1.Targeting M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization Balance by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Bronchial Asthma: A Review
Jie LIU ; Yasheng DENG ; Weiping YIN ; Lei XIONG ; Na WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):308-317
Bronchial asthma (BA) is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow limitation. Lung macrophages (LMs), as important effector cells of the innate immune system, play an important role in recognizing and engulfing pathogens, clearing harmful particles, and regulating immune responses. LMs can be polarized to M1 (pro-inflammatory) or M2 (anti-inflammatory) in different immune environments and participate in promoting or inhibiting inflammatory response, as well as lung parenchyma injury and repair (airway remodeling), playing a key role in the BA occurrence and development. Regulating the polarization balance of macrophages can not only inhibit the inflammatory response in the airway and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, but also improve airway remodeling and immune regulation, reduce airway mucus secretion, and alleviate the clinical BA symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, especially polysaccharides and saponins, can regulate the polarization balance of M1/M2 macrophages. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds can balance the secretion of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory factors by staging treatment and targeting the polarization state of M1/M2 macrophages, inhibit inflammatory response in the airway, reduce airway remodeling, and improve the BA symptoms. This paper summarized the research progress on the regulation of M1/M2 macrophage polarization by traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, aiming to provide scientific evidence for the precise targeted therapy of BA.
2.Targeting M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization Balance by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Bronchial Asthma: A Review
Jie LIU ; Yasheng DENG ; Weiping YIN ; Lei XIONG ; Na WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):308-317
Bronchial asthma (BA) is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow limitation. Lung macrophages (LMs), as important effector cells of the innate immune system, play an important role in recognizing and engulfing pathogens, clearing harmful particles, and regulating immune responses. LMs can be polarized to M1 (pro-inflammatory) or M2 (anti-inflammatory) in different immune environments and participate in promoting or inhibiting inflammatory response, as well as lung parenchyma injury and repair (airway remodeling), playing a key role in the BA occurrence and development. Regulating the polarization balance of macrophages can not only inhibit the inflammatory response in the airway and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, but also improve airway remodeling and immune regulation, reduce airway mucus secretion, and alleviate the clinical BA symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, especially polysaccharides and saponins, can regulate the polarization balance of M1/M2 macrophages. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds can balance the secretion of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory factors by staging treatment and targeting the polarization state of M1/M2 macrophages, inhibit inflammatory response in the airway, reduce airway remodeling, and improve the BA symptoms. This paper summarized the research progress on the regulation of M1/M2 macrophage polarization by traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, aiming to provide scientific evidence for the precise targeted therapy of BA.
3.Differences in Responses to Neoadjuvant Anti-HER2 Therapy between HER2 2+/ISH+ and HER2 3+ in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Lingjun MA ; Ran ZHENG ; Lingyun XU ; Ying ZHU ; Hong YIN ; Xiaoqing ZHANG ; Rong DENG ; Jue WANG ; Xiaoming ZHA
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(2):501-512
Purpose:
Dual anti–human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) drugs have become the standard regimen for neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) to HER2-positive breast cancer patients. However, the efficacy varies greatly among patients with different HER2 protein expression levels.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 575 HER2-positive breast cancer patients from multiple centers throughout China from 2013 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. We compared clinicopathological features in different HER2 immunohistochemistry classes (HER2 2+/in situ hybridization [ISH] + or HER2 3+), and their difference in response to NST and survival with single or dual anti-HER2 drugs. Drug sensitivity assays were used to evaluate different efficacy of anti-HER2 drugs in vitro.
Results:
Compared to HER2 3+ subgroup, the HER2 2+/ISH+ group had a higher proportion of hormone receptor–positive status (48.7% vs. 76.1%, p < 0.001), more HER2 protein loss after NST, lower pathological complete response (pCR) rate (46.07% vs. 16.24%, p < 0.001), and tended to have worse disease-free survival (DFS). In HER2 2+/ISH+ patients, treated with pertuzumab and trastuzumab in combination had no significant improvement in pCR (19.12% vs. 12.24%, p=0.287) and DFS (p=0.908) than using alone. Drug sensitivity assay showed poor efficacy with dual anti-HER2 drugs in HER2 2+/ISH+ cell lines; however, fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan drugs had a satisfactory effect.
Conclusion
Owing to the differences in clinicopathological features and treatment efficacy, we considered the HER2 2+/ISH+ group to be a distinct subtype and defined it as the HER2-moderate–positive subgroup. In this subgroup, dual anti-HER2 drugs did not exert significant improvement in pCR and DFS. Therefore, treatment optimization is warranted, with antibody-drug conjugate drugs as potential options.
4.Electroacupuncture Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Aged Rats by Suppressing the cGAS–STING Pathway
Baobao MA ; Shiwen FAN ; Jiaojiao DENG ; Kaihua WEI ; Yan LI ; Jiangwen YIN ; Liping XIE
Experimental Neurobiology 2026;35(1):42-55
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a clinically significant complication in elderly patients, largely driven by surgery-induced neuroinflammation. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, a crucial regulator of innate immunity, has been implicated in neuroinflammatory activation. This study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) improves POCD by modulating this pathway in aged rats. Aged male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sevoflurane anesthesia and splenectomy to establish a POCD model. Animals were divided into sham, POCD, POCD+EA, and POCD+EA+cGAS inhibitor groups. The EA groups received stimulation at Baihui (Governor Vessel 20 (GV20)), Neiguan (Pericardium 6 (PC6)), and Zusanli (Stomach 36 (ST36)) acupoints. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze, while hippocampal expression of cGAS-STING pathway components and downstream effectors—interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)—was assessed by Western blot. Cellular localization was determined by immunofluorescence staining. Compared with the Sham group, rats in the POCD group showed significant impairments in spatial memory, accompanied by upregulated protein expression of cGAS, STING, NF-κB, IRF3, and IL-1β in the hippocampus. Upon pathway activation, cGAS and STING proteins were predominantly co-localized with neurons, and their fluorescence intensity in the hippocampus was markedly increased. These behavioral deficits and molecular alterations were partially reversed in both the POCD+EA and POCD+EA+inhibitor groups. Electroacupuncture alleviates POCD in aged rats by inhibiting hippocampal cGAS-STING pathway activation and reducing neuroinflammation, suggesting a promising non-pharmacological strategy for POCD management.
5.Comparison of the control effect of spherical and toric orthokeratology on low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism in adolescents
Pengying PU ; Yin YANG ; Huan ZHANG ; Huan LIU ; Kangqin DENG ; Nian DU
International Eye Science 2025;25(2):315-318
AIM: To compare the control effect of spherical and toric orthokeratology on low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)in adolescents.METHODS: The clinical data of 119 cases(119 eyes)of low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)adolescents who were treated and fitted with orthokeratology in the ophthalmology department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into spherical group, with 65 cases(65 eyes), and toric group, with 54 cases(54 eyes)according to the type of orthokeratology. The changes of uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), axial length and corneal astigmatism before and after wearing lenses were recorded to evaluate the therapeutic effect.RESULTS: The UCVA of both the groups significantly improved at 1 and 2 a after wearing lenses(all P<0.01); corneal astigmatism decreased, but there was no significant difference(all P>0.05); the axial length was longer than that before wearing lenses(P<0.01). There were no statistical significant differences in the UCVA and corneal astigmatism between the spherical group and the toric group(Fintergroup=0.829,Pintergroup=0.364; Fintergroup=0.997,Pintergroup=0.320); and there were no statistical significant differences in the axial length growth between the spherical group and the toric group after wearing lenses for 1 a(0.18±0.11 mm vs 0.17±0.14 mm), and 2 a(0.17±0.10 mm vs 0.16±0.10 mm; all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Both orthokeratology lenses can improve the UCVA, reduce corneal astigmatism, and delay axial length growth of adolescents with low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC), and there are no significant differences in the control effect of spherical design orthokeratology and the toric design orthokeratology on myopia.
6.Acute effects and moderators of sedentary interruption on vascular function in adults:a Meta-analysis
Mingyue YIN ; Qian LIU ; Xiongzhuang XU ; Zhiying MA ; Shengji DENG ; Jianfeng DENG ; Yongming LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(17):3684-3696
OBJECTIVE:Prolonged sedentary behavior can acutely reduce peripheral and central vascular function,thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.Interrupting sedentary behavior may be a potential practical strategy to prevent vascular dysfunction caused by prolonged sitting.However,current research findings on its acute effects are inconsistent,and specific application recommendations have not yet been established.This study aims to perform a Meta-analysis on the acute effects of interrupting sedentary behavior on peripheral and central vascular function in adults and to explore its regulatory factors.METHODS:Following PRISMA reporting guidelines,literature search was conducted in March 2024 using the keywords of"interrupting,""sedentary,"and"vascular function"in the Web of Science Core Collection,PubMed,and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)databases.Acute randomized crossover trials addressing the acute effects of interrupting sedentary behavior on peripheral and central vascular function in adults were included.Risk of Bias 2 developed by Cochrane was used to assess bias risk,and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)system was used to evaluate the evidence level.The"meta"and"metaphor"packages in R(version 4.2.0)were used for main effect aggregation(Hedge's g acted as the effect size indicator),publication bias testing,subgroup analysis,and regression analysis.RESULTS:Twenty-two randomized crossover trials involving 364 subjects(aged 21 to 70 years)were included.Meta-analysis results showed that compared with prolonged sitting,interrupting sedentary behavior acutely improved peripheral vascular blood flow volume(Hedge's g=0.48,95%confidence interval:0.14-0.82,P<0.01,I2=63%,low evidence level),shear stress(Hedge's g=0.65,95%confidence interval:0.37-0.93],P<0.01,I2=54%,moderate evidence level),and flow-mediated dilation(Hedge's g=0.43,95%confidence interval:0.15-0.72,P<0.01,I2=61%,moderate evidence level).Disease had a significant moderating effect on the main effect aggregation for blood flow volume(P=0.01 between subgroups),while the mode(P=0.01 between subgroups)and frequency(P=0.02 between subgroups)of interruptions had significant moderating effects on shear stress.Improvements in peripheral vascular shear stress from interrupting sedentary behavior were affected by age(β=-0.02,95%confidence interval:-0.03-0.01,P=0.09)and body mass index(β=-0.10,95%confidence interval:-0.18 to-0.02,P<0.01).Improvements in flow-mediated dilation were influenced by the total number of interruptions(β=-0.09,95%confidence interval:-0.17 to-0.01,P=0.03)and the duration of sitting during the control period(β=-0.21,95%confidence interval:-0.34 to-0.09,P<0.01).Each additional hour of sitting was associated with a 0.67%reduction in the acute improvement effect of flow-mediated dilation from interrupting sedentary behavior(P<0.01),and acute benefits disappeared when sitting control time exceeded 6 hours.A qualitative systematic review found that interrupting sedentary behavior did not significantly affect pulse wave velocity in various populations but could effectively prevent central vascular function decline in older adults due to prolonged sitting.CONCLUSION:Interrupting sedentary behavior acutely improves peripheral vascular blood flow volume(low evidence level),shear stress(moderate evidence level),and flow-mediated dilation(moderate evidence level)in adults and may prevent or protect against central vascular function decline in older adults due to prolonged sitting(very low evidence level).Characteristics of subjects(disease factors,sex,age,and body mass index),interruption intervention schemes(mode,frequency,total number of interruptions),and duration of sitting control all influence the acute improvement effects of interrupting sedentary behavior on vascular function.It is recommended that adults interrupt sedentary behavior with exercises involving large muscle groups,such as stair climbing,at high frequencies(e.g.,once every 40 minutes)with at least 5 minutes of moderate-to low-intensity activity each time,and limit the cumulative duration of prolonged sitting to no more than 6 hours per day.
7.CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF AEDES AEGYPTI IN LEIZHOU PENINSULA,ZHANJIANG CITY,GUANGDONG PROVINCE
Rui-Peng LU ; Jin-Hua DUAN ; Yu-Wen ZHONG ; Hui DENG ; Jun WU ; Li-Ping LIU ; Wei-Xiong YIN ; Feng XING ; Hui HUANG ; Chang-Jie FU ; Zong-Jing CHEN ; Ming-Ji CHENG ; Sheng-Jun HU ; Ya-Ting CHEN ; Wen-Ting GUO ; Li-Feng LIN
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(1):16-21
Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.
8.Ultrasound-guided biopsy of pancreatic lesions with exophytic and backward growth morphology
Weilu CHAI ; Chao CHENG ; Xinyan JIN ; Zhuang DENG ; Qiyu ZHAO ; Shanyu YIN ; Tian'an JIANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(7):1113-1116
Objective To explore the feasibility,safety and effectiveness of ultrasound-guided biopsy of pancreatic lesions with exophytic and backward growth morphology.Methods Fifty-three patients with pancreatic lesions with exophytic and backward growth morphology who underwent ultrasound-guided biopsy were retrospectively collected.Conventional ultrasonic manifestations of lesions were observed,and the technical success rate,complication rate,repeat puncture rate,as well as the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of biopsy were recorded.Results Totally 61 lesions were detected,with the maximum diameter of 1.4-7.3 cm and the median maximum diameter of 2.7 cm,located in pancreatic uncinate process(26/61,42.62%),head(12/61,19.67%),neck(13/61,21.31%)and body(10/61,42.62%),respectively,mainly presented as hypoechogenic(61/61,100%)and borderless(60/61,98.36%)masses tending to invade blood vessels(51/61,83.61%)and pancreatic ducts(40/61,65.57%).The technical success rate,complication rate and repeat puncture rate of ultrasound-guided biopsy was 100%(61/61),1.89%(1/53)and 21.31%(13/61),respectively,and the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of biopsy diagnosis was 75.00%(45/60),100%(1/1)and 75.41%(46/61),respectively.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided biopsy was safe and feasible for pancreatic lesions with exophytic and backward growth morphology,but its diagnostic efficacy should be improved.
9.The novel combination of astragaloside IV and formononetin protects from doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by enhancing fatty acid metabolism.
Xinyue YU ; Zhaodi HAN ; Linling GUO ; Shaoqian DENG ; Jing WU ; Qingqing PAN ; Liuyi ZHONG ; Jie ZHAO ; Hui HUI ; Fengguo XU ; Zunjian ZHANG ; Yin HUANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(10):1171-1182
Astragali Radix (AR), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, over centuries of use. While doxorubicin serves as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against multiple cancers, its clinical application remains constrained by significant cardiotoxicity. Research has indicated that AR exhibits protective properties against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC); however, the specific bioactive components and underlying mechanisms responsible for this therapeutic effect remain incompletely understood. This investigation seeks to identify the protective bioactive components in AR against DIC and elucidate their mechanisms of action. Through network medicine analysis, astragaloside IV (AsIV) and formononetin (FMT) were identified as potential cardioprotective agents from 129 AR components. In vitro experiments using H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes revealed that the AsIV-FMT combination (AFC) effectively reduced doxorubicin-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with optimal efficacy at a 1∶2 ratio. In vivo, AFC enhanced survival rates and improved cardiac function in both acute and chronic DIC mouse models. Additionally, AFC demonstrated cardiac protection while maintaining doxorubicin's anti-cancer efficacy in a breast cancer mouse model. Lipidomic and metabolomics analyses revealed that AFC normalized doxorubicin-induced lipid profile alterations, particularly by reducing fatty acid accumulation. Gene knockdown studies and inhibitor experiments in H9c2 cells demonstrated that AsIV and FMT upregulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and PPARα, respectively, two key proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism. This research establishes AFC as a promising therapeutic approach for DIC, highlighting the significance of multi-target therapies derived from natural herbals in contemporary medicine.
Animals
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Doxorubicin/adverse effects*
;
Saponins/administration & dosage*
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Isoflavones/pharmacology*
;
Rats
;
Cardiomyopathies/prevention & control*
;
Mice
;
Fatty Acids/metabolism*
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Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
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Triterpenes/administration & dosage*
;
Male
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Humans
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Cardiotonic Agents/administration & dosage*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Cell Line
;
Astragalus Plant/chemistry*
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Astragalus propinquus
10.Association of Longitudinal Change in Fasting Blood Glucose with Risk of Cerebral Infarction in a Patients with Diabetes.
Tai Yang LUO ; Xuan DENG ; Xue Yu CHEN ; Yu He LIU ; Shuo Hua CHEN ; Hao Ran SUN ; Zi Wei YIN ; Shou Ling WU ; Yong ZHOU ; Xing Dong ZHENG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):926-934
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the association between long-term glycemic control and cerebral infarction risk in patients with diabetes through a large-scale cohort study.
METHODS:
This prospective, community-based cohort study included 12,054 patients with diabetes. From 2006 to 2012, 38,272 fasting blood glucose (FBG) measurements were obtained from these participants. FBG trajectory patterns were generated using latent mixture modelling. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess the subsequent risk of cerebral infarction associated with different FBG trajectory patterns.
RESULTS:
At baseline, the mean age of the participants was 55.2 years. Four distinct FBG trajectories were identified based on FBG concentrations and their changes over the 6-year follow-up period. After a median follow-up of 6.9 years, 786 cerebral infarction events were recorded. Different trajectory patterns were associated with significantly varied outcome risks (Log-Rank P < 0.001). Compared with the low-stability group, Hazard Ratio ( HR) adjusted for potential confounders were 1.37 for the moderate-increasing group, 1.23 for the elevated-decreasing group, and 2.08 for the elevated-stable group.
CONCLUSION
Sustained high FBG levels were found to play a critical role in the development of ischemic stroke among patients with diabetes. Controlling FBG levels may reduce the risk of cerebral infarction.
Humans
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Cerebral Infarction/blood*
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Middle Aged
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Male
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Female
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Blood Glucose/analysis*
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Fasting/blood*
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Aged
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Prospective Studies
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Risk Factors
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Diabetes Mellitus/blood*
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Adult
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Proportional Hazards Models

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