1.Exosomes Treat Ischemic Stroke by Regulation of Ferroptosis Through the NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway in Mice
Yingtao XU ; Mengmeng WANG ; Ping LIN ; Haitao CHI ; Yi WANG ; Ying BAI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):20-31
ObjectiveA middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model is established by electrocoagulation of the middle cerebral artery. The study examines the mechanism by which exosomes (EXO) derived from human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) improve ischemic stroke and regulate neural ferroptosis-related injury. MethodsThirty-two SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 per group): sham group (Sham), model group (MCAO), MCAO plus normal saline group (MCAO+NaCl), and MCAO plus exosome group (MCAO+EXO). The mouse MCAO model was established by electrocoagulation of the middle cerebral artery. Mice in the Sham group underwent exposure of the middle cerebral artery without electrocoagulation. Twenty-four hours before MCAO induction, mice in the MCAO+EXO group received a tail vein injection of 100 μL of exosomes derived from the culture supernatant of hAMSCs at a concentration of 9.5×1011 particles/mL. Mice in the MCAO+NaCl group were injected with an equal volume of normal saline via the tail vein. Twenty-four hours after model establishment, neurological deficits were evaluated using the Longa neurological deficit scoring system. Cerebral infarct volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate morphological changes of neurons in the ischemic brain regions. The contents of ferrous iron (Fe2+), malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (total GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the infarct core and peri-infarct regions were determined using microcolorimetric assays to evaluate differences among groups. The mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related factors, including nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the infarct core and peri-infarct regions were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Protein expression levels of NRF2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the infarct and peri-infarct regions of each group were analyzed by Western blotting. ResultsCompared with the MCAO group, the Longa neurological deficit score was significantly reduced in the MCAO+EXO group (P<0.01). Prominent cerebral infarction was observed in the MCAO group, whereas the infarct volume ratio was markedly decreased in the MCAO+EXO group compared with the MCAO group (P<0.001). Histopathological analysis revealed that mice in the MCAO group exhibited obvious neuronal damage, including cytoplasmic vacuolar degeneration, nuclear pyknosis and fragmentation, unclear nuclear structure, and disorganized neuronal arrangement, compared with the Sham group. In contrast, neurons in the MCAO+EXO group showed relatively preserved morphology, with intact cellular structures and large, regular nuclei located centrally within the cells. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that Fe2+ and MDA levels in the infarct core and peri-infarct regions were significantly increased in the MCAO group compared with the Sham group (P<0.001). These levels were significantly reduced in the MCAO+EXO group compared with the MCAO group (P<0.01). In addition, total glutathione (total GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were markedly decreased in the MCAO group relative to the Sham group (P<0.01). Compared with the MCAO group, the MCAO+EXO group exhibited significantly increased levels of total GSH and GSH (P<0.001), while no significant change was observed in GSSG levels (P>0.05). Furthermore, both mRNA and protein expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were significantly downregulated in the MCAO group compared with the Sham group (P<0.01, P<0.001). In contrast, both mRNA and protein expression levels of NRF2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 were significantly upregulated in the MCAO+EXO group compared with the MCAO group (P<0.05). ConclusionIn the mouse MCAO model, tail vein injection of exosomes derived from hAMSCs can improve motor function, reduce infarct area, protect neuronal cell morphology, and reduce the degree of nerve injury. Exosomes may exert a protective effect by activating the NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway and reducing ferroptosis in neuronal cells of MCAO model mice.
2.Longitudinal cohort study on pubertal development trajectories of testicular and breast development among children
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):408-412
Objective:
To characterize longitudinal trajectories of testicular development in boys and breast development in girls, so as to provide reference data for understanding patterns of pubertal sexual maturation.
Methods:
Based on the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cohort Study on Growth, Development and Health in Children and Adolescents, a baseline survey was conducted in 2020 using a mult stage cluster random sampling method. A total of 2 184 children who completed all follow ups during the primary school period from 13 elementary schools in Pudong New Area,Shanghai,with annual follow ups during 2021-2025. Testicular volume and Tanner stage of breast development were assessed by professional physicians using standardized visual inspection and palpation. The age distribution of testicular volume and breast development was fitted by using cumulative link mixed models and Turnbull s nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method.
Results:
Median ages for testicular volumes of 2, 3, 4 and 5 mL in boys were 7.07, 9.24, 10.29, and 11.57 years old, respectively. Median ages for Tanner breast stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ in girls were 8.55 , 10.17, 11.18, and 13.78 years old, respectively. Based on overweight and obesity, stratified analysis showed that earlier pubertal onset among overweight/obesity children, and the key milestones for pubertal initiation were testicular volume reaching 4 mL in boys and breast Tanner II in girls for 10.29, 10.83; 8.18, 9.00 years.
Conclusion
Overweight and obesity are associated with earlier pubertal initiation,but there are certain gender and developmental stage specific patterns.
3.Evaluation of CARIFS Score and Negative Antigen Conversion Rate of Qingxuan Daozhi Formula in Treatment of Influenza in Children (Heat Accumulation in Lung and Stomach Syndrome):A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Jing WANG ; Liqun WU ; Tiegang LIU ; Yongning CAO ; Jing QIU ; Jing LI ; Huaqing TAN ; Ying ZHANG ; Xulei GOU ; Jia WANG ; Jing LI ; Haipeng CHEN ; Xueying QIN ; Yuanshuo TIAN ; Yang WANG ; Chen BAI ; Zhendong WANG ; Qianqian LI ; He YU ; Xueyan MA ; Fei DONG ; Lin JIANG ; Yingqi XU ; Jianping LIU ; Xiaohong GU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):188-196
ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome). MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design,confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals,such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days,and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale (CARIFS) and the incidence of complications,severe cases, and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment,48 hours after medication,72 hours after medication, and (6+1) d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (90 cases) or the control group (90 cases). All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was (5.29±1.25) d,and that in the control group was (5.40±1.68) d,without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention,52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative,without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention,there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions, including headache,muscle soreness, and the need for extra care (P<0.05). On the (6+1) days after the intervention,the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions, including sore throat,bad sleep,uncomfortable feeling,poor spirit and fatigue,crying more than usual,the need for extra care,symptom,function,influence on parents,and total score (P<0.05). The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom, function, and influence on parents,as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time,scores of both groups decreased significantly,with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention,the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up,the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group,with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications,severe cases, and critical cases, there were no complications,severe cases, and critical cases in the two groups,without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome) are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules, and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome).
4.Multidimensional analysis of accuracy of CTU, contrast-enhanced MRI and CEUS in qualitative diagnosis of renal space-occupying lesions
Linjie WU ; Ying YU ; Xiaojie BAI ; Zihao QI ; Hang ZHENG ; Zhongqiang GUO
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(1):48-52
[Objective] To compare the diagnostic accuracy of three imaging modalities, inlducing CT urography (CTU), contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the qualitative diagnosis of renal space-occupying lesions. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on 542 patients with renal lesions confirmed by surgical pathology in our hospital during Jan.2019 and May 2024.The diagnostic results of CTU, CE-MRI and CEUS were compared and analyzed based on the patients' clinical and pathological data. [Results] The diagnostic accuracy rate of CTU, CE-MRI and CEUS were 84.50%, 83.14% and 86.14%, respectively.For the 161 patients who underwent all three examinations, CEUS was significantly more accurate than CTU (84.16% vs. 77.02%, P=0.018), while there was no significant difference between CTU or CEUS and CE-MRI (79.81%) (P>0.05). Further analysis found that for lesions ≤4 cm, the accuracy of the three examinations was as follows: CEUS=CTU 79.55%, CE-MRI 76.14%, with no significant difference (P>0.05). However, for lesions >4 cm, CEUS ranked the first, followed by CE-MRI and CTU (89.73% vs. 84.25% vs. 73.97%), and CEUS and CE-MRI were better than CTU (P<0.05). Additionally, for the diagnosis of clear cell renal carcinoma and benign renal space-occupying lesions, there was no statistically significant difference among the three imaging modalities (P>0.05), while for the qualitative diagnosis of non-clear cell renal carcinoma, CEUS ranked the first, followed by CE-MRI and CTU (83.87% vs. 74.19% vs. 56.45%), and CE-MRI and CEUS were better than CTU (P<0.05). [Conclusion] All of them have important diagnostic value, and the appropriate selection should be based on patients' specifc conditions.CEUS and CE-MRI are more accurate in the qualitative diagnosis of renal space-occupying lesions than CTU, especially for large lesions and non-clear cell carcinoma.
5.Constructing an induction educational system for clinical rotations in standardized pediatric residency training: program development and outcome evaluation
Ying LIAO ; Wei BAI ; Shan LI ; Guo YU ; Danyu SONG ; Hui YAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):440-445
Objective:To construct a multimodal induction educational system suitable for standardized pediatric residency training bases, and to evaluate its effectiveness, thereby obtaining suggestions for further improvement.Methods:Twelve residents newly enrolled in the 2023 standardized residency training program who commenced their first-year training were included as study subjects. The induction educational system comprised multiple modules: department introduction, training plan and assessment requirements, departmental workflow, routine diagnosis and treatment of major diseases, specialized skills/procedures, and lifestyle guidance. Training materials and methods were tailored to the characteristics of each training module. Checklists were used for supervision and review, and a competency checklist was designed to evaluate residents' mastery of the training at two weeks of induction, which would guarantee the effectiveness of the training. A questionnaire survey, powered by wjx.cn, was used to obtain the experience and suggestions from the residents and ward instructors on induction education, and content ranking analysis was performed on the survey results.Results:The survey revealed that, before starting a new rotation, residents' top three educational needs were departmental workflow, routine diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, and specialized skills/procedures. Residents preferred face-to-face lectures and demonstrations by attending physicians or senior residents; instructors suggested improving relevant materials (such as resident physician manuals and video materials) and face-to-face lectures. The residents considered the current induction educational system to be greatly beneficial in basic theories, treatment principles, basic skills, and auxiliary examination processes.Conclusions:Through the above research, a multimodal induction educational system suitable for the standardized pediatric residency training base in the Peking University First Hospital has been preliminarily established, and suggestions for further improvement have been obtained, which is conducive to further improving the system and residents' post competency.
6.Resting brain function study of executive function changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Yanyan CUI ; Ying YU ; Bo HU ; Sining LI ; Xinyu CAO ; Pan DAI ; Minhua NI ; Xiaoyan BAI ; Yao TONG ; Lijuan DU ; Linfeng YAN ; Guangbin CUI
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(9):1427-1431
Objective To explore the changes in neural activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and their corre-lation with executive function,and to analyze the neural mechanisms underlying the decline in executive function in T2DM patients.Methods Thirty-one T2DM patients(T2DM group)and thirty-two healthy controls(HC)(HC group)matched for body mass index(BMI)underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)scans and N-back task tests were included.Differ-ences in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF),regional homogeneity(ReHo),and seed-based functional connectivity(FC)between the two groups were compared,and partial correlation analyses were performed between the difference results and N-back task performance.Results The T2DM group showed prolonged reaction time(RT)in the 1-back and 2-back tasks.T2DM patients exhibited increased ALFF in the bilateral caudate nucleus,left medial superior frontal gyrus,and right postcentral gyrus,as well as elevated ReHo in the right putamen.FC analysis revealed significant alterations in FC between the caudate nucleus,putamen,and multiple brain regions in T2DM patients,with some of these FC changes significantly correlated with RT and accuracy(ACC)in the N-back task.Conclusion The decline in executive function in T2DM patients may be associated with abnormal neural activity in brain regions such as the striatum,salience network,and frontoparietal control network.FC further decreases under increased cognitive load.These findings provide evidence for the study of the neural mechanisms of executive function impairment in T2DM patients.
7.Establishment of a LC-MS/MS method for detecting gamma-aminobutyric acid in plasma and its clinical application
Jia-qian QIN ; Lei CAO ; Ying-fei PENG ; Fang-jun CHEN ; Bai-shen PAN ; Bei-li WANG ; Wei GUO
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(5):708-716
Objective To establish a stable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method for detecting gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in plasma,and to evaluate the value of GABA detection in the diagnosis of sleep disorders.Methods GABA was detected using a UPLC Xevo TQs system.The method was pre-validated and its performance was verified to establish a reference range for healthy individuals.The difference in plasma GABA levels between apparently healthy individuals and patients with sleep disorders was compared.Results We employed deuterated compounds as isotopic internal standards and utilized an Amide chromatographic column for separation.The mobile phase was 0.050%formic acid in water and 90%acetonitrile in water containing 0.175%formic acid and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate with gradient elution in the column temperature of 35℃.The linear range for the detection of GABA by LC-MS/MS was 0.05-10.00 μmol/L,with a lower limit of quantification of 0.02 μmol/L,the inter-day CV<3.00%and intra assay CV<4.00%,respectively,and the recovery rate was 101.06%-109.02%.The reference ranges for plasma GABA were established by analyzing 300 healthy controls stratified by age:18-34 years(0.08-0.15 μmol/L),35-49 years(0.10-0.20 μmol/L),and≥50 years(0.12-0.23 μmol/L).Then plasma GABA was used as a biomarker for auxiliary diagnosis of sleep disorders in analyzing 221 patients and 300 healthy controls,which revealed that AUC values were 0.510(P=0.850),0.686(P=0.002),and 0.890(P<0.001)in the groups of 18-34 years,35-49 years,and≥50 years,respectively,with optimal cut-off values of 0.09,0.10 and 0.11 μmol/L.Conclusion A reliable LC-MS/MS method for detecting GABA has been established,which can detect plasma GABA levels sensitively and accurately and can be used in assisting the clinical diagnosis of sleep disorders.
8.Reflection on promoting the research capacity of professional master's students in oncology regarding artificial intelligence and big data in the context of the new medical education
Jianguo ZHOU ; Ying CAI ; Wei HU ; Sisi HE ; Xiaoxia GOU ; Zhongwen LI ; Xiao LIU ; Yuju BAI ; Hu MA
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(2):160-165
With the development of science and technology worldwide, the blooming of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data has brought new opportunities and challenges to the promotion of the research capacity of professional master's students in oncology. The construction of the new medical education in China aims to cultivate high-level medical talents with comprehensive multidisciplinary skills and innovative abilities to flexibly solve complex problems at the frontier of medicine. In this context, professional master's students in oncology, who are facing problems such as low scientific research output and uneven quality and needing improving scientific research literacy, have been required to develop into compound talents with both clinical and research prowess. To cultivate and promote the research capacity of professional master's students in oncology, the key steps include accelerating the construction of AI education and databases, highlighting the cultivation of their scientific research capacity, implementing and fostering the cultivation of innovative ability and scientific research thinking, piloting joint cultivation models by engineering universities and medical universities, emphasizing the construction of the curriculum and teacher team for oncology, piloting the multidisciplinary mode and COME mode, and establishing a multidisciplinary cooperation network.
9.Influencing factors and prediction model construction of intraoperative hypoxemia in patients with benign central airway stenosis
Lihua MENG ; Ying XIA ; Shan LI ; Chong BAI ; Haidong HUANG ; Qin WANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(24):1890-1897
Objective:The influencing factors of intraoperative hypoxemia in patients with benign central airway stenosis were investigated by machine learning algorithm, and the prediction model of hypoxemia was constructed and verified.Methods:A case-control study was used in this study. The clinical data of 650 patients with benign central airway stenosis who who received surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of PLA Naval Medical University from June 2022 to April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. And they were divided into a training set ( n=455) and a test set ( n=195) according to 7:3. The training set was used for establishing Logistic regression model and conducting internal verification, and the test set was used for external verification. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and Boruta algorithm were used to select the factors affecting intraoperative hypoxemia in patients with benign central airway stenosis. A Logistic regression prediction model was constructed, and the model was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curve. Shapley additive interpretation (SHAP) were used to analyze the importance of influencing factors. Results:Among 650 patients, 279 were males and 371 were females, aged (37.86 ± 8.82) years. Nine feature variables were screened by LASSO regression, while 7 feature variables were screened by Boruta algorithm, the intersection of the two was operation time, complications, degree of airway stenosis, thermal ablation therapy, balloon dilation, and airway stent, respectively, based on this, a logistic regression prediction model was constructed.The AUC values of the training set, validation set and test set of the model were 0.928 (95% CI 0.903-0.954), 0.922 (95% CI 0.843-0.995) and 0.919 (95% CI 0.872-0.965), respectively. The calibration curve showed that the predicted results of the model were in good agreement with the actual results, and the DCA curve showed that the model had clinical application value. SHAP analysis showed that the importance of variables affecting intraoperative hypoxemia in benign central airway stenosis patients was ranked as operation time, thermal ablation therapy, degree of airway stenosis, comorbidification, balloon dilation, and airway stent. Conclusions:The Logistic regression prediction model of intraoperative hypoxemia built based on machine learning algorithm has good prediction efficiency, which is helpful to early identification of risk groups and prevention of hypoxemia.
10.Research Progress on Targeting Autophagy in Pan-creatic Cancer Treatment
Dongfeng SONG ; Tingting YOU ; Hui TANG ; Jinrong YING ; Zhao SUN ; Chunmei BAI
China Cancer 2025;34(8):653-659
Autophagy is a cellular self-degradation process that maintains homeostasis and has been shown to promote tumor progression in advanced stages.Pancreatic cancer cells and the surrounding stromal cells exhibit high levels of autophagy.Therefore,targeting au-tophagy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.This review focuses on research targeting autophagy in pancreatic cancer treatment,elaborating on the roles and underlying mechanisms of autophagy in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation,metas-tasis,modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment,and drug resistance.Additional-ly,we summarize preclinical and clinical studies investigating autophagy-targeted therapies both as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments,aiming to provide new theo-retical rationale and therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer management.


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