1.A prediction model for mild cognitive impairment risk among the elderly
MA Zongkang ; LIU Xinglang ; LI Huihui ; HE Guowei ; YAN Ping ; ZHANG Chuanrong ; MA Xuan ; CHE Yajie ; YU Shan ; CHEN Fenghui
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(2):124-129
Objective:
To develop a prediction model for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) risk among the elderly, so as to provide a tool for MCI early screening.
Methods :
From July 2022 to September 2024, a multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method was used to recruit permanent residents aged ≥65 years from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as study participants. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status, body composition indices, bone mineral density, and handgrip strength were collected through questionnaires and physical examinations. Sarcopenia was defined based on appendicular skeletal muscle index and handgrip strength. MCI was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, with adjustments for educational level. Participants were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set in a 7∶3 ratio. LASSO regression and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to screen for predictors and construct an MCI risk prediction model. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results:
A total of 1 641 participants were surveyed, including 755 males (46.01%) and 886 females (53.99%). The majority of participants were aged 65-<75 years, comprising 1 154 individuals (70.32%). MCI was detected in 517 participants, corresponding to a detection rate of 31.51%. Resultsfrom LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that residence (rural, OR = 2.323, 95% CI: 1.682-3.210), age (75-<85 years, OR = 1.405, 95% CI: 1.019-1.937; ≥85 years, OR = 3.655, 95% CI: 1.696-7.875), educational level (primary school, OR = 0.341, 95% CI: 0.247-0.472; junior high school, OR = 0.255, 95% CI: 0.160-0.408; high school, OR = 0.286, 95% CI: 0.154-0.531; bachelor's degree or above, OR = 0.120, 95% CI: 0.041-0.351), history of alcohol consumption (yes, OR = 3.216, 95% CI: 2.164-4.779), risk of malnutrition (yes, OR = 1.464, 95% CI: 1.064-2.014), sarcopenia (yes, OR = 3.197, 95% CI: 2.332-4.385), and waist-to-hip ratio (abnormal, OR = 1.540, 95% CI: 1.159-2.048) were identified as predictive factors for MCI among the elderly. In the training set, the area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.788, 0.719, and 0.712, respectively. In the validation set, the corresponding values were 0.784, 0.913, and 0.542, respectively. DCA demonstrated that the model provided a higher clinical net benefit for predicting MCI risk when the risk threshold probability ranged from 0.124 to 0.764.
Conclusion
The prediction model developed in this study demonstrates good discriminative ability and clinical utility, indicating its substantial value for predicting the MCI risk among the elderly.
2.Insights on Peripheral Blood Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease
Yu-Meng LI ; Jing-Kai LIU ; Zi-Xuan CHEN ; Yu-Lin DENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):72-87
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with profound impact on patients’ quality of life and long-term health, and early detection and intervention are particularly critical. In recent years, the search for precise and reliable biomarkers has become one of the key strategies to effectively address the clinical challenges of PD. In this paper, we systematically evaluated potential biomarkers, including proteins, metabolites, epigenetic markers, and exosomes, in the peripheral blood of PD patients. Protein markers are one of the main directions of biomarker research in PD. In particular, α‑synuclein and its phosphorylated form play a key role in the pathological process of PD. It has been shown that aggregation of α-synuclein may be associated with pathologic protein deposition in PD and may be a potential marker for early diagnosis of PD. In terms of metabolites, uric acid, as a metabolite, plays an important role in oxidative stress and neuroprotection in PD. It has been found that changes in uric acid levels may be associated with the onset and progression of PD, showing its potential as an early diagnostic marker. Epigenetic markers, such as DNA methylation modifications and miRNAs, have also attracted much attention in Parkinson’s disease research. Changes in these markers may affect the expression of PD-related genes and have an important impact on the onset and progression of the disease, providing new research perspectives for the early diagnosis of PD. In addition, exosomes, as a potential biomarker carrier for PD, are able to carry a variety of biomolecules involved in intercellular communication and pathological regulation. Studies have shown that exosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, and their detection in blood may provide a new breakthrough for early diagnosis. It has been shown that exosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, and their detection in blood may provide new breakthroughs in early diagnosis. In summary, through in-depth evaluation of biomarkers in the peripheral blood of PD patients, this paper demonstrates the important potential of these markers in the early diagnosis of PD and in the study of pathological mechanisms. Future studies will continue to explore the clinical application value of these biomarkers to promote the early detection of PD and individualized treatment strategies.
3.Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography
Meng-Meng MIAO ; Yu-Xuan REN ; Wen-Wei WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Xiang-Hong LIN ; Hui-Dan LIN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):244-257
ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
4.The effect of farnesol on the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway of Candida albicans biofilms and its correlation with drug resistance
Yang WANG ; Xueyi CHEN ; Shenjun YU ; Xuejiao CAO ; Xin WEI ; Xuan YANG
STOMATOLOGY 2025;45(5):321-327
Objective To explore the regulatory role of farnesol in Candida albicans(C.albicans)biofilm cAMP-PKA signaling pathway and its correlation with drug resistance.Methods Standard,fluconazole-resistant,wild and high RAS1 gene expression strains of C.albicans were cultured to different phases of the biofilm(6,12,24,36 h),and the sessile minimal inhibitory concentration 50%(SMIC50)of fluconazole were determined by XTT reduction after farnesol treatment.The regulatory effects of farnesol on the ex-pression of genes related to the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway in standard and fluconazole-resistant strains of C.albicans,such as RAS1,CYR1,PDE2 were examined using qPCR;the effects of farnesol on the protein expression of the pathway were analyzed by Western blot.RAS1 gene expression of the wild and high RAS1 gene expression strains was measured by qPCR.Results ① Compared with the standard strain,resistant strains of C.albicans had higher levels of biofilm SMIC50 at 6,12 and 24 h;there was no significant difference in RAS1 expression(P>0.05),while CYR1 expression increased significantly at 6 and 24 h in the biofilm(P<0.01),and PDE2 expression decreased at 6 h in the biofilm(P<0.01).②After treatment with farnesol,the resistance of the biofilm of the standard strain and drug-resistant strain decreased.Compared with no treatment with farnesol,the expression of RAS1 in the biofilm of the standard strain and drug-resistant strain decreased at all time points(P<0.01);CYR1 expression decreased in the biofilm at 6,24 and 36 h,and in-creased in the biofilm at 12 h(P<0.01);PDE2 expression increased in the 12 h biofilm(P<0.01).③Compared with the wild strain,the high expression strain of RAS1 gene showed higher SMIC50 in the biofilm at 12 and 24 h,and significantly higher expression of RAS1 gene in the biofilm at 12,24 and 36 h(P<0.01).④After treatment with farnesol,the resistance of wild-type strains and high expres-sion strains of RAS1 gene decreased.Compared with the untreated group,the expression of RAS1 gene in the biofilm of wild-type and RAS1 gene high expression strain decreased at 12 and 24 h(P<0.01).Conclusion Farnesol can affect the sensitivity of C.albicans biofilm to fluconazole by regulating the expression of resistance molecules RAS1,CYR1 and PDE2 in the cAMP-PKA pathway.The regulatory effect varies at different stages of biofilm formation.
5.Study on the selection preferences for the community health management service model of older patients with multiple chronic diseases
Xuan-xuan WANG ; Si-yu CAI ; Gang WANG ; Shao-fan CHEN ; Dong-fu QIAN
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(3):32-40
Objective:This study was aimed to explore the preference and heterogeneity in community health management service model selection among older patients with multiple chronic diseases,and to provide scientific evidence for optimizing the model.Methods:A multi-stage stratified and convenience sampling approach was adopted.A discrete choice experiment was conducted with 360 elderly patients with multiple chronic diseases from six regions in Jiangsu Province.The Mixed Logit Model was used to analyze service selection preferences and willingness to pay,while the Latent Class Logit Model was applied to explore heterogeneity among patient groups.Results:Patients showed a stronger preference for a service model featuring"twice-monthly visits,medication guidance+lifestyle counseling,and face-to-face consultations,"with willingness to pay values of 170.18 CNY,162.90 CNY,and 112.70 CNY,respectively.Willingness to pay decreased as out-of-pocket costs increased.Heterogeneity analysis identified three distinct preference groups,with statistically significant differences in urban-rural distribution,income levels,and health insurance types.Conclusions and suggestions:Medication and lifestyle guidance are the most valued components of community health management services among older patients with multiple chronic diseases.Patients'demographic and socioeconomic characteristics have a structural influence on their service preferences,highlighting the need to tailor service provision to different population groups.It is recommended to enhance medication guidance capacity at the primary care level,especially in rural areas;promote physical medicine integration to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of lifestyle guidance provided by primary healthcare personnel;strengthen digital infrastructure and streamline service processes to moderately increase the frequency of face-to-face consultations;and improve the integration of medical insurance and public health funding mechanisms to enhance service accessibility and equity.
6.Value of dual-energy CT quantitative parameters combined with clinical features in diagnosis of stages T2 and T3 colorectal cancer
Ni FANG ; Xin WEI ; Weijuan CHEN ; Mei FENG ; Lingjing ZHANG ; Yuexi LIU ; Qi LAI ; Xuan DING ; Xinjie LIU ; Wei JIANG ; Han YU
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(2):177-185
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of our regression model based on quantitative parameters of dual-energy CT and clinical features for stages T2 and T3 colorectal cancer.Methods A cross-section study was performed on 91 patients with colorectal cancer confirmed by postoperative pathology in our hospital from January 2022 to November 2023.All of them underwent dual-energy CT examination.According to the pathological T staging criteria of Chinese Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Standard(2020 Edition),they were divided into T2 group(n=43)and T3 group(n=48).Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences in quantitative CT parameters and clinical features between the 2 groups,and the obtained significant variables were employed to construct diagnosis models by univariate or multivariate logistic regression analysis.The area under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of the CT parametric model and the model combined with clinical features was compared to evaluate the efficacy of diagnosing T2 and T3 stages.Results Univariate analysis showed that carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),N stage,tumor location,tumor longest diameter(LD),CT value of virtual noncontrast(CT-VNC),fat fraction,electron density(Rho)and dual energy index(DEI)were significantly different between the T2 and T3 groups(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that N stage,tumor location,LD,fat fraction and DEI were independent risk factors for the diagnosis of stage T3.The AUC value of the model of above CT parameters in diagnosing stage T3 colorectal cancer was 0.671(95%CI:0.558~0.783),and the AUC value of the combined model of above CT parameters and clinical features was 0.886(95%CI:0.815~0.957),and statistical difference was observed in the AUC value between the combined model and the CT parametric model(P<0.01).Conclusion The regression model constructed with dual-energy CT quantitative parameters combined with clinical features has high value in the preoperative diagnosis of stages T2 and T3 colorectal cancer before surgery.
7.Investigation and analysis of eye lens dose of interventional radiology staff in 34 medical institutions in Guangdong province during 2019-2023
Mingfang LI ; Xiaolian LIU ; Weiji MAI ; Sufen ZHANG ; Hongwei YU ; Xuan LONG ; Huifeng CHEN ; Weixu HUANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(2):108-115
Objective:To study and analyze radiation doses to the eye of the lens dose in interventional radiology staff of Guandong medical institutions from 2019 to 2023.Methods:Employing a convenience sampling method, the lens dose and chest dose was monitored with TLD dosimeters in 34 level A tertiary medical institutions. The monitoring data were analyzed on the basis of a summary, and the relationship between the two was explored.Results:A total of 1 033 interventional radiology staff were monitored. The ocular lens doses were in the range of (
8.Genomic characterization of group A Streptococcus of different emm-type in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024
Xiaohui LU ; Wei ZHANG ; Wen LI ; Aiping YU ; Guangwen LIU ; Baolu ZHENG ; Xuan CHEN ; Xin GAO ; Xiaoyan LI
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(5):702-709
To characterize the genomes of different emm-type group A Streptococcus (GAS), their virulence genes and drug resistance profiles in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024. After PCR, a total of 42 strains with different years and emm types were selected for whole genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the core genomes were used to generate a phylogenetic tree, after which the virulence genes and resistance genes were identified and analyzed, followed by the drug susceptibility test. In this study, the GAS strains were dominated by emm1 (50.0%) and emm12 (40.4%), and the MLST phenotypes were categorized into six types: ST36 (40.4%), ST1274 (26.1%), ST28 (23.8%), ST921 (4.7%), ST46 (2.3%), and ST403 (2.3%). There was a high consistency between their emm-types and ST types. A total of 68 virulence genes were detected in the genomes of 42 GAS strains, involving functional genes encoding exotoxin, bacterial adhesion, extracellular enzymes, etc. The virulence genes they carried were significantly different between emm1-type and emm12-type strains, such as speA. At the same time, the carrying rates of some virulence genes in the same emm-type strains changed with time, such as hyl. The resistance genes were basically the same among different emm-type strains except for the vanSE gene detected in all emm12 strains. The results of drug sensitivity showed that the GAS strains isolated in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024 were sensitive to penicillin, cefazolin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, and levofloxacin, while the resistance rates to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and clindamycin ranged from 88.5% to 100.0%, and there was a certain degree of consistency between the resistance phenotypes and the detected resistance genes. Overall, the main emm types and evolutionary features of GAS in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024 were consistent with the dominant types in China, and the carrying rate of virulence genes and drug resistance genes differed significantly among different emm-type strains, and there were continuous evolution and variation in the prevalence of virulence genes in GAS.
9.Fetal heart quantification technology for assessing normal fetal cardiac morphology and function: a prospective cohort study
Qiuyi DI ; Xiangdang LONG ; Jing NING ; Sui YAO ; Qiaorong LI ; Yu ZHUO ; Xuan CHEN ; Longfei SHI
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(3):211-218
Objective:To explore the value of fetal heart quantification technology in assessing the morphology and function of the fetal heart during normal pregnancy.Methods:This prospective cohort study selected normal fetuses from healthy pregnant women who underwent prenatal ultrasound examinations at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2023 to October 2024. Using the GE Voluson E10 color Doppler diasonography, routine obstetric ultrasound and fetal echocardiography were performed to assess fetal growth and development and to exclude intracardiac and extracardiac malformations. Clear four-chamber view (4CV) dynamic images of the heart showing the endocardium (duration ≥3 s) were collected. Speckle-tracking analysis was performed using fetal heart quantification software. The measured indicators included the global spherical index (GSI), end-diastolic length of the heart (L-ED), end-diastolic width of the heart (W-ED), and the global longitudinal strain (GLS), fractional area change (FAC), and 24-segment spherical index (SI) of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV). The cases were divided into five groups based on gestational age at the time of prenatal ultrasound: 20 +0 to 23 +6, 24 +0 to 27 +6, 28 +0 to 31 +6, 32 +0 to 35 +6, and 36 +0 to 40 +6 weeks. One-way analysis of variance, two independent samples t-test, univariate linear regression analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to explore the differences in the above indicators among different gestational age groups and their correlation with gestational age. Results:A total of 200 pregnant women were included in the cohort, four cases were excluded due to poor image quality that prevented accurate tracking and measurement of relevant indicators. Ultimately, 196 cases (20 +0 to 23 +6 weeks 40 cases, 24 +0 to 27 +6 weeks 34 cases, 28 +0 to 31 +6 weeks 41 cases, 32 +0 to 35 +6 weeks 48 cases, and 36 +0 to 40 +6 weeks 33 cases) were included in the study, with a successful image analysis rate of 98.0%. (1) There were statistically significant differences in 4CV L-ED, 4CV W-ED, LV-FAC, and RV-FAC among the groups at 20 +0 to 23 +6, 24 +0 to 27 +6, 28 +0 to 31 +6, 32 +0 to 35 +6, and 36 +0 to 40 +6 weeks [4CV L-ED: 28.0±3.0, 32.6±4.3, 40.9±4.3, 46.7±4.8, 53.1±5.8, F=3.72; 4CV W-ED: 21.9±1.8, 25.1±4.2, 31.7±3.0, 37.4±4.0, 42.0±4.9, F=2.61; LV-FAC: (51.4±8.0)%, (49.0±10.4)%, (47.3±7.3)%, (43.1±7.5)%, (40.7±8.2)%, F=2.94; RV-FAC: (49.9±10.8)%, (46.2±12.0)%, (46.3±8.3)%, (43.2±8.0)%, (41.9±5.6)%, F=3.09; all P<0.05].(2) The size of the normal fetal heart gradually increased with gestational age, while the heart morphology remained relatively stable (4CV L-ED and 4CV W-ED were positively correlated with gestational age, with regression coefficients of 1.313 and 1.325, respectively, both P<0.001;LV-FAC and RV-FAC were negatively correlated with gestational age with regression coefficients of -0.783 and -0.552, respectively, both P<0.001; GSI, LV-GLS and RV-GLS had no correlations with gestational age, all P>0.05). (3) The SI of LV segments 1 to 17 were higher than the SI of the corresponding RV segments, and the SI of RV segments 20-24 were higher than that of the corresponding LV segments (all P<0.001). Conclusion:Fetal heart quantification technology has a certain value in the assessment of fetal cardiac morphology and function.
10.Model establishment for quantitative analysis of saponins of Paris polyphylla by near-infrared spectroscopy
Ping XU ; Qi MI ; Wen-xiu LUO ; You LU ; Meng-wen YU ; Xuan ZHANG ; Guo-wei ZHENG ; Chang-gui QIU ; Jia CHEN
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(4):1069-1076
AIM To establish a rapid quantitative analysis model for saponins in Paris polyphylla var.yunnanensis(PPY)by near infrared spectroscopy.METHODS The contents of polyphyllins Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅶ and there total content in PPY were determined by HPLC,while spectral data within the range of 10 000 to 4 000 cm-1 were collected.A quantitative analysis model was established by combining these data with partial least squares regression(PLSR).Multivariate scatter correction(MSC)and vector normalization(SNV)were applied prior to further preprocessing the spectra with original,first-order derivative(1stD),or second-order derivative(2ndD)treatments.Lastly,the model was optimized through non-smoothing(NS),Norris Derivative filtering(Nd),and Savitzky-Golay filtering(S-G)method.Model stability was evaluated based on correlation coefficients and variance.The predicted contents of each saponin component in the validation set samples were calculated.RESULTS The contents of polyphyllins Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅶ were 0.42-17.98,0.46-10.44,0.23-3.86 mg/g,respectively.The total content ranged from 2.91 to 22.1 mg/g.The optimal parameters of three saponins were achieved when selecting the MSC+2ndD+S-G pretreatment method.The corresponding ratio of line segment length to segment gap was 13∶5,15∶5,11∶5,with correlation coefficients of 0.982,0.930,0.958,respectively.The root mean square errors of calibration(RMSEC)were 0.702,0.797,0.238,and the root mean square errors of prediction(RMSEP)were 1.120,0.835,0.304,respectively.The optimal parameters for the total content were obtained when selecting the MSC+2ndD+NS pretreatment method,with a correlation coefficient of 0.970,a RMSEC of 1.090,and a RMSEP of 1.740.CONCLUSION This accurate and rapid method can be used for detection of saponin contents in P.Polyphylla.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail