1.A Systematic Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Efficacy Evaluation Scales Based on the COSMIN Guidelines
Kailin SU ; Zhenzhen FENG ; Jiajia WANG ; Lu WANG ; Guixiang ZHAO ; Jiansheng LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):416-424
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the methodological quality and measurement properties of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome efficacy evaluation scales, and to provide evidence-based references for selecting high-quality assessment tools in TCM clinical practice. MethodsChina National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to April 2, 2025, for studies evaluating the measurement properties of TCM syndrome efficacy evaluation scales. Data were extracted, and the methodological quality and measurement properties of the included scales were assessed according to the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN). Recommendation levels were formulated based on the grading of evidence. ResultsA total of 46 studies were included, involving 22 generic syndrome efficacy evaluation scales and 24 disease-specific syndrome efficacy evaluation scales. None of the scales reported cross-cultural validity or measurement error. According to the recommendation grades, 2 scales met Grade A recommendations and are suggested for clinical use; 38 scales were classified as Grade B, indicating potential applicability but requiring further validation; and 6 scales were classified as Grade C, suggesting the need for further refinement. ConclusionExisting TCM syndrome efficacy evaluation scales exhibit substantial variability in methodological quality, incomplete reporting of measurement properties, and insufficient attention to scale revision. Future efforts should emphasize standardized design in the development of TCM syndrome scales, strengthen validation procedures for key measurement properties, and prioritize dynamic revision of scales, thereby providing high-quality tools to support the precise evaluation of syndrome efficacy.
2.Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked in a mouse model of concanavalin A-induced immune-mediated liver injury
Zhenzhen PAN ; Ling XU ; Xianru ZHU ; Zihao FAN ; Yaling CAO ; Yinkang MO ; Sai YAN ; Feng REN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):134-142
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked (DDX3X) in immune-mediated liver injury (ILI), and to clarify its mechanism by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-dependent apoptotic pathway and its association with the clinical progression of hepatitis B. MethodsMice were given injection of concanavalin A (ConA) via the caudal vein to establish a model of ILI, PBS (control group) and different concentrations of ConA were injected into the tail vein of hepatocyte-specific DDX3X-knockout mice (DDX3XΔHep and DDX3X-flox mice (DDX3Xfl/fl), respectively.. The log-rank survival analysis, measurement of the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and HE staining of liver tissue were performed to assess liver injury, and qRT-PCR and Western Blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), and DDX3X in liver tissue. Intraperitoneal injection of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA, 100 mg/kg) was performed to inhibit ERS. Serum samples (n=30) and liver tissue samples (n=6) were collected from healthy controls, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and hepatitis B virus-associated liver failure (HBV-LF) patients; ELISA was used to measure the serum level of DDX3X, and qRT-PCR/Western Blot was used to analyze the expression of targets in liver tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group of mice, the expression of DDX3X in the liver of mice induced by ConA was significantly increased after liver injury (P<0.05), and hepatocyte-specific DDX3X knockout increased the 72-hour survival rate of mice by 55% (compared with 20% in the DDX3Xfl/fl group), with significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT and AST (P<0.000 1) and the expression levels of the ERS markers GRP78 and CHOP (P<0.05). After ERS was inhibited by 4-PBA, there was alleviation of liver injury (with reductions in ALT and AST, P <0.001) and a reduction in DDX3X expression (P<0.01). The analysis of clinical samples showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of liver DDX3X in CHB patients and HBV-LF patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (all P<0.01), and there was a significant increase in the serum level of DDX3X in HBV-LF patients (P<0.000 1). ConclusionDDX3X exacerbates ILI by regulating the ERS-dependent apoptotic pathway (GRP78/CHOP), and its expression is associated with the progression of hepatitis B. Therefore, it can be used as a potential therapeutic target.
3.Drug resistance among AIDS population with failed antiviral therapies in Aksu area and molecular network analysis
Mingyu XU ; Jiangtao FENG ; Hu LI ; Fengying WANG ; Yongdi HUANG ; Tao JIN ; Jianwei TUO ; Zhenzhen DAI
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(14):2182-2187
OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance among the acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)population who failed in the antiviral therapy from 2022 to 2023 and analyze the molecular network.METHODS The plasma specimens were collected from the population with viral load no less than 1000 cps/ml who received antiviral therapy for more than 6 months in Aksu area from 2022 to 2023,which were delivered to Aksu Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention for test.MEGA5 and the Stanford University drug resistance database were employed to determine the subtypes and drug resistance after the sequences of human immunodefi-ciency virus type Ⅰ polymerase gene region(HIV-1pol)were obtained,and the molecular network was established by HIV-trace.RESULTS Totally 648 sequences of HIV-1pol region were obtained,CRF07_BC(97.69%)was the major subtype,and the drug resistance rate was 58.33%;the drug resistance rates to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(NNRTI),nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(NRTI)and protease inhibitor(PI)were 51.70%,19.75%and8.64%,respectively.The univariate analysis showed that year(x2=6.341),age(x2=18.455)and route of infection(x2=14.061)had remarkable effects on the drug resistance among the population with failed ART(P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the drug resistance rate was higher in 2022 than in 2023(95%CI:1.132 to 2.191),and the drug resistance rate was higher among the population aged less than 60 years old than among the population more than 6 years old(95%CI:3.647 to 70.268,95%CI:1.435 to 8.235,95%CI:1.061 to 6.164,re-spectively).With 1.5%of the genetic distance set as the threshold,the molecular network was established,the network access rate was 49.07%,77.14%of the clusters had drug-resistant mutation sites,and the male population was at higher risk of network access than the female population.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance rate is relatively high among the AIDS population with failed ART,and the drug-resistant strains appear in clusters in the molecular network.It is neces-sary to further strengthen the monitoring of drug resistance and improve the quality of the follow-up so as to reduce the occurrence of drug resistance and transmission of virulent strains.
4.Effect of STAT3 on PHEV replication in hippocampal neuronal cells
Yubo JIAO ; Zhenzhen WANG ; Qinyu WANG ; Hanzhe ZHOU ; Sirui LI ; Wenqi HE ; Feng GAO ; Yungang LAN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1366-1371,1393
In order to explore the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)in the infection process of porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus(PHEV),Western blot,qRT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence experiments were used to detect the phosphoryla-tion level and subcellular localization changes of STAT3 after PHEV infection.The replication of PHEV were examined in cells with STAT3 knockdown or overexpression,respectively.The results showed the phosphorylation level of STAT3 at tyrosine 705 was significantly increased after PHEV infection,and the expression of STAT3 in the nucleus increased.In addition,STAT3 knock-down in cells can significantly inhibit PHEV replication.The above results further reveal the path-ogenic mechanism of PHEV and provide a theoretical basis for the research of anti-PHEV drugs.
5.A Three-Method-Based Research on Item Weighting of Syndrome Therapeutic Evaluation Scale for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Acute Exacerbation
Wenqing HE ; Zhenzhen FENG ; Jiansheng LI ; Yang XIE ; Jiajia WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(7):1878-1886
Objective To provide basis for the formation of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD-STES),the item weight of the syndrome therapeutic evaluation scale for AECOPD-STES was determined.Methods Based on the clinical survey data of 387 AECOPD patients,the random forest method was adopted,and the Spyder integrated development environment.Anaconda navigator software was used to call the"random forest Classifier"in the sklearn package to establish the initial random forest model and calculate the item weights.Factor analysis was used to extract common factors with cumulative variance contribution>80%,and the item weight was calculated according to the cumulative variance contribution and component score coefficient of common factors.The percentage weight method was used to calculate the item weight based on the importance score of each item by 29 experts.Finally,40%,30%and 30%of the above three methods were given respectively to determine the final weight of the items.Results The random forest method showed that the weights of wind cold syndrome,cold Yin syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.014-0.170,0.076-0.194,0.017-0.183,0.010-0.183 and 0.069-0.298,respectively.Factor analysis showed that the weights of wind cold syndrome,cold yin Syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.030-0.111,0.100-0.182,0.037-0.095,0.022-0.141 and 0.054-0.185,respectively.The percentage weight method shows that the weight ranges of wind cold syndrome,cold yin Syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.072-0.102,0.146-0.182,0.057-0.077,0.075-0.111 and 0.115-0.185,respectively.According to the three methods,the weights of wind cold syndrome,cold yin Syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.050-0.121,0.117-0.174,0.040-0.117,0.056-0.130 and 0.092-0.188,respectively.Conclusion This study determined the weight of each item of AECOPD-STES,providing a basis for the calculation of syndrome score.
6.Study on mechanism of immunogenic cell death induced by ginsenoside octanoate through induction of autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Fuxiang SONG ; Zhenzhen DAI ; Jingjing SHENG ; Jiali CHEN ; Hui ZHANG ; Hua FENG ; Yao PAN ; Zeyuan DENG ; Fang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(6):1427-1432
Objective:To investigate the effect of ginsenoside octanoate(Rh2-O)on inducing immunogenic cell death in hepa-tocellular carcinoma cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods:Effects of ginsenoside caprylate(Rh2-O)and autophagy inhibitor 3-MA on the activity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were detected by CCK-8 assay.The effect of Rh2-O on CRT membrane eversion in Hepa1-6 cells were detected by immunofluorescence assay.Rh2-O treated mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cells were used to pre-pare a tumor vaccine for in vivo vaccination experiments in mice.Extracellular ATP levels were detected in real-time.The expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins were measured by real-time fluorescence PCR and Western blot,and the mitochondrial morphol-ogy and co-localization with autophagy proteins were observed by laser confocal microscopy.Results:Rh2-O showed strong cytotoxicity to Hepa1-6 cells[cell viability:(58.54±3.56)%]at a concentration of 150 μmol/L,and a large amount of CRT was observed on the surface of the cell membrane.The tumor emergence rate was 36.36%in the vaccinated group and 100%in the control group.The tumor vaccine prepared by Rh2-O effectively protected mice from the same type of tumor attack;Rh2-O induced an increase in the level of cellular secreted ATP(P<0.05),the mRNA of autophagy-related genes ATG3,p62,LC3 expression levels and autophagy-associated proteins LC3A and LC3B expression levels were increased(P<0.05),and co-localization of mitochondria with autophagy proteins was significantly increased(P<0.05).In addition,Rh2-O action on 3-MA pretreated hepatocellular carcinoma cells resulted in a signifi-cant decrease in extracellular ATP levels(P<0.001).Conclusion:Rh2-O may induce immunogenic cell death by inducing autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
7.Drug resistance among AIDS population with failed antiviral therapies in Aksu area and molecular network analysis
Mingyu XU ; Jiangtao FENG ; Hu LI ; Fengying WANG ; Yongdi HUANG ; Tao JIN ; Jianwei TUO ; Zhenzhen DAI
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(14):2182-2187
OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance among the acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)population who failed in the antiviral therapy from 2022 to 2023 and analyze the molecular network.METHODS The plasma specimens were collected from the population with viral load no less than 1000 cps/ml who received antiviral therapy for more than 6 months in Aksu area from 2022 to 2023,which were delivered to Aksu Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention for test.MEGA5 and the Stanford University drug resistance database were employed to determine the subtypes and drug resistance after the sequences of human immunodefi-ciency virus type Ⅰ polymerase gene region(HIV-1pol)were obtained,and the molecular network was established by HIV-trace.RESULTS Totally 648 sequences of HIV-1pol region were obtained,CRF07_BC(97.69%)was the major subtype,and the drug resistance rate was 58.33%;the drug resistance rates to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(NNRTI),nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor(NRTI)and protease inhibitor(PI)were 51.70%,19.75%and8.64%,respectively.The univariate analysis showed that year(x2=6.341),age(x2=18.455)and route of infection(x2=14.061)had remarkable effects on the drug resistance among the population with failed ART(P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the drug resistance rate was higher in 2022 than in 2023(95%CI:1.132 to 2.191),and the drug resistance rate was higher among the population aged less than 60 years old than among the population more than 6 years old(95%CI:3.647 to 70.268,95%CI:1.435 to 8.235,95%CI:1.061 to 6.164,re-spectively).With 1.5%of the genetic distance set as the threshold,the molecular network was established,the network access rate was 49.07%,77.14%of the clusters had drug-resistant mutation sites,and the male population was at higher risk of network access than the female population.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance rate is relatively high among the AIDS population with failed ART,and the drug-resistant strains appear in clusters in the molecular network.It is neces-sary to further strengthen the monitoring of drug resistance and improve the quality of the follow-up so as to reduce the occurrence of drug resistance and transmission of virulent strains.
8.Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Related Factors in Sepsis Based on Cross-sectional survey
Siyuan LEI ; Zhenzhen FENG ; Liu CHUN ; Hulei ZHAO ; Jiansheng LI
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(11):3316-3327
Objective To explore the correlation between different syndromes of sepsis and laboratory parameters,SOFA score,and APACHE Ⅱ score,providing reference for improving the objectivity of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation.Methods Based on the cross-sectional survey,information of the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine,laboratory parameters,and disease assessment scales were collected from sepsis patients admitted to ICUs in 8 hospitals across the country.ANOVA,non-parametric tests,and Logistic regression analysis were used to screen for sepsis syndrome related factors.Results A total of 905 sepsis patients were included,and the distributions of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes were as follows:163(18.01%)of phlegm heat obstructing the lungs syndrome,141(15.58%)of blood stasis and toxin obstruction(damage)syndrome,130(14.36%)of intense exuberant heat toxin syndrome,129(14.25%)of Yin exhaustion and Yang deficiency syndrome,124(13.70%)of Yangming fu-organ excess syndrome,96(10.61%)of lung Qi deficiency syndrome,68(7.51%)of Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome,and 54(5.97%)of Qi and blood deficiency syndrome.The results of ANOVA and non-parametric tests showed that there were differences in 14 indicators,including body temperature,heart rate,WBC,NE%,PCT,CRP,PLT,D-D,APTT,Lac,HCT,Hb,SOFA score,APACHE Ⅱ score among 8 common syndromes(P<0.05);Using the 14 indicators mentioned above as independent variables,and syndrome as the dependent variable,Logistic regression analysis was conducted.The results showed that in the excess syndrome category:①Phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome was positively correlated with heart rate and WBC,and negatively correlated with Lac and APACHE Ⅱ scores;②Intense exuberant heat toxin syndrome was positively correlated with body temperature,WBC,NE%,PCT,CRP,and negatively correlated with PLT and SOFA scores;③Yangming fu-organ excess syndrome was positively correlated with body temperature and negatively correlated with PCT;④Blood stasis and toxin obstruction(damage)syndrome was positively correlated with body temperature,NE%,PLT,CRP,and D-D,and negatively correlated with heart rate,WBC,PCT,and APTT.Deficiency syndrome category:①Lung Qi deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with Hb,and negatively correlated with body temperature,WBC,and HCT;②Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome were negatively correlated with NE%and CRP;③Qi and blood deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ score,and negatively correlated with body temperature,Hb,PLT,D-D;④Yin exhaustion and Yang deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with heart rate,PCT,Lac,SOFA score,and APACHE Ⅱ score,and negatively correlated with body temperature.Conclusion Patients with sepsis with excess syndrome category have higher WBC,NE%,PCT,CRP scores,which suggests a drastic inflammatory response.Among them,Blood stasis and toxin obstruction(damage)syndrome have highest PLT,D-D,and lowest APTT,suggesting a more severe disorder of coagulation function.Deficiency syndrome category,especially patients with Yin exhaustion and Yang prostration syndrome has higher Lac and SOFA score and APACHE Ⅱ score than other patients with sepsis of other syndromes,suggesting a worse condition and poor prognosis.
9.A Three-Method-Based Research on Item Weighting of Syndrome Therapeutic Evaluation Scale for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Acute Exacerbation
Wenqing HE ; Zhenzhen FENG ; Jiansheng LI ; Yang XIE ; Jiajia WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(7):1878-1886
Objective To provide basis for the formation of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD-STES),the item weight of the syndrome therapeutic evaluation scale for AECOPD-STES was determined.Methods Based on the clinical survey data of 387 AECOPD patients,the random forest method was adopted,and the Spyder integrated development environment.Anaconda navigator software was used to call the"random forest Classifier"in the sklearn package to establish the initial random forest model and calculate the item weights.Factor analysis was used to extract common factors with cumulative variance contribution>80%,and the item weight was calculated according to the cumulative variance contribution and component score coefficient of common factors.The percentage weight method was used to calculate the item weight based on the importance score of each item by 29 experts.Finally,40%,30%and 30%of the above three methods were given respectively to determine the final weight of the items.Results The random forest method showed that the weights of wind cold syndrome,cold Yin syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.014-0.170,0.076-0.194,0.017-0.183,0.010-0.183 and 0.069-0.298,respectively.Factor analysis showed that the weights of wind cold syndrome,cold yin Syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.030-0.111,0.100-0.182,0.037-0.095,0.022-0.141 and 0.054-0.185,respectively.The percentage weight method shows that the weight ranges of wind cold syndrome,cold yin Syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.072-0.102,0.146-0.182,0.057-0.077,0.075-0.111 and 0.115-0.185,respectively.According to the three methods,the weights of wind cold syndrome,cold yin Syndrome,phlegm heat syndrome,phlegm dampness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were 0.050-0.121,0.117-0.174,0.040-0.117,0.056-0.130 and 0.092-0.188,respectively.Conclusion This study determined the weight of each item of AECOPD-STES,providing a basis for the calculation of syndrome score.
10.To explore the pathological connotation and therapeutic significance of bronchiectasis combined with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection based on"Strengthening fire eating qi"
Xiaoyu WANG ; Zhenzhen FENG ; Wenrui LIU ; Jiansheng LI
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2025;32(4):385-391
Bronchiectasis is one of the most common and refractory lower respiratory tract diseases in clinic practice.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common frequently isolated pathogen in adults with bronchiectasis complicated by infection.The complex relationship among inflammation,immunity,infection and structural damage in the airway of patients has been described as a"vicious circle"model,but the specific mechanism of different pathological links in this model and their intricate interactions are still not fully understood.The theory of"Strengthening fire eating qi"first appeared in Su Wen·Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun,and provides simply explain the"qi"damage to"shape"damage of patients'airway from the perspective of"fire"and"qi"in traditional Chinese medicine,and provide new ideas for explaining the pathological mechanism connotation of bronchiectasis combined with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.The exploration of pathological mechanism is the fundamental source of understanding disease progression and discovering new treatment ideas.At present,the clinical treatment of Western medicine for patients with bronchiectasis mainly focuses on anti-infection and symptomatic treatment.Although etiological targeted therapies and targeted drugs are constantly explored and developed,they are still rarely applied in clinical practice.As a treasure of Chinese culture,traditional Chinese medicine has the advantage of taking both specimens into consideration,and its clinical efficacy and pharmacological value are worthy of further study.Based on the classical theory of"Strengthening fire eating qi",this review aims to understand and summarize the modern pathological mechanism of bronchiectasis combined with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and highlights current research hotspots in both Chinese and Western medicine treatment,in order to provide clinical thinking.

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