1.A prediction model for mild cognitive impairment risk among the elderly
MA Zongkang ; LIU Xinglang ; LI Huihui ; HE Guowei ; YAN Ping ; ZHANG Chuanrong ; MA Xuan ; CHE Yajie ; YU Shan ; CHEN Fenghui
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(2):124-129
Objective:
To develop a prediction model for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) risk among the elderly, so as to provide a tool for MCI early screening.
Methods :
From July 2022 to September 2024, a multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method was used to recruit permanent residents aged ≥65 years from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as study participants. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status, body composition indices, bone mineral density, and handgrip strength were collected through questionnaires and physical examinations. Sarcopenia was defined based on appendicular skeletal muscle index and handgrip strength. MCI was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, with adjustments for educational level. Participants were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set in a 7∶3 ratio. LASSO regression and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to screen for predictors and construct an MCI risk prediction model. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results:
A total of 1 641 participants were surveyed, including 755 males (46.01%) and 886 females (53.99%). The majority of participants were aged 65-<75 years, comprising 1 154 individuals (70.32%). MCI was detected in 517 participants, corresponding to a detection rate of 31.51%. Resultsfrom LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that residence (rural, OR = 2.323, 95% CI: 1.682-3.210), age (75-<85 years, OR = 1.405, 95% CI: 1.019-1.937; ≥85 years, OR = 3.655, 95% CI: 1.696-7.875), educational level (primary school, OR = 0.341, 95% CI: 0.247-0.472; junior high school, OR = 0.255, 95% CI: 0.160-0.408; high school, OR = 0.286, 95% CI: 0.154-0.531; bachelor's degree or above, OR = 0.120, 95% CI: 0.041-0.351), history of alcohol consumption (yes, OR = 3.216, 95% CI: 2.164-4.779), risk of malnutrition (yes, OR = 1.464, 95% CI: 1.064-2.014), sarcopenia (yes, OR = 3.197, 95% CI: 2.332-4.385), and waist-to-hip ratio (abnormal, OR = 1.540, 95% CI: 1.159-2.048) were identified as predictive factors for MCI among the elderly. In the training set, the area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.788, 0.719, and 0.712, respectively. In the validation set, the corresponding values were 0.784, 0.913, and 0.542, respectively. DCA demonstrated that the model provided a higher clinical net benefit for predicting MCI risk when the risk threshold probability ranged from 0.124 to 0.764.
Conclusion
The prediction model developed in this study demonstrates good discriminative ability and clinical utility, indicating its substantial value for predicting the MCI risk among the elderly.
2.HER2 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges
Zhao-Tao PAN ; Feng-Yu GAI ; Chen CHEN ; Tong LI ; Yan-Ping QING
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):936-950
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite therapeutic advancements over recent decades, the prognosis for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) remains poor. Approximately 2%-4% of mCRC cases exhibit human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification or overexpression, defining a distinct molecular subtype. This HER2-positive status is strongly associated with primary resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies, which are the standard of care for patients with RAS wild-type tumors. Beyond its well-established role in breast and gastric cancers, HER2 has emerged as a pivotal biomarker and actionable therapeutic target in mCRC. However, selecting appropriate treatment strategies remains challenging due to patient heterogeneity and diverse molecular subtypes. This review systematically summarizes the molecular biology, diagnostic strategies, and advances in targeted therapies for HER2-positive mCRC. On the diagnostic front, we discuss the applications of immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection technologies. We highlight discrepancies in diagnostic criteria across key clinical trials—such as HERACLES, DESTINY, and MOUNTAINEER—underscoring the urgent need for standardized, CRC-specific definitions to ensure consistent patient selection and comparability of efficacy data across studies. Although NGS enables comprehensive genomic profiling, its cost-effectiveness relative to traditional methods must be carefully considered. Therapeutically, we summarize clinical trial data for HER2-directed agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as tucatinib and lapatinib, monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan. We review dual-targeting strategies and note recent FDA approvals that represent significant milestones in second-line treatment. Additionally, we explore the potential of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with HER2-targeted therapies to enhance antitumor immunity through mechanisms including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. ADCs enable precise delivery of cytotoxic payloads, reducing off-target toxicity while effectively inhibiting oncogenic pathways. A substantial portion of this review is dedicated to dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance to HER2-targeted therapies—persistent challenges that limit clinical benefit. These mechanisms include reactivation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK, concurrent mutations in genes like KRAS or BRAF, and alterations in HER2 expression that compromise treatment efficacy. For instance, specific HER2 mutations (e.g., L755S) can reduce drug binding affinity, while ctDNA monitoring facilitates early detection of emerging resistance clones during disease progression, thereby enabling timely therapeutic adjustments. Tumor heterogeneity and dynamic interactions with the microenvironment further complicate resistance patterns observed in clinical practice. HER2-targeted therapy represents a new frontier in precision oncology for mCRC, offering renewed hope for improving patient outcomes. Realizing this potential will require continued optimization of diagnostic algorithms and treatment workflows. Future efforts must focus on overcoming resistance, validating liquid biopsy approaches for dynamic monitoring, and establishing unified clinical guidelines. HER2 has become an essential biomarker for stratifying mCRC patients beyond traditional RAS and BRAF status, underscoring the shift from empiric treatment to biomarker-driven precision medicine. International, multidisciplinary collaboration will be critical to validate emerging biomarkers and refine treatment algorithms globally.
3.Convergent modulation of default mode network effective connectivity by modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam in patients with chronic insomnia disorder
Ke WANG ; Yiding HAN ; Haohao YAN ; Xingyan GUO ; Wuhong LIN ; Ping YAO ; Min LIU ; Min CHEN ; Longbiao CUI ; Wenbin GUO ; Dongsheng LYU
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(4):356-366
BackgroundBoth modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam serve as effective treatments for chronic insomnia disorder (CID). Default mode network (DMN) dysfunction is recognized as the primary pathophysiological mechanism underlying CID. However, it remains unclear whether the two treatments exert their therapeutic effects via convergent modulation of DMN functional connectivity. ObjectiveTo investigate the convergent remodeling characteristics of bidirectional effective connectivity (EC) of core DMN nodes with both the intra-network and the remaining whole-brain regions in CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome following the treatment with modified Suanzaoren Decoction or estazolam, so as to provide neuroimaging evidence for the convergent neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both therapies in treating CID. MethodsEighty-two patients diagnosed with CID according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorder, third edition (ICSD-3) were consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center from October 2020 to September 2023. Based on treatment preference, patients were assigned to receive a 6-week intervention in either the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group (n=52) or the estazolam group (n=30). Ultimately, 66 patients completed follow-up assessments (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group, n=41; estazolam group, n=25). All CID patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning before and after treatment. Core DMN nodes including medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and precuneus (PCUN) were selected as seed regions. Granger causality analysis (GCA) was employed to assess bidirectional EC between the seed regions and both the other intra-DMN nodes and the remaining whole-brain regions. Hepatic and renal function indices were detected pre- and post-treatment to evaluate the safety profiles of both treatments. ResultsAt baseline, significant between-group differences were identified in EC from the left IPL to the left middle fronto-orbital gyrus/gyrus rectus (t=5.24, Z=4.84, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05, GRF-corrected), with the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group exhibiting stronger EC than the estazolam group. No significant between-group differences were observed in EC between other core DMN nodes and remaining whole-brain regions (P>0.05). Within-group pre- to post-treatment comparisons demonstrated consistent connectivity alterations in both groups. Specifically, EC from the left IPL to the supplementary motor area (SMA) decreased after treatment (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=-6.28, Z=5.208; estazolam group: t=-5.58, Z=4.425). Conversely, EC from the SMA to the left IPL increased (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=5.89, Z=4.968; estazolam group: t=6.15, Z=4.720). Furthermore, both groups demonstrated reduced EC from the PCUN to the left IPL (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=-5.85, Z=4.94; estazolam group: t=-5.75, Z=4.515), and elevated EC from the left IPL to the PCUN (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=5.29, Z=4.579; estazolam group: t=4.55, Z=3.826) (voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05, GRF-corrected). No significant pre- to post-treatment differences were observed in hepatic or renal function indices in either group (P>0.05). ConclusionIn CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome, both modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam induce convergent bidirectional remodeling of EC between the left IPL and the SMA and the PCUN. [Funded by Natural Science Fund Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (number, 2019MS08099); ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT06452953]
4.The impact of hysteroscopy on the outcomes of embryo transfer in preimplantation genetic testing
Jinling XIA ; Yan HAO ; Dawei CHEN ; Ping ZHOU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(9):1641-1646
ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of hysteroscopic examination and subsequent management on reproductive outcomes in embryo transfer cycles among patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). MethodsThis retrospective analysis included 261 transfer cycles from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 267 transfer cycles from PGT. Among IVF cycles, 134 underwent hysteroscopy prior to embryo transfer (IVF-H group), while 127 did not (IVF-N group). Among PGT cycles, 140 received hysteroscopy before transfer (PGT-H group), and 127 did not (PGT-N group). We compared general characteristics and pregnancy outcomes between the IVF-H and IVF-N groups, as well as between the PGT-H and PGT-N groups. ResultsNo significant differences were observed in maternal age, body mass index, or baseline hormone profiles between the IVF-H and IVF-N groups, nor between the PGT-H and PGT-N groups. The IVF-H group showed higher rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth, along with a lower early miscarriage rate, compared with the IVF-N group. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance (P>0.05). In the PGT cohort, the PGT-H group had significantly higher biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates than the PGT-N group (P<0.05). Early miscarriage rates were comparable between the PGT-H and PGT-N groups (P>0.05). Although the live birth rate was higher in the PGT-H group than in the PGT-N group, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). ConclusionHysteroscopic evaluation before embryo transfer may be associated with improved clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. This benefit appears more pronounced in patients undergoing PGT compared with those receiving conventional IVF treatment.
5.Current status of the " Six-Good" Party branches for retired personnel in medical institutions and scientific research institutes
Qi JIN ; Yashuang BAI ; Yuheng CHEN ; Yan ZHOU ; Ping ZHANG ; Ximing DING
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2025;41(7):524-530
Objective:To analyze the current status, identify existing issues, and explore countermeasures for the development of " Six-Good" retirement Party branches in medical institutions and scientific research institutes.Methods:In August 2024, ten medical and research institutions were selected. Focusing on the current status and existing issues in Party branch building for retired personnel, questionnaire surveys were conducted among staff members of the Party office and the retired cadres department, as well as retired Party members. Experts in the field of Party building were selected for semi-structured interviews. Core themes were then extracted through content analysis.Results:The questionnaire survey included a total of 399 survey respondents, comprising 112 staff members from the Party office and the retired cadres department, as well as 287 retired Party members. 212 (53.1%) of the respondents belonged to Party branches with over 50 members, 280 (70.2%) of the respondents expressed a preference for establishing Party branches based on similar business functions or former departments prior to retirement. 373 (93.5%) of the respondents believed Party branch committee members were adequately appointed. 33.7% (127/377) of the respondents perceived ideological fluctuations among retirement Party members. 175 (43.9%) of the respondents indicated that learning content was insufficiently diverse. Through interviews with 15 experts, it was found that the construction of retired party branches was faced with issues such as low participation in offline organizational life, insufficient effectiveness in the education and management of party members, limited role play of party members, and prominent service and support pressures. In response, the experts proposed specific suggestions such as innovating organizational forms, strengthening the effectiveness of education and management, and building platforms for role play.Conclusions:The " Six-Good" Party branch building for retired personnel of the medical and scientific research institutions had achieved certain results, but there were also some problems. It is necessary to further optimize organizational settings, strengthen the branch leadership, innovate learning forms, build a platform for role play, strictly implement various systems, and strengthen assistance to difficult party members.
6.Validation and Forensic Application of a Domestic Human DNA Quantitative De-tection Kit
Jing CHEN ; Ya-Ping WANG ; Yun-Peng FENG ; Xiao-Xin HU ; Zhen-Jun JIA ; Hong-Di LIU ; An-Xin YAN ; Yong-Jiu LI ; Zhu PENG ; Zhi-Fang LIU ; Jian-Gang CHEN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(3):252-259
Objective To verify the efficacy of a domestic human DNA quantification kit based on real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR in detecting the total human DNA concentration,male DNA concen-tration in mixed male/female DNA samples,the degree of DNA degradation and inhibitor tolerance.Methods Samples with different concentrations,different male/female ratios,different concentrations of inhibitors,and different degradation degrees were tested using the domestic human DNA quantification kit based on real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.This kit was compared with a similar product on the market and was applied to the detection of DNA from real cases.Results This human DNA quan-tification kit can effectively detect human DNA as low as 0.001 65 ng/μL,and 6.25 pg/μL of male DNA in mixed samples with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶15 000.Even when the sample contains as high as 400 ng/μL of humic acid or 1 000 μmol/L of hemin alone,the DNA concentration can still be accurately detected.The degradation index can effectively characterize the degradation degree of the sample.This kit has been successfully applied in forensic practice.Conclusion This human DNA quan-tification kit is accurate and reliable in detection.It can accurately reflect the degradation of DNA and inhibitor tolerance.It has good performance in quantitative accuracy,determination of the male/female ratio in mixed samples,and inhibitor tolerance.It has application potential in forensic case examination.
7.Research Progress of Chirp ABR and Its Application in Forensic Auditory Identi-fication
Yan GAO ; Fang CHEN ; Wen-Tao XIA ; Xiao-Ping YANG ; Ze-Yu WANG ; Ze-Ren YANG ; Xia LIU ; Yan-Liang SHENG
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(4):387-393
The objective assessment of hearing loss is one of the critical components in forensic clini-cal research.Auditory brainstem response(ABR)is an important method for objectively assessing hearing levels.It is divided into various types based on different stimulus signals,each with its own characteris-tics and applications.Among them,narrow-band Chirp ABR,due to its frequency specificity,fulfills the basic requirements for objective assessment of forensic audiology,promising to be an important method of objective hearing assessment in forensic medicine.This article reviews the development history,charac-teristics and clinical applications of Chirp ABR,and envisions its application prospects in forensic audi-tory identification.
8.Research progress of CD74 in cardiovascular diseases
Ya-ping YANG ; Min-yan ZHU ; Huan HOU ; Rong CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(11):2014-2019
Cardiovascular disease has become the main cause of death worldwide,seriously threatening human life and health.Some studies have shown that cluster of differentiation 74(CD74)is involved in the pathology and inflammatory pathways of cardiovascular diseases,which has attracted wide attention from scholars.CD74 is a major histocompatibility complex(MHC)Ⅱ chaperone and macrophage migration inhibitory fac-tor(MIF)receptor.It activates a variety of signaling pathways and plays a biological role in the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular diseases.This article summarizes the relevant lit-erature advances of CD74 in cardiovascular diseases,to explore the pathogenesis from the perspective of CD74 and seek disease protection and more effective therapeutic targets.
9.Exploring mechanism of action of hypericin in antidepressant effects based on single-cell sequencing
Hui-xin NI ; Hai-xin LIU ; Bing-can ZHOU ; Ming-heng CHEN ; Ping-yan LIN ; Zheng-tao GAO ; Xin-pei LIN ; Yao LIN ; Fang-zhen WU ; Qian XU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):837-843
Aim To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of hyperforin via the utilization of single-cell sequencing technology.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,depres-sion model group,and hyperforin intervention group.The chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)model was induced and drug interventions were administered for 28 d.Behavioral experiments were conducted to as-sess depressive symptoms,and hippocampal tissue was collected for single-cell RNA sequencing.Key cell populations and differentially expressed genes across groups were identified,followed by PPI network,GO,and KEGG enrichment analysis.Results Behavioral experiments indicated that CUMS successfully induced depressive symptoms in mice,while hyperforin im-proved depressive behavior.In the depression model group,the proportion of brain perivascular macrophages(PVM)increased,and this proportion decreased after hyperforin intervention,approaching the level seen in the control group.The top 20 common differentially ex-pressed genes in the PVM subpopulation were Saa3,Hbb-bs and Ccl24.PPI network analysis identified core targets,including Ccl2,Dhx9,C3,Msr1,Cxcl2 and Cx3cr1.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed pathways related to chemokines,phagosome formation,and inosi-tol phosphate metabolism.Conclusion The antide-pressant mechanism of hyperforin may be related to the regulation of Ccl24 and its related chemokine signaling pathway by PVM.
10.The value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in predicting the stage of elderly esophageal cancer
Yan ZHENG ; Xiaozheng CAO ; Ping CHEN ; Cheng HUANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(7):1114-1118
Objective To explore the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG)PET/CT in predicting the stage of untreated elderly esophageal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 83 esophageal cancer patients who had not received any treatment were ret-rospectively analyzed,including age,body mass index(BMI),lesion length and width,TNM stage,and clinical stage.Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between TNM stage and clinical stage and the maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax)of the primary tumor.Linear correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between age,BMI,lesion length and width,and SUVmax.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of the primary tumor SUVmax in predicting the newly diagnosed elderly esophageal cancer T3-T4 stage and clinical stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ was plotted,the area under the curve(AUC)was obtained,and the best cut off value of the primary tumor SUVmax in the diagnosis of T3-T4 stage and clinical stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ was obtained.Results The T stage and clinical stage were positively correlated with the SUVmax of the primary tumor(r=0.688,P<0.001;r=0.313,P=0.004),while the N stage,M stage,lesion location,age,BMI,lesion length and width were not correlated with the SUVmax(P>0.05).There were significant differences in SUVmax between the T1-T2 stage and the T3-T4 stage,as well as between the clinical stageⅠ-Ⅱ and the Ⅲ-Ⅳ(P<0.05).According to the analysis of ROC curve,the AUC for diagnosing T3-T4 stage and clinical stageⅢ-Ⅳ with the SUVmax of the primary tumor were 0.904[95%confidence interval(CI)0.835-0.973]and 0.700(95%CI 0.570-0.829),respectively,with cut off values of 12.40 and 12.70.The sensitivities were 0.918 and 0.708,respectively,and the specificities were 0.712 and 0.729,respectively.Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT primary tumor SUVmax has a good predictive value for the diagnosis of untreated elderly esophageal cancer before treatment of T3-T4 stage and clinical stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ,which can improve the accuracy of esophageal cancer stage.


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