1.Construction and Practice of AI-Based Triadic Interactive Teaching Model for Surgical Animal Surgery
Kaikai MAO ; Xiu LI ; Chen ZHOU ; Jianfeng SANG ; Meng WANG ; Guang ZHANG ; Xiaozhi ZHAO
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(2):288-296
ObjectiveIn the context of the digital transformation of education, this study aims to construct a triadic interactive teaching model for surgical animal surgery in clinical medicine using modern information technology. It explores the effectiveness of different teaching methods in improving students' practical skills, aseptic awareness, and teamwork abilities, providing a reference for the reform of clinical practice education. MethodsA quasi-experimental research design was adopted. A total of 80 students from the eight-year clinical medicine program at Nanjing University were selected, including the Class of 2020 (control group, n=40) and the Class of 2021 (experimental group, n=40). The control group received traditional teaching methods, while the experimental group implemented the "Teacher-Student-AI" triadic interactive teaching model. This model utilized a smart teaching platform for personalized pre-class preparation , as well as data-driven post-class review and feedback throughout the entire teaching process. The "assessment indicators and scoring criteria for the surgical animal surgery course" were used to evaluate teaching effectiveness, with independent samples t-tests used for statistical analysis. ResultsPre-course assessments revealed no statistically significant differences in baseline theoretical knowledge or practical skills between the two groups (P>0.05). Upon completion of the course, the experimental group achieved higher scores than the control group across three key dimensions: practical skills (47.98±1.34 vs 46.92±2.51, P=0.022), aseptic awareness (17.84±1.16 vs 16.94±2.29, P=0.029), and teamwork (16.82±1.44 vs 15.95±1.22, P=0.004). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in the scores for humane care awareness between the two groups (8.24±0.70 vs 8.16±0.53, P=0.589). ConclusionThe AI-based triadic interactive teaching model can, to some extent, address the limitations of traditional surgical animal surgery education. It plays a positive role in enhancing medical students' surgical skills, aseptic awareness, and collaborative abilities. This model facilitates the transition from traditional to personalized teaching and offers a practical framework for the digital reform of clinical practice education.
2.Targeting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to treat allergic asthma: Pathogenesis, mechanism, and treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and its components
Jiamao WANG ; Qitong ZHENG ; Yiqing SHI ; Mengyao CHEN ; Xia'nan SANG ; Gang CAO
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):10-23
Traditional Chinese medicine and its bioactive components have garnered increasing attention as potential therapeutic options for allergic asthma. By targeting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, these natural compounds exhibit unique advantages in multilevel immunomodulation and inflammation suppression compared with single-target synthetic drugs. Accumulating pharmacological evidence supports their capacity to restore pathway homeostasis, positioning them as promising candidates for complementary strategies in asthma management. Allergic asthma, a heterogeneous respiratory disorder affecting approximately 150 million individuals worldwide, arises from a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors. Its pathological progression is marked by aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling cascade, with the mechanistic target of rapamycin serving as a key downstream regulatory node. This evolutionarily conserved pathway orchestrates fundamental cellular processes that contribute to three hallmark pathological features of allergic asthma: chronic airway inflammation, structural remodeling of the bronchial architecture, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This review has 3 primary objectives: (1) to evaluate the role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in allergic asthma pathogenesis, (2) to analyze the molecular mechanisms of representative traditional Chinese medicine preparations and their active ingredients, and (3) to identify novel bioactive inhibitors derived from natural products. Collectively, these investigations provide a conceptual framework for the development of next-generation targeted therapies and for optimizing clinical management strategies for allergic asthma.
3.Study on the reversal effect of Qingfei huayu jiedu formula on drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells
Shuailong CHEN ; Huihui LIU ; Feng SANG ; Lifeng JIANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(12):1553-1558
OBJECTIVE To investigate the reversal effect of Qingfei huayu jiedu formula (QFHYJDF) on drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells based on the microRNA-641 (miR-641)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. METHODS The human parental NSCLC cell line A549 was used to establish gefitinib-resistant cells A549/GR by combining concentration gradient increment with high-concentration pulse strategy. After screening for optimal intervention concentration and duration, the resistant cells were divided into a control serum group (treated with 20% blank serum for 48 h), QFHYJDF-containing serum group (treated with 20% QFHYJDF-containing serum for 48 h), and the normally cultured group (normally cultured for 48 h). The cell relative viability, total apoptosis rate, as well as the expression levels of miR-641, neurofibromin 1 (NF1), ERK1/2, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), were assessed in each group. RESULTS Compared with the normally cultured group and the control serum group, the QFHYJDF-containing serum group exhibited significantly decreased cell relative viability and significantly increased total apoptosis rate ( P <0.05). Moreover, the expression of NF1 protein was significantly up-regulated, while the expression levels of miR-641 and p-ERK1, p-ERK2 proteins were significantly down-regulated in the QFHYJDF-containing serum group ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS QFHYJDF can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cells, which may be associated with up-regulating NF1 protein expression, down-regulating miR-641 expression, and inhibiting the activity of the ERK signaling pathway.
4.Discovery of novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors for treating Alzheimer's disease.
Zhipei SANG ; Shuheng HUANG ; Wanying TAN ; Yujuan BAN ; Keren WANG ; Yufan FAN ; Hongsong CHEN ; Qiyao ZHANG ; Chanchan LIANG ; Jing MI ; Yunqi GAO ; Ya ZHANG ; Wenmin LIU ; Jianta WANG ; Wu DONG ; Zhenghuai TAN ; Lei TANG ; Haibin LUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):2134-2155
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder among the elderly, and BuChE has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we reported the development of compound 8e, a selective reversible BuChE inhibitor (eqBuChE IC50 = 0.049 μmol/L, huBuChE IC50 = 0.066 μmol/L), identified through extensive virtual screening and lead optimization. Compound 8e demonstrated favorable blood-brain barrier permeability, good drug-likeness property and pronounced neuroprotective efficacy. Additionally, 8e exhibited significant therapeutic effects in zebrafish AD models and scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice. Further, 8e significantly improved cognitive function in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that 8e markedly elevated the expression levels of very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), offering valuable insights into its potential modulation of the Reelin-mediated signaling pathway. Thus, compound 8e emerges as a novel and potent BuChE inhibitor for the treatment of AD, with significant implications for further exploration into its mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications.
5.Discovery of orally active and serine-targeting covalent inhibitors against hCES2A for ameliorating irinotecan-triggered gut toxicity.
Ya ZHANG ; Yufan FAN ; Yunqing SONG ; Guanghao ZHU ; Xinjuan LI ; Jian HUANG ; Xinrui GUO ; Changhai LUAN ; Dongning KANG ; Lu CHEN ; Zhangping XIAO ; Zhaobin GUO ; Hairong ZENG ; Dapeng CHEN ; Zhipei SANG ; Guangbo GE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5312-5326
Human carboxylesterase 2A (hCES2A) plays pivotal roles in prodrug activation and hydrolytic metabolism of ester-bearing chemicals. Targeted inhibition of intestinal hCES2A represents a feasible strategy to mitigate irinotecan-triggered gut toxicity (ITGT), but the orally active, selective, and efficacious hCES2A inhibitors are rarely reported. Here, a novel drug-like hCES2A inhibitor was developed via three rounds of structure-based drug design (SBDD) and structural optimization. Initially, donepezil was identified as a moderate hCES2A inhibitor from 2000 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. Following two rounds of SBDD and structural optimization, a donepezil derivative (B7) was identified as a strong reversible hCES2A inhibitor. Subsequently, nine B7 carbamates were rationally designed, synthesized and biologically assayed. Among all synthesized carbamates, C3 showed the most potent time-dependent inhibition on hCES2A (IC50 = 0.56 nmol/L), excellent specificity and favorable drug-like properties. C3 could covalently modify the catalytic serine of hCES2A with high selectivity, while this agent also showed favorable safety profiles, high intestinal exposure, and impressive effects for ameliorating ITGT in both human intestinal organoids and tumor-bearing mice. Collectively, this study showcases a rational strategy for developing drug-like and serine-targeting covalent inhibitors against target serine hydrolase(s), while C3 emerges as a promising orally active drug candidate for ameliorating ITGT.
6.Distribution of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and its association with perinatal outcomes
Jin CHEN ; Dan YANG ; Qianrong LI ; Yan SANG ; Zhi YU ; Jiao XU ; Xuemei WANG ; Heying HUANG ; Xue TANG ; Lin ZHUANG ; Xiaoyin WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2343-2350
ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and its association with perinatal outcomes, and to provide a basis for precise treatment based on TCM syndrome differentiation. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 275 patients with ICP who were admitted to The Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2023 to April 2025. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to summarize TCM syndromes. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the clinical features significantly associated with TCM syndrome. ResultsThe cluster analysis identified three core TCM syndromes among the 275 patients with ICP, i.e., liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome (45.8%), syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind (30.9%), and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome (23.3%). There was a significant difference in the distribution of TCM syndromes between different groups stratified by maternal age at delivery, parity, history of ICP recurrence, gestational weeks at disease onset, total bile acid (TBA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and comorbidity with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (all P<0.05). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that<34 gestational weeks at disease onset was significantly associated with all three syndromes (damp-heat: odds ratio [OR]=3.769, P<0.001; blood deficiency: OR=4.031, P<0.001; liver stagnation: OR=3.552, P<0.001). Liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome was associated with maternal age ≥35 years at disease onset (OR=2.048, P=0.014), parity ≥2 times (OR=1.921, P=0.034), history of ICP recurrence (OR=2.404, P=0.030), ALT ≥200 U/L (OR=2.051, P=0.018), comorbidity with GDM (OR=1.944, P=0.029), and TBA ≥40 μmol/L (OR=2.542, P=0.024). The syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind syndrome was associated with maternal age ≥35 years (OR=2.939, P=0.003), parity ≥2 time (OR=3.222, P=0.003), history of ICP recurrence (OR=3.809, P=0.010), ALT ≥200 U/L (OR=2.889, P=0.006), comorbidity with GDM (OR=3.711, P=0.001), and comorbidity with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR=4.472, P=0.011). Liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome was associated with TBA ≥40 μmol/L (OR=2.995, P=0.044). The analysis of perinatal outcomes showed that there were significant differences in mode of delivery, gestational weeks at the time of delivery, postpartum blood loss, and neonatal birth weight between the three groups with different TCM syndromes (all P<0.05). ConclusionLiver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome, syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind, and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome are the main TCM syndrome types in ICP, and the distribution of TCM syndromes is closely associated with clinical factors and perinatal outcomes, which provides a basis for precise TCM syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment.
7.Complications and preventive measures after thyroid ablation
Jianfeng SANG ; Kehao CHEN ; Lulu ZHENG ; Linghui DAI ; Yixuan LI ; Jiabo QIN ; Liu YANG
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(4):487-490
Thermal ablation (TA) is a widely applied minimally invasive treatment for benign thyroid nodules and low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Compared to conventional surgery, TA offers advantages such as minimal trauma, rapid recovery, and no scarring. However, this procedure may lead to various complications, including intraoperative pain, nerve injury, hemorrhage, tracheal injury, skin burns, vasovagal reactions, nodule rupture, and thyroid dysfunction. Although TA demonstrates excellent safety and efficacy, further standardization of procedural protocols is necessary to minimize the incidence of complications.
8.Application of ultrasound, genetic testing, and clinical features in malignancy prediction of Bethesda III thyroid nodules: potential to avoid unnecessary surgery
Kehao CHEN ; Lulu ZHENG ; Linghui DAI ; Yixuan LI ; Jiabo QIN ; Liu YANG ; Jianfeng SANG ; Wenxian GUAN
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(3):363-367
Objective:To evaluate the predictive role of ultrasound, genetic testing, and clinical features in the malignancy risk of Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules, and to explore strategies for optimizing treatment decisions.Methods:This retrospective study included 227 Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules from patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Thyroid Surgery Department of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between Jan. 2020 and Dec. 2023. All patients underwent ultrasound evaluation and fine-needle aspiration. For nodules diagnosed as ultrasound, genetic testing, and clinical features were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression to assess their association with malignancy.Results:Among the 227 nodules, 214 were malignant, resulting in a malignancy rate of 94.2%. The malignancy rate of thyroid nodules was 94.2%. In univariate analysis, age ( P=0.016), BRAF V600E gene mutation ( P<0.001), nodule size ( P=0.002), and TIRADS ( P<0.001) were significantly associated with malignancy in Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age ( OR=0.939, P=0.049) and BRAF V600E gene mutation ( OR=24.641, P<0.001) were significantly associated with thyroid nodule nature and served as independent predictive factors for malignancy. Conclusions:Genetic testing is an important method for predicting the malignancy of Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules, and ultrasound also has high clinical value in assessing the malignancy risk of nodules. While some clinical features are highly correlated with nodule characteristics, they may not be practical in clinical application. For nodules classified as TIRADS 3 through ultrasound evaluation and negative for BRAF mutations, continued observation may be considered, whereas TIRADS 5 nodules or nodules with BRAF mutations should be prioritized for surgical treatment.
9.Clinical Efficacy of Suyin Jiedu Prescription in the Treatment of Stage 3-5 Chronic Kidney Disease of Kidney Deficiency and Turbid Toxin Type and Its Effect on Serum Klotho
Lianghui SHU ; Na LI ; Yunhe SANG ; Chen YONG ; Enchao ZHOU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):538-543
OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical efficacy of Suyin Jiedu Prescription in the treatment of Stage 3-5 non-dialysis chronic kidney disease of kidney deficiency and turbid toxin type and its effect on serum Klotho and inflammation levels.METHODS A total of 102 patients with Stage 3-5 non-dialysis chronic kidney disease of kidney deficiency and turbid toxin type who met the inclu-sion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,51 cases in each group;a total of 84 cases were comple-ted,including 44 cases in the control group and 40 cases in the treatment group.The control group was given conventional Western medicine basic treatment,and the treatment group was given Suyin Jiedu Prescription on the basis of the control group treatment.The treatment course of both groups was 16 weeks.The levels of renal function indexes[hemoglobin(Hb),serum albumin(Alb),urea ni-trogen(BUN),serum creatinine(Scr),estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),24 h urine protein(UTP)]and TCM syndrome scores were observed in the two groups before and after treatment.The levels of serum Klotho,tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)and interleukin 18(IL-18)were detected by ELISA.The clinical efficacy between the two groups after treatment was compared.RE-SULTS After treatment,BUN and Scr levels of the two groups of patients were significantly decreased(P<0.05),eGFR was signifi-cantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the treatment group was better than the control group(P<0.05);the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the treatment group was better than the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01);the serum Klotho level in the treatment group was significantly increased(P<0.05),the IL-18 level was significantly de-creased(P<0.01),and the serum Klotho,TNF-α,and IL-18 levels in the treatment group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The total clinical effective rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Suyin Jiedu Prescription can effectively improve renal function and relieve clinical symptoms in patients with Stage 3-5 non-dialysis chronic kidney disease of kidney deficiency and turbid toxin type,which may be related to increasing Klotho level and reducing inflammation in the body.
10.Reassessment of non-acute occlusion in intracranial flow diverter implantation: an animal experimental study based on optical coherence tomography, intravascular ultrasound, and pathological correlation
Zhuangzhuang WEI ; Qi TIAN ; Shuailong SHI ; Jie YANG ; Ji MA ; Zhen LI ; Haiqiang SANG ; Yi TANG ; Yuncai RAN ; Yong ZHANG ; Baohong WEN ; Shanshan XIE ; Jinjuan CHEN ; Enjie LIU ; Xinwei HAN ; Tengfei LI
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2025;58(6):607-614
Objective:To investigate and summarize the imaging and pathological features of non-acute occlusion following flow diverter (FD) implantation in animal models.Methods:Four experimental pigs (experimental group) that experienced non-acute occlusion (occlusion time exceeding 24 hours) within the FD stent implanted in the common carotid artery, and 19 pigs (control group) that did not experience stent occlusion during the same period were involved. Using an interventional approach under digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the 4 occluded FD lumens were mechanically opened. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and histopathological examinations were performed to evaluate the intraluminal composition and characteristics of the occlusive tissues. These findings were compared with non-occluded FD stents to summarize the imaging and pathological changes within the occluded FD lumen.Results:The occlusion times of the FD stents in the 4 experimental pigs were 16 weeks, 20 weeks, 20 weeks, and 24 weeks postoperatively. All occluded stents were successfully recanalized under DSA, with a technical success rate of 4/4. Among the 19 non-occluded FD stents, OCT and IVUS revealed uniform (16 stents) or non-uniform (3 stents) neointimal coverage of the stent struts, presenting as homogeneous high/slightly high signal intensity or medium echogenicity. Histopathological examination indicated that the neointima was primarily composed of smooth muscle cells and a small amount of fibrous connective tissues. In contrast, the 4 occluded FD stents demonstrated excessive neointimal proliferation and plaque formation, leading to luminal loss, as shown by OCT and IVUS. The occlusion tissues predominantly presented as homogeneous high signal intensity with weak attenuation (fibrous plaques) on OCT, with some regions showing blurred low signal intensity and strong attenuation (lipid plaques). IVUS presented homogeneous echogenicity (fibrous plaques) and hypoechogenic zones (lipid plaques). Histopathological examination showed that the occlusion tissues mainly consisted of smooth muscle cells, fibrous connective tissues, and lipids, accompanied by numerous foam cells and a minor presence of inflammatory cells.Conclusions:Histopathological examinations confirm that non-acute occlusion of FD is mainly caused by excessive hyperplasia of intima along with the formation of fibrous plaques and lipid plaques. OCT and IVUS have typical finding in imaging that can assist in determining the cause of stent occlusion as well as the lesion's nature, thereby providing crucial guidance for subsequent clinical treatment and drug selection.

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