1.Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang and Its Single Active Ingredient in Treatment of Dyspepsia Caused by Chronic Cholecystitis: A Review
Wenwen YANG ; Yubei LU ; Lin CHEN ; Jing ZHANG ; Ying GAO ; Yajuan ZHANG ; Xiaoyan LI ; Jianfei YANG ; Xiaoli SHI ; Huanhuan LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):289-298
Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang was first recorded in the Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun). This prescription is composed of Bupleuri Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Trichosanthis Radix, Ostreae Concha, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. It has the effects of soothing Lesser Yang, warming the spleen, and stimulating the generation of body fluid. It is mainly used to treat digestive tract diseases such as chronic cholecystitis (CC), irritable bowel syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dyspepsia caused by CC presents a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, poor appetite, postprandial fullness, aversion to greasy food, soft stool, and bitter mouth, being a type of biliary dyspepsia. In modern medicine, dyspepsia caused by CC is mainly managed by medical treatment and surgical treatment. Internal medicine mainly focuses on reducing inflammation, promoting the function of gallbladder, resolving stones, alleviating spasms, and relieving the pain for CC, demonstrating definite short-term efficacy but suffering from single effects, high recurrence rate, and poor compliance. Although surgical treatment can cure cholecystitis, it is accompanied by the increased incidence of adverse events such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dyspepsia. Modern clinical studies have confirmed that Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang can significantly alleviate the symptoms such as abdominal pain and dyspepsia of CC patients. Pharmacological studies have found that Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang mainly contains active ingredients such as Bupleuri Radix saponins, baicalin, cinnamaldehyde, gingerol, Trichosanthis Radix polysaccharide, Ostreae Concha polysaccharide, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma total flavonoids. Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang can ameliorate the symptoms of dyspepsia caused by CC by inhibiting inflammatory responses, improving gallbladder contraction and gastrointestinal motility, regulating the bile acid-intestinal flora axis and the brain-gut axis, and modulating blood lipids through multiple targets. By reviewing the previous literature, this article summarizes the research progress in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by CC with Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang and its main active ingredients as well as the pathogenesis of this disease and puts forward the shortcomings and improvement strategies for the current research. The review aims to provide a reference for the further research on Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by CC.
2.Perioperative immune dynamics and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery
Zhiyuan CHENG ; Xinyi LIAO ; Juan WU ; Ping YANG ; Tingting WANG ; Qinjuan WU ; Wentong MENG ; Zongcheng TANG ; Jiayi SUN ; Jia TAN ; Jing LIN ; Dan LUO ; Hao WANG ; Chaonan LIU ; Jiyue XIONG ; Liqin LING ; Jing ZHOU ; Lei DU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(1):31-43
Objective: To characterize perioperative dynamic changes in immune-cell phenotypes and inflammatory cytokines in patients undergoing CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) cardiac surgery, and to explore their associations with postoperative outcomes. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 120 adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital from May 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Perioperative immune-cell phenotypes and concentrations of 40 inflammation-related cytokines were measured. The primary outcomes were the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at 24 h after surgery and ΔSOFA (the peak SOFA score within 48 h after surgery minus the preoperative SOFA score). Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), acute kidney injury (AKI), respiratory failure, severe liver injury, and infection. Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was 57±10 years. Of these, 52% (62/120) were male and 90% (108/120) underwent valve surgery. During the rewarming to the end of CPB, neutrophil counts rapidly increased (7.39×10
/L vs preoperative 3.07×10
/L, P<0.001), with significant upregulation of CD11b (7.30×10
/L vs preoperative 3.05×10
/L, P<0.001) and CD54 (7.15×10
/L vs preoperative 2.99×10
/L, P<0.001). Lymphocyte counts increased at the end of CPB (1.75×10
/L vs preoperative 1.12×10
/L, P<0.001) but decreased significantly at 24 h after surgery (0.59×10
/L vs preoperative 1.12×10
/L, P<0.001). Plasma analysis showed that multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines increased during CPB and remained elevated up to 24 h after surgery; five chemokines and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 peaked at the end of CPB. The SOFA score increased from 1 (1, 2) preoperatively to 7 (5, 10) at 24 h after surgery, with a ΔSOFA of 6 (4, 8). Within 30 days after surgery, 48 patients (40.0%) developed AKI, 17 (14.2%) developed infection, 4 (3.3%) developed severe liver injury, 3 (2.5%) developed respiratory failure, and 3 (2.5%) experienced MACE. During the 2-year follow-up, 8 patients (6.7%) experienced MACE and 5 (4.2%) died. Conclusion: Multi-organ dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery under CPB (median ΔSOFA, 6), accompanied by perioperative activation of multiple immune-cell subsets and upregulation of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and chemotactic mediators. This study provides data-driven evidence and research clues for further investigation of the associations between CPB-related immune perturbations and postoperative organ dysfunction and clinical outcomes.
3.Influencing Factors of Urate Crystal Deposition in Patients with Hyperuricemia and Prediction Model of TCM Syndrome Types-inflammatory Indicators
Jiaqi XU ; Bin AI ; Chao LIN ; Qiaoxuan LIN ; Changning LI ; Jing CAI ; Yan XIAO ; Jiemei GUO ; Youxin SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):66-73
ObjectiveTo identify potential influencing factors of urate crystal deposition at ankle/foot in patients with hyperuricemia (HUA), and to analyze the predictive value of inflammatory indicators for urate crystal deposition in patients with different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, so as to provide potential reference for clinical risk assessment and individualized TCM intervention. MethodsA retrospective study was carried out with the enrollment of 231 HUA patients from The Third Affiliated People's Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2021 and December 2024. The enrolled patients were further divided into a crystal deposition-positive group (143 cases) and a crystal deposition-negative group (88 cases) according to the results of dual-energy computed tomography (CT). Sociodemographic data, living habits, serum uric acid levels, and inflammatory indicators of the enrolled patients were collcted, and TCM syndrome differentiation was performed. Furthermore, univariate analysis was used to compare inter-group differences in clinical characteristics. MMultivariate Logistic regression was applied to identify the influencing factors of urate crystal deposition. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive efficacy of inflammatory indicators for crystal deposition across different TCM syndromes. ResultsThere were statistically significant inter-group differences in the proportion of males, age, body mass index, proportion of mental labor, rate of low water intake, and rate of high-sugar beverage consumption (P<0.05),whereas no significant difference in low exercise intensity was found between the two groups. Furthermore, compared with the negative group, the positive group had higher serum uric acid level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), but lower systemic immune-inflammation index (SIRI) (P<0.05). Regarding the distribution of TCM syndromes, the positive group was dominated by the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome (55/143,38.46%), while the negative group was mainly characterized by the phlegm-turbidity obstruction syndrome (44/88,50.00%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that high-sugar beverage consumption, elevated NLR, and elevated PLR were risk factors for urate crystal deposition [odd ratio (OR) = 8.002, 5.377, 1.034, respectively; 95% CI 1.572-40.732, 2.179-13.270, 1.013-1.054,all P<0.05], while SIRI was a protective factor (OR = 0.869, 95% CI 0.778-0.971, P<0.05). In the positive group, patients with the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome exhibited the highest NLR, while the lowest PLR and SIRI, showing statistically significant differences with those of other syndromes (all P<0.05). In addition, ROC curve analysis indicated that for the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome, the combined "NLR + PLR" model had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.901 (95% CI 0.850-0.951, P<0.01), with a sensitivity of 89.1% and a specificity of 79.5%; for the blood stasis-heat obstruction syndrome, the combined "NLR + PLR" model had an AUC of 0.880 (95% CI 0.825-0.934, P<0.01), with a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 67.3%; for the liver-kidney Yin-deficiency syndrome, the single PLR model had an AUC of 0.842 (95% CI 0.731-0.952, P<0.01), with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 84.0%. ConclusionUrate crystal deposition in HUA patients exhibits intimate associations with high-sugar beverage consumption as well as elevated NLR and PLR levels. Meanwhile, TCM syndrome differentiation has potential correlation with inflammatory characteristics. The inflammatory indicator-based prediction model constructed based on TCM syndromes exhibits good predictive value.
4.Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Pazopanib Combined with Chemotherapy in Treatment of Advanced Synovial Sarcoma
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(4):313-318
Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of pazopanib combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced synovial sarcoma (SS). Methods A total of 64 patients with advanced SS treated with pazopanib combined with different chemotherapy regimens were selected. Among them, 26 patients received first-line chemotherapy regimen, 19 patients received second-line chemotherapy regimen, and 19 patients received third-line chemotherapy regimen. The therapeutic efficacy and safety of different treatment regimens were evaluated. Results Out of the 64 patients, 33 achieved partial response (PR), 12 had stable disease (SD), and 19 experienced progression disease (PD). The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 51.6% (33/64) and 70.3% (45/64), respectively, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.55 months (95%CI: 6.320–8.780 months). Among the 26 patients treated with the first-line chemotherapy regimen, the ORR was 65.4% (17/26), the DCR was 73.1% (19/26), and the median PFS was 9.167 months (95%CI: 6.362–11.971 months). For the 19 patients receiving second-line chemotherapy regimen, the ORR was 47.4% (9/19), the DCR was 73.7% (14/19), and the median PFS was 7.55 months (95%CI: 6.054–9.046 months). Among the 19 patients treated with the third-line chemotherapy regimen, the ORR was 36.8% (7/19), the DCR was 63.2% (12/19), and the median PFS was 6.09 months (95%CI: 3.158–9.022 months). The majority of adverse events were grade Ⅰ/Ⅱ, whereas grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ adverse events rarely occurred. No deaths occurred during the course of treatment. Conclusion Pazopanib combined with chemotherapy shows good efficacy in the treatment of advanced SS, with acceptable adverse events.
5.Correlation of the steady-state minimal concentration with AUC24/MIC of vancomycin and analysis of risk factors for treatment failure in pediatric patients
Jinxiang LIN ; Youhong WANG ; Zhifeng XIAO ; Jing WANG ; Ying SONG ; Ningfang CAI ; Xiuping WU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1093-1098
OBJECTIVE To assess the correlation between the steady-state minimal concentration (cmin) and 24 h area under the drug concentration-time curve (AUC24)/minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio (AUC24/MIC) of vancomycin in pediatric patients, and analyze independent risk factors for treatment failure. METHODS Data of hospitalized children treated with vancomycin and receiving therapeutic drug monitoring in our hospital from January 2021 to July 2024 were retrospectively collected and divided into success group and failure group according to whether the treatment was successful or not. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between cmin and AUC24/MIC of vancomycin, and one-way and multifactorial Logistic regression analyses were used to screen the independent risk factors for vancomycin treatment failure. RESULTS A total of 59 children were included, with 41 in the success group and 18 in the failure group. Compared with the failure group, AUC24/MIC of vancomycin was significantly higher in the success group (P=0.038), but there was no statistically significant difference in the cmin of the two groups (P>0.05); cmin of vancomycin was significantly positively correlated with AUC24/MIC (r=0.499, P<0.001), but it has a certain efficacy in predicting the achievement of the AUC24/MIC standard (≥400) (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve=0.696), with an optimal cutoff value of 6.05 mg/L determined by the Youden index. The efficacy of AUC24/ MIC in predicting treatment failure was superior to cmin (areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve were 0.671 vs. 0.523, P were 0.038 vs. 0.684), with higher sensitivity (83.3% vs. 66.7%). Hypoproteinemia and AUC24/MIC≤369.1 were independent risk factors for vancomycin treatment failure (P<0.05). The incidence of nephrotoxicity was 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant positive correlation between cmin and AUC24/MIC of vancomycin in pediatric patients; hypoproteinemia and AUC24/MIC≤369.1 are independent risk factors for vancomycin treatment failure in children.
6.PDGF-C: an Emerging Target in The Treatment of Organ Fibrosis
Chao YANG ; Zi-Yi SONG ; Chang-Xin WANG ; Yuan-Yuan KUANG ; Yi-Jing CHENG ; Ke-Xin REN ; Xue LI ; Yan LIN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1059-1069
Fibrosis, the pathological scarring of vital organs, is a severe and often irreversible condition that leads to progressive organ dysfunction. It is particularly pronounced in organs like the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Despite its clinical significance, the full understanding of its etiology and complex pathogenesis remains incomplete, posing substantial challenges to diagnosing, treating, and preventing the progression of fibrosis. Among the various molecular players involved, platelet-derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) has emerged as a crucial factor in fibrotic diseases, contributing to the pathological transformation of tissues in several key organs. PDGF-C is a member of the PDGFs family of growth factors and is synthesized and secreted by various cell types, including fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. It acts through both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, exerting its biological effects by binding to and activating the PDGF receptors (PDGFRs), specifically PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. This binding triggers multiple intracellular signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT and Ras-MAPK pathways. which are integral to the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, migration, and fibrosis. Notably, PDGF-C has been shown to promote the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, key effector cells in the fibrotic process, thus accelerating the accumulation of extracellular matrix components and the formation of fibrotic tissue. Numerous studies have documented an upregulation of PDGF-C expression in various fibrotic diseases, suggesting its significant role in the initiation and progression of fibrosis. For instance, in liver fibrosis, PDGF-C stimulates hepatic stellate cell activation, contributing to the excessive deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins. Similarly, in pulmonary fibrosis, PDGF-C enhances the migration of fibroblasts into the damaged areas of lungs, thereby worsening the pathological process. Such findings highlight the pivotal role of PDGF-C in fibrotic diseases and underscore its potential as a therapeutic target for these conditions. Given its central role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, PDGF-C has become an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Several studies have focused on developing inhibitors that block the PDGF-C/PDGFR signaling pathway. These inhibitors aim to reduce fibroblast activation, prevent the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, and halt the progression of fibrosis. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of such inhibitors in animal models of liver, kidney, and lung fibrosis, with promising results in reducing fibrotic lesions and improving organ function. Furthermore, several clinical inhibitors, such as Olaratumab and Seralutinib, are ongoing to assess the safety and efficacy of these inhibitors in human patients, offering hope for novel therapeutic options in the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In conclusion, PDGF-C plays a critical role in the development and progression of fibrosis in vital organs. Its ability to regulate fibroblast activity and influence key signaling pathways makes it a promising target for therapeutic strategies aiming at combating fibrosis. Ongoing research into the regulation of PDGF-C expression and the development of PDGF-C/PDGFR inhibitors holds the potential to offer new insights and approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fibrotic diseases. Ultimately, these efforts may lead to the development of more effective and targeted therapies that can mitigate the impact of fibrosis and improve patient outcomes.
7.Digital Phenotyping of Rare Endocrine Diseases Across International Data Networks and the Effect of Granularity of Original Vocabulary
Seunghyun LEE ; Namki HONG ; Gyu Seop KIM ; Jing LI ; Xiaoyu LIN ; Sarah SEAGER ; Sungjae SHIN ; Kyoung Jin KIM ; Jae Hyun BAE ; Seng Chan YOU ; Yumie RHEE ; Sin Gon KIM
Yonsei Medical Journal 2025;66(3):187-194
Purpose:
Rare diseases occur in <50 per 100000 people and require lifelong management. However, essential epidemiological data on such diseases are lacking, and a consecutive monitoring system across time and regions remains to be established. Standardized digital phenotypes are required to leverage an international data network for research on rare endocrine diseases. We developed digital phenotypes for rare endocrine diseases using the observational medical outcome partnership common data model.
Materials and Methods:
Digital phenotypes of three rare endocrine diseases (medullary thyroid cancer, hypoparathyroidism, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma) were validated across three databases that use different vocabularies: Severance Hospital’s electronic health record from South Korea; IQVIA’s United Kingdom (UK) database for general practitioners; and IQVIA’s United States (US) hospital database for general hospitals. We estimated the performance of different digital phenotyping methods based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 in the UK and the US or systematized nomenclature of medicine clinical terms (SNOMED CT) in Korea.
Results:
The positive predictive value of digital phenotyping was higher using SNOMED CT-based phenotyping than ICD-10-based phenotyping for all three diseases in Korea (e.g., pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: ICD-10, 58%–62%; SNOMED CT, 89%). Estimated incidence rates by digital phenotyping were as follows: medullary thyroid cancer, 0.34–2.07 (Korea), 0.13–0.30 (US); hypoparathyroidism, 0.40–1.20 (Korea), 0.59–1.01 (US), 0.00–1.78 (UK); and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma, 0.95–1.67 (Korea), 0.35–0.77 (US), 0.00–0.49 (UK).
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of developing digital phenotyping of rare endocrine diseases and highlight the importance of implementing SNOMED CT in routine clinical practice to provide granularity for research.
8.Comparison of biological characteristics of adipose-derived stem cells in young and old mice
Meiyu LIN ; Xiang YAO ; Jing GAO ; Xilong ZHAO ; Xinghua PAN ; Guangping RUAN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(19):4063-4068
BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived stem cells have anti-aging effects,but whether adipose-derived stem cells from donors of different ages are different needs further study. OBJECTIVE:To compare the biological properties of adipose-derived stem cells in old and young mice. METHODS:Adipose-derived stem cells were extracted from adipose tissue of C57BL mice aged 8 and 14 weeks,respectively.The differences of cell cycle,apoptosis,and proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells in old and young mice were compared.The expression levels of aging-related P21 and P27 genes and proteins of adipose-derived stem cells in old and young mice were detected by quantitative PCR and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with old mouse adipose-derived stem cells,young mouse adipose-derived stem cells were more active,more regular in morphology,less apoptosis,faster proliferation,and lower in expression of age-related P21 and P27 genes and proteins.It has been proven that adipose-derived stem cells from young mice have better anti-aging effects.
9.Discussion on the Holistic Functional Perspective in Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation
Xiaoling LI ; Zhen HE ; Sinuo WANG ; Danhong LIN ; Jing TAO ; Lidian CHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(5):437-442
By exploring theories related to yin-yang, body and spirit, and the relationship between nature and human beings, this study proposed the holistic functional perspective in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rehabi-litation. This perspective emphasizes the influence of various internal and external factors on the body's function and health status, with the integration of form and spirit as its core concept. It integrates the principles of correspondence between nature and human beings, as well as the unity of individuals and society, positioning holistic function as the key focus in TCM rehabilitation practice. It guides the prevention, assessment, and rehabilitation treatment of functional disorders, ultimately achieving the goal of comprehensive recovery of health. Additionally, the study reviewed the current application status of the holistic functional perspective in clinical TCM rehabilitation, clarified its integration throughout the entire TCM rehabilitation process, with the goal of providing a theoretical and practical foundation for further research and application in TCM rehabilitation.
10.Insights on Peripheral Blood Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease
Yu-Meng LI ; Jing-Kai LIU ; Zi-Xuan CHEN ; Yu-Lin DENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):72-87
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with profound impact on patients’ quality of life and long-term health, and early detection and intervention are particularly critical. In recent years, the search for precise and reliable biomarkers has become one of the key strategies to effectively address the clinical challenges of PD. In this paper, we systematically evaluated potential biomarkers, including proteins, metabolites, epigenetic markers, and exosomes, in the peripheral blood of PD patients. Protein markers are one of the main directions of biomarker research in PD. In particular, α‑synuclein and its phosphorylated form play a key role in the pathological process of PD. It has been shown that aggregation of α-synuclein may be associated with pathologic protein deposition in PD and may be a potential marker for early diagnosis of PD. In terms of metabolites, uric acid, as a metabolite, plays an important role in oxidative stress and neuroprotection in PD. It has been found that changes in uric acid levels may be associated with the onset and progression of PD, showing its potential as an early diagnostic marker. Epigenetic markers, such as DNA methylation modifications and miRNAs, have also attracted much attention in Parkinson’s disease research. Changes in these markers may affect the expression of PD-related genes and have an important impact on the onset and progression of the disease, providing new research perspectives for the early diagnosis of PD. In addition, exosomes, as a potential biomarker carrier for PD, are able to carry a variety of biomolecules involved in intercellular communication and pathological regulation. Studies have shown that exosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, and their detection in blood may provide a new breakthrough for early diagnosis. It has been shown that exosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, and their detection in blood may provide new breakthroughs in early diagnosis. In summary, through in-depth evaluation of biomarkers in the peripheral blood of PD patients, this paper demonstrates the important potential of these markers in the early diagnosis of PD and in the study of pathological mechanisms. Future studies will continue to explore the clinical application value of these biomarkers to promote the early detection of PD and individualized treatment strategies.

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