1.Development of A Prognostic Prediction Model for Primary Membranous Nephropathy in the Elderly Based on Machine Learning
Yuzhu XU ; Shuqin LIU ; Dingding WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Xin WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(2):370-381
Elderly patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) exhibit significant prognostic heterogeneity and poor tolerance to immunotherapy. However, there is a lack of early prognostic prediction tools specifically for this population. This study aimed to develop a prognostic prediction model applicable to elderly PMN patients. This study retrospectively included elderly patients with PMN confirmed by renal biopsy. The primary endpoint was a adverse composite outcome including end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), or all-cause death. Patients were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort at a ratio of 7∶3. Key prognostic features were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression combined with random survival forest, and a predictive model was constructed based on penalized Cox regression. Model performance was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. The SurvSHAP (t) method was employed for interpretability analysis of the model. A total of 309 elderly patients with PMN were included in this study, with a median age of 65.00 years (IQR, 62.00-68.00) and a male predominance 61.2%(189/309).During a median follow-up of 47.00 months (IQR, 25.00-89.00), 38.2%(118/309) reached the endpoint event. The final model included nine key features, including eGFR, total protein (TP), glomerular capsular adhesion, urine glucose, segmental glomerulosclerosis proportion, fibrinogen, urea, age, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). In the validation cohort, the model demonstrated good discrimination, with a C-index of 0.731(95% CI: 0.652-0.797). The time-dependent AUROCs for predicting adverse outcomes at 3, 5, and 10 years were 0.758(95% CI: 0.614-0.901), 0.781(95% CI: 0.646-0.916), and 0.866(95% CI: 0.740-0.993), respectively. Calibration curves demonstrated a high degree of concordance between predicted probabilities and actual event rates. Decision curve analysis confirmed the net clinical benefit of the model.SurvSHAP (t) analysis showed that eGFR, TP, glomerular capsular adhesion, urine glucose, and the proportion of segmental glomerular sclerosis were the top five variables contributing to the model. This prognostic model effectively predicts the risk of adverse outcomes in elderly patients with PMN in the internal validation cohort, offering a potential scientific basis for individualized risk stratification and treatment decision-making in this population.
2.Eculizumab for Refractory Immune Complex-Mediated Glomerulonephritis Following Acute Hepatitis B Infection: A Case Report
Jinyuan LIU ; Dan WANG ; Shuqin LIU ; Wenfang CHEN ; Wei CHEN ; Xin WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(2):389-395
Infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN) is an immune-mediated glomerular injury triggered by infectious agents. This article reports a case of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis following acute hepatitis B virus infection, which continued to progress despite standard antiviral and immunosuppressive therapy. Given the significant elevation of soluble complement membrane attack complex (sC5b-9), an indicator of terminal complement pathway activation, the patient was treated with eculizumab. Following treatment, the patient's urine protein-to-creatinine ratio significantly decreased, hypoalbuminemia and hematuria markedly improved, and sC5b-9 levels declined. This case suggests that abnormal complement system activation may be a key mechanism driving disease persistence in some patients with IRGN. For those unresponsive to conventional therapy, complement function screening and targeted terminal complement pathway inhibition may represent an effective salvage strategy.
3.A Systematic Strategy for Discovering First-in-class Anti-fibrotic Drugs from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Wen HUANG ; Guang XIN ; Sanyin ZHANG ; Tao WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Zeliang WEI ; Qilong ZHOU ; Ke LI ; Dan SUN ; Kui YU ; Shilin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):296-307
Pulmonary fibrosis(PF) is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge, the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation(FIRST), a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The strategy integrates three key dimensions, including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds, structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways, and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM, the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics, as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class, formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures, clarified mechanisms, and proven safety, offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.
4.A Systematic Strategy for Discovering First-in-class Anti-fibrotic Drugs from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Wen HUANG ; Guang XIN ; Sanyin ZHANG ; Tao WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Zeliang WEI ; Qilong ZHOU ; Ke LI ; Dan SUN ; Kui YU ; Shilin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):296-307
Pulmonary fibrosis(PF) is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge, the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation(FIRST), a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The strategy integrates three key dimensions, including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds, structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways, and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM, the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics, as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class, formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures, clarified mechanisms, and proven safety, offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.
5.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.
6.Standards for the Application of Hemodynamic Monitoring Technology in Critical Care
Hua ZHAO ; Hongmin ZHANG ; Xin DING ; Huan CHEN ; Jun DUAN ; Wei DU ; Bo TANG ; Yuankai ZHOU ; Dongkai LI ; Xinchen WANG ; Cui WANG ; Gaosheng ZHOU ; Xiaoting WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):73-85
With the rapid advancement of hemodynamic indices and monitoring technologies, their classification methods and application processes have become increasingly complex. Currently, no unified standard hasbeen established, making it difficult to fully meet the clinical requirements for hemodynamic management. To assist in hemodynamic monitoring assessment and therapeutic decision-making in critically ill patients, the Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collaborative Group, in conjunction with the Critical Ultrasound Study Group, has jointly developed the Standard for the Application of Hemodynamic Monitoring Techniques in Critical Care. The first part of this standard systematically categorizes hemodynamic indicators into flow indicators, pressure and its derivative indicators, and tissue perfusion indicators, while elaborating on the clinical application of each. The second part establishes a standardized clinical implementation pathway for hemodynamic monitoring. It proposes a tiered monitoring strategy-comprising basic, advanced, indication-specific, and special scenario monitoring-tailored to different clinical settings. It emphasizes the central role of critical care ultrasound across all levels of monitoring and establishes hemodynamic assessment standards for organs such as the brain, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. This standard aims to provide a unified framework for clinical practice, teaching, training, and research in critical care medicine, thereby promoting standardized development within the discipline.
7.Analysis of undernutrition and associated factors among left behind and nonleftbehind primary and secondary school students in the Nutrition Improvement Program areas in central and western China
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):327-331
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among left behind and non left behind primary and secondary school students in the Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students (NIPRCES) areas of central and western China, so as to provide evidence for improving the nutritional status of children and adolescents.
Methods:
A survey was conducted among 123 782 students selected by random cluster sampling method in grades 3-9 from NIPRCES in central (Hebei, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, and Hainan) and western (Gansu, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xinjiang, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Chongqing) China in 2023. Anthropometric measurements and questionnaires were used to assess nutritional and dietary status. The prevalence of undernutrition was compared between left behind and non left behind students by Chi square test, and associated factors were analyzed by three level Logistic mixed effects model.
Results:
The prevalence of undernutrition was 8.5% (4 326) in left behind students and 8.1% (5 905) in non left behind students. Three level Logistic mixed effect model analysis showed that whether left behind or non left behind, the undernutrition rates of primary and secondary students in western regions were higher than those of students in central regions [ OR (95% CI )=1.72(1.57-1.87),2.25(2.07- 2.43 )]; the undernutrition risk was lower for those whose fathers had a cultural level of high school or above [ OR (95% CI )=0.69(0.62-0.77),0.90(0.82-0.98)] or junior high school [ OR (95% CI )=0.72(0.66-0.79),0.92(0.85-0.99)] compared to those with primary school or below; picky eating or selective eating increased the risk of undernutrition [ OR (95% CI )=2.36(2.07-2.68),2.28(2.04-2.55)], and primary and secondary school students without nutritional content in health education classes had higher rates of undernutrition [ OR (95% CI )=1.12(1.03-1.23),1.09(1.01-1.17)](all P <0.05).
Conclusion
The prevalence of undernutrition is slightly higher in left behind primary and secondary students than in non left behind primary and secondary students in central and western NIPRCES areas, with variations across different characteristics.
8.The expression and mechanistic study of Y‑box binding protein‑1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Yi ZHANG ; Xiao YU ; Wei SHAO ; Xin CHEN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):524-532
ObjectiveTo analyze the expression level and clinical significance of Y‑box binding protein‑1(YB1) in tissues and cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MethodsBioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemistry, Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of YB1 in OSCC tissues, and the prognosis and survival analysis were performed. The effects of YB1 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cells were evaluated by CCK-8, scratch assay and Transwell assay, and the expression changes of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers after YB1 knockdown were detected by Western blot. ResultsBioinformation analysis showed that the expression level of YB1 in OSCC samples was higher than that in normal samples (P0.001), and its expression was correlated with gender (P=0.022) and tumor differentiation degree (P0.001). Kaplan-Meier plotter survival analysis showed that the survival rate of YB1 was low (Log-rank P=0.012). Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and qRT-PCR experiments verified that the expression level of YB1 in OSCC tissues was higher than that of normal tissues. The results of cell experiments showed that knockdown of YB1 inhibited the malignant biological behaviors such as proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cells. Western blot results showed that the knockdown of YB1 could reduce the protein expression levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT, and inhibit EMT. ConclusionYB1 is highly expressed in tissues and cells in OSCC, and reveals the important role of the YB1/PI3K/AKT axis in the process of EMT of OSCC, which is expected to become a new tumor marker for early diagnosis and treatment and prognosis evaluation of OSCC.
9.Consensus on Hemodynamic Management in Adult Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (2026 Edition)
Wei CHENG ; Shuhan CAI ; Ying ZHU ; Zhongran CEN ; Hua ZHAO ; Huan CHEN ; Yangong CHAO ; Xiaoting WANG ; Xin DING
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):784-797
Despite significant advances in the field of critical care medicine over the past three decades, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) remains the primary temporary mechanical circulatory support modality for patients with acute severe circulatory failure. With the accumulation of clinical experience and the increasing maturity of operational techniques in V-A ECMO, its technical management—particularly hemodynamic management—has become a key factor influencing patient outcomes. To further improve patient survival, the Chinese Critical Care Ultrasound Study Group, in collaboration with the Hemodynamic Therapy of Critical Care Collaborative Group and the Critical Care Medicine Branch of the China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, organized experts in critical care medicine to develop the
10.Combination of effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and bone tissue engineering materials for bone repair
Yaokun WU ; Chenglin LIU ; Jiahao FU ; Wei SONG ; Hao CHEN ; Hongzhong XI ; Xin LIU ; Bin DU ; Guangquan SUN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(10):2141-2150
BACKGROUND:How to repair bone defect has been a clinical problem for a long time.The effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine have good biological activity and therapeutic effect,and the combination of effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and tissue engineering materials has a broad prospect in the field of bone repair.The combination of different effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and scaffolds has similarities in their functional relationships. OBJECTIVE:To collect the cases of the combinations of effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and scaffolds,then analogize tissue engineering scaffolds and effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine into two types of traditional Chinese medicine that generate compatibility relationships based on the inspiration of the compatibility of seven emotions and summarize the relationship between the two based on their functional relationships. METHODS:Relevant articles from January 1998 to January 2024 were searched in PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),using English search terms"traditional Chinese medicine,Chinese medicine,traditional Chinese medicine monomers,bone defect,bone repair,bone tissue engineering,tissue engineering,scaffold"and Chinese search terms"traditional Chinese medicine,effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine,traditional Chinese medicine monomers,bone tissue engineering,bone tissue engineering scaffold,scaffold,tissue engineering,bone defect,bone repair."A total of 88 articles were included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Both tissue engineering scaffold materials and active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine have been widely used in the field of bone repair.Although they have obvious advantages in osteogenesis,there are still many shortcomings.Many studies are dedicated to preparing composite materials from the two,hoping to exert a detoxification and synergism through the interaction between the two.(2)Some drugs and materials can promote each other in osteogenesis,antibacterial,and promoting angiogenesis,enhancing their original effects.Inspired by the traditional concept of prescription compatibility,this article summarized it as a"Mutual promotion"relationship and provided examples to support it.(3)Some drugs can enhance the strength of materials,while some materials can achieve sustained release and controlled release effects,increase drug loading and stability,or achieve targeted delivery of drugs loaded on them.The article summarized this unilateral enhancement effect as a"Mutual assistance"relationship.(4)The combination of some traditional Chinese medicine and materials can reduce the toxic side effects of the other party.The article summarizes this detoxification relationship as"Mutual restraint and detoxification."(5)The article provided a new perspective on traditional Chinese medicine composite scaffolds,inspired by the seven emotions compatibility relationship and based on the classification of action relationships.It introduced traditional Chinese medicine concepts into the field of tissue engineering,providing new research ideas for subsequent researchers of composite scaffolds,and providing certain convenience in material selection and matching.


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