1.Research progress of serine hydroxymethyltransferase inhibitors in tumor treatment
Yili CHEN ; Peisen WANG ; Yuling CHEN ; Yuanyuan ZENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):125-134
Tumor is the result of long-term and unlimited proliferation of cells. Tumor cells adjust various metabolic fluxes to meet increased bioenergy and biosynthetic requirements. Serine is one of the eight non-essential amino acids in the human body. It plays an important role in a variety of physiological activities and can provide one carbon unit, glycine, etc. for cell proliferation. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glycine and serine. It is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and is a potential target for anti-tumor drugs. This article focuses on the potential of SHMT as a new target for cancer treatment and the preliminary application of its inhibitors in preclinical studies of tumors, providing reference for the development of new targeted drugs for tumors.
2.Genetic Transformation for Medicinal Plants: A Review
Haoxiyu ZHANG ; Longfei LIN ; Yuan YUAN ; Yuling LIU ; Hui LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):323-330
Medicinal plants, with diverse species, high heterozygosity, and special breeding objectives, can be hardly bred with conventional hybridization techniques. Plant genetic transformation is highly selective and can specifically change the traits of plants, serving as an important technical means for the breeding of medicinal plants. The commonly used plant genetic transformation technologies include Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most widely used method, while it is not applicable to all medicinal plants due to the high specificity. Although not specific, particle bombardment is limited in application due to the low conversion efficiency and external force damage to cells and tissue. With the rise and development of nanotechnology, the emerging nanomaterial-mediated transformation has solved the problems of the above two technologies. However, limited by its late development, the mechanism of nanomaterial-mediated introduction of genetic materials into plant cells remains unclear, and thus this technology is rarely used in medicinal plants. This article summarizes the development status of several commonly used or emerging plant genetic transformation technologies such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, particle bombardment, and nanomaterial-mediated transformation, as well as their application in different medicinal plants. Furthermore, this article looks forward to the development trend of genetic transformation technologies for plants and their application prospects in medicinal plants and Chinese materia medica resources, aiming to provide new technical ideas for the genetic improvement and germplasm innovation of medicinal plants and inject new impetus into the sustainable development of Chinese materia medica resources.
3.Experience of WANG Jie in Treating Palpitation by Using the Method of Tonifying the Kidney and Invigorating Blood
Jing TIAN ; Mi DENG ; Luna NIU ; Baoying LI ; Yuling CHA ; Ruowei ZHU ; Lu JING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(10):996-999
To summarize the clinical experience of Professor WANG Jie in treating palpitation using the method of tonifying the kidneys and invigorating blood. It is believed that kidney yang deficiency and heart vessel stasis are the key pathogenesis of palpitation, and it is advocated to treat palpitation by tonifying the kidney and invigorating the blood. Meanwhile,the methods of draining water, dissolving phlegm, and fortifying the spleen to supplement the blood should be applied. For palpitation with kidney yang deficiency and heart vessel stasis with upward water, the treatment could use self-prescribed Bushen Huoxue Lishui Formula (补肾活血利水方); for palpitation with phlegm obstruction in blood vessel, the treatment could use self-prescribed Bushen Huoxue Huatan Formula (补肾活血化痰方); for palpitation with spleen yang deficiency, the treatment could use self-prescribed Bushen Huoxue Jianpi Formula (补肾活血健脾方).
4.Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes in 2 027 Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Jianing JIAN ; Yulong CHEN ; Ruohan LI ; Runze GUO ; Yaling ZHANG ; Yuling ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):173-181
ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics and distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). MethodsAn electronic questionnaire was developed to collect the general data and four examination information of ESCC patients treated in 10 areas with high incidence of esophageal cancer in China from June 2020 to March 2021. Multiple analyses including frequency analysis, factor analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed to analyze the potential syndrome elements, disease location, and common syndromes of ESCC. ResultsA total of 2 027 patients with ESCC were included. Statistical analysis was performed on 113 symptoms, physical signs, 33 tongue manifestation variables, and 23 pulse manifestation variables of the patients’ four examination information. Factor analysis was performed on 55 variables with frequency>10%, extracting 19 common factors. According to clinical experience and expert opinions, the main lesions of patients with ESCC were in the spleen and stomach, and the main syndrome elements were Qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm, dampness, and Qi deficiency, with the syndrome element combination of phlegm obstruction + Qi stagnation + blood stasis being the most common. The syndromes can be classified into four categories of liver-stomach disharmony + combined phlegm and Qi obstruction, kidney-spleen dysfunction + combined phlegm and stasis, spleen-kidney Yang deficiency + obstinate phlegm and blood stasis, and liver-kidney Yin deficiency + obstinate phlegm and blood stasis. The main syndrome of ESCC was liver-stomach disharmony + combined phlegm and Qi obstruction in the early stage, liver-spleen dysfunction + combined phlegm and stasis in the middle stage, and spleen-kidney Yang deficiency + obstinate phlegm and blood stasis in the late stage. ConclusionESCC mainly has main pathological features of internal deficiency and external excess and combined deficiency and excess, with the key syndrome elements being phlegm obstruction, Qi stagnation, and blood stasis. The main disease locations are in the spleen and stomach, involving the liver, kidney, chest and diaphragm, heart, and lung. The main syndrome is liver-stomach disharmony + combined phlegm and Qi obstruction. In clinical practice, it is necessary to grasp the pathogenesis dynamics of the disease and use prescriptions according to patients’ syndromes.
5.Design of CAR-T cells targeting solid tumors: strategies for enhancing safety and universality
QIU Yuling ; LIAO Tianyi ; LIU Baorui ; LI Rutian
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;32(6):559-569
[摘 要] 嵌合抗原受体基因修饰T细胞(CAR-T细胞)疗法是一种肿瘤免疫治疗方法:来自人体的T细胞在体外经遗传学修饰、表达特异性嵌合抗原受体(CAR),然后将其回输入患者体内,用于靶向识别和消除肿瘤细胞。尽管CAR-T细胞疗法在血液系统肿瘤治疗中取得了较为显著的成功,其在实体瘤治疗中仍面临障碍。细胞因子释放综合征(CRS)等免疫相关不良反应(irAE)制约了CAR-T细胞的安全应用,肿瘤相关抗原(TAA)的异质性限制了单一CAR-T细胞的广谱适用性,也制约了其通用型开发。鉴于此,要使CAR-T细胞疗法在实体瘤临床治疗中得到应用,还需开展进一步的改良与提升研究。本文围绕实体瘤中CAR-T细胞疗法,从“CAR基因修饰策略”、“通用免疫受体的再靶向策略”及“抗原通用性‘赋靶’策略”三个方面对CAR-T细胞领域中为提高安全性和通用性所进行的探索进行述评,系统剖析各策略的研究路径、优势及局限性,并展望未来发展方向。通过综述CAR-T细胞安全性和普适性设计策略的进展,本文旨在为实体瘤的CAR-T细胞疗法研发提供创新思路。
6.Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Flavonoids in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Mingjie FAN ; Longfei LIN ; Ruying TANG ; Zhuo XU ; Qian LIAO ; Hui LI ; Yuling LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):244-251
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as its pathological basis. Although current therapeutic drugs can alleviate symptoms, they are often accompanied by a high risk of side effects. In recent years, the use of flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of RA has garnered significant attention. Studies have shown that the mechanisms by which flavonoids treat RA include inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory factors, regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways, alleviating oxidative stress, modulating immune system functions, inhibiting bone destruction, and suppressing angiogenesis. Due to their notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities, flavonoids hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for RA. A substantial number of articles in this field have been published. By reviewing Chinese and international literature and applying bibliometric and visual analysis using CiteSpace, this paper explored research hotspots and frontiers in this field, systematically reviewed the structures and anti-RA mechanisms of TCM flavonoids, provided a theoretical basis for their use in RA treatment and clinical applications, and offered new perspectives and references for the discovery of novel TCM-based anti-RA drugs.
7.Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Flavonoids in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Mingjie FAN ; Longfei LIN ; Ruying TANG ; Zhuo XU ; Qian LIAO ; Hui LI ; Yuling LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):244-251
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis as its pathological basis. Although current therapeutic drugs can alleviate symptoms, they are often accompanied by a high risk of side effects. In recent years, the use of flavonoids from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of RA has garnered significant attention. Studies have shown that the mechanisms by which flavonoids treat RA include inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory factors, regulating multiple cellular signaling pathways, alleviating oxidative stress, modulating immune system functions, inhibiting bone destruction, and suppressing angiogenesis. Due to their notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities, flavonoids hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for RA. A substantial number of articles in this field have been published. By reviewing Chinese and international literature and applying bibliometric and visual analysis using CiteSpace, this paper explored research hotspots and frontiers in this field, systematically reviewed the structures and anti-RA mechanisms of TCM flavonoids, provided a theoretical basis for their use in RA treatment and clinical applications, and offered new perspectives and references for the discovery of novel TCM-based anti-RA drugs.
8.Unlocking the potential of amorphous calcium carbonate: A star ascending in the realm of biomedical application.
Han LIU ; Zhiyang WEN ; Zihan LIU ; Yanfang YANG ; Hongliang WANG ; Xuejun XIA ; Jun YE ; Yuling LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):602-622
Calcium-based biomaterials have been intensively studied in the field of drug delivery owing to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Calcium-based materials can also deliver contrast agents, which can enhance real-time imaging and exert a Ca2+-interfering therapeutic effect. Based on these characteristics, amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), as a brunch of calcium-based biomaterials, has the potential to become a widely used biomaterial. Highly functional ACC can be either discovered in natural organisms or obtained by chemical synthesis However, the standalone presence of ACC is unstable in vivo. Additives are required to be used as stabilizers or core-shell structures formed by permeable layers or lipids with modified molecules constructed to maintain the stability of ACC until the ACC carrier reaches its destination. ACC has high chemical instability and can produce biocompatible products when exposed to an acidic condition in vivo, such as Ca2+ with an immune-regulating ability and CO2 with an imaging-enhancing ability. Owing to these characteristics, ACC has been studied for self-sacrificing templates of carrier construction, targeted delivery of oncology drugs, immunomodulation, tumor imaging, tissue engineering, and calcium supplementation. Emphasis in this paper has been placed on the origin, structural features, and multiple applications of ACC. Meanwhile, ACC faces many challenges in clinical translation, and long-term basic research is required to overcome these challenges. We hope that this study will contribute to future innovative research on ACC.
9.Reflection on the Elderly Discrimination in the Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources from the Age Restriction Phenomenon in ICU of a Certain Country
Jingwen ZHENG ; Yanling CHEN ; Zihan DAI ; Yuling WU ; Linhai CHU ; Wanlin ZHOU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2024;35(1):78-83
In March 2020, the outflow of age limited videos from ICU in Spain inspired us to rethink whether there is age discrimination in the allocation of scarce medical resources. This paper frist reflected on the problem of age discrimination caused by this phenomenon from four moral intuitions: the sacred view of life, the quality of life and values, public health ethics and Chinese culture, and then examined whether it is illegal from the legal level, finally pointed out the negative impact on the society, and put forward that taking age as the standard for the allocation of scarce medical resources is not suitable for China’s national conditions.
10.Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Modified Houpo Dahuangtang in Moderate and Severe ARDS Patients Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography
Na SONG ; Qian YI ; Yonggang YAO ; Yuling ZHOU ; Zhenchun LUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(9):108-115
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified Houpo Dahuangtang in moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients with phlegm-heat accumulation,and monitor the pulmonary ventilation changes of patients before and after treatment by electrical impedance tomography(EIT). MethodThe 62 cases of moderate and severe ARDS patients with phlegm-heat accumulation who required mechanical ventilation in the department of intensive care unit (ICU) in Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to June 2022 were selected,and divided into an experimental group(31 cases)and a control group(31 cases)using a random number table. On the basis of regular Western medicine treatment,the experimental group received modified Houpo Dahuangtang and the control group received warm water by a nasogastric tube for seven days. The changes in the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),the oxygenation index[arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fractional inspired oxygen(FiO2),P/F],lactic acid(Lac),acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ) score,compliance,plateau pressure,gas distribution parameters monitored by EIT(Z1,Z2,Z3 and Z4),inflammatory factors[interleukin-6 (IL-6),IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] of both groups before and after treatment were recorded. Besides, the mechanical ventilation time, length of stay in ICU, 28-day mortality and incidence of adverse reactions(delirium,abdominal pain and diarrhea)in the two groups were also observed. ResultThere was no significant difference in the baseline indexes of patients in the two groups,and thus the two groups were comparable. After treatment for one week, the total effective rate for TCM syndromes in the experimental group was 90.30%(28/31), higher than the 67.74%(21/31)in the control group(Z=-2.415,P<0.05).Compared with the same group before treatment, the plateau pressure and Lac decreased (P<0.01)and the compliance and P/F increased (P<0.01) in experimental group, while the Lac decreased (P<0.05)and the P/F increased (P<0.05), and the compliance and plateau pressure did not change significantly in the control group. After treatment,the plateau pressure and inflammatory factors in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05), but the compliance and P/F in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05), and the gas distribution parameters Z1,Z2,Z3,Z4,Z1+Z2,and Z3+Z4 monitored by EIT in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in mechanical ventilation time, ICU hospitalization time, 28-day mortality, delirium, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionModified Houpo Dahuangtang can significantly improve the P/F,pulmonary ventilation in gravity-dependent regions and pulmonary compliance,reduce the release of inflammatory factors in moderate and severe ARDS patients. Compared with conventional methods,EIT can timely monitor the pulmonary ventilation changes in ARDS patients,which suggests its clinical feasibility.

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