1.Effect and mechanism of collagen combined with microneedles in treatment of skin photoaging
Fengyi TAN ; Jiamin XIE ; Zhenfeng PAN ; Xinxu ZHANG ; Zetai ZHENG ; Zhiying ZENG ; Yanfang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(2):451-458
BACKGROUND:Collagen combined with microneedling therapy has gradually become an important means of improving skin photoaging.OBJECTIVE:To summarize and explore the main mechanism and clinical application status of collagen combined with microneedle therapy.METHODS:PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and ScienceDirect databases were searched for Chinese and English literature published before August 2024.Chinese and English search terms were"ultraviolet radiation,photoaging,collagen,microneedling,clinical applications."Finally,74 articles were included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Collagen treats skin photoaging through mechanisms such as inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase expression,retaining skin moisture,and reducing melanin formation.Microneedles can better promote the penetration of collagen into deep layers of the skin,breaking down the skin's barrier and increasing the absorption rate.Collagen combined with microneedles has various beneficial effects for treating skin photoaging,such as whitening,anti-wrinkle,improving skin elasticity,shrinking pores,and repairing skin barriers.It also has the advantages of easy operation,significant effects,and high safety.Currently,the research on collagen combined with microneedling therapy is still in its early stages,and achieving clinical application may become a key research direction in the future.The clinical application of collagen combined with microneedles for the treatment of photoaging still faces many challenges,such as exploring the optimal mechanical structure and materials of microneedles,selecting appropriate microneedle types,and insufficient clinical evidence that collagen combined with microneedles can further delay the treatment of skin photoaging.
2.Herbal Textual Research on Quisqualis Fructus in Famous Classical Formulas
Xiuping WEN ; Shiying CHEN ; Ying TAN ; Guanwen ZHENG ; Huilong XU ; Wen XU ; Chengzi YANG ; Zehao HUANG ; Yu LIN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):225-237
This article systematically analyzed the historical evolution of the origin, scientific name, producing area, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing, and other aspects of Quisqualis Fructus by consulting the ancient materia medica, medical books, prescription books, local literature and combining with the modern literature and standards, summarized and explored the development rules of its medicinal properties and efficacy along with their underlying causes, in order to provide support for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the textual research, Shijunzi was first recorded as Liuqiuzi in Nanfang Caomuzhuang of the Jin dynasty, and the name of Shijunzi was first used in Kaibao Bencao of the Song dynasty, which has been consistently used throughout subsequent dynasties, and there were also aliases such as Junziren, Sijunzi, and Dujilizi. The mainstream source of Quisqualis Fructus used in the past dynasties has been the dried mature fruits of Quisqualis indica, a plant belonging to the family Combretaceae. In modern times, its variety Q. indica var. villosa has also been recorded as the medicinal material of Quisqualis Fructus. In 2007, the Flora of China(English edition) designated Q. indica var. villosa as a synonym of Q. indica. Today, the accepted name of Shijunzi is updated to Combretum indicum. According to ancient herbal records, the producing areas of Quisqualis Fructus were Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan and Fujian, and then gradually expanded to Yunnan, Taiwan, Jiangxi and Guizhou. Since the Song dynasty, two major production regions have gradually emerged in Sichuan, Chongqing and Fujian. Currently, it is primarily cultivated in Chongqing, Guangxi and other areas, with Chongqing yielding the highest output. Since modern times, superior quality has been defined by large size, a purple-black surface, plump grains, and a yellowish-white kernel. According to ancient herbal records, the harvesting period of Quisqualis Fructus was the July and August of the lunar calendar, mostly used raw after shelling or with the shell intact, it underwent processing methods such as cleaning, slicing, mixing, steaming, roasting, stewing, and frying. Currently, the harvesting period is autumn, followed by sun-drying or low-heat drying, with processing methods including cleaning, stir-frying, and stewing. In ancient and modern literature, the records of the properties, functions and indications of Quisqualis Fructus are basically the same, that is, sweet in taste, warm in nature, predominantly non-toxic, belonging to the spleen and stomach meridians. It possesses effects of insecticide, decontamination and invigorating spleen for ascariasis, enterobiasis, abdominal pain due to worm accumulation and infantile malnutrition.The contraindications for use primarily include avoiding consumption by individuals without parasitic infestations, limiting use for those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, refraining from drinking hot tea during medication, and avoiding excessive intake. Based on the textual research, it is suggested that the dried mature fruits of Q. indica should be used as the medicinal material for the development of famous classical formulas containing Quisqualis Fructus. Processing methods may be chosen according to prescription requirements, and the raw products is recommended for medicinal use if not specified.
3.Effect and mechanism of collagen combined with microneedles in treatment of skin photoaging
Fengyi TAN ; Jiamin XIE ; Zhenfeng PAN ; Xinxu ZHANG ; Zetai ZHENG ; Zhiying ZENG ; Yanfang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(2):451-458
BACKGROUND:Collagen combined with microneedling therapy has gradually become an important means of improving skin photoaging.OBJECTIVE:To summarize and explore the main mechanism and clinical application status of collagen combined with microneedle therapy.METHODS:PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and ScienceDirect databases were searched for Chinese and English literature published before August 2024.Chinese and English search terms were"ultraviolet radiation,photoaging,collagen,microneedling,clinical applications."Finally,74 articles were included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Collagen treats skin photoaging through mechanisms such as inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase expression,retaining skin moisture,and reducing melanin formation.Microneedles can better promote the penetration of collagen into deep layers of the skin,breaking down the skin's barrier and increasing the absorption rate.Collagen combined with microneedles has various beneficial effects for treating skin photoaging,such as whitening,anti-wrinkle,improving skin elasticity,shrinking pores,and repairing skin barriers.It also has the advantages of easy operation,significant effects,and high safety.Currently,the research on collagen combined with microneedling therapy is still in its early stages,and achieving clinical application may become a key research direction in the future.The clinical application of collagen combined with microneedles for the treatment of photoaging still faces many challenges,such as exploring the optimal mechanical structure and materials of microneedles,selecting appropriate microneedle types,and insufficient clinical evidence that collagen combined with microneedles can further delay the treatment of skin photoaging.
4.A Comparative Study of Artificial Intelligence-based Classification Versus Manual Classification of Medical Adverse Events: Taking the DeepSeek Large Language Model As an Example
Rui WANG ; Xutong TAN ; Congpu ZHAO ; Shuchang WANG ; Zheng CHEN ; Xiaojun MA ; Zhiling CAI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):828-833
To analyze the application value of artificial intelligence (AI)-based classification in the categorization of medical adverse events. Medical adverse events reported to the Adverse Event Reporting System of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024, were retrospectively collected as the study subjects. After de-identification of adverse events meeting the inclusion criteria, conventional manual classification and AI-based classification using a large language model (DeepSeek-R1 Full-Context Internet Edition) were performed. The time required for classification using both methods was recorded, and the consistency and discrepancies between the two methods were compared. Using manual classification as the gold standard, the accuracy of AI-based classification was comprehensively evaluated. A total of 273 medical adverse events were analyzed. Manual classification took 38 838 seconds in total, with an average of 14.22 seconds per event. AI-based classification took 600 seconds in total, with an average of 2.19 seconds per event. The two methods showed consistent classification in 202 events and inconsistent classification in 71 events, yielding an overall agreement rate of 73.99% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.646 (95% CI: 0.575-0.717), with a standard error of 0.0362. Using manual classification as the gold standard, AI-based classification achieved accuracy ranging from 80% to 100%, precision from 30% to 100%, recall from 40% to 100%, F1 scores from 0.46 to 0.79, and specificity from 46% to 98%. Notably, AI-based classification demonstrated balanced and overall excellent performance in the categorization of device-related and drug-related adverse events. The DeepSeek large language model can assist in improving the efficiency of medical adverse event classification, showing promising application potential, particularly in the categorization of device-related and drug-related adverse events.
5.Multilevel genome-wide analysis reveals shared genetic architecture between acute pancreatitis and body fat distribution
World Journal of Emergency Medicine 2026;17(5):470-477
BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a heterogeneous inflammatory disease, and its risk and severity may be shaped more by body fat distribution than by overall obesity. However, the shared genetic basis between AP and depot-specific fat accumulation remains unclear.
METHODS We meta-analyzed AP genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from FinnGen, the Million Veteran Program, and the UK Biobank, including 18,045 cases and 1,285,319 controls. Four magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived fat distribution traits, namely intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD), liver fat (LF), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT), were examined. We estimated genetic correlations using linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and high definition likelihood (HDL); identified pleiotropic loci using cross-phenotype association analysis (CPASSOC) and functional mapping and annotation (FUMA); tested colocalization; and assessed gene-level, pathway, and cell-type signals using multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation (MAGMA), Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and web-based cell-type-specific enrichment analysis (WebCSEA). Two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to evaluate causal associations.
RESULTS The AP meta-analysis identified nine loci of genome-wide significance, including four previously unreported regions. AP showed positive genetic correlations with all four fat traits, particularly with VAT and ASAT. CPASSOC identified 50 pleiotropic risk loci across 26 independent regions, with recurrent signals at 2p21, 5q32, 7q34, and 16q23.1. MAGMA prioritized 63 unique pleiotropic genes, including ABCG5/ABCG8, SPINK1, PRSS1, CTRB1, TM4SF4, and ZFYVE21. Enrichment analyses highlighted digestion; lipid metabolism; xenobiotic processing; inflammation; and pancreatic, intestinal, and hepatic cell contexts. MR supported independent effects of IPFD and VAT on AP risk.
CONCLUSION This multilevel genome-wide analysis provides evidence of the shared genetic architecture between AP and depot-specific fat distribution and highlights the pancreas-intestine-liver regulatory axis as a relevant biological context.
6.Evaluation on repeatability and accuracy of iCare IC100 tonometer in measuring intraocular pressure
Yue PENG ; Ping ZHAO ; Juan TAN ; Rui LIU ; Yiping ZHENG ; Jiangping HUANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):494-498
AIM: To evaluate the repeatability and accuracy of iCare IC100 tonometer in measuring intraocular pressure(IOP)by comparing the correlation and difference with Goldmann applanation tonometry(GAT)and non-contact tonometer(NCT), and to compare the correlation of the three types of IOP measurement with the central corneal thickness(CCT).METHODS: Prospective study. A total of 90 outpatients(90 eyes)in Liaoning Aier Eye Hospital from March 2019 to May 2019 were randomly selected as study subjects. All patients were measured IOP using iCare IC100, NCT, and GAT. The interclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used to evaluate the repeatability of IOP measured 3 times consecutively using an intraocular tonometer. The correlation and consistency of iCare IC100, GAT and NCT were compared by one-way ANOVA, Pearson linear correlation analysis and Bland-Altman analysis. The linear regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation of the three tonometers with CCT.RESULTS: The mean IOP measured with iCare IC100, GAT and NCT was 19.74±6.90, 19.88±7.07 and 18.47±6.31 mmHg, respectively(F=1.180, P=0.309). The measurements of iCare IC100 with GAT, iCare IC100 with NCT and GAT with NCT were all positively correlated(r=0.930, 0.946, 0.918, all P<0.05), the Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean differences between iCare IC100 and GAT, iCare IC100 and NCT, GAT and NCT were -0.142±2.61, 1.27±2.24, and 1.41±2.81 mmHg, respectively, with 97%(87/90), 96%(86/90), and 97%(87/90)IOP differences distributed within their 95% confidence intervals. The IOP measured with iCare IC100 and CCT, GAT and CCT and NCT and CCT were all positively correlated(r=0.426, 0.353, 0.451, all P<0.01). The linear regression equations between iCare IC100, GAT and NCT measurement and CCT were iCare IC100 IOP=-19.62+0.074×CCT; GAT IOP=-13.54+0.063×CCT; NCT IOP=-19.65+0.072×CCT; that is, for every 10 μm increase in CCT, iCare IC100 measurement increased by 0.74 mmHg, GAT measurement increased by 0.63 mmHg, and NCT measurement increased by 0.72 mmHg.CONCLUSION: The iCare IC100 tonometer has good repeatability and accuracy in measuring IOP, and the CCT has a greater impact on the measurement of iCare IC100 than the GAT and NCT.
7.Evaluation on repeatability and accuracy of iCare IC100 tonometer in measuring intraocular pressure
Yue PENG ; Ping ZHAO ; Juan TAN ; Rui LIU ; Yiping ZHENG ; Jiangping HUANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):494-498
AIM: To evaluate the repeatability and accuracy of iCare IC100 tonometer in measuring intraocular pressure(IOP)by comparing the correlation and difference with Goldmann applanation tonometry(GAT)and non-contact tonometer(NCT), and to compare the correlation of the three types of IOP measurement with the central corneal thickness(CCT).METHODS: Prospective study. A total of 90 outpatients(90 eyes)in Liaoning Aier Eye Hospital from March 2019 to May 2019 were randomly selected as study subjects. All patients were measured IOP using iCare IC100, NCT, and GAT. The interclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used to evaluate the repeatability of IOP measured 3 times consecutively using an intraocular tonometer. The correlation and consistency of iCare IC100, GAT and NCT were compared by one-way ANOVA, Pearson linear correlation analysis and Bland-Altman analysis. The linear regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation of the three tonometers with CCT.RESULTS: The mean IOP measured with iCare IC100, GAT and NCT was 19.74±6.90, 19.88±7.07 and 18.47±6.31 mmHg, respectively(F=1.180, P=0.309). The measurements of iCare IC100 with GAT, iCare IC100 with NCT and GAT with NCT were all positively correlated(r=0.930, 0.946, 0.918, all P<0.05), the Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean differences between iCare IC100 and GAT, iCare IC100 and NCT, GAT and NCT were -0.142±2.61, 1.27±2.24, and 1.41±2.81 mmHg, respectively, with 97%(87/90), 96%(86/90), and 97%(87/90)IOP differences distributed within their 95% confidence intervals. The IOP measured with iCare IC100 and CCT, GAT and CCT and NCT and CCT were all positively correlated(r=0.426, 0.353, 0.451, all P<0.01). The linear regression equations between iCare IC100, GAT and NCT measurement and CCT were iCare IC100 IOP=-19.62+0.074×CCT; GAT IOP=-13.54+0.063×CCT; NCT IOP=-19.65+0.072×CCT; that is, for every 10 μm increase in CCT, iCare IC100 measurement increased by 0.74 mmHg, GAT measurement increased by 0.63 mmHg, and NCT measurement increased by 0.72 mmHg.CONCLUSION: The iCare IC100 tonometer has good repeatability and accuracy in measuring IOP, and the CCT has a greater impact on the measurement of iCare IC100 than the GAT and NCT.
8.Role of Innate Trained Immunity in Diseases
Chuang CHENG ; Yue-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Qin MU ; Xi ZHENG ; Jing HE ; Jun WANG ; Chao TAN ; Xiao-Wen LIU ; Li-Li ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):119-132
The innate immune system can be boosted in response to subsequent triggers by pre-exposure to microbes or microbial products, known as “trained immunity”. Compared to classical immune memory, innate trained immunity has several different features. Firstly, the molecules involved in trained immunity differ from those involved in classical immune memory. Innate trained immunity mainly involves innate immune cells (e.g., myeloid immune cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells) and their effector molecules (e.g., pattern recognition receptor (PRR), various cytokines), as well as some kinds of non-immune cells (e.g., microglial cells). Secondly, the increased responsiveness to secondary stimuli during innate trained immunity is not specific to a particular pathogen, but influences epigenetic reprogramming in the cell through signaling pathways, leading to the sustained changes in genes transcriptional process, which ultimately affects cellular physiology without permanent genetic changes (e.g., mutations or recombination). Finally, innate trained immunity relies on an altered functional state of innate immune cells that could persist for weeks to months after initial stimulus removal. An appropriate inducer could induce trained immunity in innate lymphocytes, such as exogenous stimulants (including vaccines) and endogenous stimulants, which was firstly discovered in bone marrow derived immune cells. However, mature bone marrow derived immune cells are short-lived cells, that may not be able to transmit memory phenotypes to their offspring and provide long-term protection. Therefore, trained immunity is more likely to be relied on long-lived cells, such as epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and non-immune cells such as fibroblasts. Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the key molecular mechanisms that induces trained immunity, including DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In addition to epigenetic reprogramming, different cellular metabolic pathways are involved in the regulation of innate trained immunity, including aerobic glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, through a series of intracellular cascade responses triggered by the recognition of PRR specific ligands. In the view of evolutionary, trained immunity is beneficial in enhancing protection against secondary infections with an induction in the evolutionary protective process against infections. Therefore, innate trained immunity plays an important role in therapy against diseases such as tumors and infections, which has signature therapeutic effects in these diseases. In organ transplantation, trained immunity has been associated with acute rejection, which prolongs the survival of allografts. However, trained immunity is not always protective but pathological in some cases, and dysregulated trained immunity contributes to the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Trained immunity provides a novel form of immune memory, but when inappropriately activated, may lead to an attack on tissues, causing autoinflammation. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, trained immunity may lead to enhance inflammation and tissue lesion in diseased regions. In Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, trained immunity may lead to over-activation of microglial cells, triggering neuroinflammation even nerve injury. This paper summarizes the basis and mechanisms of innate trained immunity, including the different cell types involved, the impacts on diseases and the effects as a therapeutic strategy to provide novel ideas for different diseases.
9.Noninvasive prediction of high-risk esophageal varices by spleen and liver stiffness measurements using sound touch elastography
Jinfen WANG ; Siwei TAN ; Ruiying ZHENG ; Bilun KE ; Bin WU ; Manli WU
Liver Research 2025;9(3):231-238
Background and aims:Noninvasive assessments play a crucial role in ruling out high-risk esophageal varices(HREV)in cirrhotic patients.However,the value of sound touch elastography(STE)in predicting HREV has not been comprehensively investigated.Therefore,this study aimed to establish prediction models based on liver and spleen stiffness measurements obtained by STE and provide assessment strategies and cutoff values tailored for different clinical situations.Methods:This prospective study included cirrhotic patients who underwent esophagogastroduodeno-scopy(EGD).Liver and spleen stiffness measurements by STE were performed within six months of EGD examination.Various prediction models and their corresponding cutoff values were established for different clinical situations,incorporating spleen diameter and laboratory parameters.Results:A total of 154 cirrhotic patients were included in the study and stratified into training(n=119)and validation(n=35)sets.Multivariable analysis revealed platelet,spleen diameter and spleen stiffness measurement as independent predictors of HREV.The model incorporating spleen stiffness measurement,platelet,and spleen diameter demonstrated superior performance in predicting HREV,yielding an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.878 and 0.853 in the training set and validation set,respectively.Application of this model for screening cirrhotic patients could avoid EGDs in 39.7%(27/68)and 35.3%(6/17)of patients in the training and validation sets,respectively.Conclusions:Liver and spleen stiffness measurements obtained through STE are valuable for predicting HREV in cirrhotic patients.The developed prediction models and their corresponding cutoff values provide tailored solutions for various clinical situations,thereby effectively reducing the need for un-necessary endoscopies.
10.Determination of docusate sodium by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography
Lirong CAI ; Haiping SHU ; Sha XIAO ; Yue TAN ; Jinfeng ZHENG ; Changliang LI ; Yanming LIU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(2):183-187
To reduce the dependency on high-carbon-load chromatographic columns,a new method has been established for the determination of the content of docusate sodium using ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography(IP-HPLC).Tetrapropylammonium chloride was used as the ion-pair reagent with a mobile phase,composition of acetonitrile:10 mmol/L tetrapropylammonium chloride solution=66∶34,adjusting pH to 6.5 with 0.1%phosphoric acid solution,flow rate of 1.5 mL/min,detection wavelength of 214 nm,column temperature of 35℃,and an injection volume of 25 μL,and quantified by an external standard method.The main peak of docusate sodium exhibited a tailing factor of 1.34.The method showed good linearity within the range of 0.02 mg/mL to 0.40 mg/mL,with a correlation coefficient(r)of 0.999 9.It also demonstrated good repeatability,with recovery ranging from 97.0%to 98.2%(n=6).The quantification limit was 3.31 μg/mL,and the detection limit was 2.76 μg/mL.In summary,the new method shows good durability,a wide linear range,and high sensitivity,it is suitable for the determination of docusate sodium.


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