1.Association between thyroid function and osteoporosis:genome-wide data analysis of European populations
Hao ZENG ; Pengcheng SUN ; Yuan CHAI ; Yourong HUANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Xiaoyun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(4):1019-1027
BACKGROUND:Several observational studies have found a strong association between thyroid function and its related disorders and osteoporosis,but the causal relationship is unclear.OBJECTIVE:To ascertain the causal relationship between genetically predicted thyroid function and its associated disorders,as well as osteoporosis,through the Mendelian randomization analysis with extensive pooled genetic data.METHODS:Pooled data from genome-wide association studies were employed to investigate the causal relationship between thyroid function and its associated disorders and osteoporosis.This was achieved through the utilization of the inverse variance weighting method as the primary Mendelian randomization analysis method,in conjunction with the MR-Egger method,weighted median method,simple model method,and weighted model method.A two-step mediated Mendelian randomization analysis was used to calculate the mediating effect of drug-mediated thyroid dysfunction on osteoporosis and the mediating proportion.Subsequently,sensitivity analyses were conducted using the MR-Egger intercept test and MR-PRESSO to detect multiplicity,Cochran's Q test to detect heterogeneity,and leave-one-out to perform sensitivity analyses.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The results of the inverse variance weighting method showed that thyroid function had an effect on bone mineral density,and that thyrotropin,free triiodothyronine on bone mineral density,free thyroxine,and subclinical hyperthyroidism all had a causal effect on bone mineral density.(2)In addition,mediation analyses revealed a potential mediating effect of carbimazole in the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism and the risk of developing osteoporosis,as well as a potential mediating effect of levothyroxine sodium in the causal relationship between hypothyroidism and the risk of developing osteoporosis.(3)In conclusion,thyrotropin,which is high in the normal range,has been demonstrated to increase bone mineral density.Conversely,free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine,which are also high within the normal range,as well as subclinical hyperthyroidism,have been shown to decrease bone mineral density.The risk of developing osteoporosis is partially mediated by the pathway of taking the therapeutic medication in the context of pharmacologic treatment of thyroid dysfunction.(4)The present study primarily focuses on European population data.However,given the commonality of the genetic background and the generalizability of genome-wide data analysis methods,it is of significant importance to explore the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in the Chinese population,develop effective interventions,and provide genetic counseling.
2.A meta-analysis of risk factors for residual back pain after vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Peng YANG ; Chenghan XU ; Yingjie ZHOU ; Xubin CHAI ; Hanjie ZHUO ; Lin LI ; Jinyu SHI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):731-739
OBJECTIVE:Patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures still have residual back pain after vertebral augmentation.The current research is characterized by limited sample size,complex confounding factors,and inconsistent research results.To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon,the aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the risk factors for residual back pain after surgery through a systematic review and meta-analysis.METHODS:A comprehensive search was conducted in CNKI,VIP,WanFang,CBMdisc,PubMed,The Cochrane Library,Embase,and Web of Science for case-control studies on residual back pain after vertebral body augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures from database inception to July 2024.The search terms were a combination of subject terms and free terms.The basic information,patient characteristics,surgical-related indicators,and risk factors for surgical back pain of the included studies were extracted.After evaluating the bias risk of all included studies,a meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 14.0 software on the relevant indicators.RESULTS:(1)21 case-control studies with a total of 8 043 patients were included.Among them,965 patients developed back pain.The quality score of all 21 studies was ≥7.(2)The meta-analysis results showed that age(WMD=0.98,95%CI:0.40-1.56,P=0.010),bone mineral density(WMD=-0.28,95%CI:-0.34 to-0.21,P=0.000),the number of vertebral fractures(OR=3.50,95%CI:2.65-4.62,P=0.000),thoracolumbar fracture index(OR=3.65,95%CI:2.61-5.11,P=0.000),cement volume(OR=6.89,95%CI:2.62-18.17,P=0.000),and cement distribution(OR=2.38,95%CI:1.93-2.93,P=0.000)were risk factors for the development of back pain after vertebral body augmentation in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.CONCLUSION:Current evidence indicates that age,bone mineral density,the number of vertebral fractures,thoracolumbar fracture index,bone cement injection volume,and the distribution of bone cement are risk factors for low back pain.Specifically,bone mineral density,the number of vertebral fractures,thoracolumbar fracture index,and non-uniform distribution of bone cement are identified as independent risk factors for low back pain.Patients exhibiting these high-risk factors require vigilant monitoring and prompt intervention to mitigate the occurrence of clinical low back pain,thereby enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.
3.Increased risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures associated with sterol esters:evidence from IEU-GWAS and FinnGen databases
Zengjie GAO ; Xiang PU ; Lailai LI ; Yihui CHAI ; Hua HUANG ; Yu QIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1302-1310
BACKGROUND:Although previous studies have reported associations between lipids and the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures,the specific causal relationships between lipid level and osteoporotic pathological fractures remain unclear.OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the causal relationship between lipids and osteoporotic pathological fractures using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:The data for 178 lipid metabolites were obtained from the IEU-GWAS database(developed by the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol,UK,which provides extensive summary data from genome-wide association studies),while osteoporotic pathological fracture data(from 173 619 European participants)were acquired from the FinnGen database(constructed by the Finnish national gene research program,focusing on investigating relationships between genomics and health/disease in the Finnish population).Osteoporotic pathological fracture data were used as the outcome variable,with lipids serving as exposures,for the bidirectional Mendelian randomization study to evaluate the causal effects of different lipids on osteoporotic pathological fractures.The UK Biobank database was employed as a validation set by switching the outcome variable to verify the findings horizontally.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The inverse variance weighted analysis indicated that each unit increase in sterol ester(27∶1/20∶2)levels was associated with a 25.55%increase in the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures(odds ratio=1.256,95%confidence interval:1.001-1.575,P=0.049),suggesting a significant positive correlation between elevated sterol ester levels and increased fracture risk.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a significant negative association between osteoporotic pathological fractures and three types of phosphatidylcholine.Horizontal validation yielded consistent results,confirming sterol ester as a risk factor for osteoporotic pathological fractures.(2)The results indicate that sterol ester is a risk factor for osteoporotic pathological fractures,while phosphatidylcholine serves as a protective factor.These findings strengthen the evidence supporting the effect of lipids on the risk of osteoporotic pathological fractures.Although the GWAS data used in this study were derived from European populations,given the broad commonality of human genetics,the results provide valuable reference significance for improving osteoporosis in Chinese populations through lipid regulation.
4.Association between thyroid function and osteoporosis:genome-wide data analysis of European populations
Hao ZENG ; Pengcheng SUN ; Yuan CHAI ; Yourong HUANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Xiaoyun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(4):1019-1027
BACKGROUND:Several observational studies have found a strong association between thyroid function and its related disorders and osteoporosis,but the causal relationship is unclear.OBJECTIVE:To ascertain the causal relationship between genetically predicted thyroid function and its associated disorders,as well as osteoporosis,through the Mendelian randomization analysis with extensive pooled genetic data.METHODS:Pooled data from genome-wide association studies were employed to investigate the causal relationship between thyroid function and its associated disorders and osteoporosis.This was achieved through the utilization of the inverse variance weighting method as the primary Mendelian randomization analysis method,in conjunction with the MR-Egger method,weighted median method,simple model method,and weighted model method.A two-step mediated Mendelian randomization analysis was used to calculate the mediating effect of drug-mediated thyroid dysfunction on osteoporosis and the mediating proportion.Subsequently,sensitivity analyses were conducted using the MR-Egger intercept test and MR-PRESSO to detect multiplicity,Cochran's Q test to detect heterogeneity,and leave-one-out to perform sensitivity analyses.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The results of the inverse variance weighting method showed that thyroid function had an effect on bone mineral density,and that thyrotropin,free triiodothyronine on bone mineral density,free thyroxine,and subclinical hyperthyroidism all had a causal effect on bone mineral density.(2)In addition,mediation analyses revealed a potential mediating effect of carbimazole in the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism and the risk of developing osteoporosis,as well as a potential mediating effect of levothyroxine sodium in the causal relationship between hypothyroidism and the risk of developing osteoporosis.(3)In conclusion,thyrotropin,which is high in the normal range,has been demonstrated to increase bone mineral density.Conversely,free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine,which are also high within the normal range,as well as subclinical hyperthyroidism,have been shown to decrease bone mineral density.The risk of developing osteoporosis is partially mediated by the pathway of taking the therapeutic medication in the context of pharmacologic treatment of thyroid dysfunction.(4)The present study primarily focuses on European population data.However,given the commonality of the genetic background and the generalizability of genome-wide data analysis methods,it is of significant importance to explore the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in the Chinese population,develop effective interventions,and provide genetic counseling.
6.Improvement effects and mechanisms of Suting pingchuan decoction in rats with bronchial asthma
Mengyin LI ; Guihua SONG ; Mingyue REN ; Wangmeng CHAI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1251-1257
OBJECTIVE To explore the improvement effects of Suting pingchuan decoction (STPC) on bronchial asthma in rats and its potential mechanism. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, STPC low-, medium- and high-dose groups (4.14, 8.28, and 16.56 g/kg, respectively, based on the crude drug dosage), and dexamethasone group (positive control, 1 mg/kg), with 8 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and challenged by nebulized inhalation of ovalbumin to establish a bronchial asthma model. From the day of nebulization challenge, rats of each group were administered the corresponding drug solution or normal saline by gavage 1 hour before aerosolization, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. During the experiment, behavioral changes in rats of each group were observed. After the last administration, the levels of inflammatory factors (interleukin-1β, interleukin-18) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and oxidative stress indexes [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)] in lung tissue were determined; pathological changes in lung tissue were observed; cell apoptosis in lung tissue, and the mRNA expression of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) and the protein expressions of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD) and gasdermin D-N-terminal domain (GSDMD-N) in lung tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group, rats in the model group showed symptoms such as scratching their ears and noses and frequent sneezing; the lung tissue structure was severely damaged, and there was obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. The levels of inflammatory factors in BALF, as well as the level of MDA, TUNEL-apoptotic cell rate, the mRNA expression of NLRP3, and the protein expressions of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, caspase-1, GSDMD-N and GSDMD in lung tissue were significantly increased or up-regulated, while the level of SOD in lung tissue was significantly decreased ( P <0.05 or P <0.01). Compared with the model group, the above symptoms and pathological damages of lung tissue in each drug group were significantly improved, and all quantitative indicators (except for the protein expressions of GSDMD in the STPC groups, as well as the level of SOD, and the protein expressions of cleaved caspase-1, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N in the STPC low-dose group) were significantly reversed ( P <0.05 or P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS STPC can improve airway inflammation and lung tissue damage in rats with bronchial asthma, reduce the level of oxidative stress, and decrease the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-18. Its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of pyroptosis activation mediated by the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway.
7.Life-course personalized nutrition strategy for adolescents and young adults in Korea based on a behavioral science approach and community-based model: a narrative review
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition 2026;31(2):127-139
Objectives:
This review examines the nutritional challenges among Korean adolescents and young adults from life-course and behavioral science perspectives and proposes an integrated, community-based nutrition strategy for this critical transitional period.
Methods:
A narrative review was conducted following the Scale for the Quality Assessment of Narrative Review Articles guidelines. Literature published between January 2015 and June 2025 was retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research Information Sharing Service using keywords related to adolescent and young adult nutrition, life course approaches, behavioral nutrition, and personalized nutrition. Policy documents from the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Nutrition, and Korean government agencies were also included. A total of 40 references (32 peer-reviewed articles and 8 policy reports) were analyzed.
Results:
Korean adolescents and young adults exhibited high rates of skipping breakfast (> 38.3%), obesity, and excessive sodium and sugar intakes, with disparities driven by socioecological determinants. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework highlights adolescence as the “second window of plasticity” for reshaping long-term health trajectories. Two behavioral frameworks were synthesized: the Formation–Maintenance Model, distinguishing adolescent (Learn–Practice) and young adult (Sustain) stages, and the socioecological nutrition model, addressing multi-level influences on dietary behavior. A structural discontinuity in public nutrition support, termed the “School-to-Society Nutrition Gap,” was identified. Community-based, participatory, and digitally integrated interventions showed strong potential for sustaining behavioral change.
Conclusion
A personalized life-course nutrition strategy based on a Learn-Practice-Sustain framework was proposed. A Community-Linked Circular Nutrition Model was presented to bridge the gap between school-based and community-level nutrition systems, emphasizing nutrition equity and digital engagement as key drivers of sustainable health outcomes.
8.Editorial for Vol. 36, No. 1cc
Korean Journal of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine 2026;36(1):1-3
This issue of the Korean Journal of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine (Vol.36, No. 1) presents five articles addressing emerging topics in aerospace medicine, aeromedical evaluation, and space medicine policy. An original article proposes a neuro-adaptive cockpit communication support system integrating artificial intelligence and neurophysiological monitoring to reduce pilot cognitive workload and enhance situational awareness. Another original study examines the prevalence and aeromedical implications of cardiac conduction abnormalities among Korean Air Force pilots, providing evidence for risk-based surveillance strategies in aeromedical screening. A review article discusses the clinical value of the video head impulse test for quantitative assessment of vestibular function in pilots exposed to high-acceleration flight environments. Another review revisits the historical development and current relevance of the “1% rule,” a widely used framework for aeromedical risk assessment in aviation safety. Finally, a brief communication summarizes a panel discussion on the future development of space medicine in Korea, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and national research governance.
9.Association between core symptoms and biological markers in children with autism spectrum disorders
FEI Xianyan, WANG Rui, CHAI Yangyang, HE Xianming, ZHENG Shizhu
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(1):125-128
Objective:
To explore the relationship between serum homocysteine (Hcy), interleukin-5 (IL-5), folate and core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders, so as to provide potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and intervention of diseases.
Methods:
A total of 106 children with autism spectrum disorders and 106 healthy children with matched sex and age in Lu an People s Hospital were enrolled as autism group and healthy group between May 2020 to December 2023. On the day of admission, levels of serum Hcy, IL-5 and folate were detected. The core symptoms in autism group were evaluated by Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-fourth edition(WPPSI-IV), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The levels of serum Hcy, IL-5 and folate in the two groups were compared by t- test. The relationship between serum Hcy, IL-5, folate and core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders was determined by Pearson correlation analysis.
Results:
The levels of serum Hcy and IL-5 in autism group were (7.48±0.32) μmol/L and (345.77±32.51) pg/mL, higher than those in healthy group [(6.11±0.54) μmol/L, (274.04±25.17) pg/mL], while folate level was lower than that in healthy group [(15.24±3.47) ng/mL, (22.51±4.69) ng/mL], the differences were statistically significant ( t =22.47, 17.96, 12.83, all P < 0.05 ). In autism group, levels of serum Hcy and IL-5 were positively correlated with scores of ABC, CARS and SRS ( r =0.29, 0.53 , 0.54; 0.45, 0.41, 0.50), while negatively correlated with WPPSI-IV score ( r =-0.28, -0.26)(all P <0.05). The folate level was negatively correlated with scores of ABC, CARS and SRS ( r =-0.55, -0.40, -0.25), while positively correlated with WPPSI-IV score ( r =0.41) (all P <0.05).
Conclusion
Children with ASD show elevated serum Hcy and IL-5 alongside decreased folate,and three markers correlate with core symptoms and intellectual level.
10.Expert Consensus on Blood Flow and Oxygen Delivery Phenotyping and Clinical Management of Septic Shock(2025)
Wei HUANG ; Xinchen WANG ; Wenzhao CHAI ; Keliang CUI ; Bo YAO ; Zhiqun XING ; Cui WANG ; Jingjing LIU ; Shiyi GONG ; Dongkai LI ; Wanhong YIN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Wei DU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):40-58
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Septic shock is the primary cause of mortality in sepsis, with its core pathophysiological mechanism being severe ischemia and hypoxia in critical units—composed of microcirculation and the mitochondria of functional cells—resulting from disruptions in blood flow and oxygen flow following a dysregulated host response. Due to the systemically convergent yet clinically heterogeneous nature of the host response, current understanding and management strategies for hemodynamics remain inconsistent, often leading to inadequate resuscitation or overtreatment. To improve the quality of care, based on a systematic review of the "blood flow-oxygen flow" theory, an expert panel emphasizes reevaluating septic shock from an integrated perspective of blood flow and oxygen flow, and has formulated the


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