1.Thyroid Hormone Network Regulation in MASLD: Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies
Wen-Ping XIAO ; Yang MA ; Heng GUAN ; Sha WAN ; Wen HAN ; Bing-Bing LUO ; Wu-Feng WANG ; Fang LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):643-661
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 32%-38% of the adult population and posing a growing public health burden. MASLD represents a continuous disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological core of MASLD lies in disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis, characterized by an imbalance among de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-mediated lipid export. This metabolic disequilibrium subsequently drives inflammatory injury and fibrotic progression. Among the multiple regulatory pathways involved, thyroid hormone (TH) signaling has emerged as a central regulator of hepatic metabolic homeostasis. The liver is a major peripheral target organ of TH action, where TH predominantly exerts its metabolic effects through thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ). Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased MASLD prevalence, more severe histological injury, and advanced hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of TH signaling may participate throughout the entire MASLD disease spectrum. At the molecular level, TH regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by coordinating suppression of lipogenesis, enhancement of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and promotion of VLDL assembly and secretion through integrated genomic actions of the T3-TRβ axis and non-genomic signaling pathways. Across different stages of MASLD, TH signaling exerts stage-dependent protective effects. In the steatosis stage, TH improves metabolic flexibility by modulating insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and lipid droplet clearance, thereby alleviating early lipotoxic stress. During progression to MASH, TH attenuates inflammatory amplification by improving mitochondrial homeostasis, suppressing activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and modulating the gut-liver axis microenvironment. In advanced stages, TH signaling influences hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, partly through interaction with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway, while alterations in intrahepatic TH availability, mediated by dynamic changes in iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), contribute to fibrosis progression and hepatocellular dedifferentiation. In hepatocellular carcinoma, coordinated downregulation of TRβ and DIO1 establishes a tumor-associated hypothyroid state that promotes metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression. The clinical relevance of TH signaling in MASLD has been underscored by the recent approval of Resmetirom, a liver-targeted TRβ‑selective agonist, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (F2-F3). This approval represents a landmark transition from mechanistic understanding to metabolism-centered precision therapy in MASLD. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Resmetirom not only improves key histological endpoints, including MASH resolution and fibrosis regression, but also favorably modulates atherogenic lipid profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting hepatic TH pathways. This review systematically summarizes the multidimensional regulatory roles of TH across the MASLD disease spectrum and discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TH-based interventions, aiming to inform future mechanistic research and optimize clinical management strategies.
2.Global Research of Medical Technology Management: A Bibliometric Analysis.
Liu-Fang WANG ; Yu-Ni HUANG ; Richard Sze-Wei WANG ; Xiao-Ping QIN ; Zhi-Yuan HU ; Bing-Long WANG ; Zhi-Min HU
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2025;40(2):120-131
OBJECTIVES:
To explore potential keywords, research clusters, collaborative pattern, and research trends in the field of medical technology management (MTM) through bibliometric analysis, providing insights for researchers, policy makers, and hospital administrators.
METHODS:
A retrieval formula was applied to the title, abstract, and keywords in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, along with system-recommended terms, to identify articles on MTM. A total of 181 articles published between 1974 and 2022 were retained for quantitative analysis. The global trend of research output; total citations, average citations, and H-index; and bibliographic coupling, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence were analyzed using VOSviewer.
RESULTS:
The number of articles on MTM has been steadily increasing year by year. The focus of research has shifted from addressing basic medical needs to prioritizing emergency response and medical information security. The United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom emerged as the main contributors, with the United States leading in both volume of publications (60 articles) and academic impact (H-index = 21). Authors from the United Kingdom and the United States led the way in cross-border cooperation. The top five institutions, ranked by total link strength among cross-institutional authors, were primarily located in Canada and Spain.
CONCLUSIONS
The field of MTM has experienced stable growth over the past three decades (1993-2022). The shift of research focus has prompted a heightened emphasis on protecting patient privacy and ensuring the security of medical data. Future research should emphasize interdisciplinary and professional collaboration, as well as international cooperation and open sharing of knowledge.
Bibliometrics
;
Humans
;
Biomedical Technology
3.Clinical correlation study between bone metabolism level and knee osteoarthritis pain.
Yong-Qi SUN ; Ke-Chun GUO ; Ze-Zhong LIU ; Jin-Shuai DUAN ; Bing XU ; Guo-Gang LUO ; Xian-Liang LAI ; Xiao-Feng WANG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(5):482-486
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the variability of bone metabolism levels among different populations and its association with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) pain.
METHODS:
A total of 50 people (control group) who participated in physical examination from January 2023 to June 2023 were selected, including 26 males and 24 females, wtih a mean aged of (52.14±9.04) years old ranging 41 to 65 years old. The other 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis(case group) who attended the outpatient clinic of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department in the same time period, including 19 males and 31 females, with a mean age of (53.60±7.76) years old ranging 40 to 65 years. The two groups of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC) and bone metabolism markers, such as 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol[25(OH)D], β-isomerized typeⅠcollagen C-telopeptide breakdown products (β-CTX), total typeⅠprocollagen N-terminal propeptide (t-PINP), osteocalcin (OC), parathormone (PTH) levels were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to compare the correlation between two groups of bone metabolism related markers and WOMAC.
RESULTS:
The WOMAC score of the case group (39.90±2.34) was higher than that of the control group (3.60±0.57), with significant difference (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups of 25 (OH)D, β-CTX and PTH (P>0.05). The t-PINP and OC of the case group were (62.90±52.40) and (19.88±10.15) ng·ml-1, respectively, and those of the control group were (38.86±10.82) and (14.90±3.62) ng·ml-1, respectively;the t-PINP and OC of the case group were higher than those of the control group, with significant difference (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that t-PINP was positively correlated with WOMAC pain score in the case group (r2=0.045, P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
Bone metabolism levels in the serum of patients with knee osteoarthritis are different from those of healthy people, and the difference between OC and t-PINP is the most obvious, and the concentration of t-PINP levels is positively correlated with pain symptoms in patients with KOA. However, the specific mechanism of correlation between the bone metabolism levels of patients with KOA and their pain symptoms needs to be further elucidated by basic experimental research as well as by enlarging the samples.
Humans
;
Female
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism*
;
Aged
;
Adult
;
Bone and Bones/metabolism*
;
Pain/etiology*
;
Biomarkers/metabolism*
4.PI-RADS v2.1 score combined with PSA density for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer in the PSA grey zone by MRI-TRUS cognitivefusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy.
Yue LI ; Shan ZHOU ; Jing CHEN ; Fei MAO ; Xiao-Bing NIU ; Li SUN ; Ming XU ; Jin-Tao LIU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(1):50-54
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the value of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1) score combined with PSA density (PSAD) in the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) in the PSA grey zone by MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy.
METHODS:
This retrospective study included 327 male patients with total PSA (tPSA) levels of 4-10 μg/L undergoing MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023. According to the pathological results, we divided the patients into a CSPCa (n = 44) and a non-CSPCa group (n = 283), collected their clinical and imaging data, and subjected them to statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
The age, tPSA level, PSAD and PI-RADS score were significantly higher, while the free PSA (fPSA) level, f/tPSA ratio and prostate volume remarkably lower in the CSPCa than in the non-CSPCa group (P<0.05). The areas under the curve (AUCs) of PSAD, PI-RADS score and their combination were 0.772, 0.730 and 0.801, with sensitivities of 63.63%, 70.45% and 72.73%, and specificities of 84.10%, 75.62% and 83.75%, respectively (P<0.01). With PSAD 0.2 μg/(ml·cm3) as the best cut-off value and based on the PI-RADS scores, the patients were divided into two groups for analysis. In the patients with PI-RADS scores 2 and 5, the AUCs were 0.534 and 0.643, with sensitivities of 16.67% and 63.64%, and specificities of 85.14% and 64.29%, with no statistically significant differences (P= 0.784, P= 0.228), and in those with PI-RADS scores 3 and 4, the AUCs were 0.794 and 0.843, with sensitivities of 57.14% and 80.00%, and specificities of 87.14% and 81.82%, with statistically significant differences (P= 0.009, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
PI-RADS v2.1 score combined with PSAD can effectively improve the diagnostic efficiency of CSPCa in the PSA grey zone by MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion-guided transperineal targeted prostate biopsy and serve as a guide for selection of prostate biopsy.
Humans
;
Male
;
Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Prostate-Specific Antigen
;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
;
Image-Guided Biopsy
;
Prostate/pathology*
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
5.Research Progress of Vagal Nerve Regulation Mechanism in Acupuncture Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.
Lu-Lu CAO ; Hui-Rong LIU ; Ya-Jie JI ; Yin-Tao ZHANG ; Bing-Quan WANG ; Xiao-Hong XUE ; Pei WANG ; Zhi-Hui LUO ; Huan-Gan WU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):281-288
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. It has a high prevalence and poor prognosis. The application of antiarrhythmic drugs and even surgery cannot completely treat the disease, and there are many sequelae. AF can be classified into the category of "palpitation" in Chinese medicine according to its symptoms. Acupuncture has a significant effect on AF. The authors find that an important mechanism of acupuncture in AF treatment is to regulate the cardiac vagus nerve. Therefore, this article intends to review the distribution and function of vagus nerve in the heart, the application and the regulatroy effect for the treatment of AF.
Atrial Fibrillation/physiopathology*
;
Humans
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Vagus Nerve/physiology*
;
Animals
6.Preclinical models in the study of lymph node metastasis.
Liya WEI ; Zizhan LI ; Niannian ZHONG ; Leiming CAO ; Guangrui WANG ; Yao XIAO ; Bo CAI ; Bing LIU ; Linlin BU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(8):740-762
Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a crucial risk factor influencing an unfavorable prognosis in specific cancers. Fundamental research illuminates our understanding of tumor behavior and identifies valuable therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, the exploration of fundamental theories and the validation of clinical therapies hinge on preclinical experiments. Preclinical models, in this context, serve as the conduit connecting fundamental theories to clinical outcomes. In vivo models established in animals offer a valuable platform for comprehensively observing interactions between tumor cells and organisms. Using various experimental animals, including mice, diverse methods, such as carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis, tumor cell line or human tumor transplantation, genetic engineering, and humanization, have been used effectively to construct numerous models for tumor LNM. Carcinogen-induced models simulate the entire process of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Transplantation models, using human tumor cell lines or patient-derived tumors, offer a research platform closely mirroring the histology and clinical behavior of human tumors. Genetically engineered models have been used to delve into the mechanisms of primary tumorigenesis within an intact microenvironment. Humanized models are used to overcome barriers between human and murine immune systems. Beyond mouse models, various other animal models have unique advantages and limitations, all contributing to exploring LNM. This review summarizes existing in vitro and animal preclinical models, identifies current bottlenecks in preclinical research, and offers an outlook on forthcoming preclinical models.
Animals
;
Humans
;
Mice
;
Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Cell Line, Tumor
7.Clinical characteristics of congenital and acquired middle ear cholesteatoma in children.
Jianbo SHAO ; Min CHEN ; Jinsheng HAO ; Yang YANG ; Wei LIU ; Bing LIU ; Ning MA ; Xiao ZHANG ; Xiaoxu WANG ; Jie ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(2):133-136
Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical features and surgical efficacy of congenital cholesteatoma (CC) and acquired cholesteatoma (AC) in children. Methods:Clinical data of 169 children with middle ear cholesteatoma were reviewed in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to July 2020. The clinical characteristics, stages, surgical methods, and postoperative recurrence rates were analyzed and summarized. Results:The age distribution of enrolled children ranged from 2 to 14 years. The mean age of the CC group was (5.60±2.48) years compared with (6.45±2.48) years in the AC group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Preoperative hearing in the CC group was (40.06±13.52) dB HL, which was better than in the AC group at (48.40±13.84) dB HL (P<0.05). The proportion of stage Ⅰ in the CC group was lower than that in the AC group according to EAONO/JOS staging (P<0.05). The recurrence rate after primary surgery was 19.23% (10/52) in the CC group compared with 36.29% (45/124) in the AC group (P<0.05). The mastoid retention rates after all operations were 28.85% (15/52) in the CC group and 5.65% (7/124) in the AC group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with congenital cholesteatoma, acquired cholesteatoma in children is more aggressive and has more complications, higher postoperative recurrence rate, and less possibility of mastoid retention. Early clinical detection and treatment are required, and canal wall-down tympanoplasty should be considered in surgery.
Humans
;
Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/congenital*
;
Child
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child, Preschool
;
Adolescent
;
Male
;
Female
;
Recurrence
;
Cholesteatoma/congenital*
;
Tympanoplasty
;
Treatment Outcome
8.Structural equation analysis of the incidence of shoulder WMSDs and individual and work-related factors
Shuang ZHOU ; Zhongxu WANG ; Ruijie LING ; Qing XU ; Huadong ZHANG ; Yimin LIU ; Gang LI ; Yan YIN ; Hua SHAO ; Jue LI ; Hengdong ZHANG ; Bing QIU ; Dayu WANG ; Qiang ZENG ; Yan YE ; Bin XIAO ; Hua ZOU ; Jianchao CHEN ; Dongxia LI ; Yongquan LIU ; Jixiang LIU ; Enfei JIANG ; Jun QI ; Liangying MEI ; Xianfeng ZHAO ; Mimi YANG ; Ning JIA
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(2):91-100
Objective:To investigate the incidence of shoulder work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among occupational population in China, and to explore their intrinsic association with personal and work-related factors.Methods:In April 2024, 73497 valid questionnaires of the Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Electronic Questionnaire were retrospectively analyzed from June 2018 to December 2023 in 22 provinces and 29 key industries in China, and the general information, occurrence of WMSDs and related risk factors of key occupational populations in different regions in China were collected. By using Chi-square test and confirmatory factor analysis, the relationship between shoulder fatigue and pain in key occupational groups and individual factors, work type, work posture and work organization was discussed, and the internal relationship was analyzed based on structural equation model.Results:Higher incidence of shoulder fatigue and pain were associated with female, lack of physical exercise, uncomfortable working posture and neck leaning forward ( P<0.05). Structural equation model analysis showed that work type, work posture and work organization were strongly correlated ( r=0.58, 0.55). Work organization and work type were strongly correlated with shoulder fatigue ( r=0.65) and moderately correlated with shoulder fatigue ( r=0.21). Shoulder fatigue was moderately associated with shoulder pain ( r=0.40). Individual factors, work type, work posture and shoulder fatigue could directly affect shoulder pain ( OR=0.07, -0.09, 0.17 and 0.40), and work type and work posture could also indirectly affect shoulder pain through shoulder fatigue ( OR=0.08, 0.03). Work organization only indirectly affected shoulder pain through shoulder fatigue ( OR=0.26) . Conclusion:The main influencing factor of shoulder pain is shoulder fatigue, followed by work posture and individual factors. Structural equation model can better reflect the complex relationship between work type, work posture and work organization and shoulder WMSDs. Improving work posture and work organization may be an effective way to control the influence of shoulder fatigue on shoulder pain.
9.Structural equation analysis and modeling of fect and ankles WMSDs and its adverse ergonomic factors
Xi ZHANG ; Ning JIA ; Xin SUN ; Meibian ZHANG ; Qing XU ; Huadong ZHANG ; Ruijie LING ; Yimin LIU ; Gang LI ; Yan YIN ; Hua SHAO ; Hengdong ZHANG ; Yanmin QI ; Bing QIU ; Tiebing LIU ; Dayu WANG ; Qiang ZENG ; Yan YE ; Bin XIAO ; Hua ZOU ; Jianchao CHEN ; Dongxia LI ; Yongquan LIU ; Jixiang LIU ; Enfei JIANG ; Jun QI ; Liangying MEI ; Tianlai LI ; Mimi YANG ; Xinwei GUO ; Zhongxu WANG
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(2):101-109
Objective:To explore the structural equation model to explore the levels of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and various risk factors in the feet and ankle of China's occupational population, providing scientific basis for for preventing WMSDs in feet and ankles.Methods:Data of 73497 national occupational epidemiological cases were selected from June 2018 to December 2023 used the Chinese version of the Electronic Questionnaire on Musculoskeletal Disorders. The adverse ergonomic factors and their source classification standard and confirmatory factor analysis were used to investigate foot and ankle WMSDs and their related risk factors (including individual factors, work organization, work posture, work type, fatigue, etc.) in key occupational groups in China, and structural equation model hypothesis, fitting, verification, and path and intermediary effect analysis were carried out. The model fit evaluation indexes included Chi-square specific degrees of freedom ( χ2/ df), gauge fit index (NFI), Tucker Lewis index (TLI), goodness of Fit index (GFI), adjusted Goodness of Fit index (AGFI) and approximate root mean square error (RMSEA) . Results:A total of 73497 occupational workers were surveyed, with local muscle fatigue and WMSDs incidence rates in the feet and ankles being 17.17% and 12.06%, respectively. The fitting index of the adjusted structural equation model basically meets the standard (GFI=1, AGFI=1, RMESA=0.042, NFI=0.716, TLI=0.663). The top three factors affecting feet and ankle WMSDs are feet and ankle muscle fatigue, work type, and work organization, with standardized path coefficients of 0.221, 0.105, and 0.095, respectively. The top two factors affecting feet and ankle muscle fatigue are work organization and work type, with standardized path coefficients of 0.548 and 0.383, respectively. Feet and ankle muscle fatigue, work type, work organization, and work posture have a direct effect on feet and ankle WMSDs, with effect values of 0.221, 0.105, 0.095, and 0.077, respectively. The organization and type of work can also have indirect effects through feet and ankle muscle fatigue, with effect values of 0.121 and 0.084, respectively.Conclusion:Feet and ankle muscle fatigue has a direct impact on WMSDs, and plays a mediating role between ankle and ankle WMSDs caused by work organization and work type. Feet and ankle muscle fatigue is an important pathway leading to feet and ankle WMSDs. It is recommended that employers and managers detect job fatigue early and take corresponding prevention and intervention measures, which can play a key role in preventing feet and ankle WMSDs.
10.Structural equation analysis and modeling of upper limb WMSDs and their adverse ergonomic factors
Siwu ZHONG ; Ning JIA ; Xin SUN ; Meibian ZHANG ; Qing XU ; Huadong ZHANG ; Ruijie LING ; Yimin LIU ; Gang LI ; Yan YIN ; Hua SHAO ; Jue LI ; Hengdong ZHANG ; Bing QIU ; Dayu WANG ; Qiang ZENG ; Rugang WANG ; Yan YE ; Bin XIAO ; Hua ZOU ; Jianchao CHEN ; Dongxia LI ; Yongquan LIU ; Qinghua SHI ; Jixiang LIU ; Enfei JIANG ; Jun QI ; Liangying MEI ; Xianfeng ZHAO ; Mimi YANG ; Xinwei GUO ; Zhi WANG ; Zhongxu WANG
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(4):254-263
Objective:To explore the structural relationship between WMSDs in the upper limbs and various risk factors in the occupational population in China, based on a large sample epidemiological survey and structural equation analysis, and to establish a structural equation model, so as to lay a foundation for the prevention and control of such diseases.Methods:The Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Electronic Questionnaire was used to conduct a nationwide survey on the prevalence of WMSDs in the upper extremity. Six factors related to WMSDs in the upper extremity were extracted by the classification standard of adverse ergonomic factors and their source and confirmatory factor analysis, including work organization, work type, upper extremity work posture, individual factors, upper extremity fatigue and upper extremity WMSDs. The structural equation analysis was carried out and the structural equation model was established.Results:The incidence of WMSDs and fatigue in the upper limbs was 24.44% and 43.76%, respectively. The adjusted structural equation model fitting indicators were generally up to the standard (GFI=1.000, AGFI=1.000, RMSEA=0.043, NFI=0.808, TLI=0.784) . The four exogenous latent variables of work organization, work type, upper limb work posture and individual factors were correlated. There was a strong positive correlation between job type and upper limb work posture ( r=0.865) , a moderate positive correlation between work organization and job type and upper limb work posture ( r=0.570, 0.490) , and a weak negative correlation between individual factors and the other three exogenous latent variables. Upper limb work posture and individual factors had direct effects on upper limb WMSDs, and the effect coefficients were 0.10 and 0.06, respectively. Upper limb fatigue played a mediating role between work organization, work type, upper limb work posture and upper limb WMSDs. The effect coefficient was 0.46, and the composition ratios of indirect effects were 100.0%, 100.0%, and 38.3%, respectively. The direct path effect of upper limb work posture, individual factors and upper limb WMSDs was weaker than the mediating path through upper limb fatigue. Conclusion:When carrying out the prevention and control of upper limbWMSDs, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the pathogenesis path of upper limb muscle fatigue and upper limb WMSDs caused by work organization, work type, and upper limb work posture, so as to provide theoretical reference for improving the prevention and control level of such diseases.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail