1.Clinical application of minimally invasive mitral valvuloplasty in patients with infective endocarditis complicated with mitral valve insufficiency
Yubin ZHONG ; Yunqing SHI ; Quanlin YANG ; Songyi QIAN ; Limin XIA ; Kai SONG ; Sun PAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):778-783
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) in the treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) with mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent MVP for IE with MR at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from 2016 to 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical incision: those with a right mini-thoracotomy were classified as a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group, and those with a median sternotomy (MS) were classified as an MS group. All patients had isolated mitral valve involvement. Perioperative data were analyzed, and mid- to long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 86 patients were included, with 40 in the MIS group [22 males and 18 females, with a mean age of (39.78±15.36) years ranging from 14 to 75 years] and 46 in the MS group [27 males and 19 females, with a mean age of (49.94±16.13) years ranging from 14 to 71 years]. The patients in the MIS group were relatively younger (P=0.004) with better preoperative cardiac function (P=0.004). There was no statistical difference in preoperative fever, gender, or comorbidities between the two groups (P>0.05). The MIS group had shorter postoperative ventilation times, less postoperative 24-hour drainage, less blood transfusion, and shorter total hospital stays compared to the MS group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in cardiopulmonary bypass times or ICU stays between the two groups (P>0.05). The perioperative complication rates and mortality rates were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). Follow-up was conducted for 11-92 months, with a mean duration of (49±19) months and an overall follow-up rate of 91.9%. During the follow-up, 3 patients in each group required reoperation for mitral valve issues, with no statistical difference in incidence (7.5% vs. 6.5%, P=0.691). There were no warfarin-related complications, recurrences, or deaths in either group during follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis identified age, preoperative cardiac function, and surgeon experience as influencing factors for the choice of surgical approach. Conclusion Minimally invasive MVP for IE with MR is relatively safe in the perioperative period and shows significant efficacy, with clear mid- to long-term outcomes. It is recommended for younger patients with better preoperative cardiac function and when performed by surgeons with extensive experience in mitral valvuloplasty.
2.Mechanism of Yishen Qubi Tongluo Formula (益肾祛痹通络方) in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis:Based on Network Pharmacology,Molecular Docking and Experimental Verification
Liuping XU ; Canyu YANG ; Ying LU ; Lisha MO ; Qiang CHI ; Yuan XIA ; Shuijuan LIU ; Mingliang QIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):557-566
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Yishen Qubi Tongluo Formula (益肾祛痹通络方, YQTF) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to retrieve and screen the active components and potential targets of YQTF as well as RA-related targets using databases including TCMSP, BATMAN, ETCM and GEO. The intersection of targets related to active components and RA-related targets was identified, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed, and a drug-active component-common target network of YQTF in the treatment of RA was established. The core components of YQTF were molecularly docked with key targets. Human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast cell line MH7A was divided into blank group, model group, methotrexate group and YQTF group. The blank group was cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum, while the other three groups were stimulated with 10 μg/L of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for 24 h to establish the RA cell model. On this basis, the methotrexate group was treated with methotrexate suspension at a concentration of 20 μmol/L, and the YQTF group was treated with 10% YQTF-medicated serum. After 48 h of intervention, the levels of TNF-α and interleukin-17A(IL-17A)contents in cell supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and mRNA expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). ResultsNetwork pharmacological analysis identified 209 active components and 583 potential target genes of YQTF, as well as 818 RA-related targets. A total of 29 common targets were obtained from the intersection of drug-related targets and RA-related targets. Quercetin,β-sitosterol, kaempferol, stigmasterol and luteolin were the core active components of YQTF for the treatment of RA, while matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor protein p53 (TP53) and transcription factor AP-1 subunit JUN were the key targets. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the involved biological processes and pathways were mainly associated with antioxidant responses, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that MMP9 and PTGS2 exhibited high binding affinities with quercetin, β-sitosterol, kaempferol, stigmasterol and luteolin; TLR4 exhibited high binding activities with β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and luteolin; and TP53 showed high binding affinity with luteolin. The results of cell experiments showed that compared with the control group, the contents of TNF-α and IL-17A as well as the mRNA expressions of AKT and mTOR in the model group significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, all the above indicators significantly decreased in the YQTF group, while the contents of TNF-α and the mRNA expression of AKT significantly decreased in the methotrexate group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionThe mechanism of YQTF in the treatment of RA may be associated with reducing inflammatory cytokine secretion and inhibiting the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway.
3.Effect of medical-community linkage model on psychological status and motor function in community-dwelling patients with stroke
Yuhong GU ; Jinxiu DUAN ; Mingyang XUE ; Jie YANG ; Xia WU ; Hua LIU ; Yufang GAO ; Menghui ZHANG ; Caide YE
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(5):597-603
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of the medical-community linkage model on activities of daily living, psychological status and motor function of stroke patients in the community. MethodsA total of 60 stroke patients admitted to two community health service centers and their affiliated stations in Fengtai District, Beijing, from January, 2024 to August, 2025 were enrolled and randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and intervention group (n = 30). The control group received routine medicine, dietary care and rehabilitation management, while the intervention group underwent rehabilitation with the medical-community linkage model, for twelve weeks. They were assessed with modified Barthel Index (MBI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after intervention. ResultsAfter intervention, the MBI, HAMA, HAMD and FMA scores of patients improved in both groups (|t| > 5.599, P < 0.001), and improved more in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05), except MBI. The HAMA and HAMD scores of family members decreased in both groups (|t| > 10.333, P < 0.001), and decreased more in the intervention group than in the control group (t > 5.681, P < 0.001). ConclusionThe medical-community linkage model can further improve the motor function of stroke patients in community, as well as the psychological status of both patients and their family members.
4.Study on The Effect and Mechanism of Luteolin Against Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Xia OU ; Zhao-Hong LIU ; Lei TANG ; Jian-Ming XIA ; Kai YANG ; Kai-Yi DING ; Guo-Yang LIAO ; Ze LIU ; Ji-Hong ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1207-1223
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) activity of luteolin and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MethodsLuteolin was identified as the primary active compound from the polyphenol extract ofF. diotrys using network pharmacology. Its efficacy was evaluated against two MP strains: the standard strain M129 and the multidrug-resistant strain M19. A modified culture medium with visual characteristics was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luteolin. The expression of key proteins involved in MP growth and pathogenicity was assessed by qRT-PCR following luteolin treatment. Additionally, the viability of A549 cells infected with MP was compared between luteolin-treated and untreated groups. In vivo anti-MP activity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues was analyzed. ResultsLuteolin effectively inhibited both MP strains, with MIC90 values of 100 mg/L for M19 and M129. Treatment with luteolin significantly downregulated the expression of adhesion proteins P1 and P30 in both strains. However, the expression of P65, HMW3, TrmB, and CARDS TX was reduced only in the M19 strain following luteolin intervention. Luteolin also enhanced the growth and viability of A549 cells infected with MP. In the mouse model, luteolin treatment resulted in steady weight gain and was well tolerated. The bacteriostatic rate of luteolin in lung tissues was 50.7%, significantly higher than the 25.2% observed in the roxithromycin group. Furthermore, luteolin reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1, in MP-infected mice. ConclusionLuteolin effectively and safely inhibits the proliferation and pathogenicity of MP, particularly the drug-resistant M19 strain, by downregulating the expression of toxicity-associated proteins (P1, P30, P65, HMW3, TrmB, CARDS TX) and modulating host inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that luteolin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating MP infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains.
5.Assessment of ochratoxin A exposure in the diets of pregnant women in Shanghai
Kailin LI ; Renjie QI ; Hua CAI ; Xia SONG ; Jingjin YANG ; Danping QIU ; Zhenni ZHU ; Yi HE ; Baozhang LUO ; Hong LIU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(3):181-186
ObjectiveTo investigate the contamination status of ochratoxin A (OTA) in commercially available food products in Shanghai, and to assess OTA exposure levels and the associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks among pregnant women by integrating dietary consumption data of this population. MethodsThe levels of OTA contamination in 1 520 food samples collected in Shanghai from 2022 to 2023 were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. An exposure assessment model was developed based on the dietary consumption levels of pregnant women from the 2016‒2017 Shanghai Pregnant Women Dietary Monitoring Survey to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of OTA, the margin of exposure for non-carcinogenic toxicity (MOE1), and the margin of exposure for carcinogenic toxicity (MOE2). An MOE1 greater than 200 and an MOE2 greater than 10 000 indicate that the non-carcinogenic toxicity and carcinogenic toxicity resulting from exposure are negligible, respectively. For samples with OTA contamination levels below the limit of detection (LOD), which accounted for more than 80% of the samples, the OTA levels were assigned values of 0 and LOD, respectively, for subsequent calculations. ResultsThe detection rates of OTA in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and alcohol samples collected in 2022 were 2.03%, 0, 0, and 0, respectively. The OTA detection rates in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and alcohol samples collected in 2023 were 2.50%, 0.39%, 2.47%, 1.67%, and 13.33%, respectively. For pregnant women in Shanghai in 2022, simulation results indicated that when assigning a value of 0 and the LOD, theP50 values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.05 and 0.72 ng·(kg·d)-1, respectively, and the P95 values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.25 and 2.40 ng·(kg·d)-1, respectively. For pregnant women in Shanghai in 2023, the P50 values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.04 and 1.00 ng·(kg·d)-1, respectively, and the P95 values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.23 and 2.67 ng·(kg·d)-1, respectively, both substantially below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for OTA [17 ng·(kg·d)-1]. The EDI for dietary OTA exposure in 100.0% of Shanghai pregnant women was lower than the TDI, indicating an overall low level of dietary OTA exposure among this population. For 100.0% of pregnant women, the MOE₁ for dietary OTA exposure exceeded 200. When assigned a value of 0, the MOE₂ for 100.0% of pregnant women in both 2022 and 2023 exceeded10 000. When assigned the LOD value, 72.3% and 81.8% of pregnant women in 2022 and 2023, respectively, had an MOE₂ exceeding 10 000. ConclusionFrom 2022 to 2023, samples of cereals, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and alcohol sold in Shanghai exhibited varying degrees of OTA contamination. The overall EDI of OTA exposure among pregnant women in Shanghai remained at a low level. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with OTA exposure were generally low and at controllable levels.
6.Study on The Effect and Mechanism of Luteolin Against Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Xia OU ; Zhao-Hong LIU ; Lei TANG ; Jian-Ming XIA ; Kai YANG ; Kai-Yi DING ; Guo-Yang LIAO ; Ze LIU ; Ji-Hong ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1207-1223
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) activity of luteolin and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MethodsLuteolin was identified as the primary active compound from the polyphenol extract ofF. diotrys using network pharmacology. Its efficacy was evaluated against two MP strains: the standard strain M129 and the multidrug-resistant strain M19. A modified culture medium with visual characteristics was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luteolin. The expression of key proteins involved in MP growth and pathogenicity was assessed by qRT-PCR following luteolin treatment. Additionally, the viability of A549 cells infected with MP was compared between luteolin-treated and untreated groups. In vivo anti-MP activity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues was analyzed. ResultsLuteolin effectively inhibited both MP strains, with MIC90 values of 100 mg/L for M19 and M129. Treatment with luteolin significantly downregulated the expression of adhesion proteins P1 and P30 in both strains. However, the expression of P65, HMW3, TrmB, and CARDS TX was reduced only in the M19 strain following luteolin intervention. Luteolin also enhanced the growth and viability of A549 cells infected with MP. In the mouse model, luteolin treatment resulted in steady weight gain and was well tolerated. The bacteriostatic rate of luteolin in lung tissues was 50.7%, significantly higher than the 25.2% observed in the roxithromycin group. Furthermore, luteolin reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1, in MP-infected mice. ConclusionLuteolin effectively and safely inhibits the proliferation and pathogenicity of MP, particularly the drug-resistant M19 strain, by downregulating the expression of toxicity-associated proteins (P1, P30, P65, HMW3, TrmB, CARDS TX) and modulating host inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that luteolin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating MP infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains.
7.Discussion on the Role of Ferroptosis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease from the Perspective of "Qi Deficiency with Retention and Stagnation"
Yuchen GAO ; Hongyu ZHU ; Heyue XIA ; Dian ZENG ; Cheng YANG ; Jiabing TONG ; Zegeng LI ; Qinjun YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(11):1167-1172
Ferroptosis is a key driver of the onset and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By exploring the role of ferroptosis in COPD from the perspective of "qi deficiency with retention and stagnation", it is considered that mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalanced antioxidant defenses are the microscopic manifestations of "qi deficiency", whereas iron accumulation and lipid peroxide deposition constitute the pathological basis of "retention and stagnation". In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the treatment principle is tonifying deficiency and benefiting qi, scattering retention and unblocking stagnation. Its mechanism involves improving the antioxidant system and mitochondrial function to enhance cellular resistance to ferroptosis, as well as relieving pulmonary iron overload, excessive lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory factor release to reduce the accumulation of pathological products, thereby exerting therapeutic effects on COPD.
8.Mechanism of Erchentang Improving Obesity in Mice by Inducing Browning of White Adipose Tissue Based on AMPK/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway
Jiawei CHEN ; Maohui LIU ; Zhida YANG ; Weijun DING ; Xiuwen XIA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):11-19
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the mechanism by which Erchentang improves body weight in obese mice by regulating the AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ coactivator‑1α (PGC‑1α) signaling pathway and inducing browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). MethodsObese mouse models were established by feeding a high‑fat diet. After successful modeling, mice were randomly divided into a model group and low‑, medium‑, and high‑dose Erchentang groups (7.5, 15, 30 g·kg-1), with six mice in each group. Another six normal mice were set as the normal group. Mice in the treatment groups were administered with corresponding doses of the drug by gavage, while those in the normal and model groups were administered with an equal volume of pure water by gavage for four consecutive weeks. Obesity was evaluated by body weight and Lee's index. The levels of low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‑C) and high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‑C) in serum were detected by biochemical assays. The leptin content in serum was measured by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of the liver and iWAT. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to detect the protein expression levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in the liver and iWAT. Molecular docking was performed to simulate the binding affinity between the key components of Erchentang (nobiletin, diosmetin, naringenin) and the key pathway proteins AMPK and PGC‑1α. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of uncoupling protein‑1 (UCP‑1), AMPK, phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p‑AMPK), and PGC‑1α in iWAT. ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the mice in the model group showed significantly increased body weight and Lee's index, elevated levels of HDL‑C, LDL‑C, and leptin in serum, enlarged adipocytes in iWAT, down‑regulated protein expression levels of GLUT4 in iWAT and liver, and decreased protein expression levels of UCP‑1 and PGC‑1α in iWAT(P<0.05, P<0.01), the expression level of p-AMPK / AMPK protein was up-regulated, but the difference was not statistically significant. Compared with those in the model group, the mice in the Erchentang groups with different doses exhibited significantly reduced body weight and Lee's index, decreased levels of HDL‑C, LDL‑C, and leptin in serum, smaller adipocytes in iWAT, up‑regulated GLUT4 protein expression levels in iWAT and liver, and increased protein expression levels of UCP‑1, p‑AMPK/AMPK, and PGC‑1α in iWAT (P<0.05, P<0.01). Molecular docking results show that nobiletin, diosmetin, and naringenin have strong binding energies with both AMPK and PGC‑1α. ConclusionErchentang may improve body weight in obese mice by regulating the AMPK/PGC‑1α signaling pathway and inducing iWAT browning.
9.The establishment of diagnosis and treatment subjects and systematic construction of the department of transfusion medicine in China: current status, challenges, and prospects
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(5):571-579
As a vital component of clinical medicine, transfusion medicine was officially recognized as a secondary clinical discipline (code 320.32) in 2016 through Amendment No. 2 to the national standard GB/T 13745-2009 Classification and Code of Disciplines. However, the current Catalogue of Diagnosis and Treatment Subjects for Medical Institutions has not yet established "Transfusion Medicine" as a formal subject. This omission has left transfusion departments in medical institutions across the country without a legitimate basis for clinical practice, creating an institutional dilemma in which departments bear statutory responsibilities and operate as substantive clinical units yet lack a corresponding diagnosis and treatment subject. This predicament severely constrains legal compliance in clinical practice, the development of the disciplinary workforce, education and training, research and innovation, and the enhancement of clinical service capacity. This article systematically reviews the necessity, policy basis, and disciplinary framework for establishing transfusion medicine as a formal diagnosis and treatment subject, aiming to provide evidence-based references for the National Health Commission to revise the Catalogue of Diagnosis and Treatment Subjects for Medical Institutions, and to promote the comprehensive transformation of China's transfusion medicine from a "blood storage and distribution" model toward a "clinically engaged, therapy-oriented" paradigm.
10.Impacts of combined exposure to PM2.5 and cold spells on non-accidental mortality in Zigong City from 2016 to 2021
Yizhang XIA ; Wei HUANG ; Yang LI ; Yuquan CHEN ; Jie ZHANG ; Haili REN ; Qinglan HUANG ; Xi CHEN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(1):35-42
Background Amid global climate change, extreme environmental events are occurring more frequently, and it is imperative to investigate the impacts of combined exposure to fine particluate matter (PM2.5) and cold spells (CS) on population mortality. Objective To analyze the association between sequential extreme PM2.5-cold spell (EP-CS) events and non-accidental mortality among residents in Zigong City from 2016 to 2021. Methods Using time-series study design, meteorological data in Zigong were collected from the Zigong Meteorological Bureau for the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021, while daily non-accidental mortality data were obtained from the mortality surveillance system of the Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We adopted the percentile method to define extreme PM2.5 events and cold spells. We analyzed the risk effect of EP-CS events on non-accidental mortality among residents in this city and explored the potential amplification of damage resulting from different patterns of consecutive extreme events by using distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM). We also conducted stratified analyses based on age, gender, education level, and marital status. Results The EP-CS events demonstrated a significant impact on non-accidental mortality among the local residents, exhibiting a certain lagged effect. The effects on the overall residents lasted from lag0 (RR=1.030, 95%CI: 1.013, 1.048) to lag14 (RR=1.035, 95%CI: 1.019, 1.052). Notably, the effects were more pronounced among females, individuals aged 65 years and above, and those who were never married, divorced, or widowed. Different patterns of EP-CS events all associated with adverse effects, the health impact of EP-CS events was significantly greater than that of individual PM2.5 pollution or CS events. The analysis of lag effects across different event patterns revealed that the overall effect of EP-CS events with shorter intervals (0–7 d) had a stronger effect compared to EP-CS with longer intervals (8–14 d), and the RR values of lag14 were 1.034 (95%CI: 1.015, 1.054) and 1.017 (95%CI: 1.007, 1.027), suggesting that the damaging effect of compound events occurring in the short term was more significant. Conclusion All sequential extreme EP-CS events have an impact on non-accidental mortality among residents in this city, with compound events demonstrating a stronger effect. Females, individuals aged ≥65 years, and those who were never married, divorced, or widowed are more sensitive to EP-CS events.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail