1.Treatment of Liver Cancer by Intervening TGF-β Signaling Pathway with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Hao CHENG ; Haohao GUO ; Jun SUN ; Juan XUE ; Chunyan JI ; Shiyi LI ; Yuxue DING ; Huaqiang YUE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):318-326
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive system and ranks sixth among newly diagnosed malignant tumors worldwide. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other physiological and pathological mechanisms and exerts cancer-suppressive and pro-cancerous dual effects in the process of tumor development. In recent years, with the continuous exploration of the mechanism of liver cancer, it has been found that the conversion of the cancer-suppressive effect into a pro-cancerous effect of this pathway plays a key role in the development of liver cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a unique perspective for the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer with its comprehensive regulatory effects of multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways. This paper summarized that the cancer-suppressive mechanisms of the TGF-β signaling pathway included promoting cancer cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, et al, while the pro-cancerous mechanisms included promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, et al. The TCM compounds intervening this pathway were sorted out, including Jianpi Huayu compound, Fuyang Baoyuan compound, Yipi Yanggan compound, Fuzheng Jiedu compound, compound Astragalus and Salvia, Biejia Jianwan, Dahuang Zhechong pill, and Qingxiang powder. The single TCMs mainly included Schizocapsa plantaginea, Dendrobii Caulis, Gleditsia sinensis, and Dracaena cochinchinensis. The active ingredients of TCM are mainly concentrated on flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and other kinds of compounds. At the same time, it summarized that the liver cancer inhibition mechanism of TCM by regulating this pathway mainly included promoting apoptosis of liver cancer cells, blocking the cell cycle, and inhibiting liver cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, immune escape, etc. The mechanism aims to give full play to the advantages of TCM and precisely regulate the TGF-β signal, thereby exerting positive anti-tumor effects, opening up a new direction for the precise targeted treatment of liver cancer, and providing a scientific basis and a new strategy for the application of TCM in the treatment of liver cancer.
2.Treatment of Liver Cancer by Intervening TGF-β Signaling Pathway with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Hao CHENG ; Haohao GUO ; Jun SUN ; Juan XUE ; Chunyan JI ; Shiyi LI ; Yuxue DING ; Huaqiang YUE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):318-326
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive system and ranks sixth among newly diagnosed malignant tumors worldwide. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other physiological and pathological mechanisms and exerts cancer-suppressive and pro-cancerous dual effects in the process of tumor development. In recent years, with the continuous exploration of the mechanism of liver cancer, it has been found that the conversion of the cancer-suppressive effect into a pro-cancerous effect of this pathway plays a key role in the development of liver cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a unique perspective for the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer with its comprehensive regulatory effects of multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways. This paper summarized that the cancer-suppressive mechanisms of the TGF-β signaling pathway included promoting cancer cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, et al, while the pro-cancerous mechanisms included promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, et al. The TCM compounds intervening this pathway were sorted out, including Jianpi Huayu compound, Fuyang Baoyuan compound, Yipi Yanggan compound, Fuzheng Jiedu compound, compound Astragalus and Salvia, Biejia Jianwan, Dahuang Zhechong pill, and Qingxiang powder. The single TCMs mainly included Schizocapsa plantaginea, Dendrobii Caulis, Gleditsia sinensis, and Dracaena cochinchinensis. The active ingredients of TCM are mainly concentrated on flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and other kinds of compounds. At the same time, it summarized that the liver cancer inhibition mechanism of TCM by regulating this pathway mainly included promoting apoptosis of liver cancer cells, blocking the cell cycle, and inhibiting liver cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, immune escape, etc. The mechanism aims to give full play to the advantages of TCM and precisely regulate the TGF-β signal, thereby exerting positive anti-tumor effects, opening up a new direction for the precise targeted treatment of liver cancer, and providing a scientific basis and a new strategy for the application of TCM in the treatment of liver cancer.
3.Expert recommendations on vision friendly built environments for myopia prevention and control in children and adolescents
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(1):1-5
Abstract
The prevention and control of myopia in Chinese children and adolescents has become a major public health issue. While maintaining increased outdoor activity as a cornerstone intervention, there is an urgent need to explore new complementary approaches that can be effectively implemented in both indoor and outdoor settings. In recent years, environmental spatial frequency has gained increasing attention as one of the key environmental factors influencing the development and progression of myopia. Both animal studies and human research have confirmed that indoor environments lacking mid to high spatial frequency components, often characterized as "visually impoverished", can promote axial elongation and myopia through mechanisms such as disruption of retinal neural signaling, impaired accommodative function, and altered expression of related molecules. Based on the scientific consensus, it is recommended that "enriching of environmental spatial frequency" should be integrated into the myopia prevention and control framework. Following the principles of schoolled organization, family cooperation, community involvement, and student participation, specific measures are put forward in three areas:optimizing school visual settings, improving home spatial environments, and promoting healthy visual behavior. The aim is to create "visually friendly" indoor environments as an important supplement to outdoor activity, thereby providing a novel perspective and strategy for comprehensively advancing myopia prevention and control among children and adolescents.
4.Effect evaluation of pharmaceutical service based on root cause analysis combined with KAP theory on decreasing the protocol violations of investigational medicinal products rate in pediatric clinical trials
Chunyan GUO ; Yi ZHANG ; Yuxin YANG ; Yuguang LIANG ; Qian DING ; Qian WANG ; Chengyue ZHANG ; Yu SUN ; Peng GUO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1206-1210
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of pharmaceutical services guided by root cause analysis (RCA) in a problem-oriented manner combined with knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) theory on reducing the incidence of protocol violations of investigational medicinal products in pediatric clinical trials. METHODS A total of 617 participants from 69 drug clinical trial projects conducted in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected as the control group, and 868 participants from 72 drug clinical trial projects from January 2022 to December 2025 as the observation group. RCA was performed on the protocol violations of investigational medicinal product in the control group to identify the types and underlying causes. The control group received routine pharmaceutical services for drug clinical trials, while the observation group was provided with precision pharmaceutical services from the three dimensions of knowledge, attitude and practice on the basis of routine pharmaceutical services, according to the root causes identified by RCA. The occurrence of investigational medicinal products protocol violations was compared between the two groups. RESULTS The total incidence of protocol violations of investigational medicinal products, as well as the incidences of minor and major protocol violations, were all significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.001). The main types of protocol violations in both groups included missed/under-/over-dosing of medications, non-adherence to administration time, failure to adjust dosage as required, and combined medication/vaccination in violation of the protocol. Regarding the responsible subjects of protocol violations, the incidences of protocol violations attributed to participants and their guardians as well as investigators and accidental factors were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.001, P <0.001, P =0.025). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of protocol violations caused by sponsor-related reasons between the two groups ( P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pharmaceutical services led by pharmacists, based on problem-oriented RCA and combined with KAP theory, can effectively reduce the protocol violations of investigational medicinal products rate in pediatric clinical trials, thereby safeguarding the safety and rights of study participants.
5.Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mucin-rich salivary gland tumors
GUAN Weihang ; LIU Cangwei ; GUO Hao ; LI Jinwei ; WANG Dandan ; QIAO Chunyan ; NIE Mengdong ; QU Ming ; SHI Ce
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(6):606-619
This paper systematically elaborates on the key points of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of salivary gland tumors characterized by a substantial amount of extracellular mucus as a main or prominent feature, and clarifies the core differential features. The term "mucus-rich" specifically denotes that mucus is a major component of the tumor, rather than a focal or minor one. This phenomenon is associated with distinct histogenetic mechanisms: it may result from specific genetic mutations (e.g., AKT1 E17K in mucinous adenocarcinoma) that drive ductal epithelial differentiation into mucus-secreting cells, or from myoepithelial cells secreting glycosaminoglycans that form a myxoid stroma. Salivary gland tumors with abundant extracellular mucus include mucinous cystadenoma, sialadenoma papilliferum-like intraductal papillary tumors, mucinous myoepithelioma, pleomorphic adenoma with mucin-rich stroma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, mucin-rich salivary duct carcinoma and intestinal-type adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis of these tumors is complicated by the dual nature of extracellular mucus: while it is a defining feature of some entities, it can also obscure key diagnostic architectural features in others, leading to histological overlap and inconspicuous diagnostic areas. Given the frequent histological morphological overlap among these tumors, immunohistochemical findings and molecular characteristics have emerged as crucial differential diagnostic criteria. Core differential diagnostic points include the following: histologically, there must be meticulous identification of typical structures obscured by mucin (such as squamoid cells in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and apocrine features in salivary duct carcinoma); in immunohistochemical staining, CK20 is useful for distinguishing intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (positive) from mucinous adenocarcinoma (negative), while androgen receptor aids in differentiating salivary duct carcinoma (positive) from mucoepidermoid carcinoma (negative); and molecular testing plays a critical role in definitive diagnosis (e.g., the AKT1 E17K mutation for mucinous adenocarcinoma, MAML2 rearrangement for mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and MEF2C::SS18 fusion for microsecretory adenocarcinoma). This paper systematically summarizes the core pathological features and differential diagnostic points of mucin-rich salivary gland tumors, aiming to provide a practical reference for clinical pathological diagnosis.
6.Comparison of postoperative efficacy between leuprorelin and mifepristone in the treatment of endometriosis
Lizhen LIU ; Lifen GUO ; Chunyan LUO ; Ruihong PENG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1379-1383
OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of leuprorelin and mifepristone on sex hormone levels, ovarian function, adverse reactions, and recurrence in patients with endometriosis (EMs) after surgery. METHODS A total of 178 patients who underwent surgical treatment for EMs in Ji’an Central People’s Hospital from September 2021 to September 2023 were randomly divided into the leuprorelin group and the mifepristone group, with 92 cases in each group. Medication was initiated on days 1 to 5 of the first menstrual cycle following surgery. Patients in the leuprorelin group received subcutaneous injections of Leuprorelin acetate microspheres, 3.75 mg per time, once every four weeks, for a total of 6 injections. Patients in the mifepristone group took 12.5 mg of Mifepristone capsules orally once daily for six consecutive months. Visual analog scale (VAS), serum sex hormone levels [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2)], ovarian function indicators [anti- Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC)], and T helper 1 cell (Th1)/Th2 shift markers [interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-10] were compared between the two groups before surgery and after treatment. Incidence and outcome of adverse reactions and recurrence within one year were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in baseline indicators between the two groups before surgery (P>0.05). After treatment, both groups showed significantly lower VAS scores for chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, and significantly reduced serum FSH, LH, E2, IL-4 and IL-10 levels compared to before surgery (P<0.05), while serum IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were significantly increased (P<0.05); the leuprorelin group showed significantly greater improvements than the mifepristone group in all these indicators (P<0.05). After treatment, serum AMH levels in both groups were significantly lower than before surgery levels, while AFC was significantly increased (P<0.05); the leuprorelin group had significantly higher serum AMH levels and more AFC compared to the mifepristone group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions and outcome rates between the two groups (P>0.05). During one year of follow-up after discontinuation, the recurrence rate in the leuprorelin group was significantly lower than in the mifepristone group (1.15% vs. 10.99%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both leuprorelin and mifepristone are effective therapeutic drugs for EMs, but the former has advantages in alleviating pain, regulating serum sex hormone levels, protecting ovarian function, regulating immune function and reducing recurrence rates.
7.High-risk factors for significant liver histopathological damage in patients with indeterminate phase of chronic HBV infection
Wenchang WANG ; Xuyang LI ; Chunyan WANG ; Mengwen HE ; Yifan GUO ; Yiming FU ; Miao LIU ; Dong JI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2258-2264
ObjectiveTo investigate the features of liver histopathological damage in patients with indeterminate phase of chronic HBV infection, as well as the timing for initiating antiviral therapy in such patients. MethodsA retrospective screening was performed for the patients with chronic HBV infection who were hospitalized in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital and underwent liver biopsy from March 2018 to April 2022, among whom the patients who met the criteria for indeterminate phase defined in Chinese guidelines for chronic hepatitis B prevention and treatment (2022 edition) were enrolled, and their clinical data were collected. Liver histopathological stage was determined using the Scheuer scoring system, with stages 0 — 4 for inflammation grade (G) and stages 0 — 4 for fibrosis degree (S), and the patients were divided into groups based on the presence of significant necroinflammation (≥G2) and significant liver fibrosis (≥S2). The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between liver histopathology and clinical factors, and the Logistic regression model was used to identify the independent influencing factors for significant necroinflammation and liver fibrosis. ResultsA total of 271 patients with indeterminate phase of chronic HBV infection were enrolled, among whom 61 (22.5%) had significant necroinflammation (≥G2) and 124 (45.8%) had significant liver fibrosis (≥S2). The Logistic regression analysis showed that alanine aminotransferase ≥30 U/L (for male patients) or ≥19 U/L (for female patients) (odds ratio [OR]=2.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39 — 5.21, P=0.003), HBV DNA ≥2 000 IU/mL (OR=2.75, 95%CI: 1.38 — 5.48, P=0.004), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥6.0 kPa (OR=4.57, 95%CI: 2.17 — 9.62, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for significant inflammation. HBV DNA ≥2 000 IU/mL (OR=1.82, 95%CI: 1.01 — 3.32, P=0.049) and LSM ≥6.0 kPa (OR=2.06, 95%CI: 1.23 — 3.43, P=0.006) were independent influencing factors for significant liver fibrosis. ConclusionAmong the patients with indeterminate phase of chronic HBV infection, a substantial proportion of patients have significant liver histopathological damage. Antiviral therapy should be initiated in a timely manner for patients with high-risk factors.
8.Disrupting calcium homeostasis and glycometabolism in engineered lipid-based pharmaceuticals propel cancer immunogenic death.
Qiuxia PENG ; Xiaolong LI ; Chao FANG ; Chunyan ZHU ; Taixia WANG ; Binxu YIN ; Xiulin DONG ; Huaijuan GUO ; Yang LIU ; Kun ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1255-1267
Homeostasis and energy and substance metabolism reprogramming shape various tumor microenvironment to sustain cancer stemness, self-plasticity and treatment resistance. Aiming at them, a lipid-based pharmaceutical loaded with CaO2 and glucose oxidase (GOx) (LipoCaO2/GOx, LCG) has been obtained to disrupt calcium homeostasis and interfere with glycometabolism. The loaded GOx can decompose glucose into H2O2 and gluconic acid, thus competing with anaerobic glycolysis to hamper lactic acid (LA) secretion. The obtained gluconic acid further deprives CaO2 to produce H2O2 and release Ca2+, disrupting Ca2+ homeostasis, which synergizes with GOx-mediated glycometabolism interference to deplete glutathione (GSH) and yield reactive oxygen species (ROS). Systematical experiments reveal that these sequential multifaceted events unlocked by Ca2+ homeostasis disruption and glycometabolism interference, ROS production and LA inhibition, successfully enhance cancer immunogenic deaths of breast cancer cells, hamper regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltration and promote CD8+ T recruitment, which receives a considerably-inhibited outcome against breast cancer progression. Collectively, this calcium homeostasis disruption glycometabolism interference strategy effectively combines ion interference therapy with starvation therapy to eventually evoke an effective anti-tumor immune environment, which represents in the field of biomedical research.
9.SAE1 promotes tumor cell malignancy via SUMOylation and liquid-liquid phase separation facilitated nuclear export of p27.
Ling WANG ; Jie MIN ; Jinjun QIAN ; Xiaofang HUANG ; Xichao YU ; Yuhao CAO ; Shanliang SUN ; Mengying KE ; Xinyu LV ; Wenfeng SU ; Mengjie GUO ; Nianguang LI ; Shiqian QI ; Hongming HUANG ; Chunyan GU ; Ye YANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):1991-2007
Most cancers are currently incurable, partly due to abnormal post-translational modifications (PTMs). In this study, we initially used multiple myeloma (MM) as a working model and found that SUMOylation activating enzyme subunit 1 (SAE1) promotes the malignancy of MM. Through proteome microarray analysis, SAE1 was identified as a potential target for bioactive colcemid or its derivative colchicine. Elevated levels of SAE1 were associated with poor clinical survival and increased MM proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, SAE1 directly SUMOylated and upregulated the total protein expression of p27, leading to LLPS-mediated nuclear export of p27. Our study also demonstrated the involvement of SAE1 in other types of cancer cells, and provided the first monomer crystal structure of SAE1 and its key binding model with colchicine. Colchicine also showed promising results in the Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft (PDX) model. Furthermore, a controlled clinical trial with 56 MM patients demonstrated the clinical efficacy of colchicine. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which tumor cells evade p27-induced cellular growth arrest through p27 SUMOylation-mediated nuclear export. SAE1 may serve as a promising therapeutic target, and colchicine may be a potential treatment option for multiple types of cancer in clinical settings.
10.Development of an exercise rehabilitation program based on Delphi method for the patients with upper limb lymphedema
Xuemei GUO ; Qiaoyan DAI ; Chunyan LI ; Mingxia PENG ; Zhuangle WEI ; Tianwen HUANG
Modern Clinical Nursing 2025;24(4):45-53
Objective To develop an exercise rehabilitation program for the patients with upper limb lymphedema in order to provide standardised guidance for specialised management and nursing practice,and to promote the recovery of patients.Methods With the evidence-based methods,domestic and international literaturs were retrieved and the quality of the papers was evaluated.A research team was established to discuss and draft an initial version of the rehabilitation program for the patients with upper limb lymphedema.Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of consultation with 15 experts in lymphedema between June and September 2023.According to the expert opinions,the exercise rehabilitation program for patients with upper limb lymphedema was finalised after screening and modification of the indicators.Results The final version of the exercise rehabilitation program for patients with upper limb lymphedema includes four tier-1 indicators(routine upper limb rehabilitation exercises,aerobic exercise,anti-resistance exercise and respiratory training),15 tier-2 indicators,and 33 tier-3 indicators.The positive response rate in both rounds of expert consultation was 100.00%,with the authority coefficient at 0.95.In the second round of expert consultation,it was founds that the importance of tier-3 indicators was from 3.93 to 5.00,with the rationality from 4.13 to 5.00 and the feasibility from 3.53 to 4.93.The coefficient of variation in tier-1 and tier-2 indicators was 0.00-0.17 and 0.07-0.23,respectively.The coefficients of variation of per tier-3 indicator in importance,rationality and feasibility were from 0.00 to 0.22,0.00 to 0.22 and 0.05 to 0.22,respectively.The Kendall's coefficient of concordance(W)for tier-1 and tier-2 indicators was 0.490 and 0.387,respectively.The Kendall's W of per tier-3 indicator in importance,rationality and feasibility was 0.427,0.311 and 0.530,respectively,with statistically significant differences(P<0.001).Conclusion The exercise rehabilitation program developed in this study is scientific,comprehensive and highly targeted.It provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for exercise rehabilitation and nursing care of the patients with upper limb lymphedema.


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