1.Mechanistic Interpretation of Zheng’s San Qi San Powder in Treating Skeletal Muscle Injury via Bioinformatics Prediction, Chemical Analysis and Experimental Verification
Ding-Rui WANG ; Yun-Xin LIU ; Jun-Jie XU ; Liu YANG ; Jia-Hao LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Lei LÜ ; Bei-Bei QIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1028-1047
ObjectiveZheng’s San Qi San (ZSQS) power, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for treating soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify pharmaceutically active ingredients and their candidate biomolecule targets, and further elucidate the molecular mechanism of ZSQS in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to construct “ZSQS-component-target”, “protein-protein interaction (PPI)” and “active ingredient-core protein-pathway” networks to predict the key active ingredients and potential core targets of ZSQS for skeletal muscle injury. The predicted results were then validated via microarray data from the GEO database. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding ability between the screened active ingredients of ZSQS and the candidate core targets. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis to verify the active components of the drug and ZSQS serum. Finally, an animal model of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury and a myotube cell model of oxidative stress-induced injury were established to validate the effects of ZSQS and its interventional effects on the biological functions of critical targets, thereby demonstrating the potential therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. ResultsAmong the 111 active components identified in ZSQS and their corresponding 204 targets related to the skeletal muscle injury repair process, 14 core targets (including AKT1) and 4 core active components (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and β‑sitosterol) were screened out, while the corresponding metabolites of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were detected in the ZSQS serum. Among these targets, 5 candidate genes (IL-6, CASP3, HIF1A, STAT3, and JUN) overlapped with the differential expression screening results with GEO data, and IL-6 was confirmed to be enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combined with the prediction results of the AKT expression levels, these findings suggest that the phosphorylation level of AKT1 plays a core role in the therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the PH domain of AKT1 had high binding energy with all 4 core active components, as verified by LC-MS. Finally, animal model studies have shown the promoting effect of ZSQS administration on skeletal muscle injury repair and its possible antioxidant damage mechanism. Cell model studies further demonstrated that ZSQS-containing serum, core active ingredient combination therapy, and quercetin monomer could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT, promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, upregulate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GR), and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby alleviating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. ConclusionZSQS alleviates skeletal muscle injury mainly by activating the AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and modernized development of ZSQS.
2.SIRT5 Potentiates Hepatocarcinogenesis by Modulating Protein Acylation in Mice
Yu ZHANG ; Feng-Rui REN ; Jia-Yun LI ; Xiang-Yu CHEN ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Qi SUN ; Jun-Cheng ZHAO ; Ye ZHANG ; Zhen HUANG ; Hao HU ; Tao-Tao WEI ; Min XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1712-1722
ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.
3.Effects of transdiagnostic preventive intervention on depressive and anxiety symptoms with resilience among junior high school students
JIAN Kewen, QI Mengdi, LUO Rui, WANG Huanlei, BAI Yunge, WANG Yun
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(6):846-849
Objective:
To explore the effects of a classroom based transdiagnostic preventive intervention program for emotional disorders on depressive and anxiety symptoms, and resilience among junior high school students, so as to provide reference for promoting adolescent mental health.
Methods:
From October to December 2023, 72 students from a junior high school in Beijing were recruited as research subjects and divided into an intervention group ( n =36) and a control group ( n =36). The intervention group participated in 8 sessions (40 mins per session) of transdiagnostic prevention intervention course for emotional disorders; the control group students participated in research based learning lessons or class meetings. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Resilience Scale-8 (RS-8) were used to evaluate junior high school students. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the differences in depressive and anxiety symptoms, and resilience scores between the intervention group and the control group before and after the intervention. PROCESS macro was used to test the mediating effect.
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences in the scores of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and resilience before and after intervention in the intervention group ( Z =-1.07, 0.07, 1.43, all P >0.05). In the control group, the depressive symptoms score was higher after the intervention than before, and the resilience score was lower than before the intervention ( Z = 2.23 , -2.53, both P <0.05). After intervention, the depressive symptoms score in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group, and the resilience score in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group ( Z =-2.09, 3.33, both P < 0.05). The increase in the scores of resilience played a complete mediating role between the intervention and depressive symptoms, with the mediating effect value being -0.98 (95% CI =-2.47 to -0.11), accounting for 30.98% of the total effect.
Conclusion
Transdiagnostic preventive intervention program for emotional disorders based on classroom could prevent the deterioration of depressive symptom in junior high school students, and maintaining the level of resilience is an important factor for the intervention effect.
4.Trend in incidence of diabetes and age-period-cohort analysis among children and adolescents in Huzhou City from 2006 to 2025
LI Haihua ; YE Yong ; YUAN Rui ; YUN Jingyi ; WANG Haobo ; FU Yuxin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(3):257-262
Objective:
To investigate the trend of diabetes incidence among children and adolescents in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2006 to 2025, and to analyze the age, period, and cohort effects, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control of diabetes among children and adolescents.
Methods:
Data on diabetes cases aged 0-19 years in Huzhou City from 2006 to 2025 were collected through the Chronic Disease Surveillance and Management System of Huzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The standardized incidence was calculated using the age composition of the standard population from the Sixth National Population Census in 2010. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was used to analyze the trend in incidence. An age-period-cohort model was used to analyze the effects of age, period, and birth cohort.
Results:
A total of 913 diabetes cases aged 0-19 years were reported in Huzhou City from 2006 to 2025. The crude incidence and standardized incidence were 11.03/105 and 4.33/105, respectively, both showing upward trends (AAPC=13.307% and 13.226%, both P<0.05). There were 339 cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), with crude and standardized incidence of 3.83/105 and 0.62/105, respectively, showing upward trends (AAPC=9.944% and 10.442%, both P<0.05). There were 548 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with crude and standardized incidence of 6.20/105 and 1.97/105, respectively, showing upward trends (AAPC=14.920% and 14.213%, both P<0.05). Age-period-cohort model analysis showed that the risk of T1DM initially increased and then decreased with age, with the highest risk in the 5-<10 years age group (RR=9.189, 95%CI: 4.871-13.684). The risk of T2DM increased with age, with the highest risk in the 15-19 years age group (RR=17.316, 95%CI: 14.477-20.225). Using the period 2011-2015 as the reference group, the risk of T1DM showed an upward trend over time, with the highest risk in 2021-2025 (RR=1.474, 95%CI: 1.027-2.114). There were no statistically significant differences in incidence risk across other periods compared to 2011-2015 (all P>0.05). Using the 2006-2010 birth cohort as the reference group, the risks of both T1DM and T2DM showed upward trends with later birth cohorts. The highest risk of T1DM was observed in the 2021-2025 birth cohort (RR=2.881, 95%CI: 1.528-5.429), while the highest risk of T2DM was observed in the 2011-2016 birth cohort (RR=1.610, 95%CI: 1.081-2.397).
Conclusions
The incidence of diabetes among children and adolescents in Huzhou City showed an upward trend from 2006 to 2025, with T1DM being most prevalent among children aged 5-<10 years and T2DM among adolescents aged 15-19 years. The incidence risks of both T1DM and T2DM increased with later birth years.
5.Proton beam range verification algorithm for pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector
Liwang YANG ; Haifeng OU ; Jinlong WANG ; Xiaoguang WU ; Ziyang HE ; Jian'an ZOU ; Yun ZHENG ; Congbo LI ; Shaoxiong GUAN ; Jing SHI ; Jinze LI ; Yunqiu LI ; Rui HONG ; Hao'en CHANG ; Mengting WANG ; Kaijie WEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(3):281-287
In proton therapy,prompt gamma-ray imaging is considered as one of the most promising methods for assessing proton beam range.Prompt gamma-ray imaging detector evaluates the proton beam range based on the prompt gamma-ray distribution obtained by the prompt gamma-ray imaging system,which enables high-precision measurement of the proton beam range.Herein a proton beam range verification algorithm is designed for the newly developed prototype of the range verification detector(pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector),which verifies the range estimation accuracy of the prototype for different phantoms and different energies of homogeneous media through Monte Carlo simulation.The results show that the accuracy of the proton beam range verification algorithm is within 0.5 mm of the safety margin error of the Bragg peak,and the measurement accuracy is significantly improved with the increase of the number of protons,indicating that the prototype algorithm is feasible for proton beam range verification.
6.KG-CNNDTI: a knowledge graph-enhanced prediction model for drug-target interactions and application in virtual screening of natural products against Alzheimer's disease.
Chengyuan YUE ; Baiyu CHEN ; Long CHEN ; Le XIONG ; Changda GONG ; Ze WANG ; Guixia LIU ; Weihua LI ; Rui WANG ; Yun TANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(11):1283-1292
Accurate prediction of drug-target interactions (DTIs) plays a pivotal role in drug discovery, facilitating optimization of lead compounds, drug repurposing and elucidation of drug side effects. However, traditional DTI prediction methods are often limited by incomplete biological data and insufficient representation of protein features. In this study, we proposed KG-CNNDTI, a novel knowledge graph-enhanced framework for DTI prediction, which integrates heterogeneous biological information to improve model generalizability and predictive performance. The proposed model utilized protein embeddings derived from a biomedical knowledge graph via the Node2Vec algorithm, which were further enriched with contextualized sequence representations obtained from ProteinBERT. For compound representation, multiple molecular fingerprint schemes alongside the Uni-Mol pre-trained model were evaluated. The fused representations served as inputs to both classical machine learning models and a convolutional neural network-based predictor. Experimental evaluations across benchmark datasets demonstrated that KG-CNNDTI achieved superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods, particularly in terms of Precision, Recall, F1-Score and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPR). Ablation analysis highlighted the substantial contribution of knowledge graph-derived features. Moreover, KG-CNNDTI was employed for virtual screening of natural products against Alzheimer's disease, resulting in 40 candidate compounds. 5 were supported by literature evidence, among which 3 were further validated in vitro assays.
Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*
;
Biological Products/therapeutic use*
;
Humans
;
Neural Networks, Computer
;
Machine Learning
;
Drug Discovery/methods*
;
Algorithms
;
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods*
7.Threshold-Effect Associations of Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D on Bone Turnover Markers and GC rs2282679 Variants in Chinese Women of Childbearing Age.
Xiao Yun SHAN ; Yu Ting LI ; Xia Yu ZHAO ; Yi Chun HU ; Si Ran LI ; Hui di ZHANG ; Yang CAO ; Rui WANG ; Li Chen YANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(4):433-446
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to investigate possible serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] cutoffs for the associations between 25(OH)D and Bone turnover markers (BTMs), and how GC gene variation influences such cutoffs in Chinese women of childbearing age.
METHODS:
In total, 1,505 non-pregnant or non-lactating women (18-45 years) were recruited from the 2015 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance. Serum 25(OH)D, osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), β-CrossLaps of type 1 collagen containing cross-linked C-telopeptide (β-CTX), and single nucleotide polymorphisms were determined. Locally weighted regression and smoothing scatterplot and segmented regression were performed to estimate the 25(OH)D thresholds.
RESULTS:
The median serum 25(OH)D was 16.63 (11.96-22.55) ng/mL and the prevalence of low serum 25(OH)D (< 12 ng/mL) was 25.2%. Women with the lowest 25(OH)D had the highest β-CTX. After adjustment for the confounders, 25(OH)D cutoffs for OC [14.04 (12.84-15.23) ng/mL], β-CTX [13.94 (12.49-15.39) ng/mL], and P1NP [13.87 (12.37-15.37) ng/mL] in the whole population, cutoffs for OC [12.30 (10.68-13.91) ng/mL], β-CTX [12.23 (10.22-14.23) ng/mL], and P1NP [11.85 (10.40-13.31) ng/mL] in women with the GC rs2282679 G allele, and cutoffs for OC [12.75 (11.81-13.68) ng/mL], β-CTX [13.05 (11.78-14.32) ng/mL], and P1NP [12.81 (11.57-14.06) ng/mL] in women with the GC rs2282679 T allele, were observed. Below these cutoffs, BTMs were negatively associated with 25(OH)D, while above these cutoffs, BTMs plateaued.
CONCLUSION
In Chinese women of childbearing age, there were thresholds effect of serum 25(OH)D concentrations on BTMs. The results indicated that serum 25(OH)D concentrations < 13.87 ng/mL in this population had adverse influences on maintaining bone remodeling. BTMs were suppressed at a relatively lower serum 25(OH)D in women with the GC rs2282679 G allele compared with those with the T allele.
Humans
;
Female
;
Vitamin D/blood*
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Adolescent
;
Young Adult
;
China
;
Biomarkers/blood*
;
Bone Remodeling/genetics*
;
Vitamin D-Binding Protein/genetics*
;
Procollagen/blood*
;
Osteocalcin/blood*
;
Peptide Fragments/blood*
;
East Asian People
8.Simultaneous management of transcatheter aortic valve replacement and transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair for a case of aortic regurgitation combined mitral valve prolapse
Yun-long MA ; Rui-feng LI ; Ming-jun HE ; Shun WANG ; Xiao-zhen ZHUO ; Ke HAN
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(10):588-593
Aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation are more common in elderly heart valve disease,and both may be present in some patients.Severe aortic regurgitation complicated with severe mitral regurgitation often requires surgical valve replacement,but in patients at high risk of surgery,the risk of perioperative mortality is significantly increased.Therefore,for such patients,minimally invasive interventions can significantly improve long-term patient outcomes while reducing surgical risk.This article report a case of transcatheter aortic valve replacement combined with transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in the treatment of severe aortic regurgitation combined with mitral valve prolapse,in order to explore new treatment ideas for similar cases.
9.Proton beam range verification algorithm for pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector
Liwang YANG ; Haifeng OU ; Jinlong WANG ; Xiaoguang WU ; Ziyang HE ; Jian'an ZOU ; Yun ZHENG ; Congbo LI ; Shaoxiong GUAN ; Jing SHI ; Jinze LI ; Yunqiu LI ; Rui HONG ; Hao'en CHANG ; Mengting WANG ; Kaijie WEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(3):281-287
In proton therapy,prompt gamma-ray imaging is considered as one of the most promising methods for assessing proton beam range.Prompt gamma-ray imaging detector evaluates the proton beam range based on the prompt gamma-ray distribution obtained by the prompt gamma-ray imaging system,which enables high-precision measurement of the proton beam range.Herein a proton beam range verification algorithm is designed for the newly developed prototype of the range verification detector(pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector),which verifies the range estimation accuracy of the prototype for different phantoms and different energies of homogeneous media through Monte Carlo simulation.The results show that the accuracy of the proton beam range verification algorithm is within 0.5 mm of the safety margin error of the Bragg peak,and the measurement accuracy is significantly improved with the increase of the number of protons,indicating that the prototype algorithm is feasible for proton beam range verification.
10.Case report and literature review of myocardial infarction caused by myocardial bridge
Xiao-qing KOU ; Yi-rong GAN ; Yun-long ZHANG ; Ding-xiong XIE ; Rui MAO ; Tian-xiang LIANG ; Xiao-li YANG ; Yan-zhen WANG
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(2):111-116
Medical therapy and surgical intervention are the two primary approaches for treating myocardial bridge.However,there remains controversy regarding the use of coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)and myocardial bridge unroofing.Here,we report a case of myocardial infarction following CABG in a patient with a myocardial bridge.The patient was admitted to Lanzhou First Peopie's Hospital with persistent chest pain,chest tightness,and shortness of breath lasting 2 hours.Physical examination revealed no significant abnormalities.Electrocardiography(ECG)indicated extensive anterior wall myocardial infarction.Laboratory findings showed myoglobin levels of 140.1 ng/ml and troponin Ⅰ levels of 2.59 ng/ml,with no other significant abnormalities.The initial diagnosis was acute extensive anterior wall myocardial infarction.Emergency coronary angiography revealed a myocardial bridge in the mid-segment of the left anterior descending artery(LAD).Emergency CABG using the left internal mammary artery to the LAD was performed,leading to symptomatic improvement,and the patient was discharged in stable condition.However,the patient experienced a recurrent myocardial infarction seven years post-surgery and received secondary preventive medical therapy.The patient is currently under ongoing follow-up care.CABG is an effective treatment for myocardial bridge.However,based on the case reported in this study,we recommend careful evaluation of whether a patient may benefit from CABG.


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