1.Research progress on the effects of processing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Morinda officinalis
Na BAI ; Tianyi FU ; Yale MA ; Chen WANG ; Hongwei LI ; Kai LI ; Le KANG ; Mengyun LIU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1778-1783
Morinda officinalis is one of the “Four Great Southern Medicines” and is commonly used in clinical practice to treat erectile dysfunction and nocturnal emissions caused by kidney yang deficiency, uterine cold infertility, menstrual disorders, low abdominal pain, rheumatism, and muscle and bone weakness. Based on the principle of “treating raw and cooked differently”, this article summarizes the effects of different processing methods on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of M. officinalis . Research has found that processing can affect the content and structure of sugars, iridoids, and anthraquinones in M. officinalis , thereby regulating its pharmacological effects such as anti-osteoporosis, immune regulation, anti-fatigue, and anti-depression. Among them, salt M. officinalis shows outstanding performance in anti-osteoporosis and enhancing immunity. Although previous studies have preliminarily elucidated the major chemical constituents of M. officinalis and their pharmacological characteristics, the dynamic transformation paths of constituents during the processing remain to be further clarified, especially the es tablishment of a quality marker system associated with the processing technology, to achieve the precision and intelligent development of the processing.
2.Imaging Measurement of the Safe Distances of Acupuncture at Fengfu (GV 16) in Children Aged 4 to 8 Based on CT Three-Dimensional Reconstruction
Kun LI ; Tianyi WANG ; Xing WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Peng WU ; Yang YANG ; Yunteng HAO ; Hailong ZHAO ; Yuan MA ; Shaojie ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1523-1527
ObjectiveTo measure the distance from the surface of Fengfu (GV 16) to the deep important bony structures in children aged 4 to 8 years based on CT three-dimensional reconstruction technology, thereby providing imaging reference data for clinical acupuncture safe operations in terms of different age groups and needle insertion angles. MethodsCervical CT image data were collected from healthy children aged 4 to 8 years with five age groups (4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-year-old groups), 20 cases in each group. The images were imported into Mimics 21.0 software for three-dimensional reconstruction. The straight-line distances from the skin model surface of the Fengfu (GV 16) to the first underlying bony barrier (such as the lower edge of the occipital bone, the posterior arch of the atlas vertebra) were measured at intervals of 5° on both the transverse section (0° ± 35°) and the sagittal section (40° upward to 40° downward on the diagonal). The correlation between the measured distance, age, and angle was analyzed. ResultsIn the transverse and sagittal sections, the measured distance from the skin surface to the underlying bone of Fengfu (GV 16) at each angle increased with age. In the transverse section, the increase was relatively small within the 0° to 20° angle range, whereas a more pronounced increase was observed when the angle exceeded 20°; at measurement angles of 30° to 35°, the distance of the skin surface to the bone at Fengfu (GV 16) in the 7- and 8-year-old groups was significantly greater than that in the 4-year-old group (P<0.05). In the sagittal section, the measured distance from the skin surface to the bone at Fengfu (GV 16) was shortest and changed greatly at oblique upward angles of 15° to 40° within each age group, and increased markedly at near-vertical angles of 0° to 10°; it was longest at oblique downward angles of -40° to -5° and showed relatively gradual changes. ConclusionThis study obtained the imaging distance data from Fengfu (GV 16) to the surrounding bony structures in children aged 4 to 8 years through three-dimensional modeling, finding that this distance has clear age and angle dependence, which can provide quantitative evidence for developing individualized and precise safe acupuncture schemes at Fengfu (GV 16) in pediatric clinical practice.
3.Imaging Measurement of the Safe Distances of Acupuncture at Fengfu (GV 16) in Children Aged 4 to 8 Based on CT Three-Dimensional Reconstruction
Kun LI ; Tianyi WANG ; Xing WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Peng WU ; Yang YANG ; Yunteng HAO ; Hailong ZHAO ; Yuan MA ; Shaojie ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1523-1527
ObjectiveTo measure the distance from the surface of Fengfu (GV 16) to the deep important bony structures in children aged 4 to 8 years based on CT three-dimensional reconstruction technology, thereby providing imaging reference data for clinical acupuncture safe operations in terms of different age groups and needle insertion angles. MethodsCervical CT image data were collected from healthy children aged 4 to 8 years with five age groups (4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-year-old groups), 20 cases in each group. The images were imported into Mimics 21.0 software for three-dimensional reconstruction. The straight-line distances from the skin model surface of the Fengfu (GV 16) to the first underlying bony barrier (such as the lower edge of the occipital bone, the posterior arch of the atlas vertebra) were measured at intervals of 5° on both the transverse section (0° ± 35°) and the sagittal section (40° upward to 40° downward on the diagonal). The correlation between the measured distance, age, and angle was analyzed. ResultsIn the transverse and sagittal sections, the measured distance from the skin surface to the underlying bone of Fengfu (GV 16) at each angle increased with age. In the transverse section, the increase was relatively small within the 0° to 20° angle range, whereas a more pronounced increase was observed when the angle exceeded 20°; at measurement angles of 30° to 35°, the distance of the skin surface to the bone at Fengfu (GV 16) in the 7- and 8-year-old groups was significantly greater than that in the 4-year-old group (P<0.05). In the sagittal section, the measured distance from the skin surface to the bone at Fengfu (GV 16) was shortest and changed greatly at oblique upward angles of 15° to 40° within each age group, and increased markedly at near-vertical angles of 0° to 10°; it was longest at oblique downward angles of -40° to -5° and showed relatively gradual changes. ConclusionThis study obtained the imaging distance data from Fengfu (GV 16) to the surrounding bony structures in children aged 4 to 8 years through three-dimensional modeling, finding that this distance has clear age and angle dependence, which can provide quantitative evidence for developing individualized and precise safe acupuncture schemes at Fengfu (GV 16) in pediatric clinical practice.
4.Research progress on the effects of processing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Morinda officinalis
Na BAI ; Tianyi FU ; Yale MA ; Chen WANG ; Hongwei LI ; Kai LI ; Le KANG ; Mengyun LIU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1778-1783
Morinda officinalis is one of the “Four Great Southern Medicines” and is commonly used in clinical practice to treat erectile dysfunction and nocturnal emissions caused by kidney yang deficiency, uterine cold infertility, menstrual disorders, low abdominal pain, rheumatism, and muscle and bone weakness. Based on the principle of “treating raw and cooked differently”, this article summarizes the effects of different processing methods on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of M. officinalis . Research has found that processing can affect the content and structure of sugars, iridoids, and anthraquinones in M. officinalis , thereby regulating its pharmacological effects such as anti-osteoporosis, immune regulation, anti-fatigue, and anti-depression. Among them, salt M. officinalis shows outstanding performance in anti-osteoporosis and enhancing immunity. Although previous studies have preliminarily elucidated the major chemical constituents of M. officinalis and their pharmacological characteristics, the dynamic transformation paths of constituents during the processing remain to be further clarified, especially the es tablishment of a quality marker system associated with the processing technology, to achieve the precision and intelligent development of the processing.
5.Construction and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Model for Inflammatory Remission Outcome of Bushen Zhiwang Decoction(补肾治尪汤)in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Liver and Kidney Deficiency Syndrome
Zihan WANG ; Xiaojing LIU ; Yanyu CHEN ; Tianyi LAN ; Huilan YANG ; Hongwei YU ; Qingwen TAO ; Yuan XU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):523-533
ObjectiveTo construct and validate a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome treated with Bushen Zhiwang Decoction (补肾治尪汤, BZD) based on metabolomics. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted, enrol-ling 60 RA patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome. All patients were treated with BZD and conventional-dose oral conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for 12 months. Clinical data were collected, and the change in disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) after treatment compared with baseline (△DAS28) was used as the primary outcome and grouping criterion. Peripheral blood samples were collected before treatment to analyze plasma metabolites. Differential analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to preliminarily screen differential metabolites, followed by machine learning algorithms to further identify a core metabolite combination. Based on the expression levels of the core metabolite combination, a novel metabolite index, namely the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score (Met-IRS), was calculated using standar-dized metabolite values, and its clinical applicability was evaluated. A clinical prediction model was constructed by integrating clinical characteristics and Met-IRS, and the model performance was assessed. ResultsAmong the 60 patients, those with △DAS28 ≥ 0.27 were assigned to the high inflammatory remission group, while those with △DAS28 < 0.27 were assigned to the low inflammatory remission group, with 30 cases in each group. Compared to the low inflammatory remission group, the high inflammatory remission group showed a higher frequency of methotrexate use and a lower positive rate of rheumatoid factor (RF) (P<0.05). Seven core metabolites were identified as the optimal combination, including mangiferic acid, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 40∶6, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 18∶0, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 36∶1, glucosylceramide, lysophosphatidylcholine 22∶5, and pregnanetriol ketone. The calculated Met-IRS comprehensively reflected the characteristics of differential metabolites and demonstrated clinical applicability. Met-IRS was significantly higher in the high inflammatory remission group than in the low inflammatory remission group, and was positively correlated with high inflammatory remission outcomes (P<0.05). Based on the variables Met-IRS, methotrexate use, leflunomide use, and RF positivity, a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission in RA treatment (Cj-RTRM) was constructed. Model performance evaluation demonstrated that the model had good clinical predictive ability, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.880, sensitivity 0.967, specificity 0.700 and Youden's index 0.667. ConclusionThe clinical prediction model Cj-RTRM constructed based on the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score Met-IRS can effectively predict clinical inflammatory remission outcomes in RA patients treated with BZD and accurately identify the advantageous population for this treatment. This model provides guiding evidence for dynamic inflammation monitoring, targeted management, and identification of populations with advantages in traditional Chinese medicine.
6.Quantitative Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI for Diagnosing Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Activity: A Prospective Feasibility Study
YunMeng WANG ; WeiYi ZHOU ; YuanYuan CUI ; JianKun DAI ; YuXin CHENG ; QingQing WEN ; TianYi XING ; HongBiao SUN ; Song JIANG ; MeiLing XU ; ZhenHuan WANG ; Yan SONG ; Tuo LI ; Yi XIAO
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(2):161-173
Objective:
This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for assessing disease activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Materials and Methods:
A total of 88 patients with active TAO, 76 with inactive TAO, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. CEST MRI-derived magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and MTR asymmetry (MTRasym) at 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 3.5 ppm were calculated. Clinical data, MTR, and MTRasym values for the extraocular muscles (one representative muscle per eye, yielding two measurements per participant) were compared among the groups. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine associations between imaging parameters and the clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with TAO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations between imaging parameters and disease activity in patients with TAO (active vs. inactive). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance for discriminating active from inactive TAO.
Results:
Patients with active TAO showed lower MTR values (P < 0.001) and higher MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (all P < 0.001) compared with those with inactive TAO. MTR was negatively correlated with CAS (r = -0.402; P < 0.001), while MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were positively correlated with CAS (r = 0.369, 0.350, and 0.349, respectively;all P < 0.001). MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) in discriminating active from inactive TAO were 0.772 and 0.730, respectively. Combining MTR with MTRasym (1 ppm) significantly improved diagnostic performance compared with either parameter alone, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (P = 0.029 and 0.001).
Conclusion
MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. Their combination further enhanced diagnostic performance in distinguishing active from inactive TAO, suggesting their potential as quantitative imaging biomarkers to guide treatment in patients with TAO.
7.Construction and Evaluation of Mouse Models Simulating Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Pneumonitis
Zhiqun GONG ; Xiwu RAO ; Tianyi ZHANG ; Rongchen WU ; Mingnan YE ; Chunxi JIANG ; Sumei WANG ; Yanjuan ZHU ; Xiaoshu CHAI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(4):498-506
ObjectiveTo construct and evaluate a mouse model that simulates the pathological progression of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated pneumonitis (CIP), in order to address the critical issue of the lack of standardized animal models in this research field. MethodsThirty-five SPF-grade 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a control group (n=5), a bleomycin (BLM) group (n=15), and a BLM+programmed death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody (BLM+PD-1) group (n=15). Corresponding drugs were administered via intraperitoneal injection for intervention. The general condition, body weight changes, survival rate, and pulmonary histopathological alterations were systematically monitored. ResultsCompared with the BLM group, the BLM+PD-1 group exhibited significantly more severe pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by progressive body weight loss and more severe deterioration of general conditions. Histopathological examination showed that pulmonary inflammation was alleviated 4 weeks post-modeling in the BLM group. In contrast, pulmonary lesions continued to worsen in the BLM+PD-1 group, with no evidence of resolution of inflammation 28 days post-modeling. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the positive expression rate of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in lung tissues reached 34.28% in the BLM+PD-1 group 14 days post-modeling, which was markedly higher than that in the BLM group (24.02%, P < 0.000 1). The positive expression rate of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was 12.40% in the BLM+PD-1 group 14 days post-modeling, nearly twice the level in the BLM group (5.87%). 28 days post-modeling, the positive expression rate of α-SMA remained at 7.72% in the BLM+PD-1 group, while it declined to 3.38% in the BLM group. ConclusionThe addition of a PD-1 inhibitor to bleomycin treatment accelerates the progression of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and effectively recapitulates the pathological process of lung injury and fibrosis driven by aberrant immune activation during clinical immunotherapy. Accordingly, this study successfully establishes a dynamic CIP animal model recapitulating the progression from early inflammatory response to pulmonary fibrosis. This model addresses the critical shortage of animal models for this condition and offers an experimental platform for further mechanistic studies and the development of therapeutic strategies.
8.Comparison of influencing mechanisms of accessible facility utilization behavior in eastern and central-western China
Heqi SUN ; Jun LÜ ; Xiaohong LI ; Tianyi CHEN ; Kedi WANG ; Fanlei KONG ; Gang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(10):1216-1226
ObjectiveTo examine the influencing mechanisms and regional differences in accessible facility utilization behavior among residents in eastern and central-western China. MethodsData were collected through the online questionnaire administered to residents across China using snowball sampling. Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests were conducted to compare the basic characteristics of respondents between the two regions. Welch's t test was used to compare accessible facility utilization behavior and its influencing factors. Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to compare the influencing mechanisms of accessible facility utilization behavior between eastern and central-western China. ResultsA total of 1 039 valid responses were obtained, including 604 from the eastern region and 435 from the central-western region. Residents in eastern regions scored significantly higher than those in central-western regions on both facility-seeking (t = 4.057, P < 0.001) and actual-using (t = 4.551, P < 0.001) behavior. The structural equation models for both regions showed identical and satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices (GFI = 0.950, AGFI = 0.932, IFI = 0.947, CFI = 0.947, RMSEA = 0.028), and all measurement and structural invariance tests met the recommended criteria. Facility configuration showed no significant direct effect on utilization behavior in eastern China, whereas a negative direct effect was observed in central-western China (β = -0.171, P = 0.047), with its influence mainly exerted indirectly through social cognition and user experience. Social cognition and user experience had significant positive effects on utilization behavior (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, social cognition indirectly influences utilization behavior through the mediating path of usage experience. The direct effects of social cognition (β = 0.406) and user experience (β = 0.510) in central-western China were greater than those in eastern China (β = 0.369 and β = 0.335, respectively). The chain mediation effect of "configuration-cognition-experience-behavior" was statistically significant in both regions (P < 0.05), with larger indirect effects observed in central-western China. ConclusionFacility configuration has a limited direct effect on accessible facility utilization, whereas social cognition and user experience play a central role, particularly in central-western China. It is recommended that the construction and renovation of accessible facility be guided by population needs, accompanied by strengthened promotion of accessibility concepts and policies, and that a transition from hardware-oriented construction to service- and management-oriented governance of accessible environments should be promoted in central-western China.
9.Comorbidity patterns between thyroid dysfunction and other common cardiometabolic diseases
Xianhui RAN ; Na WANG ; Tianyi ZHAO ; Gang CHEN ; Xiao MA
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2025;19(7):487-492
Objective:To analyze the comorbidity patterns between thyroid dysfunction and other common cardiometabolic diseases.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 93 967 participants aged 18 years or older who underwent thyroid function tests at the Health Checkup Center of China-Japan Friendship Hospital between 2017 and 2024 were included. The comorbidity patterns between thyroid dysfunction and six common cardiometabolic diseases of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were described systematicly. The logistic regression models was used to analyze the association between thyroid dysfunction and these cardiometabolic diseases.Results:The detection rates of subclinical hyperthyroidism, overt hyperthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism in those participants was 1.9%, 0.9%, 3.7% and 1.1%, respectively. The proportion of the paticipants with subclinical hyperthyroidism, overt hyperthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism who had at least one comorbid cardiometabolic disease was 67.5%, 64.8%, 73.5%, and 77.6%, respectively; the proportion of those participants with two or more concurrent cardiometabolic diseases was 38.6%, 36.7%, 42.8%, and 47.5%, respectively; and the proportion with three or more concurrent cardiometabolic diseases was 19.0%, 18.1%, 22.9%, and 27.5%, respectively. After adjusting for age and gender, the participants with overt hypothyroidism (≥2 comorbidities: OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.5-1.9;≥3 comorbidities: OR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.5-2.1) or subclinical hypothyroidism (≥2 comorbidities: OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.2-1.4;≥3 comorbidities: OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.2-1.4) had a significantly higher risk of multiple cardiometabolic diseases when compared with euthyroid individuals. Analysis of comorbidity patterns revealed that individuals with overt hyperthyroidism ( OR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.0-3.1) and subclinical hyperthyroidism ( OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.0-2.2) had a significantly higher risk of the “NAFLD+hypertension” comorbidity complex when compared with euthyroid individuals. Similarly, individuals with overt hypothyroidism ( OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.3) and subclinical hypothyroidism ( OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.5) had a significantly higher risk of the “dyslipidemia+NAFLD+hyperuricemia” comorbidity complex when compared with euthyroid individuals. Conclusion:Individuals with thyroid dysfunction exhibit a high prevalence of comorbid cardiometabolic diseases, highlighting the need for future research on integrated management strategies for multimorbidity in this population.
10.Finite element analysis of treatment for Sanders type IIB intra-articular calcaneal fracture by percutaneous screws
Yixuan CHEN ; Jiachen WU ; Chang LIU ; Tianyi WU ; Shang GUO ; Jiangyu CAI ; Ting WANG ; Mingjie TANG ; Zhongmin SHI ; Xin MA
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(19):1241-1250
Objective:To evaluate the stability of percutaneous screw fixation for minimally invasive treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures using three-dimensional finite element analysis.Methods:CT scan was performed on the calcaneus of a normal adult for three-dimensional reconstruction. The DICOM data were imported into Mimics software to establish a model of a Sanders type IIB intra-articular calcaneal fracture. Based on the Essex-Lopresti classification of posterior facet morphology, the model was subdivided into two subtypes: tongue-type and depression-type. The calcaneus was divided into four fragments: sustentaculum tali, posterior tuberosity, anterior process (three points), and posterior articular surface (one surface). Two types of fixation methods, classical lateral anatomical plates and combinations of percutaneous screws, were simulated and performed. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was conducted by applying a stress combination of 420 N on the posterior subtalar articular surface, 200 N on the middle subtalar articular surface, and 300 N at the Achilles tendon insertion point. The maximum displacement and von Mises stress values of each bone fragment and implant were recorded to evaluate the biomechanical stability. For clinical validation, 34 patients with Sanders type IIB calcaneal fractures from Orthopedics Department of the Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University were treated with percutaneous reduction and screw fixation using the following configurations.Results:Under simulated stress, the A4 group with medial support screws in the tongue-type fracture subgroup demonstrated minimal overall calcaneal displacement (0.22 mm) and internal fixation displacement (0.14 mm). For the depression-type, the B2 group with medial support screws showed lower maximum stress in the calcaneus and internal fixation, at 22.04 MPa and 41.14 MPa, respectively, along with the lowest overall displacement (0.14 mm). The peak stress of all groups of implants remained below the material yield strength. The A4 and B2 protocols were applied to 15 cases of tongue-type calcaneal fractures and 19 cases of collapse-type calcaneal fractures. At the final follow-up The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score scale was 86.1±5.82 and 87.2±5.18, respectively, while the visual analog scale for pain was 1.60±1.24 and 1.58±1.02, respectively.Conclusions:Percutaneous screw fixation provided reliable stability for Sanders type IIB calcaneal fractures. The fixation configuration incorporating a medial support screw offers superior biomechanical performance in both tongue-type and depression-type fractures, representing an optimized minimally invasive technique with strong clinical applicability.

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