1.Research Progress on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Flap Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Jiwei ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Xinshan WANG ; Xingzhang YAO ; Zhenxing JIANG ; Zhijun HE ; Tao LIU ; Jianliang LI ; Hui YAO ; Jie AN ; Qiuyue ZHAO ; Xiaotao WEI ; M Rayan GHAZI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):851-861
Flap transplantation is a critical surgical strategy for the reconstruction of tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, and congenital malformations, and its survival rate directly determines surgical efficacy and patient prognosis. Following transplantation, flaps inevitably undergo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, during which oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and metabolic disturbances are intricately intertwined, ultimately leading to cellular injury and tissue necrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple forms of programmed cell death—including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis—play central roles in flap I/R injury. The extensive crosstalk and molecular interactions among these pathways form a highly complex cell death network. Specifically, apoptosis is mediated by the imbalance of Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease (caspase) cascades; pyroptosis is driven by the NLRP3-caspase-1-GSDMD axis, resulting in membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; ferroptosis is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); necroptosis is triggered by the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-RIPK3-MLKL signaling complex, leading to membrane rupture; and PANoptosis represents an integrated form of inflammatory cell death that coordinates multiple death pathways. Importantly, these forms of programmed cell death are not independent but are interconnected through extensive signaling crosstalk. Key regulatory molecules, including caspase-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), collectively modulate the dynamic balance among these pathways. Therefore, the multidimensional interplay and spatiotemporal dynamics of programmed cell death constitute a fundamental pathological basis of flap I/R injury. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in the mechanisms and interactions of various programmed cell death pathways in flap I/R injury, aiming to elucidate the underlying regulatory network. These insights may provide novel theoretical foundations for optimizing flap protection strategies, improving flap survival, and promoting tissue repair.
2.Construction and application of clinical inapplicability evaluation system for instructions of oral Chinese patent medicines containing toxic decoction pieces
He TANG ; Longlong TANG ; Xiaoyu JU ; Youquan TANG ; Zhihua WANG ; Jie CHENG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1398-1402
OBJECTIVE To construct a clinical inapplicability evaluation system for the instructions of oral Chinese patent medicines containing toxic decoction pieces, so as to provide references for the revision and improvement of such drug instructions and the formulation of instructions for new drugs. METHODS The initial indicator framework was determined based on policy documents and literature related to instruction registration and revision. Two rounds of Delphi consultation were conducted among 25 experts to refine and optimize the indicator system. The analytic hierarchy process was employed to construct judgment matrices and obtain indicator weights. The comprehensive weights were converted into a 100-point scale to evaluate 11 instructions of oral Chinese patent medicines containing toxic decoction pieces from the medical institution of the research team. RESULTS The average questionnaire recovery rate of the two rounds of consultation was 96%. The expert authority coefficients were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively, and the Kendall’s W was statistically significant ( P <0.001). The final evaluation system comprised 4 first-level indicators (defect of toxicity identification, defect of dosage information, defect of risk warning, and defect of information guidance) and 24 second-level indicators (e.g., failure to label toxic decoction pieces in 【warnings】, failure to indicate all decoction piece compositions, absence of medication course specifications, etc.). The total scores of the 11 oral Chinese patent medicine instructions ranged from 15.50 to 50.87 points. The main clinical inapplicability issues included the absence of medication course specifications and the failure to provide warnings in items such as 【precautions】 for decoction pieces involving the “eighteen incompatibilities and nineteen mutual antagonisms”. CONCLUSIONS The constructed indicator system can meet the requirements for evaluating the clinical inapplicability of instructions for oral Chinese patent medicines containing toxic decoction pieces. All evaluated instructions exhibited certain clinical applicability defects. Pharmaceutical manufacturers should revise the instructions in accordance with policy requirements and clinical needs.
3.Mechanism of Wenyang jieyu granules regulating NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway on antidepressant effect in rats
Shuang MENG ; Jie ZHAO ; Xinxin WANG ; Dandan TAN ; Xiaorong ZHOU ; Huimin SUN ; Xiaojuan MA ; Zhenyu FENG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1440-1446
OBJECTIVE To explore the antidepressant mechanism of Wenyang jieyu granules (WYJYG) via the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC)/Caspase-1 pathway. METHODS A rat model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with single-housing for 42 consecutive days.The experiment set up blank group, model group, MCC950 (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor) group (10 mg/kg), fluoxetine group (positive control,2.08 mg/kg),low-dose WYJYG(3.78 g/kg) and high-dose WYJYG group (7.56 g/kg),with 10 rats in each group. From the 22nd day of the experiment, rats in the fluoxetine group, low-dose and high-dose WYJYG groups were intragastrically administered with the corresponding drugs and intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Rats in the MCC950 group were intraperitoneally injected with MCC950 at the corresponding concentration and intragastrically administered with an equal volume of distilled water. Rats in the blank group and model group were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage and an equal volume of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. All interventions were performed once a day for 21 consecutive days. Behavioral tests were conducted once a week. After the last administration, the contents of ASC, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 in hippocampal tissues were detected. The protein expressions of NLRP3, cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), Caspase-1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein were determined, and neuronal apoptosis was observed. RESULTS After the last administration, compared with the model group, the open-field activity time was significantly prolonged ( P <0.05), and the latency to feed in a novel environment was significantly shortened ( P <0.05) in rats of the high-dose WYJYG group. In hippocampal tissue, the contents of ASC, Iba1, IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the protein expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and CD68, and the positive rate of neuronal apoptosis were all significantly decreased/downregulated ( P <0.05). Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly upregulated ( P <0.05), and the density of neuronal apoptosis-positive cells was significantly reduced ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS WYJYG play on antidepressant role by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway, reducing microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, and inhibiting hippocampal neurons apoptosis.
4.Clinicopathological analysis of conjunctival lymphangiectasia
Jie RAN ; Duosheng XIA ; Fuli WANG ; Xuandi SU ; Lele ZHENG ; Yujin WANG
International Eye Science 2026;26(7):1276-1280
AIM: To analyze the pathological features, immunophenotype, and imaging findings of conjunctival lymphangiectasia(CL), and to explore the etiological mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS:This single-center descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled postoperative specimens from patients with CL who underwent surgical treatment in the hospital between Feb. 2023 and Sept. 2025. Routine hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining and immunohistochemical staining(D2-40, CD31, CD34, CK)were performed. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)was used to observe the lesion morphology. The pathological results were comprehensively analyzed combined with clinical data. RESULTS: A total of postoperative specimens from 32 eyes of 32 patients with CL were enrolled, including 23 females(72%)and 9 males(28%), with a mean age of 53.03±12.47 y. All patients presented with single or multiple transparent cystic elevations beneath the bulbar conjunctiva. The postoperative pathological manifestations were characterized by dilation of conjunctival lymphatic vessels lined with a single layer of flattened endothelial cells, accompanied by edema and inflammatory infiltration in the surrounding stroma. All cases were positive for D2-40, confirming a lymphatic origin; some cases also expressed CD31 and CD34. AS-OCT revealed the lesions as unilocular or multilocular cystic spaces with low reflectivity. After complete surgical resection, the mean follow-up period was 16.2 mo with no recurrence.CONCLUSION:CL is a benign ocular surface lesion characterized by lymphatic vessel dilation. The endothelium co-expresses lymphatic and some vascular markers, suggesting that CL may belong to the spectrum of vascular malformations. AS-OCT has adjunctive diagnostic value, and surgical resection has definitive therapeutic efficacy.
5.Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates AMPK Signaling Pathway to Prevent and Treat Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review
Lijuan DAN ; Shuanglan CHEN ; Tianyuan WANG ; Xiaojie YOU ; Xiuyan LI ; Hongfei SONG ; Dong WANG ; Jie MU ; Qiao LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):133-143
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent forms of liver diseases globally. Its progression can lead to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, and there is currently a lack of effective pharmacological treatments. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), as a regulatory hub for maintaining cellular energy homeostasis, can coordinate key cellular processes such as adipogenesis, glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial functions. Its activation exerts metabolic regulatory effects through pathways including inhibiting lipogenesis, enhancing mitochondrial β-oxidation, regulating inflammation and oxidative stress, and promoting autophagy. Accordingly, AMPK emerges as a potential target for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with low toxicity, high accessibility, and multi-component, multi-target synergistic effects, has demonstrated unique value in NAFLD treatment, particularly showing notable advantages in regulating the AMPK signaling pathway. Sichuan is known as the treasure house of TCM, and the active components of its authentic medicinal materials such as Coptidis Rhizoma not only reflect regional characteristics in AMPK signaling regulation but also form a multi-level metabolic regulatory network through crosstalk with pathways such as sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). They can achieve specific regulation by directly activating AMPK and modulating upstream and downstream targets, exerting prominent effects in ameliorating hepatic steatosis and inflammation. This study systematically reviews the research findings on TCM for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD over the past five years, elaborating the mechanisms by which TCM treats NAFLD through regulating the AMPK signaling pathway. It aims to provide new perspectives and references for clinical diagnosis and treatment, basic research, and drug development.
6.Xueshisanjia San Prevents Liver Fibrosis via PINK1/Parkin Signaling Pathway-mediated Mitophagy
Baojia WANG ; Mulan HU ; Yuanyuan GONG ; Jie MA ; Xiuli ZHENG ; Xiongbin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):166-175
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Xueshisanjia San against liver fibrosis by regulating PTEN-induced putative kinase (PINK1)/Parkin signaling pathway-mediated mitophagy. MethodsForty specific pathogen free (SPF)-grade male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into the control, model, silibinin (100 mg·kg-1), high-dose (15.16 g·kg-1) Xueshisanjia San, and low-dose (7.58 g·kg-1) Xueshisanjia San groups. The mouse model of liver fibrosis was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of 20% carbon tetrachloride solution. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks. Blood was collected from the abdominal aorta after intraperitoneal anesthesia, and the liver was separated. Liver pathology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, and Sirius Red staining. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to observe the mitochondrial morphology in the liver tissue. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), C-reactive protein (CRP), total bilirubin (TBil), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum of mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence assay, and Western blot were employed to determine the protein levels of liver fibrosis markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen Ⅰ, as well as mitophagy markers microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), p62, Beclin-1, PINK1, Parkin, and translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOM20). ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited elevated levels of ALT, AST, CRP, TBil, IL-6, TGF-β1, and TNF-α in the serum (P<0.05), pathological changes such destroyed structure of hepatic lobules, disarrangement of hepatic cells, and collagen accumulation, swollen, vacuolated, and fragment mitochondria, down-regulated expression of p62 and TOM20, and up-regulated expression of LC3, Beclin-1, PINK1, and Parkin (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, all the treatment groups exhibited declined levels of ALT, AST, CRP, TBil, IL-6, TGF-β1, and TNF-α in the serum (P<0.05), alleviated pathological damage of liver tissue and mitochondrial damage, up-regulated expression of p62 and TOM20, and down-regulated expression of α-SMA, COL1A1, LC3, Beclin1, PINK1, and Parkin (P<0.05)
7.Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Detecting Adrenocortical Hormones and Establishment of Age-Stratified Reference Intervals in Reproductive-Aged Women from Guangxi, China
Yixuan LIU ; Tingwei JIN ; Yushuang WEI ; Xuelian QIN ; Siyu DENG ; Jie ZHENG ; Boteng YAN ; Yuanyuan NONG ; Yu YE ; Shengzhu HUANG ; Yu LONG ; Jianmin LI ; Ganqin WANG ; Pei HUANG ; Jinghang JIANG ; Fan WU ; Zengnan MO ; Yonghua JIANG
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2026;46(2):146-154
Background:
Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications.
Methods:
A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated.
Results:
The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels.
Conclusions
We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.
8.Experimental study on the ultrasound visibility of a novel interventional catheter and delivery system: In vitro and animal experiments
Ziping LI ; Wenbin OUYANG ; Zizheng LIU ; Ning ZHOU ; Jie DONG ; Shouzheng WANG ; Xiangbin PAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):784-790
Objective To assess the echogenicity of the ultrasound-guided catheter and its associated delivery system. Methods The study consisted of in vitro characterization experiments and animal studies. In the in vitro phase, the acoustic and mechanical properties of the ultrasound-guided catheter were compared with those of the traditional MPA2 catheter, including parameters such as echo intensity, recognizability, and angle dependence. In the animal experiments, a ventricular septal defect (VSD) model was established in miniature pigs to compare the procedural performance of the ultrasound-guided delivery system versus the conventional system. Evaluation indicators included the time required for the system to cross the VSD, the detection rate of the system within the right ventricle, and the occurrence of intraoperative complications. Results The ultrasound-guided catheter demonstrated a significantly higher mean echo intensity than the MPA2 catheter [(237.3±1.8) dB vs. (190.9±13.1) dB, P<0.001] and a markedly improved recognizability rate (82.3%±5.6% vs. 26.7%±3.2%, P<0.001), along with better angle independence and image quality. In animal experiments, the ultrasound-guided delivery system significantly reduced the time required to cross the VSD [(18.5±5.7) min vs. (30.3±4.5) min, P<0.001] and substantially increased the detection rate within the right ventricle (100.0% vs. 30.0%). No severe complications occurred in any experimental animal. Conclusion The ultrasound-guided catheter and its corresponding delivery system exhibite superior ultrasound visibility and operational performance in both in vitro and animal experiments, indicating strong potential for clinical application.
9.Longitudinal association between family types and developmental trajectories of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents
YE Juan, WANG Yan, YANG Wenyi, ZHANG Xiyan, WANG Xin, XIANG Yao, YANG Jie
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(5):695-699
Objective:
To explore the developmental trajectories of depression in children and adolescents and their association with family types, and to analyze the role of being an only child in the context, so as to provide a basis for early identification of mental health issues in children and adolescents.
Methods:
The study was a secondary analysis based on the existing database of the Jiangsu Provincial Student Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors Monitoring and Intervention Project. A total of 11 502 students who had completed at least two measurements using the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) between 2022 and 2024, and had complete information on family type, gender, and age, were selected as the study subjects. Latent class trajectory modeling was used to identify depression developmental trajectories. Multinomial Logistic regression was applied to analyze the association between family type and depression developmental trajectories, and the interaction effect of family type and being an only child was tested.
Results:
Three types of depression developmental trajectories were identified among children and adolescents: low stable type (91.3%, 10 504 students), moderate rising type (4.3%, 500 students), and high declining type (4.3%, 498 students). Significant differences were observed among the different trajectory groups in terms of gender, age, parental education level, family type, baseline CES-D score, and baseline school type ( χ 2/H=17.48, 139.97, 19.72 , 30.77, 1 081.35, 220.81, all P <0.05). Multinomial Logistic regression analysis showed that, using the low stable type as the reference trajectory group and the nuclear family as the reference family type, after adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, age, and parental education level, single parent families ( OR=1.87, 95%CI= 1.16-3.03) and grandparent headed families ( OR=1.83, 95%CI =1.04-3.21) were significantly associated with the high declining type trajectory (both P <0.05). No significant association was found between family type and the moderate rising type trajectory (all P >0.05). The interaction effect between family type and being an only child was not statistically significant ( LRT=7.71, df=8, P =0.46).
Conclusions
Depressive symptoms in children and adolescents show heterogeneous developmental patterns during school age. Children and adolescents from single parent and intergenerational families are more likely to follow the high decreasing trajectory.
10.Retrospective analysis of a tuberculosis outbreak among junior high school students in Chongqing
LI Jianqiong, ZHANG Ting, CHEN Aihua, WANG Qingya, ZHANG Ya, CHEN Jian, TANG Jie, LI Liang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(5):741-746
Objective:
To analyze changes in tuberculosis infection among junior high school students before and after tuberculosis exposure, so as to provide a reference for improving school tuberculosis prevention and control measures and policy formulation.
Methods:
Retrospectively collect data on a tuberculosis outbreak that occurred in a grade of a junior high school in Chongqing in 2025, including tuberculosis screening records of students in this grade upon their enrollment in 2022 (1 156 students) and after two tuberculosis outbreaks in 2023 (206 students) and 2025 (171 students). The Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired design was used to compare the induration diameters of the subjects, and the Chi square test was adopted to analyze the rate of tuberculosis infection among students.
Results:
In the tuberculosis outbreak in 2023, the rate of tuberculosis infection among close contacts ( 11.84 %) and the rate of tuberculosis infection among freshrman at school enrollment (12.89%) showed no statistically significant difference ( χ 2=0.25, P >0.05). The rate of tuberculosis infection of close contacts in the 2025 tuberculosis outbreak (55.56%) was higher than that in the 2023 outbreak (11.84%) ( χ 2=30.42, P <0.01). Among the 106 students included in the cohort analysis, the median induration diameter was 3.50 (1.50, 7.50) mm in 2023 and 8.75 (4.25, 11.50) mm in 2025, with a statistically significant difference ( Z=-5.76, P <0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the infection rate in 2022 (16.98%) and that in 2023 (10.38%) ( χ 2=1.96, P =0.16). The infection rate in 2025 (43.40%) was higher than those in 2022 and 2023 ( χ 2=17.55, 29.39, both P <0.017). The seroconversion rate of students in the same class in 2025 ( 58.00 %) was higher than that of students in different classes (16.07%), with a statistically significant difference ( χ 2=20.19, P <0.01). All 72 individuals with latent tuberculosis infections identified during the pandemic in 2023 and 2025 refused to undergo prophylactic treatment.
Conclusions
The lack of preventive treatment may be the underlying cause of the successive outbreaks during the epidemic. Early detection of infection sources and standardized outbreak management are crucial to controlling the spread of the epidemic.


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