1.The Effect of Qishao Tongbi Capsule (芪芍通痹胶囊) on the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway in a Rat Model of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Yumen XUE ; Xilin XU ; Wei HAN ; Jiaben XU ; Wenting XU ; Zelin LIU ; Xiaofeng ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(1):79-88
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Qishao Tongbi Capsule (芪芍通痹胶囊, QTC) in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). MethodsSeventy-five rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, low-dose QTC group, high-dose QTC group, high-dose QTC +agonist group, with 15 rats in each group. Except for the control group, all other groups were subjected to a fibrous ring puncture to prepare an IDD model. After modeling, rats in low-dose QTC group and high-dose QTC group were given QTC at doses of 0.2 and 0.8 g/(kg·d) by gavage, respectively. Rats in high-dose QTC+ agonist group was given QTC at 0.8 g/(kg·d) and SKL2001 solution at 10 mg/(kg·d) by gavage. The control group and model group were given 10 ml/(kg·d) distilled water by gavage. All treatments were given once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. After treatment, X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to detect IDD degree. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the intervertebral disc tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the levels of proteoglycan, type Ⅱ collagen (COL Ⅱ), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in the intervertebral disc tissue. Western blotting was used to detect the extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins (proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13), aging-related proteins (P53, P21, P16), apoptosis related proteins, including B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (BCL-2), BCL-2 related X protein (BAX), Cleaved Caspase-3, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway related proteins such as Wnt3a, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue. Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assess the mRNA expression of Wnt3a, GSK-3β, and β-catenin in intervertebral disc tissue. ResultsCompared with the model group, rats in the low-dose QTC group and high-dose QTC group exhibited improved DHI, decreased Pfirmann grading, and alleviated IDD. The structural integrity of the NP and annulus fibrosus increased, and the number of the NP increased. The levels of proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, BCL-2 and GSK-3β increased, while the levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, P53, P21, P16, BAX, Cleaved Caspase-3, Wnt3a and β-catenin protein decreased. The mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA decreased, while GSK-3β mRNA expression increased (P<0.05). Compared with the low-dose QTC group, the high-dose QTC group showed further improvements in DHI, decrease in Pfirrmann grading (P<0.05), and greater alleviation of IDD. The structural integrity of NP and annulus fibrosus was further enhanced, and the number of NP cells further increased. The levels of proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, BCL-2 and GSK-3β were higher, while the levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, P53, P21, P16, BAX, Cleaved Caspase-3, Wnt3a and β-catenin were lower. The mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin decreased, while GSK-3β mRNA expression increased (P<0.05). Compared with the high-dose QTC group, the high-dose QTC +agonist group showed a decrease of DHI, an increase of Pfirmann grading (P<0.05), significant aggravation of IDD, reduction in structural integrity of the NP and annulus fibrosus, a decrease of NP cell count, lower levels of proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, BCL-2 and GSK-3β, and higher levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, P53, P21, P16, BAX and Cleaved Caspase-3. Additionally, GSK-3β mRNA expression decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionQTC can inhibit NP cell aging, apoptosis, and ECM degradation in IDD rats, and its therapeutic effect may be mediated through the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
2.Research progress on enhanced recovery after posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Zhengliang SHI ; Yanlin LI ; Zhaohui RUAN ; Hongmai YANG ; Kaiquan LI ; Ping YUAN ; Wenting TANG ; Rui HAN
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(12):1591-1599
OBJECTIVE:
To summarize research progress on enhanced recovery after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction, clarify the core contradictions, effective intervention methods, and evaluation shortcomings in current clinical practice, and provide theoretical support for optimizing clinical rehabilitation strategies.
METHODS:
Relevant domestic and international literature in recent years was systematically searched. The key technologies and challenges for enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction were analyzed from three aspects: the core issues of enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction, treatment strategies, and the post-reconstruction effectiveness evaluation system.
RESULTS:
Enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction mainly faces two core problems. First, there is a balance dilemma between graft tendon protection and knee joint function recovery: the tensile capacity of the graft tendon is weak in the early postoperative period, so excessive weight-bearing easily leads to relaxation, while overly conservative immobilization causes muscle atrophy and joint adhesion. Second, the return-to-sport rate is significantly affected by injury type and treatment method: patients with combined multiple ligament or meniscus injuries have a much lower return-to-sport rate than those with isolated PCL injury, and the risk of return-to-sport failure is higher. Current research mainly promotes rehabilitation from two aspects: physical therapy and surgical technology. Physical therapy runs through the perioperative period: preoperatively, muscle strength training, swelling control, and maintenance of joint range of motion are used to optimize surgical conditions; postoperatively, phased intervention is implemented. Surgical technology focuses on minimally invasive and anatomical approaches: arthroscopic surgery reduces injury, double-bundle reconstruction and internal tension-relief technology improve stability, and modified tunnel positioning and special surgical methods avoid the risk of "Killer Turn". Postoperative functional evaluation adopts multi-dimensional indicators: subjective evaluation relies on scales such as Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC); objective evaluation assesses stability through Telos stress test and posterior drawer test; imaging evaluation takes MRI as the core; psychological evaluation is assisted by the Tampa scale of kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11). However, there are obvious shortcomings, such as the lack of PCL-specific evaluation tools.
CONCLUSION
Enhanced recovery after PCL reconstruction requires the integration of precise surgery, individualized rehabilitation, and comprehensive subjective and objective evaluation. In the future, biomaterials and digital technologies should be integrated to optimize the full-cycle management of PCL reconstruction, thereby improving functional recovery and the effect of return to sports.
Humans
;
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/rehabilitation*
;
Posterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries*
;
Recovery of Function
;
Knee Joint/physiopathology*
;
Knee Injuries/rehabilitation*
;
Return to Sport
;
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
;
Tendons/transplantation*
;
Arthroscopy
3.Rapid enrichment and SERS differentiation of various bacteria in skin interstitial fluid by 4-MPBA-AuNPs-functionalized hydrogel microneedles.
Ying YANG ; Xingyu WANG ; Yexin HU ; Zhongyao LIU ; Xiao MA ; Feng FENG ; Feng ZHENG ; Xinlin GUO ; Wenyuan LIU ; Wenting LIAO ; Lingfei HAN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(3):101152-101152
Bacterial infection is a major threat to global public health, and can cause serious diseases such as bacterial skin infection and foodborne diseases. It is essential to develop a new method to rapidly diagnose clinical multiple bacterial infections and monitor food microbial contamination in production sites in real-time. In this work, we developed a 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid gold nanoparticles (4-MPBA-AuNPs)-functionalized hydrogel microneedle (MPBA-H-MN) for bacteria detection in skin interstitial fluid. MPBA-H-MN could conveniently capture and enrich a variety of bacteria within 5 min. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection was then performed and combined with machine learning technology to distinguish and identify a variety of bacteria. Overall, the capture efficiency of this method exceeded 50%. In the concentration range of 1 × 107 to 1 × 1010 colony-forming units/mL (CFU/mL), the corresponding SERS intensity showed a certain linear relationship with the bacterial concentration. Using random forest (RF)-based machine learning, bacteria were effectively distinguished with an accuracy of 97.87%. In addition, the harmless disposal of used MNs by photothermal ablation was convenient, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive. This technique provided a potential method for rapid and real-time diagnosis of multiple clinical bacterial infections and for monitoring microbial contamination of food in production sites.
4.Pharmacokinetics of Cordycepin and Its Metabolite 3′-Deoxyinosine in Rats
Nan HU ; Zhenwei JIANG ; Minyan QIAN ; Wenting ZHANG ; Lujun CHEN ; Xiao ZHENG ; Han-Jie YING ; Jingting JIANG
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(3):345-351
Objective To establish a method of LC-MS/MS for determining cordycepin(Cor)and 3′-deoxyinosine(3′-Deo)concentration in rat plasma,and to study their pharmacokinetics in rats.Methods Protein was precipitated with methanol using 2-chloadenosine(2-Chl)as an internal standard.The chromatography was performed on Kinetex C18(3 mm×100 mm,2.6 μm,Phenomenex,USA)with gradient elution in aqueous(5 mmol·L-1 ammonium acetate)-methanol solution as mobile phase.ESI ion source was used for mass spectrometry,and positive ion multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)was used for scanning detection.The pharmacokinetics of Cor and 3′-Deo after oral administration of Cor(10 mg·kg-1)were studied in rats.Results Cor at 0.5-100 ng·mL-1 and 3′-Deo at 1-200 ng·mL-1 had good linearity,and the lower limits of quantification were 0.5 and 1 ng·mL-1,respectively.After oral administration of Cor in rats,the plasma concentration of Cor was low,which was mainly converted into the metabolite 3′-Deo.The Cmax of Cor and 3′-Deo were(5.4±3.4)and(142.0±50.0)ng·mL-1,and AUC0-360min min were(658.4±459.3)and(18 034.9±4 981.1)ng·min·mL-1,respectively.Conclusion The method is simple,sensi-tive,and accurate,which is suitable for determining Cor and 3′-Deo concentration in plasma and the pharmacokinetic study.
5.Research progress in signaling pathways related to acupuncture regulation of post-stroke depression
Zexu DAI ; Kaifeng HE ; Jiejie HUANG ; Wenting HAN ; Lifen WANG
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;46(1):129-133
The signaling pathways involved in acupuncture intervention in post-stroke depression (PSD) mainly include cAMP signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, CREB signaling pathway, and CaMK signaling pathway. A variety of regulatory networks are formed between these signaling pathways, which play a key role in reducing inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, improving neuroplasticity, promoting angiogenesis, and protecting neurons.
6.Research progress of acupuncture for treating post-stroke depression
Wenting HAN ; Lifen WANG ; Kaifeng HE ; Xue BAI
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;46(2):270-272,F4
Acupuncture has a certain effect for the patients with post-stroke depression. In clinics, acupuncture treat this disease from the brain, liver and kidney, heart and spleen, and phlegm and blood stasis. Acupuncture plays a role in nourishing the bone of marrow, regulating the liver and kidney, nourishing the heart and mind, and invigorating the spleen and stomach. Acupuncture plays an antidepressant role by regulating neurotransmitters and receptors, promoting nerve function repair, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors, reducing inflammatory response, inhibiting the hyperfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and regulating the brain-gut axis.
7.Regulation of Immune Balance by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Cough Variant Asthma: A Review
Han YANG ; Yonghuang YAN ; Wenting ZHANG ; Peixuan ZHU ; Fang YAN ; Yujie WU ; Shiqing QIAO ; Tieshan WANG ; Zeqi SU ; Ting WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):206-212
Cough variant asthma (CVA) is a chronic respiratory disease with cough as its main symptom. The occurrence of CVA is closely related to non-specific airway inflammation, and its pathogenesis involves environmental, genetic, immune, and other factors. In recent years, the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of CVA have attracted the attention of experts and scholars in China and abroad, especially its prominent role in regulating immune balance, relieving cough symptoms in CVA patients, and reducing recurrence. T Helper cells 1 (Th1), T helper cells 2 (Th2), T helper cells 17 (Th17), and regulatory T cells (Treg) are derived from CD4+ T cells. Immune imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg is a new hotspot in the pathogenesis of CVA and a potential key target in the treatment of CVA by TCM. Th cell subsets are in dynamic balance under physiological conditions, maintaining respiratory immune homeostasis in which pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines are balanced. Immature helper T cells (Th0) can be differentiated into Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, and other cell subsets due to cytokine types in the microenvironment in the stage of CVA maturation. The proliferation of Th2 cells leads to eosinophilic airway inflammation. Excessive differentiation of Th17 cells induces neutrophil airway inflammation. Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells are mutually restricted in number and function, and the immune imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg is easy to aggravate the generation of inflammatory response. Restoring immune balance is particularly important for the airway anti-inflammatory therapy of CVA. In this paper, the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg and the pathogenesis of CVA were systematically expounded. Meanwhile, the latest research on the regulation of immune imbalance by TCM compound, single TCM, and its effective ingredients in the treatment of CVA was reviewed. It provides ideas and references for revealing the scientific connotation of TCM regulating immune balance therapy of CVA, as well as the development of clinical treatment and basic research of CVA.
8.Implications of Reciprocity Mechanism Based on Gift Exchange Game for Physicians'Altruistic Behavior Incentives
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(1):1-3
Objective:To propose ideas for designing an incentive system that aligns with the unique characteristics of the medi-cal industry while maintaining altruism.Methods:The concepts of reciprocal altruism theory and gift exchange game experiments are introduced from the field of economics to incentivize physicians'altruistic behavior.Results:It proposes the indirect reciprocal altru-ism theory,which focuses on the three-party principal-agent relationship between physicians,patients,and management in the medical field.The compensation incentive concept that measures health value is also introduced.Additionally,it constructs a model for the incentive mechanism of physicians'altruistic behavior based on the three-party gift exchange game.Conclusion:Based on the concept of value-based incentives for physicians'altruistic behavior,it develops an incentive system that caters to the unique characteristics of the medical industry and promotes its high-quality development.
9.Effects of a nursing care plan decision-making support system in the training management of newly hired nurses
Lijun HAN ; Weixin CAI ; Wenting XIE ; Pengwei LU ; Yanrong LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(22):3030-3034
Objective:To build a nursing care plan decision-making support system based on the hospital's nursing information system and evaluate its effects in newly hired nurses.Methods:This study adopted a non-synchronous pre-post control design. Totally 181 newly hired nurses recruited by Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, were selected by convenience sampling. The control group consisted of 85 new nurses hired in August 2021, while the intervention group consisted of 96 new nurses hired in August 2022. The control group received traditional training methods, while the intervention group received training through the nursing care plan decision-making support system in addition to the traditional methods. The nursing decision-making ability and the quality of specialty nursing care were compared between the two groups.Results:Finally, 81 nurses were included in the control group, and 93 nurses were included in the intervention group. The nursing decision-making ability score in the intervention group was (80.15±4.59), which was significantly higher than the (78.62±5.13) in the control group ( t=-2.080, P=0.039). The intervention group also had a significantly higher qualified rate of specialty nursing care compared to the control group (χ 2=6.626, P=0.036) . Conclusions:The application of the nursing care plan decision-making support system in the standardized training of newly hired nurses can improve their nursing decision-making abilities and the quality of specialty nursing care.
10.Investigation and analysis of prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases among interventional surgeons in some top three hospitals in Tianjin
Huixing WANG ; Jingzhi LIU ; Wenting MA ; Xiaodong HUO ; Chenyang HAN ; Kemei SHI
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2023;41(9):655-658
Objective:To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal diseases among interventional surgeons in top three hospitals, and to provide suggestions for prevention of musculoskeletal diseases.Methods:In June 2022, a self-designed questionnaire was used to collect general information of doctors engaged in interventional surgery (121) and non-interventional surgery (124) in some top three hospitals in Tianjin. The standard version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to investigate information related to musculoskeletal diseases. The prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal diseases among interventional and non-interventional surgeons were analyzed.Results:The prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases among interventional surgeons and non-interventional surgeons was 59.50% (72/121) and 62.90% (78/124) . Compared with non-interventional surgeons, interventional surgeons had a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases in the shoulders and upper back, and a lower prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases in the waist. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, weekly time of physical exercise, time of intervention operation, and wearing protective clothing were independent risk factors for musculoskeletal diseases ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:The prevalence rate of musculoskeletal diseases among doctors engaged in interventional surgery is relatively high in some top three hospitals in Tianjin, and proper enhancement of physical exercise and shortening of interventional time are conducive to reducing musculoskeletal diseases.

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