1.Quantitative Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI for Diagnosing Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Activity: A Prospective Feasibility Study
YunMeng WANG ; WeiYi ZHOU ; YuanYuan CUI ; JianKun DAI ; YuXin CHENG ; QingQing WEN ; TianYi XING ; HongBiao SUN ; Song JIANG ; MeiLing XU ; ZhenHuan WANG ; Yan SONG ; Tuo LI ; Yi XIAO
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(2):161-173
Objective:
This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for assessing disease activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Materials and Methods:
A total of 88 patients with active TAO, 76 with inactive TAO, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. CEST MRI-derived magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and MTR asymmetry (MTRasym) at 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 3.5 ppm were calculated. Clinical data, MTR, and MTRasym values for the extraocular muscles (one representative muscle per eye, yielding two measurements per participant) were compared among the groups. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine associations between imaging parameters and the clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with TAO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations between imaging parameters and disease activity in patients with TAO (active vs. inactive). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance for discriminating active from inactive TAO.
Results:
Patients with active TAO showed lower MTR values (P < 0.001) and higher MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (all P < 0.001) compared with those with inactive TAO. MTR was negatively correlated with CAS (r = -0.402; P < 0.001), while MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were positively correlated with CAS (r = 0.369, 0.350, and 0.349, respectively;all P < 0.001). MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) in discriminating active from inactive TAO were 0.772 and 0.730, respectively. Combining MTR with MTRasym (1 ppm) significantly improved diagnostic performance compared with either parameter alone, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (P = 0.029 and 0.001).
Conclusion
MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. Their combination further enhanced diagnostic performance in distinguishing active from inactive TAO, suggesting their potential as quantitative imaging biomarkers to guide treatment in patients with TAO.
2.Associations between Metabolic Syndrome Indicators and Colon Polyps: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Dongya CHEN ; Hong XU ; Zhaolin ZHANG ; Fang CHEN ; Qingqing LU ; Feng PAN
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2026;41(2):256-266
Background:
While observational studies have suggested a potential link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and an increased risk of colon polyps, the causal nature of this association remains uncertain. This study used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to evaluate the relationship between MetS and colon polyps.
Methods:
A two-sample MR analysis was performed using data on MetS, its indicators, and colon polyps obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies in the Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) and MAGIC databases. Outliers were removed using Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO), followed by MR calculations and false discovery rate (FDR) correction. The primary analysis was conducted with the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method.
Results:
The IVW results indicated no association between hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes and the risk of colon polyps. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P=0.005), 2-hour glucose (P=0.004), glycated hemoglobin A1c (P=0.004), and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (P<0.001) were negatively associated with colon polyps. Conversely, body mass index (BMI) (P<0.001), body fat percentage (P=0.002), waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (P=0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (P=0.002), triglycerides (TG) (P<0.001), and both omega-3 (P<0.001) and omega-6 fatty acid levels (P=0.02) were positively associated with colon polyps. The relationships between these metabolic indicators and colon polyps remained significant after FDR correction.
Conclusion
Obesity-related traits, TC, and TG may increase the risk of colon polyps, while HDL-C may have a protective effect.
3.A Full-Cycle Analysis of the EPIS Framework: Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment
Zizhen HUANG ; Dong XU ; Dongmei ZHONG ; Zhiqing NING ; Junlin ZHU ; Qingqing LI ; Wanqing HUANG ; Kera SWANSON ; Gregory A. AARONS
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(5):1450-1460
Implementation science aims to facilitate the efficient dissemination and sustainable application of evidence based interventions, and has accordingly generated a variety of theories, models, and frameworks. Among these, the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) frameworkfunctions both as a process model and a determinant framework, emphasizing the staged and iterative nature of implementation, and systematically explaining the influence of multilevel factors on implementation processes and outcomes through four dimensions: outer context, inner context, bridging factors, and innovation factors. The EPIS framework has been widely applied in health and public service settings internationally, yet its use in China based research remains relatively limited. This article systematically introduces the core components and application methods of the EPIS framework, and illustrates its value in identifying key influencing factors, developing implementation strategies, and optimizing implementation outcomes through case examples from the health sector, aiming to provide a methodological reference for implementation research and the promotion of evidence based interventions in China.
4.Evaluation of the Efficacy of an Eye-Protective Compound Formula on the Retina in a Mouse Model of Blue Light-Induced Damage
Haochen XU ; Qingqing LE ; Xiwen HE ; Bing CAI ; Longhe YANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(5):650-659
ObjectiveTo investigate the time-dependent pattern of blue light-induced retinal damage in mice, establish a suitable animal model, and evaluate the protective effects of a compound formula containing lutein esters, DHA algal oil, Lycium ruthenicum, and other ingredients used as both food and medicine. MethodsThirty-two of the 56 SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group and model groups (1 h, 3 h, and 6 h irradiation) (n=8 per group) to determine the optimal blue light irradiation time. First, mice were exposed to blue light from a 467 nm light-emitting diode at (5 000±200) lx for 1 h, 3 h, and 6 h, respectively. Retinal histopathology and thickness were examined using hematoxylin‑eosin (HE) staining. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured using assay kits. Retinal inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression was assessed by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR. After 3 h of blue light exposure was confirmed as the appropriate modeling condition, the remaining 24 mice were used in an intervention experiment to evaluate the protective effect of the eye-protective compound formula on blue light-induced retinal damage. The mice were administered the compound formula (1 000 mg·kg-1·d-1) by gavage for 14 days, followed by 3 h of blue light irradiation, and the same indicators were evaluated as described above. ResultsWith prolonged irradiation time, the thickness of each retinal layer gradually decreased (P<0.05 to P<0.01) and cell arrangement became disordered. Serum MDA levels progressively increased (P<0.01), while GSH levels gradually decreased (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in retinal tissue was significantly upregulated with increasing irradiation time. The 1 h irradiation group showed only minor changes (P>0.05), whereas the 6 h irradiation group exhibited the most pronounced changes (P<0.000 1). Therefore, 3 h of blue light irradiation (P<0.001), which showed significant yet moderate differences in all indicators, was selected as the subsequent modeling condition. After intervention with the eye-protective compound formula, compared with the model group, serum MDA level was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and serum GSH level was significantly increased (P<0.05). The expression levels of retinal inflammatory cytokines IL-1β (P<0.000 1), IL-6 (P<0.001), and TNF-α (P<0.01) were significantly downregulated. Total retinal thickness (P<0.01), as well as the thicknesses of the inner plexiform layer (P<0.05), inner nuclear layer (P<0.05), outer plexiform layer (P<0.05), and outer nuclear layer (P<0.01), were significantly increased compared with the model group. Histopathological examination also showed that the regularity and density of retinal cell arrangement were markedly better than those in the model group. ConclusionBlue light irradiation at a specific illuminance for 3 h can establish a stable mouse model of retinal damage. The compound formula alleviates retinal damage through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways, providing an experimental basis for the development of related functional foods.
5.Development and validation of a multidisciplinary risk assessment scale for immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis
Yanan DAI ; Yuan LIU ; Yuchen XU ; Qingqing CAI ; Yan WANG ; Yuhong ZHOU ; Leilei CHENG ; Junbo GE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(4):561-567
Objective To develop a risk assessment scale for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated myocarditis based on multidisciplinary collaboration, and to evaluate its diagnostic performance. Methods Based on multidisciplinary cooperation, integrating clinical experience from oncology and cardiology, literature data, and patient conditions, a risk assessment scale for ICI-associated myocarditis was developed. A total of 101 patients with malignancies who received immunotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from October 2020 to October 2024 were included as the validation cohort. Patients were stratified into low-risk (0-1 point), medium-risk (2-4 points), and high-risk (≥5 points) groups based on their scale scores. The association between pretictive risk stratifications and actual assessment results was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The predictive value of the scale for ICI-associated myocarditis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Agreement between the scale scores and actual assessment results was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Results Based on the scale pretictive results, 28(27.7%), 8(7.9%), 65(64.4%) patients were at low risk, medium risk, and high risk for ICI-related myocarditis, respectively; however, 46(45.5%), 8(7.9%), 47(46.5%) were at low risk, medium risk, and high risk actually. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of ICI-related myocarditis in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the medium- and low-risk groups (P<0.05). In the multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, the ICI-related myocarditis risk in high-risk group was about 4 times that in the low-risk group. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the average area under the curve (AUC) for predicting ICI-related myocarditis was 0.81, with an accuracy of 0.74. The Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was 0.55, indicating moderate agreement. In the actual high-risk group, no patient was predicted to be at low risk; in the actual low-risk group, 16 patients were predicted to be at high risk. Conclusions This risk assessment scale for ICI-associated myocarditis shows high predictive performance. It provides oncologists with a simple yet effective multidisciplinary diagnostic reference tool, potentially enhancing early identification of ICI-associated myocarditis.
6.The novel combination of astragaloside IV and formononetin protects from doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by enhancing fatty acid metabolism.
Xinyue YU ; Zhaodi HAN ; Linling GUO ; Shaoqian DENG ; Jing WU ; Qingqing PAN ; Liuyi ZHONG ; Jie ZHAO ; Hui HUI ; Fengguo XU ; Zunjian ZHANG ; Yin HUANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(10):1171-1182
Astragali Radix (AR), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, over centuries of use. While doxorubicin serves as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against multiple cancers, its clinical application remains constrained by significant cardiotoxicity. Research has indicated that AR exhibits protective properties against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC); however, the specific bioactive components and underlying mechanisms responsible for this therapeutic effect remain incompletely understood. This investigation seeks to identify the protective bioactive components in AR against DIC and elucidate their mechanisms of action. Through network medicine analysis, astragaloside IV (AsIV) and formononetin (FMT) were identified as potential cardioprotective agents from 129 AR components. In vitro experiments using H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes revealed that the AsIV-FMT combination (AFC) effectively reduced doxorubicin-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with optimal efficacy at a 1∶2 ratio. In vivo, AFC enhanced survival rates and improved cardiac function in both acute and chronic DIC mouse models. Additionally, AFC demonstrated cardiac protection while maintaining doxorubicin's anti-cancer efficacy in a breast cancer mouse model. Lipidomic and metabolomics analyses revealed that AFC normalized doxorubicin-induced lipid profile alterations, particularly by reducing fatty acid accumulation. Gene knockdown studies and inhibitor experiments in H9c2 cells demonstrated that AsIV and FMT upregulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and PPARα, respectively, two key proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism. This research establishes AFC as a promising therapeutic approach for DIC, highlighting the significance of multi-target therapies derived from natural herbals in contemporary medicine.
Animals
;
Doxorubicin/adverse effects*
;
Saponins/administration & dosage*
;
Isoflavones/pharmacology*
;
Rats
;
Cardiomyopathies/prevention & control*
;
Mice
;
Fatty Acids/metabolism*
;
Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
;
Triterpenes/administration & dosage*
;
Male
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Humans
;
Cardiotonic Agents/administration & dosage*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Cell Line
;
Astragalus Plant/chemistry*
;
Astragalus propinquus
7.Construction and preliminary application of a self-management question prompt list in adult liver transplant recipients
Mengxin LU ; Xiaowei XU ; Lijie CHENG ; Xiaochen HAO ; Qingqing LIU ; Qingguo XU ; Bingliang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(14):1709-1715
Objective To develop a postoperative self-management question prompt list for adult liver transplant recipients and conduct preliminary application,aiming to provide an effective tool for facilitating their engagement in postoperative self-management.Methods From August to September 2024,the first draft of the postoperative self-management question prompt list for adult liver transplant recipients was developed through literature search and qualitative interviews,including 9 primary items and 50 secondary items.From October to November 2024,16 experts from Qingdao,Jinan,Beijing,and Fuzhou were interviewed on the Delphi method for 2 rounds to revise the question prompt list.From February to March 2025,19 patients after liver transplantation were selected for the preliminary application of the question prompt list.Results The response rates in the 2 rounds of consultations were both 100%and the authority coefficients of experts were both 0.88.The Kendall's W in the 2 rounds was 0.336 and 0.344(P<0.001),respectively.The final question prompt list includes 9 primary items and 49 secondary items.The study showed that QPL demonstrated high clinical practicability in helping patients systematically understand the self-management framework after liver transplantation,promoting doctor-patient communication,and enhancing the initiative of self-management.Conclusion The question prompt list of postoperative self-management for adult liver transplant recipients established in this study is scientific,reliable,and practical,which is helpful for patients to obtain information about self-management from medical staff.
8.Exploring the scientific connotation of"spleen qi disperses essence"based on apolipoproteins
Tao WANG ; Gai GAO ; Qingqing SONG ; Yanyan SHEN ; Daiyu XU ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Jiangyan XU ; Zhenqiang ZHANG ; Zhishen XIE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(11):1501-1506
As one of the core theories of spleen governing transportation and transformation in the traditional Chinese medicine visceral manifestation theory,the modern biological basis of"spleen qi disperses essence"has not been fully elucidated.Lipids are one of the three major nutrients in the body,which are derived from exogenous absorption or endogenous transformation,and belong to the category of"grease"and"essence"substances in traditional Chinese medicine.Because of their hydrophobic nature,lipids require apolipoproteins to be transported in the bloodstream and used by the body;similarly,essence also needs spleen qi transformation to be distributed throughout the body and exert their nourishing effects,revealing a certain degree of inherent unity between the two.When the spleen qi functions properly,essence dispersal is orderly and lipid metabolism remains in homeostatic balance;if spleen deficient leads to impaired transportation,the essence will not be distributed,and the lipid turbidity will accumulate,causing disease.Classic strengthening spleen prescriptions such as Zexie Decoction,can reshape lipid homeostasis by regulating apolipoproteins.Based on apolipoprotein-mediated lipid metabolism,this paper explores the modern molecular biology basis of the theory of"spleen qi disperses essence,"which provides novel insights for enriching the modern research of traditional Chinese medicine visceral manifestation theory,and lays the foundation for clinical practice and theoretical innovation in the treatment of metabolic diseases from the spleen.
9.Research progress of label-free Raman spectroscopy in glioma surgery
Dou LU ; Lijun ZHU ; Qingqing ZHOU ; Qing XU ; Guangming LU
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025;45(11):700-704
Gliomas, with their infiltrative growth and malignant potential, present considerable therapeutic challenges. Maximal safe resection is essential for optimizing patient survival and quality of life. Despite this, existing intraoperative visualization techniques suffer from limited sensitivity and accuracy. Label-free Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a non-invasive, rapidly diagnostic, and highly accurate technique. It accurately diagnoses tumors, identifies infiltration margins, and classifies molecular subtypes, enhancing the precision of glioma surgery. This review summarizes the latest advances and applications of label-free Raman spectroscopy in glioma surgery.
10.Progress in research of epidemiology of dyslipidemia and emerging risk factors
Yuan GAO ; Qingqing LUO ; Chenting WANG ; Xiaomin CHEN ; Guozhang XU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):921-928
Dyslipidemia refers to the increased level of TG and total cholesterol in plasma, and also generally refers to other forms of dyslipidemia, which is characterized by non-obvious symptoms in the early stage of the disease, and the first episode is cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of dyslipidemia varies with country, region and population, and the prevalence of dyslipidemia in China is in increase, which is influenced by various risk factors. This paper summarizes the prevalence and risk factors of dyslipidemia and introduces the emerging risk factors of dyslipidemia, such as HIV infection, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcopenia and environmental problem.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail