1.A humanistic perspective on drama elements in British and American medical education
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(3):385-391
As a long-standing art form, drama can purify the soul and deepen people’s perception of the world. The use of drama in medical humanities education has demonstrated its unique and significant teaching effects. This paper explored and analyzed the drama module settings and interdisciplinary module constructions in the curriculum of renowned medical schools in Britain and America, revealing the effectiveness of their explorations in four aspects, including improving self-efficacy, enhancing teamwork awareness, improving doctor-patient communication skills, and promoting mental health. Based on the actual needs of current scenario-simulation teaching in China, suggestions were proposed to integrate drama elements into medical humanities in China from four aspects, encompassing emphasizing the cultivation of comprehensive humanistic literacy, carrying out interdisciplinary projects centered on drama, improving the drama curriculum evaluation system, and promoting the Sinicization of drama elements. The aim is to promote the integration of drama art and medical education, with a view to cultivating medical talents with comprehensive humanistic literacy.
2.Research progress on Sophora Flavescens of traditional Chinese medicine
Mengxiao LIU ; Linlin CHEN ; Yan WANG ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(4):156-162
Sophora Flavescens is the dried root of the leguminous plant Sophora Flavescens Ait. It was first published in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic. Sophora Flavescens contains a variety of active ingredients, mainly including matrine and oxymatrine, with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-arrhythmia, disease-resistant pathogenic microorganisms and other pharmacological effects. Clinically, the compound preparations of Sophora Flavescens include Compound KuShen injection and KuShen gel and so on, which can be used to treat many types of cancers and improve skin, mucous pruritus, pain and other symptoms. Due to the poor bioavailability, the structure of matrine needs to be reformed. MASM, matrine derivative, only needs a low concentration to have a good therapeutic effect on sepsis and liver fibrosis. In this article, the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, compound preparations and structural modification of matrine were mainly discussed, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Sophora Flavescens and the development of new drugs.
3.Research progress on anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of matrine and its derivatives
Gongjia TAO ; Linlin CHEN ; Zecheng SONG ; Mengxiao LIU ; Yan WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(4):163-168
Matrine is an alkaloid compound isolated and extracted from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Sophora flavescens, which has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral effects. However, its clinical application has been limited due to its low in vivo activity, short duration of efficacy, and significant toxic side effects. In response to this challenge,pharmaceutical experts modified the structure of Matrine to obtain derivatives that addressed its limitations. Currently, research on the anti-tumor effects of Matrine and its derivatives is more prevalent, while research in inflammatory-related diseases still needs further strengthening.The progress on the role and mechanism of Matrine and its derivatives in inflammatory diseases were summarized in this paper, which offered valuable insights for the development of therapeutic agents based on Matrine.
4.Treatment of Recurrent Pediatric Cough and Asthma Based on the Theory of "Mutual Dependence of Ascending and Descending" from the Perspectives of Deficiency,Phlegm,and Blood Stasis
Yu LIU ; Ying DING ; Yongbin YAN ; Xuran GUO ; Linlin LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):963-967
Guided by the theory of "mutual dependence of ascending and descending", recurrent pediatric cough and asthma are considered to result from the imbalance of the ascending and descending of zang-fu organ qi, which is closely associated with deficiency, phlegm, and blood stasis. In clinical practice, the disease is treated based on differentiation during the initial stage, progression stage, and stable stage. In the initial stage, the pathogenesis is attributed to lung deficiency complicated by external pathogens and liver qi rising to attack the lung; the treatment should focus on restraining the lung and calming the liver, using the self-formulated Longchai Yuchuan Fomulation (龙柴愈喘方). During the progression stage, the disorder is due to the spleen failing to ascend clear qi and the kidney failing to grasp qi, leading to phlegm formation from deficiency; treatment should focus on tonifying spleen yang, supplementing kidney qi, and resolving phlegm and fluid retention, using a modified combination of Linggui Zhugan Decoction (苓桂术甘汤) and Jinkui Shenqi Pill (金匮肾气丸). In the stable stage, qi deficiency leads to poor consolidation, with phlegm turbidity and blood stasis; the treatment should aim at tonifying qi, transforming phlegm, and dispelling blood stasis, using a modified version of Guizhi Fuling Pill (桂枝茯苓丸).
5.Exploration on the Approach to Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Pediatric Infectious Mononucleosis Based on the "Sweat Pore-Qi and Liquid-Collaterals" Theory
Linlin LIU ; Ying DING ; Yongbin YAN ; Yinglin DUAN ; Yu LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1668-1671
Based on the "sweat pore-qi and liquid-collaterals" theory, it is considered that the core pathogenesis of pediatric infectious mononucleosis lies in the obstruction of sweat pores, the failure of qi and liquid to disperse, and damage to the collaterals due to pathogenic toxins. Accordingly, the treatment principles proposed include unblocking the sweat pores, regulating qi and liquid, and smoothing the collaterals. In clinical practice, treatment is differentiated according to stages: initial, acute, and late stages. In the initial stage, invasion of warm pathogenic toxins into the lung defense leads to obstruction of the sweat pores, which should be treated by unblocking the sweat pores and expelling pathogens outward. In the acute stage, the obstruction of the sweat pores worsens, leading to the failure of qi and liquid dispersal, resulting in intense heat toxins with accumulation of dampness, phlegm, and blood stasis, which should be treated by promoting qi movement, resolving dampness and phlegm, clearing heat, detoxifying, and dispersing stasis to regulate qi and liquid. In the late stage, residual pathogens remain, with qi and yin deficiency and unsmooth collaterals, which should be treated by unblocking the collaterals, dissipating nodules, tonifying qi, and nourishing yin to smooth the collaterals. This approach may provide new insights for the clinical treatment of pediatric infectious mononucleosis.
6.Case analysis on sequential latent occupational acute organotin poisoning
Lizhuang LU ; Linlin FAN ; Yinghua SONG ; Jia LIU ; Yongjian YAN
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):308-312
A retrospective investigation was conducted to analyze the occupational exposure history, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, imaging findings, and diagnosis and treatment of two cases of sequential latent occupational acute organotin poisoning. Both patients were successively employed in the same enterprise, engaged in crushing of waste polyvinyl chloride plastics, and thus potentially exposed to organotin hazards. Within several days of employment, both patients developed discomfort symptoms, and central nervous system impairment was observed, including short-term memory loss, slow response, and cognitive dysfunction. Hypokalemia was detected in both cases. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormalities (multiple ischemic lesions in the bilateral frontal and parietal lobes), and urinary tin was positive. Symptoms relieved in both patients after treatments with tin-exclusion, potassium supplementation, and neurotrophic treatment. Based on the GBZ 26-2007 Diagnostic Criteria of Occupational Acute Trialkyltin Poisoning, and combined with worksite survey of occupational health and exclusion of cerebrovascular disease, viral encephalitis, and autoimmune encephalitis and other neurological disorders, both patients were diagnosed with mild occupational acute trialkyltin poisoning. Sequential latent occupational acute organotin poisoning is prone to misdiagnosis, with great difficulty in etiological identification. Comprehensive assessment of occupational exposure history and biomarker testing are essential for differential diagnosis. Early recognition and intervention improve prognosis, highlighting the need for strengthened occupational health supervision and protection in high-risk work posts.
7.Association between QRS voltages and amyloid burden in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.
Jing-Hui LI ; Changcheng LI ; Yucong ZHENG ; Kai YANG ; Yan HUANG ; Huixin ZHANG ; Xianmei LI ; Xiuyu CHEN ; Linlin DAI ; Tian LAN ; Yang SUN ; Minjie LU ; Shihua ZHAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(3):365-367
8.Metanephric stromal tumor in children with BRAF V600E gene mutation: a case report and literature review
Shuting MAO ; Dao WANG ; Bai LI ; Shanshan LIU ; Linlin WEI ; Shufang SU ; Yan XU ; Ya′nan MA ; Ge ZHOU ; Yufeng LIU
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2024;39(4):306-310
The clinical data of one child with metanephric stromal tumor (MST) and BRAF V600E gene mutation admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in June 2022 was analyzed retrospectively.Literature was reviewed.The patient, a 2-year-old girl, was diagnosed with a tumor in the left abdomen.The maximum diameter of the tumor was 10.5 cm.A radical nephrectomy was performed on the left kidney, and postoperative pathology revealed MST.Microscopically, the tumor had no envelope and exhibited expansive growth.The tumor cells were fusiform or stellate, and nuclear division was visible in the cell-rich region.Dysplastic blood vessels were seen inside the tumor.The tumor cells around the blood vessels and invaginated renal tubules were arranged like onion skin.CD34 was detected positive by immunohistochemical staining, and BRAF V600E mutation was also detected positive by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction.A total of 21 relevant case reports were retrieved, including 16 in English and 5 in Chinese.Fifty-eight MST patients, including the one in this report were analyzed.These patients were aged 2 days to 15 years, with a median age of 2 years.Except for 2 patients with unknown sex, the ratio of male to female was about 1.4∶1.0.Most MST patients were asymptomatic, with an average tumor size of 5.3 cm.The tumor cell CD34 showed positive expression in different degrees.Eight patients received the BRAF V600E mutation detection, and the results were all positive.Fifty-eight patients underwent nephrectomy and were followed up for 0-156 months, of which 7 patients were assisted with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.During the follow-up, 1 patient died, and 1 patient had a relapse.MST is a rare benign renal stromal tumor. BRAF V600E mutations are detected in a variety of malignancies.This paper is the first to report MST with BRAF V600E mutation in China and points out the importance of molecular detection of BRAF mutation for accurate diagnosis of MST.
9.Effectiveness and safety of low-dose oral misoprostol solution for cervical ripening in the third trimester
Yike YANG ; Zhiheng YU ; Xunke GU ; Linlin CAO ; Huifeng SHI ; Yan WANG ; Yangyu ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2024;27(1):24-32
Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of low-dose oral misoprostol solution for cervical ripening in late gestation.Methods:This was a prospective cohort study including 396 primiparas with singleton pregnancy who received low-dose oral misoprostol solution for cervical ripening (oral group) in Peking University Third Hospital from March to October 2022. They were further allocated to receive oral misoprostol alone (OA group, n=167) or oral misoprostol in combination with oxytocin/amniotomy (OC group, n=229). Moreover, 218 cases who received vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening (vaginal group) during the same period in 2021 were reviewed (a retrospective cohort). Among them, 77 were given vaginal misoprostol alone (VA group) and 141 received vaginal misoprostol in combination with oxytocin/amniotomy (VC group). The OA group and VA group (72 and 73 cases) as well as the OC group and VC group (108 and 103 cases) were matched using propensity scores. Basic clinical information, hospital stay, duration of labor induction, uterine hyperstimulation, rate of labor initiation, vaginal delivery rate, rate of delivery within 24 h, duration of labor, neonatal condition, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and other information were compared between different groups. All data were statistically analyzed using independent sample t test, analysis of variance, nonparametric test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact probability test. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the labor initiation and the failure of labor induction. Results:The average hospital stay, the duration from medication to labor initiation and the duration from medication to vaginal delivery were significantly shorter in the oral group than those in the vaginal group [(5.4±2.4) vs. (6.5±2.6) d, (34.2±24.1) vs. (38.9±25.7) h, (45.8±25.8) vs. (53.4±27.8) h; t=5.24, 2.10 and 3.39; all P<0.05]. The total labor initiation rate and vaginal delivery rate in the oral group were significantly higher than those in the vaginal group [92.9% (368/396) vs. 83.5% (182/218), 72.2% (286/396) vs. 60.1% (131/218); χ 2=13.43 and 9.50; both P<0.05]. The incidence of failed induction of labor, uterine hyperstimulation, fetal distress, and intrauterine infection in the oral group were lower than those in the vaginal group [2.0% (8/396) vs. 6.9% (15/218), 4.3% (17/396) vs. 17.9% (39/218), 8.8% (35/396) vs. 14.7% (32/218), 1.3% (5/396) vs. 3.7% (8/218); χ 2=9.21, 31.36, 4.93 and 3.93; all P<0.05]. The duration from medication to labor initiation and to vaginal delivery in the OA group were higher than those in the VA group [(25.8±17.0) vs. (17.4±10.8) h, (37.2±18.8) vs. (29.7±13.5) h; t=3.49 and 2.74; both P<0.05]. There were no significant differences in the labor initiation rate, vaginal delivery rate, rate of delivery within 24 h or the incidence of failed induction of labor between the OA and VA groups (all P>0.05). Women in the VA group were more likely to develop uterine hyperstimulation than those in the OA group [19.2% (14/73) vs. 4.2% (3/72), χ2=7.89, P=0.005]. There were no significant differences in the duration from medication to labor initiation or to vaginal delivery between the VC and OC groups (both P>0.05), but the duration were significantly longer than those in the corresponding medication alone group (VC vs. VA groups: (49.7±24.6) vs. (17.4±10.8) h and (61.6±25.7) vs. (29.7±13.5) h, t=5.31 and 5.13, both P<0.05; OC vs. OA groups: (45.3±26.6) vs. (25.8±17.0) h and (56.1±27.2) vs. (37.2±18.8) h, t=10.35 and 9.78, both P<0.05]. The labor initiation rate, vaginal delivery rate and rate of delivery within 24 h in the OC group were higher than those in the VC group [88.9% (96/108) vs. 77% (87/113), 63.0% (68/108) vs. 47.8% (54/113), 10.3% (7/108) vs. 0.0% (0/113); χ 2=5.49, 5.14 and 7.56; all P<0.05]. The incidence of uterine hyperstimulation in the OC group was 4.6% (5/108), which was lower than that in the VC group [18.6% (21/113), χ 2=10.37, P=0.001]. Logistic regression analysis showed that oral misoprostol and gestational age were positively correlated with labor initiation [ OR (95% CI): 2.18 (1.24-3.90) and 1.43 (1.14-1.79)], while maternal age was negatively correlated with labor initiation [ OR (95% CI): 0.90 (0.82-0.98)]. Moreover, failed induction of labor was negatively correlated with oral misoprostol [ OR (95% CI): 0.37 (0.14-0.91)], but positively correlated with maternal age [ OR (95% CI): 1.21 (1.05-1.40)]. Conclusions:Oral administration of low-dose misoprostol solution is as effective as vaginal misoprostol in promoting cervical ripening. Besides, it can shorten the average hospital stay and reduce the incidence of uterine hyperstimulation, suggesting that low-dose oral misoprostol solution is relatively safer and can be used to promote cervical ripening in late gestation.
10.Effect of Early Intervention of Yishen Huazhuo Prescription on Learning and Memory of Accelerated Aging SAMP8 Mice and Its Mechanism
Shujie ZAN ; Kai WANG ; Jiachun XU ; Weiming SUN ; Daoyan NI ; Linlin ZHANG ; Shuang LIU ; Yan MA ; Pengjuan XU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):91-99
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of early intervention with Yishen Huazhuo prescription (YHP) on the learning and memory of accelerated aging model mice, as well as its underlying mechanism. MethodForty-eight 3-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly assigned into four groups, including the model group, low-dose YHP group, high-dose YHP group, and donepezil group. Additionally, 24 SAMR1 mice of the same age were divided into a control group and a YHP treatment control group, each consisting of 12 mice. The YHP groups received YHP at doses of 6.24 g·kg-1 and 12.48 g·kg-1, while the donepezil group was treated with donepezil at a dose of 0.65 mg·kg-1. The model group and control groups were given physiological saline. The mice were gavaged once daily for a duration of four weeks. Spatial learning and memory abilities of mice were assessed using the Morris water maze test. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to evaluate neuronal density as well as expression levels of M1 microglial (MG) polarization marker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 MG polarization marker arginase-1 (Arg-1) in the hippocampus region. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of pro-inflammatory factor interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory factor transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Furthermore, Western blot analysis was conducted to determine expressions of amyloid β peptide1-42 (Aβ1-42) along with triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins TREM2, phospho (p)-NF-κB p65, and phospho-inhibitory kappa B kinase β (IKKβ) in the hippocampus. ResultCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited a significantly prolonged escape latency (P<0.01), a significant reduction in neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) expression in the hippocampus, a significant increase in iNOS expression in MG, and a significant decrease in Arg-1 expression. The serum IL-1β content was significantly increased, while the TGF-β1 content was significantly decreased. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in TREM2 expression in the hippocampus and significant increases in p-NF-κB p65, p-IKKβ, and Aβ1-42 expressions (P<0.05, P<0.01). However, no significant changes were observed in escape latency, times of crossing the platform, and hippocampal NeuN expression in the YHP treatment control group. Conversely, iNOS expression in MG as well as the hippocampal p-NF-κB p65, p-IKKβ, and Aβ1-42 expressions were significantly decreased. Furthermore, TREM2 expression was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). In comparison to the model group, the low-dose YHP group showed a significantly shortened escape latency and an increased number of crossing the platform (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the high-dose YHP group, the escape latency was significantly shortened (P<0.05). In the low-dose YHP group, high-dose YHP group, the expression of NeuN in the hippocampus was significantly increased, the expression of iNOS in MG was significantly decreased, and the expression of Arg-l was significantly increased. The serum IL-1β content was significantly decreased, while the TGF-β1 content was significantly increased. Furthermore, the expression of TREM2 in the hippocampus was significantly increased, and the expressions of p-NF-κB p65, p-IKKβ, and Aβ1-42 were significantly decreased (P<0.01). ConclusionEarly YHP intervention may promote the transformation of hippocampal MG from M1 to M2 by regulating the TREM2/NF-κB signaling pathway, reduce the release of neuroinflammatory factors, protect hippocampal neurons, and reduce the deposition of Aβ1-42, and finally delay the occurrence of learning and memory decline in SAMP8 mice.

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