1.Research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine intervening in osteoarthritis by modulating the inflammatory microenvironment
Zuo WANG ; Yuxin LIU ; Yuxin QIAO ; Zhengyu YANG ; Ru WANG ; Wenbin LIAO ; Yan GAO ; Jiayi FENG ; Guohua LI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(6):823-828
The inflammatory microenvironment is closely associated with the initiation and progression of osteoarthritis (OA), specifically manifesting as macrophage activation, dysregulation of inflammatory cytokines, and redox imbalance. Following an overview of the pathological characteristics of the OA inflammatory microenvironment, this paper reviews the research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervening in OA by modulating the inflammatory microenvironment. It has been found that TCM monomers/active ingredients (such as total alkaloids from Strychnos nux-vomica , quercetin, triptolide, etc.), herb pairs (e.g. Angelica pubescens - Gentiana macrophylla , Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba), and TCM formulas (such as Zhuanggu jianxi formula, Duhuo jisheng decoction and Rongjin niantong formula, etc.) can inhibit macrophage activation, reduce the release of proinflammatory cytokines and the generation of reactive oxygen species by inhibiting multiple signaling pathways, including nuclear factor-κB, Wnt/ β -catenin, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, thereby alleviating the articular inflammatory microenvironment, restoring local joint homeostasis, and slowing the progression of OA.
2.Spinal cord stimulation for spinal cord injury from 1999 to 2025: a bibliometric analysis
Yuanyuan QI ; Haifeng GAO ; Lina LIU ; Yujie XIE ; Jing XU ; Feng GAO ; Liang CHEN ; Degang YANG ; Jun LI
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(4):373-386
ObjectiveTo analyze the research hotspots and development trends in the field of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for spinal cord injury (SCI). MethodsLiterature about SCS for SCI was retrieve from the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection database, with a time range from January, 1999 to July, 2025. VOSviewer 1.6.20 and CiteSpace 6.4.R2 were used to analyze the annual publication volume, countries, authors, institutions, journals and keywords. ResultsA total of 636 literatures were included. From 1999 to 2025, the overall publication trend in this field showed an upward trajectory, with recent years fluctuating but tending to stabilize. The country with the most publications was the United States (429 papers), followed by Russia (98 papers) and China (70 papers). The institution with the highest number of publications was the University of California, Los Angeles (76 papers), the author with the most publications was V. Reggie Edgerton (70 papers), and the journal with the most publications was Journal of Clinical Medicine (31 papers). The most frequently cited study focused on exploring the combination of epidural spinal cord stimulation with task-specific training to restore motor function in patients with complete SCI. Keyword analysis showed that the research hotspots in this field were mainly focused on neuroregulation mechanisms, recovery of motor and autonomic nervous dysfunction, artificial intelligence, closed-loop stimulation and brain-computer interface technology innovations. In recent years, the research focus gradually shifted from basic mechanisms to personalized and precise multifunctional rehabilitation strategies. ConclusionThe field of SCS for SCI has undergone phases of basic mechanism exploration and clinical application expansion. Current research hotspots and future trends focus primarily on the development of new stimulation paradigms and combined innovative technologies.
3.Risk factors for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis and effectiveness of risk assessment models
Liu YANG ; Gang ZHU ; Longfei ZENG ; Benjian GAO ; Bo LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(3):647-654
ObjectiveTo investigate the influencing factors and independent risk factors for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), to analyze the effectiveness of three commonly used risk assessment models for thrombosis (Caprini score, Padua score, and Wells score), and to provide a reference for clinical identification of high-risk individuals and optimization of prevention and treatment strategies. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 320 patients with ANP who were admitted to Luzhou People’s Hospital and The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from April 2013 to April 2024, and according to the presence or absence of DVT during hospitalization, the patients were divided into thrombosis group with 25 patients and control group with 295 patients. After propensity score matching, the two groups were compared in terms of past history and various examination results during hospitalization. The risk factors for lower extremity DVT in ANP patients during hospitalization were analyzed through univariate and multivariate Logistic regression, and a DVT risk prediction model was established based on independent influencing factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the performance of models, and the DeLong test was used for comparison of the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsAfter matching, the patients were divided into thrombosis group with 24 patients and control group with 112 patients. The clinical characteristics analysis showed that compared with the control group, the thrombosis group had significantly higher degree of pancreatic necrosis, D-dimer level, Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) score, and proportion of patients undergoing dialysis (all P<0.05). The multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that BISAP score, degree of pancreatic necrosis, and D-dimer level were independent risk factors for lower extremity DVT in ANP patients during hospitalization (all P<0.05). The BISAP-Caprini score model had an AUC of 0.832 (95% confidence interval: 0.722 — 0.942, P<0.001) in predicting the risk of lower extremity DVT, with a Youden index of 1.661, an optimal cut-off value of 0.26, a sensitivity of 75.0%, and a specificity of 91.1%. ConclusionD-dimer, BISAP score, and the degree of pancreatic necrosis are independent risk factors for lower extremity DVT in patients with ANP during hospitalization, and the BISAP-Caprini score model can effectively predict the risk of DVT in ANP patients.
4.Comparison of clinical efficiency between neuroendoscope-assisted evacuation and navigation-assisted puncture in treating thalamic hemorrhage breaking into the ventricle
Yonghui HUANG ; Yang GAO ; Chen LI ; Puyuan ZHAO ; Tian HUAI ; Rujiang BAI ; Xuefu WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(1):108-112
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of neuroendoscope-assisted evacuation and navigation-assisted puncture drainage in treating thalamic hemorrhage breaking into the ventricle. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 93 patients with thalamic hemorrhage breaking into the ventricle at Taihe Hospital of Wannan Medical College between January 2022 and February 2024. The patients received neuroendoscope-assisted removal of thalamic hematoma combined with contralateral extraventricular drainage (n=44, neuroendoscope group) and navigation-assisted thalamic hematoma puncture drainage combined with contralateral extraventricular drainage (n=49, navigation group), respectively. The treatment efficacy, surgical situation, and prognosis between the two groups were compared. Results The neuroendoscope group had longer operation duration, more intraoperative blood loss, higher hospitalization costs than the navigation group (P<0.05). The neuroendoscope group had higher hematoma clearance rate 3rd after surgery and shorter length of stay than the navigation group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of intracranial infection after surgery between the two groups. The neuroendoscope group had higher Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score at 1 week after surgery and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at 3 months after surgery (P<0.01). Conclusions Compared with navigation-assisted puncture, neuroendoscope-assisted evacuation can improve the thalamic hemorrhage clearance rate, shorten the length of stay, and improve the prognosis of patients.
5.Exploration of Regulatory Mechanism of Mitochondrial Quality Control in Neuroprotection of Acute Ischemic Stroke from Theory of Kidney Governing Yin and Yang
Qinru YANG ; Junyu DUAN ; Zhenhong LIU ; Yonghong GAO ; Jinghe LIU ; Yingzhi XU ; Lu TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):249-257
Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) homeostasis serves as a fundamental mechanism in maintaining the mitochondrial structure and function. Dysregulation of MQC contributes to the progression of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) through multiple pathways including disturbances in energy metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and imbalances in mitochondrial fusion and fission. Drawing upon the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of the kidney governing Yin and Yang, this study innovatively proposes an integrative model of "Yin-Yang dynamic balance-MQC homeostasis" to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Specifically, kidney Yang deficiency and decline result in reduced driving force, thereby inhibiting mitochondrial fusion. This leads to decreased efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation and impaired adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Conversely, when kidney Yin is dysfunctional and excessive phlegm-blood stasis accumulates, mitochondrial fission becomes hyperactive, causing rapid accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intensified oxidative stress. The interplay between these two pathological states culminates in the central TCM pathogenesis—Yin-Yang imbalance and disordered Qi and blood-of AIS. To address this pathogenesis, a therapeutic strategy is proposed: tonifying the kidney as the primary intervention to restore MQC homeostasis, supplemented by resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis to interrupt the deleterious cycle of cerebral vascular damage. This work integrates the holistic perspective of TCM with contemporary molecular insights, offering precise intervention targets along the "kidney-mitochondria axis" for the prevention and treatment of AIS, while establishing a novel integrative paradigm for stroke management that bridges traditional and modern medicine. Future research should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms through which TCM regulates MQC in AIS and integrating classical TCM theories with evidence-based medicine to facilitate the translation of theoretical insights into clinical applications.
6.Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang and Its Single Active Ingredient in Treatment of Dyspepsia Caused by Chronic Cholecystitis: A Review
Wenwen YANG ; Yubei LU ; Lin CHEN ; Jing ZHANG ; Ying GAO ; Yajuan ZHANG ; Xiaoyan LI ; Jianfei YANG ; Xiaoli SHI ; Huanhuan LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):289-298
Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang was first recorded in the Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun). This prescription is composed of Bupleuri Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Trichosanthis Radix, Ostreae Concha, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. It has the effects of soothing Lesser Yang, warming the spleen, and stimulating the generation of body fluid. It is mainly used to treat digestive tract diseases such as chronic cholecystitis (CC), irritable bowel syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dyspepsia caused by CC presents a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, poor appetite, postprandial fullness, aversion to greasy food, soft stool, and bitter mouth, being a type of biliary dyspepsia. In modern medicine, dyspepsia caused by CC is mainly managed by medical treatment and surgical treatment. Internal medicine mainly focuses on reducing inflammation, promoting the function of gallbladder, resolving stones, alleviating spasms, and relieving the pain for CC, demonstrating definite short-term efficacy but suffering from single effects, high recurrence rate, and poor compliance. Although surgical treatment can cure cholecystitis, it is accompanied by the increased incidence of adverse events such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dyspepsia. Modern clinical studies have confirmed that Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang can significantly alleviate the symptoms such as abdominal pain and dyspepsia of CC patients. Pharmacological studies have found that Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang mainly contains active ingredients such as Bupleuri Radix saponins, baicalin, cinnamaldehyde, gingerol, Trichosanthis Radix polysaccharide, Ostreae Concha polysaccharide, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma total flavonoids. Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang can ameliorate the symptoms of dyspepsia caused by CC by inhibiting inflammatory responses, improving gallbladder contraction and gastrointestinal motility, regulating the bile acid-intestinal flora axis and the brain-gut axis, and modulating blood lipids through multiple targets. By reviewing the previous literature, this article summarizes the research progress in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by CC with Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang and its main active ingredients as well as the pathogenesis of this disease and puts forward the shortcomings and improvement strategies for the current research. The review aims to provide a reference for the further research on Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiangtang in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by CC.
7.Cost-utility analysis of anlotinib combined with penpulimab in first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Wenying YAN ; Na YANG ; Ranran ZHANG ; Xinyue TAO ; Shengnan GAO ; Guoqiang LIU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(3):344-349
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of anlotinib combined with penpulimab versus sorafenib as first- line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) from the perspective of China’s healthcare system. METHODS Based on data from the APOLLO study, a partitioned survival model was established with a 21-day model cycle to simulate patient survival status over 10 years under anlotinib combined with penpulimab regimen or sorafenib monotherapy. Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) was used as the core evaluation parameter to assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of different treatment regimens. Using 3 times China’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 (287 247 yuan/QALY) as the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold, cost-utility analysis was performed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the treatment regimens. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the robustness of the baseline analysis conclusion. Scenario analysis was performed to consider the impact of anlotinib and penpulimab assistance programs on the results; the price reduction of penpulimab to ensure the cost-effectiveness of the combination regimen was examined under varying WTP thresholds (specifically, 1, 2, and 3 times China’s per capita GDP in 2024). RESULTS The baseline analysis revealed that the ICER of anlotinib combined with penpulimab regimen relative to the sorafenib regimen was 338 611.20 yuan/QALY, which exceeded the WTP threshold set in this study. Univariate sensitivity analysis indicated that the utility value of progression free survival and penpulimab price significantly influenced the baseline analysis results. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis validated the robustness of the baseline results. The results of scenario analysis indicated that when considering the assistance programs for anlotinib and penpulimab, the obtained ICER values were all below the WTP threshold set at 3 times China’s per capita GDP in 2024. When the price of penpulimab was reduced by 58%, 35%, and 13%, the ICER values were below the WTP threshold, which was 1, 2 and 3 times the per capita GDP of China in 2024, respectively. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of China’s healthcare system, anlotinib combined with penpulimab regimen for first-line treatment of uHCC lacks cost-effectiveness compared to sorafenib regimen. However, this conclusion would be reversed if the anlotinib and penpulimab assistance programs are taken into account or if the price of penpulimab is reduced by more than 13% and above.
8.Analysis of the impact of intraoperative RhE antigen-matched transfusion on early prognosis in liver transplant patients
Xiaochao YU ; Xinyuan GAO ; Fan HAI ; Chao YANG ; Xingyu HOU ; Yaping XING ; Hongqiang GAO ; Hongwei ZHANG ; Gang SU ; Ronghua XU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(1):44-50
Objective: To investigate the impact of RhE antigen-matched transfusion during liver transplantation on early postoperative recovery and complications. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, ninety-five patients undergoing liver transplantation at Kunming First People's Hospital between January 2022 and July 2025 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (RhE-mismatched transfusion, n=57) and Group 2 (RhE-matched transfusion, n=38). The baseline data, complete blood counts, hepatic and renal function, coagulation parameters, and complication rates between the two groups were compared at postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The baseline characteristics were well-balanced and comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05). The early postoperative mortality rate in the mismatched group (31.58%, 18/57) was significantly higher than that in the matched group (10.53%, 4/38) (P=0.017). The incidence of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy was significantly higher in the mismatched group (50.88%, 29/57) than in the matched group (10.53%, 4/38) (P<0.001). The incidence of postoperative haemorrhage in the mismatched group (24.56%, 14/57) was higher than that in the matched group (5.26%, 2/38), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.014). The incidence of perioperative infection in the mismatched group (28.07%, 16/57) was higher than that in the matched group (10.53%, 4/38), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.04). Corresponding odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals indicated a lower risk of these adverse events in the matched group. On postoperative day 1, the change in activated partial thromboplastin time (-1.6, 20.5) in the mismatched group was greater than in the matched group (-0.2, 5.5). The change in international normalised ratio (-0.56, 1.22) in the mismatched group was greater than in the matched group (-0.18, 0.32), while the change in albumin (-4.0, 4.8) was smaller in the mismatched group than in the matched group (-2.5, 8.8). On postoperative day 5, the change in albumin (-0.41±7.83) in the mismatched group was smaller than in the matched group (2.68±4.53). At postoperative day 7, the change in albumin in the mismatched group (-0.61±7.38) was smaller than that in the matched group (2.51±5.85), while the change in D-dimer in the mismatched group (0.73, 7.4) was greater than that in the matched group (-1.6, 4.3). On postoperative day 10, the mismatched group exhibited significantly higher fibrinogen levels (-1.21, 1.78) than the matched group (-0.49, 0.97), and significantly longer prothrombin times (-11.3, -2.7) than the matched group (-6.2, -0.8) (all P<0.05). The matched group exhibited a mean overall survival (OS) of 32.803 months (95% CI:29.171-36.436 months), significantly exceeding the mismatched group's 28.996 months (95% CI:24.202-33.790 months). The log-rank test yielded statistically significant results (χ
=4.307, P=0.038). Conclusion: Implementing RhE blood group-matched transfusion during liver transplantation may help reduce early postoperative mortality and the incidence of major complication rates, promote faster recovery of coagulation and liver function, and thereby improve short-term patient outcomes.
9.Application of optimized combination prediction model in the prediction of hand, foot and mouth disease
Weijie TIAN ; Qian GAO ; Kun YANG ; Zhirong ZHAO ; Jian CHEN
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):58-62
Objective To explore scientific and accurate prediction methods for the incidence of hand, foot, and mouth disease in the post-pandemic era, and to address modeling challenges caused by abnormal fluctuations in case numbers from 2020 to 2023. Methods The seasonal index was used to pre-process the data. The traditional seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model, singular spectrum analysis (SSA)-ARIMA model, ARIMA-Long short-term memory (LSTM) model, and SSA-ARIMA-LSTM model were used to fit the incidence from 2013 to 2023, and the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease in 2024 was predicted. The real data collected in 2024 were used as the test set to compare the prediction performance of the models. Results The fitting performance of the constructed models was as follows: the ARIMA model had MAE=107.50 and RMSE=144.53, the SSA-ARIMA model showed MAE=2.84 and RMSE=4.33, the ARIMA-LSTM model achieved MAE=99.46 and RMSE=131.59, and the SSA-ARIMA-LSTM model had MAE=96.35 and RMSE=132.13. In terms of prediction performance, the ARIMA model resulted in MAE=151.64 and RMSE=146.70, the SSA-ARIMA model demonstrated MAE=41.22 and RMSE=57.01, the ARIMA-LSTM model yielded MAE=220.75 and RMSE=257.89, and the SSA-ARIMA-LSTM model recorded MAE=58.83 and RMSE=72.06. Conclusion The SSA-ARIMA model has the best fitting degree and the highest prediction accuracy, and is suitable for predicting the incidence trend of hand, foot and mouth disease.
10.Effects of baicalin on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus and its mechanism
Kewei SHI ; Xi CHEN ; Xiaoyan ZHAO ; Bo YANG ; Yunchun LIU ; Yueyue GAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):450-455
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of baicalin (BC) on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its underlying mechanism based on the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1)/histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) axis. METHODS A GDM rat model was established by a combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. The successfully modeled rats were divided into the GDM group, BC low-dose group, BC high-dose group, and high-dose of BC+AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) group, with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 pregnant rats fed a normal diet served as the control group. Rats in each group were given corresponding drugs/normal saline intragastrically and/or intraperitoneally, once daily for 2 consecutive weeks. After the last administration, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), pancreatic function indexes [fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI)], blood lipid indexes (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), liver function indexes (alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, alkaline phosphatase), inflammatory indicators (C-reactive protein, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6), metabolic regulatory protein [complement-C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (CTRP3)], insulin sensitivity related factors [glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), adiponectin], and oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA)] were measured. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed, and the expressions of proteins related to the AMPK/SUV39H1/H3K9me3 axis in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the GDM group, rats in the BC low- and high-dose groups showed varying degrees of improvement in pathological changes such as disordered cell arrangement, vacuolar degeneration, lipid deposition, and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue. Their FBG and FINS levels, HOMA-IR, the levels of blood lipid indexes, liver function indexes, inflammatory indicators and MDA, and the expressions of SUV39H1 and H3K9me3 were significantly decreased or down-regulated, while metabolic regulatory protein, insulin sensitivity-related factors and AMPK protein phosphorylation levels were significantly increased ( P <0.05). The improvement was more significant in the BC high-dose group ( P <0.05). Compound C could significantly reverse the ameliorative effects of high-dose BC on the above quantitative indicators ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS BC can significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, increase serum levels of CTRP3, GLUT4 and adiponectin, thereby improving insulin resistance in GDM rats. These effects may be related to the activation of AMPK and inhibition of SUV39H1-mediated H3K9me3 modification.


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