1.Current Status of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Research on Mechanism
Junxiang LI ; Hong SHEN ; Tangyou MAO ; Lei ZHU ; Jiaqi ZHANG ; Zhibin WANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):103-110
In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has achieved significant progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A comprehensive literature search was conducted covering the period from January 1, 2010, to December 30, 2024, across Chinese databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP China Science and Technology Journal Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, as well as international databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. The clinical applications and mechanistic studies of TCM in IBD were systematically reviewed. The current status of TCM research on the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD, innovative clinical practices, and multimodal therapeutic approaches, including Chinese herbal formulas, single herbs or active compounds, acupuncture, herbal retention enema, and acupoint application, were summarized, together with their synergistic effects when combined with western medical treatments. The development and application of Chinese patent medicines for IBD are undergoing a profound transition from efficacy validation to mechanistic exploration. Mechanistic studies on the effects of TCM in IBD mainly focus on regulating gut microbiota homeostasis, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, and modulating intestinal immune balance. Furthermore, future research directions for TCM-based IBD management are proposed, including the establishment of TCM diagnostic and treatment models, expanding integrated applications of external and internal TCM therapies, innovating personalized treatment strategies, and advancing drug development. These efforts aim to provide insights for the standardized and precision-oriented development of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.
2.Current Status,Challenges,and Strategies of Basic Research on the Brain-Gut Interaction Theory for Spleen and Stomach Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ting CHEN ; Jinxia ZHU ; Xiaohua HOU ; Xiaoli ZHANG ; Lifei ZHENG ; Lei ZHANG ; Xinxin WANG ; Xuan LI ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):517-522
The brain-gut interaction theory is a multidimensional integrative concept based on the brain-gut axis, involving neural, endocrine, and immune regulatory networks as well as the gut microbiota. Zang-fu organs (脏腑) theory in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows a high degree of consistency with the brain-gut interaction theory, and the core functions such as the spleen and stomach governing the ascending of the clear and descending of the turbid, the liver governing the free flow of qi, and the heart governing mental and emotional activities are closely associated with the multi-level regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis. TCM therapy can modulate brain-gut interactions through multiple pathways in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases, including the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone secretion, neurotransmitter levels, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses, as well as the gut microecology. However, current basic research on the brain-gut interaction theory in TCM for spleen and stomach diseases still faces several challenges, such as difficulties in integrating TCM spleen-stomach theory with modern pathophysiology, lack of innovation in research concepts, and limitations in research methodologies. It is therefore proposed that multidisciplinary collaboration, multi-omics technologies, and targeted research approaches should be adopted to provide more comprehensive methods for basic research on TCM spleen and stomach diseases, thereby promoting the in-depth development of brain-gut interaction theory.
3.Health economic analysis and medical cost analysis of children with severe hepatitis B in China: A retrospective study from 2016 to 2022
Qijun SHAN ; Xudong MA ; Yujie CHEN ; Guanghua ZHOU ; Sifa GAO ; Jialu SUN ; Fuping GUO ; Feng ZHANG ; Dandan MA ; Guoqiang SUN ; Wen ZHU ; Xiaoyang MENG ; Guiren RUAN ; Yuelun ZHANG ; Xutong TAN ; Dawei LIU ; Yi WANG ; Chang YIN ; Xiang ZHOU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(5):562-567
Background::Hepatitis B poses a heavy burden for children in China, however, the national studies on the distributional characteristics and health care costs of children with severe hepatitis B is still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the disease characteristics, health economic effects, and medical cost for children with severe hepatitis B in China.Methods::Based on patient information in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System, cases with severe hepatitis B were divided into four groups according to age, and the etiology and symptoms of each group were quantified. The cost of hospitalization was calculated for cases with different disease processes, and severity of disease. The spatial aggregation of cases and the relationship with health economic factors were analyzed by Moran’s I analysis. Results::The total number of children discharged with hepatitis B from January 2016 to April 2022 was 1603, with an average age of 10.5 years. Liver failure cases accounted for 43.48% (697/1603) of total cases and cirrhosis cases accounted for 11.23% (180/1603). According to the grouping of disease progression, there were 1292 cases without associated complications, and the median hospitalization cost was $818.12. According to the spatial analysis, the aggregation of cases was statistically significant at the prefectural and provincial levels in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (all P <0.05). The number of severe cases was negatively correlated with gross domestic product (Moran’s I <0) and percentage of urban population (Moran’s I <0), and positively correlated with the number of pediatric beds per million population (Moran’s I >0). Conclusion::The number of severe hepatitis B cases is low in areas with high gross domestic product levels and high urban population ratios, and health care costs have been declining over the years.
4.Establishment of an in vitro model for Erastin and RSL3-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Xinyue Zhu ; Qiaohui Ren ; Yan Zang ; Xinyi Zhou ; Junxiao Yao ; Lianzi Wang ; Xudong Sha ; Tao Li
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(4):611-618
Objective:
To establish anin vitromodel of ferroptosis induced by Erastin and RAS-selective lethal 3(RSL3) in hepatoma cells, and to provide theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Methods:
Hepatoma cells(HCCLM3, HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5) in logarithmic growth phase were treated with Erastin(0-40 μmol/L) and RSL3(0-10 μmol/L) at double concentrations respectively. After 24 h, CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability, draw growth curve, calculate IC50, and HCC cells sensitive to inducers were selected for follow-up experiments. The effect of inducer on the state of hepatoma cells was observed under light microscope, and immunoblotting and flow cytometry were used to verify whether the ferroptotic modelin vitrowas successfully constructed.
Results:
Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were sensitive to Erastin and RSL3, but HCCLM3 and PLC/PRF/5 were insensitive to Erastin and RSL3. When the concentration of Erastin and RSL3 reached the maximum, the survival rate was still above 65%. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the expression of Glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), a ferroptotic marker, was down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. In Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L Erastin, respectively; in Huh7 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 0.5 μmol/L and 1 μmol/L RSL3, respectively; in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 1 μmol/L and 2 μmol/L RSL3, respectively, compared with control group.
Conclusion
Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells are highly sensitive to Erastin and RSL3. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 10 μmol/L Erastin for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by Erastinin vitro, Huh7 cells treated with 0.5 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h and Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 1 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by RSL3in vitro.
5.Association of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with stroke severity and short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Shiyin MA ; Deguo MENG ; Kaige XUAN ; Chang HE ; Xiaoyan ZHU ; Xudong PAN
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;33(5):343-349
Objectives:To investigate association of the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) with the stroke severity and short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to evaluate the predictive value of NHHR for outcome.Methods:Patients with the first-ever AIS admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2018 to June 2024 whose etiological types were large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), small vessel occlusion (SVO) and cardiac embolism (CE) were included retrospectively. According to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, the patients were divided into mild stroke group (≤8) and moderate to severe stroke group (>8). According to the modified Rankin Scale score at discharge, they were divided into good outcome group (≤2) and poor outcome group (>2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was use to determine the independent correlation between NHHR and stroke severity and short-term outcome in patients with AIS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of NHHR for short-term poor outcome in overall patients with AIS and different etiological subtypes. Results:A total of 2 865 patients with AIS were enrolled, including 1 925 males (67.2%), aged (61.00 ± 10.17) years. 2 483 patients (86.67%) had mild stroke and 382 (13.33%) had moderate to severe stroke; 2 161 (75.43%) had good short-term outcome, while 704 (24.57%) had poor short-term outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NHHR was significantly and independently associated with moderate to severe stroke (odds ratio [ OR] 2.251, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.895-2.675; P<0.001) and poor short-term outcome ( OR 3.454, 95% CI 2.936-4.063; P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that NHHR had a high predictive value for short-term poor outcome in patients with AIS (the area under the curve [AUC] 0.764, 95% CI 0.745-0.784), and it also demonstrated high predictive value in patients with various etiological types such as LAA (AUC=0.755, 95% CI 0.730-0.781), SVO (AUC=0.801, 95% CI 0.777-0.824) and CE (AUC=0.797, 95% CI 0.774-0.820). Conclusion:NHHR is significantly correlated with the severity of stroke and poor short-term outcome in patients with AIS, and has a high predictive value for poor short-term outcome.
6.Diagnostic value of combined detection of ascites and serum extracellular vesicle contents for HBV-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma
Chenhongmei WANG ; Jiaheng ZHU ; Xiaohui LIU ; Zhihui XU ; Jia LIU ; Hanqian XING ; Kaili WANG ; Yanming HU ; Yinyin LI ; Jinsong MU ; Xudong GAO ; Bo LI ; Boan LI
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(19):2921-2926
OBJECTIVE To explore the diagnostic value of combined detection of microRNA(miRNA)and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-Ⅱ(PIVKA-Ⅱ)in ascites and serum ex-tracellular vesicles(EVs)for hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS From Nov.2023 to Nov.2024,41 patients with liver cancer and 26 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent ascites placement or ascites concentration and reinfusion procedures at the Fifth Medical Center of Chi-nese PLA General Hospital were selected as study subjects.Ascites and serum samples were collected.Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression levels of miR-21,miR-125a,miR-150 and miR-200a in EVs.Chemiluminescence was used to measure the levels of AFP and PIVKA-Ⅱ in ascites,serum and EVs from ascites and serum.An artificial neural network was utilized to con-struct a combined diagnostic model of serum and ascites markers.RESULTS The area under the curve(AUC)for distinguishing HCC from liver cirrhosis using a combination of serum and other indicators was 0.933.The AUC for distinguishing HCC from liver cirrhosis using a combination of ascites and other indicators was 0.912.By screening all detected indicators using an artificial neural network and incorporating indicators with a relative im-portance>0.5 into the diagnostic model,the model included four indicators:ascites AFP,ascites EVs miR-21,ascites EVs miR-200a and serum EVs miR-200a.This model had a sensitivity of 80.77%,a specificity of 87.80%and an AUC of 0.960 for distinguishing HCC from liver cirrhosis patients.CONCLUSION The combined diagnos-tic markers of miRNA,AFP and PIVKA-Ⅱ in ascites and serum-derived EVs have good application value in the diagnosis of HCC.
7.Mechanism of the regulation of prostate cancer stem cells by CAF:Based on the Wnt/β-catenin and SDF-1/CXCR4 pathways
Haoran CHEN ; Xudong ZHU ; Jiazheng WANG ; Yafei CHEN ; Yilin WANG ; Hao LIU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(10):867-873
Objective To investigate the mechanism by which cancer-associated fibroblast(CAF)in the tumor microenvironment regulate key pathways in prostate cancer stem cells(PCSCs).Methods An in vitro co-culture system of CAF and PCSC was established to observe the effects of CAF on PCSC proliferation and sphere formation.Prostate cancer stem cells were treated with CAF conditioned medium pre-treated with Wnt inhibitor DKK-1 and SDF-1 neutralizing anti-body(MAB310).Western blot was used to detect the expression of β-catenin,CXCR4,CD133 and CD44 in PCSCs.And PCR was used to detect the expression of β-catenin,CXCR4,TCF,and LEF mRNA.TOPflash/FOPflash dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to detect the effects of SDF-1 on Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity in PCSCs.Results ELISA results showed that the secretion of Wnt3a and SDF-1 in CAF supernatant was significantly higher than that in WPMY-1 cells(P<0.05).The A value of PCSCs co-cultured with CAF at a 1∶6 ratio was significantly higher than that of the PCSC-only group(P<0.0 1),and CAF promoted sphere formation in PCSCs(P<0.05).Western blot results showed that CAF-CM significantly increased the relative expression of β-catenin,CXCR4,CD133 and CD44 in PCSCs(P<0.01).Compared to CAF-CM,CAFanti-Wnt-CM significantly reduced the expression of β-catenin,CD133 and CD44(P<0.01).CAFanti-SDF-1-CM also significantly inhibited the expression of CXCR4,β-catenin,CD133 and CD44(P<0.01).PCR results showed that CAFanti-SDF-1-CM inhibited the expression of β-catenin,CXCR4 and downstream Wnt signaling effectors TCF and LEF(P<0.01).Dual-luciferase reporter assay results showed that luciferase activity in the CAFanti-SDF-1-CM group was significantly lower than that in the CAF-CM group(P<0.05).Conclusion CAF reg-ulates the stemness of PCSCs through the Wnt/β-catenin and SDF-1/CXCR4 pathways.CXCR4 may enhance the mainte-nance of stemness by activating β-catenin.
8.Research progress on the application of human amniotic membrane in ocular fundus diseases
Fangxing ZHU ; Jiandong LIU ; Rongyu GAO ; Jiantao REN ; Xuequan SUN ; Xudong HUANG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(4):324-328
Human amnion (hAM), as a biomaterial, has made significant progress in the field of ophthalmology, particularly in the treatment of retinal diseases. hAM possesses biological properties such as promoting tissue repair, inhibiting inflammation and neovascularization, and reducing fibrosis, which have led to its promising clinical outcomes in treating macular holes, retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, optic disc depression-related macular detachment, and age-related macular degeneration. The application of hAM can improve surgical success rates and promote vision recovery, with no significant rejection reactions observed due to its low immunogenicity. Nevertheless, the use of hAM still faces challenges in optimizing preparation and storage techniques, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission. Future research should focus on addressing these issues to further promote the application of hAM in retinal disease treatment and enhance its effectiveness.
9.Expert consensus on non-surgical treatment for acute lateral ankle sprain (version 2025)
Hui CHE ; Wenge DING ; Shiming FENG ; Xueping GU ; Qinwei GUO ; Jianchao GUI ; Yinghui HUA ; Yuefeng HAO ; Qinglin HAN ; Bo HU ; Xiaojun LIANG ; Guoping LI ; Yunxia LI ; Qi LI ; Yanlin LI ; Xin MA ; Jun MA ; Xudong MIAO ; Jianzhong QIN ; Xiaodong QIN ; Xu SUN ; Kefu SUN ; Weidong SONG ; Dai SHI ; Zhongmin SHI ; Youlun TAO ; Xu WANG ; Youhua WANG ; Liheng WANG ; Anli WANG ; Aiguo WANG ; Weidong WU ; Yajun XU ; Weidong XU ; Renjie XU ; Yongsheng XU ; Tengbo YU ; Lianqi YAN ; Xiaodong YUAN ; Yuan ZHU ; Mingzhu ZHANG ; Hongtao ZHANG ; Xintao ZHANG ; Xiaofei ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(6):517-529
Acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS) is one of the most common sport injuries, with high incidence, recurrence and disability rates. Currently, exercise rehabilitation-based non-surgical treatment is the primary management approach for ALAS. However, there remain improper practices such as excessive immobilization or uncontrolled activity, which contribute to recurrent sprains and chronic ankle instability, significantly impairing patients′ athletic function and quality of life. To standardize the non-surgical management of ALAS, improve the cure rates, and reduce the recurrence and disability rates, Chinese Sports Rehabilitation Medicine Training Project of Chinese Medical Association, Foot and Ankle Basics and Orthopedics Group, Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, and Sports Medicine Branch of Jiangsu Medical Association organized relevant experts to formulate Expert consensus on non-surgical treatment for acute lateral ankle sprain ( version 2025), following the principles of scientific vigor, practicality, and innovation. Thirteen recommendations were proposed for standardized treatment protocols across different healing phases, aiming to provide references for standard management of ALAS and improve the therapeutic outcomes.
10.Treatment progress of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Haiying ZHU ; Kun TIAN ; Lin ZHOU ; Xudong WEI
Cancer Research and Clinic 2025;37(2):150-153
With the introduction of new drugs, the treatment model for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) has changed from systemic chemotherapy to immunotherapy, targeted therapy and multidrug combination. In addition, re-irradiation and salvage surgery have shown good clinical efficacy in patients with local recurrence of light tumor load or organ metastases with local treatment conditions. This article reviews the treatment progress of R/M HNSCC, and emphasizes the individualized and precise treatment based on the patient's past treatment experience, current disease characteristics and immune and genetic status to provide rational recommendations for treatment selection of R/M HNSCC.


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