1.Normative data and standardized scores for sarcopenia indicators in middle-aged and older adults: a large screening-based cohort study
Hsiu-Wen KUO ; Chih-Dao CHEN ; Ariel Chang-Yu WU
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2026;12(1):34-43
Objectives:
Sarcopenia, an age-related skeletal muscle disorder, is assessed by handgrip strength, gait speed, and muscle mass, yet population-specific reference data and standardized scores for Asian adults remain limited. We aimed to establish sex- and age-specific normative reference distributions, smoothed centile curves, and modelbased standardized T scores for these indicators in Asian adults.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed adults aged ≥ 40 years attending a tertiary-center Adult Preventive Health Program in 2023–2024. To assess construct validity, we compared sarcopenia indicators across age groups using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Sex- and age-specific reference distributions were estimated using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS), from which smooth model-based age-specific centiles (5th–95th) were derived. Individual values were standardized to model-based Z scores and transformed to T scores on an approximate 100-point scale. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) cut-offs were used in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses to determine corresponding T-score thresholds.
Results:
Among 8095 participants, model-based mean handgrip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle mass were 20.03±5 kg, 1.12±0.37 m/s, and 6.93±1.43 kg/m² in women and 30.69±7.46 kg, 1.12±0.37 m/s, and 8.79±1.95 kg/m² in men. GAMLSS-derived centile curves demonstrated age-related declines in strength and gait speed and milder changes in muscle mass. AWGS cut-offs corresponded to T scores in the mid-40s for strength and gait and around 40–41 for muscle mass.
Conclusions
We established sex- and age-specific normative values and GAMLSS-based reference distributions, and derived model-based Z and T scores that provide standardized sarcopenia metrics in Asian adults, align with AWGS thresholds, and support detection of muscle decline and risk stratification.
2.Licochalcone E Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis in Obese Mice by Activating the Sirt1/AMPK Pathway and Reducing Hepatic Lipid Accumulation
Wen-Chung HUANG ; Shu-Ju WU ; Xuan-Min LIU ; Shu-Chen CHENG ; Po-Ting LIN ; Chun-Ling KUO ; Chian-Jiun LIOU
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2026;34(3):676-688
Licochalcone E is a chalcone isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. inflata Batal. This study explored the effect of licochalcone E on improving hepatic steatosis in obese mice and evaluated the role of licochalcone E in regulating lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. In vitro, oleic acid–induced hepatocytes were treated with licochalcone E to investigate its effect on lipid metabolic pathways. In animal experiments, male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with licochalcone E by intraperitoneal injection for 12 weeks to assess its effects on biochemical indexes and hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, mice were fed a methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet and administered licochalcone E, followed by evaluation of liver fibrosis. Licochalcone E effectively reduced body weight, epididymal and inguinal fat weight, and adipocyte size in HFD-induced obese mice. Licochalcone E treatment of obese mice also reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and improved hepatocyte steatosis. Licochalcone E regulated the expression of lipogenesis- and lipolysis-related genes in the livers of obese mice and increased AMPK phosphorylation and Sirt1 expression in the liver. Licochalcone E also attenuated hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress in obese mice. Furthermore, treatment of MCD-induced mice with licochalcone E reduced the number of lipid vacuoles and the extent of fibrosis and inhibited liver inflammation. In FL83B hepatocytes, licochalcone E could regulate lipogenesis and lipolysis, and increase the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC. These findings provide new insights into the role of licochalcone E in regulating lipid metabolism and preventing hepatic steatosis.
3.Divergent Small Vessel Disease Burden in Warfarin-Associated and Direct Oral Anticoagulant-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Sung-Chun TANG ; Ya-Fang CHEN ; Chih-Hao CHEN ; Ching-Hua KUO ; Yuan-Chang CHAO ; Yu-Fong PENG ; Shu-Wen LIN ; Shin-Yi LIN ; Jiann-Shing JENG
Journal of Stroke 2026;28(2):334-338
4.Comparison of effect between TiRobot assisted screw placement and freehand screw placement for lumbar degenerative diseases
Weiyang ZUO ; Qi FEI ; Kuo CHEN ; Yuquan LIU ; Haining TAN ; Lingjia YU ; Xiang LI ; Yong YANG
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(1):30-34
Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TiRobot assisted screw placement in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:The clinical data of 165 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases from January 2020 to December 2022 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyze, and all patients were treated with posterior lumbar decompression and instrumentation. Among them, 46 patients were used the TiRobot assisted screw placement during surgery (robotic-assisted group), and 119 patients underwent freehand screw placement by C-arm X-ray machine fluoroscopy (freehand group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complication and skelalgia visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) before and after operation were recorded. The accuracy of screw placement and rate of proximal facet joint violation were compared between two groups.Results:There were no statistical difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and incidence of complication between two groups ( P>0.05). In the two groups, the 3 d VAS and ODI after operation were significantly lower than those before operation, robot-assisted group: (3.33 ± 1.40) scores vs. (6.54 ± 2.00) scores and (16.96 ± 8.03) scores vs. (43.09 ± 5.48) scores; freehand group: (3.56 ± 1.29) scores vs. (6.55 ± 1.65) scores and (18.89 ± 6.74) scores vs. (44.91 ± 4.96) scores, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there were no statistical difference in VAS and ODI before operation and 3 d after operation between two groups ( P>0.05). A total of 234 screws were implanted in robot-assisted group, and 590 screws were implanted in freehand group. The accuracy of screw placement in robot-assisted group was significantly higher than that in freehand group: 80.77% (189/234) vs. 74.58% (440/590), the rate of proximal facet joint violation was significantly lower than that in freehand group: 2.56% (6/234) vs. 7.29% (43/590), and there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 3.56 and 6.68, P<0.05). Conclusions:The TiRobot assisted screw placement for lumbar degenerative diseases is safe and effective. Compared to freehand technique, the TiRobot assisted method demonstrates higher screw placement accuracy and a lower rate of proximal facet joint violation.
5.Strategies and development of photothermal and photodynamic synergistic therapy of metal-organic frameworks
Xiaoxuan CHEN ; Xibo PEI ; Kuo GAI ; Qianbing WAN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(16):3476-3485
BACKGROUND:Metal-organic framework is an emerging porous material composed of metal nodes and organic ligands.Metal-organic frameworks can be both intrinsic photodynamic or photothermal and modified by photothermal agents or photosensitizers.Upon light irradiation,phototherapy effects are exerted through production of reactive oxygen species or rise in temperature,which is widely applied to antitumor and antibacterial treatments.When metal-organic frameworks possess both of above phototherapeutic effects,they can exert a synergistic therapeutic effect to compensate for the shortcomings of using a single phototherapy method.OBJECTIVE:To summarize recent proposed photodynamic-thermal synergistic strategies according to different structures of metal-organic frameworks,to provide new insights into the structural design,functionalization,and clinical scenarios of combined therapy metal-organic frameworks.METHODS:Using"metal-organic frameworks,photodynamic therapy,photothermal therapy"as Chinese search terms and"metal-organic frameworks,photodynamic therapy,photothermal therapy,phototherapy"as English search terms,articles were searched on PubMed,Web of Science,ScienceDirect,CNKI,and WanFang databases.Finally,76 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The combination of photothermal and photodynamic therapy has been shown to exert a synergistic effect.(2)Current strategies for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy predominantly involve the modifying of metal-organic frameworks to impart photothermal and photodynamic properties,encapsulating phototherapeutic agents within metal-organic frameworks,forming core-shell structures with phototherapeutic agents and metal-organic frameworks,in-situ reduction of phototherapeutic agents within metal-organic frameworks,adhering phototherapeutic agents to metal-organic framework surfaces,and unique modification methods like pyrolyzing metal-organic frameworks to form metal-organic frameworks-derived carbon materials.(3)To construct metal-organic framework structures for specific phototherapy,it is essential to comprehensively consider the type,size,and binding of the phototherapeutic agents and metal-organic frameworks,and select different synthesis strategies accordingly.Encapsulation is a straightforward synthesis approach but is only suitable for small-sized phototherapeutic agents.Core-shell structures are stable,but their synthesis process is relatively complex.In situ reduction does not impose special restrictions on the size of phototherapeutic agents,but it is challenging to precisely control the growth of the phototherapeutic agents within the metal-organic frameworks.Surface attachment offers a simple synthesis step,but it cannot prevent the early aggregation and quenching of phototherapeutic agents.Surface attachment requires stringent conditions and can only be implemented with specific metal-organic frameworks.(4)The existing photothermal and photodynamic combined therapy approaches have been primarily applied in antimicrobial and antitumor treatments,demonstrating remarkable efficacy.The specific applications are related to the properties of the phototherapeutic agents and metal-organic frameworks.A minority of applications extend to rheumatoid arthritis and anticoagulation thrombolysis treatments,indicating a broad potential application scope.(5)The clinical translation of photothermal and photosensitizing agents is currently in its nascent stage,facing key challenges that include the evaluation of biocompatibility and biosafety,optimization of laser irradiation parameters,and the development of efficient methods for large-scale synthesis.
6.Analysis of learning curve of TiRobot-assisted lumbar pedicle screw fixation based on the cumulative sum test
Yuquan LIU ; Xiang LI ; Qi FEI ; Kuo CHEN ; Weiyang ZUO ; Bin ZHU ; Guoqiang ZHANG ; Lingjia YU ; Xuehu XIE ; Ning LIU ; Haining TAN ; Hai MENG ; Tianqi FAN ; Yong YANG
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(1):10-17
Objective:To analyze the learning curve of TiRobot-assisted lumbar pedicle screw fixation (LPSF) by cumulative sum (CUSUM) test method.Methods:The clinical data of 50 patients who underwent TiRobot-assisted LPSF from January 2020 to December 2022 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. CUSUM analysis and learning curve fitting were performed with robot usage time as the main indicator with the time for each step refined (robot registration time, path planning time and guide wire placement time), to select the best learning curve fitting model with the R2 value closest to 1. Using the turning point of the learning curve as the boundary, the learning curve was divided into two stages as learning stage and maturity stage, and then the observation indexes were compared between the two stages. Results:All 50 patients successfully completed the surgery without perioperative complications, with a total of 244 pedicle screws implanted. The total robot usage time and robot registration time showed a gradually decreasing trend with the increase of case number, and the learning curves were successfully fitted and reached their peaks at the seventeenth and thirteenth cases respectively. The entire learning process was divided into learning stage (17 cases) and maturity stage (33 cases) based on the turning point of the learning curve of total robot usage time. The path planning time and guide wire placement time did not show significant changes with the increase in the case number. The total robot usage time, robot registration time and the intraoperative blood loss in the learning stage were significantly higher than those in the maturity stage: (35.35 ± 1.58) min vs. (30.61 ± 0.43) min, (20.83 ± 1.56) min vs. (14.94 ± 0.29) min and 400 (150, 500) ml vs. 200 (110, 300) ml, the guide wire placement time of per screw was significantly lower than that in the maturity stage: 2.00 (1.83, 2.34) min/screw vs. 2.33 (2.13, 2.69) min/screw, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). There were no statistical difference in the path planning time, path planning time of per screw, guide wire placement time and the accuracy of screw placement between two stages ( P>0.05). Conclusions:TiRobot-assisted LPSF is a new technology with safety and effectiveness, and it has a relatively short learning curve. To achieve technological maturity, at least 17 surgeries are required with accumulated experience, and the robot registration is the main step of the learning process. After reaching maturity stage, the robot usage time is significantly shortened and intraoperative trauma is significantly reduced while the relatively high screw placement accuracy is ensured.
7.Strategies and development of photothermal and photodynamic synergistic therapy of metal-organic frameworks
Xiaoxuan CHEN ; Xibo PEI ; Kuo GAI ; Qianbing WAN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(16):3476-3485
BACKGROUND:Metal-organic framework is an emerging porous material composed of metal nodes and organic ligands.Metal-organic frameworks can be both intrinsic photodynamic or photothermal and modified by photothermal agents or photosensitizers.Upon light irradiation,phototherapy effects are exerted through production of reactive oxygen species or rise in temperature,which is widely applied to antitumor and antibacterial treatments.When metal-organic frameworks possess both of above phototherapeutic effects,they can exert a synergistic therapeutic effect to compensate for the shortcomings of using a single phototherapy method.OBJECTIVE:To summarize recent proposed photodynamic-thermal synergistic strategies according to different structures of metal-organic frameworks,to provide new insights into the structural design,functionalization,and clinical scenarios of combined therapy metal-organic frameworks.METHODS:Using"metal-organic frameworks,photodynamic therapy,photothermal therapy"as Chinese search terms and"metal-organic frameworks,photodynamic therapy,photothermal therapy,phototherapy"as English search terms,articles were searched on PubMed,Web of Science,ScienceDirect,CNKI,and WanFang databases.Finally,76 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The combination of photothermal and photodynamic therapy has been shown to exert a synergistic effect.(2)Current strategies for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy predominantly involve the modifying of metal-organic frameworks to impart photothermal and photodynamic properties,encapsulating phototherapeutic agents within metal-organic frameworks,forming core-shell structures with phototherapeutic agents and metal-organic frameworks,in-situ reduction of phototherapeutic agents within metal-organic frameworks,adhering phototherapeutic agents to metal-organic framework surfaces,and unique modification methods like pyrolyzing metal-organic frameworks to form metal-organic frameworks-derived carbon materials.(3)To construct metal-organic framework structures for specific phototherapy,it is essential to comprehensively consider the type,size,and binding of the phototherapeutic agents and metal-organic frameworks,and select different synthesis strategies accordingly.Encapsulation is a straightforward synthesis approach but is only suitable for small-sized phototherapeutic agents.Core-shell structures are stable,but their synthesis process is relatively complex.In situ reduction does not impose special restrictions on the size of phototherapeutic agents,but it is challenging to precisely control the growth of the phototherapeutic agents within the metal-organic frameworks.Surface attachment offers a simple synthesis step,but it cannot prevent the early aggregation and quenching of phototherapeutic agents.Surface attachment requires stringent conditions and can only be implemented with specific metal-organic frameworks.(4)The existing photothermal and photodynamic combined therapy approaches have been primarily applied in antimicrobial and antitumor treatments,demonstrating remarkable efficacy.The specific applications are related to the properties of the phototherapeutic agents and metal-organic frameworks.A minority of applications extend to rheumatoid arthritis and anticoagulation thrombolysis treatments,indicating a broad potential application scope.(5)The clinical translation of photothermal and photosensitizing agents is currently in its nascent stage,facing key challenges that include the evaluation of biocompatibility and biosafety,optimization of laser irradiation parameters,and the development of efficient methods for large-scale synthesis.
8.Hypoproteinemia after total hip arthroplasty:risk factors and nomogram prediction model establishment
Zewei ZHENG ; Kaijing YE ; Kuo ZHANG ; Qinghua ZHAO ; Xiutian CHEN ; Yulai JIANG ; Yanzi YI ; Qingwen ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(15):3147-3152
BACKGROUND:The patient underwent multiple hypoproteinemia after total hip arthroplasty,which affected postoperative healing and rehabilitation.OBJECTIVE:To investigate and screen the risk factors for hypoproteinemia after total hip arthroplasty,and to establish a nomogram prediction model so as to provide guidance for judging whether hypoproteinemia occurs after total hip arthroplasty.METHODS:A total of 355 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty were included,and according to whether hypoproteinemia occurred on the first day after surgery,they were divided into 238 cases in the hypoproteinemia group and 117 cases in the normal group,with a hypoproteinemia rate of 67%.Data were collected,including age,gender,diabetes mellitus,hypertension,hyperuricemia,hyperlipidemia,anesthesia method,preoperative leukocytes,preoperative erythrocytes,preoperative hemoglobin,preoperative platelets,preoperative plasma prothrombin time,preoperative activated partial prothrombin time,preoperative international normalized ratio,preoperative thrombin time,preoperative fibrinogen,preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate,preoperative C-reactive protein,preoperative D-dimer,preoperative mean corpuscular hemoglobin content,preoperative mean corpuscular volume,operation time,body mass index,preoperative procalcitonin,and preoperative hematocrit.SPSS 27.0 software was used for univariate analysis,followed by R language(4.3.1)to perform least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and 10-fold cross-validation of the observation indicators to obtain the intersection of the two risk factors.SPSS 27.0 software was used to perform multivariate binary logistic regression to obtain the final risk factors.The prediction model of hypoproteinemia after total hip arthroplasty was constructed by R language.The receiver operating characteristic curve,calibration curve,and clinical decision curve were constructed to assess the predictive model predictive ability.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Univariate analysis,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen out significant differences in age(OR=1.024,P=0.023),preoperative platelets(OR=0.995,P=0.028),and preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate(OR=1.031,P=0.045)in judging whether hypoproteinemia would occur after surgery(P<0.05).(2)The nomogram prediction model was constructed based on the final risk factors screened by multivariate Logistic regression,and the prediction ability of the model was evaluated by constructing the receiver operating characteristic curve,and the area under the calculated receiver operating characteristic curve reached 0.835(95%CI=0.779-0.891),C-index=0.835.A threshold of 0-0.83 could bring better clinical efficacy calculated by the decision curve analysis.The model has good sensitivity and accuracy,which can better identify the risk of postoperative hypoproteinemia for medical staff and patients before total hip arthroplasty.
9.Therapeutic Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on Cognition Following Brain Injury
Wan-Ting CHEN ; Yi-Wei YEH ; Shin-Chang KUO ; Yi-Chih SHIAO ; Chih-Chung HUANG ; Yi-Guang WANG ; Chun-Yen CHEN
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2025;23(1):161-165
This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.
10.Daurisoline Inhibits Progression of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Regulating the γγ-Secretase/Notch Axis
Xiangyi ZHAN ; Xiaoyong CHEN ; Mei FENG ; Kuo YAO ; Kefan YANG ; Hui JIA
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):331-343
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that is challenging to treat and lacks targeted therapeutic drugs in the clinic. Natural active ingredients provide promising opportunities for discovering and developing targeted therapies for TNBC. This study investigated the effects of daurisoline on TNBC and elucidated its potential mechanisms. Using network pharmacology, a correlation was identified between daurisoline, derived from Menispermum dauricum, and breast cancer, particularly involving the Notch signaling pathway. The effects of daurisoline on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were evaluated in vitro. Additionally, the impact of daurisoline on the growth of MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors in nude mice was assessed through in vivo experiments. Expression levels of Notch signaling pathway-related proteins, including Notch-1, NICD, PSEN-1, Bax, and Bcl-2, were examined using molecular docking and Western blotting to explore the underlying mechanisms of daurisoline’s anti-breast cancer effects. It was revealed that daurisoline could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells and promote apoptosis. Furthermore, it significantly reduced the growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. Notably, daurisoline could reduce the hydrolytic activity of γ-secretase by binding to the catalytic core PSEN-1, thereby inhibiting activation of the γ-secretase/Notch axis and contributing to its anti-TNBC effects.This study supported the development of naturally targeted drugs for TNBC and provided insights into the research on dibenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, such as daurisoline.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail