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.Clustering and network analysis of the association between food intake and physical fitness in junior and senior high school students
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(12):1716-1720
Objective:
To explore the network structure of dietary intake and physical fitness subtypes among junior and senior high school students, so as to provide precise and efficient intervention guidance for improving abnormal physical health issues in adolescents.
Methods:
Based on the 2020-2021 Database of Youth Health (DYH), a total of 9 730 junior and senior high school students in Shandong Province were included for analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using a modified Chinese Dietary Quality Questionnaire, and physical fitness was evaluated according to the "2014 National Student Physical Fitness Standard". The Kmeans clustering algorithm was employed to identify potential subtypes of physical fitness in junior and high school students. Network analysis was used to construct a network linking dietary intake and physical fitness symptoms and to identify clusters of dietary behaviors and physical fitness symptoms among adolescents of different genders.
Results:
The physical fitness among junior and senior high school students of different genders were categorized into two subtypes: the baseline steady type (3 427 male students, 4 039 female students) and the morphological deviation type (1 294 male students, 970 female students). Statistically significant differences were observed in network strength and network connectivity strength among different genders and physical fitness subtypes (all P<0.05). Connections between food intake and physical health symptom clusters across different genders and physical health types among junior and senior high school students were primarily achieved through instant noodle intake and physical fitness (males of morphological deviation type, weight=0.06), fruit intake and physical fitness (males of baseline steady type, weight=-0.07), potato intake and vital capacity (females of morphological deviation type, weight=0.09), and processed meat intake and vital capacity (females of baseline steady type, weight=0.05).
Conclusions
Dietary intake serves as a significant modifiable risk factor for the physical fitness of junior and high school students. Interventions should focus on promoting healthy eating habits.
7.Study on the mechanism of N-acetylcysteine in alleviating cisplatin-induced liver injury
Biqian YANG ; Huiming HE ; Tingmei YIN ; Xiaoyan FU ; Guangmiao GAO ; Lingling YANG ; Jie LI ; Xiaolong LIAN ; Yi DENG
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(6):815-820
Objective:To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine(NAC)on rats with liver injury induced by cisplatin and its effect on intestinal flora and the expression of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB).Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group(CG),cisplatin group(CP),and NAC group.The rats in the NAC group were given NAC 15 mg/kg by gavage for 8 consecutive days.At half an hour after intragastric administration on the fifth day,all rats except those in the NC group were given intraperitoneal injection of 8 mg/kg cisplatin to induce acute liver injury.An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the content of aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),and total bilirubin(TBIL);liver index was calculated for the rats;Western blot was used to measure the relative expression levels of NF-κB,IL-6,and TNF-α in liver tissue;the 16S rDNA technique was used to measure and analyze the amplification information of the V3-V4 regions of each sample.Results:Compared with the NC group,the CP group had significant increases in the content of AST,ALT,ALP,and TBIL,while NAC reversed the abnormal liver function caused by cisplatin.Compared with the NC group,the CP group had a sig-nificant increase in liver index(P=0.000),while the NAC group had a significant reduction in liver index compared with the CP group(P=0.007).Compared with the NC group,the CP group had signifi-cant increases in the expression levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and NF-κB,while the NAC group showed reductions in the expression of these genes,with significant differences in the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α(P=0.006 and 0.000).Compared with the NC group,the CP group had a significant increase in the α-diversity index of intesti-nal flora,while compared with the CP group,the NAC group tended to have a reduction in the α-diversity index of intestinal flora.Com-pared with the CP group at the phylum level,the NAC group had an increase in the abundance of Actinobacteria and a reduction in the abundance of Firmicutes.Compared with the CP group at the genus level,the NAC group had a reduction in the abundance of Rumino-coccaceae and increases in the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Allobaculum.Conclusion:NAC can alleviate acute liver injury caused by cisplatin,possibly by downregulating the expression of IL-6,TNF-α,and NF-κB and regulating the abundance and diver-sity of intestinal flora.
8.Summary of best evidences for anticoagulation management in postoperative patients with heart valve operation
Jialing PENG ; Shaoke LI ; Haiyan WANG ; Mengjuan JING ; Liangtao YIN ; Jiexin DENG
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(2):477-483
Objective To retrieve the anticoagulation management related evidences in postoperative patients with heart valve operation to provide an evidence-based basis for medical professionals conducting the antithrombotic therapy in postoperative patients with heart valve operation.Methods The related evidences of anticoagulation management after heart valve surgery were retrieved from major databases and websites at home and abroad based on the"6S"evidence resource pyramid modeling system.The retrieval time was from January 1,2017 to February 29,2024.Two researchers trained by evidence-based care evaluated the quality of the literatures and extracted the relevant evidences meeting the criteria by combining with clinical situation.Results A total of 12 literatures were included,including 5 guidelines,4 clinical practices and 3 expert consen-sus.Thirty pieces of best evidences were summarized in eight aspects:contraindications,postoperative an-tithrombotic regimens,warfarin use method,vitamin K use precautions,daily life precautions,anticoagulation complications,long term perioperative anticoagulation bridging and complicating pregnancy.Conclusion The evidences summarized in this study could provide a reference for standardizing anticoagulation management in postoperative pa-tients with heart valve operation and for clinical healthcare workers in order to standardize the anticoagulation therapy after heart valve replacement and reduce the occurrence of anticoagulation-related complications.
9.Pathogenesis and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy:research progress
Mingjie DENG ; Jiarong CAI ; Peimei SHI ; Chuan YIN ; Beifang NING
Academic Journal of Naval Medical University 2025;46(6):784-789
Hepatic encephalopathy(HE),a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by acute or chronic liver failure or portosystemic shunting,is characterized by metabolic disturbances and varying degrees of cognitive dysfunction.HE is one of the most common complications and is the leading cause of mortality in cirrhotic patients.Although the exact pathogenesis of HE has not yet been fully elucidated,recent advances have improved our understanding of its pathophysiology,leading to evolving therapeutic strategies.This review summarizes the mechanisms underlying HE and the latest progress in its treatment,aiming to enhance the knowledge and improve diagnosis and therapy.
10.Behavioral characteristics of implicit and explicit emotion regulation in high trait anxiety
Xiaoxue WANG ; Jun HUANG ; Danxu YIN ; Yuhao DENG ; Zusheng ZHENG ; Fanghui WU ; Tao WANG
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(7):742-748,后插1
Objective To explore the behavioral characteristics of using cognitive reappraisal(CR)and expressive suppression(ES)in high trait anxiety individuals under both explicit and implicit conditions.Methods A total of 57 non-psychology undergraduates and postgraduates were recruited in a military medical university from June to July in 2023.All the participants were surveyed with Trait Form of Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI-T)and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(ERQ)to investigate their level of anxiety and usage habits of CR and ES strategies.According to the STAI-T results,they were divided to a high trait anxiety(HTA)group(n=28)and a low trait anxiety(LTA)group(n=29).Then the implicit and explicit emotion regulation(ER)tasks were used to analyze and compare 2 strategies on improving negative emotional pleasure and arousal,and the differences in difficulty and success of using CR and ES under the explicit condition.Results ① Both the HTA and LTA individuals showed a higher use of CR and less use of ES[t(27)=3.94,P<0.001;t(28)=11.33,P<0.001],while the HTA individuals used more ES[t(55)=3.02,P<0.01]and less CR than the LTA individuals[t(55)=-2.20,P=0.02].②Compared with implicit neutral priming,both implicit CR(Pleasure:2.56±0.11 vs 2.73±0.12,P<0.01;Arousal:6.68±0.18 vs 6.51±0.20,P<0.05)and implicit ES priming(Pleasure:2.56±0.11 vs 2.86±0.11,P<0.001;Arousal:6.68±0.18 vs 6.30±0.20,P<0.001)improved the negative emotional experiences of both HTA and LTA groups,and ES showed better effect(Pleasure:P<0.001;Arousal:P<0.001).③ Explicit CR(Pleasure:2.92±0.12 vs 5.09±0.09,P<0.001;Arousal:6.43±0.20 vs 4.33±0.21,P<0.001)and explicit ES(Pleasure:2.92±0.12 vs 4.34±0.09,P<0.001;Arousal:6.43±0.20 vs 4.22±0.22,P<0.001)ameliorated the negative feelings in the HTA and LTA individuals,and the effect of explicit CR on improving pleasure was superior than that of explicit ES(P<0.001).For the HTA individuals,it is more difficult to implement CR and ES[CR:t(55)=2.16,P=0.02;ES:t(55)=2.92,P<0.01],and ES was less successful in emotion regulation when compared with the LTA individuals[t(55)=-1.88,P=0.03];the difficulty of using ES was significantly higher than that of CR[4.00±1.81 vs 5.00±1.80,t(27)=-2.78,P<0.01],and the success rate was also lower[7.04±1.00 vs 6.64±1.13,t(27)=2.09,P=0.02].④ Comparing the effects of emotion regulation under implicit and explicit conditions,it was presented that explicit CR and ES were better than implicit CR and ES for both HTA and LTA individuals(Pleasure:explicit CR vs implicit CR:5.09±0.09 vs 2.73±0.12,P<0.001;explicit ES vs implicit ES:4.34±0.09 vs 2.86±0.11,P<0.001;Arousal:explicit CR vs implicit CR:4.33±0.21 vs 6.51±0.20,P<0.001;explicit ES vs implicit ES:4.22±0.22 vs 6.30±0.20,P<0.001).Conclusion In terms of usage habits of ER strategies,HTA individuals tend to use ES more and CR less than LTA individuals.Under the implicit/explicit conditions,HTA individuals can both employ CR and ES to improve negative emotional experience,and the effect of explicit ER is significantly better than implicit condition.


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