1.Literature Analysis and Validity Assessment for Animal Models of Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder
Wangyue LIAO ; Shuang LEI ; Xuan LI ; Min GUO ; Ruoran ZHOU
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):66-80
Attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood. It seriously impairs academic achievement, social interaction, and vocational development, and increases the risk of accidental injury and substance abuse. In some cases, the symptoms may also exert an indirect disruptive effect on public order. Its aetiology involves interactions among genetic, perinatal environmental, and psychosocial factors that cannot be fully disentangled by single clinical studies. Therefore, a systematic evaluation of existing animal models is essential for revealing pathophysiology and developing novel therapies. Using the keywords "attention deficit and hyperactive disorder", "models, animal", "validity", and their English equivalents, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang for publications from 2000 to 2025 (retrieving 328 publications) and added further references by citation tracking. Eighty-six rodent ADHD models that provided detailed construction protocols, behavioural assessments, neurobiological mechanisms, or pharmacological data were included and classified into spontaneous genetic, genetically engineered, and environmentally induced paradigms. Their face, construct, and predictive validity were compared. Among spontaneous genetic models, spontaneously hypertensive rats reproduce hyperactivity, impulsivity, and stimulant responses well, yet hypertension and sex differences limit specificity. Acallosal mouse strains link corpus callosum absence to ADHD-like behaviours, but neurotransmitter studies remain scarce. Genetically engineered rodents—including dopamine transporter, neurokinin-1 receptor and mediator complex subunit 23 knockout or conditional gene knockout lines—precisely dissect dopaminergic, noradrenergic, synaptic, or epigenetic pathways, yet generally lack full phenotypic coverage, social-deficit modelling, and comorbidity representation, and are accompanied by adverse effects such as growth retardation or ocular defects. Environmentally induced models employ lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, alcohol, nicotine exposures, 6-hydroxydopamine lesions, neonatal hypoxia, early social isolation, or maternal stress to recapitulate core symptoms. However, dose-schedule standardisation is lacking. Behavioural reversibility diverges from clinical persistence, and non-specific phenotypes such as anxiety or depression are common. Overall, no single paradigm simultaneously achieves high validity across all three dimensions. Currently, ADHD models have progressed from single-factor simulations to multidimensional evaluation, yet significant gaps remain in genetic-background standardisation, sex differences, cross-species translation, and syndrome-differentiation modelling under traditional Chinese medicine. Future directions should integrate genetic, environmental, and epigenetic interactions, establish life-span validation systems, and incorporate computational neuroscience alongside integrative Chinese-Western strategies to enhance clinical relevance and translational utility, thereby providing robust evidence-based support for mechanistic elucidation, drug screening and precision intervention in ADHD.
2.Standardization Challenges in Outcome Evaluation Systems of Animal Experiments and Considerations for Core Outcome Set Construction Strategies
Qingyong ZHENG ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Tengfei LI ; Jianguo XU ; Chen TIAN ; Hui LIU ; Min TIAN ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Yating CUI ; Junfei WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):138-148
Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.
3.LUBAC-OTULIN Axis and Rare Autoinflammatory Diseases
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):73-81
The linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), composed of heme-oxidized IRP2 ubiquitin ligase 1-interacting protein (HOIP), haem-oxidized IRP2 ubiquitin ligase-1(HOIL-1), and SHANK-associated RBCK1 homology-domain-interacting protein (SHARPIN), and its specific deubiquitinating enzyme OTULIN, regulates the dynamic balance of Met1-linked linear ubiquitination and maintains ubiquitin signaling homeostasis. Their precise interaction plays a central role in the regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and type I interferon signaling, inflammatory response, and cell survival and death. Dysregulation of the LUBAC-OTULIN axis can lead to aberrant immune and inflammatory signaling, immunodeficiency, and dysregulation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1-mediated apoptosis or necroptosis. Genetic defects in OTULIN and LUBAC are associated with rare autoinflammatory diseases such as OTULIN-related autoinflammatory syndrome (ORAS) and HOIP/HOIL-1/SHARPIN deficiency, respectively, with complex clinical phenotypes and gene dose correlation. Current treatments primarily rely on glucocorticoids and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has shown potential curative value in some patients with severe ORAS. This review summarizes the molecular composition, interaction mechanisms, and pathogenic roles of the LUBAC-OTULIN axis in rare autoinflammatory diseases, providing reference for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
4.Roles of plant-derived natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis
Ziyi DUAN ; Wenhao ZHOU ; Yingjie CAI ; Min ZHONG ; Jian MAO ; Lan JIANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):33-39
Osteoporosis is a systemic disease, and epidemiological projections indicate that by 2050, approximately 23.43% of the Chinese population over 50 years of age will be affected. Given the poor prognosis associated with osteoporosis, the exploration of safe and effective natural products is of considerable significance. Studies investigating the chemical constituents of traditional Chinese medicine in cellular and/or animal models have demonstrated bone-protective effects. Although most of these compounds lack clinical data, they hold considerable potential as lead candidates for drug development. In-depth study of the structure-activity relationship of these natural products not only contributes to elucidating the mechanisms of action but also provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel antiosteoporosis therapies. This review summarizes natural products with potential antiosteoporotic effects reported between 2020 and 2024. Overall, plant-derived natural compounds exhibit antiosteoporotic effects by regulating bone remodeling, inflammation, and oxidative stress, highlighting their promise as multitarget therapeutic candidates.
5.Construction and clinical application exploration of an artificial intelligence-based high-quality lung cancer surgery dataset
Xuhua HUANG ; Yunfeng NIE ; Liang SHEN ; Pengxu KONG ; Xin TAN ; Zihao LI ; Wang LV ; Min ZHOU ; Xudong LV ; Jian HU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):717-727
Objective To construct a lung cancer surgery-oriented disease-specific database covering the entire perioperative care pathway, thereby improving the quality and usability of key surgical data elements. Methods Real-world clinical data were extracted from a single-center thoracic surgery department. A standardized data model was established based on the open electronic health record (openEHR) standard. Large language model (LLM), optical character recognition (OCR), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven techniques were employed to extract, structure, and perform quality control on unstructured clinical narratives, imaging reports, and radiological data, with a focus on capturing surgically relevant perioperative indicator. Results A multimodal database comprising 19 917 patients was established, including 7 930 males and 11 987 females, with ages ranging from 15 to 97 (61.7±9.7) years. The database includes 582 structured data variables, textual report data corresponding to 69 clinical indicators, 13 000 pulmonary function test PDF reports, and chest CT imaging data from 16 884 patients. This database comprehensively covers major information relevant to surgical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, significantly improving the completeness and granularity of surgical detail data. Large language models (LLMs) and optical character recognition (OCR) technologies enhanced the efficiency of converting unstructured data into structured formats, while a multi-level manual verification process ensured data accuracy and traceability. The database supports real-world research including comparisons of surgical procedures, prediction of postoperative complications, prognosis assessment, and multimodal data association analyses.
6.Research progress on health effects of triclosan and triclocarban
Jiaqi LIU ; Min HUANG ; Zichen YANG ; Yi WANG ; Ke ZHAO ; Yuhua ZHOU ; Yuanping WANG ; Na WANG ; Hexing WANG ; Qingwu JIANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(3):251-258
Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are widely used synthetic broad-spectrum antibacterial agents that can enter the human body through the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other pathways. More and more studies have found that exposure to TCS and TCC can affect human health, but currently, review reports on the health effects of human exposure to TCS and TCC are limited. Therefore, this study reviewed population studies on the relationship between TCS and TCC exposure and health effects by searching the PubMed database, summarized the associated health outcomes, and elucidated the biological mechanisms. A total of 56 studies were retrieved, among which cross-sectional studies (25 studies, 44.64%) and cohort studies (25 studies, 44.64%) accounted for a relatively large proportion, while case-control studies (6 studies, 10.72%) were relatively few. Studies on TCS exposure (48 studies, 85.71%) were far more prevalent than those on TCC exposure (2 studies, 3.57%). The remaining 6 studies involved both TCS and TCC exposure. The research results revealed that TCS exposure was associated with male and female abnormal reproductive functions, fetal growth restriction, abnormal behavior development in children, obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and immune-related diseases. Although the results of different studies show significant differences, they have indicated that exposure to TCS is a potential risk factor for these health problems. Due to the limited number of studies, the evidence for the relationship between TCC exposure and most of the aforementioned health effects is insufficient. Population studies and in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that exposure to TCS and TCC can interfere with the microbial homeostasis, the endocrine system, oxidative stress and immune function of the body, which are potential mechanisms causing adverse health effects. In the future, large-scale prospective cohort studies, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies, are still needed to further clarify the associations between TCS and TCC exposure and health effects, and to deeply explore its mechanism of action. These efforts will provide references for clarifying the human health hazards of TCS and TCC exposure and formulating targeted prevention and control strategies.
7.Metformin inhibits the immune functions of immature dendritic cells by regulating F-actin remodeling
Xianmei LIU ; Zhimei CHENG ; Enjie ZHOU ; Juanyong LI ; Yijun JIN ; Liming ZHOU ; Min XU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):480-486
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of metformin on the immune functions of immature dendritic cells (imDCs) and the underlying mechanisms. MethodsMouse bone marrow-derived imDCs were treated with different concentrations of metformin. The working concentration and treatment time of metformin in this study were determined based on the results of cell apoptosis and cell viability assays. The effects of metformin on the phagocytic capacity of imDCs was evaluated using an antigen endocytosis assay. The expression of cluster of differentiation 205 (CD205), the polymerization of filamentous actin (F-actin), and the underlying regulatory mechanisms were investigated through flow cytometry, laser confocal fluorescence microscopy, and Western blot. ResultsThe working concentrations of metformin were 1, 2, 4 mmol/L for 24 h determined by the apoptosis and cell viability assays.Metformin significantly suppressed the phagocytic capacity of imDCs, down-regulated the expression of the mannose receptor CD205 on the cell surface, which was closely associated with phagocytic function; metformin inhibited the RhoA-ROCK1-LIMK1-Cofilin signaling pathway, which inhibited the polymerization of F-actin and disturbed its dynamic remodeling of imDCs. ConclusionMetformin can inhibit the expression of CD205 and disrupt the remodeling of F-actin, thereby suppressing the antigen-capturing capacity of imDCs.
8.Salidroside exerts cytoprotective effects on bone endothelial progenitor cells via the AMPK pathway in atherosclerotic mouse model
Fang JIA ; Mengfei WANG ; Sifan FEI ; Jiayi XU ; Tianhong YU ; Lin ZHU ; Min ZHOU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):653-661
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of salidroside (SAL) on the impaired bioactivity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in atherosclerotic (As) mice and the potential mechanisms regarding AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). MethodsAtherosclerosis was induced in 8-week-old male ApoE-/- mice with high-fat diet. Intragastric administration of SAL was given to one mice group to investigate the effects of SAL on aortic plaque burden, plasma NO level, the migration and angiogenic capabilities of bone marrow-derived EPCs (BM-EPCs). The proliferation, migration and vasculogenic properties of EPCs isolated from As mice were investigated in vitro. AMPK-sh-RNA or the AMPK inhibitor Compound C was used to investigate the role of AMPK/Akt/eNOS pathway in the regulatory effects of SAL. ResultsCompared with As group, NO level was significantly elevated in SAL group. The sizes of atherosclerotic plaques at the aortic root were reduced with smaller lipid cores in SAL group compared with As group. Moreover, the migration and angiogenesis capacity of EPCs markedly decreased in As mice, while SAL treatment reversed these impairments. Incubation with SAL at concentrations of 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L for 48 hours significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of EPCs. AMPK-sh-RNA transfection abrogated the 20 μmol/L SAL improvement in EPC biological activities. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that treatment with Compound C blocked the activation of AMPK/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway induced by SAL. ConclusionSAL upregulates the biological functions of EPCs through activating the AMPK/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating EPC dysfunction during the pathological progression of atherosclerosis.
9.Disease-syndrome Combination Animal Models in Andrology of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review and Prospects
Jigang CAO ; Jianxiong LIU ; Min XIAO ; Xiaocui JIANG ; Aidi LIANG ; Xingyu JIANG ; Yanyan ZHOU ; Xiaoming YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):303-314
The disease-syndrome combination animal model in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) andrology serves as an important bridge linking TCM theory with modern medical research, providing a key experimental platform for elucidating the 'syndrome-disease' correlation mechanism in male-specific diseases and for screening effective prescriptions. This article reviews recent progress in animal model research on common TCM andrological diseases, including prostatic diseases, sexual dysfunction, and male infertility, with a focus on analyzing the application, advantages, and disadvantages of various modeling strategies, such as immune induction, hormonal intervention, and multi-factor combination across different syndrome types. However, despite breakthroughs in model construction techniques, current research still faces several challenges, including insufficient standardization of syndrome differentiation and difficulties in quantifying TCM-specific indicators. Future studies need to optimize model evaluation systems by integrating modern technologies, in order to promote the standardization and internationalization of TCM andrology research.
10.Role and research progress of gut microbiota in uveitis
Yingcheng LIN ; Qiuming HU ; Min ZHOU ; Jinqing LIU
International Eye Science 2025;25(1):64-69
Uveitis is a blinding inflammatory disease that affects multiple structures within the eye, posing significant risks to patients' vision and mental health. Current treatments mainly involve glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, which are associated with significant side effects, high relapse rates, and substantial costs. Recent research suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in the development of uveitis through the gut-eye axis, with related metabolites also influencing disease progression. Modulating the gut microbiota or its metabolites could offer new therapeutic avenues for uveitis. This review explores the relationship between gut microbiota and various uveitis-associated diseases, such as systemic sarcoidosis, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, Behcet's disease, multiple sclerosis, and birdshot chorioretinopathy. It also discusses advancements in microbiota-related therapies, including probiotics and prebiotics, antibiotics, immunomodulators, phage therapy, and fecal microbiota transplantation. The aim is to provide a reference for the development of new therapies targeting specific microbial communities and genetic markers associated with uveitis, thereby promoting the realization of precision medicine.

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