1.Current Status of Stratified Diagnosis and Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome and Reflections on It
Wenjing LIU ; Xinyao ZHOU ; Quan JIANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):244-250
Stratified diagnosis and treatment is a crucial approach in precision medicine, aiming to optimize medical care by grouping patients based on clinical manifestations, biomarkers, and pathological characteristics. Based on clinical stages, symptoms, age, gene expression, and pathology, research on Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has proposed various stratification methods, incorporating both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine perspectives. These methods provide essential support for early diagnosis, risk assessment, and personalized treatment. Key strategies include moving SS intervention time forward, to leverage TCM's preventive principles, integrating TCM and Western tools to enhance precision, innovating clinical trial designs, developing multifactorial risk prediction models and digital imaging technologies, and constructing combined prognostic models for personalized follow-up and big data-driven treatment. These insights offer a comprehensive framework for advancing SS precision medicine.
2.Correlation Between Cardiovascular Events and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Cross-Sectional Study
Fuyuan ZHANG ; Quan JIANG ; Jun LI ; Yuchen YANG ; Xieli MA ; Tian CHANG ; Congmin XIA ; Jian WANG ; Xun GONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(15):1572-1578
ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between the occurrence of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome. MethodsThe cross-sectional study selected 6713 RA patients from 122 centres nationwide, in which general information such as name, gender, age, height, body weight, and course of disease were collected by completing a questionnaire; patients were classified into eight types of syndrome according to the information of their four examinations,i.e. wind-dampness obstruction syndrome, cold-dampness obstruction syndrome, dampness-heat obstruction syndrome, phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome, stasis-blood obstructing collateral syndrome, qi-blood deficiency syndrome, liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome, and qi-yin deficiency syndrome. According to the occurrence of cardiovascular events, they were divided into the occurrence group and the non-occurrence group, and the condition assessment data and laboratory examination indexes were recorded. The test of difference between groups was used to analyse the possible risk factors for the occurrence of RA cardiovascular events, and binary logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation between TCM syndromes and RA cardiovascular events. ResultsA total of 6713 RA patients were included, including 256 cases in occurrence group and 6457 in non-occurrence group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of height, gender, insomnia, appetite, white blood cell(WBC), hemoglobin(HGB), platelets(PLT), rheumatoid factor(RF), anti-cyclic peptide containing citrulline(CCP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), urea creatinine(CREA), and glucose(GLU)(P>0.05). The TCM syndromes between groups showed significant statistic differences(P<0.05). Patients in occurrence group had longer disease duration, heavier body weight, and older age; more severe conditions such as disease activity(DAS-28), number of painful joints(TJC), number of swollen joints(SJC), health questionnaire scores(HAQ), visual analog scores(VAS), restlessness, and fatigue; higher blood sedimentation rate(ESR), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), D-Dimer, and lower high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C)(P<0.05). The distribution of syndrome types showed that dampness-heat obstruction syndrome accounted for the largest proportion of patients in both groups and was higher in RA cardiovascular events. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of RA cardiovascular events was strongly associated with dampness-heat obstruction syndrome[OR=5.937, 95%CI (4.434, 7.949), P<0.001]. ConclusionThe occurrence of RA cardiovascular events were associated with TCM syndromes, and the probability of cardiovascular events in the RA patients with dampness-heat obstruction syndrome was 5.937 times higher than patients with other TCM syndromes.
3.Methodological Evaluation of Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome
Wenjing LIU ; Shiya WU ; Ruihua LIU ; Xinyao ZHOU ; Juan JIAO ; Ying LIU ; Zeguang LI ; Zhenbin LI ; Huadong ZHANG ; Xiaopo TANG ; Quan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):192-197
Screening and evaluating the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will help to highlight the advantages of TCM treatment, and the evaluation method should be standardized with consideration to the unique characteristics of the diseases. The incidence of Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is increasing year by year, while the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. Modern therapies for this disease include biological agents and immunosuppressants, which generally have unsatisfactory efficacy. The TCM treatment of SS focuses on the harmony of the physical and mental health. The Rheumatology Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine organizes experts in TCM, Western medicine, and evidence-based medicine to form working groups. Delphi method and bibliometric method were used for analysis, and SS was selected as a disease responding specifically to TCM. Furthermore, the evaluation system was established for this disease, and the consensus regarding this disease was reached after seminar discussion. This paper summarized the whole process of the evaluation of the advantages of TCM treatment of SS. First, because TCM atomization is widely used in clinical practice and enriches TCM administration methods, this therapy is included after other non-drug therapies were taken as characteristic therapies. Second, the evaluation indicators of therapeutic effect should be determined with consideration to international acceptance and the current research status. Third, the expression method should be accurate, standardized, and objective, highlight the natural advantages of TCM, and avoid arbitrary extension. This paper provides a reference for clinicians to explore other diseases responding specifically to TCM.
4.Expert Consensus on Clinical Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine:Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Juan JIAO ; Jinyang TANG ; Xiujuan HOU ; Mengtao LI ; Dongfeng LIANG ; Yuhua WANG ; Weixia JING ; Guangtao LI ; Qin ZHANG ; Yongfeng ZHANG ; Guangyu LI ; Qian WANG ; Yang YANG ; Jin HUO ; Mei MO ; Jihua GUO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Quan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):216-222
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a refractory, chronic non-articular rheumatic disease characterized by widespread pain throughout the body, for which there are no satisfactory therapeutic drugs or options. There are rich Chinese medical therapies, and some non-drug therapies, such as acupuncture, Tai Chi, and Ba-Duan-Jin, have shown satisfactory efficacy and safety and definite advantages of simultaneously adjusting mind and body. FMS is taken as a disease responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2018. In order to clarify the research progress in FMS and the clinical advantages of TCM/integrated Chinese and Western medicine, the China Academy of Chinese Medicine organized a seminar for nearly 20 experts in Chinese and Western medicine, including rheumatology, psychology, acupuncture and moxibustion, and encephalopathy, with the topic of difficulties in clinical diagnosis and treatment of FMS and advantages of TCM and Western medicine. The recommendations were reached on the difficulties in early diagnosis and solutions of FMS, mitigation of common non-specific symptoms, preferential analgesic therapy, TCM pathogenesis and treatment advantages, and direction of treatment with integrated Chinese and Western medicine. FMS is currently facing the triple dilemma of low early correct diagnosis, poor patient participation, and unsatisfactory benefit from pure Western medicine treatment. To solve the above problems, this paper suggests that rheumatologists should serve as the main diagnostic force of this disease, and they should improve patient participation in treatment decision-making, implement exercise therapy, and fully utilize the holistic and multidimensional features of TCM, which is effective in alleviating pain, improving mood, and decreasing adverse events. In addition, it is suggested that FMS treatment should rely on both TCM and Western medicine and adopt multidisciplinary joint treatment, which is expected to improve the standard of diagnosis and treatment of FMS in China.
5.She Medicine (畲药) Diren Zishen Formula (地稔滋肾方) Combined with Acupuncture as Adjunctive Treatment for 32 Cases of Primary Biliary Cholangitis with Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency Syndrome
Shiguo LI ; Quan PAN ; Liping JIANG ; Wenxiao CHEN ; Peilun JIN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(2):198-204
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of She medicine (畲药) Diren Zishen Formula(地稔滋肾方) combined with acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for primary biliary cholangitis with liver and kidney yin deficiency syndrome. MethodsSeventy patients of primary biliary cholangitis with liver and kidney yin deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 35 patients in each group. The control group received oral ursodeoxycholic acid capsules (250 mg per dose, three times daily). The treatment group received She medicine Diren Zishen Formula oral decoction (one dose daily, 200 ml per dose in the morning and evening, served warm) and acupuncture [bilateral Sanyingjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR3), Ganshu (BL18), Zusanli (ST36), Fenglong (ST17), once daily, 5 consecutive days per week] in addition to the same treatment as the control group. The treatment duration was three months for both groups. Comparisons were made between the two groups before and after treatment for the following parameters, which were four traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms scores (skin itching, fatigue, jaundice, and flank pain), TCM syndrome scores, liver function indicators including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TBiL), liver fibrosis markers including serum laminin (LN), serum hyaluronic acid (HA), serum type Ⅳ collagen (Ⅳ-C) and serum type Ⅲ procollagen (PC-Ⅲ), and inflammatory factor indicators including serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The effectiveness of TCM syndrome between the two groups was compared and safety evaluations were also conducted after treatment. ResultsA total of 32 cases were finally analyzed in the treatment group, while the control group had 31 cases. The total effective rate of TCM syndrome in the treatment group (87.50%, 28/32) was higher than that in the control group (67.74%, 20/31) (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores, syndrome scores, liver function, and liver fibrosis markers in both groups signi-ficantly decreased, while in the treatment group, the inflammatory factor indicators decreased after treatment, and more decreases were found than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Both groups had good safety, and no adverse reactions were observed. ConclusionThe combination of She medicine Diren Zishen Formula and acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment for primary biliary cholangitis can significantly improve the clinical effectiveness, improve liver function, reduce inflammatory response, and alleviate liver fibrosis, with good safety.
6.Exploring the mechanism of lamotrigine in treatment of major depressive disorder based on network pharmacology,molecular docking,and Mendelian randomization
Jin-Sheng JIANG ; Hong-Ying CHEN ; Wei-Quan WANG ; Hai-Hong HU ; Yao CHEN ; Dong-Sheng OUYANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(7):1068-1071
Objective To explore the mechanism of action of lamotrigine in the treatment of major depressive disorder(MDD).Methods Information on the drug targets of lamotrigine and the therapeutic targets of MDD were collected for intersection target gene analysis and protein-protein interaction screening.Various biological pathways related to lamotrigine in treatment of MDD were determined through gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis.The screened core targets were preliminarily validated using molecular docking technology.Further validation of Mendelian randomization was conducted using genome-wide association analysis data from gamma-aminobutyric acid recep tor-associated protein-like 1(GABARAPL1)and MDD in the OpenGWAS database.Results The biological pathways related to lamotrigine in treatment of MDD were identified,which included gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)ergic synapses,nicotine addiction,glutamatergic synapses,endogenous cannabinoid signaling.Molecular docking showed that the docking energy of lamotrigine with GABRA1,GABRB2,GABRA6,GABRD,GABRG2,GABRG1,GABRA5,GABRA4,GABRB3,and GABRA2 receptors was-5.8 kCal·mol-1.Among them,the GABRB3 receptor showed the strongest docking energy with lamotrigine,which was-9.5 kCal·mol-1.In the genome-wide association analysis data of GABARAPL1,303 single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with GABARAPL1(P<5 × 106).15 single nucleotide polymorphisms were screened and retained for Mendelian randomization analysis,and the results showed that GABA receptors may be an important therapeutic target for MDD.Conclusion The treatment of MDD with lamotrigine may be achieved by acting on GABA receptors,which provided a research basis for the clinical application of lamotrigine in treating MDD.
7.Vedolizumab-associated lung toxicity:a case report and literature analysis
Yu LIANG ; Xueli DING ; Jun WU ; Xianghua QUAN ; Jun ZHAO ; Chuanzhou ZHANG ; Man JIANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(20):2552-2558
OBJECTIVE To introduce a case of interstitial pneumonia induced by vedolizumab (VDZ), summarize and analyze the characteristics of the occurrence of VDZ-associated lung toxicity, and provide a reference for the clinically safe use of drugs. METHODS From the perspective of clinical pharmacists, the diagnosis and treatment of a case of VDZ-induced interstitial pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed, and the association of adverse drug reactions (ADR) was analyzed. Retrieving from Chinese and English databases such as CNKI, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science, case reports of VDZ-associated lung toxicity were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS The patient developed interstitial pneumonia during the use of VDZ and empirical anti- infective therapy with antibiotics was ineffective. After withdrawal of VDZ and treatment with methylprednisolone, symptoms and imaging examinations improved, but interstitial pneumonia still existed. According to Naranjo’s ADR evaluation scale and based on China Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting and Monitoring Manual, the association between VDZ and interstitial pneumonia was “very likely”. Results of the literature analysis showed that among 29 involved patients (including the patient reported in this article), there were 19 males and 10 females, with an average age of (49.24±17.06) years. Lung toxicity mainly included VDZ- associated pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, pulmonary granulomas or necrobiotic nodules, interstitial lung injury, etc., which mostly occurred ≤24 weeks after medication (58.62%). The main clinical manifestations included cough, dyspnea and fever. The vast majority of patients improved or recovered after drug withdrawal and/or glucocorticoid treatment, but one patient died of respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS Lung toxicity is a rare ADR of VDZ with insidious onset and nonspecific symptoms. Once patients experience symptoms such as cough and dyspnea, early diagnosis,timely drug withdrawal,and symptomatic treatment measures such as glucocorticoid should be taken to ensure medication safety.
8.Research progress on the regulation of ferroptosis by lipid droplet metabolism
Quan-ao JIANG ; Ran DENG ; Shi-lin XIA ; Xiao-man JIANG ; Jing XU ; Hong WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(7):1897-1904
As a novel iron-dependent form of cell death, ferroptosis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the cell membrane and peroxidation. Lipid droplets are always in the dynamic transition of generation and decomposition, play a central role in regulating lipid metabolism, and are always in the dynamic transition of generation and decomposition. Lipid droplet metabolism is closely related to the occurrence of ferroptosis and plays an important role in the disease caused by ferroptosis. This review firstly focuses on the lipid droplet metabolism process and its effects on the storage and release of PUFA, and further elucidates the regulatory mechanism and key regulatory proteins of lipid drop metabolism on ferroptosis, in order to reveal the intrinsic relationship between lipid droplets and ferroptosis, and provide a new strategy for disease prevention and treatment.
9.Preparation and Recognition Features of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Membrane for Lamotrigine in Plasma
Dong-Yu LU ; Yu-Xin YOU ; Yan-Lin ZHAO ; Han JIANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Yan DU ; Dao-Quan TANG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(1):80-92
The molecularly imprinted polymers membranes(MIPMs)were prepared for selective adsorption of lamotrigine(LTG)in plasma by surface molecular imprinting technology with polyvinylidenefluoride(PVDF)membranes as supporter,lamotrigine as template molecule,methyl methacrylate as functional monomer,ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linking agent,azodiisobutyronitrile as initiator and acetonitrile-dimethylformamide(1∶1.5,V/V)as pore-forming agent.The prepared MIPMs were characterized by scanning electron microscope,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,Brunaner-emmet-teller measurements,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and thermogravimetric analysis.The adsorption properties of the materials were investigated by kinetic adsorption,isothermal adsorption,selective adsorption,adsorption-desorption and reusability experiments.The results showed that the imprinted layer of LTG was successfully coated on the surface of PVDF,and the materials had uniform particle size.The adsorption capacity and imprinting factor of the MIPMs towards LTG were 3.77 mg/g and 8.97,respectively.The nanomaterials showed fast mass transfer rate(30 min)and good reusability(the adsorption efficiency was 86.66%after 6 cycles),and could be used for the adsorption of LTG in plasma with low matrix interference,recoveries of 86.54%-90.48%and RSD of 1.51%-3.15%(n=5).The proposed LTG MIPMs were demonstrated to be simple and environment friendly,and had high selectivity in rapid separation and extraction of LTG in plasma.
10.Use of " short distances and multi-segment" buried guiding suture in the surgery of early descent of prosthesis after augmentation mammoplasty
Wenchao YU ; Zhiyuan JIANG ; Zaihong CHEN ; Xiaobo YOU ; Zhen CAI ; Quan LIU ; Liping DU ; Wei CUI ; Yang SHENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Aesthetics and Cosmetology 2024;30(1):42-46
Objective:To introduce a surgical technique of " short distances and multi-segment" buried-guiding suture method and its effects in the surgery of early descent of prosthesis after augmentation mammaplasty.Methods:From August 2019 to January 2022, 15 cases of early descent of prosthesis after augmentation mammaplasty due to axillary approach breast augmentation for micromastia were admitted to the Plastic Surgery Department of Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital, aged 23-35 years (27.3±3.6) and duration of dislocation from 16 to 35 days (23.8±5.8). There were 12 patients showed unilateral prosthesis drops and 3 patients showed bilateral prosthesis drops. " Short distances and multi-segment" buried-guiding suture method was used to solve the problem, i. e., 2-0 non-absorbable sutures were used to eliminate the lower pole of prosthetic cavity with " short distances and multi-segment" sutures. The distance from the nipple to the midline of the sternum, the distance from the sternotomy to the nipple, the distance from the nipple to the inframammary fold and the distance from the midclavicular point to the inframammary fold were measured bilaterally before and after surgery, and statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the " short distances and multi-segment" buried-guiding suture method for early descent of prosthesis after breast augmentation.Results:All incisions healed by first intention without complications such as hematoma, infection, or scar hyperplasia. 15 patients were followed up for 6-12 months (8.0±1.9). 14 patients were satisfied with the results after surgery, and 1 patient received satisfactory results after secondary surgery. The distance from nipple to inframammary fold was shortened by 0.8-1.4 cm after surgery (1.2±0.2), and the distance from mid-clavicle to inframammary fold was shortened by 1.0-1.6 cm (1.3±0.4), and the differences were statistically significant as compared with the values before surgery ( t=31.17, P<0.05; t=33.78, P<0.05). After surgery, the change in the distance from nipple to sternal was 0.1-0.3 cm (0.16±0.10), and the change in the distance from sternal notch to nipple was 0-0.2 cm (0.12±0.10), and the differences were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:With the advantages of simple operation, little trauma and no additional incision, the " short distance and multi-stage" buried-guiding suture method in the surgery of early descent of prosthesis after augmentation mammaplasty is worthy of clinical application.

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