1.Research on the generative logic and contemporary value of the red doctor spirit from the “two integrations” perspective
Mao LI ; Shihua ZHONG ; Bangzhai SUN
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(2):256-262
The red doctor spirit is a unique spiritual form and value pursuit nurtured. It was nurtured and formed during the medical practice of the Communist Party of China leading the vast medical workers to integrate the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete realities of the Chinese revolution and with the excellent traditional Chinese medical ethics culture. It constitutes not only an important component of the spiritual spectrum of the Chinese Communists but also a significant source of the health and wellness culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Employing the analytical framework of the “two integrations,” this paper conducted an in-depth analysis of the generative logic of the red doctor spirit. It revealed that this spirit was not only the creative transformation and concrete manifestation of Marxist core concepts such as human emancipation and the people-centered stance in the medical and health practices of the Chinese revolution, but also an integration and elevation of traditional medical ethics like “the caring heart of a physician” and “a master physician must have superb skill and sincerity” in the excellent traditional Chinese culture with the red revolutionary culture at the practical level. This paper argued that the generation of the red doctor spirit was the product of a dialectical unity regarding theoretical guidance, cultural nourishment, and practical exploration under specific historical conditions. Situated in the new era, the red doctor spirit continues to exhibit strong vitality and irreplaceable contemporary value in aspects such as adhering to the people-first principle, advancing the healthy China initiative, strengthening medical ethics and professional conduct, carrying forward the red gene, and cultivating new generations for the era.
2.Olfactory Receptors Expressed in The Intestine and Their Functions
Pei-Wen YANG ; Meng-Meng YUAN ; Ying ZHOU ; Peng LI ; Gui-Hong QI ; Ying YANG ; Zhong-Yi MAO ; Meng-Sha ZHOU ; Xiao-Shuang MAO ; Jian-Ping XIE ; Yi-Nan YANG ; Shi-Hao SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):534-549
Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.
3.Roles of plant-derived natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis
Ziyi DUAN ; Wenhao ZHOU ; Yingjie CAI ; Min ZHONG ; Jian MAO ; Lan JIANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):33-39
Osteoporosis is a systemic disease, and epidemiological projections indicate that by 2050, approximately 23.43% of the Chinese population over 50 years of age will be affected. Given the poor prognosis associated with osteoporosis, the exploration of safe and effective natural products is of considerable significance. Studies investigating the chemical constituents of traditional Chinese medicine in cellular and/or animal models have demonstrated bone-protective effects. Although most of these compounds lack clinical data, they hold considerable potential as lead candidates for drug development. In-depth study of the structure-activity relationship of these natural products not only contributes to elucidating the mechanisms of action but also provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel antiosteoporosis therapies. This review summarizes natural products with potential antiosteoporotic effects reported between 2020 and 2024. Overall, plant-derived natural compounds exhibit antiosteoporotic effects by regulating bone remodeling, inflammation, and oxidative stress, highlighting their promise as multitarget therapeutic candidates.
4.Research progress on mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases
Lei XU ; Yanyan OUYANG ; Yiping JIANG ; Linlin LIU ; Yuanlan ZHONG ; Wenjuan MAO ; Linying XIE
International Eye Science 2026;26(10):1759-1765
Retinal degenerative diseases are a group of blinding ocular disorders characterized by progressive and irreversible loss of retinal neural cells. They mainly include age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. At present, there are no curative clinical therapies capable of reversing the disease course. Patients have poor long-term visual prognosis, imposing a heavy public-health burden on families and society. Mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)-derived exosomes, as a novel cell-free therapeutic vector, have emerged as a research hotspot due to their low immunogenicity, no tumorigenic risk, and excellent tissue barrier penetration ability. This review systematically summarizes the core mechanisms of MSC-derived exosomes in regulating immune inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, and promoting retinal neuroprotection and structural/functional recovery via miRNA and tsRNA, compares the efficacy differences and existing controversies among exosomes from different sources, and outlines the advances in intraocular delivery technologies and engineering modification strategies. Combined with preclinical and clinical data, the current bottlenecks and safety evidence for clinical translation were objectively described. Meanwhile, in view of the heterogeneity among existing studies, this review proposes future directions including standardized preparation and the establishment of efficacy evaluation systems, so as to provide theoretical references for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for retinal degenerative diseases.
5.Exploring Mechanism of Luoshi Neiyi Prescription in Treating Endometriosis Based on Ferroptosis and Serum Metabolomics
Haixia PAN ; Yingqiao ZHONG ; Ting MAO ; Ziyi DENG ; Meilin WU ; Lei HUANG ; Siyang CHEN ; Yong GUO ; Ying ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):201-212
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which Luoshi Neiyi prescription treats endometriosis (EMs) through regulating ferroptosis, and to screen key metabolites and analyze their association with ferroptosis. MethodsClinical samples of normal endometrium from patients without EMs and eutopic and ectopic endometrium from EMs patients (10 cases each) were collected and divided into control group, eutopic group, and EMs group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe ectopic lesions of EMs. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), ferrous ion (Fe2+), GPX4 and glutathione (GSH) in endometrial tissues, as well as serum levels of Fe2+, GPX4 and GSH. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, transferrin receptor (TFR) and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). In the in vitro experiment, primary stromal cells were isolated from ectopic lesions of EMs patients. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine the optimal concentration of drug-containing serum for intervention. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured, and Real-time PCR was applied to detect ferroptosis-related indicators. In the animal experiments, an EM rat model was established, and the rats were randomly assigned to the sham operation group, EMs group, low-dose Luoshi Neiyi Formula group (7.87 g·kg-1), high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription group (15.74 g·kg-1), and danazol group (42 mg·kg-1). Untargeted metabolomics detection and pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on serum samples from patients and rats. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between differential metabolites and ferroptosis indicators. The correlations between differential metabolites in patient endometrium and serum and key ferroptosis indicators (GPX4, Fe2+, MDA, GSH) as well as ferroptosis-related mRNAs (GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1) were analyzed, and correlation heatmaps were generated accordingly. ResultsCompared with normal eutopic endometrium, ectopic lesions in EMs patients showed glandular disorganization and stromal fibrosis. In ectopic endometrium, the contents of MDA, ROS, and Fe2+ decreased, while GPX4 level increased, and the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). In serum, the levels of GPX4 and Fe2+ were elevated, whereas the GSH level declined, suggesting abnormalities in ferroptosis-related pathways in ectopic lesions (P<0.05, P<0.01). After intervention with Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum, the intracellular ROS level in ectopic endometrial stromal cells was elevated, the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was downregulated, and TFR mRNA expression was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomics analysis revealed 1104 and 198 differential metabolites in EMs patients and EMs rats, respectively, compared with their corresponding control groups, and both low-dose and high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription were found to regulate this metabolic disturbance, with the core regulatory pathways mainly involving arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that the glycerophospholipids including PI(16∶0/17∶0) and PI[18∶2(9Z,12Z)] were negatively correlated with GPX4 and positively correlated with MDA, while 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was positively correlated with GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 q<0.05). ConclusionLuoshi Neiyi prescription may systematically ameliorate disease-associated metabolic dysregulation via modulation of the serum arginine and proline metabolism pathway, and may regulate ferroptosis in ectopic lesions through a mechanism potentially linked to the serum glycerophospholipid and steroid metabolism pathways. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of Luoshi Neiyi prescription.
6.Exploring Mechanism of Luoshi Neiyi Prescription in Treating Endometriosis Based on Ferroptosis and Serum Metabolomics
Haixia PAN ; Yingqiao ZHONG ; Ting MAO ; Ziyi DENG ; Meilin WU ; Lei HUANG ; Siyang CHEN ; Yong GUO ; Ying ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):201-212
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which Luoshi Neiyi prescription treats endometriosis (EMs) through regulating ferroptosis, and to screen key metabolites and analyze their association with ferroptosis. MethodsClinical samples of normal endometrium from patients without EMs and eutopic and ectopic endometrium from EMs patients (10 cases each) were collected and divided into control group, eutopic group, and EMs group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe ectopic lesions of EMs. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), ferrous ion (Fe2+), GPX4 and glutathione (GSH) in endometrial tissues, as well as serum levels of Fe2+, GPX4 and GSH. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, transferrin receptor (TFR) and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). In the in vitro experiment, primary stromal cells were isolated from ectopic lesions of EMs patients. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine the optimal concentration of drug-containing serum for intervention. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured, and Real-time PCR was applied to detect ferroptosis-related indicators. In the animal experiments, an EM rat model was established, and the rats were randomly assigned to the sham operation group, EMs group, low-dose Luoshi Neiyi Formula group (7.87 g·kg-1), high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription group (15.74 g·kg-1), and danazol group (42 mg·kg-1). Untargeted metabolomics detection and pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on serum samples from patients and rats. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between differential metabolites and ferroptosis indicators. The correlations between differential metabolites in patient endometrium and serum and key ferroptosis indicators (GPX4, Fe2+, MDA, GSH) as well as ferroptosis-related mRNAs (GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1) were analyzed, and correlation heatmaps were generated accordingly. ResultsCompared with normal eutopic endometrium, ectopic lesions in EMs patients showed glandular disorganization and stromal fibrosis. In ectopic endometrium, the contents of MDA, ROS, and Fe2+ decreased, while GPX4 level increased, and the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). In serum, the levels of GPX4 and Fe2+ were elevated, whereas the GSH level declined, suggesting abnormalities in ferroptosis-related pathways in ectopic lesions (P<0.05, P<0.01). After intervention with Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum, the intracellular ROS level in ectopic endometrial stromal cells was elevated, the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was downregulated, and TFR mRNA expression was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomics analysis revealed 1104 and 198 differential metabolites in EMs patients and EMs rats, respectively, compared with their corresponding control groups, and both low-dose and high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription were found to regulate this metabolic disturbance, with the core regulatory pathways mainly involving arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that the glycerophospholipids including PI(16∶0/17∶0) and PI[18∶2(9Z,12Z)] were negatively correlated with GPX4 and positively correlated with MDA, while 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was positively correlated with GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 q<0.05). ConclusionLuoshi Neiyi prescription may systematically ameliorate disease-associated metabolic dysregulation via modulation of the serum arginine and proline metabolism pathway, and may regulate ferroptosis in ectopic lesions through a mechanism potentially linked to the serum glycerophospholipid and steroid metabolism pathways. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of Luoshi Neiyi prescription.
7.Wuzhi Wuyang——Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Malignant Tumor
Baojin HAN ; Ying TAN ; Ruijuan CAI ; Qiyuan MAO ; Chuchu ZHANG ; Yiwei ZHONG ; Hongsheng LIN
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(2):93-97
In response to the clinical needs of cancer treatment and rehabilitation, Professor Lin Hongsheng proposed the Wuzhi Wuyang (five treatments and rehabilitation) concept on the basis of years of clinical experience and the Guben Qingyuan (consolidate the foundation and clear the source) theory. Wuzhi Wuyang emphasizes the importance of treatment and rehabilitation and aims to provide personalized and stage-specific treatment and rehabilitation plans by integrating the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine to achieve comprehensive life-cycle management for patients with cancer. The proposal of Wuzhi Wuyang has provided new ideas and methods for the treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of cancer, along with valuable references for clinical practice and academic research. This article summarizes the connotation of Wuzhi Wuyang and its application in the comprehensive management of cancer prevention and treatment with TCM.
8.Post-translational modification of Keap1 regulates oxidative stress-related diseases
Ying QU ; Caiyun MAO ; Qing ZHONG ; Rong ZHANG ; Yunjia SONG
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(1):107-111
The activation of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway is an important mechanism for cells to resist oxidative stress.Under oxidative stress,Keap1 is affected by post-translational modification(PTM)such as glutathione,alky-lation and S-sulfhydrylation,which weakens its binding to Nrf2,leading to Nrf2 accumulation,nuclear translocation and the expression and transcription of downstream detoxification and antioxidant defense proteins.The PTM of Keap1 is involved in the regulation of a variety of oxidative stress-related diseases such as cancer,Parkin-son's disease and atherosclerosis.For example,alkylation inhibits abdominal aortic aneurysm formation,methylation promotes innate resistance of breast cancer,and S-sulfhydrylation improves atherosclerosis,which pro-vides a theoretical basis for finding new drug targets and biomarkers.
9.Clinical Applications and Potential Mechanisms of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness
Jianlin PU ; Jing FU ; Zhong LI ; Qiuyue MAO ; Hongpeng LIU ; Yadong LIU ; Xuesong GAI
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(10):1-11
Prolonged disorders of consciousness(pDoC)are complex and prolonged conditions that severely impact patient prognosis and remain a clinical treatment challenge.In recent years,neural regulation-based awakening therapies have been widely applied in the assessment and treatment of pDoC patients.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)technology can regulate neural activity and improve patients'consciousness states,demonstrating positive awakening effects for pDoC patients.However,the optimal stimulation parameters and awakening mechanisms of rTMS remain unclear.This article reviews the pathological mechanisms of pDoC,clinical applications of rTMS at different targeting sites and stimulation frequencies,and focuses on exploring how rTMS promotes consciousness recovery through neural mechanisms such as altering neural pathways,reshaping brain networks,promoting synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release,regulating neurotrophic factor expression,and modulating cerebral hemodynamics.Based on artificial intelligence,the article also prospects the future clinical research applications of rTMS.
10.Research on medication rules of Chinese medicine in treating chronic kidney disease with spleen and kidney deficiency based on the mutual admiration of spleen and kidney
Chenyang PEI ; Guanghui ZHONG ; Chenchen WANG ; Yuwei SONG ; Rongrong ZHANG ; Qingyun MAO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(6):55-59,64
Objective Based on the theory of mutual admiration of spleen and kidney,this study intends to explore the medication patterns of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of spleen-kidney deficiency-type chronic kidney disease(CKD)by using data mining methods and to provide reference for the clinical treatment of spleen-kidney deficiency-type CKD.Methods The literatures included in China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,and VIP databases were used as data sources.The literature related to traditional Chinese medicine treatment of spleen-kidney deficiency-type CKD was analyzed by Excel 2021,IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0,IBM SPSS Statistics 27,and systematic clustering analysis and finally visualized by Cytoscape 3.7.2,RStudio.Results A total of 90 prescriptions were included,involving 146 flavors of drugs.The top 5 high-frequency drugs were Huangqi,Fuling,Baizhu,Dahuang,and Danshen.The medicinal properties are mainly mild and warm;The medicinal taste is characterized by sweetness,bitterness,and pungent;The main meridians of drugs are spleen,liver,and kidney meridians.Association rule analysis demonstrated that the commonly used couplet drugs were Huangqi-Fuling and Huangqi-Baizhu;Commonly used corner drugs included Huangqi-Baizhu-Fuling and Huangqi-Dahuang-Fuling.Cluster analysis found that the clustering effect of spleen-kidney deficiency-type CKD treatment drugs in five categories was better.Conclusion The medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of spleen-kidney deficiency-type CKD are preliminarily clarified,which provides a basis for clinical medication and new prescription development.

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