Translational Health Reports

Abstract Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) experience a high psychological burden, with frequent occurrences of alexithymia, anxiety, and depression. These psychological issues are increasingly associated with disruptions in neuroimmune and neuroendocrine pathways. This review examines the basis and supporting data for using a combined approach of Shugan Jieyu Capsule (SJC) and group psychological counseling (GPC) to target both the psychological and biological aspects of this complex condition.
Methods: A synthesis of existing literature was conducted, focusing on the pathophysiology of alexithymia in HD patients, the pharmacological effects of SJC, the therapeutic mechanisms of GPC, and the role of biomarkers such as Orphanin FQ (OFQ), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH), Neurogranin, and soluble Fractalkine (sCX3CL1).
Results: Recent evidence indicates that a combined strategy of SJC and GPC is more effective than standard care alone. This integrated approach has been found to significantly reduce symptoms of alexithymia, anxiety, and depression; enhance sleep quality, self-care capacity, and social functioning; and improve overall quality of life. Importantly, these psychological improvements are associated with changes in key biomarkers, including decreased serum levels of OFQ, IL-2, CRH, Neurogranin, and sCX3CL1, suggesting a positive effect on stress response, synaptic function, and neuroinflammation.
Conclusion: The combination of Shugan Jieyu Capsule and group psychological counseling represents a promising, multi-targeted strategy for managing the psychosomatic challenges in hemodialysis patients. This method not only improves clinical symptoms but also appears to address underlying neuroimmune and neuroendocrine imbalances, offering a holistic approach to enhancing patient outcomes in ESRD care.

Abstract Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with increasing global prevalence, especially esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Late-stage detection significantly contributes to its unfavorable outcomes, highlighting an urgent demand for non-invasive early diagnostic approaches. Metabolomics, the comprehensive study of small-molecule metabolites, provides a valuable strategy for discovering biomarker patterns that mirror the pathophysiological condition of cancer.
Objective: This review seeks to consolidate and critically assess existing research on the utility of plasma metabolites as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers in EC.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed for literature published between January 2000 and March 2024. Keywords such as "esophageal cancer," "metabolomics," "plasma," "serum," "biomarkers," "mass spectrometry," and "NMR" were employed. Studies were chosen based on their focus on plasma or serum metabolomic analysis in human EC patients.
Results: EC patients exhibit consistent changes in plasma metabolomic profiles compared to healthy individuals. Major disrupted pathways involve amino acid metabolism (e.g., increased branched-chain amino acids, reduced glutamine), energy metabolism (including the Warburg effect and disturbances in the TCA cycle), and lipid metabolism (alterations in phospholipid and sphingolipid concentrations). Panels comprising multiple metabolites show strong diagnostic performance, often with area under the curve (AUC) values above 0.90. Additionally, certain metabolic patterns may be useful for predicting patient outcomes and evaluating responses to neoadjuvant treatments.
Conclusion: Plasma metabolomics offers considerable potential to transform the clinical approach to EC through non-invasive methods for early diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapy evaluation. Validation through extensive, multi-center prospective studies is needed to implement these advances in clinical settings.

Abstract Post-stroke upper limb spasticity (PULS) is a disabling condition that severely limits motor function and quality of life. While botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection is a standard treatment, its benefits are often partial and temporary. Traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) is increasingly used as an adjunct therapy. Concurrently, there is growing interest in identifying objective biomarkers to monitor recovery and elucidate treatment mechanisms.Combining acupuncture with BTX-A is more effective than BTX-A monotherapy for PULS rehabilitation. The therapy induces favorable changes in biomarkers related to muscle repair, neural plasticity, and neuroendocrine adaptation, providing a molecular basis for the observed clinical synergy. This integrated, biomarker-informed approach offers a promising direction for personalized neurorehabilitation in stroke survivors.

Abstract Backgrounds: Hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) is a growing and serious subtype of acute pancreatitis, involving a complicated interaction of metabolic imbalance, widespread inflammation, and clotting irregularities. The potential of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and early enteral nutrition (EEN) as supplementary treatments has attracted considerable attention for their ability to influence central disease mechanisms.
Methods: This detailed review integrates findings from clinical research, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses released between 2010 and 2024, gathered via systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Emphasis was placed on studies assessing how LMWH and EEN affect immune markers (IgA, IgG, IgM), clotting factors (PT, TT, APTT, FIB), inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, CRP), and nutritional indicators (TP, ALB, TRF) in HLAP patients.
Results: Current data suggest that using LMWH together with EEN produces better patient results than traditional care alone. Notable outcomes involve a marked decrease in inflammatory markers, better clotting function, higher antibody levels, and improved nutritional measures. This combined method is linked to reduced hospitalization time, quicker return of digestive function, and fewer complications like multiple organ failure.
Conclusion: The complementary actions of LMWH and EEN tackle the diverse causes of HLAP. LMWH enhances blood flow in the pancreas while lowering excessive clotting and inflammation, whereas EEN protects intestinal lining and helps regulate immunity. Subsequent studies should aim to establish consistent treatment guidelines and determine which patients would gain the most from this dual therapy.