1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Depression Based on Signaling Pathway Regulation: A Review
Jinjiang XU ; Li WU ; Qi ZHANG ; Yasheng DENG ; Jingjing XIE ; Haobin CHEN ; En ZHAO ; Man ZHANG ; Jianye DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):319-328
Depression is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent low mood or mental disorders. Current treatments primarily focus on regulating neurotransmitter levels, but their effectiveness is limited. The mechanisms underlying its onset are complex, and there is no unified consensus. Abnormal signaling pathway transmission plays a crucial role in the development of depression, involving multiple pathways, including Toll-like receptor 4/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (TLR4/NLRP3), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B (BDNF/TrkB), cyclic AMP/protein kinase A/cAMP response element-binding protein (cAMP/PKA/CREB), and others. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is based on a holistic approach and the principle of treatment based on the differentiation of syndromes, regulating the balance of multiple systems and organ functions from a macroscopic perspective. This approach has shown unique advantages in the treatment of depression. TCM attributes the onset of depression to dysfunction of the organ systems, involving liver Qi stagnation, heart spirit deficiency, kidney essence depletion, and spleen dysfunction. TCM compound treatments focus on soothing the liver, strengthening the spleen, calming the heart, and replenishing essence, with formulas such as Xiaoyaosan, Zishui Qinggan Yin, and Chahu Jia Guizhi Longgu Muli Tang. The active components of Chinese herbs mainly aim to tonify and regulate Qi, such as salidroside, ginsenoside Rb1, astragaloside, and muscone. External TCM treatments, primarily acupuncture, aim to open the orifices and invigorate the spirit. Acupoints such as Baihui, Shenting, and Yintang are commonly used. Additionally, massage and moxibustion therapy can intervene in depression by regulating signaling pathways. This article reviews the core role of signaling pathways in the development of depression and the mechanism of TCM regulation of signaling pathways to intervene in depression, aiming to discover new therapeutic approaches that can improve the symptoms of depressed patients.
2.Literature analysis of the differences in the occurrence of urinary epithelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation between northern and southern China
Pengjie WU ; Runhua TANG ; Dong WEI ; Yaqun ZHANG ; Hong MA ; Bin JIN ; Xin CHEN ; Jianlong WANG ; Ming LIU ; Yaoguang ZHANG ; Ben WAN ; Jianye WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(5):432-437
Objective: To investigate the regional differences in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma among kidney transplant recipients between northern and southern China,so as to provide reference for early diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases,including CNKI,Wanfang,CBM,and PubMed,using the keywords “kidney transplantation” and “tumor” to collect clinical data from qualified kidney transplant centers.The latest and most complete literature data published by 17 transplant centers in northern China and 14 in southern China were included.Statistical analyses were performed to compare the incidence of post-transplant urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial malignancies. Results: A total of 37 475 kidney transplant recipients were included,among whom 837 (2.23%) developed post-transplant malignancies,including urothelial carcinoma (366/837,43.73%),non-urothelial carcinoma (444/837,53.05%),and malignancies with unspecified pathology (27/837,3.23%).The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher in northern China than in southern China [(2.82±1.39)% vs. (1.67±0.83)%,P=0.011],with a particularly pronounced difference in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma [(1.68±1.12)% vs. (0.32±0.32)%,P<0.001].No significant difference was observed in the incidence of non-urothelial carcinoma between the two regions [(1.11±0.56)% vs. (1.35±0.65)%,P=0.279].Additionally,female transplant recipients exhibited a higher incidence of malignancies than males in both regions (southern China:2.38% vs. 1.80%; northern China:8.93% vs. 2.52%). Conclusion: The incidence of urothelial carcinoma following kidney transplantation is significantly higher in northern China than in southern China,underscoring the importance of implementing regular tumor screening for kidney transplant recipients,particularly for female patients in northern China,to facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.
3.Effect of low-concentration benzene, toluene, and xylene exposure on blood pressure of workers in a petroleum refining enterprise
Bingxian ZHOU ; Qisheng WU ; Shiheng FAN ; Zhuna SU ; Jianye PENG ; Chunyun LU ; Nengde ZHANG ; Lei JIN ; De´e YU ; Jing ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(9):1012-1019
Background Workers engaged in benzene-exposed or benzene-containing solvent-exposed operations in China are predominantly subjected to a low concentration of benzene series compounds, and prolonged exposure to low concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) may have implications for blood pressure. Objective To investigate the influence of low-concentration BTX exposure on the blood pressure of workers, aiming to provide a basis for enterprises to devise associated health management strategies to mitigate the occurrence of hypertension among workers exposed to low concentrations of BTX. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, 884 workers from a petroleum refining enterprise in Hainan who participated in an occupational health examination in 2022 were selected as the study population, and were divided into an exposure group of 649 workers and a control group of 235 workers based on their reporting of BTX exposure or not. Data on workplace BTX concentrations and health examinations of the study subjects were collected and questionnaires were administered. In addition, S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), hippuric acid (HA), and methyl hippuric acid (MHA, including the three isomers 2-MHA, 3-MHA, and 4-MHA) were measured in the urine of the workers using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to assess internal BTX burden. The effects of low-concentration BTX exposure on blood pressure were analyzed. Results In 2022, the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene of all monitoring points did not exceeded the national limits by either time-weighted average (TWA) or short-term exposure limit (STEL), indicating low-concentration BTX exposure. Regarding the internal burden of BTX, the concentrations of benzene metabolite S-PMA, toluene metabolite HA, and xylene metabolites 3-MHA and 4-MHA in the urine samples in the exposure group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between urinary S-PMA concentration and diastolic blood pressure in the workers (r=0.265, P < 0.05). Differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure distributions were statistically significant among workers grouped by sex, age, work years, educational levels, monthly income, body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, dietary oil, and types of residential address (P < 0.05). Significant differences in systolic blood pressure distribution were observed among workers by smoking status and levels of labor intensity (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the workers in the exposure group exhibited a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression showed that age, sex, and BMI had statistically significant effects on systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05), while age, work years, and BMI had statistically significant effects on diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure of age > 35 years, male, overweight and obese workers was significantly higher than that of age ≤ 35 years, female, and underweight workers, and the diastolic blood pressure of age > 35 years, work years > 5 years, and obese workers was higher than age ≤35 years, ≤5 years of service, and underweight workers. Low-concentration BTX exposure was one of the main influencing factors for elevated diastolic blood pressure, and the exposed workers showed a 1.337 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Low-concentration BTX exposure, work years > 5 years, and obesity may elevate blood pressure among petroleum refininig workers. Regular blood pressure monitoring and enhanced health interventions for this occupational group are warranted.
4.Fitting Degrees of Animal Models of Diarrhea-irritable Bowel Syndrome with Clinical Characteristics of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Fengru JIANG ; Youcheng HE ; Yue WU ; Keyi PAN ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Shuyu CAI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(6):218-227
Diarrhea-irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is one of the common functional bowel diseases in clinical practice. Since it pathogenesis is complex and has not been fully elucidated, effective treatment methods remains to be developed for this disease. Establishing the animal models of IBS-D in accordance with the clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine helps to reveal the pathogenesis of this disease and improve the treatment plan. The fitting degree of an animal model with clinical characteristics is an indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of the animal model in simulating the disease characteristics of Western medicine and the syndromes of TCM based on the latest diagnostic standards. By reviewing the relevant articles about the animal models of IBS-D, we discovered that rats were the preferred animals for modeling, and the models were mainly induced by single factors, double factors, or the combination of multiple factors. The established animal models mainly present symptoms or signs associated with visceral hypersensitivity or/and gastrointestinal motility abnormalities. The single factor-induced rat models of IBS-D had high fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics of Western medicine but low fitting degrees with the TCM syndromes. The animal models induced by two or more factors had high but varied fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics of Western medicine. In addition, the animal models of IBS-D considering TCM syndromes mainly focuses on the syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency, and few models were established for the syndromes of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency, spleen-stomach dampness-heat, spleen deficiency and dampness excess, and cold and heat in complexity. Therefore, it is essential to improve the existing or develop new animal models of IBS-D in the future, so as to provide more tools for deciphering the mechanisms of TCM and Western medicine and developing treatment methods for this disease.
5.Analyzing the current status and influencing factors of elevated blood pressure among employees in a petroleum refining enterprise
Zhuna SU ; Yongmao NIU ; Qisheng WU ; Bingxian ZHOU ; Shiheng FAN ; Chunyun LU ; Jianye PENG ; Nengde ZHANG ; Dee YU ; Jing ZHANG
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(4):405-409
Objective To analyze the current status and influencing factors of elevated blood pressure among employees in a large petroleum refining enterprise in Hainan Province. Methods A total of 940 workers from a petroleum refining enterprise in Hainan Province was selected as the study subjects using the convenience sampling method. The results of their health status survey, occupational medical examination, and occupational stress measurement were collected. Results The detection rate of elevated blood pressure in the study subjects was 23.9% (225/940), with the detection rate of normal blood pressure and hypertension of 17.7% (166/940) and 6.3% (59/940), respectively. The detection rate of occupational stress was 28.8% (271/940). The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that workers aged 30 -<40, 40 -<50, and ≥50 years had a higher risk of elevated blood pressure than those aged <30 years after controlling for confounding factors such as gender, residential address, length of service, education level, personal monthly income, smoking status, physical exercise, salt intake, oil intake, occupational stress, and high temperature exposure (all P<0.05). Workers in the body mass index (BMI) overweight group and obese group had a higher risk of elevated blood pressure than those in the normal group (all P<0.05). The risk of elevated blood pressure was higher in workers who drinks than those who did not (P<0.05). Workers exposed to noise levels of 85-90 dB(A) had a lower risk of elevated blood pressure compared to those exposed to noise levels >90 dB(A) (P<0.05). Conclusion Age, BMI, drinking status, and noise exposure levels are independent influencing factors for elevated blood pressure among workers in this petroleum refining enterprise. Blood pressure management should be strengthened for workers aged ≥30 years, overweight, obesity, alcohol consumption and with noise exposure intensity > 90 dB(A).
6.Discussion on the Connotation and Clinical Practice of Prevention and Treatment of Syndrome of Dampness-heat of Spleen and Stomach Based on"Attacking it According to Its Combination"
Youcheng HE ; Fengru JIANG ; Yue WU ; Keyi PAN ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Shuyu CAI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(6):175-180
Syndrome of dampness-heat of spleen and stomach is one of the complex syndromes of the spleen and stomach,which is difficult to differentiate and treat in TCM.According to the theoretical connotation of"attacking it according to its combination",it is suggested that the syndrome of dampness-heat of spleen and stomach should be comprehensively differentiated and treated from five aspects,including"attacking the visible pathogens combined with the invisible ones"(removing dampness and warming yang),"treating the fu-organs sharing interior-exterior relationship with zang-organs"(clearing away damp-heat pathogens of stomach with drugs of bitter taste and cold property),"formulating the treatment according to the likes and dislikes of the five internal organs"(developing a life adjustment plan favored by the spleen and stomach),"administrating drug according to the five organs"(medications according to the spleen and stomach),"weighing the severity and applying the treatment"(pay attention to the details,and treating according to syndrome differentiation).A clinical case is exampled,with the purpose to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of syndrome of dampness-heat of spleen and stomach.
7.Comparison of single-course versus multiple course prophylactic intravesical instillation chemotherapy for bladder tumor recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pengjie WU ; Dong WEI ; Hong MA ; Bin JIN ; Yaqun ZHANG ; Shuangyi ZHAO ; Xin CHU ; Jianye WU ; Ben WAN ; Jianye WANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2023;42(10):1254-1258
Objective:To examine whether multiple-course prophylactic intravesical instillation chemotherapy is superior to single-course chemotherapy in preventing bladder tumor recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy(RNU)for primary upper tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC).Methods:A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed, Wanfang Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure and all publications before March 2021 about clinical trials comparing the effects of single-course and multiple-course prophylactic intravesical instillation chemotherapy after RNU for UTUC were retrieved.Analysis was performed using Stata/SE 12.0.Results:Seven trials included a total of 998 patients, with 473 participants receiving multiple-course and 525 receiving single-course intravesical instillation chemotherapy.Bladder cancer recurrence occurred in 69 out of 473 patients(14.6%)with multiple-course chemotherapy and in 123 out of 525 patients(23.4%)with single-course chemotherapy.The absolute risk reduction was 8.8% and the relative risk reduction was 37.6%.Compared with a single-course instillation, the pooled OR of bladder cancer recurrence was 0.55(95% CI: 0.40-0.76, P<0.001)for multiple-course instillations.No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions:Compared with single-course instillation chemotherapy, multiple-course prophylactic intravesical instillation chemotherapy significantly decreases the risk of bladder cancer recurrence in primary UTUC patients treated with RNU, indicating multiple intravesical instillation chemotherapy is superior to single instillation chemotherapy.
8.Expressions of P53 and Ki-67 in prostate cancer and the clinicopathological significance
Pengjie WU ; Wei ZHANG ; Shengjie LIU ; Gang ZHU ; Hong MA ; Lingfeng MENG ; Zheng ZHANG ; Yaoguang ZHANG ; Dong WEI ; Ze YANG ; Ben WAN ; Jianye WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2023;28(5):421-423
【Objective】 To investigate the expressions of P53 and Ki-67 in prostate cancer (PCa)and to explore their correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics. 【Methods】 The expressions of P53 and Ki-67 in 90 PCa patients were detected with immunohistochemistry. Patients’ age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, postoperative Gleason score, pathological stage, and invasion of neurovascular cancer embolus of all patients were recorded. The relationship of P53 expression with the above indexes was evaluated. 【Results】 The positive rates of P53 and Ki-67 were 27.8% (25/90) and 46.7% (42/90), respectively. The positive rate of P53 in pT2 and pT3-T4 stage groups were 19.7% (13/66) and 50.0% (12/24) (P=0.005), and the positive rate of Ki-67 were 36.4% (24/66) and 75.0% (18/24) (P=0.001), respectively. The positive rate of Ki-67 in Gleason score ≤6, ≤7 and ≥8 groups were 30.4%, 53.8% and 66.7%, respectively, with statistical difference. Positive expression of P53 was related to Ki-67 expression, but not to patients’ age, preoperative PSA level, postoperative Gleason score and nerve and invasion of neurovascular cancer embolus. 【Conclusion】 P53 expression is related to tumor stage and Ki-67, while Ki-67 expression is associated with tumor stage ang grade.
9.Analysis of factors related to the efficacy of Tamsulosin monotherapy for overactive bladder symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with the prostate volume <40 ml
Jinfu WANG ; Pengjie WU ; Shengjie LIU ; Yaoguang ZHANG ; Ming LIU ; Jianye WANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2023;42(1):62-66
Objective:To assess the efficacy of Tamsulosin monotherapy for overactive bladder(OAB)symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)patients with the prostate volume(PV)<40 ml, and to analyze related factors affecting the efficacy.Methods:300 BPH patients with OAB were enrolled, with an average age of(66.9±7.7)years and the PV<40 ml.Smoking, drinking and other living habits were investigated.Data on the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score(OABSS), International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS)and Quality of Life Scale(QOLS)were collected before and after 4 weeks of treatment with Tamsulosin 0.2 mg QN.The maximum urine flow rate(Qmax)and bladder residual urine volume(PVR)were measured before and after treatment.OBASS was used as the main assessment parameter to analyze the correlation of efficacy with age, lifestyle, pre-treatment symptom scores, PV, Qmax and PVR.Results:257 patients completed the study, and 169 patients were treated effectively, with an overall effectiveness rate of 65.8%.The effectiveness rates of the mild, moderate and severe OAB groups were 83.6%, 62.4% and 38.5%, respectively, with statistical significance( χ2=13.037, P=0.001).3 patients showed adverse drug reactions, including 2 patients with mild dizziness and 1 patient with nausea.The baseline OABSS score, the proportion of smoking patients and the proportion of drinking patients in the effectively treated OAB group were significantly lower than those in the ineffectively treated group.Multivariate analysis showed that baseline OABSS score( OR=0.735, P<0.001)and smoking( OR=2.111, P=0.029)were correlated with tamsulosin's efficacy in treating BPH patients with OAB with PV<40 ml. Conclusions:The effectiveness rate of Tamsulosin for the treatment of BPH patients with mild OAB with PV<40 ml is high.The baseline OABSS score and smoking are factors affecting the efficacy of Tamsulosin on OAB symptoms in these patients.
10.Efficacy and urodynamic analysis of robot assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Jiawen WANG ; Lingfeng MENG ; Yaoguang ZHANG ; Shuangyi ZHAO ; Yunhe ZHOU ; Xin CHU ; Jianye WU
Chinese Journal of Urology 2022;43(9):665-670
Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of robot assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.Methods:The data of 16 patients who underwent robot assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in Beijing Hospital from September 2019 to May 2022 were collected. The average age was (73.5±9.3) years, the preoperative course was 4-240 months, the body mass index was (24.2±1.7) kg/m 2, the number of births was (1.7±0.8), and the quantitative index of pelvic organ prolapse (POP-Q) was grade Ⅲ -Ⅳ. The maximum urine flow rate before operation was (9.6±3.4) ml/s, the maximum detrusor pressure during urination was 26 (20, 32) cmH 2O, the first sense urine volume of the bladder was (119.1±39.4) ml, the first sense urine urgency volume of the bladder was (253.6±75.7) ml, the maximum bladder pressure capacity was (406.0±79.8) ml, and the residual urine volume was 10 (10, 28) ml. The preoperative PFDI-20 score was 100 (70, 122) and the PFIQ-7 score was 107 (90, 160). During the robot assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, the right area of the sacral promontory was exposed, the anterior and posterior walls of the uterus were separated, and the 2 cm small hole was separated from the right broad ligament of the uterus. The mesh was cut into a "Y" shape and passed through the small hole. The anterior and posterior leaves of the Y-shaped mesh were sutured to fix the cervix, and the other end was fixed to the anterior longitudinal ligament of the sacrum. The operation time and intraoperative bleeding were observed. The effect of surgery was evaluated by preoperative and postoperative urodynamic imaging, POP-Q stage, PFDI-20 score and PFIQ -7 score. Results:All the 16 operations were successfully completed. No injury of urethra, bladder, rectum, important blood vessels and nerves occurred during the operation. The average operation time was (255.6±56.0) min, and the average amount of bleeding was (28.8±18.2) ml. There was no inhibitory contraction wave in 7 patients (44%) before operation, suggesting that there was detrusor overactivity. After operation, the detrusor overactivity disappeared or significantly decreased in 7 patients. The postoperative follow-up period was 3-36 months. During the follow-up period, one patient had recurrence, and the rest had no prolapse and urination problems. The POP-Q stage was reduced to grade 0-Ⅰ after the operation. The subjective satisfaction rate of patients was 94%. The PFDI-20 score [13(8, 24)] and PFIQ -7 score [11(6, 15)] after operation were significantly reduced ( P<0.001), the initial urgent volume of bladder (272.5±88.5) ml was significantly increased compared with that before operation ( P=0.038), and the maximum volume of bladder (427.2±79.2) ml was significantly increased compared with that before operation ( P=0.006). Image urodynamics showed that the patient basically recovered the pelvic floor anatomy and achieved functional reduction. Conclusions:Robot assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy has good subjective and objective effects in POP, low recurrence rate and less complications. It needs a larger sample size study for confirming the improvement of bladder function.

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