1.Mechanism of Number 2 Feibi Recipe in Ameliorating Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice by Modulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in AT2 Cells to Attenuate Apoptosis and Promote Alveolar Repair
Yaodong CAI ; Jialing BEI ; Wan WEI ; Chengyan XU ; Yanli LIU ; Yong WANG ; Yang JIAO ; Yun CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):80-92
ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicine Number 2 Feibi recipe (N2FBR) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), focusing on its effects on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, stemness maintenance, and regenerative capacity of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells (AT2 cells), and to validate the modern translational pathway of the theory of "deficiency of Zong Qi leading to pulmonary atelectasis and atrophy". MethodsA mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was induced by bleomycin (BLM). Mice were randomly divided into blank control, model, low-, and high-dose N2FBR intervention groups (9.1, 18.2 g·kg-1), and prednisolone intervention group (6.5 mg·kg-1). Pulmonary histopathological changes and collagen deposition were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. Hydroxyproline (HYP) content was measured by the alkaline hydrolysis method. Lung coefficient and pulmonary function parameters were evaluated. The mRNA expression levels of fibrosis-related factors, including collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 chain (ColIa1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Cell apoptosis was assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Apoptosis of AT2 cells was further evaluated by double immunofluorescence staining for surfactant protein C (SPC) and cysteine-aspartic protease-3 (Caspase-3). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in AT2 cells was examined by double staining for SPC and protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). Ultrastructural changes of ER and lamellar bodies in AT2 cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression levels of key proteins involved in ER stress and apoptosis pathways, including PERK, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and Caspase-3, were detected by Western blot. Double immunofluorescence staining of SPC and Ki-67 antigen (Ki-67) was performed to evaluate the proliferative capacity of AT2 cells. Lineage tracing technology (labeling AT2 cells with GFP) combined with Krt8 labeling was used to evaluate intermediate differentiation states, and morphological transformation of AT2 cells into alveolar type Ⅰ epithelial cells (AT1) was observed. ResultsBLM-induced mice exhibited significant structural disruption of lung tissue, increased collagen deposition, elevated lung coefficient, decreased pulmonary function, and upregulation of fibrosis-related factors (P<0.01). High-dose N2FBR treatment significantly ameliorated lung tissue damage and dysfunction, significantly reduced HYP content (P<0.01), and significantly downregulated ColIa1, α-SMA, and Timp1 expression (P<0.01). Apoptosis analysis showed increased TUNEL-positive and Caspase-3-positive AT2 cells in the model group, which was significantly reduced by high-dose N2FBR treatment. TEM revealed swollen ER structures in AT2 cells of the model group, which tended to return to normal following treatment. PERK protein staining analysis showed evident ER stress in AT2 cells of the model group, which were markedly alleviated in the treatment group. The expression levels of ER stress-related proteins PERK and ATF4, as well as the apoptosis-related protein Caspase-3, were elevated in the model group and significantly reduced after treatment. TEM also revealed disrupted lamellar body structures in the model group, which tended to recover in the treatment group. Regarding the proliferative capacity of AT2 cells, the proportion of Ki-67⁺SPC⁺ AT2 cells significantly increased in the treatment group (P<0.01). Lineage tracing showed that the proportion of keratin 8-positive green fluorescent protein-positive (Krt8⁺GFP⁺) cells increased in the model group, indicating differentiation arrest. This proportion was significantly reduced in the treatment group, and the morphology of GFP⁺ cells exhibited a flattened, extended shape, suggesting restored differentiation toward AT1 cells. ConclusionN2FBR alleviates ER stress in AT2 cells, reduces AT2 cell apoptosis, restores lamellar body structure and function, enhances proliferation activity, and alleviates differentiation arrest to promote differentiation into AT1 cells, thereby repairing the alveolar epithelium and effectively blocking the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Its traditional Chinese medicine mechanism of "replenishing Zong Qi, harmonizing Qi and blood, and unblocking pulmonary meridians" closely aligns with the modern regulatory pathway of AT2 stem cells, providing a novel theoretical basis and experimental evidence for the intervention of IPF with traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Mechanism of Number 2 Feibi Recipe in Ameliorating Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice by Modulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in AT2 Cells to Attenuate Apoptosis and Promote Alveolar Repair
Yaodong CAI ; Jialing BEI ; Wan WEI ; Chengyan XU ; Yanli LIU ; Yong WANG ; Yang JIAO ; Yun CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):80-92
ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicine Number 2 Feibi recipe (N2FBR) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), focusing on its effects on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, stemness maintenance, and regenerative capacity of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells (AT2 cells), and to validate the modern translational pathway of the theory of "deficiency of Zong Qi leading to pulmonary atelectasis and atrophy". MethodsA mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was induced by bleomycin (BLM). Mice were randomly divided into blank control, model, low-, and high-dose N2FBR intervention groups (9.1, 18.2 g·kg-1), and prednisolone intervention group (6.5 mg·kg-1). Pulmonary histopathological changes and collagen deposition were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. Hydroxyproline (HYP) content was measured by the alkaline hydrolysis method. Lung coefficient and pulmonary function parameters were evaluated. The mRNA expression levels of fibrosis-related factors, including collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 chain (ColIa1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Cell apoptosis was assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Apoptosis of AT2 cells was further evaluated by double immunofluorescence staining for surfactant protein C (SPC) and cysteine-aspartic protease-3 (Caspase-3). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in AT2 cells was examined by double staining for SPC and protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). Ultrastructural changes of ER and lamellar bodies in AT2 cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression levels of key proteins involved in ER stress and apoptosis pathways, including PERK, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and Caspase-3, were detected by Western blot. Double immunofluorescence staining of SPC and Ki-67 antigen (Ki-67) was performed to evaluate the proliferative capacity of AT2 cells. Lineage tracing technology (labeling AT2 cells with GFP) combined with Krt8 labeling was used to evaluate intermediate differentiation states, and morphological transformation of AT2 cells into alveolar type Ⅰ epithelial cells (AT1) was observed. ResultsBLM-induced mice exhibited significant structural disruption of lung tissue, increased collagen deposition, elevated lung coefficient, decreased pulmonary function, and upregulation of fibrosis-related factors (P<0.01). High-dose N2FBR treatment significantly ameliorated lung tissue damage and dysfunction, significantly reduced HYP content (P<0.01), and significantly downregulated ColIa1, α-SMA, and Timp1 expression (P<0.01). Apoptosis analysis showed increased TUNEL-positive and Caspase-3-positive AT2 cells in the model group, which was significantly reduced by high-dose N2FBR treatment. TEM revealed swollen ER structures in AT2 cells of the model group, which tended to return to normal following treatment. PERK protein staining analysis showed evident ER stress in AT2 cells of the model group, which were markedly alleviated in the treatment group. The expression levels of ER stress-related proteins PERK and ATF4, as well as the apoptosis-related protein Caspase-3, were elevated in the model group and significantly reduced after treatment. TEM also revealed disrupted lamellar body structures in the model group, which tended to recover in the treatment group. Regarding the proliferative capacity of AT2 cells, the proportion of Ki-67⁺SPC⁺ AT2 cells significantly increased in the treatment group (P<0.01). Lineage tracing showed that the proportion of keratin 8-positive green fluorescent protein-positive (Krt8⁺GFP⁺) cells increased in the model group, indicating differentiation arrest. This proportion was significantly reduced in the treatment group, and the morphology of GFP⁺ cells exhibited a flattened, extended shape, suggesting restored differentiation toward AT1 cells. ConclusionN2FBR alleviates ER stress in AT2 cells, reduces AT2 cell apoptosis, restores lamellar body structure and function, enhances proliferation activity, and alleviates differentiation arrest to promote differentiation into AT1 cells, thereby repairing the alveolar epithelium and effectively blocking the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Its traditional Chinese medicine mechanism of "replenishing Zong Qi, harmonizing Qi and blood, and unblocking pulmonary meridians" closely aligns with the modern regulatory pathway of AT2 stem cells, providing a novel theoretical basis and experimental evidence for the intervention of IPF with traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Endoscopic full-thickness resection for the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Bao-Hui SONG ; Jiashaer BAHETINUER ; Yun-Shi ZHONG ; Hon Chi YIP ; Ping-Hong ZHOU ; Ming-Yan CAI
Clinical Endoscopy 2026;59(1):9-20
Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is a minimally invasive technique that is increasingly used for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) originating from the muscularis propria. Despite its advantages over conventional surgery, such as complete tumor resection and faster recovery, EFTR faces challenges related to its efficacy, safety, and feasibility, particularly in gastric GISTs. By summarizing the literature published over the past decade, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical outcomes of EFTR and the evolution of defect closure devices.
4.Application of Bedside Hypertonic Saline-contrast Electrical Impedance Tomography of Lung Perfusion in Patients After Pulmonary Endarterectomy: Two Cases and Literature Review
Qiuyan CAI ; Wanglin LIU ; Wei CHENG ; Jingjing LIU ; Chaoji ZHANG ; Jianzhou LIU ; Yun LONG ; Huaiwu HE
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):513-518
Pulmonary electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a noninvasive, continuous, dynamic, and radiation-free bedside imaging technique for monitoring pulmonary ventilation, is now widely utilized in the diagnosis and management of critically ill patients. Beyond ventilation monitoring, hypertonic saline contrast-enhanced EIT for bedside pulmonary perfusion assessment has recently garnered significant attention. This article describes the application of hypertonic saline contrast-enhanced EIT to evaluate pulmonary perfusion in two patients following pulmonary endarterectomy, providing a reference for its perioperative application in such patients.
5.Perioperative management of kidney transplantation in patients with end-stage renal disease due to diabetes
Shanheng CAI ; Yun MIAO ; Yuqi ZHONG
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(4):632-639
Diabetic nephropathy is one of the important causes of end-stage renal disease, and kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for patients with end-stage renal disease due to diabetes (DN-ESRD). However, patients with DN-ESRD have multiple complex factors that affect glucose homeostasis. Long-term hyperglycemia leads to disordered internal environment and extensive involvement of systemic organs, increasing the risks during the perioperative period of kidney transplantation. This article reviews the perioperative management strategies for kidney transplantation in patients with DN-ESRD, discusses the perioperative risk factors, preoperative evaluation and management, intraoperative volume and internal environment management and early postoperative management, and elaborates on the latest progress in this field.
6.Textual Research on Key Information of Famous Classical Formula Jiegengtang
Yang LEI ; Yuli LI ; Xiaoming XIE ; Zhen LIU ; Shanghua ZHANG ; Tieru CAI ; Ying TAN ; Weiqiang ZHOU ; Zhaoxu YI ; Yun TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):182-190
Jiegengtang is a basic formula for treating sore throat and cough. By means of bibliometrics, this study conducted a textual research and analysis on the key information such as formula origin, decocting methods, and clinical application of Jiegengtang. After the research, it can be seen that Jiegengtang is firstly contained in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Disease, which is also known as Ganjietang, and it has been inherited and innovated by medical practitioners of various dynasties in later times. The origins of Chinese medicines in this formula is basically clear, Jiegeng is the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, Gancao is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, the two medicines are selected raw products. The dosage is 27.60 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 13.80 g of Platycodonis Radix, decocted with 600 mL of water to 200 mL, taken warmly after meals, twice a day, 100 mL for each time. In ancient times, Jiegengtang was mainly used for treating Shaoyin-heat invasion syndrome, with cough and sore throat as its core symptoms. In modern clinical practice, Jiegengtang is mainly used for respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis, esophagitis, tonsillitis and lung abscess, especially for pharyngitis and lung abscess with remarkable efficacy. This paper can provide literature reference basis for the modern clinical application and new drug development of Jiegengtang.
7.Textual Research on Key Information of Famous Classical Formula Jiegengtang
Yang LEI ; Yuli LI ; Xiaoming XIE ; Zhen LIU ; Shanghua ZHANG ; Tieru CAI ; Ying TAN ; Weiqiang ZHOU ; Zhaoxu YI ; Yun TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):182-190
Jiegengtang is a basic formula for treating sore throat and cough. By means of bibliometrics, this study conducted a textual research and analysis on the key information such as formula origin, decocting methods, and clinical application of Jiegengtang. After the research, it can be seen that Jiegengtang is firstly contained in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Disease, which is also known as Ganjietang, and it has been inherited and innovated by medical practitioners of various dynasties in later times. The origins of Chinese medicines in this formula is basically clear, Jiegeng is the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, Gancao is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, the two medicines are selected raw products. The dosage is 27.60 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 13.80 g of Platycodonis Radix, decocted with 600 mL of water to 200 mL, taken warmly after meals, twice a day, 100 mL for each time. In ancient times, Jiegengtang was mainly used for treating Shaoyin-heat invasion syndrome, with cough and sore throat as its core symptoms. In modern clinical practice, Jiegengtang is mainly used for respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis, esophagitis, tonsillitis and lung abscess, especially for pharyngitis and lung abscess with remarkable efficacy. This paper can provide literature reference basis for the modern clinical application and new drug development of Jiegengtang.
8.Clinical distribution and diagnostic value of anti-total phospholipid antibodies in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
Xiaohong XIANG ; Qingmeng CAI ; Xiangjun LIU ; Zelin YUN ; Ru LI ; Rulin JIA ; Chun LI
Chinese Journal of Rheumatology 2025;29(4):280-285
Objective:To investigate the clinical distribution and diagnostic value of anti-total phospholipid-antibodies(aTPL) patients with in antiphospholipid syndrome(APS).Methods:We collected the clinical data and laboratory test results of patients diagnosed with APS, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sj?gren′s syndrome, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, mixed connective tissue disease, and adult Still′s disease in Peking University People′s Hospital from February 2009 to October 2017. A total of 335 cases were studied, of which 163 were APS patients, 122 were disease control(DC) and 50 were health control(HC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure aTPL, anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL), and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein Ⅰ antibody (aβ 2GPⅠ). The Chi-square test was used to compare the differences between groups. Results:The prevalence of aTPL in APS, DC and HC were 39.9%, 3.3%and 2.0% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 39.9%, 97.1%. The proportion of thrombosis[75.4%(49/65) vs. 51.0%(50/98), χ2=9.73, P=0.002] and arterial thrombosis[49.2%(32/65) vs. 25.5%(25/98), χ2=9.67, P=0.002] was significantly higher in the aTPL positive group than that of the negative group. In aTPL positive group, the positive rate of aCL[84.6%(55/65) vs.29.6%(29/98), χ2=47.37, P<0.001], aβ 2GPⅠ[83.1%(54/65) vs.37.8%(37/98), χ2=32.55, P<0.001] and LA[61.5%(40/65) vs. 42.9%(42/98), χ2=5.46, P=0.020] was significantly higher than that of negative group.The area under ROC curve (95% CI) of aTPL [0.694(0.636, 0.751)] was slightly higher than that of aCL [0.668(0.610, 0.726)], but lower than that of aβ 2GPⅠ [0.746(0.694, 0.799)]. Conclusion:aTPL exhibits a strong correlation with thrombosis in patients with APS, particularly arterial thrombosis, and demonstrates high specificity, which can assist in the diagnosis of seronegative APS.
9.Clinical features and prognostic risk assessment of pediatric sepsis
Xufeng LI ; Linyue SUI ; Taichuan HUANG ; Zhuanggui CHEN ; Yun CAI
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(11):1906-1915
Objective:To analyze the epidemiological features of pediatric sepsis in the Kashgar region and investigate factors associated with its prognosis, thereby providing evidence for implementing regional public health prevention and control policies.Methods:A single-center, retrospective observational study was conducted on the clinical data of pediatric sepsis patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of The First People′s Hospital of Kashgar between January 2022 and December 2023. For the assessment of clinical outcomes, this study utilized a composite endpoint comprising "length of hospital stay and survival status", classifying patients into two groups: Group A (survived with hospital stay <28 days) and Group B (hospital stay ≥28 days or in-hospital mortality). Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors associated with prognosis.Results:This study included a total of 79 pediatric patients with sepsis, with an age range of 1 month to 14 years and a median age of 8 months. Males accounted for 62.0% (49 males, 30 females). The rates of comorbid septic shock, sepsis-associated encephalopathy, and acute kidney injury were 73.4% (58/79), 24.1% (19/79), and 16.5% (13/79), respectively. The primary site of infection was the gastrointestinal tract, accounting for 34.2% (27/79), followed by the respiratory tract at 30.4% (24/79). Pathogens were detected in 59.5% (47/79) of the patients, with Staphylococcus aureus identified in 11 cases, Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli in 6 cases each, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 5 cases, and Candida albicans in 3 cases. The mechanical ventilation rate was 59.5% (47/79). The total hospital length of stay ranged from 1 to 55 days, with a median of 14 days, while the ICU length of stay ranged from 1 to 29 days, with a median of 6 days. In-hospital mortality occurred in 15 cases (19.0%). Group A comprised 56 patients (70.9%), and Group B comprised 23 patients (29.1%). Univariate analysis revealed that Group A had significantly higher mean arterial pressure (MAP), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS), and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) (all P<0.05), and significantly lower pediatric risk of mortality Ⅲ (PRISM Ⅲ), pediatric logistic organ dysfunction-2 (PELOD-2), lactate levels, pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score (P-MODS), pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA), septic shock rate, and mechanical ventilation rate compared to Group B (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis identified a high PELOD-2 score ( OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.16-1.64, P<0.001) as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis, while a high GCS ( OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74-0.88, P<0.001) served as a protective factor against poor prognosis. The combination of PELOD2 and GCS demonstrated good predictive ability for in-hospital outcomes in pediatric sepsis patients, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72-0.92). Conclusion:In children with sepsis in the Kashgar region, gastrointestinal tract infection represents the most common source of infection. Elevated PELOD-2 scores and reduced GCS are both indicative of a poorer prognosis, and a combined model integrating these two scoring systems may serve as a valuable tool for prognostic assessment.
10.Establishment of near-infrared spectroscopy quantitative models for moisture and index components in Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces
Xun LU ; Zhe ZHANG ; Geng-zhi ZHAN ; Lu-yao CAI ; Cun-yu LI ; Yun-feng ZHENG ; Tuan-jie WANG ; Yu JIN ; Guo-ping PENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(10):3184-3190
AIM To establish the near-infrared spectroscopy quantitative models for moisture,23-acetylalismol B and 23-acetylalismol C in Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces.METHODS The near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 95 batches of decoction pieces,after which drying method was adopted in the content determination of moisture,HPLC was applied to determining the contents of 23-acetylalismol B and 23-acetylalismol C,the quantitative models were established by partial least squares method combined with feature extraction algorithms.RESULTS The model training determination coefficients were 0.952 6,0.958 1 and 0.920 8,along with the prediction determination coefficients of 0.930 0,0.905 2 and 0.906 4,the residual prediction deviations(PRD)of 4.00,3.58 and 3.46,and the root mean square error ratios of prediction values to calibration values(RMSEP/RMSEC)of 1.15,1.11 and 1.06,respectively.CONCLUSION The quantitative models based on NIRS exhibit good prediction effects,which can be used for the rapid quality detection of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces.

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