1.Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of sepsis by regulating helper T cell differen-tiation
Sihan GUO ; He SU ; Ruifen ZHANG ; Tingting JIA ; Hairong ZHANG ; Jilintai RONG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):516-521
epsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome triggered by infection, and its high mortality rate is closely associated with immune imbalance, particularly the imbalance in the differentiation of helper T cell (Th) cell subsets [Th1, Th2, Th17, regulatory T cell (Treg) ] . In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its characteristics of multi-component and multi-target actions, has demonstrated unique advantages in regulating Th cell differentiation and function, as well as correcting immune imbalances in sepsis, offering new perspectives for immunotherapy of sepsis. This review summarizes relevant studies on the regulation of Th cell differentiation for sepsis treatment by TCM monomers and active ingredients (such as Astragalus membranaceus , Scutellaria baicalensis , Coptis chinensis , Rheum palmatum , Ganoderma lucidum , Ginkgo biloba , and Cistanche deserticola ), the alcohol extract of Dai Baijie, and TCM formulas and preparations categorized as blood-activating and stasis-removing, purgative and laxative, warming and tonifying yang, and tonifying qi and nourishing yin. The results indicate that these TCM monomers, active ingredients, extracts, formulas, and preparations can regulate the Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg balance, target the differentiation balance of Th cell subsets, alleviate inflammatory responses, or improve immune suppression, thereby exerting therapeutic effects on sepsis.
2.Ethical issues of brain data
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(2):151-158
With the rapid development and application of cutting-edge neurotechnology, the ethical issues of brain data have become a research hotspot. Brain data, which directly accesses humans’ thoughts and the “loss of control” state under intentional control, deconstructs the subjects’ exclusive right to access their own brain, thereby comprehensively challenging human privacy. The subjects cannot fully control which brain activity signals are collected, and the decoded results of brain data violate the subjects’ autonomy while applying brain data to unknown purposes, posing challenges to informed consent. Brain data describes who you are from a “super first-person” perspective, and it can even “forge” a real first-person perspective to describe who you are. The external presentation of brain data analysis results involves ethical issues in three dimensions, namely, what should be presented, how others treat the analysis results of brain data, and the ethical risks brought about by presenting information in brain data. The governance strategies on the ethical issues of brain data require improving the relevant laws of brain data supervision, refining the ethical principles for brain data applications, leveraging the leading role of the government, and strengthening international cooperation.
3.Intra-articular injection of different concentrations of silicon-based bioceramics in treatment of knee osteoarthritis in rats
Jingwen GUO ; Qingwei WANG ; Zijun HE ; Zihang HU ; Zhi CHEN ; Rong ZHU ; Yuming WANG ; Wenfei LIU ; Qinglu LUO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(2):288-295
BACKGROUND:Currently,treatment method for knee osteoarthritis includes oral medicine,joint cavity drug injection,and physiotherapy,but the curative effect is limited.Existing studies have confirmed that silicon-based bioceramics can promote cartilage and subchondral bone repair and vascular regeneration.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of different concentrations of silicon-based bioceramics injected into the knee joint cavity in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in rats.METHODS:Silicon-based bioceramics-calcium silicate was prepared.Twenty-five SD rats were randomly divided into five groups,with five rats in each group.The healthy group did not receive any intervention,and the modeling group,low-dose calcium silicate group,high-dose calcium silicate group,and saline group used anterior cruciate ligament transection to establish bilateral knee osteoarthritis models.Four weeks after modeling,0.05 mL of 50 and 100 mg/mL calcium silicate solution were injected into the knee joint cavity in the low-dose calcium silicate group and high-dose calcium silicate group,respectively,and 0.05 mL of saline was injected into the knee joint cavity in the saline group,once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.In the fifth week of administration,bilateral knee joint Micro-CT detection,knee joint cartilage hematoxylin-eosin staining,and modified Mankin score were performed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Micro-CT quantitative analysis showed that compared with the healthy group,the volume fraction and number of trabeculae of the medial tibial plateau in the modeling group decreased(P<0.05),and the separation of trabeculae increased(P<0.05).Compared with the modeling group,the volume fraction and number of trabeculae of the medial tibial plateau in the low-dose calcium silicate group and the saline group increased(P<0.05),and the separation of trabeculae decreased(P<0.05).(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the cartilage surface of the healthy group and the low-dose calcium silicate group was relatively smooth and flat,the chondrocytes were evenly distributed,without clustered chondrocytes,the tide line was complete,and the staining was uniform;the cartilage surface of the high-dose calcium silicate group was slightly uneven,the middle and deep cells were disordered,with a small number of clustered chondrocytes,the tide line was discontinuous,and the staining was uneven;the cartilage surface of the saline group and the modeling group was obviously rough,the cells were disordered,with a large number of clustered chondrocytes,the tide line disappeared,and the staining was uneven.The modified Mankin score of the healthy group was lower than that of the high-dose calcium silicate group,the saline group,and the modeling group(P<0.05).The modified Mankin score of the high-dose calcium silicate group and the low-dose calcium silicate group was lower than that of the saline group and the modeling group(P<0.05).(3)The results show that calcium silicate knee joint injection has a certain effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.Compared with 100 mg/mL calcium silicate solution,50 mg/mL calcium silicate solution can promote the recovery of subchondral bone and cartilage.
4.Research Advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulation of Pyroptosis for Lung Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Qiongqiong GUO ; Meihao XUE ; Xuchao DONG ; Ping TIAN ; Rong HU ; Longxin XU ; Juan LI ; Jianqing LIANG ; Jintian LI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):716-725
Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its treatment continues to face major challenges such as therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. Pyroptosis, a newly characterized form of programmed cell death, induces tumor cell death through gasdermin-mediated membrane pore formation and is accompanied by the release of inflammatory mediators, thereby playing complex roles in lung cancer initiation, progression, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Active components and herbal formulas derived from traditional Chinese medicine can modulate pyroptosis-related signaling pathways through multi-target mechanisms, showing potential advantages in inducing lung cancer cell death, inhibiting proliferation and migration, and reversing chemoresistance. This review systematically summarizes relevant studies from domestic and international sources, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis, its roles in lung cancer development and tumor microenvironment remodeling, and the current research progress on traditional Chinese medicine-based interventions targeting pyroptosis, with the aim of providing references for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer using traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang Regulates NLRP3 Inflammasomes to Ameliorate Cognitive Impairment in Epilepsy
Xingdan ZHU ; Yinhua KAI ; Rong TIAN ; Xin YANG ; Jiayi HE ; Xiangxin GUO ; Yadong MU ; Cui JIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):308-316
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism through which Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang ameliorates cognitive impairment in epileptic rats induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine by regulating the neuroinflammatory reaction mediated by NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly allocated into blank, model, carbamazepine (0.125 g·kg-1·d-1), Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang (1.04 g·kg-1·d-1), and carbamazepine (0.125 g·kg-1·d-1) + Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang (1.04 g·kg-1·d-1) groups (n=12). After the modeling of epilepsy, rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 12 weeks. At the 6th and 12th week of the intervention, the rats’ hyper-excited behavior was evaluated by the stylus experiment, and at the 12th week of intervention, the cognitive function was evaluated by Barnes maze. At the same time, the seizure frequency and severity grade (Racine score) were recorded. The serum and hippocampus tissue samples were collected after anesthesia for the following tests. Nissl staining was used to evaluate the degree of neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 area. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus was determined by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a card (ASC) in the hippocampus. Western blot was employed to quantitatively analyze the protein levels of NLRP3, cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. ResultsThe model group showed increased stylus scores at the 6th and 12th week after modeling, a decreased Barnes maze strategy score at the 12th week, a prolonged incubation period (P<0.05), elevated serum levels of inflammatory factors (P<0.05), decreased neurons with scattered arrangement and large gaps in the hippocampus, increased content of MDA in the hippocampus (P<0.05), an increased positive expression of ASC, and up-regulated protein levels of Caspase-1, NLRP3, and BDNF (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the intervention with Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang for 12 weeks was accompanied by a decreased stylus score, epileptic seizures with a decreased score, a decreased number, and shortened duration, an increased Barnes maze strategy score, shortened escape latency (P<0.01), declined serum levels of inflammatory factors (P<0.05), regular morphology of hippocampal neurons, reduced MDA content in the hippocampus (P<0.05), a decreased positive expression of ASC, and down-regulated protein levels of Caspase-1, NLRP3, and BDNF (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, compared with the carbamazepine group, Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang + carbamazepine showed improved performance in controlling the seizure, improved the cognitive behavior score and morphology of hippocampal neurons, alleviated the oxidative stress products, lowered the levels of inflammatory factors, reduced the positive expression of ASC in the hippocampus, and down-regulated the expression of Caspase-1, NLRP3 and BDNF, with no significant differences. ConclusionBanxia Baizhu Tianmatang may reduce neuroinflammation, control epileptic seizures, and ameliorate cognitive impairment by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3 inflammasomes.
6.Intra-articular injection of different concentrations of silicon-based bioceramics in treatment of knee osteoarthritis in rats
Jingwen GUO ; Qingwei WANG ; Zijun HE ; Zihang HU ; Zhi CHEN ; Rong ZHU ; Yuming WANG ; Wenfei LIU ; Qinglu LUO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(2):288-295
BACKGROUND:Currently,treatment method for knee osteoarthritis includes oral medicine,joint cavity drug injection,and physiotherapy,but the curative effect is limited.Existing studies have confirmed that silicon-based bioceramics can promote cartilage and subchondral bone repair and vascular regeneration.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of different concentrations of silicon-based bioceramics injected into the knee joint cavity in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in rats.METHODS:Silicon-based bioceramics-calcium silicate was prepared.Twenty-five SD rats were randomly divided into five groups,with five rats in each group.The healthy group did not receive any intervention,and the modeling group,low-dose calcium silicate group,high-dose calcium silicate group,and saline group used anterior cruciate ligament transection to establish bilateral knee osteoarthritis models.Four weeks after modeling,0.05 mL of 50 and 100 mg/mL calcium silicate solution were injected into the knee joint cavity in the low-dose calcium silicate group and high-dose calcium silicate group,respectively,and 0.05 mL of saline was injected into the knee joint cavity in the saline group,once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.In the fifth week of administration,bilateral knee joint Micro-CT detection,knee joint cartilage hematoxylin-eosin staining,and modified Mankin score were performed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Micro-CT quantitative analysis showed that compared with the healthy group,the volume fraction and number of trabeculae of the medial tibial plateau in the modeling group decreased(P<0.05),and the separation of trabeculae increased(P<0.05).Compared with the modeling group,the volume fraction and number of trabeculae of the medial tibial plateau in the low-dose calcium silicate group and the saline group increased(P<0.05),and the separation of trabeculae decreased(P<0.05).(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the cartilage surface of the healthy group and the low-dose calcium silicate group was relatively smooth and flat,the chondrocytes were evenly distributed,without clustered chondrocytes,the tide line was complete,and the staining was uniform;the cartilage surface of the high-dose calcium silicate group was slightly uneven,the middle and deep cells were disordered,with a small number of clustered chondrocytes,the tide line was discontinuous,and the staining was uneven;the cartilage surface of the saline group and the modeling group was obviously rough,the cells were disordered,with a large number of clustered chondrocytes,the tide line disappeared,and the staining was uneven.The modified Mankin score of the healthy group was lower than that of the high-dose calcium silicate group,the saline group,and the modeling group(P<0.05).The modified Mankin score of the high-dose calcium silicate group and the low-dose calcium silicate group was lower than that of the saline group and the modeling group(P<0.05).(3)The results show that calcium silicate knee joint injection has a certain effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.Compared with 100 mg/mL calcium silicate solution,50 mg/mL calcium silicate solution can promote the recovery of subchondral bone and cartilage.
7.Establishment of a Gastrointestinal-Brain Inter-Organ Multimodal Characterization System Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Its Application in Refractory Diseases
Guanghui HAN ; Yan GUO ; Peijing RONG ; Bin CONG ; Shuangjiang LIU ; Shaoyuan LI ; Wei WEI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(6):561-568
The concept of holism is the core idea of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Various organs and tissues coordinate with each other to maintain the body's life activities, with a close and mutual influence between the spleen, stomach, and the central nervous system (brain). The gut-brain axis plays an important bridging role between the digestive system and the central nervous system, achieving bidirectional information exchange between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract through complex neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms. The theory of cross-organ interaction involves the mutual influence, coordination, and integration between different organs and systems; multimodality, on the other hand, utilizes multiple sensory modalities, such as vision, hearing, and touch, to convey information. By combining TCM theory with the gut-brain axis theory, a cross-organ multimodal characterization system is established to explore its mechanism and application value in refractory diseases such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, precancerous gastrointestinal diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
8.Role of TIM3 Pathway in Immune Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Xinyu GUO ; Shunjie YU ; Jinglian TAO ; Yingshuai WANG ; Xiaotong REN ; Zhaoyun LIU ; Rong FU ; Zonghong SHAO ; Lijuan LI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(9):731-735
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a myeloid tumor derived from the malignant clones of hematopoietic stem cells, has an annually increasing incidence. The contemporary research direction has shifted to analyzing the synergistic effect of immune surveillance collapse and abnormal bone marrow microenvironment in the pathological process of MDS. Against this backdrop, the immune checkpoint molecule TIM3 has emerged as a key target because of its persistently high expression on the surface of important immune cells such as T and NK cells. The abnormal activation of the TIM3 pathway is the mechanism by which solid tumors and hematological malignancies achieve immune escape and is a key hub in the formation of immune exhaustion phenotypes. This work integrates the original discoveries of our team with the latest international progress, systematically demonstrating the bidirectional regulatory network of TIM3 between the malignant clone proliferation of MDS and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Integrating the evidence from emerging clinical trials allows us to consider the clinical significance of TIM3-targeted blocking for MDS, providing a transformative path to overcome the resistance of traditional treatments and marking a new chapter in the active immune reconstitution of MDS treatment.
9.Guideline for the workflow of clinical comprehensive evaluation of drugs
Zhengxiang LI ; Rong DUAN ; Luwen SHI ; Jinhui TIAN ; Xiaocong ZUO ; Yu ZHANG ; Lingli ZHANG ; Junhua ZHANG ; Hualin ZHENG ; Rongsheng ZHAO ; Wudong GUO ; Liyan MIAO ; Suodi ZHAI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(19):2353-2365
OBJECTIVE To standardize the main processes and related technical links of the clinical comprehensive evaluation of drugs, and provide guidance and reference for improving the quality of comprehensive evaluation evidence and its transformation and application value. METHODS The construction of Guideline for the Workflow of Clinical Comprehensive Evaluation of Drugs was based on the standard guideline formulation method of the World Health Organization (WHO), strictly followed the latest definition of guidelines by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, and conformed to the six major areas of the Guideline Research and Evaluation Tool Ⅱ. Delphi method was adopted to construct the research questions; research evidence was established by applying the research methods of evidence-based medicine. The evidence quality classification system of the Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center was adopted for evidence classification and evaluation. The recommendation strength was determined by the recommendation strength classification standard formulated by the Oxford University Evidence-Based Medicine Center, and the recommendation opinions were formed through the expert consensus method. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The Guideline for the Workflow of Clinical Comprehensive Evaluation of Drugs covers 4 major categories of research questions, including topic selection, evaluation implementation, evidence evaluation, and application and transformation of results. The formulation of this guideline has standardized the technical links of the entire process of clinical comprehensive evaluation of drugs, which can effectively guide the high-quality and high-efficient development of this work, enhance the standardized output and transformation application value of evaluation evidence, and provide high-quality evidence support for the scientific decision-making of health and the rationalization of clinical medication.
10.Antipyretic Effect and Mechanism of Qingwen Baiduling Prescription on Dry Yeast-induced Fever
Jing PAN ; Zheng CAO ; Biao JIA ; Xianglu RONG ; Jiao GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(22):73-81
ObjectiveTo evaluate the antipyretic effect of the Qingwen Baiduling prescription in a dry yeast-induced rat fever model and to investigate its antipyretic mechanism, providing a theoretical basis for its clinical application. MethodsSPF-grade male SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n=6 per group): control, model, aspirin (20 mg·kg-1), and high-, medium-, and low-dose Qingwen Baiduling prescription groups (14.40, 7.20, 3.60 g·kg-1). The fever model was established by subcutaneous injection of dry yeast suspension on the back. After model induction, body temperature was recorded every 1 hour. Drugs were administered at 6 hours after modeling, and body temperature was continuously recorded hourly for 12 hours. Record the body temperature of rats to observe the trend of changes in body temperature. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, as well as hypothalamic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hypothalamic tissue morphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Western blot was used to detect hypothalamic expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), inhibitor κBα (IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), IκB kinase α (IKKα), IKKβ, phosphorylated IKKα/β (p-IKKα/β), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed a significant increase in body temperature 6 hours after modeling (P0.01), confirming successful fever induction. Serum IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and hypothalamic cAMP and PGE2 levels were significantly elevated (P0.01). Hypothalamic neurons exhibited irregular morphology and disordered distribution, accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration and microglial aggregation. Expression levels of TLR4/NF-κB pathway-related proteins and phosphorylated proteins were significantly increased (P0.05, P0.01). Compared with the model group, 2-3 hours after administration, all Qingwen Baiduling prescription dose groups significantly reduced body temperature (P0.01). All dose groups significantly decreased serum IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and hypothalamic cAMP and PGE2 levels (P0.05, P0.01). Neuronal morphology was markedly improved in the high- and medium-dose groups, with narrowed intercellular spaces and reduced inflammatory infiltration. The prescription effectively inhibited hypothalamic expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65, p-IκBα, p-IKKα/β, and COX2 proteins (P0.05, P0.01). ConclusionQingwen Baiduling prescription effectively reduces body temperature in rats by mitigating the further effects of inflammatory cytokines on the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center through the blood-brain barrier. Its antipyretic mechanism may be related to inhibition of NF-κB pathway activation.

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