1.On acceleration and alienation in medicine: based on Hartmut Rosa’s critical theory of social acceleration
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(3):357-363
The accelerated development of modern medicine is a key force in safeguard human health, but there has also been a phenomenon of alienation. Interpreting the development of modern medicine from the perspective of Hartmut Rosa’s socially accelerated critical thought is a powerful explanatory framework for profoundly dissecting the development of medicine in the post-medical era and an entry point for diagnosing medical ailments. The development of medicine follows a “dynamic stability” model from three aspects, including technology, structure, and the pace of subjective life, entering a self-accelerating cycle system. In the infinite acceleration cycle, there are new manifestations of alienation, such as the abstraction of medical space, the subjectification of medical technology, the retreat of the humanistic spirit, the increasing poverty of life experience, and the elimination of doctor-patient identity. According to Rosa’s path of realizing the “good life”, the solution to medical alienation lies in establishing a “resonance” relationship, fostering the concept of medical humanization, constructing rational communication in medical language, and exploring new development concepts in medicine. These are effective ways to reconcile the relationship between medical development and other social factors.
2.Effects of quercetin on inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis rats through TLR4/IRAK4/NF-κB signaling pathway
Xixi LEI ; Kebin DENG ; Rui JIANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(7):832-836
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanism of quercetin (QUE) on inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis (AR) model rats based on Toll-like receptor 4/interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor-associated kinase/nuclear factor κB (TLR4/ IRAK4/NF-κB) signaling pathway. METHODS AR model rats were constructed by ovalbumin sensitization method. A total of 48 successfully constructed rats were randomly divided into AR group, QUE-L and QUE-H groups (i.g administration, 17.5, 35 mg/kg) and QUE-H+TLR4 activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (i.g administration of 35 mg/kg QUE+intravenous administration of 0.4 mg/kg LPS via tail vein), with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 normal healthy rats were selected as control group, once a day, for 21 consecutive days. After the last medication, rhinitis symptoms of rats in each group were scored. The serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), histamine (HIS), and inflammatory factors were all detected. The proportions of regulatory T cells (Treg) and helper T cells 17 (Th17) cells in blood were detected, the Th17/Treg ratio was calculated, and the pathological condition of nasal mucosal tissue was observed. The expressions of TLR4/IRAK4/NF-κB pathway related protein in nasal mucosal tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with control group, nasal mucosal tissue damage in the AR group was more severe, with partial shedding of epithelial cells, the proliferation of goblet cells, and obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. The rhinitis symptom score, the levels of IgE, HIS and IL-17, Th17 proportion, Th17/Treg ratio,p-IRAK4/IRAK4 and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 ratios as well as relative expression of TLR4 protein were increased significantly (P<0.05), while IL-10 level and Treg proportion were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with AR group, the pathological injuries of nasal mucosa and the above indexes in QUE-L and QUE-H groups were all improved significantly (P<0.05). LPS treatment could reverse the improvement effects of high-dose QUE on histopathological damage to nasal mucosa tissue and the aforementioned indicators (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS QUE can inhibit the inflammatory response in AR rats by inhibiting TLR4/IRAK4/NF- κB signaling pathway.
3.Analysis of Mechanism of Xingpi Capsules in Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia Based on Transcriptomics
Rongxin ZHU ; Mingyue HUANG ; Keyan WANG ; Xiangning LIU ; Yinglan LYU ; Gang WANG ; Fangfang RUI ; Qiong DENG ; Jianteng DONG ; Yong WANG ; Chun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):164-172
ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of Xingpi capsules on functional dyspepsia(FD) and the potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD neonatal rats(7 days old) were randomly divided into the normal group(n=12) and the modeling group(n=48), and the FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide gavage in the modeling group. After the model was successfully prepared, the rats in the modeling group were randomly divided into the model group, the low-dose and high-dose groups of Xingpi capsules(0.135, 0.54 g·kg-1) and the domperidone group(3 mg·kg-1), with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and model groups were gavaged with distilled water, and rats in the rest of the groups were gavaged with the corresponding medicinal solution, once a day for 7 d. The general survival condition of the rats was observed, and the water intake and food intake of the rats were measured, the gastric emptying rate and the small intestinal propulsion rate were measured at the end of the treatment, the pathological damage of the rat duodenum was examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the expressions of colonic tight junction protein(Occludin) and zonula occludens protein-1(ZO-1) were detected by immunofluorescence. The differentially expressed genes in the duodenal tissues of the model group and the normal group, and the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules and the model group were detected by transcriptome sequencing after the final administration, and Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out. The transcriptomic results were validated by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR), and the active ingredients of Xingpi capsules were screened for molecular docking with the key targets. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the general survival condition of rats in the model group was poorer, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly reduced(P<0.05), inflammatory infiltration was seen in duodenal pathology, and the fluorescence intensities of Occludin and ZO-1 in the colon were significantly reduced(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the general survival condition of rats in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules improved significantly, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly increased(P<0.05), the duodenal pathology showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration, and the fluorescence intensities of colonic Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased(P<0.01). Transcriptomic results showed that Xingpi capsules might exert therapeutic effects by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) through the key genes such as Slc5a1, Abhd6. The validation results showed that compared with the normal group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins, the protein expression level of interleukin(IL)-1β, and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3, Slc5a9 and other key genes were significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt, the protein expression level of IL-1β and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules were significantly reduced(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3 and Slc5a9 were significantly reduced(P<0.05). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and molecular docking results showed that E-nerolidol and Z-nerolidol in Xingpi capsules were well bound to ABDH6 protein, and linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine were well bound to Slc5a1 protein. ConclusionXingpi capsules can effectively improve the general survival and gastrointestinal motility of FD rats, its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to alleviate the low-grade inflammation of duodenum, and E-nerolidol, Z-nerolidol, linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine may be its key active ingredients.
4.Analysis of Mechanism of Xingpi Capsules in Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia Based on Transcriptomics
Rongxin ZHU ; Mingyue HUANG ; Keyan WANG ; Xiangning LIU ; Yinglan LYU ; Gang WANG ; Fangfang RUI ; Qiong DENG ; Jianteng DONG ; Yong WANG ; Chun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):164-172
ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of Xingpi capsules on functional dyspepsia(FD) and the potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD neonatal rats(7 days old) were randomly divided into the normal group(n=12) and the modeling group(n=48), and the FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide gavage in the modeling group. After the model was successfully prepared, the rats in the modeling group were randomly divided into the model group, the low-dose and high-dose groups of Xingpi capsules(0.135, 0.54 g·kg-1) and the domperidone group(3 mg·kg-1), with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and model groups were gavaged with distilled water, and rats in the rest of the groups were gavaged with the corresponding medicinal solution, once a day for 7 d. The general survival condition of the rats was observed, and the water intake and food intake of the rats were measured, the gastric emptying rate and the small intestinal propulsion rate were measured at the end of the treatment, the pathological damage of the rat duodenum was examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the expressions of colonic tight junction protein(Occludin) and zonula occludens protein-1(ZO-1) were detected by immunofluorescence. The differentially expressed genes in the duodenal tissues of the model group and the normal group, and the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules and the model group were detected by transcriptome sequencing after the final administration, and Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out. The transcriptomic results were validated by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR), and the active ingredients of Xingpi capsules were screened for molecular docking with the key targets. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the general survival condition of rats in the model group was poorer, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly reduced(P<0.05), inflammatory infiltration was seen in duodenal pathology, and the fluorescence intensities of Occludin and ZO-1 in the colon were significantly reduced(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the general survival condition of rats in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules improved significantly, and the water intake, food intake, gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly increased(P<0.05), the duodenal pathology showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration, and the fluorescence intensities of colonic Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased(P<0.01). Transcriptomic results showed that Xingpi capsules might exert therapeutic effects by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) through the key genes such as Slc5a1, Abhd6. The validation results showed that compared with the normal group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins, the protein expression level of interleukin(IL)-1β, and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3, Slc5a9 and other key genes were significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt, the protein expression level of IL-1β and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules were significantly reduced(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1, Abhd6, Mgam, Atp1a1, Slc7a8, Cdr2, Chrm3 and Slc5a9 were significantly reduced(P<0.05). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and molecular docking results showed that E-nerolidol and Z-nerolidol in Xingpi capsules were well bound to ABDH6 protein, and linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine were well bound to Slc5a1 protein. ConclusionXingpi capsules can effectively improve the general survival and gastrointestinal motility of FD rats, its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to alleviate the low-grade inflammation of duodenum, and E-nerolidol, Z-nerolidol, linarionoside A, valerosidatum and senkirkine may be its key active ingredients.
5.A qualitative study on the medical experience of caregivers of adolescent depression
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(5):588-595
ObjectiveTo explore the medical experience of caregivers of adolescent depression. MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 35 caregivers of hospitalized adolescents with depression undergoing treatment, to explore their experiences and feelings during their children’s medical treatment. The Colaizzi phenomenological seven-step analysis method was employed to summarize and extract themes. ResultsA total of five themes were extracted, including the transformation of attitude towards the disease from denial to acceptance; the treatment process failing to meet expectations; complex emotional experiences featuring the coexistence of hope and disappointment; negative feedback regarding communication with medical staff; difficulties in accessing medical services, and the expectation for more assistance. ConclusionCaregivers lack sufficient knowledge about the disease during their children’s medical-seeking process, the disease treatment process fails to meet expectations, and there is negative feedback regarding communication with medical staff. Overall, medical experience is complex, and current medical services still have deficiencies. It is urgent to pay attention to the medical experiences of caregivers, enhance their disease cognition, standardize the diagnosis and treatment process, improve the effect of doctor-patient communication, expand multi-channel medical-seeking methods, and further meet the needs of patients and caregivers.
6.Ethical risks and avoidance approaches of artificial intelligence-generated content technology in achieving the “resurrection” of the deceased
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(9):1171-1176
With the advancement of science and technology and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years, intelligent and digitalized lifestyles have become the norm. AI-generated content (AIGC) has entered people’s lives and shown a blowout development trend. As a major output of AIGC, virtual digital humans have evolved from being “unbearable to look at” to being “indistinguishable” from real humans, exerting multiple impacts on people’s lives to a certain extent. AIGC and virtual digital humans can bring spiritual comfort to users, drive technological progress, and promote social stability. Meanwhile, they also face a series of risks, such as infringement behaviors of portraits, data privacy risks, and the alienation of human nature. This paper proposed solutions from various aspects, such as legal and technical supervision, embedding ethical standards into technology development, raising the market thresholds, and strengthening public publicity, striving to guide science and technology towards good.
7.A qualitative study on the experience of sense of debt among family caregivers of adolescents with depression under the Confucian family view
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(10):1275-1283
ObjectiveTo explore the experience of sense of debt among family caregivers of adolescents with depression, and to conduct a cultural interpretation on the underlying reasons behind the sense of debt from the perspective of the Confucian family view. MethodsA semi-structured interview was conducted on 29 parents (family caregivers) of adolescents with depression regarding the sense of debt they experienced during their caregiving process. The interview data were organized using NVivo 12 software. ResultsThree first-level themes were extracted: dilemma of debt and self-blame, conflict and pressure, as well as seeking compensation. Under the theme of“the dilemma of debt and self-blame”, there are four sub-themes: insufficient companionship, control in the name of love, powerlessness, and venting outlets. Under the theme of“contradictions and pressures”, there are three sub-themes: conflicts between work and family, divergences among family members, and pressures from social evaluations. Under the theme of“seeking compensation”, there are three sub-themes: material satisfaction, taking leave or resigning from work, and changing family education methods. ConclusionThe sense of debt is a specific psychological experience under the Confucian cultural background. The responsibilities and obligations among members in traditional families are the deep reasons for the sense of debt. As a conscious moral constraint, debt has certain positive significance in maintaining member relationships and family life.
8.Physical experiences and ethical reflections of living organ donors
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(11):1392-1397
The body remains irreducible in medical development, and human reflections on life are mediated through the body. Living organ transplantation modifies the natural body, creating new identities for both donors and recipients. As the party that experiences only harm without benefit, the living donor’s body emerges in the illness of others, generating physical experiences ranging from the wholeness to the mutilation, the individual to the family, and the distinction to the intervention. The healthy body reemerges, disappears due to other’s disease, and becomes dependent on the recipient’s body. The complex physical experiences and feelings plunge the donor’s identity into confusion. Providing dual attention to the living donor’s body from both legal and ethical perspectives, dialectically thinking about bodily integrity, and deepening ethical considerations of personal self-determination and subjectivity may assist living donors in reshaping their bodily knowledge and rethinking their self-worth and the meaning of life from a different perspective.
9.A new pyrazine from Hypecoum erectum L.
Yun LIU ; Meng-ya HU ; Wen-jing ZHANG ; Yu-xin FAN ; Rui-wen XU ; Deng-hui ZHU ; Yan-jun SUN ; Wei-sheng FENG ; Hui CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):183-187
Four pyrazines were isolated from the
10.Effect of heme oxygenase-1-mediated atorvastatin on macrophage polarization and cholesterol accumulation
Rui DENG ; Keming HUANG ; Jian LUO ; Gong CHEN ; Jian FENG ; Weiyi HUANG ; Gang WEI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(1):62-67
BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that atorvastatin can up-regulate the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and enhance the anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative damage ability of cells.However,whether atorvastatin can regulate macrophage polarization,inhibit inflammation and reduce cholesterol accumulation by inducing heme oxygenase-1 expression remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on polarization,inflammation and cholesterol content of oxidized low-density lipoprotein stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages by inducing heme oxygenase-1 expression and its related mechanism. METHODS:Firstly,RAW264.7 cells were randomly divided into six groups and incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin for 24 hours.The expression of heme oxygenase-1 protein and cell activity were detected to explore the optimal dose of atorvastatin for subsequent studies.RAW264.7 cells were randomly divided into control group,atorvastatin group and heme oxygenase-1 inhibition group.Cells were preincubated with pure medium,atorvastatin 20 μmol/L and atorvastatin 20 μmol/L + zinc protoporphyrin IX 10 μmol/L for 24 hours,and then oxidized low-density lipoprotein 50 mg/L was added for 48 hours.The polarization of macrophages was detected by flow cytometry.The secretion of inflammatory factors such as transforming growth factor β,interleukin 10,interleukin 1β,and tumor necrosis factor α was detected by ELISA.The expression levels of heme oxygenase-1,LC3II,LC3I,P62,PPARγ and ABCA1 were detected by western blot assay.The intracellular cholesterol content was measured with the oxidose method and the accumulation degree of intracellular lipid droplets was evaluated by oil red O staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Atorvastatin could induce the expression of heme oxygenase-1 protein in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.(2)Oxidized low-density lipoprotein could induce macrophages to polarize towards M1,secrete proinflammatory factors,and increase the accumulation of intracellular cholesterol.(3)Compared with the control group,the heme oxygenase-1 protein expression of macrophages was increased after atorvastatin intervention,and the cells turned to M2-type polarization and mainly secreted anti-inflammatory factors such as transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-10.PPARγ,ABCA1,LC3II/I and other signal molecules reflecting cholesterol efflux and autophagy increased,and the contents of intracellular cholesterol and lipid droplets decreased significantly(P<0.05).(4)The heme oxygenase-1 inhibition group treated with zinc protoporphyrin IX significantly reversed the above changes in the atorvastatin group.(5)The results have shown that atorvastatin may promote the polarization of macrophages stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein to M2 type and inhibit inflammation by up-regulating the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and by up-regulating PPARγ/ABCA1 signaling pathway and enhancing autophagy.Atorvastatin can increase the outflow of intracellular cholesterol and reduce the accumulation of intracellular lipids.

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