1.Clinical Efficacy of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Combination with Chinese Herbal Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Retrospective Study and A Meta-analysis
Chenguang ZHAN ; Shengqin YANG ; Xin LI ; Yu WEN ; Peng ZHANG ; Xingrui YAN ; Haifang DU ; Maojie WANG ; Xiaodong WU ; Liyan MEI ; Xiumin CHEN ; Yanlin LI ; Runyue HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):534-543
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MethodsClinical data from 169 RA patients were retrospectively collected. Among them, 71 cases received JAK inhibitors as the control group, while 98 cases received JAK inhibitors plus CHM as the observation group, both treated for 24 weeks. The rheumatoid factor (RF), cyclic citic peptide antibody (anti-CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) were recorded before and after treatment. Databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception till August 31st, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the combined use of JAK inhibitors and CHM for RA. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analyses were performed for RF, anti-CCP, ESR, CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), overall clinical effective rate, and incidence of adverse events. Sensitivity analysis were also performed. ResultsThe retrospective study demonstrated that after treatment, ESR, CRP, and anti-CCP levels decreased in the observation group, while ESR and CRP levels decreased in the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, ESR and RF levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). A total of 9 RCTs involving 770 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the JAK inhibitors plus CHM group was superior to the JAK inhibitors group in reducing RF (MD=-8.97, 95%CI -15.01 to -2.94, P=0.004), CRP (MD=-3.34, 95%CI -3.82 to -2.86, P<0.001), ESR (MD=-5.33, 95%CI -7.98 to -2.69, P<0.001), and DAS28 score (MD=-0.54, 95%CI -0.74 to -0.34, P<0.001), as well as in improving the overall clinical effective rate (OR=4.53, 95%CI 2.55 to 8.03, P<0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in anti-CCP levels (SMD=-2.08, 95%CI -4.41 to 0.24, P=0.080) or incidence of adverse events (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.55 to 1.57, P=0.790). ConclusionThe combination of JAK inhibitors and CHM demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating RA, contributing to improved disease activity and reduced inflammatory markers with a favorable safety profile.
2.Consideration of Health Economics Evidence in Clinical Practice Guidelines: Methods and Steps
Dongrui PENG ; Qi ZHOU ; Xufei LUO ; Zijun WANG ; Hui LIU ; Junxian ZHAO ; Jinghong HUANG ; Hongyu HU ; Xin XING ; Jing WU ; Shitong XIE ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):862-870
Health economics evidence plays an important role in linking clinical value evidence with health resource allocation decisions in the development of clinical practice guidelines. It can not only effectively balance clinical effectiveness and economic feasibility but also avoid forming "idealized" recommendations that are detached from the affordability of the healthcare system or the burden-bearing capacity of patients. To promote guideline developers to use health economics evidence more standardizedly and fully, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the current application status, existing challenges, access channels, and application processes of health economics evidence in current guidelines, and on this basis, puts forward considerations and suggestions for strengthening and standardizing the application of health economics evidence in China's clinical practice guidelines.
3.Umbrella decision-making model for diagnosis and treatment of elderly lung cancer patients: Construction and practice
Lunxu LIU ; Jian ZHOU ; Xiang DING ; Nan CHEN ; Jianxin XUE ; Xuelei MA ; Ye WANG ; Weiya WANG ; Liqing PENG ; Xin YOU ; Minggang SU ; Xu CHENG ; Jiao WANG ; Ning GE ; Deying KANG ; Yuchen HUANG ; Jinghan WANG ; Yu TONG ; Yaoxi ZHANG ; Jirong YUE ; Hu LIAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(06):833-839
With the accelerating trend of population aging, the number of elderly patients with lung cancer continues to rise, and the disease burden is becoming increasingly heavy. The clinical management of these patients faces severe challenges due to their decreased physiological reserve, complex comorbidities, and significant individual heterogeneity. Consequently, under traditional diagnosis and treatment models, doctors often struggle to identify the individualized risks of elderly patients in a timely and comprehensive manner, which can easily lead to decision biases such as undertreatment or overtreatment. In view of this, this study advocates for the establishment of an umbrella decision-making model specifically tailored for elderly lung cancer patients. Grounded in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) platform, this model deeply integrates oncological indicators with the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) system. By holistically considering multidimensional variables including tumor burden, organ function, frailty index, cognitive status, and social support, the model establishes an operational mechanism characterized by "single entry, precise stratification, and targeted selection". Accordingly, patients can be scientifically triaged into distinct intervention tiers, such as active surveillance, minimally invasive surgery, drug therapy, radiotherapy, and best supportive care, thereby achieving real-time alignment between treatment intensity and patient fitness. This article elaborates on the construction logic and key operational procedures of this novel decision-making framework, aiming to guide clinical practice beyond the limitations of a tumor-centric perspective toward a holistic, dynamic, whole-course management strategy. This transition seeks to ensure optimal quality of life and clinical net benefit for elderly patients alongside survival prolongation.
4.PRMT1-mediated asymmetric dimethylation of arginine residue 602 in DDX1 promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression
Wenzheng LIU ; Yangwei LIAO ; Yiyang KUAI ; Xin GAO ; Xingmin YAN ; Jingjing LI ; Junsheng CHEN ; Jukun SU ; Jingcong ZHOU ; Yizhu KONG ; Siqin HUANG ; Zhiwei ZHANG ; Feng PENG ; Bing WANG ; Yongjun CHEN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):843-865
Background/Aims:
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. While combined chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to delay CCA progression to a certain extent, the absence of specific molecular biomarkers or targets significantly hinders the diagnosis and treatment of CCA.
Methods:
Through cross-analysis of proteomics and ADMA modificationomics, we identified DDX1 overexpressed in CCA with elevated R602-ADMA modifications. HPLC-MS/MS identified PRMT1 as the methyltransferase and USP10 as the deubiquitinating enzyme for DDX1. Immunofluorescence and nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning experiments confirmed DDX1’s nuclear localization. GO and KEGG analyses clarify the biological functions of DDX1 in response to hypoxia. RNA-seq transcriptomics analyzed key pathways influenced by DDX1. A hydrodynamic in situ CCA mouse model was established to validate the chemopreventive effects of the PRMT1-specific inhibitor GSK715 on CCA development.
Results:
DDX1 promotes CCA progression both in vivo and in vitro and can be inhibited by GSK715. Mechanistically, PRMT1 mediates ADMA modification at position R602 of DDX1. This modification promotes DDX1 nuclear localization by recruiting USP10 to deubiquitinate DDX1, while simultaneously inhibiting PRMT1 degradation. DDX1 promotes the transcription of PRMT1 and USP10 by binding to the mRNA 3’UTR region, establishing a positive feedback regulatory pathway. This mechanism promotes the occurrence and development of CCA and can serve as a target for the inhibitor GSK715 to suppress CCA progression.
Conclusions
Our study identified DDX1-R602-ADMA modification as a novel ADMA modification in CCA. It further confirmed its pivotal role in CCA progression. Targeting the USP10-PRMT1-DDX1 axis may represent a significant therapeutic approach for CCA.
5.The Effect of Qingguang'an Ⅱ Formula (青光安Ⅱ号方)-Containing Serum on Oxidative Stress and the cAMP/PKA Signaling Pathway in R28 Cells Subjected to Continuous Hydrostatic Pressure Combined with Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation
Hongda CUI ; Xin XIA ; Yu HUANG ; Yijing YANG ; Qinghua PENG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(17):1883-1892
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Qingguangan Ⅱ Formula (青光安Ⅱ号方, QGAⅡ) in the treatment of glaucoma from the perspectives of oxidative stress and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/ protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling pathway. MethodsForty SD rats were randomly assigned to a medicated serum group (n=30), which received QGAⅡby intragastric administration at 6.741 g/(kg·d), and a blank group (n=10), which received normal saline at 10 ml/(kg·d). After 7 consecutive days of administration, medicated serum and blank serum were prepared. The optimal concentration of medicated serum for R28 cell intervention was determined using CCK-8 assay. An in vitro glaucoma model was established by exposing R28 cells to continuous hydrostatic pressure combined with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 24 h to simulate the pathological microenvironment of glaucomatous optic nerve injury. The experiment set a control group (complete medium), model group (glucose-free medium + tri-gas incubator), medicated serum group (selected concentration of QGA-medicated serum + glucose-free medium + tri-gas incubator), and blank serum group (blank serum + glucose-free medium + trigas incubator). The total culture medium volume in each culture dish was 5 ml. After 24 h of culture, cell proliferation was assessed using the EdU immunofluorescence assay, and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured using biochemical assays. Western Blotting was performed to detect the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins including 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), apoptosis-related proteins including B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved caspase-3 (C-caspase-3), and cAMP/PKA signaling pathway-related proteins including protein kinase A (PKA), phosphorylated PKA (p-PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB). Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were determined by ELISA. In addition, a forskolin (agonist) group, an H89 (inhibitor) group, and a 7.5% medicated serum plus inhibitor group were established to further investigate the effects of QGAⅡ-medicated serum on oxidative stress and the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in R28 cells. ResultsA concentration of 7.5% QGAⅡ-medicated serum was identified as the optimal concentration for subsequent experiments. Compared to the control group, the model group exhibited significantly decreased cell proliferation, SOD activity, Bcl-2 protein expression, p-PKA/PKA ratio, p-CREB/CREB ratio, and cAMP content, as well as increased apoptosis rate, MDA content, and the protein expression levels of 4-HNE, HO-1, Bax, and C-caspase-3 (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the 7.5% medicated serum group showed significant improvements in all of the above parameters (P<0.01). In the forskolin group, the apoptosis rate and the expression levels of C-caspase-3 and Bax significantly decreased, whereas Bcl-2 expression and the p-PKA/PKA and p-CREB/CREB ratios increased compared to those in the model group (P<0.01). Compared to the 7.5% medicated serum group, the 7.5% medicated serum plus inhibitor group exhibited significantly increased expression of C-caspase-3 and Bax, together with significantly decreased Bcl-2 expression and reduced p-PKA/PKA and p-CREB/CREB ratios (P<0.01). ConclusionUnder continuous hydrostatic pressure and OGD-induced injury conditions, QGAⅡ- containing serum effectively mitigates oxidative stress in R28 cells, activates the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, and inhibits apoptosis, thereby exerting a neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells
6.Dexmedetomidine Improves the Therapeutic Efficacy Against Mammary Tumors in Stress-exposed Mice by Inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB Pathway
Chuyi ZHANG ; Shan MENG ; Xin XU ; Peng FAN ; Xunyuan MAO ; Yuhui HUANG ; Sanqing JIN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(4):601-612
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether dexmedetomidine (Dex) alleviates stress-induced mammary tumor progression in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway, and to examine its effects on anxiety‑depression‑like behaviors and stress hormone levels. MethodsAn orthotopic EMT6 mammary tumor model was established in mice, and chronic mild stress (CMS) was applied to induce anxiety‑depression‑like states. The mice were divided into six groups: naive, tumor, CMS, CMS+tumor, CMS+tumor+Dex, and CMS+tumor+Vehicle groups. Behavioral changes were evaluated using the open field test and tail suspension test. Plasma stress hormone levels were measured by high‑performance liquid chromatography. Western blot and RT‑qPCR were performed to detect the expression of TLR4, p‑NF‑κB p65, p‑IκBα, and inflammatory cytokines (IL‑6, IL‑1β, TNF‑α) in tumor tissues. In vitro, EMT6 cells were treated with cortisol to mimic the stress-related microenvironment, and the effects of Dex on the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway were assessed by CCK‑8, Western blot, and RT-qPCR. ResultsTumor‑bearing mice exhibited significant anxiety‑depression‑like behaviors (P<0.05), along with markedly elevated plasma levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol (P<0.05). Chronic stress further aggravated these behavioral abnormalities and promoted tumor growth (P<0.05). Dexmedetomidine intervention significantly improved anxiety‑depression‑like behaviors (P<0.05) and lowered peripheral stress hormone levels (P<0.05) in stress‑exposed tumor‑bearing mice. In vitro experiments demonstrated that cortisol treatment activated the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway (P<0.001) and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines (P<0.05 in EMT6 cells, whereas dexmedetomidine effectively suppressed this activation (P<0.001). In the in vivo model, dexmedetomidine treatment downregulated the expression of TLR4, p‑NF‑κB p65, p‑IκBα, and pro‑inflammatory cytokines in tumor tissues (P<0.001) and significantly inhibited tumor growth (P<0.05). ConclusionDexmedetomidine inhibits the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway, alleviates stress‑induced inflammatory responses, improves anxiety- and depression‑ like behaviors, reduces stress hormone levels, and suppresses mammary tumor progression. These findings provide an experimental basis for understanding anxiety- and depression- associated breast tumor progression and suggest that Dexmedetomidine and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway may serve as potential therapeutic targets.
7.Flow diverters in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis: a multicenter retrospective study
Xin FENG ; Chi HUANG ; Runze GE ; Chao PENG ; Zongduo GUO ; Shixing SU ; Xin ZHANG ; Xifeng LI ; Aihua LIU ; Chuanzhi DUAN
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(1):8-15
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of off-label use of flow diverters (FDs) in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.Methods:Seventy-one patients with aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis treated with FDs from January 2016 to September 2023 at Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center (Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University), Department of Neurosurgery (Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital), Department of Neurosurgery (First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University), and Department of Neurosurgery (Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University) were selected. The clinical and imaging data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the clinical characteristics, aneurysm characteristics, endovascular treatments, perioperative complications, and clinical and imaging follow-up results were summarized and analyzed.Results:Among the 71 patients, 22 (31.0%) had ischemic stroke history and 43 (60.6%) had hypertension history. A total of 76 aneurysms were found, including 5 aneurysms (6.6%) at the anterior communicating artery, 10 (13.2%) at the anterior cerebral artery, 53 (69.7%) at the middle cerebral artery, and 8 (10.5%) at the posterior cerebral artery. The median aneurysm size (Inter Quartile Range) was 5.65 (3.63, 10.12) mm, and mean diameter of the parent artery was (2.70±0.57) mm. A total of 80 FDs were used, including 38 (47.5%) Pipeline embolization devices and 42 (52.5%) Tubridge embolization devices; the implantation success rate was 98.8% (79/80). Seven patients (9.9%) had perioperative complications, of which 2 (2.8%) were permanent (1 patient with visual field defect and 1 patient with intracranial hemorrhage). Seventy-one patients had clinical follow-up for (19.73±11.90) months, of which 68 patients (95.8%) had good outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0-2), 10 patients (14.1%) had ischemic complications, and one patient (1.4%) had hemorrhage complications. Sixty-seven aneurysms (88.2%) underwent angiographic follow-up for 7 (6-12) months, of which 44 aneurysms (65.7%) were completely occluded and 10 (14.9%) had in-stent stenosis.Conclusion:The results of this study preliminarily confirm that off-label use of FDs is relatively safe and effective in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.
8."Guangzhou Classification" of donor lung injury: a systematic evaluation and grading framework from pre-procurement to post-transplantation
Jianxing HE ; Jiang SHI ; Chao YANG ; Guilin PENG ; Mengyang LIU ; Jiezhou HUANG ; Weixue CUI ; Chunrong JU ; Xin XU
Chinese Journal of Organ Transplantation 2025;46(4):276-279
Lung transplantation is a key therapeutic approach for patients with end-stage lung diseases. Although its clinical outcomes have significantly improved, multidimensional injuries sustained by donor lungs during procurement, preservation, and transplantation remain major challenges affecting graft survival and long-term prognosis. This article proposes the "Guangzhou Classification" for full-course management of donor lung injury, characterized by spatiotemporal dynamics. Based on the progression of disease stages, donor lung injuries are systematically divided into three types: primary injuries (including donor ICU-related lung injury, pathogen colonization, and cold ischemia injury), secondary injuries (such as ventilator-induced lung injury after transplantation, ischemia-reperfusion inflammatory storm, and early rejection), and accompanying injuries (organ toxicity caused by accumulation of postoperative sedatives, analgesics, and vasoactive drugs). Drawing on previous studies and the clinical experience of our center, this paper elaborates the temporal evolution, key risk factors, and prevention and treatment strategies of each injury category, and discusses future research directions. By targeting critical injury factors at each stage, this classification aims to optimize both short-term and long-term outcomes of lung transplantation.
10.Flow diverters in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis: a multicenter retrospective study
Xin FENG ; Chi HUANG ; Runze GE ; Chao PENG ; Zongduo GUO ; Shixing SU ; Xin ZHANG ; Xifeng LI ; Aihua LIU ; Chuanzhi DUAN
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(1):8-15
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of off-label use of flow diverters (FDs) in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.Methods:Seventy-one patients with aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis treated with FDs from January 2016 to September 2023 at Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center (Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University), Department of Neurosurgery (Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital), Department of Neurosurgery (First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University), and Department of Neurosurgery (Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University) were selected. The clinical and imaging data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the clinical characteristics, aneurysm characteristics, endovascular treatments, perioperative complications, and clinical and imaging follow-up results were summarized and analyzed.Results:Among the 71 patients, 22 (31.0%) had ischemic stroke history and 43 (60.6%) had hypertension history. A total of 76 aneurysms were found, including 5 aneurysms (6.6%) at the anterior communicating artery, 10 (13.2%) at the anterior cerebral artery, 53 (69.7%) at the middle cerebral artery, and 8 (10.5%) at the posterior cerebral artery. The median aneurysm size (Inter Quartile Range) was 5.65 (3.63, 10.12) mm, and mean diameter of the parent artery was (2.70±0.57) mm. A total of 80 FDs were used, including 38 (47.5%) Pipeline embolization devices and 42 (52.5%) Tubridge embolization devices; the implantation success rate was 98.8% (79/80). Seven patients (9.9%) had perioperative complications, of which 2 (2.8%) were permanent (1 patient with visual field defect and 1 patient with intracranial hemorrhage). Seventy-one patients had clinical follow-up for (19.73±11.90) months, of which 68 patients (95.8%) had good outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0-2), 10 patients (14.1%) had ischemic complications, and one patient (1.4%) had hemorrhage complications. Sixty-seven aneurysms (88.2%) underwent angiographic follow-up for 7 (6-12) months, of which 44 aneurysms (65.7%) were completely occluded and 10 (14.9%) had in-stent stenosis.Conclusion:The results of this study preliminarily confirm that off-label use of FDs is relatively safe and effective in aneurysms beyond the circle of Willis.

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