1.Intervertebral disc rehydration after posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation
Peng WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Shaojie ZHANG ; Yimin WU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):711-720
BACKGROUND:With the development of the concept of minimally invasive surgery,lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation has become the mainstream operation for the treatment of diseases caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.OBJECTIVE:To review the latest progress of lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases and postoperative intervertebral disc rehydration.METHODS:The relevant literature published in CNKI,WanFang,and PubMed databases from 2010 to 2025 was searched with the Chinese and English search terms"lumbar spine,dynamic internal fixation,intervertebral disc degeneration,Coflex system,Dynesys system,In-space system,PercuDyn system,intervertebral disc rehydration,crushing stress."By reading the articles,we eliminated the literature with little relevance to the article topic,poor quality and outdated content,and finally 65 articles were included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Although the main surgical method for the treatment of disc degeneration is still the traditional open surgical method of implantation,posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation has made great progress.(2)Posterior lumbar dynamic fixation can be divided into open dynamic fixation system and percutaneous dynamic fixation system.Each system can be divided into interspinous dynamic internal fixation system and pedicle dynamic internal fixation system according to the different fixation positions.According to the design of specific instruments and the differences of operation methods in the surgery,different operation methods have been derived.At present,the focus of research at home and abroad is on open dynamic internal fixation system.(3)Under the premise that the clinical effect of posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation is better than that of traditional interbody fusion surgery,it can cause the rehydration phenomenon of postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc,and further improve the long-term postoperative efficacy of patients.
2.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
4.Construction of a risk prediction model for blood pressure abnormality in occupational populations based on longitudinal occupational health surveillance data
Tengxiao SHAN ; Jiming ZHANG ; Tianyang SHEN ; Zhijun ZHOU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(4):435-442
Background The prevalence of chronic diseases among the Chinese occupational population is rising steadily, with hypertension and diabetes becoming important health concerns. Occupational health examinations (OHE) provide stable population coverage, standardized protocols, and fixed follow-up intervals, offering a robust data foundation for risk assessment. However, most existing hypertension prediction studies rely on cross-sectional data and mainly focus on clinic onset, failing to capture the dynamic progression and cumulation of individual risk. Objective To construct a machine learning-based risk prediction model for blood pressure abnormality in occupational populations, providing a reference for health risk stratification and targeted health interventions. Methods Longitudinal data from 2020 to 2023 were extracted from the occupational health examination database of an institution in Shanghai. After excluding individuals with hypertension in any of the first three years,
5.Intervertebral disc rehydration after posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation
Peng WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Shaojie ZHANG ; Yimin WU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):711-720
BACKGROUND:With the development of the concept of minimally invasive surgery,lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation has become the mainstream operation for the treatment of diseases caused by intervertebral disc degeneration.OBJECTIVE:To review the latest progress of lumbar posterior dynamic internal fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases and postoperative intervertebral disc rehydration.METHODS:The relevant literature published in CNKI,WanFang,and PubMed databases from 2010 to 2025 was searched with the Chinese and English search terms"lumbar spine,dynamic internal fixation,intervertebral disc degeneration,Coflex system,Dynesys system,In-space system,PercuDyn system,intervertebral disc rehydration,crushing stress."By reading the articles,we eliminated the literature with little relevance to the article topic,poor quality and outdated content,and finally 65 articles were included for summary.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Although the main surgical method for the treatment of disc degeneration is still the traditional open surgical method of implantation,posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation has made great progress.(2)Posterior lumbar dynamic fixation can be divided into open dynamic fixation system and percutaneous dynamic fixation system.Each system can be divided into interspinous dynamic internal fixation system and pedicle dynamic internal fixation system according to the different fixation positions.According to the design of specific instruments and the differences of operation methods in the surgery,different operation methods have been derived.At present,the focus of research at home and abroad is on open dynamic internal fixation system.(3)Under the premise that the clinical effect of posterior lumbar dynamic internal fixation is better than that of traditional interbody fusion surgery,it can cause the rehydration phenomenon of postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc,and further improve the long-term postoperative efficacy of patients.
6.Employment injury insurance coupled with prevention practices in Germany and Japan and their implications for occupational health prevention initiatives in China
Tengxiao SHAN ; Jiming ZHANG ; Tianyang SHEN ; Zhijun ZHOU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(1):96-101
As a primary approach to safeguarding workers' occupational health in China, the work-related injury insurance still has insufficient preventive measures for occupational groups. By reviewing the preventive measures embedded in Germany’s statutory accident insurance (Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) and Japan’s workers’ accident compensation insurance, this study summarized their best practices and then proposed the following policy directions based on China’s specific context: strengthening the prevention-oriented institutional framework, increasing financial investment in occupational injury prevention, improving the incentive mechanisms of floating premium rate, and promoting data integration and intelligent applications in occupational health management. These measures are expected to shift China’s work-related injury insurance system from a compensation-oriented model to one that emphasizes comprehensive prevention and health promotion, thereby providing useful insights for better safeguarding the health of Chinese workers.
7.Research Progress on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Flap Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Jiwei ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Xinshan WANG ; Xingzhang YAO ; Zhenxing JIANG ; Zhijun HE ; Tao LIU ; Jianliang LI ; Hui YAO ; Jie AN ; Qiuyue ZHAO ; Xiaotao WEI ; M Rayan GHAZI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):851-861
Flap transplantation is a critical surgical strategy for the reconstruction of tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, and congenital malformations, and its survival rate directly determines surgical efficacy and patient prognosis. Following transplantation, flaps inevitably undergo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, during which oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and metabolic disturbances are intricately intertwined, ultimately leading to cellular injury and tissue necrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple forms of programmed cell death—including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis—play central roles in flap I/R injury. The extensive crosstalk and molecular interactions among these pathways form a highly complex cell death network. Specifically, apoptosis is mediated by the imbalance of Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease (caspase) cascades; pyroptosis is driven by the NLRP3-caspase-1-GSDMD axis, resulting in membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; ferroptosis is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); necroptosis is triggered by the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-RIPK3-MLKL signaling complex, leading to membrane rupture; and PANoptosis represents an integrated form of inflammatory cell death that coordinates multiple death pathways. Importantly, these forms of programmed cell death are not independent but are interconnected through extensive signaling crosstalk. Key regulatory molecules, including caspase-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), collectively modulate the dynamic balance among these pathways. Therefore, the multidimensional interplay and spatiotemporal dynamics of programmed cell death constitute a fundamental pathological basis of flap I/R injury. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in the mechanisms and interactions of various programmed cell death pathways in flap I/R injury, aiming to elucidate the underlying regulatory network. These insights may provide novel theoretical foundations for optimizing flap protection strategies, improving flap survival, and promoting tissue repair.
8.Development and application of a three-dimensional digital visualization system for children's neck acupoints
Xiaojing AO ; Kun LI ; Yuhang LIU ; Xiaoxuan YANG ; Xing WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Xiaoyan REN ; Shaojie ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(9):1834-1840
BACKGROUND:Currently,there have been studies on three-dimensional digitalization and visualization systems for adult acupoints,but there are not many reports on the visualization of pediatric acupoints based on real pediatric digital sectional anatomical datasets. OBJECTIVE:To design and develop a digital three-dimensional visualization system for children's neck acupoints,to provide a basis for acupuncture and moxibustion,meridian and acupoint science teaching,clinical practice,acupuncture manipulation practice,and acupuncture safety research,and to provide a basis for the development of children's acupoint simulation system. METHODS:Based on a real cross-sectional anatomical dataset of pre-school boys,a three-dimensional digital virtual anatomical model of the neck region of children and internal multi-organ three-dimensional reconstruction were completed using PhotoShop 2021 and Digihuman Reconstruction System software.A database of 11 acupoints was compiled,including Fengfu and Fengchi,using the Unity database language.A three-dimensional model of children's neck anatomy,acupoint database,and writing acupuncture operation codes were integrated in Unity3D software.A three-dimensional digital visualization system for children's neck acupoints was successfully created,which integrated simulation acupoint positioning,three-dimensional acupoint anatomy,acupuncture training,clinical teaching,and acupuncture safety research. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)This study was based on real child specimens.Manual layer by layer segmentation of cross-sectional images was used to ensure the accuracy of the three-dimensional model to the greatest extent possible.The 3D software Digihuman Reconstruction System was utilized to extract and save independent segmentation data.PhotoShop 2021 software was collaborated with to complete dozens of three-dimensional reconstruction anatomical models of the outer skin of the neck and its internal bone structure,cervical spinal cord,blood vessels and nerves,muscles,and ligaments in children.The basic morphology and overall contour integrity verification of each independent structure were completed in MeshLab software.The 3-material research 13.0 software was applied for final fine tuning and anatomical position confirmation,successfully simulating and restoring the true anatomical morphology of the neck of preschool children.(2)Based on and referring to the national standards of the People's Republic of China,a database of commonly used acupoints in children's neck region was collected and organized,including their names,meridians,positioning,local anatomy,needle insertion levels,acupuncture methods,acupuncture accidents and prevention,acupoint indications,and two-dimensional anatomical sectional images.(3)Unity3D software was employed to integrate the three-dimensional model of children's neck,acupuncture simulation operation,and acupoint database,and a three-dimensional digital children's neck acupoint acupuncture visualization system was successfully constructed.The system displayed information on children's neck acupoints,two-dimensional and three-dimensional anatomical structures,and achieved two-dimensional and three-dimensional acupuncture simulation functions and acupuncture safety research functions for children's neck acupoints.Based on the ultra-thin sectional anatomical dataset of real child specimens,the first three-dimensional digital and visualization system for acupoints in the neck region of children had been constructed.Compared with previous acupoint acupuncture systems,it is more in line with the anatomical and morphological development characteristics of Asian children and has high application value in the fields of acupuncture safety research,clinical teaching,and acupuncture simulation training.
9.Characteristic volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Yazhen HE ; Chunguang DING ; Junyun WANG ; Yuzhen FENG ; Fangda PENG ; Gaisheng LIU ; Fan YANG ; Chunmin ZHANG ; Rui GAO ; Qingyu MENG ; Zhijun WU ; Jingguang FAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(5):571-577
Background Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a serious occupational disease in China. Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can serve as the "breath fingerprint" of internal pathological processes, which provides a theoretical basis for exhaled VOCs to be used as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Objective To screen out the characteristic VOCs and important characteristic VOCs of exhaled air in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and to explore the potential of these VOCs as biomarkers for early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease. Methods In this study, 27 VOCs in the exhaled breath of 22 patients with stage I coal workers' pneumoconiosis, 77 workers exposed to dust, and 92 healthy controls were quantitatively detected by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Substances with P<0.05 in univariate analysis and variable importance projection (VIP) >1 in supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model were selected as the characteristic VOCs for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Age was included in the LASSO regression model as a covariate to screen out important characteristic VOCs, and the diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Spearman correlation was further used to explore the correlation between important characteristic VOCs and clinical lung function indicators. Results Through univariate analysis and OPLS-DA modeling, 8 VOCs were selected, including 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, methylcyclopentane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, in exhaled breath of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The concentrations of 4 VOCs, including 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, showed a decreasing trend with the increase of dust exposure years. By LASSO regression, the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the dust exposure group were n-hexane, methylcyclohexane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the healthy group were 2-methyl-pentane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of n-hexane, methylcyclohexane, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone were 0.969, 0.909, and 0.956, respectively, and the AUC of combined diagnosis was 0.988 and its Youden index was 0.961, suggesting that these results can serve as a valuable reference for further research on early diagnosis. The Correlation analysis found that there was a positive correlation between n-hexane and lung function indicators in the important characteristic VOCs, indicating that it could indirectly reflect the obstruction of lung function ventilation, further proving that important characteristic VOCs have the potential to monitor lung function decline. Conclusion Three important characteristic VOCs selected in this study have the potential to be used as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and are worthy of further study and verification.
10.Prognostic differences among pure urothelial carcinoma,squamous-differentiated urothelial carcinoma,and pure squamous cell carcinoma
Shuoyu WANG ; Xuanjun GUO ; Yanqing GONG ; Zhijun XI ; Zhisong HE ; Han HAO ; Cuijian ZHANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(10):854-859
Objective To investigate the prognostic differences among pure urothelial carcinoma,squamous-differentiated urothelial carcinoma,and pure squamous cell carcinoma,so as to provide reference for postoperative risk stratification.Methods The clinical data of bladder cancer patients who visited the Department of Urology,Peking University First Hospital and underwent radical cystectomy during Jan.2005 and Jun.2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were categorized into the pure urothelial carcinoma group(n=725),squamous-differentiated urothelial carcinoma group(n=189),and pure squamous cell carcinoma group(n=36).General characteristics,surgical approaches,pathological staging,muscle invasion status,and lymph node positivity were compared among the three groups.Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted,and prognostic differences among the groups were compared after 1∶1 propensity score matching between each pair.Independent risk factors of prognosis were identified with Cox multivariable regression.Results The pure squamous cell carcinoma group had a higher proportion of female patients(50.00%vs.25.24%vs.22.75%,P=0.002 4).Compared with the pure urothelial carcinoma group,the other two groups demonstrated higher proportions of stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ,higher rates of muscle invasion,and higher lymph node positivity,with the pure squamous cell carcinoma group showing the highest overall staging(69.45%vs.58.20%vs.29.38%,P<0.000 1).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that squamous-differentiated urothelial carcinoma group and pure squamous cell carcinoma group had significantly worse survival than the pure urothelial carcinoma group(P<0.05),while the former two groups exhibited similar outcomes(P=0.85).After propensity score matching,postoperative survival curves among the three groups were not significantly different(all P>0.05).In multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for confounders,prognosis was primarily associated with age,muscle invasion,and lymph-node positivity(P<0.05);pathological subtype was not an independent predictor of postoperative survival.Conclusion In a cohort of non-metastatic patients undergoing radical cystectomy,pure squamous cell carcinoma and squamous-differentiated urothelial carcinoma presented with higher clinical and pathological staging and poorer unadjusted prognosis compared with pure urothelial carcinoma.However,postoperative survival did not differ significantly among the three groups in the same clinicopathological conditions.

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