1.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Working practices in eliminating the public health crisis caused by viral hepatitis in Hainan Province of China
Weihua LI ; Changfu XIONG ; Taifan CHEN ; Bin HE ; Dapeng YIN ; Xuexia ZENG ; Feng LIN ; Biyu CHEN ; Xiaomei ZENG ; Biao WU ; Juan JIANG ; Lu ZHONG ; Yuhui ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):228-233
In 2022, Hainan provincial government launched the project for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis with the goals of a hepatitis B screening rate of 90%, a diagnostic rate of 90%, and a treatment rate of 80% among people aged 18 years and above by the year 2025, and the main intervention measures include population-based prevention, case screening, antiviral therapy, and health management. As of December 31, 2024, a total of 6.875 million individuals in the general population had been screened for hepatitis B, with a screening rate of 95.6%. A total of 184 710 individuals with positive HBsAg were identified, among whom 156 772 were diagnosed through serological reexamination, resulting in a diagnostic rate of 84.9%. A total of 50 742 patients with chronic hepatitis B were identified, among whom 42 921 had hepatitis B-specific health records established for health management, with a file establishment rate of 84.6%. A total of 31 553 individuals received antiviral therapy, with a treatment rate of 62.2%. A total of 2.503 million individuals at a high risk of hepatitis C were screened, among whom 4 870 tested positive for HCV antibody and 3 858 underwent HCV RNA testing, resulting in a diagnostic rate of 79.2%, and 1 824 individuals with positive HCV RNA were identified, among whom 1 194 received antiviral therapy, with a treatment rate of 65.5%. In addition, 159 301 individuals with negative HBsAg and anti-HBs and an age of 20 — 40 years were inoculated with hepatitis B vaccine free of charge. Through the implementation of the project for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis, a large number of hepatitis patients have been identified, treated, and managed in the province within a short period of time, which significantly accelerates the efforts to eliminate the crisis of viral hepatitis.
4.Accuracy of modified implant template of assisted implantation in missing second molars
Yuhang ZHANG ; Yuning ZENG ; Jindi ZENG ; Yixuan LU ; Hui YE ; Jianxin JI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(4):738-744
BACKGROUND:Computer-assisted implant surgery can improve implantation accuracy,but the use of implant template in the posterior tooth area is limited for patients with small opening and small interocclusal distance.Therefore,the digital guide has been improved. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of modified implant template on the accuracy of assisted implantation in missing second molars. METHODS:From July 2020 to July 2023,40 patients who received digital guide plate implantation or free hand implantation to repair missing second molars were selected from First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.According to the coin toss method,patients were randomly divided into a trial group(n=22;modified digital guide assisted implantation)and a control group(n=18;free hand implantation).The data of neck deviation,tip deviation,depth deviation,and angle deviation were compared between groups for preoperative and postoperative cone beam CT overlap analysis.One week after the operation,the patients'satisfaction with the operation was assessed by visual analog scale score. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The trial group included 25 implants(12 in the upper jaw and 13 in the lower jaw);the control group included 23 implants(8 in the upper jaw and 15 in the lower jaw).The neck deviation,tip deviation,depth deviation,and angle deviation of the trial group were all smaller than those of the control group(P<0.05,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in accuracy between the maxillary and mandibular implant site in the trial group(P>0.05).(2)There was no significant difference in satisfaction with the operation between the two groups(P>0.05).(3)The results showed that improving the digital guide plate for assisted implantation for missing second molar can improve surgical accuracy and is suitable for patients with small opening and small interocclusal distance in the posterior tooth area.
5.Dynamic Monitoring and Correlation Analysis of General Body Indicators, Blood Glucose, and Blood Lipid in Obese Cynomolgus Monkeys
Yanye WEI ; Guo SHEN ; Pengfei ZHANG ; Songping SHI ; Jiahao HU ; Xuzhe ZHANG ; Huiyuan HUA ; Guanyang HUA ; Hongzheng LU ; Yong ZENG ; Feng JI ; Zhumei WEI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(1):30-36
ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the dynamic changes in general body parameters, blood glucose, and blood lipid profiles in obese cynomolgus monkeys, exploring the correlations among these parameters and providing a reference for research on the obese cynomolgus monkey model. Methods30 normal male cynomolgus monkeys aged 5 - 17 years old (with body mass index < 35 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin content < 4.50%) and 99 spontaneously obese male cynomolgus monkeys (with body mass index ≥35 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin content < 4.50%) were selected. Over a period of three years, their abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and four blood lipid indicators were monitored. The correlations between each indicator were analyzed using repeated measurement ANOVA, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression correlation analysis method. Results Compared to the control group, the obese group exhibited significantly higher levels of abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, and triglyceride (P<0.05). In the control group, skinfold thickness increased annually, while other indicators remained stable. Compared with the first year, the obese group showed significantly increased abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose in the second year(P<0.05), with this increasing trend persisting in the third year (P<0.05). In the control group, the obesity incidence rates in the second and third years were 16.67% and 23.33%, respectively, while the prevalence of diabetes remained at 16.67%. In the obese group, the diabetes incidence rates were 29.29% and 44.44% in years 2 and 3, respectively. Among the 11-13 year age group, the incidence rates were 36.36% and 44.68%, while for the group older than 13 years, the rates were 28.13% and 51.35%. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations (P<0.05) between fasting blood glucose and age, abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, and triglyceride in the diabetic monkeys. Conclusion Long-term obesity can lead to the increases in general physical indicators and fasting blood glucose levels in cynomolgus monkeys, and an increase in the incidence of diabetes. In diabetic cynomolgus monkeys caused by obesity, there is a high correlation between their fasting blood glucose and age, weight, abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, and triglyceride levels, which is of some significance for predicting the occurrence of spontaneous diabetes.
6.Short-term and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Combined Caudate Lobectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Involving the Hepatic Hilus: A Propensity Score Analysis
Di ZENG ; Yaoqun WANG ; Ningyuan WEN ; Bei LI ; Nansheng CHENG ; Jiong LU
Gut and Liver 2025;19(3):438-453
Background/Aims:
Extended hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection has been approved for the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. There was a lack of credible research on the clinical value of caudate lobectomy (CL) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. We aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of the combined procedure with those of only CL for curative resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus.
Methods:
This single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was conducted from January 2007 to December 2021. Patients who underwent radical resection were enrolled in this study. The short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of the groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM).
Results:
A total of 282 patients were included. There were no statistically significant differences in perioperative clinical outcomes between the CL group and the non-CL group before and after PSM. Compared to patients in the non-CL group, patients in the CL group had significantly longer overall survival before and after PSM (p=0.007 before PSM, p=0.033 after PSM). Moreover, compared to the non-CL group, the CL group had longer disease-free survival before and after PSM (p<0.001 before PSM, p=0.019 after PSM).
Conclusions
The postoperative complications of the CL group were comparable to those of the non-CL group. CL improved the long-term survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. Therefore, hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection should be performed for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
7.International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025).
Sheng-Sheng ZHANG ; Lu-Qing ZHAO ; Xiao-Hua HOU ; Zhao-Xiang BIAN ; Jian-Hua ZHENG ; Hai-He TIAN ; Guan-Hu YANG ; Won-Sook HONG ; Yu-Ying HE ; Li LIU ; Hong SHEN ; Yan-Ping LI ; Sheng XIE ; Jin SHU ; Bin-Fang ZENG ; Jun-Xiang LI ; Zhen LIU ; Zheng-Hua XIAO ; Jing-Dong XIAO ; Pei-Yong ZHENG ; Shao-Gang HUANG ; Sheng-Liang CHEN ; Gui-Jun FEI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):502-518
Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
8.Efficacy and safety of CA280 cytokine adsorption column in treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure
Yan HE ; Dakai GAN ; Xiaoqing ZHANG ; Tao LONG ; Xuezhen ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Yizhen XU ; Yuyu ZENG ; Rui ZHOU ; Shuanglan LIU ; Xizi JIANG ; Yushi LU ; Molong XIONG ; Yunfeng XIONG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2093-2101
ObjectiveTo investigate the application of the novel inflammatory factor adsorption column CA280 combined with low-dose plasma exchange (LPE) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). MethodsA prospective cohort study was designed, and a total of 93 ACLF patients who were admitted to The Ninth Hospital of Nanchang from June 2023 to January 2025 were enrolled and randomly divided into DPMAS+LPE group with 50 patients and CA280+LPE group with 43 patients. In addition to comprehensive medical treatment, the patients in the DPMAS+LPE group received DPMAS and LPE treatment, and those in the CA280+LPE group received CA280 and LPE treatment. The two groups were observed in terms of routine blood test results, liver function parameters, renal function markers, electrolytes, coagulation function parameters, cytokines, adverse events, and 28-day prognosis before surgery (baseline), during surgery (DPMAS or CA280), and after surgery (after sequential LPE treatment). The paired t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data before and after treatment within each group, and the independent-samples t test was used for comparison between groups; the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data before and after treatment within each group, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. The chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups, and the Spearman test was used for correlation analysis. ResultsAfter CA280 treatment, the ACLF patients had significant reductions in the levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), liver function parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, TBil, DBil, Alb, and glutathione reductase), and the renal function marker urea nitrogen (all P<0.05), and in terms of coagulation function parameters, there were significant increases in prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time, and international normalized ratio (INR) and significant reductions in prothrombin activity (PTA) and fibrinogen (FIB) (all P<0.05). Compared with the DPMAS+LPE group, the CA280+LPE group showed better improvements in the serum cytokines IL-8 (Z=-2.63, P=0.009), IL-10 (Z=-3.94, P<0.001), and TNF-α (Z=-1.53, P=0.023), and the two artificial liver support systems had a similar effect in improving liver function (ALT, AST, GGT, GR, TBil, and DBil) (all P >0.05), but the CA280+LPE group showed a significantly greater reduction in Alb (Z=-2.08, P=0.037). CA280+LPE was more effective in reducing uric acid (Z=-2.97, P=0.003). Compared with DPMAS+LPE, CA280+LPE treatment resulted in a significant reduction in INR (Z=-4.01, P<0.001), a significant increase in APTT (Z=-2.53, P=0.011), and significant greater increases in PTA (Z=-6.28, P<0.001) and FIB (Z=-3.93, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of adverse reactions and the rate of improvement at discharge between the two groups (all P>0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis showed that IL-6 was significantly correlated with WBC (r=0.22, P=0.042), TBil (r=0.29, P=0.005), and FIB (r=-0.33, P=0.003); IL-8 was positively correlated with APTT (r=0.37, P<0.001) and INR (r=0.25, P=0.013); TNF-α was significantly correlated with WBC (r=0.40, P<0.001) and TBil (r=0.34, P<0.001). ConclusionCompared with DPMAS, CA280 combined with LPE can effectively clear proinflammatory cytokines and improve liver function in ACLF patients, but it has a certain impact on Alb and coagulation function. This regimen provides a new option for the individualized treatment of ACLF and can improve the short-term prognosis of patients, but further studies are needed to verify its long-term efficacy.
9.Short-term and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Combined Caudate Lobectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Involving the Hepatic Hilus: A Propensity Score Analysis
Di ZENG ; Yaoqun WANG ; Ningyuan WEN ; Bei LI ; Nansheng CHENG ; Jiong LU
Gut and Liver 2025;19(3):438-453
Background/Aims:
Extended hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection has been approved for the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. There was a lack of credible research on the clinical value of caudate lobectomy (CL) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. We aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of the combined procedure with those of only CL for curative resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus.
Methods:
This single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was conducted from January 2007 to December 2021. Patients who underwent radical resection were enrolled in this study. The short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of the groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM).
Results:
A total of 282 patients were included. There were no statistically significant differences in perioperative clinical outcomes between the CL group and the non-CL group before and after PSM. Compared to patients in the non-CL group, patients in the CL group had significantly longer overall survival before and after PSM (p=0.007 before PSM, p=0.033 after PSM). Moreover, compared to the non-CL group, the CL group had longer disease-free survival before and after PSM (p<0.001 before PSM, p=0.019 after PSM).
Conclusions
The postoperative complications of the CL group were comparable to those of the non-CL group. CL improved the long-term survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. Therefore, hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection should be performed for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
10.Short-term and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Combined Caudate Lobectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Involving the Hepatic Hilus: A Propensity Score Analysis
Di ZENG ; Yaoqun WANG ; Ningyuan WEN ; Bei LI ; Nansheng CHENG ; Jiong LU
Gut and Liver 2025;19(3):438-453
Background/Aims:
Extended hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection has been approved for the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. There was a lack of credible research on the clinical value of caudate lobectomy (CL) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. We aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of the combined procedure with those of only CL for curative resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus.
Methods:
This single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was conducted from January 2007 to December 2021. Patients who underwent radical resection were enrolled in this study. The short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of the groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM).
Results:
A total of 282 patients were included. There were no statistically significant differences in perioperative clinical outcomes between the CL group and the non-CL group before and after PSM. Compared to patients in the non-CL group, patients in the CL group had significantly longer overall survival before and after PSM (p=0.007 before PSM, p=0.033 after PSM). Moreover, compared to the non-CL group, the CL group had longer disease-free survival before and after PSM (p<0.001 before PSM, p=0.019 after PSM).
Conclusions
The postoperative complications of the CL group were comparable to those of the non-CL group. CL improved the long-term survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. Therefore, hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection should be performed for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

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