1.Perioperative immune dynamics and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery
Zhiyuan CHENG ; Xinyi LIAO ; Juan WU ; Ping YANG ; Tingting WANG ; Qinjuan WU ; Wentong MENG ; Zongcheng TANG ; Jiayi SUN ; Jia TAN ; Jing LIN ; Dan LUO ; Hao WANG ; Chaonan LIU ; Jiyue XIONG ; Liqin LING ; Jing ZHOU ; Lei DU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(1):31-43
Objective: To characterize perioperative dynamic changes in immune-cell phenotypes and inflammatory cytokines in patients undergoing CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) cardiac surgery, and to explore their associations with postoperative outcomes. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 120 adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital from May 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Perioperative immune-cell phenotypes and concentrations of 40 inflammation-related cytokines were measured. The primary outcomes were the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at 24 h after surgery and ΔSOFA (the peak SOFA score within 48 h after surgery minus the preoperative SOFA score). Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), acute kidney injury (AKI), respiratory failure, severe liver injury, and infection. Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was 57±10 years. Of these, 52% (62/120) were male and 90% (108/120) underwent valve surgery. During the rewarming to the end of CPB, neutrophil counts rapidly increased (7.39×10
/L vs preoperative 3.07×10
/L, P<0.001), with significant upregulation of CD11b (7.30×10
/L vs preoperative 3.05×10
/L, P<0.001) and CD54 (7.15×10
/L vs preoperative 2.99×10
/L, P<0.001). Lymphocyte counts increased at the end of CPB (1.75×10
/L vs preoperative 1.12×10
/L, P<0.001) but decreased significantly at 24 h after surgery (0.59×10
/L vs preoperative 1.12×10
/L, P<0.001). Plasma analysis showed that multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines increased during CPB and remained elevated up to 24 h after surgery; five chemokines and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 peaked at the end of CPB. The SOFA score increased from 1 (1, 2) preoperatively to 7 (5, 10) at 24 h after surgery, with a ΔSOFA of 6 (4, 8). Within 30 days after surgery, 48 patients (40.0%) developed AKI, 17 (14.2%) developed infection, 4 (3.3%) developed severe liver injury, 3 (2.5%) developed respiratory failure, and 3 (2.5%) experienced MACE. During the 2-year follow-up, 8 patients (6.7%) experienced MACE and 5 (4.2%) died. Conclusion: Multi-organ dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery under CPB (median ΔSOFA, 6), accompanied by perioperative activation of multiple immune-cell subsets and upregulation of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and chemotactic mediators. This study provides data-driven evidence and research clues for further investigation of the associations between CPB-related immune perturbations and postoperative organ dysfunction and clinical outcomes.
2.Pharmacodynamic Substances and Mechanisms of Xinglou Chengqi Tang in Treating Post-stroke Complications: A Review
Yujin ZHANG ; Xiangzhuo LIU ; Zhouyang CHEN ; Zihao SONG ; Xinyi LIU ; Yizhi YAN ; Chaoya LI ; Yingyan FANG ; Shasha YANG ; Xueqin CHENG ; Zhou XIE ; Sijie TAN ; Peng ZENG ; Yue ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):327-337
Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability among adults in China, and its common complications include digestive system abnormalities, cognitive impairment, depression, stroke-associated pneumonia, and hemiplegia. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has great potential in treating post-stroke complications. Xinglou Chengqitang (XLCQT) is a representative prescription of alleviating the disease in the upper part by treating the lower part. It has definite therapeutic effect and high safety. Clinically, XLCQT is often used to treat stroke and its complications. However, the quantity and quality of clinical trials of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications need to be improved. Additionally, since the basic research is weak, the material basis and multi-target mechanism for the efficacy of this prescription are unknown. This article reviews XLCQT in terms of the pharmacodynamic basis, medicinal properties, safety evaluation, and progress in clinical research and mechanisms in treating post-stroke complications. This article summarizes 22 key active ingredients of XLCQT in treating acute stroke complicated with syndrome of phlegm heat and fu-organ excess. Among these key active ingredients, resveratrol, kaempferol, luteolin, chrysoeriol, apigenin, (+)-catechin, and adenosine have good pharmacokinetic properties and high bioavailability. The mechanisms of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications are complex, including inflammatory response, brain-gut axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, intestinal flora, neurotrophic factors, autophagy, oxidative stress, and free radical damage. This review helps to deeply understand the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanisms of XLCQT in treating post-stroke complications and provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of XLCQT against post-stroke complications and the development of drugs.
3.Association of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes with blood lipid profiles and cardiovascular prognosis in post-percutaneous coronary intervention atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients: a prospective cohort study
Huangyu XU ; Qian LI ; Haozhe XIONG ; Weidong HONG ; Xinyi ZHOU ; Xiaoyan LU ; Xiaoli LIU ; Xinrong FAN
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):91-102
Objective:
Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are classified as very-high-risk individuals in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification. The distribution pattern of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in this patient population, as well as its association with blood lipid profiles and clinical prognosis, remains unclear. The present prospective cohort study aims to investigate these correlations, thereby providing insights to enrich the research fields.
Methods:
We enrolled consecutive patients with ASCVD who underwent PCI at the Integrated Cardiology Unit of China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022. Demographics and clinical characteristics, signs and symptoms defining each TCM syndrome, and fasting venous blood samples were collected at baseline and follow up or upon major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). We analyzed the correlation between TCM syndromes, blood lipid profiles, and MACEs, and developed a new joint prognostic model incorporating both TCM syndromes and blood lipids using logistic regression. The analyses were based on detailed baseline and one-year follow-up data.
Results:
A per-protocol analysis was performed on 586 patients with complete data ultimately. During the one-year follow-up, 174 patients (29.69%) experienced a MACE. We performed statistical analyses on comorbidities, medication, and biochemical indicators across groups defined by TCM syndrome differentiation. When comparing different TCM syndromes, no significant differences were found in age, body mass index (BMI), history of revascularization, comorbidities, family history of CVD, smoking or drinking, or statin intensity (P > 0.05). Patients with intertwined phlegm and blood stasis syndrome exhibited significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC, 5.27 ± 1.18 mmol/L, P < 0.001), triglyceride (TG, 1.96 ± 1.33 mmol/L, P = 0.008), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, 3.35 ± 0.79 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, 1.24 ± 0.81 mmol/L, P < 0.001) compared with those with other TCM syndromes combined. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to predict MACEs. The model included TCM syndrome type [with intertwined phlegm and blood stasis as a predictor, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.413, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.517 – 3.864, P = 0.501], age (adjusted OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.955 – 1.001, P = 0.057), male gender (adjusted OR = 0.698, 95% CI: 0.416 – 1.170, P = 0.173), TC (adjusted OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 0.513 – 1.965, P = 0.990), and LDL-C (adjusted OR = 5.825, 95% CI: 2.214 – 15.326, P < 0.001). This model demonstrated good discriminatory ability for MACEs in post-PCI ASCVD patients [the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.816 – 0.914].
Conclusion
The intertwined phlegm and blood stasis TCM syndrome is associated with a distinct atherogenic lipid profile characterized by elevated levels of TC and LDL-C. The prognostic model that incorporates this TCM syndrome type along with conventional lipid parameters (TC and LDL-C) shows good discriminatory ability for predicting MACEs in ASCVD patients after PCI, underscoring the potential clinical utility of integrating TCM syndrome differentiation into CVD risk assessment.
4.Influencing Factors of Depression in Patients with Postoperative Ovarian Cancer
Jialiang YAO ; Long ZHANG ; Jianhui TIAN ; Ze LIU ; Yun YANG ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Minghua LI ; Wang YAO ; Wenfei SHI ; Xinyi LU ; Pan YU ; Enchao CONG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(5):349-359
Objective To explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer and to analyze its influencing factors from multiple dimensions, including clinical characteristics, psychological factors, and laboratory indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, which enrolled 235 postoperative patients with ovarian cancer. Depressive status was assessed using the patient health questionnaire, and the demographic, pathological, and medical record data of the patients were collected using the generalized anxiety disorder scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire core 30, and ECOG performance status score. Peripheral blood tumor marker (CA125), routine blood test, lymphocyte subsets, and serum cytokine levels were measured. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results The prevalence of depression in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer was 39.15% (92/235). Univariate analysis showed that ECOG score ≥ 2 points, pain, anxiety, poor sleep quality, low quality of life, low life satisfaction, tumor recurrence, six or more cycles of chemotherapy, as well as higher levels of CA125, NLR, and NAR, and lower hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with depression (all P<0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety (OR=1.975, 95%CI: 1.231-3.170), sleep efficiency (OR=4.181, 95%CI: 1.211-14.43), sleep latency (OR=34.806, 95%CI: 4.258-284.542), ECOG performance status score, cognitive function (OR=0.918, 95%CI: 0.868-0.97), and life satisfaction were independent risk factors for depression (all P<0.05). Laboratory indicators were not independent influencing factors in the multivariate Logistic regression model. Conclusion Depression in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer is influenced by physiological, psychological, and social factors. Clinical management should focus on patients with anxiety, sleep disorders, poor physical condition, and low life satisfaction, and a comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy centered on psychological intervention and taking into account symptom management and social support should be implemented.
5.Risk prediction of long working hours exposure on occupational stress and depressive symptoms among internet industry employees: Based on an interpretable machine learning framework
Xinyi LU ; Tao SONG ; Yuting ZHOU ; Qingxin MENG ; Jianlin LOU ; Hongchang ZHOU ; Jin WANG ; Shuang LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(1):16-27
Background Long working hours, as a common risk factor for occupational stress, is closely related to the occurrence of depressive symptoms. Understanding how long working hours affect occupational stress and depressive symptoms will inform occupational health interventions. Objective To quantify the impact of long working hours exposure on occupational stress and depressive symptoms among Internet industry employees, translate black-box outputs into actionable insights, and demonstrate the value of interpretable machine learning for early-warning occupational-health surveillance. Methods A dataset was derived from a cross-sectional survey involving 2866 internet industry employees in China. This survey was part of the project Risk Assessment Of Long Working Hour Exposure And Its Adverse Health Effects, conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Poisoning Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2021 to 2023. Working hours, occupational stress and depressive symptoms were quantified with a set of structured questionnaires including the Core Occupational Stress Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Pairwise associations were screened by Mantel tests and variance-inflation factors. Key predictors identified through feature selection were fed into six machine-learning risk-prediction models. Visual interpretation was provided by feature importance, Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME), while directed causal effects and intervention impacts of prolonged working hours exposure on occupational stress and depressive symptoms were dissected with causal explanation of features techniques. Results The positive rates of occupational stress and depressive symptoms among internet employees were 12.9% and 77.8% respectively. Twelve core features for occupational stress and nine for depressive symptoms were retained after selection. After these features were supplied to six predictive algorithms and evaluated on five metrics, the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) achieved the highest accuracy—0.89 for occupational stress and 0.79 for depressive symptoms on the hold-out test set. The feature-importance rankings converged on fatigue accumulation and life satisfaction as dominant drivers for both outcomes, whereas weekly working hours and daily overtime emerged as the principal exposure-related predictors. The SHAP summary plots revealed that longer weekly hours and daily overtime systematically elevated the probability of occupational stress. The causal feature explanation further quantified that ascending one category in weekly working hours increased the probability of occupational stress by 7.04%. Conclusion Exposure to long working hours is associated with both occupational stress and depressive symptoms among internet industry employees. Interpretable machine-learning frameworks translate these associations into transparent, defensible drivers, enabling precise identification of the pivotal factors and their interplay. This evidence base equips occupational-health practitioners with actionable insights for designing targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
6.Modified Xiehuangsan Regulates Microglial Polarization and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway to Treat Tic Disorders in Rats
Mengjie ZHAO ; Qiong ZHAO ; Cuiling YANG ; Hongyun ZHOU ; Xiangjuan SUN ; Xinyi GUO ; Sajiyue HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):10-18
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of modified Xiehuangsan in treating tic disorders (TD) based on microglial polarization and the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. MethodsSeventy-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into six groups: control, model, tiapride (0.025 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (12, 24, 48 g·kg-1, respectively) modified Xiehuangsan, with 12 rats in each group. Except the control group, the other groups received intraperitoneal injection of 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) for 7 consecutive days for the modeling of TD. After successful modeling, the control and model groups were given normal saline via gavage, and the other groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage. After 28 days of continuous intervention, rat behaviors were observed, and the modified Xiehuangsan group showing the best anti-TD effect was selected for deciphering the treatment mechanism. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to observe morphological changes in the rat striatum. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of CD16 and CD206 in the striatum. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-4, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 in the striatum. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), Fc receptor family for immunoglobulin (Ig)G type Ⅲ (CD16), mannose receptor (CD206), TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 in the striatum. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed increased stereotyped behaviors, locomotor activity, total movement distance, and movement speed, shortened resting time (P<0.01), and noticeable pathological changes in the striatum. Compared with the model group, the tiapride group and modified Xiehuangsan groups exhibited reduced stereotyped behavior, locomotor activity, total movement distance, and movement speed, prolonged resting time (P<0.05, P<0.01), and alleviated pathological changes in the striatum. Among the modified Xiehuangsan groups, the high-dose group had the best intervention effect and the mildest pathological changes. Therefore, the high-dose group was selected for further research. Compared with the control group, the modeling of TD increased Iba1 and CD16 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), up-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA level of IL-4 (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 and MyD88 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and up-regulated the protein level of NF-κB p65 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, modified Xiehuangsan reduced Iba1 and CD16 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), up-regulated the protein level of CD206 (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-4 (P<0.01), and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionModified Xiehuangsan demonstrated a definite therapeutic effect on TD in rats. It may reduce neuroinflammation in TD rats by regulating the polarization of microglia in the striatum via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
7.(±)-Talapyrones A-F: six pairs of dimeric polyketide enantiomers with unusual 6/6/6 and 6/6/6/5 ring systems from Talaromycesadpressus.
Meijia ZHENG ; Xinyi ZHAO ; Chenxi ZHOU ; Hong LIAO ; Qin LI ; Yuling LU ; Bingbing DAI ; Weiguang SUN ; Ying YE ; Chunmei CHEN ; Yonghui ZHANG ; Hucheng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(8):932-937
(±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6), six pairs of dimeric polyketide enantiomers featuring unusual 6/6/6 and 6/6/6/5 ring systems, were isolated from the fungus Talaromyces adpressus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and HR-ESI-MS data, and their absolute configurations were elucidated using a modified Mosher's method and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. (±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6) possess a 6/6/6 tricyclic skeleton, presumably formed through a Michael addition reaction between one molecule of α-pyrone derivative and one molecule of C8 poly-β-keto chain. In addition, compounds 2/3 and 4/5 are two pairs of C-18 epimers, respectively. Putative biosynthetic pathways of 1-6 were discussed.
Polyketides/isolation & purification*
;
Talaromyces/chemistry*
;
Stereoisomerism
;
Molecular Structure
;
Circular Dichroism
;
Pyrones/chemistry*
8.Boosting prediction of occupational stress among manufacturing employees by reconstructing cumulative fatigue features with Bayesian sparse autoencoder
Tao SONG ; Yuting ZHOU ; Xinyi LU ; Xinkai WEI ; Qingxin MENG ; Jianlin LOU ; Hongchang ZHOU ; Jin WANG ; Shuang LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(12):1446-1455
Background Occupational stress has emerged as a critical public health concern affecting the physical and mental well-being of workers in the manufacturing sector. However, researchers typically evaluate its core driver—cumulative fatigue—using a crude binary “present/absent” variable, thereby overlooking the high-dimensional complexity and heterogeneity inherent in fatigue characteristics. This oversimplification constrains both the precision and predictive performance of occupational stress risk assessment model. Objective Leveraging a data-driven approach, to survey data on cumulative fatigue among manufacturing employees, and then use this new classification to develop and validate an occupational stress prediction model, with an ultimate aim of enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of occupational stress assessment. Methods A set of cross-sectional survey data on
9.Establishment of an in vitro model for Erastin and RSL3-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Xinyue Zhu ; Qiaohui Ren ; Yan Zang ; Xinyi Zhou ; Junxiao Yao ; Lianzi Wang ; Xudong Sha ; Tao Li
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(4):611-618
Objective:
To establish anin vitromodel of ferroptosis induced by Erastin and RAS-selective lethal 3(RSL3) in hepatoma cells, and to provide theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Methods:
Hepatoma cells(HCCLM3, HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5) in logarithmic growth phase were treated with Erastin(0-40 μmol/L) and RSL3(0-10 μmol/L) at double concentrations respectively. After 24 h, CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability, draw growth curve, calculate IC50, and HCC cells sensitive to inducers were selected for follow-up experiments. The effect of inducer on the state of hepatoma cells was observed under light microscope, and immunoblotting and flow cytometry were used to verify whether the ferroptotic modelin vitrowas successfully constructed.
Results:
Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were sensitive to Erastin and RSL3, but HCCLM3 and PLC/PRF/5 were insensitive to Erastin and RSL3. When the concentration of Erastin and RSL3 reached the maximum, the survival rate was still above 65%. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the expression of Glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), a ferroptotic marker, was down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. In Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L Erastin, respectively; in Huh7 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 0.5 μmol/L and 1 μmol/L RSL3, respectively; in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 1 μmol/L and 2 μmol/L RSL3, respectively, compared with control group.
Conclusion
Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells are highly sensitive to Erastin and RSL3. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 10 μmol/L Erastin for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by Erastinin vitro, Huh7 cells treated with 0.5 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h and Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 1 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by RSL3in vitro.
10.A case of stiff person syndrome with symptoms similar to panic attack
Wanyan ZHOU ; Caiping LIU ; Haiying CHEN ; Wanying LIU ; Siying XIANG ; Xinyi QIAN ; Xin LI ; Xiaohua LIU ; Guanjun LI
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2025;58(1):51-54
Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neuro-immune disorder characterized by exaggerated startle responses and muscle spasms in response to minor stimuli. SPS is often misdiagnosed as panic disorder or agoraphobia. This paper reported a case of a patient with SPS presenting symptoms similar to panic attack. The patient had been misdiagnosed as dystonia, anxiety disorder and panic attack. The patient was finally correctly diagnosed through multiple disciplinary team discussions. This study integrates a comprehensive understanding of symptomatology and patient-reported experiences with targeted neurological evaluations and supplementary diagnostic tools to improve the accuracy of etiological diagnoses. This study aims to enhance the ability of psychiatrists to recognize somatic diseases presenting with psychiatric symptoms and to improve clinical diagnostic and treatment levels.


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