1.Effect of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Formula(益气养阴活血方)on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Injury in Membranous Nephropathy Model Rats:Based on the NOX4-mediated SDF-1α/CXCR4 Signaling Pathway
Xiaoxiao GUO ; Chundong SONG ; Hanhan ZHANG ; Ke SONG ; Chenchen CHEN ; Haoran JIANG ; Ying DING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(13):1431-1439
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Formula (益气养阴活血方, YYHF) in the treatment of membranous nephropathy (MN) based on the NOX4-mediated stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 42 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group (n=6) and modeling group (n=36). The modeling rats were given a single injection of sheep antirat Fx1A (6 ml/kg) serum into the tail vein to establish MN model. Thirty-six rats with successful modeling were further divided into model group (normal saline, 10 ml/kg), benazepril group (10 mg·kg-1·d-1), the medium-dose YYHF group (11.0 g·kg-1·d-1) and high-dose YYHF group (22.0 g·kg-1·d-1), with 9 rats in each group. All groups received daily intragastric administration for 6 consecutive weeks. During the experimental period, the general condition of rats in each group was observed. After gavage administration finished, a fully automated biochemical analyzer was used to measure the 24-hour urine total protein (24 h-UTP) and serum biochemical parameters, including albumin (ALB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and periodic acid-silver metheramine (PASM) staining were used to observe the histopathological changes of renal tissues in each group of rats. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in renal tissues were detected by ELISA. The protein expression levels of NOX4, SDF-1α, CXCR4, Nrf2, nuclear factor kappa B subunit p65 (NF-κB p65) and podocyte slit diaphragm protein nephrin in rat renal tissues were detected by Western Blotting. The mRNA expressions of NOX4, SDF-1α, CXCR4, Nrf2, NF-κB p65 and Nephrin in renal tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ResultsCompared to the blank group, rats in the model group exhibited typical features of MN, including lethargy, reduced activity, dull and coarse fur, marked edema, and massive proteinuria. Compared to the model group, these abnormal conditions were improved to varying degrees in all treatment groups. The high-dose YYHF group showed a level of improvement comparable to that of the benazepril group, with overall recovery superior to that of the medium-dose YYHF group. Compared to the blank group, the model group showed increased levels of 24 h-UTP, BUN, SCr, TC and TG, decreased level of ALB, increased levels of MDA and protein and mRNA expressions of NOX4, SDF-1α, CXCR4 and NF-κB p65 in renal tissue, along with decreased levels of SOD and protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2, Nephrin (P<0.01), accompanied by severe renal pathological damage. Compared to the model group, the benazepril and the medium- and high-dose YYHF groups showed significant improvements in the above indicators (P<0.01), along with alleviation of renal pathological injury. The 24 h-UTP level in the high-dose YYHF group was lower than that in the medium-dose group (P<0.01), while no statistically significant difference was observed among the other treatment groups (P>0.01). ConclusionYYHF may alleviate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by down-regulating the expression of NOX4 and inhibiting the SDF-1α/CXCR4-Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby improving podocyte damage and protecting renal function.
2.Comparison of professional competency between full-time and part-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration in Shanghai
Jin WANG ; Liang ZHANG ; Ying LYU ; Kun ZHANG ; Yanting WANG ; Xiaodong GAO ; Qingfeng SHI ; Yizhou JIANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(3):245-250
ObjectiveTo investigate the current professional competency among full-time and part-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration in Shanghai, so as to provide a scientific basis for future training programmes. MethodsIn December 2024, a questionnaire survey was conducted by the Shanghai Nosocomial Infection Quality Control Center among full-time and part-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration across medical institutions at various levels and types in Shanghai using convenience sampling method. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic information and professional competency assessment. The professional competency scale comprised four dimensions: fundamental cognition, basic skills, professional expertise, and personal qualities, totaling 35 items. ResultsA total of 1 179 questionnaires were distributed, with 1 144 valid responses collected, yielding an effective response rate of 97.03%. Statistically significant differences were observed among full-time and part-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration in terms of age (t=5.32, P=0.021), professional background (χ2=9.90, P=0.019), educational qualifications (χ2=19.10, P<0.001), professional titles (χ2=12.60, P=0.002), and the levels of medical institutions (χ2=111.08, P<0.001). The scores of full-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration in fundamental cognition [92 (82, 99) points] and basic skills [88 (78, 96) points] were significantly higher than those of part-time personnel(Z=-2.21, P=0.027;Z=-2.74, P=0.006). Statistically significant differences were found in fundamental cognition scores between full-time and part-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration regarding occupational safety protection, definition of healthcare-associated infection outbreaks, types of drug-resistant bacteria and their prevention and control strategies, and transmission routes of different infectious diseases (all P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were also observed in basic skills scores including proficient use of monitoring platforms, formulation and revision of standard operating procedures (SOPs), independent completion of targeted surveillance, guidance on basic infection control skills, guidance for key departments, and follow-up of personnel with occupational exposure (all P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found in scores of professional knowledge and personal qualities (P>0.05). ConclusionThere are certain differences in professional competency between full-time and part-time personnel of the nosocomial infection control administration in Shanghai in terms of fundamental cognition and basic skills. Part-time personnel can effectively improve their professional competency through systematic training on basic infection control knowledge and practical skills, thereby comprehensively enhancing the overall quality of the nosocomial infection administration team.
3.An Attention-weighted Tri-modal Ultrasound Network (TUS-Net) for Screening of Atypical Hepatocellular Carcinoma From LR-M Liver Nodules
He-Chong ZHANG ; Liang-Hui HUANG ; Xue-Hua WANG ; Shang-Lin JIANG ; Ying-Ying CHEN ; Ya-Guang ZENG ; Wei ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1485-1498
ObjectiveDiscriminating atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other malignancies in liver nodules classified as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System category M (LR-M) remains a significant diagnostic challenge on conventional ultrasound examination. The LR-M category, originally intended to capture non-HCC malignancies, paradoxically contains up to 63% of atypical HCCs that deviate from classic enhancement patterns, leading to potential misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment planning. While deep learning has shown promise in HCC diagnosis, most existing models rely exclusively on single-modality ultrasound, overlooking the diagnostic benefits of integrating complementary information from multiple imaging sources. To address this gap, we propose a novel attention-weighted tri-modal ultrasound network (TUS-Net) that integrates contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), B-mode ultrasound (BUS), and time-intensity curves (TICs) to improve diagnostic accuracy for these clinically challenging lesions. MethodsOur framework incorporates a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (C3D) backbone to extract spatiotemporal features from CEUS videos, capturing dynamic vascular patterns critical for lesion characterization. To effectively fuse complementary modalities, we introduce a dual-channel feature fusion module (DCFFM) that adaptively combines features from CEUS and BUS through channel-wise attention mechanisms, allowing the model to dynamically weigh the contribution of each modality based on diagnostic relevance. Additionally, we propose a temporal intensity feature fusion module (TIFFM) that leverages quantitative hemodynamic information from TICs to guide the model’s attention toward diagnostically critical temporal phases, such as arterial wash-in and portal venous washout. The model is further enhanced by automated lesion localization using YOLOX and class activation mapping for interpretability, ensuring that predictions align with clinically meaningful imaging features. ResultsEvaluated on a tri-modal ultrasound dataset comprising 161 patients with pathologically confirmed LR-M nodules (131 atypical HCC and 30 non-HCC malignancies), our model achieved an accuracy of 86.83%, a sensitivity of 92.50%, a specificity of 75.50%, and an AUC of 89.32% in screening atypical HCC. Compared to single-modality baselines, TUS-Net demonstrated superior specificity, a clinically critical metric given the higher risk associated with misclassifying non-HCC malignancies. Ablation studies confirmed the contribution of each module, with the full model outperforming both standard C3D and 3D ResNet backbones integrated with attention mechanisms. A reader study involving junior and senior radiologists further validated the clinical utility of AI assistance, showing consistent improvements in specificity and inter-reader consistency, particularly for less experienced clinicians. ConclusionThese results surpass existing benchmark models and demonstrate the potential of our approach to enhance diagnostic precision in clinically specific cases. By intelligently fusing multi-modal ultrasound data with attention-guided mechanisms, TUS-Net offers a reliable and interpretable tool that holds promise for improving the non-invasive diagnosis of atypical HCC in challenging LR-M liver nodules.
4.Analysis of risk factors for cardiovascular events and construction of a nomogram prediction model in patients undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis
Xinyuan ZHOU ; Yuxin JIANG ; Xiaoxia WANG ; Xiangjie YANG ; Runzhe ZHOU ; Yuqing MENG ; Dingxin ZHANG ; Jin ZHANG ; Ying WANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):748-757
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for long-term cardiovascular events in patients undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD), and to construct and validate a visual nomogram prediction model based on multiple parameters. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted, consecutively enrolling 248 maintenance PD patients (dialysis duration ≥ 3 months). Demographic characteristics, clinical indicators, laboratory parameters, and echocardiographic indices (including left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e’), etc.) were collected. The composite endpoint was defined as the occurrence of cardiovascular events or cardiovascular death, with non-cardiovascular death as the competing risk and loss to follow-up or the end of follow-up as censoring events. Fine-Gray competing risks model was used to screen independent predictors, based on which a nomogram model was constructed. Internal validation was performed using the Bootstrap method (1 000 resamplings), and the concordance index (C-index) and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (time-dependent ROC) curve were calculated to evaluate the model performance. ResultsWith a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range: 24–35 months), 88 patients (35.48%) reached the composite endpoint, including 80 cases of cardiovascular events and 8 cases of cardiovascular death, and 4 patients died of non-cardiovascular causes. Multivariate Fine-Gray analysis revealed that age, diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin (HGB) level and E/e' ratio were independent influencing factors of the composite endpoint. Specifically, each 1-year increase in age was associated with a 3.0% increase in the risk of the composite endpoint (HR=1.030, P=0.006); patients with diabetes mellitus had a 167.9% higher risk compared with non-diabetic patients (HR=2.679, P=0.007); each 1g/L increase in HGB level contributed to a 1.5% reduction in the risk (HR=0.985, P=0.003); and each 0.1 increase in E/e' ratio led to a 7.2% increase in the risk (HR=1.072, P=0.045). The nomogram model had a C-index of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.698–0.820), and the AUC of the time-dependent ROC curve reached 0.849 at 23 months of follow-up. ConclusionIncreased age, complicated with diabetes mellitus, decreased HGB, and elevated E/e' ratio are independent risk factors of long-term occurrence of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death in patients undergoing long-term PD. The nomogram model constructed based on the above variables has good predictive value and clinical applicability, which can provide a reference for cardiovascular risk stratification and individualized intervention in long-term PD patients.
5.Evaluation of CARIFS Score and Negative Antigen Conversion Rate of Qingxuan Daozhi Formula in Treatment of Influenza in Children (Heat Accumulation in Lung and Stomach Syndrome):A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Jing WANG ; Liqun WU ; Tiegang LIU ; Yongning CAO ; Jing QIU ; Jing LI ; Huaqing TAN ; Ying ZHANG ; Xulei GOU ; Jia WANG ; Jing LI ; Haipeng CHEN ; Xueying QIN ; Yuanshuo TIAN ; Yang WANG ; Chen BAI ; Zhendong WANG ; Qianqian LI ; He YU ; Xueyan MA ; Fei DONG ; Lin JIANG ; Yingqi XU ; Jianping LIU ; Xiaohong GU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):188-196
ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome). MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design,confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals,such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days,and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale (CARIFS) and the incidence of complications,severe cases, and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment,48 hours after medication,72 hours after medication, and (6+1) d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (90 cases) or the control group (90 cases). All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was (5.29±1.25) d,and that in the control group was (5.40±1.68) d,without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention,52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative,without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention,there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions, including headache,muscle soreness, and the need for extra care (P<0.05). On the (6+1) days after the intervention,the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions, including sore throat,bad sleep,uncomfortable feeling,poor spirit and fatigue,crying more than usual,the need for extra care,symptom,function,influence on parents,and total score (P<0.05). The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom, function, and influence on parents,as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time,scores of both groups decreased significantly,with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention,the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up,the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group,with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications,severe cases, and critical cases, there were no complications,severe cases, and critical cases in the two groups,without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome) are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules, and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome).
6.Systematic review of predictive models for delayed graft function after kidney transplantation
Qimeng ZHU ; Wei JIANG ; Ying CHEN ; Danfeng TANG ; Yi XU ; Jian SHI
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(3):495-502
Objective To systematically review the studies on predictive models for delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplantation. Methods Databases including China Biology Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched to collect studies on predictive models for DGF after kidney transplantation published from the establishment of each database to June 29, 2025. Two researchers screened the literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of the literatures using the prediction model risk of bias assessment tool (PROBAST), and conducted a meta-analysis of the common predictors of the models using R software. Results A total of 12 literatures were included, involving 14 predictive models with sample sizes ranging from 103 to 24 653 cases. Donor serum creatinine level, cold ischemia time, donor age and donor body mass index were the top four common predictors. All the predictive models were at high risk of bias and low in applicability. The results of meta-analysis showed that abnormal donor body mass index, advanced donor age, prolonged cold ischemia time and elevated donor serum creatinine level were all associated with an increased risk of DGF after transplantation (all P<0.01), but there was high heterogeneity among the studies. Fixed-effect model and random-effect model were used to re-pool the effect sizes separately. The results indicated that the fixed-effect model and random-effect model had good consistency in terms of donor body mass index, donor age and cold ischemia time, while there was a significant difference in the effect sizes of the two models for donor serum creatinine level. Conclusions The predictive models for DGF risk after kidney transplantation have good predictive performance, but the overall risk of bias is high. In the future, large-sample, multicenter and high-quality prospective clinical studies should be carried out to optimize the predictive models, so as to improve their predictive ability and clinical application value.
7.Mechanistic study of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside in improving nephrotic syndrome via regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 pathway
Yifan TAO ; Chundong SONG ; Xu WANG ; Chong ZHANG ; Ying SU ; Xidong JIA ; Haoran JIANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(5):602-606
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside (TWM) on nephrotic syndrome in rats. METHODS The nephrotic syndrome model was established by intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein. The modeling rats were randomly divided into the model group (distilled water), prednisone group (10 mg/kg), and TWM high- and low-dose groups (10 and 5 mg/kg, respectively). Additionally, blank group (distilled water) without model induction was established. Each group consisted of 9 rats. Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or distilled water by gavage, once a day, for 6 consecutive weeks. The histopathological morphology of kidney tissues in rats was observed; the levels of 24-hour urinary protein (24 h-UTP) and serum biochemical indicators [albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglyceride (TG)] in rats were determined; the levels of oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)] in kidney tissue of rats were determined; expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/microRNA-155-5p (miR-155-5p)/nuclear factor erythriod 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway-related mRNA and protein in the renal tissues of rats were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group, the rats in the model group exhibited disordered renal tissue structure, with a small amount of glomerular necrosis and edema of the renal tubular epithelial cells. 24 h-UTP, serum levels of SCr, BUN, CHOL and TG, MDA content, mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α and Keap1 as well as the expression of miR-155-5p in renal tissues were increased significantly ( P <0.05). Serum level of ALB, SOD level in renal tissue as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 were decreased significantly ( P <0.05). Compared with the model group, TWM high-dose and low-dose groups exhibited significant improvements in renal injury, with notable reversals in the levels of the above quantitative indicators ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS TWM can alleviate oxidative stress-induced damage and thereby improve nephrotic syndrome in rats by regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
8.Ethics first: the primary requirements of scientific and technological ethical governance
Zhenliang LI ; Hongying LI ; Hui JIANG ; Ying ZHANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(1):29-35
Ethical review represents the core of the scientific and technological ethical governance, and its quality depends on the participation of ethics. The absence of ethics and ethical experts will compromise the quality of the review. According to the spirit of the Guidelines on Strengthening the Governance over Ethics in Science and Technology, this paper analyzed the process of separating scientific and technological ethics from the field of scientific research morality, clarified the ethical attributes of ethical review, and argued that scientific research and technological innovation activities originated from ethics. On this basis, the fundamental principle of “ethics first” was proposed, aiming to proactively embed ethical considerations throughout the entire process of scientific and technological activities. This principle was the primary requirement for ensuring governance effectiveness and can also eliminate the risk of ethics being obscured in ethical governance. In practice, “ethics first” manifested specifically in dimensions such as prioritizing academic systems, prioritizing publicity, education, and training, as well as further advancing ethical considerations.
9.Research progress of fibrillin-1 in ophthalmic diseases
Longjiao SUN ; Wenjun JIANG ; Ying WEN
International Eye Science 2026;26(4):641-645
Fibrillin-1(FBN1)is a large-sized, cysteine-rich, calcium-binding extracellular matrix glycoprotein encoded by the FBN1 gene. As a structural component of microfibrils, this protein is widely distributed in the connective tissues of various ocular structures, including the zonules of Zinn, trabecular meshwork, cornea, retina, and its microvessels, providing mechanical support. Studies have shown that mutations in the FBN1 gene, resulting in decreased protein expression, significantly disrupt microfibril assembly and TGF-β-mediated signaling pathways. These pathogenic mechanisms are strongly linked to the development of key ocular disorders, such as lens dislocation, glaucoma, keratoconus, and retinal vascular diseases. This review summarizes and discusses the clinical manifestations and molecular mechanisms of FBN1-related ophthalmic conditions, with the aim of elucidating their pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies while laying molecular foundations for the development of novel targeted therapies.
10.Mechanism of action of luteolin in treatment of liver injury
Ying JIANG ; Ning GAO ; Xiaxuan WANG ; Jie GONG ; Lili LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):472-478
Liver injury has become an increasingly serious global health problem, and existing chemical drugs face the limitations in efficacy and adverse reactions, resulting in the urgent need to develop safe and effective drugs. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of flavonoids from natural medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of liver injury. As a typical natural flavonoid, luteolin shows a good protective effect against liver injury due to various etiologies, but there is still a lack of systematic elaboration on its mechanism of action. This article summarizes related research advances in China and globally and reviews the mechanism of action of luteolin in inhibiting oxidative stress, exerting an anti-inflammatory effect, regulating cell death, alleviating hepatic fibrosis, modulating lipid metabolism disorders, and regulating the gut-liver axis, as well as the application prospect of luteolin in the treatment of liver injury, in order to provide a scientific reference for further research on this compound.

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