1.Experts consensus on appropriate technologies for three-generation family cohort study
NI Saili ; TANG Jinling ; SHU Qiang ; ZHU Shankuan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):1-9
Establishing a three-generation family cohort enables the investigation of the effects of genetic, epigenetic, lifestyle, and parenting factors in the grandparental (F0) and parental (F1) generations on the growth, development, and disease onset and progression of the offspring (F2). It facilitates further exploration of the biological mechanisms underlying the impact of intergenerational factors on the health of the offspring (F2), providing evidence for the formulation of public health policies and measures related to child health management and infant and young child care. Currently, the development of multi-generational cohorts in China remains in a preliminary stage, with no systematic multi-generational research framework yet established. Drawing on prior evidence-based scientific research, existing cohort studies, and the practical experience of multidisciplinary experts in maternal and child health, this consensus defines the scope of three-generation family cohorts regarding their definition, significance, key technologies, and application scenarios. It provides technical recommendations for establishing relevant cohorts, aiming to support research areas such as the intergenerational transmission of childhood diseases, the maternal intrauterine environment, and the tracing of family rearing environments. This will facilitate the early prevention and control of diseases manifesting in childhood and adulthood, ultimately promoting the comprehensive and healthy development of children.
2.Application advances, ethical dilemmas, and future directions of large language models in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment
Zhizhen REN ; Yufan XI ; Xu ZHU ; Yijie LUO ; Geting HUANG ; Junqiao SONG ; Xiuyuan XU ; Nan CHEN ; Qiang PU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(03):353-362
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Coupled with the substantial workload, the clinical management of lung cancer is challenged by the critical need to efficiently and accurately process increasingly complex medical information. In recent years, large language models (LLMs) technology has undergone explosive development, demonstrating unique advantages in handling complex medical data by leveraging its powerful natural language processing capabilities, and its application value in the field of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment is continuously increasing. The paper systematically analyzes that the exceptional potential of LLMs in lung cancer auxiliary diagnosis, tumor feature extraction, automatic staging, progression/outcome analysis, treatment recommendations, medical documentation generation, and patient education. However, they face critical technical and ethical challenges including inconsistent performance in complex integrated decision-making (e.g., TNM staging, personalized treatment suggestions) and "black box" opacity issues, along with dilemmas such as training data biases, model hallucinations, data privacy concerns, and cross-lingual adaptation challenges ("data colonization"). Future directions should prioritize constructing high-quality multimodal corpora specific to lung cancer, developing interpretable and compliant specialized models, and achieving seamless integration with existing clinical workflows. Through dual drivers of technological innovation and ethical standardization, LLMs should be prudently advanced for holistic lung cancer management processes, ultimately promoting efficient, standardized, and personalized diagnosis and treatment practices.
3.Ameliorative effects of Imperatae Rhizoma extract against doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury and its molecular mechanisms
Huan LUO ; Qiang WANG ; Youjun ZHU ; Chunrong TAO ; Yang MAO ; Defeng LI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(12):1559-1566
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effects of Imperatae Rhizoma (RI) extract against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial injury and its potential molecular mechanisms. METHODS Network pharmacology was employed to screen for target overlap between the predicted core targets of RI’s active components and targets associated with myocardial injury, followed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Based on the network pharmacology results, a DOX-induced myocardial injury mouse model was established using male C57BL/6J mice to observe the effects of RI extract [1 g/(kg·d)] on the survival rate, body weight, and cardiac damage. A DOX-injured HL-1 cardiomyocyte model was established to assess the effects of different mass concentrations of RI extract (50, 100, 200 μg/mL) on mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, apoptosis, and expression of the relevant target proteins. The mechanism was validated by transfecting with small interfering RNA of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1). RESULTS A total of 58 overlapping targets were screened, which were enriched in biological processes such as hormone response and hypoxia response, as well as pathways including apoptosis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and pyruvate metabolism. Key target proteins, such as ESR1, were also identified. Animal experiments confirmed that the survival rate of mice in the DOX+RI group was obviously higher than that in the DOX group, with a slower rate of weight loss and improved pathological changes, such as cardiac atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration, compared to the DOX group. Cell experiments showed that, compared with the DOX group, the DOX+RI groups exhibited significantly increased or upregulated mitochondrial membrane potential, relative ATP levels, and mRNA expressions of isocitrate dehydrogenase 3A (IDH3A), succinate dehydrogenase A (SDHA) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), as well as mRNA and protein expressions of ESR1; conversely, relative ROS levels and apoptosis rates were significantly reduced ( P <0.05). Following ESR1 knockdown, the anti-apoptotic effect of the RI extract on cardiomyocytes was significantly attenuated ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The RI extract may alleviate DOX-induced myocardial injury by activating the ESR1 signaling pathway, improving mitochondrial function, and inhibiting excessive ROS production and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
4.Incidence and influencing factors of major low anterior resection syndrome within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer patients
Minjing SHEN ; Chunxia REN ; Lin SUN ; Lei LIU ; Yaodong ZHU ; Qiang ZHOU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(5):914-922
ObjectiveTo explore the incidence of major low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and to analyze its associated factors. MethodsClinical records, postoperative rehabilitation data and LARS scores were collected from 889 patients at 3 months postoperatively and from 844 patients at 6 months postoperatively. Patients were divided into a major LARS group and a non-major LARS group. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with major LARS at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, and the predictive value of the models was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). ResultsAmong patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer, 247 patients (27.8%) had major LARS at 3 months postoperatively and 181 patients (21.4%) at 6 months postoperatively. Multivariable Logistic regression showed that Kegel exercises, preoperative radiotherapy, anastomotic leakage, a tumor distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm, and an anastomotic distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm were independent factors for major LARS at 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, occasional Kegel exercises during 0~3 months, Kegel exercises during 4~6 months, hydrotherapy during 4~6 months, preoperative chemotherapy, a tumor distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm, and an anastomotic distance from the anal verge of ≤5 cm were independent factors (P<0.05). The models at 3 and 6 months postoperatively showed goodness-of-fit test P values of 0.986 and 0.517 and area under the curve (AUCs) of 0.843 and 0.870, indicating good predictive value. ConclusionThe incidence of major LARS within six months after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer is relatively high, and greater attention should be paid to patients who receive preoperative chemoradiotherapy, develop anastomotic leakage, or have tumor and anastomotic distances from the anal verge of ≤5 cm. Patients should also be advised that early postoperative Kegel exercises and hydrotherapy may reduce the incidence of major LARS.
5.Non-small cell lung cancer with BRAF mutation treated with neoadjuvant targeted therapy followed by surgery: A case report
Yingze NING ; Chutong LIN ; Xiang ZHU ; Guangliang QIANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(07):1149-1152
This study reports a case of a 56-year-old female patient with BRAF-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who successfully underwent radical surgery after neoadjuvant targeted therapy with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib combined with the MEK inhibitor trametinib. The chest drainage tube was removed 2 days postoperatively, and the patient was discharged smoothly. Postoperative pathology indicated invasive adenocarcinoma, moderately to highly differentiated, with 80% being lepidic type, and the maximum tumor diameter was 4 cm. No vascular tumor thrombus, vascular invasion, nerve invasion, spread through air spaces, pleural invasion, or lymph node metastasis were observed. The postoperative staging was ypT2aN0M0. The patient continued with adjuvant treatment with dabrafenib combined with trametinib postoperatively, and no signs of recurrence were found in the follow-up examination six months after surgery.
6.Application value of simplified diagnosis and treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis C in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus co-infection
Ying CAI ; Zhibin YANG ; Yang LUO ; Cong WANG ; Yongfen ZHU ; Ze LI ; Rusong YANG ; Qiang WU ; Wenbin DONG ; Shifu LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(6):1287-1293
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of simplified diagnosis and treatment strategies and regimens in the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection. MethodsThis multicenter prospective real-world study was conducted among 198 patients with HIV/HCV co-infection who received hepatitis C treatment in 10 designated primary hospitals for hepatitis C in Yuxi, China from July 2023 to June 2024, and according to whether genotype detection was performed, they were divided into genotype detection group with 122 patients and non-genotype detection group with 76 patients. The patients were observed in terms of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12), safety, and liver biochemical parameters. Propensity score matching was used to match the two cohorts, using caliper matching (caliper value = 0.02) at a ratio of 1∶1. The independent-samples t test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsAmong the 122 patients in the genotype detection group, 63.11% (77/122) had genotype 3, while the non-genotype detection group had 76 patients; both groups achieved an SVR12 rate of 100%. From baseline to 12 weeks after treatment, both groups had a significant increase in the serum level of albumin, significant reductions in the serum levels of total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alpha-fetoprotein, and a significant reduction in FibroScan value (all P<0.05). A total of 54 patients (27.27%) experienced at least one adverse reaction, and anemia was the most common adverse reaction (38 patients, 19.19%), with an incidence rate of 50.00% (33/66) in patients with liver cirrhosis. HIV viral load remained <50 IU/mL before and after treatment, and there was no significant change in CD4+ T lymphocyte count after treatment (Z=-0.969, P=0.202). Compared with the genotype detection group, the non-genotype detection group had a significantly shorter time from positive HCV RNA testing to treatment initiation (4±2 days vs 19±4 days, t=5.321, P<0.05) and significantly lower testing costs (618±97 yuan vs 789±129 yuan, t=3.661, P<0.05). ConclusionFor patients with HIV/HCV co-infection, the simplified diagnosis and treatment strategies can achieve a relatively high SVR12 rate, improve biochemical indicators, and effectively reduce time cost and economic burden, with a favorable safety profile.
7.Prognostic value of quantitative flow ratio measured immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.
Zheng QIAO ; Zhang-Yu LIN ; Qian-Qian LIU ; Rui ZHANG ; Chang-Dong GUAN ; Sheng YUAN ; Tong-Qiang ZOU ; Xiao-Hui BIAN ; Li-Hua XIE ; Cheng-Gang ZHU ; Hao-Yu WANG ; Guo-Feng GAO ; Ke-Fei DOU
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(4):433-442
BACKGROUND:
The clinical impact of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) quantitative flow ratio (QFR) in patients treated with PCI for chronic total occlusion (CTO) was still undetermined.
METHODS:
All CTO vessels treated with successful anatomical PCI in patients from PANDA III trial were retrospectively measured for post-PCI QFR. The primary outcome was 2-year vessel-oriented composite endpoints (VOCEs, composite of target vessel-related cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was conducted to identify optimal cutoff value of post-PCI QFR for predicting the 2-year VOCEs, and all vessels were stratified by this optimal cutoff value. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI.
RESULTS:
Among 428 CTO vessels treated with PCI, 353 vessels (82.5%) were analyzable for post-PCI QFR. 31 VOCEs (8.7%) occurred at 2 years. Mean value of post-PCI QFR was 0.92 ± 0.13. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis shown the optimal cutoff value of post-PCI QFR for predicting 2-year VOCEs was 0.91. The incidence of 2-year VOCEs in the vessel with post-PCI QFR < 0.91 (n = 91) was significantly higher compared with the vessels with post-PCI QFR ≥ 0.91 (n = 262) (22.0% vs. 4.2%, HR = 4.98, 95% CI: 2.32-10.70).
CONCLUSIONS
Higher post-PCI QFR values were associated with improved prognosis in the PCI practice for coronary CTO. Achieving functionally optimal PCI results (post-PCI QFR value ≥ 0.91) tends to get better prognosis for patients with CTO lesions.
8.Gentiopicroside Alleviates Atherosclerosis by Suppressing Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Vascular Endothelial Cells via SIRT1/Nrf2 Pathway.
Zhu-Qing LI ; Feng ZHANG ; Qi LI ; Li WANG ; Xiao-Qiang SUN ; Chao LI ; Xue-Mei YIN ; Chun-Lei LIU ; Yan-Xin WANG ; Xiao-Yu DU ; Cheng-Zhi LU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(2):118-130
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the protective effects of gentiopicroside (GPS) against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in endothelial cells, aiming to reduce atherosclerosis.
METHODS:
Eight-week-old male ApoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10 per group): the vehicle group and the GPS treatment group. Both groups were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. GPS (40 mg/kg per day) was administered by oral gavage to the GPS group, while the vehicle group received an equivalent volume of the vehicle solution. At the end of the treatment, blood and aortic tissues were collected for assessments of atherosclerosis, lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and molecular expressions related to NLRP3 inflammasome activation, ROS production, and apoptosis. Additionally, in vitro experiments on human aortic endothelial cells treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were conducted to evaluate the effects of GPS on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and ROS production, specifically examining the role of the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. SIRT1 and Nrf2 inhibitors were used to confirm the pathway's role.
RESULTS:
GPS treatment significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesions in the en face aorta (P<0.01), as well as in the thoracic and abdominal aortic regions, and markedly decreased sinus lesions within the aortic root (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, GPS reduced oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-18, in lesion areas (P<0.05, P<0.01). In vitro, GPS inhibited ox-LDL-induced NLRP3 activation, as evidenced by reduced NLRP3 (P<0.01), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, cleaved-caspase-1, and cleaved-gasdermin D expressions (all P<0.01). GPS also decreased ROS production, apoptosis, and pyroptosis, with the beneficial effects being significantly reversed by SIRT1 or Nrf2 inhibitors.
CONCLUSION
GPS exerts an antiatherogenic effect by inhibiting ROS-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
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Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
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Iridoid Glucosides/therapeutic use*
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
;
Animals
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Atherosclerosis/metabolism*
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Inflammasomes/drug effects*
;
Male
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Sirtuin 1/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Endothelial Cells/pathology*
;
Mice
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Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Lipoproteins, LDL
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
9.Shuangshi Tonglin Capsule Improves Prostate Fibrosis through Nrf2/TGF-β1 Signaling Pathways.
Zi-Qiang WANG ; Peng MAO ; Bao-An WANG ; Qi GUO ; Hang LIU ; Yong YUAN ; Chuan WANG ; Ji-Ping LIU ; Xing-Mei ZHU ; Hao WEI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(6):518-528
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect and mechanism of Shuangshi Tonglin Capsules (SSTL) in the treatment of prostate fibrosis (PF).
METHODS:
Human prostate stromal cells (WPMY-1) were used for in vitro experiments to establish PF cell models induced with estradiol (E2). The cell proliferation, migration and clonogenic capacity were determined by cell counting kit-8, scratch assay, and crystal violet staining, respectively. Sprague-Dawley rats were used for in vivo experiments. The changes in histomorphology and organ index of rat prostate by SSTL were determined. Pathologic changes and collagen deposition changes in rat prostate were observed by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to determine changes in rat PF markers fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), E2 and prostate specific antigen (PSA). Mechanistically, changes in oxidative stress indicators by SSTL were determined in WPMY-1 cells and PF rats. Then the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad pathway-related proteins as well as Nrf2 and TGF-β1 mRNA were further detected by Western blot or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction both in vivo and in vitro.
RESULTS:
In the efficacy study, SSTL significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and clonogenic ability of cells, improved the morphology of the glandular tissue, significantly reduced the prostate index, reduced glandular fibrous tissue and collagen deposition, and resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of FGF-23, E2 and PSA (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the mechanistic study, SSTL ameliorated oxidative stress by significantly increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels and decreasing malondialdehyde level in WPMY-1 cells and rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05). SSTL significantly elevated the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1), and Smad7 proteins in both cells and rats, and significantly decreased the expressions of TGF-β1, collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin and Smad4 proteins (P<0.01 or P<0.05). SSTL also elevated the content of Nrf2 mRNA and decreased the content of TGF-β1 mRNA in cells and rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 was added in in vitro experiments to further validate the pathway relevance.
CONCLUSION
SSTL was effective in improving PF in vivo and in vitro, and its mechanism of action may function through the Nrf2/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
Male
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Humans
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Fibrosis
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Prostate/drug effects*
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Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
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Capsules
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Cell Movement/drug effects*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Rats
10.Celastrol directly targets LRP1 to inhibit fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk and ameliorates psoriasis progression.
Yuyu ZHU ; Lixin ZHAO ; Wei YAN ; Hongyue MA ; Wanjun ZHAO ; Jiao QU ; Wei ZHENG ; Chenyang ZHANG ; Haojie DU ; Meng YU ; Ning WAN ; Hui YE ; Yicheng XIE ; Bowen KE ; Qiang XU ; Haiyan SUN ; Yang SUN ; Zijun OUYANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):876-891
Psoriasis is an incurable chronic inflammatory disease that requires new interventions. Here, we found that fibroblasts exacerbate psoriasis progression by promoting macrophage recruitment via CCL2 secretion by single-cell multi-omics analysis. The natural small molecule celastrol was screened to interfere with the secretion of CCL2 by fibroblasts and improve the psoriasis-like symptoms in both murine and cynomolgus monkey models. Mechanistically, celastrol directly bound to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) β-chain and abolished its binding to the transcription factor c-Jun in the nucleus, which in turn inhibited CCL2 production by skin fibroblasts, blocked fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and ameliorated psoriasis progression. Notably, fibroblast-specific LRP1 knockout mice exhibited a significant reduction in psoriasis like inflammation. Taken together, from clinical samples and combined with various mouse models, we revealed the pathogenesis of psoriasis from the perspective of fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and provided a foundation for LRP1 as a novel potential target for psoriasis treatment.


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