1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates Related Signaling Pathways to Prevent and Control Breast Cancer and Precancerous Lesions: A Review
Yifei ZENG ; Di ZHAO ; Junyue WANG ; Mengjie WANG ; Yubo GUO ; Yu ZHOU ; Dongxiao ZHANG ; Wenjie ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):290-301
Breast cancer has become the malignant tumor with the highest incidence rate among women, seriously threatening the life and health of women all over the world. The pathogenic factors and development mechanisms of breast cancer are complex and diverse. The development of breast cells from ordinary hyperplasia to atypical hyperplasia, and from pre-cancerous lesions to cancerous lesions, is a long-term progressive process. Therefore, early screening and prevention of breast cancer is particularly important. Western medicine has a relatively mature treatment program for breast cancer, which is mainly based on surgery and systemic treatment, whereas the ensuing complications and adverse reactions often bring a heavy burden to patients. For the precancerous lesions of breast cancer, surgery is also the mainstay of treatment. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increasingly highlighted its advantages in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Increasing studies have shown that in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and pre-cancerous lesions, TCM compound prescriptions, single herbs or herb pairs, and active components are able to regulate a variety of intracellular signaling pathways through multi-targets to inhibit the proliferation and invasion, promote the apoptosis and autophagy of tumor cells, and regulate the cell cycle and the immune microenvironment, thus exerting anti-tumor effects. At the same time, they can significantly attenuate the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and drug resistance of patients. However, the specific mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and precancerous lesions have not been fully clarified. The available studies are tanglesome regarding the TCM inhibition of tumor development through the regulation of classical signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch, which still need to be verified by a large number of clinical and experimental studies. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and precancerous lesions by TCM through interfering with the relevant signaling pathways in recent years, aiming to summarize the possible mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and provide references for subsequent studies.
2.Association between plant-based diet and different types of obesity
ZHOU Mengyi ; SU Danting ; HE Mengjie ; XU Peiwei ; HAN Dan ; HUANG Lichun ; ZHANG Ronghua
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(8):773-778
Objective:
To investigate the association between plant-based diet and different types of obesity, so as to provide references for obesity prevention.
Methods:
Residents aged 35-75 years from 33 counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province were selected as study subjects using a multistage stratified random sampling method between April and December 2024. Demographic information and living behaviors were collected using questionnaire surveys. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. BMI ≥28.0 kg/m2 was defined as obesity, waist circumference ≥90 cm in males or ≥85 cm in females was defined as central obesity, and individual with obesity who also had central obesity was defined as having compound obesity. Food intake over a 3-day period was collected using the consecutive 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method. The plant diet index (PDI), healthful plant diet index (HPDI), and unhealthful plant diet index (UPDI) were calculated, and categorized into quintiles (Q1-Q5) based on their distribution. Association between the PDI, PDI, UPDI and different types of obesity were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models.
Results:
A total of 4 882 individuals were surveyed, including 2 233 males (45.74%) and 2 649 females (54.26%). The average age was (55.42±12.14) years. There were 537 individuals of obesity, 1 718 individuals of central obesity, and 500 individuals of compound obesity, with detection rates of 11.00%, 35.19%, and 10.24%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for demographic information and living behaviors, compared with Q1 group, HPDI Q5 group showed a 29.6% lower risk of obesity (OR=0.704, 95%CI: 0.525-0.943) and a 32.1% lower risk of compound obesity (OR=0.679, 95%CI: 0.502-0.918). Conversely, the UPDI Q5 group exhibited a 39.5% higher risk of obesity (OR=1.395, 95%CI: 1.032-1.886) and a 39.8% higher risk of compound obesity (OR=1.398, 95%CI: 1.025-1.907). No statistically significant association was found between PDI and obesity, central obesity, and compound obesity (all P>0.05). As HPDI increased, the risks of obesity and compound obesity showed decreasing trends; as UPDI increased, the risks of obesity and compound obesity showed increasing trends (all Ptrend<0.05).
Conclusion
A healthful plant-based diet is associated with reduced risks of obesity and compound obesity, while an unhealthful plant-based diet is associated with increased risks of obesity and compound obesity.
3.Unlocking the potential of targeted protein degradation via nanoparticle-based universal strategy.
Ti-Qiang ZHOU ; Weilun SUN ; Zhen-Zhen WEI ; Yuhua WENG ; Dongxu ZHAO ; Mengjie ZHANG ; Yuanyu HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):6082-6086
Targeted protein degradation via nanoparticle-based universal strategy modifies nanoparticles with antibodies and ingeniously utilizes its cellular transport characteristics. This strategy achieved targeted degradation of extracellular proteins without complex design.Image 1.
4.Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Gang ZHANG ; Xiaohui GAO ; Shuping MO ; Yan ZHOU ; Mengjie WU ; Haibing WU ; Xiaoyan ZHAO ; Minchao YAN ; Yuan LI ; Hui ZENG
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(22):1-4
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic risk factors in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 101 elderly AML patients admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University from January 2022 to December 2024.All patients were treated with azacitidine+venetoclax regimen.The clinical characteristics of patients and the risk factors related to prognosis were explored.Results The median follow-up was 14 months.Among the 101 patients,74 achieved complete remission or complete remission with incomplete hematological recovery.The median overall survival(OS)of patients with aged ≥70 years,white blood cell count>50 × 109/L,TP53 mutation,complex chromosomes,and high-risk European leukemia net(ELN)risk stratification was significantly shortened(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that age(HR=0.125,95%CI:0.023-0.662,P=0.015),white blood cell count(HR=0.145,95%CI:0.032-0.662,P=0.013),and ELN risk stratification(HR=100.397,95%CI:14.395-700.207,P<0.001)were all independent influencing factors for OS in elderly AML patients.Conclusion Age,white blood cell count and ELN risk stratification are all independent influencing factors affecting OS in elderly AML patients.
5.Effects of genetic risk of insulin resistance and triglyceride index on risk of cardiovascular disease
Ying PAN ; Shuting LIU ; Haoyu GU ; Mengjie ZHAO ; Zhiping XU ; Yun TANG ; Min HUANG ; Yueqing HUANG ; Kaixin ZHOU ; Jian SHAO ; Shao ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(5):643-649
Objective:By analyzing the genetic risk of triglyceride-glucose index(Tyg)and insulin resistance(IR)for cardiovascular disease(CVD), to elucidate the extent to which the contribution of Tyg to the risk of CVD development is influenced by IR genetic risk.Methods:In this study, we selected data from a cohort of elderly people in the Kunshan community, screened 7, 385 individuals with both clinical and genomic data, and calculated the polygenic risk score of insulin resistance(IRPRS)for each participant based on publicly available IR genome-wide association data, and assessed the effect of genetic risk and Tyg level on the risk of developing CVD using a multivariate Cox proportional risk model.Calculating interactions to assess the effects of genetic risk and Tyg levels on the risk of developing CVD, the effects of Tyg tertile grouping and IRPRS on the risk of developing CVD were assessed using a multivariate Cox proportional risk model, and subgroup analyses were performed for gender to assess the effects of Tyg tertile grouping and IRPRS on the risk of developing CVD by gender.Results:In the univariate Cox model, Q3 and IRPRS with the highest TYG levels were significantly associated with the risk of CVD, respectively( HR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.33-1.89; P<0.001; HR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.18-2.20; P=0.003).After adjusting for multiple confounders, the Q3 Group with the highest TYG level was still significantly associated with the risk of CVD( HR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.05-1.57; P=0.014), the Association of TYG with the risk of CVD did not change significantly( HR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.57; P=0.014).We conducted a subgroup analysis by sex and found that among older men, 13, the highest levels of TYG and IRPRS were significantly associated with CVD risk, respectively( HR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.31.2.20; P<0.001; HR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.24-3.15; P=0.004).After adding IRPRS to the model, the Association of TYG with the risk of CVD remained unchanged( HR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.31-2.19; P<0.001).After adjusting for various confounders, Tyg remained significantly associated with the risk of CVD( HR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.04-1.88; P=0.028), the results showed that TYG remained significantly associated with the risk of CVD( HR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.05-1.90; P=0.023), and the association did not decrease.No Association of IRPRS with CVD risk was found in older women. Conclusions:IRPRS and TYG are the risk factors of CVD, and diet, exercise, drugs and other external factors on TYG are the main risk factors of CVD.For individuals with high genetic factors, the risk of CVD can still be reduced by lifestyle adjustments such as diet, exercise and drug intervention.
6.Effect of acupuncture on postoperative delirium in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia
Jiaxi LIU ; Qi WANG ; Lingling DING ; Jiaqi NING ; Hai KE ; Zhuoya CHEN ; Bo YU ; Weiming SUN ; Peng CHEN ; Xiang LI ; Shishun KOU ; Reiling ZHOU ; Yudong ZHOU ; Yan GUO ; Mengjie CHEN ; Ruyu YAN ; Jiansheng LUO
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2025;45(10):1313-1316
Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on postoperative delirium (POD) in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, 92 diabetic patients of either sex, aged 30-80 yr, with a body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=46 each) using a table of random numbers: control group (group C) and acupuncture group (group A). Group A received acupuncture at the Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24) and Sishencong (EX-HN1) acupoints before anesthesia. The needles were retained for 30 min, with manual stimulation applied every 10 min for 10 s each time. After 4 stimulations, routine anesthesia was carried out. Group C received routine anesthesia only. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation was recorded on admission to the operating room (T 0), after anesthesia induction (T 1), at the start of surgery (T 2), at the end of surgery (T 3), and immediately after tracheal extubation (T 4). The POD developed within 3 days after surgery was assessed. The occurrence of needle-related adverse effects such as fainting, subcutaneous bleeding, and local paresthesia was recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the incidence of POD was significantly reduced, and the regional cerebral oxygen saturation was increased at T 1, 4 in group A ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Acupuncture can decrease the development of POD in diabetic patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, which is related to an increase in regional cerebral oxygen saturation.
7.Paramyotonia congenita in a family with SCN4A gene mutation
Mengjie XIA ; Qiongfang ZHANG ; Qian SUN ; Zhenyu REN ; Haiyan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2025;58(4):387-395
Objective:To report the clinical, electrophysiological, and genetic mutation characteristics of a family with paramyotonia congenita, to enhance clinical understanding of ion channelopathies, provide better guidance for clinical diagnosis, and optimize treatment plans.Methods:The clinical data, nerve conduction studies, needle electromyography, long exercise test, short exercise test, and whole-exome sequencing results of the proband with paramyotonia congenita and his family members admitted to Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, in August 2023 were collected and analyzed.Results:The proband was a 15-year-old male who presented with episodic muscle weakness for 1 year, accompanied by elevated creatine kinase during episodes. Between the ages of 3 and 4, he exhibited facial and bilateral hand myotonia triggered by cold exposure. His mother, sister, maternal grandmother, maternal aunt and uncle also displayed similar cold-induced facial and hand myotonia during childhood. Additionally, his cousin exhibited walking difficulties, frequent falls, mild difficulty in opening eyes after closure, and mild chewing and swallowing difficulties at the age of 1. Electromyography of the proband showed widespread myotonic discharges and myopathic impairment, while the electromyography of his mother and sister revealed only widespread myotonic discharges. The proband′s long exercise test results were consistent with periodic paralysis, while the short exercise test results aligned with paramyotonia congenita. His sister′s long exercise test results were within normal range, while the short exercise test results of his mother and sister were consistent with paramyotonia congenita. Genetic testing of the family revealed that all tested patients carried a heterozygous SCN4A mutation, c.4343G>A (R1448H). Conclusions:The R1448H mutation in the SCN4A gene is the genetic cause of this family. Patients carrying the SCN4A R1448H mutation may exhibit clinical features of cold-induced myotonia with or without episodic muscle weakness. In addition to widespread myotonic discharges on electromyography, certain patients may also show myopathic impairment. The long and short exercise tests can further assist in differentiating various types of myotonia and periodic paralysis for clinical diagnosis.
8.Automatic recognition and segmentation of brachial plexus in ultrasonic images based on deep learning
Duo SHI ; Han ZHANG ; Peipei LIU ; Ruichao ZHANG ; Qingyu LIU ; Hao SUN ; Xiaofang FU ; Mengjie DOU ; Junpu HU ; Changqin SUN ; Keyan LI ; Jianqiu HU ; Guangquan ZHOU ; Ligang CUI ; Ping ZHOU ; Faqin LYU
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(9):737-744
Objective:To propose a deep learning(DL)-based ultrasound imaging auxiliary tool for automatic segmentation and recognition of the brachial plexus(BP),and to enhance the accuracy and safety of clinical procedures.Methods:It was a multicenter study that collected 773 healthy subjects from Peking University Third Hospital and its branch campuses,the Third Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital,and Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital between August 2024 and February 2025. Brachial plexus(BP)images in the interscalene groove were captured used high-frequency ultrasound by senior sonographers,a dataset comprising 1 289 standardized images were constructed and the improved model(CHA-TransUNet)was trained. The test set was input into 6 different models(CHA-TransUNet,R50-Unet,TransUnet,SegFormer,SwinUnet,MISSFormer)for segmentation. Segmentation accuracy was evaluated using metrics including the Dice similarity coefficient(DSC),95% Hausdorff distance(HD95)and mean intersection over union(mIoU),and was compared with the segmentation results of 3 ultrasound physicians with varying experience levels(junior physicians and senior physicians)to validate the model's segmentation efficacy.Results:The CHA-TransUNet model established based on a dataset of 1 289 standardized images achieved segmentation results for the BP with a DSC of 90.15%,mIoU of 91.02%,and HD95 of 8.08. Its accuracy was higher than other mainstream models(DSC:90.15% vs. 87.60%,87.77%,81.35%,84.78%,84.55%),significantly better than junior physicians(DSC:90.15% vs. 68.73%, Z=-127.76, P<0.001),and approached the level of senior physician(DSC:90.15% vs. 86.15%, Z=-31.33, P=0.549). The model demonstrated superior boundary recognition in complex anatomical structures(e.g.,C6/C7 nerve roots)compared to ultrasound physicians(junior and senior)(HD95:8.08 vs. 26.34,17.44,56.80). Conclusions:This study proposes an analysis model for BP ultrasound images,CHA-TransUNet. This model achieves segmentation and recognition of the BP with relatively complex pathways and structures. The model exhibits high accuracy and stability,outperforming current mainstream network models and junior physicians while approaching the performance level of senior physicians. It assists junior physicians or trainees in more accurately identifying and localizing the BP.
9.Influencing factors and prediction model construction of airway obstruction after cervical spine surgery
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(9):55-59,64
Objective To investigate the risk factors for airway obstruction after cervical spine surgery and to construct and validate a predictive risk model.Methods A retrospective analysis of data from 250 patients who underwent cervical spinesurgery was performed.Patients were divided into modeling set(n=175)and validation set(n=75)in a ratio of 7 to 3.Patients in the modeling set were categorized into respiratory distress group and normal breathing group based on whether they ex-perienced postoperative airway obstruction.General patient data were collected.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent influencing factors for postoperative airway ob-struction.Based on the identified factors,a risk prediction model was constructed.The R software was utilized to draw a nomogram and calibration curve for the risk prediction model.Receiver operat-ing characteristic(ROC)curves were employed to assess the predictive value of the risk prediction model.The goodness-of-fit was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Results Among the pa-tients in the modeling set,28 cases developed postoperative airway obstruction,with an incidence rate of 16.00%(28/175).Univariate analysis results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in age,operation time,postoperative edema,surgical segments,preoperative tracheal shifting exercise and the number of involved surgical segments between the respiratory distress group and the normal breathing group(P<0.05).Age,preoperative tracheal shifting exercise,postopera-tive edema and operation time were identified as independent influencing factors for postoperative airway obstruction(P<0.05).Internal validation showed that the area under the ROC curve of this model was 0.888,with sensitivity of 75.1% and specificity of 92.1%.Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the prediction model had good fit and high prediction value(x2=3.435,P=0.904).The area under the external validation ROC curve was 0.735,with sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 65.1%.Conclusion Age,preoperative tracheal shifting exercise,postoperative edema and opera-tion time are independent influencing factors for patients with airway obstruction after cervical spine surgery.The risk prediction model constructed based on these factors has good predictive perform-ance and clinical application value.
10.Modified Xiehuangsan Regulates Microglial Polarization and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway to Treat Tic Disorders in Rats
Mengjie ZHAO ; Qiong ZHAO ; Cuiling YANG ; Hongyun ZHOU ; Xiangjuan SUN ; Xinyi GUO ; Sajiyue HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):10-18
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of modified Xiehuangsan in treating tic disorders (TD) based on microglial polarization and the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. MethodsSeventy-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into six groups: control, model, tiapride (0.025 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (12, 24, 48 g·kg-1, respectively) modified Xiehuangsan, with 12 rats in each group. Except the control group, the other groups received intraperitoneal injection of 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) for 7 consecutive days for the modeling of TD. After successful modeling, the control and model groups were given normal saline via gavage, and the other groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage. After 28 days of continuous intervention, rat behaviors were observed, and the modified Xiehuangsan group showing the best anti-TD effect was selected for deciphering the treatment mechanism. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to observe morphological changes in the rat striatum. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of CD16 and CD206 in the striatum. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-4, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 in the striatum. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), Fc receptor family for immunoglobulin (Ig)G type Ⅲ (CD16), mannose receptor (CD206), TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 in the striatum. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed increased stereotyped behaviors, locomotor activity, total movement distance, and movement speed, shortened resting time (P<0.01), and noticeable pathological changes in the striatum. Compared with the model group, the tiapride group and modified Xiehuangsan groups exhibited reduced stereotyped behavior, locomotor activity, total movement distance, and movement speed, prolonged resting time (P<0.05, P<0.01), and alleviated pathological changes in the striatum. Among the modified Xiehuangsan groups, the high-dose group had the best intervention effect and the mildest pathological changes. Therefore, the high-dose group was selected for further research. Compared with the control group, the modeling of TD increased Iba1 and CD16 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), up-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA level of IL-4 (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 and MyD88 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and up-regulated the protein level of NF-κB p65 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, modified Xiehuangsan reduced Iba1 and CD16 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), up-regulated the protein level of CD206 (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-4 (P<0.01), and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionModified Xiehuangsan demonstrated a definite therapeutic effect on TD in rats. It may reduce neuroinflammation in TD rats by regulating the polarization of microglia in the striatum via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.


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