1.Pathogenic Mechanisms of Spleen Deficiency-Phlegm Dampness in Obesity and Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Strategies:from the Perspective of Immune Inflammation
Yumei LI ; Peng XU ; Xiaowan WANG ; Shudong CHEN ; Le YANG ; Lihua HUANG ; Chuang LI ; Qinchi HE ; Xiangxi ZENG ; Juanjuan WANG ; Wei MAO ; Ruimin TIAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):31-37
Based on spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness as the core pathogenesis of obesity, and integrating recent advances in modern medicine regarding the key role of immune inflammation in obesity, this paper proposes a multidimensional pathogenic network of "obesity-spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness-immune imbalance". Various traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs that strengthen the spleen, regulate qi, and resolve phlegm and dampness can treat obesity by improving spleen-stomach transport and transformation, promoting water-damp metabolism, and regulating immune homeostasis. This highlights immune inflammation as an important entry point to elucidate the TCM concepts of "spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness" and the therapeutic principle of "strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness to treat obesity". By systematically analyzing the intrinsic connection between "spleen deficiency generating dampness, internal accumulation of phlegm dampness" and immune dysregulation in obesity, this paper aims to provide theoretical support for TCM treatment of obesity based on dampness.
2.Visual evaluation of medical humanistic care based on the concept of implementation science
Xuancheng CHEN ; Yangyi CHEN ; Huiling LI ; Mengyun PENG ; Fanli TIAN ; Xiaojun ZHOU ; Zhisong HE ; Chen FANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(2):194-200
ObjectiveTo introduce visual teaching into the course design of medical humanistic care based on the concept of implementation science, evaluate the teaching implementation effect and feedback, and provide references for optimizing course teaching outcomes and improving students’ humanistic care competence. MethodsA visual teaching program for medical humanistic care was designed, with key steps including clarifying teaching objectives, content, methods, and curriculum assessment. This program was implemented in the medical humanistic care course teaching involving 50 elective students. Multi-dimensional evaluation of teaching effectiveness was conducted through course grades, visual teaching evaluation, and humanistic workshop assessment, combined with inductive content analysis of students’ learning experiences in the workshops. ResultsThe 50 students achieved above-average course grades (89.60±3.41) and demonstrated high satisfaction with the overall course and visual teaching. All the 6 groups obtained relatively high scores in the medical humanistic care workshops. Four themes were extracted, namely, enhancing humanistic care competencies, deepening familial and interpersonal relationships, realizing emotional expression and self-growth, and strengthening integration of humanistic care concepts with practice. ConclusionThe teaching of medical humanistic care course has achieved favorable effects, which contributes to deepening students’ understanding of humanistic care and enhancing their humanistic care competence. Students demonstrate high levels of recognition and satisfaction with the course.
3.Traditional Chinese Medicine Alleviates Dry Eye Disease by Regulating Tear Film Homeostasis: A Review
Sainan TIAN ; Bin'an WANG ; Yao CHEN ; Guicheng LIU ; Li TANG ; Pei LIU ; Genyan QIN ; Jun PENG ; Qinghua PENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):172-181
Dry eye (DE) is a prevalent multifactorial disease of the ocular surface, clinically characterized by tear film homeostasis imbalance accompanied by related ocular surface symptoms. Specifically, the tear film is a thin liquid layer of tears covering the cornea and conjunctiva through blinking, while tear film homeostasis serves as the foundation for maintaining normal ocular surface structure and function. Insufficient tear secretion and excessive tear film evaporation lead to tear hyperosmolarity and the production of inflammatory mediators, disrupting tear film homeostasis and subsequently forming DE. Additionally, cascade reactions are triggered, resulting in a "vicious cycle of DE" that exacerbates the disease severity and prolongs its duration. Therefore, for DE treatment, it is crucial to restore tear film homeostasis and terminate this vicious cycle. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which differentiates and treats DE based on systemic conditions, often achieves favorable therapeutic outcomes, offering additional treatment options for DE. Studies have demonstrated that TCM can alleviate DE by regulating tear film homeostasis and terminating the vicious cycle. This review systematically summarizes recent basic experimental research in China and abroad on TCM in alleviating DE by regulating tear film homeostasis, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment and an insight for research design.
4.Effect of Runmu Dihuang Decoction on Perimenopausal Dry Eye in Rats with Liver-kidney Yin Deficiency Syndrome Based on SIRT3/HIF-1α/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Sainan TIAN ; Wei MA ; Yao CHEN ; Yu CAO ; Guicheng LIU ; Pei LIU ; Junxian LEI ; Qinghua PENG ; Jun PENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):201-210
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of Runmu Dihuang decoction (RMDHD) in treating perimenopausal dry eye with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome based on the silent information regulator 3 (SIRT3)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsSixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=10 per group): Sham operation group, model group, sodium hyaluronate eye drop group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose RMDHD groups (5.625, 11.25, 22.50 g·kg-1). Except for the sham operation group, all rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy and were administered 0.1% benzalkonium chloride eye drops combined with long-term chronic irritation to establish a perimenopausal dry eye model with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome. Drug administration began in the 11th week after modeling and continued for 21 days. General conditions, screen-grip test scores, tear secretion volume, tear film breakup time (TFBUT), and corneal fluorescein staining were recorded. Serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (PROG) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological changes in the lacrimal glands, corneas, and uteri were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Protein expression levels of SIRT3, HIF-1α, phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65), and total NF-κB p65 in the lacrimal glands were detected by Western blot. The expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the lacrimal glands was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). ResultsAfter model establishment, no significant differences were observed among the groups except the sham operation group. Compared with the sham operation group, the other groups exhibited slowed movement, dull responses, increased irritability, reduced body weight, elevated rectal temperature, decreased screen-grip test scores, reduced tear secretion, and significantly shortened TFBUT (P<0.05). After treatment, compared with the model group, the sodium hyaluronate eye drop group and all RMDHD groups showed improved general conditions, significantly increased tear secretion (P<0.05), prolonged TFBUT (P<0.05), and elevated screen-grip test scores (P<0.05). Serum ROS and FSH levels were significantly decreased, while E2 and PROG levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). Pathological damage to the cornea, lacrimal glands, and uterus was ameliorated. In addition, protein expression levels of SIRT3 and HIF-1α in the lacrimal glands were significantly upregulated (P<0.05), whereas the expression of p-NF-κB p65, IL-1β, and TNF-α was significantly downregulated (P<0.05). ConclusionRMDHD increases tear secretion and TFBUT, improves lacrimal gland and corneal injury, and alleviates dry eye symptoms in a perimenopausal dry eye rat model with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome. The underlying mechanism may be related to regulation of the SIRT3/HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and reduction of ocular surface tissue damage.
5.Cervical spondylosis: innovative understanding from traditional Chinese medicine and treatment by classic formulas.
Heng CHEN ; Cong-Yang XUE ; Shuang CHEN ; Zi-Ting CHEN ; Tian TANG ; Xin LIU ; Zhi-Peng XI ; Ran KANG ; Lin XIE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2596-2604
As one of the chronic diseases with high incidence in contemporary society, cervical spondylosis has increasing patient groups who gradually present a low age, and it seriously affects social and public health. Although modern medicine has made great progress in the pathological research and clinical treatment of cervical spondylosis, patients still face gastrointestinal side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), neck pain, limited mobility, upper limb numbness, and other symptoms after conservative or surgical treatment. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), cervical spondylosis belongs to the categories of "Bi syndrome" "stiff neck" "stiff Bi", etc. With the change of the times, the change of lifestyle, and the application of western medicine treatment, the etiology and pathogenesis of TCM in cervical spondylosis also show new characteristics. In terms of etiology and pathogenesis, it involves the invasion of wind, cold, and dampness, long-term strain, liver and kidney deficiency, Qi and blood stasis, which are associated with factors such as cervical degeneration, muscle tension and spasm, intervertebral disc herniation, and nerve root compression in modern medicine. In terms of the evolution of pathogenesis, in the early stage, wind, cold, and dampness, were more common in Xuanfu, resulting in unfavorable muscles and bones, poor flow of Qi and blood, and cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy. Medium-term phlegm stasis and internal knots, sluggish muscles and veins, and long-term weathering and fire are more likely to occur in the vertebral artery and sympathetic radiculopathy. In the later stage, the positive Qi is depleted; the true Yin is damaged, and the viscera Qi and blood are deficient, which is most common in cervical myelopathy. The strategy of treating cervical spondylosis with TCM classic formulas applies Gegen Decoction, Wutou Decoction, Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction, Mahuang Jiazhu Decoction to patients with wind, cold, and dampness. Patients with phlegm dampness and blood stasis are treated with Huoxue Xiaoling Dan, Jinlingzi Powder, Siwu Decoction, Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction, Shuanghe Decoction, etc. For those patients with liver, spleen, and kidney deficiency, Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction, Tianma Gouteng Decoction, Guishao Dihuang Pills, Shenling Baizhu Powder, and Lizhong Decoction are used to invigorate the spleen, nourish Qi and blood, and tonify liver and kidney. In clinical practice, the authors advocate a safe and effective treatment plan of classic formulas based on deficiency and excess, the integration of formulas and syndromes, and the combination of modern research results, so as to relieve symptoms, reduce recurrence, and reduce medical burden.
Humans
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Spondylosis/drug therapy*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Cervical Vertebrae/pathology*
6.Application of Assessment Scales in Palliative Care for Glioma: A Systematic Review.
Zhi-Yuan XIAO ; Tian-Rui YANG ; Ya-Ning CAO ; Wen-Lin CHEN ; Jun-Lin LI ; Ting-Yu LIANG ; Ya-Ning WANG ; Yue-Kun WANG ; Xiao-Peng GUO ; Yi ZHANG ; Yu WANG ; Xiao-Hong NING ; Wen-Bin MA
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2025;40(3):211-218
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with glioma experience a high symptom burden and have diverse palliative care needs. However, the assessment scales used in palliative care remain non-standardized and highly heterogeneous. To evaluate the application patterns of the current scales used in palliative care for glioma, we aim to identify gaps and assess the need for disease-specific scales in glioma palliative care. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of five databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, EMBASE, and CINAHL for quantitative studies that reported scale-based assessments in glioma palliative care. We extracted data on scale characteristics, domains, frequency, and psychometric properties. Quality assessments were performed using the Cochrane ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. RESULTS: Of the 3,405 records initially identified, 72 studies were included. These studies contained 75 distinct scales that were used 193 times. Mood (21.7%), quality of life (24.4%), and supportive care needs (5.2%) assessments were the most frequently assessed items, exceeding half of all scale applications. Among the various assessment dimensions, the Distress Thermometer (DT) was the most frequently used tool for assessing mood, while the Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was the most frequently used tool for assessing quality of life. The Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was the most common tool for cognitive assessment. Performance status (5.2%) and social support (6.8%) were underrepresented. Only three brain tumor-specific scales were identified. Caregiver-focused scales were limited and predominantly burden-oriented. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant heterogeneity, domain imbalances, and validation gaps in the current use of assessment scales for patients with glioma receiving palliative care. The scale selected for use should be comprehensive and user-friendly.
Humans
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Glioma/psychology*
;
Palliative Care/methods*
;
Quality of Life
;
Psychometrics
;
Brain Neoplasms/psychology*
7.Glutamine signaling specifically activates c-Myc and Mcl-1 to facilitate cancer cell proliferation and survival.
Meng WANG ; Fu-Shen GUO ; Dai-Sen HOU ; Hui-Lu ZHANG ; Xiang-Tian CHEN ; Yan-Xin SHEN ; Zi-Fan GUO ; Zhi-Fang ZHENG ; Yu-Peng HU ; Pei-Zhun DU ; Chen-Ji WANG ; Yan LIN ; Yi-Yuan YUAN ; Shi-Min ZHAO ; Wei XU
Protein & Cell 2025;16(11):968-984
Glutamine provides carbon and nitrogen to support the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the precise reason why cancer cells are particularly dependent on glutamine remains unclear. In this study, we report that glutamine modulates the tumor suppressor F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) to promote cancer cell proliferation and survival. Specifically, lysine 604 (K604) in the sixth of the 7 substrate-recruiting WD repeats of FBW7 undergoes glutaminylation (Gln-K604) by glutaminyl tRNA synthetase. Gln-K604 inhibits SCFFBW7-mediated degradation of c-Myc and Mcl-1, enhances glutamine utilization, and stimulates nucleotide and DNA biosynthesis through the activation of c-Myc. Additionally, Gln-K604 promotes resistance to apoptosis by activating Mcl-1. In contrast, SIRT1 deglutaminylates Gln-K604, thereby reversing its effects. Cancer cells lacking Gln-K604 exhibit overexpression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 and display resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Silencing both c-MYC and MCL-1 in these cells sensitizes them to chemotherapy. These findings indicate that the glutamine-mediated signal via Gln-K604 is a key driver of cancer progression and suggest potential strategies for targeted cancer therapies based on varying Gln-K604 status.
Glutamine/metabolism*
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Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics*
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Humans
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics*
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Cell Proliferation
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Signal Transduction
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Neoplasms/pathology*
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F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7/genetics*
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Cell Survival
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Apoptosis
8.Elemene as a binding stabilizer of microRNA-145-5p suppresses the growth of non-small cell lung cancer.
Meirong ZHOU ; Jiayue WANG ; Yulin PENG ; Xiangge TIAN ; Wen ZHANG ; Junlin CHEN ; Yue WANG ; Yu WANG ; Youjian YANG ; Yongwei ZHANG ; Xiaokui HUO ; Yuzhuo WU ; Zhenlong YU ; Tian XIE ; Xiaochi MA
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(3):101118-101118
Elemene is widely recognized as an effective anti-cancer compound and is routinely administered in Chinese clinical settings for the management of several solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its detailed molecular mechanism has not been adequately demonstrated. In this research, it was demonstrated that elemene effectively curtailed NSCLC growth in the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Mechanistically, employing high-throughput screening techniques and subsequent biochemical validations such as microscale thermophoresis (MST), microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p) was pinpointed as a critical target through which elemene exerts its anti-tumor effects. Interestingly, elemene serves as a binding stabilizer for miR-145-5p, demonstrating a strong binding affinity (dissociation constant (K D) = 0.39 ± 0.17 μg/mL) and preventing its degradation both in vitro and in vivo, while not interfering with the synthesis of the primary microRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) and precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). The stabilization of miR-145-5p by elemene resulted in an increased level of this miRNA, subsequently suppressing NSCLC progression through the miR-145-5p/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MAP3K3)/nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) pathway. Our findings provide a new perspective on revealing the interaction patterns between clinical anti-tumor drugs and miRNAs.
9.Effects of exercise intervention on intestinal flora in college students:a systematic review
Zhaozhi LIU ; Li HUANG ; Haodong TIAN ; Lan LI ; Xiao CHEN ; Yunfei TAO ; Li PENG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(11):2394-2401
BACKGROUND:The regulation of intestinal flora by exercise is closely related to human health,but intestinal flora involves many factors.Existing studies have lacked consistent evidence on the effect of exercise on the intestinal flora of college students. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of exercise on intestinal flora diversity and species composition of college students. METHODS:Through systematic search of PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Medline,Cochrane Library,CNKI,WanFang Database and VIP database,eight empirical studies were selected and included,and semi-quantitative analysis was performed on them. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In terms of the species diversity of the intestinal flora,both high-intensity interval training and Tai Chi exercise significantly enhance the species diversity of intestinal flora in college students,while aerobic exercise does not have a significant effect on the enhancement of intestinal flora diversity in college students.In terms of the species composition of the intestinal flora,all three exercise modalities significantly alter the compositional structure of the intestinal flora in college students,which can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Ruminalococcus,Faecalis prevotelli,Blautia,and decrease the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia spp.Compared with high-intensity interval training,aerobic and Tai Chi exercise causes more elevated abundance of beneficial bacteria.In addition to changes in intestinal flora characteristics,exercise improves body composition,cardiorespiratory function,and executive function in college students,and these health benefits are closely linked to exercise-induced changes in intestinal flora that can produce health benefits for the body through metabolic regulation,barrier function,and neuromodulation.Although studies have confirmed the association between exercise and intestinal flora,the mechanism by which exercise affects intestinal flora has not yet been clarified,and at the same time,localizing the flora related to the host health is the key to targeting intestinal flora as a therapeutic target in the future,all of which are worthy of further attention and investigation.
10.Comparison of small-sample multi-class machine learning models for plasma concentration prediction of valproic acid
Xi CHEN ; Shen’ao YUAN ; Hailing YUAN ; Jie ZHAO ; Peng CHEN ; Chunyan TIAN ; Yi SU ; Yunsong ZHANG ; Yu ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1399-1404
OBJECTIVE To construct three-class (insufficient, normal, excessive) and two-class (insufficient, normal) models for predicting plasma concentration of valproic acid (VPA), and compare the performance of these two models, with the aim of providing a reference for formulating clinical medication strategies. METHODS The clinical data of 480 patients who received VPA treatment and underwent blood concentration test at the Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital were collected from November 2022 to September 2024 (a total of 695 sets of data). In this study, predictive models were constructed for target variables of three-class and two-class models. Feature ranking and selection were carried out using XGBoost scores. Twelve different machine learning algorithms were used for training and validation, and the performance of the models was evaluated using three indexes: accuracy, F1 score, and the area under the working characteristic curve of the subject (AUC). RESULTS XGBoost feature importance scores revealed that in the three-class model, the importance ranking of kidney disease and electrolyte disorders was higher. However, in the two-class model, the importance ranking of these features significantly decreased, suggesting a close association with the excessive blood concentration of VPA. In the three-class model, Random Forest method performed best, with F1 score of 0.704 0 and AUC of 0.519 3 on the test set; while in the two-class model, CatBoost method performed optimally, with F1 score of 0.785 7 and AUC of 0.819 5 on the test set. CONCLUSIONS The constructed three-class model has the ability to predict excessive VPA blood concentration, but its prediction and model generalization abilities are poor; the constructed two-class model can only perform classification prediction for insufficient and normal blood concentration cases, but its model performance is stronger.

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