1.Research advances in the association of adipokines with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and its associated liver cancer
Yixiao ZHANG ; Jianguang SUN ; Bowen JIANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):151-158
With the emergence of unhealthy dietary structures in people’s life, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has gradually become the most important chronic liver disease in China, and there is also a gradual increase in the cases of MAFLD-associated liver cancer. Adipose tissue not only has the function of energy storage, but also secretes adipokines that play an important role in the development and progression of MAFLD and its associated liver cancer. Studies on the mechanism of adipokines have provided important help for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD, and a large number of studies have shown that the abnormal secretion of adipokines is associated with MAFLD and plays an important regulatory role in the development and progression of liver cancer. Adipokines are not only regulated at the gene level, but they can also interact with genes through specific pathways to co-regulate pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, metabolism, immunity, and cell proliferation in MAFLD and its associated liver cancer. This article reviews the latest studies on the association of adipokines with MAFLD and its associated liver cancer, in order to provide new directions for further research on the pathogenesis of liver cancer.
2.The clinical utility of laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection
Sangyu ZHOU ; Yanxiang LIU ; Bowen ZHANG ; Luchen WANG ; Mingxin XIE ; Xiaogang SUN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):722-726
Aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease with devastating complications and high mortality. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis and a focus on prognosis. Many laboratory tests are routinely performed in patients with aortic dissection including D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. D-dimer shows vital performance in the diagnosis of aortic dissection, and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin exhibits important value in risk stratification and prognostic effect in aortic dissection patients. Our review summarized the clinical utility of these laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection, aiming to provide advanced and comprehensive evidence for clinicians to better understand these laboratory tests and help their clinical practice.
3.Feature reconstruction-based self-supervised learning model for vessel segmentation
Bowen ZHOU ; Hui SUN ; Kaiyue DIAO ; Qing XIA ; Kang LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(06):779-784
Objective To propose an innovative self-supervised learning method for vascular segmentation in computed tomography angiography (CTA) images by integrating feature reconstruction with masked autoencoding. Methods A 3D masked autoencoder-based framework was developed, where in 3D histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) was utilized for multi-scale vascular feature extraction. During pre-training, random masking was applied to local patches of CTA images, and the model was trained to jointly reconstruct original voxels and HOG features of masked regions. The pre-trained model was further fine-tuned on two annotated datasets for clinical-level vessel segmentation. Results Evaluated on two independent datasets (30 labeled CTA images each), our method achieved superior segmentation accuracy to the supervised neural network U-Net (nnU-Net) baseline, with Dice similarity coefficients of 91.2% vs. 89.7% (aorta) and 84.8% vs. 83.2% (coronary arteries). Conclusion The proposed self-supervised model significantly reduces manual annotation costs without compromising segmentation precision, showing substantial potential for enhancing clinical workflows in vascular disease management.
4.Association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with cardiorespiratory fitness among middle school students in Lhasa
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1318-1322
Objective:
To explore the relationship of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among middle schoold students in Tibet, so as to provide empirical references for improving the cardiorespiratory fitness and health levels of adolescents in Tibet.
Methods:
From August to December 2020, 1 225 junior and senior high school students were selected from 2 middle schools in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, using the stratified cluster random sampling method. Triaxial accelerometers were used to evaluate PA and SB behaviors, and the 20 meter shuttle run was employed to assess CRF among the middle school students. Isochronous substitution modeling was used to analyze the associations of SB, low intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with CRF, and the saturation threshold effect in the dose response relationship between MVPA and CRF was analyzed through restricted cubic spline and two stage linear regression.
Results:
After adjusting for covariates such as gender, body mass index and sleep quality score, isotemporal substitution analysis showed that among junior high school students aged 13-15, replacing 30 minutes of SB ( B =1.73) or LPA ( B =2.38) with MVPA were positively associated with CRF (both P <0.05). Among senior high school students aged 16-18, replacing SB ( B =0.99) or LPA ( B =1.38) with MVPA were also positively associated with CRF (both P <0.05). Restricted cubic spline and two piecewise linear regression analyses indicated that only middle school girls aged 13-18 exhibited a saturation threshold effect between MVPA and CRF (logarithmic likelihood ratio test=0.03), with the optimal CRF improvement observed at 60 minutes of MVPA per day ( B=0.13, P < 0.01).
Conclusions
Reducing SB and LPA while increasing MVPA can improve CRF in Tibetan middle school students. To maximize CRF improvement, middle school girls should engage in at least 60 minutes of MVPA daily.
5.Application evaluation of cardiopulmonary exercise test to guide comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with pneumoconiosis
Congxia YAN ; Baoping LI ; Fuhai SHEN ; Hong CAO ; Jing LI ; Lirong ZHANG ; Zhiping SUN ; Bowen HOU ; Lini GAO ; Xinyu LI ; Chaoyi MA ; Xiaolu LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(1):47-53
Background At present, the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation for pneumoconiosis in China is in a primary stage. The basis for formulating an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation plan is still insufficient, which is one of the factors limiting the development of community-level rehabilitation work. Objective To formulate an exercise prescription based on maximum heart rate measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), conduct an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program with the exercise prescription for patients with stable pneumoconiosis, and evaluate its role in improving exercise endurance and quality of life, thus provide a basis for the application and promotion of pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods A total of 68 patients were recruited from the Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital of Jinneng Holding Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. from April to August 2022 , and were divided into an intervention group and a control group by random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. All the pneumoconiosis patients participated in a baseline test. The control group was given routine drug treatment, while the intervention group received multidisciplinary comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment on the basis of routine drug treatment, including health education, breathing training, exercise training, nutrition guidance, psychological intervention, and sleep management, whose exercise intensity was determined according to the maximum heart rate provided by CPET. The rehabilitation training lasted for 24 weeks. Patients were evaluated at registration and the end of study respectively. CPET was used to measure peak oxygen uptake per kilogram (pVO2/kg), anaerobic threshold (AT), carbon dioxide equivalent of ventilation (EqCO2), maximum metabolic equivalent (METs), and maximum work (Wmax). The modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire (mMRC), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT), and Short Form of Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate the potential effect of the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program. Results Among the included 68 patients, 63 patients were having complete data, then 31 cases were assigned in the control group and 32 cases in the interventional group. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in pVO2/kg, AT, EqCO2, METs, or Wmax between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the indicators like pVO2/kg [(19.81±2.38) mL·(min·kg)−1], AT [(14.48±2.33) mL·(min·kg)−1], METs (5.64±0.69), and Wmax [(85.25±14) W] of patients in the intervention group were all higher than those [(13.90±2.37) mL·(min·kg)−1, (11.70±1.94) mL·(min kg)−1, (3.97±0.70), and (61.77±14.72) W, respectively] in the control group (P<0.001); there was no significant difference in EqCO2 between the two groups (P=0.083). Before the trial, there was no significant difference in mMRC, SAS, SDS, PSQI, or CAT scores between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the mMRC score (1.16±0.57), SAS score (27.93±2.12), SDS score (26.48±1.44), PSQI score (1.08±0.88), and CAT score (4.34±3.28) of patients in the intervention group were lower than those [(2.03±0.83), (35.87±6.91), (34.23±6.65), (5.37±3.03), and (13.87±7.53), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001). The SF-36 scores of bodily pain (94.13±10.72), general health (87.50±5.68), vitality (95.31±5.53), mental health (99.88±0.71), and health changes (74.22±4.42) in the intervention group were higher than those [(71.87±32.72), (65.81±15.55), (74.52±16.45), (86.97±16.56), and (29.84±13.50), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001), and no significant difference was found in social functioning and role emotional scores (P>0.05). Conclusion Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation can increase the oxygen intake and exercise endurance of pneumoconiosis patients, ameliorate dyspnea symptoms, elevate psychological state and sleep quality, and improve the quality of life.
6.Multi-slice spiral computerized tomography image characteristics of coal workers with pneumoconiosis
Xinyu LI ; Baoping LI ; Fuhai SHEN ; Zhiping SUN ; Bowen HOU ; Lini GAO ; Qianqian LI ; Xiaolu LIU ; Chaoyi MA
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(7):774-779
Background Multi-slice spiral computerized tomography (MSCT) can be used as an auxiliary diagnosis of chest radiography in diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, but there are few studies on the correlations between interstitial images and stage classification of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in the existing literature. Objective To present MSCT imaging manifestations and distribution characteristics of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and complications, evaluate correlations between coal workers' pneumoconiosis stages and pulmonary interstitial lesions, and provide a reliable imaging diagnosis basis for pneumoconiosis interstitial lesions. Methods From June 2022 to June 2023, a total of
7.Postoperative Treatment and Rehabilitation of Malignant Tumor Based on the Theory of Qi Sinking in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Qianhui SUN ; Guanghui ZHU ; Bowen XU ; Ying ZHANG ; Jie LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(11):1120-1125
As an important concept in Chinese medicine theory, "qi sinking" is the inheritance and extension of the thought core of sinking of qi in whole body. This article explored the concept of sinking of pectoral qi, center qi, and kidney qi in the theory of qi sinking, and believed that sinking of pectoral qi, stagnation and sinking of center qi, deficiency and sinking of kidney qi were the core pathogenesis of postoperative injury in malignant tumours. Anchored to the method of reinforcing healthy qi and lifting the sunken, this article recommended to identify pattern and treat by guiding supplement and lifting the sunken. For lung gold impairment, heart yang depletion, and pectoral qi sinking, the treatment is to warm and supplement heart and lung, lift pectoral qi, and restore the respiratory function by modified Shengxian Decoction (升陷汤) plus Guizhi Decoction (桂枝汤); for spleen depletion and pathways blockage, liver failing to act freely, and center qi stagnation and sinking, the treatment is to warm and supplement center qi, raise yang and lift the sunken, and restore the digestive function by modified Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (补中益气汤); for source exhausted and essence deficiency, liver qi hiding, and kidney qi deficiency to inward invasion, the treatment is to nourish the kidney and astringe the liver, consolidate the original qi and lift qi, improve the pelvic floor dysfunction, and protect the kidney function by modified Liuwei Dihuang Pill (六味地黄丸) plus Shengma Chaihu Decoction (升麻柴胡汤). Modification need base on different disease patterns and stages, and new ideas for postoperative traditional Chinese medicine treatment and rehabilitation of malignant tumours were provided.
8.Differential metabolites of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from coal worker's pneumoconiosis patients
Chaoyi MA ; Baoping LI ; Fuhai SHEN ; Zhiping SUN ; Gang CHEN ; Guoxuan MA ; Yongmei ZHAO ; Bowen HOU ; Lini GAO ; Qianqian LI ; Xiaolu LIU ; Xinyu LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(6):617-624
Background It is a research hotspot to study the changes of metabolites and metabolic pathways in the process of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) by metabonomics and to explore its pathogenesis. Objective To study the change of metabolites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with CWP and explore the metabolic regulation mechanism of the disease. Methods Patients with CWP who met the national diagnostic criteria according to Diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70-2015) and underwent massive whole lung lavage were selected as the case group, and patients with tracheostenosis who underwent bronchoscopy were selected as the control group. BALF samples were collected from the cases and the controls. After filtering out large particles and mucus, the supernatant was stored in a −80 ℃ refrigerator. The samples were detected and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after adding extraction solution, cold bath ultrasonication, and high-speed centrifugation, and the metabolic profiles and related data of CWP patients were obtained. The differential metabolites related to the occurrence and development of CWP were screened by multiple statistical analysis; furthermore, we searched the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database for potential metabolic pathways involved in the progression. Results There was no significant difference in the general conditions of the subjects, such as weight, height, age, and length of service among the stage I group, the stage II group, the stage III group, and the control group (P˃0.05). When comparing the CWP stage I group with the control group, 48 differential metabolites were screened out, among which 14 were up-regulated and 34 were down-regulated. A total of 66 differential metabolites were screened out between the patients with CWP stage II and the controls, 14 up-regulated and 52 down-regulated differential metabolites. Compared with the control group, 63 differential metabolites were screened out in the patients with CWP stage III, including 11 up-regulated and 52 down-regulated differential metabolites. There were 36 differential metabolites that may be related to the occurrence of CWP, among which 11 differential metabolites were up-regulated, and 25 were down-regulated. Four significant differential metabolic pathways were identified through KEGG database query: linoleic acid metabolic pathway, alanine metabolic pathway, sphingolipid metabolic pathway, and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway. Conclusion The metabolomic study of BALF show that there are 36 different metabolites in the occurrence and development of CWP, mainly associating with linoleic acid metabolism, alanine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways.
9.Changes in intestinal flora of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients after tetrandrine intervention
Xiaolu LIU ; Baoping LI ; Fuhai SHEN ; Zhiping SUN ; Yongmei ZHAO ; Bowen HOU ; Lini GAO ; Qianqian LI ; Xinyu LI ; Chaoyi MA
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(6):625-631
Background Pneumoconiosis is a widespread occupational disease in China at present. As a type of lung diseases, its pathological damage is mainly irreversible fibrotic changes in the lungs. Several studies have shown that the occurrence and development of lung diseases such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis are closely related to intestinal flora. Objective To observe intestinal flora of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients based on the results of 16SrDNA high-throughput sequencing and evaluate the changes of intestinal flora after treatment with tetrandrine tablets. Methods A total of 80 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis attending the outpatient clinic of the Department of Occupational Diseases of the Emergency General Hospital from April to July 2022 were enrolled. All patients were treated with tetrandrine tablets for 4 weeks, with group A before the treatment of tetrandrine tablets and group B after the treatment. In the same period, 24 healthy controls (group C) were set up. Stool samples were collected before and after the treatment. Using 16SrDNA high-throughput sequencing, gene V3-V4 sequencing technology, and bioinformatic analysis platform, we evaluated the intestinal flora after treatment by groups. Results The dominant flora at the phylum level and genus level were the same across three groups. The relative abundances of phylum Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Facealibacterium in groups B and C were higher than those in group A, and the relative abundances of phy-lum Actinobacteria, genus Blautia, and genus Romboutsia in groups B and C were lower than those in group A (P<0.05). The relative abundances of genus Clostridium, genus Megamonas, and genus Lactobacillus in group C was lower than that in groups A and B (P<0.05). The alpha diversity analysis showed that the Chao1 index was higher in group A than in group C (P<0.01). Compared with group A, the Shannon index was higher in group B, and the increases of Simpson index were all statistically significant in stage I patients (P<0.05), but the differences in Chao1 index were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The differences in the values of Chao1 index, Shannon index, and Simpson index in stage Ⅱ and stage III patients were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The beta diversity analysis showed that the difference in flora structure between group A and group C was statistically significant (P<0.05); the differences in flora structure before and after treatment in the same stage patients were statistically significant (P<0.05). The partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that there were significant differences between group A and group C, and between group A and group B. The LEfSe analysis showed that the significant markers contributing to the differences were basically the same in stage I, stage Ⅱ, and stage Ⅲ after treatment, which were mainly phylum Bacteroidetes and its subordinate groups, class Negativicutes, or-der Selenomonas, and genus Facealibacterium. Conclusion There are differences in the distribution of flora between coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients and healthy individuals, and the structure and relative abundance of intestinal flora are changed and the number of beneficial flora is increased after treatment with tetrandrine tablets.
10.Advances in acute Stanford type A aortic dissection with organ malperfusion
Bowen ZHANG ; Yaojun DUN ; Yanxiang LIU ; Haoyu GAO ; Jie REN ; Luchen WANG ; Sangyu ZHOU ; Mingxin XIE ; Xiaogang SUN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;31(08):1235-1241
The treatment of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection has always been extremely challenging. Organ malperfusion syndrome is a common severe complication of acute aortic dissection, which can cause organ ischemia and internal environment disorder. Malperfusion increases early mortality, and impacts the long-term prognosis. In recent years, many scholars have done some studies on aortic dissection complicated with malperfusion. They explored the pathogenesis, proposed new classification, and innovated new treatment strategies. However, at present, the treatment strategies of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection complicated with organ malperfusion are different at different centers and consensus on its treatment is still lacking. Therefore, this review summarized the pathogenesis, classification, treatment strategy, and prognosis of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection complicated with malperfusion.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail