1.Research progress on the association between food environment and obesity
JIA Menghan ; CHEN Pei ; LI Xin ; SUN Ling
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):43-47
Obesity is a multi-factorial disease involving genetics, individual behavior, socio-economic status, and environmental factors, and has become a global public health issue. The food environment, as an external factor amenable to direct intervention, affects the development of obesity by shaping individual food acquisition and consumption behaviors. The food environment refers to the physical and social environment where food is accessible, and can be assessed from dimensions such as availability, accessibility, and affordability through geographic information system spatial analysis, field surveys, commercial databases, and questionnaires. Studies indicate that the food environment can influence obesity through the spatial shaping effects of dietary structure and sociobehavioral pathways. A healthy food environment is negatively correlated with the risk of obesity, whereas an unhealthy food environment is positively correlated with the risk of obesity. This paper reviews studies related to the correlation between the food environment and obesity, covering the prevalence of obesity, the definition and assessment methods of the food environment, and the mechanisms by which the food environment affects obesity. It summarizes food environment intervention strategies centered on urban planning, policies and regulations, and community education to provide a reference for obesity prevention and control.
2.Correlation of the interaction between uric acid and inflammatory factors and hyperuricemia in overweight/obese patients
Zengyun YUAN ; Yuan LIU ; Xin LIU ; Guangquan LI ; Pei ZHONG ; Yuanting YING ; Xuezhi YANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):171-174
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the interaction of uric acid and inflammatory factors and hyperuricemia in overweight/obese patients. Methods The personnel with hyperuricemia who underwent physical examination in our hospital from September 2021 to September 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and they were divided into 100 cases of overweight group and 90 cases of obese group according to the BMI index; 120 cases of healthy and non-hyperuricemic personnel were randomly selected as the control group; venous blood of the three groups was collected in 5 mL after 8 h of fasting, and were tested respectively for serum uric acid, lipid indexes and inflammatory factors: IL-6, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10. Results Glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL were significantly higher in the obese group versus the overweight group (P<0.001), while HDL was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.001), and these changes were more pronounced in the obese group (P<0.001).The Pearson correlation coefficient pointed out that the levels of serum uric acid in patients with hyperuricosuric acid were significantly associated with the pro-inflammatory factors IL- 6, IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were significantly positively correlated (P<0.001), whereas they were significantly negatively correlated with the anti-inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10 (P<0.001). Conclusion High uric acid levels in overweight/obese patients can cause enhanced inflammatory responses and reduced expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors, and the interaction between uric acid and pro-inflammatory factors aggravates the condition of patients with hyperuricemia.
3.Strategies of HIV-1 Vaccines Based on mRNA Platforms
Pei LIU ; Zhong-Yue FANG ; Xin-Xin CHEN ; Shao-Wei LI ; Ying GU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):826-839
Since its emergence in the 1980s, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has caused a global pandemic, posing a severe threat to human life and health as well as social development. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively curbs HIV transmission and antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly extends the lifespan of patients, vaccines remain a pivotal tool for blocking transmission and ending the pandemic. The high genetic variability of HIV-1, the glycan shield of its envelope glycoproteins, and the long-term persistence of latent reservoirs have repeatedly led to bottlenecks in traditional vaccine strategies. In recent years, mRNA technology has offered a novel approach to addressing these challenges, leveraging advantages such as sequence programmability, short production cycles, native conformational expression of antigens, and self-adjuvant effects. In recent years, mRNA vaccine technology has emerged as a transformative solution to longstanding vaccinology challenges, characterized by its sequence programmability, rapid production cycles, native conformational antigen expression, and intrinsic self-adjuvanting properties. Unlike traditional platforms reliant on pathogen culture or recombinant proteins, mRNA vaccines can be expeditiously designed and updated based solely on viral genomic sequences. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA facilitates endogenous antigen expression and presentation, simultaneously eliciting potent humoral and cellular immune responses. Within this landscape, self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) further extends in vivo antigen expression to enhance the persistence of immune responses. Moreover, the LNP delivery system not only protects mRNA from degradation and mediates endosomal escape but also synergizes with mRNA to optimize immune activation via self-adjuvant effects. Importantly, mRNA platforms circumvent the pre-existing immunity associated with viral vectors and the genomic integration risks of DNA vaccines, positioning them as a cornerstone for global pandemic preparedness. This review systematically delineates recent advances in mRNA technology for HIV-1 vaccine development, focusing on four pivotal research frontiers. First, mRNA innovations building upon the RV144 trial optimize antigens through codon modification and multivalent designs to induce more durable and broad-spectrum immunity. Second, particulate mRNA vaccine strategies, utilizing virus-like particles (VLPs) and ferritin nanoparticles, achieve in situ antigen self-assembly, significantly enhancing B cell activation and reducing infection risks in non-human primate models. Third, germline-targeting mRNA vaccines address the low-affinity barrier of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAp) precursors, efficiently activating rare precursor B cells and promoting affinity maturation. Fourth, therapeutic mRNA vaccines offer unique advantages for an HIV functional cure; combining immunogens with mRNA-encoded adjuvants potentiates cellular immunity, while LNP-mediated “shock-and-kill” strategies specifically activate latent reservoirs to guide immune clearance. Comparative analyses with traditional platforms reveal that mRNA technology redefines antigen production and presentation, simulating chronic infection through sustained expression and enabling dual-pathway presentation via endogenous synthesis. Furthermore, we explore the mechanistic innovations of mRNA vaccines in inducing bNAps: sustained in vivo production prolongs the activation window for precursor B cells and maintains germinal center (GC) reactions; endogenously expressed antigens adopt native conformations to expose conserved epitopes; and self-adjuvanting effects modulate the functions of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and follicular helper T cells (Tfh), driving somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. We also address critical clinical translation challenges, including immune durability, adaptability to special populations, and large-scale LNP manufacturing, while proposing targeted optimization strategies. In conclusion, this review establishes a theoretical framework for utilizing mRNA technology to overcome HIV-1 immune escape, transitioning from a descriptive paradigm to a problem-solving-based synthesis of evidence. By integrating preclinical and early clinical data, we bridge the gap between basic design and translational verification. mRNA technology is poised to become a central pillar inHIV-1 prevention and therapy, providing a robust toolset to achieve the global goal of ending the AIDS pandemic and offering a blueprint for vaccine development against other recalcitrant infectious diseases.
4.Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer
Pei-Yang LI ; Feng-Qi LI ; Xiao-Jun HOU ; Xue-Ren LI ; Xin MU ; Hui-Min LIU ; Shou-Chun PENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):1998-2017
Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor worldwide, ranking first in both incidence and mortality rates. According to the latest statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), approximately 2.5 million new cases and around 1.8 million deaths from lung cancer occurred in 2022, placing a tremendous burden on global healthcare systems. The high mortality rate of lung cancer is closely linked to its subtle early symptoms, which often lead to diagnosis at advanced stages. This not only complicates treatment but also results in substantial economic losses. Current treatment options for lung cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Among these, immunotherapy has emerged as the most groundbreaking advancement in recent years, owing to its unique antitumor mechanisms and impressive clinical benefits. Unlike traditional therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy activates or enhances the patient’s immune system to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. It offers advantages such as more durable therapeutic effects and relatively fewer toxic side effects. The main approaches to lung cancer immunotherapy include immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor-specific antigen-targeted therapies, adoptive cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic virus therapies. Among these, immune checkpoint inhibitors and tumor-specific antigen-targeted therapies have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use in lung cancer, significantly improving outcomes for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Although other immunotherapy strategies are still in clinical trials, they show great potential in improving treatment precision and efficacy. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress in lung cancer immunotherapy, including the development of novel immune checkpoint molecules, optimization of treatment strategies, identification of predictive biomarkers, and findings from recent clinical trials. It also discusses the current challenges in the field and outlines future directions, such as the development of next-generation immunotherapeutic agents, exploration of more effective combination regimens, and the establishment of precise efficacy prediction systems. The aim is to provide a valuable reference for the continued advancement of lung cancer immunotherapy.
5.Efficacy and dose-response relationships of antidepressants in the acute treatment of major depressive disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Shuzhe ZHOU ; Pei LI ; Xiaozhen LYU ; Xuefeng LAI ; Zuoxiang LIU ; Junwen ZHOU ; Fengqi LIU ; Yiming TAO ; Meng ZHANG ; Xin YU ; Jingwei TIAN ; Feng SUN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(12):1433-1438
BACKGROUND:
The optimal antidepressant dosages remain controversial. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of antidepressants and characterize their dose-response relationships in the treatments of major depressive disorders (MDD).
METHODS:
We searched multiple databases, including the Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Web of Science, for the studies that were conducted between January 8, 2016, and April 30, 2023. The studies are double-blinded, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving the adults (≥18 years) with MDD. The primary outcomes were efficacy of antidepressant and the dose-response relationships. A frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted, treating participants with various dosages of the same antidepressant as a single therapy. We also implemented the model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) using a Bayesian method to explore the dose-response relationships.
RESULTS:
The network meta-analysis comprised 135,180 participants from 602 studies. All the antidepressants were more effective than the placebo; toludesvenlafaxine had the highest odds ratio (OR) of 4.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.65-7.72), and reboxetine had the lowest OR of 1.34 (95%CI: 1.14-1.57). Moreover, amitriptyline, clomipramine, and reboxetine showed a linear increase in effect size from low to high doses. The effect size of toludesvenlafaxine increased significantly up to 80 mg/day and subsequently maintained the maximal dose up to 160 mg/day while the predictive curves of nefazodone were fairly flat in different dosages.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although most antidepressants were more efficacious than placebo in treating MDD, no consistent dose-response relationship between any antidepressants was observed. For most antidepressants, the maximum efficacy was achieved at lower or middle prescribed doses, rather than at the upper limit.
REGISTRATION
No. CRD42023427480; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?
Humans
;
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy*
;
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
6.Research of injury mapping relationship of lumbar spine in reclined occupants between anthropomorphic test devices and human body model.
Yu LIU ; Jing FEI ; Xin-Ming WAN ; Pei-Feng WANG ; Zhen LI ; Xiao-Ting YANG ; Lin-Wei ZHANG ; Zhong-Hao BAI
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(2):130-137
PURPOSE:
To judge the injury mode and injury severity of the real human body through the measured values of anthropomorphic test devices (ATD) injury indices, the mapping relationship of lumbar injury between ATD and human body model (HBM) was explored.
METHODS:
Through the ATD model and HBM simulation, the mapping relationship of lumbar injury between the 2 subjects was explored. The sled environment consisted of a semi-rigid seat with an adjustable seatback angle and a 3-point seat belt system with a seatback-mounted D-ring. Three seatback recline states of 25°, 45°, and 65° were designed, and the seat pan angle was maintained at 15°. A 23 g, 47 km/h pulse was used. The validity of the finite element model of the sled was verified by the comparison of ATD simulation and test results. ATD model was the test device for human occupant restraint for autonomous vehicles (THOR-AV) dummy model and HBM was the total human model for safety (THUMS) v6.1. The posture of the 2 models was adjusted to adapt to the 3 seat states. The lumbar response of THOR-AV and the mechanical and biomechanical data on L1 - L5 vertebrae of THUMS were output, and the response relationship between THOR-AV and THUMS was descriptive statistically analyzed.
RESULTS:
Both THOR-AV and THUMS were submarined in the 65° seatback angle case. With the change of seatback angle, the lumbar spine axial compression force (Fz) of THOR-AV and THUMS changed in the similar trend. The maximum Fz ratio of THOR-AV to THUMS at 25° and 45° seatback angle cases were 1.6 and 1.7. The flexion moment (My) and the time when the maximum My occurred in the 2 subjects were very different. In particular, the form of moment experienced by the L1 - L5 vertebrae of THUMS also changed. The changing trend of My measured by THOR-AV over time can reflect the changing trend of maximum stress of L1 and L2 of THUMS.
CONCLUSION
The Fz of ATD and HBM presents a certain proportional relationship, and there is a mapping relationship between the 2 subjects on Fz. The mapping function can be further clarified by applying more pulses and adopting more seatback angles. It is difficult to map My directly because they are very different in ATD and HBM. The My of ATD and stress of HBM lumbar showed a similar change trend over time, and there may be a hidden mapping relationship.
Humans
;
Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries*
;
Finite Element Analysis
;
Biomechanical Phenomena
;
Manikins
;
Spinal Injuries/physiopathology*
7.Thiotepa-containing conditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with inborn errors of immunity: a retrospective clinical analysis.
Xiao-Jun WU ; Xia-Wei HAN ; Kai-Mei WANG ; Shao-Fen LIN ; Li-Ping QUE ; Xin-Yu LI ; Dian-Dian LIU ; Jian-Pei FANG ; Ke HUANG ; Hong-Gui XU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1240-1246
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thiotepa (TT)-containing conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with inborn errors of immunity (IEI).
METHODS:
Clinical data of 22 children with IEI who underwent HSCT were retrospectively reviewed. Survival after HSCT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
RESULTS:
Nine patients received a traditional conditioning regimen (fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide/etoposide) and underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Thirteen patients received a TT-containing modified conditioning regimen (TT + fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide), including seven PBSCT and six umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) cases. Successful engraftment with complete donor chimerism was achieved in all patients. Acute graft-versus-host disease occurred in 12 patients (one with grade III and the remaining with grade I-II). Chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in one patient. The incidence of EB viremia in UCBT patients was lower than that in PBSCT patients (P<0.05). Over a median follow-up of 36.0 months, one death occurred. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 100% for the modified regimen and 88.9% ± 10.5% for the traditional regimen (P=0.229). When comparing transplantation types, the 3-year OS rates were 100% for UCBT and 93.8% ± 6.1% for PBSCT (P>0.05), and the 3-year event-free survival rates were 100% and 87.1% ± 8.6%, respectively (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
TT-containing conditioning for allogeneic HSCT in children with IEI is safe and effective. Both UCBT and PBSCT may achieve high success rates.
Humans
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Transplantation Conditioning/methods*
;
Thiotepa/therapeutic use*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
;
Child
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Graft vs Host Disease
;
Adolescent
8.Curative Efficacy Analysis of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia with ASXL1 Mutation.
Ya-Jie SHI ; Xin-Sheng XIE ; Zhong-Xing JIANG ; Ding-Ming WAN ; Rong GUO ; Tao LI ; Xia ZHANG ; Xue LI ; Yu-Pei ZHANG ; Yue SU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(3):720-725
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the efficacy and apoptosis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with ASXL1 mutation.
METHODS:
The clinical data of 80 AML patients with ASXL1 mutation treated in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics of the patients were summarized, and the therapeutic effect and prognostic factors of allo-HSCT for the patients were analyzed.
RESULTS:
Among the 80 patients, 38 were males and 42 were females, and the median age was 39(14-65) years. There were 17 patients in low-risk group, 25 patients in medium-risk group and 38 patients in high-risk group. ASXL1 mutation co-occurred with many other gene mutations, and the frequent mutated genes were TET2 (71.25%), NRAS (18.75%), DNMT3A (16.25%), NPM1 (15.00%), CEBPA (13.75%). Among medium and high-risk patients, 29 underwent allo-HSCT, while 34 received chemotherapy. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate and disease-free survival (DFS) rate of the allo-HSCT group were 72.4% and 70.2%, while those of the chemotherapy group were 44.1% and 34.0%, respectively. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between the two groups (both P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that age at transplantation >50- years and occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease after transplantation were poor prognostic factors for OS and DFS in transplantation patients.
CONCLUSION
Allo-HSCT can improve the prognosis of AML patients with ASXL1 mutation.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Female
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Mutation
;
Adult
;
Repressor Proteins/genetics*
;
Adolescent
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Aged
;
Nucleophosmin
;
Young Adult
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Prognosis
;
Survival Rate
9.Association of short-term air pollution with risk of major adverse cardiovascular event mortality and modification effects of lifestyle in Chinese adults.
Wendi XIAO ; Xin YAO ; Yinqi DING ; Junpei TAO ; Canqing YU ; Dianjianyi SUN ; Pei PEI ; Ling YANG ; Yiping CHEN ; Huaidong DU ; Dan SCHMIDT ; Yaoming ZHAI ; Junshi CHEN ; Zhengming CHEN ; Jun LV ; Liqiang ZHANG ; Tao HUANG ; Liming LI
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():38-38
BACKGROUND:
Previous evidence showed that ambient air pollution and cardiovascular mortality are related. However, there is a lack of evidence towards the modification effect of long-term lifestyle on the association between short-term ambient air pollution and death from cardiovascular events.
METHOD:
A total of 14,609 death from major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were identified among the China Kadoorie Biobank participants from 2013 to 2018. Ambient air pollution exposure including particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 from the same period were obtained from space-time model reconstructions based on remote sensing data. Case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression was applied to estimate the effect of short-term exposure to air pollutants on MACE mortality.
RESULTS:
We found MACE mortality was significantly associated with PM2.5 (relative percent increase 2.91% per 10 µg/m3 increase, 95% CI 1.32-4.53), NO2 (5.37% per 10 µg/m3 increase, 95% CI 1.56-9.33), SO2 (6.82% per 10 µg/m3 increase, 95% CI 2.99-10.80), and CO (2.24% per 0.1 mg/m3 increase, 95% CI 1.02-3.48). Stratified analyses indicated that drinking was associated with elevated risk of MACE mortality with NO2 and SO2 exposure; physical inactivity was associated with higher risk of death from MACE when exposed to PM2.5; and people who had balanced diet had lower risk of MACE mortality when exposed to CO and NO2.
CONCLUSIONS
The study results showed that short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO would aggravate the risk of cardiovascular mortality, yet healthy lifestyle conduct might mitigate such negative impact to some extent.
Humans
;
Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Air Pollution/adverse effects*
;
Middle Aged
;
Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Particulate Matter/analysis*
;
Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*
;
Life Style
;
Aged
;
Adult
;
Risk Factors
;
Cross-Over Studies
;
East Asian People
10.Hippocampal Extracellular Matrix Protein Laminin β1 Regulates Neuropathic Pain and Pain-Related Cognitive Impairment.
Ying-Chun LI ; Pei-Yang LIU ; Hai-Tao LI ; Shuai WANG ; Yun-Xin SHI ; Zhen-Zhen LI ; Wen-Guang CHU ; Xia LI ; Wan-Neng LIU ; Xing-Xing ZHENG ; Fei WANG ; Wen-Juan HAN ; Jie ZHANG ; Sheng-Xi WU ; Rou-Gang XIE ; Ceng LUO
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(12):2127-2147
Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca2+ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals
;
Laminin/genetics*
;
Hippocampus/metabolism*
;
Neuralgia/metabolism*
;
Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology*
;
Male
;
Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism*
;
Extracellular Matrix/metabolism*
;
Integrin beta1/metabolism*
;
Pyramidal Cells/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction


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