1.Overview of Diagnosis,Treatment and Mechanism Research of Functional Dyspepsia by Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Shengsheng ZHANG ; Zhaohong SHI ; Xiaofang LU ; Luqing ZHAO ; Danyan LI ; Shu ZHANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Yudi ZHUO ; Nian WANG ; Fan LIU ; Shuangyi LI ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):397-403
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prioritized disease category where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates distinct therapeutic advantages. The current western medicine treatment for FD is mainly based on proton pump inhibitors and prokinetic agents, with digestive enzymes, probiotics and antidepressants serving as adjuvant medication, yet such therapies still have certain limitations. TCM treatment for FD includes oral administration of Chinese herbal formulas and Chinese patent medicines, as well as external TCM therapies such as acupuncture and moxibustion, acupoint application, hot medicinal compress therapy, rubbing with ointment, medicinal iontophoresis, auricular acupoint therapy and tui na (Chinese medical massage). The combined treatment of FD with integrated TCM and western medicine can significantly improve clinical effectiveness and reduce adverse reactions. The common mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both TCM and western medicine revolve around the core pathological processes of FD, mainly focusing on restoring gastrointestinal motility, regulating the levels of brain-gut peptides, modulating intestinal microecology, and ameliorating inflammatory status. The differential mechanisms lie in the precise targeting feature of western medicine versus the holistic-regulating and multi-target characteristics of TCM, and the two approaches exert a synergistic effect to enhance efficacy. This paper proposes to leverage the advantages of TCM in holistic regulation and the strengths of western medicine in targeted treatment, so as to provide personalized and comprehensive treatment regimens for FD patients.
2.Current Status,Strategies and Prospects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Yandong WEN ; Zhi YANG ; Shaogang HUANG ; Zhongyu LI ; Xiangxue MA ; Qing XU ; Liqing DU ; Bochao YUAN ; Yibing TIAN ; Wentong GE ; Xiaofan ZHAO ; Chang LIU ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):404-409
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized primarily by abdominal pain and altered defecation habits. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made progress in multiple aspects of IBS research and treatment, including syndrome distribution, development of TCM formulas, clinical efficacy evaluation, external therapies, and psychosocial regulation. However, it still faces challenges such as over-reliance on symptomatic manifestations rather than biomarkers for diagnostic criteria, and the lack of high-quality evidence-based data supporting the efficacy of TCM formulas in treating IBS. This paper proposed that TCM diagnosis and treatment of IBS should adhere to the strategy of integrating the holistic concept with syndrome differentiation and treatment, combining TCM external therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion and acupoint application), and emphasizing individualized diagnosis and treatment for psychosomatic abnormalities. Future research should integrate multi-omics technologies, artificial intelligence and other methods to deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBS and the mechanisms of TCM formulas, so as to promote the standardization and internationalization of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBS.
3.A preliminary exploration on the ethical governance trends of global brain science research
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(2):143-150
Brain science research involves technological applications such as bioengineering, information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and brain-computer interfaces, making it a focal area where advanced technologies and ethical issues converge. Currently, brain projects in multiple countries have entered their second-phase project processes and begun to reflect on the ethical challenges that emerged during the initial research phase. By sorting out and analyzing the coping strategies for ethical issues adopted by major international organizations related to brain science and countries that have launched brain projects, this paper pointed out the problems existing in brain science research, such as information security and data rights, the boundaries of technical power, the balance of stakeholders, the reductionist paradigm and the trend of technological dehumanization, as well as the inadequacy and practicality of ethical principles. It also analyzed the enlightenment of the global brain project’s ethical governance practices for China’s brain science ethical research, namely, avoiding overly optimistic deconstruction of the human brain through biological reductionism and preventing technocratic impulses to replace or manipulate the rich psychological experiences of human beings with AI or brain-computer interfaces. This paper proposed recommendations for developing neuroethics, advocating for constructing a technology development path enriched with humanistic care under the framework of scientific and technological ethics while strengthening foundational research in neuroethics.
4.Neoadjuvant Sintilimab Combined with Gemcitabine and Cisplatin for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients Followed by Selective Bladder Sparing Surgery: A Phase 2 Trial
Zhou TONG ; Guanghou FU ; Feng ZHOU ; Xiaoyan LIU ; Xing XUE ; Hangyu ZHANG ; Yimin WANG ; Xudong ZHU ; Yang GAO ; Lulu LIU ; Xuanwen BAO ; Yi ZHENG ; Weijia FANG ; Peng ZHAO ; Baiye JIN
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(2):581-590
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) regimen in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor sintilimab as neoadjuvant therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients and the feasibility of the following selective bladder sparing surgery.
Materials and Methods:
Patients with histopathologically confirmed urothelial carcinoma without distant metastases (T2-4a, N ≤ 1, M0, American Joint Committee of Cancer 8th) and with adequate organ function will be enrolled. The therapeutic regimen was sintilimab 200 mg once on day 8, gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 and cisplatin 35 mg/m2 once on days 1 and 8, every 21 days for four cycles. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR, pT0N0) rate. The secondary end points were ypT < 2 rate, R0 resection rate, event-free survival, and safety.
Results:
From May 4, 2020, to May 20, 2023, 55 patients were enrolled. Forty-six patients were evaluated for efficacy. Among the 42 patients who underwent surgery, 16 patients (38.0%) achieved pCR. Thirty-three patients (78.6%) achieved pT < 2. With a median follow-up of 15.7 months, the 1-year event-free survival was 91.3%. Notwithstanding the poor pathological baseline characteristic of a high T3-T4a proportion (39.1%), a promising bladder preservation (including 22 patients transurethral resection of bladder tumor, 5 patients partial cystectomy, and 4 surveillances) rate was achieved (67.4%). The most common grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events was neutropenia (n=15, 27.3%), which was related to chemotherapy. There were no grade 3 immune-related adverse events.
Conclusion
Neoadjuvant GP plus sintilimab is a promising regimen for MIBC patients, with relatively high pT < 2 rate and triggering the emerging roles for the multi-disciplinary team decision-making for bladder sparing surgery.
5.Study on the mechanism of FPS-ZM1 in AGE accumulation inhibition and wound healing promotion of diabetic foot ulcers
Jingxin ZHANG ; Xudong ZHAO ; Jiantao WANG ; Fangze CHEN ; Lei LI
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2025;33(3):215-220
Objective To investigate the mechanism by which AGE receptor(RAGE)antagonist FPS-ZM1 inhibits AGE accumulation and promotes wound repair in rats with diabetic foot ulcer(DFU).Methods A total of 30 SD rats were divided into normal control(Con)group,sham operation group(Sham),DFU group,FPS-ZM1 treatment group(DFU+FPS-ZM1),and phosphate buffer saline treatment group(DFU+PBS),with 6 rats in each group.Masson staining was used to evaluate the wound surface structure.ELISA was used to detect the expression of AGE,TNF-α,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9),and VEGF proteins in serum and tissues,and Western blot method was used to test the expression of RAGE,VEGF receptor(VEGFR),CD31,and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)proteins.Results Compared with the Con and Sham groups,the collagen fibers had less indigo staining,disordered arrangement and sparse distribution in DFU group.Compared with the DFU and DFU+PBS groups,the DFU+FPS-ZM1 group showed obvious blue staining of collagen fibers in the wound granulation tissue,and the number of deposition layers was relatively neat and orderly.Compared with Sham group,the expressions of AGE,TNF-α and MMP-9 proteins,NF-κB and RAGE proteins in serum and tissues were increased(P<0.05),and the expressions of VEGF protein and CD31 and VEGFR proteins in serum and tissues were decreased in DFU group(P<0.05).Compared with DFU group,the expressions of AGE,TNF-α and MMP-9 proteins,NF-κB and RAGE proteins in serum and tissues decreased(P<0.05),and the expression of VEGF protein and CD31 and VEGFR proteins in serum and tissues increased in DFU+FPS-ZM1 group(P<0.05).Compared with DFU+FPS-ZM1 group,the expressions of AGE,TNF-α and MMP-9 proteins,NF-κB and RAGE proteins in serum and tissues increased(P<0.05),and the expressions of VEGF protein,CD31 and VEGFR proteins in serum tissues decreased in DFU+PBS group(P<0.05).Conclusions The RAGE antagonist FPS-ZM1 down-regulates MMP-9 and up-regulates VEGF by inhibiting the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway,and promotes DFU wound healing.
6.Expression of miR-146a in peripheral blood of children with hand-foot-mouth disease caused by non-EV71 infection and its clinical significance
Jie WANG ; Huiting TAO ; Xudong XU ; Xinfeng ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(5):718-722
OBJECTIVE To observe the expression of micro ribonucleic acid-146a(miR-146a)in peripheral blood of the children with hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD)caused by enterovirus 71(EV71)infection and analyze the clinical significance.METHODS A total of 45 children with HFMD induced by non-EV71 infection who were trea-ted in Hangzhou Children's Hospital from Jul.2023 to Jan.2024 were assigned as the HFMD group,meanwhile,15 healthy children who received physical examination were chosen as the healthy group.The baseline clinical data were compared between the two groups.The expression level of miR-146a in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),the levels of blood routine indexes and relevant biochemical indexes were detected.The association of expression of peripheral blood miR-146a,routine indexes with the HFMD induced by non-EV71 infection was observed.The value of miR-146a in diagnosis of HFMD induced by non-EV71 infection was analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS The expression level of miR-146a in PBMCs was 0.78(0.69,1.08)in the HFMD group,1.43(1.11,1.62)in the healthy group,and there was significant difference(Z=-3.927,P<0.001);there were significant difference values in WBC and CRP between the two groups(t=5.188,P<0.001;Z=-4.986,P<0.001).Among the children in the HFMD group,the expression level of miR-146a was 0.83(0.70,1.27)in the children with common HFMD,0.73(0.66,0.79)in the children with severe HFMD,and there was significant difference(Z=-2.130,P=0.032).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the miR-146a was 0.841 in prediction of HFMD caused by non-EV71 infection.CONCLUSIONS The children with HFMD caused by non-EV71 infection show the remarkable decline of miR-146a in PMMCs.The low expression level of miR-146a may be the predictive factor for risk of HFMD caused by non-EV71 infection and severe HFMD,it has certain predictive value and can be used as blood marker for the children with HFMD.
7.Treatment strategies and prognostic analysis of 87 patients with salivary duct carcinoma:a retrospective cohort study
Ximei ZHANG ; Yixuan ZHOU ; Yan ZHAO ; Xuan ZHOU ; Xudong WANG ; Yingbin YAN ; Peiguo WANG
China Oncology 2025;35(11):1049-1055
Background and purpose:Salivary duct carcinoma(SDC)is a group of rare and highly heterogeneous diseases.It predominantly arises in the parotid glands of middle-aged and elderly males,with high rates of recurrence and metastasis,as well as a poor prognosis.Currently,there is a lack of clinical data on SDC.This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of SDC patients and explore high-risk factors affecting prognosis,so as to provide clinical references for physicians.Methods:Clinical data of patients with primary SDC who were admitted to Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital and Tianjin Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Nankai University School of Medicine from 2012 to 2024,were collected retrospectively.Inclusion criteria:① patients diagnosed with primary SDC;② availability of American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)staging data.Exclusion criteria:① concurrent other malignant tumors;② incomplete or missing medical records;③ death due to non-SDC causes;④ duplicate cases from the two participating hospitals.Data retrieved encompassed epidemiological information(gender,age)and clinical details(time of diagnosis,tumor characteristics,treatment regimen,recurrence and metastasis status,and pathological data).Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method,and factors related to prognosis were explored through univariate COX proportional hazards regression model analysis.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Nankai University School of Medicine(ethics number:PH2023-B-016),and patient informed consent was waived.Results:A total of 87 patients with primary SDC were included in this study,among whom 77%were male,69%had primary lesions in the parotid gland,29.9%in the submandibular gland,and one patient had a primary lesion in the minor salivary gland of the nasal cavity.49.3%of the patients had concurrent cervical lymph node metastasis.The median overall survival(OS)of the entire group was 31.2 months,the median progression-free survival(PFS)was 20.3 months,and the 5-year OS rate was 52.6%.The 5-year OS rate for tumors originating from the parotid gland was 60%,which was better than the 32.9%for those originating from the submandibular gland.Among the 85 patients who received surgical treatment,65.9%underwent both resection of the primary tumor and neck dissection.Postoperative radiotherapy was administered to 49 patients.During the follow-up period,46%of the patients developed recurrence or metastasis,with lung and bone metastases being the most common.The median OS and local progression-free time in the postoperative radiotherapy group were significantly longer compared with those in the group without radiotherapy,however,the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion:SDC is a malignant and aggressive disease that predominantly occurs in the parotid glands of middle-aged and elderly males,with a high rate of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.Clinically,it is recommended that patients with SDC undergo radical resection of the primary lesion and cervical lymph node dissection,combined with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are worthy of further exploration.
8.A qualitative study of school-refusing adolescents' perceptions of helpful intervention in family-doctor-school meetings
Liang LIU ; Xudong ZHAO ; Yanbo WANG
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2025;39(10):862-867
Objective:To explore school-refusing adolescents'subjective experience of helpful interventions in family-doctor-school meetings.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 school-refusing ado-lescents after they participated in family-doctor-school meetings to understand the psychological interventions they perceived.Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts and construct a thematic framework of useful inter-ventions.Results:Six themes were identified by thematic analysis:fairness and restraint of doctors,emotions and demands being heard,negotiate based on facts,proper science popularization,helping us check resources and vie-wing things more three-dimensionally.Conclusion:Family-doctor-school meeting facilitate effective communication between home and school,providing a supportive environment that helps school-refusing adolescents express their e-motions and demands and prepare for returning to school.
9.Short-term effects and safety outcomes of the combination of tislelizumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the perioperative treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer
Yawen CHEN ; Yunhe GAO ; Yunshan ZHAO ; Xudong ZHAO ; Li LI ; Hao CUI ; Huan ZHANG ; Changxin LONG ; Zhi QIAO
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(5):536-543
Objective:In this study, we aimed to investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of perioperative administration of the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab combined with the SOX regimen (oxaliplatin plus S-1) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, and to identify factors influencing therapeutic outcomes.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed clinical data of 166 patients who had undergone perioperative therapy and D2 radical gastrectomy in the Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between September 2021 and September 2023. The cohort comprised 140 men and 26 women, of median age 62 years (range: 30-75). The patients were allocated to two groups: 62 receiving tislelizumab plus SOX (combination therapy group), and 104 SOX alone (chemotherapy-only group). Primary outcomes included pathological complete response rate, treatment-related adverse events, and complications of surgery. Secondary outcomes comprised major pathological response rate, tumor regression grade (Grades 1-2 denoting favorable response, Grade 3 moderate, and Grades 4-5 poor response), R0 resection rate, and short-term survival outcomes (1-year disease-free and overall survivals). Risk factors associated with pCR in the combination group were also analyzed.Results:The combination therapy group exhibited significantly higher rates of pCR (25.8% vs. 8.7%, χ 2=8.93, P=0.003) and Grade 1 tumor regression (25.8% vs. 16.3%, χ 2=15.32, P=0.001) than the chemotherapy-only group. There were no statistically significant differences in major pathological response rates (41.9% vs. 39.4%), R0 resection rates (96.8% vs. 97.1%,), treatment- related adverse events (48.4% vs. 42.3%,), surgical complications (9.7% vs. 12.5%), 1-year disease-free survival (82.3% vs. 78.8%), or 1-year overall survival (93.5% vs. 91.3%), There were no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis identified neural invasion as an independent risk factor for reduced pCR in the combination group (OR=0.10, 95%CI:0.01-0.85, P=0.035). Conclusions:Perioperative tislelizumab combined with SOX chemotherapy improves pathological response rates in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer and has favorable short-term efficacy and safety profiles. Neural invasion may diminish the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy.
10.Dexmedetomidine attenuates doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury through nuclear factor κB
Xuefeng CAO ; Liang ZHAO ; Xudong LIU ; Hancheng LIU ; Tianxin DONG ; Aijing LUO ; Yan LI
Journal of China Medical University 2025;54(4):289-294
Objective To explore the mechanism through which dexmedetomidine(Dex)alleviates doxorubicin(Adr)-induced myo-cardial injury via regulating nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)expression.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control,Adr,and Adr+Dex groups.Theirs hearts were harvested for hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining,immunohistochemical staining,real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR),and Western blotting anlyses.The rat primary cardiomyocytes,breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-23,lung cancer cell line H226,gastric cancer cell line AGS,and bladder cancer cell line 5637 were cultured and divided into control,Adr,Adr+Dex,Dex,and Adr+Dex+NF-κBi groups.CCK-8 and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the reactive oxygen species(ROS)contents.Results The myocardial arrangement of the rats in the Adr group was disordered,myocardial cell activity was lower,the mitochondrial membrane potential was lower,ROS production was higher,and NF-κB mRNA and protein contents were sub-stantially lower than those in the control group.The cardiomyocyte morphology was improved,cell activity was higher,mitochondrial mem-brane potential was increased,ROS production decreased,and NF-κB expression significantly increased in the Adr+Dex group compared with those in the control group.The mitochondrial membrane potential in the Adr+Dex+NF-κBi group was lower,and ROS generation was increased compared with the control group.The activity of the tumor cells in the Adr group was lower,and no statistically significant diffe-rences were found compared with that in the Adr+Dex group.Conclusion Treatment with Dex may not affect the chemotherapeutic effects of Adr.Dex administration may increase the myocardial mitochondrial membrane potential and reduce ROS generation by regu-lating NF-κB levels,thereby reducing Adr-induced myocardial damage.

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