1.Research progress on myosteatosis in liver transplant recipients
Junfeng CAI ; Jingdong HE ; Yuxin JIANG ; Leibo XU
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):61-67
Myosteatosis is one of the common complications in patients with end-stage liver disease, which is significantly associated with poor outcomes after liver transplantation. Currently, diagnostic criteria of myosteatosis have not been established, and CT is the most commonly used for diagnosis. The pathogenesis of myosteatosis is multifactorial, and the pathophysiological mechanisms linking it to end-stage liver disease are not fully understood. An increasing number of scholars have recognized that the severity of myosteatosis is closely related to its clinical consequences, but there are no effective treatment options available. This article reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms and diagnostic methods of myosteatosis, and its impact on the prognosis of liver transplant recipients, and discusses current treatment strategies to provide references for the perioperative management of liver transplant recipients.
2.Association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death among residents in Jiangsu Province,China
Changkui OU ; Yanling ZHONG ; Rui LI ; Yi LIN ; Ruijun XU ; Tingting LIU ; Tingting WANG ; Hong SUN ; Yuewei LIU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):22-28
Objective To quantitatively assess the exposure-response association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death, estimate the attributable excess deaths, and identify potential vulnerable subgroups. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted among residents who died from sudden death in Jiangsu Province, China between 2015 and 2021. Heatwave events in Jiangsu Province, defined using varying relative temperature thresholds and durations, were identified using temperature data from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS V2.0). Individual heatwave exposure was assessed based on each subject's residential address. The exposure-response association between heatwave and sudden death was evaluated using conditional logistic regression model combined with a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model(DLNM). Heatwave-attributable excess deaths were estimated. Stratified analyses by sex and age were performed to assess potential effect modifications. Results Under all definitions, exposure to heatwave was significantly associated with an increased risk of sudden death, and the risk increased with the intensity of heatwave. Using the P95_3d definition (temperature exceeding the 95th percentile for ≥3 consecutive days), heatwave was significantlyassociated with a 56% increased risk of sudden death (95% CI: 31%, 86%). The population-attributable fraction of sudden death due to heatwave exposure was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.97%, 1.90%). Stratified analyses indicated no statistically significant differences in the association between heatwave exposure and sudden death across age or sex subgroups. Conclusion Heatwave exposure was associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Reducing heatwave exposure during summer may help lower the occurrence of sudden death.
3.Clinical research progress on cell therapy induced immune tolerance in liver transplantation
Chenliang SHAO ; Li PANG ; Chao LIU ; Leibo XU
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(2):205-211
Liver transplantation is the preferred treatment for end-stage liver disease, but recipients require long-term immunosuppressive therapy to control rejection, which may lead to complications and affect their long-term survival. Immune tolerance refers to the ability of organ transplant recipients to maintain their immune system's tolerance to the graft without relying on long-term immunosuppressants. Immune tolerance is an ideal goal pursued in the field of organ transplantation, which can reduce adverse drug reactions and improve long-term survival rates. Cell therapy has emerged as a promising strategy to induce such tolerance after liver transplantation. Therefore, this article reviews the application progress of cell therapies such as regulatory T cells, regulatory dendritic cells, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, etc. in inducing immune tolerance after liver transplantation, in order to provide reference for the clinical application of immune tolerance induction after liver transplantation.
4.Development of A Prognostic Prediction Model for Primary Membranous Nephropathy in the Elderly Based on Machine Learning
Yuzhu XU ; Shuqin LIU ; Dingding WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Xin WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(2):370-381
Elderly patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) exhibit significant prognostic heterogeneity and poor tolerance to immunotherapy. However, there is a lack of early prognostic prediction tools specifically for this population. This study aimed to develop a prognostic prediction model applicable to elderly PMN patients. This study retrospectively included elderly patients with PMN confirmed by renal biopsy. The primary endpoint was a adverse composite outcome including end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), or all-cause death. Patients were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort at a ratio of 7∶3. Key prognostic features were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression combined with random survival forest, and a predictive model was constructed based on penalized Cox regression. Model performance was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. The SurvSHAP (t) method was employed for interpretability analysis of the model. A total of 309 elderly patients with PMN were included in this study, with a median age of 65.00 years (IQR, 62.00-68.00) and a male predominance 61.2%(189/309).During a median follow-up of 47.00 months (IQR, 25.00-89.00), 38.2%(118/309) reached the endpoint event. The final model included nine key features, including eGFR, total protein (TP), glomerular capsular adhesion, urine glucose, segmental glomerulosclerosis proportion, fibrinogen, urea, age, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). In the validation cohort, the model demonstrated good discrimination, with a C-index of 0.731(95% CI: 0.652-0.797). The time-dependent AUROCs for predicting adverse outcomes at 3, 5, and 10 years were 0.758(95% CI: 0.614-0.901), 0.781(95% CI: 0.646-0.916), and 0.866(95% CI: 0.740-0.993), respectively. Calibration curves demonstrated a high degree of concordance between predicted probabilities and actual event rates. Decision curve analysis confirmed the net clinical benefit of the model.SurvSHAP (t) analysis showed that eGFR, TP, glomerular capsular adhesion, urine glucose, and the proportion of segmental glomerular sclerosis were the top five variables contributing to the model. This prognostic model effectively predicts the risk of adverse outcomes in elderly patients with PMN in the internal validation cohort, offering a potential scientific basis for individualized risk stratification and treatment decision-making in this population.
5.Construction and evaluation of the performance management system for pharmacy practice based on the balanced scorecard
Xia LUO ; Yuyan LUO ; Lifen XU ; Ye LI ; Haiyan MAI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1473-1477
OBJECTIVE To establish a scientific, systematic, multi-dimensional performance management system for pharmacy practice, so as to improve the efficiency and quality of pharmacy practice performance management in public hospitals. METHODS Based on the four dimensions of the balanced scorecard theory, finance, customer, internal process, learning and growth, reference indicators for pharmacy practice performance management were summarized. The Delphi method was used to screen indicators, and the analytic hierarchy process was applied to determine the weights of indicators. A pharmacy practice performance management system was then constructed. Based on this system, action plans were formulated and implemented. The effectiveness was evaluated from two aspects: customer reviews and changes in pharmacy practice outcomes. RESULTS A total of 28 reference indicators were summarized, and a performance management system for pharmacy practice was constructed, consisting of 4 primary indicators, 9 secondary indicators, and 20 tertiary indicators. Compared with action plans implementation before, the satisfaction of clinical departments was significantly improved, and 11 pharmacy practice performance management indicators were optimized after implementation. CONCLUSIONS A scientific and systematic performance management system for pharmacy practice has been successfully established, which can provide a reference for the innovation of hospital pharmacy practice management and the high quality development of pharmacy practice.
6.Sharing pathways for traditional Chinese medicine in Malaysia from the perspective of the community of common health for mankind
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(6):791-796
The concept of a community of common health for mankind aims to work with various countries to safeguard the lives and health of people worldwide. Against this backdrop, the international dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become a significant topic. From October 2022 to November 2023, an anthropological fieldwork and participant observation lasting over a year was conducted in Malaysia, aiming to explore pathways for international dissemination and sharing of TCM under the concept of a community of common health for mankind through collected materials. TCM played a pivotal role in constructing the community of common health for mankind, and its unique value offers precious Chinese wisdom and strength to global healthcare undertakings. Under the initiative of the “Silk Road of Health,” the internationalization of TCM has accelerated, achieving rooted growth and wisdom sharing particularly in Malaysia and other countries along the “Belt and Road.” Facing global challenges, the sharing pathways of TCM in Malaysia became increasingly clear. Through in-depth cooperation with Chinese TCM universities, Malaysia provided valuable experience to global TCM education collaboration. With the in-depth advancement of the “Silk Road of Health” construction, the sharing pathways for TCM in Malaysia and globally demonstrated diversified and systematic characteristics, contributing greater strength for constructing a community of common health for mankind.
7.Guidelines for the perioperative diagnosis and treatment of oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (2026)
Weidong WANG ; Yongbin LIN ; Hui TIAN ; Gaofeng LI ; Shun XU ; Yongde LIAO ; Haitao MA ; Junfeng LIU ; Chundong GU ; Xiaolong YAN ; Shumin WANG ; Daqiang SUN ; Jianyang LIU ; Tao XUE ; Shaohua MA ; Zhigang LI ; Shuanghu YUAN ; Gen LIN ; Ling CAI ; Jianping ZHOU ; Wenzhao ZHONG ; Naixin LIANG ; Yi HAN ; Junfeng WANG ; Weidong ZHANG ; Xin WANG ; Lianjuan CHEN ; Lunxu LIU ; Xiuyi ZHI ; Lanjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(09):1337-1353
Lung cancer constitutes the most prevalent and lethal malignant tumor in China. Approximately 85% of lung cancer diagnoses correspond to the non-small cell histological subtype [non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)]. Despite surgery being the mainstay for early-stage disease, postoperative recurrence remains high and adjuvant chemotherapy offers limited benefit. In recent years, targeted therapy has demonstrated substantial advantages in driver mutation-positive NSCLC. To this end, the Lung Cancer Medical Education Committee of the Chinese Medical Education Association developed guidelines based on a systematic review of evidence through November 2025, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach and a modified Delphi method. Focusing on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and addressing ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1), B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping, the guideline covers molecular testing, neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy, perioperative strategies, minimal residual disease monitoring, and postoperative surveillance. It defines testing requirements, specifies stage-directed and subtype-specific treatments, and standardizes minimal residual disease monitoring. These recommendations emphasize precision and feasibility to improve survival and quality of life.
8.PAGE5 in Promoting Breast Cancer Invasion and Hepatic Metastasis via Regulation of the PI3K/AKT/MMP1 Axis
Zenghui LIU ; Ying LU ; Xiaoli LIANG ; Wanna CHEN ; Xiangdong XU ; Hongbiao XU ; Zhen SHAN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(5):833-842
ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the specific molecular mechanism by which PAGE5 promotes breast cancer cell invasion and hepatic metastasis through regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and its downstream effector, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1). MethodsBioinformatics analysis using the TCGA database was performed to evaluate PAGE5 expression in metastatic breast cancer tissues. The effects of PAGE5 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of breast cancer cells were analyzed using CCK-8, EdU, Transwell, and wound healing assays. A splenic injection hepatic metastasis model in NOD-SCID mice was employed to validate the impact of PAGE5 on breast cancer liver metastasis. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted to identify potential signaling pathways regulated by PAGE5. Western blot was used to detect AKT phosphorylation levels. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was applied to screen and validate downstream target molecules of PAGE5. ResultsBioinformatic analysis revealed that PAGE5 expression was significantly upregulated in distant metastasis of breast cancer. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PAGE5 overexpression markedly enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells and promoted the formation of liver metastatic lesions, whereas PAGE5 knockdown suppressed breast cancer liver metastasis (P<0.000 1). Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that PAGE5 significantly activated the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway (P=0.028 5). Western blot confirmed that PAGE5 upregulated p-AKT levels, which could be reversed by MK2206. The qPCR results confirmed that MMP1 is a key downstream effector of PAGE5, and its expression can be inhibited by MK2206 (P<0.000 1). ConclusionsThis study preliminarily demonstrates that PAGE5 can activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and mediate the invasion and liver metastasis of breast cancer through MMP1.
9.Distribution and Contributing Factors of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels in South China Population
Yuliang CHEN ; Bingqi YE ; Shujun YANG ; Xirui ZHOU ; Zekai LEI ; Lele YUAN ; Qianyi XU ; Min XIA
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(1):55-63
ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics of cardiorespiratory fitness levels in the baseline population of the South China Cohort, and to identify the potential contributing factors. MethodsFace-to-face surveys and physical examinations were conducted to collect information on demographic characteristics, medical histories, medications, lifestyles, and physical activity conditions. After excluding individuals with missing cardiorespiratory fitness-related data and covariates including physical activity and dietary information, a total of 77 024 participants aged 25 to 85 were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness levels were evaluated using a non-exercise algorithm, and low cardiorespiratory fitness level was defined as below the lower tertile of the population distribution. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the distribution of low cardiorespiratory fitness level, and log-binomial regression and ordered logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness with demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle factors (including alcohol consumption and dietary diversity), and chronic diseases conditions (including diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary diseases, and cardiovascular diseases). ResultsCardiorespiratory fitness levels showed a sufficiently normal distribution in both male and female group. We found that the proportion of low cardiorespiratory fitness level was higher among Han ethnicity, those with an educational level below 9th grade, households with an annual income of more than 100 000 Yuan, as well as those who drank alcohol at least one time per week and who exhibited low dietary diversity (all P<0.001). Ethnicity, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases were found to be statistically associated with cardiorespiratory fitness levels in the South China population (all P<0.001). ConclusionCardiorespiratory fitness levels varied across different population groups in South China, with ethnicity, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases serving as key determinants. Therefore, it is recommended that the public pay attention to cardiorespiratory fitness, as strengthening population-level monitoring and interventions for cardiorespiratory fitness carries significant public health implications.
10.Clinical Utility of Whole Exome Sequencing in the Diagnosis of Fetal Short Femur
Manqi CHEN ; Zewei HUANG ; Qi XU ; Shuning ZHANG ; Xiaojun CHEN ; Haiyan YAN ; Xiang LI ; Shuai FU
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(2):368-378
ObjectiveTo enhance the genetic diagnostic yield for fetal short femur length (FL) and to evaluate the integration of whole exome sequencing (WES) with chromosomal abnormality detection in prenatal diagnosis. MethodsA total of 27 mid-to-late trimester fetuses diagnosed with short FL [FL < 5th percentile for gestational age or < -2 SD (Standard Deviation)] at the Prenatal Diagnosis And Medical Genetics Center,Shenshan Medical Center,Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University between November 2023 and May 2025 were included. Amniotic fluid or umbilical cord blood samples were collected and subjected to chromosomal karyotyping (19cases), chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) or low-coverage whole genome copy number variation(CNV-Seq) (27 cases), and trio-based whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) (27 cases). The pathogenicity of genetic variants were interpreted according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. ResultsTwenty-six genomic variants were detected in 17 of the 26 fetuses, including numerical chromosomal abnormalities (mosaic type), copy number variations (CNVs), single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertions-deletions (INDELs). Genomic variants detected in 11 cases could explain the short femur phenotype.The overall diagnostic rate was 11/27, with pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants explaining 9 cases and variants of uncertain significance (VUS) accounting for 1 cases. In addition Chromosomal karyotype analysis revealed chromosome mosaicism explaining 1 case. The diagnostic rate of CNV detection (CMA/CNV-seq) was 2/27, while WES achieved a diagnostic rate of 10/27, with an incremental yield of 8/27 in cases with negative or inconclusive CNV results. Pathogenic mutations involved genes such as FGFR3, SHOX, DUOX2, CLCN5, and HBA1/HBA2. ConclusionTrio-WES significantly improves the genetic diagnostic rate for fetal short femur length, particularly in cases where chromosomal analysis fails to identify a cause. Karyotyping remains valuable for detecting low-level mosaicism in large-scale chromosomal abnormalities, thereby complementing WES and CNV detection. A stepwise or parallel genetic testing strategy is recommended in prenatal diagnosis to optimize diagnostic efficiency and support clinical decision-making.


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