1.Mechanism Exploration of Doxorubicin and Sepsis Induced Myocardial Injury: Differences and Convergences
Tao ZHANG ; Zihan NAN ; Lixia LIU ; Jiaqi LIU ; Xiukai CHEN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Suwen SU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):23-32
Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity and sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) represent significant clinical challenges in patients undergoing chemotherapy, sharing a common pathological basis of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has recently been shown to play a critical role in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced SIMI. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms underlying myocardial injury caused by DOX and sepsis, identifying ferroptosis as a central common pathway. DOX triggers a burst of reactive oxygen species within mitochondria and inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity through redox cycling of its quinone group and high-affinity accumulation in mitochondrial cardiolipin. LPS, by activating pattern recognition receptors and related inflammatory signaling pathways, provokes a cytokine storm and mitochondrial dysfunction. Both can disrupt the core regulatory axis of cysteine-glutathione (GSH)-GPX4, synergistically promoting ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, epigenetic regulation plays a key role in DOX- and LPS-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and may serve as a promising therapeutic target. A deeper understanding of the ferroptosis mechanism and its epigenetic regulatory network in the synergistic injury induced by DOX and sepsis is of great importance for developing novel strategies to mitigate chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and improve outcomes in cancer patients with concurrent infections.
2.Clinical Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Cold Dampness Obstruction Syndrome
Yanyu CHEN ; Yanqi LI ; Longxiao LIU ; Liubo ZHANG ; Tianyi LAN ; Nan ZHANG ; Cheng XIAO ; Yuan XU ; Qingwen TAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):140-146
ObjectiveTo study the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome. MethodsThe RA patients treated in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rheumatology of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2022 to June 2024 were selected. The demographic information, clinical data, laboratory test results, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom information were collected for syndrome differentiation, on the basis of which the characteristics and influencing factors of cold dampness obstruction syndrome were analyzed. ResultsA total of 258 RA patients were selected in this study, including 88 (34.1%) patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome, 53 (20.5%) patients with dampness and heat obstruction syndrome, 31 (12.0%) patients with wind dampness obstruction syndrome, 29 (11.2%) patients with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome, 19 (7.4%) patients with Qi-blood deficiency syndrome, 14 (5.4%) patients with phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome, 15 (5.8%) patients with stasis obstructing collateral syndrome and 9 (3.5%) patients with Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome. The patients were assigned into two groups of cold dampness obstruction syndrome and other syndromes. The group of cold dampness obstruction syndrome had lower joint fever, 28-tender joint count (TJC28), and 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-C-reactive protein (CRP) and higher central sensitization, cold feeling of joints, fear of wind and cold, cold limbs, and abdominal distention than the group of other syndromes (P<0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that central sensitization (OR 5.749, 95%CI 2.116-15.616, P<0.001) and DAS28-CRP (OR 0.600, 95% CI 0.418-0.862, P=0.006) were the independent factors influencing cold dampness obstruction syndrome in RA. ConclusionCold dampness obstruction syndrome is a common syndrome in RA patients. It is associated with central sensitization, cold feeling of joints, abdominal distension and may be a clinical syndrome associated with central sensitization.
3.Programmed Cell Death in Endometriosis and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Zuoliang ZHANG ; Wanrun WANG ; Wen LI ; Xue HAN ; Xiaohong CHEN ; Nan SU ; Huiling LIU ; Quansheng WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):48-57
Endometriosis (EMT) is a common disease with frequent occurrence and difficult to be cured in modern clinical practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. It is characterized by progressively worsening dysmenorrhoea, pelvic mass, and infertility. The incidence of EMT is growing and increasingly younger patients are diagnosed with this disease, which poses a serious threat to the reproductive and psychological health of women of childbearing age and adolescent females. However, the pathogenesis of EMT is still not completely clear, and the disease has a long course. Therefore, developing new therapies is an urgent clinical problem to be solved. Great progress has been achieved in the treatment of EMT with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), while the underlying mechanism remains in exploration. Programmed cell death (PCD) is a cell death mode mediated by a variety of bio-molecules with specific signaling cascades. The known PCD processes include apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis, which all play a pivotal role in the development of EMT. Researchers have made achievements in the treatment of EMT with TCM, which regulates PCD via multiple pathways, routes, targets, and mechanisms. However, the progress in the regulation of PCD in the treatment of EMT with TCM remains to be reviewed. This paper reviews the research progress in the treatment of EMT with TCM from five PCD processes (apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis), with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the clinical prevention and treatment of EMT.
4.Improvement effects and mechanism of water extract from Chrysanthemum morifolium on muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke
Ruocong YANG ; Hu QI ; Yuanlin GAO ; Zeyang ZHANG ; Xiaorui CHEN ; Rong LIU ; Nan ZENG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):535-539
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects and potential mechanisms of water extract from Chrysanthemum morifolium on skeletal muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, ATP group (10 mg/kg), C. morifolium water extract high-dose and low-dose groups (1.08, 0.54 g/kg). Except for sham operation group, ischemic stroke models were induced in rats from the other groups using middle cerebral artery occlusion. Starting from the first day after surgery, rats in each group were given corresponding drug/normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for consecutive 7 days. On the 7th day post-surgery, the rats’ body weights were measured, and their motor functions were evaluated, including Longa scores, exercise distance, grip strength; the electrophysiological signals of the skeletal muscles in rats were measured; the pathological morphology of the soleus muscle in rats was observed; the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and soleus muscle were measured; the expressions of proteins related to TNF-α/c-Jun N- terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in the soleus muscle were determined. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, the body weight, grip strength and exercise distance of rats were decreased/ shortened significantly (P<0.01); additionally, there was a notable reduction in the interpeak value of skeletal muscle electrophysiology (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Longa score, as well as the levels of TNF-α in serum and soleus muscle, and the expression levels of TNF-α, phosphorylated JNK, phosphorylated MAPK, muscle ring-finger protein-1, and muscle atrophy Fbox- 1 protein in the soleus muscle, were all significantly elevated (P<0.01). The skeletal muscle cells of the soleus muscle in the model group showed significant atrophy, with a markedly decreased cross-sectional area (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of the aforementioned indicators were significantly reversed in C. morifolium water extract groups (P<0.05 or P< 0.01), and the skeletal muscle cells of the soleus muscle were markedly enlarged. CONCLUSIONS C. morifolium water extract can improve skeletal muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke, the mechanism of which may be associated with suppressing the activation of the TNF- α/JNK/MAPK E-mail:19932015@cdutcm.edu.cn signaling pathway.
5.A Case Report of Pachydermoperiostosis by Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment
Jie ZHANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Li HUO ; Ke LYU ; Tao WANG ; Ze'nan XIA ; Xiao LONG ; Kexin XU ; Nan WU ; Bo YANG ; Weibo XIA ; Rongrong HU ; Limeng CHEN ; Ji LI ; Xia HONG ; Yan ZHANG ; Yagang ZUO
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(1):75-82
A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in
6.Study of the evaluation methods for evidence and recommendation in Chinese expert consensus on off-label use of drugs
Mingyue ZHANG ; Nan CHEN ; Ling XU ; Zhenggang BAI ; Likai LIN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):641-647
OBJECTIVE To provide reference for optimizing or formulating unified evaluation methods for evidence and recommendation in expert consensus on off-label use of drugs. METHODS Retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang data, VIP, CBM, PubMed and Web of Science, Chinese expert consensuses on off-label use of drugs involving evaluation methods for evidence and recommendations were collected from the inception to August 1, 2024. After screening the literature and extracting relevant data, descriptive statistical analysis was conducted. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Among the 32 articles included, 14 articles (43.8%) used Micromedex’s Thomson grading system, only 7 articles (21.9%) considered economic factors when forming recommendations, 10 articles (31.3%) reported the conflicts of interest; only 2 articles (6.3%) involved experts in the field of evidence-based medicine methodology. There were differences in the sources of evidence, factors considered in forming recommendations, and the grading standards for evidence and recommendations among different expert consensus evidence evaluation methods. There were also differences in evidence levels and recommendation strength of the same drug off-label use in different expert consensus. It is recommended that in future consensus-building processes, greater attention should be paid to potential conflicts of interest among participants, collaboration with methodological experts should be enhanced, and efforts should be expedited to establish unified standards for evaluating evidence and recommendation methodologies.
7.Spermine Synthase : A Potential Prognostic Marker for Lower-Grade Gliomas
Chen LIU ; Hongqi LI ; Xiaolong HU ; Maohui YAN ; Zhiguang FU ; Hengheng ZHANG ; Yingjie WANG ; Nan DU
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):75-96
Objective:
: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between spermine synthase (SMS) expression, tumor occurrence, and prognosis in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs).
Methods:
: A total of 523 LGG patients and 1152 normal brain tissues were included as controls. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate SMS expression in the LGG group. Functional annotation analysis was conducted to explore the biological processes associated with high SMS expression. Immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to examine the correlation between SMS expression and immune cell types. The association between SMS expression and clinical and pathological features was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of overexpressing or downregulating SMS on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and key proteins in the protein kinase B (AKT)/epithelialmesenchymal transition signaling pathway.
Results:
: The study revealed a significant upregulation of SMS expression in LGGs compared to normal brain tissues. High SMS expression was associated with certain clinical and pathological features, including older age, astrocytoma, higher World Health Organization grade, poor disease-specific survival, disease progression, non-1p/19q codeletion, and wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase. Cox regression analysis identified SMS as a risk factor for overall survival. Bioinformatics analysis showed enrichment of eosinophils, T cells, and macrophages in LGG samples, while proportions of dendritic (DC) cells, plasmacytoid DC (pDC) cells, and CD8+ T cells were decreased.
Conclusion
: High SMS expression in LGGs may promote tumor occurrence through cellular proliferation and modulation of immune cell infiltration. These findings suggest the prognostic value of SMS in predicting clinical outcomes for LGG patients.
8.Spermine Synthase : A Potential Prognostic Marker for Lower-Grade Gliomas
Chen LIU ; Hongqi LI ; Xiaolong HU ; Maohui YAN ; Zhiguang FU ; Hengheng ZHANG ; Yingjie WANG ; Nan DU
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):75-96
Objective:
: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between spermine synthase (SMS) expression, tumor occurrence, and prognosis in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs).
Methods:
: A total of 523 LGG patients and 1152 normal brain tissues were included as controls. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate SMS expression in the LGG group. Functional annotation analysis was conducted to explore the biological processes associated with high SMS expression. Immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to examine the correlation between SMS expression and immune cell types. The association between SMS expression and clinical and pathological features was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of overexpressing or downregulating SMS on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and key proteins in the protein kinase B (AKT)/epithelialmesenchymal transition signaling pathway.
Results:
: The study revealed a significant upregulation of SMS expression in LGGs compared to normal brain tissues. High SMS expression was associated with certain clinical and pathological features, including older age, astrocytoma, higher World Health Organization grade, poor disease-specific survival, disease progression, non-1p/19q codeletion, and wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase. Cox regression analysis identified SMS as a risk factor for overall survival. Bioinformatics analysis showed enrichment of eosinophils, T cells, and macrophages in LGG samples, while proportions of dendritic (DC) cells, plasmacytoid DC (pDC) cells, and CD8+ T cells were decreased.
Conclusion
: High SMS expression in LGGs may promote tumor occurrence through cellular proliferation and modulation of immune cell infiltration. These findings suggest the prognostic value of SMS in predicting clinical outcomes for LGG patients.
9.Spermine Synthase : A Potential Prognostic Marker for Lower-Grade Gliomas
Chen LIU ; Hongqi LI ; Xiaolong HU ; Maohui YAN ; Zhiguang FU ; Hengheng ZHANG ; Yingjie WANG ; Nan DU
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):75-96
Objective:
: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between spermine synthase (SMS) expression, tumor occurrence, and prognosis in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs).
Methods:
: A total of 523 LGG patients and 1152 normal brain tissues were included as controls. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate SMS expression in the LGG group. Functional annotation analysis was conducted to explore the biological processes associated with high SMS expression. Immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to examine the correlation between SMS expression and immune cell types. The association between SMS expression and clinical and pathological features was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of overexpressing or downregulating SMS on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and key proteins in the protein kinase B (AKT)/epithelialmesenchymal transition signaling pathway.
Results:
: The study revealed a significant upregulation of SMS expression in LGGs compared to normal brain tissues. High SMS expression was associated with certain clinical and pathological features, including older age, astrocytoma, higher World Health Organization grade, poor disease-specific survival, disease progression, non-1p/19q codeletion, and wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase. Cox regression analysis identified SMS as a risk factor for overall survival. Bioinformatics analysis showed enrichment of eosinophils, T cells, and macrophages in LGG samples, while proportions of dendritic (DC) cells, plasmacytoid DC (pDC) cells, and CD8+ T cells were decreased.
Conclusion
: High SMS expression in LGGs may promote tumor occurrence through cellular proliferation and modulation of immune cell infiltration. These findings suggest the prognostic value of SMS in predicting clinical outcomes for LGG patients.
10.Spermine Synthase : A Potential Prognostic Marker for Lower-Grade Gliomas
Chen LIU ; Hongqi LI ; Xiaolong HU ; Maohui YAN ; Zhiguang FU ; Hengheng ZHANG ; Yingjie WANG ; Nan DU
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):75-96
Objective:
: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between spermine synthase (SMS) expression, tumor occurrence, and prognosis in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs).
Methods:
: A total of 523 LGG patients and 1152 normal brain tissues were included as controls. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate SMS expression in the LGG group. Functional annotation analysis was conducted to explore the biological processes associated with high SMS expression. Immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to examine the correlation between SMS expression and immune cell types. The association between SMS expression and clinical and pathological features was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of overexpressing or downregulating SMS on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and key proteins in the protein kinase B (AKT)/epithelialmesenchymal transition signaling pathway.
Results:
: The study revealed a significant upregulation of SMS expression in LGGs compared to normal brain tissues. High SMS expression was associated with certain clinical and pathological features, including older age, astrocytoma, higher World Health Organization grade, poor disease-specific survival, disease progression, non-1p/19q codeletion, and wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase. Cox regression analysis identified SMS as a risk factor for overall survival. Bioinformatics analysis showed enrichment of eosinophils, T cells, and macrophages in LGG samples, while proportions of dendritic (DC) cells, plasmacytoid DC (pDC) cells, and CD8+ T cells were decreased.
Conclusion
: High SMS expression in LGGs may promote tumor occurrence through cellular proliferation and modulation of immune cell infiltration. These findings suggest the prognostic value of SMS in predicting clinical outcomes for LGG patients.

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