Serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) is a skin keratinizing protease inhibitor, which was initially found in animal serum and is widely present in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses, and they act as key regulators of skin keratinizing proteases and are involved in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation, primarily through the inhibition of deregulated tissue kinin-releasing enzymes (KLKs) in skin response. This process plays a crucial role in alleviating various skin problems caused by hyperkeratinization and inflammation, and can greatly improve the overall condition of the skin. Specifically, the different members of the SPINK family, such as SPINK5, SPINK6, SPINK7, and SPINK9, each have unique biological functions and mechanisms of action. The existence of these members demonstrates the diversity and complexity of skin health and disease. First, SPINK5 mutations are closely associated with the development of various skin diseases, such as Netherton’s syndrome and atopic dermatitis, and SPINK5 is able to inhibit the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby effectively preventing the metastasis of melanoma cells, which is important in preventing the invasion and migration of malignant tumors. Secondly, SPINK6 is mainly distributed in the epidermis and contains lysine and glutamate residues, which can act as a substrate for epidermal transglutaminase to maintain the normal structure and function of the skin. In addition, SPINK6 can activate the intracellular ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and protease receptor-2 (EphA2), which can promote the migration of melanoma cells, and SPINK6 further deepens its role in stimulating the migration of malignant tumor cells by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway. This process further deepens its potential impact in stimulating tumor invasive migration. Furthermore, SPINK7 plays a role in the pathology of some inflammatory skin diseases, and is likely to be an important factor contributing to the exacerbation of skin diseases by promoting aberrant proliferation of keratinocytes and local inflammatory responses. Finally, SPINK9 can induce cell migration and promote skin wound healing by activating purinergic receptor 2 (P2R) to induce phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor and further activating the downstream ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, SPINK9 also plays an antimicrobial role, preventing the interference of some pathogenic microorganisms. Taken as a whole, some members of the SPINK family may be potential targets for the treatment of dermatological disorders by regulating multiple biological processes such as keratinization metabolism and immuno-inflammatory processes in the skin. The development of drugs such as small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies has great potential for the treatment of dermatologic diseases, and future research on SPINK will help to gain a deeper understanding of the physiopathologic processes of the skin. Through its functions and regulatory mechanisms, the formation and maintenance of the skin barrier and the occurrence and development of inflammatory responses can be better understood, which will provide novel ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.

[Objective] To determine the blood group of a patient with ABO forward and reverse typing discrepancies using PacBio third-generation sequencing (TGS) technology, and to explore the application of serological methods and molecular biological methods in identifying chimeric blood groups. [Methods] The blood group serology testing was utilized. PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing of exons 1-7 of the ABO gene were conducted. The full-length sequencing of the ABO gene and haplotype analysis were carried out by PacBio third-generation sequencing technology. Short tandem repeat typing was also performed. [Results] Serological testing suggested a suspected B subtype, which appeared mixed field of vision with anti-B antibodies and showed 2+mf strength agglutination. Sanger sequencing revealed a homozygous ABO^* O. 01. 01 genotype with the c. 261delG mutation in exon 6. PacBio TGS identified a predominant ABO^* O. 01. 01/ABO^* O. 01. 01 genotype and a low proportion of ABO^* B. 01. Nine locis of twenty short tandem repeat (STR) locis showed three or four types of genotypes in STR analysis, confirming chimerism. [Conclusion] The sample was a B/O blood group chimerism. The low proportion of ABO^* B. 01 chimerism was the true cause for the serological mixed field of vision. The PacBio third-generation sequencing technology can not only determine the ABO gene haplotype but also detect a low proportion gene chimerism in ABO blood groups.

[Objective] To investigate the differences in metabolomics between apheresis platelets stored at 4℃ and at 22℃ with agitation, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the cold storage of apheresis platelets. [Methods] Samples were collected at four time points (d1, d5, d10, d15) for platelets stored at 4℃ (experimental group) and two time points (d1, d5) for platelets stored at 22℃ with agitation (control group). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology was used to detect changes in platelet metabolome levels under different storage conditions. Platelet functional activity was assessed by thromboelastography (TEG) for maximum amplitude (MA) values and flow cytometry for CD62P activation rates. [Results] Metabolites in the glycolytic pathway, key metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (citrate, α-ketoglutarate), metabolites in the purine metabolism pathway (adenine, inosine monophosphate, guanine, etc.) and amino acid metabolites significantly decreased by d5 in the control group, whereas they remained stable in the experimental group. The content of fatty acid metabolites, such as prostaglandin G2, 13(S)-HOTrE, and linoleic acid, significantly increased in the control group. Statistically significant differences in MA values were observed between the two groups at d1 and d5 (P<0.05). However, in the experimental group, as the storage time extended, the MA values at d10 and d15 showed no significant difference compared to the control group at d5 (P>0.05). The CD62P activation rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Additionally, the CD62P activation rate of platelets in the 22℃ group increased rapidly from d1, while it rose gradually in the 4 ℃ group. [Conclusion] Platelets stored at 4 ℃ exhibit more stable metabolic activity and slower functional deterioration, which is beneficial for extending the effective storage period of platelets.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the impact of intergenerational substitution effect of the drugs with the same indication on fund expenditures for national medical insurance for this indication in China， taking national medical insurance negotiated drugs for non-small cell lung cancer （hereinafter referred to as “NSCLC national negotiation drugs”） as an example. METHODS The sales amounts of 15 types of NSCLC national negotiated drugs in secondary and tertiary public hospitals across seven sample provinces from 2017 to 2023 were collected from the Pharmaceutical Drug Database of the China National Pharmaceutical Industry Information Center. A sliding t-test and Mann-Kendall trend test were used to evaluate the trends in sales amounts and DDDs. Taking epidermal growth factor receptor（EGFR）-tyrosine kinase inhibitors （TKIs） and anaplastic lymphoma kinase （ALK）-TKIs as examples， the generational substitution characteristics of these drugs were analyzed. RESULTS The change points of sales amounts and DDDs differed slightly across provinces； the change points of sales amount were mostly concentrated between the first quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020， while those for DDDs were primarily concentrated in the first to second quarters of 2021. In five provinces， i.e. Beijing， Heilongjiang， Jiangsu， Sichuan and Shaanxi， sales amounts showed no significant upward trend after the breakpoints （P＞0.05）， whereas in Guangdong and Hubei， both sales amounts and DDDs continued to rise significantly following the breakpoints （P＜0.05）. Since 2020， the growth in sales amounts of EGFR-TKIs had slowed. After 2021， the sales amounts and DDDs of first- and second-generation EGFR-TKIs declined， while third-generation EGFR-TKIs showed clear substitution effects. The sales amounts of ALK-TKIs continuedto grow. However， the sales amounts and DDDs of first-generation ALK-TKIs had declined year by year， with second-generation ALK-TKIs demonstrating a significant substitution effect on first-generation ones， while third-generation ALK-TKIs had not yet shown a clear substitution trend. CONCLUSIONS With the annual access to and renewal of drugs in national medical insurance negotiations， the overall expenditure trend for NSCLC negotiated drugs comes to a plateau. The intergenerational substitution relationships of drugs with the same indication achieve a relative balance in fund expenditures for negotiated drugs with the same indication. It is recommended that pharmaceutical companies carefully consider their research pipelines， and that medical insurance authorities， during the renewal management process， pay attention to the impact of drug substitution effects on the overall actual expenditure of medical insurance funds for that specific target or the same indication， and scientifically evaluate the extent of price reductions during contract renewals.

Optical imaging is highly valued for its superior temporal and spatial resolution. This is particularly important in near-infrared II (NIR-II, 1 000-3 000 nm) imaging, which offers advantages such as reduced tissue absorption, minimal scattering, and low autofluorescence. These characteristics make NIR-II imaging especially suitable for deep tissue visualization, where high contrast and minimal background interference are critical for accurate diagnosis and monitoring. Currently, inorganic fluorescent probes—such as carbon nanotubes, rare earth nanoparticles, and quantum dots—offer high brightness and stability. However, they are hindered by ambiguous structures, larger sizes, and potential accumulation toxicity in vivo. In contrast, organic fluorescent probes, including small molecules and polymers, demonstrate higher biocompatibility but are limited by shorter emission wavelengths, lower quantum yields, and reduced stability. Recently, gold clusters have emerged as a promising class of nanomaterials with potential applications in biocatalysis, fluorescence sensing, biological imaging, and more. Water-soluble gold clusters are particularly attractive as fluorescent probes due to their remarkable optical properties, including strong photoluminescence, large Stokes shifts, and excellent photostability. Furthermore, their outstanding biocompatibility—attributed to good aqueous stability, ultra-small hydrodynamic size, and high renal clearance efficiency—makes them especially suitable for biomedical applications. Gold clusters hold significant potential for NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Atomic-precision gold clusters, typically composed of tens to hundreds of gold atoms and measuring only a few nanometers in diameter, possess well-defined three-dimensional structures and clear spatial coordination. This atomic-level precision enables fine-tuned structural regulation, further enhancing their fluorescence properties. Variations in cluster size, surface ligands, and alloying elements can result in distinct physicochemical characteristics. The incorporation of different atoms can modulate the atomic and electronic structures of gold clusters, while diverse ligands can influence surface polarity and steric hindrance. As such, strategies like alloying and ligand engineering are effective in enhancing both fluorescence and catalytic performance, thereby meeting a broader range of clinical needs. In recent years, gold clusters have attracted growing attention in the biomedical field. Their application in NIR-II imaging has led to significant progress in vascular, organ, and tumor imaging. The resulting high-resolution, high signal-to-noise imaging provides powerful tools for clinical diagnostics. Moreover, biologically active gold clusters can aid in drug delivery and disease diagnosis and treatment, offering new opportunities for clinical therapeutics. Despite the notable achievements in fundamental research and clinical translation, further studies are required to address challenges related to the standardized synthesis and complex metabolic behavior of gold clusters. Resolving these issues will help accelerate their clinical adoption and broaden their biomedical applications.

ObjectiveIn nature, objects cast shadows due to illumination, forming the basis for stereoscopic perception. Birds need to adapt to changes in lighting (meaning they can recognize stereoscopic shapes even when shadows look different) to accurately perceive different three-dimensional forms. However, how neurons in the key visual brain area in birds handle these lighting changes remains largely unreported. In this study, pigeons (Columba livia) were used as subjects to investigate how neurons in pigeon’s ventrolateral mesopallium (MVL) represent stereoscopic shapes consistently, regardless of changes in lighting. MethodsVisual cognitive training combined with neuronal recording was employed. Pigeons were first trained to discriminate different stereoscopic shapes (concave/convex). We then tested whether and how light luminance angle and surface appearance of the stereoscopic shapes affect their recognition accuracy, and further verify whether the results rely on specify luminance color. Simultaneously, neuronal firing activity of neurons was recorded with multiple electrode array implanted from the MVL during the presentation of difference shapes. The response was finally analyzed how selectively they responded to different stereoscopic shapes and whether their selectivity was affected by the changes of luminance condition (like lighting angle) or surface look. Support vector machine (SVM) models were trained on neuronal population responses recorded under one condition (light luminance angle of 45°) and used to decode responses under other conditions (light luminance angle of 135°, 225°, 315°) to verify the invariance of responses to different luminance conditions. ResultsBehavioral results from 6 pigeons consistently showed that the pigeons could reliably identify the core 3D shape (over 80% accuracy), and this ability wasn’t affected by changes in light angle or surface appearance. Statistical analysis of 88 recorded neurons from 6 pigeons revealed that 83% (73/88) showed strong selectivity for specific 3D shapes (selectivity index>0.3), and responses to convex shapes were consistently stronger than to concave shapes. These shape-selective responses remained stable across changes in light angle and surface appearance. Neural patterns were consistent under both blue and orange lighting. The decoding accuracy achieves above 70%, suggesting stable responses under different conditions (e.g., different lighting angles or surface appearance). ConclusionNeurons in the pigeon MVL maintain a consistent neural encoding pattern for different stereoscopic shapes, unaffected by illumination or surface appearance. This ensures stable object recognition by pigeons in changing visual environments. Our findings provide new physiological evidence for understanding how birds achieve stable perception (“invariant neural representations”) while coping with variations in the visual field.

Aging is an inevitable, physiological process of the human body, leading to deterioration in bodily function and increased susceptibility to various diseases. Effective endogenous therapeutic strategies for anti-aging and related diseases remain limited. Exercise confers multifaceted benefits to physical health by augmenting osteogenic and myogenic processes, enhancing cardiovascular and nervous system function, and attenuating chronic inflammation. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis play pivotal roles in anti-aging, tissue repair, and immune response modulation, underscoring their potential as therapeutic targets for age-related diseases. Modulating angiogenic and lymphangiogenic pathways may provide a promising strategy for mitigating vascular decline and immune system dysfunction associated with aging. Exercise-induced endogenous angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis can exert beneficial effects on physiological function, thereby representing a potential therapeutic paradigm for combating age-related decline and diseases. This review offers a thorough summary of the present knowledge regarding angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis induced by exercise, encompassing the underlying mechanisms and the effects in different organs. In addition, it explores the potential of physical activity as a non-pharmacological intervention for anti-aging strategies and disease management, offering novel insights into the intersection of physical activity, aging, and disease progression.
Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis/physiology* ; Aging/physiology* ; Exercise/physiology* ; Animals ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology* ; Angiogenesis

The development of bone in human body and the maintenance of bone mass in adulthood are regulated by a variety of biological factors. Myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), as one of the many factors regulating bone tissue development and balance, has been shown to play a key role in bone development and metabolism. However, there is limited systematic analysis on the effects of MEF2C on bone tissue. This article reviews the role of MEF2C in bone development and metabolism. During bone development, MEF2C promotes the development of neural crest cells (NC) into craniofacial cartilage and directly promotes cartilage hypertrophy. In terms of bone metabolism, MEF2C exhibits a differentiated regulatory model across different types of osteocytes, demonstrating both promoting and other potential regulatory effects on bone formation, with its stimulating effect on osteoclasts being determined. In view of the complex roles of MEF2C in bone tissue, this paper also discusses its effects on some bone diseases, providing valuable insights for the physiological study of bone tissue and strategies for the prevention of bone diseases.
Humans ; MEF2 Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Bone and Bones/metabolism* ; Animals ; Bone Development/physiology* ; Osteogenesis/physiology* ; Myogenic Regulatory Factors/physiology*