Ferroptosis is a unique mode of cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, and the process is regulated by a variety of cellular metabolic pathways, including redox homeostasis, iron processing, and lipid metabolism. It has been shown that radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation exhibits the key features of ferroptosis, including iron deposition, glutathione (GSH) depletion, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inactivation and lipid peroxidation. In this paper, we found that ferroptosis plays an important role in radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced GI inflammation, and that elevating GSH levels, activating GPX4, inhibiting elevated levels of lipid peroxidation, and maintaining iron homeostasis significantly alleviated radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced GI inflammation. This suggests that ferroptosis may be a new target for the treatment of GI inflammation. In addition, we systematically summarize the potential mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its active ingredients in the treatment of GI inflammation, which may be effective in ameliorating radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced GI by acting on the key signaling pathways and mediators, such as Nrf2/HO-1, GSH/GPX4, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), iron, and organic peroxides, which in turn inhibit the process of ferroptosis, and thereby effectively ameliorate the radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced GI inflammation. This finding provides a new potential approach for the treatment of such GI inflammation and demonstrates the potential value of TCM in modern medical treatment.
As one of the hot materials in biomedical research, alginate gel shows great potential in tumor therapy with its unique physical and chemical properties. In order to better meet the complex needs of cancer treatment, alginate brine gel composite system has come into being. This system not only inherits many advantages of single alginate brine gel, but also significantly improves the mechanical properties of the material through compounding, and effectively overcomes the limitations of application. These composites have been applied to drug delivery carriers, tumor targeting systems and three-dimensional tumor cell models in various forms, showing a wide range of application prospects. This paper aims to review the basic structure and properties of alginate gel and analyze the research progress of alginate gel composite systems in the field of cancer in recent years, to provide a valuable reference for the further expansion of the application of this material in tumor therapy.
Coughing as the main symptom of a chronic cough is a persistent respiratory disease that poses a substantial challenge to Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Large Intestine and Lung are intimately related, impacting each other's pathology and physiology, according to TCM theory. This complex interaction emphasizes how crucial it is to treat both organs at the same time while treating cough to support gut health. This viewpoint is further supported by current research, which demonstrates the connections between the Large Intestine and the Lung through a variety of pathways, including neurological pathways, mucosal immune system modulation, gas exchange dynamics, and microbiota composition. To clarify the mechanisms and practical applications of treating chronic cough by concurrently targeting the Lung and Intestine in TCM, this paper merges ideas from TCM theory and empirical research in Western medicine. This provides insightful information for efficiently managing chronic cough.
The extant research evidence indicates that sensible exercise has a beneficial impact on the prevention and treatment of cancer. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of the field of sports oncology. Its objective is to synthesize and analyze the impact of exercise training on cancer, as well as to elucidate the mechanisms through which exercise affects cancer progression. Additionally, it offers valuable insights for advancing fundamental and clinical research in sports oncology. Firstly, this paper provides a summary of the relationship between exercise and various aspects of tumor progression, including tumor size, weight, metastasis, tumor vascularity, myokine production, immune response, and the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. Secondly, due to the diversity of tumor properties, we also explore the fact that the specificity of exercise prescription should be tailored to the different tumor types and patient profiles. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of considering individual differences when determining the type of exercise, intensity, intervention, and duration of exercise. Finally, this paper emphasizes the necessity of evaluating the interaction between exercise and conventional or novel immunotherapies and pharmacodynamics in future preclinical studies.
In recent years, a growing lack of comprehension regarding the safety of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) has led to an escalating incidence of drug-induced organ damage, particularly kidney damage associated with TCM usage. This study focused on the development of purine-functionalized biochar and used to capture nephrotoxic substances in TCMs. The biochar was meticulously characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and elemental analysis. Subsequently, it was employed as a solid-phase extraction medium for capturing suspected nephrotoxic substances in TCMs. Results revealed that the functional biochar exhibited commendable selectivity for compounds with nephrotoxic effects, demonstrating its potential for effectively capturing nephrotoxic substances in TCMs. This research aimed to introduce an innovative method for monitoring potential nephrotoxic substances in large-scale TCMs, thereby contributing to the enhancement of the overall safety profile of traditional Chinese medicine.
Holistic integrative medicine, abbreviated as HIM, has been officially proposed since 2012. Its theoretical system has been continuously improved, and its practical methods have become increasingly diverse, becoming an inevitable choice and path for the medical development in the new era. This article demonstrates ten major propositions for HIM, elaborating on the connotation and extension of HIM from the perspectives of epistemology and methodology, in order to achieve the transformation and adaptive evolution of modern medicine.

