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Research Progress on the Regulation of Growth Plate Endochondral Ossification by Mechanical Loading
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026, 17(4): 1126-1134
Published: 12 January 2026
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The endochondral ossification of the growth plate is crucial for the longitudinal growth of long bones. Mechanical loading plays an important regulatory role in endochondral ossification. Absence or improper mechanical loading can inhibit growth plate development, while moderate mechanical stimuli promote chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, thereby facilitating long bone growth. Mechanosensitive structures, such as primary cilia, mechanosensitive ion channels, integrins, and the cytoskeleton, play key roles in the regulation of mechanical loading. This review summarizes how mechanical loading influences growth plate endochondral ossification and discusses potential underlying mechanisms, offering theoretical insights for the management and research of bone development disorders in children and adolescents.

Special Topic Issue
Preliminary Efficacy of Growth Hormone Therapy in Children With Congenital HeartDisease and Short Stature: A Six-case Report and Literature Review
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025, 16(3): 641-646
Published: 13 May 2025
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Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a congenital malformation resulting from abnormal embryonic development of the heart and great vessels, accounting for approximately 25% of all congenital malformations. Children with CHD are often complicated by short stature. Although surgical treatment can improve their growth and development to a certain extent, some children still experience growth retardation after surgery. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is the main drug for treating short stature, but its efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with concomitant CHD warrant further investigation. This article reports six cases of children with CHD and short stature who were treated with rhGH. Through a literature review, we summarize and discuss the therapeutic efficacy, follow-up experiences, and adverse reactions of rhGH treatment, aiming to provide references for clinicians in applying rhGH to treat patients with CHD and short stature.

Issue
Effect of Exercise on Blood Glucose Metabolism of Type 2 Diabetes Patients in East Asian Population: A Meta-Analysis
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025, 16(2): 492-505
Published: 04 March 2025
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Objective

To explore the effects of different exercise prescriptions on glycemic metabolism in East Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to compare the differences in the impact of population characteristics and exercise components on glycemic metabolism.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EmBase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform to identify relevant studies published from database inception to June 15, 2024, on the effects of exercise on glycemic metabolism in East Asian patients with T2DM. The study type was limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), where the intervention group received exercise interventions and the control group did not. Two researchers independently screened the literature based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and extracted relevant data. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test in Stata 17.0 and funnel plots in RevMan 5.3. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3.

Results

A total of 21 RCTs involving 1289 participants (675 in the intervention group and 614 in the control group) were included. Publication bias assessment indicated overall good quality of the included studies. The random-effects model showed that exercise interventions significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (MD=-1.31 mg/L, 95% CI: -1.55 to -1.07, P < 0.001), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (MD=-0.34, 95% CI: -0.45 to -0.22, P < 0.001), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD=-0.39, 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.23, P < 0.001), and fasting insulin (MD=-0.71 μIU/mL, 95% CI: -1.18 to -0.24, P=0.003) in the intervention group. Heterogeneity was observed in the effects of different exercise modalities on glycemic metabolism. Aerobic training (MD=-1.49 mg/L, 95% CI: -2.53 to -0.44, P=0.005) and combined training (MD=-1.41 mg/L, 95% CI: -1.87 to -0.95, P < 0.001) were more effective than resistance training in reducing fasting blood glucose. Combined training (MD=-0.47, 95% CI: -0.81 to -0.31, P=0.007) was superior to aerobic and resistance training in reducing HbA1c. Only aerobic training (MD=-0.48, 95% CI: -0.89 to -0.07, P=0.020) and combined training (MD=-0.35, 95% CI: -0.69 to -0.01, P=0.040) significantly reduced HOMA-IR, with aerobic training showing a greater effect than combined training. Subgroup analyses based on age group, exercise duration, session length, frequency, and intensity revealed that aerobic training performed less than 5 times per week for no more than 1 hour per session significantly improved fasting blood glucose in East Asian patients with T2DM.

Conclusions

Exercise interventions can improve glycemic control and reduce insulin resistance in East Asian patients with T2DM. Aerobic exercise and combined exercise are more effective exercise prescriptions for glycemic management in this population.

Issue
The Correlation between Tooth Brushing Frequency and Blood Indicators in Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Observational Study
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024, 15(4): 960-967
Published: 30 July 2024
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Objective

To analyze the effects of tooth brushing frequency on blood indicators among adolescents and to preliminarily explore the effects of tooth brushing frequency on general health.

Methods

Using convenience sampling method, the study included the students of class 2021 of Jining No. 7 Middle School and student athletes from the Jining Sports Training Center. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation between tooth brushing frequency and blood indicators such as eosinophil percentage (EOS%), eosinophil count (EOS#), basophil percentage (BAS%), basophil count (BAS#), superoxide dismutase (SOD), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and uric acid (UA).

Results

A total of 305 students were included (167 from Jining No. 7 Middle School, 138 from Jining Sports Training Centre), with 192 (62.95%) males and 113 (37.05%) females. They were divided into three groups based on daily teeth brushing frequency: ≤1 time (40.33%, 123/305), 2 times (53.77%, 164/305), and ≥3 times (5.90%, 18/305).Univariate linear regression analysis showed that brushing twice daily was negatively correlated with EOS%, EOS#, BAS%, and BAS#(all β > 0, all P < 0.05), and positively correlated with SOD and IGF-1(both β < 0, P=0.028, P=0.007). Brushing three or more times daily was negatively correlated with UA[β(95% CI): -0.16(-0.27~0.04), P=0.008]. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that brushing twice daily was negatively correlated with BAS%(β < 0, P=0.042) and positively correlated with SOD and IGF-1(both β > 0, P=0.036, P=0.012), while brushing three or more times daily was negatively correlated with UA(β < 0, P=0.026). Subgroup analysis revealed that in male adolescents, brushing twice daily was positively correlated with IGF-1(β > 0, P=0.044), and in female adolescents, brushing three or more times daily was negatively correlated with UA(β < 0, P=0.014).

Conclusion

The adolescent tooth brushing frequency correlates with several blood indicators affecting general health, suggesting that there may be a potential association between oral health and general health.

Issue
Application Status and Research Progress of Imaging Assessment of Skeletal Maturity in Adolescents and Children
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024, 15(6): 1456-1462
Published: 30 November 2024
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Skeletal maturity can reflect an individual's developmental status and predict their future growth potential, provide clinicians with valuable diagnostic information. In recent years, significant progress has been made in imaging techniques for assessing skeletal maturity. This article aims to review the application status and research progress of X-ray, MRI and ultrasound in assessing skeletal maturity in adolescents and children, with a view of providing clinical reference.

Issue
Oral Proactive Healthcare and Obesity
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024, 15(2): 450-455
Published: 30 March 2024
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Oral health is closely related to systemic health. Common chronic oral diseases, periodontitis and periapical inflammation for example, not only affect the health of oral soft and hard tissues including the alveolar bone and gums, but may also cause changes in systemic conditions such as chronic low-grade inflammation, elevated oxidative stress levels, and dysbiosis of the microbiota. These changes in systemic health can exacerbate the progression of obesity. Therefore, through proactive oral health interventions such as maintaining good oral hygiene habits, modifying dietary structures, and undergoing oral examinations, it is possible to effectively prevent and alleviate inflammatory oral diseases, and actively intervene in obesity. This article delves into the impact of inflammatory oral diseases on obesity and their underlying mechanisms, defines the concept of "oral proactive healthcare", and systematically summarizes their preventive and therapeutic effects on inflammatory oral diseases, thereby demonstrating the potential of improving obesity through proactive oral health strategies.

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