1.Progress in mechanistic research on traditional Chinese medicine interventions for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea based on omics technologies
Shanxue GAO ; Jiale MA ; Long PENG ; Jie CHEN
China Pharmacy 2026;37(3):401-406
Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), as a prototypical disorder involving the microbiota-gut-brain axis, remains poorly understood in terms of its pathogenesis, posing ongoing challenges for clinical diagnosis. Omics technologies, leveraging their high-throughput detection and systematic analysis advantages, has emerged as a critical tool for deciphering the complex mechanisms underlying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of IBS-D. This systematic review summarizes the research progress of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiomics, and multi-omics integration techniques in TCM interventions for IBS-D. In single-omics studies, transcriptomics using techniques like RNA-seq, reveals the regulatory mechanisms of TCM on IBS-related signaling pathways. Proteomics, leveraging quantitative technologies such as 2D-difference gel electrophoresis and tandem mass tag, identifies differentially expressed proteins and elucidates the action targets of TCM in treating IBS-D. Metabolomics, employing methods like UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS, discovers metabolic pathways regulated by TCM to improve metabolic disturbances in IBS-D. Microbiomics, based on 16S rRNA sequencing, confirms that TCM can reshape the gut microbiota structure and restore the intestinal microecological balance, thereby improving IBS-D. Multi-omics integration further overcomes the limitations of single-omics approaches by synthesizing information from transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics, enabling a more comprehensive and systematic elucidation of the complex mechanisms underlying TCM treatment for IBS-D. In the future, research related to IBS-D should be advanced from three aspects: stratified clinical research based on TCM syndrome types, multi-omics integration verification mechanisms, and emerging omics to explore new mechanisms, providing more innovative ideas for the precise diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
2.Reactive and Enzyme-activated Probe Strategies for Imaging Acute Kidney Injury
Ru-Long CHEN ; Ting-Fei XIE ; Jin-Xin ZHANG ; Jia-Ting CHEN ; Jie LI ; Peng-Fei ZHANG ; Ji-Hong CHEN ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1622-1637
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent and life-threatening clinical syndrome characterised by a rapid decline in renal function and diverse pathological etiologies. The condition has been demonstrated to be associated with elevated mortality rates and an increased risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. At present, clinicians depend heavily on conventional functional markers, such as serum creatinine and urine output, for the diagnosis and staging of the disease. It is evident that these conventional indicators characteristically manifest a considerable temporal delay and only undergo modification subsequent to considerable tissue damage. This severely restricts the timeframe for early detection and timely therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, standard markers fail to provide specific biological information regarding the underlying cellular injury mechanisms. The utilisation of advanced probe technologies in molecular imaging offers a robust alternative to overcome these inherent diagnostic limitations.This comprehensive review systematically evaluates recent progress in the design and application of two primary categories of molecular imaging tools for acute kidney disease, specifically reactive probes and enzyme-activated probes. Reactive probes are engineered to specifically interact with redox-active chemical species, including hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, and sulfur dioxide. Because oxidative stress constitutes a primary early event in acute renal tubular damage, these probes enable researchers and clinicians to visualize early cellular injury and radical accumulation well before global renal functional decline becomes evident. We discuss the application of these reactive probes across multiple imaging modalities including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and photoacoustic techniques. Photoacoustic imaging combines high spatial resolution with deep tissue penetration and has successfully demonstrated the ability to provide diagnostic alerts up to 12 h before any detectable rise in serum creatinine levels. Additionally, specific reactive probes have shown promising translational potential when tested by high-throughput screening in clinical human urine samples. Enzyme-activated probes target the specific catalytic activity of disease-relevant enzymes. These include well-documented renal tubular structural biomarkers such as NAG, GGT, and ALP, along with apoptosis-related caspases and specific nitroreductases. By responding only to enzymatic cleavage, these tools provide highly specific and pathology-directed imaging readouts. Recent structural design strategies in this field have advanced significantly beyond single-enzyme detection. Researchers are now focusing on sophisticated dual-target recognition to minimize background noise, multimodal integration to cross-validate imaging signals, and theranostic applications where probes simultaneously deliver diagnostic feedback and therapeutic agents to injured tissues. Nanotechnology serves as a fundamental enabler for realizing these advanced probe functions. By precisely optimizing nanoparticle parameters such as hydrodynamic size, surface charge, and targeting ligands, researchers can achieve amplified signal output, highly precise kidney delivery, and protection against premature degradation in the systemic circulation. For example, modifying surface charges can significantly enhance the active uptake of nanoprobes by damaged renal tubular epithelial cells.While preclinical probe development has progressed rapidly, moving these technologies into routine clinical practice remains a major challenge. We analyze the translational feasibility and current obstacles from biological, technological, and regulatory perspectives. Although biological targets such as KIM-1, FAP, and ALP have been validated in extensive patient cohorts, practical barriers severely limit their immediate clinical application. These obstacles involve complex changes in in vivo pharmacokinetics. During an acute injury episode, the extreme drop in the glomerular filtration rate alters probe clearance and can cause unwanted systemic accumulation or confusing background imaging signals. Other major hurdles include a lack of comprehensive long-term toxicity data and the absence of standardized manufacturing protocols to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Future successful translation will require rigorous multi-center clinical studies to confirm the true diagnostic value of these probes over traditional markers. Researchers must also establish strict standardization of imaging procedures and comprehensive safety evaluations. Ultimately, this review provides a thorough reference framework for designing clinically translatable molecular probes and building a precision diagnostic imaging system for acute kidney injury.
3.Discriminating Tumor Deposits From Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study Utilizing Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Xue-han WU ; Yu-tao QUE ; Xin-yue YANG ; Zi-qiang WEN ; Yu-ru MA ; Zhi-wen ZHANG ; Quan-meng LIU ; Wen-jie FAN ; Li DING ; Yue-jiao LANG ; Yun-zhu WU ; Jian-peng YUAN ; Shen-ping YU ; Yi-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):400-410
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs.
Results:
All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027).
Conclusion
The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.
4.Discriminating Tumor Deposits From Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study Utilizing Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Xue-han WU ; Yu-tao QUE ; Xin-yue YANG ; Zi-qiang WEN ; Yu-ru MA ; Zhi-wen ZHANG ; Quan-meng LIU ; Wen-jie FAN ; Li DING ; Yue-jiao LANG ; Yun-zhu WU ; Jian-peng YUAN ; Shen-ping YU ; Yi-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):400-410
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs.
Results:
All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027).
Conclusion
The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.
5.Comparison of small-sample multi-class machine learning models for plasma concentration prediction of valproic acid
Xi CHEN ; Shen’ao YUAN ; Hailing YUAN ; Jie ZHAO ; Peng CHEN ; Chunyan TIAN ; Yi SU ; Yunsong ZHANG ; Yu ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1399-1404
OBJECTIVE To construct three-class (insufficient, normal, excessive) and two-class (insufficient, normal) models for predicting plasma concentration of valproic acid (VPA), and compare the performance of these two models, with the aim of providing a reference for formulating clinical medication strategies. METHODS The clinical data of 480 patients who received VPA treatment and underwent blood concentration test at the Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital were collected from November 2022 to September 2024 (a total of 695 sets of data). In this study, predictive models were constructed for target variables of three-class and two-class models. Feature ranking and selection were carried out using XGBoost scores. Twelve different machine learning algorithms were used for training and validation, and the performance of the models was evaluated using three indexes: accuracy, F1 score, and the area under the working characteristic curve of the subject (AUC). RESULTS XGBoost feature importance scores revealed that in the three-class model, the importance ranking of kidney disease and electrolyte disorders was higher. However, in the two-class model, the importance ranking of these features significantly decreased, suggesting a close association with the excessive blood concentration of VPA. In the three-class model, Random Forest method performed best, with F1 score of 0.704 0 and AUC of 0.519 3 on the test set; while in the two-class model, CatBoost method performed optimally, with F1 score of 0.785 7 and AUC of 0.819 5 on the test set. CONCLUSIONS The constructed three-class model has the ability to predict excessive VPA blood concentration, but its prediction and model generalization abilities are poor; the constructed two-class model can only perform classification prediction for insufficient and normal blood concentration cases, but its model performance is stronger.
6.Construction of an in vitro simulated one compartment extravascular administration model and comparisons with a classic in vitro administration model in lanthanum nitrate induced HepG2 cell death
Dawei FU ; Yujin FU ; Lailai YAN ; Jie CHEN ; Zhiyu LIU ; Juanling FU ; Biyun YAO ; Weidong HAO ; Peng ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2025;39(4):285-295,中插1-中插2
OBJECTIVE To establish an in vitro simulated one compartment extravascular adminis-tration model with lanthanum nitrate as the test substance,and explore the differences between this model and the classic in vitro administration model in lanthanum nitrate induced HepG2 cell death.METHODS An in vitro administration device was designed based on compartment model theories which consisted of four functional chambers:the liquid storage chamber,mixing chamber,toxicant exposure chamber,and waste liquid receiving chamber.The four chambers were connected by peristaltic pump hoses.The peristaltic pumps were employed to ensure unidirectional and constant speed trans-mission of liquid between these chambers.According to the preset toxicokinetic parameters such as T1/2a and T1/2,an in vitro simulated one compartment extravascular administration model of lanthanum nitrate was constructed using the device.The content of lanthanum nitrate in the toxicant exposure chamber at different time points was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The concentration-time curves of lanthanum nitrate were analyzed using PKsolver and GraphPad Prism 8.0 software.The constructed in vitro simulated one compartment extravascular administration model was evaluated by comparing the measured and theoretical values of toxicokinetic parameters.HepG2 cells were treated with lanthanum nitrate in the in vitro simulated one compartment extravascular administration model and classic in vitro administration model,respectively,and cell death was measured using the Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining method.RESULTS Within the Cmax range of 3.91-1 000.00 μmol·L-1,the measured concentration-time curves of lanthanum nitrate in the toxicant expo-sure chamber almost conformed with the corresponding calculated theoretical curves(the correlation coefficients were all>0.998 0).The measured values of toxicokinetic parameters,including Ke,T1/2,Ka,T1/2a,Tmax,Cmax,CL and AUC0-∞,were close to the corresponding theoretical values.The fitting coeffi-cients(R2)of the concentration-time curves for each experimental group were all>0.990 0,which was consistent with one compartment model for extravascular administration.In the simulated one compart-ment extravascular administration model,no significant death of HepG2 cells was observed in any lanthanum nitrate dose group.In the classic in vitro administration model,the cell death rate of the 0.500 mmol·L-1 lanthanum nitrate group was higher than that of the solvent control group,but no significant cell death was observed in the 0.119 mmol·L-1 group or 0.243 mmol·L-1 group.When Cmax or Cadministration was 0.500 mmol·L-1,classic in vitro administration induced a higher cell death rate than simulated one compart-ment extravascular administration.However,there was no statistically significant difference in lanthanum nitrate induced HepG2 cell death between the two administration models when the AUC was equal.CONCLUSION The device designed in this study can be used to in vitro simulate one compartment extravascular administration,making in vitro toxicity testing more similar to in vivo scenarios,and providing data for optimizing administration methods of in vitro toxicity testing.There are differences in lanthanum nitrate induced HepG2 cell death between simulated one compartment extravascular administration and classic in vitro administration,indicating that different in vitro exposure modes can affect toxicity.
7.Design and implementation of an outcome-based education-based online + offline course integrating medical specialty and humanistic spirit
Yan WANG ; Zhibiao WANG ; Faqi LI ; Yuan PENG ; Jie XU ; Jingwen YU ; Jinyun CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):535-539
The "minimally-invasive and non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of the most important tumor in gynecology", which is an online + offline first-class undergraduate course in Chongqing, China, was used as an example to demonstrate how to explore the integration of medical specialty with humanistic spirit in the design and construction of courses for medical students, and to strengthen the early cultivation of medical humanistic spirit. Based on the concept of outcome-based education, innovative course content and teaching modes were designed to guide students to learn the history of focused ultrasound therapy technology, understand the concept of minimally-invasive and non-invasive medicine, and incorporate the literacy cultivation of "always having compassion". This study explored the importance of incorporating humanistic spirit into medical education and provides new ideas and concepts for the cultivation of physicians with humanity and compassion.
8.Research progress on delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children with tumors
Wenxing JIANG ; Qiuyue XU ; Zhen YANG ; Wenyuan MA ; Jie PENG ; Chuangrong CHEN ; Kewei ZHAO ; Qiang LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(35):4895-4900
The incidence of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is relatively high among pediatric cancer patients. Nausea and vomiting symptoms can exacerbate physical and psychological burdens, potentially leading to aversion and reduced treatment adherence. This paper analyzes and summarizes delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients, covering overview, influencing factors, assessment tools, and non-pharmacological interventions, aiming to provide insights for clinical prevention and intervention strategies targeting delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric patients.
9.Research progress on financial toxicity in patients with diabetes
Qiuyue XU ; Li LI ; Wenxing JIANG ; Lihui HU ; Jie PENG ; Kewei ZHAO ; Chuangrong CHEN ; Qiang LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(35):4888-4894
Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires lifelong medication and long-term management. The longer the duration of the disease, the more likely it is to lead to progressive chronic complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nervous system, and cardiovascular system. These complications may result in gradual functional decline or even organ failure, and may also trigger severe acute metabolic disorders. The cumulative financial burden on patients and their families can be substantial, giving rise to what is known as financial toxicity, which in turn may negatively affect patients' health outcomes. This review comprehensively explores the concept of financial toxicity in diabetic patients, including its assessment tools, influencing factors, and coping strategies. It also offers targeted suggestions aimed at informing the development of more scientific and effective systemic interventions, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with diabetes.
10.Research on dry and wet durability of reusable surgical gowns
Ze-chen LIN ; Min WAN ; Yu-peng SUN ; Hui-jie SUN ; Jian-jun SUN ; Qing ZHANG ; Bo ZHANG ; An-ning LI ; Fu-xin DU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):28-33
Objective To explore the changes of durability properties of reusable surgical gowns when used in dry and wet conditions.Methods Reusable surgical gowns made of single-layer polyester fiber or 3-layer composite material were selected as test samples,and a Martindale abrasion and pilling tester was used as the basic test platform and modified to form fixtures suitable for the wet state environment.The reusable surgical gowns underwent abrasion experiments in wet and dry conditions to observe the changes in their fiber structure,and were subjected to water penetration resistance and swelling strength tests.Results Visually the reusable surgical gowns had few changes of the microscopic textile fiber structure in dry and wet conditions,and the gowns made of single-layer polyster fiber gained advantages over the outer layers of those of 3-layer composite material in abrasion resistance with the same friction cycles.In dry and wet conditions,the hydrostatic pressure values of the gowns of single-layer polyster fiber gradually decreased with the increase of the degree of abrasion,which were always lower than those of the gowns of 3-layer composite material;the swelling strength of the gowns of single-layer polyster fiber was always greater than that of the gowns of 3-layer composite material,which decreased with the deterioration of the wear more significantly than that of the gowns of 3-layer composite material.Conclusion The reusable surgical gowns made of single-layer polyester fiber or 3-layer composite material have few differences in durability and protective properties at the early stages of ablation in dry and wet conditions.The durability of the gowns decreases as the degree of wear increases,while the trend of the decrease is slowing down until the fabric breaks down and completely loses its barrier effect.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):28-33]

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