1.Effective Components of Epimedii Folium in Regulating Related Signaling Pathways for Treatment of Steroid-induced Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head: A Review
Jingxuan CHANG ; Jinyao WU ; Meiying JIN ; Fanqi MENG ; Wenhai ZHAO ; Zhenhai CUI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):277-288
Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head(SANFH) is a bone and joint disease caused by prolonged and excessive steroid use. Its typical pathological features involve progressive circulatory disorders in the blood supply system of femoral head, leading to osteocyte apoptosis and bone tissue necrosis. As the disease progresses, it ultimately results in structural collapse and necrotic lesions of the femoral head, severely affecting patients' limb function and quality of life. Glucocorticoids mediate pathological damage through dual mechanisms, on the one hand, they disrupt the dynamic equilibrium between bone formation and resorption by suppressing osteoblast differentiation activity and activating osteoclastogenesis, on the other hand, they induce lipid metabolism disorders, inhibit angiogenesis, and impair endothelial cell function, thereby triggering microcirculatory disorders. Epimedii Folium and its active components exhibit multidimensional regulatory effects in SANFH prevention and treatment. Literature review reveals that it is rich in multiple active ingredients, primarily including total flavonoids of Epimedii Folium, icaritin, icariin, kaempferol, icariside Ⅱ, etc. These compounds exert multiple pharmacological effects(regulating bone metabolic homeostasis, modulating angiogenesis, correcting lipid metabolism disorders, and controlling cellular autophagy processes) through multiple signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor(TGF)-β/bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)/Smad, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear transcription factor-κB ligand/receptor activator of nuclear transcription factor-κB(OPG/RANKL/RANK), etc. Based on existing research findings, this paper systematically elucidates the intervention mechanisms of active components in Epimedii Folium on key pathological processes of SANFH through the above pathways. It also deeply analyzes their regulatory roles in key nodes of different signaling pathways, aiming to provide valuable references for future clinical treatment and experimental research.
2.The mechanism of action of the insulin-like growth factor-1/insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signaling pathway in regulating liver fibrosis
Yan CUI ; Jingtao LI ; Junzhe JIAO ; Zhanjie CHANG ; Haibo ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):445-451
Liver fibrosis is caused by various factors such as viral infection, alcohol intake, and metabolism-related damage, leading to the replacement of normal tissue by fibrous scars. As a regulatory factor for cell proliferation, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) participates in the regulation of cell cycle, the promotion of cell proliferation and differentiation, and the inhibition of cell apoptosis by binding to its receptor insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). Studies have shown that the IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling pathway can regulate the process of liver fibrosis by affecting the senescence and apoptosis of hepatocytes, the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells, and the dysfunction of endothelial cells. In addition, the IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling system can also regulate multiple mechanisms such as DNA damage repair, cell proliferation, lipid metabolism, cell senescence, and oxidative stress, thereby providing new strategies and potential targets for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis. This article summarizes the mechanism of action of IGF-1/IGF-1R and its signal transduction system in mediating liver fibrosis by regulating DNA damage repair in different cells, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
3.Academic Characteristics of Contemporary Chinese Medicine Masters in Treating Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on SrTO
Yu SUN ; Xiaodan WANG ; Yingzi CUI ; Tianying CHANG ; Fan LI ; Lisha WANG ; Chenxuan DONG ; Shoulin ZHANG ; Xing LIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):258-269
ObjectiveTo explore the academic characteristics of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in treating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspectives of principles, methods, formulas, and medications. MethodsIn strict accordance with the Systematic Review of Text and Opinion (SrTO) process developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), an Australian evidence-based healthcare center, the databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, Wanfang Data, and China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed) were searched. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, text information extraction, quality evaluation, and text information synthesis were conducted sequentially. The data were analyzed and presented in the form of text and figures. ResultsA total of 215 articles related to 43 contemporary renowned experts in the fields of Chinese medicine nephrology and endocrinology were included. The study found that the academic thoughts of these masters in the treatment of DKD are extensive, involving multiple levels such as disease understanding, therapeutic strategies, formula application, and medication use. In terms of disease understanding, the primary pathogenesis is characterized by deficiency in the root and excess in the manifestation. It is emphasized that internal factors, such as congenital endowment deficiency, interact with external factors such as improper diet, emotional disturbances, invasion of exogenous pathogens, and delayed or inappropriate treatment, to jointly induce the disease. This further gives rise to various pathogenetic theories, including obstruction of renal collaterals by blood stasis, toxin-induced damage to renal collaterals, latent wind disturbing the kidney, and internal heat leading to mass formation. In terms of therapeutic strategies and medication use, the principal treatment method is to replenish Qi and nourish Yin. Stage-based and syndrome-differentiated treatments are advocated. Flexible use of insect-derived drugs and wind-dispelling drugs is emphasized, along with proficiency in applying classical formulas and drug pairs. Integrated internal and external treatments, as well as the combined application of multiple therapeutic approaches, are commonly employed for comprehensive management. Meanwhile, the concept of "preventive treatment of disease" is upheld, and individualized long-term management of patients is advocated. ConclusionThrough the SrTO process, the academic thoughts of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in the treatment of DKD have been systematically and standardly synthesized, providing a scientific and standardized basis for future theoretical exploration.
4.Academic Characteristics of Contemporary Chinese Medicine Masters in Treating Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on SrTO
Yu SUN ; Xiaodan WANG ; Yingzi CUI ; Tianying CHANG ; Fan LI ; Lisha WANG ; Chenxuan DONG ; Shoulin ZHANG ; Xing LIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):258-269
ObjectiveTo explore the academic characteristics of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in treating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspectives of principles, methods, formulas, and medications. MethodsIn strict accordance with the Systematic Review of Text and Opinion (SrTO) process developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), an Australian evidence-based healthcare center, the databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, Wanfang Data, and China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed) were searched. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, text information extraction, quality evaluation, and text information synthesis were conducted sequentially. The data were analyzed and presented in the form of text and figures. ResultsA total of 215 articles related to 43 contemporary renowned experts in the fields of Chinese medicine nephrology and endocrinology were included. The study found that the academic thoughts of these masters in the treatment of DKD are extensive, involving multiple levels such as disease understanding, therapeutic strategies, formula application, and medication use. In terms of disease understanding, the primary pathogenesis is characterized by deficiency in the root and excess in the manifestation. It is emphasized that internal factors, such as congenital endowment deficiency, interact with external factors such as improper diet, emotional disturbances, invasion of exogenous pathogens, and delayed or inappropriate treatment, to jointly induce the disease. This further gives rise to various pathogenetic theories, including obstruction of renal collaterals by blood stasis, toxin-induced damage to renal collaterals, latent wind disturbing the kidney, and internal heat leading to mass formation. In terms of therapeutic strategies and medication use, the principal treatment method is to replenish Qi and nourish Yin. Stage-based and syndrome-differentiated treatments are advocated. Flexible use of insect-derived drugs and wind-dispelling drugs is emphasized, along with proficiency in applying classical formulas and drug pairs. Integrated internal and external treatments, as well as the combined application of multiple therapeutic approaches, are commonly employed for comprehensive management. Meanwhile, the concept of "preventive treatment of disease" is upheld, and individualized long-term management of patients is advocated. ConclusionThrough the SrTO process, the academic thoughts of contemporary renowned Chinese medicine masters in the treatment of DKD have been systematically and standardly synthesized, providing a scientific and standardized basis for future theoretical exploration.
5.Construction of a Postoperative Prevention and Treatment Model for Breast Cancer Based on the "Disease-Syndrome-Constitution-Trend-Strategy-Efficacy" Framework
Yongjia CUI ; Wenping LU ; Lei CHANG ; Lutian GONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):580-583
In response to the high risk of recurrence and metastasis after breast cancer surgery, this paper proposes a six-dimensional integrated preventive and therapeutic model, namely the "disease-syndrome-constitution-trend-strategy-efficacy" framework, including disease identification, syndrome differentiation, constitution differentiation, trend assessment, strategy implementation, and effect evaluation. This model builds upon the traditional three-dimensional approach of disease identification, syndrome differentiation and constitution differentiation, and introduces "trend" to dynamically capture the evolving tendencies of disease progression and the transformation of syndrome and constitution, thereby operationalizing the concept of "treating before disease onset". The "strategy" dimension enables the organic integration and individualized regulation of TCM and western medical interventions, while the "efficacy" dimension establishes a multidimensional evaluation system integrating TCM and western medicine to assess the efficacy of the "strategy", so as to promote the systematic, dynamic, and precise development of treating before disease onset in TCM.
6.Serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 Expression in Patients with Esophageal Cancer and Their Association with Postoperative Lung Infection After Mediastinoscopy
Yu FENG ; Rulin QIAN ; Dong CUI ; Chaoying CHANG ; Maolin CHEN
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(1):68-73
Objective To investigate serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 expression in patients with esophageal cancer and their relationship to lung infection after mediastinoscopy. Methods A total of 118 patients with esophageal cancer were selected and divided into infected and uninfected groups according to whether they developed lung infection after surgery. An automatic microbiological identification system was used to detect the pathogenic bacteria of lung infection. ELISA was used to detect the levels of β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postoperative lung infection in patients with esophageal cancer. ROC curves were plotted to analyze the assessment value of serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 on postoperative lung infection. Results Fifty-two strains of bacteria were isolated from the sputum of 38 patients with postoperative lung infections, and these included 35 (67.31%) Gram-negative, 14 (26.92%) Gram-positive, and 3 (5.77%) fungal strains. The difference in long-term smoking history between the infected and uninfected groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Serum β2-MG and PSGL-1 levels were significantly higher and sCHE levels were significantly lower in the infected group than in the uninfected group (P<0.05). Serum β2-MG and PSGL-1 levels were sequentially higher (P<0.05) and sCHE levels were sequentially lower (P<0.05) in the mild, moderate, and severe lung infection groups. Long-term smoking history, β2-MG, and PSGL-1 were risk factors affecting postoperative lung infection in patients with esophageal cancer (P<0.05), and sCHE was a protective factor (P<0.05). The AUCs of serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 for assessing postoperative lung infections were 0.807, 0.845, and 0.800, respectively, and the AUC of the three combined factors for assessing postoperative lung infections was 0.954, which was superior to that assessed individually (Zcombination vs. β2-MG=2.576, Zcombination vs. sCHE=2.623, Zcombination vs. PSGL-1=2.574, all P<0.05). Conclusion The serum levels of β2-MG and PSGL-1 increase and the sCHE level decreases in patients with esophageal cancer and postoperative pulmonary infection, which are also related with lung infection. Combined testing can improve the evaluation value of postoperative pulmonary infection in patients.
7.Association between Modified Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu Formula (益气活血解毒方) or PARP Inhibitors Maintenance Therapy and Recurrence and Metastasis in Advanced Ovarian Cancer:A Propensity Score Matched Case-Control Study
Yongjia CUI ; Wenping LU ; Lei CHANG ; Yilin WEI ; Xiyue WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):256-261
ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the maintenance treatment of modified Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu Formula (益气活血解毒方) or poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and the recurrence and metastasis of advanced ovarian cancer. MethodsA case-control study design was employed, dividing patients with advanced ovarian cancer into two groups based on the occurrence of recurrence and metastasis following first-line maintenance treatment. Patients with recurrence and metastasis comprised the case group, while those without recurrence and metastasis served as the control group. The previous first-line maintenance treatment method was set as the exposure factor in the study (with the use of modified Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu Formula defined as exposed and PARP inhibitors defined as unexposed). Basic information was collected for both groups, including the achievement of satisfactory R0 surgery, age, stage, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, lymph node metastasis, germline BRCA1/2 mutations, homologous recombination deficiency positivity, first-line maintenance treatment method (modified Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu Formula or PARP inhibitors), and CA125 levels after the last chemotherapy. The baseline data of the two groups were assessed for differences. If there exists difference, a 1∶1 nearest neighbor matching method was used for propensity score matching. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate the association between the modified Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu Formula or PARP inhibitors and the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer. ResultsA total of 201 patients with advanced ovarian cancer were included, with 97 in the case group and 104 in the control group. Both groups showed statistically significant differences in R0 surgery, stage, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and CA125 levels after the last chemotherapy (P<0.05), indicating baseline imbalance. After propensity score matching, there were 71 patients in both the case and control groups, achieving baseline balance (P>0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the achievement of satisfactory R0 surgery (P = 0.006), disease stage (P = 0.001), the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.024), treatment modality (P = 0.006), and CA125 levels after the last chemotherapy (P = 0.013) were associated with the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that disease stage was an independent influencing factor for the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer (P = 0.030), whereas the P-value for the correlation between first-line maintenance treatment and ovarian cancer was 0.188. ConclusionFirst-line maintenance treatment of ovarian cancer patients with the use of modified Yiqi Huoxue Jiedu Formula or PARP inhibitors does not correlate with the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer.
8.Three new gallic acid sugaresters from Elaeagnus oxycarpa Schlechtend leaves and their antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities
Feng-zhen CUI ; Jian-hong FU ; Guo-yan XU ; AYEKABAYR·EKBAYR ; Chang-da MA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):434-441
Five compounds were isolated and purified from the water extract of
9.Predictive value of serum Lp-PLA2 level for high-risk coronary plaques in elderly males
Jinjin CUI ; Keyu WANG ; Xinwei CHANG ; Fang LI ; Hongxiang YAO ; Xue ZHENG ; Jian ZHAO ; Guanzhong LIU ; Xinjiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2025;27(7):836-840
Objective To investigate the value of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)for predicting high-risk coronary plaques in elderly males.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 46 elderly males aged ≥60 years undergoing health check-ups and coro-nary computed tomography angiography in our hospital between May and July 2024.Their general clinical data were collected.Artificial intelligence software was used to analyze coronary calcium scores and plaque characteristics.The participants were divided into a high-risk plaque group(n=15)and a non-high-risk plaque group(n=31).The differences were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors for high-risk coronary plaques.ROC curve was plotted to determine the predictive value of serum Lp-PLA2 for high-risk plaques,and its AUC value was calculated.Results The high-risk plaque group had significantly larger proportions of smoking history and hyperlipidemia,and higher level of homocysteine and Lp-PLA2 than the non-high-risk plaque group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Multiva-riate logistic regression analysis indicated that Lp-PLA2 was an independent risk factor for high-risk coronary plaques(HR=1.030,95%CI:1.008-1.053,P<0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC value of Lp-PLA2 in predicting high-risk coronary plaques was 0.833(95%CI:0.694-0.927,P<0.01),with a sensitivity of 93.3%,a specificity of 71.0%,a positive predictive value of 62.5%,and a negative predictive value of 100%.Conclusion Serum Lp-PLA2 is of signif-icant value in predicting high-risk coronary plaques in elderly men.
10.Effect of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy on rocuronium bromide-induced neuromuscular blockade in patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors
Panpan DUAN ; Juanli ZHANG ; Meng CUI ; Yang LI ; Jianhua CHANG ; Rui YANG
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2025;45(8):972-975
Objective:To evaluate the effect of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy on rocuronium bromide-induced neuromuscular blockade in patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records from patients pathologically diagnosed with gastrointestinal tumors (stageⅡ or Ⅲ) and underwent elective radical tumour resection under general anaesthesia, aged 43-74 yr, with a body mass index of 18-25 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ-Ⅲ at Shaanxi Provincial People′s Hospital from November 2021 to November 2022, were collected. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy was performed: non-chemotherapy group and chemotherapy group. Non-chemotherapy group did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery and underwent direct surgery without receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy group received 4 weeks of chemotherapy with FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin), XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) or SOX (oxaliplatin + tegio) the three regimens before surgery. The neuromuscular monitoring was initiated after induction of intravenous anaesthesia, and rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg was intravenously injected when the train-of-four ratio stabilized at 90%-110%. Mechanical ventilation was performed after endotracheal intubation when the train-of-four count was 0. When T 1 began to recover, rocuronium 0.2 mg/kg was intravenously injected, and rocuronium was intermittently injected during operation to maintain muscle relaxation. The onset time, complete muscle relaxation time, recovery index, 90% recovery index, maintenance time and consumption of rocuronium were recorded. Results:A total of 40 patients were finally included, with 20 in each group. Compared with non-chemotherapy group, the onset time was significantly prolonged, the recovery index, 90% recovery index and consumption of rocuronium were increased, the time for complete muscle relaxation was shortened ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the maintenance time of muscle relaxation in chemotherapy group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy can prolong the onset and recovery time of rocuronium, shorten the time to complete muscle relaxation and increase the consumption in patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors.

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