1.Research progress on strategies for toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement of triptolide
Xiaoqing ZHENG ; Ying DING ; Shanshan XU ; Long WANG ; Shanshan HAN ; Yaping XING ; Meng ZHANG ; Wenhao LI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1496-1501
Triptolide (TP), the core active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii , exhibits remarkable pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-tumor effects, and holds broad application prospects in the treatment of major diseases such as autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors. However, TP has a narrow therapeutic window and causes multi-organ toxicities including liver, kidney and reproductive toxicities, which severely restrict its safe clinical application and new drug development. Therefore, toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement has become a core scientific problem urgently to be solved in this field. This paper systematically reviews the four core strategies for TP toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement, including structural modification, dosage form improvement, herbal compatibility, and external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine. Among them, structural modification optimizes the toxic and efficacy characteristics of TP from the molecular structure level, with typica l derivatives including (5 R )-5-hydroxy triptolide, ZT01, PG490-88, etc. Dosage form modification achieves toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement via targeted and sustained-controlled drug release of diverse delivery systems. It includes triptolide preparations such as nanoparticles, liposomes, microemulsion gels and liquid crystals, possessing favorable clinical transformation potential. The herbal compatibility and external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine conform to the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine and have a profound clinical application foundation, but their mechanisms of action are insufficiently elucidated, and they lack unified standardized specifications and high-quality evidence-based proof. In the future, we should rely on multi-omics technology to elucidate the toxic and efficacy mechanisms, integrate technologies to optimize preparations, improve the evaluation system and promote clinical transformation.
2.Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment Approaches for Childhood IgA Vasculitis Nephritis from "Heat,Stasis and Deficiency"
Xiaoqing ZHENG ; Yifan LI ; Ying DING ; Shanshan XU ; Long WANG ; Yaping XING ; Wenchao XING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(15):1673-1676
The core pathogenesis of childhood IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) lies in the intermingled conditions of heat, stasis and deficiency. Deficiency is the fundamental cause, while heat acts as the predominant manifestation at the initial stage, and stasis serves as the key factor leading to protracted illness. Based on this understanding, the overall therapeutic principle of clearing heat and cooling blood, dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root is established. A self-formulated Qingre Zhixue Formula (清热止血方) is used as the basic prescription. According to the characteristics of different disease stages, childhood IgAVN is further classified into three main syndrome types, including blood heat with stasis obstruction, deficiency of both qi and yin, and deficiency of both spleen and kidney, with corresponding syndrome-based treatments. Throughout the treatment process, emphasis is placed on dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, while protecting the spleen and stomach of children and maintaining healthy qi. This paper provides new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of childhood IgAVN with traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment Approaches for Childhood IgA Vasculitis Nephritis from "Heat,Stasis and Deficiency"
Xiaoqing ZHENG ; Yifan LI ; Ying DING ; Shanshan XU ; Long WANG ; Yaping XING ; Wenchao XING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(15):1673-1676
The core pathogenesis of childhood IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) lies in the intermingled conditions of heat, stasis and deficiency. Deficiency is the fundamental cause, while heat acts as the predominant manifestation at the initial stage, and stasis serves as the key factor leading to protracted illness. Based on this understanding, the overall therapeutic principle of clearing heat and cooling blood, dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root is established. A self-formulated Qingre Zhixue Formula (清热止血方) is used as the basic prescription. According to the characteristics of different disease stages, childhood IgAVN is further classified into three main syndrome types, including blood heat with stasis obstruction, deficiency of both qi and yin, and deficiency of both spleen and kidney, with corresponding syndrome-based treatments. Throughout the treatment process, emphasis is placed on dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, while protecting the spleen and stomach of children and maintaining healthy qi. This paper provides new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of childhood IgAVN with traditional Chinese medicine.
4.Discussion on the Role of Mitophagy in Ulcerative Colitis from the Theory of"Spleen Acting as the Defense for Host"
Dan LONG ; Wei ZHANG ; Yin XU ; Ying ZHU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(8):19-23
Ulcerative colitis(UC)is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the intestine.Mitochondrial homeostatic imbalance plays an important role in the development of UC.Spleen-stomach qi deficiency is the root cause of UC.This article focused on the theory of"spleen acting as the defense for host"and mitophagy to explain the pathological mechanism of UC,and discussed the correlation between mitochondria and spleen in combination with the related research of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.It proposed that mitophagy disorder is the microscopic manifestation of UC"spleen losing the defense",explored the application of the method of strengthening the spleen and restoring defense at the micro level to improve mitochondrial function,alleviate intestinal inflammation,and provide reference for theoretical research and clinical prevention and treatment of UC.
5.High-altitude hypoxia inhibits PPAR pathway induced ferroptosis in spleen of mice
Jiayang WANG ; Ying HU ; Yuzhen XU ; Qifu LONG ; Chaoqun TANG ; Sheng YONG
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(2):263-270
Objective:To explore molecular mechanism of high-altitude hypoxia regulates PPAR signaling pathway induced ferroptosis in spleen.Methods:Hypoxia animal model was constructed,target genes were screened and predicted by combination of transcriptomics and protein omics.Key genes in PPAR and ferroptosis pathways under hypoxia exposure were explored by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis and verified by RT-qPCR and Western blot.Results:Combination of transcriptomics and protein omics showed that 95 predicted target genes(protein)showed significantly differential expression under hypoxic exposure.GO annotation analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that differential genes were mainly significantly enriched in PPAR and ferroptosis signaling pathways.A negative correlation was found between PPAR and ferroptosis signaling pathways,and GSEA showed that differential gene sets of PPAR and ferroptosis signaling pathways exhibited opposite expression trend in high-altitude hypoxia group.Validation of key genes PPARA,RXRB,APOA1 and SCD-1 in PPAR signaling pathway revealed that both mRNA and protein expres-sions were down-regulated under hypoxic exposure.Subsequently,differential expression was observed in mRNA and protein expres-sions of GPX4 in endogenous pathway and SLC7A11,TRP53 and TFRC in exogenous pathway in ferroptosis signaling pathway.Corre-lations between four key genes for ferroptosis and differential inflammation-associated genes(DE-IRGs)were positively or negatively.IL-1β,IL-6,IL-12,IL-18,IFN-γ and TNF-α expressions in spleen tissue were up-regulated under hypoxic exposure.Conclusion:High-altitude hypoxia exposure further induces ferroptosis through PPAR signaling pathway-mediated lipid metabolism disorders,and accompanied by occurrence of inflammatory response,which causes damage of spleen tissue.
6.The Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Human Health in China: A Call for more Ambitious Action.
Shi Lu TONG ; Yu WANG ; Yong Long LU ; Cun de XIAO ; Qi Yong LIU ; Qi ZHAO ; Cun Rui HUANG ; Jia Yu XU ; Ning KANG ; Tong ZHU ; Dahe QIN ; Ying XU ; Buda SU ; Xiao Ming SHI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):127-143
As global greenhouse gases continue rising, the urgency of more ambitious action is clearer than ever before. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the countries affected most by climate change. The evidence about the impacts of climate change on the environment and human health may encourage China to take more decisive action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts. This article aimed to review the evidence of environmental damages and health risks posed by climate change and to provide a new science-based perspective for the delivery of sustainable development goals. Over recent decades, China has experienced a strong warming pattern with a growing frequency of extreme weather events, and the impacts of climate change on China's environment and human health have been consistently observed, with increasing O 3 air pollution, decreases in water resources and availability, land degradation, and increased risks for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Therefore, China's climate policy should target the key factors driving climate change and scale up strategic measures to curb carbon emissions and adapt to inevitable increasing climate impacts. It provides new insights for not only China but also other countries, particularly developing and emerging economies, to ensure climate and environmental sustainability whilst pursuing economic growth.
Climate Change
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China
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Humans
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Greenhouse Gases
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Air Pollution
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Sustainable Development
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Environment
8.A comparative study of radiotherapy using three distinct radiotherapy techniques following immediate breast reconstruction for breast cancer
Xiantao HE ; Zhuohua XU ; Yusong LONG ; Junwen TAN ; Gang LI ; Yongfu FENG ; Hui YANG ; Ying LU ; Zhanyu WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(4):317-324
Objective:To investigate the differences in dosimetric parameters for target volumes and organs at risk (OARs), radiation doses to reconstructed tissues, and beam-on time in radiotherapy among helical tomotherapy (HT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (F_IMRT) following immediate breast reconstruction for breast cancer, thereby providing a reference for the selection of clinical radiotherapy techniques.Methods:This study retrospectively investigated 15 breast cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy following modified radical mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction at the Liuzhou Worker′s Hospital from August 2018 to July 2023. During target volume delineation, precautions were taken to avoid the reconstructed tissues, which were delineated separately. Customized HT, VMAT, and F_IMRT treatment plans were designed for each patient. The plans were categorized into the HT, VMAT, and F_IMRT groups based on different radiotherapy techniques employed. They were comparatively analyzed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with multiple comparisons further conducted in the case of significant differences.Results:Statistical analyses reveal significant differences in various parameters of target volumes among the three groups of plans ( F = 38.73, 14.95, 37.01, 48.05, 35.55, 22.56, 34.30, P < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons indicate that the maximum dose ( D2%), minimum dose ( D98%), mean dose ( Dmean), and the proportion of high-dose volumes within the target volume ( V107%and V110%) in both the HT and VMAT groups were significantly better than those in the F_IMRT group. The HT group demonstrated the optimal conformity index (CI), while the VMAT group displayed the superior homogeneity index (HI) compared to the other two groups. In terms of OAR, the V20 of the ipsilateral lung was the lowest in the HT group ( F = 14.31, P < 0.05) and the highest in the F_IMRT group ( F = 14.31, P < 0.05). However, the V5 and Dmean for both the ipsilateral and contralateral lungs in the HT group significantly surpassed those of the other groups ( F = 39.16, 31.91, P < 0.05). The mean dose Dmean ( F = 5.57, P < 0.05) of the contralateral breast was significantly reduced in the VMAT group compared to the other two groups. No statistically significant differences were observed for other OARs, including the heart, spinal cord PRV, thyroid, and humeral head ( P > 0.05). The radiation doses to reconstructed tissues ( Dmax, V53.5, Dmean) ascended in the order of HT, VMAT, and F_IMRT groups ( F = 17.69, 17.53, 15.11, P < 0.05). The HT and F_IMRT groups showed similar beam-on times ( P > 0.05), both exceeding that of the VMAT group by several folds ( F = 28.72, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The comparative analysis indicates that the three radiotherapy techniques exhibit distinct advantages and limitations, with F_IMRT demonstrating the least comprehensive advantage. HT can enhance the conformity of target volumes while reducing the overall radiation doses to reconstructed tissues and the crucial indicator V20 in the ipsilateral lung. VMAT demonstrates the highest treatment efficiency, yielding improved dose uniformity in the target volume and reduced radiation doses to the contralateral breast. It is advisable to prioritize HT or VMAT based on actual clinical conditions.
9.Mechanism of Qingre Zhixue granules in treatment of IgA vasculitis nephritis based on network pharmacology and animal experiments
Shan-shan XU ; Shan-shan HAN ; Ying DING ; Yan-lin DAI ; Long WANG ; Yan XU ; Xia ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(4):762-771
Aim To investigate the mechanism of ac-tion of Qingre Zhixue granules in the treatment of IgA vasculitic nephritis(IgAVN)based on network phar-macology and animal experiments.Methods The ac-tive ingredients and targets of Qingre Zhixue granules were screened out by TCMSP database.The disease targets of IgAVN were retrieved by Disgenet,Gene-cards OMIM and TTD databases.The intersection tar-gets were obtained by WeChat online database,and the information was imported into Cytoscope 3.7.1 soft-ware and STRING analysis platform to construct a drug-active component-therapeutic target network.Based on the core targets,GO and KEGG pathway enrichment a-nalysis was performed through the Metascape database to select key targets and core active components.The results of network pharmacology were verified by ani-mal experiments.The animal model of IgAVN was con-structed by the combination of disease and syndrome.The urine red blood cells and 24-hour urine protein of IgAVN model rats after intervention of Qingre Zhixue granules were detected.HE staining and IgA immuno-fluorescence deposition of renal tissue were observed.Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the ex-pression of core targets in renal tissue.Results Net-work pharmacology showed that 109 active ingredients,402 drug targets,1 285 disease targets and 113 inter-section targets were obtained.The core targets screened by protein interaction and network topology a-nalysis were IL6,TNF,VEGFA,etc.The core drug ingredients were quercetin,paeoniflorin,luteolin,kaempferol and baicalein.A total of 2 545 gene func-tions were enriched by GO,and 164 gene pathways were enriched by KEGG.Qingre Zhixue granules could treat IgAVN by regulating TNF signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,IL-17 signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,Toll receptor signaling path-way,NF-κB signaling pathway and apoptosis.Animal experiments showed that compared with the blank group,the urine red blood cells and 24-hour urine pro-tein quantification in the model group increased(P<0.05);the expression of serum IL-6,TNF-α and VEGF-α increased(P<0.05).HE staining showed glomerular mesangial proliferation,capillary lumen ste-nosis,accompanied by a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration,glomerular IgA immunofluorescence deposition;the expression of TNF-α,p-p65,p-p38 protein and TNF-α mRNA in renal tissue increased(P<0.05).After the intervention of Qingre Zhixue gran-ules,urine red blood cells and 24-hour urine protein decreased(P<0.05).The changes of renal HE stai-ning were improved and glomerular IgA deposition was reduced.TNF-α,p-p65,p-p38 protein and TNF-αmRNA in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05).Conclu-sions The active ingredients such as quercetin,peony glycoside and luteolin Qingre Zhixue granules regulate TNF signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,IL-17 signaling pathway and reduce IL-6,TNF-α and VEGF-α in the treatment of IgAVN.
10.Analysis of changes in annexin A2 and vascular endothelial cadherin in patients with cerebral infarction treated with emergency thrombolysis and the relationship with short-term progression
Zuke XU ; Ying LI ; Yuanyuan LI ; Yibo TIAN ; Long LI
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(11):993-1000
Objective:To Explore the changes of annexin A2 and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cad) in patients with cerebral infarction (CI) undergoing emergency thrombolysis, and analyze their relationship with progression within 10 d.Methods:Using a prospective research method, 78 patients with CI were selected from October 2019 to June 2022 in Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, and all patients were treated with emergency thrombolysis. The serum levels of annexin A2 and VE-Cad before and after thrombolysis were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the National Institute stroke scale (NIHSS) was used to assess patients' neurologic impairment. The baseline data, imaging findings at admission and routine laboratory examination indexes were recorded. The progression within 10 d after thrombolysis was recorded. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between annexin A2, VE-Cad and NIHSS score. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI. The value of annexin A2 and VE-Cad in predicting the progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. A restricted cubic spline model was drawn to evaluate the dose-response relationship between annexin A2, VE-Cad and the progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI.Results:Compared with before thrombolysis, the annexin A2 after thrombolysis was significantly higher: (24.50 ± 3.27) μg/L vs. (20.86 ± 3.84) μg/L, the VE-Cad and NIHSS score were significantly lower: (4.72 ± 1.05) mg/L vs. (6.81 ± 1.31) mg/L and (8.64 ± 2.35) scores vs. (13.01 ± 2.86) scores, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Before and after thrombolysis, Pearson correlation analysis result showed there was a negative correlation between annexin A2 and NIHSS score ( r =-0.796 and - 0.568, P<0.01), and a positive correlation between VE-Cad and NIHSS score ( r = 0.820 and 0.502, P<0.01). Among 78 patients with CI treated with emergency thrombolysis, 7 cases (8.97%) experienced progression within 10 d. There were statistical differences in hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, onset to thrombolysis time, infarct site, systolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the NIHSS score, annexin A2, VE-Cad before and after thrombolysis between patients with progression within 10 d after thrombolysis and patients without progression within 10 d after thrombolysis ( P<0.05 or <0.01); there were no statistical differences in gender composition, age, body mass index, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of stroke, carotid plaques, blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure, white blood cell count, platelet count, total cholesterol low-density lipoprotein cholesterol between the two groups ( P>0.05). After adjusting for hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that the infarction site, onset to thrombolysis time, VE-Cad after thrombolysis and annexin A2 after thrombolysis were still independent factors of progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI ( OR = 2.570, 2.496, 3.147 and 0.352; 95% CI 1.285 to 5.139, 1.303 to 4.781, 1.629 to 6.080 and 0.158 to 0.782; P<0.05 or <0.01). ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve of annexin A2 combined with VE-Cad after thrombolysis to predict the progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI was significantly larger than that of annexin A2 and VE-Cad after thrombolysis alone (0.898 vs. 0.822 and 0.799, χ2 = 2.17 and 1.98, P = 0.039 and 0.048). The optimal cutoff values of annexin A2 and VE-Cad after thrombolysis were <23.27 μg/L and >4.92 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 88.24%, and a specificity of 77.05%. The restricted cubic spline analysis result showed that the continuous changes in annexin A2 after thrombolysis were roughly negatively correlated with the progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI ( OR = 0.720, 95% CI 0.561 to 0.930, P = 0.010), the continuous changes in VE-Cad after thrombolysis were roughly positively correlated with the progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI ( OR = 1.450, 95% CI 1.126 to 1.188, P = 0.004). When annexin A2<23.80 ng/L and VE-Cad>5.25 mg/L after thrombolysis, the risk of progression within 10 d after thrombolysis in patients with CI significantly increased. Conclusions:The expression of annexin A2 increases and VE-Cad decreases after emergency thrombolysis in patients with CI, and the expression levels of both are closely related to the degree of neurologic impairment, and the risk of progression within 10 d after thrombolysis could be determined clinically by detecting their changes.

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