1.Obesogenic effects of perinatal bisphenol AF exposure on prepubertal male offspring rats
Xi LIU ; Zhengli YANG ; Xueqing CHENG ; Jun YANG ; Jing XU ; Xinyu HONG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(2):139-145
ObjectiveTo investigate the disruptive effects of perinatal exposure to the environmental endocrine disruptor bisphenol AF (BPAF) on hepatic lipid metabolism in prepubertal (postnatal day 21, PND21) male offspring rats, and to provide scientific evidence for assessing the obesogenic effect of BPAF. MethodsSprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 8 weeks were used in this study. Pregnant rats were divided into BPAF dose groups (2, 10, 50 mg·kg⁻¹) and a vehicle control group (corn oil), with 6 confirmed pregnant females per group. Gavage administration started from gestational day 0 and continued until the end of lactation. At PND21, one male offspring per litter was randomly selected. Serum concentrations of glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), leptin (LEP), free fatty acid (FFA), as well as oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured. Pathological changes in liver and adipose tissues were evaluated, and the expression levels of genes related to hepatic lipid metabolism were measured. ResultsCompared to the vehicle control group, the 50 mg·kg⁻¹ group showed significantly increased serum LEP and MDA levels in male offspring (P<0.05), and significant upregulation of hepatic lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), fatty acid synthetase (Fas), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparg) gene expression (P<0.05). The 2 mg·kg⁻¹ group exhibited a significant increase in adipocyte length (P<0.05), while the 50 mg·kg⁻¹ group showed significant increases in both adipocyte area and length (P<0.05). No significant abnormalities were observed in liver histopathological examination. ConclusionPerinatal exposure to 50 mg·kg⁻1 BPAF induced adipocyte hypertrophy, elevated leptin levels, upregulation of lipid synthesis gene expression, and enhanced oxidative stress in prepubertal male offspring, suggesting that BPAF may exert environmental obesogenic effects by disrupting lipid metabolism pathways.
2.Novel therapeutic advances for uveal melanoma
Xiaodie LI ; Chaoqun LIU ; Xiaojuan CHENG ; Yuhan SHANG ; Ruixue REN ; Yulu HE ; Xiaoli YANG
International Eye Science 2026;26(5):823-830
Uveal melanoma(UM)is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, characterized by high invasiveness and unique metastatic biological features. Although local treatments(such as proton beam therapy and brachytherapy)can effectively control the primary lesion, approximately 50% of patients eventually develop distant metastasis, with the liver being the primary target organ(occurring in 90% of cases). This highlights a paradigm shift in treatment focus from mere local control to systemic prevention and management. For metastatic UM(mUM), current treatment strategies encompass biomarker-guided molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy(including Tebentafusp, vaccines, and oncolytic virus therapy), and liver-directed therapy. Focusing on the synergy between local and systemic prevention and control, this article systematically elaborates on the precision local treatment for primary UM, the decision-making pathway for systemic treatment of metastatic UM based on molecular subtyping, the integration of local and systemic therapies for liver metastases, and the translational value of nanomedicine in addressing therapeutic bottlenecks. It provides insights for optimizing clinical management of mUM and developing novel therapeutic strategies.
3.Mechanisms of Huanglian Jiedutang and Its Major Active Constituents in Inhibiting LPS-induced M1 Polarisation of BV2 Microglia
Haojia ZHANG ; Kai WANG ; Kunjing LIU ; Xin LAN ; Zijin SUN ; Chunyu WANG ; Wenyuan MA ; Wei SHAO ; Jinhua HAN ; Liyang DONG ; Changxiang LI ; Xueqian WANG ; Youxiang CUI ; Fafeng CHENG ; Qingguo WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):44-55
ObjectiveTo investigate whether Huanglian Jiedutang (HLJD) and its major active constituents (geniposide, baicalin, and berberine) can inhibit the inflammatory response of BV2 cells under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation via the high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, and to explore differences in therapeutic efficacy among the three monomers, their combined formula, and HLJD under equal content ratios. MethodsBV2 microglial cells were used as the primary experimental model. Cell viability was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method to examine the effects of different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.8%, 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.05%) on cell viability. IncuCyte was employed to monitor the growth of cells under different concentrations of HLJD (200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 mg·L-1). Nitric oxide (NO) assay was used to screen the optimal HLJD concentration. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determined the content of geniposide, baicalin, and berberine in HLJD, and experimental groups were subsequently established according to the relative proportions of these constituents. CCK-8 assay evaluated cell viability under different treatments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) in the supernatant. Flow cytometry assessed the effects of treatments on M1-type polarization of BV2 cells. Western blot determined the expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB-related proteins. ResultsCompared with the blank group, DMSO at concentrations ≤0.2% did not affect cell viability within 48 h. BV2 cell growth plateaued at 24 h after treatment with 200 mg·L-1 HLJD. Under stimulation with 2 mg·L-1 LPS, this concentration of HLJD effectively reduced NO release, and 6 h pre-treatment had a stronger inhibitory effect on NO than direct administration. HPLC results showed that 1 mg of HLJD freeze-dried powder contained approximately 24 μg of geniposide, 15 μg of baicalin, and 30 μg of berberine. Based on these ratios, experimental groups were blank, LPS (2 mg·L-1), HLJD (200 mg·L-1), monomer combination, geniposide (4.8 mg·L-1), baicalin (3 mg·L-1), and berberine (6 mg·L-1). The monomer combination group consisted of all three active constituents dissolved together. LPS and HLJD or its active constituents did not affect cell viability compared with the blank group. LPS significantly increased TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the supernatant (P<0.01). HLJD and its active constituents significantly reduced pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01) while upregulating anti-inflammatory IL-10 (P<0.01), with the monomer combination showing the strongest effect (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, LPS significantly increased the proportion of CD80⁺CD86⁺ (M1-type) BV2 cells (P<0.01). HLJD and its constituents partially inhibited M1 polarization (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the monomer combination exhibiting the most pronounced effect (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, LPS upregulated HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB-related proteins (P<0.01), whereas HLJD and its active constituents significantly reduced their expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the monomer combination having the strongest regulatory effect (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHLJD and its major active constituents (geniposide, baicalin, berberine) can inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory responses in BV2 cells. The combination of the three active constituents demonstrates the most potent anti-inflammatory effect, significantly attenuating M1-type polarization of BV2 cells via the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
4.Epidemiological characteristics of category C intestinal infectious diseases among children and adolescents in Shenzhen from 2012 to 2024 and the association with meteorological factors
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(4):553-557
Objective:
To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of category C intestinal infectious diseases among children and adolescents in Shenzhen from 2012 to 2024 and the association with meteorological factors, so as to provide a scientific basis for the targeted prevention and control of infectious diseases for children and adolescents.
Methods:
Using data from the "Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System" of the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" covering the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2024, the study analyzed clinical and confirmed cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, other infectious diarrhea, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis among individuals aged 6-19 years old to describe demographic and temporal characteristics. It used Joinpoint regression to calculate the average annual percent change (AAPC) and annual percent change (APC) to analyze incidence trends, and Spearman s correlation was combined to generalize linear models so as to assess the association between category C intestinal infectious diseases and meteorological factors.
Results:
From 2012 to 2024, a cumulative total of 61 019 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease among children and adolescents, 58 498 cases of other infectious diarrhea, and 6 377 cases of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis were reported. The AAPC in the incidence rates of these three diseases was 19.19%, 31.03% and 31.48 %, respectively(all P <0.05). Notably, the incidence of hand, foot, and mouth disease increased significantly after 2022 (APC= 133.66 %, P <0.01). The temporal distribution showed that hand,foot,and mouth disease was most prevalent in May,June and July (seasonal index of 2.39,3.64,1.97), other infectious diarrhea was most prevalent in February,March and December (seasonal index of 1.22,1.25,1.47), and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis peaked in September and October (seasonal index of 4.22,2.16). Monthly average temperature could increase the risk of hand,foot,and mouth disease( β = 0.18 ,95% CI =0.11-0.25); as monthly average wind speed increased, the incidence of other infectious diarrhea ( β =-0.86, 95% CI = -1.50 to -0.22) and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis ( β =-1.32, 95% CI =-2.60 to -0.05) both decreased (all P < 0.05 ).
Conclusions
Among children and adolescents in Shenzhen, category C intestinal infectious diseases remain prevalent throughout the year;the number of reported hand, foot, and mouth disease cases has shown an upward trend in recent years.Temperature and wind speed significantly affect the number of reported cases of three types with category C intestinal infectious diseases.
5.Association of 24 hour movement behaviors and physical fitness with serum C-reactive protein among female college students
WEN Xinfei, WANG Xiuqiang, WANG Chuanzhi, CHENG Shulin, LIU Jinyan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(4):579-583
Objective:
To examine the associations between 24 hour movement behavior allocation patterns and physical fitness as well as serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels among female college students, providing evidence for developing personalized health promotion strategies.
Methods:
In September 2025, 48 female college students aged 18-22 years were recruited from a comprehensive university from Shanghai. Continuous 24 hour movement behaviors were monitored using a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+). Serum hsCRP levels were measured (≥1 000 ng/mL was log grade inflammation), and physical fitness indicators including upper limb muscle strength, vital capacity, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) were assessed. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between variables. Compositional data analysis combined with multiple linear regression was employed to construct isotemporal substitution models, evaluating the effects of substituting 30 minutes of one behavior for another on hsCRP and VO 2max .
Results:
Female college students had the longest average daily sedentary behavior (SB) time (643.2±103.2)min, which was higher than sleep time (452.4±90.0)min, light physical activity (LPA) time (279.0±76.8)min and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time (66.0±21.6)min. Correlation analysis revealed that vigorous physical activity (VPA) was positively correlated with hsCRP levels among female college students ( r=0.47, P <0.05). Substituting 30 minutes of MVPA with sleep, SB or LPA significantly reduced predicted hsCRP levels among female college students ( β = -0.90, -0.90, -0.73), replacing 30 minutes of sleep with MVPA significantly increased predicted VO 2max levels ( β =5.12) (all P <0.05). The low grade inflammation group exhibited longer durations of high intensity activity participation and higher mean values for height, body weight, and grip strength compared to the normal group ( t =2.17, 2.52, 2.21, all P <0.05). Within the normal inflammation group, MVPA was positively associated with VO 2max ( β =0.18), while sleep was negatively associated ( β =-0.07) (both P <0.05). In contrast, no statistically significant associations were observed between any activity behavior and VO 2max in the low grade inflammation group (all P >0.05).
Conclusions
MVPA exerts bidirectional effects on the health of female college students. While it enhances cardiorespiratory fitness, it may concurrently elevate chronic low grade inflammation levels. To maximize health benefits, intervention programs focused on increasing MVPA should also give full consideration to the importance of restorative sleep.
6.Atorvastatin inhibits orthodontic tooth movement in rats by promoting periodontal bone formation
Xinyi SONG ; Siqi DING ; Yuhe CHENG ; Xiaoyu LIU ; Tingting WU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(2):344-354
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of atorvastatin (ATV) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro, and to validate the regulatory effect of ATV on periodontal bone formation and tooth movement using a rat orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) model. MethodsThe effects of ATV on the proliferation and osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs, PDLSCs, and DPSCs were assessed in vitro. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of the three types of cells. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin Red staining were employed to evaluate osteogenic differentiation capacity. Western blot was used to detect the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins [collagen type I (COL-I), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), osteocalcin (OCN)] and the odontogenesis-related protein dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) in BMSCs, PDLSCs and DPSCs. An OTM rat model was established, with rats randomly assigned to an ATV gavage group and a control group. The ATV gavage group received daily oral administration of ATV at a dose of 20 mg/kg, while the control group received an equal volume of solvent by gavage. Tooth movement distance was measured via Micro-CT on days 7, 14, and 21. Histomorphology of periodontal tissues was observed using Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. The gene and protein expression levels of osteogenic markers (BMP-2, Runx2, OCN) on the tension side of the first molar were detected by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. ResultsATV at concentrations of 1×10⁻⁶ mol/L and 1×10⁻⁷ mol/L significantly promoted the proliferation and osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation of BMSCs, PDLSCs, and DPSCs, manifested as enhanced ALP activity, increased mineralized nodule formation, and up-regulated expression of osteogenic/odontogenic proteins COL-I, Runx2, BMP-2, OCN, and DSPP (P<0.001). In the OTM model, compared with the control group, the ATV gavage group showed a significant reduction in tooth movement distance (P<0.05), enhanced osteogenic activity in periodontal tissues, and significantly increased gene (P<0.001) and protein (P<0.05) expression of BMP-2, Runx2, and OCN on the tension side of the first molar. ConclusionATV enhances periodontal osteogenesis by promoting osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation, thus inhibiting tooth movement.
7.Dilemmas and challenges for parasitology teachers at shortage of clinicalmedical sciences knowledge background in medical colleges and universities
Su HAN ; Yang CHENG ; Chao DENG ; Youyi LIU ; Yuhong LI
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2026;38(1):69-73
Medical parasitology, as a course bridging basic medical sciences and clinical medicine, has an important disciplinary value in the medical education system. This study investigated the composition of parasitology teachers from multiple medical colleges and universities across China. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the proportion of teachers with clinical medicine background knowledge, and there was common dilemma that there were insufficient clinical medicine knowledge reserves among teachers in some medical colleges and universities, who encountered severe teaching challenges. Based on this issue, this study constructed a basic-clinical medicine collaborative problem-based learning (PBL) teaching model. This model integrated theoretical teaching, case analyses, and experimental operations, and combined transdisciplinary team building and multidimensional teacher training, which significantly improved the clinical teaching capability among parasitology teachers, and effectively compensated the impact of insufficient clinical medicine knowledge reserves on teaching. Following teaching reform, students' scores significantly improved, and their case analysis capability enhanced. This study provides a practical path to address the shortage of clinical medicine background knowledge among parasitology teachers, which facilitates the progress of educational reform of medical parasitology and improvement of teaching quality.
8.MRI findings of spinal cord atrophy after spinal cord injury in children and their injury level
Yingxin ZHANG ; Genlin LIU ; Di CHEN ; Hongxia ZHANG ; Yifan TIAN ; Yiji WANG ; Yang JING ; Ruidong CHENG ; Shaomin ZHANG ; Jiafeng YAO ; Bo SUN ; Xiaomeng SUN
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(4):387-392
ObjectiveTo delineate imaging findings using an imaging platform and investigate the correlation between MRI characteristics of spinal cord atrophy and clinical diagnosis in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). MethodsImaging data of 150 children with SCI admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, from January, 2002 to March, 2024 were collected and imported into the imaging platform. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the middle part of the spinal cord at the cross-section with the most severe atrophy were measured, and the relevant indicators of the previous normal spinal cord segment were measured as controls; the radiomic features were extracted. Clinical data of the children including gender, age, cause of injury, sensory level, motor level, spinal cord injury level, injury severity and disease course were collected. ResultsSpinal cord atrophy was identified in 81 cases (54%), among which 78 cases (96%) were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A and 3 cases (4%) were AIS grade C. The upper boundary of the spinal cord atrophy site strongly correlated with the injury level, motor level and sensory level (r > 0.8, P < 0.001). ConclusionMore than half of children with SCI may develop secondary spinal cord atrophy, the vast majority of whom suffer from complete spinal cord injury; the upper boundary of spinal cord atrophy is correlated with the injury level.
9.Application of action observation therapy in stroke rehabilitation from 2016 to 2025: a bibliometric analysis
Cheng HUANG ; Yangyi SHEN ; Biying LU ; Tong LIU ; Yue LIU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(4):399-410
ObjectiveTo analyze the application trends and research hotspots of action observation therapy (AOT) in the field of stroke rehabilitation over the past decade. MethodsLiteratures on AOT in stroke rehabilitation published from January, 2016 to December, 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace 6.4.R1 was used for visual analysis. ResultsA total of 463 articles were included. The annual publication volume showed a fluctuating upward trend. The country with the highest number of publications was China, the most productive institution was Chang Gung University and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, and the most prolific author was Avanzini Pietro. Mirror neuron system, motor imagery, upper limb and facilitation were identified as high-frequency keywords and bursting words. ConclusionIn the past decade, the number of publications on AOT in stroke rehabilitation has generally increased. Researches are focusing on the synergy of sensory-closed-loop multimodal technologies, reconstruction of fine upper limb function and neural facilitation mechanisms.
10.MCC950 Targeted Inhibition of TXNIP-NLRP3 Axis-mediated Podocyte Pyroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Hong ZHENG ; Zhong-Cheng MO ; Hang LIU ; Xi-Zhang PAN ; Bing WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):418-430
Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.


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