1.Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulating Angiogenesis: A Review
Zeming ZHANG ; Lanchun LIU ; Qiyang LI ; Xuan SUN ; Ruoqi ZHANG ; Yiyao ZHANG ; Jie WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):277-286
Angiogenesis, as a core mechanism for maintaining tissue perfusion and repairing ischemic injury, plays a crucial role in ischemic diseases such as coronary heart disease and peripheral arterial disease. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), with its advantages of multi-target and synergistic regulation, provides a unique perspective for therapeutic angiogenesis. Based on this, this article intends to delve into the synergistic effects of key signaling pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)/VEGF receptor(VEGFR), Notch, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/ protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR), and angiopoietin/endothelial TEK tyrosine kinase(Ang/Tie2), and elucidate the driving mechanisms of endothelial cell metabolic reprogramming and exosome-mediated intercellular communication within this process. Based on existing literature, it summarizes the microenvironment-dependent and bidirectional regulatory characteristics of natural active components of TCM(such as terpenes, tanshinones, and flavonoids) on angiogenesis. Furthermore, it systematically discusses how classical TCM formulas achieve blood vessel formation and functional maturation by protecting the neurovascular units, recruiting pericytes, and remodeling the microenvironment. Current evidence highlights the advantages of multi-target synergy and temporal regulation in TCM, but also reveals challenges such as high heterogeneity and a lack of functional evaluations and high-quality clinical trials. Future efforts should integrate multi-omics to decipher network mechanisms, optimize formula compatibility, and conduct multicenter studies to promote the development of innovative preparations. This review highlights the academic value of TCM in angiogenesis, provides an evidence base for treating ischemic diseases, and supports multidisciplinary integration and innovation.
2.Mechanism of Kidney-tonifying Therapy in Treating Panvascular Disease Through "Immune-metabolic-genetic" Axis
Xuan SUN ; Jie WANG ; Zhenpeng ZHANG ; Lanchun LIU ; Yongmei LIU ; Chao LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):1-11
Pan vascular disease (PVD) is a systemic vascular disorder that has become the leading cause of death among the Chinese residents, and there is currently a lack of effective systemic treatment options. Clinical practice has found that the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) method of kidney tonification can effectively intervene in PVD and target key pathological mechanisms of PVD recognized in Western medicine. Accordingly, this paper conducts research from the following three aspects: First, it clarifies that immune dysregulation, metabolic disorders, and genetic susceptibility constitute the core pathological mechanisms of PVD in Western medicine. Typical pathological manifestations include progressive vascular endothelial injury, lipid deposition, and plaque formation, ultimately leading to multi-organ damage and dysfunction. PVD activates pathways such as the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, triggering immune dysregulation; it also induces disorders of mitochondrial energy metabolism, water-salt metabolism, and hormonal metabolism, synergizing with genetic susceptibility factors (e.g., apolipoprotein E gene) to accelerate vascular homeostasis imbalance. Second, this study analyzes the intrinsic relationship between the TCM theory of "kidney deficiency" and the "immune-metabolic-genetic" axis, revealing the theoretical basis for kidney tonification in intervening PVD. The kidney stores essence, governs bones, and produces marrow, which is related to the generation and differentiation of immune cells. It regulates Qi transformation and governs water, overseeing material and energy metabolism. The kidney is the root of congenital essence and governs reproduction, closely related to genetic mechanisms. Third, by integrating modern clinical research, this study elaborates on the unique advantages and clinical value of kidney tonification in targeting the "immune-metabolic-genetic" axis of heart, brain, and kidney organs. Traditional kidney-tonifying formulas and their active ingredients improve immune-inflammatory responses, enhance material and energy metabolism homeostasis, and modulate epigenetic pathways through multiple pathways, targeting various pathways to intervene in PVD. This study systematically elucidates the scientific connotation of kidney tonification in treating PVD, providing theoretical support and practical guidance for integrated TCM-Western medicine approaches and contributing to innovation and improvement in diagnostic and treatment strategies for PVD.
3.Pain, agitation, and delirium practices in Chinese intensive care units: A national multicenter survey study.
Xiaofeng OU ; Lijie WANG ; Jie YANG ; Pan TAO ; Cunzhen WANG ; Minying CHEN ; Xuan SONG ; Zhiyong LIU ; Zhenguo ZENG ; Man HUANG ; Xiaogan JIANG ; Shusheng LI ; Erzhen CHEN ; Lixia LIU ; Xuelian LIAO ; Yan KANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):3031-3033
4.Mini-barcode development based on chloroplast genome of Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen and its adulterants and its application in Chinese patent medicine.
Hui LI ; Yu-Jie ZENG ; Xin-Yi LI ; ABDULLAH ; Yu-Hua HUANG ; Ru-Shan YAN ; Rui SHAO ; Yu WANG ; Xiao-Xuan TIAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1758-1769
Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, also known as Tinglizi, originates from Brassicaceae plants Descurainia sophia or Lepidium apetalum. The former is commonly referred to as "Southern Tinglizi(Descurainiae Semen)", while the latter is known as "Northern Tinglizi(Lepidii Semen)". To scientifically and accurately identify the origin of Tinglizi medicinal materials and traditional Chinese medicine products, this study developed a specific DNA mini-barcode based on chloroplast genome sequences. By combining the DNA mini-barcode with DNA metabarcoding technology, a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of Tinglizi medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicines was established. In this study, chloroplast genomes of Southern Tinglizi and Northern Tinglizi and seven commonly encountered counterfeit products were downloaded from the GenBank database. Suitable polymorphic regions were identified to differentiate these species, enabling the development of the DNA mini-barcode. Using DNA metabarcoding technology, medicinal material mixtures of Southern and Northern Tinglizi, as well as the most common counterfeit product, Capsella bursa-pastoris seeds, were analyzed to validate the qualitative and quantitative capabilities of the mini-barcode and determine its minimum detection limit. Additionally, the mini-barcode was applied to Chinese patent medicines containing Tinglizi to authenticate their botanical origin. The results showed that the developed mini-barcode(psbB) exhibited high accuracy and specificity, effectively distinguishing between the two authentic origins of Tinglizi and commonly encountered counterfeit products. The analysis of mixtures demonstrated that the mini-barcode had excellent qualitative and quantitative capabilities, accurately identifying the composition of Chinese medicinal materials in mixed samples with varying proportions. Furthermore, the analysis of Chinese patent medicines revealed the presence of the adulterant species(Capsella bursa-pastoris) in addition to the authentic species(Southern and Northern Tinglizi), indicating the occurrence of adulteration in commercially available Tinglizi-containing products. This study developed a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials and related products, providing a model for research on other multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials.
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Drug Contamination
;
Genome, Chloroplast
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
5.Integrated-omics analysis defines subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma based on circadian rhythm.
Xiao-Jie LI ; Le CHANG ; Yang MI ; Ge ZHANG ; Shan-Shan ZHU ; Yue-Xiao ZHANG ; Hao-Yu WANG ; Yi-Shuang LU ; Ye-Xuan PING ; Peng-Yuan ZHENG ; Xia XUE
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(4):445-456
OBJECTIVE:
Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) is a risk factor that correlates with poor prognosis across multiple tumor types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to define HCC subtypes based on CRD and explore their individual heterogeneity.
METHODS:
To quantify CRD, the HCC CRD score (HCCcrds) was developed. Using machine learning algorithms, we identified CRD module genes and defined CRD-related HCC subtypes in The Cancer Genome Atlas liver HCC cohort (n = 369), and the robustness of this method was validated. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics tools to investigate the cellular heterogeneity across these CRD subtypes.
RESULTS:
We defined three distinct HCC subtypes that exhibit significant heterogeneity in prognosis. The CRD-related subtype with high HCCcrds was significantly correlated with worse prognosis, higher pathological grade, and advanced clinical stages, while the CRD-related subtype with low HCCcrds had better clinical outcomes. We also identified novel biomarkers for each subtype, such as nicotinamide n-methyltransferase and myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate-like 1.
CONCLUSION
We classify the HCC patients into three distinct groups based on circadian rhythm and identify their specific biomarkers. Within these groups greater HCCcrds was associated with worse prognosis. This approach has the potential to improve prediction of an individual's prognosis, guide precision treatments, and assist clinical decision making for HCC patients. Please cite this article as: Li XJ, Chang L, Mi Y, Zhang G, Zhu SS, Zhang YX, et al. Integrated-omics analysis defines subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma based on circadian rhythm. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 445-456.
Humans
;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology*
;
Liver Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Circadian Rhythm/genetics*
;
Prognosis
;
Male
;
Female
;
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics*
;
Middle Aged
;
Machine Learning
;
Computational Biology
6.Predicting Postoperative Circulatory Complications in Older Patients: A Machine Learning Approach.
Xiao Yun HU ; Wei Xuan SHENG ; Kang YU ; Jie Tai DUO ; Peng Fei LIU ; Ya Wei LI ; Dong Xin WANG ; Hui Hui MIAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):328-340
OBJECTIVE:
This study examines utilizes the advantages of machine learning algorithms to discern key determinants in prognosticate postoperative circulatory complications (PCCs) for older patients.
METHODS:
This secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial involved 1,720 elderly participants in five tertiary hospitals in Beijing, China. Participants aged 60-90 years undergoing major non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia. The primary outcome metric of the study was the occurrence of PCCs, according to the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Anaesthesiology diagnostic criteria. The analysis metrics contained 67 candidate variables, including baseline characteristics, laboratory tests, and scale assessments.
RESULTS:
Our feature selection process identified key variables that significantly impact patient outcomes, including the duration of ICU stay, surgery, and anesthesia; APACHE-II score; intraoperative average heart rate and blood loss; cumulative opioid use during surgery; patient age; VAS-Move-Median score on the 1st to 3rd day; Charlson comorbidity score; volumes of intraoperative plasma, crystalloid, and colloid fluids; cumulative red blood cell transfusion during surgery; and endotracheal intubation duration. Notably, our Random Forest model demonstrated exceptional performance with an accuracy of 0.9872.
CONCLUSION
We have developed and validated an algorithm for predicting PCCs in elderly patients by identifying key risk factors.
Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology*
;
Machine Learning
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Risk Factors
;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
;
Secondary Data Analysis
7.A Retrospective Study of Pregnancy and Fetal Outcomes in Mothers with Hepatitis C Viremia.
Wen DENG ; Zi Yu ZHANG ; Xin Xin LI ; Ya Qin ZHANG ; Wei Hua CAO ; Shi Yu WANG ; Xin WEI ; Zi Xuan GAO ; Shuo Jie WANG ; Lin Mei YAO ; Lu ZHANG ; Hong Xiao HAO ; Xiao Xue CHEN ; Yuan Jiao GAO ; Wei YI ; Yao XIE ; Ming Hui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):829-839
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development.
METHODS:
A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected.
RESULTS:
Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ 2 = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006).
CONCLUSIONS
Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans
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Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Adult
;
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Pregnancy Outcome
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Viremia/virology*
;
Hepatitis C
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Hepacivirus/physiology*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology*
;
Young Adult
;
Alanine Transaminase/blood*
8.Epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children in Hebei Province.
Xuan WANG ; Su-Kun LU ; Jian-Hua LIU ; Jin-Feng SHUAI ; Kun-Ling HUANG ; Bo NIU ; Li-Jie CAO ; Xiao-Wei CUI
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1199-1204
OBJECTIVES:
To study the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Hebei Province.
METHODS:
Hospitalized children with CAP who tested positive for RSV and were admitted to Hebei Children's Hospital from various cities and counties across Hebei Province between January 2019 and December 2023 were included in the study. Clinical data were collected and analyzed to assess epidemiological characteristics.
RESULTS:
The clinical data of 43 978 children with CAP were collected, with an overall RSV detection rate of 25.98%. The detection rate was higher during the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) (30.60%) than in the non-NPIs period. Winter and spring were the primary epidemic seasons for RSV each year except in 2022. The detection rate in males (26.62%) was higher than in females (25.06%) (P<0.001). The highest detection rate (59.18%) was found in infants aged 29 days to <1 year. Single RSV infection was more common, with rhinovirus being the most frequent co-infection.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall RSV detection rate in Hebei Province is influenced by NPIs, being higher during their implementation. RSV predominantly circulates in winter and spring. The detection rate of RSV is higher in males and infants. RSV infection is primarily single, most often co-occurring with rhinovirus.
Humans
;
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Infant
;
Child, Preschool
;
Seasons
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Community-Acquired Infections/epidemiology*
;
Child
9.Epidemiological characteristics of human metapneumovirus and risk factors for severe pneumonia in hospitalized children.
Yi-Xuan WANG ; Su-Kun LU ; Kun-Ling HUANG ; Li-Jie CAO ; Ya-Juan CHU ; Bo NIU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1205-1211
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the risk factors for severe pneumonia in hospitalized children.
METHODS:
The epidemiological characteristics of hMPV in hospitalized children at Hebei Children's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical data of hospitalized children with hMPV infection from April to December 2023 were included, and independent risk factors for severe pneumonia were identified through logistic regression.
RESULTS:
A total of 44 092 children were tested, with an hMPV positive rate of 7.30% (3 220/44 092). Children aged 3-6 years constituted the largest proportion (40.93%, 1 318/3 220) among hMPV-positive cases. The detection rate varied significantly by year (P<0.001), peaking in 2022 (12.35%, 978/7 919). The peak season of the epidemic was winter and spring from 2019 to 2021, but shifted to spring and summer from 2022 to 2023. The proportion of co-infection was 38.70% (1 246/3 220), primarily with rhinovirus (600/1 246, 48.15%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (217/1 246, 17.42%), and respiratory syncytial virus (182/1 246, 14.61%). The main manifestations of hMPV pneumonia were cough, expectoration, and fever. Children with severe pneumonia were significantly younger (P<0.05). Wheezing, underlying diseases, co-infection, and younger age were identified as independent risk factors for severe pneumonia (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
There are significant annual and seasonal differences in the epidemiological characteristics of hMPV in hospitalized children. Young age, underlying diseases, wheezing, and co-infection are independent risk factors for severe pneumonia.
Humans
;
Risk Factors
;
Metapneumovirus
;
Child, Preschool
;
Child
;
Male
;
Female
;
Paramyxoviridae Infections/complications*
;
Pneumonia/epidemiology*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child, Hospitalized
;
Infant
;
Logistic Models
;
Seasons
;
Hospitalization
10.Augmentation of PRDX1-DOK3 interaction alleviates rheumatoid arthritis progression by suppressing plasma cell differentiation.
Wenzhen DANG ; Xiaomin WANG ; Huaying LI ; Yixuan XU ; Xinyu LI ; Siqi HUANG ; Hongru TAO ; Xiao LI ; Yulin YANG ; Lijiang XUAN ; Weilie XIAO ; Dean GUO ; Hao ZHANG ; Qiong WU ; Jie ZHENG ; Xiaoyan SHEN ; Kaixian CHEN ; Heng XU ; Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Cheng LUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):3997-4013
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation and joint damage, accompanied by the accumulation of plasma cells, which contributes to its pathogenesis. Understanding the genetic alterations occurring during plasma cell differentiation in RA can deepen our comprehension of its pathogenesis and guide the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Here, our study elucidates the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying plasma cell differentiation by demonstrating that PRDX1 interacts with DOK3 and modulates its degradation by the autophagy-lysosome pathway. This interaction results in the inhibition of plasma cell differentiation, thereby alleviating the progression of collagen-induced arthritis. Additionally, our investigation identifies Salvianolic acid B (SAB) as a potent small molecular glue-like compound that enhances the interaction between PRDX1 and DOK3, consequently impeding the progression of collagen-induced arthritis by inhibiting plasma cell differentiation. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of developing chemical stabilizers for the PRDX1-DOK3 complex in suppressing plasma cell differentiation for RA treatment and establish a theoretical basis for targeting PRDX1-protein interactions as specific therapeutic targets in various diseases.

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