1.Pharmacodynamic Substances and Mechanisms of Xinglou Chengqi Tang in Treating Post-stroke Complications: A Review
Yujin ZHANG ; Xiangzhuo LIU ; Zhouyang CHEN ; Zihao SONG ; Xinyi LIU ; Yizhi YAN ; Chaoya LI ; Yingyan FANG ; Shasha YANG ; Xueqin CHENG ; Zhou XIE ; Sijie TAN ; Peng ZENG ; Yue ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):327-337
Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability among adults in China, and its common complications include digestive system abnormalities, cognitive impairment, depression, stroke-associated pneumonia, and hemiplegia. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has great potential in treating post-stroke complications. Xinglou Chengqitang (XLCQT) is a representative prescription of alleviating the disease in the upper part by treating the lower part. It has definite therapeutic effect and high safety. Clinically, XLCQT is often used to treat stroke and its complications. However, the quantity and quality of clinical trials of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications need to be improved. Additionally, since the basic research is weak, the material basis and multi-target mechanism for the efficacy of this prescription are unknown. This article reviews XLCQT in terms of the pharmacodynamic basis, medicinal properties, safety evaluation, and progress in clinical research and mechanisms in treating post-stroke complications. This article summarizes 22 key active ingredients of XLCQT in treating acute stroke complicated with syndrome of phlegm heat and fu-organ excess. Among these key active ingredients, resveratrol, kaempferol, luteolin, chrysoeriol, apigenin, (+)-catechin, and adenosine have good pharmacokinetic properties and high bioavailability. The mechanisms of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications are complex, including inflammatory response, brain-gut axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, intestinal flora, neurotrophic factors, autophagy, oxidative stress, and free radical damage. This review helps to deeply understand the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanisms of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications and provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of XLCQT against post-stroke complications and the development of drugs.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulation of Relevant Signaling Pathways for Glaucoma Treatment: A Review
Weiwen QIU ; Xueqin HE ; Xinbei LIN ; Lianxiang LUO ; Qiuli ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):338-346
Glaucoma, characterized by pathological elevation of intraocular pressure, progressive optic nerve damage, and apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells, is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. It is strongly associated with significant vision loss and a decline in quality of life. Although pharmacological therapy remains the primary approach to managing glaucoma, clinical outcomes are often suboptimal, highlighting the urgent need for safe and effective alternative treatments. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), glaucoma is categorized as part of the "five wind internal obstruction" syndrome, and TCM has amassed substantial experience in the prevention and treatment of this condition. Therefore, this article provided a comprehensive review of recent findings on the relationship between glaucoma and relevant signaling pathways, as well as the regulatory effects of TCM on these pathways in the treatment of glaucoma. TCM can exert therapeutic effects by modulating key signaling pathways, including the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB) signaling pathway, Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/serine-threonine protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) pathway. These pathways are involved in reducing inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis and ferroptosis, and ameliorating oxidative stress. By synthesizing current research, this article offers theoretical insights and practical references for advancing the understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying glaucoma, innovating strategies for optic nerve protection, and promoting integrative TCM and Western medical approaches in glaucoma management.
3.Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2B due to compound heterozygous variants of TSEN2 gene: A case report and literature review.
Xueqin LIN ; Hailan HE ; Saying ZHU ; Yulin QUAN ; Shichen ZHOU ; Zhanwei ZHANG ; Jing PENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2026;43(1):44-49
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the clinical and genetic features of a child with Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2B (PCH2B) due to compound heterozygous variants of the TSEN2 gene.
METHODS:
A PCH2B patient presented at Department of Pediatric Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in June 2023 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the patient were retrospectively analyzed. The patient and her parents were subjected to whole exome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Pathogenicity of the candidate variants were classified based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). A literature review was also conducted by searching the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and PubMed databases from their establishment to May 2025 using keywords "TSEN2 gene" "PCH2B" and "Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia 2B" to summarize the clinical and genotypic features of patients with PCH2B due to variants of the TSEN2 gene. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (No.: #202310892).
RESULTS:
The patient, a 6-year-5-month-old girl, had exhibited severe global developmental delay, developmental regression, autism spectrum disorder, myoclonus of eyelids, feeding difficulty, irritability, progressive microcephaly, esotropia, and hypotonia. MRI showed reduced volume of bilateral cerebellar hemispheres and vermis. Genetic testing revealed that she has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the TSEN2 gene (NM_025265.4), namely c.1054A>T (p.Lys352*) and c.899G>T (p.Ser300Ile), which were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Both variants were classified as likely pathogenic based on the ACMG guidelines and were previously unreported. Literature review has identified six PCH2B patients with missense, nonsense, frameshift, and splice site variants of the TSEN2 gene. Their main clinical manifestations included global developmental delay, progressive microcephaly, feeding difficulties, irritability, and vermis hypoplasia. Cranial MRI and genetic testing are crucial for definite diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
The c.1054A>T (p.Lys352*) and c.899G>T (p.Ser300Ile) compound heterozygous variants of the TSEN2 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this patient. Above findings has expanded the genotypic and phenotypic spectra of TSEN2-related PCH2B, and offered guidance for genetic counseling for this family.
Child
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Cerebellar Diseases/genetics*
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Heterozygote
;
Mutation
4.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway
Kun LIAN ; Lichong MENG ; Xueqin WANG ; Yubin ZHANG ; Lin LI ; Xuhui TANG ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):139-148
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a group of complex clinical syndromes caused by abnormal changes in the structure and/or function of the heart due to various reasons, resulting in disorders of ventricular contraction and/or diastole. CHF is a condition where primary diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and pulmonary heart disease recur frequently and persist for a long time, presenting blood stasis in meridians and collaterals, stagnation of water and dampness, and accumulation of Qi in collaterals. Its pathogenesis is complex and may involve myocardial energy metabolism disorders, oxidative stress responses, myocardial cell apoptosis, autophagy, inflammatory responses, etc. According to the theory of restraining hyperactivity to acquire harmony, we believe that under normal circumstances, the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway functions normally, maintaining human physiological activities and energy metabolism. Under pathological conditions, the AMPK signaling pathway is abnormal, causing energy metabolism disorders, inflammatory responses, and myocardial fibrosis. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the AMPK signaling pathway through multiple mechanisms, targets, and effects, effectively curbing the occurrence and development of CHF. It has gradually become a research hotspot in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Guided by the theory of TCM, our research group, through literature review, summarized the relationship between the AMPK pathway and CHF and reviewed the research progress in the prevention and control of CHF with TCM active ingredients, TCM compound prescriptions, and Chinese patent medicines via regulating the AMPK pathway. The review aims to clarify the mechanism and targets of TCM in the treatment of CHF by regulating the AMPK pathway and guide the clinical treatment and drug development for CHF.
5.Adar3 promotes macrophage M2 polarization and alleviates viral myocarditis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Mengying ZHANG ; Zhi LI ; Weiya PEI ; Shujun WAN ; Xueqin LI ; Kun LYU ; Xiaolong ZHU
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(9):769-777
Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of RNA-Specific adenosine deaminase 3 (Adar3) in regulating macrophage polarization during Coxsackievirus B3(CVB3)-induced viral myocarditis (VM). Methods Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) from mice were cultured in vitro and induced into M1/M2 macrophages using interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin 4 (IL-4), respectively. The mRNA expression levels of Adar1, Adar2, and Adar3 in each group of cells were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Specific siRNAs targeting the Adar3 gene were designed, synthesized, and transiently transfected into M2 macrophages. The mRNA levels of M2 polarization-related marker genes-including arginase 1 (Arg1), chitinase 3-like molecule 3 (YM1/Chi3l3), and resistin-like molecule alpha (RELMα/FIZZ1)-were detected by qRT-PCR. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze the signaling pathways affected by Adar3. The expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were further validated using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The adeno-associated virus overexpressing Adar3 was designed, synthesized, and injected into mice via tail vein. Three weeks later, a myocarditis mouse model was established. After an additional week, the phenotype and function of cardiac macrophages, as well as multiple indicators of VM (including echocardiography, body weight, histopathology and serology) were examined. Additionally, the protein levels of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were assessed. Results Compared to M0-type macrophages, the expression level of Adar3 was significantly increased in M2-type macrophages. After transfection of Adar3 siRNA, the mRNA levels of Arg1, YM1 and FIZZ1 in M2 macrophages were downregulated. RNA sequencing revealed 149 upregulated genes and 349 downregulated genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and subsequent validation experiments indicated that Adar3 modulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Adar3 overexpression alleviated the cardiac dysfunction of VM mice. The proportion of M1 macrophages in the heart decreased, while the proportion of M2 macrophages increased. At the same time, the Adar3 overexpression activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusion Adar3 promotes macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby alleviating VM.
Animals
;
Adenosine Deaminase/metabolism*
;
Macrophages/immunology*
;
Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics*
;
Myocarditis/immunology*
;
Mice
;
Coxsackievirus Infections/metabolism*
;
Male
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Enterovirus B, Human/physiology*
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beta Catenin/genetics*
6.Shuangshu Decoction inhibits growth of gastric cancer cell xenografts by promoting cell ferroptosis via the P53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis.
Xinyuan CHEN ; Chengting WU ; Ruidi LI ; Xueqin PAN ; Yaodan ZHANG ; Junyu TAO ; Caizhi LIN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(7):1363-1371
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the mechanism of Shuangshu Decoction (SSD) for inhibiting growth of gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice.
METHODS:
Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the common targets of SSD and gastric cancer cell ferroptosis, and bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking were used to validate the core targets. In the cell experiment, AGS cells were treated with SSD-medicated serum, Fer-1 (a ferroptosis inhibitor), or both, and the changes in cell viability, ferroptosis markers (ROS, Fe2+ and GSH), expressions of P53, SLC7A11 and GPX4, and mitochondrial morphology were examined. In a nude mouse model bearing gastric cancer xenografts, the effects of gavage with SSD, intraperitoneal injection of Fer-1, or their combination on tumor volume/weight, histopathology, and expressions of P53, SLC7A11 and GPX4 levels were evaluated.
RESULTS:
The active components in SSD (quercetin and wogonin) showed strong binding affinities to P53. In AGS cells, SSD treatment dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation, increased ROS and Fe2+ levels, upregulated P53 expression, and downregulated the expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4, but these effects were effectively attenuated by Fer-1 treatment. SSD also induced mitochondrial shrinkage and increased the membrane density, which were alleviated by Fer-1. In the tumor-bearing mouse models, gavage with SSD significantly reduced tumor size and weight, caused tumor cell necrosis, upregulated P53 and downregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression in the tumor tissue, and these effects were obviously mitigated by Fer-1 treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
SSD inhibits gastric cancer growth in nude mice by inducing cell ferroptosis via the P53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis.
Ferroptosis/drug effects*
;
Animals
;
Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism*
;
Mice, Nude
;
Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Humans
;
Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
7.Study on the Impact of New Technology on the Surgery Cost for Uterine Cavity Lesions under DRG Payment
Xiaokun LIU ; Weiguo ZHU ; Xueqin SUN ; Jimin ZHANG ; Zhiwei LENG ; Jiali TONG
Chinese Health Economics 2025;44(3):43-46
Objective:To analyze the cost and structural impact of the new technology"transhysteroscopic mechanical rotary excision of abnormal uterine tissues"on the DRG group of"surgery for intrauterine lesions"under the DRG payment method,and to provide clinical data for supporting the development of the exclusion policy for the new technology and new items.Methods:Cases in which transhysteroscopic mechanical rotary excision of abnormal uterine tissues was used in the gynecology day unit of the Peking Union Medcial College Hospital from March 2022 to November 2023,which were paid for under the DRG group of"surgery for intrauterine pathology",were retrospectively analyzed for the impact of the new technology on the cost and structure of the cases.Results:The price of"transhysteroscopic mechanical rotary excision of abnormal uterine tissues"in the Beijing Medical Service Price Item Specification is 8 000 yuan(Class C out-of-pocket expenses),which is higher than the payment standard of 6 866 yuan for the NE19 group,and the use of this new technology significantly increased the total hospitalization medical cost,the out-of-pocket ratio of the patients and the surgical cost,which led to an increase in the burden of the patients and the loss of the hospitals.Conclusion:"Transhysteroscopic mechanical rotary excision of abnormal uterine tissue"has the advantages of improving patients'prognosis and accelerating recovery,shortening operation time,avoiding intraoperative thermal injuries,and shortening the learning curve of doctors,etc.Policy makers should take into account cost control,patients'prognosis and the development of medical technology,scientifically and prudently formulate the exclusion policy of the new technology,reasonably determine the payment standard,and make good use of the exclusion policy and the payment standard.
8.Practical experience in perineal protection and assessment by midwives in general hospitals: a qualitative study
Hanmei ZHANG ; Xueqin LIU ; Mei HUANG ; Yong WANG ; Xiaoqin WANG ; Lihua ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(30):4087-4092
Objective:To explore the practical experience in perineal protection and assessment by midwives in general hospitals, so as to provide reference for further reducing the episiotomy rate for non-medical indications.Methods:From December 2021 to January 2022, applying a phenomenological research methodology, 14 midwives from four general hospitals in Anhui Province were selected through purposive sampling combined with maximum difference sampling for semi-structured interviews. Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was used to summarize, analyze and refine themes.Results:Three themes and 10 sub-themes were extracted, namely the motivation for perineal protection (policy orientation, reduction of childbirth injuries, maternal needs), decision-making factors for perineal protection (maternal and infant safety, maternal perineal condition, work experience, work environment, maternal cooperation), and techniques for perineal protection (patience, controlling the speed of fetal head delivery) .Conclusions:Midwives' perineal protection and assessment practices are influenced by multiple factors. Hospital administrators are advised to enhance midwife training, establish system processes to reduce perineal injuries, unify perineal assessment standards, and rationally control episiotomy rates while fully prioritizing the maternal and infant safety.
9.Influencing factors of self-management behavior of young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the perspective of configuration
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(28):3846-3852
Objective:To explore the key influencing factors and combined action pathways of self-management behaviors of young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide reference for improving self-management behaviors of young and middle-aged patients with T2DM.Methods:Between August 2024 and January 2025, young and middle-aged patients with T2DM in the Department of Endocrinology of three ClassⅢ Grade A hospitals in Jiangsu Province were selected by convenience sampling method. A framework for configuration path analysis of self-management behaviors in young and middle-aged patients with T2DM was constructed based on the capability, opportunity, motivation-behavior (COM-B) model. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to explore different conditional configurations of self-management behaviors in young and middle-aged people with T2DM.Results:Based on five conditional variables (risk perception, health literacy, self-efficacy, social support, and family care) of self-management behaviors of young and middle-aged patients with T2DM, three configuration pathways (ability-driven, motivation-driven, and integrative-driven) were derived, with an overall consistency of 0.86 and a total coverage of 0.54. Self-efficacy was a core condition of self-management behavior in young and middle-aged people with T2DM.Conclusions:Self-management behaviors of young and middle-aged patients with T2DM are influenced by a combination of multiple factors, of which self-efficacy is the core influencing factor. Healthcare professionals should develop targeted interventions based on the groups represented by the different pathways to improve self-management behaviors and enhance patients' quality of life.
10.Construction and evaluation of a nomogram for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion and vascular encirulation of tumor cell nests in double-positive hepatocellular carcinoma
Jiyun ZHANG ; Xueqin ZHANG ; Qi QU ; Jifeng JIANG ; Chunyan GU ; Yixing YU ; Tao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2025;31(11):811-816
Objective:A nomogram model for predicting double positivity of microvascular invasion (MVI) and vascular endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (VETC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was constructed and its predictive performance was evaluated.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 326 HCC patients who were treated at the Third People's Hospital of Nantong and the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2013 to June 2023, including 240 males and 86 females, with an average age of (58.7±9.0) years. The 326 patients were randomly divided into a training set ( n=228) and a test set ( n=98) at a ratio of 7: 3 using the random number table method. The training set was divided into a double-positive group ( n=54) and a control group ( n=174) based on whether the HCC patients were double positive for MVI and VETC. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors of double positivity of microvascular invasion in HCC patients, and a nomogram for predicting double positivity of microvascular invasion patterns was constructed based on the multivariate. The predictive performance and clinical net benefit of the nomogram were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Results:There were statistically significant differences in alpha-fetoprotein, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and phosphatidylinositol proteoglycan between the two groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LI-RADS category ( OR=8.58, 95% CI: 1.87-39.38), intratumoral hemorrhage ( OR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.14-4.07), and intratumoral arteries ( OR=2.59, 95% CI: 1.19-5.64) were all influencing factors of double positivity of microvascular invasion patterns in HCC patients (all P<0.05). Based on the multivariate results, a nomogram was constructed. In the training set, the area under the ROC curve for predicting double positivity of microvascular invasion patterns in HCC patients was 0.769 (95% CI: 0.720-0.814). In the test set, the area under the ROC curve for predicting double positivity of microvascular invasion patterns in HCC patients was 0.756 (95% CI: 0.622-0.850). The calibration curve showed a good fit between the predicted model and the ideal curve. Decision curve analysis showed that the clinical applicability was good when the threshold was 0.01-0.80 in the training set and 0.01-0.65 in the test set. Conclusion:The nomogram model based on LI-RADS category, intratumoral hemorrhage, and intratumoral arteries can effectively predict double positivity of microvascular invasion patterns in HCC patients and has good clinical applicability.

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