1.Mechanisms of Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang in Improving Obesity-type Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Rats Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Shiwei HU ; Biran ZHU ; Jinrong ZHANG ; Luyao RUAN ; Ji KUANG ; Jianghuan HUA ; Zhe LIU ; Yanyue YAO ; Ji WANG ; Min ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):21-31
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang (MLC) improves obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-six female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group (Con) and an obesity-type PCOS model preparation group. The model was induced by gavage with letrozole (1 mg·kg-1) combined with a high-fat diet (HFD). After model establishment, the obesity-type PCOS model preparation group was further divided into the model group (Mod, normal saline), metformin group (Met, 0.3 g·kg-1), low-dose MLC group (MLC-L, 4.3 g·kg-1), medium-dose MLC group (MLC-M, 8.6 g·kg-1), and high-dose MLC group (MLC-H, 17.2 g·kg-1). Active components of MLC and targets of obesity-type PCOS were screened from databases, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The gut microbiota structure was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing and correlated with network pharmacology pathways. Body weight and estrous cycle were dynamically monitored. Ovarian morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), testosterone (T), and estradiol (E2). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K/PI3K (p-PI3K/PI3K), phosphorylated Akt/Akt (p-Akt/Akt), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 124 active components of MLC and 408 overlapping targets between the herbal formula and the disease. Core targets such as Akt1 and Bcl-2 were revealed. As indicated by 16S rRNA sequencing, the abundances of Lachnospiraceae, Lachnoclostridium, and Dorea were increased in the MLC groups (P<0.05), while the abundance of Veillonella was decreased (P<0.05). KEGG correlation analysis integrating network pharmacology and gut microbiota data showed significant enrichment of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments showed that, compared with the Mod group, body weight decreased to normal levels in the Met, MLC-M, and MLC-H groups. The estrous cycle became regular. The number of corpora lutea increased and cystic follicles decreased. Serum levels of T, FSH, and LH/FSH were reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the E2 level was increased (P<0.01). Ovarian cell apoptosis was reduced (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were significantly increased, whereas Bax protein expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMLC can regulate gut microbiota structure, effectively improve ovarian pathology in rats with obesity-type PCOS, and inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with upregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
2.Mechanisms of Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang in Improving Obesity-type Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Rats Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Shiwei HU ; Biran ZHU ; Jinrong ZHANG ; Luyao RUAN ; Ji KUANG ; Jianghuan HUA ; Zhe LIU ; Yanyue YAO ; Ji WANG ; Min ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):21-31
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang (MLC) improves obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-six female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group (Con) and an obesity-type PCOS model preparation group. The model was induced by gavage with letrozole (1 mg·kg-1) combined with a high-fat diet (HFD). After model establishment, the obesity-type PCOS model preparation group was further divided into the model group (Mod, normal saline), metformin group (Met, 0.3 g·kg-1), low-dose MLC group (MLC-L, 4.3 g·kg-1), medium-dose MLC group (MLC-M, 8.6 g·kg-1), and high-dose MLC group (MLC-H, 17.2 g·kg-1). Active components of MLC and targets of obesity-type PCOS were screened from databases, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The gut microbiota structure was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing and correlated with network pharmacology pathways. Body weight and estrous cycle were dynamically monitored. Ovarian morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), testosterone (T), and estradiol (E2). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K/PI3K (p-PI3K/PI3K), phosphorylated Akt/Akt (p-Akt/Akt), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 124 active components of MLC and 408 overlapping targets between the herbal formula and the disease. Core targets such as Akt1 and Bcl-2 were revealed. As indicated by 16S rRNA sequencing, the abundances of Lachnospiraceae, Lachnoclostridium, and Dorea were increased in the MLC groups (P<0.05), while the abundance of Veillonella was decreased (P<0.05). KEGG correlation analysis integrating network pharmacology and gut microbiota data showed significant enrichment of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments showed that, compared with the Mod group, body weight decreased to normal levels in the Met, MLC-M, and MLC-H groups. The estrous cycle became regular. The number of corpora lutea increased and cystic follicles decreased. Serum levels of T, FSH, and LH/FSH were reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the E2 level was increased (P<0.01). Ovarian cell apoptosis was reduced (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were significantly increased, whereas Bax protein expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMLC can regulate gut microbiota structure, effectively improve ovarian pathology in rats with obesity-type PCOS, and inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with upregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
3.Characteristics of adrenal lesions in unilateral primary aldosteronism: a prospective study
Wei ZHANG ; Yi YANG ; Junlong LI ; Jiayu LI ; Yao ZHANG ; Youlin KUANG ; Weiyang HE ; Linqiang MA ; Ying SONG ; Jinbo HU ; Shumin YANG ; Qifu LI
Chinese Journal of Urology 2025;46(7):537-543
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of adrenal lesions in unilateral primary aldosteronism.Methods:This is a prospective study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with unilateral primary aldosteronism at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from December 2023 to November 2024 were included. Inclusion criteria:① Age is 18 to 80 years old;② The laboratory test indicators are in line with the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism;③ The auxiliary examination proved that only one side was involved;④ Patient undergo unilateral total adrenalectomy. The exclusion criteria are as follows:① Complete biochemical remission was not achieved during the 1-6 month follow-up after the surgery;② Postoperative loss to follow-up;③ No surgical specimens were received or the surgical specimens were incomplete,making continuous sectioning impossible. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited,and their clinical and biochemical data were recorded. The number of adrenal nodules visible on CT scans and the number of macroscopically visible nodules in the postoperative adrenal gross specimens were documented. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and aldosterone synthase CYP11B2 immunohistochemical staining were performed on the adrenal tissues after the operation. The number of nodules visible under the light microscope and the number of CYP11B2-positive nodules were recorded.Results:A total of 114 cases were included in this study. The age of the patients was(49.86 ± 9.80)years,the body mass index was(25.49 ± 3.40)kg/m2,the preoperative aldosterone level was 352(2012,556)pg/ml,and the direct renin concentration was 1.63(0.50,4.56)μIU/ml. The aldosterone/renin ratio was 224.9(57.1,641.6)(aldosterone concentration unit was pg/ml,renin concentration unit was μIU/ml),the minimum blood potassium concentration was 2.87(2.50,3.40)mmol/L,and the systolic blood pressure was(144.5 ± 19.5)mmHg. Among the 114 patients,105 had adrenal nodules detected by preoperative CT,of whom 2(1.75%)had multiple nodules. Postoperative gross adrenal specimen evaluation and CYP11B2 immunohistochemical staining revealed that 90 out of 114 cases were solitary nodules,2 cases had no nodules,and 22 cases(19.30%)had multiple nodules detected(17 cases had 2 nodules and 5 cases had 3 nodules). Among them,12 cases(10.53%)presented as grossly visible multinodular lesions,while 10 cases(8.77%)appeared as solitary nodules macroscopically but demonstrated multinodular patterns on immunohistochemical staining. CYP11B2 staining showed that among the 22 patients with multiple nodules,13 had multiple CYP11B2-positive nodules,while the remaining had only one positive nodule. Among the 22 patients with multiple nodules,preoperative CT showed single nodules in 19 cases,hyperplasia in 1 case,and multiple nodules in 2 cases(9.09%). Among the 12 patients with grossly visible multinodular lesions,preoperative CT showed single nodules in 9 cases,hyperplasia in 1 case,and multiple nodules in 2 cases(16.67%).Conclusions:Multiple adrenal nodules associated with unilateral primary aldosteronism are relatively common,and are often not detected by preoperative CT examination. Partial adrenalectomy based solely on CT-visible nodules may fail to achieve complete remission of primary aldosteronism. This study provides evidence supporting total adrenalectomy as the preferred surgical approach for unilateral primary aldosteronism.
4.A practical exploration of Sino-foreign cooperation in skill training of robotic surgical system under the background of new medicine
Hua HUANG ; Yao LIANG ; Xun HOU ; Wenjie HU ; Ling LIANG ; Yiyu TANG ; Ming KUANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(1):24-29
At present, robotic surgery system, as a cutting-edge technique in minimally invasive surgery, has become a crucial component in the training programs for outstanding surgeons. Given the relatively late start of this technique and immature faculty resources, there is an urgent need to optimize and improve the teaching philosophies and methodologies for robotic skill training in China, and Sino-foreign cooperation has emerged as a significant pathway to promote this reform. Taking the "International Robotic Surgery Training Center (IRSTC)" jointly established by The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and University of California as an example, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of collaboration background, construction of the training system, curriculum design, cooperation channels, and localization practices, in order to provide a reference and valuable experiences for Sino-foreign cooperation in clinical skill training.
5.Establishment of a competency-oriented evaluation system for oncology practice based on entrustable professional activities
Yao LIANG ; Hua HUANG ; Bijun ZOU ; Rulin MIAO ; Jing GUO ; Fei MA ; Tao HOU ; Ming KUANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):540-545
Objective:To construct a competency-oriented assessment index system based on entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for 5-year undergraduate clinical medical students in oncology internship.Methods:From June to December 2023, the scoping review approach and Bicomb 2.0 were used to construct and manage an item pool. The draft of EPAs and competencies was designed based on truncated word frequency. SPSS 25.0 was used for cluster analysis and UCINET 6.0 was used for visualization. Combining the characteristics and consensus of oncology, a multi-center expert group used the KJ method to draft the framework of EPAs and competencies. Subsequently, the expert group defined milestones and mapped the milestones to the framework to establish the assessment system.Results:Based on 26 included studies, a draft was created containing 19 EPA indicators and 72 competency characteristic indicators. After cluster analysis, 13 experts from 6 medical institutions established a framework including 13 EPAs and 10 competencies as well as 50 milestones, leading to the construction of the "EPAs-competencies-milestones" assessment system.Conclusions:The "EPAs-competencies-milestones" assessment system aligns with the trend of reform, demonstrating universality, specificity, and scientificity. It provides a reference for the development and assessment of oncology internship courses in medical universities.
6.Construction and validation of a laparoscopic skills assessment system based on entrustable professional activities
Yao LIANG ; Baiwei ZHAO ; Tang LI ; Yubao TAN ; Wan HUANG ; Kunsong ZHANG ; Ming KUANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(6):751-757
Objective:To construct and validate a competency-oriented entrustable professional activities (EPAs)-Competency-Milestones system for assessment of laparoscopic skills (ESALS).Methods:A research team composed of 15 members from five medical institutions was established. Taking the Staged Training and Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills program as the basis for EPAs, ESALS was constructed through scoping review and behavioral event interviews and the use of the Kawakita Jiro method. ESALS was applied to evaluate 49 trainees and 10 specialists (including 5 novices and 5 experts) on basic and advanced laparoscopic skills, respectively, in comparison with two other assessment tools—the Training and Assessment of Basic Laparoscopic Techniques (TABLT) and the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS). Perform Mann Whitney U test using SPSS 23.0 software, and use Spearman coefficient for correlation analysis.Results:Through reviewing 13 literuature articles and interviewing 10 senior surgeons, the ESALS was developed, comprising 10 EPAs, 8 dimensions of competency characteristics, and 5 entrustable levels. In the basic skills evaluation, the ESALS score was significantly positively correlated with the TABLT score ( R=0.881, P<0.001). In the advanced skills evaluation, significant differences were observed between the novice and expert groups in all the ESALS competency scores (all P<0.05), while no difference was detected in the GOALS score of tissue handling ability. Conclusions:ESALS provides comprehensive evaluation, detailed standards, and precise feedback, with comparable efficacy to conventional tools. Future work should focus on expanding sample size to verify its generalizability and developing an electronic tool to enhance application efficiency.
7.Characteristics of adrenal lesions in unilateral primary aldosteronism: a prospective study
Wei ZHANG ; Yi YANG ; Junlong LI ; Jiayu LI ; Yao ZHANG ; Youlin KUANG ; Weiyang HE ; Linqiang MA ; Ying SONG ; Jinbo HU ; Shumin YANG ; Qifu LI
Chinese Journal of Urology 2025;46(7):537-543
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of adrenal lesions in unilateral primary aldosteronism.Methods:This is a prospective study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with unilateral primary aldosteronism at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from December 2023 to November 2024 were included. Inclusion criteria:① Age is 18 to 80 years old;② The laboratory test indicators are in line with the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism;③ The auxiliary examination proved that only one side was involved;④ Patient undergo unilateral total adrenalectomy. The exclusion criteria are as follows:① Complete biochemical remission was not achieved during the 1-6 month follow-up after the surgery;② Postoperative loss to follow-up;③ No surgical specimens were received or the surgical specimens were incomplete,making continuous sectioning impossible. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited,and their clinical and biochemical data were recorded. The number of adrenal nodules visible on CT scans and the number of macroscopically visible nodules in the postoperative adrenal gross specimens were documented. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and aldosterone synthase CYP11B2 immunohistochemical staining were performed on the adrenal tissues after the operation. The number of nodules visible under the light microscope and the number of CYP11B2-positive nodules were recorded.Results:A total of 114 cases were included in this study. The age of the patients was(49.86 ± 9.80)years,the body mass index was(25.49 ± 3.40)kg/m2,the preoperative aldosterone level was 352(2012,556)pg/ml,and the direct renin concentration was 1.63(0.50,4.56)μIU/ml. The aldosterone/renin ratio was 224.9(57.1,641.6)(aldosterone concentration unit was pg/ml,renin concentration unit was μIU/ml),the minimum blood potassium concentration was 2.87(2.50,3.40)mmol/L,and the systolic blood pressure was(144.5 ± 19.5)mmHg. Among the 114 patients,105 had adrenal nodules detected by preoperative CT,of whom 2(1.75%)had multiple nodules. Postoperative gross adrenal specimen evaluation and CYP11B2 immunohistochemical staining revealed that 90 out of 114 cases were solitary nodules,2 cases had no nodules,and 22 cases(19.30%)had multiple nodules detected(17 cases had 2 nodules and 5 cases had 3 nodules). Among them,12 cases(10.53%)presented as grossly visible multinodular lesions,while 10 cases(8.77%)appeared as solitary nodules macroscopically but demonstrated multinodular patterns on immunohistochemical staining. CYP11B2 staining showed that among the 22 patients with multiple nodules,13 had multiple CYP11B2-positive nodules,while the remaining had only one positive nodule. Among the 22 patients with multiple nodules,preoperative CT showed single nodules in 19 cases,hyperplasia in 1 case,and multiple nodules in 2 cases(9.09%). Among the 12 patients with grossly visible multinodular lesions,preoperative CT showed single nodules in 9 cases,hyperplasia in 1 case,and multiple nodules in 2 cases(16.67%).Conclusions:Multiple adrenal nodules associated with unilateral primary aldosteronism are relatively common,and are often not detected by preoperative CT examination. Partial adrenalectomy based solely on CT-visible nodules may fail to achieve complete remission of primary aldosteronism. This study provides evidence supporting total adrenalectomy as the preferred surgical approach for unilateral primary aldosteronism.
8.The impact of aerobic calisthenics exercise on sleep quality in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Dongqing KUANG ; Feilong ZHU ; Xiaoyu BI ; Xiaotong ZHU ; Fangyuan YAO ; Yuanchun REN
Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;44(6):435-441
Objective To explore the effect of aerobic calisthenics on sleep quality in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods Forty children with ADHD(aged 9~11 years;mean age 9.83±0.76 years)were recruited from the pediatric outpatient department of some class-3 grade-A hospital in Beijing.They were randomized into an intervention group(n=21)and a control group(n=19).Both groups participated in standard school physical education programs,while the intervention group underwent 60-minute aerobic calisthenics exercise sessions three times weekly for 8 weeks.Before and after the intervention,the sleep condition was measured using the children's sleep habits questionnaire(CSHQ)and the three-axis acceleration recorder.The inter-group differenc-es in sleep dimensions were analyzed using independent samples t-tests,while the intra-group ones were evaluated using paired t-tests.Results(1)Inter-group comparison:Before the experiment,no sig-nificant differences were detected between the two groups in sleep characteristics.After the experi-ment,in comparison with the control group,there was a significant decrease in awakening time,aver-age awakening time,and sleep latency time of the intervention group,but a significant increase in sleep efficiency(P<0.05).Moreover,the total score of CSHQ,as well as the sleep resistance and sleep delay scores,were significantly lower in the intervention group(P<0.05).(2)Intra-group com-parison:In the intervention group,after the experiment,there were significant reductions in awakening time and sleep latency time,and a significant enhancement in sleep efficiency(P<0.05).Moreover,the total score of CSHQ,along with the scores of sleep resistance,sleep delay,and daytime sleepi-ness,decreased significantly(P<0.05).In the control group,the daytime sleepiness score decreased af-ter the experiment(P<0.05).Conclusion An 8-week aerobic calisthenics exercise(60 minutes/session,3 sessions/week)significantly improves overall sleep quality in children with ADHD.Therefore,it is worth application in the clinical practice.
9.The impact of aerobic calisthenics exercise on sleep quality in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Dongqing KUANG ; Feilong ZHU ; Xiaoyu BI ; Xiaotong ZHU ; Fangyuan YAO ; Yuanchun REN
Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;44(6):435-441
Objective To explore the effect of aerobic calisthenics on sleep quality in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods Forty children with ADHD(aged 9~11 years;mean age 9.83±0.76 years)were recruited from the pediatric outpatient department of some class-3 grade-A hospital in Beijing.They were randomized into an intervention group(n=21)and a control group(n=19).Both groups participated in standard school physical education programs,while the intervention group underwent 60-minute aerobic calisthenics exercise sessions three times weekly for 8 weeks.Before and after the intervention,the sleep condition was measured using the children's sleep habits questionnaire(CSHQ)and the three-axis acceleration recorder.The inter-group differenc-es in sleep dimensions were analyzed using independent samples t-tests,while the intra-group ones were evaluated using paired t-tests.Results(1)Inter-group comparison:Before the experiment,no sig-nificant differences were detected between the two groups in sleep characteristics.After the experi-ment,in comparison with the control group,there was a significant decrease in awakening time,aver-age awakening time,and sleep latency time of the intervention group,but a significant increase in sleep efficiency(P<0.05).Moreover,the total score of CSHQ,as well as the sleep resistance and sleep delay scores,were significantly lower in the intervention group(P<0.05).(2)Intra-group com-parison:In the intervention group,after the experiment,there were significant reductions in awakening time and sleep latency time,and a significant enhancement in sleep efficiency(P<0.05).Moreover,the total score of CSHQ,along with the scores of sleep resistance,sleep delay,and daytime sleepi-ness,decreased significantly(P<0.05).In the control group,the daytime sleepiness score decreased af-ter the experiment(P<0.05).Conclusion An 8-week aerobic calisthenics exercise(60 minutes/session,3 sessions/week)significantly improves overall sleep quality in children with ADHD.Therefore,it is worth application in the clinical practice.
10.A practical exploration of Sino-foreign cooperation in skill training of robotic surgical system under the background of new medicine
Hua HUANG ; Yao LIANG ; Xun HOU ; Wenjie HU ; Ling LIANG ; Yiyu TANG ; Ming KUANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(1):24-29
At present, robotic surgery system, as a cutting-edge technique in minimally invasive surgery, has become a crucial component in the training programs for outstanding surgeons. Given the relatively late start of this technique and immature faculty resources, there is an urgent need to optimize and improve the teaching philosophies and methodologies for robotic skill training in China, and Sino-foreign cooperation has emerged as a significant pathway to promote this reform. Taking the "International Robotic Surgery Training Center (IRSTC)" jointly established by The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and University of California as an example, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of collaboration background, construction of the training system, curriculum design, cooperation channels, and localization practices, in order to provide a reference and valuable experiences for Sino-foreign cooperation in clinical skill training.

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