapeutic measures for drug-induced hypofi-brinogenemia based on the Delphi method
Xiao WEN ; Le CAI ; Ning LIU ; Ao GAO ; Man ZHU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(7):848-853
OBJECTIVE To establish a high-risk medication list and preventive and therapeutic measures for drug-induced hypofibrinogenemia, and to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of this condition. METHODS By integrating domestic and international case reports, retrospective case-control studies, and spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting databases, 19 domestically marketed high-risk drugs for drug-induced hypofibrinogenemia were identified. Based on the clinical characteristics and mechanisms of these drugs, relevant risk factors were systematically reviewed, and existing treatment options were summarized, leading to the preliminary development of recommended preventive and therapeutic measures. A two-round Delphi consultation was conducted to evaluate, revise, and ultimately reach consensus on the preliminary findings, using a mean importance score of ≥3.5 points for indicators and a coefficient of variation <0.3 as screening criteria. RESULTS The coefficient of expert authority for both rounds of expert consultation was 0.904. In the first round, the Kendall coordination coefficients (Kendall’s W ) for the high-risk medication list and the proposed preventive and therapeutic measures were 0.390 and 0.223 ( P <0.05), respectively. In the second round, the Kendall’s W were 0.227 and 0.200 ( P <0.05), respectively. After two rounds of expert consultation and discussion, 11 high-risk drugs for drug-induced hypofibrinogenemia, represented by hemocoagulase and certain anti-infective agents, were ultimately identified, along with 5 preventive and therapeutic measures spanning the entire process of “pre-medication assessment, intra-medication monitoring, and bleeding event management”. CONCLUSIONS This study has established a scientific and reliable high-risk medication list, and corresponding preventive and therapeutic measures for drug-induced hypofibrinogenemia, providing a theoretical basis and practical support for the early identification, stratified management, and precise intervention of this condition.
6.Analysis of risk factors in patients with nonvalvular persistent atrial fibrillation complicated with ventricular hypertrophy and construction and validation of prediction model
Fang LIU ; Peiyang ZHENG ; Huimin WANG ; Danni LI ; Ao LIANG ; Ren ZHAO
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):552-561
ObjectiveTo construct a nomogram prediction model for non-valvular persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) , followed by prognostic analysis through follow-up. MethodsThis study retrospectively enrolled 949 patients with newly diagnosed and hospitalized non-valvular PeAF. Among them, 403 patients presented with LVH. The cohort was randomly stratified into a training set (n=665) and a validation set (n=284). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify independent risk factors for PeAF complicated by LVH. A nomogram prediction model was subsequently constructed and evaluated for discriminative ability, calibration, and clinical utility using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). ResultsSeven independent risk factors were ultimately identified and included in the prediction model: female sex, hypertension, diabetes, red blood cell distribution width-SD (RDW-SD), body mass index (BMI), left atrial diameter (LAD), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the training set was 0.862 (95% CI: 0.834-0.890), and in the validation set, it was 0.870 (95% CI: 0.829-0.911), demonstrating excellent predictive performance. ConclusionIndependent risk factors for LVH in PeAF patients include female, hypertension, diabetes, RDW-SD, BMI, LAD, and LVEF. The prediction model built based on this can help early identification of PeAF patients with high risk of LVH. At the same time, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is higher in PeAF patients with LVH. Patients with atrial fibrillation combined with LVH may benefit from catheter ablation.
7.Latent Profile Analysis and Influencing Factors of Fear of Progression in Patients with Behçet′s Disease
Lu LI ; Yiyuan AO ; Yeling LIU ; Jingwen WU ; Jinjing LIU ; Wenjie ZHENG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(3):283-291
To explore the latent profile characteristics of fear of progression (FoP) in patients with Behçet′s disease (BD) and analyze its influencing factors. This was a cross-sectional study. By convenience sampling, BD patients attending Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 2025 to March 2026 were included as study subjects. Data were collected using sociodemographic and disease status questionnaires, the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Ruminative Response Scale, the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Latent profile analysis was used to identify FoP profiles, and univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression were employed to explore associated influencing factors, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. A total of 221 patients with BD were included in the study. Heterogeneity was observed in their FoP. Latent profile analysis identified three latent classes: the low-fear group-good-adaptation type (68 cases, 30.77%), the moderate-fear group-situational-fluctuation type (110 cases, 49.77%), and the high-fear group-prevalent-worry type (43 cases, 19.46%). The univariate analysis revealed differences among the three patient groups in terms of age, Behçet′s Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) score, psychological resilience, perceived social support, rumination, and medical coping styles (including confrontation, avoidance, and resignation)(all FoP in patients with BD exhibits significant population heterogeneity, indicating that individualized and differentiated psychological interventions are warranted in clinical settings to substantially improve patients' overall prognosis and quality of life.
8.Brain-heart Axis in Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Comorbidity: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Biomarkers
Xu-Lin LIU ; Ying-Ao XIE ; Yun-Fei WANG ; Jing CHENG ; Qiao-Qiao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2558-2582
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart failure (HF) and coronary artery disease (CAD), are major chronic disorders associated with population aging. Their frequent coexistence in clinical practice suggests that they may not progress independently, but may instead be linked through bidirectional pathological communication within the brain-heart axis. Epidemiological evidence underscores this clinical burden: systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported pooled relative risks for dementia of approximately 1.27 among individuals with a history of CAD and 1.60 among those with HF, while the pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in patients with HF has been estimated at approximately 41.42% and 19.79%, respectively. This review synthesizes current evidence on the mechanistic links, disease-state manifestations, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic strategies involved in the comorbidity between NDs and CVDs from the perspective of the brain-heart axis. The brain and heart communicate through autonomic, neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, vascular, and humoral pathways. Sympathetic activation, parasympathetic withdrawal, vagal dysfunction, cerebral hypoperfusion, endothelial injury, blood-brain barrier (BBB) alterations, peripheral immune activation, and circulating inflammatory mediators may jointly contribute to cross-organ pathological signaling. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are not specific to the brain-heart axis; rather, they may act as candidate amplifying processes within this network. Mitochondrial dysfunction and NADPH oxidase activation can increase the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which may activate nuclear factor-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and mitogen-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. These pathways can promote the release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor‑α, and other inflammatory mediators, which may in turn aggravate mitochondrial injury, endothelial dysfunction, immune cell activation, and further oxidant generation. Cytokines, chemokines, oxidized lipids, mitochondrial DNA, damage-associated molecular patterns, and extracellular vesicles may transmit these signals between the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, whereas autonomic reflexes provide an additional route for bidirectional amplification. Distinct disease states illustrate different manifestations of this network. The association between AD and CVDs may involve vascular risk factors, impaired amyloid-β clearance, abnormal cholesterol homeostasis, cerebral microvascular injury, neuroinflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. HF-related cognitive impairment may be linked to reduced cardiac output, recurrent cerebral hypoperfusion, hypoxia-related signaling, BBB dysfunction, circulating inflammation, and impaired autonomic feedback. In PD, cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure regulation may interact with vascular injury, reduced cerebral perfusion, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, the relationship between PD and CAD remains heterogeneous and may be modified by age, ethnicity, medication use, metabolic factors, and coexisting diseases. Biomarker evaluation should therefore move beyond isolated indicators. Traditional markers, including malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6, reflect systemic oxidative or inflammatory burden but lack sufficient specificity to distinguish primary neurodegeneration, cardiovascular injury, or a comorbid state involving both. Greater clinical value may be obtained from cross-system panels that combine oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with cardiac stress or injury biomarkers, such as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; glial or neuronal biomarkers, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain; BBB- or endothelial injury-related biomarkers; and omics-derived candidates, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation signatures, metabolites, and proteins. Multi-omics integration and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis may support risk stratification, disease monitoring, and prediction of treatment response. However, these approaches require standardized analytical platforms, validation in independent cohorts, and careful distinction between associative findings and causal mechanisms. Potential interventions include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondria-targeted, and multi-target combination strategies, together with emerging approaches such as nanodelivery, CRISPR/Cas9- or CRISPR/dCas9-based regulation, mesenchymal stem cell-mediated mitochondrial transfer, and ergothioneine supplementation. Nevertheless, most available evidence is indirect, preclinical, or derived from other disease indications, and no single drug or technology can currently be regarded as specific to brain-heart axis comorbidity. The clinical relevance of these strategies will depend on whether they can be matched to dominant pathological phenotypes and improve both neurological and cardiovascular outcomes. Overall, comorbidity between NDs and CVDs is more appropriately understood as a heterogeneous cross-organ regulatory network than as a disorder driven by a single pathway. Future research should prioritize multicenter longitudinal cohorts, standardized clinical phenotyping, validation of cross-system biomarker panels, and mechanism-guided interventions in clearly defined patient subgroups, with integrated assessment of cognitive function, cardiovascular events, quality of life, long-term safety, and treatment response.
9.Development and application of a three-dimensional digital visualization system for children's neck acupoints
Xiaojing AO ; Kun LI ; Yuhang LIU ; Xiaoxuan YANG ; Xing WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Xiaoyan REN ; Shaojie ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(9):1834-1840
BACKGROUND:Currently,there have been studies on three-dimensional digitalization and visualization systems for adult acupoints,but there are not many reports on the visualization of pediatric acupoints based on real pediatric digital sectional anatomical datasets. OBJECTIVE:To design and develop a digital three-dimensional visualization system for children's neck acupoints,to provide a basis for acupuncture and moxibustion,meridian and acupoint science teaching,clinical practice,acupuncture manipulation practice,and acupuncture safety research,and to provide a basis for the development of children's acupoint simulation system. METHODS:Based on a real cross-sectional anatomical dataset of pre-school boys,a three-dimensional digital virtual anatomical model of the neck region of children and internal multi-organ three-dimensional reconstruction were completed using PhotoShop 2021 and Digihuman Reconstruction System software.A database of 11 acupoints was compiled,including Fengfu and Fengchi,using the Unity database language.A three-dimensional model of children's neck anatomy,acupoint database,and writing acupuncture operation codes were integrated in Unity3D software.A three-dimensional digital visualization system for children's neck acupoints was successfully created,which integrated simulation acupoint positioning,three-dimensional acupoint anatomy,acupuncture training,clinical teaching,and acupuncture safety research. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)This study was based on real child specimens.Manual layer by layer segmentation of cross-sectional images was used to ensure the accuracy of the three-dimensional model to the greatest extent possible.The 3D software Digihuman Reconstruction System was utilized to extract and save independent segmentation data.PhotoShop 2021 software was collaborated with to complete dozens of three-dimensional reconstruction anatomical models of the outer skin of the neck and its internal bone structure,cervical spinal cord,blood vessels and nerves,muscles,and ligaments in children.The basic morphology and overall contour integrity verification of each independent structure were completed in MeshLab software.The 3-material research 13.0 software was applied for final fine tuning and anatomical position confirmation,successfully simulating and restoring the true anatomical morphology of the neck of preschool children.(2)Based on and referring to the national standards of the People's Republic of China,a database of commonly used acupoints in children's neck region was collected and organized,including their names,meridians,positioning,local anatomy,needle insertion levels,acupuncture methods,acupuncture accidents and prevention,acupoint indications,and two-dimensional anatomical sectional images.(3)Unity3D software was employed to integrate the three-dimensional model of children's neck,acupuncture simulation operation,and acupoint database,and a three-dimensional digital children's neck acupoint acupuncture visualization system was successfully constructed.The system displayed information on children's neck acupoints,two-dimensional and three-dimensional anatomical structures,and achieved two-dimensional and three-dimensional acupuncture simulation functions and acupuncture safety research functions for children's neck acupoints.Based on the ultra-thin sectional anatomical dataset of real child specimens,the first three-dimensional digital and visualization system for acupoints in the neck region of children had been constructed.Compared with previous acupoint acupuncture systems,it is more in line with the anatomical and morphological development characteristics of Asian children and has high application value in the fields of acupuncture safety research,clinical teaching,and acupuncture simulation training.
10.Research progress on the mechanism of action of rosmarinic acid in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Ke CAI ; Sheng-ru HUANG ; Fang-fang GAO ; Xiu-juan PENG ; Sheng GUO ; Feng LIU ; Jin-ao DUAN ; Shu-lan SU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):12-21
With the rapid development of social economy and the continuous improvement of human living standard, the incidence, fatality and recurrence rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are increasing year by year, which seriously affects people's life and health. Conventional therapeutic drugs have limited improvement on the disability rate, so the search for new therapeutic drugs and action targets has become one of the hotspots of current research. In recent years, the therapeutic role of the natural compound rosmarinic acid (RA) in CVD has attracted much attention, which is capable of preventing CVD by modulating multiple signalling pathways and exerting physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, as well as anti-coagulation and endothelial function protection. In this paper, the role of RA in the prevention of CVD is systematically sorted out, and its mechanism of action is summarised and analysed, with a view to providing a scientific basis and important support for the in-depth exploration of the prevention value of RA in CVD and its further development as a prevention drug.


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