1.Ethical perspective and development prospects of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine
Bei CUI ; Huiwen LI ; Lu CHEN ; Yanlong WANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(6):703-708
Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine exhibit significant differences in their modes of thinking, yet this very distinction creates opportunities for their mutual learning and integration. TCM ethics are grounded in the robust theoretical and practical foundations of TCM. From the three-dimensional ethical perspective of cognition, decision-making, and treatment, it demonstrates prominent characteristics in the cognitive regulation of “taking images to operate numbers,” the decision-making principle of “treatment based on syndrome differentiation,” and the therapeutic criteria of “harmony between humanity and nature.” TCM and Western medicine possess distinct features in image-based thinking and reductionism, dynamic nonlinearity and static linearity, as well as holism and antagonism, influencing how they address doctor-society, doctor-doctor, and doctor-patient relationships. Furthermore, the integration of TCM and Western medicine can foster mutual learning and allow them to complement each other’s strengths. Against the backdrop of growing emphasis on TCM modernization and the steady advancement of the Healthy China initiative, enhancing the healthcare system’s adaptability to diverse health demands is crucial. Efforts should be made to promote proper subject-object regulations in the doctor-society relationship, a harmonious yet competitive plurality in the doctor-doctor relationship, and harmonious coexistence in the doctor-patient relationship. It is also essential to uphold the parallel progression of ethical reflection and practical exploration, thereby providing ethical support for the further development of integrated Chinese and Western medicine.
2.OCT-based quantitative measurement of Bruch's membrane opening indicators and its clinical application progress
Xin YAN ; Yijun YAO ; Meng TIAN ; Fan YANG ; Zixing LU ; Fanqi SUN ; Bei TIAN
International Eye Science 2026;26(9):1544-1550
Bruch's membrane opening(BMO)is the true anatomical border of the optic nerve head and provides higher anatomical accuracy, structural stability and measurement repeatability than traditional assessments based on the clinically visible optic disc margin. Optical coherence tomography(OCT)serves as a key technical tool for quantitative assessment of BMO-associated structural parameters. With the development of spectral-domain OCT(SD-OCT)and swept-source OCT(SS-OCT), parameters such as BMO-minimum rim width(BMO-MRW), BMO-minimum rim area(BMO-MRA), BMO area, offset, tilt, and torsion have emerged as important imaging biomarkers for evaluating optic nerve head morphology and for assisting in the diagnosis, staging, and longitudinal monitoring of glaucoma, myopia, and pathological myopia. Traditionally, the acquisition of these parameters has relied heavily on manual segmentation, which is limited by low efficiency, strong subjectivity, and considerable inter-observer variability. In recent years, artificial intelligence has been increasingly applied to OCT image segmentation, quality control, cross-device calibration, and automated quantitative analysis, thereby improving efficiency, objectivity, and reproducibility, particularly in eyes with complex optic disc morphology. This review summarizes recent advances in the BMO-related terminology standardization, imaging and quantitative methodologies, quality control,artificial intelligence-assisted analysis, as well as clinical evidence of its application in glaucoma, myopia and pathological myopia. Particular emphasis is placed on their potential value in the differential diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of highly myopic eyes with glaucoma, aiming to provide a reference for the standardized clinical application and future translational use of BMO-related parameters.
3.Influence of influenza A virus on macrophages based on JAK1/2-STAT1 signaling pathway and intervention effects of Ma Xing Shigan decoction drug containing serum
Chunjing CHEN ; Cheng ZHAO ; Fangguo LU ; Xianggang ZHANG ; Li HE ; Meihong PENG ; Bei CHEN ; Tong LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(7):1730-1736,1751
Objective:To investigate the effects of influenza A virus(IAV)on macrophages based on expression of cytokines mediated by Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT)pathway,and to further explore the intervention effects of Ma Xing Shigan decoction drug containing serum.Methods:RAW264.7 was divided into control group,JAK/STAT signal pathway activator group,inhibitor group,model group,oseltamivir group,antiviral granule group and Ma Xing Shigan decoction group.Cell samples were collected after the intervention of IAV and subsequent treating of drug-containing serum for 24 and 48 hours.Secretion levels of IL-1β and CXCL2 in supernatant were detected by ELISA.mRNA expression levels of influenza virus Nuclear Pro-tein(NP),JAK1/2 and STAT1 of cells were detected by RT-qPCR.Protein expression levels of JAK1/2 and STAT1 were detected by Western blot,and protein expression levels of p-STAT1 was detected by immunofluorescence.Correlation between protein expression levels of p-STAT1 and secretion of IL-1β and CXCL2 were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.Results:Secretion levels of IL-1β and CXCL2,mRNA expression levels of NP,JAK1/2,STAT1,protein levels of JAK1/2,STAT1 and p-STAT1 were increased,and protein levels of p-STAT1 was positively correlated with the secretion of IL-1β and CXCL2.Ma Xing Shigan decoction could down-regulate secretions of IL-1β and CXCL2,mRNA expression levels of NP,JAK1/2 and STAT1,protein expression levels of JAK1,JAK2,STAT1 and p-STAT1.Conclusion:Activation of JAK1/2-STAT1 signal pathway and imbalance of inflammatory factors may be one of the molecular mechanisms of immunopathological damage of macrophages induced by IAV.Ma Xing Shigan decoction may alle-viate pathogenic effects of IAV by regulating this signal pathway.
4.Influence of influenza A virus on macrophages based on JAK1/2-STAT1 signaling pathway and intervention effects of Ma Xing Shigan decoction drug containing serum
Chunjing CHEN ; Cheng ZHAO ; Fangguo LU ; Xianggang ZHANG ; Li HE ; Meihong PENG ; Bei CHEN ; Tong LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(7):1730-1736,1751
Objective:To investigate the effects of influenza A virus(IAV)on macrophages based on expression of cytokines mediated by Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT)pathway,and to further explore the intervention effects of Ma Xing Shigan decoction drug containing serum.Methods:RAW264.7 was divided into control group,JAK/STAT signal pathway activator group,inhibitor group,model group,oseltamivir group,antiviral granule group and Ma Xing Shigan decoction group.Cell samples were collected after the intervention of IAV and subsequent treating of drug-containing serum for 24 and 48 hours.Secretion levels of IL-1β and CXCL2 in supernatant were detected by ELISA.mRNA expression levels of influenza virus Nuclear Pro-tein(NP),JAK1/2 and STAT1 of cells were detected by RT-qPCR.Protein expression levels of JAK1/2 and STAT1 were detected by Western blot,and protein expression levels of p-STAT1 was detected by immunofluorescence.Correlation between protein expression levels of p-STAT1 and secretion of IL-1β and CXCL2 were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.Results:Secretion levels of IL-1β and CXCL2,mRNA expression levels of NP,JAK1/2,STAT1,protein levels of JAK1/2,STAT1 and p-STAT1 were increased,and protein levels of p-STAT1 was positively correlated with the secretion of IL-1β and CXCL2.Ma Xing Shigan decoction could down-regulate secretions of IL-1β and CXCL2,mRNA expression levels of NP,JAK1/2 and STAT1,protein expression levels of JAK1,JAK2,STAT1 and p-STAT1.Conclusion:Activation of JAK1/2-STAT1 signal pathway and imbalance of inflammatory factors may be one of the molecular mechanisms of immunopathological damage of macrophages induced by IAV.Ma Xing Shigan decoction may alle-viate pathogenic effects of IAV by regulating this signal pathway.
5.Advances in diseases associated with thyroid hormone transporter deficiency
Wei LI ; Min ZHU ; Bei HAN ; Fen LU ; Qiaoli ZHOU
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(2):117-121
Thyroid hormone(TH)plays an important role in human development and is involved in gene and protein expression in almost all tissues,especially in the development of the central nervous system.TH requires a TH transporter to enter the cell,and three families of TH transporter proteins are known,namely monocarboxylate transporters(MCTs),organic anion transporting polypeptides(OATPs)and L-type amino acid transporter(LAT).MCT8 has been found to be a specific TH transporter,and OATP1C1 also plays an important role.Deficiency of TH transporters may lead to different degrees of dysfunction in the nervous system and endocrine system.Currently,more studies have been conducted on MCT8 deficiency,which presents with characteristic psychomotor retardation and TH abnormalities,and there are no specific treatment options.In this paper,we summarize the research progress on clinical phenotype,pathogenic mechanism,and treatment of thyroid hormone transporter defects related diseases to provide reference for clinical research.
6.Analysis of transabdominal bowel ultrasound characteristics of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related colitis and their correlation with endoscopy
Qingyang ZHOU ; Li MA ; Hao TANG ; Xinyu LIU ; Yanlin ZENG ; Bo LU ; Qingli ZHU ; Bei TAN ; Jiaming QIAN
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(1):67-73
Objective:To analyze the characteristics of transabdominal bowel ultrasound (TBUS) in immune checkpoint inhibitor-related colitis (IRC) and their correlation with endoscopic manifestations.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted. Clinical data from 10 patients with IRC treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2022 to January 2024 were collected. The ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) and Limberg classification were used to assess the severity of colonoscopy and TBUS examinations, respectively. Kendall's tau-b method was applied for correlation analysis between UCEIS scores and Limberg classification.Results:All the 10 patients were male with a median age of 65 years (59-74 years). The majority had lung cancer (8 patients) and all were in advanced stages, with 6 patients in stage Ⅲ and 4 in stage Ⅳ. They all received anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) /anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined with chemotherapy, among whom 2 patients were combined with anti-angiogenic drug treatment. The median time from the first immunotherapy to the onset of IRC was 1.50 (0.25-12.00) months; the median time from IRC treatment to clinical symptom relief to G1 was 2.45 (0.50-8.00) weeks. Nine patients were in the active phase, mainly G3 (8 patients) ; 1 was in the remission phase after treatment. TBUS showed that among the 9 active IRC patients, the entire colon was mainly involved (7 patients), with combined small intestine involvement (3 patients) ; the main manifestations were thickening of the bowel wall, with the thickest bowel wall being 7.0 (5.0-8.0) mm, mainly located in the sigmoid colon (3 patients) and descending colon (3 patients) ; increased bowel wall blood flow signals (Limberg classification 2-4) occurred in 7 patients; 3 active patients had perienteric fat wrapping, and 2 had blurred bowel wall stratification. The Kendall's tau-b correlation coefficient r between the entire colon UCEIS scores and Limberg classification was 0.891 ( P = 0.003), and the Kendall's tau-b correlation coefficient r between the colon segment UCEIS scores and Limberg classification was 0.690 ( P < 0.001) . Conclusion:During the active phase, the left colon of IRC is more severe in TBUS, which mainly manifests as the thickening bowel wall and increased blood flow signals, and the TBUS has good correlation with colonoscopy evaluation.
7.Anti-depressant effect and mechanism of arecoline in mice with chronic and unpredictable mild stress
Danyang WANG ; Jingwen CUI ; Xinmin LIU ; Bei FAN ; Fengzhong WANG ; Cong LU
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(6):836-847
Objective We explored the anti-depressant activity and mechanism of arecoline in vivo in a mouse model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress.The aim was to explore the possible mechanisms of action,providing experimental evidence for further research into the health benefits of arecoline and theoretical support for the scientific development and utilization of this resource.Methods Sixty quarantine-qualified SPF C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into a control group,model group,fluoxetine group(20 mg/kg),and arecoline low-,medium-,and high-dose groups(10,20,and 40 mg/kg,respectively)according to body mass(n=10 mice per group).The effects of arecoline on the behavior of the mice were evaluated by open-field,tail-suspension,and forced-swimming tests.Serum corticosterone and serum and brain levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD)were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay.Malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and norepinephrine(NE)levels in brain tissue,and dopamine(DA),gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-10,IL-1β,brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),tropomyosin receptor kinase B(TrkB),and cAMP-response element binding protein(CREB)were detected by Western Blot.Results Arecoline significantly reduced the total distance and average speed of the model mice in open field tests and increased activities,and significantly reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests.Arecoline also significantly decreased serum corticosterone levels,increased SOD and CAT,and decreased MDA levels.5-HT,DA,NE,and GABA levels were significantly increased,and the cytokines TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β were significantly decreased.Expression levels of BDNF,TrkB,and CREB in the brain tissue were significantly increased.Conclusions Research has found that arecoline has a significant antidepressant ability,and its mechanism may be achieved by reducing oxidative stress damage,inhibiting neuroinflammation,regulating neurotransmitter balance,and regulating the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway..This study explored the antidepressant efficacy of arecoline and preliminarily revealed its possible regulatory mechanism,which can provide data support for the neuroactivity of arecoline and lay a theoretical foundation for the development of arecoline as medicine.
8.Comprehensive clinical evaluation of empagliflozin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Bei ZHANG ; Qingxia XUE ; Lu CHEN ; Jiaojiao CHEN ; Huiyuan ZHANG ; Shengjun MU ; Fudong SUN ; Quan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2025;34(10):1127-1139
Objective To conduct a multidimensional and multi-level evaluation of the comprehensive clinical value of empagliflozin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Based on the National Essential Medicines List(2018 Edition),dapagliflozin was selected as the control.A comprehensive clinical evaluation index system was established through literature review,focus group interviews and in-depth expert interviews,encompassing six dimensions:safety,efficacy,economy,suitability,innovation,and accessibility.The Delphi method and hierarchical direct weighting method were used to screen indicators and determine their weights.Evidence for each indicator was collected and integrated both qualitatively and quantitatively through literature research,real-world studies,and pharmacoeconomic evaluations.Experts scored the indicators based on the collected evidence,and a total score for the comprehensive clinical evaluation of empagliflozin was calculated by combining these scores with indicator weights,followed by a comparative analysis with dapagliflozin.Results A comprehensive clinical evaluation of empagliflozin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus was successfully established,consisting of 6 primary indicators,14 secondary indicators,and 41 tertiary indicators.The overall evaluation score for empagliflozin was 90.35,and 89.47 for dapagliflozin.Conclusion The comprehensive clinical value of empagliflozin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is slightly higher than that of dapagliflozin.This finding can serve as a reference for rational clinical drug use and related decision-making.
9.A study of user persona in nutritional self-management within home-based elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Xia CHEN ; Bei WANG ; Ping YUAN ; Di FAN ; Haikun JIANG ; Hongyan LU
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(13):1015-1024
Objective:To explore the characteristics of nutrition self-management of home-based elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients based on user persona, in order to provide reference for accurate home nutrition management.Methods:From July to December 2023, home-based elderly COPD patients in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were selected by convenience sampling method. The Mini Nutritional Assessment, COPD Assessment Test, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, COPD Patients Self-Management Scale were used to conduct questionnaire survey. The SPSS 26.0 software was used to analyze the influencing factors of patients′ self-management of nutrition. Attributes with statistical significance ( P<0.05) were extracted as labels, and the visualization of patients′ self-management of nutrition portraits was completed in the form of pictures combined with labels. Results:A total of 320 questionnaires were distributed, and 309 valid questionnaires were collected. Among 309 home-based elderly COPD patients, there were 210 males and 99 females with an age of (69.14 ± 6.84) years old. According to the data analysis results, three dimensions of natural attributes, social attributes, and behavioral tracks were artificially extracted to construct three types of nutritional self-management user persona for home-based elderly COPD patients, respectively namely blind management type, independent attempt type, and powerless type.Conclusions:There are great differences in the nutritional status and self-management of home-based elderly patients with COPD. Accurate management measures can be developed based on user persona analysis to improve their nutritional status.
10.Zedoarondiol Inhibits Neovascularization in Atherosclerotic Plaques of ApoE-/- Mice by Reducing Platelet Exosomes-Derived MiR-let-7a.
Bei-Li XIE ; Bo-Ce SONG ; Ming-Wang LIU ; Wei WEN ; Yu-Xin YAN ; Meng-Jie GAO ; Lu-Lian JIANG ; Zhi-Die JIN ; Lin YANG ; Jian-Gang LIU ; Da-Zhuo SHI ; Fu-Hai ZHAO
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):228-239
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment.
METHODS:
ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation.
RESULTS:
Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36.
CONCLUSION
Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals
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MicroRNAs/genetics*
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Exosomes/drug effects*
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Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics*
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Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics*
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Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
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Humans
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Blood Platelets/drug effects*
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Apolipoproteins E/deficiency*
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Thrombospondin 1/metabolism*
;
CD36 Antigens/metabolism*
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Platelet Activation/drug effects*
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL

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