1.Mechanism of action of gut microbiota in chronic pancreatitis fibrosis and related treatment strategies
Yunjun YAN ; Liang SHENG ; Qi WANG ; Shun PENG ; Jia LI ; Lei ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):484-489
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a common disease in clinical practice characterized by progressive inflammatory fibrosis of the pancreas. Gut microbiota, known as the “second genome” of humans, bidirectionally modulates the progression of fibrosis in CP via the gut-pancreas axis. This article systematically elaborates on the characteristics of gut microbiota during the progression of CP and its molecular mechanism in mediating pancreatic fibrosis through bacterial translocation, metabolites, immune regulatory networks, and microbe-pancreatic stellate cell interactions, with a focus on the pivotal role of short-chain fatty acids and inflammatory cytokine networks in pancreatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition. In addition, this article explores the potential value of gut microbiota-targeted interventions in the prevention and treatment of CP fibrosis, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, and discusses the translational potential of using multi-omics technologies to identify diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for CP, in order to provide new ideas for the precise diagnosis and treatment of CP.
2.Protective effect of short-chain fatty acids against liver fibrosis and analogical application of its mechanism to pancreatic fibrosis
Yunjun YAN ; Liang SHENG ; Qi WANG ; Shun PENG ; Jia LI ; Lei ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(5):1160-1165
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are the main metabolic products generated by the fermentation of dietary fiber by gut microbiota. Studies have shown that SCFA not only play a role in energy metabolism, but also act as important signaling molecules, exhibiting a significant potential in alleviating liver and pancreatic fibrosis. The core mechanism of SCFA mainly involves the regulation of various key signaling pathways by activating G protein-coupled receptors and inhibiting the activity of histone deacetylase, thereby suppressing the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and pancreatic stellate cell (PSC), which is a key link in fibrosis formation. In addition, SCFA can effectively alleviate tissue inflammation response, improve intestinal barrier function, and regulate gut microbiota balance, thus indirectly preventing the process of fibrosis mediated by the “gut-liver/pancreas axis”. Compared with the research on SCFA in liver fibrosis, studies on their role in pancreatic fibrosis are limited. Given that HSC and PSC are highly homologous, the transcription factors and proteins that have been confirmed in liver fibrosis-related studies are also similarly expressed in PSC, suggesting that they may also influence the activation of PSC. This article systematically summarizes the recent advances in the research on SCFA in alleviating liver and pancreatic fibrosis, in order to provide new perspectives for exploring the mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis and developing related interventional strategies.
3.A Personalized Brain-computer Interface Paradigm and Decoding Method for The Objective Evaluation of Auditory Frequency Difference Limen
Sheng-Ye LI ; Xiao-Lin XIAO ; Shi-Hang YU ; Bei-Bei ZHANG ; Xing-Wei AN ; Min-Peng XU ; Dong MING
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1927-1941
ObjectiveThe frequency difference limen (FDL) serves as a fundamental metric utilized for effectively quantifying the precise perceptual capabilities of the central auditory system. However, traditional measurement methods rely heavily on the active behavioral responses of subjects and are consequently highly susceptible to the negative influence of confounding subjective factors. Furthermore, existing research paradigms frequently employ uniform stimulus configurations that overlook critical individual perceptual differences. Based on brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, this comprehensive study aims to establish an objective and quantitative evaluation method for auditory frequency discrimination by systematically analyzing and decoding the specific neural responses elicited at the exact threshold state. MethodsWe designed a personalized rapid serial auditory presentation (RSAP) paradigm customized based on each individual’s precise FDL. A cohort of eleven healthy participants was recruited to evaluate the paradigm using pure-tone sequences at a baseline frequency of 4 000 Hz. This experimental paradigm simulates a realistic auditory perception environment through the continuous presentation of acoustic stimuli, thereby allowing for an in-depth investigation into the specific neural representations evoked by weak frequency deviations at the threshold state. Given that auditory stimulus-evoked response features exhibit complex and differentiated spatiotemporal distribution patterns across multiple frequency domains, this study further deeply integrates the cross-scale feature interaction module with the dynamic spatiotemporal attention allocation strategy, innovatively proposing the Multi-Scale Spatial-Temporal Dual Attention Network (MS-STAMNet). Specifically, the network constructs parallel processing branches with multiple receptive fields and introduces a dynamic adaptive weighting strategy to precisely localize core neural activity signals, further deeply integrating multi-scale information through cross-branch feature information interaction to achieve robust single-trial decoding of weak auditory evoked responses. ResultsThe comprehensive electrophysiological data analysis demonstrated that subtle auditory frequency deviation stimuli presented at the threshold level successfully elicited pronounced N2 and P3 event-related potential features, reflecting pre-attentive mismatch detection and subsequent cognitive evaluation, which were prominently distributed over the frontal, central, and temporal regions of the scalp. In the complex time-frequency domain, the extracted neural response characteristics exhibited distinct, statistically significant event-related synchronization within both the low-frequency δ and θ frequency bands, which was simultaneously accompanied by a widespread, prominent event-related desynchronization within the higher α band. A comparative analysis of model performance demonstrated that MS-STAMNet achieved an average unweighted average recall (UAR) of (69.67±6.12)% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.761 8±0.07, significantly outperforming the established baseline models such as EEGNet and PLNet. Furthermore, a distinct dissociation phenomenon was verified between neural decoding and behavioral performance through regression analysis (R2=0.016, P=0.709), indicating that this model can effectively capture the implicit features of subtle frequency deviations, even when they fail to trigger explicit conscious responses. Additionally, attention weight visualization analysis further reveals the highly accurate focus of the network on key features concentrated over the bilateral temporal and fronto-parietal regions. ConclusionThis study systematically and comprehensively uncovers the multi-dimensional spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns of complex neural responses processing subtle acoustic variations under long-sequence threshold auditory stimulation. Concurrently, it verifies the efficacy and robustness of the proposed MS-STAMNet architecture in accurately deciphering weak, single-trial electroencephalogram signals amidst complex background noise. Ultimately, these neurophysiological and algorithmic findings lay a solid theoretical and methodological foundation for the objective and quantitative evaluation of individual auditory cognitive capabilities in clinical applications, transcending the fundamental limitations of traditional behavioral paradigms and providing robust technical support for future auditory research and related clinical assessments.
5.Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Extract Regulates Blood Pressure in Rat Model of Metabolic Hypertension Induced by High-sugan and High-fat Diet via TRPC3/6/NOX2/4 Sigraling Pathway
Chang CHEN ; Hongyu WU ; Ling LI ; Yuebo JIANG ; Sheng ZHANG ; Yunna CHEN ; Weidong CHEN ; Daiyin PENG ; Lei WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(19):217-228
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in treating metabolic hypertension induced by a high-sugar and high-fat diet in rats based on network pharmacology, proteomics, and animal experiments. MethodsThirty male SD rats were randomized into the control, model, positive drug (tetrandrine, Tet, 50 mg·kg-1·d-1), low-dose Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (DS-L, 45×104 mg·kg-1·d-1), and high-dose Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (DS-H, 90×104 mg·kg-1·d-1) groups. Except for the control group, each group was fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet for 8 weeks for the modeling of metabolic hypertension. Following successful modeling, drug interventions were conducted through gavage for 4 weeks. Blood pressure and lipid indicators were monitored, and cardiac function was assessed via echocardiography. Samples from the thoracic aorta and cardiac tissue were collected for histopathological examination. Network pharmacology analysis identified key active components, potential targets, and mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in treating hypertension. Proteomics technology was employed to analyze the differential proteins and major pathway targets to synergistically elucidate the antihypertensive mechanism of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Ca2+ concentrations in the thoracic aorta and cardiac tissue were measured. The protein levels of transient receptor potential cation channel (TRPC)3, TRPC6, NADPH oxidase (NOX)2, and NOX4 were quantified via Western blotting. The levels of oxidative stress markers and inflammatory factors, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Molecular docking analysis was performed for the main components of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma with TRPC3, TRPC6, NOX2, and NOX4. ResultsThe experimental results indicated that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited abnormally elevated blood pressure and increased lipid levels (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the DS-L group exhibited reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (P<0.05), decreased serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P<0.05), and increased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P<0.01). The DS-H and Tet groups showed more significant effects (P<0.01). Moreover, the interventions attenuated vascular wall thickening, myocardial cell injury, and collagen and lipid deposition. Network pharmacology and proteomics prediction results indicated that the core targets of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in treating hypertension were TRPC3, TRPC6, NOX2, and NOX4, and the core pathways included calcium signaling, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) signaling, and atherosclerosis-related pathways. The molecular mechanism experiment results indicated that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated tissue Ca2+ concentrations, exacerbated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and upregulated protein levels of TRPC3, TRPC6, NOX2, and NOX4 in the thoracic aorta and myocardial tissue (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, DS-L reduced the free Ca2+ concentration, lowered the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, SOD, and MDA (P<0.05), and downregulated the protein levels of TRPC3, TRPC6, NOX2, and NOX4 in the thoracic aorta and myocardial tissue (P<0.05). DS-H and Tet exhibited more significant effects (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the main components of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma had strong binding affinity with the core targets of hypertension. ConclusionSalviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma may ameliorate oxidative stress and mitigate inflammatory responses by regulating the TRPC3/6/NOX2/4 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating abnormal blood pressure abnormality and myocardial injury in hypertensive rats.
6.Prediction of adult diarrhea disease in Shanghai using meteorological factors and a web search index
Sixu YANG ; Li PENG ; Huanyu WU ; Jian CHEN ; Xiaofang YE ; Xuefei ZHANG ; Dandan YANG ; Xiaohuan GONG ; Sheng LIN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(8):951-958
Background Diarrhea disease is a common intestinal infectious disease, and its incidence is affected by meteorological conditions. A better understanding of its epidemiological patterns and influencing factors, together with the construction of reliable prediction models, is of great significance for precise public health prevention and control. Objective To clarify the epidemic characteristics of adult diarrhea disease in Shanghai, analyze the associations of meteorological factors and a web search index with adult diarrhea disease, and develop and compare forecasting models to support precise regional prevention and control. Methods Weekly surveillance data of adult diarrhea disease cases from the Shanghai Comprehensive Surveillance Information System for Diarrhea Diseases, together with concurrent meteorological observation data and web search index (Baidu index) data from 2014 to 2019, were collected. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was adopted to analyze the associations of multiple meteorological factors and the web search index with the number of diarrhea disease cases. By integrating meteorological factors and web search index data, three types of forecasting models were developed, including autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), Random Forest, and extreme gradient boosting (Xgboost), and their predictive performances were evaluated. Results Adult diarrhea disease in Shanghai exhibited seasonal variation, with an major incidence peak in summer and winter peaks in some years. The number of cases declined annually after 2015. Mean temperature was significantly associated with the risk of diarrhea disease, and both low and high temperature exposures were associated with increased risks. The highest risk was observed at 32.8°C (RR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.62, 2.55), while the strongest effect of low temperature was observed at 0.9 °C (RR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.25, 1.88). When relative humidity exceeded 69%, the risk of diarrhea disease increased with relative humidity, reaching a peak at 81% (RR=1.20, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.35). When weekly cumulative precipitation exceeded 16 mm, the risk also increased with increasing precipitation, reaching a maximum at 105 mm (RR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.42). The web search index was positively associated with the risk of diarrhea disease. Model prediction indicated that both the Random Forest model and the Xgboost model adequately captured the overall trend in diarrhea disease cases, with R2 values generally exceeding 0.7. Notably, the Xgboost model demonstrated greater accuracy in capturing peak intensities. Conclusion Meteorological factors are associated with adult diarrhea disease in Shanghai. The web search index may serve as an auxiliary indicator for diarrhea forecasting. Machine learning models, with advantages in integrating multisource data, may provide effective predictive tools for the prevention and control of diarrhea disease.
7.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
8.Gut microbiota and osteoporotic fractures
Wensheng ZHAO ; Xiaolin LI ; Changhua PENG ; Jia DENG ; Hao SHENG ; Hongwei CHEN ; Chaoju ZHANG ; Chuan HE
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1296-1304
BACKGROUND:Osteoporotic fracture is the most serious complication of osteoporosis.Previous studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota has a regulatory effect on skeletal tissue and that gut microbiota has an important relationship with osteoporotic fracture,but the causal relationship between the two is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporotic fractures using Mendelian randomization method. METHODS:The genome-wide association study(GWAS)datasets of gut microbiota and osteoporotic fracture were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS database and the Finnish database R9,respectively.Using gut microbiota as the exposure factor and osteoporotic fracture as the outcome variable,Mendelian randomization analyses with random-effects inverse variance weighted,MR-Egger regression,weighted median,simple model,and weighted model methods were performed to assess whether there is a causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporotic fracture.Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the reliability and robustness of the results.Reverse Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to further validate the causal relationship identified in the forward Mendelian randomization analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of this Mendelian randomization analysis indicated a causal relationship between gut microbiota and osteoporotic fracture.Elevated abundance of Actinomycetales[odds ratio(OR)=1.562,95%confidence interval(CI):1.027-2.375,P=0.037),Actinomycetaceae(OR=1.561,95%CI:1.027-2.374,P=0.037),Actinomyces(OR=1.544,95%CI:1.130-2.110,P=0.006),Butyricicoccus(OR=1.781,95%CI:1.194-2.657,P=0.005),Coprococcus 2(OR=1.550,95%CI:1.068-2.251,P=0.021),Family ⅩⅢ UCG-001(OR=1.473,95%CI:1.001-2.168,P=0.049),Methanobrevibacter(OR=1.274,95%CI:1.001-1.621,P=0.049),and Roseburia(OR=1.429,95%CI:1.015-2.013,P=0.041)would increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients.Elevated abundance of Bacteroidia(OR=0.660,95%CI:0.455-0.959,P=0.029),Bacteroidales(OR=0.660,95%CI:0.455-0.959,P=0.029),Christensenellacea(OR=0.725,95%CI:0.529-0.995,P=0.047),Ruminococcaceae(OR=0.643,95%CI:0.443-0.933,P=0.020),Enterorhabdus(OR=0.558,95%CI:0.395-0.788,P=0.001),Eubacterium rectale group(OR=0.631,95%CI:0.435-0.916,P=0.016),Lachnospiraceae UCG008(OR=0.738,95%CI:0.546-0.998,P=0.048),and Ruminiclostridium 9(OR=0.492,95%CI:0.324-0.746,P=0.001)would reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients.We identified 16 gut microbiota associated with osteoporotic fracture by the Mendelian randomization method.That is,using gut microbiota as the exposure factor and osteoporotic fracture as the outcome variable,eight gut microbiota showed positive causal associations with osteoporotic fracture and another eight gut microbiota showed negative causal associations with osteoporotic fracture.The results of this study not only identify new biomarkers for the early prediction of osteoporotic fracture and potential therapeutic targets in clinical practice,but also provide an experimental basis and theoretical basis for the study of improving the occurrence and prognosis of osteoporotic fracture through gut microbiota in bone tissue engineering.
9.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Gut-brain Axis: A Review
Jinchan PENG ; Jinxiu WEI ; Zhu LIU ; Lijian LIU ; Liqun LI ; Chengning YANG ; Guangwen CHEN ; Jianfeng LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):311-319
Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a common digestive system disease with high prevalence and recurrence rates for years, high treatment costs, and serious impacts on patients' quality of life and economic burden. Therefore, it is important to explore new and safe treatment methods. The pathogenesis of IBS-D is complex, in which the gut-brain axis is a key factor. The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional signaling pathway connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system, regulates gastrointestinal motility, secretion, and immune responses, playing a key role in the occurrence and development of IBS-D. Up to now, antidiarrheal agents, probiotics, and neurotransmitter modulators are the main methods for the clinical treatment of IBS-D. Although they can partially curb the progression of this disease, the therapeutic effects remain to be improved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has significant advantages in the treatment of IBS-D since it can regulate the gut-brain axis via multiple pathways and targets to improve the gastrointestinal motility and strengthen immune defenses. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews on the regulation of the gut-brain axis by TCM in the treatment of IBS-D. Based on the review of IBS-D-related articles published in recent years, this paper systematically summarized the relationship between the gut-brain axis and IBS-D and the role of TCM in the treatment, providing new ideas for the treatment of IBS-D.
10.Expert Consensus on Combined Screening for Common Cancers(2025 Edition)
Kexin CHEN ; Wanqing CHEN ; Yubei HUANG ; Zhangyan LYU ; Fangfang SONG ; Changfa XIA ; Yongjie XU ; Lei YANG ; Chao SHENG ; Yacong ZHANG ; Peng WANG ; Yunmeng ZHANG ; Yuting JI ; Jingjing LI ; Wenxuan LI ; Jie WU ; Qianyun JIN ; Fengju SONG
China Cancer 2025;34(8):583-610
Malignant tumors(commonly referred to as cancer)represent a major global public health challenge and contribute significantly to the worldwide disease burden.Early screening plays a critical role in improving detection rates,enabling timely intervention,and enhancing pa-tient survival rates.However,current cancer screening guidelines primarily focus on site-specific screening,which may not fully address the need for comprehensive early detection.A scientifical-ly rational,multi-cancer screening approach offers several advantages:it optimizes the use of bio-logical samples,reduces time costs for participants,enhances the efficiency and comprehensive-ness of screening,and minimizes overall expenses.Such an approach also facilitates the rational allocation of healthcare resources,ultimately helping to reduce the societal burden of cancer.To address this need,the Cancer Epidemiology Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association has developed the Expert Consensus on Combined Screening for Common Cancers in China.This consensus integrates multidisciplinary expertise and synthesizes the latest domestic and interna-tional researches on cancer screening,early detection,and treatment for prevalent malignancies.Drawing upon China's unique demographic and healthcare context,as well as practical screening experiences,the consensus provides evidence-based recommendations on target populations,screening technologies,and procedural workflows for multi-cancer screening.These guidelines align with the principles and methodologies established by the World Health Organization(WHO),aiming to:enhance the effectiveness of combined cancer screening in China,improve early detec-tion rates,and provide a scientific foundation for national cancer prevention and control strategies.

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