1.Current application status of stem cell therapy in the field of lung transplantation
Mingyu GU ; Xiangyun ZHENG ; Ji’er MA ; Xiaohan JIN ; Zhiqiang DENG ; Haoji YAN ; Dong TIAN
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(2):311-318
In recent years, research on stem cell therapy in the field of lung transplantation has gradually increased, demonstrating its potential in improving the outcomes of lung transplantation. As a treatment option for end-stage lung diseases, lung transplantation faces challenges such as scarcity of donor organs, postoperative complications and rejection. Stem cells, with their self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation capabilities, have emerged as strong candidates for alternative or adjunctive treatments. Current studies show that embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells play significant roles in lung tissue regeneration and immune regulation. However, stem cell therapy still needs to overcome issues such as the selection of cell sources, low survival rates after transplantation and unclear long-term efficacy in clinical applications. Future research should focus on exploring new stem cell sources, improving transplantation techniques and establishing efficacy evaluation systems.
2.Advances in genomics of SGLT2 and clinical application of SGLT2 inhibitors
Xiaoxia DENG ; Jing TIAN ; Jianfen SU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2026;44(5):228-232
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) is involved in most glucose reabsorption in the kidney. Inhibition of SGLT2 leads to the excretion of glucose through urine and represents an important concept in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. With the development of pharmacogenomics, it was found that SGLT2 gene polymorphism had certain effects on fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin levels, and may affect the risk of type 2 diabetes and response to treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors, which is of great significance in the treatment of T2DM. Domestic and international studies on SGLT2 gene polymorphism were reviewed and effects of SGLT2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) in the treatment of T2DM were discussed in this paper.
3.The Specificity of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints in Promoting Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Mice
Yu SHI ; Qian HUA ; Tian-Tian PENG ; Yu-Xin NIE ; Zhao-Heng LIU ; Chen-Geng DENG ; Xu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1154-1164
ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.
4.The Specificity of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints in Promoting Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Mice
Yu SHI ; Qian HUA ; Tian-Tian PENG ; Yu-Xin NIE ; Zhao-Heng LIU ; Chen-Geng DENG ; Xu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1154-1164
ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.
5.In Vitro and in vivo Component Analysis of Total Phenolic Acids from Gei Herba and Its Effect on Promoting Acute Wound Healing and Inhibiting Scar Formation
Xixian KONG ; Guanghuan TIAN ; Tong WU ; Shaowei HU ; Jie ZHAO ; Fuzhu PAN ; Jingtong LIU ; Yong DENG ; Yi OUYANG ; Hongwei WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):156-167
ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS), to identify the in vivo and in vitro chemical components of total phenolic acids in Gei Herba(TPAGH), and to clarify the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of the effective part in promoting acute wound healing and inhibiting scar formation. MethodsUPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS was used to identify the chemical components of TPAGH and ingredients absorbed in vivo after topical administration. A total of 120 ICR mice were randomly divided into the model group, recombinant human epidermal growth factor(rhEGF) group(4 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of TPAGH(3.5, 7, 14 mg·kg-1), with 24 mice in each group. A full-thickness skin excision model was constructed, and each administration group was coated with the drug at the wound site, and the model group was treated with an equal volume of normal saline, the treatment was continued for 30 days, during which 8 mice from each group were sacrificed on days 6, 12, and 30. The healing of the wounds in the mice was observed, and histopathological changes in the skin tissues were dynamically observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE), Masson, and Sirius red staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to dynamically measure the contents of interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA), matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-3 and MMP-9 in skin tissues. Network pharmacology was used to predict the targets related to the promotion of acute wound healing and the inhibition of scar formation by TPAGH, and molecular docking of key components and targets was performed. Gene Ontology(GO) biological process analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were carried out for the related targets, so as to construct a network diagram of herbal material-compound-target-pathway-pharmacological effect-disease for further exploring its potential mechanisms. ResultsA total of 146 compounds were identified in TPAGH, including 28 phenylpropanoids, 31 tannins, 23 triterpenes, 49 flavonoids, and 15 others, and 16 prototype components were found in the serum of mice. Pharmacodynamic results showed that, compared with the model group, the TPAGH groups showed a significant increase in relative wound healing rate and relative scar inhibition rate(P<0.05), and the number of new capillaries, number of fibroblasts, number of new skin appendages, epidermal regeneration rate, collagen deposition ratio, and Ⅲ/Ⅰ collagen ratio in the tissue were significantly improved(P<0.05, 0.01), the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-3 and MMP-9 in the skin tissues were reduced to different degrees, while the level of VEGFA was increased. Network pharmacology analysis screened 10 core targets, including tumor protein 53(TP53), sarcoma receptor coactivator(SRC), protein kinase B(Akt)1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) and so on, participating in 75 signaling pathways such as advanced glycation end-products(AGE)-receptor for AGE(AGE/RAGE) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed that the key components genistein, geraniin, and casuariin had good binding ability to TP53, SRC, Akt1, STAT3 and EGFR. ConclusionThis study comprehensively reflects the chemical composition of TPAGH and the absorbed components after topical administration through UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS. TPAGH significantly regulates key indicators of skin healing and tissue reconstruction, thereby clarifying its role in promoting acute wound healing and inhibiting scar formation. By combining in vitro and in vivo component identification with network pharmacology, the study explores how key components may bind to targets such as TP53, Akt1 and EGFR, exerting therapeutic effects through related pathways such as immune inflammation and vascular regeneration.
6.Clinical features and prognosis of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome in children
Jie ZHANG ; Wei LIU ; Jiong DENG ; Tian SANG ; Haipo YANG ; Qiao GUAN ; Ying ZHU ; Yuwu JIANG ; Ye WU
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(3):280-286
Objective:To investigate the important clinical features and prognosis of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome(FIRES).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 15 children with FIRES who were hospitalized and treated in Peking University First Hospital from March 2022 to June 2024,including clinical features,treatment regimens,and prognosis,and follow-up was performed by telephone.Results:The median duration of status epilepticus was 15 days for all children.Of all 15 children,14(93.3%)were comorbid with disturbance of consciousness,8(53.3%)were comorbid with respiratory failure and underwent endotra-cheal incubation,and 13(86.7%)had been admitted to the intensive care unit.In the acute stage,7 children underwent the examination of various inflammatory factors in blood and cerebrospinal fluid,including interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,and tumor necrosis factor-α,and all 7 children had significant increases in the levels of inflammatory factors in cerebrospinal fluid,which were significantly higher than the levels of inflammatory factors in serum.Of all 15 children,12(80%)had diffuse slow wave changes on electroencephalography,and migrating focal seizures were detected in 7 children(46.7%).Cranial magnetic resonance im-aging(MRI)manifestations in the acute stage included temporal and insular cortical edema(60%),abnormal white matter signal(33.3%),and claustrum sign(13.3%),and MRI features in the chronic stage included the deepening of cerebral sulci(75%)and ventricular dilatation(33.3%).The treatment in the acute stage in-cluded intravenous drip of gamma-globulin and high-dose methyl-prednisolone in 15 children(effective in 2 children),ketogenic diet in 4 children(effective in 1 child),tocilizumab in 5 children(effective in 3 children),and anakinra in 2 children(effective in 1 child).As of the last follow-up,the median duration of disease was 14.0 months(4-65 months)for all patients,and only 2 children achieved complete seizure control,while the remaining 13 children had refractory epilepsy.Cognitive impairment was observed in 93.3%of the children.Conclusion:FIRES often has acute and severe conditions,and first-line immunotherapies often have a poor therapeutic ef-fect.Tocilizumab and anakinra may be effective in some patients with seizures in the acute stage.
7.Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome
Jiong DENG ; Ying ZHU ; Ye WU ; Jie ZHANG ; Wei LIU ; Han XIE ; Tian SANG
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(3):287-292
Objective:To investigate the cranial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)characteristics of children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome(FIRES).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for the imaging characteristics of children with FIRES who were admitted to Department of Pediatrics,Peking University First Hospital,from November 2020 to August 2024,includ-ing the characteristic manifestation of claustrum sign on cranial MRI.Results:A total of 86 children with a confirmed diagnosis of FIRES were included,among whom there were 65 boys(75.6%)and 21 girls(24.4%),with a median age of onset of 6.35(4.4,8.32)years.Among these children,14(16.3%)had normal cranial MRI findings in the acute stage,with T2 FLAIR changes as the most common abnormal manifestation(39.5%),and 30 children(34.9%)experienced brain atrophy,with a median time of 44(34,72)days for the onset of brain atrophy for the first time.There were 22 children(25.6%)with positive bilateral claustrum sign on cranial MRI,which manifested as symmetrical T2 FLAIR hyperintensity with limited diffusion in the bilateral claustrum,and the median time to the first appearance of claustrum sign was 11(7,15)days,while the median time to negative conversion of claustrum sign was 33(24,50)days.The claustrum sign disappeared after the relief of status epilepticus in the acute stage in most children.Among the children in this study,71 entered the chronic stage during follow-up,3 had normal cranial MRI results during the course of the disease,and 34 had brain atrophy for the first time in the chronic stage,with a median time of 186(115,429)days to the first appearance of brain atrophy on cranial MRI,while of all 86 children,64(80.0%)experienced brain atrophy on cranial MRI in the acute stage and the chronic stage.Conclusion:Children with FIRES have diverse cranial MRI characteristics.There might be normal MRI manifestations at the beginning of the disease,and positive bilateral claustrum sign might be the specific manifestation in the acute stage.Changes in the claustrum disappear after the relief of status epilepticus in most cases,and most patients may progress to brain atrophy in the chronic stage.
8.Efficacy and safety of ketogenic diet,anakinra,and tocilizumab in treatment of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome in the acute stage
Wei LIU ; Jiong DENG ; Tian SANG ; Jie ZHANG
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(3):293-302
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of ketogenic diet,anakinra,and tocilizumab in the treatment of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome(FIRES)through a meta-analysis.Methods:With FIRES,ketogenic diet,anakinra,and tocili-zumab as search terms,the databases of PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,the Cochrane Library,Clinicalttrials.gov,CNKI,Wanfang Data,and VIP were searched for related articles published up to December 13,2024.Two reviewers independently screened the ar-ticles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed the risk of bias of the studies included.Review Manager was used to perform the meta-analysis.Results:Among the 549 studies,45 case reports and case series met the inclusion criteria,and there were 45 retrospective studies in total,among which 25,8,and 17 were included in the ketogenic diet group,the tocilizumab group,and the anakinra group,respectively,with 66 patients in the ketogenic diet group,8 in the the tocilizumab group,and 54 in the anakinra group.There were 3 case reports,in which all 3 patients were treated with tocilizumab and anakinra.The meta-analysis showed that in the treatment of FIRES in the acute stage,ketogenic diet,anakinra,and tocilizumab showed a response raet of 68%(95%CI=51%-85%,I 2=71%,P<0.01),57%(95%CI=35%-80%,I 2=71%,P<0.01),and 100%(95%CI=79%-100%,I 2=0%,P=1.00),respec-tively,with no statistical differences between studies.The survival rate was 96%(95%CI=89%-100%,I 2=0%,P=1.00)in the keto-genic diet group,96%(95%CI=89%-100%,I 2=0%,P=1.00)in the FIRES,and ketogenic diet and anakinra treatment have a relatively high incidence rate of adverse reactions.Hypoglycemia and infec-tion are adverse reactions commonly observed during treatment.
9.Influencing factors for dysphagia in the elderly and establishment of a predictive model
Peng PENG ; Xinrui CHEN ; Yilin ZHOU ; Xiaoqin TIAN ; Yuqin TANG ; Dan DENG
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(4):501-510
Objective:To investigate the influencing factors for dysphagia in the elderly,to construct a predictive model for dysphagia,and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical practice.Methods:In this case-control study,the patients with dysphagia who attended Department of Geriatrics in the first affiliated hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2016 to June 2023 were enrolled as case group,and the patients without dysphagia who attended the same department during the same period of time were enrolled as con-trol group.The correlation analysis,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression,and multivariate logistic re-gression analysis were used to investigate the influencing factors for dysphagia;the 10-fold cross-validation Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)model was used to predict dysphagia,and the SHapley additive exPlanations(SHAP)method was used for model visualiza-tion.Results:There were 1009 cases in the case group and 2125 cases in the control group.The correlation analysis and LASSO re-gression analysis identified 12 factors for the multivariate logistic re-gression analysis,and the results showed that sarcopenia,increasing age,children or caretakers as caregivers,frail health,poor oral health,poor self-care ability,depression,and cognitive impairment were risk factors for dysphagia(odds ratio[OR]>1,P<0.05),and fe-male sex and participation in community activities were protective factors against dysphagia(OR<1,P<0.05).The XGBoost model had a good predictive efficacy,with an accuracy rate of 0.795,a preci-sion rate of 0.711,a sensitivity of 0.613,a specificity of 0.881,an F1 value of 0.661,and an area under the ROC curve of 0.855.The SHAP plot showed that the top five important characteristics were caregiver,oral score,frail health condition,activities of daily living,and cognitive function.Conclusion:There are various influencing factors for dysphagia in the elderly,and the elderly patients with poor oral health,frailty,dependence on others for daily life,and cognitive impairment should be taken seriously in clinical practice.The XGBoost model has a good performance in predicting dysphagia in the elderly,which can provide a reference for clinical practice.
10.Expert consensus on the standard of practice for modified electro-convulsive therapy for mental disorders
Xiu ZHANG ; Guohui LAO ; Xiong HUANG ; Wei JIANG ; Qingmei KONG ; Wei LI ; Hu DENG ; Jijun WANG ; Qin XIE ; Wei DENG ; Shaohua HU ; Dongsheng ZHOU ; Xin WEI ; Zhanming SHI ; Cuixia AN ; Sha LIU ; Yanghua TIAN ; Decheng ZOU ; Lingyun ZENG ; Kun LI ; Xingbing HUANG ; Wei ZHENG ; Yuping NING
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2025;58(7):506-525
As a physical treatment technique, modified electro-convulsive therapy (MECT) is used to treat mental and certain neurological disorders by causing seizures with short, suitable electrical currents applied to the brain while the patient is under general anesthesia and muscle relaxants. MECT is recognized for its therapeutic efficacy and clinical safety, rendering it one of the most prevalent interventions in psychiatric care. To enhance clinical outcomes and minimize adverse effects, this consensus document delineates the indications, therapeutic parameters, therapeutic procedures, potential adverse effects, and associated management strategies for MECT. These guidelines are informed by the latest clinical research and expert consensus, integrating evidence-based medicine methodologies. The objective is to furnish clinicians with precise operational guidelines and to advance the standardization of MECT practices in clinical settings.

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