1.Correlation between extraocular muscle thickness and clinical activity score in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Laijuan PENG ; Xu XU ; Zhongxu SUN ; Peng ZHU ; Ke MENG ; Tao ZHANG
International Eye Science 2026;26(7):1281-1286
AIM: To analysis the correlation between extraocular muscle thickness measured by quantitative CT analysis of orbital structures and clinical activity score(CAS)of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS:This was a retrospective analysis, selecting clinical data of TAO patients admitted to the hospital from October 2020 to February 2025. Healthy individuals were chosen from hospital's physical examination as the control group. All participants underwent CT examination, the superior rectus muscle, inferior rectus muscle, medial rectus muscle, lateral rectus muscle, orbital area, protrusion degree, and total cross-sectional area of extraocular muscles/total orbital area ratio(OM/TOA)from the two groups of participants were compared. CAS was used to evaluate TAO patients, and the correlation between CAS score and quantitative analysis indicators of CT orbital structure was analyzed. Quantitative analysis indicators for CT orbital structure in TAO patients at different stages of activity were compared, and the predictive value of these indicators for TAO patients at different activity stages was investigated.RESULTS:A total of 77 TAO patients were enrolled in this study, including 38 males and 39 females, with ages ranging from 28 to 70 y(mean age 49.5±6.9 y). There were 77 cases in the control group, including 40 males and 37 females, with ages ranging from 26 to 70 y(mean age 49.0±7.3 y). There was no significant difference in gender and age between the two groups(both P>0.05). The quantitative analysis of left eye, right eye, and binocular CT orbital structure in TAO group patients showed significantly higher indicators than the control group(all P<0.001), and the CAS score of TAO group was 3.94±1.51 points. The CAS score was positively correlated with various indicators of CT orbital structure quantitative analysis(all P<0.05). According to the CAS score results, 14 cases(28 eyes)of TAO patients with a CAS score<3 were classified as inactive phase, including 8 males and 6 females, with an average age of 43.79±9.58 y. A total of 63 cases(126 eyes)with a CAS score of ≥3 was classified as active phase, including 30 males and 33 females, with an average age of 50.78±5.47 y. There was no significant difference in gender among TAO patients with different active phases(P=0.519), but there was a significant difference in age(P<0.001). The quantitative indicators of CT orbital structure in inactive patients were significantly lower than those in active patients(P<0.05). Finally, the superior rectus muscle, age, and degree of protrusion were selected to be included in the Logistic regression model. The analysis results showed that there was a correlation between the superior rectus muscle index, degree of protrusion and TAO activity phase(P<0.05), while age, and TAO activity phase showed no significant correlation(P>0.05). The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.863, the standard error was 0.063, P<0.001, and the 95% confidence interval(95% CI)of AUC was 0.740-0.985. The sensitivity of the model prediction was 73.0%, the specificity was 92.9%, and the Youden index was 0.659. The prediction accuracy was 97.9%, the recall rate was 73.0%, and the F1 value was 0.836. The predicted optimal critical value was 0.857. The predicted probability was 0.74.CONCLUSION:Quantitative CT analysis of orbital structures can be used to assess disease severity in TAO patients.
2.Phenomics of traditional Chinese medicine 2.0: the integration with digital medicine
Min Xu ; Xinyi Shao ; Donggeng Guo ; Xiaojing Yan ; Lei Wang ; Tao Yang ; Hao LIANG ; Qinghua PENG ; Lingyu Linda Ye ; Haibo Cheng ; Dayue Darrel Duan
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(3):282-299
Abstract
Modern western medicine typically focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emphasizes the interconnections of the body’s various systems under external environment and takes a holistic approach to preventing and treating diseases. Phenomics was initially introduced to the field of TCM in 2008 as a new discipline that studies the laws of integrated and dynamic changes of human clinical phenomes under the scope of the theories and practices of TCM based on phenomics. While TCM Phenomics 1.0 has initially established a clinical phenomic system centered on Zhenghou (a TCM definition of clinical phenome), bottlenecks remain in data standardization, mechanistic interpretation, and precision intervention. Here, we systematically elaborates on the theoretical foundations, technical pathways, and future challenges of integrating digital medicine with TCM phenomics under the framework of “TCM phenomics 2.0”, which is supported by digital medicine technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable devices, medical digital twins, and multi-omics integration. This framework aims to construct a closed-loop system of “Zhenghou–Phenome–Mechanism–Intervention” and to enable the digitization, standardization, and precision of disease diagnosis and treatment. The integration of digital medicine and TCM phenomics not only promotes the modernization and scientific transformation of TCM theory and practice but also offers new paradigms for precision medicine. In practice, digital tools facilitate multi-source clinical data acquisition and standardization, while AI and big data algorithms help reveal the correlations between clinical Zhenghou phenomes and molecular mechanisms, thereby improving scientific rigor in diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and personalized intervention. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including data quality and standardization issues, shortage of interdisciplinary talents, and insufficiency of ethical and legal regulations. Future development requires establishing national data-sharing platforms, strengthening international collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary professionals, and improving ethical and legal frameworks. Ultimately, this approach seeks to build a new disease identification and classification system centered on phenomes and to achieve the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic patterns.
3.Total alkaloids from Thesium chinense inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced respiratory inflammation by modulating Nrf2/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
Guohui LI ; Yueqin GUAN ; Lintao XU ; Guangcheng PENG ; Qingtong HAN ; Tian WANG ; Zhenpeng XU ; Xuesen WEN ; Hongxiang LOU ; Tao SHEN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):421-430
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the etiology and progression of various diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, the whole plants of Thesium chinense Turcz. and its preparations (e.g. Bairui Granules) have been employed to manage inflammatory conditions. While flavonoids were previously considered the primary anti-inflammatory components, other potentially active constituents have been largely overlooked and not thoroughly investigated. This study presents a novel finding that the total alkaloids of T. chinense (BC-Alk) are potent active substances underlying the traditional and clinical applications of T. chinense and Bairui Granules as anti-inflammatory agents. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified the composition of BC-Alk as quinolizidine alkaloids. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of BC-Alk was evaluated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation model in mice. Results demonstrated that BC-Alk significantly mitigated LPS-induced lung inflammation, attenuated the overproduction of IL-1β and the overproduction of inflammatory factors (TNF-α), and ameliorated lung tissue hyperplasia in mice in vivo. Mechanistic studies in vitro revealed that BC-Alk upregulated the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream proteins NQO1 and glutamate-cystine ligase and modifier subunit (GCLM), inhibited NF-κB phosphorylation, and suppressed NLRP3 activation. Collectively, these findings indicate that BC-Alk exerts potent inhibitory effects against lung inflammation by modulating Nrf2, NF-κB, and NLRP3 pathways. This study provides new insights into the anti-inflammatory constituents of T. chinense and Bairui Granules.
Animals
;
Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects*
;
Alkaloids/pharmacology*
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*
;
Male
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Pneumonia/genetics*
4.A critical role for Phocaeicola vulgatus in negatively impacting metformin response in diabetes.
Manyun CHEN ; Yilei PENG ; Yuhui HU ; Zhiqiang KANG ; Ting CHEN ; Yulong ZHANG ; Xiaoping CHEN ; Qing LI ; Zuyi YUAN ; Yue WU ; Heng XU ; Gan ZHOU ; Tao LIU ; Honghao ZHOU ; Chunsu YUAN ; Weihua HUANG ; Wei ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2511-2528
Metformin has been demonstrated to attenuate hyperglycaemia by modulating the gut microbiota. However, the mechanisms through which the microbiome mediates metformin monotherapy failure (MMF) are unclear. Herein, in a prospective clinical cohort study of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients treated with metformin monotherapy, metagenomic sequencing of faecal samples revealed that Phocaeicola vulgatus abundance was approximately 12 times higher in nonresponders than in responders. P. vulgatus rapidly hydrolysed taurine-conjugated bile acids, leading to ceramide accumulation and reversing the improvements in glucose intolerance conferred by metformin in high-fat diet-fed mice. Interestingly, C22:0 ceramide bound to mitochondrial fission factor to induce mitochondrial fragmentation and impair hepatic oxidative phosphorylation in P. vulgatus-colonized hyperglycaemic mice, which could be exacerbated by metformin. This work suggests that metformin may be unsuitable for P. vulgatus-rich T2DM patients and that clinicians should be aware of metformin toxicity to mitochondria. Suppressing P. vulgatus growth with cefaclor or improving mitochondrial function using adenosylcobalamin may represent simple, safe, effective therapeutic strategies for addressing MMF.
5.Histaminergic Innervation of the Ventral Anterior Thalamic Nucleus Alleviates Motor Deficits in a 6-OHDA-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.
Han-Ting XU ; Xiao-Ya XI ; Shuang ZHOU ; Yun-Yong XIE ; Zhi-San CUI ; Bei-Bei ZHANG ; Shu-Tao XIE ; Hong-Zhao LI ; Qi-Peng ZHANG ; Yang PAN ; Xiao-Yang ZHANG ; Jing-Ning ZHU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(4):551-568
The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K+ channels, or Ca2+-activated K+ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals
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Histamine/metabolism*
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Male
;
Oxidopamine/toxicity*
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Rats
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Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Disease Models, Animal
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Parkinson Disease/metabolism*
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Neurons/physiology*
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Humans
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Optogenetics
6.Construction of an evaluation index system for community visual health services in Shanghai
Chengyuan ZHANG ; Yuting WU ; Yajun PENG ; Tao YU ; Yi XU ; Senlin LIN ; Haidong ZOU ; Lina LU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(3):282-287
ObjectiveTo improve the quality and service performance of community visual health services in Shanghai, and to establish a set of reasonable and effective evaluation index system for community visual health services. MethodsCentered on the national and Shanghai-based visual health policies and based on the current status and development trends of community visual health service program in Shanghai, the candidate indicators were formed through literature review and expert interviews, firstly. The framework of an evaluation index system was formulated through qualitative research successively, which was further revised and perfected using the Delphi method. Coefficient weights were calculated using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), culminating in the establishment of the community visual health evaluation index system, lastly. ResultsA total of 22 visual health experts from district-level center for disease control, hospital ophthalmology and leaders in charging of visual health service in community health centers participated in the Delphi questionnaire survey, with a questionnaire recovery rate of 100% and an expert authority coefficient of 0.86, indicating high credibility. After a round of correspondence to experts’ importance ratings and discussions, a comprehensive evaluation index system comprising 3 primary indicators, 12 secondary indicators, and 47 tertiary indicators, along with 5 additional indicators, was finalized. ConclusionAn index system tailored to effective evaluation for community visual health initiatives was drawn up in this study, which can promote the capacity building in community eye health services, facilitating the high-quality development of visual health courses, and enhancing residents’ eye health.
7.A case-crossover study on association between ambient temperature and injury incidence in Shenzhen City
Yan MA ; Qijiong ZHU ; Weicong CAI ; Ping XU ; Zhixue LI ; Jianxiong HU ; Wenjun MA ; Tao LIU ; Ying XU ; Ji PENG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(5):536-542
Background Under the background of global warming, research on association between ambient temperature and risk of injury is needed. Objective To examine the effect of temperature on injury in Bao'an district, Shenzhen and identify the sensitive population, thereby providing a scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies and measures of injury. Methods The injury reports from the Injury Surveillance System and the meteorological data of Bao'an District between 2018 to 2022 were collected. The meteorological data were sourced from the fifth generation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) land reanalysis data. Based on time-stratified case-crossover design, conditional logistic regression combined with distributed lag nonlinear model was used to evaluate the exposure-response association between ambient temperature and injury. The stratified analyses were further conducted by gender, age, and causes of injury. Results A total of
8.Key technology and equipment development status of first-aid robotics
Zhen-bao WANG ; Zi-jian WANG ; Xin-xi XU ; Xin LIU ; Tao CHENG ; Pei-peng LIU ; Xiu-guo ZHAO ; Chen SU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(3):96-114
The development status of the key technologies of first-aid robotics was introduced in autonomous system,embo-died intelligence,digital twins,large artificial intelligence model and autonomous unmanned medical treatment.The present situation in first-aid robotics equipment was reviewed for first-aid diagnosis,treatment,assistance and transportation.The development trends of the key technology and equipment of first-aid robotics were analyzed.It was pointed out the involve-ment of big model-based embodied intelligence technology and digital twins technology in first aid might provide new pers-pectives for the application and advancement of specialized first-aid robotics.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):96-114]
9.Incidence trend of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in Beijing City from 2015 to 2022
Xiaomei LI ; Ziang LI ; Dan ZHAO ; Luodan SUO ; Qinghai WANG ; Haihong WANG ; Xinghui PENG ; Jingbin PAN ; Tao ZHOU ; Xu WANG ; Man ZHOU ; Tao WANG ; Zonglong ZHU ; Huayong WANG ; Yanfei WANG ; Yaqiong WANG ; Ying FENG ; Li LU
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(8):1264-1269
Objective:To understand the incidence rate of herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in Beijing, and analyze the incidence trend of HZ and PHN from 2015 to 2022.Methods:Cases of HZ and PHN from 2015 to 2022 were retrieved from the Hospital Information Systems (HIS) of all primary and above hospitals/clinics in three districts representing the urban, inner suburban, and outer suburban areas of Beijing. After duplication screening, the first visit cases were screened, and the incidence characteristics were described. The incidence rate of HZ and PHN in each year by sex and age group and the age-standardized incidence rate were calculated. The annual percentage increase (APC) of incidence rate was calculated using the Joint regression model, and the change trend was analyzed.Results:The age-standardized incidence rate of HZ in Beijing from 2015 to 2022 ranged from 7.44‰ to 10.05‰, with an average annual incidence rate of 8.95 ‰, significantly increasing with age ( P<0.001). The Joinpoint regression model showed that the overall age-standardized incidence of HZ remained relatively stable, with no significant difference (APC=2.28%, t=1.56, P=0.170). However, the incidence rate among the 0-19-year-old group exhibited a trend of decrease (APC=-10.70%, t=-6.29, P<0.001). For PHN, the age-standardized incidence in Beijing ranged from 0.77‰ to 2.67‰, with an average annual incidence rate of 1.59‰ and a proportion of 9.48% to 26.86% among HZ cases. Both the incidence of PHN and its proportion among HZ cases increased with age ( P<0.001). The age-standardized incidence of PHN increased annually (APC=18.56%, t=9.02, P<0.001). Conclusion:The incidence rate of HZ and PHN in Beijing continues to be at a high level, and PHN shows an increasing trend over time.
10.Short-term effectiveness of expert adolescent lateral femoral nail fixation for femoral shaft fractures in older children and adolescents.
Xiaozhang HE ; Tao WANG ; Guoxin NAN ; Jundong WANG ; Peng LIAO ; Shaolin XU ; Kailong YU
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(3):290-295
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate short-term effectiveness of using expert adolescent lateral femoral nail (EALFN) in treating femoral shaft fractures in older children and adolescents.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients with femoral shaft fractures who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted between July 2020 and June 2024. All fractures were fixed with EALFN after reduction. There were 11 males and 6 females, with a mean age of 13.3 years (range, 11-16 years). The average body weight was 51.2 kg (range, 40-84 kg), and the average height was 162.1 cm (range, 150-172 cm). The causes of injury included traffic accidents ( n=9), falling from height ( n=1), and simple falls ( n=7). One patient had an open fracture treated with an external fixator and experienced delayed fracture healing. The remaining patients were closed fractures, with an average time from injury to operation of 5.8 days (range, 2-10 days). Operation time and postoperative hospital stay were documented. During follow-up, X-ray films were taken to observe the fracture healing, and the bilateral femoral length, femoral neck-shaft angle, widest femoral neck diameter (FND), and articular trochanteric distance (ATD) were measured at last follow-up. Hip function was assessed using the Harris score. The differences in the all indicators between the healthy and affected sides were compared.
RESULTS:
The operation time ranged from 65 to 130 minutes (mean, 94.1 minutes). Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 5 to 40 days (mean, 16.7 days). All patients were followed up 7-36 months (mean, 14.4 months). One patient exhibited delayed fracture healing during follow-up. The distal locking nail was removed at 6 months after operation, and partial weight-bearing was initiated following dynamic fracture stabilization. The fracture healing was achieved, and the intramedullary nail was removed at 24 months after operation. The other fractures healed with the healing time of 6-20 months (mean, 9.6 months), and the intramedullary nails were removed. During follow-up, no femoral fracture, abnormal development of the greater trochanter, or ischemic necrosis of the femoral head occurred. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in femoral length, femoral neck-shaft angle, FND, ATD, or Harris score between the affected and healthy sides ( P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
For older children and adolescents with femoral neck fractures, the application of EALFN fixation aligns more closely with the principles of intramedullary central fixation and rapid rehabilitation. This approach is associated with fewer complications and superior short-term effectiveness.
Humans
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Male
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Femoral Fractures/surgery*
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Female
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Child
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Adolescent
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Retrospective Studies
;
Bone Nails
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Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation*
;
Fracture Healing
;
Treatment Outcome

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