1.Reconceptualizing Critical Illness in Cancer Through the Lens of Host Unregulated Response
Yun CHU ; Shiyi GONG ; Xin DING ; Hua ZHAO ; Huan CHEN ; Qing ZHANG ; Xiaoting WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):1-9
Onco-critical care has emerged as an important subspecialty at the intersection of critical care medicine and oncology, attracting increasing attention in recent years. With continuous innovations in cancer therapies, patient survival has improved significantly; however, the incidence of associated critical complications has also increased. The reasons for cancer patients requiring intensive care unit admission are diverse and can be broadly categorized into three groups: progression of the underlying malignancy, treatment-related complications, and coexisting classical critical illnesses. Traditional critical care concepts and practices face limitations in addressing the multidimensional and heterogeneous challenges of onco-critical care. Based on the core mechanism of critical illness development—host/organ unregulated response (HOUR)—this article systematically elaborates on how this framework advances understanding and clinical practice into onco-critical care, with emphasis on its manifestations in neuroendocrine, immune-inflammatory, and coagulation-metabolic pathways. The review summarizes recent advances in clinical assessment and phenotyping systems for onco-critical illness and discusses a multidisciplinary, integrated management strategy centered on the "Disease Control, Host Response Modulation, Organ Support" triad. Finally, major challenges and future directions in this field are outlined. By integrating existing evidence and theoretical insights, this review aims to provide new perspectives and a theoretical foundation for the clinical management of onco-critical illness, thereby promoting its evolution toward precision and standardization.
2.GEO database-based investigation on the expression and role of mitochondrial metabolism genes AKT1, ATP5F1, and BAG3 in pterygium
Shiyi WANG ; Jing WANG ; Hua WANG ; Yuping CHEN
International Eye Science 2026;26(3):398-404
AIM: To investigate expression differences and mechanism of action of serine/threonine kinase 1(AKT1), ATP synthase F1 subunit(ATP5F1), and Bcl-2-associated anti-apoptotic gene 3(BAG3)in the occurrence and progression of pterygium.METHODS:Pterygium-related gene expression data were retrieved from GEO database to screen differentially expressed genes(DEGs). String and Cytoscape were used to construct protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks and identify core targets. GO/KEGG enrichment analyzed mitochondrial metabolic pathways. The pterygium samples(head/body)were collected; pathological features were evaluated by HE staining, and the expression of AKT1, ATP5F1, and BAG3 was detected via immunohistochemistry(IHC).RESULTS:A total of 1 264 DEGs were identified(585 upregulated, 679 downregulated). GO analysis showed significant enrichment of mitochondrial pathways regarding to biological processes, cell components and molecular functions; KEGG analysis highlighted oxidative phosphorylation and chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species(ROS)pathways. The head and body pterygium samples were collected from 28 cases(28 eyes)that received pterygium surgery, including 7 males(7 eyes)and 21 females(21 eyes), with a mean age of 69.32±8.98 years. HE staining showed more severe dysplasia, disordered stroma, and inflammation in the pterygium head versus the body. IHC detection confirmed significantly lower AKT1, ATP5F1, and BAG3 expression in the head compared with the body(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION:GEO-based bioinformatics and experiments confirmed that AKT1/ATP5F1/BAG3(mitochondrial genes)had significant differential expression in pterygium, correlating with pathological progression. They may regulate mitochondrial metabolism to mediate pterygium progression, offering new insights for targeted therapy.
3.Development and practical application of multi-family therapy
Jiayi ZHOU ; Shiyi CHEN ; Yuhong YAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(10):942-948
Multi-family therapy (MFT), as an extension of traditional family therapy, refers to a treatment method in which family members from multiple families participate at the same time. Although its application in severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia is mature, its potential in a wider field and its localization pathway need to be systematically discussed. This paper aims to summarize the development, treatment settings and requirements of the early classic model of MFT, analyze its core mechanism, focus on summarizing the emerging application model variants and effectiveness of MFT in medical care (schizophrenia, eating disorders), school education (refusing to intervene in school) and social work (treating ADHD children, traumatized families, etc.), and comprehensively explore the research methods of effect evaluation.However, there are still some limitations in the current researches, such as lax evaluation, unclear specific action pathway, family vulnerability and lack of cross-cultural adaptability research. Finally, the future development direction is prospected to provide reference for promoting the application practice of MFT.
4.Role of"HA coat"in modulating stemness and endocrine resistance in ER+breast cancer
Shiyi WU ; Si CHEN ; Bohan LIU ; Yuting LIU ; Yiwen LIU ; Yiqing HE ; Yan DU ; Guoliang ZHANG ; Qian GUO ; Feng GAO ; Cuixia YANG
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(10):1298-1307
Objective·To determine hyaluronan(HA)expression in the endocrine-resistant microenvironment of estrogen receptor-positive(ER+)breast cancer and elucidate its impact on the acquired resistance.Methods·Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to quantify HA levels in the culture supernatants of fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.An immunofluorescence(IF)assay was performed to visualize the colocalization of CD44 and HA in MCF7/FulR cells.Using an established adaptive endocrine-resistant breast cancer mouse model,HA expression in resistant breast cancer tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry(IHC)assay.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)were conducted to examine transcriptomic profiles and alterations in HA-related genes in resistant breast cancer cells.Flow cytometry(FCM)was utilized to measure the proportion of CD44+CD24-cells in MCF7/FulR.The correlation between HA synthesis genes and cell stemness was investigated in clinical ER+breast cancers from GEO data sets.Hyaluronidase(HAase)treatment was applied to remove the"HA coat",and RT-qPCR and Western blotting analysis were carried out to monitor changes in stemness-related molecules.CCK-8 assays,flow cytometry(FCM),and Hoechst 33258 staining were performed to determine changes in apoptosis and fulvestrant efficiency after HAase treatment.Results·IF results revealed that compared with MCF7 cells,the"HA coat"on the surface of MCF7/FulR cells was significantly thickened.IHC demonstrated markedly increased HA retention in fulvestrant-resistant mouse breast cancer tissues.ScRNA-seq and RNA-seq analyses indicated elevated expression of stemness-related genes and HA synthesis-associated genes in fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between HA synthesis and cancer stemness in ER+breast cancer.IF and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that removing the HA coating from the surface of MCF7/FulR cells led to a significant reduction in the expression of stemness-related molecules;concurrently,CCK-8 assays,FCM analysis,and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that"HA coat"clearance reduced MCF7/FulR'tolerance to fulvestrant and increased apoptosis.Conclusion·Endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells develop an enriched"HA coat",which promotes stemness in fulvestrant-resistant tumors.Disruption of this HA coat through HAase treatment effectively reduces cell stemness,induces apoptosis,and re-sensitizes breast cancer cells to fulvestrant.
5.Effect of"Astragalus-Chinese yam"on cancer-induced fatigue in mice based on network pharmacology and behavior
Chen LIU ; Shiyi LI ; Xiaoxiao YIN ; Zihan KONG ; Qinghua LIU ; Hongli LI ; Chonggao YIN
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(3):374-387
Objective To investigate the mechanism of action of the Astragalus-Chinese yam combination in treating cancer-related fatigue(CRF)in mice.Methods The active components and related targets of Astragalus-Chinese yam were obtained from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform.CRF-associated targets were identified using the GeneCards database.Intersecting targets were analyzed using the DAVID database for gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses.A network diagram depicting"drug-active component-intersecting targets-disease"was constructed using Cytoscape software,and a protein-protein interaction network was created to identify the top five core target proteins based on degree values.Molecular docking simulations were performed using Autodock Vina software.Twenty-five mice were divided randomly into a blank group and a modeling group in a 1∶4 ratio.After successfully establishing the CRF model using Lewis lung cancer cells,mice in the modeling group were further divided into model,Chinese yam(0.2 g/kg),Astragalus(0.6 g/kg),and Astragalus-Chinese yam combination groups(0.3+0.1 g/kg)(n=5 mice per group).The treatments were administered by gavage twice daily for 14 consecutive days.Grip-strength and forced-swimming tests were conducted.The mice were then euthanized and tissues were collected.The gastrocnemius muscles were weighed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to reveal the muscle fiber morphology.Results A total of 23 effective active components of Astragalus-Chinese yam were identified through network pharmacology analysis,with 199 intersecting drug-disease targets.These targets mainly participated in biological processes such as protein phosphorylation through cellular components(cytoplasm,membrane,nucleus)and performed molecular functions such as protein binding.A total of 155 signaling pathways,including pathway in cancer and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway,were involved in CRF.The critical targets of Astragalus-Chinese yam for CRF included serine/threonine kinase,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor,B-cell lymphoma 2,and caspase 3.The active components quercetin and diosgenin interacted with the highest number of targets and demonstrated binding energies<-5.0 kJ/mol with the five core targets,indicating strong ligand-receptor binding affinity.Mice in the Chinese yam and Astragalus groups exhibited increased grip strength and prolonged swimming times compared with the model group.Gastrocnemius muscle volume and mass were increased,with well-organized muscle fibers and clear boundaries,and the effects were even more pronounced in the Astragalus-Chinese yam combination group.Conclusions Astragalus-Chinese yam treats CRF via a multi-target,multi-pathway approach,enhancing muscle strength and endurance in mice,improving gastrocnemius muscle volume and mass,and alleviating muscle atrophy,thereby mitigating the associated symptoms of CRF in mice.
6.Development and practical application of multi-family therapy
Jiayi ZHOU ; Shiyi CHEN ; Yuhong YAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(10):942-948
Multi-family therapy (MFT), as an extension of traditional family therapy, refers to a treatment method in which family members from multiple families participate at the same time. Although its application in severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia is mature, its potential in a wider field and its localization pathway need to be systematically discussed. This paper aims to summarize the development, treatment settings and requirements of the early classic model of MFT, analyze its core mechanism, focus on summarizing the emerging application model variants and effectiveness of MFT in medical care (schizophrenia, eating disorders), school education (refusing to intervene in school) and social work (treating ADHD children, traumatized families, etc.), and comprehensively explore the research methods of effect evaluation.However, there are still some limitations in the current researches, such as lax evaluation, unclear specific action pathway, family vulnerability and lack of cross-cultural adaptability research. Finally, the future development direction is prospected to provide reference for promoting the application practice of MFT.
7.Effects of different psychosocial interventions on fertility concerns in cancer patients: a network Meta-analysis
Yaxuan HU ; Yemei HE ; Qingqing XIA ; Xiumei LIU ; Shiyi LIAO ; Ouying CHEN
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(21):2822-2829
Objective:To evaluate the effect of different psychosocial interventions on fertility concerns in cancer patients using network Meta-analysis.Methods:Randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies on the effects of different psychosocial interventions on fertility concerns in cancer patients were electronically searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO. The search period was from database establishment to October 31, 2024. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction. Conventional Meta-analysis of the included literature was performed using RevMan 5.4, and network Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 18.0.Results:A total of 10 studies involving 835 cancer patients and seven psychosocial interventions were included. Network Meta-analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the intervention effect of fertility counseling ( MD=18.24, 95% CI: 2.85-33.62, P<0.05) and mental awareness training ( MD=17.97, 95% CI: 3.09-32.85, P<0.05) on fertility concerns in cancer patients as compared to routine nursing. The ranked probability plot showed that fertility counseling and mental awareness training had superior results. Conclusions:Fertility counseling has a superior effect on fertility concerns in cancer patients. Mental awareness training may be effective in improving fertility concerns in cancer patients, and further research is needed to validate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, dyadic coping interventions, and educational interventions in improving fertility concerns in cancer patients.
8.Role of"HA coat"in modulating stemness and endocrine resistance in ER+breast cancer
Shiyi WU ; Si CHEN ; Bohan LIU ; Yuting LIU ; Yiwen LIU ; Yiqing HE ; Yan DU ; Guoliang ZHANG ; Qian GUO ; Feng GAO ; Cuixia YANG
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(10):1298-1307
Objective·To determine hyaluronan(HA)expression in the endocrine-resistant microenvironment of estrogen receptor-positive(ER+)breast cancer and elucidate its impact on the acquired resistance.Methods·Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to quantify HA levels in the culture supernatants of fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.An immunofluorescence(IF)assay was performed to visualize the colocalization of CD44 and HA in MCF7/FulR cells.Using an established adaptive endocrine-resistant breast cancer mouse model,HA expression in resistant breast cancer tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry(IHC)assay.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)were conducted to examine transcriptomic profiles and alterations in HA-related genes in resistant breast cancer cells.Flow cytometry(FCM)was utilized to measure the proportion of CD44+CD24-cells in MCF7/FulR.The correlation between HA synthesis genes and cell stemness was investigated in clinical ER+breast cancers from GEO data sets.Hyaluronidase(HAase)treatment was applied to remove the"HA coat",and RT-qPCR and Western blotting analysis were carried out to monitor changes in stemness-related molecules.CCK-8 assays,flow cytometry(FCM),and Hoechst 33258 staining were performed to determine changes in apoptosis and fulvestrant efficiency after HAase treatment.Results·IF results revealed that compared with MCF7 cells,the"HA coat"on the surface of MCF7/FulR cells was significantly thickened.IHC demonstrated markedly increased HA retention in fulvestrant-resistant mouse breast cancer tissues.ScRNA-seq and RNA-seq analyses indicated elevated expression of stemness-related genes and HA synthesis-associated genes in fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells.Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between HA synthesis and cancer stemness in ER+breast cancer.IF and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that removing the HA coating from the surface of MCF7/FulR cells led to a significant reduction in the expression of stemness-related molecules;concurrently,CCK-8 assays,FCM analysis,and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that"HA coat"clearance reduced MCF7/FulR'tolerance to fulvestrant and increased apoptosis.Conclusion·Endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells develop an enriched"HA coat",which promotes stemness in fulvestrant-resistant tumors.Disruption of this HA coat through HAase treatment effectively reduces cell stemness,induces apoptosis,and re-sensitizes breast cancer cells to fulvestrant.
9.Effect of manual lymphatic drainage on prevention and treatment of lymphedema after breast cancer surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Chengfei LI ; Shiyi LI ; Hongfan DING ; Minliang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2025;41(3):277-286
Objective:To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).Methods:Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the application of MLD for lymphedema after breast cancer surgery were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases. The search covered studies published in English and Chinese from January 1, 2000 to February 1, 2024. Literature management and screening were conducted using EndNote X9 software based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant data from the final included studies for the meta-analysis were extracted. The outcome measures included the incidence of BCRL, reduced values in upper limb volume or circumference in BCRL patients, and the incidence of axillary web syndrome (AWS). Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. The incidence of BCRL and AWS was expressed as relative risk ( RR) with 95% confidence intervals ( CI), and the Mantel-Haenszel method was used to calculate pooled effect sizes. For the reduction in limb volume or circumference in BCRL patients, standard mean difference ( SMD) with 95% CI was used, and the inverse variance method was applied to calculate pooled effect sizes. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The I2statistic was used to assess heterogeneity among studies; a fixed-effect model was applied when I2<50%, and a random-effects model was used when I2≥50%. Results:A total of 760 studies were retrieved, and 12 RCTs involving 2 279 post-breast cancer surgery patients were ultimately included. Among them, 1 132 patients in the control group received conventional treatment or combined compression bandaging, while 1 147 patients in the experimental group received MLD in addition to the control group interventions. Moderate to high heterogeneity was observed among the studies ( I2>50%, P<0.05), and a random-effects model was used for the analysis of all outcome measures between the two groups. The result showed that compared to the control group, the experimental group had a lower incidence of BCRL ( RR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.20-0.64, Z=3.42, P<0.001), the reduction in limb volume or circumference measurements increased( SWD=-1.28, 95% CI: -2.45~-0.10, Z=2.13, P=0.030), and a lower incidence of AWS ( RR=0.20, 95% CI: 0.07-0.55, Z=3.11, P=0.002). Conclusion:MLD can significantly prevent the occurrence of lymphedema and AWS in patients after breast cancer surgery, and for patients who have already developed lymphedema, MLD can also effectively reduces the degree of swelling. However, more high quality clinical studies are still needed for further verification.
10.Lumbar Oscillatory Manipulation for Lumbar Disc Herniation:A Randomized Controlled Trial
Shiyi LIU ; Yuelai CHEN ; Nan ZHOU ; Qiang LYU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1672-1678
ObjectiveTo observe clinical effectiveness and safety of lumbar oscillatory manipulation in the treatment of patients with lumbar disc herniation. MethodsThis study recruited 90 lumbar disc herniation patients who were randomly divided into 45 cases each in the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group was given lumbar oscillatory manipulation, while the control group was given traditional lumbar obliquely pulling manipulation, and both groups were treated twice a week for 4 weeks. The Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) score, lumbar spine mobility, and the absolute values of difference in hardness between the left and right sides of the lumbar erector spinae muscle were compared between groups of patients before treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment; the shear wave elastic modulus of multifidus muscle and abdominal muscle thickness were compared between groups before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment; the clinical effectiveness of the treatment was compared, and the safety evaluation was carried out. ResultsCompared with the group before treatment, the ODI scores and the the absolute values of difference in hardness between the left and right sides of the lumbar erector spinae muscle decreased after 2 and 4 weeks treatment in both groups, and the mobility of the lumbar vertebrae in all directions of anterior flexion, posterior extension, left lateral flexion, and right lateral flexion increased; the shear wave elastic modulus of bilateral multifidus muscles of the fourth lumbar vertebral segments decreased, and the thickness of abdominal muscle increased after 4 weeks of treatment in both groups (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the ODI score of the treatment group decreased after 2 weeks of treatment, and the shear wave elastic modulus value of bilateral multifidus muscle of the fourth lumbar vertebral segment decreased and the thickness of abdominal muscle increased after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (38/42) in the treatment group and 71.43% (30/42) in the control group, and the clinical effectiveness of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P<0.05). No adverse events occurred in both groups during the study. ConclusionLumbar oscillatory manipulation is superior to traditional lumbar obliquely pulling manipulation in relieving symptoms of lumbar disc herniation and improving lumbar spine function, which may be related to its improvement in the elasticity of the multifidus muscle.

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