1.Current Status and Strategies of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Xuezhi ZHANG ; Xia DING ; Zhen LIU ; Hui YE ; Xiaofen JIA ; Hong CHENG ; Zhenyu WU ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):111-116
This paper systematically reviews the current status of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, as well as recent progress in clinical and basic research both in China and internationally. It summarizes the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Hp infection management, including improving Hp eradication rates, enhancing antibiotic sensitivity, reducing antimicrobial resistance, decreasing drug-related adverse effects, and ameliorating gastric mucosal lesions. These advantages are particularly evident in patients who are intolerant to bismuth-containing regimens, those with refractory Hp infection, and individuals with precancerous gastric lesions. An integrated, whole-process management approach and individualized, staged comprehensive treatment strategies combining TCM and western medicine are proposed for Hp infection. Future prevention and control of Hp infection should adopt an integrative Chinese-western medical strategy, emphasizing prevention, strengthening primary care, implementing proactive long-term monitoring, optimizing screening strategies, and advancing the development of novel technologies and mechanistic studies of Chinese herbal interventions. These efforts aim to provide a theoretical basis and practical pathways for the establishment and improvement of Hp infection prevention and control systems.
2.Targeting ER lipid raft-associated 1 reveals a coordinated cholesterol-dependent vulnerability in hepatocellular carcinoma
Yiming ZHANG ; Yushan HOU ; Xinxin WANG ; Kaikun XU ; Pei JIANG ; Siqi WANG ; Huimin KANG ; Hu ZHANG ; Jingzhuo JIN ; Xiaofen HUANG ; Zifeng LIU ; Songpeng YANG ; Jiaqi LIU ; Lingqiang ZHANG ; Fuchu HE ; Chunyan TIAN ; Aihua SUN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):866-883
Background/Aims:
Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism is a hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that drives tumor initiation and progression. However, clinical targeting of cholesterol metabolism has yielded limited benefits due to stringent feedback in tumor cells. Identifying a central mediator capable of restoring cholesterol homeostasis within the cell’s intrinsically fine-tuned regulatory framework is urgently needed.
Methods:
We integrated a proteomic dataset from patients with cholesterol-dysregulated HCC into a global cholesterol metabolic regulatory network to identify potential therapeutic targets for disrupted cholesterol homeostasis. The prognostic significance of the candidate targets was further validated in an independent cohort through immunohistochemistry. Functional and mechanistic studies were conducted in vitro using HCC cell lines and in vivo using mouse models. The pharmacological efficacy of the candidate agent was evaluated in both subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC mouse models.
Results:
ER lipid raft-associated 1 (ERLIN1), a pivotal regulator of cholesterol metabolism reprogramming, was identified as an independent favorable prognostic indicator in HCC. ERLIN1 constrains HCC progression both in vitro and in vivo by stabilizing the INSIG1–SCAP–SREBP2 axis and maintaining the metabolic balance of intracellular cholesterol. Under hypoxia, impaired factor-inhibiting hypoxia-1-dependent hydroxylation of ASB11 at asparagine residues 90 and 92 enhances ASB11-mediated ERLIN1 degradation. Pharmacological targeting of this axis using zoledronic acid (ZoA) attenuated HCC progression by weakening the ASB11–ERLIN1 interaction and restoring cholesterol homeostasis.
Conclusions
ERLIN1 represents a druggable metabolic vulnerability in cholesterol-dysregulated HCC. Targeting the ASB11–ERLIN1 axis with the clinically approved ZoA reestablishes cholesterol homeostasis and offers a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the current limitations of cholesterol-targeted HCC therapies.
3.The mediating role of thyroid stimulating hormone levels in osteoporosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and menopause
Yanjing LIU ; Xiaofen LIAN ; Fan ZHANG ; Yuan LIN
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2025;33(4):273-279
Objective To explore the mediating effect of thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)levels on the risk of osteoporosis(OP)in patients with T2DM and menopause.Methods A total of 179 menopausal T2DM patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to January 2023 were enrolled in this study.All the participants were divided into diabetes without complication group(T2DM group,n=95)and diabetes with complication group(Com group,n=84)according to the co-existence of complications.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors for T2DM complications.According to the co-existence of OP,all the patients were divided into OP group(n=86)and Non-OP group(n=93).And the influencing factors for OP occurrence are analyzed using random forest algorithm.Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between TSH and T2DM complications and OP.The Bootstrap method was used to analyze the mediating effect of TSH between T2DM complications and OP.Results DM duration,HbA1c,free triiodothyronine,free thyroxine,and TSH were independent influencing factors for T2DM complications(P<0.05),while P1NP,TSH,vitamin D,and DM duration were influencing factors for the occurrence of OP.After adjusting for confounding factors,there was a negative correlation between TSH and the risk of T2DM complications(P<0.05),and a negative correlation between TSH and OP(P<0.05).Mediation effect analysis showed that TSH played a mediating role between T2DM complications and OP.Conclusions TSH is negatively correlated with the risk of T2DM complications and OP,and plays a mediating role between T2DM complications and OP,partially mediating the impact of T2DM complications on OP.
4.Evidence-based nursing practice for extending the lifespan of arteriovenous fistulas in maintenance hemodialysis patients based on the Stetler model
Aiyan DU ; Yan YU ; Renyan XU ; Yawen WANG ; Ye XU ; Congmin ZHAO ; Yuan ZHANG ; Wei ZHOU ; Xiaodong CAO ; Xiaofen SHI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(33):4506-4511
Objective:To develop an evidence-based nursing practice program based on the Stetler model to extend the lifespan of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and evaluate its effectiveness.Methods:An evidence-based nursing practice program was constructed based on the best evidence for extending AVF lifespan in MHD patients. Expert group discussions were held to determine review indicators. A baseline survey was conducted among 100 MHD patients and 42 nurses using covenience sompling at the Blood Purification Center of Wuxi People's Hospital from January to December 2023, to identify barriers and facilitators. In the following year, from January to December 2024, the evidence-based practice was implemented at the same hospital, and the AVF surgical intervention rate and AVF self-management levels of MHD patients were compared before and after the practice.Results:No statistically significant difference was found in the AVF surgery rates before and after the evidence-based practice ( P>0.05) . However, after implementing the evidence-based practice, MHD patients' scores on the AVF self-management scale significantly improved, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:The evidence-based practice based on the Stetler model is beneficial for standardizing the clinical management of AVF, reducing the need for surgical interventions, and improving MHD patients' ability to self-manage their AVF.
5.Development of a low-toxicity water-equivalent liquid scintillator based on CdSe/ZnS quantum dots
Xuegang CHU ; Junhui WANG ; Baoguo ZHANG ; Xiaofen XING
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(10):1266-1272
Objective To develop a novel low-toxicity water-equivalent liquid scintillator with PPO as the primary luminescent substance,oil-soluble quantum dots(QD)as the secondary luminescent substance,and dodecylbenzene as the matrix.Methods The emission spectrum of PPO,as well as the absorption and emission spectra of QD were detected,and the radioluminescence tests were carried out on the scintillation liquids with different concentrations of QD as the secondary luminescent substance.After applying an empirical formula to deduce the approximate doping proportion of QD required for the tissue-equivalent liquid scintillator,the Monte Carlo simulation software Geant4 was used to accurately simulate the precise QD doping ratio,and finally,tests were conducted to evaluate the water equivalence and various dosimetric properties.Results The peak emission wavelength of PPO was 366 nm.For QD,the peak excitation wavelength was 340 nm,and the peak emission wavelength was 519 nm.Notably,the water equivalence was optimal when the QD doping concentration was 0.34 wt%.Conclusion QD can serve as the secondary luminescent substance for liquid scintillator,and the doping content of QD required to achieve water equivalent can be determined through Monte Carlo simulation.
6.Study on injury of vascular intima with hemostatic clamp and optimization of protective strategy
Lizhi REN ; Qianqian WANG ; Dan WANG ; Zepeng ZHANG ; Xiaofen WU ; Rui SUN
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2025;60(5):501-508
Objective:To explore the intimal injury of two kinds of hemostatic clips under different clamping forces, and to optimize and verify the calculation formula of minimum occlusion force (MOF), so as to provide theoretical basis for selecting appropriate hemostatic clips to reduce vascular injury.Methods:A total of 96 male SD rats with body weight ranging from 280 to 300 g (Animal Experimental Center of Shanxi Medical University) were randomly assigned to metal hemostatic clip group ( n=48) and disposable hemostatic clip group ( n=48) by random number table method. Each group was further divided into four subgroups with clamping forces of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 N for abdominal aortic injury experiments. The damage to the vascular intima was observed under a scanning electron microscope. A vascular closure model was established for mathematical analysis to derive the theoretical calculation formula of the arterial blood management factor (MOF). According to blood pressure (BP), blood vessel diameter (D) and hemostatic clamp width (W), the average values of theoretical and actual MOF data were analyzed by paired t test to verify the accuracy of the formula. From January 2021 to December 2022, six patients (with 12 branch arteries) who presented with oral and maxillofacial malignancies at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, were included to validate the accuracy of the MOF formula. Results:Under electron microscopy, when the clamping force was 0.3 N, the one-time hemostatic clip caused very little damage to the vascular intima (grade 1 injury), with only a few folds being flattened. When the clamping force was 0.6 N, both types of hemostatic clips caused partial peeling of the intima surface (grade 2-3 injury). However, when the clamping force was adjusted to 0.9 and 1.2 N, the damage caused by both types of hemostatic clips was more severe (grade 3-4 injury), with large areas of intima peeling or even disappearance. In some specimens of the metal hemostatic clip group, the damage even reached the muscular layer. Vascular closure model analysis showed that MOF=2×(1/2×π×D×W×BP), the mean diameter of abdominal aorta of 24 SD rats was (1.41±0.07) mm, the blood pressure was (83.29±11.56) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The theoretical MOF value was (0.096±0.015) N, the actual clamping force (ACF) was (0.095±0.012) N, there was no statistical significance between the two groups ( t=-0.35, P=0.725). In clinical application, the MOF calculation formula was used to select the appropriate hemostatic clip for 12 arteries, successfully blocking the blood flow, verifying the accuracy of the formula. Conclusions:Hemostatic clips can cause damage to the inner membrane of blood vessels, and the greater the clamping force, the more severe the damage. Disposable hemostatic clips have certain advantages in avoiding excessive damage to the inner membrane of blood vessels. The theoretical MOF calculation formula has a certain degree of reliability and can be used as a reference to select the appropriate hemostatic clip with low damage.
7.Determination of polymyxin E in human plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application in therapeutic drug monitoring
Yan CHEN ; Xiaolan HUANG ; Yi LI ; Xin LI ; Beining GUO ; Yaxin FAN ; Hailan WU ; Mengting CHEN ; Wanzhen LI ; Jing ZHANG ; Xiaofen LIU
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(2):155-161
Objective To develop and validate an efficient and simple liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method for determination of polymyxin E in human plasma,and apply the established method in therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM)of polymyxin E.Methods The LC-MS/MS platform was based on AB SCIEX HPLC-4500MD system.Gradient elution was performed with 0.2%formic acid in water and 0.2%formic acid in acetonitrile.Phenomenex Kinetex XB-C18 column(100 mm × 2.1 mm,2.6 μm)were used.The analytes were detected by electrospray ionization(ESI)positive multiple reaction monitoring mode.The ion pairs for analytes(polymyxins E1,E2)and internal standard(polymyxins B1)were m/z 390.7→101.3,m/z 386.0→101.2,and m/z 402.3→101.2,respectively.Plasma samples were processed with protein precipitation method.Results Polymyxin E1 and E2 showed good linearity in the range of 0.031 2-6.24 mg/L and 0.006 15-1.23 mg/L,respectively.The within-run accuracy of polymyxin E1 and E2 in plasma ranged from 89.4%to 99.8%and 91.5%to 108.2%,respectively,while the between-run accuracy ranged from 91.8%to 104.7%and 95.6%to 105.2%,respectively.The within-run precision of polymyxin E1 and E2 in plasma ranged from 4.9%to 8.9%and 2.8%to 8.5%,respectively,while the between-run precision ranged from 4.1%to 7.6%and 4.2%to 9.8%,respectively.The average internal standard normalized matrix effect factors of polymyxins E1 and E2 were 96.9%-111.2%and 106.1%-112.8%in blank plasma samples from 6 different sources,102.5%-106.8%and 98.8%-105.2%in lipemic plasma,respectively,107.8%-108.9%and 106.9%-1 07.4%in hemolyzed plasma,respectively.The precision of matrix effects was less than 15.0%.The average recovery rate was 102.9%-107.5%for polymyxin E1 and E2,and 107.0%for internal standard polymyxin B1.The precision was less than 3.7%.Conclusions In this study,a simple and efficient LC-MS/MS method was established for determination of polymyxin E1 and E2 in human plasma,which is reliable in the therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic study of polymyxin E.
8.Prediction model and feature analysis of pneumonia hospitalization duration based on CT radiomics and clinical indicators
Xiaofen SUN ; Zhihao WU ; Yinan ZHANG ; Jinhan ZHANG ; Jianqiang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(10):1741-1747
Objective:To analyze clinical indicators and imaging data of hospitalized pneumonia patients and develop prediction models for length of hospital stay based on CT radiomics features and clinical indicators.Methods:Patients admitted to the First Clinical School of Hainan Medical University for pneumonia treatment between November 2020 and May 2024 were enrolled. Clinical data and CT imaging were collected, and radiomics features were extracted. Patients were divided into three groups based on the length of stay (<8 d, 8-28 d,>28 d, and poor prognosis). Three prediction models were constructed using logistic regression (LR): clinical features model, imaging features model and a combined clinical and imaging features model. The predictive performance of three models was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and DeLong test, followed by feature analysis. The Kappa test was used to compare the consistency of the overall classification.Results:A total of 343 subjects were included, with an average age of 61.46±20.98 years. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the combined model in different hospitalization duration classifications (<8 d, 8-28 d,>28 d, and poor prognosis) were 0.73, 0.65 and 0.78 in the training set, and 0.71, 0.65 and 0.76 in the validation set, respectively. The AUC values of the clinical feature model in different hospitalization duration classifications were 0.63, 0.64 and 0.73 in the training set, and 0.60, 0.52 and 0.63 in the validation set, respectively. The AUC values of the imaging feature model in different hospitalization duration classifications (<8 d, 8-28 d,>28 d, and poor prognosis) were 0.67, 0.66 and 0.73 in the training set, and 0.68, 0.54 and 0.66 in the validation set, respectively. The DeLong test results showed that the combined model outperformed other models in hospitalization duration classification (validation set AUC, all P<0.05, Bonferroni correction). Kappa test results showed that the combined model achieved the highest consistency between predicted classifications and actual hospitalization classifications ( K=0.615). Shape features, texture features and clinical features all contributed proportionally to the combined model. Conclusion:The combined model integrating radiomics features with clinical indicators can significantly enhance the predictive efficacy for the length of hospitalization in pneumonia patients.
9.Correlation Study on the Odor Spectrum and Gut Microbiota in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis with Yin Deficiency Syndrome
Yuyu XIE ; Long ZHU ; Mengting ZHANG ; Xuejuan LIN ; Shanshan DING ; Xiaofen HOU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(11):163-171
Objective To collect oral exhaled odor spectrum of patients of chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG)with yin deficiency syndrome and detect their gut microbiota;To elucidate the mechanism of odor changes from the perspective of gut microbiota changes;To provide a basic research for the objectification of TCM olfactory diagnosis in CAG.Methods Totally 110 patients with CAG,including 55 patients with CAG yin deficiency syndrome,55 patients with CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome,and 30 healthy individuals were collected.The electronic nose technology was used to collect the oral exhaled odor spectrum of all subjects,and an improved Transformer model was used to identify the breath odor spectrum of CAG yin deficiency syndrome patients and healthy individuals,CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome patients and healthy individuals,CAG yin deficiency syndrome patients and CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome patients.At the same time,16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing method was used to detect the gut microbiota of the subjects'fecal samples,and the correlation analysis between the odor spectrum characteristics of CAG yin deficiency syndrome and gut microbiota was conducted.Results ① Analysis and recognition of odor spectrum characteristic.Amplitude characteristics:The response curves A,C,D,G,H,I and J of the odor spectrum in the CAG yin deficiency syndrome group and the CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome group were all lower in amplitude than those in the healthy group(P<0.01,P<0.05).Slope characteristics:The slopes of response curves A,B,C,D,E,G,H,I and J in the odor spectrum of the CAG yin deficiency syndrome group and the CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome group were lower than those of the healthy group(P<0.01,P<0.05).Pattern recognition:The accuracy of pattern recognition between the CAG yin deficiency syndrome group and the healthy group reached 0.904,with an area under ROC curve(AUC)of 0.91;the accuracy of pattern recognition between the CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome group and the healthy group reached 0.885,AUC=0.89;the accuracy of pattern recognition between the CAG yin deficiency syndrome group and the CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome group reached 0.747,AUC=0.75.② Species composition:At the genus level,compared with the healthy group,the abundance of Actinomyces,Escherichia-Shigella and Tyzzerella in the CAG yin deficiency syndrome group increased(P<0.05),while the abundance of Prevotella,Sutterella and Subdoligranulum decreased(P<0.05);the abundance of[Ruminococcus]_gnavus_group and Escherichia-Shigella in the CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome group increased significantly(P<0.01),while the abundance of Prevotella and Subdoligranulum decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the CAG yin deficiency syndrome group,the non-yin deficiency syndrome group showed significant enrichment of the Dialister(P<0.05).③ Correlation analysis between odor spectrum characteristics and gut microbiota in CAG yin deficiency syndrome:This study identified 17 bacterial genera that showed positive and negative correlations with the amplitude and slope characteristics of the odor spectrum in CAG yin deficiency syndrome,namely Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group,Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group,Faecalibacterium,UCG-002,UCG-005,Coprococcus,CAG-352,Parabacteroides,Actinomyces,Streptococcus,Anaerostipes,Blautia,Dorea,[Eubacterium]_hallii_group,Phascolarctobacterium,Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,Enterobacter.The above-mentioned bacterial genera could be classified into the following bacterial families:Trichomonas,Clostridia,Porphyromonas,Actinobacteria,Ruminococcus,Streptococcus,Bacteroidetes,Clostridium,Veillonellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae.Conclusion The use of electronic nose technology can accurately identify the oral exhaled odor of patients with CAG yin deficiency syndrome,CAG non-yin deficiency syndrome,and healthy individuals;the odor spectrum characteristics of patients with CAG yin deficiency syndrome are correlated with multiple bacterial genera,and the changes in related metabolites and gases produced by the disruption of their gut microbiota may be one of the biological bases for the changes in oral exhaled odor in CAG yin deficiency syndrome.
10.Development of a low-toxicity water-equivalent liquid scintillator based on CdSe/ZnS quantum dots
Xuegang CHU ; Junhui WANG ; Baoguo ZHANG ; Xiaofen XING
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(10):1266-1272
Objective To develop a novel low-toxicity water-equivalent liquid scintillator with PPO as the primary luminescent substance,oil-soluble quantum dots(QD)as the secondary luminescent substance,and dodecylbenzene as the matrix.Methods The emission spectrum of PPO,as well as the absorption and emission spectra of QD were detected,and the radioluminescence tests were carried out on the scintillation liquids with different concentrations of QD as the secondary luminescent substance.After applying an empirical formula to deduce the approximate doping proportion of QD required for the tissue-equivalent liquid scintillator,the Monte Carlo simulation software Geant4 was used to accurately simulate the precise QD doping ratio,and finally,tests were conducted to evaluate the water equivalence and various dosimetric properties.Results The peak emission wavelength of PPO was 366 nm.For QD,the peak excitation wavelength was 340 nm,and the peak emission wavelength was 519 nm.Notably,the water equivalence was optimal when the QD doping concentration was 0.34 wt%.Conclusion QD can serve as the secondary luminescent substance for liquid scintillator,and the doping content of QD required to achieve water equivalent can be determined through Monte Carlo simulation.

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