1.Effect of uric acid level and sugar sweetened beverage intake on elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in Guangzhou
ZHANG Zehui, JI Jiting, LONG Jiayi, PAN Shun, MO Miaoling, LU Zhiqing, LI Boyuan, CHEN Jiayu, LIU Li
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(6):878-882
Objective:
To investigate the association between uric acid level and elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in Guangzhou, so as to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of hypertension in the pediatric population.
Methods:
From March to December 2019, using stratified cluster random sampling, 3 626 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years without elevated blood pressure at baseline were recruited from 6 primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou. Serum uric acid levels were measured at baseline, and divided into four groups ( Q1-Q 4) based on age and sex specific quartiles for analyses. Two waves of follow up were carried out from October 2020 to May 2021 and from October 2021 to May 2022, respectively. Multilevel robust Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between uric acid level and elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents. The additive interaction between high uric acid level and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake on elevated blood pressure was assessed by stratification analysis and calculation of the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).
Results:
A total of 1 131 new cases of elevated blood pressure were identified during the two follow ups, with an incidence density of 130.5 cases 1 000 person years. Multilevel robust Poisson regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounders such as gender, age and annual family income, compared with those in the uric acid Q 1 level, the risk of elevated blood pressure in individuals in the Q 4 level increased by 25% ( RR=1.25, 95%CI =1.08-1.44), and the risk of elevated systolic blood pressure increased by 20% ( RR=1.20, 95%CI =1.05-1.36) (both P <0.05); no statistical association was observed between uric acid and elevated diastolic blood pressure (all P >0.05). In the stratified analysis, the statistical associations of uric acid Q 4 level with elevated blood pressure ( RR=1.34, 95%CI =1.13-1.58) and elevated systolic blood pressure ( RR=1.33, 95%CI =1.14-1.55) were only observed in the group with SSB intake ≥ 250 mL/week (both P <0.05). The RERI values for the effect of uric acid Q 4 and Q 3 levels with SSB intake ≥ 250 mL/week on elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 0.29 and 0.44 (both P <0.05).
Conclusions
High uric acid level is a risk factor for elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents, with a predominant effect on systolic blood pressure. High uric acid level and SSB intake synergistically promote the increase of blood pressure of children and adolescents.
2.Mechanism of Gancao Fuzitang Improving Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats via Regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway and Promoting Autophagy
Xiaochao WANG ; Mange LIU ; Jiacong XIAO ; Zehui LI ; Da GUO ; Yulin CAI ; Chunjian ZI ; Xuewei CAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(17):46-58
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the intervention effect and molecular mechanism of Gancao Fuzitang (GCFZT) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to predict the key targets and signaling pathways of GCFZT. Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group (KOA), a low-dose GCFZT group (GCFZT-L, 2.8 g·kg-1), a high-dose GCFZT group (GCFZT-H, 5.6 g·kg-1), and a positive drug celecoxib group (Celecoxib, 20 mg·kg-1), with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the sham group and the model group were given an equal volume of distilled water. Except for the sham group, the other four groups underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection to establish the KOA rat model. After successful modeling, the rats in each group received intragastric administration once a day for eight consecutive weeks. The structural changes of cartilage and subchondral bone were assessed via micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological staining. The levels of inflammatory factors in the serum, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect changes in the expression of autophagy-related proteins such as microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), selective autophagy junction protein 62 (p62), and autophagy key molecule yeast Atg6 homolog (Beclin-1) in articular cartilage, as well as key molecules of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. ResultsNetwork pharmacology analysis suggests that GCFZT may exert anti-osteoarthritic effects through regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In vivo experiment shows that GCFZT can significantly improve cartilage degeneration and attenuate subchondral bone destruction in KOA rats. Detection results of inflammatory factors in the serum reveal that, compared with those in the sham group, the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the serum of rats in the KOA group are significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with those in the KOA group, the levels of these three inflammatory factors in the GCFZT-L, GCFZT-H, and Celecoxib groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in these three inflammatory factor levels between the GCFZT-H group and the celecoxib group. These findings suggest that GCFZT can effectively inhibit the systemic inflammatory response in KOA rats. Mechanism research indicates that GCFZT inhibits activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, thereby enhancing autophagic activity and improving chondrocyte function and matrix degeneration. ConclusionGCFZT improves cartilage and subchondral bone damage in KOA rats by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and promoting autophagy. These findings provide theoretical evidence for the application of GCFZT in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.
3.Risk factors for aggravation of type 2 diabetic foot ulcer and features of bacterial infection
Keqiang MEI ; Zehui LIU ; Rong ZHU ; Lijuan MA ; Rui HAN
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(6):770-777
Objective:To investigate the risk factors for aggravation of type 2 diabetic foot ulcer and the correlation between the level of infection and the severity of the disease,as well as the association of the detection rate of bacteria and the types of bacteria with disease severity in patients with type 2 diabetic foot ulcer,and to provide individualized guidance for the prevention,diagnosis,and treatment of type 2 diabetic foot.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 150 patients with type 2 diabetic foot who were treated in Department of Endocrinology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University,from October 2021 to June 2023,and according to the Wagner grade of diabetic foot,these patients were divided into mild group A(35 patients with Wagner grade 2),moderate group B(58 patients with Wagner grade 3),and severe group C(57 patients with Wagner grade 4).The clinical data of the three groups were analyzed.Results:The severity of type 2 diabetic foot ulcer was correlated with white blood cell count,neutrophil count,platelet count,monocyte count,globulin,alkaline phosphatase,neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio,monocyte-lymphocyte ratio,platelet-lymphocyte ratio,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,interleukin-6,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,hemoglo-bin,albumin/globulin ratio,lymphocyte count,cholinesterase,albumin,fasting blood glucose,gamma-glutamyl transferase,glycated he-moglobin,blood uric acid,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,total cholesterol,triglycerides,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(P<0.05).The multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and erythrocyte sedi-mentation rate were independent risk factors for the progression of Wagner grade of diabetic foot(P<0.05).For groups A,B,and C,the detection rate of bacteria in foot ulcer secretion tended to increase with the severity of diabetic foot,with the highest detection rate in group C,followed by groups B and A.A total of 31 types of bacteria were detected in the three groups,and the proportion of Gram-positive bacteria was higher than that of Gram-negative bacteria,with Staphylococcus aureus accounting for the highest proportion of 27.72%in all samples.Conclusion:High-sensitivity C-reactive pro-tein,procalcitonin,interleukin-6,and erythrocyte sedimentation rate increase with the progression of the Wagner grade of diabetic foot,and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are independent risk factors for the progression of the Wagner grade of diabetic foot.The detection rate of bacteria in foot ulcer secretion tends to increase with the Wagner grade of diabetic foot,and Gram-positive bacteria account for a higher proportion than Gram-negative bacteria,with Staphylococcus aureus accounting for the highest proportion.
4.Efficacy of 3D-nnU-Net model of CT virtual monoenergetic images,non-linear blending images and mixed-energy images for automatically segmenting advanced gastric cancer
Bowen LIU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Chao LU ; Zhixuan WANG ; Jiulou ZHANG ; Zehui WANG ; Siyuan LU ; Xiaoyue JIANG ; Mingyao QI ; Donggang PAN ; Xiuhong SHAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(5):753-758
Objective To compare the segmenting efficacy of automatic segmentation models for advanced gastric cancer(AGC)on CT virtual monoenergetic images(VMI),non-linear blending images(NLBI)and mixed-energy images(MEI)based on 3D-nnU-Net.Methods Totally 216 cases of AGC were retrospectively enrolled,among them 185 cases were used to construct,train and validate models and divided into training set(n=154)and test set(n=31)at the ratio of 5∶1,while the other 31 cases were used as validation set to evaluate the generalization of the models.The 70 keV energy level VMI(VMI70 keV),NLBI and MEI were reconstructed with whole-abdominal dual-energy mode venous CT,and automatic segmentation models of AGC,including VMI70 keV,NLBI and MEI models were constructed using 3D-nnU-Net,respectively.Taken manually segmented results as golden standards,the efficacy of each model for segmenting all lesions and T2 stage lesions in test set and validation set were evaluated using Dice similarity coefficient(DSC),intersection over union(IoU)and average symmetric surface distance(ASSD).Results For all lesions in test and validation sets,DSC of 3 models were all>0.80.DSC and IoU of VMI70 keV and NLBI models were both higher,while their ASSD was lower than those of MEI model(all P<0.05).For T2 stage AGC in both test set and validation set(each n=5),DSC of MEI model was lower than that of VMI70 keV and NLBI models(both P<0.05),while IoU of MEI model was lower than that of VMI70 keV model(P<0.05),and its ASSD was higher than that of NLBI model(P<0.05).Conclusion All 3D-nnU-Net-based VMI70 keV,NLBI and MEI models could effectively segment AGC on dual-energy CT images,and the segmentation efficacy of the former two were better.
5.Efficacy of 3D-nnU-Net model of CT virtual monoenergetic images,non-linear blending images and mixed-energy images for automatically segmenting advanced gastric cancer
Bowen LIU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Chao LU ; Zhixuan WANG ; Jiulou ZHANG ; Zehui WANG ; Siyuan LU ; Xiaoyue JIANG ; Mingyao QI ; Donggang PAN ; Xiuhong SHAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(5):753-758
Objective To compare the segmenting efficacy of automatic segmentation models for advanced gastric cancer(AGC)on CT virtual monoenergetic images(VMI),non-linear blending images(NLBI)and mixed-energy images(MEI)based on 3D-nnU-Net.Methods Totally 216 cases of AGC were retrospectively enrolled,among them 185 cases were used to construct,train and validate models and divided into training set(n=154)and test set(n=31)at the ratio of 5∶1,while the other 31 cases were used as validation set to evaluate the generalization of the models.The 70 keV energy level VMI(VMI70 keV),NLBI and MEI were reconstructed with whole-abdominal dual-energy mode venous CT,and automatic segmentation models of AGC,including VMI70 keV,NLBI and MEI models were constructed using 3D-nnU-Net,respectively.Taken manually segmented results as golden standards,the efficacy of each model for segmenting all lesions and T2 stage lesions in test set and validation set were evaluated using Dice similarity coefficient(DSC),intersection over union(IoU)and average symmetric surface distance(ASSD).Results For all lesions in test and validation sets,DSC of 3 models were all>0.80.DSC and IoU of VMI70 keV and NLBI models were both higher,while their ASSD was lower than those of MEI model(all P<0.05).For T2 stage AGC in both test set and validation set(each n=5),DSC of MEI model was lower than that of VMI70 keV and NLBI models(both P<0.05),while IoU of MEI model was lower than that of VMI70 keV model(P<0.05),and its ASSD was higher than that of NLBI model(P<0.05).Conclusion All 3D-nnU-Net-based VMI70 keV,NLBI and MEI models could effectively segment AGC on dual-energy CT images,and the segmentation efficacy of the former two were better.
6.Methylation level of CNR1 in peripheral blood of children with autism spectrum disorder
Feng WANG ; Zehui LIU ; Yilin ZHANG ; Wenru TIAN ; Lingyuan YANG ; Mingyang ZOU ; Caihong SUN
Chinese Journal of Child Health Care 2024;32(3):237-241
【Objective】 To explore the relationship between the methylation level of CNR1 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in order to provide a theoretical basis for the etiology of ASD. 【Methods】 A case-control study was conducted, recruiting 30 children with ASD from the Child Development and Behavior Research Center of Harbin Medical University and a rehabilitation facility, and 30 matched typically developed children from June 2017 to December 2018. The methylation levels of CNR1 in peripheral blood were measured by the Agena MassArray® Mass Spectrometry System. A univariate conditional Logistic regression model was used to analyze the potential association between the methylation level of CNR1 and the risk of ASD with adjustment for age, BMI, body fat percentage and body fat. The correlations between the methylation level of CNR1 and the score of Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were evaluated by Pearson/Spearman correlation analysis. 【Results】 The methylation levels of the average methylation (t=2.224), CpG_3.4 (Z=2.187), CpG_9.10.11 (t=2.308), and CpG_28.29 (t=2.943) of the CNR1 promoter region in ASD children were significantly higher than controls (P<0.05). The methylation levels of the average methylation (OR=1.117, 95%CI: 1.003 - 1.245), CpG_9.10.11 (OR= 1.072, 95%CI:1.006 - 1.142), and CpG_28.29 (OR=1.078, 95%CI: 1.018 - 1.141) of the CNR1 promoter region were positively correlated with the risk of ASD (P<0.05). The methylation level of CpG_28.29 in ASD children was positively correlated with the scores of social motivation in SRS (r=0.421, P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 The methylation levels of CNR1 in peripheral blood are abnormal in ASD children and might be correlated with the risk of ASD and social function. The underlying mechanism needs to be further explored.
7.Mediating role of health education competency in the relationship between supportive communication and general self-efficacy among medical undergraduates
Hui YIN ; Wenxuan LI ; Ying ZHANG ; Yuchun TAO ; Zehui LI ; Wei LIU ; Zuoming ZHANG ; Limin WANG ; Depin CAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(3):347-352
Objective:To explore the factors influencing the supportive communication ability of medical undergraduates, and to propose strategies to improve supportive communication.Methods:By cluster sampling, we selected 388 medical undergraduates of grades 2017 and 2018 from Harbin Medical University for a questionnaire survey on supportive communication, general self-efficacy, and health education abilities. SPSS 22.0 was used for descriptive statistical analysis. AMOS 22.0 was used to construct a structural equation model to verify the relationship between the three variables. Mediating effects were also tested.Results:The students showed good supportive communication ability, with a total score of (74.28±10.84) points. The general self-efficacy score was (27.81±5.58) points, and the total score of health education ability was (25.50±4.76) points. General self-efficacy had direct positive effects on supportive communication and health education abilities ( β=0.75, 0.31, both P<0.001). Health education ability had a direct positive effect on supportive communication ability ( β=0.14, P<0.001). Health education ability played a significant mediating role in the influence of general self-efficacy on supportive communication ability (standardized mediating effect value=0.042, P<0.01), with the mediating effect accounting for 5.1%. Conclusions:The health education competency of medical undergraduates can mediate the effect of general self-efficacy on supportive communication ability. By strengthening medical humanities education to increase general self-efficacy and also emphasizing the cultivation of health education competency, the supportive communication ability of students can be improved.
8.Research on Intervention Strategies for Palliative Care Decision-Making in Terminal Cancer Patients Based on Dual-Process Theory of Behavioral Economics
Furong TIAN ; Zehui LIU ; Genyong ZUO
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(11):64-67
Objective:From the perspective of behavioral economics,it analyzes the reasons for the low utilization rate of palliative care and propose intervention measures,to promote the acceptance and application of palliative care by terminal cancer patients and their families.Methods:Using the theories and methods of behavioral economics to explore how cognitive and behavioral biases lead to irrational medical decisions in the choice of palliative care;based on the dual-process theory and nudge method,it aims to construct an intervention model for"palliative"care decision-making and propose intervention strategies.Results:Terminal cancer patients and their families with bounded rationality tend to prefer short-term aggressive treatment plans while making decisions,and use the extension of survival as the decision anchor point,weakening the influence of quality of life factors.The lack of sound mechanisms related to palliative care will further increase the cognitive bias of cancer patients and their families,putting them in a negative choice framework and risking losses,leading to the abandonment of more rational palliative care plans.Conclusion:By adopting the"perceptual-rational"thinking from the dual-process theory,transforming inter-temporal selection into the most cost-effective option,anchoring treatment expectations to patients'quality of life,increasing the value of palliative care benefits,and constructing a supportive selection framework as a target for intervention,it can help promote the use of palliative care.
9.Research on Intervention Strategies for Palliative Care Decision-Making in Terminal Cancer Patients Based on Dual-Process Theory of Behavioral Economics
Furong TIAN ; Zehui LIU ; Genyong ZUO
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(11):64-67
Objective:From the perspective of behavioral economics,it analyzes the reasons for the low utilization rate of palliative care and propose intervention measures,to promote the acceptance and application of palliative care by terminal cancer patients and their families.Methods:Using the theories and methods of behavioral economics to explore how cognitive and behavioral biases lead to irrational medical decisions in the choice of palliative care;based on the dual-process theory and nudge method,it aims to construct an intervention model for"palliative"care decision-making and propose intervention strategies.Results:Terminal cancer patients and their families with bounded rationality tend to prefer short-term aggressive treatment plans while making decisions,and use the extension of survival as the decision anchor point,weakening the influence of quality of life factors.The lack of sound mechanisms related to palliative care will further increase the cognitive bias of cancer patients and their families,putting them in a negative choice framework and risking losses,leading to the abandonment of more rational palliative care plans.Conclusion:By adopting the"perceptual-rational"thinking from the dual-process theory,transforming inter-temporal selection into the most cost-effective option,anchoring treatment expectations to patients'quality of life,increasing the value of palliative care benefits,and constructing a supportive selection framework as a target for intervention,it can help promote the use of palliative care.
10.Research on Intervention Strategies for Palliative Care Decision-Making in Terminal Cancer Patients Based on Dual-Process Theory of Behavioral Economics
Furong TIAN ; Zehui LIU ; Genyong ZUO
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(11):64-67
Objective:From the perspective of behavioral economics,it analyzes the reasons for the low utilization rate of palliative care and propose intervention measures,to promote the acceptance and application of palliative care by terminal cancer patients and their families.Methods:Using the theories and methods of behavioral economics to explore how cognitive and behavioral biases lead to irrational medical decisions in the choice of palliative care;based on the dual-process theory and nudge method,it aims to construct an intervention model for"palliative"care decision-making and propose intervention strategies.Results:Terminal cancer patients and their families with bounded rationality tend to prefer short-term aggressive treatment plans while making decisions,and use the extension of survival as the decision anchor point,weakening the influence of quality of life factors.The lack of sound mechanisms related to palliative care will further increase the cognitive bias of cancer patients and their families,putting them in a negative choice framework and risking losses,leading to the abandonment of more rational palliative care plans.Conclusion:By adopting the"perceptual-rational"thinking from the dual-process theory,transforming inter-temporal selection into the most cost-effective option,anchoring treatment expectations to patients'quality of life,increasing the value of palliative care benefits,and constructing a supportive selection framework as a target for intervention,it can help promote the use of palliative care.


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