1.Mechanisms and Strategy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ischemic Stroke: A Review
Maodi WENG ; Qiuyan CHEN ; Kai WANG ; Yun LUO ; Xiaobo SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):310-316
Ischemic stroke (IS) represents a major global health challenge with complex pathological mechanisms. Although modern therapies such as intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy have advanced, their application remains constrained by narrow therapeutic time windows, hemorrhagic risks, and uneven distribution of medical resources. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates unique value in the prevention and treatment of IS, owing to its multi-component, multi-target, and holistic regulatory characteristics. This review summarized the molecular mechanisms by which active ingredients and compound formulations of TCM exert therapeutic effects against IS through the regulation of inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, excitatory toxicity, apoptosis, and autophagy. Studies have indicated that components such as curcumin, baicalin, and astragaloside Ⅳ inhibit microglial activation and the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome to attenuate neuroinflammation, activate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway to alleviate oxidative stress, modulate glutamate receptor function to counteract excitatory toxicity, and regulate the B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteine aspartate-specific protease (Caspase), and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinases (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathways to suppress neuronal apoptosis. Recent research has further revealed that TCM can modulate ferroptosis by targeting key proteins glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) to maintain iron homeostasis, intervene in the "microbiota-gut-brain axis" to ameliorate dysbiosis and reduce neuroinflammation, utilize exosomes for brain-targeted drug delivery, and influence neural repair processes through epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, the review discussed the integrated mechanisms of compound formulations, such as Buyang Huanwu Decoction, in improving cerebral microcirculation and promoting neurovascular remodeling via multi-component synergy. It also analyzed the strategy and advantages of integrating TCM with Western medicine for IS treatment, providing a novel theoretical foundation and research directions for future investigations and clinical translation of TCM in IS management.
2.Clinical characteristics and survival analysis of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: a multicenter study.
Ying LIN ; Li-Li PAN ; Shao-Hua LE ; Jian LI ; Bi-Yun GUO ; Yu ZHU ; Kai-Zhi WENG ; Jin-Hong LUO ; Gao-Yuan SUN ; Yong-Zhi ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):668-674
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with newly diagnosed HL from January 2011 to December 2023 at four hospitals: Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University Zhangzhou Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, and Fujian Children's Hospital. Patients were categorized into low-risk (R1), intermediate-risk (R2), and high-risk (R3) groups based on HL staging and pre-treatment risk factors. The patients received ABVD regimen or Chinese Pediatric HL-2013 regimen chemotherapy. Early treatment response and long-term efficacy were assessed, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.
RESULTS:
The overall complete response (CR) rates after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy were 42% and 68%, respectively. Compared with the ABVD regimen group, patients treated with the HL-2013 regimen in the R1 group showed significantly higher CR rates after both 2 and 4 cycles (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences in CR rates were observed between the two regimens in the R2 and R3 groups (P>0.05). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate, overall survival rate, and freedom from treatment failure rate were 83%±4%, 97%±2%, and 88%±4%, respectively. Cox analysis indicated that the presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy were independent risk factors for lower EFS rates (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric HL generally has a favorable prognosis. The presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy indicate poor prognosis.
Humans
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Hodgkin Disease/pathology*
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Male
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Child
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Female
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Adolescent
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Retrospective Studies
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Child, Preschool
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
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Prognosis
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Proportional Hazards Models
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Survival Analysis
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Infant
3.Research Progress of Chinese Medicine Monomers in Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma.
Xiang WANG ; Xiao-Qing WANG ; Kai LUO ; He BAI ; Jia-Lin QI ; Gui-Xin ZHANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(2):170-182
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumor originating from cholangiocytes. However, it remains unclear about the pathogenesis of this carcinoma, which may be related to multiple factors. Currently, CCA is mainly treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Among them, surgery is the only potentially curative option for CCA. Nevertheless, the high malignancy and asymptomatic nature of CCA may lead to poor treatment outcomes. It has been demonstrated that Chinese medicine (CM) plays a significant role in various antitumor applications. Meanwhile, CM exhibits fewer side effects and high availability. Moreover, the in vitro application of CM monomers has been explored in many domestic and foreign studies. This article mainly reviews the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of CM monomers in the treatment of CCA in recent years. These findings are expected to provide new insights into the treatment of CCA.
Cholangiocarcinoma/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Bile Duct Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Animals
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
4.Research progress on the role and mechanisms of microglia in inflammatory diseases of central nervous system
Kai YU ; Zhewei SHUAI ; Hongjun HUANG ; Yan LUO
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(5):630-638
Microglia are the resident immune cells in the central nervous system(CNS),and play a dual role in maintaining brain homeostasis and mediating neuroprotection.Under normal conditions,microglia maintain brain homeostasis by monitoring environmental changes.When nerve damage or certain pathological stimuli occur,microglia are rapidly activated and initiate a series of complex immune responses to induce neuroinflammation.This proper activation of microglia can protect the brain by inhibiting or clearing various pathogens,but excessive neuroinflammation can lead to neuronal damage and even death.This imbalance of inflammatory response is one of the core features of pathological development of many CNS inflammatory diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,sepsis-associated encephalopathy,and ischemic strokes.In recent years,with the rapid development of frontier biotechnology such as single-cell sequencing,proteinomics and gene editing,important progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanism by which microglia participate in CNS inflammatory diseases,especially in the activation of inflammatory corpuscles,epigenetic modifications,and metabolic reprogramming.However,due to the heterogeneity and duality of microglia under different pathological conditions,therapeutic methods targeting microglia have not yet been widely used in clinical practice.In summary,this article takes microglia as the starting point and introduces the molecular mechanisms of their involvement in the occurrence and development of CNS inflammatory diseases and its targeted regulatory treatment strategy,aiming to provide theoretical reference for the subsequent precise regulation of microglia function and the development of more targeted therapeutic drugs.
5.Expression of epitopes of spike protein of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and screening of its nanobody
Xiangyun HU ; Shaomei CHEN ; Zeyi XUAN ; Menghe LUO ; Rui PAN ; Kai YANG ; Yulian XI ; Yanhong CAO
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(5):913-918
This study aims to prepare nanobodies for the epitopes of spike protein(S)of porcine ep-idemic diarrhea virus(PEDV),and verify its reactivity.The expression vector pCZN1-SN was con-structed by the prokaryotic expression system,and SN fragment was expressed in prokaryotic ex-pression and purified by Ni-NTA chromatography column.The SN nanobodies were displayed u-sing phage display technology and screened from the natural nanobody library.The results showed that SN fragments with a size of 26 kDa were obtained by prokaryotic induction,and the specific nanobodies were obtained through three rounds screening by phage display technology.One strain with the best reactivity was selected for prokaryotic expression and purified.The nanobodies were obtained with a size of 14 kDa by Western blot and demonstrated to have a good binding ability to PEDV SN protein.In summary,nanobodies with epitope fragments of PEDV S protein were suc-cessfully screened and prepared based on the phage display technology,which provided a new way for the in-depth application of nanobodies.
6.Association between plasma proteins and osteoporosis and identification of potential therapeutic targets:information analysis based on the UK Biobank database
Kai ZHU ; Wanxin LIU ; Haobing LUO ; Shengyi FENG ; Qiugen WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(18):3948-3960
BACKGROUND:Osteoporosis is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease and disability.Plasma proteins are involved in complex biological processes and play a crucial role in uncovering disease mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets.Although existing studies have suggested an association between plasma proteins and osteoporosis,the causal nature of these associations is not fully clarified.Therefore,it is imperative to identify the causal proteins associated with osteoporosis and potential therapeutic targets for the amelioration and management of this condition using large-scale plasma protein data.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and osteoporosis based on the UK Biobank database as source information using the two-sample Mendelian randomization.METHODS:A total of 1 001 plasma protein-related genome-wide significant quantitative trait loci(P<5×10-8)were obtained from the UK Biobank database and used as instrumental variables,with linkage disequilibrium excluded.Summary data on osteoporosis were collected from the FinnGen database,which included 438 872 individuals of European descent.The study was analyzed using inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger regression,weighted median,and several sensitivity analyses to ensure the robustness of the results.Further,a protein-protein interaction network was constructed,and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were conducted to explore the functional relevance and potential mechanisms of plasma proteins.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The Mendelian randomization analysis using the inverse variance weighted method identified 50 plasma proteins that have causal associations with osteoporosis(P<0.05).Among them,20 plasma proteins,including chromosome 19 open reading frame 12(odds ratio[OR]=0.610;95%confidence interval[CI]:0.483-0.769,P=2.967×10-5)and epidermal growth factor(EGF;OR=0.877;95%CI:0.770-0.999,P=0.049),might be associated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis.In contrast,30 plasma proteins,such as C-C motif chemokine ligand(CCL)18(OR=1.091;95%CI:1.037-1.147,P=0.001)and CD209(OR=1.036;95%CI:1.003-1.070,P=0.034),might be associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.After Bonferroni correction,only chromosome 19 open reading frame 12 showed a significant causal association with osteoporosis.(2)Multiple sensitivity analyses revealed no evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity,indicating the robustness of the results.(3)The construction of the PPI network identified core proteins such as EGF,CCL5,C-X-C motif chemokine ligand(CXCL)13,CXCL5,vascular endothelial growth factor C,CCL17,CCL18,TEK receptor tyrosine kinase,tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin like and EGF like domains 1,and CCL23.(4)Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis suggested that these plasma proteins play essential roles in the immune system,influencing osteoporosis through processes such as signal transduction,cell migration,and chemotaxis.(5)This study reveals the potential causal associations between 1 001 plasma proteins and osteoporosis,highlighting the utility of a large-scale,data-driven approach to identify new biomarkers and drug targets in diverse populations.Additionally,our findings suggest that processes such as immune signaling,cell migration,and chemotaxis play significant roles in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis,offering new directions for research under specific genetic backgrounds and environmental factors.Finally,the core proteins identified in this study(e.g.,EGF,CCL5,and CXCL13)may serve as novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets,providing a new basis for the precise prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
7.Comparison of local debridement versus En bloc osteotomy for chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia
Changzheng YAN ; Dongxu TANG ; Hao SONG ; Yanfei LUO ; Kai CHEN ; Liu YANG ; Jiang DENG ; Shiqiang RUAN
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(23):3645-3651
Objective To compare of the efficacy of two distinct debridement techniques in membrane induction therapy for chronic tibial osteomyelitis.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 52 patients with Cierny-Mader type IV A/B chronic tibial osteomyelitis who were treated at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University between July 2016 and December 2023.Five patients were diagnosed and treated before 2020,while 47 were managed from 2020 onward.Patients were divided into two groups:a local debridement group(n=28)and an en bloc osteotomy group(n=24).Perioperative outcomes—including operative time,incision length,intraoperative blood loss,and length of hospital stay—were assessed,along with clinical efficacy at 6 months,12 months,and final follow-up.Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Hospital for Special Surgery(HSS)knee score,the American Orthopaedic Foot&Ankle Society(AOFAS)ankle-hindfoot score,joint range of motion(knee flexion-extension and ankle plantarflexion-dorsiflexion),recurrence rate,and the Paley classification for infectious bone defects.Results The local debridement group exhibited significantly less intraoperative blood loss(P<0.05),shorter operative time(P<0.05),and reduced hospital stay(P<0.05),as well as higher AOFAS and HSS scores at both 6 and 12 months postoperatively(P<0.05).In contrast,the osteotomy group demonstrated superior Paley classification outcomes at 6 months,12 months,and final follow-up(P<0.05),along with lower rates of infection recurrence.Longitudinal analysis indicated significant improvements in AOFAS scores,HSS scores,and joint mobility over time in both groups(P<0.05).However,no statistically significant differences were observed between groups in terms of functional scores or joint mobility parameters at final follow-up(P>0.05).Conclusion En bloc osteotomy combined with the induced membrane technique(Masquelet technique)enables more comprehensive debridement,minimizes the necessity for repeated surgical interventions,reduces postoperative complications,lowers the risk of recurrence,and promotes enhanced bone healing.
8.Correlation Between Multifidus Muscle Fat Infiltration and Lumbar Range of Motion and Quality of Life in Patients with Degenerative Spinal Deformity
Kai LI ; Jun ZHAO ; Sen YANG ; Fei LUO
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(4):930-938
Objective To evaluate the correlation of L4-5 multifidus muscle(MM)fat infiltration(FI)with lumbar range of motion(LROM)and quality of life in patients with degenerative spinal deformity(DSD).Methods Thirty patients with DSD were included.The Cobb angle,lumbar lordosis(LL),thoracic kyphosis(TK)and TK/LL were measured after the full-length spinal tablet was completed.Thirity-five healthy volunteers were included as the control group.The general conditions and history of underlying diseases were collected for both populations.FI of L4-5 MM was obtained by single-voxel MR spectroscopy(SV-MRS).The forward flexion,posterior extension,left/right lateral flexion LROM were measured.The lower back pain was assessed using visual analogue scale(VAS).The quality of life was assessed using Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(RDQ).Individual activity intensity was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ).By comparing the difference in LROM,MM FI,RDQ scores between DSD group and control group,the correlation of RDQ scores in DSD group with MM FI,LROM,Cobb angle,LL,TK,and TK/LL were analyzed,respectively.Results The VAS score was higher in DSD group than that in control group(P<0.05).In terms of consistency,the DSD group had good forward flexion and posterior extension reliability,strong convex lateral flexion reliability and general concave lateral flexion reliability.The control group had good reliability of forward flexion and posterior extension,while the left/right lateral flexion reliability was general.There was no statistically significant difference in IPAQ score between two groups and FI of the left/right MM in the control group(P>0.05).Bilateral MM FI was negatively correlated with posterior extension in DSD group(r=-0.395),MM FI(convex side)was negatively correlated with VAS(r=-0.381),RDQ scores was negatively correlated with forward flexion and sagittal ROM,respectively(r=-0.441,-0.425),Cobb angle was positively correlated with posterior extension(r=0.372),TK was positively correlated with MM FI on the concave side(r=0.460)and negatively correlated with forward flexion and sagittal ROM(r=-0.406,-0.410),LL was positively correlated with FI on the concave side(r=0.412),TK/LL was negatively correlated with forward flexion,sagittal ROM and lateral flexion(convex side)(r=-0.424,-0.370,-0.576).Stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that the RDQ score=13.070-flexion×0.228+VAS×1.900.Conclusions Patients with DSD showed a decreased LROM,an increased MM FI and a decreased RDQ score.Clinically,the LROM and paravertebral muscle degeneration should be evaluated comprehensively in DSD.
9.Investigating Causal Relationships Between Serum Trace Elements and Head and Neck Cancers:a Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Jiayu SONG ; Yanning LI ; Lina LIU ; Qianyong HE ; Kai SHANG ; Yue CHEN ; Xunyan LUO ; Zhuoling LI ; Xiaomei LI ; Feng JIN
China Cancer 2025;34(11):898-910
[Purpose]To investigate the potential causal relationships between serum levels of trace elements and head and neck cancers.[Methods]Single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)of oral cancer,oropharyngeal cancer,laryngeal cancer and thyroid cancer,associated with calcium,copper,iron,magnesium,zinc,were obtained from genome-wide association studies(GWAS).A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighting(IVW)method by calculating odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI).Pleiotropy was assessed using MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger regression,and sensitivity analysis was conducted via the"leave-one-out"method.[Results]IVW analysis revealed a causal association between serum magnesium levels and the incidence of oral cancer(OR=0.976,95%CI:0.956~0.997,P=0.025),also between thyroid cancer and serum calcium levels(OR=1.008,95%CI:1.001~1.015,P=0.023).No significant causal associations were observed between other trace ele-ments and head and neck cancers(all P>0.05).[Conclusion]This MR study suggests that serum magnesium levels serve as a protective factor against oral cancer,while thyroid cancer leads to el-evated serum calcium levels.
10.Development and application of a camelid single-domain antibody recognizing a linear B-cell epitope in glutamate dehydrogenase of Clostridium difficile
Huaqian ZHAI ; Zhezhou LI ; Mengting CAI ; Kai ZHANG ; Lijun SHEN ; Yongneng LUO ; Dazhi JIN ; Hui HU
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(8):629-635
Objective:To develop a camelid single-domain antibody (SdAb) recognizing linear B-cell epitopes in glutamate dehydrogenase of Clostridium difficile(CD-GDH), and to apply it in Western blot and ELISA. Methods:Purified recombinant CD-GDH was used as bait to screen phage-displayed camelid SdAb library and obtain positive clones. Then those clones were confirmed by Western blot, and their variable domain of heavy chain of heavy chain antibody(VHH) nucleotide sequence were determined. The VHH sequence was synthesized after codon optimization and cloned into the expression vector pET28a. The SdAb was then expressed and purified, and its ability to detect CD-GDH protein in multiple assays was further explored.Results:Six positive clones were obtained, among which clone GA4 was chosen for recombinant expression in Escherichia coli and further purification. The purified GA4 binded well with CD-GDH with a Kd value of 3 nmol/L. In Western blot and ELISA, GA4 was proven to be able to selectively detect both recombinant and endogenous CD-GDH. Conclusions:A camelid SdAb targeting a linear B-cell epitope in CD-GDH is successfully developed, which provides a very useful tool for detecting CD-GDH.

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