1.Clinical efficacy of endoscopic endonasal dorsum sellae and posterior clinoid process resection combined with pituitary hemi-transposition for pan-sellar area lesions
Tabengwa GEORGE TAKURA ; Qiang XIE ; Huaichao ZHANG ; Shuang LIU ; Jinlong HUANG ; Pin CHEN ; Zeyang LI ; Xiaobiao ZHANG ; Tao XIE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(3):507-515
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic endonasal dorsum sellae and posterior clinoid process resection combined with pituitary hemi-transposition in the treatment of pan-sellar area lesions. Methods Clinical data from 57 patients with pan sellar diseases who underwent endoscopic transnasal resection of the posterior clinoid process combined with lateral pituitary displacement surgery in the neurosurgery department of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from January 2019 to January 2025 were collected, and their clinical surgical characteristics and prognosis were analyed. Results A total of 57 patients with pan-sellar area lesions were included in this study, comprising 27 craniopharyngiomas, 7 giant suprasellar pituitary adenomas, 7 chordomas, 6 chondrosarcomas, 5 diaphragma sellae/dorsum sellae meningiomas, and 5 rare lesions. All procedures were completed successfully, and gross total or near-total resection was achieved in all patients. No new neurovascular complications occurred intraoperatively. The follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 24 months. New postoperative anterior pituitary insufficiency occurred in 3 patients (5.3%), and new posterior pituitary insufficiency requiring long-term hormone replacement therapy occurred in 4 patients (7.0%). No additional pituitary dysfunction was observed in the remaining patients. Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea occurred in 1 patient (1.8%) and was successfully repaired. Intracranial infection occurred in 3 patients (5.3%) and resolved after medical treatment. Conclusion Endoscopic resection of the posterior clinoid process combined with lateral displacement of the pituitary gland can effectively expand the surgical space, while repositioning the pituitary gland can reduce the extent of skull base defects. In addition, the risk of pituitary dysfunction caused by lateral displacement of the pituitary gland is relatively low.
2.Harmonizing tradition and technology: Liposomal nanocarriers unlocking the power of natural herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Ibrahim SHAW ; Aaron Albert ARYEE ; Yimer Seid ALI ; George Frimpong BOAFO ; Jingjing TIAN ; Ronald MLAMBO ; Songwen TAN ; Chuanpin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):700-713
Natural herbs demonstrate significant therapeutic potential in managing chronic and complex diseases; however, their clinical application faces limitations due to low bioavailability, instability, toxicity, and herb-drug interactions. Furthermore, insufficient standardized evidence and global acceptance impede their widespread adoption. Liposomes, nanocarriers consisting of a phospholipid bilayer enclosing an aqueous core, present a promising approach for enhancing the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of herbal compounds. These adaptable systems can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents, enabling targeted drug delivery and enhanced stability. Moreover, liposomes can be modified to carry diagnostic and imaging agents, enabling precise disease detection and monitoring. While liposomes offer potential as an innovative delivery technology for herbal remedies, their application in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remains relatively unexplored. TCM, with its holistic, energy-based approach to health and organ function, presents distinct challenges regarding formulation and delivery. This review examines the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines, emphasizing how liposomes address delivery challenges within the TCM framework. It also investigates the integration of TCM with Western medical practices, demonstrating how liposomal systems may bridge these approaches. The review analyzes key formulation techniques for TCM-loaded liposomes, particularly the microfluidic method, which demonstrates superior control over particle size and encapsulation efficiency compared to conventional methods. The analysis addresses barriers to integrating liposomal delivery systems with TCM, including physicochemical properties, scalability issues, and regulatory challenges. Finally, this review provides strategic recommendations for overcoming these obstacles and identifies future research directions to maximize the potential of liposomal technology in enhancing TCM therapies.
Liposomes/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Drug Delivery Systems
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Drug Carriers/chemistry*
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Animals
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Nanoparticles/chemistry*
3.Study of application of Common Data Model of Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership in China
Meng ZHANG ; Peng SHEN ; Zhike LIU ; Van Zandt MUI ; Jing LI ; Chao LI ; Yexiang SUN ; Junqing XIE ; Hripcsak GEORGE ; Yong CHEN ; Hongbo LIN ; Siyan ZHAN ; Feng SUN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):907-913
Objective:To comprehensively evaluate the application of Common Data Model (CDM) of Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) in China, and provide reference for the implementation of data standardization and evidence sharing in China.Methods:PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, WanFang and SinoMed databases were used for literature retrieval to collect the research papers of OMOP CDM application for data standardization in China until March 15, 2023. The information about institutions, types and numbers of patients were extracted.Results:A total of 14 research papers, including 9 in English and 5 in Chinese, were selected. The research papers published since 2018 were collected, which focused on patients with hypertension, diabetes, and depression. A total of 12 institutions or platforms transformed data into OMOP CDM. Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital was the first one to apply the CDM and demonstrated its feasibility in China. Additionally, the regional information system in Yinzhou District of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, standardized the multi-dimensional data of patients with diabetes and hypertension. Based on this platform, a series of prediction models for complications in patients with diabetes were constructed. Another major database in Beijing Anding Hospital applied OMOP CDM to analyze the characteristics of patients with late-life depression and dementia.Conclusions:This study analyzed the application of OMOP CDM in China. Through in-depth analysis of specific cases, the study provided guidance for the future cross-regional evidence sharing and collaboration.
4.Study of application of Common Data Model of Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership in China
Meng ZHANG ; Peng SHEN ; Zhike LIU ; Van Zandt MUI ; Jing LI ; Chao LI ; Yexiang SUN ; Junqing XIE ; Hripcsak GEORGE ; Yong CHEN ; Hongbo LIN ; Siyan ZHAN ; Feng SUN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):907-913
Objective:To comprehensively evaluate the application of Common Data Model (CDM) of Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) in China, and provide reference for the implementation of data standardization and evidence sharing in China.Methods:PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, WanFang and SinoMed databases were used for literature retrieval to collect the research papers of OMOP CDM application for data standardization in China until March 15, 2023. The information about institutions, types and numbers of patients were extracted.Results:A total of 14 research papers, including 9 in English and 5 in Chinese, were selected. The research papers published since 2018 were collected, which focused on patients with hypertension, diabetes, and depression. A total of 12 institutions or platforms transformed data into OMOP CDM. Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital was the first one to apply the CDM and demonstrated its feasibility in China. Additionally, the regional information system in Yinzhou District of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, standardized the multi-dimensional data of patients with diabetes and hypertension. Based on this platform, a series of prediction models for complications in patients with diabetes were constructed. Another major database in Beijing Anding Hospital applied OMOP CDM to analyze the characteristics of patients with late-life depression and dementia.Conclusions:This study analyzed the application of OMOP CDM in China. Through in-depth analysis of specific cases, the study provided guidance for the future cross-regional evidence sharing and collaboration.
5.Glycyrrhizic acid-based multifunctional nanoplatform for tumor microenvironment regulation.
Meng XIAO ; Zhiqing GUO ; Yating YANG ; Chuan HU ; Qian CHENG ; Chen ZHANG ; Yihan WU ; Yanfen CHENG ; Wui Lau Man BENSON ; Sheung Mei Ng SHAMAY ; George Pak-Heng LEUNG ; Jingjing LI ; Huile GAO ; Jinming ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2024;22(12):1089-1099
Natural compounds demonstrate unique therapeutic advantages for cancer treatment, primarily through direct tumor suppression or interference with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a bioactive ingredient derived from the medicinal herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., and its sapogenin glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), have been recognized for their ability to inhibit angiogenesis and remodel the TME. Consequently, the combination of GL with other therapeutic agents offers superior therapeutic benefits. Given GL's amphiphilic structure, self-assembly capability, and liver cancer targeting capacity, various GL-based nanoscale drug delivery systems have been developed. These GL-based nanosystems exhibit angiogenesis suppression and TME regulation properties, synergistically enhancing anti-cancer effects. This review summarizes recent advances in GL-based nanosystems, including polymer-drug micelles, drug-drug assembly nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, and nanogels, for cancer treatment and tumor postoperative care, providing new insights into the anti-cancer potential of natural compounds. Additionally, the review discusses existing challenges and future perspectives for translating GL-based nanosystems from bench to bedside.
Animals
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Humans
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Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
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Glycyrrhizic Acid/therapeutic use*
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Liposomes/chemistry*
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Micelles
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Nanoparticles/chemistry*
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Neoplasms/pathology*
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Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects*
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Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System/therapeutic use*
6.SPEEDO:a rapid and accurate Monte Carlo dose calculation program for carbon ion therapy
Jin WU ; Shijun LI ; Yuxin WANG ; Yankui CHANG ; Xi PEI ; Zhi CHEN ; Weiqiang CHEN ; Qiang LI ; George Xie XU
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2024;41(10):1189-1198
Objective To develop a rapid and accurate Monte Carlo program(simplified code for dosimetry of carbon ions,SPEEDO)for carbon ion therapy.Methods For electromagnetic process,type Ⅱ condensed history simulation scheme and continuous slowing down approximation were used to simulate energy straggling,range straggling,multiple scattering,and ionization processes.For nuclear interaction,5 types of target nuclei were considered,including hydrogen,carbon,nitrogen,oxygen,and calcium.The produced secondary charged particles followed the same condensed history framework.The study simulated the transport of carbon ions in 4 materials(water,soft tissues,lung,and bone),and the calculated doses were validated against TOPAS(a Monte Carlo simulation software for radiotherapy physics),followed by a comparison with dose measurements in a water phantom from the HIMM-WW(a medical heavy-ion accelerator facility in Wuwei).Results SPEEDO's simulation results showed good consistency with TOPAS.For each material,in the voxel region where the physical dose was greater than 10%of the maximum dose point,the relative maximum dose error of both was less than 2%.At treatment energy of 400 MeV/u,SPEEDO's computation time was significantly less than that of TOPAS(13.8 min vs 105.0 min).SPEEDO's calculation results also showed good agreement with HIMM-WW measurements in terms of lateral dose distribution and integrated dose depth curve.Conclusion SPEEDO program can accurately and rapidly perform Monte Carlo dose calculations for carbon-ion therapy.
7.Herbal Textual Research on Olibanum in Famous Classical Formulas
Haiyan ZHOU ; Qingqing WANG ; Qi ZHANG ; Suping XIAO ; Meng CHEN ; Jianxin ZHOU ; Yeda ZHANG ; Danyang JIA ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):55-66
By consulting the ancient and moderm literature, this paper makes a textual research on the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing of Olibanum, so as to provide a basis for the development of the famous classical formulas containing this medicinal material. According to the herbal textual research, the results showed that Olibanum was first described as a medicinal material by the name of Xunluxiang in Mingyi Bielu(《名医别录》), until Ruxiang had been used as the correct name since Bencao Shiyi(《本草拾遗》) in Tang dynasty. The main origin was Boswellia carterii from Burseraceae family. The mainly producing areas in ancient description were ancient India and Arabia, while the modern producing areas are Somalia, Ethiopia and the southern Arabian Peninsula. The medicinal part of Olibanum in ancient and modern times is the resin exuded from the bark, which has been mainly harvested in spring and summer. It is concluded that the better Olibanum has light yellow, granular, translucent, no impurities such as sand and bark, sticky powder and aromatic smell. There were many processing methods in ancient times, including cleansing(water flying, removing impurities), grinding(wine grinding, rush grinding), frying(stir-frying, rush frying, wine frying), degreasing, vinegar processing, decoction. In modern times, the main processing methods are simplified to cleansing, stir-frying and vinegar processing. Nowadays, the commonly used specifications include raw, fried and vinegar-processed products. Among the three specifications, raw products is the Olibanum after cleansing, fried products is a kind of Olibanum processed by frying method, vinegar-processed products is the processed products of pure frankincense mixed with vinegar. Based on the research results, it is recommended to select the resin exuded from the bark of B. carterii for the famous classical formulas such as Juanbitang containing Olibanum, processing method should be carried out in accordance with the processing requirements of the formulas, otherwise used the raw products if the formulas without clear processing requirements.
8.Sclerostin antibody improves alveolar bone quality in the Hyp mouse model of X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH).
Kelsey A CARPENTER ; Delia O ALKHATIB ; Bryan A DULION ; Elizabeth GUIRADO ; Shreya PATEL ; Yinghua CHEN ; Anne GEORGE ; Ryan D ROSS
International Journal of Oral Science 2023;15(1):47-47
X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare disease of elevated fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) production that leads to hypophosphatemia and impaired mineralization of bone and teeth. The clinical manifestations of XLH include a high prevalence of dental abscesses and periodontal disease, likely driven by poorly formed structures of the dentoalveolar complex, including the alveolar bone, cementum, dentin, and periodontal ligament. Our previous studies have demonstrated that sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) treatment improves phosphate homeostasis, and increases long bone mass, strength, and mineralization in the Hyp mouse model of XLH. In the current study, we investigated whether Scl-Ab impacts the dentoalveolar structures of Hyp mice. Male and female wild-type and Hyp littermates were injected with 25 mg·kg-1 of vehicle or Scl-Ab twice weekly beginning at 12 weeks of age and euthanized at 20 weeks of age. Scl-Ab increased alveolar bone mass in both male and female mice and alveolar tissue mineral density in the male mice. The positive effects of Scl-Ab were consistent with an increase in the fraction of active (nonphosphorylated) β-catenin, dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and osteopontin stained alveolar osteocytes. Scl-Ab had no effect on the mass and mineralization of dentin, enamel, acellular or cellular cementum. There was a nonsignificant trend toward increased periodontal ligament (PDL) attachment fraction within the Hyp mice. Additional PDL fiber structural parameters were not affected by Scl-Ab. The current study demonstrates that Scl-Ab can improve alveolar bone in adult Hyp mice.
Mice
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Male
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Female
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Animals
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Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets/metabolism*
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Bone and Bones/metabolism*
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Tooth/metabolism*
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Periodontal Ligament/metabolism*
9.The independent effect of exercise on biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review
George CHEN ; Bubu BANINI ; Albert DO ; Joseph K. LIM
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2023;29(Suppl):S319-S332
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Although previous studies have demonstrated that exercise independently reduces hepatic steatosis measured by imaging modalities in NAFLD, the effect of exercise on histological endpoints remains unclear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of the independent effect of exercise on hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis as measured by histological assessment or non-invasive tests (NITs) in biopsy-proven NAFLD. A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was performed using keywords related to exercise, NAFLD, and biopsy. Articles were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) involved human subjects with biopsy-proven NAFLD, (2) analyzed the independent effect of exercise, (3) assessed changes in hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, or liver fibrosis via either histological evaluation or NITs, and (4) were original research studies. We identified a total of six studies that analyzed the independent effect of exercise on histological endpoints in biopsy-proven NAFLD. Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not detect significant histological improvement following exercise interventions, while other non-randomized interventional studies showed that exercise reduces hepatocyte ballooning and liver fibrosis. In addition, five studies assessed NIT outcomes, collectively demonstrating that exercise improves hepatic steatosis measured by magnetic resonance imaging-based techniques but not serum biomarkers for steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis. Additional large RCTs and meta-analyses are warranted to investigate the independent effect of exercise on histological and clinical outcome endpoints in NAFLD.
10.Hepatocyte apoptosis fragment product cytokeratin-18 M30 level and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis risk diagnosis: an international registry study.
Huai ZHANG ; Rafael S RIOS ; Jerome BOURSIER ; Rodolphe ANTY ; Wah-Kheong CHAN ; Jacob GEORGE ; Yusuf YILMAZ ; Vincent Wai-Sun WONG ; Jiangao FAN ; Jean-François DUFOUR ; George PAPATHEODORIDIS ; Li CHEN ; Jörn M SCHATTENBERG ; Junping SHI ; Liang XU ; Grace Lai-Hung WONG ; Naomi F LANGE ; Margarita PAPATHEODORIDI ; Yuqiang MI ; Yujie ZHOU ; Christopher D BYRNE ; Giovanni TARGHER ; Gong FENG ; Minghua ZHENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(3):341-350
BACKGROUND:
Liver biopsy for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is limited by its inherent invasiveness and possible sampling errors. Some studies have shown that cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) concentrations may be useful in diagnosing NASH, but results across studies have been inconsistent. We aimed to identify the utility of CK-18 M30 concentrations as an alternative to liver biopsy for non-invasive identification of NASH.
METHODS:
Individual data were collected from 14 registry centers on patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and in all patients, circulating CK-18 M30 levels were measured. Individuals with a NAFLD activity score (NAS) ≥5 with a score of ≥1 for each of steatosis, ballooning, and lobular inflammation were diagnosed as having definite NASH; individuals with a NAS ≤2 and no fibrosis were diagnosed as having non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL).
RESULTS:
A total of 2571 participants were screened, and 1008 (153 with NAFL and 855 with NASH) were finally enrolled. Median CK-18 M30 levels were higher in patients with NASH than in those with NAFL (mean difference 177 U/L; standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.87 [0.69-1.04]). There was an interaction between CK-18 M30 levels and serum alanine aminotransferase, body mass index (BMI), and hypertension ( P < 0.001, P = 0.026 and P = 0.049, respectively). CK-18 M30 levels were positively associated with histological NAS in most centers. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) for NASH was 0.750 (95% confidence intervals: 0.714-0.787), and CK-18 M30 at Youden's index maximum was 275.7 U/L. Both sensitivity (55% [52%-59%]) and positive predictive value (59%) were not ideal.
CONCLUSION
This large multicenter registry study shows that CK-18 M30 measurement in isolation is of limited value for non-invasively diagnosing NASH.
Humans
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnosis*
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Keratin-18
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Biomarkers
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Biopsy
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Hepatocytes/pathology*
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Apoptosis
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Liver/pathology*

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