1.Regulation of Relevant Signaling Pathways by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Intervention of Pancreatic Cancer: A Review
Quanyou ZHAO ; Conghui ZHAO ; Yu ZHANG ; Yiping FU ; Yuting LIU ; Xiaoran WANG ; Zhanzhan LI ; Mingsan MIAO ; Li BAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):280-289
Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant solid tumor of the digestive system with extremely poor treatment prognosis. Although its incidence rate is low, its mortality rate is extremely high. In recent years, the number of diagnosed cases worldwide has continued to rise, making pancreatic cancer the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Currently, clinical treatment primarily relies on operation and chemotherapy to suppress tumors. However, these approaches face challenges such as suboptimal efficacy, high postoperative recurrence rates, and severe adverse reactions. Therefore, identifying safe and effective treatment modalities remains a pressing challenge for the medical community. In recent years, research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions for pancreatic cancer has increased significantly. Multiple studies have shown that single-herb TCM, TCM formulas, and their derived single compounds can regulate the levels of tumor cell signaling pathways through multiple action targets. They inhibit the development and progression of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, promoting cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, reducing cancer cell invasion and migration capabilities, regulating the cell cycle, and modulating the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, TCM has the advantages of significantly enhancing the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and causing fewer adverse reactions. However, the specific action mechanisms by which TCM intervenes in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. Further extensive research is still needed to validate the role of regulating classical signaling pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt/β-catenin, nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), notch, and hedgehog in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, this paper reviewed Chinese and international studies on TCM intervention in pancreatic cancer through relevant signaling pathways in recent years, summarized the potential action mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, and provided references for related research in the future.
2.Research progress on the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine in lipid metabolism for obesity treatment via cAMP signaling pathway
Yu ZHANG ; Xiaoran WANG ; Yiping FU ; Yuting LIU ; Quanyou ZHAO ; Linna CUI ; Mingsan MIAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):522-527
Obesity, a global chronic disease, is associated with adipose tissue dysfunction, which is one of the contributing factors to obesity. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, a key regulator of lipid metabolism, plays a pivotal role in obesity development. Various of traditional Chinese medicine monomers, such as flavonoids, lignans, phenols, and terpenoids, as well as traditional Chinese medicine compound formulas like Xiaoyao powder, Shengmai powder, and Zexie decoction, can maintain energy homeostasis, balance adipose tissue function, regulate glucose metabolism, improve insulin resistance, and suppress inflammatory responses through cAMP signaling pathway regulation, thereby intervening in lipid metabolism for obesity treatment. Although a substantial amount of basic research has preliminarily elucidated the potential mechanisms by which traditional Chinese medicine intervenes in obesity through the cAMP signaling pathway, clinical translational research remains inadequate. There is an urgent need for large-sample, high-quality randomized controlled trials to validate these findings.
3.Lead and cadmium co-exposure triggers genetic damage through oxidative stress and impaired expression of DNA repair genes
Xin LIU ; Zhiyuan HAN ; Kuibin HAN ; Yuhan PANG ; Xiaoyue ZHAO ; Yuting WANG ; Xiaoyan WU ; Tuanwei WANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(5):556-564
Background Lead smelting workers are exposed to mixed heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). However, the specific associations and molecular mechanisms by which their combined exposure induces genetic damage remain unclear. Objective To clarify the association between combined Pb-Cd exposure and genetic damage and to explore the possible biological mechanisms through occupational epidemiological investigations and animal experiments. Methods (1) Population study: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 374 lead smelting workers in northern China. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to detect urinary levels of 8 metals including Pb and Cd, and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) was used to quantify blood levels of Pb and Cd. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) was used to assess genetic damage. Poisson regression was used to analyze the association between metal exposure and micronucleus rates. (2) In vivo experiment: Thirty SD rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control (pure water), Pb (300 mg·L−1 lead acetate), Cd (50 mg·L−1 cadmium chloride), combined exposure (Pb + Cd), and resveratrol intervention (Pb + Cd + 50 mg·L−1 resveratrol). After 8 weeks of ad libitum drinking water exposure, liver pathology, oxidative stress indicators [reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)], genetic damage (Comet assay and γ-H2AX) were evaluated. Furthermore, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis rates, and mRNA expression of DNA damage response (DDR), DNA repair, and apoptosis-related genes were measured. Results (1) The geometric mean (GM, 95%CI) of urinary Pb and Cd were 14.69 (13.14, 16.51) µg·L−1 and 2.11 (1.90, 2.33) µg·L−1, respectively; the blood Pb and Cd levels were 117.10 (105.59, 129.87) µg·L−1 and 4.55 (4.23, 4.89) µg·L−1, respectively among the 374 workers. The mean micronucleus rate was (1.64±0.081) ‰, with significantly higher rates in males (1.65±0.083) ‰ than females (1.53±0.334) ‰ (U=4.166, P=0.041). All Pb and Cd biomarkers were positively correlated with micronucleus rate (FR>1, P<0.05), with a significant interaction effect observed between Pb and Cd (FR>1, P<0.05). (2) In rats, co-exposure to Pb and Cd caused liver tissue damage and inflammatory infiltration. Significant increases were observed in lymphocyte ROS; GSSG and MDA in lung tissue increased, while GSH and CAT activity decreased. Comet assay indicators and γ-H2AX levels were significantly elevated. Co-exposure induced S-phase arrest and increased apoptosis. mRNA levels of DDR (ATM, ATR, Chk2, and P53) and pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Caspase-3) were upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and DNA repair genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51, RAD52, and CtIP) were downregulated. Two-way ANOVA confirmed synergistic effects on GSSG, Comet assay indicators, and ATR/Chk2 mRNA expression. Conclusion Occupational co-exposure to Pb and Cd synergistically induces genetic damage. This damage is mediated by oxidative stress and DNA damage, which activates the DDR pathway and inhibits the expression of DNA repair genes, ultimately leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
4.Lead and cadmium co-exposure triggers genetic damage through oxidative stress and impaired expression of DNA repair genes
Xin LIU ; Zhiyuan HAN ; Kuibin HAN ; Yuhan PANG ; Xiaoyue ZHAO ; Yuting WANG ; Xiaoyan WU ; Tuanwei WANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(5):556-564
Background Lead smelting workers are exposed to mixed heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). However, the specific associations and molecular mechanisms by which their combined exposure induces genetic damage remain unclear. Objective To clarify the association between combined Pb-Cd exposure and genetic damage and to explore the possible biological mechanisms through occupational epidemiological investigations and animal experiments. Methods (1) Population study: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 374 lead smelting workers in northern China. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to detect urinary levels of 8 metals including Pb and Cd, and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) was used to quantify blood levels of Pb and Cd. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) was used to assess genetic damage. Poisson regression was used to analyze the association between metal exposure and micronucleus rates. (2) In vivo experiment: Thirty SD rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control (pure water), Pb (300 mg·L−1 lead acetate), Cd (50 mg·L−1 cadmium chloride), combined exposure (Pb + Cd), and resveratrol intervention (Pb + Cd + 50 mg·L−1 resveratrol). After 8 weeks of ad libitum drinking water exposure, liver pathology, oxidative stress indicators [reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)], genetic damage (Comet assay and γ-H2AX) were evaluated. Furthermore, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis rates, and mRNA expression of DNA damage response (DDR), DNA repair, and apoptosis-related genes were measured. Results (1) The geometric mean (GM, 95%CI) of urinary Pb and Cd were 14.69 (13.14, 16.51) µg·L−1 and 2.11 (1.90, 2.33) µg·L−1, respectively; the blood Pb and Cd levels were 117.10 (105.59, 129.87) µg·L−1 and 4.55 (4.23, 4.89) µg·L−1, respectively among the 374 workers. The mean micronucleus rate was (1.64±0.081) ‰, with significantly higher rates in males (1.65±0.083) ‰ than females (1.53±0.334) ‰ (U=4.166, P=0.041). All Pb and Cd biomarkers were positively correlated with micronucleus rate (FR>1, P<0.05), with a significant interaction effect observed between Pb and Cd (FR>1, P<0.05). (2) In rats, co-exposure to Pb and Cd caused liver tissue damage and inflammatory infiltration. Significant increases were observed in lymphocyte ROS; GSSG and MDA in lung tissue increased, while GSH and CAT activity decreased. Comet assay indicators and γ-H2AX levels were significantly elevated. Co-exposure induced S-phase arrest and increased apoptosis. mRNA levels of DDR (ATM, ATR, Chk2, and P53) and pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Caspase-3) were upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and DNA repair genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51, RAD52, and CtIP) were downregulated. Two-way ANOVA confirmed synergistic effects on GSSG, Comet assay indicators, and ATR/Chk2 mRNA expression. Conclusion Occupational co-exposure to Pb and Cd synergistically induces genetic damage. This damage is mediated by oxidative stress and DNA damage, which activates the DDR pathway and inhibits the expression of DNA repair genes, ultimately leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
5.Application of bilateral hip magnetic resonance imaging to predict risk of osteonecrosis of femoral head
Jiming JIN ; Yangquan HAO ; Rushun ZHAO ; Yuting ZHANG ; Yonghong JIANG ; Peng XU ; Chao LU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(9):1890-1896
BACKGROUND:Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteonecrosis of femoral head,and previous methods of predicting osteonecrosis of femoral head collapse based on magnetic resonance images mostly require the combined assessment of coronal and sagittal images.However,osteonecrosis of femoral head tends to occur bilaterally,most hospitals perform bilateral hip magnetic resonance imaging scans during clinical examinations,but the bilateral hip scans can only view coronal and cross-sectional images,and it is difficult to obtain sagittal images,which affects the assessment of the risk of collapse.Therefore,it is of clinical value to establish a method to assess the risk of early osteonecrosis of femoral head collapse by applying the images that can be obtained after bilateral hip magnetic resonance scanning. OBJECTIVE:To establish a method of applying coronal and cross-sectional images of bilateral hip magnetic resonance imaging to assess the risk of osteonecrosis of femoral head collapse. METHODS:The medical records of 111 patients(181 hips)with early-stage osteonecrosis of femoral head diagnosed at the outpatient clinic of Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University from October 2017 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.They were categorized into collapsed and non-collapsed groups according to the femoral head collapse at the final follow-up,with 69 hips in the collapsed group and 112 hips in the non-collapsed group.The angle of necrotic range on the images of median coronal plane,transverse plane or one level above and below it was measured on the magnetic resonance imaging system.The sum of the two angles of necrotic angle on the coronal and transverse planes was used as the combined necrotic angle.The average of the three combined necrotic angles of each hip was taken to get the average combined necrotic angle of each hip.Finally,the correlation between the three combined necrotic angles and the average combined necrotic angle with the collapse of osteonecrosis of femoral head was analyzed,and the specificity and sensitivity of the four combined necrotic angles in predicting collapse were evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Totally 69 hips(38.1%)had femoral head collapse at the last follow-up and were included in the collapsed group;112 hips(61.9%)did not have progression of collapse and were included in the non-collapsed group.(2)The difference between the collapsed group and the non-collapsed group in terms of Association Research Circulation Osseous(ARCO)stage was significant(P<0.001).The difference in age,body mass index,follow-up time,gender distribution,side of onset,and causative factors was not significant(P>0.05).(3)The results of independent samples t-test suggested that all four combined necrotic angles were significantly correlated with collapse(P<0.000 1);and the differences in combined necrotic angles between the collapsed group and the non-collapsed group of ARCO stage I and the two groups of ARCO stage II were all significant(P<0.000 1).(4)In the analysis of the receiver operating characteristic,the area under the curve of the average combined necrotic angle was greater than that of the combined necrotic angle on the lower level of the median,the middle level,and the upper level of the median.(5)The average combined necrotic angle had a higher accuracy in the prediction of collapse than the lower level of the median,the middle level,and the upper level of the combined necrotic angle.(6)It is concluded that the accuracy of the average combined necrotic angle in predicting the risk of osteonecrosis of femoral head collapse is higher,and the clinical practicability is stronger,so we can consider using this method to predict the risk of osteonecrosis of femoral head collapse.
6.Intraoperative hypothermia risk prediction models for patients undergoing cancer surgery: a scoping review
Yuting ZOU ; Ruichen LIANG ; Yue ZHAO ; Jie CHENG ; Xiaoli XIA ; Xue LIN ; Daiying ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(19):1504-1511
Objective:To conduct a scoping review of risk prediction models for the development of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing cancer surgery to inform clinical nursing practice and future research.Methods:Relevant literature on constructing or validating intraoperative hypothermia risk prediction models for cancer surgery patients in five foreign language databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL) and four Chinese language databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, Chinese Biomedical Database) were searched from the time of library construction to June 1, 2024, extracted information on the applicable target, incidence of intraoperative hypothermia, methodology of model construction, predictors and performance, etc. The Prediction model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of the studies, and the included literature was analyzed and discussed.Results:A total of 15 pieces of literature involving 18 models were included, with the study population focussing on patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. The rate of intraoperative hypothermia ranged from 15.14% to 61.5%. Model construction methods included 2 types of Logistic regression models and machine learning, and model presentation was based on column-line plots. There were 8 predictors that appeared with a frequency of ≥5, including age, body mass index, operation time, anaesthesia time, operating room temperature, intraoperative rehydration volume, intraoperative bleeding volume, and heat preservation method.Conclusions:The performance of the included model was good, but the risk of bias was high for the predictors and the analysis part, and nursing staff should pay close attention to the risk factors of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing cancer surgery, construct a risk prediction model with low bias and high applicability, and validate and improve the existing risk prediction model.
7.Best evidence summary for prevention and management of high-output ileostomy
Qing ZHANG ; Haiyan HU ; Xin YIN ; Xiaoshuang ZHAO ; Yuting XU ; Tingting HE ; Jianan SUN
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(29):2301-2307
Objective:To retrieve, appraise and synthesize evidence regarding the prevention and management of high-output ileostomy in post-enterostomy patients, thereby providing a scientific reference for clinical practice.Methods:A computerized search was conducted, systematically exploring national and international databases, as well as the websites of pertinent associations, to gather evidence relevant to the topic. The literature types included clinical decision-making, evidence summaries, guidelines, expert consensus, and systematic reviews. The search timeframe was established from the date of database construction until 23 August 2024. The methodological quality assessment of the literature, along with the extraction and synthesis of the evidence, was performed by two independent researchers utilizing established criteria and adhering to rigorous standards.Results:A total of 13 papers were included in the review, comprising one clinical decision, four guidelines, and eight systematic reviews. Eighteen pieces of best evidence were distilled and summarized across six key areas: diagnosis and risk identification, fluid/diet/nutrition management, medication administration, skin management, monitoring and health education, and follow-up care.Conclusions:The clinical practice rationale for the prevention and management of high-output ileostomy in post-enterostomy patients, when summarized, would offer scientific and effective evidence-based support for practice changes by clinical care staff. The practical application and translation of this evidence should thoroughly consider the nuances of clinical practice in China, as well as individual patient differences, to ensure the effective implementation of the best evidence for maximizing patient benefit.
8.The role and mechanism of SOX4 in Helicobacter pylori-mediated gastric mucosal epithelial dysplasia
Feng DU ; Rui XU ; Mengran ZHAO ; Xu JI ; Jiayi SU ; Yuting QIU ; Shengtao ZHU ; Jing WU ; Peng LI ; Shutian ZHANG
Journal of Capital Medical University 2025;46(4):644-653
Objective To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of SOX4 in Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)-mediated gastric mucosal epithelial dysplasia.Methods The expression of SOX4 in gastric tissues and cells was analyzed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),Western blotting,and immunohistochemical staining.The effects of SOX4 on gastric epithelial cell proliferation and colony formation were determined with CCK-8 and colony formation assays.A PCR array was used to screen downstream target genes involved in H.pylori-induced dysplasia mediated by SOX4.The transcriptional regulation and binding sites of the target gene MLH3 by SOX4 were elucidated with luciferase reporter assay,promoter truncation assay,and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP).Results SOX4 expression was significantly increased in H.pylori-infected gastric tissues(P<0.05).Overexpression of SOX4 markedly enhanced the proliferation and colony formation abilities of normal gastric epithelial cells(P<0.05).Elevated SOX4 led to the dysregulation of MLH3 and other DNA damage repair-related molecules after H.pylori infection in gastric epithelial cells(|logFC|>1,P<0.05).H.pylori promoted MLH3 expression in gastric epithelial cells through SOX4.SOX4 transcriptionally activated MLH3 expression by binding to the 5th site of the MLH3 promoter.The increased expression of SOX4 and MLH3 is associated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Conclusion SOX4 is closely associated with H.pylori-induced dysplasia in gastric epithelial cells.Upregulation of SOX4 promotes H.pylori-related dysplasia by transcriptionally activating MLH3,leading to the imbalance of proliferation and colony formation in gastric epithelial cells.
9.Application of hospital-community-home remote pulmonary rehabilitation management in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Yijing ZHANG ; Yuting ZHAO ; Xue CAI ; Li SUN
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(20):2444-2450
Objective To explore the application effect of hospital-community-home remote pulmonary rehabilita-tion management in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and to provide references for clinical nursing practice.Methods The convenience sampling method was adopted to select patients from October 2023 to March 2024.Totally 86 COPD patients admitted to the respiratory department of a tertiary hospital in Nanjing were randomly divided into an experimental group(n=43)and a control group(n=43).The experimental group received the hospital-community-family triadic closed-loop remote pulmonary rehabilitation care,while the control group received only conventional home-based pulmonary rehabilitation care,and the duration of intervention is 3 months.The dif-ferences in adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation training,exercise endurance,degree of dyspnea,quality of life,and lung function were compared between the 2 groups after intervention.Results The experimental group and control group each included 42 cases and 40 cases finally.After intervention,the experimental group showed better out-comes than the control group in adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation training,exercise endurance,degree of dysp-nea,quality of life with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in lung function(P>0.05).Conclusion The hospital-community-family remote pulmonary re-habilitation management can improve COPD patients'adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation training,exercise en-durance,reduce patient's dyspnea symptoms and improve quality of life.
10.Research progress of trifluridine-tipiracil and probiotics in colorectal cancer
Shiqi LI ; Riguga SU ; Yuchen YANG ; Yuting ZHAO ; Jiayu GONG ; Jiao ZHANG ; Zhihui CAI
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2025;34(3):333-340
Trifluridine-tipiracil(TAS-102),as a novel fluorouracil-based chemotherapeutic agent,effectively overcomes fluorouracil resistance in colorectal cancer(CRC)through its unique pharmacological mechanisms,providing a critical treatment option for advanced CRC patients.Probiotics have shown unique value in CRC prevention and adjuvant therapy by regulating intestinal flora homeostasis and modulating host immune response.It is worth noting that the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs and probiotics not only enhances the anti-tumor activity through synergistic effects,but also reduces the adverse effects caused by chemotherapeutic drugs.Based on this,this paper systematically reviews the pharmacological properties of TAS-102 and describes its synergistic effects in combination with other antitumor drugs.It also summarizes the synergistic effect of fluorouracil drugs combined with probiotics to enhance the effectiveness and reduce the toxicity,and discusses the potential value of the combination of TAS-102 and probiotics,which provides a new research direction for optimizing the precision treatment of CRC and a scientific basis for improving the quality of life of patients.

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