1.Intelligent diagnosis and treatment and comprehensive digital health management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
Yewei JIANG ; Yunyi XU ; Yuru HE ; Wangyu QIAO ; Mingyang GOU ; Jingqi ZHOU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(4):923-929
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide, posing a serious challenge to public health. In this context, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), especially intelligent diagnosis and treatment and digital health interventions based on machine learning, can break through the limitations of traditional methods, realize efficient screening of multi-dimensional data such as key genes, biomarkers, and biochemical metabolites, and achieve revolutionary breakthroughs in risk prediction, subtype identification, and therapeutic effect assessment for MAFLD. This article systematically reviews the ground-breaking application of machine learning models in driving the innovation of clinical diagnosis and precise risk prediction of MAFLD, conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of digital health practice cases of MAFLD in China and globally, and deeply analyzes their advantages and limitations in terms of research subjects, interventions, and management team. Studies have shown that the deep integration of digital health and long-term management of MAFLD is becoming the key engine driving the transformation of disease management modes towards an intelligent, individualized, and precise era, but there are various ethical and technical issues that need to be addressed urgently.
2.Challenges of continuous cropping obstacles in Panax ginseng: Formation and response mechanisms
Kang CHEN ; Yuru TONG ; Tielin WANG ; Xiuteng ZHOU ; Junhui ZHOU ; Yang GE ; Han ZHENG ; Muyao YU ; Yunfeng LUO ; Ruifeng JI
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(1):8-14
Panax ginseng, a perennial herbaceous plant and a representative of the Panax genus, is renowned for its exceptional medicinal value and economic benefits, often referred to as the “King of Herbs.” With the increasing market demand and the limited availability of suitable cultivation land, the issue of continuous cropping obstacles for P. ginseng has become increasingly prominent, directly hindering the sustainable development of the ginseng industry. This article summarizes the concept and hazards of continuous cropping obstacles and, drawing on the latest research, provides an in-depth analysis of the causes and response mechanisms. This work aims to establish a solid foundation for future research into the mechanisms of continuous cropping obstacles in P. ginseng.
3.Challenges of continuous cropping obstacles in Panax ginseng: Formation and response mechanisms
Kang CHEN ; Yuru TONG ; Tielin WANG ; Xiuteng ZHOU ; Junhui ZHOU ; Yang GE ; Han ZHENG ; Muyao YU ; Yunfeng LUO ; Ruifeng JI
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(1):8-14
Panax ginseng, a perennial herbaceous plant and a representative of the Panax genus, is renowned for its exceptional medicinal value and economic benefits, often referred to as the “King of Herbs.” With the increasing market demand and the limited availability of suitable cultivation land, the issue of continuous cropping obstacles for P. ginseng has become increasingly prominent, directly hindering the sustainable development of the ginseng industry. This article summarizes the concept and hazards of continuous cropping obstacles and, drawing on the latest research, provides an in-depth analysis of the causes and response mechanisms. This work aims to establish a solid foundation for future research into the mechanisms of continuous cropping obstacles in P. ginseng.
4.Challenges of continuous cropping obstacles in Panax ginseng: Formation and response mechanisms
Kang CHEN ; Yuru TONG ; Tielin WANG ; Xiuteng ZHOU ; Junhui ZHOU ; Yang GE ; Han ZHENG ; Muyao YU ; Yunfeng LUO ; Ruifeng JI
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(1):8-14
Panax ginseng, a perennial herbaceous plant and a representative of the Panax genus, is renowned for its exceptional medicinal value and economic benefits, often referred to as the “King of Herbs.” With the increasing market demand and the limited availability of suitable cultivation land, the issue of continuous cropping obstacles for P. ginseng has become increasingly prominent, directly hindering the sustainable development of the ginseng industry. This article summarizes the concept and hazards of continuous cropping obstacles and, drawing on the latest research, provides an in-depth analysis of the causes and response mechanisms. This work aims to establish a solid foundation for future research into the mechanisms of continuous cropping obstacles in P. ginseng.
5.Isolation, purification, identification, culture, and phenotypic analysis of endothelial cells derived from Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma
Yuru LAN ; Jiangyuan ZHOU ; Tong QIU ; Xue GONG ; Kaiying YANG ; Zixin ZHANG ; Xuepeng ZHANG ; Yi JI
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(5):453-459
Objective:To establish a complete system for the isolation, purification, identification, and culture of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma-derived endothelial cells (KHE-ECs), to analyze the phenotype of KHE-ECs, and to explore the possibility of establishing a KHE-EC bank.Methods:A novel digestion solution for KHE tumors (patent number: CN202410500224.2) was formulated using collection fluid, Liberase TM and dispase stock solutions, and was used to process tumor tissues to obtain cells. High-purity KHE-ECs were purified using CD31 + immunomagnetic beads. The EGM-2 complete medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 2% penicillin-streptomycin solution was employed for cell culture. To verify the characteristics of KHE-ECs, immunofluorescence assay was conducted to determine the expression of endothelial cell-specific markers CD31 and CD34, KHE disease markers podoplanin (D2-40), prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox-1), and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1), as well as an infantile hemangioma-specific diagnostic marker glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) served as controls for the phenotype analysis of KHE-ECs, including cell viability, cytoskeleton, proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation, and sprouting ability. Results:Primary cells were successfully isolated from KHE tumor tissues, and high-purity KHE-ECs were obtained by using CD31 + immunomagnetic beads. The cells exhibited typical spindle-shaped morphology and an adherent growth pattern. Immunofluorescence assay showed that KHE-ECs expressed CD31, CD34, D2-40, Prox-1, and LYVE1, but did not express GLUT-1. There were significant differences in cell morphology, cell viability, and cytoskeletal structures between KHE-ECs and HUVECs. Additionally, the KHE-EC group showed significantly increased percentages of proliferative cells (29.1% ± 2.5%), numbers of migratory cells (114.3 ± 9.4) and invasive cells (110.0 ± 6.1), tube length (32 121.0 ± 892.0 μm), and number of sprouting cells (25.0 ± 3.6) compared with the HUVEC group (13.0% ± 2.2%, 38.0 ± 3.6, 35.3 ± 2.3, 25 345.0 ± 448.1 μm, 5.0 ± 1.0, respectively, all P ≤ 0.001) . Conclusion:An innovative digestion solution specifically for KHE tumors was formulated for the first time, and high-purity and well-growing KHE-EC strains were successfully isolated and purified by using the novel digestion solution in combination with CD31 + immunomagnetic beads, providing a stable and reliable cell source for subsequent experimental studies on KHE and laying the foundation for establishing a KHE-EC bank.
6.Investigation of the timing of oral propranolol treatment for proliferative infantile hemangioma
Kaizhi ZHANG ; Tong QIU ; Jiangyuan ZHOU ; Xue GONG ; Zixin ZHANG ; Yuru LAN ; Yi JI
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(10):952-956
Objective:To investigate the optimal timing of oral propranolol treatment for proliferative infantile hemangiomas (IH) .Methods:A bidirectional cohort study was conducted. Infants with proliferative IH receiving oral propranolol treatment were collected from the Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between June 2015 and May 2019, and their general information and IH-related clinical data were analyzed. The primary outcome was the satisfactory regression rate of IH during 6-12 months of continuous oral propranolol treatment; secondary outcomes included the time to achieve satisfactory regression, incidence of adverse reactions, incidence of IH ulceration, and IH recurrence rate. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing the satisfactory regression of IH after propranolol treatment, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to determine the optimal age for initiating propranolol therapy.Results:A total of 122 IH infants were enrolled in the study, including 32 males (26.2%) and 90 females (73.8%), with ages ( M[ Q1, Q3]) of 8.6 [6.3, 12.3] weeks. IH was located on the head and face in 56 cases (45.9%). There were 57 cases (46.7%) of localized IH, 53 (43.4%) of segmental IH, and 86 (70.5%) of mixed-type IH. Ulceration occurred in 17 cases (13.9%). After 6 months of propranolol treatment, 8 patients (6.6%) experienced treatment failure, and 12 (9.8%) experienced relapse within 6 months after discontinuation of propranolol. During 6 months of oral propranolol treatment, 56 infants (45.9%) experienced mild to moderate adverse reactions, with no drug-related deaths observed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the age at initiation of propranolol treatment was an independent factor influencing satisfactory regression of IH ( OR = 0.879, 95% CI: 0.808 - 0.957). ROC curve analysis revealed that the optimal age for starting propranolol therapy was 9.9 weeks, with a sensitivity of 75.7% and a specificity of 61.5%. Infants aged ≤ 9.9 weeks (73 cases) had a significantly higher satisfactory regression rate (72.6% [53/73]) compared with those aged > 9.9 weeks (49 cases, 34.7% [17/49]; χ2 = 17.23, P < 0.001) ; the time to achieve satisfactory regression of IH was significantly shorter in the infants aged ≤ 9.9 weeks ( M[ Q1, Q3]: 46.0 [38.5, 48.0] weeks) than in those aged > 9.9 weeks (57.0 [40.0, 73.5] weeks; Z = -2.01, P = 0.045) . Conclusion:For IH infants requiring systemic therapy, initiation of oral propranolol before the age of 10 weeks appeared to improve the satisfactory regression rate of IH.
7.Isolation, purification, identification, culture, and phenotypic analysis of endothelial cells derived from Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma
Yuru LAN ; Jiangyuan ZHOU ; Tong QIU ; Xue GONG ; Kaiying YANG ; Zixin ZHANG ; Xuepeng ZHANG ; Yi JI
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(5):453-459
Objective:To establish a complete system for the isolation, purification, identification, and culture of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma-derived endothelial cells (KHE-ECs), to analyze the phenotype of KHE-ECs, and to explore the possibility of establishing a KHE-EC bank.Methods:A novel digestion solution for KHE tumors (patent number: CN202410500224.2) was formulated using collection fluid, Liberase TM and dispase stock solutions, and was used to process tumor tissues to obtain cells. High-purity KHE-ECs were purified using CD31 + immunomagnetic beads. The EGM-2 complete medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 2% penicillin-streptomycin solution was employed for cell culture. To verify the characteristics of KHE-ECs, immunofluorescence assay was conducted to determine the expression of endothelial cell-specific markers CD31 and CD34, KHE disease markers podoplanin (D2-40), prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox-1), and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1), as well as an infantile hemangioma-specific diagnostic marker glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) served as controls for the phenotype analysis of KHE-ECs, including cell viability, cytoskeleton, proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation, and sprouting ability. Results:Primary cells were successfully isolated from KHE tumor tissues, and high-purity KHE-ECs were obtained by using CD31 + immunomagnetic beads. The cells exhibited typical spindle-shaped morphology and an adherent growth pattern. Immunofluorescence assay showed that KHE-ECs expressed CD31, CD34, D2-40, Prox-1, and LYVE1, but did not express GLUT-1. There were significant differences in cell morphology, cell viability, and cytoskeletal structures between KHE-ECs and HUVECs. Additionally, the KHE-EC group showed significantly increased percentages of proliferative cells (29.1% ± 2.5%), numbers of migratory cells (114.3 ± 9.4) and invasive cells (110.0 ± 6.1), tube length (32 121.0 ± 892.0 μm), and number of sprouting cells (25.0 ± 3.6) compared with the HUVEC group (13.0% ± 2.2%, 38.0 ± 3.6, 35.3 ± 2.3, 25 345.0 ± 448.1 μm, 5.0 ± 1.0, respectively, all P ≤ 0.001) . Conclusion:An innovative digestion solution specifically for KHE tumors was formulated for the first time, and high-purity and well-growing KHE-EC strains were successfully isolated and purified by using the novel digestion solution in combination with CD31 + immunomagnetic beads, providing a stable and reliable cell source for subsequent experimental studies on KHE and laying the foundation for establishing a KHE-EC bank.
8.Mechanism of Congrong Zonggan Capsules in Improving Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Impairment in 5×FAD Mice Based on NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway
Yanru ZHOU ; Xinru GU ; Yuru LIU ; Shun ZHANG ; Yaozhong LYU ; Zhenzhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):130-138
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Congrong Zonggan capsules (CRZG) on cognitive impairment in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) model of mice and its related mechanisms. MethodsSPF grade 4-week-old 5×FAD mice were divided into a model group, low-dose CRZG (0.819 g·kg-1) and high-dose CRZG (1.638 g·kg-1) groups, and Donepezilepezil hydrochloride group (2 mg·kg-1), with eight mice in each group. Eight C57 mice with the same background were set as the normal group. After one week of adaptive feeding, mice were orally administered continuously for six months. On the 5th month of drug administration, Y maze, new object recognition, and Morris water maze tests were conducted separately. After administration, mouse brain tissue was taken, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in brain tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the expression of small glial cell markers Iba1, astrocyte markers GFAP, and amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ1-42) in the hippocampus of the brain tissue. The hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the hippocampus of brain tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cleaved Caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and other proteins in the brain tissue. ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the mice in the model group had obvious cognitive impairment. The spontaneous alternation rate of the Y maze was decreased, and the discrimination index of novel object recognition was decreased significantly (P<0.01). The escape latency in the water maze was shortened significantly (P<0.01). The contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in brain tissue were increased. The fluorescence levels of Iba1 and Aβ1-42 in the hippocampus were significantly increased (P<0.01). There was a significant increase in neuronal lesions, neuronal atrophy, loose arrangement of tissue structure, and abnormal erythrocyte aggregation in the hippocampus. The protein expressions of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65, cleaved Caspase-1, ASC, IL-6, and IL-1β were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the spontaneous alternation rate and discrimination index of the high-dose CRZG group were increased significantly (P<0.01), and the escape latency was shortened significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). The content of IL-6 decreased in the brain, and that of TNF-α dropped significantly (P<0.01). The expression of Iba1 protein and Aβ1-42 in the hippocampus decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). The hippocampal neurons were densely arranged, and the pyramidal nuclei were clear and centered. The abnormal aggregation of red blood cells was alleviated. The value of p-NF-κB/NF-κB proteins and the expression of ASC, cleaved Caspase-1, IL-6, and IL-1β were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionCRZG can effectively improve cognitive impairment in 5×FAD mice with Alzheimer's disease, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway to reduce the abnormal activation of microglia and inhibit neuroinflammation.
9.Investigation of the timing of oral propranolol treatment for proliferative infantile hemangioma
Kaizhi ZHANG ; Tong QIU ; Jiangyuan ZHOU ; Xue GONG ; Zixin ZHANG ; Yuru LAN ; Yi JI
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(10):952-956
Objective:To investigate the optimal timing of oral propranolol treatment for proliferative infantile hemangiomas (IH) .Methods:A bidirectional cohort study was conducted. Infants with proliferative IH receiving oral propranolol treatment were collected from the Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between June 2015 and May 2019, and their general information and IH-related clinical data were analyzed. The primary outcome was the satisfactory regression rate of IH during 6-12 months of continuous oral propranolol treatment; secondary outcomes included the time to achieve satisfactory regression, incidence of adverse reactions, incidence of IH ulceration, and IH recurrence rate. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing the satisfactory regression of IH after propranolol treatment, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to determine the optimal age for initiating propranolol therapy.Results:A total of 122 IH infants were enrolled in the study, including 32 males (26.2%) and 90 females (73.8%), with ages ( M[ Q1, Q3]) of 8.6 [6.3, 12.3] weeks. IH was located on the head and face in 56 cases (45.9%). There were 57 cases (46.7%) of localized IH, 53 (43.4%) of segmental IH, and 86 (70.5%) of mixed-type IH. Ulceration occurred in 17 cases (13.9%). After 6 months of propranolol treatment, 8 patients (6.6%) experienced treatment failure, and 12 (9.8%) experienced relapse within 6 months after discontinuation of propranolol. During 6 months of oral propranolol treatment, 56 infants (45.9%) experienced mild to moderate adverse reactions, with no drug-related deaths observed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the age at initiation of propranolol treatment was an independent factor influencing satisfactory regression of IH ( OR = 0.879, 95% CI: 0.808 - 0.957). ROC curve analysis revealed that the optimal age for starting propranolol therapy was 9.9 weeks, with a sensitivity of 75.7% and a specificity of 61.5%. Infants aged ≤ 9.9 weeks (73 cases) had a significantly higher satisfactory regression rate (72.6% [53/73]) compared with those aged > 9.9 weeks (49 cases, 34.7% [17/49]; χ2 = 17.23, P < 0.001) ; the time to achieve satisfactory regression of IH was significantly shorter in the infants aged ≤ 9.9 weeks ( M[ Q1, Q3]: 46.0 [38.5, 48.0] weeks) than in those aged > 9.9 weeks (57.0 [40.0, 73.5] weeks; Z = -2.01, P = 0.045) . Conclusion:For IH infants requiring systemic therapy, initiation of oral propranolol before the age of 10 weeks appeared to improve the satisfactory regression rate of IH.
10.Biomedical Progress of Viscoelastic Tunable Composite Hydrogel Based on Dynamic Covalent Bonds
Siqi ZHANG ; Yuru ZHOU ; Ran LIU ; Xiaogang WU ; Yanqin WANG ; Weiyi CHEN
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2024;39(6):1212-1220
Due to good biocompatibility and mechanical properties similar to those of natural biological tissues,hydrogels have been widely used in biomedical fields.With the development of biomechanics,more and more researches have found that the viscoelastic tunable composite hydrogels based on dynamic covalent bonds can better simulate the viscoelastic mechanical properties of biological tissues and natural extracellular matrix over time due to their superior biomechanical properties and stimulus responsiveness.This review summarizes in detail the applications of viscoelastic tunable composite hydrogels based on different types of dynamic covalent bonds(imide bonds,disulfide bonds,borate ester bonds,etc.)in the fields of regulating cell function,affecting tissue regeneration and repair,as well as drug delivery.The challenges and opportunities for future research are also proposed.

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