1.Yimei Baijiang Formula Treats Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Qian WU ; Xin ZOU ; Chaoli JIANG ; Long ZHAO ; Hui CHEN ; Li LI ; Zhi LI ; Jianqin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):119-130
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Yimei Baijiang formula (YMBJF) on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in mice. MethodsSixty male Balb/c mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomized into 6 groups: Normal, model, capecitabine (0.83 g
2.Yimei Baijiang Formula Treats Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Qian WU ; Xin ZOU ; Chaoli JIANG ; Long ZHAO ; Hui CHEN ; Li LI ; Zhi LI ; Jianqin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):119-130
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Yimei Baijiang formula (YMBJF) on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in mice. MethodsSixty male Balb/c mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomized into 6 groups: Normal, model, capecitabine (0.83 g
3.Reactive and Enzyme-activated Probe Strategies for Imaging Acute Kidney Injury
Ru-Long CHEN ; Ting-Fei XIE ; Jin-Xin ZHANG ; Jia-Ting CHEN ; Jie LI ; Peng-Fei ZHANG ; Ji-Hong CHEN ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1622-1637
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent and life-threatening clinical syndrome characterised by a rapid decline in renal function and diverse pathological etiologies. The condition has been demonstrated to be associated with elevated mortality rates and an increased risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. At present, clinicians depend heavily on conventional functional markers, such as serum creatinine and urine output, for the diagnosis and staging of the disease. It is evident that these conventional indicators characteristically manifest a considerable temporal delay and only undergo modification subsequent to considerable tissue damage. This severely restricts the timeframe for early detection and timely therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, standard markers fail to provide specific biological information regarding the underlying cellular injury mechanisms. The utilisation of advanced probe technologies in molecular imaging offers a robust alternative to overcome these inherent diagnostic limitations.This comprehensive review systematically evaluates recent progress in the design and application of two primary categories of molecular imaging tools for acute kidney disease, specifically reactive probes and enzyme-activated probes. Reactive probes are engineered to specifically interact with redox-active chemical species, including hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, and sulfur dioxide. Because oxidative stress constitutes a primary early event in acute renal tubular damage, these probes enable researchers and clinicians to visualize early cellular injury and radical accumulation well before global renal functional decline becomes evident. We discuss the application of these reactive probes across multiple imaging modalities including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and photoacoustic techniques. Photoacoustic imaging combines high spatial resolution with deep tissue penetration and has successfully demonstrated the ability to provide diagnostic alerts up to 12 h before any detectable rise in serum creatinine levels. Additionally, specific reactive probes have shown promising translational potential when tested by high-throughput screening in clinical human urine samples. Enzyme-activated probes target the specific catalytic activity of disease-relevant enzymes. These include well-documented renal tubular structural biomarkers such as NAG, GGT, and ALP, along with apoptosis-related caspases and specific nitroreductases. By responding only to enzymatic cleavage, these tools provide highly specific and pathology-directed imaging readouts. Recent structural design strategies in this field have advanced significantly beyond single-enzyme detection. Researchers are now focusing on sophisticated dual-target recognition to minimize background noise, multimodal integration to cross-validate imaging signals, and theranostic applications where probes simultaneously deliver diagnostic feedback and therapeutic agents to injured tissues. Nanotechnology serves as a fundamental enabler for realizing these advanced probe functions. By precisely optimizing nanoparticle parameters such as hydrodynamic size, surface charge, and targeting ligands, researchers can achieve amplified signal output, highly precise kidney delivery, and protection against premature degradation in the systemic circulation. For example, modifying surface charges can significantly enhance the active uptake of nanoprobes by damaged renal tubular epithelial cells.While preclinical probe development has progressed rapidly, moving these technologies into routine clinical practice remains a major challenge. We analyze the translational feasibility and current obstacles from biological, technological, and regulatory perspectives. Although biological targets such as KIM-1, FAP, and ALP have been validated in extensive patient cohorts, practical barriers severely limit their immediate clinical application. These obstacles involve complex changes in in vivo pharmacokinetics. During an acute injury episode, the extreme drop in the glomerular filtration rate alters probe clearance and can cause unwanted systemic accumulation or confusing background imaging signals. Other major hurdles include a lack of comprehensive long-term toxicity data and the absence of standardized manufacturing protocols to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Future successful translation will require rigorous multi-center clinical studies to confirm the true diagnostic value of these probes over traditional markers. Researchers must also establish strict standardization of imaging procedures and comprehensive safety evaluations. Ultimately, this review provides a thorough reference framework for designing clinically translatable molecular probes and building a precision diagnostic imaging system for acute kidney injury.
4.Effect of uric acid level and sugar sweetened beverage intake on elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in Guangzhou
ZHANG Zehui, JI Jiting, LONG Jiayi, PAN Shun, MO Miaoling, LU Zhiqing, LI Boyuan, CHEN Jiayu, LIU Li
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(6):878-882
Objective:
To investigate the association between uric acid level and elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in Guangzhou, so as to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of hypertension in the pediatric population.
Methods:
From March to December 2019, using stratified cluster random sampling, 3 626 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years without elevated blood pressure at baseline were recruited from 6 primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou. Serum uric acid levels were measured at baseline, and divided into four groups ( Q1-Q 4) based on age and sex specific quartiles for analyses. Two waves of follow up were carried out from October 2020 to May 2021 and from October 2021 to May 2022, respectively. Multilevel robust Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between uric acid level and elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents. The additive interaction between high uric acid level and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake on elevated blood pressure was assessed by stratification analysis and calculation of the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).
Results:
A total of 1 131 new cases of elevated blood pressure were identified during the two follow ups, with an incidence density of 130.5 cases 1 000 person years. Multilevel robust Poisson regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounders such as gender, age and annual family income, compared with those in the uric acid Q 1 level, the risk of elevated blood pressure in individuals in the Q 4 level increased by 25% ( RR=1.25, 95%CI =1.08-1.44), and the risk of elevated systolic blood pressure increased by 20% ( RR=1.20, 95%CI =1.05-1.36) (both P <0.05); no statistical association was observed between uric acid and elevated diastolic blood pressure (all P >0.05). In the stratified analysis, the statistical associations of uric acid Q 4 level with elevated blood pressure ( RR=1.34, 95%CI =1.13-1.58) and elevated systolic blood pressure ( RR=1.33, 95%CI =1.14-1.55) were only observed in the group with SSB intake ≥ 250 mL/week (both P <0.05). The RERI values for the effect of uric acid Q 4 and Q 3 levels with SSB intake ≥ 250 mL/week on elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 0.29 and 0.44 (both P <0.05).
Conclusions
High uric acid level is a risk factor for elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents, with a predominant effect on systolic blood pressure. High uric acid level and SSB intake synergistically promote the increase of blood pressure of children and adolescents.
5.Dynamic analysis and knowledge map construction for occupational health and occupational medicine teaching research under the background of new medical science
Shaohan ZHANG ; Cheng LI ; Changmao LONG ; Zhangjian CHEN ; Guiping HU ; Guang JIA
China Occupational Medicine 2026;53(2):155-161
Objective To analyze the status of teaching occupational health and occupational medicine course under the background of new medical science, and to construct a semantic knowledge graph to realize the digital teaching reform of the course. Methods i) The literature on teaching research of occupational health and occupational medicine courses published between January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2025 was retrieved through the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. CiteSpace 6.4.R2 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 were used for bibliometric visualization. ii) A knowledge graph system based on Web front-end was constructed using the textbook of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine (9th ed.), published by People's Medicine Publishing House, as the core data source. Results i) A total of 240 publications related to the teaching in occupational health and occupational medicine courses were included. The overall number of publications showed an upward trend. The research focused on curriculum teaching reform, curriculum-based political education, and digital technology-empowered teaching, forming an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional research system. The evolution of keywords included three stages: the foundation period (2005-2015), the growth period (2016-2020), and the innovation period (2021-2025). ii) The constructed semantic knowledge graph realizes structural visualization and a dual-mode intelligent question answering agent. A total of four independent navigation modules, including chapter overview, core concept exploration, learning progress details, and relationship network visualization, were used to achieve multidimensional learning pathways. The system requires no installation and supports cross-platform operation, meeting the needs of both teachers and students. It effectively helps students establish systematic knowledge frameworks and enhances interdisciplinary integration ability and learning initiative. Conclusion In the context of new medical science, research on teaching in occupational health and occupational medicine has evolved from a niche field into a research hotspot and entered a stage of high-quality development. The constructed semantic knowledge graph for the Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine course facilitates digital teaching reform in this field and lays a solid foundation for cultivating high-level interdisciplinary occupational health professionals.
6.Aerobic Exercise and MOTS-c Ameliorate Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes via The NRF2/PPARγ Axis
Fei-Long CHEN ; Zhi-Yu LI ; Tu-Tu WANG ; Yu FU ; Lei LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Shun-Chang LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(8):2071-2090
ObjectiveType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often causes severe hepatic metabolic complications, dominated by metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Persistent hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress further trigger steatohepatitis and progressive liver damage, increasing the mortality risk of diabetic patients. Aerobic exercise effectively improves hepatic lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity, but poor patient adherence restricts its long-term clinical application. Mitochondrial-derived mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c (MOTS-c) is a key peptide regulating insulin sensitivity and hepatic redox homeostasis. This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of MOTS-c against T2DM-related liver injury and its combined beneficial effect with aerobic exercise via the NRF2/PPARγ signaling axis. This study aimed to investigate whether MOTS-c cooperates with aerobic exercise to alleviate T2DM-associated hepatic oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction by activating the NRF2/PPARγ axis, and to clarify the molecular and transcriptomic characteristics of their combined intervention. MethodsStable MOTS-c overexpression and knockdown HepG2 cell lines were constructed using lentiviral transfection. An oleic acid-induced cellular lipid accumulation model and NRF2-knockout cell model were applied to verify the NRF2-dependent mechanism ofMOTS-c. Intracellular lipid deposition, triglyceride levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the expression of NRF2/PPARγ pathway-related genes and proteins were detected. In vivo, a T2DM rat model with obvious hepatic steatosis was established via a high-fat and high-sucrose diet combined with streptozotocin injection. Model rats received aerobic exercise, MOTS-c intraperitoneal injection, or combined intervention. We detected systemic glycolipid metabolic indicators, hepatic histopathological changes, and the expression of core proteins in the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Hepatic transcriptomic sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enrich key pathways co-regulated by MOTS-c and aerobic exercise. ResultsCellular results showed that MOTS-c overexpression significantly reduced oleic acid-induced lipid deposition, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and upregulated NRF2 and PPARγ expression. Conversely, MOTS-c knockdown aggravated hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative damage and inhibited NRF2/PPARγ pathway activation. NRF2 knockout completely eliminated the protective effects of MOTS-c on lipid metabolism and redox balance, confirming its NRF2-dependent regulatory mechanism. In T2DM rats, both MOTS-c supplementation and aerobic exercise effectively improved insulin resistance, corrected glycolipid metabolic disorders, and alleviated hepatic steatosis, while consistently activating the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Compared with single intervention, the combined treatment showed a better improvement trend in hepatic metabolic and oxidative injury, without definitive synergistic effects. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the co-regulated DEGs of MOTS-c and aerobic exercise were primarily enriched in lipid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways, with multiple antioxidant and lipid-regulating genes significantly modulated by combined intervention. ConclusionMOTS-c exhibits obvious exercise-mimetic hepatoprotective effects in T2DM. It activates the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis to strengthen antioxidant defense, stabilize lipid metabolism, and relieve T2DM-associated hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage. Furthermore, MOTS-c produces additive beneficial effects with aerobic exercise, showing a superior intervention trend on diabetic liver dysfunction. This study identifies the NRF2/PPARγ axis as the core mechanism of MOTS-c-regulated hepatic protection, elucidates the transcriptomic basis of combined intervention, and provides a reliable theoretical basis and potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in T2DM-complicated MAFLD.
7.An explainable artificial intelligence‑driven motor rehabilitation assessment system based on perception‑cognition decoupling: design and validation
Xuxia GUO ; Hengrui YU ; Yucheng LU ; Sichuang YANG ; Yu LONG ; Jiawei LI ; Lin CHEN ; Feiyu NONG ; Yaobin LONG
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(9):1108-1116
ObjectiveTo propose an X-Gait motor rehabilitation assessment system based on a perception-cognition decoupling architecture to jointly achieve high-accuracy gait recognition and clinical interpretability for low clinical credibility and opaque decision-making workflows in existing intelligent gait assessment models. MethodsIn the perception layer, YOLOv11-Pose and PoseFormerV2 were integrated for 2D-to-3D human pose reconstruction. A long short-term memory network was adopted for temporal classification of normal, abnormal and pathological gaits. The layer-wise relevance propagation algorithm was used to identify discriminative joints and automatically quantify biomechanical indices including trunk forward inclination angle, stance phase percentage and stride symmetry. In the cognition layer, rehabilitation-oriented prompt engineering and prior knowledge graphs were combined to drive large language models, converting quantitative biomechanical measurements into clinically reasonable structured reports. Eight subjects were enrolled for bedside clinical validation to evaluate classification performance and clinical consistency. ResultsThe overall gait classification accuracy of X-Gait reached 94.1%. The 2D pose detection achieved 100% valid detection rate with an average confidence of 0.819. The mean per-joint position error of 3D pose reconstruction was 105.97 mm. In clinical validation of eight cases, outputs generated by explainable artificial intelligence combined with large language models showed high consistency with manual assessments from experienced rehabilitation physicians. ConclusionThe proposed X-Gait system based on perception-cognition decoupling realizes high-precision gait identification and clinically interpretable outputs.
8.Matrix Stiffness-mediated Regulation of Vascular Regeneration During Tissue Repair
Kang-Bo WANG ; Wei-Ke LI ; Jing LONG ; Ying-Xiong WANG ; Ru-Fei GAO ; Zhen-Yin CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(9):2269-2282
Tissue repair requires the reconstruction of functional vascular networks to restore oxygen and nutrient delivery, eliminate metabolic waste, and maintain tissue homeostasis. Although biochemical factors such as growth factors and cytokines have been extensively studied in vascular regeneration, increasing evidence indicates that mechanical signals from the extracellular matrix (ECM) are equally important regulators of angiogenesis. Matrix stiffness, as a major biomechanical property of the tissue microenvironment, provides critical information that influences endothelial cell (EC) behavior and vascular remodeling through mechanotransduction. However, the biological effects of matrix stiffness are not universally defined as either pro- or anti-angiogenic, but are highly dependent on tissue context, cellular composition, disease progression, and the dynamic changes occurring during tissue repair. Therefore, understanding how matrix stiffness regulates vascular regeneration is essential for developing more precise strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the regulation of angiogenesis by matrix stiffness during tissue repair from multiple perspectives. First, we discuss the direct effects of matrix stiffness on EC behaviors, including differentiation, morphological remodeling, migration, proliferation, barrier maintenance, and vascular network formation. ECs sense mechanical alterations in the surrounding matrix through various mechanosensitive structures, including integrins, focal adhesion complexes, and mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo1 and TRPV proteins. These mechanical signals are subsequently transmitted through intracellular pathways involving FAK, RhoA/ROCK, MAPK, and Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling, leading to cytoskeletal reorganization and transcriptional regulation. Through these mechanisms, matrix stiffness regulates endothelial functional states and determines the balance between regenerative vascular formation and pathological vascular remodeling. Beyond the direct regulation of ECs, we further highlight the importance of stiffness-mediated intercellular communication within the regenerative microenvironment. Matrix stiffness can regulate the behavior and secretory profiles of vascular-associated cells, including mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages, thereby indirectly affecting endothelial function through paracrine mechanisms. Changes in matrix mechanics influence the secretion of angiogenic factors, inflammatory cytokines, and extracellular vesicles from these cells, creating a mechanical regulation network that coordinates vascular regeneration. This perspective extends the traditional concept of matrix stiffness from a physical support structure to an active regulatory signal that integrates multiple cellular responses during tissue repair. Furthermore, we discuss the tissue-specific effects of matrix stiffness in vascular regeneration across different organs, including the aorta, lung, liver, and heart. Although excessive matrix stiffening is frequently associated with fibrosis and vascular dysfunction, the consequences of mechanical changes vary considerably among tissues. Moderate stiffness alterations may support endothelial activation and vascular stabilization in certain regenerative contexts, whereas persistent pathological stiffening can promote inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired vascular repair. These findings emphasize that the biological meaning of “soft” and “stiff” microenvironments should be interpreted according to specific tissue and experimental conditions rather than as universal mechanical classifications. Finally, we summarize current challenges and future perspectives in this field. A major limitation is the lack of standardized mechanical characterization among different studies, as stiffness measurements are influenced by material properties, testing methods, and experimental conditions, limiting direct comparison across research systems. Moreover, most existing models fail to fully reproduce the dynamic and viscoelastic properties of native ECM during tissue regeneration. Future studies should combine advanced biomaterials with standardized mechanical analysis, organoid models, and multi-omics approaches to establish more accurate mechanical regulatory maps. Overall, this review proposes that matrix stiffness is not merely a structural feature of tissues, but an active biological signal that regulates vascular regeneration through coordinated mechanotransduction and multicellular interactions. A deeper understanding of stiffness-mediated vascular regulation will provide new theoretical insights and therapeutic opportunities for improving tissue repair outcomes.
9.Toxic Mechanism, Risk Evaluation, and Regulatory Policies of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Senecionis Scandentis Herba: A Review
Weili CHEN ; Shengxuan LI ; Linying QIN ; Xiangle MENG ; Yu DONG ; Long CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):330-338
ObjectiveTo summarize the research results on the toxic mechanism and the relevant regulatory policies at home and abroad of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), the main toxic components, in Senecionis Scandentis Herba, thereby providing insights into the clinical use and scientific regulation of Senecionis Scandentis Herba. MethodsMultiple Chinese and English databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and VIP were searched, with "Senecio," "PSenecio scandens," and "pyrrolizidine alkaloids" as search terms. The relevant articles published from 1959 to 2025 were retrieved and analyzed, and 79 articles were finally selected for review. ResultsThe chemical components of Senecionis Scandentis Herba include alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, sesquiterpenes, jacaranone derivatives, and organic acids, among which alkaloids are the most toxic components, followed by jacaranone derivatives. PAs are metabolized into highly active pyrrole derivatives in the liver, which can cause serious adverse reactions such as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and DNA damage. The content of PAs varies significantly due to the origin, harvest period, and medicinal parts. There have been reports of clinical liver injury caused by preparations containing Senecionis Scandentis Herba, and some preparations have a daily intake of PAs exceeding the international safety threshold. Currently, international organizations have set limited standards for PAs, while China only controls the content of adonifoline, and the supervision is not yet perfect. ConclusionAlthough Senecionis Scandentis Herba has medicinal value, its PAs have significant toxicological properties. This is a problem that cannot be ignored and needs to be overcome in the use of Senecionis Scandentis Herba. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the quality control of raw materials, establish a more comprehensive limited standard for PAs, and optimize the medication strategy in combination with traditional Chinese medicine theory to ensure the safety of clinical medication.
10.Toxic Mechanism, Risk Evaluation, and Regulatory Policies of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Senecionis Scandentis Herba: A Review
Weili CHEN ; Shengxuan LI ; Linying QIN ; Xiangle MENG ; Yu DONG ; Long CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):330-338
ObjectiveTo summarize the research results on the toxic mechanism and the relevant regulatory policies at home and abroad of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), the main toxic components, in Senecionis Scandentis Herba, thereby providing insights into the clinical use and scientific regulation of Senecionis Scandentis Herba. MethodsMultiple Chinese and English databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and VIP were searched, with "Senecio," "PSenecio scandens," and "pyrrolizidine alkaloids" as search terms. The relevant articles published from 1959 to 2025 were retrieved and analyzed, and 79 articles were finally selected for review. ResultsThe chemical components of Senecionis Scandentis Herba include alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, sesquiterpenes, jacaranone derivatives, and organic acids, among which alkaloids are the most toxic components, followed by jacaranone derivatives. PAs are metabolized into highly active pyrrole derivatives in the liver, which can cause serious adverse reactions such as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and DNA damage. The content of PAs varies significantly due to the origin, harvest period, and medicinal parts. There have been reports of clinical liver injury caused by preparations containing Senecionis Scandentis Herba, and some preparations have a daily intake of PAs exceeding the international safety threshold. Currently, international organizations have set limited standards for PAs, while China only controls the content of adonifoline, and the supervision is not yet perfect. ConclusionAlthough Senecionis Scandentis Herba has medicinal value, its PAs have significant toxicological properties. This is a problem that cannot be ignored and needs to be overcome in the use of Senecionis Scandentis Herba. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the quality control of raw materials, establish a more comprehensive limited standard for PAs, and optimize the medication strategy in combination with traditional Chinese medicine theory to ensure the safety of clinical medication.


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