1.Necroptosis in Exercise-induced Skeletal Muscle Damage: Roles and Regulatory Mechanisms
Zhi-Fei KE ; Wen-Jing SONG ; Yun-Feng DONG ; Hua-Yu SHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1884-1895
Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is a frequent form of skeletal muscle microdamage that occurs after high-intensity, prolonged, or unaccustomed exercise, especially exercise dominated by eccentric contractions. It is commonly characterized by delayed-onset muscle soreness, transient loss of muscle strength, local inflammation, structural disruption of myofibers, and delayed functional recovery. Although mild EIMD may serve as a stimulus for training adaptation, excessive or insufficiently recovered muscle damage can impair exercise performance, disturb training continuity, and reduce participation in physical activity. Therefore, clarifying the molecular mechanisms that underlie the initiation, amplification, and resolution of EIMD is important for optimizing athletic training, improving post-exercise recovery, and guiding evidence-based public fitness practice. Necroptosis is a regulated form of programmed cell death mediated primarily by the receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK) 1/RIPK3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) signaling axis. Recent studies have shown that necroptosis is closely involved in tissue injury, sterile inflammation, and repair remodeling. However, whether necroptosis acts as an initiating driver, a secondary damage amplifier, or an adaptive signal required for repair after EIMD remains unclear. This review aimed to summarize the potential role of necroptosis in EIMD and to establish a mechanistic framework linking regulated cell death, inflammatory amplification, immune regulation, and skeletal muscle repair. Relevant studies concerning EIMD, necroptosis, RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), inflammatory responses, immune cell recruitment, extracellular matrix remodeling, and muscle regeneration were reviewed and integrated. On this basis, the possible temporal and functional involvement of necroptosis in different phases of EIMD was analyzed. The main evidence summarized in this review suggests that EIMD is not merely a consequence of primary mechanical disruption. Instead, it develops through a dynamic sequence that includes sarcolemmal instability, calcium overload, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammatory mediator production, immune cell infiltration, necrotic tissue clearance, and regeneration-associated remodeling. Necroptosis may participate in this process through at least two interconnected mechanisms. First, in the early or progressive phase of EIMD, activation of the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling axis may promote MLKL phosphorylation and plasma membrane permeabilization, leading to the release of DAMPs such as high-mobility group box 1, ATP, mitochondrial DNA, and other intracellular components. These signals may activate innate immune pathways, amplify inflammatory cytokine production, and enhance the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages, thereby aggravating secondary inflammation and extending muscle fiber injury. Second, during the resolution and repair phases, necroptosis-related signaling may also contribute indirectly to the formation of a regenerative microenvironment. By influencing the clearance of necrotic debris, the recruitment and phenotypic transition of immune cells, and the remodeling of extracellular matrix components, necroptosis may affect satellite cell activation, myogenic repair, and the eventual structural and functional recovery of injured skeletal muscle. Thus, the biological effect of necroptosis in EIMD may be context dependent rather than uniformly harmful. Its outcome may depend on exercise intensity, the extent of tissue damage, the timing of pathway activation, the involved cell types, inflammatory status, training background, age, and metabolic condition. In conclusion, necroptosis may represent an important molecular link between skeletal muscle injury, sterile inflammation, and tissue repair after damaging exercise. It may exert a dual role in EIMD by amplifying secondary damage while also contributing to repair coordination under appropriate temporal and microenvironmental conditions. Future studies should determine the activation pattern of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling after different exercise protocols, identify the major cell populations undergoing necroptosis in injured skeletal muscle, and examine whether targeted modulation of necroptosis can reduce excessive inflammation without impairing necessary regenerative responses. This review provides a theoretical basis for understanding the pathogenesis of EIMD and for developing targeted strategies to improve skeletal muscle recovery after exercise-induced injury.
2.Value of Golgi protein 73 in assessing liver fibrosis degree and prognosis of patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Wanying HUO ; Hua HE ; Xinyi YU ; Maiman HE ; Jing JIANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(8):1878-1887
ObjectiveTo assess the performance of preoperative serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) in diagnosing liver fibrosis degree in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), to investigate its value in predicting postoperative survival, and to provide a basis for risk stratification and individualized decision-making in this population. MethodsA total of 631 patients with HCC who underwent liver resection at The First Hospital of Jilin University from March 1, 2009 to December 31, 2022 were enrolled. The demographic, pathological, and serological features of the patients were collected, and the serum level of GP73 was measured before surgery. Scheuer score determined by liver biopsy was used as the gold standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis; the Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between GP73 and liver fibrosis; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to assess the value of serum GP73 and compound serological markers in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, and the Delong test was used for comparison of AUC. With all-cause mortality as the outcome, X-Tile 3.6.1 software was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of GP73; the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent influencing factors for prognosis, and a nomogram model was constructed. Ten-fold cross-validation was used for internal validation; index of concordance (C-index), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index, and net reclassification improvement (NRI) index were calculated; calibration curve and decision curve analysis were used to assess the predictive performance of the model. ResultsThe serum level of GP73 was positively correlated with Scheuer liver fibrosis stage (rs=0.255, P<0.001). Serum GP73 had a significantly higher AUC than gamma-glutamyl transferase-to-platelet ratio (0.704 vs 0.634, Z=2.00, P=0.046) and S index (0.704 vs 0.637, Z=1.98, P=0.048) in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis, with no significant difference compared with aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (AUC=0.722) and fibrosis-4 index (AUC=0.695) (both P>0.05). During a median follow-up time of 48.66 months, 239 patients (37.9%) died. GP73 had an optimal cut-off value of 65 ng/mL in predicting postoperative mortality in patients with resectable HCC, and high GP73 expression (≥65 ng/mL) alone achieved a C-index of 0.617 for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients, which was better than the C-index of 0.551 for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage (P<0.001). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that serum GP73 (hazard ratio [HR]=2.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86 — 3.52, P<0.001), sex (HR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.10 — 2.28, P=0.014), vascular invasion (HR=1.69, 95%CI: 1.30 — 2.21, P<0.001), total bilirubin (HR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.16 — 1.93, P=0.002), and maximum tumor diameter (HR=1.07, 95%CI: 1.04 — 1.11, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality after hepatectomy in patients with HCC. In order to assess whether the addition of GP73 to the other four variables could further improve model performance, the model based on GP73, sex, vascular invasion, total bilirubin, and maximum tumor diameter was defined as the GP73-included model, and the model based on all five variables except GP73 was defined as the GP73-excluded model. The GP73-included model achieved an AUC of 0.704 (95%CI: 0.656 — 0.753) for predicting 5-year survival rate after surgery, and ten-fold cross-validation showed that this model had a mean C-index of 0.716 (95%CI: 0.682 — 0.750), which was higher than the C-index of the GP73-excluded model (C-index=0.682, 95%CI: 0.645 — 0.719, P=0.008) and BCLC stage (C-index=0.551, 95%CI: 0.523 — 0.580, P<0.001). Compared with the GP73-excluded model, the GP73-included model yielded an IDI index of 0.039 (95%CI: 0.016 — 0.069, P<0.001) and an NRI index of 0.259 (95%CI: 0.179 — 0.335, P<0.001), and compared with BCLC stage, the GP73-included model had an IDI index of 0.112 (95%CI: 0.069 — 0.163, P<0.001) and an NRI index of 0.272 (95%CI: 0.169 — 0.380, P<0.001). Calibration curve and decision curve analyses showed that the GP73-included model had good calibration and net clinical benefit. ConclusionGP73 can be used as a serological biomarker for diagnosing liver fibrosis in patients with resectable HCC, and preoperative GP73 level has a certain value in predicting the survival of these patients after hepatectomy. The integrated prognostic model incorporating GP73 can help to optimize postoperative risk stratification, thereby providing a basis for decision-making in precise treatment of HCC.
3.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a study by the Jiangsu Cooperative Lymphoma Group (JCLG)
Yi XIA ; Jing HE ; Weiying GU ; Tao JIA ; Tingxun LU ; Yongle LI ; Jiahao ZHOU ; Bingzong LI ; Haiying HUA ; Ping LIU ; Yuqing MIAO ; Yuexin CHENG ; Xiaoyan XIE ; Yunping ZHANG ; Wenzhong WU ; Zhuxia JIA ; Xuzhang LU ; Chunling WANG ; Liang YU ; Min XU ; Jinning SHI ; Weifeng CHEN ; Wanchuan ZHUANG ; Zhen QIAN ; Jun QIAN ; Haiwen NI ; Yifei CHEN ; Qiudan SHEN ; Jianyong LI ; Wenyu SHI
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(6):504-513
Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and analyze the factors associated with prognosis.Methods:A case series study was conducted by retrospectively collecting clinical data from patients aged over 60 years with newly diagnosed stage Ⅰ DLBCL across 20 medical centers in Jiangsu Province, China, between June 2010 and April 2023. The involved site, classification and treatment plan were summarized. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression model.Results:The study included 255 patients with a median age of 69 years, of whom 130 (51.0%) were male, 66 (25.9%) were aged ≥75 years and 26 (10.1%) had a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of ≥2. Extranodal involvement was observed in 163 (63.9%) patients, with the stomach (37.4%, 61/163), intestine (19.0%, 31/163), testes (11.0%, 18/163), and breast (7.4%, 12/163) being the most frequently affected sites. The non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) subtype was prevalent in 63.7% of patients (142/223), with no significant difference between the nodal and extranodal groups ( P=0.681). Furthermore, 73.9% (184/249) and 11.7% (29/249) of patients received the R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and R-miniCHOP regimen, respectively. The overall 3-year PFS rate was 81.5%, and the 3-year OS rate was 85.6%. Patients aged ≥75 years ( HR=2.910, 95% CI 1.565-5.408, P=0.001) and/or with a CCI score ≥2 ( HR=2.324, 95% CI 1.141-4.732, P=0.020) had a significantly poorer PFS. Incorporating age ≥75 years and CCI score ≥2 into the stage-modified international prognostic index (sm-IPI) can better stratify the prognosis of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL. The 3-year PFS rate was 48.7% in the high-risk group versus 85.7% in the low-risk group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Our findings show that the elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL were predominantly characterized by extranodal involvement (particularly in the stomach and intestinal tract) and non-GCB subtype. Age ≥75 years and CCI ≥2 were identified as independent prognostic factors. The newly established sm-IPI-75-CCI incorporating these factors demonstrated superior prognostic discrimination compared to conventional risk assessment systems.
4.Quality evaluation of Gegen Formula Granules
Dai-liang ZHANG ; Chun-xia WANG ; Lei SHI ; Yu-kang LIU ; Yong-qiang LIN ; Yu-zhuo WANG ; Jing-hua ZHANG ; Jin-xin LI ; Gui-yun CAO ; Zhao-qing MENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(5):1421-1431
AIM To evaluate the quality of Gegen Formula Granules.METHODS Linear calibration with two reference substances(LCTRS)was adopted in the predicting of retention time with puerarin and daidzein as internal standards.UPLC characteristic chromatograms were established.The contents of 3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin(internal standard),3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin 6"-O-xyloside,puerarin apioside and daidzin were determined by quantitative determination analysis multi-components by a single marker(QAMS),after which their transfer rates were calculated.RESULTS Compared with relative retention time method,LCTRS demonstrated higher positional accuracy for characteristic peaks and wider application range for columns.There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatograms for 14 batches of formula granules and 15 batches of standard decoctions with the similarities of more than 0.95.The contents and transfer rates of various constituents in formula granules and standard decoctions were basically consistent.CONCLUSION The chemical constituents in formula granules and their standard decoctions of Puerariae lobatae Radix display good consistency,reliable preparation process is observable in the former.
5.Advances in Dual-response Adenosine Triphosphate Fluorescent Probes for Bioimaging
Qing-Yu XU ; Xiang LI ; Wei CAO ; Zhi-Hua PENG ; Jing-Bin ZENG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(8):1213-1225
Adenosine triphosphate(ATP),as the core energy metabolism molecule in living systems,has dynamic changes closely related to fundamental physiological processes.To meet the urgent demand for spatiotemporal ATP detection in vivo and in situ,the development of highly sensitive multifunctional synchronous sensing fluorescent probes has become a recent research focus.These dual-function probes achieve fluorescence detection of dual targets by designing recognition sites for ATP alongside biological factors or microenvironment parameters such as reactive oxygen/nitrogen/sulfur species,metal ions,and enzymes,enabling physiological/pathological state correlation analysis through bioimaging.This paper systematically reviews recent advances in fluorescent probes for the collaborative detection of ATP and key biomolecules.It specifically examines probe construction strategies based on specific molecular recognition mechanisms(e.g.,metal coordination competition,electrostatic interactions,and host-guest recognition),multi-modal optical signal transduction mechanisms(ratiometric fluorescence,fluorescence lifetime,and photodynamic therapy),and their applications in pathological models such as oxidative stress monitoring,metal homeostasis imbalance,and enzyme activity co-detection.Finally,from the perspective of molecular probe engineering,current challenges and future research directions are proposed to provide methodological support for precise analysis of ATP-related life process regulation networks.
6.A Sensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Detection of Interleukin-6 Using Carbon Dots-Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposite Fluorescent Probes
Yue-Qian YANG ; Peng-Yue WANG ; Jia-Qi REN ; Xiao PAN ; Feng-Hua TAN ; Yu-Jie MA ; Cong-Ying WEN ; Jing-Bin ZENG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(9):1467-1475
In this study,a sensitive lateral flow immunoassay(LFIA)platform based on carbon dots-mesoporous silica nanocomposite(CD-MSNs)fluorescent probes was constructed for high-performance detection of inflammatory marker interleukin-6(IL-6).Green fluorescent carbon dots(CDs)were prepared by hydrothermal method with 3,9-perylenic acid and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES)as raw materials,and highly fluorescent CD-MSNs composites were then constructed by encapsulating the prepared CDs in mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSNs).Fluorescent probes were prepared by covalent coupling of CD-MSNs with IL-6 antibody.Fluorescent immunochromatographic test strips were constructed by spraying IL-6 capture antibody and goat anti-mouse IgG on nitrocellulose membrane as detection line(T-line)and quality control line(C-line),respectively.The fluorescence immunoassay analyzer was used to quantitatively detect the fluorescence intensity of T-line,and the experimental results showed that the LFIA platform based on this probe had a good linear relationship in IL-6 concentration range of 102-106 pg/mL,and the detection limit was 64 pg/mL,which was two orders of magnitude more sensitive than that of the traditional colloidal gold test strips.This method effectively solved the issue of insufficient sensitivity of traditional LFIA technique,and provided a rapid and highly sensitive detection method for early diagnosis of inflammatory diseases.
7.Ubiquitin ligase and deubiquitin enzyme in Alzheimer's disease function study
Yu-qing WANG ; Zhi-tao HOU ; Song-zhe LI ; Zhi-hua HAO ; Jing CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(3):427-433
Alzheimer's disease(AD)is a multifactorial condi-tion characterized by the accumulation of toxic proteins and asso-ciated neurodegeneration.AD is distinguished by the pathologi-cal aggregation of amyloid beta(Aβ)and Tau proteins.The in-teraction between Aβ and Tau can further induce neuroinflamma-tion,mitochondrial autophagy dysfunction,and endoplasmic retic-ulum stress,exacerbating synaptic damage and neuronal death.Neuronal cells are particularly susceptible to protein misfolding due to an imbalance between protein production and degrada-tion.The ubiquitin/26S proteasome system(UPS),a major pathway for protein degradation in eukaryotic cells,plays a cruci-al role in recognizing misfolded or damaged proteins within the nervous system.In UPS,the levels of ubiquitin are tightly regu-lated by both ubiquitin ligases(E3s)and deubiquitylases(DUBs).This article reviews the involvement and mechanisms of E3s and DUBs in the pathogenesis of AD,aiming to provide novel research strategies for its treatment.
8.Clinical Value of 7T Ultra-High Field MRI in Evaluating Deep Medullary Veins
Yanqiu HUA ; Jing LI ; Yu ZHENG ; Shuyao HE ; Min HE ; Jiafei CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2025;33(5):474-478
Purpose To investigate the diagnostic value of 7T ultra-high field MRI in deep medullary venography.Materials and Methods This prospective controlled study enrolled 47 healthy subjects from the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from May to August 2022.All participants underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging scans on both 7T and 3T MRI systems on the same day.Subjective image quality was evaluated using a Likert 5-point scale,while deep medullary vein visualization was assessed via a visual quartile grading system.Objective metrics,including signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio,were used to evaluate venous image quality.Results There were statistically significant differences in subjective Likert 5-point scores between the 7T and 3T MRI group[5(5,5)vs.4(3,4);Z=234.50,P<0.001].Deep medullary vein visual quartile scores also showed significant differences between 7T and 3T MRI[0(0,0)]vs.[1(1,2);Z=47.00,P<0.001].Signal-to-noise ratio in the 7T group(1.50±0.35)was lower than that in the 3T group(5.45±1.83),while contrast-to-noise ratio(7.64±1.70)was higher than that in the 3T group(5.44±2.11),with both differences being statistically significant(t=14.54,-5.68,P<0.001).Conclusion 7T ultra-high field MRI demonstrates superior image quality for deep medullary venography visualization compared to 3T MRI.
9.International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025).
Sheng-Sheng ZHANG ; Lu-Qing ZHAO ; Xiao-Hua HOU ; Zhao-Xiang BIAN ; Jian-Hua ZHENG ; Hai-He TIAN ; Guan-Hu YANG ; Won-Sook HONG ; Yu-Ying HE ; Li LIU ; Hong SHEN ; Yan-Ping LI ; Sheng XIE ; Jin SHU ; Bin-Fang ZENG ; Jun-Xiang LI ; Zhen LIU ; Zheng-Hua XIAO ; Jing-Dong XIAO ; Pei-Yong ZHENG ; Shao-Gang HUANG ; Sheng-Liang CHEN ; Gui-Jun FEI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):502-518
Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
10.Comparison of chemical constituents in traditional decoction and formula granule decoction of Wendan Decoction
Tan XUE ; Man-wen XU ; Xue-hua FAN ; Feng-yu DONG ; Yan MIAO ; Jia-ning SUN ; Jun-han SHI ; Lu ZHANG ; Jing YAO ; Rui-xin LIU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(2):384-394
AIM To compare the chemical constituents in traditional decoction and formula granule decoction of classical famous prescription Wendan Decoction.METHODS The HPLC fingerprints were established,after which the contents of adenosine,synephrine,liquiritin,naringin,hesperidin,6-gingerol and adenosine cyclophosphate were determined,cluster analysis,principal component analysis and multidimensional scaling analysis were adopted in the investigation of component differences,and the equivalent of formula granules was adjusted.RESULTS The similarities of HPLC fingerprints for 10 batches of traditional decoctions were higher than those of HPLC fingerprints for 9 batches of formula granule decoctions(P<0.01).Adenosine,synephrine,liquiritin,hesperidin and cyclic adenosine monophosphate demonstrated higher contents in traditional decoctions than those in formula granule decoctions(P<0.05),6-gingerol displayed lower content than that in the latter produced by manufacturers A,C(P<0.05),which was higher than that in the latter produced by manufacturer B(P<0.01).Various batches of traditional decoctions and formula granule decoctions could be obviously distinguished,adenosine,synephrine and hesperidin exhibited great influences on the classification of principal component analysis,and the quality of formula granule decoctions produced by manufacturer C was closer to that of traditional decoctions.After equivalent correction,the contents of various constituents in formula granule decoctions produced by manufacturers A,C showed no significant differences as compared with those in traditional decoction(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The formula granules of Wendan Decoction from different manufacturers exist quality differences,so the preparation process and extraction process of this preparation should be optimized to improve quality,and equivalent ratio should be adjusted according to actual requirements to ensure its scientific and rational clinical application.

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