1.Longitudinal cohort study on pubertal development trajectories of testicular and breast development among children
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):408-412
Objective:
To characterize longitudinal trajectories of testicular development in boys and breast development in girls, so as to provide reference data for understanding patterns of pubertal sexual maturation.
Methods:
Based on the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cohort Study on Growth, Development and Health in Children and Adolescents, a baseline survey was conducted in 2020 using a mult stage cluster random sampling method. A total of 2 184 children who completed all follow ups during the primary school period from 13 elementary schools in Pudong New Area,Shanghai,with annual follow ups during 2021-2025. Testicular volume and Tanner stage of breast development were assessed by professional physicians using standardized visual inspection and palpation. The age distribution of testicular volume and breast development was fitted by using cumulative link mixed models and Turnbull s nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method.
Results:
Median ages for testicular volumes of 2, 3, 4 and 5 mL in boys were 7.07, 9.24, 10.29, and 11.57 years old, respectively. Median ages for Tanner breast stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ in girls were 8.55 , 10.17, 11.18, and 13.78 years old, respectively. Based on overweight and obesity, stratified analysis showed that earlier pubertal onset among overweight/obesity children, and the key milestones for pubertal initiation were testicular volume reaching 4 mL in boys and breast Tanner II in girls for 10.29, 10.83; 8.18, 9.00 years.
Conclusion
Overweight and obesity are associated with earlier pubertal initiation,but there are certain gender and developmental stage specific patterns.
2.Evaluation of the quality of Jingangteng capsules based on UPLC fingerprinting combined with multi-component content determination
Li SHEN ; Yue SHEN ; Yuying YANG ; Dandan ZHANG ; Yuxi WU ; Xuxiang ZHOU ; Jingyu YANG ; Peng HU ; Lei WANG ; Heming WU ; Dan LIU ; Xiaochuan YE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1290-1294
OBJECTIVE To establish the UPLC fingerprint and the method for multi-component content determination in Jingangteng capsules, and to evaluate its quality by combining chemical pattern recognition analysis. METHODS An UPLC method was established. Separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-C 18 Rapid Resolution HD column, with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase for gradient elution.Using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprints of Traditional Chinese Medicines (2012 edition), UPLC fi ngerprints were established for 10 batches of Jingangteng capsules, and similarity was evaluated. SPSS 22.0 and SIMCA 14.1 software were used to perform hierarchial-cluster analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), respectively. The same UPLC method was employed to determine the contents of chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dihydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid-3- O -glucoside (M1), caffeic acid, astilbin, oxyresveratrol, quercitrin and resveratrol in the 10 batches of samples. RESULTS A total of 17 common peaks were identified in UPLC fingerprints of the 10 batches of samples, of which 7 were identified as chlorogenic acid, M1, caffeic acid, astilbin, oxyresveratrol, quercitrin, and resveratrol. The similarities of 10 batches of samples ranged from 0.820 to 0.985. The results of hierarchial-cluster analysis showed that 10 batches of samples were grouped into four categories: S1-S4 formed one group, S5 and S6 formed another, S7, S8 and S10 formed a third, and S9 formed a fourth, consistent with the OPLS-DA results; the variable importance projection values for peaks 7, 10, 2, 16 (resveratrol), 13 (oxyresveratrol), 11, 6 (caffeic acid), 5 (M1) and 15 (quercitrin) were >1. Quantitative analysis results showed that the contents of chlorogenic acid, M1, caffeic acid, astilbin, oxyresveratrol, quercitrin, and resveratrol were 1.650 8-4.213 7, 0.636 2-2.161 7, 0.031 0-0.086 5, 0.239 1-1.069 3, 0.211 9-1.104 0, 0.488 8-2.399 2, and 0.164 0-0.699 8 mg/g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS UPLC fingerprint and content determination methods established in this study are simple to operate, accurate, reliable and reproducible; when combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis, they can be used to evaluate the quality of Jingangteng capsules. Nine components, such as resveratrol, oxyresveratrol, caffeic acid, M1 and quercitrin, may serve as markers of quality variation.
3.SIRT5 Potentiates Hepatocarcinogenesis by Modulating Protein Acylation in Mice
Yu ZHANG ; Feng-Rui REN ; Jia-Yun LI ; Xiang-Yu CHEN ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Qi SUN ; Jun-Cheng ZHAO ; Ye ZHANG ; Zhen HUANG ; Hao HU ; Tao-Tao WEI ; Min XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1712-1722
ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.
4.Exploration of regular assessment management model for occupational disease diagnosticians in Guangdong Province
Xiaoyi LI ; Li HUANG ; Lin XU ; Lijun YE ; Zhengdu LAI ; Bin LI ; Xijin SHE ; Lihua XIA ; Shijie HU
China Occupational Medicine 2026;53(1):108-112
Occupational disease diagnostician (ODD) is the core technology professional who is responsible for occupational disease diagnosis and identification and the main inspection work for occupational medical examination. The implementation of regular assessment management for ODDs is a key component of standardized workforce management, which facilitates dynamic evaluation of professional competence, regulation of medical practice, and assurance of medical safety. Since January 2025, Guangdong Province has implemented regular assessment management for ODDs within its administrative region. The assessment adopts an integrated model consisting of three components including professional competency evaluation, performance appraisal, and professional ethics evaluation, with each assessment cycle lasting three years. ODDs who passed all three components are classified as qualified ODD, whereas those who failed to pass any one of the three components result in an unqualified assessment outcome. In the implementation of ODD regular assessment management, Guangdong Province has emphasized integrating assessment with quality evaluation, strengthening full-cycle supervision of ODDs′ professional conduct, optimizing assessment strategies for special groups of ODDs, and reinforcing the primary management responsibility of medical institutions. Meanwhile, ODDs′ professional competence, service quality, and professional integrity have been continuously promoted by adopting human-computer interactive assessments, information-based assessment management, and "elimination" mechanism.
5.Study on antidepressant effects and mechanisms of total triterpenes from Poriae Cutis
Li SHEN ; Yuying YANG ; Jingyu YANG ; Yue SHEN ; Peng HU ; Yuxi WU ; Dan LIU ; Xiaochuan YE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(15):2003-2008
OBJECTIVE To investigate the antidepressant effect and underlying mechanism of total triterpenes from Poriae Cutis (PCTT). METHODS UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology was adopted to analyze the chemical constituents of PCTT. Network pharmacology was applied to screen the antidepressant active ingredients, key targets and signaling pathways of PCTT, and molecular docking was performed to verify the binding capacity between potential active ingredients and core targets. In animal experiment, mice were intragastrically administered PCTT at doses of 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Lipopolysaccharide was used to establish an acute depression mouse model. Subsequently, behavioral assays were conducted. The levels of serum inflammatory factors, hippocampal neurotransmitters and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were detected. Western blot and qPCR assays were adopted to validate the antidepressant mechanism of PCTT. RESULTS A total of 101 chemical constituents were identified in PCTT. Network pharmacology screened out 10 potential active ingredients (including poriacosone B, poriacosone A, pachymic acid, etc.), six core targets [including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, caspase-3, etc.], as well as multiple signaling pathways including TNF and interleukin-17 (IL-17). All 10 potential active ingredients exhibited strong binding affinity to the six core targets. Animal experimental results demonstrated that 320 mg/kg PCTT markedly increased the movement distance and movement speed of depression model mice (P<0.05), and shortened immobility time in tail suspension test and forced swimming test (P<0.05). PCTT reduced serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, decreased hippocampal glutamate level; it also downregulated the relative mRNA expression of TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT), as well as TNFR2 protein expression and the ratios of phosphorylated-PI3K/PI3K,phosphorylated-AKT/AKT in the prefrontal cortex. Meanwhile, PCTT elevated the levels of 5- hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and BDNF in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS PCTT exerts antidepressant effects possibly by regulating the TNF-α/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to downregulate the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, thereby modulating the release of neurotransmitters and BDNF.
6.Analysis of risk factors for postoperative pneumonia following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer
Shan LI ; Xiaoqing LI ; Xinyi YE ; Na WU ; Sicheng ZHOU ; Yang HU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(08):1222-1227
Objective To explore the risk factors for postoperative pneumonia (POP) following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, and to identify potential clinical indicators for predicting POP. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2017 to 2021. Perioperative clinical indicators were collected to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of POP. Patients were divided into a POP group and a non-POP group according to whether POP occurred. Results A total of 613 patients with esophageal cancer were included, comprising 472 males and 141 females, with a median age of 62.0 (53.0, 67.0) years. Among them, 51 patients were in the POP group, and 562 patients were in the non-POP group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage of predicted (FEV1%) [OR=0.958, 95%CI (0.943, 0.973), P<0.001], systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.002), P=0.007], and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) [OR=0.869, 95% CI (0.813, 0.928), P<0.001] were independent risk factors for POP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis combining FEV1%, SII, and PNI demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting POP was 0.826 [95%CI (0.793, 0.855), cut-off value: 0.08, sensitivity: 80.3%, specificity: 72.4%, Youden index: 0.528, P<0.001]. Cross-validation confirmed that the combined indicators had the highest predictive efficacy, which was significantly superior to that of any single indicator alone. Conclusion Preoperative levels of FEV1%, SII, and PNI are closely associated with the occurrence of POP following surgery for esophageal cancer. The combined application of FEV1%, SII, and PNI demonstrates good predictive efficacy for the occurrence of POP.
7.Mendelian randomization study of sleep duration and sleep disorders in relation to age at menarche in females
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(7):1021-1025
Objective:
To determine the potential genetic causal relationship between sleep related phenotypes and female pubertal onset using the two sample Mendelian randomization approach.
Methods:
Genetic instrumental variables for sleep and age at menarche were sourced from FinnGen, IEU Open GWAS and GWAS Catalog three publicly available Genome Wide Association Study databases. Causal effects were estimated using the inverse variance weighted method, supplemented by sensitivity analyses and tests for heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and direction.
Results:
Genetically predicted sleep duration was positively associated with age at menarche ( β =0.61, 95% CI =0.30-0.91, P <0.01). Conversely, overall sleep problems ( β =-0.13, 95% CI =-0.20 to -0.07 ), two specific types of sleep disorders (sleep apnea: β =-0.10, 95% CI =-0.16 to -0.03; insomnia: β =-0.40, 95% CI = -0.69 to -0.11) were causally associated with earlier age at menarche (all P <0.01). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings with consistent effect directions and no evidence of significant directional pleiotropy.
Conclusions
The study reveales a genetic causal relationship between sleep and pubertal onset. Adequate sleep duration appears to have a protective effect. These findings suggest that sleep may have a critical regulatory role in the initiation of pubertal development.
8.Exploring Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions on Mitochondrial Quality Control in Chronic Heart Failure Based on Theory of "Mingmen Dongqi"
Yubin ZHANG ; Kun LIAN ; Jiahao YE ; Junyu ZHANG ; Weijun LI ; Jiali ZHANG ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):269-280
Chronic heart failure (CHF), as the terminal stage of various cardiovascular diseases, is characterized by a prolonged course and a high mortality rate, posing a serious threat to human health and life. According to physician Sun Yikui's theory of "Mingmen Dongqi" (dynamic Qi of life gate) in the Ming Dynasty and the modern medicine concept of mitochondrial quality control (MQC), this paper systematically explores the pathogenic mechanisms and evolutionary patterns of CHF, as well as its intrinsic connection with microstructural homeostasis, and further proposes potential traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention strategies. CHF is often caused by damage to the heart Qi at the early stage. As the disease progresses, prolonged illness affects the kidneys, leading to the dynamic Qi decline of life gate. Further, it results in the failure of the functions of sustaining and consolidating, causing the disintegration of the physical form, which corresponds to mitochondrial kinetic disorders. The deficiency in primary driving force results in impaired Qi transformation, corresponding to mitochondrial autophagy dysfunction, forming a pathological transmission chain of "life gate-mitochondrion" that ultimately leads to myocardial structural disintegration and energy metabolism failure. Modern research indicates that patients with CHF exhibit significant MQC imbalance. Disrupted mitochondrial dynamics lead to network fragmentation, and impaired autophagy causes metabolic blockage, constituting the key microscopic mechanisms underlying ventricular remodeling and pump failure. Chinese herbal medicines, such as those with the effects of warming and tonifying kidney Yang or reinforcing healthy Qi, can intervene in multiple signaling pathways-including PTEN-inducible kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin and AMP-activated protein kinase/dynamin-related protein 1 (AMPK/Drp1)-to regulate mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy activity. This repairs damaged MQC networks and improves the microenvironment of myocardial energy metabolism. These intervention strategies align closely with the TCM therapeutic principles of warming and tonifying life gate, replenishing Qi, and activating blood, demonstrating the advantages of holistic regulation based on kidney-centered treatment and mitochondrial-targeted approaches. By integrating the "Mingmen Dongqi" theory with the MQC mechanism, this paper establishes a theoretical framework for the integrated prevention and treatment of CHF, offering new perspectives and insights for clinical practice and future research.
9.Exploring Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions on Mitochondrial Quality Control in Chronic Heart Failure Based on Theory of "Mingmen Dongqi"
Yubin ZHANG ; Kun LIAN ; Jiahao YE ; Junyu ZHANG ; Weijun LI ; Jiali ZHANG ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):269-280
Chronic heart failure (CHF), as the terminal stage of various cardiovascular diseases, is characterized by a prolonged course and a high mortality rate, posing a serious threat to human health and life. According to physician Sun Yikui's theory of "Mingmen Dongqi" (dynamic Qi of life gate) in the Ming Dynasty and the modern medicine concept of mitochondrial quality control (MQC), this paper systematically explores the pathogenic mechanisms and evolutionary patterns of CHF, as well as its intrinsic connection with microstructural homeostasis, and further proposes potential traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention strategies. CHF is often caused by damage to the heart Qi at the early stage. As the disease progresses, prolonged illness affects the kidneys, leading to the dynamic Qi decline of life gate. Further, it results in the failure of the functions of sustaining and consolidating, causing the disintegration of the physical form, which corresponds to mitochondrial kinetic disorders. The deficiency in primary driving force results in impaired Qi transformation, corresponding to mitochondrial autophagy dysfunction, forming a pathological transmission chain of "life gate-mitochondrion" that ultimately leads to myocardial structural disintegration and energy metabolism failure. Modern research indicates that patients with CHF exhibit significant MQC imbalance. Disrupted mitochondrial dynamics lead to network fragmentation, and impaired autophagy causes metabolic blockage, constituting the key microscopic mechanisms underlying ventricular remodeling and pump failure. Chinese herbal medicines, such as those with the effects of warming and tonifying kidney Yang or reinforcing healthy Qi, can intervene in multiple signaling pathways-including PTEN-inducible kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin and AMP-activated protein kinase/dynamin-related protein 1 (AMPK/Drp1)-to regulate mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy activity. This repairs damaged MQC networks and improves the microenvironment of myocardial energy metabolism. These intervention strategies align closely with the TCM therapeutic principles of warming and tonifying life gate, replenishing Qi, and activating blood, demonstrating the advantages of holistic regulation based on kidney-centered treatment and mitochondrial-targeted approaches. By integrating the "Mingmen Dongqi" theory with the MQC mechanism, this paper establishes a theoretical framework for the integrated prevention and treatment of CHF, offering new perspectives and insights for clinical practice and future research.
10.Exploring mechanism of Porana racemosa Roxb. in treating rheumatoid arthritis based on integration of network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with experimental validation
Chen-yu YE ; Ning LI ; Yin-zi CHEN ; Tong QU ; Jing HU ; Zhi-yong CHEN ; Hui REN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):117-129
Through network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, combined with


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