1.Signaling Pathways Related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Regulation by Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Manman YAO ; Liya MA ; Dawei ZHANG ; Xuelin ZHANG ; Xuan ZHOU ; Yu TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):301-312
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent gynecological diseases, and its incidence is increasing year by year, seriously affecting the physical and mental health of female patients. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and has not been fully clarified. At present, PCOS is mainly treated by Western medicine, which, however, has poor efficacy and induces various adverse reactions. Therefore, developing safe and effective therapies has become a difficult problem that needs to be solved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smads, secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and advanced glycation endproduct/receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (AGE/RAGE) signaling pathways to ameliorate insulin resistance, inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress, regulate endocrine hormone disorders, and intervene in apoptosis and autophagy, thus alleviating the symptoms, slowing down the disease progression, and improving the ovarian function. The treatment of PCOS with TCM has demonstrated definite effects and high safety. Therefore, exploring this disease from cellular and molecular perspectives can provide a theoretical basis for its clinical treatment and new drug development. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews on the modulation of relevant signaling pathways by TCM in the treatment of PCOS. This article reviews the research progress in the treatment of PCOS with the active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM by regulating relevant signaling pathways in recent years, with the aim of providing evidence to support the promotion of TCM for treating PCOS in the future.
2.Establishment and validation of a risk prediction model for 90-day mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure based on sarcopenia
Huina CHEN ; Ming KONG ; Siqi ZHANG ; Manman XU ; Yu CHEN ; Zhongping DUAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1135-1142
ObjectiveTo establish and validate a new prediction model for the risk of death in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) based on sarcopenia and other clinical indicators, and to improve the accuracy of prognostic assessment for ACLF patients. MethodsA total of 380 patients with ACLF who were admitted to Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2019 to January 2022 were enrolled, and they were divided into training group with 228 patients and testing group with 152 patients in a ratio of 6∶4 using the stratified random sampling method. For the training group, CT images were used to measure the cross-sectional area of the skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), and L3 skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) was calculated. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the previously established L3-SMI reference values for healthy adults in northern China. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to establish a sarcopenia-ACLF model which integrated sarcopenia and clinical risk factors, and a nomogram was developed for presentation. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to assess the predictive performance of the model, the calibration curve was used to assess the degree of calibration, and a decision curve analysis was used to investigate the clinical application value of the model. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. The DeLong test was used for comparison of AUC between different models. ResultsThe multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR]=1.962, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.185 — 3.250, P=0.009), total bilirubin (HR=1.003, 95%CI: 1.002 — 1.005, P<0.001), international normalized ratio (HR=1.997, 95%CI: 1.674 — 2.382, P<0.001), and lactic acid (HR=1.382, 95%CI: 1.170 — 1.632, P<0.001) were included in the sarcopenia-ACLF model. In the training cohort, the sarcopenia-ACLF model had a larger AUC than MELD-Na score in predicting 90-day mortality in patients with ACLF (0.80 vs 0.73, Z=1.97, P=0.049). In the test cohort, the sarcopenia-ACLF model had a significantly larger AUC than MELD score (0.79 vs 0.69, Z=2.70, P=0.007) and MELD-Na score (0.79 vs 0.68, Z=2.92, P=0.004). The calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ability, with a relatively good consistency between the predicted risk of mortality and the observed results. The DCA results showed that within a reasonable range of threshold probabilities, the sarcopenia-ACLF model showed a greater net benefit than MELD and MELD-Na scores in both the training cohort and the test cohort. ConclusionThe sarcopenia-ACLF model developed in this study provides a more accurate tool for predicting the risk of 90-day mortality in ACLF patients, which provides support for clinical decision-making and helps to optimize treatment strategies.
3.Postoperative Stage-based Functional Protection Strategies for Lung Cancer Based on Theory of "Lungs Governing Qi"
Luchang CAO ; Guanghui ZHU ; Ruike GAO ; Manman XU ; Xiaoyu ZHU ; Wei HOU ; Ying ZHANG ; Jie LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):86-93
Lung cancer (LC) is a significant global public health issue, with both its incidence and mortality rates ranking among the highest worldwide. The age-standardized incidence and mortality rates are increasing annually, posing a serious threat to the life and health of LC patients. Radical surgical resection is the primary treatment for malignant lung tumors. However, postoperative multidimensional functional impairments, including respiratory, mucosal, and psychological functions, are common. These impairments not only reduce patients' quality of life and affect their treatment tolerance and duration, but also negatively correlate with prognosis, facilitating disease recurrence and metastasis. At present, postoperative functional dysfunction after LC surgery remains a key clinical challenge that urgently needs to be addressed. There is a lack of standardized and regulated postoperative rehabilitation treatment management and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differentiation and treatment strategies for LC. Focusing on the core underlying pathogenesis of "Qi sinking" after LC surgery, and guided by the classical TCM theory of "lungs governing Qi", this study, based on the core concept of the "five perspectives on treatment" theory, innovatively proposes the respiratory dysfunction as the core pathogenesis of "Qi sinking in the chest" during the rapid rehabilitation phase, mucosal dysfunction as the core pathogenesis of "Yin deficiency and Qi sinking" during the postoperative adjuvant treatment phase, and the psychological dysfunction as the core pathogenesis of "Qi sinking with emotional constraint" during the consolidation phase. Accordingly, stage-specific dynamic functional protection strategies are constructed. In the rapid rehabilitation phase, the strategy emphasizes tonifying Qi and uplifting sinking Qi, with differentiation and treatment based on the principle of ''descending before ascending''. In the adjuvant treatment phase, the approach focuses on nourishing Yin and uplifting Qi, with prescription combinations that integrate unblocking and tonification. In the consolidation phase, the strategy aims to resolve constraint and uplift Qi, with clinical treatment emphasizing a combination of dynamic and static methods. At each stage of functional rehabilitation, clinical differentiation and treatment should support healthy Qi and eliminate pathogenic factors simultaneously. This study is the first to propose the concept of postoperative functional protection in TCM, offering a new approach for TCM differentiation and treatment in the full-cycle, stage-based, and dynamic protection of postoperative function in LC patients. It is expected to contribute to the construction and development of an integrated TCM-Western medicine comprehensive program for cancer prevention and treatment in China.
4.A Hierarchical Strategy for Differentiation and Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Oral Ulcers Related to Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Based on Yin Deficiency and Qi Collapse
Luchang CAO ; Guanghui ZHU ; Ruike GAO ; Manman XU ; Xiaoyu ZHU ; Ming LIN ; Ying ZHANG ; Jie LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):116-125
Tumor treatment-related adverse reactions are a major focus of clinical concern, among which recurrent aphthous oral ulcers (RAU) associated with targeted therapy for lung cancer (LC) are among the most painful and distressing for patients. Currently, modern medical interventions show limited efficacy, and there is an urgent need for more effective treatment strategies. This study differentiates RAU associated with targeted therapy for LC from chemotherapy-related and ordinary oral ulcers, elucidates the pathophysiological basis of such ulcers, and traces the theoretical origin of "Yin deficiency and Qi collapse". Based on the new system of "five perspectives on diagnosis and treatment" for tumor prevention and treatment, with a focus on the core and symptom perspectives and rooted in the traditional concept of "lung dominating Qi", we innovatively propose the concept of "medicine-induced ulcer" and are the first to introduce the theory of "Yin deficiency and Qi collapse" into the syndrome differentiation and treatment of RAU associated with targeted therapy for LC (i.e., medicine-induced ulcer). We propose that "Yin deficiency and Qi collapse" is the core pathogenesis of medicine-induced ulcers, in which the collapse of formless Qi is the key to their onset, while the deficiency and stasis of tangible Yin and blood constitute the root of recurrence. A hierarchical strategy for syndrome differentiation and treatment is established: first treating the collapse of formless Qi, then replenishing tangible deficiencies, and concurrently preventing recurrence. We emphasize that treatment should address both root and manifestation, with appropriate prioritization. In the acute phase, while relieving symptoms and promoting ulcer healing by nourishing Qi, uplifting collapse, and generating body fluids, attention should also be paid to nourishing spleen Yin, facilitating the circulation of nutritive Qi, and alleviating stasis to target the root pathogenesis and reduce recurrence. A verified case is presented to support this approach. This study enriches the theoretical framework and clinical methods of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of RAU associated with targeted therapy for LC, promotes symptom management of treatment-related adverse reactions through integrated TCM and Western medicine, and provides theoretical support for the construction and development of a comprehensive differentiation and treatment system for lung cancer prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
5.Dynamic changes of prognostic scores and related clinical indicators in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients without underlying liver cirrhosis and their relationship with clinical outcomes
Wenling WANG ; Manman XU ; Yu WU ; Jiateng ZHANG ; Huaibin ZOU ; Yu CHEN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(9):1771-1778
ObjectiveTo investigate the dynamic trajectories of prognostic scores and key clinical indicators in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) patients without liver cirrhosis, to clarify their association with outcomes, and to provide new evidence for individualized prognostic assessment. MethodsA prospective study was conducted for the data of 154 non-cirrhotic HBV-ACLF patients who attended Beijing YouAn Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2023, including prognostic scores and key biochemical indicators on Days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the disease course. According to the outcome of patients at 1 year, they were divided into death/liver transplantation group with 43 patients, liver cirrhosis group with 23 patients, and non-liver cirrhosis group with 88 patients, and the trajectory heterogeneity of different outcome subgroups was analyzed. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data among the three groups; the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data among the three groups; the Wilcoxon test was used between two groups. the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The mean and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each indicator at difference time points; the linear interpolation method was used to connect the means at adjacent time points and construct the group-specific longitudinal trend curve; the 95%CI was visualized using the semi-transparent ribbon area, with the transparency parameter (α=0.2) optimized to enhance the visual discrimination of overlapping intervals across multiple groups. A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare the longitudinal changing trend of each indicator between the patients with different outcomes; likelihood ratio was used to evaluate the significance of the interaction effect between time and group, and in case of the significant interaction effect, the slope based on the estimated marginal mean was used for comparison between two groups. ResultsThere were significant differences between the three groups in the incidence rates of ascites and grade Ⅲ — Ⅳ hepatic encephalopathy, MELD score, MELD-Na score, CLIF-C ACLF score, COSSH-ACLF Ⅱ score, total bilirubin (TBil), international normalized ratio (INR), alpha-fetoprotein, blood sodium, alanine aminotransferase, and procalcitonin at the baseline(all P0.05). The analysis of dynamic trajectories showed that the death/liver transplantation group had high levels of prognostic scores and the biochemical parameters of TBil and INR (TBil400 μmol/L, INR2.5), as well as a low level of platelet count (PLT) (100×10⁹/L). The non-liver cirrhosis group had rapid improvements in indicators, with TBil200 μmol/L, INR1.5, and PLT100×10⁹/L by day 28, while the liver cirrhosis group showed a trend of recovery, with TBil200 μmol/L, INR2.0, and PLT 100×10⁹/L on day 28, with significant global heterogeneity in the temporal trends of the above indicators across the three groups (all P0.01). ConclusionDynamic monitoring of prognostic scores and key clinical indicators can effectively stratify the 1-year outcomes of non-cirrhotic patients with HBV-ACLF. Patients with poor prognosis were typically characterized by INR 2.5 and TBil 400 μmol/L. Among those who survived beyond 1 year, individuals who subsequently progressed to cirrhosis were frequently identified by the presence of INR 1.5, TBil 200 μmol/L, and PLT 100×10⁹/L at day 28.
6.Reliability and Validity Evaluation of TCM Identification Scale of Five Human Qualities in Elderly People
Manman LU ; Rui YU ; Baozhao JU ; Feng GU ; Huan ZHANG ; Zengjin JIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):153-160
ObjectiveBased on the Huangdi Neijing,a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)identification scale of five human qualities was constructed and applied in elderly people to evaluate its reliability and validity. MethodsBased on the original text of the Huangdi Neijing and a review of relevant ancient and modern literature, an identification scale of five human qualities was developed through Delphi expert interviews. Offline surveys were conducted to evaluate the feasibility,reliability,and validity of its application in elderly people,and the scale was evaluated and revised. ResultsThe scale of five human qualities is divided into five subscales:wood,fire,earth,metal,and water. Each subscale is divided into four dimensions:morphological structure,psychological characteristics,tolerance,and physiological characteristics,with a total of 75 items. The survey results in elderly people show that:(1) The recovery rate and completion rate are 100%,and the average filling time is 23.3 min. 85.5% of the samples are completed within the preset time. (2) Reliability analysis results:The homogeneity reliability of each subscale,Chronbach's α,ranges from 0.702 to 0.793. The scores of each subscale in the split-half reliability range from 0.758 to 0.841, indicating that the internal consistency of the scale is good. (3) Validity analysis results. Content validity:During the development stage of the scale,the item pool,dimensions,and structure of the scale are designed reasonably, and the content is complete. The evaluation of content validity shows that the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) ranges from 0.83 to 1.00, and the scale-level content validity index for universal agreement (S-CVI/UA) is 0.92,indicating good content validity of the scale. Construct validity extracts 22 common factors based on an eigenvalue of 1,with a contribution rate of 62.333% to the overall system. The number of common factors in the five subscales is 4,5,4,5,and 4,respectively,with contribution rates of 52.64%,53.376%,51.445%,51.359%,and 50.714%,respectively,indicating the required structure for physical fitness measurement in elderly people. ConclusionThe scale constructed in this study has high reliability and validity,and it is suitable for evaluating the physical condition of elderly people in TCM.
7.Application of "Internet +" based case teaching method combined with OSCE teaching method in the teaching of nursing students in the department of nephrology
Jing ZHANG ; Lü MANMAN ; Lü XIAOLIN ; Yanggang YUAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(5):717-720
Objective:To observe the application value of "Internet +" based case teaching method combined with objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) teaching method in the teaching of nursing students in the Department of Nephrology, and analyze its impact on nursing student satisfaction of teaching.Methods:A total of 60 nursing students who practiced in the Department of Nephrology, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to June 2022 were selected as the research subjects. They were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 30 students in each group. The control group adopted traditional teaching method, and the observation group adopted case teaching method based on "Internet +" combined with OSCE teaching method. SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used for data analysis, and independent sample t-test was used to compare the clinical practical work ability and teaching satisfaction of the two groups of nursing students after teaching. Results:After 4 weeks of teaching, the total scores of clinical thinking ability, disease observation and evaluation ability, mastery of medical knowledge, standardized operation ability, communicative ability, adaptive ability, humanistic care and health literacy of the observation group were higher than those of the control group [(29.84±3.52) vs. (25.67±3.36), (5.81±1.52) vs. (4.34±1.67), (17.93±2.24) vs. (15.52±2.05), (25.72±2.73) vs. (22.17±2.56), (4.18±0.75) vs. (3.56±0.69), (83.48±6.67) vs. (71.26±7.05)], with a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.05); after 4 weeks of teaching, the teaching preparation, teaching process, teaching ability, teaching attitude, teaching effect and total score of the observation group were higher than those of the control group [(17.13±2.42) vs. (15.07±1.84), (36.44±3.12) vs. (34.07±2.49), (21.97±2.36) vs. (21.37±2.01),(17.00±2.36) vs. (16.83±2.23), (17.73±2.00) vs. (14.07±2.55), (110.27±5.51) vs. (101.40±4.58)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The case teaching method based on "Internet +" combined with OSCE can not only effectively improve the clinical practical work ability of nursing students in the department of nephrology, but also improve student satisfaction of teaching.
8.Clinical application of endoscopic resection using snares in treatment of gastric submucosal tumors
Manman LU ; Zhenjuan LI ; Shanshan XU ; Huimin ZHANG ; Xueyan WANG ; Jiaxin LI ; Runzhao QUAN ; Hao ZHANG ; Hui DING ; Xiuling LI
China Journal of Endoscopy 2024;30(11):39-46
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection using snares for the treatment of gastric submucosal tumors(SMTs).Methods 66 patients diagnosed with gastric SMTs and treated with endoscopic resection from August 2017 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the snare group(endoscopic resection using snares,n=33)and the traditional resection group(endoscopic resection using a traditional disposable incision knife,n=33).The operation time,overall resection rate,incidence of adverse reactions,operation cost,hospitalisation cost,and the post-operative hospital days were compared between the two groups.Results The lesion diameter was 8.00(6.00,14.00)mm in the snare group and 8.00(7.50,10.00)mm in the traditional resection group,the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05);The operative time in the snare group was significantly shorter than that in the traditional resection group[26.00(19.00,30.50)min vs 33.00(22.50,49.50)min],the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);The overall resection rate in both groups was 100.0%;Neither group of patients had intraoperative perforation.There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions such as intraoperative bleeding,abdominal pain and fever between the two group(P>0.05);The operative cost of the snare group was significantly lower than the traditional endoscopic resection group[(8 642.18±1 078.56)yuan vs(13 266.45±2 160.80)yuan],the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with traditional surgical instruments,endoscopic resection of gastric SMTs using snares has a shorter operating time,lower surgical costs,safe and effective,making it worthy of promotion.
9.Comparison of the application effect of Warm-water or Carbon Dioxide Insufflation in difficult colonoscopy
Sihui HOU ; Yan WANG ; Xiaohong WANG ; Jianqiu MENG ; Manman ZHANG
China Journal of Endoscopy 2024;30(11):47-52
Objective To compare the safety and clinical value of warm-water infusion or carbon dioxide(CO2)insufflation in difficult colonoscopy.Methods A collection of 150 patients from May 2021 to October 2023 who underwent unsedated and difficult colonoscopy were randomly divided into warm-water insufflation group(W group,n=50),CO2 insufflation group(C group,n=50)and air insufflation group(A group,n=50).Record the cecal insertion time,the abdominal pain score during the examination and 20 min and 1 h after the examination,the success rate of intubation,the polyps detection rate,the willingness to re-examine and the need for assistance in the three groups.Some patients were randomly selected to record partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide(PetCO2)of pre-examination,the ileocecal and 20 min after the examination to understand CO2 retention in the body.Results The cecal insertion time of group A was longer than that of group W and group C,and group W was shorter than group C.The abdominal pain score of group A was higher than that of group W and group C at each time point,and the abdominal pain score during the examination was lower in the group W compared with group C.The success rate of intubation and the willingness to re-examination in the group A were lower than those in group W and group C,The above differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).However,there was no statistical difference between the the group W and group C in terms of success rate of intubation,willingness to re-examine,and abdominal pain score at 20 minutes and 1 hour after the examination(P>0.05).In the group W,significantly fewer patients required abdominal compression compared with the other two groups,and the rate of position conversion was significantly lower than that in group A(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the detection rate of polyps among the three groups(P>0.05).In addition,PetCO2 of group C was within the normal range at all time points,and there was no statistical difference compared with the group A(P>0.05).Conclusion Compared with the air group,water or CO2 insufflation colonoscopy is safe and has a high success rate in difficult colonoscopy.It can reduce the patient's abdominal discomfort,especially water insufflation colonoscopy is more suitable for promotion in primary hospitals.
10.Construction of risk prediction model of heart failure in patients with coronary heart disease based on LASSO regression
Yikang XU ; Jingru MA ; Yang YANG ; Lei LIU ; Zhifeng ZHANG ; Siqi SUN ; Manman LI ; Kaiwen ZHAN
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(28):1-5,46
Objective To analyze the risk factors of heart failure in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD),and to construct and verify a nomogram prediction model for the risk of heart failure in patients with CHD.Methods The clinical data of 453 patients with CHD who were hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenyang Medical College from January to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed,including 278 patients with CHD combined with heart failure and 175 patients without heart failure.The patients were divided into training group(318 cases)and validation group(135 cases)according to the ratio of 7:3.R software was applied to perform LASSO regression to screen the risk factors,and Logistic regression to establish a prediction model and construct a nomogram.The calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to evaluate the calibration and discrimination of the model.Results LASSO regression analysis ultimately screened five risk factors from 22 variables,and Logistic regression results showed that age,smoking,history of myocardial infarction,New York Heart Association(NYHA)cardiac function class Ⅳ,and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were all independent risk factors for heart failure in CHD patients(P<0.05).The model formula was Z=-2.927+0.045 × age+0.886 × smoking+0.808 × history of myocardial infarction-2.829 × NYHA cardiac function class Ⅳ+0.037×LVFF.Internal validation of the model showed that area under the curve was 0.727(95%CI:0.588-0.752),the sensitivity was 40.4%,the specificity was 84.3%,and the Youden index was 0.247.According to the calibration curve,the predicted value of the calibration curve was highly consistent with the actual value,and the Brier score was 0.106.Conclusion The risk prediction model for heart failure in patients with CHD based on LASSO regression has good discrimination and prediction efficiency,which can be used as an evaluation tool for medical staff to predict the risk of patients.

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