1.The mechanism and clinical characteristics in comorbidity of autoimmune liver diseases and autoimmune thyroid diseases
Yinghui RAN ; Wei LU ; Fumei YANG ; Xiaohong LI ; Rong ZHU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):432-437
Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) are a group of chronic liver diseases caused by abnormal activation of the immune system, mainly including autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, and overlap syndrome. Clinical studies have shown that patients with AILD are often comorbid with thyroid diseases, especially autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This article systematically reviews the epidemiological association, potential shared pathogenesis, and overlapping features between AILD and thyroid diseases. A deeper understanding of the immunological links between AILD and AITD may provide a theoretical basis for precision medicine and future research.
2.Guidelines for standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics (2026 edition)
Pengxiang ZHOU ; Maobai LIU ; Xiaoli DU ; Xiaoyang LU ; Mei DONG ; Rong DUAN ; Ruigang HOU ; Xiaoyu LI ; Qi CHEN ; Yanxiao XIANG ; Weiyi FENG ; Rong CHEN ; Deshi DONG ; Yong YANG ; Li LI ; Xiaocong ZUO ; Jinfang HU ; Hongliang ZHANG ; Qingchun ZHAO ; Qi LIN ; Yang HU ; Jiaying WU ; Rongsheng ZHAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1105-1112
OBJECTIVE To formulate Guidelines for the standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics ( 2026 edition ) in response to the challenges faced by such clinics in China, including uneven development, large discrepancies in service specifications, insufficient patient awareness, and limited medical insurance coverage. METHODS Led by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Professional Committee of the Chinese Hospital Association, the Evidence-based Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, and the Hospital Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Cross-strait Medical and Health Exchange Association, a total of 19 domestic hospital pharmacy experts were organized. Through a systematic review of national policies and literature research, current practical experience was summarized. Consensus on the contents of the guidelines was reached after in-depth discussions. RESULTS &CONCLUSIONS The guidelines covered five sections: definition and connotation of pharmacist-managed clinics, establishment requirements, implementation and management, post competency, and practical research. Firstly, the definition and connotation included three operational forms of pharmacist-managed clinics (independent mode, physician-pharmacist joint mode, and online pharmacist-managed clinic mode) and classified service modes (specialty-specific, drug-specific, and disease-specific pharmacist-managed clinics). The establishment requirements were further refined, covering system construction (pharmaceutical service management system, quality control and assessment mechanism), personnel qualifications (professional credentials, continuing education and professional training, etc), service recipients, as well as service venues and facilities. Subsequently, the implementation and management of pharmacist-managed clinics were proposed, involving service procedures, intervention measures, documentation and records, patient education and follow-up, humanistic care, as well as risk management and quality control. Finally, post competency encompassed the competency requirements for pharmacists providing services in pharmacist-managed clinics, as well as the suggestions on teaching methods; practical research encouraged the conduct of high-quality pharmaceutical practice in the setting of pharmacist-managed clinics. The guidelines provide valuable guidance for the standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics in China in terms of establishment, management, teaching, and research, fill the guideline gap in this field, and can promote the high-quality development of pharmacist-managed clinics.
3.Erchentang Ameliorates SiO2-induced Lung Injury by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorders via Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Jun LU ; Xinyi ZHU ; Ziyi LIU ; Jixia HU ; Jialu CHEN ; Rong XIAO ; Zhibin WANG ; Chang LIU ; Fangguo LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):32-42
ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of Erchentang (ECT) on SiO2-induced lung injury in rats and to explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsA rat model of lung injury was established by a single intratracheal instillation of 50 mg·mL-1 SiO2 suspension. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, model, low and high-dose (4.5 g·kg-1·d-1 and 9 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) ECT, and dexamethasone (0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1). All the groups were treated for 4 consecutive weeks. Histopathological alterations in the lung tissue were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the lung tissue were measured through biochemical assays. The expression of key molecules in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway was determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence assay. The primary active components of ECT were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and their binding affinity to Nrf2/HO-1 was assessed by molecular docking. Untargeted metabolomics of the lung tissue was performed based on UPLC-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and correlation analysis was performed to identify differential metabolites and parameters closely associated with the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight gain, an increase in lung index, increased MDA content, weakened SOD and GSH-Px activities in the lung tissue, down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and protein levels of HO-1 and GPX4, and an up-regulated protein level of Keap1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Treatment with ECT attenuated the SiO2-induced decline in body weight (P<0.05), alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and silicotic nodule formation in alveoli, and reduced the MDA content and enhanced the SOD and GSH-Px activities in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). UPLC-MS/MS and molecular docking revealed that core components of ECT, such as hesperidin and glycyrrhizic acid, displayed strong binding affinity to Nrf2/HO-1. Molecular biological experiments demonstrated that ECT promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of HO-1 and GPX4, and down-regulated Keap1 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomic analysis indicated that ECT reversed the SiO2-induced aberrant expression of metabolites, including linoleic acid and glutamine (P<0.05, P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that Nrf2 and HO-1 were positively correlated with SOD and GSH-Px (P<0.05, P<0.01), but negatively correlated with glutamine and serine (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionECT may activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway through its core active components, thereby regulating oxidative stress and metabolic disorders to ameliorate SiO2-induced lung injury in rats. This study provides experimental evidence for ECT in the prevention and treatment of occupational lung injury.
4.Design Strategies and Antitumor Applications of Zinc-based Nanomaterials for Achieving “Zinc Overload”
Rong WANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Yun-Feng BAI ; Feng FENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1896-1913
“Zinc overload” has emerged as a promising strategy in tumor nanomedicine, wherein exogenous modulation of metal ion homeostasis selectively triggers cancer cell death. Among various bioactive ions, zinc (Zn2+) stands out due to its unique ability to simultaneously disrupt energy metabolism, damage mitochondria, degrade mutant p53, and activate antitumor immunity. Notably, tumor cells exhibit greater sensitivity to Zn2+ overload while normal cells maintain higher tolerance. This review systematically summarizes design strategies for achieving “zinc overload” using biodegradable zinc-based nanomaterials, focusing on two fundamental questions: how to specifically deliver Zn2+ to tumors (targeted delivery), and how to trigger controlled release at the tumor site (release strategies). Current challenges are critically analyzed and future perspectives are offered. For targeted delivery, the strategies are categorized into passive, active, and biomimetic approaches. Passive targeting relies on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect but suffers from poor enrichment efficiency and rapid clearance. Active targeting conjugates ligands (e.g., folic acid, hyaluronic acid) to recognize overexpressed receptors, significantly enhancing cellular uptake. It is emphasized that hyaluronic acid-modified ZIF-8 can co-deliver siRNA for GLUT1 silencing, achieving systematic energy exhaustion. Biomimetic delivery using cell membranes confers immune evasion, prolonged circulation, and homologous targeting, exhibiting the lowest off-target toxicity. This approach is considered to guide future nanocarrier design. For Zn2+ release, 4 mechanisms are discussed. Endogenous environment-responsive release exploits acidic pH to degrade materials like ZIF-8 or ZnO, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, and autophagic blockade. Incorporation of other ions (Ca2+, Mn2+, Ni2+) enables synergistic metabolic interference and immune activation. Exogenous responsive release using near-infrared light offers spatiotemporally precise activation. For example, a nanorobot combining black phosphorus with ZIF-8 accelerates Zn2+ release under dual acid and light stimuli. Ion exchange represents an elegant trigger: zinc complexes (e.g., Zn-carnosine) have higher affinity for Cu2+; competitive coordination releases Zn2+ while depleting Cu2+, dually inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. This mechanism is proposed to hold promise for overcoming metabolic reprogramming. Finally, biological regulation—silencing the ZnT1 zinc transporter to block Zn2+ efflux—represents a paradigm shift from passive delivery to active homeostatic disruption. This “block and attack” strategy may prevent acquired resistance. The therapeutic consequences of zinc overload are multifaceted. Zn2+ causes lysosomal membrane permeabilization and impaired SNARE complex formation, blocking autophagic flux and inducing a distinct cell death termed “zincosis”. In mitochondria, Zn2+ inhibits glutathione reductase, causing oxidative stress and electron transport chain blockade. Meanwhile, Zn2+ suppresses glycolytic enzymes (GAPDH, LDHA), leading to ATP depletion and reversing drug resistance by downregulating P-glycoprotein. Moreover, zinc overload triggers immunogenic cell death, promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cell infiltration. Combined with cGAS-STING activation, this reshapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and inhibits distant metastasis. These interconnected mechanisms endow zinc overload with a unique advantage over single-modality treatments. Despite remarkable preclinical efficacy, challenges remain: systemic toxicity from off-target release, potential zinc tolerance via metallothionein upregulation, and insufficient pharmacokinetic data. Future directions should prioritize: (1) intelligent stimuli-responsive materials; (2) combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors;(3) theragnostic integration; (4) deeper mechanistic studies; and (5) artificial intelligence-assisted screening. Zinc overload therapy is expected to become an indispensable component of integrated tumor treatment.
5.Mechanism of action of lipid metabolic reprogramming in the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
Xinyue CHENG ; Lei LUO ; Rong LIU ; Shuaibing CAO ; Baoping LU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(9):2176-2182
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the chronic liver disease with the highest prevalence rate globally, and its disease spectrum encompasses a progressive continuum from hepatic steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, the research paradigm of MAFLD has shifted from “lipid accumulation” to “lipid metabolic reprogramming”, which, as a critical link in disease development and progression, is regulated by multidimensional molecular networks. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolic reprogramming in MAFLD from the following aspects: it analyzes the core role of lipid metabolism disorders, with a focus on how dysregulation of membranous organelle interactions, such as endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contacts, mediates metabolic imbalance; it concentrates on novel programmed cell death pathways induced by lipotoxicity, especially ferroptosis, and reveals the pathways through which they exacerbate liver injury; furthermore, it comprehensively analyzes the multi-layered regulatory network of the key signaling pathways such as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 and explores the emerging mechanisms such as liquid-liquid phase separation and microprotein regulation; finally, it provides an outlook on the potential therapeutic strategies targeting critical nodes of lipid metabolic reprogramming, so as to provide a theoretical basis for investigating the pathological mechanisms of MAFLD and developing precise interventions.
6.Research progress of performn 2
Zhiyuan DENG ; Lu BAI ; Rong YU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(4):542-545
Perforin 2(MPEG 1)is a member of the MACPF(membrane attack complex/PRF membrane attack complex/perforin)superfamily,which is mainly secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes,natural killer cells and mac-rophages Through the formation of active pores on the target cell membrane,perforin 2 participates in altering the permeability-pressure of the target cell,or collaborates with granzymes to induce the apoptosis of target cells.Re-cently,with the development of molecular biology,MPEG 1 has been increasingly studied,and the unique gene se-quence and cell types of perforin 2 have specific functions and adaptive evolution in different immune cells,which may determine its performance and therapeutic potential in different disease states.
7.Specific extraction and analysis of synthesized proteins from mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into the ischemic heart
Wan-Er LU ; Ying DAI ; Mu-Han TANG ; Kang WEI ; Shu-Jia CHEN ; Huai HUANG ; Jing LIN ; Hao-Rong PENG ; Li-Xuan ZHOU ; Dun-Zheng HAN
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):991-998
Objective To specifically extract and analyze nascent proteins synthesized by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)after transplantation into ischemic hearts using a technique employing mutant methionyl-tRNA synthetase(MetRSL247G)for nascent protein labeling,in order to explore the potential mechanisms of action in BMSCs post-transplantation.Methods Point mutation at position 274 of the MetRS gene in BMSCs was induced via lentiviral infection to enable azidonorleucine(ANL)-mediated labeling of nascent proteins in BMSCs.The labeling efficiency was verified by means of fluorescent non-canonical amino-acid tagging(FUNCAT).Thirty healthy female C57BL/6J mice(8-10 weeks old)were divided into control and experimental groups,with 15 mice in each group.The acute myocardial infarction model was constructed by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery in experimental group,while control mice underwent only thoracotomy without coronary ligation.After modeling,both groups received intramyocardial injections of MetRSL247G-modified BMSCs(MetRSL247G-BMSCs)at 3 different sites in the peri-infarct ischemic region.Mice were intraperitoneally injected with ANL every 6 hours for 4 times on postoperative days 0,2,and 6(n=5 for each time point)respectively,euthanized 24 h after the last injection,and cardiac tissues were isolated.The newly synthesized and labeled proteins produced by BMSCs after transplantation into the myocardium of experimental and control groups were collected,using an enrichment technique for ANL-tagged proteins and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS)analysis.Gene ontology(GO)analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis,protein-protein interaction(PPI)analysis,and heatmap visualization analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins at the 3 time points and screen key pathways and genes.Results Under fluorescence microscopy,the MetRSL247G lentivirus-infected BMSCs were observed to be labelled with mCherry signals,confirming the successful construction of the MetRSL247G-BMSCs cell line.Green fluorescent signals were detected only in nascent proteins in culture medium containing both MetRSL247G-BMSCs and ANL,validating the sensitivity and specificity of the labeling method.GO analysis revealed that differentially expressed proteins were primarily involved in basic cellular biological processes such as extracellular exosome formation,extracellular matrix organization,and focal adhesion.KEGG and PPI analyses indicated that the differential proteins were mainly involved in complement and coagulation cascade pathway,actin cytoskeleton regulation pathway,and apoptosis pathway.Heatmap analysis showed significantly upregulated expression of anti-apoptosis and cell adhesion-related factors in experimental group on day 1(P<0.05),upregulated anti-apoptotic factors,pro-apoptotic factors,and cell adhesion-related factors on day 3(P<0.05),and upregulated anti-apoptotic factors,cell differentiation-related factors,and cell adhesion-related factors on day 7(P<0.05)compared with control group.Expression of apoptosis-inducing factor 1 was significantly downregulated on days 1 and 7(P<0.05).On day 3,most differentially expressed proteins,including anti-apoptosis factors(Protein S100-A11,Clusterin,Gelsolin),pro-apoptosis factor(Cathepsin B),cell differentiation-related factor(Transgelin-2),and cell adhesion-related factors(Cofilin-1,Periostin,Fibronectin)were significantly upregulated(P<0.05).Conclusions The MetRSL247G mutation enables BMSCs to incorporate ANL and synthesize labeled proteins,confirming the feasibility of this nascent protein labeling technique.Nascent proteins of BMSCs in ischemic myocardium primarily contribute to extracellular exosome secretion and extracellular matrix organization.BMSCs may adapt to and respond to ischemic and hypoxic environments by influencing complement and coagulation cascades,activating inflammatory factors,regulating actin cytoskeleton structure,and modulating apoptosis,thereby maintaining the survival of BMSCs.
8.Clinical characteristics and influencing factors of cognitive impairment in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease
Hongxia LI ; Xia XU ; Jie JIANG ; Mengxue JIA ; Wenjin LIU ; Zhe HAN ; Yushuang LIU ; Yijiao ZHU ; Dafeng HE ; Chunlei LU ; Mengyue ZHU ; Hongbin MOU ; Guangyu BI ; Rong WANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(11):1-6,13
Objective To explore the influencing factors of cognitive impairment in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods A total of 60 hospitalized non-dialysis patients with CKD in the Department of Nephrology of Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University from September 2022 to September 2023 were enrolled as research objects.According to the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),they were divided into stage 1 to 2 of CKD group[eGFR ≥60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)]with 23 cases,the stage 3 of CKD group[eGFR 30~<60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)]with 20 cases,and stage 4 to 5 of CKD group[eGFR<30 mL/(min·1.73 m2)]with 17 cases.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA)was used to evaluate the cognitive function of the patients.Basic data and common clinical laboratory in-dicators on hospital admission were collected to analyze the differences in cognitive function levels under different renal function statuses and to explore the influencing factors of cognitive impairment.Results The incidence rates of cognitive impairment in the stage 1 to 2 of CKD group,stage 3 of CKD group,and stage 4 to 5 of CKD group were 47.8%,85.0%,and 94.1%respectively,the median MoCA scored 26,24 and 20 respectively,with statistically significant between-group differ-ences(P<0.05).Cognitive function was significantly negatively correlated with age(r=-0.634,P<0.001),blood urea nitrogen(BUN)(r=-0.574,P<0.001),serum creatinine(Cr)(r=-0.417,P<0.001),cystatin C(Cys-C)(r=-0.327,P=0.011),serum β2-microglobulin(β2-MG)(r=-0.259,P=0.046),and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)(r=-0.474,P<0.001),and was significantly positively correlated with hemoglobin(HB)(r=0.401,P=0.001)and eGFR(r=0.485,P<0.001).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age(P=0.006)and NT-proBNP(P=0.041)were influencing factors of cognitive im-pairment in non-dialysis patients with CKD.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity of age for prediction were 0.860,0.864 and 0.812 respectively,the AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of NT-proBNP for pre-diction were 0.808,0.795 and 0.875 respectively,and the combined prediction of age and NT-proBNP had an AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of 0.893,0.955,and 0.750,respectively.Conclusion As renal function deteriorates,the incidence rate and severity of cognitive impairment in non-dialysis patients with CKD tend to increase.Advanced age,renal function deterioration,high NT-proBNP level,and anemia are associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment in non-di-alysis patients with CKD,among which age and NT-proBNP are influencing factors for cognitive im-pairment.
9.Jia Liqun's Experience in Treating Postoperative Lower Limb Lymphoedema of Gynaecological Malignant Tumours
Rong HUANG ; Jia LU ; Jianrong SUN ; Dongmei CHEN ; Yanni LOU ; Liqun JIA
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(2):175-178
Postoperative lower limb lymphedema following gynecological malignancies can be categorized under TCM concepts of"edema"and"meridian obstruction".Professor Jia Liqun believes that the underlying deficiency lies in yang and blood deficiency,while the excess is characterized by dampness and blood stasis obstructing the meridians.Consequently,the treatment strategies include warming yang and nourishing blood to unblock the meridians,dispelling dampness and promoting diuresis to unblock the meridians,and transforming stasis and promoting diuresis to unblock the meridians.Clinical practice requires dynamic syndrome differentiation and treatment according to the disease progression.Additionally,Professor Jia often employs the external application of Wenjing Tongluo Powder to directly target the affected area,combining internal and external treatments to enhance the effect of unblocking the meridians and reducing swelling.
10.Research Progress of Endothelial Mechanoreceptors in Aortic Dilation Disease
Rong ZHAO ; Huiying SUN ; Shuangshuang LI ; Qingsheng LU
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(2):492-498
The hemodynamics within the aortic lumen is highly complex,and the mechanical stimuli generated by blood flow play a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of aortic dilation disease.Endothelial cells,as key components of the vascular endothelium,respond precisely to microenvironmental changes caused by blood flow through mechanoreceptors,including ion channels,receptor tyrosine kinases,and membrane structures.These mechanoreceptors convert mechanical stresses into biochemical signals,thereby affecting the physiological functions and pathological changes of blood vessels.In recent years,significant advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms by which endothelial mechanoreceptors are involved in aortic dilation diseases.This review summarizes the research progress of mechanoreceptor-mediated endothelial cell function in regulating aortic dilation diseases and provides a perspective on future research directions,with the aim of offering new insights and potential targets for the development of clinical treatment strategies.

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