1.Construction and practice of the theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis” and related prevention and treatment strategies for hepatic encephalopathy in traditional Chinese medicine/Zhuang medicine
Zhipeng WU ; Yuqin ZHANG ; Chun YAO ; Minggang WANG ; Na WANG ; Mengru PENG ; Ningfang MO ; Yaqing ZHENG ; Rongzhen ZHANG ; Dewen MAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):370-374
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Hepatic encephalopathy is a difficult and critical disease with rapid progression and limited treatment methods in the field of liver disease, and it is urgently needed to make breakthroughs in its pathogenesis. Selection of appropriate prevention and treatment strategies is of great importance in delaying disease progression and reducing the incidence and mortality rates. This article reviews the theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis” and related prevention and treatment strategies for hepatic encephalopathy in traditional Chinese medicine/Zhuang medicine, proposes a new theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis”, analyzes the scientific connotations of “turbid”, “toxin”, and the theory of “turbid toxin pathogenesis”, and constructs the “four-step” prevention and treatment strategies for hepatic encephalopathy, thereby establishing the new clinical prevention and treatment regimen for hepatic encephalopathy represented by “four prescriptions and two techniques” and clarifying the effect mechanism and biological basis of core prescriptions and techniques in the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, in order to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
2.Application of artificial intelligence in HE risk prediction modelling and research advances
Liangji-Ang HUANG ; Dewen MAO ; Jinghui ZHENG ; Minggang WANG ; Chun YAO
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(3):289-294
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Hepatic encephalopathy is a clinical syndrome of central nervous system dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency.It severely affects the quality of life of patients and may lead to death.Accurate prediction of the risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy is crucial for early intervention and treatment.In order to identify the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in patients in advance,many studies have been devoted to efforts to develop tools and methods to identify the risk of hepatic encephalopathy as early as possible,so as to develop preventive and early management strategies.Most conventional hepatic encephalopathy risk prediction models currently assess the prob-ability of a patient developing hepatic encephalopathy by analysing factors such as clinical data and biochemical indicators,however,their accuracy,sensitivity and positive predictive value are not high.The application of artificial intelligence to clinical predictive modelling is a very hot and promising area,which can use large amounts of data and complex algorithms to improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis and prognosis.To date,there have been few studies using AI techniques to predict hepatic encephalopathy.Therefore,this paper reviews the research progress of hepatic encephalopathy risk prediction models,and also discusses the prospect of AI application in hepatic encephalopathy risk prediction models.It also points out the challenges and future research directions of AI in HE risk prediction model research in order to promote the development and clinical application of hepatic encephalopathy risk prediction models.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Expression and biological function of TRP signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma
Zhipeng WU ; Yuqin ZHANG ; Minggang WANG ; Rongzhen ZHANG ; Dewen MAO
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(6):743-747
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			In recent years,the morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)have been increasing worldwide,and the treatment strategies for HCC are still insufficient,which highlights the importance of exploring the pathogenesis and progression of HCC.Transient receptor potential(TRP)pathway is an important non-selective cation pathway,which is closely related to inflammatory response and sensory conduction.At present,a number of studies have shown that TRP pathway is also involved in the occurrence and development of HCC,inducing HCC invasion and migration.However,the overall potential mechanism and possible signal transduction pathways of TRP pathway in HCC remain unclear.Therefore,this article discusses the abnormal expression of TRP pathway in HCC,and reviews the key biological events of TRP pathway involved in the formation and progression of HCC,such as chronic liver inflammation-fibrosis progression,HCC cell proliferation,migration,apoptosis and HCC stem cell generation,and looks forward to its application prospect in HCC treatment.The aim is to better un-derstand the significance of TRP pathway in HCC,help to find new therapeutic targets and effective drugs,and open up a new situation for future clinical treatment.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Role of neuroimmune communication via the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy
Yong LIN ; Jiongfen LI ; Feiyan LI ; Yuanqin DU ; Meiyan LIU ; Minggang WANG ; Fuli LONG ; Na WANG ; Dewen MAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(12):2518-2523
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common severe liver disease syndrome in clinical practice and is one of the critical and severe diseases in internal medicine, and more than half of liver failure patients diagnosed with overt HE have a survival time of less than 1 year. A comprehensive analysis of the complex pathogenesis of HE and the development of diagnosis and treatment regimens based on evidence-based medicine are of great importance for alleviating high medical resource consumption, high medical expenses, and high incidence and mortality rates in clinical practice. The latest studies have shown that the intestinal tract and the central nervous system can perform bidirectional continuous interaction and signal transmission and regulate the function of inflammation signals, molecules, cells, and organs, which is known as neuroimmune communication and is highly consistent with the main pathological features of HE. With a focus on the mechanism of neuroimmune communication in HE, this article reviews the association between inflammation signal transduction via the gut-brain axis and neurotransmitter regulation and its role in neuroimmune communication in HE, which provides new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HE and the research and development of related drugs. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
5.Experimental study on the inhibition of the NLRP3 signaling pathway with Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction to alleviate inflammatory injury in rats with acute-on-chronic liver failure
Xiao LIU ; Jianlin MENG ; Minggang WANG ; Dewen MAO ; Ming DAI
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(4):354-362
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction in alleviating inflammatory liver injury in rats with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and its effect on the activation intensity for the NLRP3 signaling pathway.Methods:63 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction (7.29 g/kg/d, 14.58 g/kg/d, and 29.16 g/kg/d). The ACLF rat model was replicated using carbon tetrachloride combined with d-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide. Different dose gradients of the Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction were used for a five-day intervention treatment, and then rat serum and tissue samples were collected. A biochemical analyzer was used to detect the serum levels of ALT, AST, and TBIL in rats. ELISA was used to detect serum IL-18 and IL-1β content. HE staining was used to observe histomorphological changes in liver tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect GSDMD expression in liver tissue. Western blot and PCR were used to detect NLRP3, Caspase1, ASC, TLR4, IL-1β, IL-18 protein, and mRNA expression levels.The groups were compared using analysis of variance and the rank-sum test.Results:Compared with the blank group, the model group’s rat liver tissue was severely injured. Serum levels of ALT, AST, and TBIL, inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18, and the GSDMD protein expression level, NLRP3 expression level, TLR4, caspase 1, ASC, IL-1β, IL-18 protein, and mRNA ( P<0.01) were all significantly increased in the model than the blank group ( P<0.01). Additionally, compared with the model group, the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction had improved liver tissue injury in ACLF rats, while the serum levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, IL-1β, IL-18, liver tissue GSDMD protein, NLRP3, TLR4, caspase 1, and ASC expressions were all lower in the different dose gradients of the Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction than the model group, with the most evident reduction in the high-dose group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Shengsan Jiedu Huayu decoction can weaken the activation intensity of the NLRP3 signaling pathway, alleviate liver tissue pathological injury, reduce inflammatory factor release, and alleviate inflammatory liver injury in ACLF rats.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Association of lipid metabolism reprogramming with the development and progression of primary liver cancer
Feiyan LI ; Minggang WANG ; Dewen MAO ; Riyun ZHANG ; Na WANG ; Yinbing LUO ; Xiaoping LIU ; Yupei LIN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(8):1688-1692
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Lipid metabolism,as the basis of life maintenance,is a prerequisite for cell survival,and lipid homeostasis can rapidly respond to metabolic changes in a coordinated manner.In cancers,there is an increase in lipid metabolism in cancer cells to meet the requirements for plasma membrane synthesis and energy production.Abnormal lipid metabolism plays an important role in the progression of primary liver cancer.This article reviews the association between abnormal lipid metabolism and primary liver cancer,in order to find targets for the prevention and treatment of primary liver cancer.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
7.Role of gasdermin D in the pathological progression of liver diseases
Feiyan LI ; Minggang WANG ; Dewen MAO ; Xiongbin GUI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2023;39(3):707-712
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			 As a novel star molecule, gasdermin D (GSDMD) plays an important role in the amplification of immune inflammatory response and the process of pyroptosis. After being cleaved and activated by caspase-1, the N-terminal of GSDMD is rapidly released, which anchors on the cell membrane and forms pores, thereby leading to pyroptosis, accompanied by the release of a large amount of the strong proinflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18. Acute/chronic liver inflammatory response and cell death are the common pathological features of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This article summarizes the basic structural characteristics of GSDMD and elaborates on its important role in the pathological progression of various liver diseases. In addition, it is proposed that prevention and treatment strategies with GSDMD as a potential therapeutic target can provide new ideas for further studies on the clinical prevention and treatment of liver diseases. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
8.Research progress of key rate-limiting enzymes of glycolysis and their regulators in the occurrence and development of primary liver cancer
Yonglin HUANG ; Zhenheng SONG ; Minggang WANG ; Dewen MAO
Tumor 2023;43(11):895-904
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Glycolysis is an important biological event in the metabolic reprogramming process of primary liver cancer.Its is mainly regulated by key rate-limiting enzymes in the glycolysis pathway,including hexokinase(HK),pyruvate kinase(PK),phosphofructokinase(PFK),and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH).Moreover,it can also be regulated by multiple mechanisms such as glucose transporters(GLUTS),monocarboxylic acid transporters(MCT),PI3K/AKT/mTORC signaling pathway and hypoxia induction factor(HIF).More and more studies have proved that key glycolytic enzymes and regulatory factors play important roles in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cell proliferation,invasion,metastasis,immune escape,and drug resistance.Currently,with the continuous in-depth research on the mechanism of glycolysis,clinical therapies targeting glycolysis has become a new therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.This article aims to summarize the research progress of key glycolytic enzymes and regulatory factors in the occurrence and development of primary liver cancer,hoping to provide help for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
9.Mechanism of action of bile acid-farnesoid X receptor-intestinal microecological axis in the development of liver failure and liver regeneration
Yanyan CHEN ; Yanmei LAN ; Minggang WANG ; Dewen MAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2021;37(2):480-484
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			 Liver failure is a common critical medical disease, and extensive liver cell necrosis within a short period of time exceeds the regeneration capacity of liver cells and thus results in an extremely high fatality rate. Promotion of effective liver regeneration is the key to antagonizing liver failure. Recent studies have shown that bile acid, farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and intestinal microecology play an important role in liver failure and liver regeneration. This article reviews the association between bile acid, FXR, and intestinal microecology and their role in liver failure and liver regeneration, so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of liver failure in clinical practice. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
10.Role of bile acids in enterohepatic circulation and mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating bile acids
Qianling YE ; Minggang WANY ; Dewen MAO ; Hainan JIANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2020;36(11):2617-2620
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			 Bile acids (BAs) are produced in the liver and are the final product of cholesterol catabolism, with a wide range of biological effects. This article reviews the research advances in the synthesis, transport, and metabolism of BAs and the role of BAs in regulating hepatocytes and immunity via enterohepatic circulation, as well as the current research on traditional Chinese medicine in the regulation of BAs, in order to further understand the mechanism of action of BAs in affecting intestinal flora and liver function, expand the knowledge of its regulatory mechanism, explore the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine and related pathways in regulating BAs, and provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of liver-related systemic diseases by regulating BAs. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            
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