1.The current status of international health communication research and its implications for China
Lingyan YANG ; Zihan YU ; Yueqiao ZHAO ; Zhenping LI ; Jianyi YAO ; Hao LI ; Yuhui ZHOU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):18-21
Objective To systematically review international research on health communication, and to provide valuable insights and reference for China's health communication research and practice. Methods This study included 693 articles published from January 2023 to April 2024 in two authoritative academic journals in the field of health communication, “Health Communication” and the “Journal of Health Communication”. A systematic review was conducted on the themes, theoretical foundations, research methods, and populations of international health communication research. Results The findings in this study revealed that international health communication research topics were diverse, with hotspots including social media, health information behavior, health misinformation, stigmatization, trust, and risk perception. The results showed that 34% of the articles were based on theoretical foundations, and 93.3% employed research methods, focusing on adolescents, parents, women, and other key populations. Conclusion Domestic health communication research can expand its perspective from “information transmission” to “social interaction”, innovate theories and methods from “single paradigm" to “multi-integration” and shift focus from a “mass perspective” to “targeted care” for the health of all populations. Domestic health communication practice can delve into the localization of social media health communication practices, the comprehensive management of health misinformation, and the critical application of new technologies.
2.Sex-specific effects of Semen Cuscutae aqueous extract on behavior, proteomics, and gut microbiota in rats
Zihan ZHAO ; Yaling YANG ; Junhui ZHOU ; Jie REN ; Zhiqiang LUO ; Ruibin BAI ; Jian YANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):50-61
Background: Sex-based differences often influence the therapeutic efficacy and safety of medications. Semen Cuscutae is a traditional tonic botanical drug with sex-specific characteristics, traditionally indicated for conditions such as impotence (exclusive to males) and restless fetus (exclusive to pregnant females). However, most existing studies have focused on a single sex. Objective: To evaluate the sex-specific biological effects of Semen Cuscutae in rats and explore its molecular mechanisms, with the aim of uncovering its pharmacological characteristics through a multiomics approach. Methods: A traditional aqueous extract of Semen Cuscutae (SCA) was used as the experimental material. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats (equal numbers of males and females) were randomly divided into 4 groups: male control, male SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), female control, and female SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The biological effects were comprehensively evaluated using a combination of open field test, biochemical analyses, proteomics, and gut microbiota profiling. Results: As a tonic botanical drug, SCA appeared to directly affect the mental and behavioral state of rats. It significantly altered the time spent by rats in the center area during the open field test, showing a sex-dependent reversal of behaviors. Proteomic analysis of brain tissue identified 624 differentially expressed proteins across the groups, with 10 key differentially expressed proteins related to sex differences, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, transcription elongation factor A protein-like 1, 40S ribosomal protein S25, neural cell adhesion molecule, and anion exchange protein 2 (SLC4A2). Enrichment analysis revealed that in male rats, SCA upregulated proteins involved in biological processes such as ribosome function and energy derivation, supporting protein synthesis and enhancing energy supply, showing an overall gain effect. In contrast, in female rats, SCA downregulated proteins associated with processes such as positive regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and vesicle transport, suggesting suppression of neuronal signaling and material transport, indicative of a shift toward a more restrained physiological state. Furthermore, SCA reduced gut microbiota diversity in female rats but increased it in males, including the abundance of Akkermansia, which may serve as a crucial mediator. Conclusion: Overall, the biological effects of SCA differ significantly between male and female rats, with evidence suggesting greater health benefits in males. These findings help elucidate the scientific basis of its traditional applications and provide guidance for the precise application of SCA as a functional health food.
3.Establishment of amachine learning-based precision recruitment method at the county level
Xiaoyan FU ; Zihan ZHANG ; Fang ZHAO ; Chunlan ZHOU ; Wenbiao LIANG ; Cheng YU ; Yingzhi YAN ; Wei SI ; Weibin TAN ; Hui XUE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(12):1752-1758
Objective: To establish a machine learning-based precision blood donor recruitment model at the county level and assess its generalizability and applicability. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using blood donation and SMS recruitment data from the Taicang Branch of the Suzhou Blood Center between 2019 and 2024. Multiple machine learning algorithms were employed, including extreme gradient boosting, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, and multilayer perceptron. These were combined with techniques such as synthetic minority oversampling, undersampling, and cost-sensitive learning (using MFE and MSFE loss functions). Model parameters were optimized through grid search to identify the best-performing model. Results: In a prospective comparative study against conventional methods, the machine learning models increased the recruitment success rate among high-willingness donors by an average of 129.15%, and the recruitment efficiency per SMS improved by 125.02% compared with the traditional method. Under full-scale SMS sending, the recruitment rate per SMS increased by 42.61%, and SMS sending efficiency improved by 31.77%, significantly enhancing recruitment performance. Conclusion: This study represents the first application of a machine learning-based precision donor recruitment model at the county-level in China. The precise recruitment framework not only improves recruitment efficiency and reduces recruitment costs but also demonstrates strong scalability and generalizability. It provides a scientific and feasible intelligent pathway to ensure the safety and sustainability of the blood supply.
4.Effects of laminarin on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in C57BL/6 mice based on transcriptomics analysis
Lei Zhang ; Sumei Zhang ; Zhen Yang ; Weikang Hu ; Hongmei Bai ; Wenjing Zhou ; Zihan Wang ; Mingcong Li ; Shengquan Zhang ; Rongfeng Liao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(3):392-398
Objective :
To investigate the effect of laminarin(LAM) on nonproliferative diabetes retinopathy by high throughput sequencing(RNA-seq).
Methods :
The diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ), and the effect of LAM on diabetic mice was observed.C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: Control group, Model group, and LAM group, with 8 mice in each group. After 8 weeks of modeling, the LAM group received a 4-week intraperitoneal injection of LAM treatment. Changes in blood glucose and body weight of the three groups of mice were recorded, HE staining was performed to examine retinal lesions, and RNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs) in diabetic retinopathy(DR) under the action of STZ and LAM.
Results :
STZ successfully established the model of DR, and LAM reduced the blood sugar in diabetic mice to a certain extent and improved the pathological morphology of retinal structural looseness in diabetic mice. After RNA-seq analysis of DEGs, it was found that there were a total of 214 DEGs in the retina of the Model group mice compared to the Control group. Enrichment analysis revealed that DR could exacerbate the lesions through the PI3K Akt signaling pathway. There were a total of 42 DEGs in the retina of the Model group and LAM group mice, and enrichment showed that LAM improved the lesions through the neutrophil extracellular trap pathway. Early growth response factor 1(Egr1), FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene(Fos), nuclear receptor subfamily 4A member 1(Nr4a1), and salt-induced kinase 1(Sik1) were regulated by STZ, and LAM significantly regulated their expression, which might be closely related to LAM′s treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion
DEGs can exacerbate the severity of diabetic retinopathyviathe PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. LAM can mitigate diabetic retinopathyviathe neutrophil extracellular trap pathway. Egr1, Fos, Nr4a1, and Sik1 are key genes involved in LAM treatment of STZ-induced DR.
5.lncRNA ANK3DT affects radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells by regulating CtIP transcription
Wenna ZHAO ; Zihan CHEN ; Fuqiang CHEN ; Jie DU ; Meijuan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(3):170-177
Objective:To explore the effect of long noncoding RNA ANK3DT (lncRNA ANK3DT) on DNA damage repair ability and radiosensitivity of cervical cancer HeLa cells.Methods:The effect of lncRNA ANK3DT on the repair efficiency of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) was analyzed by the pre-constructed quantitative assay system based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair. Clone formation assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were used to detect the effects of down-regulation of lncRNA ANK3DT on cellular radiosensitivity, apoptosis and G 2/M phase arrest, and DSB repair after X-ray irradiation. Western blot, qPCR, and dual fluorokinase reporter gene plasmid was used to detect the effects of lncRNA ANK3DT on the HR repair-related protein CtIP expression and transcriptional regulation. Results:Down-regulation of lncRNA ANK3DT significantly inhibited HR repair and had no effect on NHEJ repair. The expression of lncRNA ANK3DT was significantly increased in HeLa cells at 24, 48, 72 h after X-ray irradiation ( t=-23.39, -88.83, -52.42, P<0.05). Down-regulation of lncRNA ANK3DT inhibited X-ray-induced DSB repair and increased apoptosis levels ( t=-14.63, P <0.05), prolonged G 2/M phase block ( t=-19.50, P <0.05), increased the radiosensitivity of HeLa cells (radiosensitization ratio=1.21), inhibited the CtIP promoter activity and decreased its mRNA and protein expression. Conclusions:lncRNA ANK3DT affects HR repair by regulating CtIP transcription, and down-regulation of lncRNA ANK3DT increases the radiosensitivity of HeLa cells by inhibiting DSB repair after ionizing radiation.
6.The evaluation value of mNUTRIC and NRS-2002 scores in assessing nutritional status and clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage liver disease
Jingyi YANG ; Xiaorong MAO ; Zihan YANG ; Xiaojin ZHOU ; Xi GOU ; Junfeng LI
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(5):470-480
Objective:Comparative analysis of the mNUTRIC and NRS-2002 scores for evaluating nutritional risk and predicting clinical outcomes in end stage liver disease patients.Method:A retrospective cohort study method was used to screen 114 cases with end-stage liver disease admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from December 1, 2016 to March 31, 2021 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patient's demographic data, blood routine, blood biochemical indexes, coagulation function indexes, arterial blood gas analysis and imaging examination data were collected. The mNUTRIC score, NRS-2002 score, sequential organ failure (SOFA) score, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, Child-Pugh grade, and clinical outcomes at 28 and 90 days at 24 h post-ICU admission were collected. The differences in clinical indicators between the mNUTRIC high group (≥5 points) and the low group, and the NRS-2002 high group (≥3 points) and the low group were compared. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between the mNUTRIC score and NRS-2002 score, clinical indicators, and 28 and 90-day mortality rates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with 28-day and 90-day mortality in patients. The value of mNUTRIC score and NRS-2002 score in assessing the clinical outcomes of patients with end-stage liver disease was explored by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The clinical indicators related to nutritional status of patients were worse in the high-mNUTRIC group than those in the low-mNUTRIC group, and the 28-day and 90-day mortality rates were significantly higher than those in the low-mNUTRIC group [89.0%(65/73) vs. 29.2%(12/41), 97.2%(71/73) vs. 39.0%(16/41), P<0.001]. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rate of hepatic encephalopathy, esophageal variceal bleeding, and ascites between the high and low mNUTRIC group. The clinical indicators related to nutritional status were worse in the high-NRS-2002 group than those in the low-NRS-2002 group of patients, and the 28-day and 90-day mortality rates were significantly higher than those in the low-group [73.0%(73/100) vs. 4/14, 81.0%(81/100) vs. 6/14, P=0.008, 0.004]. The NRS-2002 high-score group did not differ significantly from the low-score group in terms of hepatic encephalopathy, esophagogastric variceal bleeding, or ascites prevalence. Patient's age, white blood cell count (WBC), urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (UREA), uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TG), Child-Pugh, MELD, SOFA, APACHE Ⅱscores were significantly positively correlated with the mNUTRIC score. Conversely, albumin (Alb) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were significantly negatively correlated. Patient's age, WBC, CREA, BUN, UREA, UA, Child-Pugh, MELD, SOFA, APACHE Ⅱwere significantly positively correlated with the NRS-2002 score.Conversely, albumin (Alb) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were significantly negatively correlated ( P<0.05). The 28-day and 90-day mortality rates of patients increased with the increase in the mNUTRIC scores. The mNUTRIC score was an independent predictor of death within 28 and 90 days in patients with end-stage liver disease. The area under the curve (AUC) of mNUTRIC for predicting patient death at 28 days was 0.864 (95% CI: 0.794-0.934). The AUC of NRS-2002 for predicting patient death at 28 days was 0.683 (95% CI: 0.573-0.792). The AUC of the two indicators combined for predicting patient death at 28 days was 0.868 (95% CI: 0.799-0.936). The AUC of mNUTRIC for predicting patient death at 90 days was 0.915 (95% CI: 0.861-0.969). The AUC of NRS-2002 for predicting patient death at 90 days was 0.715 (95% CI: 0.599-0.832). The AUC of the two indicators combined for predicting patient death at 90 days was 0.922 (95% CI: 0.871-0.972). Conclusion:mNUTRIC score and NRS-2002 score can better evaluate the nutritional status in patients with end-stage liver disease. The mNUTRIC score is a good predictor of 28-day and 90-day mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease, and its application value efficacy is enhanced when combined with NRS-2002.
7.Endoplasmic reticulum stress involved in high-fat induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Weikang Hu ; Wenjing Zhou ; Jun Zhang ; Zhen Yang ; Hongmei Bai ; Zihan Wang ; Yinliang Qi ; Shengquan Zhang ; Sumei Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(6):1086-1090
Objective :
To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the occurrence and development of fatty liver induced by high fat.
Methods :
In the high-fat Drosophila model, the high-fat group was fed with high-fat medium, while the control group was fed with normal medium; in the mouse fatty liver model, the high-fat group was fed with high-fat diet, and the control group was fed with normal diet; in the HepG2 cell steatosis model, the high-fat group was induced by palmitic acid(PA), and the control group was cultured with DMEM. The fat body size of the third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster was photographed. Steatosis in mice liver and HepG2 cells was observed by H&E and Oil Red staining. The expression levels of ATF6, Bip and CHOP in the third instar larvae, liver tissues of mice and HepG2 cells were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) and Western blot.
Results :
In Drosophila model, fat body and fat storage were obviously increased in high fat fed flies when compared with control group. The formation of liver fat droplets and cells vacuolation were confirmed by H&E and Oil Red staining in mice livers fed with high fat and HepG2 cells with palmitic acid treatment. The expression levels of ATF6, Bip and CHOP were significantly increased in third instar larvae and mice livers fed with high fat and palmitic acid treated HepG2 cells with palmitic acid treatment.
Conclusion
High fat may induce the occurrence and development of hepatic steatosis by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress.
8.Delivery of Sophora flavescens Ait. using a dissolving microneedle enables enhanced psoriasis treatment
Zihan Zhou ; Jie Zhang ; Yiwen Chen ; Bingbing Wang ; Ping Hou ; Zifan Ding ; Luzheng Zhang ; Jianlin Wang ; Nailiang Yang ; Cong Yan
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2025;2025(2):277-286
ObjectiveTo assess the efficiency of a Sophora flavescens Ait (S. flavescens, Ku Shen)-soluble microneedle (SFA-MN) for improving skin lesion symptoms in mice with psoriasis.MethodsSFA-MNs were prepared using a two-mold molding process with 20% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone and 15% w/v polyvinyl alcohol. The SFA-MNs were assessed for morphology, mechanical properties, in vitro dissolution, identification of components, and skin lesion improvement in imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice.ResultsThe SFA-MNs demonstrated good mechanical properties for efficiently penetrating the dermis, facilitating efficient drug delivery. Furthermore, they effectively inhibited mast cell levels in the dorsal lesion area of psoriasis mice and reduced the expression of the T-lymphocyte factor cluster of differentiation 3 and tumor necrosis factor-α. In addition, this system alleviated skin inflammation, splenic swelling, and thymic atrophy in the psoriasis-like mouse model. Seven major components were detected from SFA-MNs by comparison of the mass-to-nucleus ratios (m/z) of the secondary fragments N-methylcytisine, 5α, 9α-dihydroxymatrine, sophoramine, matrine, oxysophocarpine, oxymatrine, and kushenol O.ConclusionThe drug delivery strategy combining traditional herbal S. flavescens with soluble microneedle technology provides more targeted and effective immune regulation for treating psoriasis-like mice models, enabling enhanced therapeutic effects compared with the control group.
9.Current status and future development of endoscopic surgery in the field of obesity management
Zihan ZHOU ; Yihan ZHENG ; Hui CAO ; Enhao ZHAO
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(9):577-585
In today′s increasingly serious problem of obesity, dietary changes, physical activity, drugs and bariatric surgery play different roles in the field of obesity management. Compared with minimally invasive surgery, the application of endoscopic surgery to carry out bariatric and metabolic treatment with less trauma, faster recovery, fewer complications and lower cost has gradually become a new discipline in the field of obesity management. This article will focus on the history, current status and latest progress of endoscopic surgery for obesity management and look forward to its future development.
10.Comprehensive evaluation methods for medical quality:a comparative study
Zhongbin ZHOU ; Yuanyuan QIAO ; Zihan GAO ; Ying YANG
Journal of Navy Medicine 2025;46(3):307-310
Objective To explore the advantages and limitations of different evaluation methods for medical quality.Methods The rank sum ratio method(RSR),rank sum ratio method after principal component analysis(RSR-after-PCA),and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS)were used to comprehensively evaluate the surgical medical quality in a hospital,respectively.The results of the three evaluation methods were compared.Results The result of Kendall's coefficient of concordance showed high consistency among the three evaluation methods(Kendall's W=0.879,χ2=26.364,P=0.003),although there were significant differences in the evaluation outcomes for some departments.Conclusion Each evaluation method is capable of objectively evaluating the overall situation of a department,but it also has certain limitations and scope of application.The appropriate method should be selected based on the purpose of analysis and data distribution.The evaluation indexes in hospitals are dispersed,but may be correlated to some extent.RSR-after-PCA can overcome these problems and is more suitable for the comprehensive evaluation of multiple indexes in hospitals.


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