1.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Mechanistic study of mitochondrial dysfunction in renal injury induced by maternal bone lead mobilization during pregnancy in rats
Ling LI ; Lin ZHANG ; Li LI ; Yuting WEI ; Man LYU ; Zeshi ZHANG ; Li MA ; Anxin LU ; Yin LIN ; Shaohua WANG ; Chonghuai YAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):286-292
Background Lead is a typical persistent environmental pollutant that can accumulate in bones for decades. During pregnancy, alterations in calcium metabolism promote the mobilization of bone lead, resulting in secondary exposure; however, the mechanisms by which pregnancy-associated bone lead mobilization affects maternal renal function remain unclear. Objective To investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in pregnancy-related bone lead mobilization-induced renal injury. Methods Newly weaned female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control or a lead-exposed group administered either 0.05% sodium acetate or 0.05% lead acetate in drinking water. Following a 4-week lead exposure and a 4-week washout period, the females were co-housed with healthy age-matched males for mating. Rats were sacrificed at early (gestational day 3) and late (gestational day 17) pregnancystages, respectively. Renal histopathology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining staining. Mitochondria-related indicators, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and energy metabolism, were measured. Differential metabolites were identified using serum metabolomics. Results Renal injury in the lead-exposed pregnant rats progressed in a time-dependent manner, characterized by degeneration of proximal tubular epithelial cells, glomerular hyaline changes, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between the treatment factor (lead exposure) and the temporal factor (gestational stage) on renal injury (P<0.001). Further analysis of mitochondrial function-related indicators in late-pregnancy renal tissue revealed that the lead exposure group exhibited significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P<0.05), accompanied by a reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities (P<0.05); regarding inflammatory markers, levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were elevated (P<0.01), whereas interleukin-33 (IL-33) was decreased in the lead-exposed group (P<0.05); energy metabolism-related indicators, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III, and V activities, were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the lead-exposed gorup. The typical differential metabolite N-methylisoleucine, identified through serum metabolomics analysis, was negatively correlated with blood lead levels, kidney injury scores, and IL-1β, while positively correlated with catalase (CAT) activity and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase. Conclusions Mitochondrial dysfunction may play a critical role in renal injury induced by bone lead mobilization during late gestation.
4.Knowledge and adaptive behavior of food delivery riders during high temperature and heat wave
QIU Yidan ; GU Shaohua ; WANG Aihong ; LU Beibei ; SHI Bijun ; WANG Yong ; ZHANG Dandan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):93-97
Objective:
To investigate the status of heat illness, knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors of heat wave knowledge among food delivery riders, so as to provide a basis for optimizing heat wave response measures for food delivery riders.
Methods:
In November 2022, food delivery riders from a large food delivery platform in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province were selected as survey subjects using a cluster sampling method. A self-designed electronic questionnaire was used to select demographic information, work status, lifestyle behaviors and disease history, heat illness status, knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors of heatwave.
Results:
A total of 911 questionnaires were distributed, and 830 valid questionnaires were recovered, resulting in a valid response rate of 91.11%. Among the respondents, 796 (95.90%) were male, and 818 (98.55%) worked full-time. The mean age was (27.75±8.00) years. A total of 470 respondents (56.63%) had a work tenure of less than 1 year. The primary working hours were 8-<12 hours, with 504 people accounting for 60.72%. There were 108 cases of heatstroke, with an occurrence rate of 13.01%. And 286 people reported heat-related symptoms, with an occurrence rate of 34.46%. The overall awareness rate of heat wave knowledge was 73.22%, while the awareness rate of heat warning signal classification was relatively low at 9.04%. The heat wave cognition score was (5.86±1.31) points. There were statistically significant differences in heat wave cognition scores among food delivery riders of different ages, educational levels, family annual income, work tenures, and work durations (all P<0.05). Regarding positive adaptive behaviors, the number of riders paying attention to weather forecasts and actively learning about preventive measures was higher (734 people each, accounting for 88.43%). Regarding negative adaptive behaviors, the number of riders who often drank ice-cold beverages was higher (509 people, accounting for 61.33%). The heat wave adaptive behavior score was (6.88±1.77) points. There were statistically significant differences in adaptive behavior scores among riders with different educational levels, family annual income, work tenures, and smoking frequency (all P<0.05).
Conclusions
The occurrence rates of heatstroke and heat-related symptoms among food delivery riders are relatively high. The knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors regarding heat wave are at a moderate level. It is suggested to strengthen health education, reinforce risk cognition of heat wave, and promote positive adaptive behaviors among food delivery riders.
5.Mechanisms and Clinical Research Advances of Curcumin in Modulation of Hyperlipidemia
Zhijun ZENG ; Wenjie LU ; Xiaoxue MA ; Yanhua JI ; Yun TONG ; Siyu LING ; Yue ZENG ; Chao LE ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(18):325-334
Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder driven by dysregulated lipid metabolism, whose pathological progression involves multifaceted interactions across various signaling pathways, including disrupted cholesterol homeostasis, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Although existing clinical medications such as statins can effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol through single-target inhibition, significant limitations remain in comprehensively improving reverse cholesterol transport, metabolic inflammation, and coordinated regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Curcumin, the primary polyphenolic active compound derived from the traditional medicinal herb turmeric, exhibits multi-dimensional pharmacological effects including modulation of lipid metabolism, improvement of insulin sensitivity, suppression of inflammatory responses, and enhancement of antioxidant defense. This review systematically integrates the multi-target regulatory network of curcumin, elucidating its key mechanisms: Balancing the low density lipoprotein receptor/proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (LDLR/PCSK9) signaling pathway to promote reverse cholesterol transport, activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) signaling pathways to coordinate glucolipid metabolic homeostasis, remodeling the gut microbiota-bile acid axis, inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory responses, and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) antioxidant signaling pathway. Furthermore, supported by clinical research data, the review validates curcumin's therapeutic potential in reducing total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as improving vascular endothelial function and insulin sensitivity. The study highlights the multi-target regulatory properties of curcumin and discusses future clinical applications based on nano-delivery systems and personalized treatment strategies, providing a theoretical basis and novel insights for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and related metabolic disorders.
6.Guidelines for the perioperative diagnosis and treatment of oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (2026)
Weidong WANG ; Yongbin LIN ; Hui TIAN ; Gaofeng LI ; Shun XU ; Yongde LIAO ; Haitao MA ; Junfeng LIU ; Chundong GU ; Xiaolong YAN ; Shumin WANG ; Daqiang SUN ; Jianyang LIU ; Tao XUE ; Shaohua MA ; Zhigang LI ; Shuanghu YUAN ; Gen LIN ; Ling CAI ; Jianping ZHOU ; Wenzhao ZHONG ; Naixin LIANG ; Yi HAN ; Junfeng WANG ; Weidong ZHANG ; Xin WANG ; Lianjuan CHEN ; Lunxu LIU ; Xiuyi ZHI ; Lanjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(09):1337-1353
Lung cancer constitutes the most prevalent and lethal malignant tumor in China. Approximately 85% of lung cancer diagnoses correspond to the non-small cell histological subtype [non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)]. Despite surgery being the mainstay for early-stage disease, postoperative recurrence remains high and adjuvant chemotherapy offers limited benefit. In recent years, targeted therapy has demonstrated substantial advantages in driver mutation-positive NSCLC. To this end, the Lung Cancer Medical Education Committee of the Chinese Medical Education Association developed guidelines based on a systematic review of evidence through November 2025, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach and a modified Delphi method. Focusing on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and addressing ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1), B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping, the guideline covers molecular testing, neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy, perioperative strategies, minimal residual disease monitoring, and postoperative surveillance. It defines testing requirements, specifies stage-directed and subtype-specific treatments, and standardizes minimal residual disease monitoring. These recommendations emphasize precision and feasibility to improve survival and quality of life.
7.Application value of soluble C5b-9 in the diagnosis of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation
Lihong SHANG ; Zhihua WANG ; Wenyan ZHANG ; Jiaoxia LIANG ; Mingjun WANG ; Ning LI ; Shaohua SHI ; Linru ZHU
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(5):757-764
Objective To explore the diagnostic value of soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) for delayed graft function (DGF) following kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 49 kidney transplant recipients who underwent sC5b-9 detection at the Second People’s Hospital of Shanxi Province between January 2024 and December 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Recipients were divided into the DGF group (n=25) and the non-DGF group (n=24) according to the occurrence of DGF. Baseline characteristics and serum sC5b-9 levels were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of sC5b-9 for DGF. A restricted cubic spline model was adopted to investigate the association between sC5b-9 and DGF. Results Among the 49 recipients, DGF occurred in 25 patients. Compared with the non-DGF group, the DGF group presented a higher proportion of male patients, a higher incidence of adverse transplant outcomes, and elevated final serum creatinine levels (all P<0.05). Within 30 days after transplantation, sC5b-9 concentrations were significantly higher in the DGF group than those in the non-DGF group (P<0.001). ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) of sC5b-9 for diagnosing DGF was 0.81, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.68-0.92, and the optimal cutoff value was 265.7 ng/mL. Recipients with elevated sC5b-9 (≥265.7 ng/mL) had a significantly higher incidence of DGF than those with low sC5b-9 levels (<265.7 ng/mL) (P<0.001). Recipients with adverse outcomes exhibited significantly higher sC5b-9 levels than those without adverse outcomes (P<0.001), and the AUC of sC5b-9 for identifying adverse outcomes was 0.82 (95%CI 0.63-0.95). A significant nonlinear correlation was observed between sC5b-9 and final serum creatinine (P<0.001). Conclusions Elevated sC5b-9 is correlated with the development of DGF after kidney transplantation and exhibits favorable diagnostic performance. It may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting early allograft dysfunction and adverse outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.
8.Core Pathogenesis and Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Postoperative Recurrence of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Based on the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Cancer Collaterals
Guanghui ZHANG ; Shaohua WANG ; Jinrong WANG ; Conghuang LI ; Shulin HE ; Baojin HUA ; Qiujun GUO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(21):2292-2296
Based on cancer collateral theory, this paper proposes toxin-stasis accumulation in collaterals and yin deficiency with toxin hyperactivity as the core pathogenesis of postoperative recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer. Impaired qi transformation in collateral and depletion of yin interact, contributing to toxin-stasis binding, inadequate collateral nourishment, and unrestrained yang activity. The temporal dimension emphasizes yin deficiency with toxin hyperactivity and early reactivation of latent toxin; the spatial dimension emphasizes toxin-stasis accumulation and dissemination through collaterals. Treatment follows the principle of regulating qi and resolving collaterals. Before recurrence, emphasis is placed on nourishing collaterals to restrain latent toxin; after recurrence, on resolving binding while protecting collaterals. Herbal combinations are further tailored to disorders of qi, blood, and fluid collaterals and to the sites of dissemination, integrating treatment according to recurrence status and affected collateral systems. These theoretical propositions are intended to inform clinical reasoning and require clinical validation.
9.The application value of serum heat shock protein 70,Periostin combined with low-dose spiral CT in early diagnosis of lung cancer
Shaohua WANG ; Chunrong WANG ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Yongbin LIU ; Zhixin LIU
Journal of Clinical Surgery 2025;33(10):1069-1072
Objective To explore the early diagnostic value of serum heat shock protein 70(HSP70),periosten combined with low-dose spiral CT(LDCT)for lung cancer.Methods From July 2022 to June 2024,103 lung cancer patients admitted to our hospital were regarded as the lung cancer group,and 87 patients with benign pulmonary nodules were selected as the benign group.ELISA kit was used to measure serum HSP70 and Periostin.Multivariate logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of lung cancer.Four grid table method was applied to calculate the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of LDCT combined with serum HSP70 and Periostin in the diagnosis of lung cancer.Kappa test was applied to evaluate the consistency between LDCT,serum HSP70,Periostin combined with LDCT and pathological diagnosis of lung cancer.Results Compared with the benign group,the lung cancer group had greatly higher levels of serum HSP70 and Periostin(P<0.05).Compared to the benign group,the lung cancer group had higher proportions of lobulation and spiculation signs(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression showed that HSP70(OR=1.569),Periostin(OR=1.427),lobulation sign(OR=2.015),and spiculation sign(OR=1.946)were all independent risk factors for lung cancer(P<0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of LDCT in diagnosing lung cancer were 85.44%,88.51%,and 86.84%,respectively;the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of serum HSP70 and Periostin combined with LDCT in diagnosing lung cancer were 93.20%,80.46%,and 87.37%,respectively.Kappa test showed that the consistency between serum HSP70,Periostin combined with LDCT had high consistency with pathology in the diagnosis of lung cancer(Kappa value=0.743).Conclusion The serum levels of HSP70 and Periostin are higher in lung cancer patients.The combination of serum HSP70 and Periostin with LDCT has better diagnostic efficacy for lung cancer.
10.Correlations of brain functional connectivity and white matter microstructure alterations with cognitive impairment in patients with white matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin: a MRI study
Shaohua JIN ; Junjie YU ; Minyan LU ; Zihan LI ; Xinxin MIAO ; Peixian JI ; Yongfeng JIA ; Min WANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(3):250-259
Objective:To investigate the alterations in voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) of brain regions, association loop connectivity, and white matter microstructure in patients with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) of presumed vascular origin, and analyze the pathological basis of cognitive impairment in WMH patients.Methods:A prospective study was performed; 75 WMH patients (WMH group) admitted to Jiangsu Shengze Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from January 2023 to September 2024 and 67 volunteers without obvious brain diseases (control group) recruited during the same period were enrolled. General data of these participants, and scores of neuropsychological scales such as mini-mental state examination (MMSE), frontal assessment battery (FAB), and trail making test (TMT) were compared between the two groups. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data of all participants were collected; rs-fMRI data were then analyzed using VMHC algorithm to calculate and conform the brain regions with significantly different VMHC between the two groups, and these regions were used as seed points to perform functional connectivity with the whole brain; Pearson correlation analyses of VMHC and functional connectivity in these brain regions with scores of neuropsychological scales were performed. DTI data were processed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) method to calculate and conform the brain regions with significantly different diffusion parameters of fiber tracts between the two groups; Pearson correlation analyses of diffusion parameters of the fiber tracts in these brain regions with scores of neuropsychological scales were performed.Results:(1) Comparison of general data and neuropsychological scale scores: proportion of participants with hypertension history was significantly different between the two groups ( P<0.05); scores of TMT-A, TMT-B, and Stroop C scales in the WMH group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05). (2) Comparison of VMHC and seed point functional connectivity: compared with that in the control group, the VMHC in bilateral middle occipital gyrus, visual cortex, medial occipitotemporal gyrus, insula, and postcentral gyrus of the WMH group were statistically lower ( P<0.05). Compared with that in the control group, functional connectivity of right visual cortex with right middle temporal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, and right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus in the WMH group was significantly weakened, and functional connectivity of right postcentral gyrus with right medial occipitotemporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, left visual cortex, and left postcentral gyrus was statistically weakened ( P<0.05). In the WMH group, the VMHC of bilateral insula was negatively correlated with TMT-B score ( r=-0.381, P<0.001), and functional connectivity between right visual cortex and right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with Stroop C score ( r=-0.401, P<0.001). (3) TBSS results: the diffusion parameters of the anterior corona radiata, superior corona radiata, corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and posterior thalamic radiation were statistically significant between the two groups ( P<0.05). In the WMH group, the fractional anisotropy in the genu of the corpus callosum was positively correlated with Stroop C score ( r=0.426, P<0.001), radial diffusivity was negatively correlated with Stroop C score ( r=-0.376, P<0.001), and mean diffusivity of the left anterior corona radiata was negatively correlated with TMT-A score ( r=-0.443, P<0.001). Conclusion:WMH patients have decreased coordination in homotopic brain regions and weakened functional connectivity of association loops, with widely distributed white matter microstructure damages, which may be involved in the neuropathological process of cognitive impairment.


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