1.Effect of Ningying Formula (宁瘿方) Combined with Low-Dose Antithyroid Drugs on Reducing Relapse Risk for Patients with Graves' Hyperthyroidism in Remission Stage:A Retrospective Cohort Study
Yuqin HUANG ; Mingshuai ZHANG ; Shijian LIU ; Feng TAO ; Yi CHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):45-52
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of Ningying Formula (宁瘿方) combined with low-dose antithyroid drugs (ATDs) on the relapse risk for patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism (GH) during the remission phase, and to analyze the related factors between GH relapse and thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) negativity, so as to provide evidence for the standardized management of GH in remission stage. MethodsA single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 269 GH patients in the remission stage. After propensity score matching (PSM), 102 matched pairs (204 patients) were established. The control group received low-dose ATDs as maintenance therapy, while the exposure group received the core Ningying Formula in addition to low-dose ATDs. The primary outcome was the GH recurrence rate; the secondary outcome was the thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) negativity rate (TRAb<1.75 IU/L). Safety outcomes included treatment-related adverse events. Differences between groups were assessed using Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves, with sensitivity analysis performed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). ResultsThe median follow-up in the matched cohort was 28.07 months. Regarding the GH recurrence outcome, the recurrence rate in the exposure group (18/102, 17.6%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (31/102, 30.4%; χ²=4.539, P=0.033); regarding the TRAb negativity outcome, the TRAb negativity rate in the exposure group (50/102, 49.0%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (23/102, 22.5%; χ²=15.551, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis for recurrence showed that Ningying Formula treatment reduced the risk of recurrence [HR=0.324, 95%CI(0.170, 0.617), P<0.001]. Male [HR=2.209, 95%CI(1.079, 4.520), P=0.030], higher initial TRAb level [per 1 IU/L increase: HR=1.033, 95%CI(1.003, 1.064), P=0.032], and larger thyroid volume [per 1 ml increase: HR=1.045, 95%CI(1.003, 1.088), P=0.035] were identified as independent risk factors for recurrence; multivariate Cox regression analysis for TRAb negativity indicated that Ningying Formula treatment promoted TRAb negativity [HR=1.826, 95%CI(1.091, 3.056), P=0.022], while a higher initial TRAb level was associated with a lower probability of negativity [HR=0.974, 95%CI(0.950, 0.998), P=0.032]. Survival analysis showed significant differences in relapse rate between groups (Log-Rank P=0.003) and in TRAb outcomes (Log-Rank P=0.034). The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was similar between groups (P=0.757). The IPTW sensitivity analysis was consistent with the primary analysis, indicating robust results. ConclusionThe Ningying Formula combined with low-dose ATDs can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence and can improve the TRAb negativity rate in GH patients during the remission stage, without increasing common adverse events, making it an optional strategy for reducing relapse risk during remission. Male gender, higher baseline TRAb level, and larger thyroid volume indicate a higher risk of recurrence, warranting focused follow-up and stratified management.
2.The Regulatory Effects and Mechanisms of Piezo1 Channel on Chondrocytes and Bone Metabolic Dysregulation in Osteoarthritis
Yan LI ; Tao LIU ; Yu-Biao GU ; Hui-Qing TIAN ; Lei ZHANG ; Bi-Hui BAI ; Zhi-Jun HE ; Wen CHEN ; Jin-Peng LI ; Fei LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):564-576
Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide, is defined by articular cartilage degradation, abnormal bone remodeling, and persistent chronic inflammation. It severely compromises patients’ quality of life, and currently, there is no radical cure. Abnormal mechanical stress is widely regarded as a core driver of OA pathogenesis, and the exploration of mechanical signal perception and transduction mechanisms has become crucial for deciphering OA’s pathophysiological processes. Piezo1, a key mechanosensitive cation channel belonging to the Piezo protein family, has recently gained significant attention due to its pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to mechanical stimuli in joint tissues. This review systematically examines Piezo1’s expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and pathological functions in OA, with a particular focus on its dual roles in modulating chondrocyte homeostasis and bone metabolism disorders, while also delving into the underlying molecular signaling pathways and potential therapeutic implications. Piezo1, consisting of approximately 2 500 amino acids and forming a unique trimeric propeller-like structure, is widely expressed in chondrocytes, osteocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and synovial cells. It exhibits permeability to cations such as Ca2+, K+, and Na+, and directly responds to membrane tension changes induced by mechanical stimuli like fluid shear stress and mechanical overload. In OA patients and animal models, Piezo1 expression is significantly upregulated, especially in cartilage regions subjected to abnormal mechanical stress (e.g., human temporomandibular joint cartilage). This overexpression is closely associated with aggravated cartilage degeneration, increased chondrocyte apoptosis, accelerated cellular senescence, and intensified inflammatory responses. Mechanical overload and pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β) are key inducers of Piezo1 upregulation: IL-1β activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to enhance Piezo1 expression, forming a pathogenic positive feedback loop that inhibits chondrocyte autophagy, promotes apoptosis, and further accelerates joint degeneration. Mechanistically, Piezo1 mediates OA progression through multiple interconnected pathways. When activated by mechanical stress, Piezo1 triggers excessive Ca2+ influx, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and mitochondrial dysfunction, which directly induce chondrocyte apoptosis. This process involves the activation of downstream signaling cascades such as cGAS-STING and YAP-MMP13/ADAMTS5. YAP, a transcriptional regulator, upregulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and aggrecanase (ADAMTS5), thereby accelerating cartilage matrix degradation. Additionally, Piezo1-driven Ca2+ overload promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulates senescence markers (p16 and p21), accelerating chondrocyte senescence via the p38MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Senescent chondrocytes secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors (e.g., IL-6, IL-1β), further amplifying joint inflammation. In terms of bone metabolism, Piezo1 maintains joint homeostasis by promoting the differentiation of fibrocartilage stem cells into chondrocytes and balancing bone formation and resorption through regulating the FoxC1/YAP axis and RANKL/OPG ratio. Therapeutically, targeting Piezo1 shows promising potential. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that Piezo1 inhibitors (e.g., GsMTx4) can reduce joint damage and alleviate pain in OA mice. Simultaneously, siRNA-mediated co-silencing of Piezo1 and TRPV4 (another mechanosensitive channel) decreases intracellular Ca2+ concentration, inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis, and promotes cartilage repair. Conditional knockout of Piezo1 using Gdf5-Cre transgenic mice alleviates cartilage degeneration in post-traumatic OA models by downregulating MMP13 and ADAMTS5 expression. Despite existing challenges, such as off-target effects of inhibitors, inefficient local drug delivery, and interindividual genetic variability, strategies like developing selective Piezo1 antagonists, optimizing targeted nanocarriers, and combining Piezo1-targeted therapy with physical therapy provide viable avenues for clinical translation. The authors propose that Piezo1 serves as a critical therapeutic target for OA, and future research should focus on deciphering its context-dependent regulatory networks, developing tissue-specific intervention strategies, and validating their efficacy and safety in clinical trials to address the unmet medical needs of OA patients.
3.Mechanism Exploration of Doxorubicin and Sepsis Induced Myocardial Injury: Differences and Convergences
Tao ZHANG ; Zihan NAN ; Lixia LIU ; Jiaqi LIU ; Xiukai CHEN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Suwen SU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):23-32
Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity and sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) represent significant clinical challenges in patients undergoing chemotherapy, sharing a common pathological basis of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has recently been shown to play a critical role in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced SIMI. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms underlying myocardial injury caused by DOX and sepsis, identifying ferroptosis as a central common pathway. DOX triggers a burst of reactive oxygen species within mitochondria and inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity through redox cycling of its quinone group and high-affinity accumulation in mitochondrial cardiolipin. LPS, by activating pattern recognition receptors and related inflammatory signaling pathways, provokes a cytokine storm and mitochondrial dysfunction. Both can disrupt the core regulatory axis of cysteine-glutathione (GSH)-GPX4, synergistically promoting ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, epigenetic regulation plays a key role in DOX- and LPS-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and may serve as a promising therapeutic target. A deeper understanding of the ferroptosis mechanism and its epigenetic regulatory network in the synergistic injury induced by DOX and sepsis is of great importance for developing novel strategies to mitigate chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and improve outcomes in cancer patients with concurrent infections.
4.Research Tackling Paradigm and Technological Layout Strategies Based on Erectile Dysfunction, A Clinical Dominant Disease of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Qi ZHAO ; Yun CHEN ; Baoxing LIU ; Xuejun SHANG ; Fei SUN ; Xiaozhi ZHAO ; Zhigang WU ; Chao SUN ; Peihai ZHANG ; Wanjun CHENG ; Xing ZHOU ; Zhan QIN ; Yufeng PAN ; Weiwei TAO ; Jianhuai CHEN ; Mei MO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Xing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):291-299
To thoroughly implement the strategic deployment outlined in the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Promoting the Inheritance and Innovative Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine regarding research on dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine and to uphold the development philosophy of equal emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine,the China Association of Chinese Medicine has fully played a leading academic role by systematically organizing and conducting a series of academic youth salons on clinical dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine. On September 13,2024,the 36th Youth Salon on Clinical Dominant Diseases was successfully held in Nanjing,focusing on the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and the integrative traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The conference brought together leading experts from traditional Chinese medicine,western medicine,and interdisciplinary fields,facilitating in-depth multidisciplinary discussions that led to key consensus on optimizing traditional Chinese medicine treatment protocols for ED,researching and developing new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine,and advancing interdisciplinary development in traditional Chinese medicine. This salon systematically sorted out the clinical strengths and distinctive features of traditional Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of ED. Based on current research foundations and clinical needs,it identified key directions for future scientific layout and scientific research tackling: (1) Standardization of syndrome differentiation system of traditional Chinese medicine for ED. (2) Optimization and standardization of intervention methods of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. (3) High-quality clinical research guided by evidence-based medicine. (4) In-depth analysis of the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of ED. (5) Clinical translation and application promotion of new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine. (6) Interdisciplinary integration and innovation in traditional Chinese medicine. For each research direction,key focus areas,expected objectives,and clinical value were further refined,along with the establishment of a scientifically sound priority funding level evaluation system. Therefore,building on the series of salons on the ED-focused dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine,this paper provides standardized guidance for clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine in ED management,effectively contributing to the high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine. It serves as a valuable reference for national scientific and technological strategic layout, research and development decision-making in new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine,research topic planning,and clinical guideline formulation.
5.Development trajectories of clustered health risk behaviors and their association with self esteem and loneliness among junior high school students
XU Tao, LIU Lü ; hao, CHEN Jiajia, WANG Yongsheng, ZHANG Tiancheng, YANG Xuejing
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(2):189-193
Objective:
To analyze the developmental trajectories of clustered health risk behaviors and their association with self-esteem and lonelinesss among junior high school students, so as to provide a reference for formulating comprehensive prevention and control measures of health risk behaviors among adolescents.
Methods:
In October 2023, 1 165 first year junior high school students from two schools of Jishou City in Hunan Province were selected by convenient sampling method for three follow up surveys (T1:October 2023; T2:April 2024; T3:October 2024). The Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self esteem Scale and Loneliness Scale were used to assess health risk behaviors, self esteem and loneliness, respectively. Latent growth curve modeling and latent growth mixture modeling were applied to analyze the developmental trajectories of clustered health risk behaviors among junior high school students. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of the developmental trajectories of clustered health risk behaviors with self esteem and loneliness among junior high school students.
Results:
The overall developmental trajectories among junior high school students showed a declining trend (intercept=0.15, slope=-1.65, both P <0.05), with three heterogeneous categories:low risk improvement group ( n =862, 74.0%), moderate risk stable group ( n =260, 22.3%), and high risk deterioration group ( n =43, 3.7%). After adjusting the status of the left behind individuals,using the low risk improvement group as the reference category in multinomial Logistic regression analysis, results indicated that higher loneliness scores among junior high school students increased the risks of belonging to the moderate risk stable group ( OR=1.02, 95%CI =1.00- 1.04 ) and the high risk deterioration group ( OR=1.04, 95%CI =1.00-1.08), while higher self esteem scores reduced the risks of belonging to the moderate risk stable group ( OR=0.93, 95%CI =0.91-0.96) and the high risk deterioration group ( OR=0.88, 95%CI =0.83-0.94) (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
The overall trend of clustered health risk behaviors among junior high school students gradually improves, and the self esteem and loneliness are significant correlative factors. Targeted intervention measures should be developed for the junior high school students, with a focus on enhancing their self esteem and alleviating loneliness.
6.Clinical phenotype and genotype analysis of retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento caused by BBS gene mutations
Zijie CHEN ; Yufei TAO ; Yun WANG ; Qinyu HUANG ; Mingmin YANG ; Xuyang LIU ; Ning FAN
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(3):178-185
Objective:To observe and analyze the pathogenic genes and clinical phenotype characteristics of retinitis pigmentosa sinepigmento(RPSP).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. Two patients (proband) and five family members from two RPSP families admitted to Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University in December 2022 and Shenzhen Eye Hospital in July 2023 were included in the study. Two families have no blood relationship and were both Han Chinese. Detailed ocular and systemic medical history and specialized examinations were performed for all members, including color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and full field electroretinogram (ff-ERG) examination. The peripheral venous blood of all members was collected, and genomic DNA was extracted. Pathogenic genes and their loci were screened using whole exome high-throughput sequencing technology. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the pathogenic genes in the two pedigrees. The pathogenicity of candidate variants was evaluated according to the American Society for American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) classification criteria and guidelines for genetic variants.Results:The two probands were male, aged 9 and 7 years, respectively. The main complaint was poor binocular vision for 6 and 3 years and poor treatment effect of amblyopia. The proband (Ⅱ2) in family 1 had a pale red color on the optic disc, with leopard-like changes in the posterior pole and thinner retinal arteries. FAF showed mottled fluorescence attenuation outside the macular vascular arch. There was no significant waveform in both bright and dark visual responses of ff-ERG. He also had 6-toed deformity of both feet, renal cysts, and a slightly overweight body. The clinical diagnosis was non-pigmentary retinitis pigmentosa. The proband of family 2 (Ⅱ1) had poor binocular vision in a dark environment and had atrophy lesions on the nasal side of the optic disc and leopard print like changes in the fundus. FAF showed uneven enhancement in the fovea. ff-ERG showed severe abnormalities in dark and light response, with significant decrease and delay in b-wave amplitude and latency. He had no other systemic abnormalities. The clinical diagnosis was binocular RPSP. There were no abnormal ocular and systemic manifestations in the two family members. Gene sequencing revealed a homozygous mutation (c.534+1G>T) of BBS2 gene, which was inherited from the mother and father respectively. Based on clinical manifestations and genetic testing results, the final diagnosis was Bardet Biedl syndrome. The genetic sequencing results confirmed a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.950T>G: p. Leu317Arg missense mutation and c.849+1G>C splicing mutation) of BBS7 gene. His father (Ⅰ1) and mother (Ⅰ2) carried M1 heterozygous variants. Combined with the clinical manifestations and genetic testing results, the final diagnosis was Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). Family 2 proband (Ⅱ1) carried the BBS7 gene C.950T>G (p.Leu317Arg) (M2) missense variation and C.849 +1G>C (M3) splice site variation. His father (Ⅰ1) and mother (Ⅰ2) carried M3 shear site variation and M2 missense variation, respectively. The two families all fit the autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, and the genotype and clinical phenotype were coseparated. According to ACMG guidelines, M1, M2 and M3 were all identified as possible pathogenic variants. Conclusions:BBS2 gene M1 homozygous variation and BBS7 gene M2, M3 complex heterozygous variation are the possible pathogenic genes in family 1 and family 2, respectively. Two families are affected by BBS and RPSP, respectively.
7.The mechanism and application prospects of mitochondrial quality control in osteoarthritis
Liang WANG ; Yinshuan DENG ; Tao QU ; Chaoming DA ; Yunfei HE ; Rui LIU ; Weimin NIU ; Weishun YAN ; Zhen CHEN ; Shuo LI ; Zhiyun YANG ; Binbin GUO ; Xueqian LAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(2):282-288
Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.
8.An experimental study of a novel suture instrument for endoscopic closure of full thickness defects of the gastric wall
Chunbo YU ; Mingxian CHEN ; Meihua CHEN ; Liang HUANG ; Yijing LIU ; Shufang TAO ; Yanhong HE ; Weizhong YAN ; Dong LI
Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2025;42(1):47-52
Objective:To explore the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a novel suture instrument for closure of full thickness defects of the gastric wall under gastroscopy.Methods:Ten pigs were used as experimental animals. Perforation model (30 mm in long diameter) was created in the stomach of each pig. The perforations were then closed by the novel suture instrument under gastroscopy. The completion time and efficacy of each perforation repair were recorded. The pigs were euthanized 14 days after the procedure. The healing condition was observed under gastroscopy. A postmortem examination was performed to observe the abdominal infection and healing condition of perforation. Ascites sample was taken for bacterial culture.The stomach biopsy were taken for histopathologic examination.Results:All gastric perforation models in the 10 pigs were established successfully. Endoscopic closure for the stomach perforation was technically successful in all 10 pigs. The procedure time was 34.10±10.32 minutes. All animals survived. Gastroscopy and necropsy showed that the perforation healed well with local adhesion. One pig developed abdominal infection. Ascites culture were negative in 9 cases, 1 bacterial infection was caused by Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Escherichiacoli. The pathology results showed that the muscular layer of the gastric wall defect in the entire group was well repaired. Conclusion:The novel suture instrument is safe and effective in repairing full-thickness gastric wall defects under ordinary single clamp gastroscopy, providing an experimental basis for further clinical research.
9.Key technology and equipment development status of first-aid robotics
Zhen-bao WANG ; Zi-jian WANG ; Xin-xi XU ; Xin LIU ; Tao CHENG ; Pei-peng LIU ; Xiu-guo ZHAO ; Chen SU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(3):96-114
The development status of the key technologies of first-aid robotics was introduced in autonomous system,embo-died intelligence,digital twins,large artificial intelligence model and autonomous unmanned medical treatment.The present situation in first-aid robotics equipment was reviewed for first-aid diagnosis,treatment,assistance and transportation.The development trends of the key technology and equipment of first-aid robotics were analyzed.It was pointed out the involve-ment of big model-based embodied intelligence technology and digital twins technology in first aid might provide new pers-pectives for the application and advancement of specialized first-aid robotics.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):96-114]
10.Development and validation of an innovative minimally invasive rotary-cutting surgical system for axillary osmidrosis
Jiajun FENG ; Chaoming DENG ; He HONG ; Fan WU ; Guogui TAO ; Xiaoqing SUN ; Xiaomin LIU ; Tiantian ZUO ; Wanhong WU ; Xinran WANG ; Zichuan CHEN ; Hu ZHANG ; Zhiqi HU ; Guobin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(7):952-955
Objective To develop an innovative minimally invasive rotary-cutting surgical system for axillary osmidrosis,and conduct clinical validation.Methods The design concept,technical principles and system composition of the innovative minimally invasive rotary-cutting surgical system for axillary osmidrosis were introduced.A total of 73 patients(146 axillae)with axillary osmidrosis were enrolled as subjects,and underwent surgery using the newly developed surgical system.Clinical validation of the system was performed by evaluating postoperative scarring,odor elimination rate,postoperative complication incidence,and patient satisfaction.Results The study demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in the following aspects:postoperative scarring,odor elimination rate,postoperative complication incidence,and patient satisfaction.Conclusion The minimally invasive rotary-cutting surgical system for axillary osmidrosis is rationally designed.The rotary-cutting puncture device is safe,effective,minimally invasive,and convenient for axillary osmidrosis surgery,warranting further clinical validation and widespread application.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail