1.Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Diabetic Retinopathy: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Targets
Xiao-Yan ZHU ; Tao JIN ; Yu ZHANG ; Lu-Lu LIAN ; Wan-Li DU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1849-1866
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most prevalent and vision-threatening microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, yet its pathogenesis extends far beyond vascular injury alone. As the retina is among the most energy-demanding tissues in the body, its neurons, glial cells, pigment epithelial cells, pericytes, and endothelial cells are highly dependent on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to maintain visual signal transduction, ionic homeostasis, and neurovascular integrity. This review summarizes current evidence indicating that mitochondrial dysfunction is not merely a downstream consequence of chronic hyperglycemia, but a central pathogenic hub that initiates, amplifies, and perpetuates retinal neurovascular degeneration in DR. Persistent hyperglycemia activates multiple abnormal metabolic pathways, including the polyol pathway, hexosamine pathway, protein kinase C signaling, advanced glycation end-product formation, and angiotensin II-related responses. Although these pathways differ mechanistically, they converge on excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, antioxidant depletion, and mitochondrial injury. Under diabetic stress, electron transport chain overload promotes mitochondrial ROS leakage, damages mitochondrial DNA, disrupts membrane potential, and impairs the transcription of key respiratory chain components. In parallel, mitochondrial quality-control systems become progressively compromised. The balance between fusion and fission shifts toward pathological fragmentation through reduced MFN1/2 and OPA1 activity and enhanced DRP1-mediated fission. Mitochondrial biogenesis is suppressed through inhibition of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM axis, while mitophagy changes from an early compensatory response to a later state of autophagic flux blockade and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. Importantly, damaged mitochondria serve as signal amplifiers linking metabolic stress to inflammation and programmed cell death. Mitochondrial ROS, oxidized mitochondrial DNA, calcium overload, cardiolipin exposure, and membrane permeabilization activate interrelated death pathways, including intrinsic apoptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. Cytochrome C and apoptosis-inducing factor promote caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis; iron dyshomeostasis, glutathione depletion, GPX4 dysfunction, and lipid peroxidation drive ferroptosis; and mitochondrial danger signals activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and gasdermin-dependent pyroptosis. These pathways jointly damage the retinal neurovascular unit and contribute to pericyte loss, endothelial barrier breakdown, Müller cell dysfunction, retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, retinal pigment epithelial injury, and photoreceptor degeneration. This review also emphasizes the role of epigenetic regulation in stabilizing mitochondrial pathology. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs interact to silence mitochondrial protective genes, alter antioxidant responses, and maintain the “metabolic memory” of DR even after glycemic normalization. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction should be understood as a dynamic, multidimensional network rather than a single pathological event. Current clinical approaches, such as laser photocoagulation, intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy, and vitrectomy, mainly target advanced vascular lesions and are limited by invasiveness, incomplete responsiveness, recurrence, and potential adverse effects. Therapeutically, strategies targeting mitochondrial ROS, restoring mitochondrial dynamics, enhancing biogenesis, regulating mitophagy, inhibiting inflammasome activation, correcting epigenetic abnormalities, and improving targeted delivery systems show promising potential. However, major translational barriers remain, including retinal cell heterogeneity, stage-specific mitochondrial responses, insufficient organelle-specific drug delivery, and long-term safety concerns. A deeper understanding of mitochondrial regulatory networks may support earlier, more precise, and multi-target interventions for preventing or slowing DR progression.
2.Expert consensus on basic public services for vision health management of primary and secondary school students
YANG Lihua , WU Xi, TAO Shuman, YAO Jun, WU Fengbo, LIU Fangli, MA Yinghua, FENG Zhanchun, SUN Renbiao, LIU Dongru, CHEN Qiusheng, CHEN Jie, YU Yizhen, ZHANG Mingchang, WU Xiaoyan, DU Yukai, LI Xiaoqing, LI Li, WU Xixi, JIN Xiaoqin, XU Ting, WU Mengjia, TANG Jia, Society of Student Vision Health Management of Chinese Health Association, Vision Health Branch of Chinese Association for Student Nutrition & ; Health Promotion
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(8):1069-1074
Abstract
To clarify the service targets, service contents, and safeguard mechanisms of the basic public service program for student vision health management, the study grounded in the current status of child and adolescent myopia prevention and control in China and integrated with the practical experience and innovative practices of Wuhan National Demonstration Area for Student Vision Health Management, takes education as the main thread and schools as the base, consolidating resources from multiple stakeholders including education administrative departments, schools, families, and professional technical service institutions. Centering on four core components—vision health education, monitoring and record keeping, risk prevention and control, and dynamic management, the study constructs a multi tiered basic public service system for vision health management of primary and secondary school students. It further proposes the use of an intelligent management platform and a "three tier color coded early warning" mechanism (red, yellow, blue) to prevent and control student myopia at the source, providing schools with replicable and operable implementation pathways to enhance the level of student vision health management.
3.Association between metabolic parameters and erection in erectile dysfunction patients with hyperuricemia.
Guo-Wei DU ; Pei-Ning NIU ; Zhao-Xu YANG ; Xing-Hao ZHANG ; Jin-Chen HE ; Tao LIU ; Yan XU ; Jian-Huai CHEN ; Yun CHEN
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(4):482-487
The relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains inadequately understood. Given that HUA is often associated with various metabolic disorders, this study aims to explore the multivariate linear impacts of metabolic parameters on erectile function in ED patients with HUA. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 514 ED patients with HUA in the Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Nanjing, China), aged 18 to 60 years. General demographic information, medical history, and laboratory results were collected to assess metabolic disturbances. Sexual function was evaluated using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Based on univariate analysis, variables associated with IIEF-5 scores were identified, and the correlations between them were evaluated. The effects of these variables on IIEF-5 scores were further explored by multiple linear regression models. Fasting plasma glucose ( β = -0.628, P < 0.001), uric acid ( β = -0.552, P < 0.001), triglycerides ( β = -0.088, P = 0.047), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( β = -0.164, P = 0.027), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; β = -0.562, P = 0.012), and smoking history ( β = -0.074, P = 0.037) exhibited significant negative impacts on erectile function. The coefficient of determination ( R ²) for the model was 0.239, and the adjusted R ² was 0.230, indicating overall statistical significance ( F -statistic = 26.52, P < 0.001). Metabolic parameters play a crucial role in the development of ED. Maintaining normal metabolic indices may aid in the prevention and improvement of erectile function in ED patients with HUA.
Humans
;
Male
;
Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism*
;
Hyperuricemia/metabolism*
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism*
;
Blood Glucose/metabolism*
;
Uric Acid/blood*
;
Young Adult
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Triglycerides/blood*
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Adolescent
;
Cholesterol, LDL/blood*
;
Penile Erection/physiology*
;
Surveys and Questionnaires
4.Traditional Chinese medicine formulas alleviated acute pancreatitis via improvement of microcirculation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Ji GAO ; Chenxia HAN ; Ning DAI ; Wen WANG ; Tao JIN ; Dan DU ; Qing XIA
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2025;17(3):584-600
OBJECTIVE:
Microcirculatory disturbance is pathologically critical to acute pancreatitis (AP), which can be effectively alleviated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas that activate blood flow. However, there has been no evidence-based research to date. Therefore, a well-designed systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary to elucidate the therapeutic transformative benefit of improving microcirculation during AP. This study aims to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of TCM formulas and explore the potential mechanisms underlying their effects on AP treatment.
METHODS:
Studies from eight databases including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang, and Chinese VIP, were screened for the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The APACHE II score and effectiveness rate were set as primary outcomes, while mortality rate, complications, total hospital stays, serum amylase recovery time, the time until the disappearance of abdominal pain, microcirculation indicators, and inflammation indicators were chosen as secondary outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis were subsequently conducted. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to analyze potential bioactive components with relevant targets of the core herbs included in the TCM formulas for activating blood flow.
RESULTS:
A total of 51 RCTs (n = 3 721) were included. Compared with conventional western medical treatments alone, TCM groups were associated with lower APACHE II score (SMD = - 1.36, 95% CI: -2.01 to - 0.71, P = 0.000) and higher effectiveness rate (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.26, P = 0.000). Furthermore, the formulas for activating blood flow demonstrated significant efficacy in improving both microcirculation and inflammation indicators. Additionally, six core Chinese herbal medicines including Rhei Radix et Rhizoma with the highest frequency, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Bupleuri Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Corydalis Rhizoma were filtered out from the adopted TCM formulas. Finally, 166 shared targets between the six herbs and AP were identified. KEGG analysis indicated that lipid and atherosclerosis pathway is highly related to microcirculation.
CONCLUSION
TCM formulas for activating blood flow significantly improve microcirculation and alleviate AP. Further high-quality, well-designed RCTs and deep mechanism exploration are required.
5.Association of Body Mass Index with All-Cause Mortality and Cause-Specific Mortality in Rural China: 10-Year Follow-up of a Population-Based Multicenter Prospective Study.
Juan Juan HUANG ; Yuan Zhi DI ; Ling Yu SHEN ; Jian Guo LIANG ; Jiang DU ; Xue Fang CAO ; Wei Tao DUAN ; Ai Wei HE ; Jun LIANG ; Li Mei ZHU ; Zi Sen LIU ; Fang LIU ; Shu Min YANG ; Zu Hui XU ; Cheng CHEN ; Bin ZHANG ; Jiao Xia YAN ; Yan Chun LIANG ; Rong LIU ; Tao ZHU ; Hong Zhi LI ; Fei SHEN ; Bo Xuan FENG ; Yi Jun HE ; Zi Han LI ; Ya Qi ZHAO ; Tong Lei GUO ; Li Qiong BAI ; Wei LU ; Qi JIN ; Lei GAO ; He Nan XIN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(10):1179-1193
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study.
METHODS:
A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants.
RESULTS:
Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m 2) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m 2) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m 2) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m 2 ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses.
CONCLUSION
This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans
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Body Mass Index
;
China/epidemiology*
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Male
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Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Prospective Studies
;
Rural Population/statistics & numerical data*
;
Aged
;
Follow-Up Studies
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Adult
;
Mortality
;
Cause of Death
;
Obesity/mortality*
;
Overweight/mortality*
6.Characteristics of public health emergencies in Jinhua City from 2014 to 2023
ZHANG Tao ; DU Zhiping ; WANG Zuoyi ; JIN Lü ; hua
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):69-72
Objective:
To investigate the characteristics of public health emergencies in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2023, so as to provide the reference for prevention and control of public health emergencies.
Methods:
Data of public health emergencies and related information in Jinhua City from 2014 to 2023 were collected through Emergency Public Reporting System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Attack rates, and distribution of time, areas and places were descriptively analyzed.
Results:
A total of 276 public health emergencies were reported in Jinhua City from 2014 to 2023. There were 10 324 reported cases and 7 deaths, with an attack rate of 0.32%. There were 53 Ⅳ-level (19.20%) and 223 unclassified public health emergencies (80.80%). Infectious disease emergencies were predominant types, accounting for 97.83% (270 events). The three most common infectious disease emergencies were other infectious diarrhea (42.03%), influenza (21.01%) and COVID-19 (16.30%). The reported public health emergencies peaked in November and December, with 66 and 45 events reported, respectively. The three most counties (cities, districts) included Yiwu City, Wucheng District and Lanxi City, accounting for 24.28% (67 events), 18.48% (51 events) and 11.96% (33 events), respectively. School and preschool institutions were predominant places where public health emergencies occurred (198 events, 71.74%).
Conclusions
The public health emergencies in Jinhua City from 2014 to 2023 were Ⅳ-level and unclassified emergencies, and infectious disease emergencies were predominant. November and December were the peak reporting periods, and schools and preschool institutions were the main places where these events occurred.
7.Clinical characteristics of clinical and subclinical Cushing's syndrome caused by primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia
Huai-Jin XU ; Bing LI ; Kang CHEN ; Hui-Xin ZHOU ; Ya-Jing WANG ; Li ZANG ; Xian-Ling WANG ; Yu CHENG ; Jin DU ; Qing-Hua GUO ; Wei-Jun GU ; Zhao-Hui LYU ; Jian-Ming BA ; Jing-Tao DOU ; Yi-Ming MU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(7):800-807
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with clinical and subclinical Cushing's syndrome caused by primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 198 patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH diagnosed in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2004 to October 2024.According to clinical manifestations,the patients were classified into clinical type Cushing's syndrome(n=61)and subclinical type Cushing's syndrome(n=137),and the clinical characteristics of the two types were compared.Results The mean age at diagnosis of patients with PBMAH-induced Cushing's syndrome was(53.5±10.4)years,including 118 males and 80 females,with a male-to-female ratio of 1.475:1.Compared with the subclinical type,the clinical type had a higher proportion of females,higher levels of serum cortisol,24-hour urine free cortisol(24 h UFC),and inhibited serum cortisol after low-dose dexamethasone suppression.Additionally,the clinical type had lower plasma ACTH,larger adrenal nodules and a higher risk of surgery(P<0.05)compared with those in subclinical type.The incidences of hypertension,dyslipidemia,obesity,diabetes mellitus,hypokalemia,vitamin D deficiency,osteoporosis,coronary heart disease,and cerebrovascular disease in patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH were 87.9%,50.5%,37.1%,36.9%,27.8%,25.9%,18.7%,18.7%and 12.1%,respectively.Among them,compared with subclinical type patients,clinical type patients had higher incidence of hypokalaemia,vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis(P<0.05),while there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of other comorbidities between the two types(P>0.05).The results of postoperative follow-up for PBMAH patients showed that the short-term biochemical remission rate of unilateral total adrenalectomy was 41.5%(22/53)and the long-term biochemical remission rate was 32.0%(8/25).The short-term biochemical remission rate of unilateral partial(or nodular)adrenalectomy was 52.9%(9/17),and the long-term biochemical remission rate was 14.3%(1/7).All patients who underwent unilateral total adrenalectomy plus contralateral partial resection developed adrenal insufficiency(3/3),and 1 patient(1/3)relapsed 3.4 years after surgery.Conclusion Clinical and subclinical types of Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH have their distinct clinical characteristics.Surgery is an effective treatment for PBMAH,but a certain proportion of patients fail to achieve biochemical remission after non-bilateral total adrenalectomy.
8.Exploring the Pathogenesis Connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue Transmission in Acute Pancreatitis from a Metabolic Perspec-tive
Qi QIU ; Chenxia HAN ; Tao JIN ; Qing XIA ; Dan DU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(3):300-305
There is a dynamic and progressive relationship in acute pancreatitis(AP),following the principle of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).The metabolic disorders prevalent in AP can be attributed to the"turbid tox-in"category in TCM,which runs throughout the disease as causative factors and pathologic products.The abnormal metabolism of sub-tle substances is the initiating factor of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission.Disorders of energy metabolism lay the pathologic basis of tur-bid evil and stagnant heat in the Qi stage of AP.Changes in the metabolic environment further exacerbate the inflammatory response re-sulting in the exuberance of pathogenic heat and the accumulation of blood stasis and toxins,promoting AP from the Qi division into the Ying-Xue stage.Therefore,we propose that"holding the Qi-fen juncture"and restoring metabolic homeostasis may be the keys to ear-ly truncation of AP disease progression.This paper explores the pathogenesis connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission in AP from a metabolic perspective combined with the turbid toxin theory,which not only enriches the scientific connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue syndrome differentiation but also provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of severe AP with TCM.
9.Exploring the Pathogenesis Connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue Transmission in Acute Pancreatitis from a Metabolic Perspec-tive
Qi QIU ; Chenxia HAN ; Tao JIN ; Qing XIA ; Dan DU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(3):300-305
There is a dynamic and progressive relationship in acute pancreatitis(AP),following the principle of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).The metabolic disorders prevalent in AP can be attributed to the"turbid tox-in"category in TCM,which runs throughout the disease as causative factors and pathologic products.The abnormal metabolism of sub-tle substances is the initiating factor of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission.Disorders of energy metabolism lay the pathologic basis of tur-bid evil and stagnant heat in the Qi stage of AP.Changes in the metabolic environment further exacerbate the inflammatory response re-sulting in the exuberance of pathogenic heat and the accumulation of blood stasis and toxins,promoting AP from the Qi division into the Ying-Xue stage.Therefore,we propose that"holding the Qi-fen juncture"and restoring metabolic homeostasis may be the keys to ear-ly truncation of AP disease progression.This paper explores the pathogenesis connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission in AP from a metabolic perspective combined with the turbid toxin theory,which not only enriches the scientific connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue syndrome differentiation but also provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of severe AP with TCM.
10.Chemical constituents from the leaves of Ziziphus jujuba var.spinosa and their anti-inflammatory activities
Jin-yan TAN ; Tao LI ; Ze-jia NIU ; He DU ; Xiang-ping PEI ; Chen-hui DU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(12):4029-4035
AIM To study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F.Chou and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The 70% ethanol extract from the leaves of Z.jujuba var.spinosa was isolated and purified by various modern chromatographic methods,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified as ampelopsisionoside (1),(3S,6S)-cis-linalool-3,7-oxide-β-D-glucopyranoside (2),alangionoside L (3),2-{(2S,5R)-5-[(1E)-4-hydroxy-4-methylhexa-1,5-dien-1-yl]-5-methyltetra-hydrofuran-2-yl} propan-2-yl β-D-glucopyranoside (4),(-)-nectandrin B-β-D-glucopyranoside (5),nikoenoside (6),kiwiionoside (7),dendranthemoside A (8),tormentic acid (9),2α,3β,19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28 oic acid (10),2α-hydroxybetulinic acid (11),2α-hydroxylursolic acid (12),ceanothanolic acid (13),and maslinic acid (14).Compounds 10,11,13 and 14 could inhibit the production of NO in RAW264.7 cells.CONCLUSION Compounds 1,2,4 are first isolated from Rhamnaceae family,and 3,5,6,8 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 10,11,13 and 14 have significant anti-inflammatory activities.


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