1.Mechanisms of Tripterygium wilfordii and Its Active Ingredients in Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Review
Peidong ZHAO ; Yanyan GUO ; Xiangge REN ; Jiawei ZHANG ; Wensheng ZHAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):352-362
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a common complication of diabetes mellitus, is a leading global cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Current therapeutic strategies primarily focus on symptomatic management but exhibit limited efficacy in halting disease progression to ESRD, and some drugs carry non-negligible toxic side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history in treating DKD, with single TCM and TCM compounds demonstrating unique advantages in multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-effect therapeutic interventions. Tripterygium wilfordii (TW), known for its effects in promoting blood circulation, dredging collaterals, dispelling wind, removing dampness, reducing swelling, and alleviating pain, contains bioactive components such as Tripterygium glycosides (TWG), triptolide (TPL), tripdiolide (TPD), and celastrol (CEL). The active ingredients possess various functions, including regulating immune-inflammatory balance, ameliorating renal fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis, combating oxidative stress, protecting podocytes, and improving glucose and lipid metabolism, all of which play a significant role in the treatment of DKD. This review summarized the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of T. wilfordii and its active ingredients on DKD, aiming to provide insights for clinical management and novel drug development of DKD.
2.Research progress on the mechanisms of pharmacological effects and detoxification of Tripterygium wilfordii and its active ingredients in nephrotic syndrome
Zhifen ZHAO ; Xiangge REN ; Jiawei ZHANG ; Jianye REN ; Wensheng ZHAI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(14):1931-1936
Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a glomerular disease characterized by massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia. Tripterygium wilfordii exhibits remarkable efficacy in the prevention and treatment of renal diseases; however, its hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and other factors limit its clinical application. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms of pharmacological effects and detoxification of T. wilfordii and its active ingredients in the treatment of NS. The results show that the main active components of T. wilfordii include tripterygium glycosides, triptolide, and triptriolide, etc. T. wilfordii and its active ingredients exert significant renal protective effects by protecting glomerular podocytes, repairing the glomerular filtration barrier, regulating abnormal immune and inflammatory responses, inhibiting oxidative stress injury, and blocking renal fibrosis, thereby effectively reducing proteinuria, improving renal function, and lowering the recurrence rate of NS. Traditional Chinese medicine compatibility (e.g. T. wilfordii combined with Lysimachia christinae , Cuscuta chinensis ethanol extract, and Paeonia lactiflora , respectively) can regulate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant levels and optimize drug metabolic pathways. Combined with modern preparation technologies (e.g., triptolide self-microemulsion drug delivery system), these strategies can effectively antagonize the hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and other factors of T. wilfordii .
3.Endoscopic occipital transtentorial transpineal-recess approach for craniopharyngioma within the third ventricle
Chongjing SUN ; Tao XIE ; Wensheng LI ; Pin CHEN ; Shuang LIU ; Wei SUN ; Qiang XIE ; Huaichao ZHANG ; Zijiang YANG ; Xiaobiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(5):838-843
Objective To explore the feasibility of the endoscopic occipital transtentorial transpineal-recess (EOTT-TR) approach for treatment of craniopharyngiomas within the third ventricle. Methods The clinical and imaging data of a 54-year-old female patient with craniopharyngioma was reviewed. The patient was presented with progressive visual impairment and headache for six months. Endocrine evaluation indicated mild impairment of the pituitary-hypothalamic axis function. Imaging revealed a large solid tumor was entirely confined within the third ventricle, maximal diameter of approximately 4.7 cm. The lesion was resected via right EOTT-TR approach, which involved upward retraction of the pineal gland under the 3D endoscopy, and accessing the third ventricle through the pineal recess. Following resection, pathological diagnosis was performed, and postoperative complications were observed. Results Subtotal resection was achieved. Postoperatively, central diabetes insipidus, diplopia and upward gaze dysfunction occurred, but improved after 3 months of follow-up. MRI confirmed subtotal resection of the tumor, and the vision of the patient was improved, and the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score increased from 80 points to 90 points at 3 months after operation. The pathological diagnosis was papillary craniopharyngioma (WHO grade Ⅰ). Conclusions The EOTT-TR approach provides a unique postero-superior to antero-inferior perspective, allowing full exposure of the third ventricle. It is particularly advantageous for treating craniopharyngiomas originating from the antero-inferior wall of the third ventricle, enabling tumor resection while preserving hypothalamic function without affecting visual acuity or visual fields. Therefore, for craniopharyngiomas strictly confined within the third ventricle, the EOTT-TR approach is a feasible surgical approach.
4.Analysis on epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of fatal injury in residents in Qingdao, 2014 - 2023
Wensheng GUI ; Jie CHEN ; Yaoyao XU ; Zicheng JIN ; Haiping DUAN ; Hua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(9):1617-1622
Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of injury-related deaths in local residents in Qingdao from 2014 to 2023, and provide evidence for development of injury prevention and control measures.Methods:The incidence data on fatal injury in residents of Qingdao from 2014 to 2023 were used to describe the epidemiological characteristics of fatal injury by using fatal injury rate, standardized fatal injury rate, proportion, and death order. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was used to describe the annual change in fatal injury rates, and the trend of fatal injury was analyzed.Results:From 2014 to 2023, a total of 23 533 residents died of injury in Qingdao, with a crude fatal injury rate of 28.74/100 000 and a standardized fatal injury rate of 27.64/100 000. The total fatal injury rate showed a downward trend (AAPC: -5.06%, P<0.05). The top three causes of fatal injury in the residents were road traffic accident (40.85%), suicide (15.80%), and accidental falls (12.92%). In terms of gender specific fatal injury cause, the top one in both men and women was road traffic accident injury. In terms of age specific fatal injury cause, the top one was road traffic accident in the all age groups, except age group 5-14 years with top cause of drowning. From 2014 to 2023, the fatal injury rates of road traffic accident, suicide, and accidental poisoning in the top five fatal injury causes showed a downward trend year by year (AAPC:-7.42%, -6.54%, -13.95%, P<0.05). Conclusions:The fatal injury rate showed a downward trend in the residents in Qingdao from 2014 to 2023. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of road traffic accident injury, suicide, falls in the elderly, and drowning in adolescents.
5.Analysis on Clinical Trial Registration Status of TCM for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy
Jiawei ZHANG ; Zhifen ZHAO ; Xiangge REN ; Peidong ZHAO ; Shoudao LI ; Tengfei SONG ; Wensheng ZHAI
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(10):73-79
Objective To analyze the current status of clinical trial registration in the TCM treatment of diabetic nephropathy(DN);To provide references for the registration and implementation of relevant clinical trials.Methods Clinical trials about TCM treatment for DN registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(ChiCTR)and the U.S.Clinical Trial Registry(ClinicalTrials.gov)from their inception to August 18,2024 were retrieved.The following information was analyzed:registration year,geographical distribution,funding sources,TCM syndrome patterns of participants,number of research centers,sample size,study type,study design,randomization method,blinding method,intervention measures,outcome indicators and safety indicators.Results A total of 88 clinical trials were included,comprising 79 interventional studies and 9 observational studies.The number of registrations has increased annually.The domestic registered trials were distributed across 17 provincial-level administrative regions in China,with Beijing and Shanghai having the highest number of registrations.The primary sources of funding were local and national government funds.The most common TCM syndrome pattern among participants was qi-yin deficiency with blood stasis.Most trials were single-center studies,with the majority having a sample size between 31 and 60.The predominant study type was interventional,mostly randomized controlled trials(RCTs),with simple randomization being the most frequently used method.31 trials reported blinding methods,with double-blinding being the most common.The intervention measures were mostly oral Chinese patent medicines or TCM compounds,and the outcome indicators were mainly efficacy indicators,with less safety indicators.Conclusion The number of registered clinical trials on TCM treatment for DN has increased annually;however,the overall number remains limited.There is uneven regional distribution and incomplete registration information for various factors such as randomization methods,blinding methods,number of research centers,intervention measures,and outcome indicators.
6.Expression levels of serum miR-186-5p and miR-942-5p in patients with glioma and their clinical significance
Wensheng LI ; Chunfei ZHAO ; Jieqin YAO ; Chengjie XU ; Jianqi XIAO ; Haiping JIANG ; Chunyu ZHANG ; Xiaoao LONG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(1):81-85
Objective To investigate the expression levels of serum miR-186-5p and miR-942-5p in patients with glioma and their clinical significance.Methods A total of 98 patients with glioma who were treated in this hospital from October 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the monitored group,and 101 healthy indi-viduals who underwent physical examinations a the same time were selected as the control group.Quantitative fluorescent PCR(qPCR)method was applied to detect the expression levels of miR-186-5p and miR-942-5p in serum,and multivariate COX regression was applied to analyze the prognostic factors of glioma patients.Re-ceiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and area under curve(AUC)were used to analyze the diagnostic value of serum miR-186-5p and miR-942-5p in glioma.Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the re-lationship between serum miR-186-5p and miR-942-5p expression and prognosis of patients.Results The ex-pression level of serum miR-186-5p in monitored group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05),and the expression level of miR-942-5p was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The AUC of ser-um miR-186-5p and miR-942-5p in the diagnosis of glioma alone and in combination were 0.735,0.809 and 0.895,respectively.There were significant differences in the proportion of low miR-186-5p expression and high miR-942-5p expression in serum of patients with different preoperative Karnofsky performance status(KPS)scores,World Health Organization(WHO)grades and local infiltration(P<0.05).The 2-year surviv-al rate of patients with high expression of miR-186-5p was higher than that of patients with low expression of miR-186-5p(x2=6.455,P=0.011).The 2-year survival rate of patients with high miR-942-5p expression was lower than that of patients with low miR-942-5p expression(x2=9.858,P=0.002).miR-186-5p was a protective factor for mortality in glioma patients(P<0.05),while miR-942-5p was a risk factor(P<0.05).Conclusion Serum miR-186-5p expression level decreases and miR-942-5p expression level increases in glioma patients,both of which have certain diagnostic value for the occurrence of glioma.
7.Gut microbiota and osteoporotic fractures
Wensheng ZHAO ; Xiaolin LI ; Changhua PENG ; Jia DENG ; Hao SHENG ; Hongwei CHEN ; Chaoju ZHANG ; Chuan HE
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1296-1304
BACKGROUND:Osteoporotic fracture is the most serious complication of osteoporosis.Previous studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota has a regulatory effect on skeletal tissue and that gut microbiota has an important relationship with osteoporotic fracture,but the causal relationship between the two is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporotic fractures using Mendelian randomization method. METHODS:The genome-wide association study(GWAS)datasets of gut microbiota and osteoporotic fracture were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS database and the Finnish database R9,respectively.Using gut microbiota as the exposure factor and osteoporotic fracture as the outcome variable,Mendelian randomization analyses with random-effects inverse variance weighted,MR-Egger regression,weighted median,simple model,and weighted model methods were performed to assess whether there is a causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporotic fracture.Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the reliability and robustness of the results.Reverse Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to further validate the causal relationship identified in the forward Mendelian randomization analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of this Mendelian randomization analysis indicated a causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporotic fracture.Elevated abundance of Actinomycetales[odds ratio(OR)=1.562,95%confidence interval(CI):1.027-2.375,P=0.037),Actinomycetaceae(OR=1.561,95%CI:1.027-2.374,P=0.037),Actinomyces(OR=1.544,95%CI:1.130-2.110,P=0.006),Butyricicoccus(OR=1.781,95%CI:1.194-2.657,P=0.005),Coprococcus 2(OR=1.550,95%CI:1.068-2.251,P=0.021),Family ⅩⅢ UCG-001(OR=1.473,95%CI:1.001-2.168,P=0.049),Methanobrevibacter(OR=1.274,95%CI:1.001-1.621,P=0.049),and Roseburia(OR=1.429,95%CI:1.015-2.013,P=0.041)would increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients.Elevated abundance of Bacteroidia(OR=0.660,95%CI:0.455-0.959,P=0.029),Bacteroidales(OR=0.660,95%CI:0.455-0.959,P=0.029),Christensenellacea(OR=0.725,95%CI:0.529-0.995,P=0.047),Ruminococcaceae(OR=0.643,95%CI:0.443-0.933,P=0.020),Enterorhabdus(OR=0.558,95%CI:0.395-0.788,P=0.001),Eubacterium rectale group(OR=0.631,95%CI:0.435-0.916,P=0.016),Lachnospiraceae UCG008(OR=0.738,95%CI:0.546-0.998,P=0.048),and Ruminiclostridium 9(OR=0.492,95%CI:0.324-0.746,P=0.001)would reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients.We identified 16 gut microbiota associated with osteoporotic fracture by the Mendelian randomization method.That is,using gut microbiota as the exposure factor and osteoporotic fracture as the outcome variable,eight gut microbiota showed positive causal associations with osteoporotic fracture and another eight gut microbiota showed negative causal associations with osteoporotic fracture.The results of this study not only identify new biomarkers for the early prediction of osteoporotic fracture and potential therapeutic targets in clinical practice,but also provide an experimental basis and theoretical basis for the study of improving the occurrence and prognosis of osteoporotic fracture through gut microbiota in bone tissue engineering.
8.A thermo-sensitive hydrogel targeting macrophage reprogramming for sustained osteoarthritis pain relief.
Yue LIU ; Kai ZHOU ; Xinlong HE ; Kun SHI ; Danrong HU ; Chenli YANG ; Jinrong PENG ; Yuqi HE ; Guoyan ZHAO ; Yi KANG ; Yujun ZHANG ; Yue'e DAI ; Min ZENG ; Feier XIAN ; Wensheng ZHANG ; Zhiyong QIAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):6034-6051
Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life, with current treatments often proving insufficient and accompanied by adverse effects. Recent research has identified the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and its resident macrophages as crucial mediators of chronic OA pain through neuroinflammation driven by macrophage polarization. We present a novel injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel system, KAF@PLEL, designed to deliver an anti-inflammatory peptide (KAF) specifically to the DRG. This biodegradable hydrogel enables sustained KAF release, promoting the reprogramming of DRG macrophages from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, we evaluated the hydrogel's biocompatibility, effects on macrophage polarization, and therapeutic efficacy in chronic OA pain management. The system demonstrated significant capabilities in preserving macrophage mitochondrial function, suppressing neuroinflammation, alleviating chronic OA pain, reducing cartilage degradation, and improving motor function in OA rat models. The sustained-release properties of KAF@PLEL enabled prolonged therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. These findings suggest that KAF@PLEL represents a promising therapeutic approach for improving outcomes in OA patients through targeted, sustained treatment.
9.Expert consensus on the prevention and treatment of enamel demineralization in orthodontic treatment.
Lunguo XIA ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Peng MEI ; Zuolin JIN ; Hong HE ; Lin WANG ; Yuxing BAI ; Lili CHEN ; Weiran LI ; Jun WANG ; Min HU ; Jinlin SONG ; Yang CAO ; Yuehua LIU ; Benxiang HOU ; Xi WEI ; Lina NIU ; Haixia LU ; Wensheng MA ; Peijun WANG ; Guirong ZHANG ; Jie GUO ; Zhihua LI ; Haiyan LU ; Liling REN ; Linyu XU ; Xiuping WU ; Yanqin LU ; Jiangtian HU ; Lin YUE ; Xu ZHANG ; Bing FANG
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):13-13
Enamel demineralization, the formation of white spot lesions, is a common issue in clinical orthodontic treatment. The appearance of white spot lesions not only affects the texture and health of dental hard tissues but also impacts the health and aesthetics of teeth after orthodontic treatment. The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of white spot lesions that occur throughout the orthodontic treatment process involve multiple dental specialties. This expert consensus will focus on providing guiding opinions on the management and prevention of white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment, advocating for proactive prevention, early detection, timely treatment, scientific follow-up, and multidisciplinary management of white spot lesions throughout the orthodontic process, thereby maintaining the dental health of patients during orthodontic treatment.
Humans
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Consensus
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Dental Caries/etiology*
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Dental Enamel/pathology*
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Tooth Demineralization/etiology*
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Tooth Remineralization

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