1.Analysis of Animal Models of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration Based on Clinical Disease-syndrome Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Yun GAO ; Jiahao LI ; Jianying YANG ; Xiaoshan ZHANG ; Honghao BI ; Menglu MIAO ; Huiyi GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):191-197
ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of low vision and blindness in people over 50 years old, and dry AMD (dAMD) is one type for which there is currently no clear treatment. On the basis of the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of dAMD in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, this paper evaluated the fitting degrees of existing animal models of dAMD with clinical characteristics according to the evaluation methods of animal models, and put forward suggestions and prospects. MethodsLiterature on animal models of dAMD was searched against database, and the characteristics of the models were assigned according to the diagnosis criteria of diseases and syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and the fitting degrees of the models with clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsAt present, the animal models of dAMD are mainly established targeting complement factors, chemokines, oxidative damage, lipid/glucose metabolism, and natural strains. Most of the models can simulate the major pathological changes of dAMD, showing the fitting degree of 25%-50% with clinical characteristics in Western medicine. However, the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, especially the evaluation of secondary syndromes, is missing, and the models present low fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics in TCM. ConclusionExisting animal models of dAMD are mostly established under the guidance of Western diagnostic standards, which reproduce the main disease characteristics of Western medicine and lack observation of TCM syndromes. Future studies can pay attention to the intervention factors and evaluation systems of spleen deficiency Qi deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome and build the animal model of dAMD with integration of disease and syndrome based on clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
2.Analysis of Animal Models of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration Based on Clinical Disease-syndrome Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Yun GAO ; Jiahao LI ; Jianying YANG ; Xiaoshan ZHANG ; Honghao BI ; Menglu MIAO ; Huiyi GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):191-197
ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of low vision and blindness in people over 50 years old, and dry AMD (dAMD) is one type for which there is currently no clear treatment. On the basis of the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of dAMD in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, this paper evaluated the fitting degrees of existing animal models of dAMD with clinical characteristics according to the evaluation methods of animal models, and put forward suggestions and prospects. MethodsLiterature on animal models of dAMD was searched against database, and the characteristics of the models were assigned according to the diagnosis criteria of diseases and syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and the fitting degrees of the models with clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsAt present, the animal models of dAMD are mainly established targeting complement factors, chemokines, oxidative damage, lipid/glucose metabolism, and natural strains. Most of the models can simulate the major pathological changes of dAMD, showing the fitting degree of 25%-50% with clinical characteristics in Western medicine. However, the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, especially the evaluation of secondary syndromes, is missing, and the models present low fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics in TCM. ConclusionExisting animal models of dAMD are mostly established under the guidance of Western diagnostic standards, which reproduce the main disease characteristics of Western medicine and lack observation of TCM syndromes. Future studies can pay attention to the intervention factors and evaluation systems of spleen deficiency Qi deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome and build the animal model of dAMD with integration of disease and syndrome based on clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
3.Mediating effect of self-efficacy on family health and health literacy among middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases in rural areas
LI Yanbing ; ZHOU Shutong ; LI Yingying ; BI Shanlin ; LI Youwei
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):75-78,84
Objective :
To explore the mediating effect of self-efficacy on family health and health literacy among middle-aged and elderly chronic diseases patients in rural areas, so as to provide a basis for developing targeted health literacy improvement strategies.
Methods:
Based on the publicly available 2021 "Survey of Chinese Residents' Psychology and Behavior" database, rural chronic diseases patients aged >45 years were selected as the study subjects. Data on demographic information, family type, and chronic diseases comorbidities were collected. The Chinese simplified Family Health Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Health Literacy Scale were used to assess family health, self-efficacy, and health literacy, respectively. Correlation analysis was employed to explore the relationships between variables, and the 4.1 Process program was used to analyze the mediating effect of self-efficacy on family health and health literacy. The Bootstrap method was applied to test the significance of the mediating effect.
Results:
A total of 449 participants were included, of whom 241 were male (53.67%) and 208 were female (46.33%). The majority (205 cases, 45.66%) were aged 60-<76 years. There were 168 cases (37.42%) with chronic disease comorbidities. The total score for family health was (37.96±6.25) points. The self-efficacy score was (27.28±5.40) points, the health literacy index was (27.72±8.08) points, and the health literacy proficiency rate was only 14.90% (67 patierts). Mediating effect analysis showed that family health could directly and positively influence health literacy, with a direct effect value of 0.090 (95%CI: 0.001-0.179). It could also indirectly and positively influence health literacy through self-efficacy, with a mediating effect value of 0.164 (95%CI: 0.099-0.234). The mediating effect accounted for 64.31% of the total effect.
Conclusion
Self-efficacy plays a positive mediating role between family health and health literacy among middle-aged and elderly chronic diseases patients in rural areas.
4.Research progress on the influencing factors of psychological distress in patients with coronary heart disease
Xiaotian DUAN ; Hongshi CAO ; Taiyu BI ; Haiyan WANG ; Songyu WANG ; Quantong ZHAO ; Ran WANG ; Chunjing WU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):89-96
Coronary heart disease is a chronic and lifelong disease, which places a dual burden on the physiological and psychological well-being of patients, and can easily lead to psychological distress and affect their prognosis and quality of life. This article provides a systematic review, in which the current status, evaluation tools, influencing factors and intervention methods of psychological distress in patients with coronary heart disease are explored, aiming to provide key information beneficial for identifying and preventing psychological distress, and to improve the overall management and treatment effectiveness of coronary heart disease patients. In this paper, 18 articles were included, and the demographic, physiological, psychological and social factors affecting the psychological distress of patients with coronary heart disease were systematically analyzed, thus to provide a deeper understanding of psychological distress and offering references for formulating targeted intervention strategies.
5.Research progress on the role of advanced glycosylation end products in ocular diseases
Xiaoqi GONG ; Jiaojiao FENG ; Yibo HAN ; Jike SONG ; Hongsheng BI
International Eye Science 2025;25(6):906-911
The excessive accumulation of advanced glycosylation end products(AGEs), the end products of non-enzymatic glycosylation reactions, can be involved in the pathological processes of various ocular diseases through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and apoptosis. In this paper, we systematically reviewed the key role of AGEs in diabetic keratopathy, cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)and diabetic retinopathy(DR). It was found that AGEs activate signalling pathways such as NADPH oxidase, MAPK and NF-κB by binding to the receptor RAGE, leading to reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation, release of inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial dysfunction, which in turn induces delayed corneal healing, cross-linking of lens proteins, optic nerve degeneration, formation of choroidal neovascularisation(CNV), and blood-retinal barrier(BRB)disruption. For example, in diabetic keratopathy, AGEs delay wound healing via the ROS/NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle axis; in cataract, ascorbic acid-mediated cross-linking of lens proteins due to AGEs directly impairs lens transparency; and in DR, AGEs exacerbate microvascular damage by regulating vasucular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression and pericyte apoptosis. In addition, this article discusses the advances and limitations of AGEs detection techniques, such as the potential application of lens AGEscan fluorescence assay in screening for diabetic complications, and the need to develop tissue-specific assays for aqueous humour and vitreous. For therapeutic strategies, the research directions of inhibiting AGEs production, blocking RAGE signalling pathway and developing anti-glycosylation drugs are proposed to emphasise their clinical value in delaying disease progression. This review not only integrates the molecular mechanisms and clinical associations of AGEs in ocular diseases, but also provides a theoretical basis for targeted interventions, which is of great significance in exploring novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
6.The Mechanism of Blue Light in Inactivating Microorganisms and Its Applications in The Food and Medical Fields
Ruo-Hong BI ; Rong-Qian WU ; Yi LÜ ; Xiao-Fei LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1219-1228
Blue light inactivation technology, particularly at the 405 nm wavelength, has demonstrated distinct and multifaceted mechanisms of action against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, offering a promising alternative to conventional antibiotic therapies. For Gram-positive pathogens such as Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the bactericidal effects are primarily mediated by endogenous porphyrins (e.g., protoporphyrin III, coproporphyrin III, and uroporphyrin III), which exhibit strong absorption peaks between 400-430 nm. Upon irradiation, these porphyrins are photoexcited to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), including singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anions, which collectively induce oxidative damage to cellular components. Early studies by Endarko et al. revealed that (405±5) nm blue light at 185 J/cm² effectively inactivated L. monocytogenes without exogenous photosensitizers, supporting the hypothesis of intrinsic photosensitizer involvement. Subsequent work by Masson-Meyers et al. demonstrated that 405 nm light at 121 J/cm² suppressed MRSA growth by activating endogenous porphyrins, leading to ROS accumulation. Kim et al. further elucidated that ROS generated under 405 nm irradiation directly interact with unsaturated fatty acids in bacterial membranes, initiating lipid peroxidation. This process disrupts membrane fluidity, compromises structural integrity, and impairs membrane-bound proteins, ultimately causing cell death. In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii exhibit more complex inactivation pathways. While endogenous porphyrins remain central to ROS generation, studies reveal additional photodynamic contributors, including flavins (e.g., riboflavin) and bacterial pigments. For instance, H. pylori naturally accumulates protoporphyrin and coproporphyrin mixtures, enabling efficient 405 nm light-mediated inactivation without antibiotic resistance concerns. Kim et al. demonstrated that 405 nm light at 288 J/cm² inactivates Salmonella by inducing genomic DNA oxidation (e.g., 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine formation) and disrupting membrane functions, particularly efflux pumps and glucose uptake systems. Huang et al. highlighted the enhanced efficacy of pulsed 405 nm light over continuous irradiation for E. coli, attributing this to increased membrane damage and optimized ROS generation through frequency-dependent photodynamic effects. Environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and osmotic stress further modulate susceptibility, sublethal stress conditions (e.g., high salinity or acidic environments) weaken bacterial membranes, rendering cells more vulnerable to subsequent ROS-mediated damage. The 405 nm blue light inactivates drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa through endogenous porphyrins, pyocyanin, and pyoverdine, with the inactivation efficacy influenced by bacterial growth phase and culture medium composition. Intriguingly, repeated 405 nm exposure (20 cycles) failed to induce resistance in A. baumannii, with transient tolerance linked to transient overexpression of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase) or stress-response genes (e.g., oxyR). For Gram-positive bacteria, porphyrin abundance dictates sensitivity, whereas in Gram-negative species, membrane architecture and accessory pigments modulate outcomes. Critically, ROS-mediated damage is nonspecific, targeting DNA, proteins, and lipids simultaneously, thereby minimizing resistance evolution. The 405 nm blue light technology, as a non-chemical sterilization method, shows promise in medical and food industries. It enhances infection control through photodynamic therapy and disinfection, synergizing with red light for anti-inflammatory treatments (e.g., acne). In food processing, it effectively inactivates pathogens (e.g., E. coli, S. aureus) without altering food quality. Despite efficacy against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, challenges include device standardization, limited penetration in complex materials, and optimization of photosensitizers/light parameters. Interdisciplinary research is needed to address these limitations and scale applications in healthcare, food safety, and environmental decontamination.
7.Taste Receptors and Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory of Five Flavors: A Review
Xiaoxiao XU ; Hongjie BAI ; Yu BI ; Zhenni QU ; Dianhua SHI ; Yanpeng DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):322-330
Taste is a sensation produced by the reaction of substances in the mouth with taste receptor cells, and a normal taste function is essential for our daily life and health. As receivers of taste molecules, taste receptors include sour, bitter, sweet, salty, and umami receptors, which are mainly distributed in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract epithelium and other organs and play a physiological role. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has five flavors (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, and salty), which are closely related to the efficacy. Except the pungent flavor and umami taste receptors, the other five taste receptors correspond to the five flavors in the TCM theory, while the correlations between them have not been studied, such as those between bitter receptors and bitter TCM and between sweet receptors and sweet TCM. This article reviews the research reports on taste receptors in recent years. By analyzing the relationships of taste receptors with five flavors of TCM, signaling mechanisms, and diseases based on "receptor-TCM" correlations, this article puts forward the possibility of combining the TCM theory of five flavors with modern biomedical research, providing a reference for the research on "flavors" in TCM and the correlations between TCM and taste receptors.
8.Advantages of modified ligation method for spinal cord injury modeling
Daohui LI ; Xiaoshuang XU ; Zhengtao LI ; Xinpeng TIAN ; Hangchuan BI ; Yuan LIU ; Yongwen DAI ; Lingqiang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(2):379-384
BACKGROUND:Currently,different methods of model establishment have been derived from different injury modes of spinal cord injury.Traditional physical injury modeling methods have their own advantages and disadvantages,and there is a lack of more effective and stable animal models of spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To establish a reproducible,controllable,trauma-free,low-mortality,more stable,widely applicable,and short-term postoperative care rat model of spinal cord injury. METHODS:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats with similar body mass and ages were randomly divided into a control group and an improved group,with 20 rats in each group.Animal models of spinal cord injury in the control group were constructed using a clip model method,while the improved group used a modified ligation method based on the compression method to make the spinal cord injury models using suture ligation based on fenestration.Postoperative comparisons were made between the two groups,assessing urination behavior,hematuria,pyuria(infection rate),mortality,scoliosis rate and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores at 1,3,5,and 7 days after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the conventional modeling method,the modified ligation method based on the compression method resulted in faster recovery of urination behavior,lower hematuria rate,lower infection rate,lower mortality rate,lower scoliosis rate,and more concentrated and stable Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores(all below 2 points within 1 week).This proves that the modified ligation method based on compression is more suitable for the establishment of spinal cord injury models in rats.
9.Exercise therapy for the treatment of chronic nonspecific lower back pain through mechanical-chemical coupling
Jiale ZHANG ; Fusen WANG ; Zhenrui QIU ; Xinming FAN ; Jilong ZOU ; Zhenggang BI ; Jiabing SUN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(11):2377-2384
BACKGROUND:Currently,exercise therapy is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for low back pain,and exercise therapy can maintain lumbar spine stabilization through mechanical-chemical coupling between bones and muscles,but there is no clear description of the research progress and optimal treatment protocols for exercise therapy to relieve chronic non-specific lower back pain through mechanical-chemical coupling. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress related to the influence of paravertebral muscles on lumbar spine stabilization during exercise therapy through mechanical-chemical coupling,which in turn relieves chronic non-specific lower back pain,as well as the current optimal treatment protocols of exercise therapy for chronic non-specific lower back pain. METHODS:Literature searches were performed in WanFang database,CNKI,VIP,Web of Science,and PubMed database,with search terms of"chronic non-specific low back pain,lumbar spine stabilization,paravertebral muscles,exercise therapy"in Chinese and English.Relevant literature published from database inception to January 2024 was searched and 93 articles were included for final summarization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Exercise therapy can act on the paravertebral muscles and bones through appropriate mechanical stimulation and produce corresponding changes.Exercise therapy is an important intervention for chronic non-specific lower back pain as it improves the quality of the paravertebral muscles,primarily through mechanical-chemical coupling,and thus maintains lumbar spine stabilization for better relief of chronic non-specific lower back pain.However,there are no clear reports on the exact effective protocols for exercise therapy to treat chronic non-specific lower back pain through lumbar spine stabilization.The development of an individualized exercise program is particularly important for the treatment and prognosis of chronic non-specific low back pain.Muscle mass and bone mass of the same individual are closely related,and imaging assessment of paravertebral muscle mass and quantity is important for disease detection and intervention.
10.Stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:cell source,number,modification,and administration route
Wen ZHAO ; Yulin BI ; Xuyang FU ; Hongmei DUAN ; Zhaoyang YANG ; Xiaoguang LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(19):4083-4090
BACKGROUND:With the continuous advancement of medical technology,stem cell therapy has been used to treat a variety of diseases,including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and prospect the development trend of this field. METHODS:PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),and WanFang Data were searched for articles published from 1995 to 2024 using the key words"amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,mesenchymal stem cells,neural stem/progenitor cells,pluripotent stem cells."A total of more than 1 700 articles were retrieved,and 58 articles were finally included in this review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that affects lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord and upper motor neurons in the motor cortex.The related research of stem cells in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has become a research hotspot.In this review,we summarize the application of different types of stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research,including mesenchymal stem cells,neural stem progenitor cells,and induced pluripotent stem cells,and evaluate the key points of preclinical research such as stem cell source,cell volume,stem cell modification methods,and drug delivery routes,which lays the foundation for the future application of stem cell therapy.


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