1.Inheritance and Current Research Status of Major Spleen-Stomach Theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ling HU ; Fengyun WANG ; Xudong TANG ; Beihua ZHANG ; Yunkai DAI ; Xu CHEN ; Shiqi LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):87-94
This paper systematically reviews the core concepts and lines of theoretical inheritance of major spleen-stomach theories in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including spleen deficiency theory, spleen-stomach damp-heat theory, and liver-spleen disharmony theory. It is found that these theories have all undergone a developmental trajectory characterized by classical foundation, refinement of therapeutic methods, systematization of pathogenesis, and modern innovation. The evolution of spleen-stomach theory has achieved a shift from a singular focus on tonifying the spleen to regulating dynamic middle-jiao (焦) balance, and from localized spleen-stomach regulation to the circular movement of qi involving all five zang organs. In terms of modern disease-syndrome integrative research, spleen deficiency syndrome is shown to be closely associated with impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, metabolic disorders, and gene polymorphisms related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases. Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is closely linked to hyperactive energy metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, and abnormal expression of aquaporins. Liver-spleen disharmony syndrome is mainly associated with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and microbiota-related metabolic disorders. It is proposed that future research on spleen-stomach diseases and syndromes should further elucidate their potential multidimensional differential biological characteristics, thereby promoting the modernization of the TCM discipline of spleen-stomach studies.
2.Facilitating microglial phagocytosis by which Jiawei Xionggui Decoction alleviates cognitive impairment via TREM2-mediated energy metabolic reprogramming.
Wen WEN ; Jie CHEN ; Junbao XIANG ; Shiqi ZHANG ; Jingru LIU ; Jie WANG ; Ping WANG ; Shijun XU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(8):909-919
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2)-mediated microglial phagocytosis is an energy-intensive process that plays a crucial role in amyloid beta (Aβ) clearance in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Energy metabolic reprogramming (EMR) in microglia induced by TREM2 presents therapeutic targets for cognitive impairment in AD. Jiawei Xionggui Decoction (JWXG) has demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing energy supply, protecting microglia, and mitigating cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. However, the mechanism by which JWXG enhances Aβ phagocytosis through TREM2-mediated EMR in microglia remains unclear. This study investigates how JWXG facilitates microglial phagocytosis and alleviates cognitive deficits in AD through TREM2-mediated EMR. Microglial phagocytosis was evaluated through immunofluorescence staining in vitro and in vivo. The EMR level of microglia was assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The TREM2/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway was analyzed using Western blotting in BV2 cells. TREM2-/- BV2 cells were utilized for reverse validation experiments. The Aβ burden, neuropathological features, and cognitive ability in APP/PS1 mice were evaluated using ELISA kits, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the Morris water maze (MWM) test. JWXG enhanced both the phagocytosis of EMR disorder-BV2 cells (EMRD-BV2) and increased EMR levels. Notably, these effects were significantly reversed in TREM2-/- BV2 cells. JWXG elevated TREM2 expression, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, and microglial phagocytosis in APP/PS1 mice. Additionally, JWXG reduced Aβ-burden, neuropathological lesions, and cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. In conclusion, JWXG promoted TREM2-induced EMR and enhanced microglial phagocytosis, thereby reducing Aβ deposition, improving neuropathological lesions, and alleviating cognitive deficits.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Microglia/drug effects*
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Phagocytosis
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Cognitive Dysfunction/drug therapy*
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Metabolic Reprogramming
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Animals
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Mice
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Cell Line
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Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism*
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Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism*
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Energy Metabolism
3.Association between the non-treatment threshold or upper limit of normal of alanine aminotransferase and liver pathological injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and a persistently low level of alanine aminotransferase
Ming SHU ; Suwen JIANG ; Airong HU ; Qin CHEN ; Jialan WANG ; Menghan JIN ; Haojin ZHANG ; Shiqi YANG ; Shiyang FAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2044-2053
ObjectiveTo investigate the significance of different non-treatment thresholds or upper limits of normal (ULN) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in evaluating significant liver pathological injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThis study was conducted among 733 patients with chronic HBV infection who were hospitalized in Ningbo No. 2 Hospital from January 2015 to December 2023 and underwent liver biopsy and histopathological examination, and all patients had a persistent ALT level of ≤40 U/L and positive HBV DNA (>30 IU/mL). According to the treatment threshold or ULN of ALT, the patients were divided into group 1 with 575 patients (≤35 U/L for male patients, ≤25 U/L for female patients), group 2 with 430 patients (≤30 U/L for male patients, ≤19 U/L for female patients), group 3 with 443 patients (≤27 U/L for male patients, ≤24 U/L for female patients), group 4 with 446 patients (≤25 U/L), group 5 with 158 patients (>35 U/L for male patients, >25 U/L for female patients), and group 6 with 145 patients (>30 — ≤35 U/L for male patients, >19 — ≤25 U/L for female patients). Groups 2, 5, and 6 were compared to analyze the severity of liver pathological injury in patients with different ALT levels and the constituent ratio of patients with significant liver pathological injury, and groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were compared to investigate the value of different ULN or non-treatment thresholds of ALT in determining liver inflammation grade (G), liver fibrosis stage (S), and the treatment indication based on liver pathology. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test or the Tambane’s test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups and further comparison between two groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; a Ridit analysis was used for comparison of ranked data. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis (forward stepwise) was performed with whether liver pathology met the treatment indication (≥G2 and/or ≥S2) as the dependent variable and related factors with a significant impact on the dependent variable (P <0.05) as the independent variable. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), as well as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio, was used to assess the diagnostic value of different non-treatment thresholds of ALT. ResultsAmong the 733 patients, 259 (35.33%) had ≥G2 liver inflammation, 211 (28.79%) had ≥S2 liver fibrosis, and 306 (41.75%) had treatment indication (≥G2 and/or ≥S2). There was a significant difference in liver inflammation grade (G0 — G4) between groups 2, 5, and 6 (χ2=22.869, P <0.001), and there were also significant differences in the constituent ratios of patients with ≥G2 or ≥G3 liver inflammation between the three groups (χ2=21.742 and 14.921, P<0.001 and P=0.001). There was a significant difference in liver fibrosis stage (S0 — S4) between groups 2, 5, and 6 (χ2=16.565, P<0.001), and there were also significant differences in the constituent ratios of patients with ≥S2, ≥S3 or S4 liver fibrosis between the three groups (χ2=13.264, 13.050, and 6.260, P=0.001, 0.001, and 0.044). There were significant differences between groups 2, 5, and 6 in the constituent ratios of patients with or without treatment indication based on liver pathology (χ2=20.728, P<0.001). There were significant differences between groups 2, 5, and 6 in the constituent ratio of male patients (χ2=24.836, P<0.05), age (F=5.710, P<0.05), ALT (F=473.193, P<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (F=107.774, P<0.05), ALT/AST ratio (F=40.167, P<0.05), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (H=15.463, P<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (H=63.024, P<0.05), and LIF-5 (5 indicators for liver inflammation and fibrosis) (H=46.397, P<0.05). In groups 1 — 4, compared with the patients without treatment indication, the patients with treatment indication had a significantly lower constituent ratio of patients with positive HBeAg, significantly lower levels of platelet count (PLT) and HBV DNA, and significantly higher age, ALT, AST, GGT, APRI, FIB-4, and LIF-5 (all P<0.05). The Logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.044, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.025 — 1.063, P<0.001), GGT (OR=1.022, 95%CI: 1.007 — 1.038, P=0.003), and HBV DNA (OR=0.839, 95%CI: 0.765 — 0.919, P<0.001) were influencing factors for treatment indication based on liver pathology in group 1; HBeAg (OR=1.978, 95%CI: 1.269 — 3.082, P=0.003), age (OR=1.048, 95%CI: 1.025 — 1.071, P<0.001), GGT (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.001 — 1.031, P=0.041), and PLT (OR=0.995, 95%CI: 0.991 — 1.000, P=0.049) were influencing factors in group 2; age (OR=1.040, 95%CI: 1.014 — 1.066, P=0.002), ALT (OR=1.047, 95%CI: 1.005 — 1.092, P=0.029), HBV DNA (OR=0.817, 95%CI: 0.736 — 0.907, P<0.001), and LIF-5 (OR=7.382, 95%CI: 1.151 — 47.330, P=0.035) were influencing factors in group 3; age (OR=1.054, 95%CI: 1.031 — 1.077, P<0.001), ALT (OR=1.061, 95%CI: 1.016 — 1.107, P=0.008), and HBV DNA (OR=0.825, 95%CI: 0.743 — 0.917, P<0.001) were influencing factors in group 4. The diagnostic performance for identifying ≥G2 liver inflammation, ≥S2 liver fibrosis, and treatment indication in groups 1 — 4 had an AUC of >0.7; group 1 showed the lowest sensitivity (28.76%) and the highest specificity, positive predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio in judging treatment indication; group 2 had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value and the lowest negative likelihood ratio; groups 3 and 4 had similar diagnostic indicators. ConclusionIn patients with chronic HBV infection and a persistently low ALT level, the severity of liver histopathological injury and the constituent ratio of significant liver histopathological injury decrease with the reduction in ALT level. A higher non-treatment threshold or ULN of ALT can help to identify the patients requiring treatment (with a higher specificity), while a lower non-treatment threshold or ULN of ALT can help to identify the patients who do not require treatment (with a higher sensitivity).
4.Effect of Aqueous Extract of Scrophularia ningpoensis on AMPK Activity in INS-1 Cells under High Glucose Exposure
Xu GUO ; Jun ZHOU ; Xiaohan LI ; Shiqi CHEN ; Yanguo GAO ; Yonghong ZHANG ; Qibin WANG ; Tao ZHENG ; Li CHEN
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(6):850-854
Objective To investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Scrophularia ningpoensis(AESN)on AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)activity in INS-1 cells under high glucose(HG)conditions.Methods INS-1 cells were cultured in HG medium and treated with different concentrations of AESN.The influences of AESN on cell viability and pyroptotic body formation were detected using the CCK-8 assay.Western blotting was used to observe the effects of AESN on AMPK expression and phosphorylation.The effect of AESN on AMPK activity was measured using time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer(TR-FRET)assay.Results Compared with normal glucose controls,INS-1 cells exposed to HG showed decreased cell viabilities and increased formation of pyroptotic bubbles using CCK-8 assay.Western blotting results indicated that HG exposure led to a decrease in intracellular AMPK phosphorylation levels.However,co-incubation with AESN under HG exposure AESN treatment increased the cell viabilities and phosphorylation of AMPK and decreased the pyroptotic bubbles formation in a concentration-dependent manner.In addition,the results of TR-FRET revealed that AESN treatment effectively increased AMPK activity in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion AESN has an activating effect on AMPK activity in HG-treated INS-1 cells.
5.Effect of heptamethoxyflavone on proliferation,migration and invasion of human colorectal cancer cells and its mechanism
Shiqi XU ; Yingtong CHEN ; Man ZHUANG ; Gengxin YU ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Yi CAI ; Shaoju GU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(8):1392-1398
AIM:This study is aimed to investigate the impact of 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone(HMF)on the proliferation,invasion,and migration of human colorectal cancer(CRC)cell lines(SW480 and HCT116)and preliminarily explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS:Human colorectal cancer cells(SW480 and HCT116)cultured in vitro were subjected to various concentrations of HMF(0,12.5,25 and 50 μmol/L)for 48 h.Proliferation levels were assessed using the CCK-8 assay,invasion abilities were examined via the Transwell assay,migra-tion rates were measured using the scratch assay,and oxidative stress levels were determined by the DCF-DA reactive oxy-genation assay.The mRNA expression levels of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)mRNA and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreduc-tase-1(NQO-1)were quantified using RT-qPCR.RESULTS:Treatment with varying concentrations of HMF resulted in a significant reduction in the proliferative capacity of SW480 and HCT116 cancer cells,as was indicated by CCK-8 experi-ments(P<0.05).Transwell assays demonstrated a pronounced attenuation in the invasive potential of SW480 and HCT116 following HMF treatment(P<0.05).Scratch assays highlighted a notable constraint on the migratory capabilities of SW480 and HCT116 after HMF treatment(P<0.05).DCF-DA staining revealed a substantial increase in reactive oxy-gen species(ROS)levels within SW480 and HCT116 cells after HMF treatment(P<0.05).Furthermore,RT-qPCR ex-periments elucidated that HMF markedly suppressed the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes HO-1 and NQO-1.CON-CLUSION:HMF induces oxidative stress response in SW480 and HCT116 cells,consequently inhibiting their prolifera-tion,invasion and migration.
6.Exploration of correlation between multiple subjective and objective evaluation indicators in early stage with recovery time in combination of acupuncture and medication for treating facial neuritis
Qiuju SU ; Xueyan WU ; Xun PAN ; Min SU ; Shiqi CHENG ; Zhuwen CHEN
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(2):246-250,256
Objective To analyze the correlation between the multiple evaluation indicators in the early stage and the cure time(needed time from treatment to cure)of the patients with facial neuritis treated by ac-upuncture combined with medication,and to optimize the subjective and objective indicators enable predicting the cure time of facial neuritis in early stage.Methods All patients were treated by acupuncture and medica-tion combination.The research subjects were 64 patients with facial neuritis from the outpatient of cupuncture and moxibustion department of this hospital.The correlation between the grade of facial nerve paralysis,sur-face electromyography related data,scores of self-made symptom scoring scale,Sunnybrook Facial Grading System(SFGS)score,Facial Disability Index-Physical(FDIP)score,Facial Disability Index-Social(FDIS)score on 7 d of onset with the cure time was analyzed.Results The cure time was positively correlated with the grade of facial nerve paralysis and FDIS score on 7 d of onset(P<0.01),amd negatively correlated with the scores of self-made symptom scoring scale,FDIP score,SFGS score and the affected side to healthy ratio of CMAP amplitude of buccal temporal branch of facial nerve(P<0.01 or P<0.05);the cure time had no sig-nificant correlation with the ratio of affected side and healthy side of CMAP amplitude in zygomatic branch of facial nerve,the ratio of affected side and healthy side of CMAP latent period of temporal branch,buccal branch and zygomatic branch of facial nerve and F wave output rate(P>0.05).Conclusion In the early stage subjective indicators of the acupuncture combined with medication for treating facial neuritis,grade of facial nerve paralysis,self-made symptom scoring scale,scores of self-made symptom scoring scale,FDIP and FDIS scores and the ratio of affected side to healthy side of CMAP amplitude of the buccal branch,temporal branch of the facial nerve in sEMG in the objective indicators could be used to predict the cure time,better guide the treatment and have more effective and accurate comunication with the patients.
7.Evidence mapping of exercise rehabilitation in patients undergoing surgery for valvular heart disease
Rongxiang ZHANG ; Yuan CHEN ; Chenyang ZHU ; Feng TIAN ; Shiqi CHEN
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(25):47-52
Objective The existing evidence of exercise rehabilitation in patients undergoing surgery for valvular heart disease was analyzed,described and evaluated by using evidence mapping methods.Methods Systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials on exercise rehabilitation of patients undergoing valvular heart disease surgery were searched from CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,CBM,Embase,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,Ovid,CINAHL and other databases,and the search period was established until April 23,2024.The quality of the included literature was evaluated,and the feature information of the included literature was visualized in the form of bubble map and table.Results Fifty-one literatures(including 44 randomized controlled trials and 7 systematic evaluations)were finally included.Among the 44 randomized controlled trials,the types of exercise were mainly related to anaerobic exercise(3 literatures),aerobic exercise(11 literatures),flexibility training(8 literatures),and multisport exercise(22 literatures);postoperative inpatient rehabilitation accounted for a relatively high proportion(16 literatures),followed by overall postoperative rehabilitation(13 literatures)and pre-operative prehabilitation(7 literatures).Twenty-seven conclusions were categorized as"beneficial",15 as"possibly beneficial,"and one ach as"unclear"and"no effect".Seven systematic evaluations were subjected to Meta-analysis,and in terms of the design of the included studies,there were only 3 systematic reviews that included randomized controlled trials.Of the study conclusions,three were"beneficial",three were"possibly beneficial"and one was"unclear".Conclusion The evidence mapping shows that exercise rehabilitation is generally beneficial or potentially beneficial in the rehabilitation of valvular heart disease surgery,mainly in the postoperative inpatient rehabilitation phase.High-quality studies are needed to further investigate the effectiveness of exercise programs with different intensities,frequencies,and durations,as well as different valve types,adverse effects of exercise,and other outcome indicators.
8.Effect of enhanced recovery after surgery nursing on dissection of aorta patients:A Meta-analysis
Chenyang ZHU ; Yuan CHEN ; Rongxiang ZHANG ; Feng TIAN ; Shiqi CHEN
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(27):64-69,74
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)nursing on patients with dissection of aorta.Methods Nine databases,including PubMed,CNKI,etc were searched to identify randomized controlled trials involving dissection of aorta patients undergoing ERAS nursing.The retrieval time was from setting up of the databases until March 2024.Literature quality assessment followed by"Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions.Version 5.1.0",and Meta-analysis was conducted utilizing software of RevMan 5.4.Results Nine literatures with a total of 723 patients were included.The results of Meta-analysis showed that compared with the conventional nursing model,the application of ERAS nursing model could effectively promote the process of patients'postoperative recovery,and there were significant differences in indicators such as the time of postoperative mechanical ventilation,the time of the first postoperative out-of-bed activity,the time of tubing removal,the incidence of complications,the length of hospital stay,and the degree of perceived pain(P<0.05).Conclusion Implementing nursing model based on ERAS on dissection of aorta patients can effectively enhance patients'postoperative recovery outcomes,thus worth clinical promotion and application.
9.A Meta-analysis of the effect of mindfulness intervention on patients after PCI
Shiqi CHEN ; Yuan CHEN ; Feng TIAN ; Chenyang ZHU ; Rongxiang ZHANG
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(32):66-70
Objective To evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based intervention in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)through Meta-analysis.Methods Nine databases,including CNKI and PubMed,were searched for randomized controlled trials on the effect of mindfulness intervention in patients after PCI,and the search period was from the establishment of the database to May 31,2024.Two researchers independently screened the literature,extracted data and evaluated the quality,and used Revman 5.4 software for Meta-analysis.Results A total of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 998 patients were included.The results of Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional care,the use of mindfulness-based intervention therapy could positively improve patients'postoperative anxiety,perceived stress level,mindfulness awareness and other indicators.In terms of safety measures,the incidence of cardiac adverse events was not statistically significant compared with usual care(P>0.05).Conclusion Mindfulness intervention has a significant effect in patients after PCI.
10.Disease burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province, 1990-2019
Jiamin QIU ; Fangfang ZENG ; Chen CHENG ; Huiyan WEN ; Shiqi HUANG ; Dan LIU ; Jinlei QI ; Peng YIN ; Maigeng ZHOU ; Ying XU ; Zhiping LIU ; Qingsong MEI ; Heng XIAO ; Zheng XIANG ; Xiaofeng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(3):365-372
Objective:To examine the burden and trends of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2019, and provide reference evidences for hepatitis prevention and control in the province.Methods:Data on acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, and E) in Guangdong from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) data were analyzed by age and gender, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to describe the changing trends in disease burden.Results:From 1999 to 2019, the standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong were higher than the national averages. In 2019, 51.43% (2 245 087/4 365 221) of acute viral hepatitis cases in Guangdong Province were mainly attributed to hepatitis B, and 77.18% (106/138) of deaths were due to acute hepatitis B. In different age groups, except for acute hepatitis B, which was more common in adults, the incidence rates of other types of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, and E showed an overall decreasing trend with age. The mortality rates of different types of acute viral hepatitis, except for the <5 age group, increased with age. The overall incidence and mortality rates of acute viral hepatitis were higher in men than in women.Conclusions:The overall burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong declined in 2019, but remained higher than the national level. Further efforts are needed to strengthen hepatitis prevention and screening in different population in Guangdong Province, especially in children and the elderly.

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