1.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Intervertebral disc rehydration after posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation
Peng WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Shaojie ZHANG ; Yimin WU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):711-720
BACKGROUND:With the development of the concept of minimally invasive surgery,lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation has become the mainstream operation for the treatment of diseases caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.OBJECTIVE:To review the latest progress of lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases and postoperative intervertebral disc rehydration.METHODS:The relevant literature published in CNKI,WanFang,and PubMed databases from 2010 to 2025 was searched with the Chinese and English search terms"lumbar spine,dynamic internal fixation,intervertebral disc degeneration,Coflex system,Dynesys system,In-space system,PercuDyn system,intervertebral disc rehydration,crushing stress."By reading the articles,we eliminated the literature with little relevance to the article topic,poor quality and outdated content,and finally 65 articles were included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Although the main surgical method for the treatment of disc degeneration is still the traditional open surgical method of implantation,posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation has made great progress.(2)Posterior lumbar dynamic fixation can be divided into open dynamic fixation system and percutaneous dynamic fixation system.Each system can be divided into interspinous dynamic internal fixation system and pedicle dynamic internal fixation system according to the different fixation positions.According to the design of specific instruments and the differences of operation methods in the surgery,different operation methods have been derived.At present,the focus of research at home and abroad is on open dynamic internal fixation system.(3)Under the premise that the clinical effect of posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation is better than that of traditional interbody fusion surgery,it can cause the rehydration phenomenon of postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc,and further improve the long-term postoperative efficacy of patients.
3.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
4.Intervertebral disc rehydration after posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation
Peng WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Shaojie ZHANG ; Yimin WU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):711-720
BACKGROUND:With the development of the concept of minimally invasive surgery,lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation has become the mainstream operation for the treatment of diseases caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.OBJECTIVE:To review the latest progress of lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases and postoperative intervertebral disc rehydration.METHODS:The relevant literature published in CNKI,WanFang,and PubMed databases from 2010 to 2025 was searched with the Chinese and English search terms"lumbar spine,dynamic internal fixation,intervertebral disc degeneration,Coflex system,Dynesys system,In-space system,PercuDyn system,intervertebral disc rehydration,crushing stress."By reading the articles,we eliminated the literature with little relevance to the article topic,poor quality and outdated content,and finally 65 articles were included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Although the main surgical method for the treatment of disc degeneration is still the traditional open surgical method of implantation,posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation has made great progress.(2)Posterior lumbar dynamic fixation can be divided into open dynamic fixation system and percutaneous dynamic fixation system.Each system can be divided into interspinous dynamic internal fixation system and pedicle dynamic internal fixation system according to the different fixation positions.According to the design of specific instruments and the differences of operation methods in the surgery,different operation methods have been derived.At present,the focus of research at home and abroad is on open dynamic internal fixation system.(3)Under the premise that the clinical effect of posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation is better than that of traditional interbody fusion surgery,it can cause the rehydration phenomenon of postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc,and further improve the long-term postoperative efficacy of patients.
5.Research Progress on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Flap Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Jiwei ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Xinshan WANG ; Xingzhang YAO ; Zhenxing JIANG ; Zhijun HE ; Tao LIU ; Jianliang LI ; Hui YAO ; Jie AN ; Qiuyue ZHAO ; Xiaotao WEI ; M Rayan GHAZI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):851-861
Flap transplantation is a critical surgical strategy for the reconstruction of tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, and congenital malformations, and its survival rate directly determines surgical efficacy and patient prognosis. Following transplantation, flaps inevitably undergo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, during which oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and metabolic disturbances are intricately intertwined, ultimately leading to cellular injury and tissue necrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple forms of programmed cell death—including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis—play central roles in flap I/R injury. The extensive crosstalk and molecular interactions among these pathways form a highly complex cell death network. Specifically, apoptosis is mediated by the imbalance of Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease (caspase) cascades; pyroptosis is driven by the NLRP3-caspase-1-GSDMD axis, resulting in membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; ferroptosis is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); necroptosis is triggered by the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-RIPK3-MLKL signaling complex, leading to membrane rupture; and PANoptosis represents an integrated form of inflammatory cell death that coordinates multiple death pathways. Importantly, these forms of programmed cell death are not independent but are interconnected through extensive signaling crosstalk. Key regulatory molecules, including caspase-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), collectively modulate the dynamic balance among these pathways. Therefore, the multidimensional interplay and spatiotemporal dynamics of programmed cell death constitute a fundamental pathological basis of flap I/R injury. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in the mechanisms and interactions of various programmed cell death pathways in flap I/R injury, aiming to elucidate the underlying regulatory network. These insights may provide novel theoretical foundations for optimizing flap protection strategies, improving flap survival, and promoting tissue repair.
6.Mechanisms and current applications of mechanical forces in cranial bone defect repair
Bingcheng DU ; Qi CHEN ; Yu WANG ; Zhijun ZHAO
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(5):961-968
Cranial bone defect repair remains a significant challenge in craniomaxillofacial surgery, particularly when defects exceed the critical size defect (CSD) threshold, rendering them incapable of spontaneous healing without external intervention. Mechanical forces—including compression, tension, and shear stress—play a pivotal role in cranial development and regeneration. These forces regulate osteoblast differentiation and bone regeneration by activating key mechanotransduction pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the piezoelectric mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1, and the transcriptional co-activators Yes-associated protein (Yes-Associated Protein,YAP) and Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif,TAZ). Distinct types of mechanical forces exert specific effects on cellular behavior and the microenvironment. Clinically, applications such as Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) have demonstrated efficacy in promoting angiogenesis-osteogenesis coupling, while tensile forces stimulate the dura mater to secrete osteogenic factors. Preliminary studies using artificial periosteum and other biomaterials have further validated that appropriate mechanical stimulation enhances bone repair. This review summarizes the effects of various mechanical forces and their associated signaling pathways on osteoblasts and their microenvironment, alongside an overview of current technological applications in this field.
7.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.
8.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.
9.Changes in health status and management strategies for workers in a chemical enterprise under low-level multiple occupational exposure
Xueting WANG ; Jiming ZHANG ; Yulai TIAN ; Zhiping DUAN ; Wenjie LI ; Chaoye SHEN ; Dasheng LU ; Zhijun ZHOU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(6):693-701
Background Long-term occupational health surveillance facilitates the identification of chronic health risks arising from occupational hazard exposures. However, under low-level exposure conditions in chemical enterprises, traditional workplace-centered risk assessment models are insufficient to fully explain the observed health effects among workers, highlighting the need for individual-focused health management strategies that focus on the worker. Objective To characterize long-term health trends among workers in a chemical enterprise and examine the limitations of workplace hazard monitoring and health surveillance under low-level multiple exposure scenarios, thereby providing a scientific basis for more comprehensive worker health protection measures. Methods We analyzed 972 occupational health examination records collected over a 15-year period (2010–2024) from a chemical enterprise, integrating these with enterprise hazard monitoring reports and workshop air monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The annual counts and prevalences of abnormalities in liver function tests, metabolic syndrome-related indicators, and liver imaging were summarized. Temporal trends were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Time-related changes in abnormal health indicators among active workers were evaluated by generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs), adjusting for age and sex. Individual longitudinal profiles were described for nine workers with continuous 15-year records. In addition, paired comparisons of health outcomes were conducted for 81 workers with both pre-employment and periodic examinations. Results Workplace hazard monitoring indicated that airborne concentrations of major occupational contaminants including VOCs, acids and bases, dust, and physical factors were below national occupational exposure limits. However, 62 VOC species—including chlorobenzene, chloromethane, and cyclohexane—were detected in workshop air, suggesting complex mixed organic solvent exposure. From 2010 to 2015, occupational health examination records were primarily based on physicians’ qualitative assessment, yielding generally low abnormality detection rates. During 2016–2024, data collection was complete, and the prevalences of abnormalities in liver function, metabolic syndrome-related indicators, and liver imaging among active workers remained relatively high. Trend analysis indicated that only the abnormality rates of total bilirubin (TBIL) and hypertension showed statistically significant temporal trends; other indicators exhibited no significant linear changes despite high prevalences. After adjusting for age and sex, the GLMMs showed that the abnormality rates of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), TBIL, and hypertension decreased over time, whereas those of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty liver increased. In a subgroup of 9 workers with continuous 15-year follow-up data, the cumulative number of abnormal health indicators increased in several individuals after 2016. Among the 81 workers with both pre-employment and periodic records, abnormalities in total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, and fatty liver were significantly more prevalent after employment over time, whereas changes in liver function enzymes were not statistically significant. Conclusion With increasing age, workers exhibit a gradual deterioration in liver function and metabolic-related health indicators, reaching abnormality rates comparable to those reported in the general population. These findings suggest that both workplace-related and non-occupational factors jointly contribute to the observed health changes. Consequently, occupational health management should shift towards an "individual-centered" approach. Enhancing workers' health literacy, strengthening workplace health promotion, and extending occupational health services beyond the workplace are essential to comprehensively protect workers' health.
10.Mechanisms and Clinical Research Advances of Curcumin in Modulation of Hyperlipidemia
Zhijun ZENG ; Wenjie LU ; Xiaoxue MA ; Yanhua JI ; Yun TONG ; Siyu LING ; Yue ZENG ; Chao LE ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(18):325-334
Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder driven by dysregulated lipid metabolism, whose pathological progression involves multifaceted interactions across various signaling pathways, including disrupted cholesterol homeostasis, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Although existing clinical medications such as statins can effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol through single-target inhibition, significant limitations remain in comprehensively improving reverse cholesterol transport, metabolic inflammation, and coordinated regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Curcumin, the primary polyphenolic active compound derived from the traditional medicinal herb turmeric, exhibits multi-dimensional pharmacological effects including modulation of lipid metabolism, improvement of insulin sensitivity, suppression of inflammatory responses, and enhancement of antioxidant defense. This review systematically integrates the multi-target regulatory network of curcumin, elucidating its key mechanisms: Balancing the low density lipoprotein receptor/proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (LDLR/PCSK9) signaling pathway to promote reverse cholesterol transport, activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) signaling pathways to coordinate glucolipid metabolic homeostasis, remodeling the gut microbiota-bile acid axis, inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory responses, and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) antioxidant signaling pathway. Furthermore, supported by clinical research data, the review validates curcumin's therapeutic potential in reducing total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as improving vascular endothelial function and insulin sensitivity. The study highlights the multi-target regulatory properties of curcumin and discusses future clinical applications based on nano-delivery systems and personalized treatment strategies, providing a theoretical basis and novel insights for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and related metabolic disorders.

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