1.Molecular Mechanism of Programmed Cell Death in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Xin PENG ; Yunhui LI ; Lei LIANG ; Zheyu LUAN ; Hanxiao WANG ; Haotian XU ; Ziming DANG ; Jihong FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):304-313
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant threat to global health, exhibiting high morbidity, disability and mortality rate, with its prevention and treatment situation becoming increasingly critical. The pathogenesis of COPD is complex, and the underlying cellular and molecular biological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Programmed cell death (PCD) is the process wherein cells actively undergo demise to maintain internal environmental stability in response to certain signals or specific stimuli. Contemporary medical research indicates that the dysregulation of PCD patterns such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis is closely related to the onset and progression of COPD. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of PCD in COPD may provide novel perspectives for in-depth understanding and prevention of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by holistic regulation. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted in the TCM field focusing on modulating apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis for the treatment of COPD, yielding remarkable achievements. Therefore, this study systematically explored the molecular mechanism of PCD in COPD and reviewed the potential mechanisms and intervention status of TCM targeting PCD in COPD, aiming to provide insights and references for the clinical prevention, treatment and in-depth research of COPD.
2.Molecular Mechanism of Programmed Cell Death in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Xin PENG ; Yunhui LI ; Lei LIANG ; Zheyu LUAN ; Hanxiao WANG ; Haotian XU ; Ziming DANG ; Jihong FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):304-313
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant threat to global health, exhibiting high morbidity, disability and mortality rate, with its prevention and treatment situation becoming increasingly critical. The pathogenesis of COPD is complex, and the underlying cellular and molecular biological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Programmed cell death (PCD) is the process wherein cells actively undergo demise to maintain internal environmental stability in response to certain signals or specific stimuli. Contemporary medical research indicates that the dysregulation of PCD patterns such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis is closely related to the onset and progression of COPD. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of PCD in COPD may provide novel perspectives for in-depth understanding and prevention of the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by holistic regulation. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted in the TCM field focusing on modulating apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis for the treatment of COPD, yielding remarkable achievements. Therefore, this study systematically explored the molecular mechanism of PCD in COPD and reviewed the potential mechanisms and intervention status of TCM targeting PCD in COPD, aiming to provide insights and references for the clinical prevention, treatment and in-depth research of COPD.
3.Thoughts of Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment and Effect Mechanism of Haoqin Qingdantang in Treating Viral Pneumonia Based on Theory of Treating Different Diseases with Same Therapy
Xin PENG ; Haotian XU ; Lei LIANG ; Zheyu LUAN ; Hanxiao WANG ; Yihao ZHANG ; Kun YANG ; Jihong FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):209-217
The principle of treating different diseases with the same therapy is the essence of syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It means that when the same pathogenic changes or the same symptoms appear in the development of different diseases, the same principles or methods can be used for treatment. Due to the complexity and high variability of viral pathogenicity, the precise and effective treatment of different types of viral pneumonia (VP) has always been a research focus and difficulty in modern medicine. VP belongs to the category of external-contraction febrile disease, warm disease, and epidemic in TCM. Haoqin Qingdantang (HQQDD) is a representative formula for clearing heat and dispelling dampness in warm diseases, and its intervention in VP caused by various viral infections has significant effects. This study, guided by the theory of treating different diseases with the same therapy, links the related studies on using HQQDD to treat different types of VP and finds that influenza virus pneumonia (IVP), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19 all have a common pathogenic mechanism of dampness-heat at different stages of respective diseases. When these diseases are dominated by damp-heat factors, the use of HQQDD yields remarkable therapeutic effects. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that HQQDD can inhibit virus replication, reduce fever reactions, inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators, and regulate immune balance. Moreover, the sovereign medicine in this formula has excellent antiviral activity, and the formula reflects rich scientific connotations of treating VP. According to the theory of treating different diseases with the same therapy and based on the effective treatment practice and modern pharmacological research of HQQDD for different types of VP, this paper mines the underlying TCM theory of treatment with the same therapy, explores the syndrome differentiation and treatment strategy and effect mechanism of this formula for different types of VP, and analyzes the treatment mechanism and characteristics, with the aim of providing evidence and reference for the clinical application and modern research of HQQDD.
4.Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulating Immune Inflammation and Microvascular Damage in Preventing Recurrence of Pneumonia During Recovery Based on Combination of Pathogenic Factors
Xin PENG ; Haotian XU ; Lei LIANG ; Zheyu LUAN ; Hanxiao WANG ; Kun YANG ; Jihong FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):249-258
Pneumonia is an infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its damage to the body is not limited to the acute phase. The theory of combination of pathogenic factors emphasizes that the combination of new pathogens and residual pathogens in the body leads to the occurrence of diseases, which generalizes the causes of recurrence during pneumonia recovery. During the recovery stage of pneumonia, pathological changes such as disturbance of immune homeostasis, persistent low-grade inflammation, and microvascular damage continue to affect the body function, impair the health and quality of life of patients, and increase the risk of secondary infection. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pneumonia is caused by deficiency, and Qi deficiency and blood stasis is the core pathogenesis in the recovery stage. At this time, the body is not full of healthy qi and still has residual pathogens, and thus it is susceptible to external pathogenic factors that lead to disease recurrence. As an important part of the TCM philosophy of treating disease before its onset, prevention of recurrence after recovery emphasizes the need for aftercare in the recovery stage to prevent disease recurrence. Based on the pathogenesis theory of combination of pathogenic factors and the pathogenesis of Qi deficiency and blood stasis, this paper discusses the effect and connotation of TCM in regulating immune inflammation and microvascular damage in preventing recurrence of pneumonia during the recovery stage, aiming to develop new ideas for effective prevention and treatment of pneumonia at this stage.
5.Characteristics and problems of hydroxyapatite/polymer bone repair material
Junqiang QI ; Haotian WANG ; Bing XIAO ; Jia LIU ; Yifei LIU ; Guohua XU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(10):1592-1598
BACKGROUND:Hydroxyapatite is the main inorganic component of bone tissue.The polymer has the structure and function of a biomimetic extracellular matrix.The composites of hydroxyapatite and polymer have been widely studied. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the research status of hydroxyapatite composite polymer materials for bone tissue repair. METHODS:The articles collected in PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI and WanFang databases were searched from January 2010 to April 2023.The Chinese and English search terms were"hydroxyapatite,polymer,composites,degradability,bone defect,bone repair".Finally,75 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Polymers often used in composite with hydroxyapatite for bone tissue repair include natural polymers(collagen,chitosan,alginate,serine protein,cellulose,hyaluronic acid,and polyhydroxybutyrate)and synthetic polymers[polylactic acid,polylactic acid-hydroxyacetic acid copolymer,poly(has-lactide),poly(amino acid)and poly(vinyl alcohol)].The mechanical properties and osteoinductivity of hydroxyapatite/polymer composites were improved compared with pure hydroxyapatite.Hydroxyapatite composite with polymers can be made into porous scaffolds,hydrogels,and coatings for bone repair.Hydroxyapatite/polymer composites can accelerate bone reconstruction with a slow release of loaded drugs and cytokines due to their bionic extracellular matrix structure and function.Based on the diversity of causes of bone defects and the fact that bone repair is a complex continuous process involving multiple biological factors and proteins,repair materials with mechanical properties matching bone tissue,degradation processes synchronized with bone repair,and efficient osteogenesis and vascularization need to be further investigated.
6.Explore the Diagnosis and Treatment of Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis Based on Insidious Pathogen Warm Disease Theory
Zhichen HE ; Haotian XU ; Rui LI
Journal of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University 2024;48(3):282-287
[Objective]To explore the etiology,pathogenesis and clinical treatment of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis(HNL)based on the insidious pathogen warm disease theory.[Methods]To analyze the etiology,pathogenesis,characteristics of symptoms and transmission of the disease in Chinese medicine,and summarize the treatment principles based on the descriptions about insidious pathogen warm disease in ancient literature and modern researches on HNL,and cite a clinical case for verification.[Results]The pathogenesis of the HNL is mainly characterized by deficient healthy Qi leading to latent evil.The specific manifestation is that exogenous evils are latent in the Moyuan,which causes Yang Qi to be blocked and depressed and turns into heat.Evil heat spreads from the Moyuan to the Shaoyang tri-Jiao,leading to the generation of phlegm,static blood,turbid evil and toxin in the body,which in turn leads to disease.In terms of treatment,supporting healthy Qi and eliminating the evil is regarded as the law of treatment,and the emphasis is eliminating the evil.Aiming at the three pathogenetic links of latent evil,depressed heat and internal production of pathological products,the following treatment principles are formulated:expelling evils from Moyuan,dredging tri-Jiao and promoting the flow of Qi to make the evil heat go out,clearing away endogenous pathological products,removing toxin and dispersing knots.The focus of supporting healthy Qi is the protection of Qi and Yin as well as recuperation after recovery,which prevents evil Qi from remaining and causing the disease to reoccur.The medical case cited was a patient with HNL treated by applying the theory of insidious pathogen warm disease.Damp-heat and toxin brewing,phlegm combined with static blood was the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pattern of this case.The the prescriptions were based on Shengjiang Powder combined with Sanren Decoction,and Ganlu Xiaodu Pill successively,added and subtracted according to the syndrome,and the case achieved a significant effect.[Conclusion]The effect of treating HNL based on the insidious pathogen warm disease theory is quite good,which can provide new ideas and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of HNL.
7.Establishment and evaluation of a canine vertebral augmentation puncture model under fluoroscopic guidance
Haotian WANG ; Jia LIU ; Jian HUANG ; Junqiang QI ; Guohua XU
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2024;32(3):355-361
Objective To establish a fluoroscopic percutaneous vertebral augmentation model in dogs by measuring and analyzing canine spinal anatomy.We also assessed the effectiveness and safety of this modeling method by postoperative radiological analysis.Methods Morphological measurements were taken in six dogs,aged approximately 12~24 months,and the following parameters of the lumbar vertebrae were determined:height of the L1~L7 vertebrae,width of the vertebral base,distance from the upper edge of the intervertebral disc to the narrowest part of the vertebra,distance from the vertical line of the spinous process to the upper edge of the intervertebral disc,and vertical distance from the midpoint of the transverse process to the lower edge of the intervertebral disc.These measurements were obtained to clarify the anatomical characteristics of the canine vertebrae and determine the optimal location,direction,and depth for bone-cement injection.A percutaneous vertebral augmentation model was subsequently established in the L4,L5,and L6 vertebrae of six healthy Beagle dogs,weighing 20~25 kg.The dogs were euthanized 4 weeks post-surgery and examined radiologically.Primary observations included the surgical duration,postoperative distribution of the implanted bone cement,and integrity of the vertebral canal and anterior edge of the vertebrae.Results Anatomical observation of the canine vertebrae revealed that the vertebral height increased gradually from L1~L5 and then decreased from L5~L7.The width of the vertebral base increased consistently from L1~L7.The distance from the vertical line of the spinous process to the upper edge of the intervertebral disc showed an increasing trend from L1~L7(1.9~4.0 mm).The distance between the midpoint of the base of the transverse process and the lower edge of the intervertebral disc increased gradually from L1~L5(4.7~6.9 mm).There was no significant difference in the distance between the midpoint of the base of the transverse process and the lower edge of the intervertebral disc in the L4,L5,and L6 segments among the dogs(P=0.925).The midpoint of the root of the transverse process of the spine was taken as the puncture point,and the insertion direction and horizontal plane were at an angle of 20°~30°,with a head tilt of 5°~15° and a puncture depth of 1.2~1.5 cm.If the puncture was directed towards the caudal side of the vertebra,the angle of the needle tail was 30°~35°,with a penetration depth of 1.5~1.8 cm.This technique allowed the successful construction of a canine vertebral puncture surgical model.A total of 15 canine vertebral puncture surgical models were successfully created,with an average surgery time of 22.7±4.6 min(15~30 min)per vertebral segment.During surgery,one vertebral segment experienced spinal cord injury result ing in paralysis of the hind limbs and bowel and bladder incontinence.Two vertebral cortical bones fractured,but there were no deaths due to anesthesia or infection.Four weeks post-surgery,micro-computed tomography-based three-dimensional reconstructions consistently showed bone cement distributed within the trabecular bone of the canine vertebrae,with newly formed bone tissue enveloping the implanted material.There was no leakage,and no complications such as damage to the vertebral canal or the anterior wall of the vertebrae.Conclusions A safe and reliable canine vertebral augmentation puncture model can be successfully established based on the anatomy of the canine lumbar vertebrae(L4~L6)and using the midpoint of the base of the transverse process as a bony landmark.
8.Efficacy of 595-nm pulsed dye laser in the treatment of port-wine stains in 155 infants and toddlers: a retrospective analysis
Ting ZHANG ; Lian LIU ; Haotian CHEN ; Danfeng WEI ; Xu LIU ; Ping DIAO ; Qingfeng LIU ; Xian JIANG
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2024;57(7):610-615
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the treatment of port-wine stains (PWS) in infants and toddlers.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted based on clinical data from 155 infants and toddlers with PWS treated with 595-nm PDL at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2013 to October 2023, and the efficacy was evaluated according to pre- and post-treatment photographs. The children were grouped according to gender, age, lesion color, lesion area, lesion sites, and number of treatment sessions, separately, and the differences were analyzed between different groups. Further analysis was conducted to determine factors affecting efficacy of PDL for PWS. Adverse reactions after treatment were recorded. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to analyze unidirectional ordered R × C contingency table data, the Bonferroni approach was used for multiple comparisons, and multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis was performed for multifactorial analysis. Results:After the treatment with 595-nm PDL, 135 infants and toddlers with PWS showed good response, with an overall response rate of 87.1%. Univariate analysis indicated that the efficacy was associated with the lesion area ( P = 0.016) and the number of treatment sessions ( P < 0.001), but not with age ( P = 0.340), gender ( P = 0.164), lesion color ( P = 0.530), or lesion sites ( P = 0.077), and the smaller the lesion area, the more the treatment sessions, the better the therapeutic effect. Multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis further confirmed the correlations of efficacy with lesion area ( P = 0.010) and number of treatment sessions ( P < 0.001). Adverse reactions occurred in 5 (3.2%) cases of PWS, including 2 (1.3%) of hypopigmentation, 2 (1.3%) of hyperpigmentation, and 1 (0.6%) of scar formation. Conclusion:The 595-nm PDL was safe and effective for the treatment of PWS in infants and toddlers with few adverse reactions, making it a reliable therapeutic option.
9.Diagnosis and treatment of port-wine stains-associated syndromes
Qingfeng LIU ; Lian LIU ; Ping DIAO ; Xiaoxue LI ; Ting ZHANG ; Haotian CHEN ; Xu LIU ; Xian JIANG
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2024;57(7):656-660
Port-wine stains (PWS) are one of the common congenital vascular malformations in dermatology, clinically manifesting as pink or red irregular patches occurring on the skin or mucosa at birth or shortly thereafter, which are often not elevated above the skin surface. In a minority of patients, vascular malformations not only affect the skin, but also involve the eyes, brain, limbs and viscera. These patients are at risk for glaucoma, epilepsy, limb pain, and other clinical conditions. In general, these conditions are referred to as PWS-associated syndromes. These syndromes are rare diseases, can affect multiple systems and exhibit a variety of clinical manifestations, which pose challenges in their diagnosis and treatment. This review focuses on the clinical manifestations, diagnoses, pathogenesis and treatment of PWS-associated syndromes.
10.Retinal Thinning as a Marker of Disease Severity in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Yueting CHEN ; Haotian WANG ; Bo WANG ; Wenbo LI ; Panpan YE ; Wen XU ; Peng LIU ; Xinhui CHEN ; Zhidong CEN ; Zhiyuan OUYANG ; Sheng WU ; Xiaofeng DOU ; Yi LIAO ; Hong ZHANG ; Mei TIAN ; Wei LUO
Journal of Movement Disorders 2024;17(1):55-63
Objective:
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) involves a variety of visual symptoms that are thought to be partially caused by structural abnormalities of the retina. However, the relationship between retinal structural changes, disease severity, and intracranial alterations remains unknown. We investigated distinct retinal thinning patterns and their relationship with clinical severity and intracranial alterations in a PSP cohort.
Methods:
We enrolled 19 patients with PSP (38 eyes) and 20 age-matched healthy controls (40 eyes). All of the participants underwent peripapillary and macular optical coherence tomography. Brain 11C-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl) tropane (11C-CFT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography imaging were also performed in patients with PSP. We investigated the association between retinal thickness changes and clinical features, striatal dopamine transporter availability, and cerebral glucose metabolism.
Results:
The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and macula were significantly thinner in patients with PSP than in controls. The thickness of the superior sector of the pRNFL demonstrated a significant negative relationship with the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III and Hoehn and Yahr staging scale scores. A significant negative correlation was found between outer inferior macular thickness and disease duration. Outer temporal macular thickness was positively correlated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. In PSP, lower outer temporal macular thickness was also positively correlated with decreased dopamine transporter binding in the caudate.
Conclusion
The pRNFL and macular thinning may be candidate markers for monitoring disease severity. Additionally, macular thinning may be an in vivo indicator of nigrostriatal dopaminergic cell degeneration in PSP patients.

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