1.Targeting M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization Balance by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Bronchial Asthma: A Review
Jie LIU ; Yasheng DENG ; Weiping YIN ; Lei XIONG ; Na WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):308-317
Bronchial asthma (BA) is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow limitation. Lung macrophages (LMs), as important effector cells of the innate immune system, play an important role in recognizing and engulfing pathogens, clearing harmful particles, and regulating immune responses. LMs can be polarized to M1 (pro-inflammatory) or M2 (anti-inflammatory) in different immune environments and participate in promoting or inhibiting inflammatory response, as well as lung parenchyma injury and repair (airway remodeling), playing a key role in the BA occurrence and development. Regulating the polarization balance of macrophages can not only inhibit the inflammatory response in the airway and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, but also improve airway remodeling and immune regulation, reduce airway mucus secretion, and alleviate the clinical BA symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, especially polysaccharides and saponins, can regulate the polarization balance of M1/M2 macrophages. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds can balance the secretion of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory factors by staging treatment and targeting the polarization state of M1/M2 macrophages, inhibit inflammatory response in the airway, reduce airway remodeling, and improve the BA symptoms. This paper summarized the research progress on the regulation of M1/M2 macrophage polarization by traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, aiming to provide scientific evidence for the precise targeted therapy of BA.
2.Targeting M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization Balance by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Bronchial Asthma: A Review
Jie LIU ; Yasheng DENG ; Weiping YIN ; Lei XIONG ; Na WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):308-317
Bronchial asthma (BA) is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow limitation. Lung macrophages (LMs), as important effector cells of the innate immune system, play an important role in recognizing and engulfing pathogens, clearing harmful particles, and regulating immune responses. LMs can be polarized to M1 (pro-inflammatory) or M2 (anti-inflammatory) in different immune environments and participate in promoting or inhibiting inflammatory response, as well as lung parenchyma injury and repair (airway remodeling), playing a key role in the BA occurrence and development. Regulating the polarization balance of macrophages can not only inhibit the inflammatory response in the airway and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, but also improve airway remodeling and immune regulation, reduce airway mucus secretion, and alleviate the clinical BA symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, especially polysaccharides and saponins, can regulate the polarization balance of M1/M2 macrophages. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds can balance the secretion of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory factors by staging treatment and targeting the polarization state of M1/M2 macrophages, inhibit inflammatory response in the airway, reduce airway remodeling, and improve the BA symptoms. This paper summarized the research progress on the regulation of M1/M2 macrophage polarization by traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, aiming to provide scientific evidence for the precise targeted therapy of BA.
3.Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Detecting Adrenocortical Hormones and Establishment of Age-Stratified Reference Intervals in Reproductive-Aged Women from Guangxi, China
Yixuan LIU ; Tingwei JIN ; Yushuang WEI ; Xuelian QIN ; Siyu DENG ; Jie ZHENG ; Boteng YAN ; Yuanyuan NONG ; Yu YE ; Shengzhu HUANG ; Yu LONG ; Jianmin LI ; Ganqin WANG ; Pei HUANG ; Jinghang JIANG ; Fan WU ; Zengnan MO ; Yonghua JIANG
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2026;46(2):146-154
Background:
Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications.
Methods:
A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated.
Results:
The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels.
Conclusions
We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.
4.Application and data analysis of the cardio-cerebrovascular events monitoring system in Yichang
Zhengchao FANG ; Jiajuan YANG ; Chi HU ; Chan WU ; Yaling DENG ; Zhiying YU ; Jie ZHU ; Ling ZHANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(6):95-98
Objective To analyze the monitoring data of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases prevention and control system in Yichang in 2022, and to provide data support and experience for the precise prevention and treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Methods Acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event data were collected from the Yichang Cardio-cerebrovascular Events Monitoring System from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Descriptive analysis was conducted for the data collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software, and a chi-square test was used to analyze the count data. Results A total of 37,217 cases of cardio-cerebrovascular events were monitored in Yichang in 2022. The crude incidence and the standardized incidence were 983.84/100,000 and 541.55/100,000, respectively. The incidence in males was higher than females (554.93/100,000 vs 428.91/100,000,χ2 =464.52,P<0.05). The top three diseases were cerebral infarction, acute myocardial infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage. The incidence of events increased with age, and 79.80% of the cases were over 60 years old. The main onset time was from May to August. Conclusion The use of the cardio-cerebrovascular events monitoring system in Yichang and the implementation of “mandatory reporting card” monitoring can timely obtain the epidemic characteristics of the diseases, provide support for the precise formulation of prevention and control strategies and measures, reduce underreporting rates, and improve the monitoring system, which is worthy of reference and promotion.
5.Role of hyperuricemia in diabetic nephropathy
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(3):378-381
Hyperuricemia(HUA),characterized by abnormal uric acid(UA)metabolism,leads to the accumu-lation of urate salts within the kidney.This accumulation not only disrupts glomerular filtration and tubular reab-sorption functions but also triggers oxidative stress,inflammation,and up-regulating the renin-angiotensin-aldoste-rone system(RASS),all of which damage renal cells and tissues.These mechanisms contribute to renal fibrosis and accelerate the progression of diabetic nephropathy(DN)/diabetic kidney disease(DKD).These findings un-derscore the role of HUA as a risk factor for the advancement of DKD,emphasizing the critical importance of ef-fective UA control in delaying its development.
6.CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF AEDES AEGYPTI IN LEIZHOU PENINSULA,ZHANJIANG CITY,GUANGDONG PROVINCE
Rui-Peng LU ; Jin-Hua DUAN ; Yu-Wen ZHONG ; Hui DENG ; Jun WU ; Li-Ping LIU ; Wei-Xiong YIN ; Feng XING ; Hui HUANG ; Chang-Jie FU ; Zong-Jing CHEN ; Ming-Ji CHENG ; Sheng-Jun HU ; Ya-Ting CHEN ; Wen-Ting GUO ; Li-Feng LIN
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(1):16-21
Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.
7.ANTHELMINTIC EFFICACY OF COMPOUNDED FIPRONIL DROPS AGAINST PARASITIC TICKS IN DOGS
Shi-Jie LI ; Guo-Qing CHEN ; Yang-Ying CHENG ; Yan ZHANG ; Meng-Meng DENG ; Wei JI ; Deng-Long XIE ; Xun SUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(3):167-173
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Compound Fipronil Spot-on Solution in repelling canine ticks.Methods A total of 140 dogs infested with ticks were randomly selected from regions in southern and northern China and assigned to four groups:southern test drug group,southern control drug group,northern test drug group,and northern control drug group.Each group comprised 35 dogs.Each dog was administered the prescribed dose.The number of ticks was counted on days 1,7,14,21,and 28 following the administration.The negative conversion and average reduction rates of the tick population were then subjected to statistical analyse.Results The mean efficacy of the test drug was 100%in both the southern and northern cohorts,28 days post-treatment.The control drug showed comparable efficacy,reaching a mean reduction of 100%in both regions by the same time point.No additional clinical manifestations or adverse events were observed across all treated dogs.Conclusions Compound Fipronil Spot-on Solutions effectively treats and prevents ticks in dogs in different regions of China.A single dose remains effective for up to 28 days,thus providing a convenient,effective solution.
8.Predictive Value of a Multidimensional Neonatal Nutritional Risk Screening Scale for Extrauterine Growth Restriction in Premature Infants
Yumei WU ; Juntao ZHANG ; Yinghong DENG ; Yuqi LI ; Huan FENG ; Jie WU
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(3):72-78
Objective To apply a multidimensional neonatal nutritional risk screening scale for hospitalized premature infants to explore its predictive value for extrauterine growth restriction(EUGR)at the time of discharge.Methods A total of 104 premature infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2023 to September 2023 were selected as research subjects.Nutritional risk screening was conducted within 24 hours of admission and weekly thereafter using the multidimensional neonatal nutritional risk screening scale.Scoring was based on four dimensions(birth status,weight changes,nutritional intake methods,and disease diagnosis),with a total score of ≥ 8 indicating high risk;≥4 and<8 indicating moderate risk;and<4 indicating low risk.EUGR at the time of discharge was the primary clinical outcome indicator.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were constructed to explore the predictive value of neonatal nutritional risk screening for EUGR in premature infants.Results At discharge,40 premature infants(38.5%)experienced EUGR.The nutritional risk screening scores of the EUGR group on day 7 of hospitalization were higher than those of the non-EUGR group(P<0.05).The rate of high nutritional risk on day 7 of hospitalization was highest(7.9%in the non-EUGR group,22%in the EUGR group,and 13.5%overall).On both day 1 and day 7 of hospitalization,the rate of high nutritional risk in the EUGR group was higher than that in the non-EUGR group(P<0.05).There were significant differences in the nutritional risk screening scores on day 7,birth weight Z-scores,discharge corrected gestational age weight Z-scores,and serum albumin levels between the EUGR and non-EUGR groups(P<0.05).ROC curves were plotted,yielding AUCs of 0.625(95%CI 0.514,0.736),0.652(95%CI 0.544,0.760),0.674(95%CI 0.561,0.786),and 0.641(95%CI 0.531,0.750),indicating certain predictive value.A combined predictive ROC model yielded an AUC of 0.786(95%CI 0.692,0.880)for EUGR,which was higher than the AUCs for individual indicators(P<0.001).Conclusion The occurrence of EUGR is relatively common among hospitalized premature infants.The nutritional risk is highest during the first week of hospitalization.The multidimensional neonatal nutritional risk screening scale can dynamically assess nutritional risk during hospitalization and may serve as one of the early warning indicators for EUGR in premature infants.The predictive efficacy for EUGR is enhanced when combined with birth weight Z-scores,discharge weight Z-scores,and serum albumin,providing a basis for individualized nutritional management of premature infants.
9.Effect of Different Time Interventions of Yangxin Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方) on DNA Methylation in Rat Models of Premature Coronary Heart Disease with Blood Stasis Syndrome
Xing CHEN ; Zixuan YU ; Shumeng ZHANG ; Yanjuan LIU ; Shuangyou DENG ; Ying WANG ; Lingli CHEN ; Jie LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(11):1165-1173
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Yangxin Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方) by midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method for rat models of premature coronary heart disease (PCHD) with blood stasis syndrome, and to explore the possible mechanism of action from the perspective of DNA methylation differential gene expression. MethodsThere were 3 SD rats in each of the blank group, model group and Yangxin Tongmai Formula group, and the rats in the model group and Yangxin Tongmai Formula group were fed with high-fat chow plus vitamin D3 by gavage plus isoproterenol hydrochloride by subcutaneous injection to construct rat models of PCHD with blood stasis syndrome. After successful modelling, rats in Yangxin Tongmai Formula group were gavaged with 18 g/(kg‧d) of Yangxin Tongmai Formula, and rats in blank group and the model group were gavaged with 4 ml/(kg‧d) of 0.9% NaCl solution, and serum samples of rats in each group were collected for DNA methylation sequencing after 3 weeks to screen for the relevant DNA methylation differentiation genes. In addition, rats with successful modelling of PCHD with blood stasis were randomly divided into model group, Yangxin Tongmai Formula with midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group [18 g/(kg‧d) of Yangxin Tongmai Formula was gavaged twice in the heart channel period (12:00) and pericardium channel period (20:00)], the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group [18 g/(kg‧d) of Yangxin Tongmai Formula was gavaged twice at 8:00 and 18:00] and the Atorvastatin Calcium group [atorvastatin calcium tablets solution 1.8 mg/(kg‧d) at the same intervention time as that in Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group], and set up a blank group of 8 rats in each group. The model group and blank group were gavaged with 0.9% NaCl solution 4 ml/(kg‧d) for the same time as the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group. After 3 weeks of gavage, the blood lipids [including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)] levels of rats in each group were detected; the HE staining of myocardial tissues and thoracic aorta was used to observe the pathomorphological changes; the levels of serum inflammation indexes [tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and interleukin 10 (IL-10)] were detected; immunoprecipitation-realtime fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression of cardiac tissue screening differential genes. ResultsThe genes screened for differentially methylated regions were calmodulin 2 (Calm2), calcium voltage-gated channel subunit α1s (Cacna1s), and phospholipase Cβ1 (Plcb1). Compared with the blank group, rats in the model group showed elevated levels of TC, LDL, TNF-α and LPS, and decreased levels of HDL and IL-10 (P<0.05 or P<0.01); HE staining showed obvious swelling of myocardial fibres, accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration, and thickening of the inner wall of the aortic vessels with internal wall damage, which was visible as a large number of lipid cholesterol crystals and obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group, the TC, LDL, TNF-α and LPS contents of rats in the Yangxin Tongmai Formula with midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group, the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group, and the atorvastatin calcium group all reduced, and the contents of HDL and IL-10 all elevated (P<0.05), with the improvement of myocardial tissue damage and the reduction of inflammatory infiltration, and the improvement of the damage of the inner lining of the thoracic aorta and the reduction of lipid infiltration. Compared with Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group, LDL, TNF-α and LPS contents reduced, and IL-10 contents increased in the midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the relative expression of Calm2 and Plcb1 genes decreased and the relative expression of Cacna1s gene increased in Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group and the midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group (P<0.05); compared with the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group, the relative expression of Calm2 gene decreased and the relative expression of Cacna1s gene increased in the midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe intervention of Yangxin Tongmai Formula in the heart channel period (12:00) and pericardium channel period (20:00) was more effective in improving the blood lipid level, inhibiting inflammation, and improving myocardial tissue damage in rats of PCHD with blood stasis syndrome, and Calm2 and Cacna1s genes may be the key targets of Yangxin Tongmai Formula in intervening the blood stasis syndrome of PCHD.
10.Research progresses of resting-state functional MRI for brain functional connectivity in Parkinson disease motor subtypes
Junjie LAN ; Jie DENG ; Lihua QIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(10):1755-1758
Parkinson disease(PD)can be classified into tremor-dominant(TD),postural instability gait difficulty(PIGD)and akinetic-rigid(AR)subtypes according to motor symptoms.Resting-state functional MRI(rs-fMRI)provided a new perspective to elucidate the neural mechanisms of PD through analyzing functional connectivity(FC)of the brain.The research progresses of rs-fMRI for FC in different motor subtype of PD were reviewed in this article.


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