1.Increased risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures associated with sterol esters:evidence from IEU-GWAS and FinnGen databases
Zengjie GAO ; Xiang PU ; Lailai LI ; Yihui CHAI ; Hua HUANG ; Yu QIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1302-1310
BACKGROUND:Although previous studies have reported associations between lipids and the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures,the specific causal relationships between lipid level and osteoporotic pathological fractures remain unclear.OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the causal relationship between lipids and osteoporotic pathological fractures using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:The data for 178 lipid metabolites were obtained from the IEU-GWAS database(developed by the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol,UK,which provides extensive summary data from genome-wide association studies),while osteoporotic pathological fracture data(from 173 619 European participants)were acquired from the FinnGen database(constructed by the Finnish national gene research program,focusing on investigating relationships between genomics and health/disease in the Finnish population).Osteoporotic pathological fracture data were used as the outcome variable,with lipids serving as exposures,for the bidirectional Mendelian randomization study to evaluate the causal effects of different lipids on osteoporotic pathological fractures.The UK Biobank database was employed as a validation set by switching the outcome variable to verify the findings horizontally.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The inverse variance weighted analysis indicated that each unit increase in sterol ester(27∶1/20∶2)levels was associated with a 25.55%increase in the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures(odds ratio=1.256,95%confidence interval:1.001-1.575,P=0.049),suggesting a significant positive correlation between elevated sterol ester levels and increased fracture risk.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a significant negative association between osteoporotic pathological fractures and three types of phosphatidylcholine.Horizontal validation yielded consistent results,confirming sterol ester as a risk factor for osteoporotic pathological fractures.(2)The results indicate that sterol ester is a risk factor for osteoporotic pathological fractures,while phosphatidylcholine serves as a protective factor.These findings strengthen the evidence supporting the effect of lipids on the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures.Although the GWAS data used in this study were derived from European populations,given the broad commonality of human genetics,the results provide valuable reference significance for improving osteoporosis in Chinese populations through lipid regulation.
2.Influencing factors of significant corneal astigmatism in pterygium patients during the perioperative period
Shiru CHAI ; Xiaofen ZHENG ; Hua YU ; Zhen LI ; Yuguo KANG
International Eye Science 2026;26(4):683-686
AIM: To explore the factors associated with significant corneal astigmatism during the perioperative period in patients with pterygium. METHODS: Patients with primary pterygium presenting at Shanxi Eye Hospital between February and June 2025 were enrolled. All patients underwent medical history collection. Pre- and postoperative data were obtained using Pentacam, anterior segment photography, Image J software, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT). All patients underwent pterygium excision combined with autologous bulbar conjunctival flap transplantation under local infiltration anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients(76 eyes)with pterygium were finally enrolled(30 males, 46 females)with a mean age of 62.2±8.2 y. The mean length of corneal invasion by pterygium was 3.61±0.89 mm, the mean depth of invasion into the anterior corneal surface was 0.15±0.09 mm, and the median area of corneal invasion was 10.25(6.90, 18.75)mm2. The median preoperative corneal astigmatism was 1.50(0.70, 5.45)D. Median astigmatism was 0.8(0.40, 1.28)D at 2 wk postoperatively and 0.60(0.30, 1.15)D at 1 mo postoperatively. Patient age showed a positive correlation with preoperative astigmatism, and with residual astigmatism at 2 wk and 1 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05). The length of corneal invasion was positively correlated with preoperative astigmatism and residual astigmatism at both postoperative timepoints(P<0.01). The depth of invasion showed no significant linear correlation with astigmatism at any stage(P=0.250, 0.761, 0.686). The area of corneal invasion was positively correlated with astigmatism at all stages(P<0.01). Patients were grouped based on significant astigmatism(≥1.0 D)and non-significant astigmatism(<1.0 D), after adjusting for other variables, age(P=0.031)and the area of corneal invasion(P=0.004)were identified as risk factors for significant astigmatism. Pterygium invasion length was not significant factors(P>0.05). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis showed the highest area under the curve(AUC)for the invasion area(AUC=0.915). CONCLUSION: Significant preoperative corneal astigmatism in pterygium patients is correlated with patient age, the length of corneal invasion, and the area of invasion. The area of pterygium invasion into the cornea is the strongest predictor of significant preoperative corneal astigmatism.
3.Increased risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures associated with sterol esters:evidence from IEU-GWAS and FinnGen databases
Zengjie GAO ; Xiang PU ; Lailai LI ; Yihui CHAI ; Hua HUANG ; Yu QIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1302-1310
BACKGROUND:Although previous studies have reported associations between lipids and the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures,the specific causal relationships between lipid level and osteoporotic pathological fractures remain unclear.OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the causal relationship between lipids and osteoporotic pathological fractures using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:The data for 178 lipid metabolites were obtained from the IEU-GWAS database(developed by the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol,UK,which provides extensive summary data from genome-wide association studies),while osteoporotic pathological fracture data(from 173 619 European participants)were acquired from the FinnGen database(constructed by the Finnish national gene research program,focusing on investigating relationships between genomics and health/disease in the Finnish population).Osteoporotic pathological fracture data were used as the outcome variable,with lipids serving as exposures,for the bidirectional Mendelian randomization study to evaluate the causal effects of different lipids on osteoporotic pathological fractures.The UK Biobank database was employed as a validation set by switching the outcome variable to verify the findings horizontally.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The inverse variance weighted analysis indicated that each unit increase in sterol ester(27∶1/20∶2)levels was associated with a 25.55%increase in the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures(odds ratio=1.256,95%confidence interval:1.001-1.575,P=0.049),suggesting a significant positive correlation between elevated sterol ester levels and increased fracture risk.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a significant negative association between osteoporotic pathological fractures and three types of phosphatidylcholine.Horizontal validation yielded consistent results,confirming sterol ester as a risk factor for osteoporotic pathological fractures.(2)The results indicate that sterol ester is a risk factor for osteoporotic pathological fractures,while phosphatidylcholine serves as a protective factor.These findings strengthen the evidence supporting the effect of lipids on the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures.Although the GWAS data used in this study were derived from European populations,given the broad commonality of human genetics,the results provide valuable reference significance for improving osteoporosis in Chinese populations through lipid regulation.
4.Research progress on changes in retinal and choroidal structure and blood flow density after SMILE and FS-LASIK surgery
International Eye Science 2026;26(7):1198-1202
Femtosecond laser small-incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK)are the mainstream corneal refractive surgeries at present. With the emergence of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA), an automatic and precise analytical technique, it has been widely applied in the evaluation of retinal and choroidal diseases, and has emerged as a novel tool for exploring the impacts of corneal refractive surgery on posterior ocular segment microcirculation. This article systematically reviews the characteristics of fundus microcirculation changes after SMILE and FS-LASIK surgeries, compares the differences in microcirculatory alterations between the two procedures, analyzes the limitations of existing studies, and discusses future research directions. It provides a theoretical basis for evaluating the safety of refractive surgery and selecting individualized surgical approaches.
5.The role of bile acid dynamics in inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Si-Rui Yu ; Run Sun ; Mei-Ya Shi ; Mei Yang ; Kun Chen ; Qiong Pan ; Ling Zhao ; Ming-Yue Wu ; Jin Chai
Liver Research 2026;10(1):35-50
The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is higher among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in the general population. Emerging evidence indicates that the development of MASLD in patients with IBD may occur independently of traditional metabolic risk factors, suggesting a unique pathophysiological mechanism distinct from conventional MASLD pathways. Bile acids (BAs), which act as critical signaling molecules in enterohepatic circulation, play an essential role in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis through bidirectional gut–liver axis communication. These molecules are increasingly recognized as pivotal regulators in the progression of both MASLD and IBD. While previous studies have characterized the dynamics of BA in blood or fecal samples under both conditions, a comprehensive understanding of their metabolic profiles and the associated interactions within the gut–liver axis is still lacking. This review synthesizes current evidence from studies employing BA metabolomics to investigate IBD and MASLD. By focusing on BA signatures, we summarize conserved alterations between these two conditions and their potential mechanisms of disease progression. Our review advances understanding of BA-mediated pathways in IBD and MASLD, providing a foundation for assessing their roles in contributing to the pathogenesis of MASLD in patients with IBD.
6.Consistency analysis of macular microvascular parameters measured by three OCTA devices in patients with long-term hydroxychloroquine administration
Hong JIANG ; Xinyue YU ; Yajing HAO ; Lijing CHAI
International Eye Science 2026;26(9):1616-1622
AIM:To compare the consistency of macular microvascular parameters measured by three devices: frequency-domain optical coherence tomography angiography(FD-OCTA)with split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography(SSADA), FD-OCTA with optical microangiography(OMAG), and swept-source OCTA(SS-OCTA), in patients with long-term hydroxychloroquine(HCQ)administration for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).METHODS:This prospective study enrolled patients treated with HCQ for 5 y due to RA who visited the Department of Ophthalmology of the hospital from January 2022 to November 2025. All subjects underwent a 6 mm×6 mm macular scan with three OCTA devices in random order, with a 5-minute interval between examinations by different devices. Images of the superficial capillary plexus(SCP)and deep capillary plexus(DCP)were acquired. The following microvascular parameters were compared: foveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density(F-SCP VD), parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density(PF-SCP VD), foveal deep capillary plexus vessel density(F-DCP VD), parafoveal deep capillary plexus vessel density(PF-DCP VD), and the area of the foveal avascular zone(FAZ).RESULTS:A total of 34 female patients(68 eyes)treated with HCQ for 5 y due to RA were enrolled in this study, aged 38-58 y with a mean age of 49.3±5.05 y. Statistically significant differences were found in F-SCP VD, PF-SCP VD, F-DCP VD, PF-DCP VD, and FAZ area among measurements obtained by SS-OCTA, SSADA-based FD-OCTA, and OMAG-based FD-OCTA(all P<0.05). No statistically significant differences in all above parameters were observed between SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA(all P>0.05). FAZ areas measured by the three devices were highly positively correlated(|r|≥0.8, P<0.01). The F-SCP VD, PF-SCP VD, F-DCP VD, and PF-DCP VD values obtained by SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA were all highly positively correlated(|r|≥0.8, P<0.01). The PF-SCP VD and PF-DCP VD values measured by SS-OCTA versus SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA showed moderate positive correlations(0.5≤|r|<0.8, P<0.01). The F-SCP VD and F-DCP VD values measured by SS-OCTA versus SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA exhibited low positive correlations(0.3≤|r|<0.5, P<0.05). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement between SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA for the measurements of F-SCP VD, PF-SCP VD, F-DCP VD and PF-DCP VD. By contrast, poor agreement was observed when comparing SS-OCTA with SSADA-based FD-OCTA or OMAG-based FD-OCTA for measurements of F-SCP VD, PF-SCP VD, F-DCP VD and PF-DCP VD.Satisfactory agreement was found among the three OCTA devices for FAZ area measurements.CONCLUSION:SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA show favorable correlation and agreement in measuring macular vessel density of patients receiving HCQ, which allows cautious interchangeable use during clinical follow-up. The vessel density parameters measured by SS-OCTA were markedly different from those obtained by SSADA-based FD-OCTA and OMAG-based FD-OCTA; therefore, these devices cannot be directly interchanged.FAZ area measurements exhibit favorable inter-device agreement among the three systems, and interchangeability should be considered in the context of clinical practice.
7.Application and clinical value of multimodal AI based on fundus photography and OCT in ophthalmic diseases
International Eye Science 2026;26(10):1772-1777
In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence(AI)in ophthalmology has been continuously expanding. AI-assisted analysis of color fundus photography(CFP)and optical coherence tomography(OCT)enables the acquisition of more quantitative data on retinal vasculature, providing assistance in evaluating the systemic vascular status. Although single-modal AI systems(based solely on fundus analysis or OCT images)have achieved certain success, they are unable to simulate the comprehensive judgment process of clinicians who integrate multi-source information. Multimodal AI, which combines structural information from CFP with interlayer information from OCT, can uncover complementary features across different modalities, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy and predictive capabilities.This paper provides a systematic review of the application progress of multimodal AI based on CFP and OCT in blinding eye diseases. It outlines the technical foundations, current applications, and clinical value of multimodal AI in conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and pathological myopia. Furthermore, the challenges and future directions of multimodal AI are discussed, offering references for ophthalmologists and promoting the development of ophthalmic diagnosis and therapeutic technologies.
8.Analysis of the characteristics and influencing factors of new-onset suicidal behaviors among junior and senior high school students
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(9):1330-1334
Objective:
To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of new onset suicidal behaviors among junior and senior high school students, so as to provide evidence for early warning and intervention.
Methods:
Using a cluster sampling method, baseline data were collected from September to November 2023 among 2 379 adolescents selected from 2 junior high schools, 2 general senior high schools and 2 vocational senior high schools in Wuhan, Hubei Province, with follow up carried out from September to November 2024. Data were collected using the School Adaptation Scale, the Essential Resilience Scale, the Personal Social Support Scale, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Adolescent Life Events Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing new onset suicidal behavior among junior and senior high school students.
Results:
Among junior and senior high school students without suicide risk at baseline, 53.55% remained stable risk free during follow up, while 13.28% developed new suicidal behavior during follow up, of which suicidal ideation, suicide plan and suicide attempts accounted for 11.69%, 8.83% and 6.52%, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression revealed that increased depressive symptoms at follow up elevated the risk of overall new onset suicidal behaviors ( OR =4.14), ideation ( OR = 4.59), plans ( OR =4.24), and attempts ( OR =4.09); poor sleep quality also increased the risk of overall new onset suicidal behaviors ( OR =2.23), plans ( OR =2.03), and attempts ( OR =2.65) (all P <0.05). Non boarding junior and senior high school students had lower risks of overall new onset suicidal behaviors and ideation ( OR=0.70 and 0.49, respectively); secondary school students with academic performance ranking in the top 20%-30% of their class had a lower risk of new onset ideation ( OR =0.27); and those whose place of origin was outside the city had a lower risk of new onset plans ( OR =0.49) (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
New onset suicidal behaviors among junior and senior high school students exhibit dynamic and stage specific differences. Depressive symptoms serve as a common core risk factor across all stages, whereas sleep quality, academic performance, boarding status, and place of origin exert differential influences at distinct stages.
9.Research progress on the correlation between angiopoietin-like protein 2 and lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans
Yizhou LIU ; Xuezhen CHAI ; Zebin YU ; Yue LIANG
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(3):199-204
Lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans(LEASO) is a disease in which systemic atherosclerosis affects the blood-supplying arteries of the lower extremities, resulting in chronic ischemia of the lower extremities. Angiopoietin-like protein 2(Angptl2) is a newly discovered pro-inflammatory protein that promotes the development of atherosclerosis by inducing vascular inflammatory responses. It is closely associated with certain risk factors for LEASO, such as advanced age, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. In addition, the high expression of Angptl2 in LEASO correlates with the continued progression of LEASO and may reflect the severity of the disease, suggesting that Angptl2 may be an important serologic biomarker for LEASO. In this article, we review the progress of research on the correlation between Angptl2 and LEASO, and analyze the value of Angptl2 as a biomarker for LEASO.
10.Hysteresis displacement control of piezoceramics based on improved Bouc-Wen model
Yuan-yuan CHAI ; Wei-guo WANG ; Xiao-fen LIU ; Liang-yu CUI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(8):25-31
Objective To propose an improved Bouc-Wen model to alleviate the nonlinear effect of the hysteresis displacement of piezoceramics and enhance the motion control accuracy of the nano-displacement platform.Methods Firstly,two fine-tuning parameters including the asymmetric term and the input bias term were added to the classical Bouc-Wen model to eliminate the deviation of the starting and ending positions of the hysteresis curve,so as to obtain an improved Bouc-Wen model simulating the hysteresis displacement characteristics of piezoceramics on the nano-displacement platform.Secondly,the parameters of the improved Bouc-Wen model were identified based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm,and an inverse feedforward structure was adopted to realize the linearized control of the output displacement.Finally,an experimental system was built to verify the linearized control effect of the improved Bouc-Wen model.Results The hysteresis curve of the improved Bouc-Wen model fitted the actual voltage-displacement curve of piezoceramics significantly better when compared with that of the traditional model,which had a 56%reduction in the fitting error and a 0.03 μm error between the desired and actual displacements during the linearized output control with a driving voltage of 0-60 V and a maximum travel of about 4 μm.Conclusion The improved Bouc-Wen model behaves well in hysteresis displacement fitting and linearized output control,and a new idea is provided for enhancing the motion control accuracy of the nano-displacement platform.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(8):25-31]


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