1.A Systematic Strategy for Discovering First-in-class Anti-fibrotic Drugs from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Wen HUANG ; Guang XIN ; Sanyin ZHANG ; Tao WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Zeliang WEI ; Qilong ZHOU ; Ke LI ; Dan SUN ; Kui YU ; Shilin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):296-307
Pulmonary fibrosis(PF) is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge, the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation(FIRST), a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The strategy integrates three key dimensions, including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds, structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways, and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM, the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics, as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class, formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures, clarified mechanisms, and proven safety, offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.
2.A Systematic Strategy for Discovering First-in-class Anti-fibrotic Drugs from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Wen HUANG ; Guang XIN ; Sanyin ZHANG ; Tao WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Zeliang WEI ; Qilong ZHOU ; Ke LI ; Dan SUN ; Kui YU ; Shilin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):296-307
Pulmonary fibrosis(PF) is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge, the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation(FIRST), a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The strategy integrates three key dimensions, including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds, structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways, and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM, the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics, as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class, formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures, clarified mechanisms, and proven safety, offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.
3.Role of Toll-like receptors in persistent infection of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus based on "latent pathogen theory".
Dan-Dan HONG ; Ting-Ting SHANG ; Hong-Yu GUO ; Wen-Ting ZUO ; Rui SUN ; Wen-Wen XU ; Qing-Ling REN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1974-1979
Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus(HR-HPV) is the primary etiological factor in cervical lesions and cervical cancer. Toll-like receptors(TLRs), as important pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system, play a key role in the persistence of cervical HR-HPV infection. The "latent pathogen theory" in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) holds that latent pathogens have both "latent" and "triggered" characteristics, which closely resemble the persistent infection and latent pathogenic potential of cervical HR-HPV. Guided by the "latent pathogen theory" and using contemporary immunological techniques, this paper explores the bidirectional immunomodulatory effects of TLRs in the persistence of cervical HR-HPV infection and their relationship with latent pathogens. The results indicate that TLRs play a crucial role in immune recognition and modulation. Dysregulation and overactivation of TLRs can induce chronic inflammation, allowing cervical HR-HPV to persist and evade immune detection. TLR dysfunction, coupled with a deficiency in healthy Qi that prevents the expulsion of pathogens, is a critical factor in the pathogenicity of latent pathogens. Restoring healthy Qi to modulate the immune functions of TLRs emerges as an important strategy for clearing cervical HR-HPV infection. By harmonizing the spleen and kidney and regulating immune balance, it is possible to reverse cervical HR-HPV infection, providing a scientific basis for clinical research.
Humans
;
Toll-Like Receptors/genetics*
;
Female
;
Papillomavirus Infections/genetics*
;
Papillomaviridae/immunology*
;
Persistent Infection/genetics*
;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Cervix Uteri/immunology*
;
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
4.Intraspecific variation of Forsythia suspensa chloroplast genome.
Yu-Han LI ; Lin-Lin CAO ; Chang GUO ; Yi-Heng WANG ; Dan LIU ; Jia-Hui SUN ; Sheng WANG ; Gang-Min ZHANG ; Wen-Pan DONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(8):2108-2115
Forsythia suspensa is a traditional Chinese medicine and a commonly used landscaping plant. Its dried fruit is used in medicine for its functions of clearing heat, removing toxins, reducing swelling, dissipating masses, and dispersing wind and heat. It possesses extremely high medicinal and economic value. However, the genetic differentiation and diversity of its wild populations remain unclear. In this study, chloroplast genome sequences were obtained from 15 wild individuals of F. suspensa using high-throughput sequencing technology. The sequence characteristics and intraspecific variations were analyzed. The results were as follows:(1) The full length of the F. suspensa chloroplast genome ranged from 156 184 to 156 479 bp, comprising a large single-copy region, a small single-copy region, and two inverted repeat regions. The chloroplast genome encoded a total of 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes.(2) A total of 166-174 SSR loci, 792 SNV loci, and 63 InDel loci were identified in the F. suspensa chloroplast genome, indicating considerable genetic variation among individuals.(3) Population structure analysis revealed that F. suspensa could be divided into five or six groups. Both the population structure analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction results indicated significant genetic variation within the wild populations of F. suspensa, with no obvious correlation between intraspecific genetic differentiation and geographical distribution. This study provides new insights into the genetic diversity and differentiation within F. suspensa species and offers additional references for the conservation of species diversity and the utilization of germplasm resources in wild F. suspensa.
Genome, Chloroplast
;
Forsythia/classification*
;
Phylogeny
;
Genetic Variation
;
Chloroplasts/genetics*
;
Microsatellite Repeats
5.Advances of Metal-Organic Framework Stationary Phases for Gas Chromatographic Separations
Yan JIN ; Wen-Bo LI ; Yu-Chen ZHU ; Bin ZHAO ; Lei LI ; Dan ZHENG ; Fei FENG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(1):1-13
Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)are porous materials composed of metal ions or metal clusters and organic ligands by coordination,which have the advantages of large specific surface area,good thermal stability and adjustable pore size,and have a promising application in gas chromatographic separation.In recent years,MOFs materials have been used as stationary phases for gas chromatography mainly including ZIF,MIL,UiO-66,HKUST-1,IRMOFs,etc.Based on the molecular sieve effect,van der Waals forces,hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions,the pore size,pore microenvironment,unsaturated metal site and special functional group of the MOFs stationary phase materials can be specifically designed and regulated.MOFs materials as stationary phases have unique separation performance for n-alkanes and their isomers,aromatic compounds and their isomers,alcohols/ketones/aldehydes and their isomers,and chiral compounds.The combination of organic polymers and novel nanomaterials with MOFs materials can improve the separation performance and stability of MOFs.Therefore,MOFs materials are expected to be the promising stationary phase that can be applied to gas separation in complex environments.In this article,the research advances of various stationary phases based on MOFs for gas chromatography in recent years were reviewed.The separation performance and separation mechanism of MOFs stationary phases for mixed gas samples were discussed,and the development trends in the future were prospected.
6.Research progress on the spatial heterogeneity of PD-L1
Li-Yuan RU ; Wei GUO ; Wen-Dan YU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(6):679-687
Programmed death ligand-1(PD-L1),which is expressed on the surface of tumor cells,can bind to programmed death receptor-1(PD-1)on T cells.The interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 can activate negative regulatory signal of T cells and inhibit their activation and proliferation,thus promoting tumor immune escape.PD-L1 is mainly expressed on the tumor cell membrane,but is also distributed in the nucleus,cytoplasm,and exosomes.Different spatial distribution of PD-L1 has different effects on tumors,among which the dynamic transformation and spatial heterogeneity expression of PD-L1 in tumors is the main reason for the unsatisfactory efficacy of PD-L1 antibodies.This article aims to introduce the spatial heterogeneity of PD-L1,and review the research progress on PD-L1 dynamic transformation in tumor cells,so as to provide new ideas for antitumor therapy based on PD-L1 antibody.
7.Association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and in-hospital mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection:a multicenter 10-year retrospective cohort study
Zi-Xuan LIU ; Hui-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Dan ZHONG ; Xing-Wei HE ; Wen-Hua WANG ; Dan YU ; Bao-Quan ZHANG ; Chun-Wen LI ; He-Song ZENG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):917-924
Objective To investigate the role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in predicting the in-hospital mortality risk of patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)in multicenter hospitals.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted.Clinical data were collected from 2642 AAD patients who were hospitalized in five teaching hospitals:Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Henan Provincial People's Hospital,Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital,the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University,and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between August 2010 and December 2021.According to the quartiles of serum NLRlevels,the patients were divided into four groups:first quartile(Q1,n=660),second quartile(Q2,n=661),third quartile(Q3,n=661),and fourth quartile(Q4,n=660).The clinical characteristics and biochemical indicators of each group were compared.Partial correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between NLR and cardiovascular parameters.Restricted cubic splines,Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,and Cox regression models were employed to evaluate the association between NLR levels and in-hospital mortality risk in AAD patients.Results The median age of all patients was 54[interquartile range(IQR):46-63]years,including 2096 males and 546 females.Compared with Q1-Q3 groups,patients inQ4group had a lower incidence of smoking history and diabetes history,and were more likely to have DeBakey type Ⅰ AAD(P<0.05).Additionally,the levels of aspartate aminotransferase,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,creatinine,and D-dimer in Q4 group were higher,while the levels of triglycerides and C-reactive protein(CRP)were lower(P<0.01).The results of partial correlation analysis showed that the plasma NLR level was positively correlated with D-dimer(r=0.43,P<0.01)and creatinine(r=0.16,P<0.01).The restricted cubic spline function in the Cox model revealed a significant non-linear relationship between the plasma NLR level and clinical outcomes in AAD patients(P<0.01).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that patients in Q4 group had the highest in-hospital mortality rate compared with Q1-Q3 groups(P<0.0001).Furthermore,multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that compared with Q1 group,the hazard ratio(HR)of NLR in Q4 group was 1.77(95%CI 1.33-2.37,P<0.001),which was an independent risk factor for the primary endpoint events.Conclusion A higher plasma NLR level is significantly associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events in AAD patients,and this association remains significant even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as the multicenter visiting hospitals.
8.Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography
Meng-Meng MIAO ; Yu-Xuan REN ; Wen-Wei WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Xiang-Hong LIN ; Hui-Dan LIN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):244-257
ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
9.Analysis on the disease burden trend and attributable risk factors of common gynecological cancers in China from 1990 to 2021
Xiao-hui ZHOU ; Yi-xin ZOU ; Zhuo-ying LI ; Yu-xuan XIAO ; Dan-dan TANG ; Yu-xin ZHOU ; Pei-wen LU ; Qun XU ; Yong-bing XIANG
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(6):783-793
Objective To describe and analyze the current status,changing trend and influencing factors of the disease burden of cervical,endometrial and ovarian cancer in China from 1990 to 2021.Methods Data on incidence,mortality,disability-adjusted life year(DALY),and other indicators for cervical,endometrial and ovarian cancer were collected from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease database.Joinpoint regression models were used to analyze time trends,and age-period-cohort(APC)models assessed their impact on incidence and mortality.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the sociodemographic index(SDI)and the cancer indicators.Finally,the attributable risk factors for the disease burden were analyzed.Results From 1990 to 2021,age-standardized incidence rates of cervical and endometrial cancers in China significantly increased,while ovarian cancer showed no significant change.Age-standardized mortality,DALY,and years of life lost due to premature death(YLL)decreased significantly.The disease burden was heavier in middle-aged and older groups.APC model indicated an increase in cervical cancer incidence and a decrease in mortality over time.Furthermore,the incidence risks of cervical and endometrial cancers were elevated in successive birth cohorts,whereas a lower risk was observed for ovarian cancer.Correlation analysis showed significant associations between cancer incidence and mortality with SDI.Obesity has significantly contributed to the disease burden of common gynecologic cancers in China.Conclusion Mortality rates of cervical,endometrial and ovarian cancer have declined,while the incidence of cervical and endometrial cancers has significantly increased.The trends in incidence and mortality are influenced by age,period and cohort effects.Future efforts should focus on controlling risk factors like obesity to reduce the disease burden.
10.Cross-sectional survey of healthcare-associated infection in 5 736 medical institutions across China in 2024
Cui ZENG ; Wuqiang GAO ; Fu QIAO ; Hui ZHAO ; Xu FANG ; Linping LI ; Xiuwen CHEN ; Jiansen CHEN ; Dan LI ; Yuan ZHOU ; Lingli YU ; Qinglan MENG ; Xia MOU ; Lijuan XIONG ; Weiguang LI ; Ding LIU ; Jiaqing XIAO ; Limei OU ; Baozhen LI ; Jun YIN ; Haojun ZHANG ; Qiang FU ; Qun LU ; Biao WU ; Ya-wei XING ; Shumei SUN ; Shuncai WANG ; Longmin DU ; Jingping ZHANG ; Wen-ying HE ; Gui CHENG ; Nan REN ; Xun HUANG ; Anhua WU
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(11):1572-1583
Objective To understand the current situation of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)in China,pro-vide data support and decision-making basis for formulating scientific and effective strategies for HAI prevention and control.Methods A nationwide cross-sectional survey on HAI was conducted among various types and levels of medical institutions in China according to a unified protocol of bedside surveys and case investigations.Results In 2024,a total of 5 736 medical institutions and 2 751 765 patients were surveyed.Among them,34 889 HAI cases were identified,with a prevalence rate of 1.27%.The number of HAI episodes was 38 032,and case prevalence rate was 1.38%.The prevalence rate of HAI in medical institutions in different regions of China ranged from 0.66%to 2.35%.Among medical institutions of different scales,those with a bed capacity of ≥900 had the high-est incidence of HAI,reaching 1.65%.The most common infection site was the lower respiratory tract(44.66%),followed by the urinary tract(12.94%),surgical site(9.32%),upper respiratory tract(7.02%),and bloodstream infection(5.78%).The top 3 departments with the highest HAI rates were the general intensive care unit(10.02%),department of neurosurgery(5.51%),and department(group)of hematology(5.34%).A total of 23 238 strains of HAI pathogens were detected,with 10 714 strains(46.10%)from lower respiratory tract speci-mens.The top 5 detected strains were Klebsiella pneumoniae(14.76%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(13.33%),Escherichia coli(12.79%),Acinetobacter baumannii(9.23%),and Staphylococcus aureus(7.88%).231 944 pa-tients underwent class Ⅰ incision surgery were monitored,with 1 647 cases experienced surgical site infection,and the prevalence rate of surgical site infection was 0.71%.The number of patients who should undergo pathogen de-tection(patients receiving therapeutic and therapeutic combined prophylactic antimicrobial agents)was 715 179,while the actual number was 480 492,with a pathogen detection rate of 67.18%.425 225 patients received patho-genic detection before treatment,with a detection rate of 59.46%.Conclusion The overall HAI prevalence in Chi-na is lower,showing disparities among medical institutions of different regions and scales.Therefore,precise imple-mentation of measures is necessary for HAI prevention and control,with a focus on high-risk institutions and high-risk departments,key areas,and critical procedures.All levels of medical institutions should continuously reduce the incidence of HAI by strengthening monitoring,standardizing the use of antimicrobial agents,and reinforcing basic HAI prevention and control measures.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail