1.Exploration in Pathological Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction and Osteoporosis Based on "Heart-bone" Axis Theory
Yuzhuo ZHANG ; Qi SHANG ; Hui REN ; Bin LIU ; Jingzhi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):251-257
Myocardial infarction (MI) and osteoporosis (OP), as two prevalent metabolic diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates, are respectively characterized by cardiovascular system dysfunction and bone homeostasis imbalance, collectively posing significant global public health challenges. While clinically often considered as independent diseases, recent studies have revealed shared pathological mechanisms between the two. This study initiated its exploration from the traditional Chinese medicine concept of the "heart-bone" axis, systematically analyzing the correlation between MI and OP from perspectives including hemodynamics, neuroendocrinology, calcium homeostasis, inflammation and vascular injury, as well as hormone levels. By discussing the pathological mechanisms of "heart disease affecting the bones and bone disease affecting the heart", the study also elucidated advancements in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The goal is to provide novel insights and methodologies for the prevention and treatment of "heart-bone comorbidities", thereby facilitating comprehensive management of cardiovascular and skeletal diseases.
2.Exploration in Pathological Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction and Osteoporosis Based on "Heart-bone" Axis Theory
Yuzhuo ZHANG ; Qi SHANG ; Hui REN ; Bin LIU ; Jingzhi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):251-257
Myocardial infarction (MI) and osteoporosis (OP), as two prevalent metabolic diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates, are respectively characterized by cardiovascular system dysfunction and bone homeostasis imbalance, collectively posing significant global public health challenges. While clinically often considered as independent diseases, recent studies have revealed shared pathological mechanisms between the two. This study initiated its exploration from the traditional Chinese medicine concept of the "heart-bone" axis, systematically analyzing the correlation between MI and OP from perspectives including hemodynamics, neuroendocrinology, calcium homeostasis, inflammation and vascular injury, as well as hormone levels. By discussing the pathological mechanisms of "heart disease affecting the bones and bone disease affecting the heart", the study also elucidated advancements in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The goal is to provide novel insights and methodologies for the prevention and treatment of "heart-bone comorbidities", thereby facilitating comprehensive management of cardiovascular and skeletal diseases.
3.Epidemiological characteristics and spatial-temporal clustering of varicella in Changchun City from 2020 to 2024
WU Hui ; XU Qiumin ; REN Zhixing ; YIN Yuan ; ZHAI Qianqian ; YAO Laishun
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):66-70,74
Objective:
To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and spatial-temporal clustering of varicella in Changchun City from 2020 to 2024, so as to provide the evidence for formulating local varicella prevention and control measures.
Methods:
The individual case data of varicella were collected through the Surveillance and Reporting Management System of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System in Changchun City from 2020 to 2024. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the population ,regional, and temporal distribution. Spatial autocorrelation and spatio-temporal scanning analyses were used to identify the spatial-temporal clustering characteristics.
Results:
A total of 8 850 varicella cases were reported in Changchun City from 2020 to 2024, with an average annual incidence of 19.64/105. There were 4 929 male cases and 3 921 female cases, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.26∶1. The age was mainly 0-<20 years (6 649 cases, 75.13%), and students were the predominant occupation (6 036 cases, 68.20%). The top three counties (cities, districts) with the highest number of cases were Chaoyang District (1 944 cases), Gongzhuling City (1 054 cases) and Nanguan District (987 cases), accounting for 45.03%. The peak incidence periods were from April to June and from October to December, with 2 166 and 4 226 cases, accounting for 24.47% and 47.75%, respectively. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that spatial clustering existed from 2020 to 2024. The high-high clustering areas were mainly some townships (streets) in Chaoyang District, Nanguan District, Changchun New District and Jingyue District. Spatio-temporal scanning analysis identified 6 high-risk clustering areas. The class Ⅰ clustering area was Nanhu Street in Chaoyang District, with the clustering period from September 2020 to February 2022.
Conclusions
Varicella cases in Changchun City were mainly males and students aged 0-<20 years from 2020 to 2024. The peak incidence was mainly in winter. Chaoyang District was a high-risk area, with obvious spatial-temporal clustering.
4.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.
5.Effects of androgens on cognitive function in castration male mice
Yaqi ZHANG ; Cancan HUI ; Fang REN ; Min XU ; Zilong JIANG ; Datong DENG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):455-461
ObjectiveTo establish a castrated male mouse model and to preliminarily investigate the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on behavior, serum indices, and histopathological changes in castrated mice, as well as to explore the role of androgens in cognitive function. MethodsForty 6-month-old male C57/BL6J mice were randomly divided into sham operation group, castration group, testosterone propionate (0.5,1.0 mg/kg) treated group, with 10 mice in each group. Following castration and subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate at different doses (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) for TRT, learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) test and the passive avoidance test. Serum testosterone and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured by ELISA, and histopathological changes in the hippocampus were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. ResultsRoutine observations: there were no statistically significant differences in body weight among groups at any time point. MWM test: compared with castration group, sham operation group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) showed significantly reduced escape latency on days 4 and 5 (P0.05), while the number of platform crossings and the time spent in the target quadrant significantly increased (P0.05). Passive avoidance test: the number of passive avoidance errors significantly decreased in sham operation group and testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg)-treated group (P0.05), and the passive avoidance latency was significantly prolonged in sham-operated group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) (P0.05). Serum testosterone and serum BDNF assays: serum testosterone levels and serum BDNF concentrations significantly increased in sham operation group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) (P0.01). HE staining: compared with sham operation group, neuronal density in all hippocampal subregions was slightly reduced in castration group; in the testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg)-treated group, neuronal arrangement in the CA1 and CA3 regions was improved and apoptotic cells were reduced compared with castration group; in testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg)-treated group, the pyramidal cell layer in the CA3 region was more compactly arranged, with fewer apoptotic cells than in castration group. ConclusionTRT improves learning and memory performance in castration male mice, potentially through modulation of hippocampal BDNF signaling pathways.
6.Coptidis Rhizoma and Its Prescriptions in Treatment of Diabetic Cognitive Impairment: A Review
Tianyi REN ; Yun LING ; Yiming SHEN ; Hui FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(20):266-275
Diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI) has an insidious onset and progressive and irreversible development. There is currently no first-line treatment for DCI. Early intervention of diabetes with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively control blood sugar and improve cognitive impairment, which has significant advantages. As a representative of bitter and cold heat-clearing medicines, Coptidis Rhizoma, known for its abilities to clear heat and dampness and remove turbidity and toxins, has been widely used in the clinical prevention and treatment of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other cognitive impairments. This article systematically summarized relevant literature and observed that Coptidis Rhizoma has shown good potential in the prevention and treatment of DCI with its active ingredients such as berberine and quercetin, drug pairs such as Coptidis Rhizoma-Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma-Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma-Pinelliae Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma-Zingiberis Rhizoma, and prescriptions such as Gegen Qinliantang, Huanglian Jiedutang, Banxia Xiexintang, Huanglian Wendantang, Jiaotai Wan, Danggui liuhuangtang, and related Chinese patent medicines. Its mechanism may be related to regulating glucose metabolism, improving insulin resistance, improving amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposition and tau protein phosphorylation, inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and regulating the "microbe-gut-brain axis". The article systematically reviewed the research progress of Coptidis Rhizoma and its prescriptions in the prevention and treatment of DCI, aiming to preliminarily explain the scientific connotation of Coptidis Rhizoma and provide a basis for its clinical application in the prevention and treatment of DCI.
7.Lactate metabolism and acute kidney injury.
Hui LI ; Qian REN ; Min SHI ; Liang MA ; Ping FU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(8):916-924
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinically critical syndrome in hospitalized patients with high morbidity and mortality. At present, the mechanism of AKI has not been fully elucidated, and no therapeutic drugs exist. As known, glycolytic product lactate is a key metabolite in physiological and pathological processes. The kidney is an important gluconeogenic organ, where lactate is the primary substrate of renal gluconeogenesis in physiological conditions. During AKI, altered glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in kidneys significantly disturb the lactate metabolic balance, which exert impacts on the severity and prognosis of AKI. Additionally, lactate-derived posttranslational modification, namely lactylation, is novel to AKI as it could regulate gene transcription of metabolic enzymes involved in glycolysis or Warburg effect. Protein lactylation widely exists in human tissues and may severely affect non-histone functions. Moreover, the strategies of intervening lactate metabolic pathways are expected to bring a new dawn for the treatment of AKI. This review focused on renal lactate metabolism, especially in proximal renal tubules after AKI, and updated recent advances of lactylation modification, which may help to explore potential therapeutic targets against AKI.
Humans
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Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism*
;
Lactic Acid/metabolism*
;
Animals
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Glycolysis/physiology*
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Gluconeogenesis/physiology*
;
Kidney/metabolism*
8.STAR Recommendations: A novel framework for generating recommendations.
Xu WANG ; Janne ESTILL ; Hui LIU ; Qianling SHI ; Jie ZHANG ; Shilin TANG ; Huayu ZHANG ; Xueping LI ; Zhewei LI ; Yaxuan REN ; Bingyi WANG ; Fan WANG ; Juan JUAN ; Huixia YANG ; Xiuyuan HAO ; Junmin WEI ; Yaolong CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(14):1643-1646
9.Huanglian Jiedu Decoction prevents and treats acute liver injury in septic mice via AMPK/SIRT1 autophagy pathway.
Rui-Zhu ZHAO ; Xin-Yue REN ; Yu-Hang WANG ; Ding-Xing FAN ; Shi-Lei LOU ; Hui YAN ; Cong SUN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):507-514
This study aims to explore the mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction(HJD) in treating acute liver injury(ALI) in the mouse model of sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Fifty-four male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into six groups: blank group, model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose group HJD, and dexamethasone group. The mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS after 7 days of gavage with HJD, and dexamethasone(0.2 mL) was injected intraperitoneally 1.5 h after modeling. The murine sepsis score(MSS) was recorded 12 h after modeling. The levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in the liver tissue and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in the serum were measured by ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the mouse liver. The content of light chain 3 of microtubule-associated protein 1(LC3) was detected by immunofluorescence, and that of sirtuin 1(SIRT1) was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK), LC3, and P62 were detected by RT-PCR. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of AMPK, p-AMPK, and SIRT1 in the liver tissue. The results showed that compared with model group, drug interventions decreased the MSS and liver injury indicators, lowered the levels of inflammatory cytokines, improved the liver tissue structure, upregulated the protein levels of of p-AMPK/AMPK and SIRT1 and the mRNA levels of AMPK and LC3, and downregulated the mRNA level of P62. To sum up, HJD can regulate the autophagy level and reduce inflammation to ameliorate acute liver injury in septic mice by activating the AMPK/SIRT1 autophagy pathway.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Sirtuin 1/genetics*
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Male
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Mice
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Sepsis/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Autophagy/drug effects*
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics*
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Liver/metabolism*
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Humans
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics*
10.Identification of blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology and evaluation of their anti-insomnia effects and mechanisms.
Xia-Xia REN ; Jin-Na YANG ; Xue-Jun LUO ; Hui-Ping LI ; Miao QIAO ; Wen-Jia WANG ; Yi HE ; Shui-Ping ZHOU ; Yun-Hui HU ; Rui-Ming LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1928-1937
This study identified blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills and explored their anti-insomnia effects and mechanisms. The main blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills were detected and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The rationality of the formula was assessed by using enrichment analysis based on the relationship between drugs and symptoms, and core targets of its active components were selected as the the potential anti-insomnia targets of Anshen Dropping Pills through network pharmacology analysis. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the core targets. An active component-core target network for Anshen Dropping Pills was constructed. Finally, the effects of low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Anshen Dropping Pills on sleep episodes, sleep duration, and sleep latency in mice were measured by supraliminal and subliminal pentobarbital sodium experiments. Moreover, total scores of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) scale was used to evaluate the changes before and after the treatment with Anshen Dropping Pills in a clinical study. The enrichment analysis based on the relationship between drugs and symptoms verified the rationality of the Anshen Dropping Pills formula, and nine blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The network proximity revealed a significant correlation between eight components and insomnia, including magnoflorine, liquiritin, spinosin, quercitrin, jujuboside A, ginsenoside Rb_3, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the major anti-insomnia pathways of Anshen Dropping Pills involved substance and energy metabolism, neuroprotection, immune system regulation, and endocrine regulation. Seven core genes related to insomnia were identified: APOE, ALB, BDNF, PPARG, INS, TP53, and TNF. In summary, Anshen Dropping Pills could increase sleep episodes, prolong sleep duration, and reduce sleep latency in mice. Clinical study results demonstrated that Anshen Dropping Pills could decrease total scores of PSQI scale. This study reveals the pharmacodynamic basis and potential multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway effects of Anshen Dropping Pills, suggesting that its anti-insomnia mechanisms may be associated with the regulation of insomnia-related signaling pathways. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of Anshen Dropping Pills.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/metabolism*
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Mice
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Network Pharmacology
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Male
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Humans
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Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
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Sleep/drug effects*
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Female
;
Adult


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