1.Three-dimensional Electrical Impedance Tomography for Monitoring Gastric Hemorrhage
Zi-Han ZHAO ; Bo SUN ; Jing-Shi HUANG ; Zhi-Wei LI ; Yang WU ; Nan LI ; Jia-Feng YAO ; Tong ZHAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1062-1075
ObjectiveGastric hemorrhage is one of the most common and life-threatening emergencies of the upper digestive tract. Early identification and continuous monitoring are essential for reducing rebleeding rates and mortality, particularly within the critical early hours after onset. Although endoscopy and radiological imaging can accurately localize bleeding sites, these approaches are invasive, resource-intensive, and unsuitable for continuous bedside monitoring. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), as a noninvasive and radiation-free functional imaging technique, offers real-time visualization of conductivity distribution and has the potential for detecting intragastric bleeding based on the electrical contrast between blood and surrounding gastric tissues. In this study, a three-dimensional gastric EIT (3D-gEIT) framework is proposed to achieve noninvasive, real-time, and dynamic monitoring of gastric hemorrhage, with emphasis on spatial localization and quantitative volume assessment. MethodsA three-dimensional upper-abdominal simulation model incorporating the stomach, gastric wall, gastric contents, and surrounding tissues was established. Three electrode configurations, namely the dual layer ring, the four layer staggered ring, and the opposed dual plane array, were designed and systematically compared to evaluate their influence on depth sensitivity and spatial resolution. Based on the Tikhonov-Noser hybrid regularization scheme, a region-clustering constraint was introduced to develop the TK-Noser-RCC algorithm. This approach aggregates spatially adjacent elements with similar conductivity variations, thereby enhancing structural continuity and suppressing isolated noise artifacts. To validate the proposed framework, an upper-abdominal physical phantom was constructed using agar to simulate background tissue conductivity. Hemispherical high-conductivity inclusions with volumes ranging from 10 ml to 50 ml were attached to the inner gastric wall to mimic localized bleeding under different gastric filling states. Boundary voltages were acquired under a 120 kHz excitation current and reconstructed using the TK-Noser-RCC algorithm. Furthermore, an in vivo animal experiment was performed using a porcine model with adult-scale abdominal dimensions. A total of 100 ml of autologous blood was injected incrementally into the stomach to simulate progressive gastric hemorrhage, and time-difference EIT reconstruction was conducted at each injection stage to assess the dynamic system response under physiological conditions. ResultsSimulation results demonstrated that the opposed dual-plane electrode array achieved superior depth sensitivity distribution and spatial resolution. For a 40 ml hemorrhage model, the average ICC and SSIM improved by 55.9% and 38.8% compared with the dual-layer ring configuration, and by 64.0% and 39.5% compared with the four-layer staggered configuration. The proposed region-clustering constraint significantly enhanced reconstruction stability. Under added Gaussian noise of 40 dB and 30 dB, ICC values remained approximately 0.85, indicating effective artifact suppression and preservation of boundary integrity. In physical phantom experiments, reconstructed hemorrhage volumes increased approximately linearly with the preset hemispherical volumes, and the reconstructed high-conductivity regions closely matched the actual bleeding locations. Both empty-stomach and full-stomach conditions were evaluated, demonstrating that the opposed dual-plane configuration maintained stable imaging performance across varying gastric contents. In the animal experiment, reconstructed low-impedance regions expanded progressively with increasing injected blood volume. The spatial localization of the hemorrhage remained stable throughout the procedure, and no significant artifacts were observed. Quantitative analysis showed that reconstructed volume and average conductivity variation exhibited an approximately linear growth trend with injected blood volume, confirming the sensitivity of the system to dynamic intragastric conductivity changes. ConclusionThe proposed 3D-gEIT framework enables quantitative reconstruction of gastric hemorrhage volume and spatial distribution with improved depth sensitivity, structural continuity, and noise robustness compared with conventional EIT approaches. By integrating optimized electrode configuration and a region-clustering-constrained reconstruction algorithm, the system provides stable dynamic monitoring under both controlled phantom conditions and in vivo physiological environments. This method offers a noninvasive, real-time, and low-cost imaging strategy for early diagnosis, postoperative monitoring, and bedside surveillance of gastric bleeding.
2.Interpretation of the key points of the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation and management of high blood pressure in adults
Qin SUN ; Aiai LI ; Jing YU ; Dongze LI ; Haihong ZHANG ; Yan ZHONG ; Zhi WAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):204-210
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), in collaboration with multiple professional organizations, jointly released the "Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults" in August 2025. Based on the latest evidence-based medical findings from February 2015 to January 2025, the guideline proposes an individualized treatment strategy grounded in total cardiovascular disease risk stratification, incorporates the novel PREVENT risk assessment model, lowers the medication initiation threshold and control targets for high-risk populations, and provides specific management recommendations for special populations. This article provides an interpretation of these updates and conducts a comparative analysis with the current status of hypertension prevention and treatment in China as well as Chinese guidelines, aiming to offer reference for hypertension control practices in China.
3.Interpretation of the heart disease section in 2025 AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics
Aiai LI ; Qin SUN ; Jing YU ; Dongze LI ; Haihong ZHANG ; Yan ZHONG ; Zhi WAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(03):339-346
The American Heart Association (AHA) officially released the "2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association" on January 27, 2025. This report systematically compiles the latest statistics on major cardiovascular diseases worldwide, while simultaneously integrating relevant outcome indicators, including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs, and updating the global prevalence patterns and evolving trends of diverse risk factors impacting cardiovascular health, providing essential guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Synthesizing insights from this pivotal report and other relevant studies, this article highlights key findings concerning the global prevalence and mortality of heart diseases, associated risk factors, and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
4.Dual Targeting of TBK1 and JAK-STAT1 Pathways by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate Suppresses Type I Interferon-driven Inflammation
Liang LI ; Qi-Huan SHENG ; Huan LIU ; Wen-Hao YANG ; Jia-Lin SHI ; Ying-Jie SUN ; Rui JING ; Wei-Hua MAI ; Zhi-Min LI ; Xiao-Li XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1969-1983
ObjectiveType I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is essential for antiviral innate immunity, yet its sustained or excessive activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases and interferonopathies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Current strategies targeting this pathway, exemplified by JAK inhibitors, act mainly on downstream signal transduction and provide limited direct control over upstream IFN-I production, while also carrying the risk of broad immunosuppression. Phyllanthus emblica L. has long been used in traditional medicine for inflammatory disorders, but the bioactive constituent responsible for its regulation of IFN-I signaling and the underlying molecular mechanism have not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the active anti-inflammatory component of P. emblica and to characterize its mechanism of action on the IFN-I pathway in macrophages. MethodsActive components ofP. emblica and their candidate targets were screened by network pharmacology using the TCMSP and DrugBank databases (oral bioavailability≥30%, drug-likeness≥0.18) and intersected with inflammation-related genes retrieved from public databases. The predicted interaction between EGCG and IFN-I pathway proteins (TBK1, IRF3, STAT1) was evaluated by molecular docking, with BX795 and GSK8612 used as reference TBK1 inhibitors. Mechanistic experiments were performed in THP-1-derived macrophages and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Upstream signaling was activated by transfection of the nucleic acid analogs poly(I∶C) and poly(dA∶dT) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, whereas downstream signaling was activated by exogenous IFN-β. An siRNA-mediated TREX1 knockdown model was used to mimic endogenous nucleic acid-driven interferonopathy. Expression of IFN-β1 and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) was measured by RT-qPCR, protein phosphorylation by Western blot, and IFN-β secretion by ELISA. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) were used to probe the interactionbetween EGCG and IRF3. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a candidate IFN-I-suppressive constituent of P. emblica, with predicted binding to TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1. Molecular docking yielded binding energies of -9.2, -7.2, and -8.2 kcal/mol for TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1, respectively, indicating an affinity for TBK1 comparable to that of the reference inhibitors BX795 (-5.7 kcal/mol) and GSK8612 (-6.4 kcal/mol). EGCG suppressed IFN-β1 and ISG mRNA expression under poly (I∶C), poly (dA∶dT), and LPS stimulation in both THP-1 macrophages and BMDM. At the protein level, EGCG reduced the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 without affecting the levels of the upstream sensors cGAS and RIG-I, and lowered IFN-β secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. CETSA and DARTS showed that EGCG did not enhance the thermal stability or protease resistance of IRF3, indicating that its effect on IRF3 is indirect. Following IFN-β stimulation, prolonged EGCG treatment reduced STAT1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner without an apparent change in IRF9, and partially attenuated ISG transcription; this effect was not monotonicly concentration-dependent, and CXCL10 showed the most consistent suppression. In TREX1-knockdown cells, the elevated mRNA levels of ISG15, ISG56, and CXCL10 were reduced by EGCG. ConclusionEGCG suppresses IFN-I responses by concurrently inhibiting TBK1-IRF3-dependent IFN‑β production and JAK-STAT1-mediated downstream transcription. These in vitro findings provide a mechanistic basis for the anti-inflammatory use of P. emblica in traditional medicine and identify EGCG as a candidate for further evaluation in interferon-driven autoimmune disease models.
5.Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Anmei Dan in Treating Insomnia with Amnesia Based on Principle of Treating Different Diseases with Same Method: A Review
Qiqi FENG ; Bo XU ; Kang SUN ; Miao ZHU ; Zhi ZHANG ; Jing XIA ; Guangjing XIE ; Yuan LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(17):107-116
In modern society, the comorbidity of insomnia with amnesia has shown a significantly increasing incidence and become increasingly severe, emerging as a public health issue that endangers people's physical and mental health and quality of life. Anmei Dan (AMD), originally recorded in the Shishi Milu by CHEN Shiduo in the Qing Dynasty, possesses profound theoretical foundations and distinct clinical advantages in ameliorating insomnia with amnesia. Basic research has unequivocally confirmed its definite therapeutic effects on insomnia with amnesia and revealed partial mechanisms. AMD is therefore a veritable classic prescription embodying the principle of treating different diseases with the same method for insomnia and amnesia. However, few researchers have reviewed the related research progress. This article systematically summarized the theoretical connotations of traditional Chinese medicine in treating insomnia with amnesia, delineated the multi-component material basis of AMD in ameliorating insomnia with amnesia (including various chemical components such as ginsenosides, jujubosides, and salvianolic acids), and evaluate its multi-dimensional clinical efficacy (e.g., prolonging total sleep time, improving sleep efficiency, and enhancing memory). Moreover, it systematically summarizes the multi-pathway mechanisms of action. The results indicate that AMD has a clear material basis, definite clinical efficacy, and a favorable safety profile in ameliorating insomnia and amnesia. AMD may exert the therapeutic effect by regulating sleep-wake rhythms, enhancing synaptic plasticity, inhibiting neuroimmune inflammation, and modulating autophagy, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism. In conclusion, AMD exerts synergistic effects through multi-component, multi-dimensional, and multi-pathway approaches, serving as an important prescription for enriching and developing the theory of treating different diseases with the same method for insomnia with amnesia.
6.Development and reliability and validity testing of the questionnaire on rotavirus vaccination behavioral and social drivers
Yuting LIAO ; Xiaodong SUN ; Zhuoying HUANG ; Huakun LYU ; Zhiguo WANG ; Binbing WANG ; Jiaxi DU ; Yaqiong LIANG ; Jiangshun WAN ; Zhi LI ; Jing QIU ; Fang HUANG ; Juan LI ; Xiang GUO
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(11):1883-1888
Objective:To construct a questionnaire to measure parents′ behavioral and social drivers (BeSD) in administering rotavirus vaccine to their children, and to test the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Methods:A questionnaire was constructed to investigate the BeSD of rotavirus vaccination among parents based on the WHO BeSD questionnaire. A survey was conducted among parents of children aged 0-3 years old in vaccination clinics from 15 community health service centers in Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province, Yuhuan and Kaihua Counties of Zhejiang Province, Anqing City of Anhui Province, and Yangpu District of Shanghai City from April to May in 2024. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to analyze the reliability (internal consistency reliability, combination reliability and split half reliability) and validity (structural validity, convergence validity and discriminative validity) of the questionnaire.Results:A total of 850 questionnaires were collected, of which 614 were valid, with an effective response rate of 72.20%. The EFA resulted in the refinement of the rotavirus vaccine BeSD questionnaire from 37 to 35 items (including 24 core items), and suggested a five-factor structure including the perceptions of vaccine, confidence in vaccine, social process of vaccination, motivation for vaccination, and practical problems of vaccination. The cumulative variance contribution rate reached 56.27%. The CFA confirmed an ideal five-factor model fit (GFI=0.82,CFI=0.86,PNFI=0.67,RMSEA=0.07). The AVE of each dimension was greater than 0.50. The AVE square root of each dimension of the questionnaire was greater than its correlation coefficient. The Cronbach′s α coefficient of the total questionnaire was 0.79.Conclusion:The developed BeSD questionnaire of rotavirus vaccine has good reliability and validity, and can be used to measure parents′ behavioral and social factors in administering rotavirus vaccine to their children.
7.Analysis of the willingness and related factors of pregnant women in Shanghai City to receive influenza vaccines during pregnancy
Fang HUANG ; Jing QIU ; Zhi LI ; Juan LI ; Yuting LIAO ; Zhuoying HUANG ; Xiang GUO ; Xiaodong SUN
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(7):1047-1053
Objective:To analyze the willingness and related factors of pregnant women in Shanghai City to receive influenza vaccines during pregnancy.Methods:An online questionnaire survey was conducted among pregnant women who registered in maternal and child health hospitals in 16 districts of Shanghai. The basic information, health status during pregnancy, attitude towards influenza vaccination, and knowledge of influenza and influenza vaccine were collected, and χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the willingness and related factors of pregnant women to receive influenza vaccines during pregnancy. Results:A total of 3 219 valid questionnaires were received, with 10.90% of pregnant women willing to receive influenza vaccination during pregnancy, 57.50% unwilling to receive vaccination and 31.59% holding an uncertain attitude. Among the pregnant women who were willing to receive the vaccine, 82.91% would take the initiative to know the relevant information about the influenza vaccine, and 87.18% understood the transmission routes of the flu. 32.09% believed that pregnant women could receive the influenza vaccination at any stage of pregnancy. Among those who were unwilling and held an uncertain attitude, the proportions of the above three questions were 47.06%, 83.95% and 17.80%, respectively. Among pregnant women who were unwilling to receive vaccination and held an uncertain attitude, the main reason for their vaccine hesitation was the concern about the safety of the vaccine for pregnant women and fetuses during pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women with higher education ( OR=3.278, 95% CI: 1.678-6.406, P=0.001), second trimester ( OR=1.542, 95% CI: 1.159-2.054, P=0.003), third pregnancy ( OR=2.318, 95% CI: 1.008-5.331, P=0.048), and previous influenza vaccination ( OR=1.552, 95% CI: 1.119-2.152, P=0.008) had a higher willingness to receive influenza vaccines during pregnancy. Conclusion:Pregnant women in Shanghai have a relatively low willingness to receive influenza vaccines during pregnancy, mainly due to concerns about vaccine safety.
8.Application of ultrasound-guided needling assisted the motor evoked potentials and electromyography monitoring in spinal surgery
Jing HU ; Hai-lin LI ; Zhi-qiang WU ; Jia-cheng LU ; Zi-xuan YUAN ; Yu-xi SUN ; Hui-bo WANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(11):960-964
Objective To explore the effect and predictive value of ultrasound-guided needling assisted motor evoked potentials(MEP)and electromyography(EMG)monitoring on neurological recovery in spinal surgery.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 80 patients who underwent spinal surgery at Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2024.A total of 41 patients in the observation group received ultrasound-guided needling assisted MEP and EMG monitoring,and 39 patients in the control group received conventional method for MEP and EMG monitoring.The operative time,intraoperative blood loss,and the proportions of intraoperative MEP and EMG warnings were compared between the two groups,and the sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative MEP monitoring were compared between the two groups.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to analyze the efficiency of MEP warning in predicting the dysfunction of postoperative spinal cord.Results There were no significant differences in the operative time,intraoperative blood loss,or the proportions of intraoperative MEP and EMG warnings(P>0.05).The sensitivity,specificity and AUC of intraoperative MEP monitoring in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,and AUC of postoperative MEP warning in predicting the dysfunction of spinal cord in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided needling assisted MEP and EMG monitoring can effectively enhance the intraoperative neural monitoring accuracy,and postoperative MEP warning demonstrates superior predictive value for postoperative neurological dysfunction.
9.Influence of Oatp4c1-P-gp transmembrane transport system in the kidneys of obese mice on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin
Jing-wen MEN ; Lu SUN ; Hao-ran YUE ; Zhao-yue DUAN ; Hui-nan HOU ; Ting GUI ; Jun-hong XIN ; Zhi-bo GAI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1318-1324
Aim To investigate the expression of or-ganic anion transporting polypeptide 4C1(Oatp4c1)-P-glycoprotein(P-gp)in the kidneys of obese mice in-duced by high-fat diet(HFD),and its impact on the pharmacokinetic changes of digoxin.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the Chow group and the HFD group.Body weight and blood glu-cose were recorded weekly.After successful model es-tablishment,digoxin was intraperitoneally injected,and blood was collected at different time points.Part of the blood samples was used for LC-MS/MS detection,and the other part was used for the detection of other bio-chemical indicators.After 16 weeks,the organs were removed and weighed.HE and immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the renal pathology and the expression of Villin,a marker of proximal tubules.Western blot and qPCR were combined to detect the expression of Villin,Oatp4c1 and P-gp.Results In the HFD group,body weight and blood glucose in-creased significantly.The blood concentration of digox-in rose,the area under the curve increased,and the half-life was prolonged.The proximal tubular epithelial cells shed,and the protein expression of Villin,Oatp4c1 and P-gp decreased significantly.Conclu-sions The down-regulation of Oatp4c1-P-gp expres-sion in the kidneys of HFD mice leads to an increase in the blood concentration of digoxin and a decrease in re-nal clearance.
10.Application of visual feedback-based balance training system for fall risk in stroke patients
Jing-zhi ZHANG ; Yang SUN ; Fei HAN
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;40(7):1009-1016,1024
Objective:To evaluate the application of visual feedback-based balance training system in reducing fall risk in stroke patients.Method:Fifty-five stroke patients admitted to Nanjing Mingzhou Rehabilitation Hospital from July 2022 to April 2023 were enrolled and randomly assigned to an experimental group(n=27)and a control group(n=28)according to the digital table method.The control group received routine balance training,while the exper-imental group received training using a visual feedback-based balance training system.After 4 weeks,the changes in relevant indicators between the two groups were compared.Time up and go test(TUG)and 10-me-ter walk test(10-MWT)were used as screening and evaluation indicators for fall risk.Berg balance scale(BBS)was used to evaluate the function of balance.Functional ambulation category scale(FAC)was used to evaluate the function of ambulation.Isokinetic muscle strength whole body muscle strength evaluating and train-ing system SINOFORCE version was used to evaluate the peak torque of knee flexion and extension.Libra proprioceptive balance training system was used to evaluate the index reflecting center of gravity out of con-trol,and calculate the difference in area of bilateral center of gravity movement.Result:After the intervention,the TUG duration decreased significantly in both groups(P<0.05),with the ex-perimental group showing a greater reduction than the control group(P<0.05);the 10-MWT speed increased significantly in both groups(P<0.05),with the experimental group showing a significantly higher increase than the control group(P<0.05).The BBS scores improved in both groups(P<0.05),with the experimental group showing greater improvement than the control group(P<0.05).FAC improved significantly in the exper-imental group(P<0.05),but showed no significant change in the control group(P>0.05);Peak torques of knee flexor and extensor muscles increased significantly in both groups(P<0.05),but there was no significant differ-ence between the groups(P>0.05).Both groups demonstrated reductions in the center of pressure control in-dex and bilateral center of pressure movement area differences(P<0.05),with the experimental group show-ing significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The visual feedback-based balance training system effectively reduces fall risk in stroke patients and significantly improves balance function,walking ability,and lower limb motor function.

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