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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2026; 32(32): 117070
Published online Aug 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.117070
Published online Aug 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.117070
Letter to the Editor: Unresolved questions regarding Anwei decoction’s role in chronic atrophic gastritis
Nan-Nan Wang, Lei Ding, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China
Author contributions: Wang NN drafted the manuscript; Ding L revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: We utilized a Large Language Model to assist in drafting and refining the linguistic expression of the manuscript. The linguistic framework and initial drafting of the text were assisted by AI. However, the scientific content, critical analysis, and specific arguments - including the critique of the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, the limitations of the MNNG-induced model, and the discussion on microbiome causality - were entirely conceptualized and directed by the authors. As clinical researchers in the field of gastrointestinal oncology, our primary goal was to ensure that our scientific concerns regarding the study by Qin et al were communicated clearly and accurately in English. We take full responsibility for the content of the manuscript and confirm that the AI tool did not substitute for the authors’ original thinking or scientific judgment.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82471761.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Lei Ding, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10 Tieyilu, Yangfangdian, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China. dinglei1005@126.com
Received: December 8, 2025
Revised: January 28, 2026
Accepted: March 2, 2026
Published online: August 28, 2026
Processing time: 238 Days and 2.1 Hours
Revised: January 28, 2026
Accepted: March 2, 2026
Published online: August 28, 2026
Processing time: 238 Days and 2.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: While Anwei decoction shows promise in a rat chronic atrophic gastritis model, key questions regarding its mechanism beyond nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 inhibition, efficacy across distinct etiologies, the causal role of microbiome shifts, the pharmacokinetics of active components, and long-term anti-cancer effects remain unanswered. Addressing these gaps through rigorous model validation and functional assays is crucial for the clinical translation of this traditional Chinese medicine formulation.