1.Correlations of multimodal ultrasound parameters with Ki-67 and cytokeratin 5/6 in triple-negative breast cancer
Aihua ZHANG ; Qing CANG ; Liang YIN ; Xinhua YE
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(6):69-74
Objective To analyze the correlations of multimodal ultrasound parameters with Ki-67 and cytokeratin 5/6(CK5/6)in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).Methods A retrospec-tive analysis was conducted on 212 breast cancer patients in Jurong Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu Uni-versity and Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023.The patients were divided into TNBC group(n=95)and non-TNBC group(n=117).Immunohistochemical stai-ning was used to detect the expression of Ki-67 and CK5/6 in both groups,and the correlations of ul-trasound parameters with Ki-67 and CK5/6 were analyzed.Results In the TNBC group,the positive rates of CK5/6 and Ki-67 were 69.47%(66/95)and 75.79%(72/95)respectively,while in the non-TNBC group,the positive rates were 23.93%(28/117)and 14.53%(17/117)respectively,with significant between-group differences(P<0.05).In the TNBC group,patients with high and low level of CK5/6 showed significant differences in maximum lesion diameter,morphology,margin,aspect ratio,presence of calcifications,posterior acoustic pattern,lymph node metastasis,and distant metastasis(P<0.05);similarly,patients with high and low level of CK5/6 demonstrated significant differences in distribution,enhancement pattern,and perfusion defects(P<0.05);patients with high and low level of Ki-67 also exhibited significant differences in maximum lesion diameter,mor-phology,margin,aspect ratio,presence of calcifications,posterior acoustic pattern,lymph node me-tastasis,and distant metastasis(P<0.05);additionally,patients with high and low level of Ki-67 showed significant differences in the enhanced range,distribution,and enhancement pattern(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that clear margin,calcifications,and enhanced range were in-dependent influencing factors for CK5/6 positivity(P<0.05),while enhancement pattern and en-hanced range were independent influencing factors for Ki-67 positivity(P<0.05).Conclusion Ki-67 and CK5/6 have higher positive expression rates in TNBC patients,and multimodal ultrasound pa-rameters are correlated with Ki-67 and CK5/6.
2.Administration of Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguzhi) during pregnancy causes mild liver injury in mouse mothers and weaned offspring
Chenyue LIU ; Jingzhuo TIAN ; Yan YI ; Chunying LI ; Yong ZHAO ; Jiayin HAN ; Lianmei WANG ; Suyan LIU ; Yushi ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Shasha QIN ; Jing MENG ; Sulakkana NOIPRASERT ; Aihua LIANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(2):168-177
Background: Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguzhi, BGZ), known for its efficacy in supporting pregnancy and preventing miscarriage, has been used in China for over 1000 years. Recently, BGZ has been identified as a potential cause of drug-induced liver injury. However, its safety during pregnancy remains unclear, which significantly hinders its routine clinical application. Objective: To investigate the effects of BGZ administration during pregnancy on the liver of mouse mothers and their weaned 21-day-old offspring. Methods: Mice were orally administered BGZ at doses of 2.5 and 10 g/kg during pregnancy, with BGZ withdrawal during the lactation period. Liver histopathology (hematoxylin-eosin staining), biochemical analysis, and evaluation of liver bile acid metabolism were performed after the lactation period. Results: BGZ administration at doses of 2.5 and 10 g/kg during pregnancy, followed by withdrawal during the lactation period, caused mild liver damage in both mothers and their 21-day-old offspring. Serum total bile acid (TBA) levels were elevated compared with those in the control group. Additionally, changes were observed in the levels and proportions of various bile acids (BAs) in the liver, suggesting mild effects on BA metabolism. Conclusion: BGZ administration during pregnancy caused mild liver damage and increased serum TBA levels in both mouse mothers and their 21-day-old offspring. This phenomenon may be associated with imbalanced BA metabolism in the liver. Based on the present study and the limited toxicological research on BGZ, pregnant women should avoid prolonged use of BGZ. If BGZ is administered during pregnancy, serum TBA levels should be monitored, and if elevated, BGZ should be discontinued.
3.Toxicological evaluation of aristolochic acid II following single and repeated oral administration over a 24-week period
Yan YI ; Chunying LI ; Yong ZHAO ; Jingzhuo TIAN ; Yuan WANG ; Yushi ZHANG ; Suyan LIU ; Chen PAN ; Lianmei WANG ; Shuangrong GAO ; Jianyin HAN ; Zhong XIAN ; Chenyue LIU ; Dunfang WANG ; Jing MENG ; Meiting LIU ; Aihua LIANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(4):366-377
Background: Aristolochic acid II (AAII), a major nephrotoxic and carcinogenic component of aristolochic acids (AAs), has been less studied compared with its well-characterized analog, aristolochic acid I (AAI). Although AAs are known to induce carcinogenesis via DNA adduct formation, the toxicity mechanisms, environmental prevalence, and long-term health impacts of AAII remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate AAII’s acute and chronic toxicity, carcinogenic mechanisms, and environmental exposure patterns using integrated murine models and phytochemical analyses to clarify its toxicological profile and associated health risks. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were used in the following experiments: (1) determination of AAII content in 3 commonly used Aristolochia medicinal materials via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry; (2) acute toxicity testing with single doses of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg; and (3) chronic exposure with 1 or 10 mg/kg administered every other day for 24 weeks, followed by 21 to 40 weeks of postexposure monitoring. Histopathological examination, whole-exome sequencing, biochemical assays, and micronucleus tests were performed to assess multi-organ damage, tumorigenesis, genomic mutation signatures, and direct clastogenicity. Phytochemical analyses were used to evaluate environmental distribution. Results: (1) A single 40 mg/kg dose of AAII induced dose-dependent renal tubular degeneration without hepatotoxicity; (2) the 10 mg/kg group showed significant mortality (20%), tumor incidence (33.3%, primarily forestomach and bladder transitional cell carcinomas), persistent renal interstitial fibrosis, and subclinical hepatic injury. Chronic exposure to 1 mg/kg still induced 13.3% mortality and 15.5% tumor incidence over a 64-week period; (3) whole-exome sequencing revealed a predominance of C>T mutations and pathway enrichment in chemical carcinogenesis and cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism, indicating reactive metabolite-driven mechanisms distinct from classical AA-DNA adducts; and (4) no histopathological changes were observed in nontarget organs (brain, heart, and testes), and micronucleus assays confirmed the absence of direct clastogenicity. Conclusion: This study highlights the delayed carcinogenic risks of low-dose chronic AAII exposure and emphasizes the need to update regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe use of aristolochiaceae-containing herbal products.
4.Application of phased target teaching combined with case teaching method in neurosurgery intern nurses
Feng SUN ; Xin ZHANG ; Aihua NIU ; Dongmei LI ; Chao WANG ; Lijun LIANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(9):1211-1215
Objective:To explore the application effect of phased target teaching combined with case teaching method in neurosurgery intern nurses.Methods:A convenient sampling method was used to select 96 intern nurses in the neurosurgery department of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January 2022 to December 2023. The participants were divided into a control group and an observation group. The control group received conventional teaching, while the observation group was given phased target teaching combined with case teaching method based on the control group's curriculum. The clinical work ability, critical thinking ability, teaching performance, teaching satisfaction and cooperation of the intern nurses in both groups were compared.Results:After the intervention, the observation group scored higher in clinical work ability, critical thinking ability, teaching satisfaction and cooperation, teaching performance compared to the control group ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The application of phased target teaching combined with case teaching method for neurosurgery intern nurses can improve their clinical work ability, critical thinking ability, academic performance, teaching satisfaction and cooperation. This method is worth recommending.
5.Application of phased target teaching combined with case teaching method in neurosurgery intern nurses
Feng SUN ; Xin ZHANG ; Aihua NIU ; Dongmei LI ; Chao WANG ; Lijun LIANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(9):1211-1215
Objective:To explore the application effect of phased target teaching combined with case teaching method in neurosurgery intern nurses.Methods:A convenient sampling method was used to select 96 intern nurses in the neurosurgery department of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January 2022 to December 2023. The participants were divided into a control group and an observation group. The control group received conventional teaching, while the observation group was given phased target teaching combined with case teaching method based on the control group's curriculum. The clinical work ability, critical thinking ability, teaching performance, teaching satisfaction and cooperation of the intern nurses in both groups were compared.Results:After the intervention, the observation group scored higher in clinical work ability, critical thinking ability, teaching satisfaction and cooperation, teaching performance compared to the control group ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The application of phased target teaching combined with case teaching method for neurosurgery intern nurses can improve their clinical work ability, critical thinking ability, academic performance, teaching satisfaction and cooperation. This method is worth recommending.
6.Correlation between subclavian artery stenosis disease classification and posterior circulation ischemia
Yang LIU ; Aihua HUANG ; Xiongwei ZHANG ; Ying WANG ; Yonghan LIANG ; Guangyu WANG ; Chenxi TAN ; Feng QIU
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(11):1094-1099
Objective:To explore the correlation between subclavian artery stenosis disease (SASD) classification and posterior circulation ischemia.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; the clinical data, and Doppler vascular ultrasound and vascular imaging results of 81 SASD patients, admitted to Cerebrovascular Stenosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College and Department of Neurology, Rocket Force Specialty Medical Center from May 2018 to August 2023, were collected. SASD was categorized into 2 types (single type and concurrent type) based on the presence or absence of other posterior circulation artery (basilar artery, vertebral artery, or subclavian artery distal segment) stenosis/occlusion, and into 3 groups (non-posterior circulation ischemia group, posterior circulation transient ischemic attack group and posterior circulation cerebral infarction group) based on the presence or absence of posterior circulation ischemia. Blood stealing pathways in different SASD classifications were analyzed, and correlation of SASD classification with posterior circulation ischemia was discussed.Results:Single-type SASD was noted in 44 patients (54.3%), mainly initiating blood stealing through the vertebral artery to the vertebral artery and then to the subclavian artery ( n=26); concurrent-type SASD was noted in 37 patients (45.7%), mainly initiating blood stealing through the occipital artery to the costocervical trunk and then to the subclavian artery ( n=10). Sixty-five patients (80.2%) were into the non-posterior circulation ischemia group, 4 (4.9%) into the posterior circulation transient ischemic attack group and 12 (14.8%) into the posterior circulation cerebral infarction group. Among the 44 patients with single-type SASD, 39 did not have posterior circulation ischemia, and 3 had posterior circulation cerebral infarction. Among the 37 patients with concurrent-type SASD, 26 did not have posterior circulation ischemia, and 9 had posterior circulation cerebral infarction. Conclusion:Initiation of blood stealing in SASD patients is related to SASD classification, and concurrent-type SASD patients trend to have posterior circulation ischemia.
7.Liver Injury Caused by Psoraleae Fructus: A Review
Xuan TANG ; Jiayin HAN ; Chen PAN ; Yushi ZHANG ; Aihua LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):179-189
Psoraleae Fructus (PF) is a non-toxic Chinese herbal medicine, while the liver injury caused by PF has aroused wide concern in recent years. At present, animal experiments and in vitro studies have been carried out to explore the mechanism, targets, and toxic components of PF in inducing liver injury, which, however, have differences compared with the actual conditions in clinical practice, and there are still some potential hepatotoxic components and targets of PF that have not been discovered. With the continuous progress in systems biology, establishing the drug-induced liver injury model and the liver injury prediction model based on network toxicology can reduce the cost of animal experiments, improve the toxicity prediction efficiency, and provide new tools for predicting toxic components and targets. To systematically explain the characteristics of liver injury in the application of PF and explore the potential hepatotoxic components and targets of PF, we reviewed the related articles published by China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, and PubMed from 1962 to 2021 and analyzed the characteristics and influencing factors of liver injury caused by PF in the patients. Furthermore, we summarized the chemical components of PF and the components entering blood. By reviewing the mechanism, targets, and components of PF in inducing liver injury that were discovered by in vivo and in vitro experiments, we summarized the known compounds in PF that may cause liver injury. Finally, the current methods for building the prediction model of PF-induced liver injury were summarized, and the predicted toxic components and targets were introduced. The possible factors of PF in causing liver injury were explained from three aspects: clinical characteristics, preclinical studies, and computer-assisted network prediction, which provide a reference for predicting the risk of PF-induced liver injury.
8.Chinese Medicine Regulates Intestinal Flora to Treat Ulcerative Colitis in Patients with Syndrome of Large Intestine Dampness-heat: A Review
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):244-254
The clinical changes of ulcerative colitis (UC) with the main syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat and the alterations of intestinal flora in UC were summarized to reveal the underlying mechanism. After review of the treatment methods for UC with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat, we identified the representative traditional Chinese medicines and compound prescriptions and explored the treatment mechanisms. Furthermore, we probed into the associations of UC and the treatment methods with the intestinal flora. The related articles were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The available studies have shown that Akkermansia muciniphila, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are closely associated with Chinese medicines in UC patients with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat. However, due to the shortcomings in clinical research and the susceptibility of intestinal flora to diverse factors, it is still challenging to accurately characterize the intestinal flora changes associated with diseases. Additionally, the research on the mechanisms of Chinese medicines in regulating intestinal flora in UC patients with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat remains to be improved. The feasibility of using Chinese medicines and compound prescriptions for precise regulation of intestinal flora in these patients is still debatable. In this regard, scientific issues such as the biological connotation of UC with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat and the correlation between syndrome and intestinal flora have become primary research tasks. Additionally, attention should also be paid to the interactions between the intestinal lumen exposure profile of Chinese medicines and intestinal flora. Finally, the thinking of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the concepts of modern medicine should be combined for the research on the formulation of TCM regimens for regulating intestinal flora in treating UC.
9.Chemical Constituents, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Asari Radix et Rhizoma: A Review
Meiting LIU ; Lianmei WANG ; Jing MENG ; Baoxin ZHENG ; Shasha QIN ; Aihua LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(10):224-234
Asari Radix et Rhizoma (AR) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a history of more than 2 000 years of medication and has been included in ancient herbal works in the past dynasties. It is effective in releasing the exterior, dispersing cold, dispelling wind, relieving pain, opening orifices, warming the lung, and resolving fluids, and is still widely used in the clinical treatment of influenza, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, asthma, allergic rhinitis, eye pain, headache, toothache, oral ulcer, eczema, etc. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that AR has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, relieving cough and asthma, anti-allergy, and other effects. AR contains a variety of chemical components, in which essential oil is not only associated with functions such as dispelling cold, relieving heat, relieving pain, and resisting inflammation and allergy, but is also toxic. AR also contains lignans, flavonoids, amides, phenanthrenes, alkaloids, and other non-volatile oil components, which play an important role in immunity regulation, anti-inflammation, pain relief, heart strengthening, and blood vessel expansion. The phenanthrene compounds are mainly aristolochic acid analogues, such as aristolochic acid Ⅳa and aristolochic lactam Ⅰ. Aristolochic acid Ⅳa has been proven to have a significant anti-inflammatory effect. The toxicity of AR is related to safrole, aristolochic acids and their analogues, and is also affected by many factors, such as preparation method, dosage, origin, collection time, medicinal part, and decocting time, which should be comprehensively considered in clinical application. Based on the relevant literature in China and abroad, the present study reviewed the correlation of chemical composition and pharmacological and toxicological effects of AR, and the safety of AR, aristolochic acid, safrole, and other components to provide a new perspective for an objective understanding of AR safety, as well as references for rational clinical application, production risk prevention and control, and drug scientific supervision of AR.

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