1.Construction and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Model for Inflammatory Remission Outcome of Bushen Zhiwang Decoction(补肾治尪汤)in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Liver and Kidney Deficiency Syndrome
Zihan WANG ; Xiaojing LIU ; Yanyu CHEN ; Tianyi LAN ; Huilan YANG ; Hongwei YU ; Qingwen TAO ; Yuan XU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):523-533
ObjectiveTo construct and validate a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome treated with Bushen Zhiwang Decoction (补肾治尪汤, BZD) based on metabolomics. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted, enrol-ling 60 RA patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome. All patients were treated with BZD and conventional-dose oral conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for 12 months. Clinical data were collected, and the change in disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) after treatment compared with baseline (△DAS28) was used as the primary outcome and grouping criterion. Peripheral blood samples were collected before treatment to analyze plasma metabolites. Differential analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to preliminarily screen differential metabolites, followed by machine learning algorithms to further identify a core metabolite combination. Based on the expression levels of the core metabolite combination, a novel metabolite index, namely the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score (Met-IRS), was calculated using standar-dized metabolite values, and its clinical applicability was evaluated. A clinical prediction model was constructed by integrating clinical characteristics and Met-IRS, and the model performance was assessed. ResultsAmong the 60 patients, those with △DAS28 ≥ 0.27 were assigned to the high inflammatory remission group, while those with △DAS28 < 0.27 were assigned to the low inflammatory remission group, with 30 cases in each group. Compared to the low inflammatory remission group, the high inflammatory remission group showed a higher frequency of methotrexate use and a lower positive rate of rheumatoid factor (RF) (P<0.05). Seven core metabolites were identified as the optimal combination, including mangiferic acid, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 40∶6, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 18∶0, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 36∶1, glucosylceramide, lysophosphatidylcholine 22∶5, and pregnanetriol ketone. The calculated Met-IRS comprehensively reflected the characteristics of differential metabolites and demonstrated clinical applicability. Met-IRS was significantly higher in the high inflammatory remission group than in the low inflammatory remission group, and was positively correlated with high inflammatory remission outcomes (P<0.05). Based on the variables Met-IRS, methotrexate use, leflunomide use, and RF positivity, a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission in RA treatment (Cj-RTRM) was constructed. Model performance evaluation demonstrated that the model had good clinical predictive ability, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.880, sensitivity 0.967, specificity 0.700 and Youden's index 0.667. ConclusionThe clinical prediction model Cj-RTRM constructed based on the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score Met-IRS can effectively predict clinical inflammatory remission outcomes in RA patients treated with BZD and accurately identify the advantageous population for this treatment. This model provides guiding evidence for dynamic inflammation monitoring, targeted management, and identification of populations with advantages in traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Psychological experiences of young end stage renal disease patients awaiting kidney transplantation: A qualitative study.
Dian LIU ; Huilan XU ; Zhihao ZHANG ; Liang WANG ; Jia LIU ; Xiao ZHU
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(5):888-896
OBJECTIVES:
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major disease that seriously threatens the health of young people, and kidney transplantation is an effective treatment method to improve its prognosis.Young ESRD patients at a critical stage of life development often face significant physical and psychological challenges while waiting for kidney transplantation. Their psychological state directly affects treatment compliance and transplantation outcomes.This study aims to explore the psychological experiences of young patients with end stage renal disease during the waiting period for kidney transplantation, and provide a reference for formulating relevant psychological intervention measures.
METHODS:
A descriptive qualitative research design was adopted. Using purposive sampling, 20 young ESRD patients awaiting for kidney transplantation at the Transplantation Center of Xiangya Third Hospital, Central South University, from June to August 2024, were recruited. Based on the socio-ecological systems theory, a semi-structured interview outline was developed, and directed content analysis was applied to analyze the interview data.
RESULTS:
According to the results of qualitative interviews, 3 themes and 9 sub-themes were summarized as follows: Microsystem (disease pain experience, anxiety during transplantation waiting period, cognitive differentiation and coping differences), mesosystem (imbalance of family roles and dependent guilt, physician-patient trust dynamics, ambivalence toward peer support), and macrosystem (decision-making powerlessness caused by information asymmetry, sociocultural stigma and public bias, institutional dependence and passive behavior).
CONCLUSIONS
Young ESRD patients experience complex psychological experiences during the waiting period for kidney transplantation. Healthcare providers should explore corresponding intervention measures based on patients' psychological status to improve their waiting period experience and promote both physical and mental health.
Humans
;
Kidney Transplantation/psychology*
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic/surgery*
;
Qualitative Research
;
Female
;
Male
;
Adult
;
Adaptation, Psychological
;
Waiting Lists
;
Young Adult
;
Adolescent
;
Anxiety/psychology*
3.Study on the Mechanism of Malt Alcoholic Extract in the Treatment of Depression Induced by Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress in Rats Based on Intestinal Flora
Yindan XIANG ; Ping NI ; Mengjuan TAO ; Tianhang LI ; Yujie ZHOU ; Huilan XU ; Bin WANG ; Qingyuan ZENG ; Yonggang CHEN
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(8):1199-1207
Objective To explore the mechanism of malt alcohol extract improving depression-like behavior induced by CUMS in rats by regulating gut microbiota.Methods The depression model of rats was established using an 8-weeks CUMS procedure,and the administration group was given low(59.6 mg·kg-1)and high(178.8 mg·kg-1)doses of malt alcohol extract,respectively.The depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by classic behavioral test.The composition of intestinal microbiota of rats was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing.The morphological changes of colon were observed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE),the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin in colon was detected by immunofluorescence(IF),and the expression of IL-10,IL-1βand 5-HT were detected by ELISA.Results The low dose of malt alcohol extract attenuated the depressive behavior and restored the expression of 5-HT in the brain of CUMS rats.16S rRNA sequencing results showed that the diversity and relative abundance of gut microbiota changed after treatment with the low dose of malt alcohol extract.ELISA results showed that the low dose of malt alcohol extract significantly reversed the CUMS-induced reduction of IL-10 and elevation of IL-1 β.HE results showed that the low dose of malt alcohol extract significantly ameliorated CUMS-induced structural damage in colon.IF results showed increased protain expression of intestinal epithelial barrier tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin by the low dose of malt alcohol extract.Conclusion The low dose of malt alcohol extract can ameliorate CUMS-induced depressive-like behavior in rats by modulating intestinal flora,restoring 5-HT expression in the brain,inhibiting inflammation,and repairing the intestinal barrier.
4.Research advances in prognostic score models and biomarkers for acute-on-chronic liver failure
Xinyi XU ; Xia YU ; Huilan TU ; Xiaohan QIAN ; Yida YANG ; Yu SHI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1030-1036
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a complex clinical syndrome, and early identification and accurate prognostic evaluation are of great importance for patient treatment and management. In recent years, with in-depth research on the pathogenesis of ACLF, multiple prognostic biomarkers have been proposed and used in clinical practice. This article systematically reviews the research advances in prognostic biomarkers for ACLF from the aspects of clinical predictive models, immunological biomarkers, metabolic biomarkers, genetic and epigenetic biomarkers, microbiome-related biomarkers, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and multi-omics, and it also discusses the value and application prospects of these biomarkers in the prognostic evaluation of ACLF and proposes future research directions, in order to provide a scientific and comprehensive reference for clinicians, guide individualized treatment and management of ACLF patients, and finally improve the clinical outcomes of patients.
5.Study on the Mechanism of Malt Alcoholic Extract in the Treatment of Depression Induced by Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress in Rats Based on Intestinal Flora
Yindan XIANG ; Ping NI ; Mengjuan TAO ; Tianhang LI ; Yujie ZHOU ; Huilan XU ; Bin WANG ; Qingyuan ZENG ; Yonggang CHEN
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(8):1199-1207
Objective To explore the mechanism of malt alcohol extract improving depression-like behavior induced by CUMS in rats by regulating gut microbiota.Methods The depression model of rats was established using an 8-weeks CUMS procedure,and the administration group was given low(59.6 mg·kg-1)and high(178.8 mg·kg-1)doses of malt alcohol extract,respectively.The depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by classic behavioral test.The composition of intestinal microbiota of rats was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing.The morphological changes of colon were observed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE),the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin in colon was detected by immunofluorescence(IF),and the expression of IL-10,IL-1βand 5-HT were detected by ELISA.Results The low dose of malt alcohol extract attenuated the depressive behavior and restored the expression of 5-HT in the brain of CUMS rats.16S rRNA sequencing results showed that the diversity and relative abundance of gut microbiota changed after treatment with the low dose of malt alcohol extract.ELISA results showed that the low dose of malt alcohol extract significantly reversed the CUMS-induced reduction of IL-10 and elevation of IL-1 β.HE results showed that the low dose of malt alcohol extract significantly ameliorated CUMS-induced structural damage in colon.IF results showed increased protain expression of intestinal epithelial barrier tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin by the low dose of malt alcohol extract.Conclusion The low dose of malt alcohol extract can ameliorate CUMS-induced depressive-like behavior in rats by modulating intestinal flora,restoring 5-HT expression in the brain,inhibiting inflammation,and repairing the intestinal barrier.
6.Immune-microbiota crosstalk in HBV infection: diagnostic and therapeutic implications across disease stages
Huilan TU ; Xia YU ; Xinyi XU ; Longxian LYU ; Xiaohan QIAN ; Yu SHI ; Yida YANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases 2025;18(4):307-313
Hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection poses a significant global health burden,with chronic infection driving progression to cirrhosis,hepatic failure,and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Mounting evidence implicates immune dysfunction and microbiota dysbiosis as core drivers of disease progression across all HBV infection stages. Gut and tissue-specific microbiota alterations disrupt innate/adaptive immunity,fueling inflammation,immunosuppression,and tumor immune evasion in chronic and end-stage disease. This review synthesizes mechanisms of immune-microbiota interplay in HBV pathogenesis and explores their translational potential for diagnostics and targeted interventions,including microbiota modulation and microbial biomarker applications.
7.Immune-microbiota crosstalk in HBV infection: diagnostic and therapeutic implications across disease stages
Huilan TU ; Xia YU ; Xinyi XU ; Longxian LYU ; Xiaohan QIAN ; Yu SHI ; Yida YANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases 2025;18(4):307-313
Hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection poses a significant global health burden,with chronic infection driving progression to cirrhosis,hepatic failure,and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Mounting evidence implicates immune dysfunction and microbiota dysbiosis as core drivers of disease progression across all HBV infection stages. Gut and tissue-specific microbiota alterations disrupt innate/adaptive immunity,fueling inflammation,immunosuppression,and tumor immune evasion in chronic and end-stage disease. This review synthesizes mechanisms of immune-microbiota interplay in HBV pathogenesis and explores their translational potential for diagnostics and targeted interventions,including microbiota modulation and microbial biomarker applications.
8.Research on intake management in primipara labor analgesia during childbirth
Min XU ; Jing GAO ; Huilan ZHAO ; Meixia WANG ; Ruifen JIAO ; Xueqin LIU ; Xiao CHEN
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2024;28(4):79-83
Objective To investigate the effect of dietary intake on the childbirth outcomes of primipara women with full-term labor analgesia. Methods A total of 400 primipara women with full-term labor analgesia were randomly divided into observation group and control group. The observation group received intake management and individualized dietary guidance, while the control group ate and drank according to their own wishes. The childbirth quality, the incidence of vomiting, the use of oxytocin due to uterine atony, the rate of intrapartum fever, the rate of perineal incision, the rate of cesarean section, the rate of vaginal assisted delivery, and the rate of postpartum hemorrhage were compared between the two groups. The duration of the first stage of labor, the duration of the second stage of labor, the duration of labor analgesia, and the amount of postpartum hemorrhage within 2 hours were also compared. Neonatal Apgar score, random blood glucose, umbilical artery blood pH value, umbilical artery blood lactic acid (Lac) value, the incidence of neonatal asphyxia, the incidence of neonatal fever, and the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia were compared between the two groups. Results The observation group had lower incidences of vomiting, oxytocin use rate due to uterine atony, intrapartum fever rate, perineal incision rate, transferring cesarean section rate, and vaginal assisted delivery compared to the control group(
9.Analysis of coping styles of patients with Crohn's disease and its related influencing factors
Huilan ZHAI ; Xueqin LI ; Shan FU ; Shuangshuang XU ; Lu JIANG
Journal of Shenyang Medical College 2024;26(1):58-62
Objective:To investigate the current situation of coping styles in Crohn's disease patients and its related influencing factors.Methods:A total of 80 patients with Crohn's disease admitted to our hospital from Apri 2021 to Dec 2022 were selected to evaluate their coping styles with a simple coping style questionnaire,and relevant data were collected.The factors affecting the coping styles of Crohn's disease were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression.Results:Among the 80 patients,29 cases were negative coping,the incidence was 36.25% .There were 51 patients with positive coping(63.75% ).Educational level,simplified Crohn's disease activity index(CDAI)score,adverse psychology,social support and type D personality were associated with negative coping(P<0.05).Gender,age,family history,working status,monthly family income,place of residence,and marital status were not associated with negative coping in patients with Crohn's disease(P>0.05).Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that education level of high school or below(OR=2.945,95% CI:1.139-7.614),higher CDAI score(OR=11.999,95% CI:4.387-32.815),poor psychology(OR=5.950,95% CI:2.180-16.239),low social support(OR=3.598,95% CI:1.370-9.448)and type D personality(OR=3.208,95% CI:1.118-8.904)were risk factors for negative coping in patients with Crohn's disease(P<0.05).Conclusions:The incidence of negative coping in patients with Crohn's disease is higher,which is related to high school education or below,high CDAI score,poor psychology,low social support,and type D personality.Therefore,clinical measures can be taken to promote patients to actively cope with the disease.
10.Astragalus Mongholicus Bunge-Curcuma Aromatica-Paridis Rhizoma Inhibits Metastasis of Colon Cancer via the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 Signaling Pathway
Huilan ZHANG ; Wenhui GUO ; Tingting SU ; Si CHEN ; Qianhui YU ; Qihang YIN ; Linlu WAN ; Xu WANG ; Decai TANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(3):240-248
OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of anti-colorectal cancer growth and metastasis-related effects of Astraga-lus mongholicus Bunge-Curcuma aromatica-Paridis Rhizoma(Qi-Zhu-Zao)pairing through PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling pathway mediating endoplasmic reticulum stress.METHODS Twenty-four BALB/c male mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,model group,5-FU(5-fluorouracil)group(25 mg·kg-1),and Qi-Zhu-Zao high dose group(5.85 g·kg-1),Qi-Zhu-Zao low dose group(2.925 g·kg-1)(n=6)to construct a mouse model of colorectal cancer in situ transplantation tumor,and the inter-vention effect of Qi-Zhu-Zao combination on tumor growth was assessed by the change of tumor volume size after 15 days of administra-tion;the intervention effect of Qi-Zhu-Zao combination on tumor growth was assessed by H&E.Pathological staining was used to eval-uate the effect of Qi-Zhu-Zao combination on the liver and tumor tissues of mice.The changes of MDA,SOD and GSH-Px levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);the expression of PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling pathway and EMT-related proteins were detected by protein immunoblotting(Western blot).RESULTS Compared with the model group,the tumor volume was significantly reduced(P<0.000 1),liver and spleen metastases were less pronounced in the Qi-Zhu-Zao high-dose group,and his-topathological staining results of liver tissue and tumor produced changes in oxidative stress indicators SOD,MDA,and GSH-Px,up-regulation of ER stress-related proteins p-PERK,p-IF2α,and ATF4,etc.,upregulated the protein expression levels of E-Cadherin,downregulated N-Cadherin,Vimentin,and Snail,and inhibited the EMT process(P<0.01 or P<0.05).CONCLUSION In this paper,we investigated the regulatory mechanism related to the inhibition of colorectal cancer growth and metastasis by the combination of Qi-Zhu-Zao trigonal medicine,and demonstrated that it may inhibit the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer by activating the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway to induce sustained ER stress and affect the EMT process of colorectal cancer.


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