1.The role of bile acid dynamics in inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Si-Rui Yu ; Run Sun ; Mei-Ya Shi ; Mei Yang ; Kun Chen ; Qiong Pan ; Ling Zhao ; Ming-Yue Wu ; Jin Chai
Liver Research 2026;10(1):35-50
The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is higher among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in the general population. Emerging evidence indicates that the development of MASLD in patients with IBD may occur independently of traditional metabolic risk factors, suggesting a unique pathophysiological mechanism distinct from conventional MASLD pathways. Bile acids (BAs), which act as critical signaling molecules in enterohepatic circulation, play an essential role in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis through bidirectional gut–liver axis communication. These molecules are increasingly recognized as pivotal regulators in the progression of both MASLD and IBD. While previous studies have characterized the dynamics of BA in blood or fecal samples under both conditions, a comprehensive understanding of their metabolic profiles and the associated interactions within the gut–liver axis is still lacking. This review synthesizes current evidence from studies employing BA metabolomics to investigate IBD and MASLD. By focusing on BA signatures, we summarize conserved alterations between these two conditions and their potential mechanisms of disease progression. Our review advances understanding of BA-mediated pathways in IBD and MASLD, providing a foundation for assessing their roles in contributing to the pathogenesis of MASLD in patients with IBD.
2.Mechanism of Polygonum cuspidatum in alleviating silicosis based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation
Anning YANG ; Wenyan YANG ; Rui BAO ; Shengpeng WEN ; Huning ZHANG ; Sirong CHANG ; Wenyue ZHANG ; Xiaoyu LUO ; Yue SUN
China Occupational Medicine 2026;53(1):8-16
Objective To explore the potential mechanism of Polygonum cuspidatum in alleviating silicosis using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. Methods i) The targets of active components of Polygonum cuspidatum and silicosis-related targets were retrieved from multiple databases. The overlapping targets were imported into Venny2.1.0 and STRING platforms. "Polygonum cuspidatum-active components-potential therapeutic targets for silicosis" network was constructed and core targets of Polygonum cuspidatum that can alleviate silicosis were identified using the Cytoscape3.10.2 software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID database, and molecular docking was conducted with AutoDock software. ii) Human embryonic lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells were divided into three groups. Cells in the control group were cultured in high-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10.00% (V/V)fetal bovine serum. Cells in the silica group were treated with silica suspension at a final concentration of 150 μg·cm² (equivalent to 75 mg/L) for 48 hours. Cells in the silica + β-sitosterol group were first treated with silica suspension for 24 hours, then were cultured in medium containing β-sitosterol at a mass concentration of 50 μg/L for another 24 hours. Immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting were used to detect the effects of β-sitosterol, a core component of Polygonum cuspidatum, on the expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in cells. Results i) A total of ten main active components of Polygonum cuspidatum, 840 targets of the active components, and 231 potential therapeutic targets for silicosis were screened through retrieval. A total of 10 core therapeutic targets were further screened, including tumor protein p53, serine/threonine protein kinase B1 (AKT1), heat shock protein 90-α, interleukin (IL)-6 , tumor necrosis factor, Src tyrosine kinase, estrogen receptor 1, epidermal growth factor receptor, BCL-2, and IL-1β. KEGG enrichment analysis yielded 178 related target pathways, among which, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway was most relevant to silicosis. Molecular docking results showed that the top five compounds of Polygonum cuspidatum with high degree centrality, including quercetin, luteolin, physovenine, rhein, and β-sitosterol, had strong binding affinities with core targets. Among them, β-sitosterol, a key component of Polygonum cuspidatum, ranked high in binding affinity to all core targets. Molecular docking visualization indicated that β-sitosterol ranked high in binding affinitiy with the core target proteins AKT1 and BCL-2. ii) Both immunofluorescence and Western blotting results showed that, the relative expression of p-AKT, BCL-2, and α-SMA proteins increased in MRC-5 cells of the silica group compared with the control group (all P<0.05), except for p-AKT detected by Western blotting. Compared with the silica group, the relative expression levels of p-AKT, BCL-2, and α-SMA proteins in the silica+β-sitosterol group decreased (all P<0.05). Conclusion β-sitosterol, the core component of Polygonum cuspidatum, may alleviate silicosis fibrosis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
3.Establishment of TCM Comprehensive Control and Prevention Program of Elderly Hypertension with Early Renal Damage Based on Delphi Method
Rui FANG ; Yong YANG ; Le XIE ; Yan YANG ; Yue ZHOU ; Wenfeng XU ; Jinwen GE
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(7):1867-1877
Objective To establish a scientific and feasible Chinese medicine(CM)comprehensive control and prevention program for elderly hypertension with early renal damage(EH-ERD)patients through high-level evidence-based medicine(EBM)evidence.Methods On the basis of literature research and evidence evaluation,we construct a database of specific prescriptions and implementation methods of CM comprehensive control and prevention program with EH-ERD.40 senior titled-experts were consulted in two rounds of questionnaires based on Delphi methods.We selected,evaluated,and revised specific CM comprehensive control and prevention program of EH-ERD through the analysis of multiple factors,such as expert's positive activity coefficient,authority coefficient,degree of opinion concentration and degree of coordination.Results In view of the CM appropriate intervention techniques with high-grade evidence(level Ⅰ and Ⅱ)and recommendation(level A and B),we have developed the CM comprehensive control and prevention plan items for EH-ERD.The activity coefficients in two-round consultation were 92.5%and 97.14%respectively,the overall authority coefficient(Cr)was exceeded 0.70,and the coordination coefficient was less than 0.25.With a sound activity coefficient,a relatively high Cr and a rather unified degree of opinion concentration and coordination,the CM comprehensive control and prevention program for EH-ERD was established,which included six primary indicators(CM compound preparation,acupuncture and massage,CM health education,medicinal diet therapy,health care exercise and foot bath)and seventeen secondary indicators.Conclusion The CM comprehensive control and prevention program for EH-ERD established in this study can provide a basis for the further formation of expert consensus or guidelines.Moreover,it can supply the strategy and paradigm for standardization of CM-based health management of EH-ERD.
4.Teaching Practice and Exploration of"Tutorial System"Based on The Cultivation of Scientific Research and Innovation Ability of Medical Students
Qiao ZHANG ; Yin-Feng YANG ; Yue-Li NI ; Zhuo-Ran TENG ; Wen-Jing LIU ; Jing WU ; Yan-Rui WU ; Yu DOU ; Ming HE ; Shu-De LI ; Ping GAN ; Fang YUAN ; Zhe YANG ; Xin-Wang YANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):470-480
The scientific research and innovation capabilities of medical students are intrinsically linked to the sustained and high-quality development of national healthcare initiatives.Cultivating outstanding medi-cal students with independent scientific capabilities and innovative consciousness is a critical component in the education and training of high-level medical professionals.Our investigation revealed that within the imperfections of the cultivating model,some faculty and students at medical schools have an insufficient understanding of scientific research and innovation and lack motivation for engaging in such activities,which hinder the progression of scientific research activities.Consequently,we initiated a teaching practice and exploratory study on the"tutorial system"aimed at fostering medical students'scientific research and innovation abilities.Based on the principle of"research informing teaching,teaching and research advan-cing together,"this study implements a"tutorial system"coordinated by tutors,supplemented by graduate and undergraduate student mentors,to cultivate innovative thinking,stimulate interest in scientific re-search,and enhance practical and research skills among medical students.Through collaborative efforts within"scientific research innovation teams,"various educational methods—including preliminary re-search,in-class and extracurricular activities,intra-group and inter-group interactions,and theoretical and practical applications—are employed to improve and strengthen the cultivation of medical students'scientif-ic research and innovation abilities.This study aims to provide valuable references for optimizing medical education management systems and enhancing the quality of medical student training.
5.CDH17-targeting CAR-NK cells synergize with CD47 blockade for potent suppression of gastrointestinal cancers.
Liuhai ZHENG ; Youbing DING ; Xiaolong XU ; Huifang WANG ; Guangwei SHI ; Yang LI ; Yuanqiao HE ; Yue GONG ; Xiaodong ZHANG ; Jinxi WEI ; Zhiyu DONG ; Jiexuan LI ; Shanchao ZHAO ; Rui HOU ; Wei ZHANG ; Jigang WANG ; Zhijie LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2559-2574
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, cancer relapse remains a significant challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we engineered nanobody-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cells targeting cadherin 17 (CDH17) for the treatment of GI tumors. In addition, to enhance the efficacy of CAR-NK cells, we also incorporated CV1, a CD47-SIRPα axis inhibitor, to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of this combination. We found that CDH17-CAR-NK cells effectively eliminated GI cancers cells in a CDH17-dependent manner. CDH17-CAR-NK cells also exhibit potent in vivo anti-tumor effects in cancer cell-derived xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Additionally, the anti-tumor activity of CDH17-CAR-NK cells is synergistically enhanced by CD47-signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) axis inhibitor CV1, likely through augmented macrophages activation and an increase in M1-phenotype macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Collectively, our findings suggest that CDH17-targeting CAR-NK cells are a promising strategy for GI cancers. The combination of CDH17-CAR-NK cells with CV1 emerges as a potential combinatorial approach to overcome the limitations of CAR-NK therapy. Further investigations are warranted to speed up the clinical translation of these findings.
6.Effects of Modified Guomin Decoction (加味过敏煎) on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes and Quality of Life in Patients with Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis of Heart Fire and Spleen Deficiency Pattern:A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial
Jing NIE ; Rui PANG ; Lingjiao QIAN ; Hua SU ; Yuanwen LI ; Xinyuan WANG ; Jingxiao WANG ; Yi YANG ; Yunong WANG ; Yue LI ; Panpan ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(10):1031-1037
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Modified Guomin Decoction (加味过敏煎, MGD) in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern of heart fire and spleen deficiency, and to explore its possible mechanisms. MethodsIn this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 72 patients with mild to moderate AD and the TCM pattern of heart fire and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 36 cases in each group. The treatment group received oral MGD granules combined with topical vitamin E emulsion, while the control group received oral placebo granules combined with topical vitamin E treatment. Both groups were treated twice daily for 4 weeks. Clinical efficacy, TCM syndrome scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pruritus, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores, Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and serum biomarkers, including interleukin-33 (IL-33), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), immunoglobulin E (IgE), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were compared before and after treatment. Safety indexes was also assessed. ResultsThe total clinical effective rates were 77.78% (28/36) in the treatment group and 38.89% (14/36) in the control group, with cure rates of 19.44% (7/36) and 2.78% (1/36), respectively. The treatment group showed significantly better clinical outcomes compared to the control group (P<0.05). The treatment group exhibited significant reductions in total TCM syndrome scores, including erythema, edema, papules, scaling, lichenification, pruritus, irritability, insomnia, abdominal distension, and fatigue scores, as well as reductions in VAS, DLQI, SCORAD, and serum IgE and IL-33 levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the control group, the treatment group had significantly better improvements in all indicators except for insomnia (P<0.05). No adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionMGD is effective and safe in treating mild to moderate AD patients with heart fire and spleen deficiency pattern. It significantly alleviates pruritus, improves TCM syndromes and quality of life, and enhances clinical efficacy, possibly through modulation of immune responses.
7.Effect Mechanism and Law of Sterilization by 60Co-γ Ray Irradiation on Chemical Composition of Chinese Materia Medica: A Review
Tingting ZHU ; Jian RANG ; Rangyanpo LUO ; Rui GU ; Yue YANG ; Si LU ; Shihong ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):306-314
60Co-γ ray irradiation has the unique advantages of high efficiency, strong penetration, operation at room temperature and no residue, which has been widely used in the sterilization of Chinese medicinal materials, decoction pieces, Chinese patent medicine. However, the irradiation effect may cause changes in the content of chemical components in Chinese materia medica or the emergence of new radiolysis products, leading to reduced efficacy and uncontrollable safety risks. This paper reviewed the relevant literature at home and abroad, summarized the effect of irradiation sterilization on various types of chemical compositions of Chinese medicinal materials and their preparations, and analyzed and explored the rule of change. The results showed that the content changes of various chemical components in Chinese materia medica after 60Co-γ ray irradiation sterilization varied. The contents of most flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and quinones decreased after irradiation, and the degree of decrease increased with the elevated irradiation dose. The contents of lignans, alkaloids, isoflavones and some terpenoids did not change significantly before and after irradiation, while the content changes of triterpenoid saponins, dihydroflavonols, chalcones, sugars and glycosides after irradiation were not yet uniform. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention to the compositional changes of irradiated Chinese medicines, strengthen the research on the standards of irradiated Chinese medicines, and standardize the irradiation and sterilization of Chinese medicines in order to promote the healthy and rational application of irradiated Chinese medicines.
8.Prediction of Pulmonary Nodule Progression Based on Multi-modal Data Fusion of CCNet-DGNN Model
Lehua YU ; Yehui PENG ; Wei YANG ; Xinghua XIANG ; Rui LIU ; Xiongjun ZHAO ; Maolan AYIDANA ; Yue LI ; Wenyuan XU ; Min JIN ; Shaoliang PENG ; Baojin HUA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):135-143
ObjectiveThis study aims to develop and validate a novel multimodal predictive model, termed criss-cross network(CCNet)-directed graph neural network(DGNN)(CGN), for accurate assessment of pulmonary nodule progression in high-risk individuals for lung cancer, by integrating longitudinal chest computed tomography(CT) imaging with both traditional Chinese and western clinical evaluation data. MethodsA cohort of 4 432 patients with pulmonary nodules was retrospectively analyzed. A twin CCNet was employed to extract spatiotemporal representations from paired sequential CT scans. Structured clinical assessment and imaging-derived features were encoded via a multilayer perceptron, and a similarity-based alignment strategy was adopted to harmonize multimodal imaging features across temporal dimensions. Subsequently, a DGNN was constructed to integrate heterogeneous features, where nodes represented modality-specific embeddings and edges denoted inter-modal information flow. Finally, model optimization was performed using a joint loss function combining cross-entropy and cosine similarity loss, facilitating robust classification of nodule progression status. ResultsThe proposed CGN model demonstrated superior predictive performance on the held-out test set, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) of 0.830, accuracy of 0.843, sensitivity of 0.657, specificity of 0.712, Cohen's Kappa of 0.417, and F1 score of 0.544. Compared with unimodal baselines, the CGN model yielded a 36%-48% relative improvement in AUC. Ablation studies revealed a 2%-22% increase in AUC when compared to simplified architectures lacking key components, substantiating the efficacy of the proposed multimodal fusion strategy and modular design. Incorporation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-specific symptomatology led to an additional 5% improvement in AUC, underscoring the complementary value of integrating TCM and western clinical data. Through gradient-weighted activation mapping visualization analysis, it was found that the model's attention predominantly focused on nodule regions and effectively captured dynamic associations between clinical data and imaging-derived features. ConclusionThe CGN model, by synergistically combining cross-attention encoding with directed graph-based feature integration, enables effective alignment and fusion of heterogeneous multimodal data. The incorporation of both TCM and western clinical information facilitates complementary feature enrichment, thereby enhancing predictive accuracy for pulmonary nodule progression. This approach holds significant potential for supporting intelligent risk stratification and personalized surveillance strategies in lung cancer prevention.
9.Distribution of pathogenic bacteria,SPECT/CT imaging manifestations and role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in upper urinary tract infections
Jinxin YU ; Fengfeng YANG ; Rui LIN ; Yue ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(15):2310-2314
OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of pathogenic bacteria,imaging manifestations on single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography(SPECT/CT)and the role of Wnt/β-catenin path-way in upper urinary tract infections.METHODS From Jan.2021 to Jan.2024,53 patients with upper urinary tract infection and 53 urinary calculi patients without upper urinary tract infections who had urinary system stones were selected from the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University as the infected group and the non-infected group,respectively.The distribution of pathogens in the infected group,SPECT/CT imaging manifestations and SPECT/CT imaging manifestations after 7 days of anti-infective treatment were statistically analyzed and com-pared.The levels of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin in both groups and the infection group before and after 3 and 7 days of an-ti-infective treatment were compared.The diagnostic values of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin for urinary calculi complicated with upper urinary tract infection were analyzed.RESULTS A total of 53 strains were yielded from the middle-seg-ment urine of the infection group,predominantly gram-negative bacteria.SPECT/CT imaging showed small nodu-lar dense shadows were in the upper segment of left ureter,the upper segment of the ureter,renal pelvis and calyx dilated,and visible striated shadows were around the kidney after 7 days of anti-infective treatment,the cystic low-density shadow under the left renal capsule was basically absorbed,the perirenal strip shadow slightly re-duced,but the perinephric fascia remained thickened,and the surrounding fat space was blurred.Wnt-1 and β-catenin levels elevated in the infection group compared with the non-infection group(P<0.05).The area under the curveof combined detection of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin was 0.907.CONCLUSIONS Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing upper urinary tract infections in patients with urinary calculi.SPECT/CT imaging shows inflammatory changes,and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is activated.The combination of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin has high diagnostic value.After anti-infective treatment,the inflammation showed on SPECT/CT imaging improves and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is inhibited.
10.Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury (version 2025)
Kai HUANG ; Lunhao BAI ; Qing BI ; Hong CHEN ; Jiwu CHEN ; Xuesong DAI ; Wenyong FEI ; Weili FU ; Zhizeng GAO ; Lin GUO ; Yinghui HUA ; Jingmin HUANG ; Suizhu HUANG ; Xuan HUANG ; Jian LI ; Qiang LI ; Shuzhen LI ; Yanlin LI ; Yunxia LI ; Zhong LI ; Ning LIU ; Yuqiang LIU ; Wei LU ; Hongbin LYU ; Haile PAN ; Xiaoyun PAN ; Chao QI ; Weiliang SHEN ; Luning SUN ; Jin TANG ; Zimin WANG ; Bide WANG ; Ru WANG ; Shaobai WANG ; Licheng WEI ; Weidong XU ; Yongsheng XU ; Jizhou YANG ; Liang YANG ; Rui YANG ; Hongbo YOU ; Tengbo YU ; Jiakuo YU ; Bing YUE ; Hua ZHANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Qingsong ZHANG ; Xintao ZHANG ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Lilian ZHAO ; Qichun ZHAO ; Song ZHAO ; Jiapeng ZHENG ; Jiang ZHENG ; Zhi ZHENG ; Jingbin ZHOU ; Jinzhong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(4):325-338
With the rapid development of competitive sports, the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is on the rise. Such injuries may shorten athletes′ career and lead to other long-term adverse consequences. Although athletes generally recover well after ACL reconstruction, many still struggle to return to their pre-injury performance levels. Advances in the understanding of ACL anatomy and injury mechanisms, along with the evolution of surgical techniques and rehabilitation methods, have provided more individualized and tailored options for athletes following ACL injuries. However, there is currently no consensus in China regarding surgical and rehabilitation strategies for competitive athletes aiming to return to sports after ACL injuries. To this end, the Sports Medicine Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association and the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Trauma jointly formulated the Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury ( version 2025), and presented 14 recommendations covering surgical indications, preoperative rehabilitation, surgical timing, surgical strategies and postoperative rehabilitation strategies, aiming to improve the surgical treatment and rehabilitation system for ACL injuries in competitive athletes and facilitate their return to high-level sports performance after injury.


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