1.Engineered Bacteriophages for The Treatment of Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Infections
Yu-Ying CHEN ; Chun-Mei HUANG ; Jin-Zhi PAN ; De-Liang LIU ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1581-1596
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.
2.Effect evaluation of pharmaceutical service based on root cause analysis combined with KAP theory on decreasing the protocol violations of investigational medicinal products rate in pediatric clinical trials
Chunyan GUO ; Yi ZHANG ; Yuxin YANG ; Yuguang LIANG ; Qian DING ; Qian WANG ; Chengyue ZHANG ; Yu SUN ; Peng GUO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1206-1210
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of pharmaceutical services guided by root cause analysis (RCA) in a problem-oriented manner combined with knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) theory on reducing the incidence of protocol violations of investigational medicinal products in pediatric clinical trials. METHODS A total of 617 participants from 69 drug clinical trial projects conducted in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected as the control group, and 868 participants from 72 drug clinical trial projects from January 2022 to December 2025 as the observation group. RCA was performed on the protocol violations of investigational medicinal product in the control group to identify the types and underlying causes. The control group received routine pharmaceutical services for drug clinical trials, while the observation group was provided with precision pharmaceutical services from the three dimensions of knowledge, attitude and practice on the basis of routine pharmaceutical services, according to the root causes identified by RCA. The occurrence of investigational medicinal products protocol violations was compared between the two groups. RESULTS The total incidence of protocol violations of investigational medicinal products, as well as the incidences of minor and major protocol violations, were all significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.001). The main types of protocol violations in both groups included missed/under-/over-dosing of medications, non-adherence to administration time, failure to adjust dosage as required, and combined medication/vaccination in violation of the protocol. Regarding the responsible subjects of protocol violations, the incidences of protocol violations attributed to participants and their guardians as well as investigators and accidental factors were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.001, P <0.001, P =0.025). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of protocol violations caused by sponsor-related reasons between the two groups ( P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pharmaceutical services led by pharmacists, based on problem-oriented RCA and combined with KAP theory, can effectively reduce the protocol violations of investigational medicinal products rate in pediatric clinical trials, thereby safeguarding the safety and rights of study participants.
3.Preliminary evaluation of the effect of comprehensive health management on the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke
Shuai ZHU ; Genming ZHAO ; Yiying ZHANG ; Dongni LIANG ; Hongjie YU ; Qian PENG ; Fang XIANG ; Na WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(2):89-93
Objective To evaluate the short-term effects of comprehensive health management interventions for stroke high-risk population screening on the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke, and to provide reference and basis for improving and exploring health management and prevention strategies for stroke high-risk population. Methods From 2018 to 2022, 13 community health service centers in Jiading District, Shanghai were selected in the present study. Based on information push platform, stroke risk assessment and health intervention follow-up were conducted for community residents through convenience sampling. The residents were divided into a full course intervention group (intervention group) and a routine intervention group (control group) according to different health intervention measures and forms. The incidence of ischemic stroke in the two groups of survey subjects was tracked within 36 months. Results A total of 52144 subjects were included in the study. The total number of patients in the full course intervention group was 14227, with an incidence density of 577.32/100 000 (556.49/100 000-598.12/100 000), which was lower than that of the conventional intervention group (37 917), with an incidence density of 1 485.47/100 000 (1 464.99/100 000-1 505.94/100 000) (χ2=2490.212, P<0.001). The relative risk of the full course intervention group was 0.39, and the relative risk of stroke risk factors in the full course intervention group from low to high was 0.33, 0.43, 0.45, and 0.49, respectively. The incidence density of males in the full course intervention group was 660.76 (627.46/100 000 - 694.05/100 000), with a relative risk of 0.43, and the incidence density of female patients was 509.71/100 000 (483.37/100 000 - 536.05/100 000), with a relative risk of 0.35. The overall incidence density of the population under 62 years old gourp, 62-75 years old group and over 75 years old group was 197.45/100 000 (173.09/100 000 -221.80/100 000), 608.36/100 000 (580.19/100 000-636.54/100 000), and 1 025.06/100 000 (958.51/100 000-1 091.61/100 000), with relative risks of 0.51, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively. Conclusion Comprehensive health management measures can effectively reduce the short-term risk of ischemic stroke, and should be further promoted and improved to enhance the effectiveness of stroke prevention and control.
4.Dietary taste preferences and risk of prostatitis: a Mendelian randomization study
Jian CHEN ; Peng WU ; Yuhao YU ; Zilong LIANG ; Yan LIU
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(1):26-32
Objective To examine the potential causal associations between different dietary taste preferences and the risk of prostatitis, so as to provide reference for the primary prevention of this disease. Methods Summary-level genome-wide association study(GWAS)data on five taste preferences-sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy—were obtained from the GWAS, and GWAS data for prostatitis were sourced from the FinnGen database. The potential causal associations between the dietary taste preferences and risk of prostatitis were analyzed with MR. The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method served as the primary analytical approach. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q test. Horizontal pleiotropy was evaluated via the MR-Egger intercept and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier(MR-PRESSO)tests. Leave-one-out analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of individual single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)on the causal estimates. Results Preferences for sweet(OR=1.338, 95%CI:1.024-1.748, P=0.033)and salty(OR=1.356, 95%CI:1.092-1.684, P=0.006)tastes showed positive causal associations with the risk of prostatitis, whereas a preference for bitter taste was negatively associated(OR=0.638, 95%CI:0.416-0.978, P=0.039). No significant causal links were observed for sour or spicy taste preferences(P>0.05). Sensitivity analyses and reverse MR analyses further supported the robustness of the findings.Conclusion Sweet and salty taste preferences may be potential dietary risk factors for prostatitis, while bitter taste preference could play a protective role. Further research is needed to elucidate these causal relationships, which may contribute to developing tailored dietary intervention strategies for prostatitis prevention.
5.TCM Syndrome Distribution Patterns and Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Comorbid with Metabolically Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Dingqi LI ; Liang HUANG ; Baixue LI ; Rui ZHAO ; Zhenglong ZHENG ; Yichen PENG ; Yu LIANG ; Caiying HE ; Jingdong CUI ; Zilin XIONG ; Xiyang LIU ; Quansheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):259-270
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) comorbid with metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and analyze their correlation with clinical characteristics and the progression of liver fibrosis. MethodsA cross-sectional study method was employed, and 506 patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD who attended the Hepatology Outpatient Department of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from June 2024 to December 2024 were enrolled. General information, traditional Chinese medicine syndromes information, laboratory indicators, and imaging examination results were collected using case report forms (CRF). Tongue images of patients were acquired using a tongue diagnosis instrument, and tongue feature parameters were extracted using computer image processing technology. Frequency analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis, and other methods were used to explore syndrome categories and distribution patterns. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences in clinical characteristics among different syndromes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and the progression of liver fibrosis. ResultsThe main traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD were mainly dominated by damp-heat accumulation syndrome, liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome, and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome, with damp-heat accumulation syndrome accounting for the highest proportion (41.89%). Compared with those without damp-heat accumulation syndrome, patients with damp-heat accumulation syndrome had significantly lower tongue proper H value, tongue coating H value, and tongue coating a* value (P<0.05), significantly higher tongue coating b* value (P<0.05), significantly increased levels of white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), and glucose (GLU), increased CAP values (P<0.05), a higher proportion of males (P<0.05), and a younger age (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses show that age, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), diabetes, and damp-heat accumulation syndrome are independent risk factors for liver fibrosis (P<0.05), and that damp-heat accumulation syndrome is predominantly distributed in liver fibrosis stage F0-F1. ConclusionDamp-heat accumulation syndrome is a typical syndrome in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD, which is significantly associated with enhanced inflammatory response, metabolic disorders, and early liver fibrosis, and is a key link in disease progression. Clinical attention and early intervention are needed.
6.Current Status and Prospects of Artificial Intelligence Technologyin Minimally Invasive Gastric Cancer Surgery
Tao ZHANG ; Boer SU ; Guanxing LIANG ; Shiman DAI ; Jiawei CHEN ; Zhengjie LIU ; Cheng PENG ; Rong LIU ; Qinglan LIN ; Yidan WU ; Yuhui WU ; Jiaming WEN ; Hong WANG ; Hao CHEN ; Jiang YU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(4):933-942
Gastric cancer remains a highly prevalent malignancy worldwide, with surgical resection currently constituting the cornerstone of treatment aimed at improving long-term patient survival. Owing to their notable advantages, including reduced surgical trauma and accelerated postoperative recovery, minimally invasive procedures are progressively supplanting conventional open surgery and have become the mainstream approach in gastric cancer management. Concurrently, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has enabled real-time intraoperative monitoring of surgical scenes, thereby furnishing novel technical support for adjunctive decision-making, surgical navigation, and skill assessment during gastrectomy. This article provides a systematic review of the current status of AI applications in minimally invasive gastric cancer surgery, with a particular focus on research progress pertaining to instrument recognition, surgical phase identification, delineation of normal anatomical structures, detection of metastatic foci, and early warning of intraoperative adverse events. Furthermore, we discuss the potential value of AI in enhancing surgical efficiency, ensuring patient safety, and optimizing surgical education. On this basis, we further analyze the principal challenges and inherent risks confronting current AI systems, with the aim of informing future technological innovation and facilitating clinical translation.
7.Analysis of the safety, economic benefit and social psychological satisfaction of day breast conserving surgery for breast cancer
Jiao ZHOU ; Xiaoxiao XIAO ; Jiabin YANG ; Yu FENG ; Huanzuo YANG ; Mengxue QIU ; Qing ZHANG ; Yang LIU ; Mingjun HUANG ; Peng LIANG ; Zhenggui DU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):160-166
Objective To investigate the safety, economic benefits and psychological effects of day breast conserving surgery for breast cancer. Methods The demographic data and clinical data of breast cancer patients undergoing day (day surgery group) and ward (ward surgery group) breast conserving surgeries in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from March 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively collected; the demographic data, clinical data, medical and related transportation costs, and preoperative and postoperative BREAST-Q scores of breast cancer patients undergoing day (day surgery group) and ward (ward surgery group) breast conserving surgery in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2021 to June 2022 were prospectively collected. The safety, economic benefit, and psychological satisfaction of day surgery was analyzed. Results A total of 42 women with breast cancer were included in the retrospective study and 39 women with breast cancer were included in the prospective study. In both prospective and retrospective studies, the mean age of patients in both groups were <50 years. There were only statistical differences between the two groups in the aspects of hypertension (P=0.022), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.037) and postoperative pathological estrogen receptor (P=0.033) in the prospective study. In postoperative complications, there were no statistical differences in the surgical-related complications or anesthesia-related complications between the two groups in either the prospective study or the retrospective study (P>0.05). In terms of the overall cost, we found that the day surgery group was more economical than the ward surgery group in the prospective study (P=0.002). There were no statistical differences in postoperative psychosocical well-being, sexual well-being, satisfaction with breasts or chest condition between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion It is safe and reliable to carry out breast conserving surgery in day surgery center under strict management standards, which can save medical costs and will not cause great psychological burden to patients.
8.Imaging guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer:A multicenter retrospective study
Shuilian TAN ; Jie ZHOU ; Ping LIANG ; Xiaoling YU ; Xin YE ; Gang DONG ; Xiang JING ; Guanghui HUANG ; Zhen WANG ; Mengfan PENG ; Yan ZHOU ; Jie YU ; Zhiyu HAN ; Fangyi LIU ; Hongjian GAO ; Yubo ZHANG ; Zhigang CHENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(7):1109-1112
Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer.Methods Totally 84 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled,and the technical success rate,complete ablation rate,complication rate,pain relief rate and survival time,etc.were observed.Results The median age of 84 cases was 61.5 years.Totally 86 tumors,including 44.19%(38/86)at the head/neck and 55.81%(48/86)at the body/tail of pancreas were detected,and a total of 85 ablation sessions were performed with the median ablation energy applied per tumor of 9.90(1.08,21.60)kJ and the complete ablation rate of 42.86%(36/84).The technical success rate was 100%(85/85).Thirty-nine complication events occurred in 25 cases,no ablation-related death.Among 34 patients underwent ablation mainly for pain symptoms,the pain score decreased from(6.22±1.12)points before treatment to(1.94±1.64)points after treatment(P<0.001).During 6.8(3.3,12.9)months' follow-up,the mean survival time was(8.5±6.7)months,and all 47 patients died due to tumor progression.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was safe and feasible for unresectable pancreatic cancer.
9.Summary of the 20 th Chinese Conference on Burns and Wound Repair
Peng WANG ; Qiuhong XIE ; Yu MO ; Guangping LIANG ; Bin QU ; Gaoxing LUO
Chinese Journal of Burns 2025;41(7):708-710
The 20 th Chinese Conference on Burns and Wound Repair was successfully held in Chengdu, the lotus city from June 12 th to 14 th, 2025. Themed "Interdisciplinary, Cutting-edge Innovation, and Excellence", this conference featured a main venue and five parallel sessions. Over the three-day event, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges focusing on acute and chronic wound repair, scar prevention and reconstruction, critical burn treatment, rehabilitation, and nursing care. The conference showcased the latest advancements in burn and wound repair medicine, injecting new momentum into the discipline's development.
10.Current research status of ferroptosis in endometriosis
Jiahua PENG ; Ruining LIANG ; Xin SONG ; Yu SUN ; Hui JIAN ; Xiaoquan LUO
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(1):139-146
Endometriosis presents a common challenge in global women's health.Ferroptosis,as an emerging form of regulated cell death,has recently attracted attention in relation to endometriosis.In terms of disease mechanisms,ferroptosis drives ovarian endometrial fibrosis via the induction of iron overload,and promotes disease progression by regulating multiple signaling pathways,such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(p38MAPK/STAT6),promote angiogenesis,autophagy,etc,fueling disease progression.In terms of infertility,ferroptosis affects embryo development and ovarian function,thereby reducing fertility.From a diagnostic perspective,high expression of ferroptosis-related genes provides potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of endometriosis,effectively distinguishing patients from healthy individuals,and showing important clinical value.In terms of treatment strategies,non-natural compounds such as Erastin,as well as natural compounds such as resveratrol,ursolic acid,and baicalein,have shown potential therapeutic effects in relieving the pathological process and related symptoms of endometriosis.This review comprehensively elucidates the key role of ferroptosis in endometriosis in terms of the disease mechanisms,infertility,diagnosis,and treatment,and explores its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target,thus providing new theoretical support and treatment strategies for the management of endometriosis.


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