1.Clinical Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Childhood Simple Obesity: Insights from Expert Consensus
Qi ZHANG ; Yingke LIU ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Guichen NI ; Heyin XIAO ; Junhong WANG ; Liqun WU ; Zhanfeng YAN ; Kundi WANG ; Jiajia CHEN ; Hong ZHENG ; Xinying GAO ; Liya WEI ; Qiang HE ; Qian ZHAO ; Huimin SU ; Zhaolan LIU ; Dafeng LONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):238-245
Childhood simple obesity has become a significant public health issue in China. Modern medicine primarily relies on lifestyle interventions and often suffers from poor long-term compliance, while pharmacological options are limited and associated with potential adverse effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history in the prevention and management of this condition, demonstrating eight distinct advantages, including systematic theoretical foundation, diversified therapeutic approaches, definite therapeutic efficacy, high safety profile, good patient compliance, comprehensive intervention strategies, emphasis on prevention, and stepwise treatment protocols. Additionally, TCM is characterized by six distinctive features: the use of natural medicinal substances, non-invasive external therapies, integration of medicinal dietetics, simple exercise regimens, precise syndrome differentiation, and diverse dosage forms. By combining internal and external treatments, TCM facilitates individualized regimen adjustment and holistic regulation, demonstrating remarkable effects in improving obesity-related metabolic indicators, regulating constitutional imbalance, and promoting healthy behaviors. However, challenges remain, such as inconsistent operational standards, insufficient high-quality clinical evidence, and a gap between basic research and clinical application. Future efforts should focus on accelerating the standardization of TCM diagnosis and treatment, conducting multicenter randomized controlled trials, and fostering interdisciplinary integration, so as to enhance the scientific validity and international recognition of TCM in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
2.Qualitative study on the process evaluation of tobacco control intervention in junior high school
LIU Wanqi, CAO Yuan, SU Qi, LUO Chuning, ZENG Xinying, LIU Ying, LIU Fen, LIU Shiwei
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(2):183-188
Objective:
To evaluate the implementation process of a school-family collaborative "online+offline" tobacco control intervention program in junior high school in Beijing and to explore the execution status, influencing factors and sustainability potential of the intervention, so as to provide evidence for optimizing youth tobacco control strategies.
Methods:
In November 2024, using the random number table method, four first year junior high school classes were selected from three schools each in Fengtai District, Tongzhou District, and Fangshan District of Beijing. One class served as the control group, while the other three classes were designated as intervention groups (one each for online intervention, offline intervention, and combined online offline intervention). The control group received only conventional education.The online intervention group was engaged in WeChat push interventions, including watching micro videos, viewing promotional materials, participating in online quizzes and mini games; the offline intervention group attended knowledge lectures, played peer games, and participated in offline knowledge competitions; the combined online offline intervention group integrated all the aforementioned online and offline intervention measures. The intervention period was from November 2024 to June 2025, spanning a total of 7 months. Based on the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model(PRISM) framework, a qualitative research design was employed to conduct semi structured interviews with 48 participants (12 in each of the intervention groups and 12 organizational staff members) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 3 districts and 3 sampled schools. The interview outlines were designed according to the intervention plan. Data was managed using Nvivo 12.0 software and analyzed following Colaizzi s seven step phenomenological analysis method. Theoretical saturation was assessed using a reserved subset of transcripts.
Results:
Four core themes were identified in the tobacco control intervention process. Overall fidelity of intervention implementation was largely consistent with the original plan, and students showed strong willingness and positive evaluations toward interactive formats such as knowledge contests and peer games, though occasional breakdowns in school-family communication and blurred boundaries between online and offline components were observed; the participants showed a polarized response in terms of satisfaction and participation, most students and parents recognized the significance of the activity, and some parents observed a reduction in smoking behavior; the implementation of internal tobacco control policies in the school was strict, and the atmosphere was favorable, but there was still room for improvement, such as the scarcity of community tobacco control activities and the difficulty in implementing smoke free units; implementation and sustainability infrastructure were preliminarily established, such as through homeroom teacher supervision and training student assistants to assisted in activities, while the sustainability support system required further refinement.
Conclusion
The school-family collaborative "online+offline" tobacco control intervention has demonstrated significant positive effects, but further optimization of activity design, enhancement of community reward mechanisms, and standardized training are required to improve the efficacy and sustainability of the intervention.
3.The Neurobiological Mechanisms of Runner’s High
Yun-Teng WANG ; Jia-Qi LIANG ; Wan-Tang SU ; Li ZHAO ; Yan LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):358-373
“Runner’s high” refers to a momentary sense of pleasure that suddenly appears during running or other exercise activities, characterized by anti-anxiety, pain relief, and other symptoms. The neurobiological mechanism of “runner’s high” is unclear. This review summarizes human and animal models for studying “runner’s high”, analyzes the neurotransmitters and neural circuits involved in runner’s high, and elucidates the evidence and shortcomings of researches related to “runner’s high”. This review also provides prospects for future research. Research has found that exercise lasting more than 30 min and with an intensity exceeding 70% of the maximum heart rate can reach a “runner’s high”. Human experiments on “runner’s high” mostly use treadmill exercise intervention, and evaluate it through questionnaire surveys, measurement of plasma AEA, miRNA and other indicators. Animal experiments often use voluntary wheel running intervention, and evaluate it through behavioral experiments such as conditional place preference, light dark box experiments (anxiety), hot plate experiments (pain sensitivity), and measurement of plasma AEA and other indicators. Dopamine, endogenous opioid peptides, endogenous cannabinoids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and other substances increase after exercise, which may be related to the “runner’s high”. However, attention should be paid to the functional differences of these substances in the central and peripheral regions, as well as in different brain regions. Moreover, current studies have not identified the targets of the neurotransmitters or neural factors mentioned above, and further in-depth researches are needed. The mesolimbic dopamine system, prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens projection, ventral hippocampus-nucleus accumbens projection, red nucleus-ventral tegmental area projection, cerebellar-ventral tegmental area projection, and brain-gut axis may be involved in the regulation of runner’s high, but there is a lack of direct evidence to prove their involvement. There are still many issues that need to be addressed in the research on the neurobiological mechanisms of “runner’s high”. (1) Most studies on “runner’s high” involve one-time exercise, and the characteristics of changes in “runner’s high” during long-term exercise still need to be explored. (2) The using of scales to evaluate subjects lead to the lacking of objective indicators. However, some potential biomarkers (such as endocannabinoids) have inconsistent characteristics of changes after one-time and long-term exercise. (3) The neurotransmitters involved in the formation of the “runner’s high” all increase in the peripheral and/or central nervous system after exercise. Attention should be paid to whether peripheral substances can enter the blood-brain barrier and the binding effects of neurotransmitters to different receptors are completely different in different brain regions. (4) Most of the current evidence show that some brain regions are activated after exercise. Is there a functional circuit mediating “runner’s high” between these brain regions? (5) Although training at a specific exercise intensity can lead to “runner’s high”, most runners have not experienced “runner’s high”. Can more scientific training methods or technological means be used to make it easier for people to experience the “runner’s high” and thus be more willing to engage in exercise? (6) The “runner’s high” and “addiction” behaviors are extremely similar, and there are evidences that exercise can reverse addictive behaviors. However, why is there still a considerable number of people in the sports population and even athletes who smoke or use addictive drugs instead of pursuing the “pleasure” brought by exercise? Solving the problems above is of great significance for enhancing the desire of exercise, improving the clinical application of neurological and psychiatric diseases through exercise, and enhancing the overall physical fitness of the population.
5.The Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Human Health in China: A Call for more Ambitious Action.
Shi Lu TONG ; Yu WANG ; Yong Long LU ; Cun de XIAO ; Qi Yong LIU ; Qi ZHAO ; Cun Rui HUANG ; Jia Yu XU ; Ning KANG ; Tong ZHU ; Dahe QIN ; Ying XU ; Buda SU ; Xiao Ming SHI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):127-143
As global greenhouse gases continue rising, the urgency of more ambitious action is clearer than ever before. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the countries affected most by climate change. The evidence about the impacts of climate change on the environment and human health may encourage China to take more decisive action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts. This article aimed to review the evidence of environmental damages and health risks posed by climate change and to provide a new science-based perspective for the delivery of sustainable development goals. Over recent decades, China has experienced a strong warming pattern with a growing frequency of extreme weather events, and the impacts of climate change on China's environment and human health have been consistently observed, with increasing O 3 air pollution, decreases in water resources and availability, land degradation, and increased risks for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Therefore, China's climate policy should target the key factors driving climate change and scale up strategic measures to curb carbon emissions and adapt to inevitable increasing climate impacts. It provides new insights for not only China but also other countries, particularly developing and emerging economies, to ensure climate and environmental sustainability whilst pursuing economic growth.
Climate Change
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China
;
Humans
;
Greenhouse Gases
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Air Pollution
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Sustainable Development
;
Environment
6.Environmental Temperature and the Risk of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Transmission in the Yangtze River Region of China.
Yan Qing YANG ; Min CHEN ; Jin LI ; Kai Qi LIU ; Xue Yan GUO ; Xin XU ; Qian LIANG ; Xing Lu WU ; Su Wen LEI ; Jing LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):290-302
OBJECTIVE:
To assess health equity in the Yangtze River region to improve understanding of the correlation between hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and socioeconomic factors.
METHODS:
From 2014-2016, data on HFMD incidence, population statistics, economic indicators, and meteorology from 26 cities along the Yangtze River were analyzed. A multi-city random-effects meta-analysis was performed to study the relationship between temperature and HFMD transmission, and health equity was assessed with respect to socio-economic impact.
RESULTS:
Over the study period, 919,458 HFMD cases were reported, with Shanghai (162,303) having the highest incidence and Tongling (5,513) having the lowest. Males were more commonly affected (male-to-female ratio, 1.49:1). The exposure-response relationship had an M-shaped curve, with two HFMD peaks occurring at 4 °C and 26 °C. The relative risk had two peaks at 1.30 °C (1.834, 95% CI: 1.204-2.794) and 31.4 °C (1.143, 95% CI: 0.901-1.451), forming an M shape, with the first peak higher than the second. The most significant impact of temperature on HFMD was observed between -2 °C and 18.1 °C. The concentration index (0.2463) indicated moderate concentration differences, whereas the Theil index (0.0418) showed low inequality in distribution.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of HFMD varied across cities, particularly with changes in temperature. Economically prosperous areas showed higher risks, indicating disparities. Targeted interventions in these areas are crucial for mitigating the risk of HFMD.
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Cities/epidemiology*
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Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/transmission*
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Incidence
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Risk Factors
;
Temperature
7.Cellular and Histopathological Characteristics of Ultrasonically Underdiagnosed 3/4a Thyroid Nodules.
Wu WEI-QI ; Xu CUN-BAO ; Li YOU-JIA ; Su CHUN-YANG ; Feng-Shun ZHANG ; Yi-Feng CHEN
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(1):23-28
Objective To analyze the cellular and histopathological characteristics of underdiagnosed thyroid nodules of Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system(C-TIRADS) categories 3 and 4a,thus improving the understanding of these lesions. Methods The data of ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology were collected from 683 nodules diagnosed based on pathological evidence in 549 patients undergoing thyroid surgery.The cellular and histopathological characteristics of C-TIRADS 3 and 4a nodules were analyzed. Results Two hundred and sixty-eight nodules were classified as C-TIRADS category 3,including 236 benign nodules,12 low-risk ones,and 20 (7.46%) malignant ones.Two hundred and twenty-one nodules were classified as C-TIRADS category 4a,including 133 benign nodules,7 low-risk ones,and 81 (36.65%) malignant ones.The malignancy rates differed between C-TIRADS 3 and 4a nodules (χ2=58.93,P<0.001),and both were higher than the recommended malignancy rate in the guidelines for malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules (C-TIRADS) (both P<0.001).According to the pathological evidence,the underdiagnosed C-TIRADS 3/4a nodules were mainly papillary thyroid carcinoma,especially in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis.There was not a consistent one-to-one match between each ultrasound result and each cytological classification of low-risk thyroid nodules.Conclusions When the malignant features in preoprative ultrasound imaging are atypical or absent,papillary thyroid carcinoma (especially with Hashimoto thyroiditis),follicular carcinoma,and medullary carcinoma are likely to be underdiagnosed as C-TIRADS 3 or 4a nodules.Therefore,efforts should be made to fully understand the cellular and pathological characteristics of these lesions.
Humans
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Thyroid Nodule/diagnostic imaging*
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Female
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Male
;
Middle Aged
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Adult
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Ultrasonography
;
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
;
Aged
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Young Adult
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Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*
;
Adolescent
8.Research advances in triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
Lishu SU ; Shuohan WANG ; Xinyao QI ; Jing GAO ; Pengjuan XU
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(8):1016-1020
Alzheimer's disease(AD)is a highly destructive neurodegenerative disorder,and due to its complex pathology and insuffi-cient treatment,it is urgent to explore new targets that can directly address the root cause of the disease.In recent years,numerous stud-ies have shown that triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)in microglial cells has the function of delaying the pro-gression of AD,and its abnormality plays a key role in the development and progression of AD,with a potential of being used as a target for the treatment of AD.This article reviews the biological characteristics of TREM2 and discusses its important role in the three major pathological features of AD and its potential as a target for AD treatment,in order to deepen the understanding of the role of TREM2 in AD and provide a theoretical reference for exploring new targets for AD treatment in the future.


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