Objective To summarize and analyze the efficacy and influencing factors of second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for acute leukemia relapsing after the first allo-HSCT. Methods Clinical data of 17 patients with acute leukemia who underwent second allo-HSCT at Peking University First Hospital from January 2005 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among the 17 patients, 7 achieved long-term disease-free survival after second transplantation. The median progression-free survival after successful second transplantation was 7 months (range 8 days to 69 months). The relapse fatality was 24%, and the transplant-related fatality was 35%. Conclusions Second transplantation is an effective treatment for relapsed and refractory acute leukemia, but the relapse fatality and transplant-related fatality remain high. Patient age, time of relapse after the first transplantation and disease status before second transplantation are all factors that affect the efficacy of second transplantation. Younger age, late relapse and complete remission of disease before second transplantation are all beneficial for long-term disease-free survival after second transplantation.

Aromatic Chinese medicinal essential oils are volatile oils extracted from aromatic Chinese herbs， which can prevent and treat respiratory infectious diseases through multiple synergistic mechanisms including pathogen inhibition， immune regulation， and inflammatory response regulation. Essential oils are primarily used externally on the body to prevent infections and alleviate symptoms through methods like inhalation， smearing， topical application， bathing， gargling or as a suppository. They can also be utilized in the environment for disinfection and air purification， through methods like diffusion， vaporization， or spraying. The external application of essential oils extracted from Chinese aromatic herbs has the advantages of convenience， quick absorption， and simultaneous influence on both the body and mind. However， there are still challenges and deficiencies in aspects such as the positioning of functions， indications， safety， and the research on the mechanism of action. It has been proposed to combine the theory of aromatic Chinese medicinals with the characteristics of essential oils， and formulate prescriptions of Chinese medicinal essential oils under the principles of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation， and prevent and treat respiratory infectious diseases efficiently， accurately， and safely， thereby expanding the clinical application of aromatic Chinese medicinals and the preventive theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world， and its incidence rate is also rising in China and tends to happen in younger age groups. The classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is an important target in the treatment of breast cancer， playing a key role in the whole process of breast cancer development by regulating the expression of related signal proteins and genes. Traditional Chinese medicine has a profound history and practical experience in the treatment of malignant tumors， and the development of modern technology further highlights the therapeutic advantages of traditional Chinese medicine， which has multiple targets and components. Research shows that Chinese medicine can effectively slow down the proliferation of breast cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway， and has a significant inhibitory effect on the development of breast cancer. Based on this， this paper summarized domestic and foreign relevant studies on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of breast cancer， analyzed the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treating breast cancer by intervening in this signaling pathway， and summarized 44 different types of traditional Chinese medicine monomers， including terpenes （triptolide， andrographolide， etc.）， flavonoids （scutellarin， sinensetin， etc.）， polysaccharides （Angelica sinensis polysaccharides， etc.）， phenols （curcumin， polydatin， etc.）， and alkaloids （lycorine， etc.）. In addition， there are 3 traditional Chinese medicines （Ganoderma lucidum， Radix actinidia chinensis， and Antrodia camphorata）， 1 group of medicine pairs （Trionycis Carapax-Zedoary Turmeric）， and 8 traditional Chinese medicine formulas （Compound Tubeimu， Huangqi Jiedu Tang， Xihuang Wan， Liuwei Dihuang Wan， Jiazhu Tang， Aiduqing Fang， Sini San， and compound Kushen injection）. By regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its key molecules， these single herbs， monomers， and compound herbs can reverse the epithelial mesenchymal transformation process， reduce the activity of stem cells， and inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Besides， it can also enhance the sensitivity of drugs and radiotherapy and combat breast cancer， providing a new perspective for drug development and treatment strategies for breast cancer.

ObjectiveWith the development of society and the increasing demand for pregnancy at an advanced age， diminished ovarian reserve （DOR） has attracted wider attention. This disease affects the normal menstruation of women and poses a threat to their mental health. Current research on DOR is still in the initial stage， and advancing research progress in DOR necessitates the construction of effective and clinically relevant animal models. Building on existing literature and integrating the diagnosis criteria of DOR in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and Western medicine， this study summarized， analyzed， and evaluated existing models， providing a reference for optimizing DOR animal models. MethodsA retrospective analysis of literature on DOR-related animal models was conducted， and the diagnostic criteria of DOR in TCM and Western medicine were sorted out. By means of evaluation methods of animal models， the clinical relevance of each model to TCM and Western medicine was assessed. ResultsDOR animal models included those based on natural factors， iatrogenic factors， immune factors， metabolic factors， and environmental factors. Among them， the model based on iatrogenic factors， especially models induced by Tripterygium wilfordii preparations， cyclophosphamide， and cisplatin， had a high degree of relevance to both Western medical diseases and TCM syndromes and was confirmed as the optimal modeling method for studying DOR at present. ConclusionThe existing DOR modeling methods mostly have a high degree of clinical relevance to Western medical diseases， while the number of DOR animal models with clear TCM syndromes is very limited. TCM plays an indispensable role in exploring DOR treatment methods. Therefore， the development of DOR animal models related to TCM syndromes should be strengthened， further exploring the potential of TCM and providing strong theoretical support for the application of TCM in DOR treatment.

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China， the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear， it has been proven to be closely related to various factors， including individual genetic susceptibility， genetic mutations， dietary habits， and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action， exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation， migration， invasion， angiogenesis， and epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this， this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway， identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM， including alkaloids （e.g.， capsaicin， berberine）， flavonoids （e.g.， icariin and hyperoside）， polyphenols （e.g.， gastrodin and honokiol）， terpenes （e.g.， oridonin）， quinones （e.g.， aloe-emodin）， coumarins （e.g.， agrimonolide）， and saponins （e.g.， saikosaponin-d）. Additionally， one TCM medicinal substance （arsenic）， one drug pair （Danggui - Qieyi combination）， and two TCM formulae （Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula） were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets， thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development， and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China， the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear， it has been proven to be closely related to various factors， including individual genetic susceptibility， genetic mutations， dietary habits， and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action， exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation， migration， invasion， angiogenesis， and epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this， this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway， identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM， including alkaloids （e.g.， capsaicin， berberine）， flavonoids （e.g.， icariin and hyperoside）， polyphenols （e.g.， gastrodin and honokiol）， terpenes （e.g.， oridonin）， quinones （e.g.， aloe-emodin）， coumarins （e.g.， agrimonolide）， and saponins （e.g.， saikosaponin-d）. Additionally， one TCM medicinal substance （arsenic）， one drug pair （Danggui - Qieyi combination）， and two TCM formulae （Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula） were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets， thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development， and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture (for unblocking the obstruction in the governor vessel and regulating the spirit) on depression-like behavior and the hippocampal Endophilin A1/reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats, and explore the mechanism of this therapy for depression. METHODS: Forty-eight male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal group (n=12) and a modeling group (n=36). In the modeling group, CUMS was performed to establish depression model. The successfully-modeled rats were randomized into a model group, a Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group (referred to as the acupuncture group), and a fluoxetine group, with 12 rats in each group. In the acupuncture group, "Baihui" (GV20), "Shenting" (GV24), "Shuigou" (GV26) and "Dazhui" (GV14) were stimulated with acupuncture. This intervention measure was delivered once a day, continuously for 6 days; it was discontinued on day 7 and was completed in 28 days. In the fluoxetine group, intragastric administration was done with fluoxetine solution (2.1 mg/kg), once a day, and for 28 consecutive days. Before and after modeling, and after intervention completion, the body mass, sucrose preference rate and the total distance of movement and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the open field experiment were observed in each group. After intervention, using HE staining, the hippocampal neuron morphology was observed; using Nissl staining, the hippocampal Nissl body number was counted. The hippocampal mitochondria was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The average fluorescence intensity of ROS in hippocampal was determined using flow cytometry. With Western blot method, the protein expression of Endophilin A1, growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal was detected; and with RT-qPCR method, the mRNA expression of Endophilin A1, GAP-43, and BDNF was recorded. Using the immunofluorescence, the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1, GAP-43, and BDNF in hippocampal tissue was determined. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the body mass, sucrose preference rate, and the total distance of movement and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the open field experiment decreased (P<0.01); the hippocampal neuronal structure was unclear, the matrix was relatively loose, and the number of Nissl body decreased (P<0.01); mitochondrial structure was disarranged, the outer membrane was ruptured, mitochondrial cristae was irregular or missed; the average fluorescence intensity of ROS in hippocampal tissue, the protein and mRNA expression and the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1 in hippocampal tissue increased (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expression of GAP-43 and BDNF and its average fluorescence intensity decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the acupuncture group and the fluoxetine group showed the increase in body mass, sucrose preference rate, the total distance of movement and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the open field experiment (P<0.05, P<0.01); the hippocampal neuronal structure became relatively clear, the matrix was relatively dense, and the number of Nissl body was elevated (P<0.01); mitochondrial structure got normal and disarranged slightly, the average fluorescence intensity of ROS in hippocampal tissue, the protein and mRNA expression and the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1 in hippocampal tissue were reduced (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expression of GAP-43 and BDNF and the average fluorescence intensity rose (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the fluoxetine group, the acupuncture group presented the increase in the average fluorescence intensity of ROS, the protein expression and the average fluorescence intensity of Endophilin A1, the protein expression of GAP-43 and the mRNA expression of BDNF (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the decrease of the protein expression and the average fluorescence intensity of BDNF, the mRNA expression of Endophilin A1, and the average fluorescence intensity of GAP-43 (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Tongdu tiaoshen acupuncture alleviates depression-like behaviors in CUMS model rats and protects hippocampal neurons, which may be related to suppressing Endophilin A1/ROS signaling pathway and attenuating oxidative stress reactions.
Animals ; Male ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Depression/psychology* ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Acupuncture Points

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome elements in type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） patients based on maximum body mass index （maxBMI） and explore their association with complication risks. MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was used to collect clinical data from hospitalized T2DM patients， extracting age， gender， smoking history， alcohol consumption history， duration of disease， HbA1c level， complications， and TCM syndromes， and extracting the syndrome elements of disease location and disease nature based on their TCM syndromes. MaxBMI was calculated by telephone survey of patients' self-reported maximum body weight； patients with maxBMI ≥24 kg/m² were classified into spleen-heat syndrome group， and those with maxBMI ＜24 kg/m² were classified into consumptive-heat syndrome group. The distribution of TCM syndrome types and syndrome elements of patients in the two groups were analysed. Then the propensity score matching method was used to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups and compare the differences in the distribution of syndrome types and syndrome elements and the risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications between the two groups. ResultsAmong the 1178 T2DM patients， syndrome elements in spleen-heat patients （1034 cases） were primarily located in the spleen （351 cases， 33.95%）， liver （240 cases， 23.21%）， and stomach （139 cases， 13.44%）， while in consumptive-heat patients （144 cases）， they were concentrated in the spleen （57 cases， 39.58%）， liver （34 cases， 23.61%）， and kidneys （17 cases， 11.81%）； regarding syndrome elements of disease nature， spleen-heat patients were predominantly characterized by qi deficiency （481 cases， 46.52%）， phlegm （353 cases， 22.73%）， and dampness （241 cases， 23.31%）， whereas consumptive-heat patients showed more qi deficiency （84 cases， 58.33%） and yin deficiency （44 cases， 30.56%）. After propensity score matching， 132 cases were included in each group， and no statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of syndrome elements of disease location between the two groups （P＞0.05）， but the phlegm element was significantly more prevalent in spleen-heat patients than in consumptive-heat patients （P = 0.006）. Regarding the risk of complications， spleen-heat patients had a significantly higher risk of developing macrovascular complications compared to consumptive-heat patients （OR=2.04， P=0.010）， while no significant differences were found between groups in the occurrence of microvascular complications （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThe spleen-heat T2DM patients show a more frequent syndrome element of disease nature of phlegm， and a higher risk of developing macrovascular complications compared to consumptive-heat patients.