1.A meta-analysis of risk factors for residual back pain after vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Peng YANG ; Chenghan XU ; Yingjie ZHOU ; Xubin CHAI ; Hanjie ZHUO ; Lin LI ; Jinyu SHI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):731-739
OBJECTIVE:Patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures still have residual back pain after vertebral augmentation.The current research is characterized by limited sample size,complex confounding factors,and inconsistent research results.To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon,the aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the risk factors for residual back pain after surgery through a systematic review and meta-analysis.METHODS:A comprehensive search was conducted in CNKI,VIP,WanFang,CBMdisc,PubMed,The Cochrane Library,Embase,and Web of Science for case-control studies on residual back pain after vertebral body augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures from database inception to July 2024.The search terms were a combination of subject terms and free terms.The basic information,patient characteristics,surgical-related indicators,and risk factors for surgical back pain of the included studies were extracted.After evaluating the bias risk of all included studies,a meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 14.0 software on the relevant indicators.RESULTS:(1)21 case-control studies with a total of 8 043 patients were included.Among them,965 patients developed back pain.The quality score of all 21 studies was ≥7.(2)The meta-analysis results showed that age(WMD=0.98,95%CI:0.40-1.56,P=0.010),bone mineral density(WMD=-0.28,95%CI:-0.34 to-0.21,P=0.000),the number of vertebral fractures(OR=3.50,95%CI:2.65-4.62,P=0.000),thoracolumbar fracture index(OR=3.65,95%CI:2.61-5.11,P=0.000),cement volume(OR=6.89,95%CI:2.62-18.17,P=0.000),and cement distribution(OR=2.38,95%CI:1.93-2.93,P=0.000)were risk factors for the development of back pain after vertebral body augmentation in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.CONCLUSION:Current evidence indicates that age,bone mineral density,the number of vertebral fractures,thoracolumbar fracture index,bone cement injection volume,and the distribution of bone cement are risk factors for low back pain.Specifically,bone mineral density,the number of vertebral fractures,thoracolumbar fracture index,and non-uniform distribution of bone cement are identified as independent risk factors for low back pain.Patients exhibiting these high-risk factors require vigilant monitoring and prompt intervention to mitigate the occurrence of clinical low back pain,thereby enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.
2.Relationship between mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms in the elderly: the pathways of insomnia
Zhiyue CAO ; Xianmei YANG ; Xumei PENG ; Nvshi ZHOU ; Congwen YANG ; Chengcheng LIU ; Jing YAO
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(2):158-164
BackgroundAnxiety symptoms have become a public health issue affecting the physical and mental health of the elderly population. Mental health literacy is a predictor of anxiety symptoms in the elderly. Currently, there are limited studies on the pathogenic mechanism between the two. Exploring the relationship and mechanism between mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms among the elderly is of great significance for improving the mental health level of the elderly. ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of mental health literacy on anxiety symptoms in the elderly, and to analyze the role of insomnia in this process, in order to provide references for the formulation of prevention and intervention strategies for anxiety symptoms in the elderly. MethodsFrom August 2021 to December 2022, a total of 10 650 older adults aged 60 years old and above were selected from a city in Sichuan Province using a multistage stratified sampling method. Participants completed the self-compiled demographic questionnaire, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item (GAD-7), and the National Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire (NMHLQ). Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to examine the correlation between the scores of the scales. Model 4 in SPSS 27.0 plugin Process 4.1 was employed to test the pathway of insomnia between mental health literacy (and its various dimensions) and anxiety symptoms. ResultsAmong the participants, 9 609 cases (90.23%) completed the valid questionnaire survey, and 1 680 cases (17.48%) were found to have anxiety symptoms. The total score of the NMHLQ for the elderly, as well as the scores of the knowledge, awareness, and skills dimensions, were negatively correlated with the GAD-7 score and the ISI score (rs=-0.506–-0.054, P<0.01), and the ISI score was positively correlated with the GAD-7 score (rs=0.666, P<0.01). Insomnia served as the mediating pathway between the mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms, with an indirect effect value of -0.210 (95% CI: -0.227–-0.193), accounting for 54.97% of the total effect. Insomnia was the mediating pathway between the mental health literacy knowledge and anxiety symptoms of the elderly, with an indirect effect value of -0.161 (95% CI: -0.178–-0.144), accounting for 52.61% of the total effect. Insomnia played a mediating role in the relationship between the awareness of mental health literacy and anxiety symptoms, with an indirect effect value of -0.323 (95% CI: -0.342–-0.302), accounting for 76.36% of the total effect. Insomnia was the mediating pathway between the mental health literacy skills and anxiety symptoms of the elderly, with an indirect effect value of -0.172 (95% CI: -0.187–-0.159), accounting for 53.75% of the total effect. ConclusionThe dimensions of mental health literacy, knowledge, awareness and skills of the elderly not only directly affect anxiety symptoms, but also indirectly influence anxiety symptoms through the pathway of insomnia.[Funded by Medical Research Project Plan of Sichuan Province (number, S23049)]
3.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
4.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
5.Evaluation of the quality of Jingangteng capsules based on UPLC fingerprinting combined with multi-component content determination
Li SHEN ; Yue SHEN ; Yuying YANG ; Dandan ZHANG ; Yuxi WU ; Xuxiang ZHOU ; Jingyu YANG ; Peng HU ; Lei WANG ; Heming WU ; Dan LIU ; Xiaochuan YE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1290-1294
OBJECTIVE To establish the UPLC fingerprint and the method for multi-component content determination in Jingangteng capsules, and to evaluate its quality by combining chemical pattern recognition analysis. METHODS An UPLC method was established. Separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-C 18 Rapid Resolution HD column, with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase for gradient elution.Using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprints of Traditional Chinese Medicines (2012 edition), UPLC fi ngerprints were established for 10 batches of Jingangteng capsules, and similarity was evaluated. SPSS 22.0 and SIMCA 14.1 software were used to perform hierarchial-cluster analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), respectively. The same UPLC method was employed to determine the contents of chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dihydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid-3- O -glucoside (M1), caffeic acid, astilbin, oxyresveratrol, quercitrin and resveratrol in the 10 batches of samples. RESULTS A total of 17 common peaks were identified in UPLC fingerprints of the 10 batches of samples, of which 7 were identified as chlorogenic acid, M1, caffeic acid, astilbin, oxyresveratrol, quercitrin, and resveratrol. The similarities of 10 batches of samples ranged from 0.820 to 0.985. The results of hierarchial-cluster analysis showed that 10 batches of samples were grouped into four categories: S1-S4 formed one group, S5 and S6 formed another, S7, S8 and S10 formed a third, and S9 formed a fourth, consistent with the OPLS-DA results; the variable importance projection values for peaks 7, 10, 2, 16 (resveratrol), 13 (oxyresveratrol), 11, 6 (caffeic acid), 5 (M1) and 15 (quercitrin) were >1. Quantitative analysis results showed that the contents of chlorogenic acid, M1, caffeic acid, astilbin, oxyresveratrol, quercitrin, and resveratrol were 1.650 8-4.213 7, 0.636 2-2.161 7, 0.031 0-0.086 5, 0.239 1-1.069 3, 0.211 9-1.104 0, 0.488 8-2.399 2, and 0.164 0-0.699 8 mg/g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS UPLC fingerprint and content determination methods established in this study are simple to operate, accurate, reliable and reproducible; when combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis, they can be used to evaluate the quality of Jingangteng capsules. Nine components, such as resveratrol, oxyresveratrol, caffeic acid, M1 and quercitrin, may serve as markers of quality variation.
6.Epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of latent tuberculosis infection among detainees in eastern China
Xinru FEI ; Peng LU ; Jingxian NING ; Yuchen PAN ; Limei ZHU ; Qiao LIU ; Hongxi ZHOU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(4):280-283
ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among newly detained populations in eastern China, to identify high-risk groups, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating tuberculosis prevention and control strategies in the prison system. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among the newly admitted detainees in two prisons in eastern China in 2022. Data on demographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors and previous disease history of the research subjects were collected through a structured questionnaire survey. The LTBI status of the detainees was determined using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) method. Lasso regression was used to screen variables, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate the influencing factors of LTBI. ResultsA total of 305 detainees were included in the study. The median age of detainees was 35 (31, 43) years. The study population was predominantly male (67.21%), of Han ethnicity (95.41%), had a junior or senior high school education (59.34%), and was unemployed (31.80%). A history of smoking was reported by 52.79% of participants, while 57.70% reported no alcohol consumption. The majority had no history of hypertension (85.90%), diabetes mellitus (93.77%), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (97.38%), familial genetic diseases (95.08%), surgery or trauma (73.77%), drug use (92.79%), or hepatitis (93.77%). The LTBI rate was 14.75%. After comparing the demographic characteristics of LTBI and non-infected groups, it was found that smoking history (χ2=7.40, P=0.025), drug use history (χ2=5.49, P=0.019), and HIV infection (χ2=8.12, P=0.004) were statistically correlated with LTBI infection. The results of multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that smoking [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=4.08, 95%CI: 1.60‒10.42, P=0.003], HIV infection (aOR=11.57, 95%CI: 2.50‒53.51, P=0.002) and drug use (aOR=3.04, 95%CI: 1.02‒9.09, P=0.046) were risk factors for LTBI. ConclusionThe LTBI rate among newly detainees in two prisons in eastern China is slightly lower than that among long-term detainees. Early screening and intervention should be implemented for newly detainees, with particular attention focused on high-risk groups such as those with a history of smoking, HIV infection, or drug use.
7.Consideration of Health Economics Evidence in Clinical Practice Guidelines: Methods and Steps
Dongrui PENG ; Qi ZHOU ; Xufei LUO ; Zijun WANG ; Hui LIU ; Junxian ZHAO ; Jinghong HUANG ; Hongyu HU ; Xin XING ; Jing WU ; Shitong XIE ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):862-870
Health economics evidence plays an important role in linking clinical value evidence with health resource allocation decisions in the development of clinical practice guidelines. It can not only effectively balance clinical effectiveness and economic feasibility but also avoid forming "idealized" recommendations that are detached from the affordability of the healthcare system or the burden-bearing capacity of patients. To promote guideline developers to use health economics evidence more standardizedly and fully, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the current application status, existing challenges, access channels, and application processes of health economics evidence in current guidelines, and on this basis, puts forward considerations and suggestions for strengthening and standardizing the application of health economics evidence in China's clinical practice guidelines.
8.Multi-targeting Action Mechanism of Wenyang Xiaoyin Prescription on Doxorubicin-induced Mouse with Chronic Heart Failure Based on NF-κB/AVP-AQP2 Complex Pathway Mediated by Liver X Receptor
Baixue LI ; Junfeng ZHAO ; Song ZHANG ; Lei LIU ; Yangzhi PENG ; Hang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):286-297
ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Wenyang Xiaoyin Prescription (Linggui Zhugan Tang combined with Tingli Dazao Xiefei Tang) on a doxorubicin-induced mouse model of chronic heart failure (CHF). The multi-targeting action mechanism of the therapy is revealed, based on the arginine vasopressin (AVP)-vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R)-aquaporin 2 (AQP2) signaling pathway and nuclear transcription factor -κB (NF-κB) pathway mediated by the liver X receptor (LXR) in the heart, brain, and kidney tissue. MethodsCHF mouse models were established by using intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin and subsequently divided into a blank control group, a model control group, Wenyang Xiaoyin Prescription groups (Linggui Zhugan decoction combined with Tingli Dazao Xiefei decoction) with various doses, a captopril group, and a combination group receiving both Wenyang Xiaoyin prescription (as before) and captopril. Cardiac function was assessed by using color Doppler echocardiography, while the levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), AVP, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the serum were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological changes and ventricular remodeling in ventricular tissues were evaluated through hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining, and myocardial cell apoptosis of mice was assessed by using TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) staining. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were employed to detect the protein and RNA expression levels of LXRα, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the cardiac tissue, LXRβ, AVP in the hypothalamus, and LXRβ, V2R, and AQP2 in the kidneys. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was used to quantify AQP2-positive collecting ducts in renal tissues. ResultsThe Wenyang Xiaoyin prescription significantly enhanced cardiac function indicators in CHF mice, reducing levels of BNP, AVP, and RAAS in the serum. It also mitigated myocardial cell damage and fibrosis change. The Wenyang Xiaoyin prescription inhibited the expressions of NF-κB and its downstream targets TNF-α and iNOS and improved myocardial inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, and ventricular remodeling by upregulating the expression of LXRα in cardiac tissues. Concurrently, the Wenyang Xiaoyin prescription elevated LXRβ expression in the kidneys and hypothalamus while downregulating the expression levels of AVP, V2R, and AQP2, as well as water permeability in the collecting ducts, thereby alleviating cardiac load. ConclusionThe intervention of Wenyang Xiaoyin prescription demonstrates a significant therapeutic effect on CHF, and its role involves the multi-target effect mechanism of the AVP/V2R/AQP2 and NF-κB pathways mediated by the nuclear receptor LXR in the heart, brain, and kidney tissue.
9.Construction of the clinical diagnosis and treatment model during the “pre-disease to disease” window period in traditional Chinese medicine: integration of objective multimodal data from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine stateology
Danyang Li ; Min Ai ; Pai Zhou ; Ying Deng ; Chaoyang Yang ; Qinghua Peng
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(2):173-183
The philosophy of “treating disease before its onset” is a fundamental concept of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), permeating its diagnostic and therapeutic framework, and is central to clinical practice. However, current TCM diagnostic and treatment models for the “pre-disease to disease” window period face several limitations, including the lack of comprehensive clinical parameters, difficulties in characterizing and integrating heterogeneous multimodal data, and insufficient dynamic precision in interventions and efficacy evaluations. To address these issues, guided by Professor Candong Li’s theory of TCM stateology, this study focuses on integrating objective multimodal data. It proposes a new model for personalized TCM diagnosis and treatment targeting the “pre-disease to disease” window period. This approach first proposes the idea of restructuring the conceptual framework of “symptom” and integrating multi-source heterogeneous data at macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic levels to form a three-dimensional assessment indicator system. By integrating graph neural networks, convolutional neural networks, attention mechanisms, and knowledge graph-guided weight allocation, this approach enables collaborative representation, alignment, and fusion of multi-source data. Subsequently, it plans to construct a multimodal fusion model at both feature and decision levels, in order to establish mappings between indicators and TCM state elements, and to screen key indicators characterizing pathological evolution during the window period. Furthermore, it proposes a technical path for enhancing model interpretability using methods such as SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Ablation-CAM++. Finally, with state assessment as the core, it proposes the concept of constructing a dynamic evaluation method for individualized diagnosis and treatment based on time-series data analysis using algorithms such as long short-term memory (LSTM) networks and gated recurrent units (GRUs). Moreover, a causal inference framework and semi-supervised learning strategies are introduced to enable quantitative evaluation of individual intervention effects and to provide interpretable therapeutic feedback, forming a complete technical path from data representation and fusion, weight adjustment, and interpretability analysis, to dynamic diagnosis feedback. This study aims to address deficiencies in the current TCM diagnosis and treatment model during the “pre-disease to disease” window period and to provide an operational framework for the clinical practice of TCM’s “treating disease before its onset”.
10.Attenuation of oxidative injury in retinal photoreceptor cells by Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus) and Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) through modulation of ANGPTL4
Jun Peng ; Junjiang Jiang ; Junnan Zhong ; Siyi Zhou ; Tingyan Hu ; Xuyu Chen ; Qinghua Peng ; Yasha Zhou
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(2):290-301
Objective:
To investigate the protective effects of Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus, GQZ)-Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, DS) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative injury in 661W retinal photoreceptor cells and to explore whether these effects involve angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4).
Methods:
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to identify the major components of GQZ-DS aqueous extract. An H2O2-induced oxidative injury model was established in 661W cells. Working concentrations of H2O2 and GQZ-DS were determined using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cells were subjected to GQZ-DS, ANGPTL4 knockdown, or ANGPTL4 overexpression as indicated. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle distribution, apoptotic rate, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Colorimetric determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method was performed. The protein expression level of ANGPTL4 was assessed by immunofluorescence. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to quantify the mRNA level of ANGPTL4. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of ANGPTL4 and cleaved caspase-3.
Results:
LC-MS identified five major constituents in the GQZ-DS aqueous extract: 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid, rutin, D-galactose, salvianolic acid A, and tanshinone IIA. The CCK-8 method selected 300 μmol/L H2O2 as the oxidative stress condition for experiments, and 0.05 and 0.1 g/mL were selected as the low and high doses of GQZ-DS, respectively, for subsequent experiments. The intervention with H2O2 resulted in reduced cell viability, elevated ROS and MDA levels, decreased SOD activity, increased apoptotic rate, upregulated cleaved caspase-3 expression, and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest of 661W cells. Both low and high doses of GQZ-DS alleviated these alterations, with high dose exhibiting stronger protective effects (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). GQZ-DS also downregulated ANGPTL4 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Following plasmid transfection of cells, the study further revealed that ANGPTL4 knockdown mitigated oxidative stress and apoptosis-related injury, whereas ANGPTL4 overexpression exacerbated these pathological changes. Moreover, GQZ-DS partially reversed the degree of cellular oxidative damage induced by ANGPTL4 overexpression.
Conclusion
GQZ-DS can alleviate the H2O2-induced oxidative injury of 661W retinal photoreceptor cells, and the effects are related to the down-regulation of ANGPTL4 expression.

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