1.Efficacy and safety analysis of Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine in the treatment of adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depressive disorder accompanied by insomnia
Lian HE ; Yanping SHU ; Yuan YUN ; Yun MO ; Qian ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):456-461
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and safety of Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine in the treatment of adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depressive disorder accompanied by insomnia. METHODS The clinical data of 476 adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depression accompanied by insomnia admitted to our hospital from June 2022 to May 2025, were retrospectively collected. According to the initial treatment regimen, patients were divided into a control group (241 cases, treated with fluoxetine alone) and an observation group (235 cases, treated with Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine). The depression severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 Item and the Self-Rating Depression Scale scores), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, sleep efficiency), serum neuroendocrine indicator (cortisol) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6) were compared between the two groups before treatment and at 4th and 8th weeks of treatment. The effective rate at 8th weeks and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS Before treatment, there were no significant differences in depression severity, sleep quality, serum neuroendocrine indicator, and inflammatory markers between the two groups ( P >0.05). At 4th and 8th weeks, both groups showed significant improvement in these indicators compared to those before treatment, with the observation group demonstrating significantly greater improvement than the control group at the corresponding time points ( P <0.05). At 8th week, the eff ective rate of the observation group was 90.21%, significantly higher than 80.50% in the control group ( P <0.05). The incidence of nausea, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, and palpitations, as well as the total incidence of ADRs, did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine can significantly improve the effective rate in adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depression accompanied by insomnia, accelerate the relief of depressive symptoms, improve sleep quality, and reduce serum neuroendocrine indicator and inflammatory markers, with a favorable safety profile.
2.From Cathartic Colon to Cathartic-dependent Constipation: Diagnostic-therapeutic Strategies from Integrative Medicine Perspective
Youcheng HE ; Fengru JIANG ; Yanru WANG ; Minghan HUANG ; Yue WU ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Lian MO ; Lifeng WEI ; Keyi PAN ; Shuyu CAI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):162-172
Both cathartic colon (CC) and cathartic-dependent constipation (CDC) are caused by the abuse of stimulant laxatives, while their concepts are not completely the same.Starting from the disease name of CC, this article traced the origin and evolution of the concept of CC, summarizes and compared the similarities and differences between CC, CDC, and slow transit constipation (STC), and called for strict differentiation among the three.Furthermore, this article explored the specific contents of Western medicine clinical subtypes and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation of CDC and delved into the TCM pathogenesis of CDC according to both literature and clinical practice.The relationship between clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes was established, and the syndrome characteristics of CDC of different clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes were summarized.The recommended prescriptions for corresponding syndromes were listed.A systematic CDC diagnosis and treatment approach of "clinical subtypes-syndrome differentiation-syndrome characteristics-recommended prescriptions" was thus formed.Additionally, the paper provides an overview of current research on CDC in both Western medicine and TCM contexts, identifies future research directions, and suggests research pathways for refining and advancing CDC studies.
3.Clinical Efficacy of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Prescription in Treatment of Cathartic Colon and Analysis of Influencing Factors of Disease Severity
Youcheng HE ; Jingyi SHAN ; Fengru JIANG ; Yue WU ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Lu HANG ; Yan ZHOU ; Lian MO ; Shuyu CAI ; Keyi PAN ; Lifeng WEI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):173-184
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription (YYHP) in the treatment of cathartic colon (CC) and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules, while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily, one sachet each time, half an hour after breakfast and dinner, with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) score, and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate, as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree, were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group (95.83%) was higher than that in the control group (78.72%) (P<0.05). After treatment, the total scores for primary constipation symptoms, PAC-QOL, and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups (P<0.05), with more significant reductions in the observation group (P<0.05). The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups (P<0.05). In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation", "anal heaviness, incomplete evacuation, and bloating sensation", "abdominal distension", and "defecation frequency", the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group (P<0.05). Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups (P<0.05), with more significant reductions in the observation group (P<0.05). After treatment, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly (P<0.05). The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms, PAC-QOL, and TCM syndromes, as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use, disease duration, and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients, improve quality of life, and ameliorate TCM syndromes, with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal, and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.
4.Mechanism of Action of Modified Tongluo Tangtai Formula in Improving Myelin Damage in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Zhigang HE ; Mingzhu CHEN ; Jialu BAI ; Chunguang XIE ; Lian DU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):247-258
ObjectiveThis paper aims to explore the action and molecular mechanism of modified Tongluo Tangtai Formula(MTLTT) on myelin damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) based on network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. MethodsThe chemical components of the MTLTT were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and literature, and the component targets were collected from the SwissTargetPrediction database. The targets of DPN were collected from the GeneCards, OMIM, Disgenet, and GEO databases. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape database, and a network diagram was constructed using Cytoscape software. The binding actions of core components with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) and β-catenin were analyzed by Autodock Vina. An in vitro DPN model was established by high glucose-induced Schwann cells and dorsal root ganglion cells (SCs/DRGs). The ultrastructural morphological changes of SCs and DRGs were observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM), and the expressions of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and myelin basic protein (MBP) were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MAG, MBP, myelin protein 0 (P0), peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related protein β-catenin, GSK-3β, Wnt family member 3α (Wnt3α), and Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot. ResultsNetwork pharmacology analysis revealed that MTLTT components may treat DPN via the Wnt signaling pathway, involving key proteins such as GSK-3β, β-catenin and Wif-1. The molecular docking results indicate that atropine, apigenin, baicalein, isoflavanone, and albiflorin have good binding activity with GSK-3β, and that all 13 core components have stable binding activity with β-catenin. Cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group, SCs and DRGs in the model group exhibited severe morphological and structural abnormalities such as disintegration, shrinkage and axonal rupture, while these abnormal changes were improved after MTLTT intervention. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the fluorescence intensity of MAG and MBP was markedly decreased in the model group relative to the blank group(P<0.01), while MTLTT treatment obviously upregulated the expression of MAG and MBP compared with the model group (P<0.01). Real-time PCR and Western blot assays revealed that the expression levels of myelin-related molecules MAG, MBP, P0 and PMP22 were significantly reduced in the model group (P<0.05,P<0.01), and MTLTT remarkably increased their expression levels (P<0.05). In the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the mRNA levels of GSK-3β, Wif-1 and Wnt3α were elevated and β-catenin mRNA expression was declined in the model group (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the protein expressions of GSK-3β and Wif-1 were upregulated, whereas those of Wnt3α and β-catenin were downregulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, MTLTT at different doses reduced the mRNA and protein levels of GSK-3β and Wif-1 to varying degrees (P<0.05), and distinctly enhanced the protein expression of Wnt3α and β-catenin(P<0.01). ConclusionMTLTT can alleviate high glucose-induced myelin damage. Its protective mechanism may promote myelin repair by upregulating the expression of MAG, MBP, P0 and PMP22, and the therapeutic effect is possibly associated with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
5.Research progress on pharmacological activities and mechanisms of farrerol
Siyuan XI ; Yin MA ; Yingying LIANG ; Wenwen LIAN ; Bingzhi MA ; Jun HE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1768-1772
Farrerol is a dihydroflavone compound extracted from the dried leaves of Rhododendron dauricum belonging to the Ericaceae family. This article systematically reviews relevant research on farrerol both domestically and internationally, summarizes its pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action, and finds that it exerts cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects by maintaining the homeostasis of vascular endothelial function and inhibiting vascular intimal hyperplasia; exerts renal protective effects by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to reduce renal damage; exerts liver protective effects by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving insulin resistance, and reducing lipid deposition in the liver; exerts neuroprotective effects by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes signaling pathways to reduce neuroinflammatory damage; exerts bone protective effects by promoting tendon formation and inhibiting osteoclast differentiation; exerts antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and weakening tumor cell invasion and metastasis; and exerts antibacterial effects by downregulating α -toxin expression, interfering with β -lactamase/penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), and inhibiting PBP2a oligomerization. Currently, research on the pharmacological effects of farrerol is still mainly focused on animal and cell experiments. Further mechanistic studies and clinical trials are needed to provide theoretical basis for its new drug development and clinical application.
6.Research progress on pharmacological activities and mechanisms of farrerol
Siyuan XI ; Yin MA ; Yingying LIANG ; Wenwen LIAN ; Bingzhi MA ; Jun HE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1768-1772
Farrerol is a dihydroflavone compound extracted from the dried leaves of Rhododendron dauricum belonging to the Ericaceae family. This article systematically reviews relevant research on farrerol both domestically and internationally, summarizes its pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action, and finds that it exerts cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects by maintaining the homeostasis of vascular endothelial function and inhibiting vascular intimal hyperplasia; exerts renal protective effects by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to reduce renal damage; exerts liver protective effects by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving insulin resistance, and reducing lipid deposition in the liver; exerts neuroprotective effects by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes signaling pathways to reduce neuroinflammatory damage; exerts bone protective effects by promoting tendon formation and inhibiting osteoclast differentiation; exerts antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and weakening tumor cell invasion and metastasis; and exerts antibacterial effects by downregulating α -toxin expression, interfering with β -lactamase/penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), and inhibiting PBP2a oligomerization. Currently, research on the pharmacological effects of farrerol is still mainly focused on animal and cell experiments. Further mechanistic studies and clinical trials are needed to provide theoretical basis for its new drug development and clinical application.
7.Retrospective study on the treatment of chemotherapy intolerance B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children with Blinatumomab
Min HE ; Xinyu HE ; Hailing LIU ; Ding DING ; Man XU ; Guoli LIAN ; Zhigang LIU
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2025;32(10):743-747
Objective:To assess the safety and efficacy of Blinatumomab in treating children with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL).Methods:The clinical data of 10 B-ALL children who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from May 2022 to April 2024 and treated with Blinatumomab were analyzed retrospectively.Results:All the 10 cases had a complete remission of bone marrow and all minimal residual disease(MRD)were negative. Serious adverse events were reported after chemotherapy,including intracranial venous sinus thrombosis with acute cerebral infarction,acute pancreatitis,paralytic ileus,syndrome of abnormal secretion of antidiuretic hormone,severe pneumonia,liver injury,sepsis(β-lactamase resistant Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa),oral mucositis,persistent agranulocytosis with bloodstream infection. All patients interrupted chemotherapy and received Blinatumomab injections for 14 days. During treatment,there was hematological toxicity,which resulted in grade 3-4 neutropenia in 5 cases within the first 7 days. Transient low-grade fever was observed in 4 cases of non-hematological toxicity during days 1-3 of treatment. One patient experienced a headache on the 7th day of treatment,which worsened on the 14th day,but it improved with mannitol treatment. Mild liver injury was present in 3 cases. Interleukin-6 reached a peak of 71.86 pg/mL on the second day of treatment in one case,whereas it was normal in others. All patients were found to be free of cytokine release syndrome. T lymphocyte count increased in 5 patients after 14 days of Blinatumomab treatment,but B lymphocyte count and serum immunoglobulin levels declined in 10 patients. Hypogammaglobulinemia was observed in 3 of these patients. The median follow-up time was 7.8(3.0-24.0)months. All patients achieved MRD-negative complete remission and 6-month overall survival rate and progression-free survival were both 100%.Conclusion:Children with B-ALL can benefit from using Blinatumomab,which is safer than conventional chemotherapy,as a new treatment strategy for those who cannot tolerate traditional chemotherapy.
8.The significance of preoperative neck enhanced multidetector computed tomography in predicting the recurrent veins and classifying their courses of the submental flap reflux vein for repair in pharyngeal cancer
Qian SHI ; Jugao FANG ; Qi ZHONG ; Lizhen HOU ; Hongzhi MA ; Ling FENG ; Shizhi HE ; Meng LIAN ; Yanming ZHAO ; Ru WANG ; Yunxia LI ; Xixi SHEN ; Yifan YANG ; Lingwa WANG
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(10):1208-1214
Objective:To evaluate preoperative high-resolution thin-layer cervical enhanced CT used to predict the venous route of the submental flap reflux vein and its relationship with adjacent structures in order to guide the anatomical understanding and protection of submental flap in pharyngeal cancer surgery.Methods:Sixty consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent submental flap repair surgery in our department from March 2022 to December 2024, as well as 60 patients who were accepted neck dissection suffering other cancers, were selected. Before surgery, high-resolution cervical enhanced CT scans were performed, and the position of the transverse section of the facial vein in the venous phase horizontal image gradually variation tendency was focused layer by layer. The direction and adjacent relationship of the submental flap reflux veins were determined and recorded. Combined with 60 patients with other head and neck tumors who underwent neck dissection in our department during the same period (a total of 120 cases, 240 sides), the classification and management of the draining veins of Fang′s mental flap were conducted. Type Ⅰ mainly drains into the internal jugular vein; Type Ⅱ mainly drains into the external jugular vein and Type Ⅲ mainly drains into the anterior jugular vein (often accompanied by an external jugular draining branch). The status and proportion of venous drainage were analyzed.Results:Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 98.3% (59/60) among the 60 patients with pharyngeal cancer. Only one patient was predicted to have a simple return to the external jugular vein. However, during the operation, in addition to the main return to the external jugular vein, a small portion also returned to the internal jugular vein. Submental flap reflux vessels were classified into three types based on intraoperative submental flap venous return in 60 cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, in conjunction with the analysis of venous return patterns from 240 cervical CT scans. Type Ⅰ mainly refluxed to the internal jugular vein, accounting for 42.1%. Type Ⅱ mainly refluxed to the external jugular vein (47.9%). Type Ⅲ mainly refluxed to the anterior jugular vein (10.0%). The total detection rate of CT reading of 240 venous reflux was 98.7% (237/240). Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 97.9%(235/240).Conclusion:The detailed analysis of submental venous return vessels can accurately predict the direction of reflux veins and its surrounding areas by preoperative high-resolution enhanced CT scan. This provides reliable guidance for the anatomy and protection of the submental flap reflux veins during surgery.
9.Effects of a virtual reality rehabilitation support system on discharge readiness among caregivers of post-laryngectomy patients
Li LI ; Yongling LIU ; Yang ZHANG ; Meng LIAN ; Yuehong WANG ; Shunli LU ; Chen YANG ; Tingting LI ; Yiran HE ; Xiaoting JIN ; Feilong XU ; Zirong TIAN
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(20):2451-2457
Objective To develop a virtual reality rehabilitation support system and evaluate its effects on improving discharge readiness in caregivers of laryngectomy patients.Methods The system is equipped with a virtual reality-based home nursing skills guidance module for post-laryngectomy patients and an evidence-based artificial intelligence Q&A module.A convenience sampling method was adopted to select 64 caregivers of patients who underwent laryngectomy for the first time in the otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery department of a tertiary A hospital in Beijing from July 2024 to January 2025 for a systematic study on application effects.To avoid cross-contamination between an experimental group and a control group,ward-based grouping was applied.A coin toss was used to assign Ward 1 to an experimental group and Ward 2 to a control group,with 32 cases in each group.The experimental group received discharge guidance based on the virtual reality technology,while the control group was provided with conventional verbal and written discharge instructions.The readiness for hospital discharge and the quality of discharge teaching scores of caregivers were compared between the 2 groups after the intervention.Results No sample detachment.After the intervention,the patient caregivers in the experimental group scored significantly higher than those in the control group in terms of discharge readiness and quality of discharge guidance,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.001).Conclusion This study developed the virtual reality rehabilitation system for laryngeal cancer patients demonstrated good feasibility and effectiveness.The application of this system for discharge education significantly improved discharge readiness of caregivers and quality of discharge guidance for post-laryngectomy patients.It also helped with the optimization of health education models,enhancement of nursing resource utilization efficiency,and improvement of transitional care.
10.Interpretation of the soft tissue specific tumors in the 5th WHO classification of pediatric tumors
Shudi ZHANG ; Lejian HE ; Lian CHEN
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(6):568-574
The latest published WHO Classification of Pediatric Tumors is the first to be independent of the WHO Classification of Tumors in adults, serving as an independent volume that covers the latest advances in clinical characteristics, histopathology, molecular pathology, pathogenesis, and treatment of multiple systems, multiple types of pediatric tumors. Among them, soft tissue tumors have been updated based on the Edition Ⅴ of WHO Classification of Tumors of Soft Tissue and Bone, and some molecularly defined pediatric soft tissue tumors have been emphasized. This article, based on literature, mainly interprets the specific types of tumors that occur exclusively in children in the WHO Classification of Pediatric Tumors of Soft Tissue.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail