1.Pathogenesis Evolution and Stage-based Treatment of Gout: An Exploration Based on Theory of ''Endogenous Dampness Leading to Bi Syndrome''
Yingjie ZHANG ; Fan YANG ; Ruifang YANG ; Zhuoming ZHENG ; Siwei PENG ; Yan XIAO ; Peng CHEN ; Youxin SU ; Jiemei GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):74-83
Gout is a crystal-associated arthropathy caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals and is closely related to purine metabolic disorders and impaired uric acid excretion. It is clinically characterized by hyperuricemia, recurrent joint swelling and pain, and tophus formation. The disease course is divided into three stages: The hyperuricemia stage, acute attack stage, and chronic gouty arthritis stage. Modern medicine has reached a consensus on its pathology, but traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) lacks a systematic stage-specific understanding of gout pathogenesis and its underlying mechanisms, making it difficult to guide precise syndrome differentiation and treatment. By integrating classical TCM theory, clinical practice, and modern medical understanding, and drawing upon descriptions of Bi syndrome caused by endogenous dampness and turbidity in classical texts such as Huangdi Neijing·Ling Shu and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, our team proposes the pathogenic concept of gout as ''endogenous dampness leading to Bi syndrome'' and the core pathogenesis of ''spleen deficiency with internal retention of dampness-turbidity''. We systematically elucidate the evolution of pathogenesis across different stages and corresponding therapeutic strategies. This study posits that metabolic byproducts such as urate fall under the category of ''endogenous pathogenic dampness-turbidity''. When genetic or dietary factors lead to metabolic abnormalities, it manifests as ''spleen deficiency with impaired transport and transformation'', resulting in ''internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity''. When damp-turbidity stagnates in the blood vessels, serum uric acid levels rise. When it stagnates in the viscera and limbs, monosodium urate crystals deposit in the joints. Triggered by precipitating factors, this leads to gout attacks—the core pathological process of ''endogenous dampness leading to Bi syndrome''. Based on this theory, the stage-specific pathogenic characteristics of gout are proposed: The hyperuricemia stage is characterized by ''spleen deficiency with impaired transport and transformation, internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity'', the acute attack stage is primarily marked by ''dampness-turbidity and static heat obstructing the limbs and joints'', while the chronic stage is defined by ''spleen deficiency with internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity, intermingled with phlegm-stasis binding''. The treatment principle centers on ''strengthening the spleen and draining dampness'' throughout all stages. During the hyperuricemia stage, treatment focuses on ''strengthening the spleen, draining dampness, and eliminating turbidity''. In the acute attack stage, the treatment should "strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, clear heat, eliminate turbidity, alleviate swelling, and relieve pain''. In the chronic stage, the treatments emphasizes to ''strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, transform turbidity, clear heat, resolve phlegm, and activate blood circulation''. This approach has yielded favorable therapeutic outcomes in clinical practice. This theoretical system clarifies the nature of gout as ''spleen deficiency being the root, dampness-turbidity being the secondary manifestation'' and systematically analyzes its pathogenesis evolution process and characteristics. The constructed stage-based treatment protocol has been validated through clinical and basic research, providing systematic theoretical guidance and a practical framework for the precise TCM management of gout, thereby promoting the modernization of TCM pathogenesis theory related to gout.
2.Effect and Action Mechanism of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi Prescription on Gouty Bone Erosion Model Rats Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Zhuoming ZHENG ; Jun LIU ; Meiling WANG ; Xiaohua CHEN ; Yuwan LI ; Siwei PENG ; Yingjie ZHANG ; Ruifang YANG ; Youxin SU ; Yan XIAO ; Jiemei GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):105-117
ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the effect of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi prescription (HSCD) on the gouty bone erosion model rats and investigate its action mechanism. MethodsThirty-six two-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group with nine rats and the modeling group with 27 rats. The rats in the modeling group were administered hypoxanthine solution at 300 mg·kg-1·d-1 and potassium oxonate solution at 250 mg·kg-1·d-1, combined with intra-articular injection of 200 μL monosodium urate (MSU) crystal suspension at 25 g·L-1 into the right ankle joint (joint injection once every three days), so as to induce the gouty bone erosion model. After four weeks of modeling, three rats were selected from these two groups to validate the model. The modeled 24 rats were randomly divided into the model group, HSCD group (10.35 g·kg-1·d-1), allopurinol group (20 mg·kg-1·d-1), and inhibitor group (LY294002, 10 mg·kg-1·d-1), with six rats per group. Except for the blank group, rats in all other groups continued to receive hypoxanthine solution at 300 mg·kg-1 and potassium oxonate solution at 250 mg·kg-1 via gavage concurrently with administration to maintain modeling intervention. The rats in the HSCD group and allopurinol group received administration by gavage at the above doses. The rats in the inhibitor group received an intraperitoneal injection at the above dose. The rats in the blank group and model group received saline (10.35 g·kg-1·d-1) by gavage for four consecutive weeks. After administration, ankle joint swelling of the rats in all groups was observed, and the diameters were measured. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone surface area to bone volume (BS/BV) were observed and quantitatively analyzed by Micro-CT. Histopathological changes in the ankle joint were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and safranin O-fast green staining. The uric acid in the rats' serum was determined by enzyme colorimetry. The levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and phosphorylated (p)-phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) in ankle joint tissues of rats were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA levels of the proteins related to the bone erosion, including RANKL, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
3.Real-world characteristics and treatment patterns in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer.
Aijun YIN ; Dong WANG ; Yanlin LUO ; Ruifang AN ; Shuzhong YAO ; Yufei SHEN ; Li SUN ; Cuirong LEI ; Yan TIAN ; Li WANG ; Dan ZHONG ; Manman XU ; Yuanyuan JIANG ; Min ZHANG ; Binqi ZHANG ; Huirong MAO ; Fengshi DONG ; Yu ZHANG ; Beihua KONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1624-1626
4.Comparison of efficacy and safety of direct thrombectomy and bridging thrombectomy in the treat-ment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke under different collateral circulation statuses
Yu GAO ; Zi'ang LI ; Jian ZHANG ; Hanpeng LIU ; Ping ZHANG ; Ruifang YAN ; Junyan YUE ; Hongkai CUI
Journal of Xinxiang Medical College 2024;41(2):169-174,179
Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of direct thrombectomy versus bridging thrombectomy in the treatment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke under different collateral circulation statuses.Methods Totally 93 patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from September 2020 to March 2023 were selected as the research subjects.Patients were divided into direct throm-bectomy group(n=47)and bridging thrombectomy group(n=46)based on the type of thrombectomy.Patients in the direct thrombectomy group received direct intravascular thrombectomy,while patients in the bridging thrombectomy group received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase combined with mechanical thrombectomy.According computed tomography angiography,the collateral circulation Tan classification was applied to divide the patients into good collateral circulation sub-group and poor collateral circulation sub-group.The modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grading(mTICI)was used to evaluate vessel recanalization.Head computed tomography plain scan was performed at 24-48 hours postoperatively to assess if there was hemorrhagic transformation,and modified Rankin Scale score was performed at 90 days postoperatively.Information such as imaging examination time,femoral artery puncture time,vessel recanalization time after thrombectomy,prognosis and spontaneous non-traumatic symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage(SICH)were collected.Results The age,gender,baseline Alberta stroke program early computed tomography score,baseline national institutes of health stroke scale score,proportions of hypertension,diabetes and atrial fibrillation,baseline systolic pressure,creatinine,baseline blood glucose,platelet count,occlusion site,stroke etiologies and collateral circulation status of patients in the two groups were not statistically significantly different(P>0.05).There were no significant differences in the post-admission imaging examination time,femoral artery puncture time,vessel recanalization time after thrombectomy,successful vascular reperfusion rate,good prognosis rate,mortality rate,and SICH incidence between the two groups(P>0.05).The hemorrhagic transformation rate of patients in the direct thrombectomy group was significantly lower than that in the bridging thrombectomy group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the post-admission imaging examination time,femoral artery puncture time,vessel recanalization time after thrombectomy,successful vascular reperfusion rate,good prognosis rate,mortality rate,and SICH incidence between patients with good collateral circulation and patients with poor collateral circulation in the two groups(P>0.05).The hemorrhagic transformation rate of patients with good and poor collateral circulation in the direct thrombectomy group was significantly lower than that in the bridging thrombectomy group(P<0.05).Conclusion Under different collateral circulation conditions,the safety and efficacy of direct thrombectomy and bridging thrombectomy in the treatment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke are similar,but bridging thrombectomy is more likely to result in cerebral hemorrhage transformation compared with direct thrombectomy.
5.Advances in research on the role of biliary tract microecology in gallstone formation
Liyang CUI ; Lina YING ; Ruifang LI ; Yan SUN ; Zhenyu ZHANG ; Jun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2024;31(4):636-640
Cholelithiasis, a prevalent disease of the digestive system, is characterized by its intricate and diverse mechanisms, which are influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and other factors. Recently, with the widespread application of molecular biology techniques, the role of the biliary tract microecological environment in the pathogenesis of gallstones has garnered increasing attention. This review includes the most recent and pertinent literature on the association between biliary tract microecology and gallstones, summarizing the latest research advancements in this field. Furthermore, it delves into the role of the biliary tract microecology in the formation of both cholesterol and pigment gallstones.
6.The full process operating procedure for the using of multi -center retrospective electronic medical record data
Xue ZHONG ; Dongfang QIAN ; Zixuan ZHANG ; Siyuan TAN ; Jianfeng LIU ; Xueyan CUI ; Ruifang NIE ; Ting LI ; Qian WANG ; Qi GUO ; Qiushuang LIU ; Yan LIANG ; Lin HUANG ; Lizong LI ; Yufei FENG
China Pharmacy 2022;33(19):2314-2320
With the gradual improvement of medical informatization and the vigorous development of medical and health big data,the exploration and practice of real -world research are becoming more and more mature ,and real -world data have become an important source of evidence for post marketing re -evaluation of drugs . As an important high -quality real -world medical data , electronic medical record data is an indispensable data source for post marketing re -evaluation of drugs . Most of the existing guidelines and norms of real -world research are designed from the perspective of prospective research ,and do not propose specific measures and methods in the implementation of retrospective research ,especially for the operation suggestions on the technical level of using conventionally collected electronic medical record data . In combination with the operational process framework formulated by the existing guidelines and norms ,this paper creatively adds the operating procedures for dataE- validation,data integration ,data verification ,and throughout quality control ,data management and storage of retrospectiveelectronic medical record data ,and describes the data analysis methods and key points involved in carrying out multi -center retrospective real -world research using electronic medical record data ,taking the post marketing safety research of drugs as an example. Finally,the full process operation procedure applicable to the use of multi -center retrospective electronic medical record data is established .
7.Progress in the methods for evaluating depth of bone invasion and bone invasion of lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma
Xiaoyan REN ; Xinrong NAN ; Ruifang LI ; Xingquan YAN ; Haifeng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2022;57(7):769-774
The depth of invasion is a new index in the 8th edition of TNM classification and staging of oral cancer. Currently, there is no standardized evaluation method for the diagnosis of bone invasion and depth of invasion in lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma (LGSCC). The evaluation of LGSCC bone invasion depth not only provides a reference for surgical margin, but also determines the choice of surgical method, and is an independent prognostic factor for predicting cervical lymphatic metastasis. At present, the main evaluation methods of LGSCC bone invasion and invasion depth include X-ray, MRI, CT, positron emission tomography(PET)/CT, PET/MRI, singlephoton emission CT(SPECT)/CT and pathological examination. In this paper, the evaluation methods and effects of LGSCC bone invasion and invasion depth are summarized, and its advantages and disadvantages are analyzed in order to provide reference for clinical application.
8.Adjunctive sepsis therapy with aminophylline (STAP): a randomized controlled trial
Ruifang ZHANG ; Huan LIU ; Dongmei DAI ; Xianfei DING ; Dong WANG ; Yan WANG ; Xuexiu SHI ; Shuguang ZHANG ; Xiaoguang DUAN ; Haixu WANG ; Yonggang LUO ; Shaohua LIU ; Bing HAN ; Xiaojuan ZHANG ; Yu FANG ; Jing YANG ; Wangbin XU ; Tongwen SUN
Chinese Medical Journal 2022;135(23):2843-2850
Background::Sepsis is a serious disease caused by infection. Aminophylline has anti-asthma and anti-inflammatory effects. We aimed to explore the safety and effect of aminophylline in sepsis.Methods::We conducted a clinical randomized controlled trial involving 100 patients diagnosed with sepsis within 48 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission in two sites. All patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive standard therapy with or without aminophylline. The primary clinical outcome was all-cause mortality at 28 days.Results::From September 27, 2018 to February 12, 2020, we screened 277 septic patients and eventually enrolled 100 patients, with 50 assigned to the aminophylline group and 50 to the usual-care group. At 28 days, 7 of 50 patients (14.0%) in the aminophylline group had died, compared with 16 of 50 (32.0%) in the usual-care group ( P = 0.032). Cox regression showed that the aminophylline group had a lower hazard of death (hazard ratio = 0.312, 95% confidence interval: 0.129-0.753). Compared with the usual-care group, patients in the aminophylline group had a longer survival time ( P = 0.039 by the log-rank test). The effects of aminophylline on vasopressor dose, oxygenation index, and sequential organ failure assessment score were time-dependent with treatment. There were no significant differences in total hospitalization days, ICU hospitalization days, and rates of serious adverse events (all P > 0.05). No adverse events were observed in the trial. Conclusions::Aminophylline as an adjunct therapy could significantly reduce the risk of death and prolong the survival time of patients with sepsis.Trial registration::ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR1800019173.
9.Evaluation of the effectiveness of BMRT-HPV for cervical cancer screening
Lüfang DUAN ; Hui DU ; Chun WANG ; Xia HUANG ; Xinfeng QU ; Xianzhi DUAN ; Yan LIU ; Bin SHI ; Wei ZHANG ; Lihui WEI ; L. Jerome BELINSON ; Ruifang WU
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020;55(10):708-715
Objective:Evaluation of the clinical value of the BioPerfectus multiplex real time (BMRT)-HPV for cervical cancer screening.Methods:Physician-collected specimens of 1 495 women who were positive of Cobas 4800 HPV (Cobas-HPV), HPV genotyping based on SEQ uencing (SEQ-HPV), and (or) cytology ≥low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in the primary screening of Chinese Multiple-center Screening Trial (CHIMUST), and 2 990 women selected from those who were negative of primary screening in the same project through nested control randomization with age-matching were tested for BMRT-HPV, which reported type-specific viral loads/10 000 cells in each specimen. With comparing to Cobas-HPV results and taking cervical histopathological diagnosis as the endpoint, the concordance of high-risk (HR)-HPV subtypes among the three assays was explored ,and the sensitivity and specificity of BMRT-HPV for cervical cancer screening were evaluated.Results:(1) The overall agreenment of HR-HPV subtypes between BMRT-HPV and Cobas-HPV, or SEQ-HPV test sample was 94.8%, 94.4%, with Kappa values 0.827, 0.814. (2) The sensitivity and specificity for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅱ + of BMRT-HPV, Cobas-HPV and SEQ-HPV were 92.62%, 94.26%, 93.44% and 84.67%, 83.25%, 82.76%, respectively. There were no significant difference in sensitivity among the three HPV assays (all P>0.05), but the specificity of BMRT-HPV for CIN Ⅱ + was higher than those of Cobas-HPV and SEQ-HPV ( P<0.01). The sensitivity for CIN Ⅲ + of three HPV assays were all 100.00%, and the specificity for CIN Ⅲ + of BMRT-HPV was higher than those of Cobas-HPV and SEQ-HPV (83.40% vs 81.95%, 83.40% vs 81.50%; P<0.01). The number of pathological examinations of colposcopy for cervical biopsy detected in 1 case of CIN Ⅱ + or CIN Ⅲ + in BMRT-HPV was less than those in Cobas-HPV and SEQ-HPV ( P<0.01). When using HPV 16/18 + cytology ≥atypical squamous cell of undetermined signification (ASCUS) to triage HPV positive women among three assays, there was no different in the sensitivities of detecting CIN Ⅱ + and CIN Ⅲ + ( P>0.05). The specificity BMRT-HPV was slightly higher than those in Cobas-HPV or SEQ-HPV (all P<0.05), and the colposcopy referral rate was lower than those in Cobas-HPV and SEQ-HPV (all P<0.05). Conclusions:BMRT-HPV is as sensitive as Cobas-HPV or SEQ-HPV for primary cervical cancer screening, and has higher specificity. Therefore it could be used as a primary screening method for cervical cancer, which is worthy of clinical application.
10.Clinical value of p16 INK4a immunocytochemistry in cervical cancer screening
Fangbin SONG ; Hui DU ; Aimin XIAO ; Chun WANG ; Xia HUANG ; Peisha YAN ; Zhihong LIU ; Xinfeng QU ; L Jerome BELINSON ; Ruifang WU
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020;55(11):784-790
Objective:To evaluate the value of p16 INK4a detected by p16 INK4a immunostaining as a new generation of cervical cytology for primary screening and secondary screening in population-based cervical cancer screening, and in improving cytological diagnosis. Methods:Between 2016 and 2018, 5 747 non-pregnant women aged 25-65 years with sexual history were recruited and underwent cervical cancer screening via high-risk (HR)-HPV/liquid-based cytological test (LCT) test in Shenzhen and surrounding areas. All slides were immuno-stained using p16 INK4a technology, among them, 902 cases were offered p16 INK4a detection during primary screening, and the remaining 4 845 cases were called-back by the virtue of abnormal HR-HPV and LCT results for p16 INK4a staining. Participants with complete LCT examination, HR-HPV test, p16 INK4a staining and histopathological examination results were included in this study. The performance of p16 INK4a in primary and secondary screening, and in assisting cytology to detect high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅱ or Ⅲ] or worse [HSIL (CIN Ⅱ) + or HSIL (CIN Ⅲ) +] were analyzed. Results:(1) One-thousand and ninety-seven cases with complete data of p16 INK4a and histology were included. Pathological diagnosis: 995 cases of normal cervix, 37 cases of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 64 cases of HSIL and one case of cervical cancer were found. Among them, 65 cases of HSIL (CIN Ⅱ) + and 34 cases of HSIL (CIN Ⅲ) + were detected. The positive rate of p16 INK4a in HSIL (CIN Ⅱ) + was higher than that in CINⅠ or normal pathology (89.2% vs 10.2%; P<0.01). (2) p16 INK4a as primary screening for HSIL (CIN Ⅱ) + or HSIL (CIN Ⅲ) + was equally sensitive to primary HR-HPV screening (89.2% vs 95.4%, 94.1% vs 94.1%; P>0.05), but more specific than HR-HPV screening (89.8% vs 82.5%, 87.7% vs 80.2%; P<0.05). p16 INK4a was equally sensitive and similarly specific to cytology (≥LSIL; P>0.05). (3) The specificity of LCT adjunctive p16 INK4a for detecting HSIL (CIN Ⅱ) + or HSIL (CIN Ⅲ) + were higher than that of LCT alone or adjunctive HR-HPV ( P<0.01), while the sensitivity were similar ( P>0.05). (4) p16 INK4a staining as secondary screening: p16 INK4a was significantly more specific (94.1% vs 89.7%, 91.9% vs 87.4%; P<0.01) and comparably sensitive (84.6% vs 90.8%, 88.2% vs 91.2%; P>0.05) to cytology for triaging primary HR-HPV screening. HPV 16/18 to colposcopy and triage other HR-HPV with p16 INK4a was equally sensitive (88.2% vs 94.1%; P=0.500) and more specific (88.3% vs 83.0%; P<0.01) than HPV 16/18 to colposcopy and triage other HR-HPV with LCT≥ atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), and the referral rate decreased (14.0% vs 19.4%; P=0.005). Conclusions:For primary screening, p16 INK4a is equally specific to cytology and equally sensitive to HR-HPV screening. p16 INK4a alone could be an efficient triage after primary HR-HPV screening. In addition, p16 INK4a immunostaining could be used as an ancillary tool to cervical cytological diagnosis, and improves its accuracy in cervical cancer screening.

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