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.Response to Comments on “Pretreatment 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT to Predict the Response to Treatment With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Plus Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma”
Shao-Hao CHEN ; Xiao-Hui WU ; Qian-Ren-Shun QIU ; Shao-Ming CHEN ; Jie ZANG ; Jun-Ming ZHU ; Cheng-Long ZENG ; Wei-Bing MIAO ; Xue-Yi XUE ; Ning XU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(2):188-190
3.Matrix Stiffness-mediated Regulation of Vascular Regeneration During Tissue Repair
Kang-Bo WANG ; Wei-Ke LI ; Jing LONG ; Ying-Xiong WANG ; Ru-Fei GAO ; Zhen-Yin CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(9):2269-2282
Tissue repair requires the reconstruction of functional vascular networks to restore oxygen and nutrient delivery, eliminate metabolic waste, and maintain tissue homeostasis. Although biochemical factors such as growth factors and cytokines have been extensively studied in vascular regeneration, increasing evidence indicates that mechanical signals from the extracellular matrix (ECM) are equally important regulators of angiogenesis. Matrix stiffness, as a major biomechanical property of the tissue microenvironment, provides critical information that influences endothelial cell (EC) behavior and vascular remodeling through mechanotransduction. However, the biological effects of matrix stiffness are not universally defined as either pro- or anti-angiogenic, but are highly dependent on tissue context, cellular composition, disease progression, and the dynamic changes occurring during tissue repair. Therefore, understanding how matrix stiffness regulates vascular regeneration is essential for developing more precise strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the regulation of angiogenesis by matrix stiffness during tissue repair from multiple perspectives. First, we discuss the direct effects of matrix stiffness on EC behaviors, including differentiation, morphological remodeling, migration, proliferation, barrier maintenance, and vascular network formation. ECs sense mechanical alterations in the surrounding matrix through various mechanosensitive structures, including integrins, focal adhesion complexes, and mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo1 and TRPV proteins. These mechanical signals are subsequently transmitted through intracellular pathways involving FAK, RhoA/ROCK, MAPK, and Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling, leading to cytoskeletal reorganization and transcriptional regulation. Through these mechanisms, matrix stiffness regulates endothelial functional states and determines the balance between regenerative vascular formation and pathological vascular remodeling. Beyond the direct regulation of ECs, we further highlight the importance of stiffness-mediated intercellular communication within the regenerative microenvironment. Matrix stiffness can regulate the behavior and secretory profiles of vascular-associated cells, including mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages, thereby indirectly affecting endothelial function through paracrine mechanisms. Changes in matrix mechanics influence the secretion of angiogenic factors, inflammatory cytokines, and extracellular vesicles from these cells, creating a mechanical regulation network that coordinates vascular regeneration. This perspective extends the traditional concept of matrix stiffness from a physical support structure to an active regulatory signal that integrates multiple cellular responses during tissue repair. Furthermore, we discuss the tissue-specific effects of matrix stiffness in vascular regeneration across different organs, including the aorta, lung, liver, and heart. Although excessive matrix stiffening is frequently associated with fibrosis and vascular dysfunction, the consequences of mechanical changes vary considerably among tissues. Moderate stiffness alterations may support endothelial activation and vascular stabilization in certain regenerative contexts, whereas persistent pathological stiffening can promote inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired vascular repair. These findings emphasize that the biological meaning of “soft” and “stiff” microenvironments should be interpreted according to specific tissue and experimental conditions rather than as universal mechanical classifications. Finally, we summarize current challenges and future perspectives in this field. A major limitation is the lack of standardized mechanical characterization among different studies, as stiffness measurements are influenced by material properties, testing methods, and experimental conditions, limiting direct comparison across research systems. Moreover, most existing models fail to fully reproduce the dynamic and viscoelastic properties of native ECM during tissue regeneration. Future studies should combine advanced biomaterials with standardized mechanical analysis, organoid models, and multi-omics approaches to establish more accurate mechanical regulatory maps. Overall, this review proposes that matrix stiffness is not merely a structural feature of tissues, but an active biological signal that regulates vascular regeneration through coordinated mechanotransduction and multicellular interactions. A deeper understanding of stiffness-mediated vascular regulation will provide new theoretical insights and therapeutic opportunities for improving tissue repair outcomes.
4.Roles and Mechanisms of Inflammasomes in Aging and Age-related Diseases
Xin PENG ; Yan QIAN ; Long ZHANG ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2684-2702
Systemic chronic inflammation associated with advancing age is closely linked to the onset and progression of multiple age-related diseases. This persistent inflammatory state, commonly termed inflammaging, reflects complex interactions between accumulated cellular damage and dysregulated immune responses. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes of the innate immune system that respond to cellular stress and damage and amplify inflammatory signaling. Their sustained or recurrent activation may contribute to the establishment and maintenance of inflammaging. This review focuses on the NLRP3 inflammasome and summarizes its activation mechanisms, regulatory pathways, and pathological significance within the aging microenvironment. Particular attention is given to neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes, emphasizing shared activation mechanisms and tissue-specific effects. Although initiating stimuli differ among these conditions, several molecular events can contribute to NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Priming mediated by nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) promotes the expression of NLRP3 and pro-interleukin-1β, whereas lysosomal damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species accumulation, mitochondrial DNA release, and potassium efflux can participate in activation pathways. These events are interconnected rather than obligatory sequential steps in every setting. Inflammasome assembly promotes caspase-1 activation, which facilitates interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 maturation and gasdermin D cleavage, potentially leading to pyroptosis. The relative contributions of these processes depend on cell type, tissue context, and disease stage. Within aging tissues, persistent damage signals and impaired cellular homeostasis may favor repeated inflammasome activation, establishing a cycle of inflammatory amplification and further tissue injury. However, the pathological consequences vary across organs. In neurodegenerative diseases, inflammasome signaling is associated with neuroinflammation and neuronal vulnerability; in osteoarthritis, it may contribute to joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration. In atherosclerosis, it is implicated in vascular inflammation and plaque progression, whereas in type 2 diabetes, it is linked to metabolic inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis. These distinctions underscore the importance of interpreting shared molecular mechanisms within specific tissue environments. The review further discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting inflammasomes to mitigate inflammaging and associated disease processes. Strategies include inhibiting NLRP3 activation, modulating upstream stress and priming pathways, and limiting downstream inflammatory signaling or pyroptotic cell death. By interrupting shared mechanisms of inflammatory amplification, these approaches may offer opportunities for coordinated intervention across multiple age-related disorders. Nevertheless, mechanistic overlap does not imply uniform therapeutic responses, and benefits observed in experimental models should not be equated with established clinical efficacy or evidence of delayed human aging.Successful clinical translation will require careful consideration of disease stage, tissue specificity, treatment timing, and the consequences of prolonged interference with innate immune defenses. Long-term safety is particularly important for older populations and preventive applications. The limited availability of validated biomarkers of inflammasome activity also complicates patient stratification, assessment of target engagement, and monitoring of therapeutic responses. Future research should clarify causal relationships, identify contexts in which inflammasome inhibition is most beneficial, and establish reliable translational endpoints. Overall, inflammasomes represent an important link between aging-associated damage and chronic inflammatory amplification, supporting their investigation as shared targets for early intervention in multiple age-related diseases, while highlighting the need for disease-specific evaluation and rigorous assessment of benefits and risks.
5.Research progress of nano drug delivery system based on metal-polyphenol network for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases
Meng-jie ZHAO ; Xia-li ZHU ; Yi-jing LI ; Zi-ang WANG ; Yun-long ZHAO ; Gao-jian WEI ; Yu CHEN ; Sheng-nan HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):323-336
Inflammatory diseases (IDs) are a general term of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation as the primary pathogenetic mechanism, which seriously affect the quality of patient′s life and cause significant social and medical burden. Current drugs for IDs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and antioxidants, but these drugs may cause gastrointestinal side effects, induce or worsen infections, and cause non-response or intolerance. Given the outstanding performance of metal polyphenol network (MPN) in the fields of drug delivery, biomedical imaging, and catalytic therapy, its application in the diagnosis and treatment of IDs has attracted much attention and significant progress has been made. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the types of IDs and their generating mechanisms, then sort out and summarize the different forms of MPN in recent years, and finally discuss in detail the characteristics of MPN and their latest research progress in the diagnosis and treatment of IDs. This research may provide useful references for scientific research and clinical practice in the related fields.
6.Spectral CT material separation technology for diagnosing traumatic bone marrow edema in limbs
Chen WANG ; Lulu YOU ; Jian DU ; Xiangyu WANG ; Wei LIU ; Lan WANG ; Long SHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(4):642-645
Objective To observe the value of spectral CT material separation technology for diagnosing traumatic bone marrow edema in limbs.Methods Totally 51 patients with limb traumatic bone marrow edema were retrospectively enrolled and divided into young group(n=26,18-43 years)and middle-aged group(n=25,46-74 years).Taken MRI as reference standard,the efficacy of spectral CT Water-hydroxyapatite(HAP)image for diagnosing bone marrow edema in trauma area was analyzed,and the Water-HAP density values were compared between groups.Results No significant difference of diagnosing bone marrow edema was found between spectral CT and MRI(x2=0.201,P=0.654),and the consistency was high(Kappa=0.774).Water-HAP density value in bone marrow edema area was higher than that in non bone marrow edema area(t=24.634,P<0.05),and no significant difference of Water-HAP density values in bone marrow edema area nor non bone marrow edema area was found between young group and middle-aged group(both P>0.05).Conclusion Spectral CT material separation technology was helpful for diagnosing traumatic bone marrow edema in limbs.
7.A study of the effect of exercise habits on frailty in middle-aged and elderly community residents
Lujie WEI ; Min DU ; Xiaofeng LIU ; Zhengping TANG ; Hang ZHAO ; Jianping LI ; Min LI ; Pingyang LI ; Xinzhu CHEN ; Yixiong ZHENG ; Cong DU ; Xiaobing CHEN ; Olga THEOU ; Huaicong LONG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(2):201-207
Objective:To examine frailty in residents aged over 50 in the Chengdu community, investigate the risk factors linked to frailty, and analyze the impact of exercise habits on frailty.Methods:This retrospective study utilized a stratified whole-sample method to select Chengdu residents aged over 50 from 6 communities.Relevant information was collected through face-to-face interactions using a self-developed frailty questionnaire between May 2022 and May 2023.Exercise habits were defined as engaging in physical activity more than three times a week for at least 30 minutes per session, consistently maintained for a minimum of five years prior to the survey.The frailty index(FI)was established based on the multiple-deficit cumulative model.Respondents were classified into categories of no frailty(FI<0.1), mild frailty(0.1 ≤ FI<0.2), and moderate-severe frailty(FI≥0.2).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the factors influencing frailty and to compare the prevalence and progression of frailty among individuals with and without exercise habits across different age groups.Results:A total of 999 participants, comprising 483(48.3%)males and 516(51.7%)females, were enrolled in the study.The average age of the participants was 65.70±9.61 years.Among them, 346(34.6%)were classified as having mild frailty, while 107(10.7%)had moderate-severe frailty.Univariate analysis revealed that age, gender, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise habits were potential factors influencing frailty( P<0.05).Multifactorial logistic regression models indicated that individuals aged 70-79 and 80-85 were predictors of mild and moderate-severe frailty, respectively.Being female was identified as an independent risk factor for both mild frailty( OR: 1.196; 95% CI: 1.262-3.073)and moderate-severe frailty( OR: 2.721; 95% CI: 1.282-5.774).Additionally, not engaging in regular exercise was associated with an increased risk of mild frailty( OR: 1.588; 95% CI: 1.149-2.193)and moderate-severe frailty( OR: 3.186; 95% CI: 1.819-5.583).Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in frailty distribution and frailty index changes between individuals with and without exercise habits over the age of 60( P<0.05). Conclusions:Age and gender were found to be closely associated with frailty, with the impact of exercise habits on frailty becoming more pronounced after the age of 60.Encouraging middle-aged and older individuals to adopt regular exercise routines can play a significant role in promoting healthy aging in China.
8.Clinical features of dystonia in patients with different types of atypical Parkinson syndrome
Dongdong WU ; Jing HE ; Yunfei LONG ; Huijing LIU ; Wei DU ; Huimin CHEN ; Shuhua LI ; Ying JIN ; Xinxin MA ; Wen SU ; Haibo CHEN
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(4):465-470
Objective:To evaluate the clinical features of dystonia in patients with different types of atypical Parkinson syndrome (APS).Methods:A total of 104 patients with APS admitted in the Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital from January 2015 to June 2023 were enrolled in the study, including 57 cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA), 38 cases of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and 9 cases of corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Among 104 cases there were 63 males (60.6%), the mean age of patients was (62.3±8.9) years (54 to 73 years). The sex, age at onset, disease duration, first symptom, clinical features of dystonia and other neurological signs, response to levodopa therapy, numbers of Hoehn & Yahr scale≥3 after 3 years of disease, and MRI findings were documented in patients with different type APS.Results:The overall frequency of dystonia in this series was 45.2%(47/104), and 33.3% (19/57) for MSA group, 50.0% (19/38) for PSP group, 9/9 for CBD group. The types of dystonia were anterocollis, retrocollis, blepharospasm, oromandibular, foot/limb dystonia, Pisa syndrome and myoclonus. In all 47 cases presenting dydtonia, dystonia was not the first complaint and it did not respond to levodopa therapy.Conclusion:In this series of atypical Parkinson syndrome, dystonia is a common feature of the disease, while it is not the first symptom at disease onset, and usually does not respond to levodopa therapy.
9.Construction and identification of a sizeable naive human Fab phage display antibody library
Yakun ZHAO ; Xiaoyue WEI ; Fanliang MENG ; Wentao LIU ; Jiaming FAN ; Lijin LONG ; Wanting WANG ; Jianling CHEN ; Jianzhong ZHANG ; Lihua HE ; Liyong LIU ; Rui ZHAO ; Di SUN ; Xuezhen YUAN ; Xiaomei YAN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(2):288-295
Objective:To construct a sizeable naive human Fab phage display antibody library to screen high-affinity specific antibodies in vitro. Methods:Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 126 healthy individuals, subsequently reverse-transcribed into cDNA, and used as a template. PCR amplification was performed to obtain the V H from IgG, IgM and light chain κ, λ, separately, with the initial PCR products serving as templates for a second round of PCR. Overlap extension PCR was employed to generate fragments of the κ and λ light chains. These fragments were ligated with the phage vector pNC3, which harbors the variable region 1 of the heavy chain, to construct a recombinant phage plasmid. This plasmid was then electroporated into competent Escherichia Coli TG1 cells to establish a naive human Fab phage display antibody library. One hundred clones were randomly selected for identification and sequencing, and antibody gene polymorphisms were analyzed using the IMGT database and MAFFT software. Recombinant α-hemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus was utilized to screen Fab antibody fragments through biopanning of the antibody library, followed by random selection of phage ELISA-identified clones. The positive clones (antigen A450∶blank control A450≥2.1) were sequenced. Results:Two large naive Fab phage display antibody libraries were successfully constructed, in which the capacity of κ and λ chain antibody libraries were 1.25×10 11 and 1.54×10 11, respectively. The titers for two antibody libraries were 6.04×10 13 CFU/ml and 3.50×10 13 CFU/ml. The positive transformation insertion rates for κ and λ chain antibody libraries were 96% (96/100) and 100% (100/100), respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that all antibody sequences were unique. The amino acid sequences in the skeletal region were relatively conserved. In contrast, significant variations in the length of the complementarity determining region (CDR) were found, and the diversity of amino acid sequence of the complementary determining region was high, especially the CDR3. Analysis using the IMGT database indicated that the sequences exhibited a broad distribution across variable-diversity-joining gene families. After six rounds of panning, specific phage antibodies enrichment targeting α-hemolysin were achieved. A total of 142 monoclonal antibodies were sequenced, yielding 8 distinct Fab antibody sequences. Conclusion:This study successfully constructed two naive human Fab phage display antibody libraries with large capacity and good diversity, which can be used for screening human antibodies for serum epidemiology.
10.Guideline for Adult Weight Management in China
Weiqing WANG ; Qin WAN ; Jianhua MA ; Guang WANG ; Yufan WANG ; Guixia WANG ; Yongquan SHI ; Tingjun YE ; Xiaoguang SHI ; Jian KUANG ; Bo FENG ; Xiuyan FENG ; Guang NING ; Yiming MU ; Hongyu KUANG ; Xiaoping XING ; Chunli PIAO ; Xingbo CHENG ; Zhifeng CHENG ; Yufang BI ; Yan BI ; Wenshan LYU ; Dalong ZHU ; Cuiyan ZHU ; Wei ZHU ; Fei HUA ; Fei XIANG ; Shuang YAN ; Zilin SUN ; Yadong SUN ; Liqin SUN ; Luying SUN ; Li YAN ; Yanbing LI ; Hong LI ; Shu LI ; Ling LI ; Yiming LI ; Chenzhong LI ; Hua YANG ; Jinkui YANG ; Ling YANG ; Ying YANG ; Tao YANG ; Xiao YANG ; Xinhua XIAO ; Dan WU ; Jinsong KUANG ; Lanjie HE ; Wei GU ; Jie SHEN ; Yongfeng SONG ; Qiao ZHANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Yuwei ZHANG ; Junqing ZHANG ; Xianfeng ZHANG ; Miao ZHANG ; Yifei ZHANG ; Yingli LU ; Hong CHEN ; Li CHEN ; Bing CHEN ; Shihong CHEN ; Guiyan CHEN ; Haibing CHEN ; Lei CHEN ; Yanyan CHEN ; Genben CHEN ; Yikun ZHOU ; Xianghai ZHOU ; Qiang ZHOU ; Jiaqiang ZHOU ; Hongting ZHENG ; Zhongyan SHAN ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Dong ZHAO ; Ji HU ; Jiang HU ; Xinguo HOU ; Bimin SHI ; Tianpei HONG ; Mingxia YUAN ; Weibo XIA ; Xuejiang GU ; Yong XU ; Shuguang PANG ; Tianshu GAO ; Zuhua GAO ; Xiaohui GUO ; Hongyi CAO ; Mingfeng CAO ; Xiaopei CAO ; Jing MA ; Bin LU ; Zhen LIANG ; Jun LIANG ; Min LONG ; Yongde PENG ; Jin LU ; Hongyun LU ; Yan LU ; Chunping ZENG ; Binhong WEN ; Xueyong LOU ; Qingbo GUAN ; Lin LIAO ; Xin LIAO ; Ping XIONG ; Yaoming XUE
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(11):891-907
Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

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