1.VEGF Inhibitor–Associated Side Effects in Antitumor Therapy and Intervention Strategies
Lu LIU ; Wanting SUN ; Shuning YAO ; Zhenyu CHEN ; Yuefei WANG ; Jing YANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(4):289-300
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors are drugs that target and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. By blocking the signaling pathway of VEGF and its receptor, they suppress tumor proliferation and play a crucial role in tumor treatment. However, their side effects, such as hypertension, proteinuria, hand-foot skin reactions, and myelosuppression, during treatment seriously affect patients' treatment compliance and quality of life. The development of intervention strategies for the side effects of VEGF inhibitors is of great importance for tumor treatment. This article reviews the clinical characteristics and toxic mechanisms of common side effects caused by VEGF inhibitors during tumor treatment and summarizes intervention strategies that combine traditional Chinese and Western medicines. Drug dosages were precisely monitored and adjusted to achieve antitumor treatment. Patients' discomfort symptoms are improved through prescriptions that act by tonifying qi and promoting blood circulation, strengthening the spleen, and tonifying the kidney. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicines is used to treat patients, thus providing a safe and effective treatment plan for patients with cancer.
2.Current Status and Strategies of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Xuezhi ZHANG ; Xia DING ; Zhen LIU ; Hui YE ; Xiaofen JIA ; Hong CHENG ; Zhenyu WU ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):111-116
This paper systematically reviews the current status of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, as well as recent progress in clinical and basic research both in China and internationally. It summarizes the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Hp infection management, including improving Hp eradication rates, enhancing antibiotic sensitivity, reducing antimicrobial resistance, decreasing drug-related adverse effects, and ameliorating gastric mucosal lesions. These advantages are particularly evident in patients who are intolerant to bismuth-containing regimens, those with refractory Hp infection, and individuals with precancerous gastric lesions. An integrated, whole-process management approach and individualized, staged comprehensive treatment strategies combining TCM and western medicine are proposed for Hp infection. Future prevention and control of Hp infection should adopt an integrative Chinese-western medical strategy, emphasizing prevention, strengthening primary care, implementing proactive long-term monitoring, optimizing screening strategies, and advancing the development of novel technologies and mechanistic studies of Chinese herbal interventions. These efforts aim to provide a theoretical basis and practical pathways for the establishment and improvement of Hp infection prevention and control systems.
3.Development of a machine learning-based preoperative prediction model for spread through air spaces in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma
Kai CHU ; Xinrong XU ; Zhenyu LIU ; Qinglin REN ; Wenbo HE ; Minlu HU ; Xiaolin WANG ; Yusheng SHU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(08):1212-1221
Objective To develop and validate a machine learning model based on preoperative clinical characteristics, laboratory indices, and radiological features for the non-invasive prediction of spread through air spaces (STAS) in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Methods Preoperative data from patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital between January 2020 and August 2025 were retrospectively collected. The data included clinical characteristics, laboratory indices, and radiological features. Patients were divided into a STAS-positive and a STAS-negative group based on postoperative pathological findings. The dataset was randomly split into a training set and a testing set at a 7 : 3 ratio. Feature variables were selected using the maximum relevance and minimum redundancy (mRMR) algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Five machine learning models were constructed: logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA). The shapley additive explanations (SHAP) method was employed to interpret the optimal prediction model. Results A total of 377 patients were included, comprising 177 (46.9%) males and 200 (53.1%) females, with a mean age of (63.31±9.73) years. There were 261 patients in the training set and 116 patients in the testing set. In the training set, statistically significant differences were observed between the STAS-positive group (n=130) and STAS-negative group (n=131) across multiple features, including age, sex, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), clinical T stage, and maximum solid component diameter (P<0.05). A final set of 10 feature variables was selected by combining mRMR and LASSO regression, and five machine learning models (LR, RF, SVM, LightGBM, XGBoost) were developed. The XGBoost model demonstrated optimal performance in both the training and testing sets, achieving AUCs of 0.947 [95%CI (0.920, 0.975)] and 0.943 [95%CI (0.894, 0.993)], respectively. DCA indicated that the XGBoost model provided a high net clinical benefit across a wide range of threshold probabilities. SHAP analysis revealed that the vessel convergence sign, clinical T stage, age, consolidation-to-tumor ratio (CTR), and MLR were the features with the highest contributions to STAS prediction. Conclusion The XGBoost model effectively predicts preoperative STAS status in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, exhibiting excellent discriminative performance and good clinical interpretability. Key predictors such as the vessel convergence sign, clinical T stage, age and CTR provide a crucial reference for preoperative risk assessment and the individualized selection of surgical strategies, ultimately benefiting patients.
4.Current development status and cutting-edge trends of surgical robot technology
Shoujun ZHOU ; Yongjun PENG ; Maoquan LI ; Zhenyu CHENG ; Tianyong LIU ; Yue DU ; Hongliang LI ; Xingang LIU
Chinese Journal of Interventional Imaging and Therapy 2025;22(8):550-553
Surgical robot(SR),which integrates mechanical control,multimodal image navigation and artificial intelligence(AI)algorithms,is reshaping modern surgical paradigm with its advantages of minimally invasive operation,high precision and intelligent capabilities.The evolution,classification and representative commercial platforms of SR both domestically and internationally were systematically reviewed in this article,mainly focused on in-depth comparison of core parameters and key technological breakthroughs across different manufacturers and future development trends toward semi-autonomous and fully autonomous surgical systems.
5.Value of bedside capsule endoscopy in patients with acute or severe gastrointestinal bleeding
Qiqi ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Lu CHEN ; Bitao LIN ; Zhenyu CHEN ; Xinke WANG ; Wan TIANMO ; Xicheng FENG ; Zhenjiang2 WANG ; Aimin LI ; Baoping WU ; Side LIU ; Xiaobei LUO
Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2025;42(2):137-141
Objective:To analyze the diagnostic value of bedside capsule endoscopy in patients with acute or severe gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods:Clinical data from patients who underwent bedside capsule endoscopy due to acute or severe suspected gastrointestinal bleeding in Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from June 2018 to September 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The efficacy of capsule endoscopy in detecting upper gastrointestinal tract and small intestinal bleeding was evaluated.Results:A total of 74 patients underwent bedside capsule endoscopy for suspected acute or severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Five patients were excluded due to failure of examination due to retention of capsule endoscope in the gastric lumen, and 69 were included in the study, of whom 54 patients with a definitive diagnosis of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The positive detection rate of the capsule endoscopy was 83.33% (45/54), including 17 cases of ulcer, 5 cases of erosion, 5 cases of vascular malformation, 4 protrusion mass, 4 diverticulum, 5 obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, 1 stenosis , 1 active mucosal blood exudation, 1 gastric retention, 1 mucosal swelling, and 1 mucosal wrinkle change. The sensitivity and specificity of capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were 92.31% (12/13) and 75.00% (3/4) respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of capsule endoscopy for diagnosing small intestinal bleeding were 80.49% (33/41) and 90.91% (10/11) respectively.Conclusion:Bedside capsule endoscopy demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding, showing potential advantages in bedside applications for acute and severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
6.Study on the association between different feeding methods during the first six months after birth and physical growth of children aged 3 to 5 years based on the Taicang and Wuqiang mother-child cohort study in China
Yifan DUAN ; Zhenyu YANG ; Ye BI ; Changqing LIU ; Yongli ZHAO ; Xuyang GU ; Jingtao DUAN ; Hua ZHAO ; Jianqiang LAI
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(1):30-38
Objective:To explore the association between different feeding methods during the first six months after birth and the physical growth of children aged 3 to 5 years.Methods:Data were from the "Taicang and Wuqiang mother-child cohort study"(TAWS) in China. Children were enrolled at birth between November 2016 and September 2020 and followed up at 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months, as well as at ages 3 to 5 years. Based on feeding methods within six months of age, children were categorized into an "exclusive breastfeeding group" and a "formula-feeding group". Birth-related information and feeding practices between 8 and 24 months were collected, alongside dietary habits, physical activity, and illness during preschool years. Height and weight of preschool children were measured to calculate height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), body mass index-for-age Z-score (BAZ), and the rates of stunting, underweight, wasting, overweight, and obesity. After adjusting for demographic factors, birth-related information, feeding practices between 8 to 24 months, preschool dietary habits, physical activity, and health status, multiple linear regression and logistic regression were adopted to analyze the influence of feeding methods within six months of age on the physical growth of children aged 3 to 5 years.Results:A total of 1 233 children were included, comprising 629 boys and 604 girls. The number of children aged 3, 4, and 5 years was 436, 406, and 391, respectively. About 754 children were categorized into the exclusive breastfeeding group and 479 into the formula-feeding group. Children who were introduced to formula milk within six months of age had higher HAZ (0.09±0.99), WAZ (0.24±1.07) and BAZ (0.26±1.11) scores at ages 3 to 5 compared to the exclusive breastfeeding group [HAZ, WAZ, and BAZ were (-0.04±0.92), (0.06±1.02) and (0.11±1.08), respectively]. After adjusting for confounding factors, multiple linear regression analysis showed that the β (95% CI) values for HAZ, WAZ and BAZ in the formula-feeding group were 0.16 (0.06-0.25), 0.17 (0.06-0.29) and 0.15 (0.02-0.27), respectively, compared to the exclusive breastfeeding group. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of the multivariate logistic regression model indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the risks of stunting, underweight, wasting, overweight, and obesity during the preschool years between the exclusive breastfeeding group and the formula-feeding group, with OR (95% CI) values of 1.04 (0.41-2.62), 0.99 (0.27-3.57), 1.63 (0.53-4.95), 1.08 (0.66-1.74), and 1.58 (0.70-3.60), respectively. Conclusion:Exclusive breastfeeding within six months of age does not increase the risk of undernutrition (including stunting, underweight or wasting) during preschool years. However, the introduction of formula feeding within six months of age significantly increases the physical growth level of the preschool stage.
7.Clinical Study on Correlation of Early Serum Inflammatory Mediator Levels With Disease Severity and Intestinal Dysfunction in Acute Pancreatitis Patients
Kaile ZHANG ; Hongsuo CHEN ; Yufeng LIU ; Mengliang GAO ; Qihao SU ; Yi ZHOU ; Zhenyu JIANG
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2025;30(3):146-151
Background:Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a common clinical gastrointestinal emergency with a high mortality rate.Intestinal dysfunction is one of the common complications of AP and can aggravate the disease condition.Therefore,early and accurate assessment of the disease severity and intestinal dysfunction of AP is of great significance for improving the prognosis of patients.Aims:To investigate the correlation of early serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),C-reactive protein(CRP),endotoxin(ET),D-lactic acid(D-LA),and diamine oxidase(DAO)with disease severity and intestinal dysfunction in AP patients.Methods:A total of 52 AP patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College from September 2023 to September 2024 were enrolled,and 10 healthy individuals recruited during the same period were served as the control group.AP patients were classified into mild acute pancreatitis(MAP),moderately severe acute pancreatitis(MSAP)and severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)groups according to the severity of the disease.Intestinal function was evaluated using the acute gastrointestinal injury(AGI)grading system.ELISA was used to detect the early serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO,and the correlation of these indicators with the severity of AP and AGI grade were analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficient.Results:Serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO in the MAP,MSAP,and SAP groups were significantly higher than those in the control group(all P<0.05);serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO in the MSAP group were significantly higher than those in the MAP group(all P<0.05);serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO in the SAP group were significantly higher than those in the MAP and MSAP groups(all P<0.05).Compared with AGI grade 0-Ⅰ subjects,serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO in patients with AGI grade Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly increased(all P<0.05).Compared with AGI grade Ⅱ patients,serum D-LA level in patients with AGI grade Ⅲ was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with AGI grade Ⅲ patients,serum D-LA level in patients with AGI grade Ⅳ was significantly increased(P<0.05).Serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO were positively correlated with the severity of AP and AGI grade(all P<0.05).Conclusions:Early serum levels of IL-1β,CRP,ET,D-LA,and DAO in AP patients are significantly increased and closely related to the disease severity and intestinal dysfunction.
8.Transport and Adhesion Behavior of Circulating Tumor Cells in Bifurcated Microvessels:A Numerical Study
Mingzhe ZHANG ; Jun SHEN ; Zhenyu LIU
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(2):449-455
Objective To analyze the motion,deformation,and adhesion behavior of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in bifurcated microvessels,reveal their mechanical properties under different flow conditions and explore their role in the process of cancer metastasis.Methods A cell-scale modeling approach was adopted,combining the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method(IB-LBM)and the adhesive-dynamics model to simulate the motion and adhesion behavior of circulating tumor cells in microvessels.Results The adhesion behavior of CTCs was significantly influenced by the Reynolds number(Re)and the surface elastic moduli of cells.Under the condition of Re=0.003,the adhesion behavior of CTCs was the most stable;CTCs with a lower surface elastic modulus exhibited greater deformation during adhesion and demonstrated stronger adhesive forces.Conclusions The mechanical properties of CTCs and flow field conditions jointly determine their transport and adhesion behavior in microvessels.The levels of Re and surface elastic modulus play a critical role in the deformation and adhesion of CTCs.The study of the adhesion characteristics of CTCs provides mechanistic insights and new potential directions for cancer prevention and treatment research.
9.Effect of a novel cryoprotectant in tissues and cells
Qingfang WANG ; Fen ZHANG ; Guangping CHANG ; Zihan LI ; Lan XING ; Hao PENG ; Xiuping ZENG ; Guiqiang ZHONG ; Hui CHEN ; Bo LIU ; Zhenyu LIU ; Xiao LIANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(36):7816-7826
BACKGROUND:The cryopreservation technology enables tissues/cells to be stored for a long time in a low-temperature environment while maintaining the integrity of their activity and function,which is of great significance for the construction of cell therapy,tissue engineering and biological sample banks.Cryoprotective agents often contain dimethyl sulfoxide and serum.To avoid the toxic side effects of dimethyl sulfoxide,the complexity of serum components and immune responses,although some finished cryoprotective agents have been marketed,they are faced with many difficulties such as high cost and limited application.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop a cryoprotective agent with clear components and the ability to solve the above problems.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of a novel cryoprotectant on cryopreservation efficiency of different tissue and cell sources.METHODS:By applying the novel cryoprotectant as an experimental group with the commercially available and widely used cryoprotectant(control group)to umbilical cord Wharton's jelly tissue,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,umbilical cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,NK and CIK cells,comparative analyses were conducted in terms of cell morphology,number,viability,surface markers,differentiation potential,and cell-killing toxicity assay before cryopreservation and after resuscitation thawing.We confirmed the cryopreservation effect of the new cryoprotectant and its potential application value.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The novel cryoprotectant facilitated the normal growth of cryopreserved Wharton's jelly tissue upon recovery,exhibiting mesenchymal stem cell morphology.No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in terms of cell recovery rate,surface markers,and differentiation potential.(2)There was no significant difference in the number and viability of cells between the experimental group and the control group after cryopreservation of cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,and the cryo-resuscitated cell numbers and viability of derived NK cells/CIK cells did not show significant difference between the experimental and control groups.(3)For NK cells derived and differentiated from cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,there was no significant difference in the proportion of CD56+CD16+cell subpopulations between the experimental group and the control group.For CIK cells derived and differentiated from cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,there was no significant difference in the proportions of CD3+CD8+and CD3+CD56+cell subpopulations between the experimental group and the control group.(4)In terms of cytotoxicity testing,when the effective-target ratio of immune cells and melanoma cell line Mel624 was 20:1,whether it was NK cells/CIK cells derived from cord blood or peripheral blood mononuclear cells,there was no significant difference in the tumoricidal activity of cells between the experimental group and the control group.These findings suggest that the novel cryoprotectant can replace existing commercially available and widely used cryoprotectants,and is applicable to Wharton's jelly tissue,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,umbilical cord blood/peripheral blood mononuclear cells,as well as NK and CIK cells,providing a solid technical foundation for the scaling,standardization,and commercialization of universal cryoprotectants.
10.MRI subtraction technique for evaluating efficacy of systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and predicting prognosis after combining with surgery
Tao XIANG ; Bing YUAN ; Xiaohui LI ; Jinghui DONG ; Zhenyu ZHU ; Dingkun LIU ; Jian YANG ; Danni AI ; Jiangtao LIU ; Feng DUAN
Chinese Journal of Interventional Imaging and Therapy 2025;22(3):210-215
Objective To explore the value of MRI subtraction technique(ST)for evaluating the efficacy of systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and predicting prognosis after combining with surgery.Methods Totally 35 patients with 39 HCC lesions who received systemic therapy+radical resection were retrospectively collected.Based on preoperative MRI,tumor activity ratio(recorded as tumor activityST)was obtained with ST,while tumor activity value(recorded as tumor activitypathology)was obtained through postoperative pathology,and their correlation was analyzed.The patients were regularly followed up after surgery,and the survival data were recorded.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the efficacy of tumor activityST for predicting patients'survival status.Then the patients were divided into survival benefit group and no survival benefit group according to the cut-off value,and survival analysis was conducted.Results Tumor activityST was positively correlated with tumor activitypathology(r=0.900,P<0.001).The median follow-up time was 32.93 months,during which 8 patients died,and the median survival time was 29.9 months.The area under the curve(AUC)of tumor activityST for predicting patients'survival status was 0.67,and the cut-off value was 0.36.Thirty patients with tumor activityST<0.36 were enrolled in survival benefit group,while 5 patients≥0.36 were collected in no survival benefit group.The overall survival in survival benefit group was longer than that in no survival benefit group(P<0.001).Conclusion MRI ST could be used to non-invasively evaluate the efficacy of systemic therapy for advanced HCC and predict prognosis after combining with surgery.

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