1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Esophageal Cancer via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway: A Review
Wei GUO ; Chen PENG ; Yikun WANG ; Zixuan YU ; Jintao LIU ; Jing DING ; Yijing LI ; Hongxin SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):302-311
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly prevalent malignant tumor in China. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, as one of the key oncogenic pathways, can promote the cell cycle progression, proliferation, migration, and invasion, induce chemoresistance, and inhibit apoptosis and autophagy of EC cells. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with the advantages of targeting multiple points with multiple components to delay cancer progression, can target the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway for EC treatment. This article preliminarily discusses the molecular mechanism and role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC and elaborates on the specific targets and efficacy of TCM in treating EC through intervention in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the past five years. TCM materials and extracts inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC include Borneolum, spore powder of Ganoderma lucidum without spore coat, extract of Celastrus orbiculatus, root extract of Taraxacum, and Bruceae Fructus oil emulsion. TCM active ingredients exerting the effect include flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and other compounds. TCM compound prescriptions with such effect include Qige San, Huqi San, Xuanfu Daizhetang, Tongyoutang and its decomposed prescriptions, Liujunzi Tang, and Xishenzhi Formula. In addition, TCM injections such as Compound Kushen Injection and Kang'ai injection also inhibit the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC. This paper summarizes the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in EC and the TCM interventions, aiming to provide reference for the research and clinical application of new drugs for EC.
2.Expert consensus on the construction of integrated outpatient clinic for cervical cancer prevention and treatment in General Hospitals
Nan YU ; Dongli KONG ; Lei WANG ; Yihan LU ; Hongbo WANG ; Dongru LIU ; Ling PENG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(2):1-6
Objective To implement the disease prevention and control strategy of being "proactive and grassroots-focused," and to enhance the overall effectiveness of general hospitals in the tertiary prevention of cervical cancer, this consensus aims to provide an actionable guiding framework for the standardized construction of "Integrated Outpatient Clinics for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control" in general hospitals at all levels. Methods This consensus systematically elaborates on the specific elements for establishing such integrated clinics and formulates the corresponding standards. Results It is anticipated that the consensus will promote the establishment of standardized, homogeneous, and high-efficiency frontline positions for cervical cancer prevention and control within general hospitals, thereby contributing to the strategic vision of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer. Conclusion The formulation and promotion of the consensus aim to provide robust clinical practice support for accelerating the realization of China's strategic vision of eliminating cervical cancer.
3.Preliminary evaluation of the effect of comprehensive health management on the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke
Shuai ZHU ; Genming ZHAO ; Yiying ZHANG ; Dongni LIANG ; Hongjie YU ; Qian PENG ; Fang XIANG ; Na WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(2):89-93
Objective To evaluate the short-term effects of comprehensive health management interventions for stroke high-risk population screening on the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke, and to provide reference and basis for improving and exploring health management and prevention strategies for stroke high-risk population. Methods From 2018 to 2022, 13 community health service centers in Jiading District, Shanghai were selected in the present study. Based on information push platform, stroke risk assessment and health intervention follow-up were conducted for community residents through convenience sampling. The residents were divided into a full course intervention group (intervention group) and a routine intervention group (control group) according to different health intervention measures and forms. The incidence of ischemic stroke in the two groups of survey subjects was tracked within 36 months. Results A total of 52144 subjects were included in the study. The total number of patients in the full course intervention group was 14227, with an incidence density of 577.32/100 000 (556.49/100 000-598.12/100 000), which was lower than that of the conventional intervention group (37 917), with an incidence density of 1 485.47/100 000 (1 464.99/100 000-1 505.94/100 000) (χ2=2490.212, P<0.001). The relative risk of the full course intervention group was 0.39, and the relative risk of stroke risk factors in the full course intervention group from low to high was 0.33, 0.43, 0.45, and 0.49, respectively. The incidence density of males in the full course intervention group was 660.76 (627.46/100 000 - 694.05/100 000), with a relative risk of 0.43, and the incidence density of female patients was 509.71/100 000 (483.37/100 000 - 536.05/100 000), with a relative risk of 0.35. The overall incidence density of the population under 62 years old gourp, 62-75 years old group and over 75 years old group was 197.45/100 000 (173.09/100 000 -221.80/100 000), 608.36/100 000 (580.19/100 000-636.54/100 000), and 1 025.06/100 000 (958.51/100 000-1 091.61/100 000), with relative risks of 0.51, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively. Conclusion Comprehensive health management measures can effectively reduce the short-term risk of ischemic stroke, and should be further promoted and improved to enhance the effectiveness of stroke prevention and control.
4.Effect evaluation of pharmaceutical service based on root cause analysis combined with KAP theory on decreasing the protocol violations of investigational medicinal products rate in pediatric clinical trials
Chunyan GUO ; Yi ZHANG ; Yuxin YANG ; Yuguang LIANG ; Qian DING ; Qian WANG ; Chengyue ZHANG ; Yu SUN ; Peng GUO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1206-1210
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of pharmaceutical services guided by root cause analysis (RCA) in a problem-oriented manner combined with knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) theory on reducing the incidence of protocol violations of investigational medicinal products in pediatric clinical trials. METHODS A total of 617 participants from 69 drug clinical trial projects conducted in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected as the control group, and 868 participants from 72 drug clinical trial projects from January 2022 to December 2025 as the observation group. RCA was performed on the protocol violations of investigational medicinal product in the control group to identify the types and underlying causes. The control group received routine pharmaceutical services for drug clinical trials, while the observation group was provided with precision pharmaceutical services from the three dimensions of knowledge, attitude and practice on the basis of routine pharmaceutical services, according to the root causes identified by RCA. The occurrence of investigational medicinal products protocol violations was compared between the two groups. RESULTS The total incidence of protocol violations of investigational medicinal products, as well as the incidences of minor and major protocol violations, were all significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.001). The main types of protocol violations in both groups included missed/under-/over-dosing of medications, non-adherence to administration time, failure to adjust dosage as required, and combined medication/vaccination in violation of the protocol. Regarding the responsible subjects of protocol violations, the incidences of protocol violations attributed to participants and their guardians as well as investigators and accidental factors were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.001, P <0.001, P =0.025). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of protocol violations caused by sponsor-related reasons between the two groups ( P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pharmaceutical services led by pharmacists, based on problem-oriented RCA and combined with KAP theory, can effectively reduce the protocol violations of investigational medicinal products rate in pediatric clinical trials, thereby safeguarding the safety and rights of study participants.
5.Clinical Efficacy of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Combination with Chinese Herbal Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Retrospective Study and A Meta-analysis
Chenguang ZHAN ; Shengqin YANG ; Xin LI ; Yu WEN ; Peng ZHANG ; Xingrui YAN ; Haifang DU ; Maojie WANG ; Xiaodong WU ; Liyan MEI ; Xiumin CHEN ; Yanlin LI ; Runyue HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):534-543
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MethodsClinical data from 169 RA patients were retrospectively collected. Among them, 71 cases received JAK inhibitors as the control group, while 98 cases received JAK inhibitors plus CHM as the observation group, both treated for 24 weeks. The rheumatoid factor (RF), cyclic citic peptide antibody (anti-CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) were recorded before and after treatment. Databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception till August 31st, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the combined use of JAK inhibitors and CHM for RA. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analyses were performed for RF, anti-CCP, ESR, CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), overall clinical effective rate, and incidence of adverse events. Sensitivity analysis were also performed. ResultsThe retrospective study demonstrated that after treatment, ESR, CRP, and anti-CCP levels decreased in the observation group, while ESR and CRP levels decreased in the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, ESR and RF levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). A total of 9 RCTs involving 770 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the JAK inhibitors plus CHM group was superior to the JAK inhibitors group in reducing RF (MD=-8.97, 95%CI -15.01 to -2.94, P=0.004), CRP (MD=-3.34, 95%CI -3.82 to -2.86, P<0.001), ESR (MD=-5.33, 95%CI -7.98 to -2.69, P<0.001), and DAS28 score (MD=-0.54, 95%CI -0.74 to -0.34, P<0.001), as well as in improving the overall clinical effective rate (OR=4.53, 95%CI 2.55 to 8.03, P<0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in anti-CCP levels (SMD=-2.08, 95%CI -4.41 to 0.24, P=0.080) or incidence of adverse events (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.55 to 1.57, P=0.790). ConclusionThe combination of JAK inhibitors and CHM demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating RA, contributing to improved disease activity and reduced inflammatory markers with a favorable safety profile.
6.The Specificity of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints in Promoting Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Mice
Yu SHI ; Qian HUA ; Tian-Tian PENG ; Yu-Xin NIE ; Zhao-Heng LIU ; Chen-Geng DENG ; Xu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1154-1164
ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.
7.The Specificity of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints in Promoting Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Mice
Yu SHI ; Qian HUA ; Tian-Tian PENG ; Yu-Xin NIE ; Zhao-Heng LIU ; Chen-Geng DENG ; Xu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1154-1164
ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.
8.The Improvement of Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease by Exerkines and The Underlying Mechanisms
Jin PENG ; Yu LIU ; Xiao-Hui WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2332-2345
Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease, manifests a variety of motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, postural balance disorder, and also presents non-motor symptoms, including cognitive decline, depression, constipation, and sleep disorders. Currently, treatment for PD primarily encompasses pharmacological interventions, with levodopa being the first-line therapy, and non-pharmacological approaches such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). However, both approaches exhibit therapeutic limitations, with potential adverse reactions emerging from long-term use. Levodopa is associated with dyskinesia, while DBS may lead to mental confusion, cognitive decline, and depression. Exercise, as an effective adjuvant strategy for drug treatment of PD, can significantly improve PD motor disorders. Recently, studies have found that the mechanisms of exercise improving PD motor symptoms are associated with exerkines. Exerkine refers to signalling moieties secreted in response to acute and/or chronic exercise. This review mainly summarizes the improvement of PD motor disorders by various exerkines and the underlying mechanisms. Firstly, exercise can trigger the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the substantia nigra (SN) and the striatum, potentially improving PD. Recent evidence has suggested that both BDNF and GDNF could improve motor symptoms of PD via restoring the number of dopaminergic neurons in the SN and striatum, increasing striatal dopamine contents, and reducing α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation in the SN. In addition, BDNF also alleviates motor symptoms of PD by enhancing long-term potentiation and increasing the spine density of spiny projection neurons in the striatum, while GDNF by inhibiting neuroinflammation in the SN via suppressing the activation of microglia, reducing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expressions, reducing the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa Bα (IκBα), and increasing the anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Secondly, exercise, a main trigger for irisin secretion from skeletal muscle, can improve PD motor symptoms by stimulating the irisin/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) pathway. Specifically, irisin alleviates motor symptoms in PD through multiple mechanisms, including inhibiting excessive mitochondrial fission by reducing the expressions of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1), alleviating the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons by increasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression and reducing Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase 3 expressions, and restoring the number of dopaminergic neurons. Thirdly, new biomarkers of PD (cathepsin B and Fetuin-A) also play roles in PD development. Cathepsin B can promote the clearance of pathogenic α-syn in PD by enhancing the function of lysosomes, including strengthening the lysosomal degradation capacity, elevating the transport rate, and increasing the activity of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GCase). Fetuin-A has been demonstrated to improve PD by restoring the number and the morphology of Purkinje cells, which are the only efferent neurons in the cerebellar cortex and play an important role in maintaining motor coordination. This review aims to facilitate a deep understanding of the mechanism by which exercise improves PD motor symptoms and provide a theoretical basis for promotion of exercise in PD.
9.The Invariant Neural Representation of Neurons in Pigeon’s Ventrolateral Mesopallium to Stereoscopic Shadow Shapes
Xiao-Ke NIU ; Meng-Bo ZHANG ; Yan-Yan PENG ; Yong-Hao HAN ; Qing-Yu WANG ; Yi-Xin DENG ; Zhi-Hui LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2614-2626
ObjectiveIn nature, objects cast shadows due to illumination, forming the basis for stereoscopic perception. Birds need to adapt to changes in lighting (meaning they can recognize stereoscopic shapes even when shadows look different) to accurately perceive different three-dimensional forms. However, how neurons in the key visual brain area in birds handle these lighting changes remains largely unreported. In this study, pigeons (Columba livia) were used as subjects to investigate how neurons in pigeon’s ventrolateral mesopallium (MVL) represent stereoscopic shapes consistently, regardless of changes in lighting. MethodsVisual cognitive training combined with neuronal recording was employed. Pigeons were first trained to discriminate different stereoscopic shapes (concave/convex). We then tested whether and how light luminance angle and surface appearance of the stereoscopic shapes affect their recognition accuracy, and further verify whether the results rely on specify luminance color. Simultaneously, neuronal firing activity of neurons was recorded with multiple electrode array implanted from the MVL during the presentation of difference shapes. The response was finally analyzed how selectively they responded to different stereoscopic shapes and whether their selectivity was affected by the changes of luminance condition (like lighting angle) or surface look. Support vector machine (SVM) models were trained on neuronal population responses recorded under one condition (light luminance angle of 45°) and used to decode responses under other conditions (light luminance angle of 135°, 225°, 315°) to verify the invariance of responses to different luminance conditions. ResultsBehavioral results from 6 pigeons consistently showed that the pigeons could reliably identify the core 3D shape (over 80% accuracy), and this ability wasn’t affected by changes in light angle or surface appearance. Statistical analysis of 88 recorded neurons from 6 pigeons revealed that 83% (73/88) showed strong selectivity for specific 3D shapes (selectivity index>0.3), and responses to convex shapes were consistently stronger than to concave shapes. These shape-selective responses remained stable across changes in light angle and surface appearance. Neural patterns were consistent under both blue and orange lighting. The decoding accuracy achieves above 70%, suggesting stable responses under different conditions (e.g., different lighting angles or surface appearance). ConclusionNeurons in the pigeon MVL maintain a consistent neural encoding pattern for different stereoscopic shapes, unaffected by illumination or surface appearance. This ensures stable object recognition by pigeons in changing visual environments. Our findings provide new physiological evidence for understanding how birds achieve stable perception (“invariant neural representations”) while coping with variations in the visual field.
10.Analysis of food poisoning event by type F Clostridium perfringens in a school
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(10):1493-1497
Objective:
To understand the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of food poisoning event occurred in a school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, so as to provide reference for the scientific management of related emergencies.
Methods:
By determining the nature of the event through epidemiological investigation, a case control study was carried out to spot suspicious food in May 2024. The hygienic investigation was conducted to find out possible pollution links and factors, patients and canteen practitioners anal swab, canteen retention samples, catering link daub and other specimens were collected ,for rapid pathogen screening. And the suspected pathogen Clostridium perfringens (CP) were isolated and identified according to the screening results, and toxin gene detection and whole genome sequencing and cluster analysis of CP isolated strains were carried out.
Results:
The incident resulted in 45 people experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. The suspicious food was tomato scrambled eggs and corn ribs provided by the student canteen for lunch on May 29. A hygiene investigation found that there was a risk of contamination in the food processing, preparation and storage. A total of 46 anal swabs and 10 canteen retention samples were positive for CP 16 S, 59 strains of CP were isolated from 27 samples, 10 cases and 1 practitioner isolate were positive for CPE ( cpe ) (F mode), and their whole genome evolution analysis was conducted based on the same source.
Conclusions
The food poisoning event is caused by CP infection carrying CPE ( cpe ) (F mode), and the possible sources of outbreak are the carriers of the CP by employees. It is recommended that cafeteria staff strengthen training on common foodborne diseases and conduct regular monitoring of pathogens.


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