1.Construction and Evaluation of "Constitution-disease-syndrome" Trinity Model for Rodents with Qi Deficiency
Yasheng DENG ; Jiang LIN ; Yujiang XI ; Qian ZHOU ; Yanping FAN ; Wenyue LI ; Yonghui LIU ; Zhaobing NI ; Qiu CHEN ; Xi MING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):274-284
The theory of constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a new discipline in recent years. Constitution plays a vital role in the onset,progression,transformation,and prognosis of diseases. At present,some clinical scholars have adopted a novel diagnostic and treatment model of "constitution differentiation-disease identification-syndrome differentiation",in which constitution is regarded as a core element throughout the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Constitution is closely associated with etiology,onset,pathogenesis,syndrome differentiation,and treatment. Against this background,the construction of animal models based on constitution holds far-reaching significance for advancing clinical research. This paper focuses on the construction and evaluation of rodent models with Qi-deficiency constitution,aiming to explore how to further induce Qi-deficiency syndromes and related disease states on the basis of Qi-deficiency constitution models,thereby developing an integrated animal model that embodies the trinity of "constitution-disease-syndrome". The establishment of this model not only provides a solid experimental foundation for the development of new therapies and drugs in TCM targeting specific constitutions,diseases,and syndromes,but also greatly promotes the modernization and scientific advancement of TCM theory. By comprehensively applying multidisciplinary technologies and methods,the study evaluates the model's validity,reliability,and practicality,with the aim of opening new avenues for future research in TCM and promoting the development of the field.
2.Construction and Evaluation of "Constitution-disease-syndrome" Trinity Model for Rodents with Qi Deficiency
Yasheng DENG ; Jiang LIN ; Yujiang XI ; Qian ZHOU ; Yanping FAN ; Wenyue LI ; Yonghui LIU ; Zhaobing NI ; Qiu CHEN ; Xi MING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):274-284
The theory of constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a new discipline in recent years. Constitution plays a vital role in the onset,progression,transformation,and prognosis of diseases. At present,some clinical scholars have adopted a novel diagnostic and treatment model of "constitution differentiation-disease identification-syndrome differentiation",in which constitution is regarded as a core element throughout the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Constitution is closely associated with etiology,onset,pathogenesis,syndrome differentiation,and treatment. Against this background,the construction of animal models based on constitution holds far-reaching significance for advancing clinical research. This paper focuses on the construction and evaluation of rodent models with Qi-deficiency constitution,aiming to explore how to further induce Qi-deficiency syndromes and related disease states on the basis of Qi-deficiency constitution models,thereby developing an integrated animal model that embodies the trinity of "constitution-disease-syndrome". The establishment of this model not only provides a solid experimental foundation for the development of new therapies and drugs in TCM targeting specific constitutions,diseases,and syndromes,but also greatly promotes the modernization and scientific advancement of TCM theory. By comprehensively applying multidisciplinary technologies and methods,the study evaluates the model's validity,reliability,and practicality,with the aim of opening new avenues for future research in TCM and promoting the development of the field.
3.Outcome Indicators in Randomized Controlled Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Ulcerative Colitis
Yasheng DENG ; Lanfang MAO ; Jiang LIN ; Yanping FAN ; Wenyue LI ; Yonghui LIU ; Zhaobing NI ; Jinzhong YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):245-251
To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention in ulcerative colitis (UC), and analyze the characteristics of these studies and their outcome indicators, thereby providing references for the design of future RCTs of TCM intervention in UC and offering evidence supporting the clinical application of TCM in UC. A computerized search was conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science databases for RCTs of TCM intervention in UC published from January 2021 to August 2024. The risk of bias was assessed, and outcome indicators were qualitatively analyzed. A total of 555 RCTs were included, with a sample size of 44 853 participants. The largest sample size was 218 cases, and the smallest was 28 cases, with most studies focusing on 60-100 participants. Of the 386 RCTs that explicitly reported TCM syndrome types, the top three were large intestine dampness-heat syndrome (31.05%), spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome (12.47%), and spleen deficiency with dampness syndrome (9.17%). The interventions, ranked by frequency of use, included internal Chinese medicine compounds/preparations (64.5%), Chinese medicine compounds/preparations with retained enema (18.2%), internal Chinese medicine compounds/preparations + external TCM treatment (5.95%), and external TCM treatment alone (4.86%). The treatment duration was mainly 4-8 weeks (64.86%), with 61 studies (10.99%) reporting follow-up time. A total of 157 outcome indicators were used, with a frequency of 3 460 occurrences, classified into six domains: TCM syndromes and symptoms (346 occurrences, 10%), symptoms/signs (541 occurrences, 15.64%), physical and chemical examinations (2 119 occurrences, 61.24%), quality of life (107 occurrences, 3.09%), long-term prognosis (61 occurrences, 1.76%), and safety events (284 occurrences, 8.21%). The analysis reveals several limitations in the outcome indicators of TCM intervention in UC, including the lack of a basis for sample size calculation, non-standardized TCM syndrome classification, absence of trial design and registration, inadequate blinding and allocation concealment, adherence issues with interventions, imbalanced selection of surrogate and endpoint indicators, inconsistency in the timing of outcome measurements, design issues that require standardization, and ethical and safety concerns. It is recommended that future studies actively construct a set of core indicators for UC that include standardized TCM syndrome classification, clear efficacy evaluation indicators, key endpoint indicators, and reasonable measurement time points. Long-term prognostic impacts, comprehensive assessments of patients' quality of life, and consideration of economic benefits should be emphasized, providing a basis for the clinical practice of TCM in the treatment of UC.
4.Outcome Indicators in Randomized Controlled Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Ulcerative Colitis
Yasheng DENG ; Lanfang MAO ; Jiang LIN ; Yanping FAN ; Wenyue LI ; Yonghui LIU ; Zhaobing NI ; Jinzhong YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):245-251
To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention in ulcerative colitis (UC), and analyze the characteristics of these studies and their outcome indicators, thereby providing references for the design of future RCTs of TCM intervention in UC and offering evidence supporting the clinical application of TCM in UC. A computerized search was conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science databases for RCTs of TCM intervention in UC published from January 2021 to August 2024. The risk of bias was assessed, and outcome indicators were qualitatively analyzed. A total of 555 RCTs were included, with a sample size of 44 853 participants. The largest sample size was 218 cases, and the smallest was 28 cases, with most studies focusing on 60-100 participants. Of the 386 RCTs that explicitly reported TCM syndrome types, the top three were large intestine dampness-heat syndrome (31.05%), spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome (12.47%), and spleen deficiency with dampness syndrome (9.17%). The interventions, ranked by frequency of use, included internal Chinese medicine compounds/preparations (64.5%), Chinese medicine compounds/preparations with retained enema (18.2%), internal Chinese medicine compounds/preparations + external TCM treatment (5.95%), and external TCM treatment alone (4.86%). The treatment duration was mainly 4-8 weeks (64.86%), with 61 studies (10.99%) reporting follow-up time. A total of 157 outcome indicators were used, with a frequency of 3 460 occurrences, classified into six domains: TCM syndromes and symptoms (346 occurrences, 10%), symptoms/signs (541 occurrences, 15.64%), physical and chemical examinations (2 119 occurrences, 61.24%), quality of life (107 occurrences, 3.09%), long-term prognosis (61 occurrences, 1.76%), and safety events (284 occurrences, 8.21%). The analysis reveals several limitations in the outcome indicators of TCM intervention in UC, including the lack of a basis for sample size calculation, non-standardized TCM syndrome classification, absence of trial design and registration, inadequate blinding and allocation concealment, adherence issues with interventions, imbalanced selection of surrogate and endpoint indicators, inconsistency in the timing of outcome measurements, design issues that require standardization, and ethical and safety concerns. It is recommended that future studies actively construct a set of core indicators for UC that include standardized TCM syndrome classification, clear efficacy evaluation indicators, key endpoint indicators, and reasonable measurement time points. Long-term prognostic impacts, comprehensive assessments of patients' quality of life, and consideration of economic benefits should be emphasized, providing a basis for the clinical practice of TCM in the treatment of UC.
5.Extraction and subculture of neural stem cells from mouse embryonic spinal cord:comparison and analysis on advantages and disadvantages of three commonly used digestive enzymes
Dan LUO ; Zhilin GE ; Yonghui HOU ; Wanshun WANG ; Jiheng ZHAN ; Yu HOU ; Dingkun LIN ; Shudong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(31):6609-6615
BACKGROUND:In the research and application of neural stem cells,cell culture and passage are key links,which directly affect the quality of cells and experimental results.It is of great significance to find the most suitable digestive enzymes that can maintain the biological characteristics of embryonic mouse spinal cord neural stem cells and enhance their passage efficiency.OBJECTIVE:To explore the most suitable digestive enzyme for passage of neural stem cells from the spinal cord of embryonic mice.METHODS:Microscopic dissection was used to isolate and extract spinal cord tissue from E14 d embryonic mice,which was cultured in DMEM/F12 serum-free medium containing epidermal growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor,and B27.After spherulation,Nestin and Sox2 immunofluorescence identification was performed.During neural stem cell passage and culture,single-cell suspensions were prepared using trypsin,papain,and TrypLETM Express enzyme digestion combined with blow molding.The cell dispersion and spheroidization were observed,and passage 3 cells were stained with propidium iodide to detect cell death.Cell proliferation was detected by counting the total number of cells.Immunofluorescence staining,western blot assay and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of Olig2,Tuj1,GFAP,and NeuN at the protein and mRNA levels and to identify cell differentiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 72 hours of culture,E14 d embryonic mouse spinal cord tissue cells could form suspended neurospheres,which could be passaged after 5-7 days.Compared with trypsin and papain,TrypLETM Express enzyme combined with blow beating method was used for passage.The cell dispersion rate was high,the activity was good,and more NeuN-and Tuj1-positive neurons differentiated.This study optimized the culture and passaging process of neural stem cells,laying a foundation for further research on stem cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord diseases.
6.Incidence and risk factors of acute focal bacterial nephritis in children with febrile urinary tract infections
Yu CHEN ; Xiaojian QIU ; Jin LIN ; Feng ZHAO ; Yonghui YANG ; Huajuan TONG ; Zihua YU
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(9):967-971
Objective:To determine the incidence of acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) in children with febrile urinary tract infections (UTI) and to identify associated risk factors.Methods:A retrospective cohort study included 181 children hospitalized with febrile UTI at Fujian Children′s Hospital from April 2021 to September 2023. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory findings were collected. Patients were categorized into AFBN group and non-AFBN group based on AFBN diagnosis. The incidence of AFBN within this febrile UTI cohort was determined. The diagnostic value for pre-antibiotic blood white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) level, along with post-treatment fever duration and pyuria duration for AFBN was evaluated using the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC).Results:The cohort comprised 181 children with febrile UTI (100 boys and 81 girls), age of 0.6 (0.3, 1.0) years. Eleven patients (6.1%) were diagnosed with AFBN. For predicting AFBN, the AUC was 0.71 (95% CI 0.55-0.85, P=0.026) for pre-antibiotic WBC count and 0.80 (95% CI 0.71-0.90, P=0.001) for pre-antibiotic CRP level, with optimal cutoff values of 16.0×10 9/L and 80.1 mg/L, respectively. For post-treatment parameters, the AUC was 0.79 (95% CI 0.69-0.92, P=0.001) for fever duration and 0.84 (95% CI 0.72-0.97, P<0.001) for pyuria duration, with optimal cutoff values of 1.9 d and 5.5 d, respectively. The combination of pre-antibiotic WBC count >16.0×10 9/L and CRP>80.1 mg/L yielded a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.86 for AFBN prediction. Similarly, the combination of post-treatment fever duration ≥2 d and pyuria duration >5 d demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.82 and specificity of 0.88. Conclusions:AFBN incidence was 6.1% in this cohort of children with febrile UTI. AFBN should be highly suspected in febrile UTI children presenting with either a pre-antibiotic WBC count >16.0×10 9/L and CRP >80.1 mg/L, or a post-treatment fever duration ≥2 d and pyuria duration >5 d.
7.Identification of the secretion of effector proteins of Chlamydia psittaci using the β-lactamase translocation assay
Huiying YANG ; Nana LI ; Shan ZHANG ; Yufei JANG ; Yinhui LIN ; Xiaoxiao CHEN ; Yuchen ZHANG ; Yonghui YU ; Xuan OUYANG ; Yajun SONG ; Jun JIAO
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(9):761-767
Objective:To identify and validate secreted effector proteins of Chlamydia psittaci ( C. psittaci) through bioinformatic prediction and experimental verification, and to characterize their subcellular localization in host cells. Methods:Potential effector proteins were predicted using bioinformatics tools. Candidate effectors were fused to β-lactamase through the constructed expression vectors, and these vectors were transformed into C. psittaci. The secretion of these candidate effectors was evaluated by β-lactamase translocation assays. Eukaryotic expression vectors of confirmed effectors were transfected into host cells to determine their intracellular localization patterns. Results:Bioinformatic analysis identified 29 candidate effector proteins. Experimental validation confirmed the secretion of five effectors, with four exhibiting cytoplasmic localization and one displaying nuclear localization in host cells.Conclusion:This study characterizes five novel C. psittaci secreted effector proteins, providing critical insights for investigating the molecular pathogenesis of psittacosis.
8.Overview of host-directed antiviral targets for future research and drug development.
Xiaoxia GU ; Mengzhu ZHENG ; Ya GAO ; Shuang LIN ; Xiaotian ZHANG ; Chunmei CHEN ; Hucheng ZHU ; Weiguang SUN ; Yonghui ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):1723-1751
Viruses constitute a significant group of pathogens that have caused numerous fatalities and substantial economic losses in recent years, particularly with the emergence of coronaviruses. While the impact of SARS-CoV-2 appears to be diminishing in daily life, only a limited number of drugs have received approval or emergency use authorization for its treatment. Given the high mutation rate of viral genomes, host-directed agents (HDAs) have emerged as a preferred choice due to their broad applicability and lasting effectiveness. In contrast to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), HDAs offer several advantages, including broad-spectrum antiviral activities, potential efficacy against future emerging viruses, and a lower likelihood of inducing drug resistance. In our review article, we have synthesized known host-directed antiviral targets that span diverse cellular pathways and mechanisms, shedding light on the intricate interplay between host cells and viruses. Additionally, we have provided a brief overview of the development of HDAs based on these targets. We aim for this comprehensive analysis to offer valuable perspectives and insights that can guide future antiviral research and drug development efforts.
9.Ethical significance and practical strategies for enhancing the transparency of ethical review
Amut ZULNAR ; Lin ZOU ; Yonghui MA
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(4):448-454
Enhancing transparency is an important means of reforming public health services in modern society, and its significance in the field of healthcare is self-evident (especially in terms of resource allocation). In the construction and practice of an ethical review system, improving transparency is an important measure to solve problems such as low efficiency, formalism, inconsistent review decisions, and the lack of a complaint mechanism, and is also the key to ensuring the ethical compliance of research and promote the development of scientific research. Therefore, the international academic community and various countries have begun to emphasize the principle of transparency in ethical review, but its specific implementation still faces challenges. By analyzing the concept and content of transparency and arguing its ethical value and specific dimensions in ethical review work, this paper demonstrated that improving the transparency of ethical review can not only prevent violations and strengthen the accountability mechanism, but also balance information asymmetry, enhance public trust, and improve review efficiency. Finally, potential measures to enhance transparency in ethical review were explored, including formulating detailed transparency strategies, establishing an online information disclosure system, constructing a “precedent” system, setting up a supervisory appeal procedure, and other measures. These measures aim to optimize the ethical review system, providing solid ethical support for scientific research while enhancing public trust and understanding of ethical review work, with a view to further improving the practice of ethical review and promoting the interests of multiple stakeholders.
10.Prevention and Treatment of Asthma by Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway: A Review
Yasheng DENG ; Yanping FAN ; Wenyue LI ; Yonghui LIU ; Zhaobing NI ; Jinjiang XU ; Haobin CHEN ; Qiuye WU ; Jiang LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):262-275
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease involving multiple cells and cellular components, characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway, as a crucial hub in intracellular signaling, is widely involved in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, survival, metabolism, and a series of pathophysiological processes. Its regulatory role in the pathological progression of asthma is particularly significant, specifically in promoting airway inflammation, mediating epithelial mesenchymal transition, accelerating airway remodeling, regulating cell autophagy, inducing mucus hypersecretion, and influencing immune response balance. This study analyzed potential molecular targets of the PI3K/Akt pathway, including activators such as cysteine proteinase inhibitor 1(CST1), found in inflammatory zone 1(FIZZ1) and free fatty acid receptor 1(FFAR1), and inhibitors such as human β-defensin-3(hBD-3), disintegrins, metalloproteinase 33(ADAM33) and interleukin-27(IL-27), and initially revealed the potential molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in asthma intervention. Based on this, the authors systematically summarized the efficacy and specific mechanisms of TCM monomers, compounds, and external treatments for asthma by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through literature review and analysis, aiming at establishing a robust foundation for the wide application and advanced development of TCM in asthma treatment, offering innovative insights for clinical research and drug development of asthma.

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