1.Pathogenic Mechanisms of Spleen Deficiency-Phlegm Dampness in Obesity and Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Strategies:from the Perspective of Immune Inflammation
Yumei LI ; Peng XU ; Xiaowan WANG ; Shudong CHEN ; Le YANG ; Lihua HUANG ; Chuang LI ; Qinchi HE ; Xiangxi ZENG ; Juanjuan WANG ; Wei MAO ; Ruimin TIAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):31-37
Based on spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness as the core pathogenesis of obesity, and integrating recent advances in modern medicine regarding the key role of immune inflammation in obesity, this paper proposes a multidimensional pathogenic network of "obesity-spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness-immune imbalance". Various traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs that strengthen the spleen, regulate qi, and resolve phlegm and dampness can treat obesity by improving spleen-stomach transport and transformation, promoting water-damp metabolism, and regulating immune homeostasis. This highlights immune inflammation as an important entry point to elucidate the TCM concepts of "spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness" and the therapeutic principle of "strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness to treat obesity". By systematically analyzing the intrinsic connection between "spleen deficiency generating dampness, internal accumulation of phlegm dampness" and immune dysregulation in obesity, this paper aims to provide theoretical support for TCM treatment of obesity based on dampness.
2.Advances in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment by Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Cellular Senescence: A Review
Qixian MA ; Shiyu HAN ; Hui HUANG ; Jing TIAN ; Xu HAN ; Qingguang CHEN ; Hao LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):322-330
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common and harmful complications of type 2 diabetes. DPN's pathogenesis include high blood sugar-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These factors are combined to damage nerve fibers, leading to sensory issues, pain, and numbness. Through a coordinated effect, these factors trigger nerve fiber damage and lead to sensory abnormalities, pain and numbness in limbs, and other symptoms, seriously restricting patients' activities of daily living and mobility. Recent research highlights that cellular senescence plays a critical role in DPN. Cellular senescence is manifested by the loss of cell proliferation ability, and further aggravates nerve damage via oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy impairment, inflammatory reaction, and other mechanisms, accelerating DPN occurrence and progression. In terms of medical treatment, current methods focus on blood sugar control, pain relief medicine, and microcirculation improvement, while no therapy has been developed based on cellular senescence. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows a unique advantage in DPN prevention and treatment via cellular senescence modulation. TCM emphasizes a holistic approach, as well as syndrome differentiation and treatment, effective in anti-aging and nerve damage repair. Recent studies show that TCM active ingredients, including puerarin, ginsenosides, and berberine, can reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via signaling pathway regulation, thereby slowing cellular senescence to alleviate nerve damage. Furthermore, TCM compounds such as Buyang Huanwutang, Taohong Siwutang, and Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang exert synergistic effects on cellular senescence-related pathways to improve nerve health and reduce DPN clinical symptoms. Therefore, this paper reviews the literature related to the interaction between cellular senescence and DPN from the perspective of cellular senescence, summarizing the mechanism of DPN and TCM intervention strategies.
3.Effect of Yangjing Tongluo Prescription on Oxidative Damage of Endometrium in Rats with Intrauterine Adhesion Based on Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Jiaying CHEN ; Jing ZENG ; Zhaoling YOU ; Yonglian WANG ; Muya LIU ; Fang ZHOU ; Li TANG ; Sainan TIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):100-108
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of Yangjing Tongluo prescription (YJTL) in the treatment of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) from the perspective of oxidative stress mediated by the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 48 rats with normal estrous cycles were selected and randomly divided into a normal group (n=8) and a modeling group (n=40). An IUA rat model was established using a dual-injury method combining surgical curettage and infection. Eight rats were randomly selected from the modeling group for a pilot experiment to confirm successful model establishment. After successful modeling, the remaining 32 rats were randomly divided into a model group, a low-dose YJTL group (YJTL-L), a high-dose YJTL group (YJTL-H), and a Progynova group. Rats in the normal and model groups were administered purified water (15 mL·kg-1) by gavage daily, while rats in the YJTL-L, YJTL-H, and Progynova groups received YJTL at doses of 6.43 and 12.86 g·kg-1 and Progynova at 2.06 × 10-4 g·kg-1, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. The general condition, uterine morphology, and uterine index of the rats were monitored. Histopathological changes in uterine tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein expression levels of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in endometrial tissue were detected by Western blot. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to assess the distribution of Nrf2 and HO-1, as well as the expression of Nrf2 in the cytoplasm and nucleus. ResultsCompared with the normal group, rats in the model group exhibited poor mental status and reduced mobility, markedly edematous and tortuous uterine morphology, decreased gland number, and inflammatory reactions in the endometrium, along with an increased uterine organ index (P<0.05). Serum ROS levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), while serum GSH-Px levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05). In endometrial tissue, Keap1 protein expression was increased (P<0.05), whereas Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression was decreased. Mild nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was observed, accompanied by increased relative fluorescence intensity of nuclear Nrf2 and decreased relative fluorescence intensity of cytoplasmic HO-1. Compared with the model group, all treatment groups showed varying degrees of improvement in the above symptoms and pathological changes. Serum ROS levels were reduced (P<0.05), serum GSH-Px levels were increased (P<0.05), Keap1 protein expression in endometrial tissue was decreased, and Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Notably, significant nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was observed, with correspondingly increased relative fluorescence intensity of nuclear Nrf2 and enhanced relative fluorescence intensity of cytoplasmic HO-1. ConclusionYJTL may enhance antioxidant capacity and repair oxidative damage to the endometrial basal layer by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
4.Fibroblast growth factor 21 attenuates oxidative stress injury in retinal pigment epithelial cells under high glucose via FGFR1/PI3K/Akt signal pathway
Ye TIAN ; Guoheng ZHANG ; Tianhao YUAN ; Xin WANG ; Tianfang CHANG ; Yuan CHEN ; Guorui DOU
International Eye Science 2026;26(3):383-390
AIM:To investigate the effect of fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)on high glucose-induced oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cells and to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS:Single-cell sequencing data from the GEO database were analyzed to determine the expression profile of the FGF21 receptor FGFR1 in RPE cells. Human ARPE-19 cells were cultured and randomly assigned to control, high glucose(30 mmol/L), and high glucose+FGF21 analog treatment groups, with additional siFGFR1 and PI3K inhibitor groups. Cell viability in different treatment groups was assessed using CCK-8 assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were quantified using DCFH-DA fluorescent probing combined with immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on cells from the high glucose group and high glucose+FGF21 group to analyze the enrichment level of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Western blotting was performed to detect phosphorylation levels of PI3K/Akt pathway components.RESULTS:Single-cell sequencing revealed specific expression of FGFR1 in RPE cells of retinal tissues from diabetic model mice. Under In vitro experiments, high glucose(30 mmol/L)exposure reduced ARPE-19 cell viability by 49.7% and increased ROS levels by approximately 2-fold. Whereas treatment with the FGF21 analog(60 ng/mL)restored cell viability and attenuated high glucose-induced ROS accumulation. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that FGFR1 knockdown inhibited the antioxidative stress of FGF21. Further validation of the molecular mechanism revealed that high glucose significantly suppressed the PI3K/Akt pathway activation(the levels of p-Akt and p-PI3K were decreased by 33.9% and 36.6%, respectively), while FGF21 effectively reversed this inhibitory effect and restored the expression of p-Akt and p-PI3K. Treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 inhibited the cytoprotective effect of FGF21 and significantly increased the ROS-positive cells, these findings confirm that PI3K/Akt signaling is indispensable downstream mechanism for FGF21 to exert its effects.CONCLUSION:FGF21 alleviates high glucose-induced oxidative stress and cellular injury in RPE cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through its receptor FGFR1.
5.Application of optimized combination prediction model in the prediction of hand, foot and mouth disease
Weijie TIAN ; Qian GAO ; Kun YANG ; Zhirong ZHAO ; Jian CHEN
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):58-62
Objective To explore scientific and accurate prediction methods for the incidence of hand, foot, and mouth disease in the post-pandemic era, and to address modeling challenges caused by abnormal fluctuations in case numbers from 2020 to 2023. Methods The seasonal index was used to pre-process the data. The traditional seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model, singular spectrum analysis (SSA)-ARIMA model, ARIMA-Long short-term memory (LSTM) model, and SSA-ARIMA-LSTM model were used to fit the incidence from 2013 to 2023, and the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease in 2024 was predicted. The real data collected in 2024 were used as the test set to compare the prediction performance of the models. Results The fitting performance of the constructed models was as follows: the ARIMA model had MAE=107.50 and RMSE=144.53, the SSA-ARIMA model showed MAE=2.84 and RMSE=4.33, the ARIMA-LSTM model achieved MAE=99.46 and RMSE=131.59, and the SSA-ARIMA-LSTM model had MAE=96.35 and RMSE=132.13. In terms of prediction performance, the ARIMA model resulted in MAE=151.64 and RMSE=146.70, the SSA-ARIMA model demonstrated MAE=41.22 and RMSE=57.01, the ARIMA-LSTM model yielded MAE=220.75 and RMSE=257.89, and the SSA-ARIMA-LSTM model recorded MAE=58.83 and RMSE=72.06. Conclusion The SSA-ARIMA model has the best fitting degree and the highest prediction accuracy, and is suitable for predicting the incidence trend of hand, foot and mouth disease.
6.Standardization Challenges in Outcome Evaluation Systems of Animal Experiments and Considerations for Core Outcome Set Construction Strategies
Qingyong ZHENG ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Tengfei LI ; Jianguo XU ; Chen TIAN ; Hui LIU ; Min TIAN ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Yating CUI ; Junfei WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):138-148
Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.
7.The effects of galangin on the apoptosis and autophagy of gastric cancer NCI-N87 cells through regulating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway
GUO Fang ; CHEN Wei ; LIU Meng ; ZOU Yanli ; TIAN Xia
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(1):59-65
[摘 要] 目的:探讨高良姜素(Gal)调控AMPK/mTOR/ULK1信号通路对胃癌细胞凋亡和自噬的影响及其机制。方法:将胃癌NCI-N87细胞分为对照组、多索吗啡(DM)组、Gal低剂量(Gal-L)组、Gal高剂量(Gal-H)组、Gal-H + DM组。采用MTT法、流式细胞术、划痕愈合实验和Transwell实验分别检测各组细胞的增殖、凋亡、迁移和侵袭能力,WB法检测PCNA、C-caspase-3、免疫逃逸相关蛋白(B7H1)、EMT和AMPK/mTOR/ULK1信号通路蛋白的表达水平。建立裸鼠NCI-N87细胞移植瘤模型,观察Gal和5-FU对移植瘤的抑制效果。结果:与对照组比较,DM组NCI-N87细胞增殖活性、划痕愈合率和侵袭细胞数、N-cadherin、vimentin、PCNA、B7H1、p62和p-mTOR/mTOR蛋白表达均显著升高(均P < 0.05),细胞凋亡率、C-caspase-3、E-cadherin、LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ、p-AMPK/AMPK和p-ULK1/ULK1蛋白表达均显著降低(均P < 0.05);Gal-L组和Gal-H组NCI-N87细胞的增殖活性、划痕愈合率和侵袭细胞数、N-cadherin、vimentin、PCNA、B7H1、p62和p-mTOR/mTOR蛋白表达均显著降低(均P < 0.05),细胞凋亡率、C-caspase-3、E-cadherin、LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ、p-AMPK/AMPK和p-ULK1/ULK1蛋白表达均显著升高(均P < 0.05);DM可部分逆转Gal对NCI-N87细胞恶性生物学行为的抑制作用(P < 0.05);与对照组比较,Gal组和5-FU组裸鼠移植瘤体积和质量均显著降低,肿瘤组织细胞凋亡率显著升高(P < 0.05)。结论:Gal可促进胃癌NCI-N87细胞自噬和凋亡,抑制其增殖、迁移和侵袭,可能与激活AMPK/mTOR/ULK1信号通路有关。
8.Hygiene status of public items in typical public places in Shanghai from 2010 to 2024
Fengchan HAN ; Shaofeng SUI ; Yewen SHI ; Ling TONG ; Mingjing XU ; Xianliang WANG ; Tian CHEN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):311-316
Background Public places are important areas for daily human activities. Frequent contact with public items promotes their role as vehicles for microbial spread, creating a substantial risk for the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Objective To understand the hygiene status and influencing factors of public items in typical public places in Shanghai from 2010 to 2024, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing the hygiene management of public items. Methods Based on the monitoring data of public items in public places in Shanghai from 2010 to 2024, the hygiene status was evaluated in three stages: 2010–2019, 2020–2022, and 2023–2024. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the impact of factors such as monitoring stages, public place types, and public item categories on the hygiene status. Results The public items in
9.Concentrations characteristics of common air pollutants and health risk assessment of practitioners in hair and beauty salons in Shanghai, 2016–2024
Jiao CHEN ; Tian CHEN ; Xiaoyu WANG ; Yewen SHI ; Fengchan HAN ; Yi HE ; Xiaodong SUN ; Xianliang WANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):326-332
Background As common public facilities essential to daily life, hair and beauty salons frequently contain various airborne toxic and hazardous pollutants potentially leading to adverse health effects for salon practitioners. Objective To characterize the indoor air pollution profiles of common contaminants in hair and beauty salons in Shanghai and to evaluate the associated health risks for practitioners, in order to provide a scientific basis for strengthening the public health management in Shanghai and protecting the health of practitioners. Methods The air quality monitoring data of hair and beauty salons in Shanghai from 2016 to 2024 were obtained from the “Health Hazard Factors Monitoring Program for Public Places” of the National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Monitoring indicators included particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5), formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Indicator compliance rates were calculated across various years in accordance with GB 9666-1996 Hygienic standard for barber shop and beauty shop and GB 37488-2019 Hygiene indicators and limit for public places; specifically, PM2.5 was assessed against the limits stipulated in GB/T 18883-2022 Standards for indoor air quality. A questionnaire survey was conducted among salon practitioners to collect weekly working days and daily working hours. The non-carcinogenic risks associated with inhalation exposure to formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and xylene as well as the carcinogenic risks posed by formaldehyde and benzene were evaluated following WS/T 777-2021 Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inhalation risk model. Results The overall compliance rates of PM10, formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, and toluene in the air of hair and beauty salons in Shanghai from 2016 to 2024 were 92.13%, 96.59%, 96.15%, 94.93%, and 94.97%, respectively; the overall compliance rate of xylene was a little lower (85.92%), and the overall compliance rate of PM2.5 was 57.18%. The P50 concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and xylene did not exceed the corresponding limits. The P50 of non-carcinogenic risk indicator (hazard quotient, HQ) for formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and xylene were <1. The probabilities of non-carcinogenic risk HQ >1 for formaldehyde and xylene were 41.4% and 10.9%, respectively, which were higher than that of other pollutants. The P50 of carcinogenic risk (CR) for formaldehyde and benzene were between 1.0×10−6 and 1.0×10−4, while the probabilities of CR >1.0×10−4 were 16.9% and 14.0%, respectively. Conclusion The overall compliance rate of common pollutant concentrations in the air of hair and beauty salons in Shanghai is high, and the hygienic condition meets the requirements of national standards. The non-carcinogenic health risks posed by formaldehyde and xylene to employees (with formaldehyde being more prominent), as well as the carcinogenic risks associated with formaldehyde and benzene, deserve heightened attention in future health supervision.
10.Prevalence and associated factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in a manganese enterprise
Tianzi SHAN ; Junxiang MA ; Tian CHEN ; Kang NONG ; Yucheng SUN ; Xueting WANG ; Gaoman ZHANG ; Teng MA ; Zhuoran XIA ; Fengtao CUI ; Li CHEN ; Yanyan ZHENG ; Piye NIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):333-340
Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major occupational health concern, particularly among workers exposed to adverse ergonomic conditions. Manganese production involves heavy physical demands, yet research on WMSDs among manganese workers remains limited. Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of WMSDs among manganese workers in a manganese enterprise in Guangxi. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June 2024 on workers at a manganese factory in Guangxi. The Chinese Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, distribution of musculoskeletal symptoms, and work-related exposures. χ2 test was applied to compare differences in positive WMSDs rates across groups, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors. Results A total of 1476 workers were enrolled in the study after pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of WMSDs was 34.15%. The most commonly affected body regions were the lower back (17.28%), neck (16.67%), and shoulders (13.82%). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that female, older age, and education level of college or above were associated with a higher risk of WMSDs (P<0.05). Awkward working postures were significantly associated with WMSDs in corresponding body regions; in particular, awkward postures of the neck, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs were related to an increased risk of WMSDs in multiple body sites (P<0.05). In addition, poor lighting conditions, high workplace temperature, frequent or sustained arm support during work, and high job demands were associated with an increased risk of overall or site-specific WMSDs (P<0.05). Conclusion The high prevalence of WMSDs among manganese workers is closely associated with demographic characteristics, working postures, and work environment and organizational factors. Targeted ergonomic interventions focusing on high-risk body regions and key ergonomic exposures are warranted to reduce the risk of WMSDs among manganese workers.


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