1.Molecular Mechanism of Programmed Cell Death in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Xin PENG ; Yunhui LI ; Lei LIANG ; Zheyu LUAN ; Hanxiao WANG ; Haotian XU ; Ziming DANG ; Jihong FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):304-313
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant threat to global health, exhibiting high morbidity, disability and mortality rate, with its prevention and treatment situation becoming increasingly critical. The pathogenesis of COPD is complex, and the underlying cellular and molecular biological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Programmed cell death (PCD) is the process wherein cells actively undergo demise to maintain internal environmental stability in response to certain signals or specific stimuli. Contemporary medical research indicates that the dysregulation of PCD patterns such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis is closely related to the onset and progression of COPD. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of PCD in COPD may provide novel perspectives for in-depth understanding and prevention of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by holistic regulation. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted in the TCM field focusing on modulating apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis for the treatment of COPD, yielding remarkable achievements. Therefore, this study systematically explored the molecular mechanism of PCD in COPD and reviewed the potential mechanisms and intervention status of TCM targeting PCD in COPD, aiming to provide insights and references for the clinical prevention, treatment and in-depth research of COPD.
2.Molecular Mechanism of Programmed Cell Death in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Xin PENG ; Yunhui LI ; Lei LIANG ; Zheyu LUAN ; Hanxiao WANG ; Haotian XU ; Ziming DANG ; Jihong FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):304-313
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant threat to global health, exhibiting high morbidity, disability and mortality rate, with its prevention and treatment situation becoming increasingly critical. The pathogenesis of COPD is complex, and the underlying cellular and molecular biological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Programmed cell death (PCD) is the process wherein cells actively undergo demise to maintain internal environmental stability in response to certain signals or specific stimuli. Contemporary medical research indicates that the dysregulation of PCD patterns such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis is closely related to the onset and progression of COPD. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of PCD in COPD may provide novel perspectives for in-depth understanding and prevention of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by holistic regulation. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted in the TCM field focusing on modulating apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis for the treatment of COPD, yielding remarkable achievements. Therefore, this study systematically explored the molecular mechanism of PCD in COPD and reviewed the potential mechanisms and intervention status of TCM targeting PCD in COPD, aiming to provide insights and references for the clinical prevention, treatment and in-depth research of COPD.
3.Identification of associated factors and construction of a predictive model for membranous nephropathy patients with IgM deposition
Lei HE ; Yunhui ZHANG ; Jingjing JIN ; Meijuan CHENG ; Shenglei ZHANG ; Yaling BAI ; Jinsheng XU
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2025;41(7):489-497
Objective:To explore the associated factors for membranous nephropathy (MN) patients with IgM deposition, and to construct a prediction model.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Patients diagnosed with MN with IgM deposition by renal biopsy in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2017 to December 2023 were retrospectively included. Clinical and pathological data were collected. The study population was randomized into a training set and a validation set at a 7:3 ratio. The endpoint event was defined as the remission of MN, and the patients were divided into remission group and non-remission group to compare the clinical and pathological examination results. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to explore the associated factors of poor prognosis of MN patients with IgM deposition. Internal validation was conducted using the validation set data. The clinical efficacy of the predictive model was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and generating calibration curves. The total nomogram score for each patient was calculated based on the training set data, and the predictive performance was assessed by plotting the ROC curve. Patients were then stratified into low-risk and high-risk groups according to the optimal cut-off value derived from the ROC analysis of the total nomogram score. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to compare the remission rate between the two groups. Model performance was evaluated using the validation set.Results:A total of 200 MN patients with IgM deposition were included, and 49.0% of them achieved clinical remission. In the training set, statistically significant differences were observed in 24-hour urine protein quantification ( Z=-2.638, P=0.008), renal arteriolar wall thickening ( χ2=6.891, P=0.009), the proportion of patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy ( χ2=21.381, P<0.001), and the proportion of patients treated with corticosteroids combined with cyclophosphamide ( χ2=10.107, P=0.001). Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression, 2 factors associated with clinical remission in MN patients with IgM deposition were simultaneously identified from 16 potential associated factors, including the use of immunosuppressants ( HR=3.823, 95% CI 2.055-7.113, P<0.001), and renal arteriolar wall thickening ( HR=0.428, 95% CI 0.221-0.831, P=0.012). Incorporating the clinical measurement of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies, a predictive model was established. The performance of the model was evaluated using the training dataset, yielding an area under the ROC curve of 0.731 (95% CI 0.648-0.814), with a sensitivity of 88.7% and a specificity of 55.1%. The optimal cut-off value was a total nomogram score of 41.7 points. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the remission rate was significantly higher in the low-risk group than that of the high-risk group (Log-rank test, χ2=33.525, P<0.001). Model validation was performed using the validation dataset, which showed an AUC of 0.715 (95% CI 0.591-0.839), sensitivity of 70.4%, and specificity of 63.6%. Similarly, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significantly higher remission rate in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group (Log-rank test, χ2=8.467, P=0.004). Conclusion:A nomogram predictive model for remission of MN patients with IgM deposition, based on serum PLA2R antibody levels, the use of immunosuppressive therapy, and renal arteriolar wall thickening is developed. The model demonstrates a moderate clinical applicability.
4.Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in Normal and Acute Kidney Injury Rats
Yunhui ZHANG ; Yanli LIU ; Qiongming XU ; Shuding SUN ; Hongjin ZHU ; Di ZHAO ; Suxiang FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):203-210
ObjectiveBased on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap-linear ion-trap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid-MS), the plasma concentration of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ was determined at different time points after oral administration, and its pharmacokinetic characteristics in normal rats and rats with acute kidney injury were compared. MethodsRats were randomly divided into normal group and model group, the model group received intraperitoneal cisplatin(10 mg·kg-1) to establish the acute kidney injury model, the normal group was given the same volume of saline. After successful modeling, rats in the normal and model groups were randomly divided into the normal low, medium and high dose groups(2.5, 5, 7.5 mg·kg-1) and the model low, medium and high dose groups(2.5, 5, 7.5 mg·kg-1), 6 rats in each group, and the plasma was collected at different time points after receiving the corresponding dose of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ. Then, the concentration of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in rat plasma was determined by UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid-MS, and the drug-time curve was poltted. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Kinetica 5.1 software, and the differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between different administration groups were compared by independent sample t-test with SPSS 22.0. ResultsThe pharmacokinetic results showed that after receiving the different doses of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ, its concentration increased first and then decreased, and all of them reached the maximum plasma concentration at about 0.5 h. The area under the curve(AUC0-t) and mean retention time(MRT0-t) of normal and model rats increased with the increased dose, and the clearance(CL) decreased with the increasing dose. Compared with the normal group, the AUC0-t was significantly increased(P<0.01), peak concentration(Cmax) and CL decreased in model rats at different doses, indicating that the physiological state of the rats could affect the absorption and elimination of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in vivo. ConclusionThe pharmacokinetic characteristics of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ are quite different in normal rats and acute kidney injury model rats, which may be due to the change of the body environment in the pathological state, then lead to changes in absorption and metabolic processes.
5.A cohort study of lipid levels and recurrence risk of ischemic stroke in a community-based natural population in Songjiang District, Shanghai
Yangbo GENG ; Huayuan FEI ; Yunlong KAN ; Minhua TANG ; Yunhui WANG ; Jianguo YU ; Jiedong XU ; Yiling WU ; Genming ZHAO ; Yonggen JIANG ; Yan JIN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(7):562-568
ObjectiveTo investigate the recurrence of ischemic stroke (IS) and to analyze the association between four indices of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) and the risk of IS recurrence by analyzing the follow-up data related to IS in the community-based natural population of Songjiang District, Shanghai, so as to provide a scientific basis for improving the prognosis of stroke patients in the community and controlling IS recurrence. MethodsA prospective follow-up study was conducted among the IS patients in the community-based cohort population, collecting data about patient’s age, gender, disease history, biochemical indicators, and etc. Cox regression model and restricted cubic spline model were used to analyze the relationship between different levels of plasma lipids and the recurrence of IS in these patients. ResultsA total of 1 368 patients with IS were included. The total follow-up duration was 7 171.46 person-years, with a median follow-up time of 6.24 years. There were 420 cases of IS recurrence, resulting in a cumulative recurrence rate of 30.70%. The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the recurrence risk of IS was reduced when the baseline TC and LDL-C levels of IS patients were in the ranges of 4.65‒5.67 mmol·L-1 and 2.52‒3.46 mmol·L-1, respectively. The results of restricted cubic spline analysis showed a U-shaped relationship between baseline TC and LDL-C levels and the recurrence risk in IS patients. ConclusionThe cumulative recurrence rate of patients with IS in the community of Songjiang District in Shanghai is high, and the levels of TC and LDL-C at baseline survey are correlated with the recurrence of IS in these patients. It is suggested to pay more attention to the levels of LDL-C and TC in patients with IS, so as to improve the prognosis.
6.Study on the mechanism of Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids promoting decidualization and improving recurrent spontaneous abortion
Fang FANG ; Ying CUI ; Jialü HUANG ; Lili CHEN ; Jia XU ; Yunhui WAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(19):2379-2386
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism by which Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCF) promote decidualization and improve recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). METHODS HTR-8/SVneo cells in logarithmic growth phase were randomly divided into blank group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, CCF group, SGK2 inhibitor (GSK650394, abbreviated as “GSK”) group and CCF+GSK group. Each group was treated with the corresponding agents accordingly. HTR-8/SVneo cells with SGK2 knockdown were randomly divided into small interfering RNA of SGK2 (siSGK2) group and siSGK2+CCF group; additionally, blank group and LPS group were established; each group was treated with the corresponding agents accordingly. The cell survival rate, expression levels of WNK signaling pathway- and decidualization-related proteins and mRNAs, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential levels, were assessed in each group before and after SGK2 knockdown. RSA mice model was constructed and randomly divided into model group, CCF low-dose group, CCF high-dose group, GSK group, and combined dosing group, with 4 mice in each group. Other 4 normal pregnant female mice were selected as the control group. The number of implanted embryos, viable fetuses, and lost embryos in mice was recorded. The morphological changes of endometrium and decidualization were observed, and WNK signaling pathway- and decidualization-related proteins and mRNAs expressing levels as well as mitochondrial membrane potential levels were all detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group, the cell survival rate, as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of SGK2, WNK1, WNK4, prolactin, insulin-like growth factor- binding protein-1, oxidative stress responsive kinase 1, and Ste20-like proline-/alanine-rich kinase were significantly reduced in the LPS group (P<0.05); compared with the LPS group, the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above- mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased in the CCF group, while the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly decreased in the GSK group (P<0.05); compared with the CCF group, the cell survival rate and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly reduced in the CCF+GSK group (P<0.05). After knocking down SGK2, compared with the LPS group, the cell survival rate, red/green fluorescence intensity ratio, and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly reduced in the siSGK2 group (P<0.05); compared with the siSGK2 group, the cell survival rate, red/green fluorescence intensity ratio, and the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased in the siSGK2+CCF group (P<0.05). The in vivo experimental results showed that CCF treatment can significantly improve the number of implanted embryos and viable fetuses in RSA model mice and reduce lost embryos, the expression levels of the above-mentioned proteins and mRNAs in endometrial tissue were significantly increased, and the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio was significantly increased (P< 0.05); the combined dosing group could reverse the effect of CCF (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS CCF can activate SGK2, up- regulate the WNK signaling pathway, promote endometrial decidualization, and improve RSA.
7.Analysis on research trends and hotspots of TCM papers in high impact factor journals from 2014 to 2024
Yalei ZHANG ; Yuejing CHEN ; Yile LU ; Yixin SHI ; Zhenmin LI ; Qiuwen FAN ; Yunhui SHEN ; Xinyang SONG ; Lili XU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(11):1595-1601
Objective:To understand trends and hotspots of TCM research papers published in journals with high IF basing on a bibliometric analysis.Methods:TCM research papers published between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2024 from 80 journals with IF higher than 16.0 were retrieved from medical, life sciences and comprehensive journals in Journal Citation Reports of 2024. CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and Excel 2021 were used to analyze and visualize annual publication volume, research fields, features of clinical study, institutes, funds and keywords.Results:A total of 51 papers were included, showing an increasing trend in annual publication volume; the main research areas were pharmacology, acupuncture&moxibustion and internal medicine. Multi-center randomized controlled trials were the main clinical studies; China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences was the leading institute in terms of publication volume; 84 funds were involved, including National Natural Science Foundation of China. Keywords that appeared most frequently were TCM, efficacy, double blind, electroacupuncture, stimulation and management.Conclusion:The number and quality of TCM research papers are improved simultaneously; future research needs to deepen international cooperation, and pay attention to the integration of TCM diagnosis and treatment characteristics and modern scientific research methods.
8.Identification of associated factors and construction of a predictive model for membranous nephropathy patients with IgM deposition
Lei HE ; Yunhui ZHANG ; Jingjing JIN ; Meijuan CHENG ; Shenglei ZHANG ; Yaling BAI ; Jinsheng XU
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2025;41(7):489-497
Objective:To explore the associated factors for membranous nephropathy (MN) patients with IgM deposition, and to construct a prediction model.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Patients diagnosed with MN with IgM deposition by renal biopsy in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2017 to December 2023 were retrospectively included. Clinical and pathological data were collected. The study population was randomized into a training set and a validation set at a 7:3 ratio. The endpoint event was defined as the remission of MN, and the patients were divided into remission group and non-remission group to compare the clinical and pathological examination results. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to explore the associated factors of poor prognosis of MN patients with IgM deposition. Internal validation was conducted using the validation set data. The clinical efficacy of the predictive model was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and generating calibration curves. The total nomogram score for each patient was calculated based on the training set data, and the predictive performance was assessed by plotting the ROC curve. Patients were then stratified into low-risk and high-risk groups according to the optimal cut-off value derived from the ROC analysis of the total nomogram score. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to compare the remission rate between the two groups. Model performance was evaluated using the validation set.Results:A total of 200 MN patients with IgM deposition were included, and 49.0% of them achieved clinical remission. In the training set, statistically significant differences were observed in 24-hour urine protein quantification ( Z=-2.638, P=0.008), renal arteriolar wall thickening ( χ2=6.891, P=0.009), the proportion of patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy ( χ2=21.381, P<0.001), and the proportion of patients treated with corticosteroids combined with cyclophosphamide ( χ2=10.107, P=0.001). Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression, 2 factors associated with clinical remission in MN patients with IgM deposition were simultaneously identified from 16 potential associated factors, including the use of immunosuppressants ( HR=3.823, 95% CI 2.055-7.113, P<0.001), and renal arteriolar wall thickening ( HR=0.428, 95% CI 0.221-0.831, P=0.012). Incorporating the clinical measurement of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies, a predictive model was established. The performance of the model was evaluated using the training dataset, yielding an area under the ROC curve of 0.731 (95% CI 0.648-0.814), with a sensitivity of 88.7% and a specificity of 55.1%. The optimal cut-off value was a total nomogram score of 41.7 points. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the remission rate was significantly higher in the low-risk group than that of the high-risk group (Log-rank test, χ2=33.525, P<0.001). Model validation was performed using the validation dataset, which showed an AUC of 0.715 (95% CI 0.591-0.839), sensitivity of 70.4%, and specificity of 63.6%. Similarly, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significantly higher remission rate in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group (Log-rank test, χ2=8.467, P=0.004). Conclusion:A nomogram predictive model for remission of MN patients with IgM deposition, based on serum PLA2R antibody levels, the use of immunosuppressive therapy, and renal arteriolar wall thickening is developed. The model demonstrates a moderate clinical applicability.
9.Effects of interactive Tuina on spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Xi FANG ; Chunxin XU ; Yunhui MI ; Kexing SUN ; Jue HONG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2024;22(4):289-296
Objective:To discuss the effects of walking function-guided interactive Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)on spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy(CP). Methods:Fifty children with spastic diplegic CP were divided into an observation group and a control group following a paired design and random number principle,with 25 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with the walking function-guided interactive Tuina,and the control group was offered the"six methods of spine and back"Tuina,20 min for each session and 5 sessions weekly for 3 consecutive months.The children's changes were assessed using the percentage of dimension E(walking,running,and jumping)of the gross motor function measure-88(GMFM-88)and three-dimensional gait analysis. Results:After treatment,the percentage of GMFM-88 dimension of dimension E(walking,running,and jumping)changed significantly in both groups(P<0.05),and the between-group difference was also statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the step length,walking speed,and step frequency changed markedly in the observation group(P<0.05)and were significantly different from those in the control group(P<0.05).After the intervention,the stance phase and double support extended,and the swing phase became shorter in the observation group(P<0.05);the between-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The maximal knee flexion angle and maximal posterior pelvic tilt angle decreased After treatment in the observation group,and the maximal anterior pelvic tilt angle increased,all showing statistical significance(P<0.05);the between-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the passive Tuina manipulations,the"six methods of the spine and back",walking function-guided interactive Tuina has its advantage in improving walking function in children with spastic CP,manifesting as better lower-limb force line and walking efficiency.
10.Effect of early acupuncture and drug treatment on blood flow and nerve injury in patients with ischemic stroke
Xiuyao LIN ; Dabin ZHU ; Yunhui XU ; Yan WANG ; Shujie GONG
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(24):11-15
Objective To investigate the immediate effect of early acupuncture and drug treatment on cerebral arterial blood flow and the degree of nerve damage in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods A total of 100 cases acute ischemic stroke patients treated in Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University were selected from June 2021 to June 2023,using clinical random number table method,the patients were divided into acupuncture treatment group(35 cases),non acupoint acupuncture group(32 cases),and conventional drug treatment group(33 cases).After admission to the hospital,all stroke patients were treated with conventional western medicine treatment,Both acupuncture treatment group and non acupoint acupuncture group received initial acupuncture treatment on the first day of enrollment without using drugs to improve circulation.Three groups of patients were treated continuously for 14 days,and their cerebral hemodynamic indicators before and after treatment were observed,including systolic peak velocity(Vs),diastolic peak velocity(Vd),pulsatile index(PI),resistance index(RI),and mean blood flow velocity(MFV).The levels of brain nerve injury markers in patients before and after treatment were measured,and the degree of neurological impairment were evaluated using National Institute of Health stroke scale(NIHSS).Results Compared with before treatment,the Vs and MFV levels of patients in conventional drug treatment group and non acupoint acupuncture group increased after treatment(P<0.05),and PI decreased significantly compared with before treatment(P<0.05);The levels of Vs,Vd,and MFV in acupuncture treatment group were all increased(P<0.05);PI and RI decreased compared to before treatment(P<0.05);After comparing the three treatment groups,the improvement of Vs,Vd,PI,RI,and MFV in acupuncture treatment group were better than those in non acupoint acupuncture group and conventional drug treatment group(P<0.05).The Vs,Vd,PI,RI,and MFV of patients in the acupuncture treatment group improved after the first acupuncture,and the degree of improvement was better than that of the non acupoint acupuncture group(P<0.05).After treatment in the three groups,the levels of serum S-100 β protein,heart-type fatty acid binding protein(H-FABP),and neuron specific enolase(NSE)were significantly reduced(P<0.05),among which the index levels in acupuncture group were lower than those in the other two groups(P<0.05),and the NIHSS score was lower in acupuncture group after 2 weeks of treatment and 30 days of follow-up compared with non acupoint acupuncture group and conventional drug treatment group(P<0.05).Conclusion Early acupuncture treatment can improve the blood flow of the middle cerebral artery in patients with acute ischemic stroke and reduce the degree of nerve damage.

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