1.Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine regulation of MAPK signaling pathway in intervening slow transit constipation
Xiangrui KONG ; Qimeng ZHANG ; Yue ZOU ; Yong LIANG ; Yu SHI ; Yang ZHANG ; Ke MENG ; Hongxi ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1508-1514
low transit constipation (STC) is a common functional intestinal disorder caused by impaired colonic transit function, characterized by reduced bowel movement frequency, hard stools, and difficulty in defecation. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which mainly includes extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 subtypes, plays a critical regulatory role in the occurrence and development of STC. This paper systematically reviews the multiple pathogenic mechanisms of the MAPK signaling pathway in STC and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention.At the mechanistic level, the MAPK signaling pathway promotes the progression of STC through the following links:(1) Activation of p38 upregulates the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3)/AQP4 in the colon, leading to excessive reabsorption of water in the intestinal lumen; (2) It forms a positive feedback loop with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) to maintain low-grade intestinal inflammation, releases inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inhibits smooth muscle contraction; (3) Overactivation of p38 downregulates the expression of occludin and mucin 2 while upregulates the expression of claudin-2, thereby disrupting the mucosal barrier; (4) The JNK/p38 signaling pathway activates the caspase cascade to induce apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, neurons, and interstitial cells of Cajal; (5) Abnormal ERK signaling and excessive activation of p38/JNK inhibit intestinal smooth muscle contraction and reduce 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion, ultimately resulting in impaired colonic transit function.At the intervention level, TCM compound formulas and single herbs have been proven to improve STC by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Their effects are syndrome type-dependent:yin-nourishing formulas (Zengye Chengqi Tang, Tongbian Tang) mainly regulate the ERK/AQP axis; yang-warming formulas (Jichuan Jian) target both ERK/JNK and anti-apoptosis; heat-clearing formulas (Sanren Tang) focus on p38/NF-κB anti-inflammation. A single drug can simultaneously cover multiple aspects including water metabolism, inflammation, barrier function, apoptosis, and intestinal motility.Current relevant studies still have limitations such as mechanisms mostly remaining at the correlational level and a lack of disease-syndrome integrated research models. Future studies should combine specific inhibitors or gene knockout to identify core targets, establish disease-syndrome integrated STC models, and use network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to deeply analyze the fine mechanism of “component-target-phenotype”, so as to provide high-quality evidence for the precise regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway by TCM in the intervention of STC.
2.Research Status and Clinical Application Prospects of Pathology Foundation Models
Junxian WU ; Xinyi KE ; Kedian YU ; Lianzhi LING ; Huanwen WU ; Zhiyong LIANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(4):924-932
Pathology diagnosis is the "gold standard" for clinical disease diagnosis and treatment. Intelligent pathology image analysis has significant clinical value in improving diagnostic efficiency and ensuring consistency. This paper systematically reviews the core multiple instance learning paradigm for whole slide image analysis, and elaborates the pretraining system, core functional branches and latest advances of pathology foundation models. Taking clinical usability as the core evaluation dimension, it establishes a multi-dimensional evaluation framework, analyzes the clinical translation potential of different technical routes, and points out the core contradiction of "excellent laboratory performance but insufficient clinical usability" in current pathology foundation models. It further dissects the key clinical translation bottlenecks of pathology foundation models, outlines future application and development directions, and provides a reference for technological research and development as well as clinical translation in computational pathology.
3.A SINGLE CASE OF COINFECTION WITH SEVERE FEVER WITH THROMBOCYTOPENIA SYNDROME AND SCRUB TYPHUS IN DALIAN,CHINA
Ke-Ya WU ; Ling-Yan KONG ; Jun XING ; Wei PANG ; Yi ZHOU ; Yu-Hong LIANG ; Sheng-Hao JIN ; Shang QI
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(1):48-51
This article reports a first case of combined infection with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)and scrub typhus in Dalian City.The patient was admitted to the hospital due to recurrent fever for 7 days and loss of consciousness for 1 day.Pathogen metagenomic sequencing(mNGS),SFTSV quantitative PCR,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)IgM tests were performed,showing positive results for Orientia tsutsugamushi and SFTSV nucleic acids.Based on clinical manifestations and epidemiological history,the patient was diagnosed with combined infections.
4.Determination of 238Pu,239Pu,240Pu and 241Pu in Soil by Tandem Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasmon-Mass Spectrometry
Yi-Chao GUO ; Chen-Yang PENG ; Xin-Yu DU ; Feng ZHANG ; Hao-Lin ZHOU ; Ke-Liang SHI ; Shan XING ; Xiao-Lin HOU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(3):397-406
Plutonium isotopes(238Pu,239Pu,240Pu and 241Pu)in the environment are important"fingerprint"nuclides in the study of nuclear activity traceability.The content of plutonium isotopes in the environmental metrics is usually very low,and the measurement of these isotopes,especially 238Pu,using mass spectrometry is seriously interfered with by the coexisting 238U.The analysis of several plutonium isotopes in soil usually requires combination of multiple measurement techniques,which leads to a long analysis time and large uncertainty in the isotope ratio.In this work,the hydrous titanium oxide(HTiO)precipitated by the hydrolysis of titanium oxydichloride(TiOCl2)under near-neutral condition was used to preconcentrate plutonium from the soil digestion solution,and the highly efficient decontamination of 238U in the sample was achieved by TK200 resin column chromatography with a decontamination factor of 108.Simulation resuts of density functional theory(DFT)showed that NH3 was considered as a promising reaction gas to eliminate the interference of 238U from 238Pu measurement using mass spectrometry due to the significant discrepancy of the chemical reactivity of U+and Pu+with the reactive gas NH3.Experiments confirmed that by optimizing the flow rates of collision gas(He)and reaction gas(NH3),the interference of 238U could be effectively suppressed,and the decontamination factor of 238U was 104.Combined with chemical separation,the overall decontamination factor of 238U could reach 1012 by using the developed method.By combining chemical separation and tandem quadrupole inductively coupled plasmon-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS/MS)measurement,the simultaneous determination of four ultra-trace plutonium isotopes in soil was realized,and the detection limit of plutonium isotopes was at the femtogram level.Analysis of the international standard reference materials(NIST-SRM-4357 and IAEA-384)showed that the established method could be successfully used for the accurate analysis of ultra-trace four plutonium isotopes(238Pu,239Pu,240Pu and 241Pu)in soil samples.
5.Complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain and a preliminary nomogram for predicting patient outcomes.
Liang ZHANG ; Wen-Long GOU ; Ke-Yu LUO ; Jun ZHU ; Yi-Bo GAN ; Xiang YIN ; Jun-Gang PU ; Huai-Jian JIN ; Xian-Qing ZHANG ; Wan-Fei WU ; Zi-Ming WANG ; Yao-Yao LIU ; Yang LI ; Peng LIU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(6):445-453
PURPOSE:
The rate of complications among patients undergoing surgery has increased due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of concern. However, Omicron has shown decreased pathogenicity, raising questions about the risk of postoperative complications among patients who are infected with this variant. This study aimed to investigate complications and related factors among patients with recent Omicron infection prior to undergoing orthopedic surgery.
METHODS:
A historical control study was conducted. Data were collected from all patients who underwent surgery during 2 distinct periods: (1) between Dec 12, 2022 and Jan 31, 2023 (COVID-19 positive group), (2) between Dec 12, 2021 and Jan 31, 2022 (COVID-19 negative control group). The patients were at least 18 years old. Patients who received conservative treatment after admission or had high-risk diseases or special circumstances (use of anticoagulants before surgery) were excluded from the study. The study outcomes were the total complication rate and related factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify related factors, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on complications.
RESULTS:
In the analysis, a total of 847 patients who underwent surgery were included, with 275 of these patients testing positive for COVID-19 and 572 testing negative. The COVID-19-positive group had a significantly higher rate of total complications (11.27%) than the control group (4.90%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for relevant factors, the OR was 3.08 (95% CI: 1.45-6.53). Patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at 3-4 weeks (OR = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06-0.59), p = 0.005), 5-6 weeks (OR = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04-0.59), p = 0.010), or ≥7 weeks (OR = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.06-1.02), p = 0.069) prior to surgery had a lower risk of complications than those who were diagnosed at 0-2 weeks prior to surgery. Seven factors (age, indications for surgery, time of operation, time of COVID-19 diagnosis prior to surgery, C-reactive protein levels, alanine transaminase levels, and aspartate aminotransferase levels) were found to be associated with complications; thus, these factors were used to create a nomogram.
CONCLUSION
Omicron continues to be a significant factor in the incidence of postoperative complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. By identifying the factors associated with these complications, we can determine the optimal surgical timing, provide more accurate prognostic information, and offer appropriate consultation for orthopedic surgery patients who have been infected with Omicron.
Humans
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COVID-19/complications*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Postoperative Complications/epidemiology*
;
SARS-CoV-2
;
Orthopedic Procedures/adverse effects*
;
Aged
;
Nomograms
;
Adult
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Risk Factors
6.Trend in testicular volume change after orchiopexy in 854 children with cryptorchidism.
Ying-Ying HE ; Zhi-Cong KE ; Shou-Lin LI ; Hui-Jie GUO ; Pei-Liang ZHANG ; Peng-Yu CHEN ; Wan-Hua XU ; Feng-Hao SUN ; Zhi-Lin YANG
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(6):723-727
The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in testicular volume changes after orchiopexy in children with cryptorchidism. The clinical data of 854 children with cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital (Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 2.8 (2.5) years, and the duration of follow-up ranged from 1 year to 5 years. Ultrasonography was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively. The variables analyzed included age at the time of surgery, type of surgical procedure, laterality, preoperative testicular position, preoperative and postoperative testicular volumes, and the testicular volume ratio of them. The average testicular volumes preoperatively and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively were 0.27 ml, 0.38 ml, 0.53 ml, 0.87 ml, and 1.00 ml, respectively ( P < 0.001). The corresponding testicular volume ratios were 0.67, 0.76, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.84 ( P < 0.001). The mean volume of the undescended testes was significantly smaller than the mean normative value ( P < 0.001, lower than the 10 th percentile). The postoperative testicular volumes in children with cryptorchidism were generally lower than those in healthy boys but were still greater than the 10 th percentile and exhibited an increasing trend. The older the child is at the time of surgery, the larger the gap in volume between the affected and normal testes. Although testicular volume tends to gradually increase after orchiopexy for cryptorchidism, it could not normalizes. Earlier surgery results in affected testicular volumes closer to those of healthy boys.
Humans
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Male
;
Cryptorchidism/diagnostic imaging*
;
Orchiopexy
;
Child, Preschool
;
Testis/surgery*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Organ Size
;
Ultrasonography
;
Infant
;
Child
;
Postoperative Period
;
Follow-Up Studies
7.Research on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children
Xinyi LIANG ; Jingnan CHEN ; Xuelian ZHOU ; Ruimin CHEN ; Jingsi LUO ; Rongxiu ZHENG ; Chunxiu GONG ; Chunlin WANG ; Zhe SU ; Mireguli MAIMAITI ; Yan LIANG ; Hui YAO ; Haiyan WEI ; Hongwei DU ; Shaoke CHEN ; Yu YANG ; Feihong LUO ; Pin LI ; Min ZHU ; Wei WU ; Ke HUANG ; Guanping DONG ; Junfen FU
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(6):612-619
Objective:To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among Chinese children aged 3-18 years from 11 provinces, antonomous regions, or municipalities.Methods:This national cross-sectional community health survey utilized a multistage stratified cluster-random sampling method to recruit 193 997 nationally representative participants from 11 provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities between January 2017 and December 2019. All participants underwent physical examinations, and their caregivers completed questionnaires assessing participants′ dietary, lifestyle, familial, and perinatal information. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were employed to identify the potential risk factors.Results:The cohort comprised 193 997 children (102 178 boys, 91 819 girls),aged (10±4) years. Overall prevalence rates were 30 574(15.8%)overweight children and 17 217(8.9%) obesity children. Boys exhibited higher overweight and obesity rates than girls (17.0% (17 368/102 178) vs. 14.4% (13 206/102 178), 11.3% (11 553/91 819) vs. 6.2% (5 664/91 819), χ2=249.12,1 578.69,both P<0.001). The detection rates of obesity in Tanner stage 2 and 3 were the highest in boys and girls, with 13.4%(2 231/16 665) and 8.6%(880/10 221) respectively. Risk factors for obesity included parental overweight (paternal OR=2.34 and maternal OR=2.29), annual household income of 100 000-200 000 yuan (compared with<100 000 yuan, OR=1.04), higher paternal education (compared with below high school,high school and a college education OR=1.09,1.14), birth weight >4.0 kg (≤5 and>5 years old OR=1.74, 1.44,respectively), and western food consumption≥1 time/month (compared with<1, 1-2, 3-4,>4 times/month OR=1.36, 1.30, 1.67(≤5 years), 1.19, 1.16, 1.15 (>5 years), respectively) (all P<0.05). Conversely, coarse grain intake≥1 times/week (compared with<1 times/week, every day, 3-4, 1-2 times/week OR=0.74, 0.80, 0.71 (≤5 years), 0.75, 0.87, 0.90(>5 years), respectively, all P<0.05) was associated with reduced obesity risk. Conclusions:Obesity epidemiology in children demonstrates significant heterogeneity across age, gender, geographic regions, and pubertal stages. It is necessary to establish a personalized prevention and control strategy.
8.Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Juhongtai formula granules in improving acute lung injury in rats based on component-target-pathway analysis
Fangyu LIANG ; Yulei CHEN ; Leilei CHEN ; Jingjing YU ; Fengping HUANG ; Ke HUANG ; Fengxia XIAO
Immunological Journal 2025;41(8):541-550
Objective To investigate the key targets and pathways of Juhongtai formula granules in improving acute lung injury(ALI).Methods Juhongtai formula granules and their drug-containing serum components were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS,and the active ingredients were screened based on the"Lipinski Rule of Five".The action targets of the above active ingredients were obtained through the TCMSP,Swiss Target Prediction and SuperPred databases,and the ALI-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards,OMIM,PharmGKB,CTD databases and GEO chip.The target protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the String database and Cytoscape to analyze the key targets.The DAVID database was used for GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,and the CB-dock2 platform was used for molecular docking verification.After one week of adaptive feeding,the experimental SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the positive control group,the negative control group and the Juhongtai formula granules group,with 6 rats in each group.The rat model of ALI was replicated by tracheal infusion of lipopolysaccharide.The pathological morphology of lung tissues in each group of rats was observed by HE staining,and the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1 β(IL-1β)and nitric oxide were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Results In total,44 components of the Juhongtai formula granules were identified,including 26 drug-containing serum components,and 21 key compounds were screened.A total of 22 intersection targets were obtained.The pathway enrichment results indicated the action of these targets on the advanced glycation end product receptor(AGE-RAGE)and TNF signaling pathways.The docking results showed that limonin,kaempferol and naringenin could be matched with prostaglandin peroxidase 2,nitric oxide synthase 2 and TNF.Animal experiments confirmed that the Juhongtai formula granules can alleviate inflammatory infiltration in lung tissue and reduce the expressions of TNF-α,IL6,IL-1β mRNA and nitric oxide.Conclusion Juhongtai formula granules can inhibit ALI-related inflammatory targets through the synergistic effects of multiple components such as limonin and kaempferol,regulate signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE and TNF,reduce the production of inflammatory factors and nitric oxide,and improve ALI.
9.Advances in the Studies of MicroRNA-1976 in Aberrant Cell Cycle Diseases.
Hao-Yu JI ; Hao CHEN ; Liang SHI ; Meng ZHANG ; Ting CHEN ; Ying-Ming KONG ; Rong-Ke FENG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(4):644-650
Most tumor cells and healthy neurons are at rest during G0 phase.Once the cell cycle is abnormally re-entered under certain conditions,the proliferation of tumor cells and the degenerative necrosis of neurons can be initiated.From the perspective of the cell cycle,cancer and central nervous system diseases,two seemingly different disease types,have a common pathogenesis.This type of diseases is named aberrant cell cycle diseases.As a newly discovered microRNA(miR),miR-1976 is closely related to the regulation of the cell cycle.This review summarizes the progress in the research on miR-1976 in cancer and central nervous system diseases,aiming to provide a reference for the clinical application of miR-1976 in aberrant cell cycle diseases in the future.
MicroRNAs/genetics*
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Humans
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Cell Cycle/genetics*
;
Neoplasms/genetics*
;
Central Nervous System Diseases/genetics*
10.Clinical and genetic analysis of a patient with FSIP2 compound heterozygous variants causing multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella.
Yao-Qi CHEN ; Li-Qi XU ; Yi-Bo DAI ; Liang-Yu YAO ; Shen-Ming YANG ; Lu-Yu HUANG ; Xi YANG ; Yi YU ; Jing-Ming YANG ; Ke-Rong WU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(5):395-402
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical features and genetic etiology of a patient with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) retrospectively.
METHODS:
A severely oligospermic patient from the Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University was selected as the study subject. Clinical data and examination results were collected. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics were used to analyze the genetic etiology. And Sanger sequencing was employed to validate findings in the family. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the sperm ultrastructure, and immunofluorescence analysis was performed to examine the localization of FSIP2 protein in the sperm.
RESULTS:
The patient presented with severe oligospermia, and sperm morphology displayed MMAF. TEM revealed fibrous sheath and 9+2 microtubule structural disruptions in the sperm. Sequencing identified compound heterozygous variants in the FSIP2 gene (c.17798C > T, c.5927T > G), inherited from the father and mother, respectively. According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the variants were classified as pathogenic. The patient's spouse underwent intracytoplasmic single sperm injection, resulting in one embryo, but no clinical pregnancy occurred after embryo transfer.
CONCLUSION
This study reported the mutation of FSIP2 gene c.17798C > T, c.5927T > G in a patient with MMAF. These findings expand the mutational spectrum of the FSIP2 gene and provide insights for genetic and assisted reproductive counseling for patients with MMAF.
Humans
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Male
;
Sperm Tail/pathology*
;
Heterozygote
;
Oligospermia/genetics*
;
Spermatozoa
;
Mutation
;
Infertility, Male/genetics*
;
Adult
;
Pedigree
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

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