1.Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine regulation of MAPK signaling pathway in intervening slow transit constipation
Xiangrui KONG ; Qimeng ZHANG ; Yue ZOU ; Yong LIANG ; Yu SHI ; Yang ZHANG ; Ke MENG ; Hongxi ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1508-1514
low transit constipation (STC) is a common functional intestinal disorder caused by impaired colonic transit function, characterized by reduced bowel movement frequency, hard stools, and difficulty in defecation. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which mainly includes extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 subtypes, plays a critical regulatory role in the occurrence and development of STC. This paper systematically reviews the multiple pathogenic mechanisms of the MAPK signaling pathway in STC and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention.At the mechanistic level, the MAPK signaling pathway promotes the progression of STC through the following links:(1) Activation of p38 upregulates the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3)/AQP4 in the colon, leading to excessive reabsorption of water in the intestinal lumen; (2) It forms a positive feedback loop with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) to maintain low-grade intestinal inflammation, releases inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inhibits smooth muscle contraction; (3) Overactivation of p38 downregulates the expression of occludin and mucin 2 while upregulates the expression of claudin-2, thereby disrupting the mucosal barrier; (4) The JNK/p38 signaling pathway activates the caspase cascade to induce apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, neurons, and interstitial cells of Cajal; (5) Abnormal ERK signaling and excessive activation of p38/JNK inhibit intestinal smooth muscle contraction and reduce 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion, ultimately resulting in impaired colonic transit function.At the intervention level, TCM compound formulas and single herbs have been proven to improve STC by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Their effects are syndrome type-dependent:yin-nourishing formulas (Zengye Chengqi Tang, Tongbian Tang) mainly regulate the ERK/AQP axis; yang-warming formulas (Jichuan Jian) target both ERK/JNK and anti-apoptosis; heat-clearing formulas (Sanren Tang) focus on p38/NF-κB anti-inflammation. A single drug can simultaneously cover multiple aspects including water metabolism, inflammation, barrier function, apoptosis, and intestinal motility.Current relevant studies still have limitations such as mechanisms mostly remaining at the correlational level and a lack of disease-syndrome integrated research models. Future studies should combine specific inhibitors or gene knockout to identify core targets, establish disease-syndrome integrated STC models, and use network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to deeply analyze the fine mechanism of “component-target-phenotype”, so as to provide high-quality evidence for the precise regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway by TCM in the intervention of STC.
2.From transmission to elimination: progress of schistosomiasis control in Sichuan Province
Jiajia WAN ; Zisong WU ; Lin CHEN ; Nannan WANG ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PU ; Rongzhi LI ; Xianhong MENG ; Liang XU ; Jingye SHANG ; Ding LU ; Bo ZHONG ; Yang LIU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2026;38(3):232-239
Sichuan Province is a hilly schistosomiasis-endemic province in China with the highest endemicity and largest coverage. During the period of more than 70 years of integrated control, there are five distinct phases of schistosomiasis control in Sichuan Province, including baseline investigation, Oncomelania hupensis snail control, chemotherapy for both humans and livestock, management of source of Schistosoma japonicum infections, and sustained control and intensified surveillance and early warning, and a package of key interventions are implemented, including environmental modification, snail control with chemical treatment, large-scale chemotherapy for humans and livestock, management of source of S. japonicum infections, intensified integrated control, establishment of an early warning and surveillance system. As a result, schistosomiasis has been eliminated across all 63 disease-endemic counties (cities, districts) in Sichuan Province by June 2025. Government-led multi-sectoral collaborations, science and technology-supported precision control strategies, and a sustainable control model tailored to the ecological and socio-economic conditions in endemic regions are essential to achieving the target of schistosomiasis elimination in Sichuan Province.
3.Practice and optimization pathways of the surveillance - response system for schistosomiasis during the elimination stage in China: a One Health perspective
Jiajia WAN ; Jingye SHANG ; Jing XU ; Chen PU ; Nannan WANG ; Rongzhi LI ; Yu ZHANG ; Liang XU ; Xianhong MENG ; Ding LU ; Lin CHEN ; Zisong WU ; Bo ZHONG ; Xiaonong ZHOU ; Yang LIU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2026;38(4):361-368
This paper systematically analyzes schistosomiasis transmission risks during the elimination stage and reviews the evolution of the schistosomiasis surveillance system in China from a One Health perspective, with a special emphasis on schistosomiasis surveillance and response practices during the elimination stage from a One Health perspective. These practices include precise screening of human schistosomiasis under low-endemicity conditions, systematic monitoring of schistosomiasis in domestic and wild animals, ecological management of Oncomelania snails, and information-coordinated responses. Nevertheless, the current surveillance and response system for schistosomiasis suffers from challenges of insufficient cross-sectoral coordination and complex external environments, which constrain precise schistosomiasis surveillance and response in China. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to integrate coordination mechanisms, empower the surveillance system with technological innovation, improve capacity building, and actively promote diverse social participation in the One Health framework, so as to consolidate current schistosomiasis control achievements and achieve the target for schistosomiasis elimination across China, which may provide a replicable technical model for global zoonoses control.
4.Visualization of Wallerian Degeneration of The Corticospinal Tract and Glial Pathological Changes After Ischemic Stroke in Mice
Meng MENG ; Jiao MU ; Mei-Yu LI ; Jun-Yan GAO ; Xiao-Min ZHU ; Liang-Liang LIU ; Ying GUO ; Guo-Hui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2808-2819
ObjectiveStroke remains the leading cause of acquired disability in adults worldwide, imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. Among the various neurological deficits caused by stroke, motor dysfunction——particularly contralateral hemiplegia——is the most common and debilitating consequence, and it predominantly results from damage to the cortical motor conduction pathways. When motor cortex neurons or their projecting fibers are damaged, the distal axons and their associated myelin sheaths undergo a series of progressive, programmed degeneration, fragmentation, and eventual phagocytic clearance. This pathological process is termed Wallerian degeneration (WD). However, the temporal progression of WD following ischemic stroke and the associated alterations in the local glial microenvironment remain incompletely understood. The present study was designed to systematically elucidate the time course of corticospinal tract (CST) axonal WD after ischemic stroke in mice, and to simultaneously characterize the dynamic pathological changes of astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocyte lineage cells, and myelinating oligodendrocytes during the WD process. MethodsEight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to control and ischemic stroke groups. A focal cortical ischemic stroke model was established in the right sensorimotor cortex using the photothrombotic method. This method induces localized intravascular thrombosis in the target cortical region through precisely controlled interaction between the photosensitizer and laser light of specific wavelength. At day 1 post‑surgery, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed to evaluate infarct volume, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining for histopathological examination, and Nissl staining for assessment of neuronal injury. For axonal degeneration time-course analysis, rAAV-CAG-mCherry anterograde viral tracing was employed to specifically label CST neurons. Cervical spinal cord sections at the CST region were collected at day 3, 5, 7, 14, and 60 post-injury. Morphological changes of mCherry-positive CST fibers were observed under fluorescence microscopy, and the fluorescence signal area fraction within the defined region was quantitatively analyzed to evaluate the dynamic process of axonal degeneration. For glial response assessment, immunofluorescence staining against Iba1 (microglia), GFAP (astrocytes), Olig2 (oligodendrocyte lineage cells), and APC (myelinating oligodendrocytes) was performed at day 7, 14, and 60 post‑surgery. The numbers of positive cells were counted to quantitatively analyze the dynamic changes in each glial population at different time points after ischemia, thereby revealing the evolution of the glial microenvironment during WD. ResultsThe photothrombotic method stably and reliably established an ischemic brain injury model confined to the sensorimotor cortex. Viral tracing revealed that the proportion of mCherry‑positive CST fibers was significantly reduced at day 7 after ischemic injury to the neuronal soma. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that during WD, the numbers of microglia and astrocytes in the CST region were significantly increased, whereas the numbers of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and myelinating oligodendrocytes showed no significant changes. ConclusionWD of CST axons is observed at day 7 post-ischemic stroke in a delayed manner. This degenerative process selectively activates microglia and astrocytes, while leaving the number of oligodendrocyte lineage cells largely unaffected.
5.Analysis on the Willingness of Doctors in Beijing Public Hospitals to Open Clinics in Grassroots Communities and its lnfluencing Factors
Bo LÜ ; Xinyue SUN ; Xingmiao FENG ; Yu WANG ; Ziyan ZHAI ; Shuyu LIANG ; Kai MENG
Chinese Hospital Management 2025;45(4):35-40
Objective To analyze the willingness and influencing factors of doctors in Beijing public hospitals to set up clinics in the community,and to provide scientific basis for promoting quality health technicians to go down to the grassroots and realize hierarchical diagnosis and treatment.Methods Doctors from 6 specialized hospita ls and 3 general hospitals in Beijing were selected as subjects for questionnaire survey.By stratified sampling,a questionnaire survey was conducted on 518 doctors from 9 public hospitals in Beijing through stratified sampling method.Descriptive analysis,rank sum test and ordered logistic regression were used to explore doctors'willingness to open clinics and its influencing factors.Results In all survey respondents,212(40.93%)physicians were very or somewhat willing to open a clinic in the community,physicians with higher benefit perception,and greater willingness to publicize relevant policies were more willing to set up clinics.Conclusion Opening of clinics by doctors in public hospitals is affected by perceived benefits and willingness to advocate policies.It is suggested to further improve relevant systems and policies,reduce the risk of doctors opening clinics,and promote doctors in public hospitals to open clinics in communities,so as to realize the sinking of high-quality health human resources to the grassroots.
6.Quality evaluation of Gegen Formula Granules
Dai-liang ZHANG ; Chun-xia WANG ; Lei SHI ; Yu-kang LIU ; Yong-qiang LIN ; Yu-zhuo WANG ; Jing-hua ZHANG ; Jin-xin LI ; Gui-yun CAO ; Zhao-qing MENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(5):1421-1431
AIM To evaluate the quality of Gegen Formula Granules.METHODS Linear calibration with two reference substances(LCTRS)was adopted in the predicting of retention time with puerarin and daidzein as internal standards.UPLC characteristic chromatograms were established.The contents of 3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin(internal standard),3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin 6"-O-xyloside,puerarin apioside and daidzin were determined by quantitative determination analysis multi-components by a single marker(QAMS),after which their transfer rates were calculated.RESULTS Compared with relative retention time method,LCTRS demonstrated higher positional accuracy for characteristic peaks and wider application range for columns.There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatograms for 14 batches of formula granules and 15 batches of standard decoctions with the similarities of more than 0.95.The contents and transfer rates of various constituents in formula granules and standard decoctions were basically consistent.CONCLUSION The chemical constituents in formula granules and their standard decoctions of Puerariae lobatae Radix display good consistency,reliable preparation process is observable in the former.
7.Evaluation of chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula
Qing-gang ZHANG ; Dai-liang ZHANG ; Hong QI ; Shu-wen DING ; Yu-zhuo WANG ; Yun-lun LI ; Ji-fu HE ; Huan-ying GUO ; Gui-yun CAO ; Zhao-qing MENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(11):3555-3565
AIM To evaluate the chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula.METHODS HPLC characteristic chromatograms were established,the analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic YMC-Triart C18 column(4.6 mm× 250 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.2%phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.Puerarin was used as an internal standard to calculate the relative correction factors of 3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin apioside,magnolflorine,paeoniflora,daidzin,baicalin,palmatine,berberine,wogonoside and benzoylpaeoniflorin,after which the content detemination was made by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS).RESULTS The characteristic chromatograms of 9 batches of formula granules and 15 bacthes of traditional decoctions demonstrated the similarities of more than 0.90 at the detection wavelengths of 192,210,240,260,280,300,320,360 nm,along with similar total peak areas.Eleven constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 97.27%-101.64%with the RSDs of 0.36%-1.11%,the result obtained by QAMS and external standard method demonstrated no significant differences(P>0.05).The contents of various constituents in the formula granules approximated those in the traditional decoctions.CONCLUSION The consistent kinds and contents of various constituents are obversable in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula,which can provide a reference for the reasonable clinical application of this formula.
8.Curcumol Retards Progression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through the SREBP-1/FASN/EGFR Pathway
Linglong MENG ; Fengxi BAI ; Yu ZHAO ; Xiaoyu WU ; Lili LIANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(6):794-803
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Curcumol on lipid metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and its related molecular mechanism.METHODS A nude mouse xenograft tumor model was established,and Curcumol was administered for 14 d.The volume and weight of subcutaneous tumors were recorded.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological morphology of tumor tissues and organs,as well as the expression levels of Ki67 protein.Bio-chemical kits were used to detect the levels of lipids in tumor tissues.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of SREBP-1,FASN,and EGFR proteins in tumor tissues.The qPCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of SREBP-1 in tumor tissues.Curcumol was used to treat human NSCLC cell line A549 and A549 cells overexpressing SREBP-1.The EdU assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of lung cancer cells;the MTT colorimetric method was used to detect cell viability;the Transwell assay was used to detect tumor cell migration and invasion;flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis;biochemical kits were used to detect lipid levels in cells;and Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of SREBP-1,FASN,and EGFR proteins.RE-SULTS In the in vivo experiment,compared with the control group,Curcumol significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous xen-ografts,inhibited tumor cell proliferation(P<0.05,P<0.01),reduced the levels of triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(T-CHO),and free fatty acids(FFA)in tumor tissues(P<0.05,P<0.01),downregulated the expression of SREBP-1,FASN,and p-EGFR pro-teins(P<0.01),and inhibited the expression of SREBP-1 mRNA in tumor tissues(P<0.05,P<0.01).In the in vitro experiment,compared with the control group,Curcumol significantly inhibited the proliferation,migration,and invasion of A549 cells,reduced cell viability(P<0.05,P<0.01),promoted tumor cell apoptosis(P<0.01),downregulated the levels of FFA,T-CHO,and TG in A549 cells(P<0.05,P<0.01),and inhibited the expression of SREBP-1,FASN,and p-EGFR proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01).Additionally,overexpression of SREBP-1 antagonized the inhibitory effects of Curcumol on lipid synthesis and EGFR activation,and weakened the inhibitory effects of Curcumolc on tumor cells.CONCLUSION Curcumol inhibits the expression levels of SREBP-1 and FASN,re-duces lipid synthesis,blocks EGFR signal transduction,and slows down the occurrence and development of NSCLC.
9.Research Advances in the Construction and Application of Intestinal Organoids.
Qing Xue MENG ; Hong Yang YI ; Peng WANG ; Shan LIU ; Wei Quan LIANG ; Cui Shan CHI ; Chen Yu MAO ; Wei Zheng LIANG ; Jun XUE ; Hong Zhou LU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):230-247
The structure of intestinal tissue is complex. In vitro simulation of intestinal structure and function is important for studying intestinal development and diseases. Recently, organoids have been successfully constructed and they have come to play an important role in biomedical research. Organoids are miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) organs, derived from stem cells, which mimic the structure, cell types, and physiological functions of an organ, making them robust models for biomedical research. Intestinal organoids are 3D micro-organs derived from intestinal stem cells or pluripotent stem cells that can successfully simulate the complex structure and function of the intestine, thereby providing a valuable platform for intestinal development and disease research. In this article, we review the latest progress in the construction and application of intestinal organoids.
Organoids/cytology*
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Intestines/physiology*
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Humans
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Animals
;
Pluripotent Stem Cells
10.Increased Tertiary Lymphoid Structures are Associated with Exaggerated Lung Tissue Damage in Smokers with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Yue ZHANG ; Liang LI ; Zi Kang SHENG ; Ya Fei RAO ; Xiang ZHU ; Yu PANG ; Meng Qiu GAO ; Xiao Yan GAI ; Yong Chang SUN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):810-818
OBJECTIVE:
Cigarette smoking exacerbates the progression of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in chronic lung diseases has gained attention; however, it remains unclear whether smoking-exacerbated lung damage in TB is associated with TLS. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of pulmonary TLS in smokers with TB and to explore the possible role of TLS in smoking-related lung injury in TB.
METHODS:
Lung tissues from 36 male patients (18 smokers and 18 non-smokers) who underwent surgical resection for pulmonary TB were included in this study. Pathological and immunohistological analyses were conducted to evaluate the quantity of TLS, and chest computed tomography (CT) was used to assess the severity of lung lesions. The correlation between the TLS quantity and TB lesion severity scores was analyzed. The immune cells and chemokines involved in TLS formation were also evaluated and compared between smokers and non-smokers.
RESULTS:
Smoker patients with TB had significantly higher TLS than non-smokers ( P < 0.001). The TLS quantity in both the lung parenchyma and peribronchial regions correlated with TB lesion severity on chest CT (parenchyma: r = 0.5767; peribronchial: r = 0.7373; both P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased B cells, T cells, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) expression in smoker patients with TB ( P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Smoker TB patients exhibited increased pulmonary TLS, which was associated with exacerbated lung lesions on chest CT, suggesting that cigarette smoking may exacerbate lung damage by promoting TLS formation.
Humans
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Male
;
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunology*
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Middle Aged
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Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/pathology*
;
Adult
;
Lung/pathology*
;
Smoking/adverse effects*
;
Smokers
;
Aged
;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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