1.Differential Improvement in Memory and Executive Functions:Personalized Exercise versus Acupuncture for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Stroke-prone Individuals
Yaoyao XING ; Haoran HU ; Qingping MA ; Jianjun YANG ; Xin WANG
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2026;24(1):67-83
Objective:
This study compared the effects of personalized exercise versus acupuncture on multidimensional cognitive function in individuals at high risk for stroke with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial enrolled 200 stroke-risk adults aged 50−80 years. Ninety participants diagnosed with MCI (MMSE, HIS, CDR criteria) were randomly assigned to exercise (n = 30), acupuncture (n = 30), or control (n = 30) groups. Interventions lasted 6 months. Cognitive outcomes (MMSE, Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Animal Fluency, Rey-Osterrieth test, Stroop test) were assessed before and after intervention. Multivariate regression identified risk factors for MCI. ANOVA was used for group comparisons.
Results:
Hypertension (aOR = 1.5) and diabetes (aOR = 1.3) were significant risk factors for MCI. After intervention, the exercise group showed the largest MMSE improvement (Δ = 5.0), compared with acupuncture (Δ = 3.0) and control (Δ = 1.0) (p < 0.001). Exercise produced greater gains in non-verbal reasoning (31.8% vs. 26.1% in acupuncture, p < 0.01). Acupuncture more effectively enhanced processing speed and attention (DSST: Δ = 26 vs. Δ = 20 in exercise, p = 0.03) and executive function (Stroop interference time: Δ = 16 vs. Δ = 15 seconds in exercise, p = 0.04). Both interventions significantly improved verbal fluency (p < 0.001), with larger benefits in those with baseline MMSE ≤ 20.
Conclusion
Hypertension and diabetes are key risk factors for MCI in stroke-prone individuals. Exercise yields greater improvement in global cognition and memory, whereas acupuncture is more effective for enhancing attention and executive function. Both modalities benefit verbal fluency, particularly in lower-functioning participants.
2.Regulatory effect of histone lactylation modification in hepatic fibrosis
Weichu ZENG ; Xing LYU ; Fengfan LI ; Zhenni LIU ; Jungang LI ; Weilin ZHANG ; Peiting LIU ; Bingchu LI ; Ruohong CHEN ; Zhiyang CHEN ; Min HU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(3):704-710
Hepatic fibrosis is a reversible pathological process in various chronic liver diseases and is closely associated with the development and progression of severe liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it has emerged as a significant global health challenge. In recent years, studies have shown that histone lactylation, a newly discovered epigenetic modification, actively participates in regulating the progression of hepatic fibrosis. This article systematically reviews the core regulatory effect of histone lactylation modification in the interaction between inflammatory microenvironment and hepatic fibrosis, in order to clarify the cascade regulatory mechanism of “inflammation-hepatic fibrosis” and provide new insights for early diagnosis, targeted intervention, and prevention of malignant transformation in hepatic fibrosis.
3.Staged Characteristics of Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism in Chronic Heart Failure with Heart-Yang Deficiency Syndrome and Prescription Intervention from Theory of Reinforcing Yang
Zizheng WU ; Xing CHEN ; Lichong MENG ; Yao ZHANG ; Peng LUO ; Jiahao YE ; Kun LIAN ; Siyuan HU ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):129-138
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome caused by ventricular dysfunction, with mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder being a critical factor in disease progression. Heart-Yang deficiency syndrome, as the core pathogenesis of CHF, persists throughout the disease course. Insufficiency of heart-Yang leads to weakened warming and propelling functions, resulting in the accumulation of phlegm-fluid, blood stasis, and dampness. This eventually causes Qi stagnation with phlegm obstruction and blood stasis with water retention, forming a vicious cycle that exacerbates disease progression. According to the theory of reinforcing Yang, the clinical experience of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) master Tang Zuxuan in treating CHF with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome, and achievements from molecular biological studies, this study innovatively proposes an integrated research framework of "TCM syndrome differentiation and staging-mitochondrial metabolism mechanisms-intervention with Yang-reinforcing prescriptions" which is characterized by the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Heart-Yang deficiency syndrome is classified into mild (Stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ), severe (Stage Ⅲ), and critical (Stage Ⅳ) stages. The study elucidates the precise correlations between the pathogenesis of each stage and mitochondrial metabolism disorders from theoretical, pathophysiological, and therapeutic perspectives. The mild stage is characterized by impaired biogenesis and substrate-utilization imbalance, corresponding to heart-Yang deficiency and phlegm-fluid aggregation. Linggui Zhugantang and similar prescriptions can significantly improve the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1α(PGC-1α)/silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) and ATPase activity. The severe stage centers on oxidative stress and structural damage, reflecting Yang deficiency with water overflow and phlegm-blood stasis intermingling. At this stage, Zhenwu Tang and Qiangxin Tang can effectively mitigate oxidative stress damage, increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, and repair mitochondrial structure. The critical stage arises from calcium overload and mitochondrial disintegration, leading to the collapse of Yin-Yang equilibrium. At this stage, Yang-restoring and crisis-resolving prescriptions such as Fuling Sini Tang and Qili Qiangxin capsules can inhibit abnormal opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate, and protect mitochondrial function. By summarizing the characteristics of mitochondrial energy metabolism disorders at different stages of CHF, this study explores the application of the theory of reinforcing Yang in treating heart-Yang deficiency syndrome and provides new insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CHF.
4.Danhong Injection Regulates Ventricular Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure with Heart-Blood Stasis Syndrome via p38 MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Zizheng WU ; Xing CHEN ; Jiahao YE ; Lichong MENG ; Yao ZHANG ; Junyu ZHANG ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):149-159
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of ventricular remodeling mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the rat model of chronic heart failure (CHF) with heart-blood stasis syndrome, as well as the intervention effect of Danhong injection. MethodsIn vivo experiment: SPF-grade male SD rats were assigned via the random number table method into 4 groups: Sham operation, model, captopril (8.8 mg·kg-1), and Danhong injection (6.0 mL·kg-1). The model of CHF with heart-blood stasis syndrome was established by abdominal aortic constriction, and the sham operation group only underwent laparotomy without constriction. All the groups were treated continuously for 15 days. The tongue color of rats was observed. Echocardiography, hemorheology, heart mass index (HMI), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were performed to observe the pathological and fibrotic changes of the myocardial tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to quantify the levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Creactive protein (CRP) in the serum, as well as the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the myocardial tissue. Western blot was used to quantify the protein levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 in the myocardial tissue. In vitro experiment: H9C2 cardiomyocytes were treated with 1×10-6 mol·L-1 AngⅡ to establish a model of myocardial hypertrophy. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were allocated into normal, model, inhibitor + Danhong injection, Danhong injection (20 mL·L-1), and inhibitor (SB203580, 5 μmol·L-1) groups. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the viability of H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Rhodamine-labeled phalloidin staining was used to reveal the area of cardiomyocytes. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the mRNA levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Western blot was used to assess the protein levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65. ResultsIn vivo experiment: Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed purplish-dark tongue with decreased R, G, B values of the tongue surface (P<0.01), increased whole blood viscosity (at low, medium, and high shear rates) (P<0.01), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (P<0.01), increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVIDs), and left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-diastole (LVPWd) (P<0.01), raised LVMI and HMI (P<0.01), and elevated levels of NT-proBNP, TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP in the serum and MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the myocardial tissue (P<0.01). The HE and Masson staining of the myocardial tissue showed compensatory myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and massive inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group. Additionally, the model group presented up-regulated protein levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 in the myocardial tissue (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, each administration group showed increased R, G, B values of the tongue surface (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased whole blood viscosity (at low, medium, and high shear rates) (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased LVEF and LVFS (P<0.01), decreased LVIDd, LVIDs, and LVPWd (P<0.05, P<0.01), declined LVMI and HMI (P<0.05, P<0.01), and lowered levels of NT-proBNP, TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP in the serum and MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the myocardial tissue (P<0.01). HE and Masson staining showed alleviated compensatory myocardial hypertrophy, reduced fibrosis, and decreased expression of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 in the myocardial tissue (P<0.01). In vitro experiment: When the concentration of Danhong injection reached 20 mL·L-1, the survival rate of H9C2 cardiomyocytes was the highest (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, the model group showed up-regulated mRNA levels of ANP and BNP (P<0.01), increased relative cell surface area (P<0.01), and raised protein levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, each administration group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of ANP and BNP (P<0.01), reduced relative cell surface area (P<0.05, P<0.01), and down-regulated protein levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDanhong injection can regulate ventricular remodeling through the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway, thereby exerting a protective effect on the rat model of CHF with heart-blood stasis syndrome.
5.Consideration of Health Economics Evidence in Clinical Practice Guidelines: Methods and Steps
Dongrui PENG ; Qi ZHOU ; Xufei LUO ; Zijun WANG ; Hui LIU ; Junxian ZHAO ; Jinghong HUANG ; Hongyu HU ; Xin XING ; Jing WU ; Shitong XIE ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):862-870
Health economics evidence plays an important role in linking clinical value evidence with health resource allocation decisions in the development of clinical practice guidelines. It can not only effectively balance clinical effectiveness and economic feasibility but also avoid forming "idealized" recommendations that are detached from the affordability of the healthcare system or the burden-bearing capacity of patients. To promote guideline developers to use health economics evidence more standardizedly and fully, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the current application status, existing challenges, access channels, and application processes of health economics evidence in current guidelines, and on this basis, puts forward considerations and suggestions for strengthening and standardizing the application of health economics evidence in China's clinical practice guidelines.
6.Role of ferroptosis in the progression and treatment of liver fibrosis
Jungang LI ; Fengfan LI ; Zhenni LIU ; Weichu ZENG ; Weilin ZHANG ; Peiting LIU ; Bingchu LI ; Xing LYU ; Ruohong CHEN ; Zhiyang CHEN ; Min HU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(6):1426-1432
Liver fibrosis is a critical pathological process in the progression of chronic liver diseases and is mainly driven by the activation of hepatic stellate cells, and it is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. Programmed cell death is widely observed in liver fibrosis and plays diverse roles in different types of cells. It is not only a mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis through metabolism, but it can also regulate the development and progression of diseases. Ferroptosis has recently emerged as a research focus due to its close association with lipid metabolism. This article systematically reviews the related concepts of lipid metabolism, ferroptosis, and liver fibrosis, analyzes the bridging role and dual regulatory function of ferroptosis in lipid metabolism and liver fibrosis, and further highlights the clinical application value of targeting ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis, in order to provide new perspectives for the mechanistic studies on liver fibrosis and the optimization of related clinical intervention strategies.
7.Elucidation of the Mechanism Underlying the Rise and Decline of Male Reproductive Function from the Perspective of Tiangui (天癸) Theory
Yuhao MENG ; Haoyu WANG ; Wei LIU ; Yang YANG ; Yudie HU ; Xing ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(18):1931-1935
Based on ancient and modern literature, this paper systematically elucidates the concept, physiological characteristics, and reproductive significance of tiangui (天癸), and further reviews its theoretical connotation throughout the entire process of male reproductive function, covering its onset, maturation, maintenance, disorder, and decline. In terms of its physiological foundation, tiangui is rooted in kidney essence and regulates male reproductive function through the coordination of zang-fu (脏腑) organs. It possesses characteristics of being time-limited, rhythmic, relatively independent, targeted, and functionally diverse. The occurrence of male reproductive diseases is closely related to the abnormality of tiangui, which primarily manifests as tiangui deficiency and dysregulation of tiangui timing. In clinical practice, treatment should follow the principle of "supplementing its deficiency and regulating its timing", so as to restore the operating rhythm of tiangui.
8.Optimization of techniques for foreign body removal in the oral and maxillofacial region based on anatomical sites and analy-sis of clinical experience
Xiaoru HOU ; Xiaotao XING ; Lifeng LI ; Jiangtao CUI ; Xiaoyi HU
STOMATOLOGY 2025;45(9):649-654
Objective To explore and summarize the locations,clinical manifestations,and treatment strategies of foreign bodies in the oral and maxillofacial region(FBOMR)among patients treated in our hospital,providing clinical insights and references for the pre-vention and management of FBOMR.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 FBOMR patients hos-pitalized in our hospital from May 2022 to May 2024.The demographic information,etiology of injury,characteristics of foreign bodies,extraction methods,surgical duration,complications,and follow-up outcomes were analyzed.Differences in treatment strategies among patients with varying injury patterns were compared.Results The average age of the 17 FBOMR patients was(45.71±18.19)years old,with a male to female ratio of 1∶0.7.Etiological analysis revealed:iatrogenic causes(58.82%,10/17),occupational exposure(23.53%,4/17),and accidental injuries(17.65%,3/17).Secondary infections occurred in 64.71%(11/17)of cases during foreign body retention.All cases underwent successful surgical removal,with the following approaches:conventional surgery(64.71%,11/17),computer navigation-assisted surgery(29.41%,5/17),and endoscope-assisted surgery(5.88%,1/17).Compared to the conventional group,computer navigation-assisted surgery significantly reduced intraoperative trauma(P<0.05).Conclusion Retained FBOMR poses serious risks to patients'physical and mental health.Surgical intervention remains the gold standard for clinical manage-ment.Precise three-dimensional localization and minimally invasive techniques,such as computer-assisted navigation and endoscopy,are recommended to minimize tissue damage and improve outcomes.
9.Support vector machine model based on gray matter volume for identifying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and analysis of relevant brain regions
Shan WU ; Haining LI ; Qiuli ZHANG ; Qianqian DUAN ; Xinyi YU ; Xing QIN ; Fangfang HU ; Jiaoting JIN ; Jingxia DANG ; Ming ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(7):1051-1055
Objective To explore the value of support vector machine(SVM)model based on gray matter volume(GMV)for identifying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS),also to analyze the relevant brain regions.Methods MR 3D T1WI data of 60 ALS patients(ALS group)and 60 healthy volunteers(control group)were retrospectively analyzed.Taken GMV of each brain region obtained by voxel-based morphometry as the input features.F-score analysis was used to select feature with the highest classification accuracy to construct SVM model.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to evaluate the efficacy of SVM model for identifying ALS,and top 10%was used as the weight threshold to obtain gray matter brain regions contributed the most to this model.Results SVM model constructed based on the top 40%GMV features had the highest classification accuracy(82.50%),with sensitivity,specificity and area under the curve(AUG)of 85.05%,80.40%and 0.890,respectively.The left precentral gyrus,left anterior cingulate gyrus and paracingulate gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus,opercular part of left inferior frontal gyrus,right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus,left temporal pole:middle temporal gyrus,right superior occipital gyrus,orbital part of right middle frontal gyrus,right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex,right fusiform gyrus were the top 1-10 gray matter brain regions contributed to this model.Conclusion ALS had specific GMV change pattern.SVM model based on GMV could be used to effectively identify ALS,while the left precentral gyrus was the most contributive brain region to this model.
10.Preoperative magnetization transfer imaging for predicting pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy
Mingming YANG ; Ya LAN ; Derui HU ; Junxin LYU ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Jinggang ZHANG ; Jie CHEN ; Wei XING
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(7):1117-1120
Objective To observe the value of preoperative magnetization transfer imaging(MTI)for predicting postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF)after distal pancreatectomy(DP).Methods A total of 65 patients with pancreatic tumor who underwent DP and preoperative MR scanning were retrospectively enrolled and divided into clinically relevant POPF(CR-POPF)group(n=14,with grade B or C fistula),biochemical fistula group(n=31,postoperative drain fluid amylase level exceeding 3 times the upper limit of normal)and non-fistula group(n=20,postoperative drain fluid amylase level not exceeding 3 times the upper limit of normal)based on postoperative records.Clinical data and magnetization transfer ratio(MTR)of pancreatic tissue at the surgical margin were compared among 3 groups.The predictive value of MTR for CR-POPF was evaluated according to the area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Patients' age,intraoperative blood loss and the proportion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in both CR-POPF group and biochemical fistula group were lower than those in non-fistula group(all adjusted P<0.05),while no significant difference was found between the former two groups(all adjusted P>0.05).MTR of pancreatic tissue at the surgical margin in CR-POPF group was lower than that in both biochemical fistula group and non-fistula group(both P<0.05),whereas no statistical difference was detected between the latter two groups(P>0.05).The AUC of MTR for predicting CR-POPF after DP was 0.727.Conclusion Preoperative MTI could be used to predict POPF after DP.

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