1.Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis of Extracranial Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor in Children
Shihan ZHANG ; Wen ZHAO ; Mei JIN ; Hongjun FAN ; Xisi WANG ; Libing FU ; Tong YU ; Yan SU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):34-42
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumor (eMRT) in children, and to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of this disease. A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of children with newly diagnosed eMRT who were admitted and treated in the Department of Pediatric Oncology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, from March 2009 to December 2024. The clinical characteristics were summarized, and survival analysis and prognostic risk factor analysis were conducted. A total of 43 children with eMRT were included in this study, the median age at diagnosis of all patients was 20 months (range: 2-138 months). Among them, 24 cases were malignant renal rhabdoid tumors and 19 cases were extracranial, extrarenal rhabdoid tumors. Of the 43 children, 23 cases (53.5%) were complicated with distant metastasis. Twenty-nine (67.4%) underwent primary tumor resection. Among the children, 24 (55.8%) underwent gross total resection (GTR), 5 (11.6%) partial resection, and 14 (32.6%) biopsy only. Their 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 40.8%, 35.3%, and 33.3%, respectively ( Children with eMRT have an overall poor prognosis. A diagnostic age < 12 months is an independent risk factor for higher mortality in these children. Further large-scale, long-term follow-up studies are needed to explore the prognostic factors of this disease.
2.The Regulatory Effects and Mechanisms of Piezo1 Channel on Chondrocytes and Bone Metabolic Dysregulation in Osteoarthritis
Yan LI ; Tao LIU ; Yu-Biao GU ; Hui-Qing TIAN ; Lei ZHANG ; Bi-Hui BAI ; Zhi-Jun HE ; Wen CHEN ; Jin-Peng LI ; Fei LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):564-576
Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide, is defined by articular cartilage degradation, abnormal bone remodeling, and persistent chronic inflammation. It severely compromises patients’ quality of life, and currently, there is no radical cure. Abnormal mechanical stress is widely regarded as a core driver of OA pathogenesis, and the exploration of mechanical signal perception and transduction mechanisms has become crucial for deciphering OA’s pathophysiological processes. Piezo1, a key mechanosensitive cation channel belonging to the Piezo protein family, has recently gained significant attention due to its pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to mechanical stimuli in joint tissues. This review systematically examines Piezo1’s expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and pathological functions in OA, with a particular focus on its dual roles in modulating chondrocyte homeostasis and bone metabolism disorders, while also delving into the underlying molecular signaling pathways and potential therapeutic implications. Piezo1, consisting of approximately 2 500 amino acids and forming a unique trimeric propeller-like structure, is widely expressed in chondrocytes, osteocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and synovial cells. It exhibits permeability to cations such as Ca2+, K+, and Na+, and directly responds to membrane tension changes induced by mechanical stimuli like fluid shear stress and mechanical overload. In OA patients and animal models, Piezo1 expression is significantly upregulated, especially in cartilage regions subjected to abnormal mechanical stress (e.g., human temporomandibular joint cartilage). This overexpression is closely associated with aggravated cartilage degeneration, increased chondrocyte apoptosis, accelerated cellular senescence, and intensified inflammatory responses. Mechanical overload and pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β) are key inducers of Piezo1 upregulation: IL-1β activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to enhance Piezo1 expression, forming a pathogenic positive feedback loop that inhibits chondrocyte autophagy, promotes apoptosis, and further accelerates joint degeneration. Mechanistically, Piezo1 mediates OA progression through multiple interconnected pathways. When activated by mechanical stress, Piezo1 triggers excessive Ca2+ influx, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and mitochondrial dysfunction, which directly induce chondrocyte apoptosis. This process involves the activation of downstream signaling cascades such as cGAS-STING and YAP-MMP13/ADAMTS5. YAP, a transcriptional regulator, upregulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and aggrecanase (ADAMTS5), thereby accelerating cartilage matrix degradation. Additionally, Piezo1-driven Ca2+ overload promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulates senescence markers (p16 and p21), accelerating chondrocyte senescence via the p38MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Senescent chondrocytes secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors (e.g., IL-6, IL-1β), further amplifying joint inflammation. In terms of bone metabolism, Piezo1 maintains joint homeostasis by promoting the differentiation of fibrocartilage stem cells into chondrocytes and balancing bone formation and resorption through regulating the FoxC1/YAP axis and RANKL/OPG ratio. Therapeutically, targeting Piezo1 shows promising potential. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that Piezo1 inhibitors (e.g., GsMTx4) can reduce joint damage and alleviate pain in OA mice. Simultaneously, siRNA-mediated co-silencing of Piezo1 and TRPV4 (another mechanosensitive channel) decreases intracellular Ca2+ concentration, inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis, and promotes cartilage repair. Conditional knockout of Piezo1 using Gdf5-Cre transgenic mice alleviates cartilage degeneration in post-traumatic OA models by downregulating MMP13 and ADAMTS5 expression. Despite existing challenges, such as off-target effects of inhibitors, inefficient local drug delivery, and interindividual genetic variability, strategies like developing selective Piezo1 antagonists, optimizing targeted nanocarriers, and combining Piezo1-targeted therapy with physical therapy provide viable avenues for clinical translation. The authors propose that Piezo1 serves as a critical therapeutic target for OA, and future research should focus on deciphering its context-dependent regulatory networks, developing tissue-specific intervention strategies, and validating their efficacy and safety in clinical trials to address the unmet medical needs of OA patients.
3.Association of dietary patterns with overweight and obesity among children and adolescents based on latent class analysis
CHEN Hongyuan, ZHANG Wen, LI Ziye, MA Yueyan, GUL Maham, ZHOU Jin, MA Fuchang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(6):883-887
Objective:
To analyze the characteristics of latent classes of dietary patterns among children and adolescents in Qinghai Province, and their association with overweight and obesity, so as to provide a scientific basis for conducting targeted nutritional interventions and weight management for the local population.
Methods:
From May to October 2025, a multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to recruit 1 611 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years from Chengdong District of Xining City and Gonghe County of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. Questionnaire survey was conducted using a questionnaire developed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and physical examination was conducted by using unified measurement standards. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed on the food intake frequency of the participants. The χ 2 test and Logistic regression analysis were applied to explore the relationship between dietary patterns and overweight/obesity.
Results:
The detection rates of overweight, obesity, and overall overweight/obesity among the participants were 10.4%, 5.8%, and 16.2%, respectively. Latent class analysis identified three dietary patterns: modern mixed pattern ( n =399, 24.8%), low diversity pattern ( n =476, 29.5%), and traditional dietary pattern ( n =736, 45.7%). The potential category distribution differences of three dietary patterns among children and adolescents with and without overweight or obesity were statistically significant (non overweight and obesity: 22.5%, 29.1%, 48.4%; overweight and obesity: 36.4%, 31.8%, 31.8%) ( χ 2=30.69, P <0.01). Logistic regression showed that, compared with the traditional dietary pattern, the modern mixed pattern was associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity ( OR =1.68, 95% CI =1.13-2.49); female sex was associated with a lower risk of overweight/obesity compared with male sex ( OR =0.66, 95% CI =0.50-0.86) (both P <0.05).
Conclusions
A positive association exists between the modern mixed dietary pattern and obesity in children and adolescents. It is recommended to reduce the intake of grains and unhealthy foods among overweight and obese children and adolescents, while increasing the consumption of legumes, fish, and shrimp, in order to cultivate healthy and rational dietary habits.
4.Proteomic Profiling of Qi-blood Deficiency vs Damp-heat Syndrome in Colorectal Cancer: Therapeutic Targeting by Astragaloside IV-berberine
Zhao-Huan LI ; Jing-Wen ZHAO ; Xin ZHANG ; Jian-Jin GUO ; Jie XU ; Zeng-Qiang YANG ; Hao TU ; Min ZOU ; Ming-Bin GUI ; Feng GAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(9):2462-2479
ObjectiveColorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation is widely used in its clinical management. However, the biological basis underlying different TCM syndromes remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the proteomic differences between qi-blood deficiency syndrome (QBDS) and damp-heat syndrome (DHS) in CRC patients and to establish a “syndrome-differential protein-herbal component” network for exploring potential molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets associated with syndrome-specific treatment strategies. MethodsTumor tissue samples were collected from 10 patients with pathologically confirmed CRC, including 5 patients diagnosed with QBDS and 5 with DHS according to standardized TCM syndrome differentiation criteria. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the two syndrome groups. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, were performed to characterize the biological functions and signaling pathways associated with the identified DEPs. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was further applied to screen key syndrome-related proteins and construct a core protein prediction model. Subsequently, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinities between representative herbal compounds, astragaloside IV and berberine, and the identified core proteins. Finally, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were performed in HCT 116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines to validate the anti-proliferative activities of these compounds in vitro. ResultsA total of 44 DEPs were identified between QBDS and DHS tissues, including 21 upregulated and 23 downregulated proteins in the QBDS group relative to the DHS group. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that these proteins were primarily associated with antiviral immune responses, regulation of inflammatory signaling, NF‑κB signaling pathways, cholesterol metabolism, and other biological processes relevant to tumor progression and host immune regulation. LASSO regression analysis identified eight core proteins with potential syndrome-specific significance. Among them, ST7, GPCPD1, and PODXL were closely associated with QBDS, whereas FAT1, GRB7, KRT7, MAFF, and MMP8 were associated with DHS. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable interactions between astragaloside IV and QBDS-related proteins, with binding energies lower than -5 kcal/mol, indicating stable binding activity. Berberine exhibited even lower binding energies and stronger binding specificity toward DHS-related core proteins. In vitro experiments further confirmed that both compounds inhibited CRC cell proliferation, while berberine displayed significantly greater anti-proliferative efficacy. The lowest 48 h IC50 value of berberine reached 15.21 mg/L in CRC cells, indicating a stronger growth-inhibitory effect than astragaloside IV. ConclusionCRC patients with QBDS and DHS exhibit distinct proteomic characteristics, suggesting that different TCM syndromes possess unique molecular signatures. The identified core proteins may serve as potential biomarkers for syndrome differentiation, while astragaloside IV and berberine may exert therapeutic effects through targeting syndrome-specific molecular networks. These findings provide preliminary proteomic evidence supporting syndrome-guided precision integrative medicine in CRC and offer new insights into the biological basis of TCM syndrome differentiation and individualized therapeutic strategies.
5.Efficacy of enteral nutritional support in patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome(SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis(TEN)
Wen-Lei ZHANG ; Jin-Bo PAN ; Hui LI
Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition 2025;32(3):151-154,164
Objective:To evaluate the impact of different levels of enteral caloric support on clinical outcomes in patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome(SJS)/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis(TEN).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in 125 patients with SJS/TEN admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Hangzhou from January 2013 to December 2023.Patients were categorized into three groups based on their daily enteral caloric intake:low-calorie group(<25 kcal/kg,n=75),conventional calorie group(25~30 kcal/kg,n=27),and high-calorie group(>30 kcal/kg,n=23).The inflammatory markers,nutritional indicators,skin lesion healing time,length of hospital stay,complications rates,and mortality were compared among the groups.Results:At discharge,the white blood cell count[WBC,(6.08±0.60)109/L]and C-reactive protein[CRP,(19.04±7.09)mg/L]in the conventional calorie group,as well as the high-calorie group[WBC(6.34±0.71)109/L,CRP(27.78±8.94)mg/L],were significantly lower than those in the low-calorie group[WBC(8.31±0.41)109/L、CRP(62.07±7.41)mg/L](P<0.05).Meanwhile,the albumin[Alb(34.92±0.84)g/L]and prealbumin[PA,(243.48±12.38)mg/L]levels in the conventional calorie group,as well as the high-calorie group[Alb(35.07±0.96)g/L;PA(250.30±12.32)mg/L],were significantly higher than those in the low-calorie group[Alb(27.31±0.38)g/L;PA(146.31±6.01)mg/L](P<0.05).The skin lesion healing time(11.00±3.84)days,length of hospital stay(14.93±4.68)days,in the conventional calorie group were significantly lower than those in the low-calorie group[(skin lesion healing time(15.52±4.61)days,length of hospital stay(19.92±6.17)days,P<0.05];the skin healing time(10.6±2.96)d and length of hospital stay(14.07±4.05)d in the high-calorie group were significantly lower than those in the low-calorie group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in infection rates(8.70%vs 8.00%)and gastrointestinal intolerance rates(8.70%vs 10.67%)between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Enteral caloric support of 25~30 kcal/kg/day appears to be optimal for patients with SJS/TEN,effectively meeting energy demands,improving nutritional and inflammatory markers,and promoting better clinical outcomes with fewer complications.
6.Ion Unidirectional Ejection Simulation Study of An Extremely Miniature Hyperbolic Linear Ion Trap
Yun-Fan HE ; Zhuo-Qing YANG ; Yan WANG ; Jiu-Wen SUN ; Yun-Na SUN ; Lu-Yue ZHU ; Di ZHANG ; Feng-Dan WANG ; Min LIU ; Gui-Fu DING ; Jin-Yuan YAO
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(6):885-893
With the increasing demand for dynamic,real-time and rapid qualitative analysis of chemical composition in areas such as emergency response and space exploration,chip-scale mass spectrometers have attracted significant attention.These devices are expected to drive the integration of mass spectrometry with micro/nano-fabrication and intelligent sensing technologies,fostering profound innovation and breakthroughs in analytical chemistry.As an excellent mass analyzer,the ion trap exhibits numerous advantages,and its miniaturization creates favorable conditions for the high-density integration of miniature mass spectrometers.However,the reduction in ion storage capacity may compromise its sensitivity and dynamic range,rendering the study of ion unidirectional ejection in highly miniaturized ion traps of significant practical importance.In this work,a research was conducted on achieving efficient ion unidirectional ejection while maintaining high mass resolution in the extremely miniature hyperbolic linear ion trap(M-HLIT)with a field radius of 1 mm,and an electric field compensation method was proposed,which combined asymmetric electrode stretching and unbalanced RF voltage to achieve high-precision optimization of the electric field composition.Simulations showed that in an ideal structure,this method achieved 100%unidirectional ejection efficiency with the mass resolution of 518,significantly outperforming traditional asymmetric structure method(365)and unbalanced voltage method(321).Following the introduction of ion ejection slots,further optimization through bidirectional stretching and electrical parameters improved the resolution to 790 while maintaining a unidirectional ejection efficiency of 93%.This method eliminated the requirement for additional excitation voltage,offering an ideal solution for the miniature mass analyzer with high detection performance of chip-level mass spectrometers.
7.AuNPs-FeCDs Dual Nanozyme Cascade System Integrated with A Smartphone Platform for Sensitive Detection of Glucose
Qing-Jing YE ; Xue-Ying ZHOU ; Yan-Ying ZHENG ; Yun ZHANG ; Wen-Ying JIN ; Ya-Li YUAN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(9):1457-1466
A centrifugation-free,single-reaction colorimetric method for detection of glucose,utilizing a dual nanozyme cascade system based on gold nanoparticles(AuNPs)and iron-doped carbon dots(FeCDs),was developed in this work.The AuNPs exhibited glucose oxidase-like activity to catalyze glucose oxidation for generation of H2O2,while the FeCDs demonstrated peroxidase-like activity to subsequently catalyze the H2O2-mediated oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine(TMB).To prevent interference from the blue signal generated by self-aggregation of AuNPs in subsequent quantitative detection,the reaction system was terminated with HCl,converting oxTMB into a stable yellow product.Based on changes in the absorbance at 450 nm of this yellow solution,a quantitative relationship was established between glucose concentration and absorbance at 450 nm(A450).Experimental results demonstrated that this sensor achieved a linear detection range of 44 μmol/L to 11.11 mmol/L(R2=0.993)with a detection limit of 30.68 μmol/L and spiked recoveries of 97.9%-104.7%.By integrating smartphone-based color recognition capabilities,a rapid visual detection platform was established for quantification of glucose through RGB analysis.The validation experimental results using commercial glucose injection samples further confirmed the practical application potential of this methodology.
8.Estimate the Age of Han Adult Based on the Pulp Chamber Volume and Pulp Dentinal Index of Right First Molars Using Oral and Maxillofacial CBCT
Yan-Jie DING ; Xiao ZHANG ; Wen-Li SHI ; Zi-Yi LI ; Wei WANG ; Shi-Lin ZHANG ; Gen-Jie YANG ; A-Ji GUO ; Bo JIN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(1):59-65
Objective To explore the correlation between the actual age and the pulp chamber volume(PCV)and pulp dentinal index(PDI)of the right first molars based on cone beam computed tomog-raphy(CBCT)technology,and to construct an accurate and convenient model for age estimation.Methods CBCT image data of 1 857 Han adults(883 males and 974 females)from the Department of Stomatology,Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College were collected.The data were di-vided into training and validation sets at a ratio of 8∶2.A total of 1 485 training samples were used to construct the age estimation model,and 372 samples were used to validate the accuracy of the model.The Mimics 21.0 software was used to measure the PCV and calculate the PDI of the right first molars.Their correlations with age and the differences between different sexes and tooth positions were analyzed.Results Both the PCV and the PDI of the first molars showed strong negative correla-tions with the actual age(r values ranged from 0.82 to 0.89).The differences in PCV and PDI be-tween different sexes and tooth positions were statistically significant(P<0.05).The age estimation model based on PDI was superior to that based on PCV.The model based on the PDI values of the two right first molars(y=73.72-44.15 x3-28.27 x4,where x3 and x4 are the PDI values of the right maxil-lary and mandibular first molars,respectively)was the best,with the R2 of 0.79 and the mean abso-lute error of 4.90 years.Conclusion Both PCV and PDI of the first molars are effective indicators for age estimation.The age estimation model based on the PDI is more convenient and accurate than that based on the PCV,providing a more effective method for age estimation in forensic practice.
9.Toxicokinetics of Chlorfenapyr and Its Metabolites in Rats
Wen-Yan LI ; Jin-Feng ZHAO ; Wei-Chen LIU ; Shi-Jing LÜ ; Jia-Xin ZHANG ; Xu-Dong ZHANG ; Zhi-Wen WEI ; Ke-Ming YUN ; Chao ZHANG
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(4):380-386
Objective To establish a chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for detecting chlorfenapyr and its metabolite tralopyril in blood,and to investigate the toxicokinetics in rats.Methods Chlorfenapyr(8 mg/kg)was administered orally to rats,and blood samples were collected from rats'canthus vein at 5 min,15 min,30 min,1 h,3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h and 48 h after administration.The blood samples were extracted using 100 μL of 5%formic acid solution and 400 μL of acetonitrile.Chlorfena-pyr was qualitatively and quantitatively detected by triple quadrupole gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(GC-MS/MS)and tralopyril was detected by triple quadrupole liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).The DAS 3.0 software was used to fit the toxicokinetic equa-tions and calculate the toxicokinetic parameters.Results Chlorfenapyr was detectable from 5 min to 24 h with a peak time of 1 h.Tralopyril was detectable from 15 min to 48 h with a peak time of 3 h.The toxicokinetic process of chlorfenapyr in rat blood conformed to a first-order absorption one-compartment open model,with the toxicokinetic equation described as C=e-0.265t-e-0.175t.Tralopyril con-formed to the first-order absorption three-compartment model,and the toxicokinetic equation was C=47 361.069e-2.209t-35 404.962e-1.486t+11 956.363e-0.512t.In the equations,C stands for the concentration of the target substance in the blood,e is the natural constant(≈2.718 28),and t stands for time.Conclu-sion This study optimized the detection method for chlorfenapyr and its metabolite tralopyril in blood.The toxicokinetic equations and parameters of chlorfenapyr and tralopyril can provide a reference for the estimation of oral intake time of chlorfenapyr.
10.Discussion on the correlation between the systolic blood pressure circadian rhythm and blood pressure variability and the left ventricular blood ejection among 178 patients with hypertension
Jia ZHANG ; Xueqin LU ; Linlin LIU ; Wen ZHANG ; Guangzhao LI ; Jiadong PANG ; Yongming LIU ; Cheng LU ; Yongmei JIN
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(1):23-28
Objective:To discuss the relationship between the systolic blood pressure (SBP) circadian rhythm and blood pressure variability (BPV) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) among 178 patients with hypertension.Methods:This article was a retrospective study. Totally 178 patients with hypertension from January 2020 to January 2022 were selected based on incorporated basis. 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitoring and echocardiography examination were performed. Data such as patients' SBP circadian rhythm, BPV, heart ultrasound heart dynamic maps were collected, and the relationship between SBP circadian rhythm and BPV and their LVEF was explored.Results:Among the 178 patients, the decreased proportion of SBP circadian rhythm>the proportion of existed SBP circadian rhythm>the proportion of inverted SBP circadian rhythm>the proportion of disappearance of SBP circadian rhythm; patients with disappearance of SBP circadian rhythm were the youngest (63.8 ± 14.5) years old, and patients with inverted SBP circadian rhythm were the oldest (71.5 ± 9.4) years old ( P<0.05); the 24-hour systolic blood pressure standard deviation of SBP circadian rhythm was observed in patients with (13.1 ± 2.8) mmHg


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