1.Research progress on the association between lung microbiome and chronic lung allograft dysfunction
Tianle WANG ; Wuji LI ; Chunxiao HU ; Mingfeng ZHENG
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(4):688-694
Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is a common complication after lung transplantation, which severely impairs the long-term survival of patients. At present, effective therapeutic approaches remain lacking. Dysregulation of the lung microbiome acts as a pathogenic factor for a variety of pulmonary diseases. Accumulating studies have demonstrated that the compositional characteristics of the lung microbiome after lung transplantation are closely associated with CLAD. Therefore, this article reviews the definition of CLAD, characteristics of the lung microbiome, the influence of the lung microbiome on the occurrence and progression of CLAD, the potential mechanisms underlying the lung microbiome in the pathogenesis of CLAD, and microbiome-based intervention strategies for CLAD. It aims to provide novel insights for the prevention and treatment of CLAD following lung transplantation and further improve the prognosis of lung transplant recipients.
2.Mechanisms of action and clinical application of Xingnao kaiqiao-type traditional Chinese medicines for post-stroke cognitive impairment
Qiongdi REN ; Ming ZHANG ; Kaiqi SU ; Ruyuan CUI ; Rui PAN ; Chunxiao WANG ; Yachen FENG ; Qi LI ; Xu ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(20):2746-2752
Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a highly prevalent severe complication after stroke. In traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), its core pathogenesis is characterized by deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality: wind, phlegm and blood stasis accumulate, cloud the clear orifices and lead to loss of mental activity, and Xingnao kaiqiao is the targeted principal treatment. This review summarizes the research progress on the pharmacological mechanisms of representative Xingnao kaiqiao-type TCM including Acorus tatarinowii , Curcumae Radix , Polygala tenuifolia , borneol and musk, as well as clinical applications of their related compound formulas and Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of PSCI. The results show that these TCM can improve cognitive function through multiple pathways: targeted regulation of blood-brain barrier permeability, inhibition of neuroinflammation mediated by Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB, high mobility group protein B1 in ischemic brain tissue and other pathways, and activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A/cAMP response element-binding protein and other pathways to promote synaptic plasticity. In terms of clinical application, the evidence chains of formulas based on Acorus tatarinowii and Polygala tenuifolia are relatively complete, which are the core medications to improve cognitive function and activities of daily living; Curcumae Radix has protective potential in the prodromal stage with vascular risk factors; borneol enhances the curative effect of compound prescriptions by improving blood-brain barrier function; musk is mainly used in the acute severe stage. At present, most of the mechanism evidence comes from animal experiments, high-quality large-sample clinical studies directly targeting PSCI populations are still scarce. Subsequent large-sample multicenter studies are needed in the future, combined with multi-omics and multimodal imaging techniques to further clarify its deep-seated mechanism of action.
3.Association between early-detected carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and mortality risk after lung transplantation
Gongyan FAN ; Chenglong LIANG ; Tao ZHOU ; Hongyang XU ; Chunxiao HU ; Jingyu CHEN ; Dapeng WANG
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(6):972-980
Objective To evaluate the associations between carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) detected from any respiratory specimens within 0-7 days after lung transplantation and all-cause mortality at 30-day, 90-day and 1-year post-transplantation. Methods Recipients undergoing lung transplantation at Lung Transplant Center of Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into the CRAb-positive group (n=126) and CRAb-negative group (n=299) according to culture results of respiratory samples collected within postoperative days 0-7. Baseline characteristics were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to identify risk factors for 30-day mortality and analyse the correlation of CRAb detection with 30-day, 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were subsequently conducted. Results Compared with the CRAb-negative group, recipients in the CRAb-positive group presented higher ratios of preoperative invasive mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a higher CRAb-positive rate in donor pharyngeal swabs, and elevated proportions of bilateral lung transplantation, Shell-shaped incision, peri-operative ECMO application. Moreover, the CRAb-positive group had longer pulmonary cold-ischemia time, intensive care unit stay duration and operation time (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that positive CRAb isolation from respiratory samples within postoperative days 0-7 and preoperative coronary stent implantation were independently associated with 30-day mortality (all P<0.001). The CRAb-positive group exhibited significantly higher mortality risks at 30 days, 90 days and 1 year after surgery (all P<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, early CRAb detection remained an independent predictor of elevated mortality (all P<0.05). Consistent results were obtained when stratifying cases by detection timing (0-3 days vs. 4-7 days), excluding patients with co-detection of other multidrug-resistant bacteria, and applying inverse probability of treatment weighting, and the direction of association remained consistent. Conclusions CRAb detected from respiratory specimens within postoperative days 0-7 is independently correlated with increased 30-day, 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality among lung-transplant recipients. Early CRAb detection may serve for risk stratification. Nevertheless, such finding does not confirm that CRAb infection directly causes death, and the conclusion cannot be generalized to deaths occurring within the initial postoperative 7-day period.
4.Application of continuous renal replacement therapy during the perioperative period of lung transplantation
Mochi WANG ; Zihan CHEN ; Xinru HE ; Ranming MA ; Chunxiao HU
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(6):1025-1032
The treatment options for patients with end-stage lung disease are limited. Lung transplantation is currently the only radical treatment that can significantly improve long-term survival. Acute kidney injury during the perioperative period is one of the most common serious complications after lung transplantation, and its occurrence is closely related to the progression of chronic kidney disease and the increase in fatality after surgery. It has become an important risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) can achieve multi-organ support through continuous and stable solute clearance and volume regulation. However, there are still many controversies regarding the indications, initiation timing and management strategies of CRRT in the perioperative period of lung transplantation. This article reviews the core principles of CRRT, the key points of clinical application, anticoagulation management and research progress in the perioperative period of lung transplantation, with the aim of providing evidence-based basis for the clinical formulation of individualized perioperative CRRT plans and improving the prognosis of lung transplant recipients.
5.Pathogenic characteristics and drug sensitivity analysis of hospital-acquired infections in lung transplant recipients: a single-center 5-year retrospective study
Sangsang QIU ; Qinfen XU ; Bo WU ; Xiaojun CAI ; Qinhong HUANG ; Dapeng WANG ; Chunxiao HU ; Jingyu CHEN
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(1):114-121
Objective To analyze the characteristics of postoperative hospital-acquired infections and drug sensitivity in lung transplant recipients over the past 5 years in a single center. Methods A total of 724 lung transplant recipients at Wuxi People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023 were selected. Based on the principles of hospital-acquired infection diagnosis, a retrospective analysis was conducted on the hospital infection situation and infection sites of lung transplant recipients, and an analysis of the distribution of hospital-acquired infection pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility test status was performed. Results Among the 724 lung transplant recipients, 275 cases of hospital-acquired infection occurred, with an infection rate of 38.0%. The case-time infection rate decreased from 54.2% in 2019 to 22.8% in 2023, showing a downward trend year by year (Z=30.98, P<0.001). The main infection site was the lower respiratory tract, accounting for 73.6%. The pathogens were mainly Gram-negative bacteria, with the top four being Acinetobacter baumannii (37.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.7%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (13.4%), with imipenem resistance rates of 89%, 53%, 58% and 100%, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria were mainly Staphylococcus aureus (3.6%), with a methicillin resistance rate of 67%. Conclusions Over the past 5 years, the hospital-acquired infections in lung transplant recipients have shown a downward trend, mainly involving lower respiratory tract infections, with the main pathogens being Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, all of which have high resistance rates to imipenem.
7.Research advances in the treatment of arthritis from natural products (2014-present).
Ruilin WANG ; Cen JI ; Jiayao CHEN ; Xiaohan ZHANG ; Qinghua HU ; Chunxiao LIU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(5):529-540
Arthritis, encompassing osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and gouty arthritis (GA), is a prevalent inflammatory disease that significantly impacts quality of life. Natural products (NPs), derived from animals, plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms, have demonstrated beneficial effects in arthritis treatment both domestically and internationally. These natural compounds offer advantages in drug discovery due to their skeletal diversity, structural complexity, and multi-effect, multi-target, and low-toxicity properties compared to conventional small-molecule medicines. However, unclear mechanisms have hindered the development and clinical application of NPs. This review summarizes recent experimental studies from the past decade on natural medicine for arthritis treatment, emphasizing key NPs with therapeutic effects on OA, RA, and GA. It examines the effects and molecular mechanisms of NPs acting on different cells to treat arthritis. Furthermore, this review provides insights into the future prospects of NP research in this field, which is crucial for advancing NP-based arthritis treatments.
Humans
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Biological Products/therapeutic use*
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Animals
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*
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Arthritis, Gouty/drug therapy*
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Arthritis/drug therapy*
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Osteoarthritis/drug therapy*
8.Xiaoyao Shukun Decoction Treats Sequelae of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease by Regulating Neutrophil Extracellular Traps via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Jing PAN ; Bing ZHANG ; Chunxiao DANG ; Jinxiao LI ; Pengfei LIU ; Xiao YU ; Yuchao WANG ; Jinxing LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):69-78
ObjectiveTo investigate how Xiaoyao Shukun decoction (XYSKD) regulates the formation and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, thereby reducing inflammation, inhibiting the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts in pelvic adhesion tissue, decreasing adhesion and fibrosis, and repairing the tissue damage in sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease (SPID). MethodsA total of 84 Wistar rats were randomly allocated into seven groups: blank, model, XYSKD (8 mg·kg-1), mTOR agonist (10 mg·kg-1), mTOR agonist + XYSKD (10 mg·kg-1+8 mg·kg-1), mTOR inhibitor (2 mg·kg-1), and mTOR inhibitor + XYSKD (2 mg·kg-1+8 mg·kg-1). The rat model of SPID was constructed by starvation, fatigue, and ascending Escherichia coli infection. After 14 days of drug intervention, the ultrastructure of fibroblasts in the pelvic adhesion tissue was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The general morphology of the uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary was observed by laparotomy. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the peritoneal flushing fluid were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and citrullinated histone 3 (H3) in the fallopian tube was detected by immunofluorescence. Western blot and Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were employed to determine the relative protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of neutrophil elastase (NE), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (CD54), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), H3, PI3K, and Akt. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group presented a large number of collagen fibers in bundles, numerous cytoplasmic folds of fibroblasts, reduced or absent mitochondrial cristae, and disordered and expanded endoplasmic reticulum. By laparotomy, extensive pelvic congestion, connective tissue hyperplasia, thickening and hardening of the tubal end near the uterus, and tubal and ovarian adhesion or cyst were observed in the model group. In addition, the model group showed raised levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α in the peritoneal flushing fluid (P<0.01), increased average fluorescence intensities of MPO and H3 (P<0.01), and up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of NE, H3, CD54, PI3K, and Akt (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the mTOR agonist group showed increased fibroblasts and cytoplasmic folds, absence of mitochondrial cristae, endoplasmic reticulum dilation, and evident collagen fiber hyperplasia. Pelvic adhesions were observed to cause aggravated damage to the uterine, fallopian tube, and ovarian tissues. The levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α in the peritoneal lavage fluid elevated (P<0.01) and the average fluorescence intensities of MPO and H3 enhanced (P<0.01) in the mTOR agonist group. In contrast, the XYSKD group and the mTOR inhibitor group showcased decreased fibroblasts and collagen fibers, alleviated mitochondrial crista loss and endoplasmic reticulum dilation, improved morphology and appearance of the uterine, fallopian tube, and ovarian tissues, lowered levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α in the peritoneal lavage fluid (P<0.01), decreased average fluorescence intensities of MPO and H3 (P<0.01), and down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of NE, H3, CD54, PI3K, and Akt (P<0.05). Compared with the mTOR agonist group, the mTOR agonist + XYSKD group showed alleviated pathological changes in the pelvic tissue, declined levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α (P<0.01), decreased average fluorescence intensities of MPO and H3 (P<0.01), and down-regulated protein levels of NE, H3, CD54, α-SMA, p-PI3K/PI3K, and p-Akt/Akt (P<0.01) and mRNA levels of NE, H3, CD54, α-SMA, PI3K, and Akt (P<0.01). Compared with the mTOR inhibitor group, the mTOR inhibitor + XYSKD group demonstrated reduced pathological severity of the pelvic tissue, reduced levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α (P<0.01), decreased average fluorescence intensities of MPO and H3 (P<0.01), and down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of NE and CD54 (P<0.05). ConclusionXYSKD can inhibit the excessive formation and release of NETs via PI3K/Akt/mTOR to ameliorate the inflammatory environment and reduce fibrosis and adhesion of the pelvic tissue, thereby playing a role in the treatment of SPID. It may exert the effects by lowering the levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α and down-regulating the expression of NE, H3, CD54, α-SMA, PI3K, and Akt in the pelvic adhesion tissue.
9.New advances in perioperative fluid management in lung transplantation
Meng SUI ; Murong HUANG ; Ranming MA ; Mochi WANG ; Chunxiao HU
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(4):648-652
Lung transplantation is an effective treatment for various end-stage lung diseases. Optimizing perioperative fluid management can reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary edema and improve the prognosis of lung transplant recipients. Excessive fluid administration may lead to pulmonary edema, ischemia-reperfusion injury of the transplant lung, and increased cardiac burden, which can induce heart failure. On the other hand, overly strict fluid restriction may lead to hypovolemia, affecting tissue perfusion and causing organ dysfunction. Therefore, precise regulation of fluid balance is crucial for the postoperative recovery of lung transplant recipients. This article reviews the physiological characteristics of lung transplant recipients, types of infused fluids, fluid therapy regimens, and hemodynamic monitoring, aiming to elucidate the particularities of perioperative fluid management in lung transplantation and provide new ideas and directions for individualized fluid management.

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