1.Thyroid Hormone Network Regulation in MASLD: Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies
Wen-Ping XIAO ; Yang MA ; Heng GUAN ; Sha WAN ; Wen HAN ; Bing-Bing LUO ; Wu-Feng WANG ; Fang LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):643-661
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 32%-38% of the adult population and posing a growing public health burden. MASLD represents a continuous disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological core of MASLD lies in disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis, characterized by an imbalance among de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-mediated lipid export. This metabolic disequilibrium subsequently drives inflammatory injury and fibrotic progression. Among the multiple regulatory pathways involved, thyroid hormone (TH) signaling has emerged as a central regulator of hepatic metabolic homeostasis. The liver is a major peripheral target organ of TH action, where TH predominantly exerts its metabolic effects through thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ). Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased MASLD prevalence, more severe histological injury, and advanced hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of TH signaling may participate throughout the entire MASLD disease spectrum. At the molecular level, TH regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by coordinating suppression of lipogenesis, enhancement of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and promotion of VLDL assembly and secretion through integrated genomic actions of the T3-TRβ axis and non-genomic signaling pathways. Across different stages of MASLD, TH signaling exerts stage-dependent protective effects. In the steatosis stage, TH improves metabolic flexibility by modulating insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and lipid droplet clearance, thereby alleviating early lipotoxic stress. During progression to MASH, TH attenuates inflammatory amplification by improving mitochondrial homeostasis, suppressing activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and modulating the gut-liver axis microenvironment. In advanced stages, TH signaling influences hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, partly through interaction with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway, while alterations in intrahepatic TH availability, mediated by dynamic changes in iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), contribute to fibrosis progression and hepatocellular dedifferentiation. In hepatocellular carcinoma, coordinated downregulation of TRβ and DIO1 establishes a tumor-associated hypothyroid state that promotes metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression. The clinical relevance of TH signaling in MASLD has been underscored by the recent approval of Resmetirom, a liver-targeted TRβ‑selective agonist, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (F2-F3). This approval represents a landmark transition from mechanistic understanding to metabolism-centered precision therapy in MASLD. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Resmetirom not only improves key histological endpoints, including MASH resolution and fibrosis regression, but also favorably modulates atherogenic lipid profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting hepatic TH pathways. This review systematically summarizes the multidimensional regulatory roles of TH across the MASLD disease spectrum and discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TH-based interventions, aiming to inform future mechanistic research and optimize clinical management strategies.
2.Research on teaching practice of generative artificial intelligence empowering Medical Immunology
Qing GUAN ; Ping LU ; Xu HAN ; Tingting LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(6):1306-1309,1314
With rapid development of technology,generative artificial intelligence has emerged as a research hotspot in field of artificial intelligence,and demonstrates immense potential to enhance quality of medical education,reduce educational costs,and optimize allocation of educational resources in medical education.Medical Immunology is a complex and continuously evolving disci-pline that not only encompasses a vast amount of basic knowledge but also involves interdisciplinary intersections,which involves extensive foundational knowledge,cross-disciplinary integration and cutting-edge research.Furthermore,rapid updates in research progress,coupled with abstract and complex nature of content,pose significant challenges for teaching.Therefore,analyzing teaching advantages of generative artificial intelligence in empowering Medical Immunology,exploring its practical applications in Medical Immunology education,and innovating theoretical education systems and methodologies are of great significance for improving quality of Medical Immunology education.
3.Research on teaching practice of generative artificial intelligence empowering Medical Immunology
Qing GUAN ; Ping LU ; Xu HAN ; Tingting LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(6):1306-1309,1314
With rapid development of technology,generative artificial intelligence has emerged as a research hotspot in field of artificial intelligence,and demonstrates immense potential to enhance quality of medical education,reduce educational costs,and optimize allocation of educational resources in medical education.Medical Immunology is a complex and continuously evolving disci-pline that not only encompasses a vast amount of basic knowledge but also involves interdisciplinary intersections,which involves extensive foundational knowledge,cross-disciplinary integration and cutting-edge research.Furthermore,rapid updates in research progress,coupled with abstract and complex nature of content,pose significant challenges for teaching.Therefore,analyzing teaching advantages of generative artificial intelligence in empowering Medical Immunology,exploring its practical applications in Medical Immunology education,and innovating theoretical education systems and methodologies are of great significance for improving quality of Medical Immunology education.
4.New trends in the development of artificial intelligence-assisted cerebrospinal fluid morphologic examination
Hui ZHAO ; Kun CHEN ; Hong LYU ; Siqi HAN ; Yunzhuan ZHAO ; Ping HAN ; Bei SONG ; Yang LIU ; Yishan HUO ; Ming GUAN ; Guojun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(5):480-485
Cerebrospinal fluid morphology examination is an important method of diagnosing central nervous system diseases, but manual microscopy has shortcomings such as low efficiency, long staff training period, and poor homogeneity of test results. In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence in the medical field has developed rapidly, providing new technical means for cerebrospinal fluid morphology examination. In the future, AI-assisted morphological examination of cerebrospinal fluid will not only realize digitalization and networking, but also improve the level and efficiency of intelligent diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid morphology, which has a broad application prospect in the intelligent assisted diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid.
5.Interpretation of presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging results
Ping WU ; Jianjun WU ; Xun SUN ; Jingjie GE ; Fangyang JIAO ; Chengfeng JIANG ; Lirong JIN ; Xinlu WANG ; Zhenguang WANG ; Yafu YIN ; Ruixue CUI ; Rong TIAN ; Shuo HU ; Rongbing JIN ; Jianjun LIU ; Xiangsong ZHANG ; Ling CHEN ; Jie LU ; Xingmin HAN ; Yihui GUAN ; Xiaoli LAN ; Chuantao ZUO ; Jian WANG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2023;43(4):236-241
Presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging is a useful method for the diagnosis of parkinsonism. Based on the expert consensus on operation and clinical application of dopamine transporter brain PET imaging technology published in 2020, this paper further recommends the relevant elements of result interpretation of presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging.
6.Acupuncture for prevention of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial.
Ting-Ting SONG ; Xiang-Hong JING ; Wei GUO ; Guan-Xiong HAN ; Shuo DU ; Ji-Ping ZHAO
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2023;43(2):123-127
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for prevention of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.
METHODS:
A total of 105 patients with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into an observation group (53 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (52 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Yintang (GV 24+), Yingxiang (LI 20), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Fengchi (GB 20), Feishu (BL 13), etc. 4 weeks before the seizure period, once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The patients in the control group were not given any intervention before the seizure period. Emergency drugs can be given appropriately during the seizure period in both groups. After seizure period, the seizure rate was recorded in the two groups; before treatment and on week 1, 2, 4, 6 of seizure period after treatment, the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score and total nasal symptom score (TNSS) were observed in the two groups; the rescue medication score (RMS) was recorded on week 1-6 of seizure period in the two groups.
RESULTS:
The seizure rate of the observation group was 84.0% (42/50), which was lower than 100.0% (48/48) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of RQLQ and TNSS at each time point of seizure period were decreased compared with before treatment in the observation group (P<0.01), which were lower than the control group (P<0.01). The RMS score at each time point of seizure period in the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture can reduce the incidence of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis, relieve the symptoms, improve the quality of life and reduce the use of emergency drugs.
Humans
;
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
;
Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy*
;
Quality of Life
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Seizures
7.Application of meridian and acupoint diagnosis of three yin meridians of foot in the treatment for gynecological diseases with acupuncture and moxibustion.
Guan-Qun WANG ; Jia-Jia ZHANG ; Shi-Hao DU ; Xiao-Long XIE ; Shuo DU ; Guan-Xiong HAN ; Bi-Hui PENG ; Chang XU ; Ji-Ping ZHAO
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2023;43(5):565-568
With three representative types of gynecological diseases (dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation, polycystic ovary syndrome) as examples, the application methods of meridian and acupoint diagnosis for gynecological diseases treated with acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed. During clinical diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended to examine the patient's leg segment along the three yin meridians of foot, aiming to explore the positive reactions of the meridians and acupoints (color, shape, skin temperature, sensory abnormalities, etc.). Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at this positive reaction place can improve the clinical efficacy. Meridian and acupoint diagnosis could provide basis for meridian syndrome differentiation, thus guiding the selection of acupoint prescriptions; it is also helpful to clarify the deficiency, excess, cold and heat of the disease nature, thus guiding the selection of acupuncture and moxibustion methods. In addition, it is an auxiliary method to estimate the prognosis and outcome of the disease.
Female
;
Humans
;
Moxibustion
;
Meridians
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Foot
;
Genital Diseases, Female/therapy*
8.Expression and Clinical Significance of CAS in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.
Hao-Ran GUO ; Xin WANG ; Han ZHANG ; Kun-Ping GUAN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2022;30(3):744-749
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the expression of cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein (CAS) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its correlation with clinical characteristics.
METHODS:
The expression of CAS in bone marrow tissue of 54 patients with AML and 24 patients with non-hematological malignant diseases was detected by Western blot and immune-histochemical method, and compared between AML group and control group. Also the relationship of CAS expression in AML and sex, age, WBC count, Hb, platelet count, bone marrow blast cell ratio, ki-67 index, cytogenetic and molecular biological prognostic risk stratification, extramedullary infiltration and other clinical characteristics was analyzed.
RESULTS:
Western blot showed that the expression of CAS protein in bone marrow biopsies of AML patients was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Immune-histochemical method revealed that CAS was mainly located in the cytoplasm in both AML group and control group. Among 54 AML patients, 14 patients (25.9%) showed high expression of CAS, while all the 24 patients in the control group showed low expression of CAS. The high expression rate of CAS in AML patients was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in prognostic risk stratification and the remission rate of the first chemotherapy between CAS high expression group and CAS low expression group in AML (P<0.05). The proportion of high risk patients and unremission patients after the first chemotherapy in CAS high expression group were significantly higher than those in CAS low expression group (57.1% vs 27.5%, 30.8% vs 7.9%), while the proportion of low risk patients and complete remission patients after the first chemotherapy were significantly lower than those in CAS low expression group (14.3% vs 37.5%, 53.8% vs 84.2%). In AML patients, the ki-67 index of bone marrow tissue in CAS high expression group was higher than that in CAS low expression group (60% vs 50%) (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
CAS is localized in cytoplasm in both AML and non-hematological malignant diseases, and its expression increases in AML. CAS is related to the risk stratification of cytogenetics and molecular biology, the remission rate after the first chemotherapy and ki-67 index in AML, which suggests that CAS may be involved in the occurrence and development of AML.
Bone Marrow/metabolism*
;
Cellular Apoptosis Susceptibility Protein/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism*
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy*
;
Prognosis
;
Remission Induction
9.Analysis on vaccination willingness and related factors of influenza, pneumonia, and herpes zoster vaccine among people over 50 years old in Minhang district of Shanghai.
Jia LU ; Xin Yue LU ; Yu Tao SHEN ; Li Ping ZHANG ; Ke Wen MEI ; Bai Chu GUAN ; Yi Han LU
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;56(2):125-131
Objective: To determine the knowledge of influenza, pneumonia, herpes zoster and related vaccines, willingness to vaccinate under multiple payment scenarios, and corresponding risk factors among people over 50 years old in Minhang District of Shanghai. Methods: A total of 1 672 respondents aged 50-69 from 13 communities/towns in Minhang district of Shanghai were included in this study using a stratified random sampling strategy on December 2020. The knowledge of influenza, pneumonia, herpes zoster and vaccines was investigated using a questionnaire, and the differences in the willingness under multiple payment scenarios were determined using chi-square test. The consistency in the willingness under multiple payment scenarios was compared using Cohen's Kappa and the risk factors of the willingness was determined using ordinal logistic regression. Results: The average age of 1 672 respondents was (60.48±5.96) years old, including 777 (46.47%) males and 895 (53.53%) females. A total of 1 350 subjects (80.74%) had local household registration in Shanghai. The proportion of the willingness to vaccinate for themselves, spouses, and parents under any payment scenario was determined to be 80.6% (influenza vaccine), 81.5% (pneumonia vaccine), and 74.0% (herpes zoster vaccine). The willingness to vaccinate against influenza and pneumonia under multiple payment scenarios remained stable (Kappa value ≥0.6), while that against herpes zoster infection was inconsistent (Kappa value ≤0.35). Logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who had higher knowledge of influenza and influenza vaccine [OR (95%CI): 1.111 (1.054-1.170), 1.182 (1.126-1.240), respectively], aged 50-59 [1.305 (1.085-1.531)] and local household registration in Shanghai [1.372 (1.079-1.721)] had higher willingness to vaccinate against influenza, while males had lower willingness [0.733 (0.551-0.910)]. Respondents who had higher knowledge of pneumonia and pneumonia vaccine [OR (95%CI): 1.837 (1.152-2.517), 2.217 (1.541-2.893), respectively] had higher willingness to receive pneumonia vaccine. Respondents aged 50-59 [1.327 (1.059-1.537)] and with local household registration in Shanghai [2.497 (1.417-4.400)] were more likely to be vaccinated against herpes zoster, while those with middle school degree or below [0.664 (0.396-0.992)] and high school degree [0.559 (0.324-0.964)] were less likely to be vaccinated. Conclusion: Among people aged over 50 years old in Minhang district of Shanghai, the willingness to vaccinate for themselves, spouses, and parents against influenza, pneumonia and herpes zoster infection is quite different under multiple payment scenarios, especially for herpes zoster vaccine.
Aged
;
China
;
Female
;
Herpes Zoster/prevention & control*
;
Herpes Zoster Vaccine
;
Humans
;
Influenza Vaccines
;
Influenza, Human/prevention & control*
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Pneumonia/prevention & control*
;
Vaccination
10.Discussion on
Chang-Zhen GONG ; Fan-Rong LIANG ; Can-Hui LI ; Wei-Xing PAN ; Yong-Ming LI ; San-Hua LENG ; Arthur Yin FAN ; Song-Ping HAN ; Jing LIU ; Shan WANG ; Zeng-Fu PENG ; Ye-Meng CHEN ; Guan-Hu YANG ; Xu-Ming GU ; Hong SU ; Shao-Bai WANG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2021;41(4):359-364
Professor
Acupuncture
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Angina, Stable
;
Combined Modality Therapy
;
Humans
;
Moxibustion

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