1.Research Progress on Regulation of Relevant Pathways by Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Zhonghao GUO ; Quan LI ; Pengyu PAN ; Tengyu ZHAO ; Zeyuan AN ; Yuan LIU ; Yanyan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):333-342
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments, with its pathological mechanisms involving multiple processes such as the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein. Current Western medical treatments face challenges including diminished long-term efficacy and motor complications. In recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has demonstrated advantages in the prevention and treatment of PD through its systematic regulatory capabilities, featuring multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway approaches.This article systematically reviews the roles of seven key signaling pathways-NF-κB, AMPK/mTOR, PI3K/Akt, MAPKs, Nrf2/ARE, Wnt/β-catenin, and BDNF/TrkB-in the pathological process of PD and the regulatory mechanisms of TCM. Research indicates that active ingredients of Chinese herbs and compound formulations can synergistically modulate these pathways, exerting comprehensive effects in inhibiting neuroinflammation, alleviating oxidative stress, promoting autophagy to clear abnormal proteins, and enhancing neurotrophic support. These signaling pathways form a complex regulatory network through crosstalk among key nodal molecules, constituting an intricate regulatory system in PD pathology. The multi-target intervention characteristics of TCM align well with this network-based regulatory requirement, achieving integrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, autophagy-regulating, and neurorestorative effects through synergistic multi-pathway modulation. This article systematically outlines the mechanisms of TCM in the coordinated regulation of multiple pathways, providing a theoretical basis for elucidating the pathological process of PD and the intervention mechanisms of TCM, while also offering new perspectives and directions for modern research on TCM in the prevention and treatment of PD.
2.Prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications in video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer based on cardiopulmonary exercise testing and machine learning
Lei GUO ; Fusong LIU ; Zhilong OU ; Lan GUO ; Tiantian LI ; Chongfeng ZHOU ; Kun LUAN ; Xiaoman CHEN ; Yucheng WEI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):44-52
Objective To develop a predictive model for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) following video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in lung cancer patients by integrating cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters and machine learning techniques. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer who underwent CPET and VATS at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital between October 2021 and July 2023. Patients were divided into a PPC group and a non-PPC group. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select important features associated with PPC. Six machine learning algorithms were utilized to construct prediction models, including logistic regression, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, random forest, gradient boosting machine, and extreme gradient boosting. The optimal model was interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Results A total of 325 patients were included, with an average age of 60.36 years, and 55.1% were male. Significant differences were observed between the PPC and non-PPC groups in age, diabetes, coronary heart disease, surgical approach, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC% predicted, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), anaerobic threshold (AT), and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide slope (VE/VCO2 slope) (P<0.05). In the predictive model constructed by selecting 7 key features using LASSO regression, the random forest model demonstrated the best overall performance across various metrics, with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.930, an F1 score of 0.836, and a Brier score of 0.133 in the training set. It also exhibited good predictive ability and calibration in the test set. SHAP analysis ranked feature importance as follows: peak VO2, VE/VCO2 slope, age, FEV1, smoking history, diabetes, and surgical approach. Conclusion Integrating CPET parameters, the random forest model can effectively identify high-risk patients for PPC and has the potential for clinical application.
3.Literature Analysis and Validity Assessment for Animal Models of Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder
Wangyue LIAO ; Shuang LEI ; Xuan LI ; Min GUO ; Ruoran ZHOU
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):66-80
Attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood. It seriously impairs academic achievement, social interaction, and vocational development, and increases the risk of accidental injury and substance abuse. In some cases, the symptoms may also exert an indirect disruptive effect on public order. Its aetiology involves interactions among genetic, perinatal environmental, and psychosocial factors that cannot be fully disentangled by single clinical studies. Therefore, a systematic evaluation of existing animal models is essential for revealing pathophysiology and developing novel therapies. Using the keywords "attention deficit and hyperactive disorder", "models, animal", "validity", and their English equivalents, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang for publications from 2000 to 2025 (retrieving 328 publications) and added further references by citation tracking. Eighty-six rodent ADHD models that provided detailed construction protocols, behavioural assessments, neurobiological mechanisms, or pharmacological data were included and classified into spontaneous genetic, genetically engineered, and environmentally induced paradigms. Their face, construct, and predictive validity were compared. Among spontaneous genetic models, spontaneously hypertensive rats reproduce hyperactivity, impulsivity, and stimulant responses well, yet hypertension and sex differences limit specificity. Acallosal mouse strains link corpus callosum absence to ADHD-like behaviours, but neurotransmitter studies remain scarce. Genetically engineered rodents—including dopamine transporter, neurokinin-1 receptor and mediator complex subunit 23 knockout or conditional gene knockout lines—precisely dissect dopaminergic, noradrenergic, synaptic, or epigenetic pathways, yet generally lack full phenotypic coverage, social-deficit modelling, and comorbidity representation, and are accompanied by adverse effects such as growth retardation or ocular defects. Environmentally induced models employ lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, alcohol, nicotine exposures, 6-hydroxydopamine lesions, neonatal hypoxia, early social isolation, or maternal stress to recapitulate core symptoms. However, dose-schedule standardisation is lacking. Behavioural reversibility diverges from clinical persistence, and non-specific phenotypes such as anxiety or depression are common. Overall, no single paradigm simultaneously achieves high validity across all three dimensions. Currently, ADHD models have progressed from single-factor simulations to multidimensional evaluation, yet significant gaps remain in genetic-background standardisation, sex differences, cross-species translation, and syndrome-differentiation modelling under traditional Chinese medicine. Future directions should integrate genetic, environmental, and epigenetic interactions, establish life-span validation systems, and incorporate computational neuroscience alongside integrative Chinese-Western strategies to enhance clinical relevance and translational utility, thereby providing robust evidence-based support for mechanistic elucidation, drug screening and precision intervention in ADHD.
4.Exploring on Quality Evaluation Methods of Clinical Case Reports in Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Kaige ZHANG ; Feng ZHANG ; Bo ZHOU ; Haimin CHEN ; Yong ZHU ; Changcheng HOU ; Liangzhen YOU ; Weijun HUANG ; Jie YANG ; Guoshuang ZHU ; Shukun GONG ; Jianwen HE ; Yang YE ; Yuqiu AN ; Chunquan SUN ; Qingjie YUAN ; Buman LI ; Xingzhong FENG ; Kegang CAO ; Hongcai SHANG ; Jihua GUO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Zhining TIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):271-276
As the core vehicle for preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) academic thought and clinical experience, the establishment of a robust quality evaluation system for TCM clinical case reports is a crucial component in the current standardization and modernization of TCM. Based on the practical experience of constructing the China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of critical challenges, including insufficient authenticity and unfocused evaluation criteria. It proposed a three-dimensional evaluation framework grounded in the structure-process-outcome logic, encompassing three dimensions of authenticity and standardization, characteristics and advantages, application and translational impact. This framework integrated 12 key evaluation indicators in a systematic manner. The model preserved the academic characteristics of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment, while aligning with modern scientific research standards, achieving a balance between individualized TCM experience and standardized evaluation. Concurrently, this study provided theoretical foundations and methodological guidance for evaluating the quality of TCM clinical cases, contributing significantly to the inheritance of TCM knowledge, evidence-based practice, and the reform of talent evaluation mechanisms.
5.Mechanisms of Hepatotoxicity Induced by Toxic Chinese Herbal Medicinals and Compatibility-Based Detoxification Strategies from the Perspective of the "Liver Aversion to Acute Irritation" Theory
Xiang LI ; Liuyang GUO ; Zhichao YU ; Xueping ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):487-491
This study establishes an integrated research paradigm based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, guided by pathological characteristics, centered on formula compatibility principles, and supported by multidisciplinary technologies, to systematically analyze the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by toxic Chinese herbal medicinals and strategies for reducing toxicity through compatibility. The findings revealed that the pathomechanism aligns closely with the "liver aversion to acute irritation" theory from Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor (《黄帝内经》). The core pathology involves an imbalance between liver's form and function, which is characterized by malnourishment of liver form due to yin-blood depletion and dysfunction in ascending-dispersing and free-flowing activities, and closely linked to modern pathological mechanisms such as microcirculatory disturbances, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, metabolic disorder and gut-liver axis dysregulation. Based on this, a multi-layered compatibility strategy for toxicity reduction is put forward, which involves using sweet medicinals to alleviate urgency, balancing the liver form and its function, and pre-regulating other organs. This provides a theoretical basis for the safe application of toxic Chinese herbal medicinals.
6.Overview of Physical Biological Research on the Activation of Acupoint Effects by Acupuncture
Junyi LI ; Shiwei TU ; Yangyang LIU ; Baomin DOU ; Zezhi FAN ; Jiangjiang FU ; Jiangqi ZHOU ; Kaiyuan DENG ; Yanwei LI ; Yi GUO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(10):1130-1136
By reviewing the physical biological research on the activation of acupoint effects by acupuncture, this paper explains the activation mechanism from the perspective of the generation and transmission of mechanical signals caused by acupuncture, and reveals the physical-chemical coupling processes in the acupoint microenvironment. Future research should focus on locally mechanosensitive cells, further exploring how acupuncture mechanical signals trigger dynamic changes in cells and molecules in the acupoints, and the physical-chemical information transduction mechanism, which will provide scientific evidence for the acupoint activation during acupuncture. Related studies will contribute to a deeper understanding of the scientific principles behind acupuncture and promote its clinical application and development.
7.Treatment Modalities and Long-Term Outcomes in Unruptured Vertebrobasilar Fusiform Aneurysms: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study
Linggen DONG ; Dachao WEI ; Xiheng CHEN ; Mingtao LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Yong SUN ; Qingbin NIE ; Jun FENG ; Guomin XIAO ; Jinghua ZHOU ; Shengli HU ; Lifei FENG ; Lifeng QI ; Hongen LIU ; Geng GUO ; Yufang LI ; Renfu TIAN ; Jianghua YU ; Dianshi JIN ; Liang HAO ; Tian TIAN ; Shizhong ZHANG ; Yang WANG ; Liping LIU ; Ming LV
Journal of Stroke 2026;28(2):250-262
Background:
and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis.
Methods:
This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.
Results:
Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs.
Conclusions
Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.
8.Mechanism of liquiritin in the improvement of ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction via regulating the TXNIP/TRX signaling pathway
Yifang DENG ; Luqin GUO ; Ziqiang LI ; Yueyue ZHAO ; Ying YUAN ; Liang WANG ; Peng ZHOU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2026;57(3):369-376
This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of liquiritin (LQ) in the improvement of ventricular remodeling (VR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Molecular docking was used to predict the binding affinity of liquiritin to thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). After 2 weeks of modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group, a low-dose liquiritin group (20 mg/kg LQ), and a high-dose liquiritin group (40 mg/kg LQ). Liquiritin was administered by gavage once a day, and the sham group and model group were given the same volume of 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na), with intervention of 4 consecutive weeks. Echocardiography was employed to detect the cardiac function, HE staining was used to observe cardiological changes, ELISA was used to detect the activity of serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) activity, and the colorimetric method was adopted to detect serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. RT-qPCR was used to detect the gene expressions of TXNIP, thioredoxin (TRX) and NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3(NLRP3). Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of TXNIP, TRX and NLRP3 in rat myocardial tissue. Molecular docking results showed that liquiritin had a good binding affinity to TNXIP target. After 20 and 40 mg/kg liquiritin intervention, the levels of ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the levels of LVIDs, LVIDd, LVESV, and LVEDV were decreased (P<0.01). The myocardial structure was significantly improved, the cell arrangement tended to be regular, and the area of inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis was reduced. Liquiritin significantly reduced the level of CK-MB (P<0.01), decreased the activity of MDA, and increased the activities of CAT and T-SOD (P<0.01). Liquiritin effectively inhibited the overexpression of TXNIP and NLRP3 genes and proteins, and enhanced the expression of TRX genes and proteins in the myocardial tissues of AMI rats. In conclusion, liquiritin has a regulatory effect on the TXNIP/TRX signaling pathway, inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and thus improves ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.
9.Seasonal variation of adult mosquitoes in Yantai, Shandong Province, China: a study based on the circular distribution method
Chun-hui LI ; Cheng-juan LIU ; Ting WANG ; Xiao-ge ZHOU ; Pei-Jun GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):108-113
Objective This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation of mosquitoes in Yantai, Shandong Province, and provide a scientific basis for mosquito and mosquito-borne disease control. Methods From March to November for each of the years between 2020 and 2023, adult mosquitoes were collected from different habitats, including parks, hospitals, urban residential areas, rural households and livestock sheds, in 13 counties of Yantai City using a mosquito trap lamp method, among which, female mosquitoes were separated and identified, and the numbers were counted. We used the circular distribution method to analyze the temporal distribution characteristics of mosquito density. Results The γ values obtained for mosquitoes in Yantai from 2020 to 2023, the distribution of mosquitoes in different habitats, and dominant mosquito species in different months showed strong seasonality, with values ranging from 0.7461 to 0.8531(P < 0.05). The peak period of seasonal variation in mosquitoes occurred from June 28thto September 13th, with August 5thbeing identified as the peak day. The peak periods of seasonal variation in mosquitoes in residential areas, parks, hospitals, peasant households, and animals sheds were observed from June 24thto September 14th, June 25thto September 10th, June 22ndto September 12th, July 1stto September 9th, and July 2ndto September 17th, respectively, with corresponding peak days on August 4th,3rd, 2nd, 5th, and 9th, respectively. The peak periods of Culex pipiens pallens, Aedes albopictus, and Anopheles sinensis were from June 26thto September 11th, June 28thto September 17th, and July 12thto September 17th, respectively, with corresponding peak days on August 3rd,7th, and 14th, respectively. Conclusions Our findings in this study revealed that the peak of mosquito activity in Yantai was concentrated in early August, with a peak period extending from June 28thto September 13th, and there were differences between different habitats(with peak periods for rural households and livestock sheds occurring later than those in residential areas, parks, and hospitals). Moreover, with respect to the mosquito species, populations of Cx. pipiens pallens and Ae. albopictus peaked earlier than those of An. sinensis. Based on these findings, we recommend that city-wide mosquito control work should commence in late June, and include appropriate early prevention and control measures for key habitats, such as livestock sheds, and dominant mosquito species, such as Cx. pipiens pallens, to minimize the density of mosquito vectors and the risk of disease transmission.
10.Correlation analysis of thyroid hormones with massive proteinuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Yufei TIAN ; Yi LI ; Bohui GUO ; Lin ZHOU ; Wei YANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(4):134-138
Objective To explore the correlation between thyroid hormones and massive proteinuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 308 patients with T2DM admitted to 3201 Hospital between June 2020 and June 2025 were selected as the observation group, and another 250 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period served as the control group. The thyroid hormones levels [free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and free thyroxine (FT4)] were measured and compared between the two groups. Based on whether 24-hour urinary protein quantification was ≥ 3.5 g, the patients in the observation group were divided into a massive proteinuria group and a non-massive proteinuria group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of massive proteinuria in T2DM patients. Pearson method was applied to analyze the relationship of thyroid hormone indicators with severity indicators of massive proteinuria. Results Compared with the control group and the non-massive proteinuria group, FT3 and FT4 in the massive proteinuria group were lower, while TSH was higher (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that glycosylated hemoglobin (OR=1.113, 95%CI: 1.045-1.185), TSH (OR=1.123, 95%CI: 1.006-1.253), eGFR (OR=0.894, 95%CI: 0.822-0.973), and FT3 (OR=0.898, 95%CI: 0.828-0.973) were related factors for the occurrence of massive proteinuria in T2DM patients (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that FT3 and FT4 levels in T2DM patients were significantly negatively correlated with 24-hour urinary protein quantification (r=-0.514, -0.502), while the level of TSH was positively correlated with 24-hour urinary protein quantification (r=0.486) (P<0.001). Conclusion In T2DM patients, low FT3 and eGFR levels and high TSH and glycosylated hemoglobin levels are related factors for the occurrence of massive proteinuria, and thyroid hormone levels are significantly associated with the severity of massive proteinuria.


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