1.Strategies and Challenges of Hydrogen Production Catalyzed by Bioencapsulated Hydrogenase
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1415-1438
Hydrogenases, as a class of highly efficient and reversible biological catalysts, can catalyze the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen, thus demonstrating great potential in a wide range of fields such as renewable energy production and green chemistry. Despite their significant potential, the large-scale industrial application of hydrogenases has long been constrained by several inherent limitations, including high sensitivity to molecular oxygen, the challenges in the in vitro reconstitution and maturation of their catalytic centers, and the inefficiency and instability of the natural electron transfer pathways. To overcome these limitations and enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases, researchers have developed various strategies, among which enzyme molecular engineering, photo-driven modification, and enzyme immobilization techniques are the most common exploration directions. Particularly, enzyme immobilization technology is widely used to improve the reusability of hydrogenases, but traditional immobilization methods often come with disadvantages in practical applications, such as complex multi-step procedures and insufficient biocompatibility of the immobilization materials. In recent years, bioencapsulation technology has emerged as a promising alternative strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases. This method utilizes biologically derived encapsulation materials to construct physically confined and precisely defined chemical microenvironments around the enzyme molecules, offering simpler self-assembly processes and superior biocompatibility. With these biomimetic constructs, bioencapsulation technology not only provides better oxygen tolerance but also helps to create a local microenvironment conducive to sustained catalytic function. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress of two main bioencapsulation strategies for hydrogenases: one is the encapsulation technology based on protein-based nanocages; the other is the engineering strategy for whole-cell hydrogenase expression. In the nanocage-based systems, this article focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of virus-like capsids and carboxysome protein shells, which serve as efficient enzyme encapsulation scaffolds, not only providing a stable physical barrier to prevent oxygen diffusion but also enabling high-density enzyme loading, thereby promoting substrate channeling effects and electron transfer kinetics. This article also discusses whole-cell encapsulation systems, which achieve hydrogenase compartmentalization within engineered cellular structures or by using external natural polysaccharide-based encapsulation matrices to wrap whole-cell catalysts. Bioencapsulation strategies can bring multiple synergistic benefits: they can effectively protect hydrogenases from oxygen-mediated inactivation, significantly delay the decline of catalytic activity over time, and enhance the hydrogen production rate by increasing the local concentration of active enzyme molecules and optimizing the electron transfer efficiency from redox partners to the catalytic center.Despite the significant progress made, several technical challenges remain to be addressed. The main obstacles include limited enzyme loading and encapsulation efficiency, insufficient long-term stability of encapsulation materials under operating conditions, and the need to improve the matching of the photo-biological interface in systems integrating light-harvesting components with enzymatic catalysis. Future efforts can focus on the integration of multiple technological approaches, such as using computer-aided protein design to optimize encapsulation structures, developing engineered electron transfer pathways to enhance catalytic conversion efficiency, and designing composite multifunctional materials with both structural stability and functional adaptability. These directions collectively aim to achieve efficient, stable, and scalable hydrogen production applications of bioencapsulated hydrogenase systems.
2.Strategies and Challenges of Hydrogen Production Catalyzed by Bioencapsulated Hydrogenase
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1415-1438
Hydrogenases, as a class of highly efficient and reversible biological catalysts, can catalyze the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen, thus demonstrating great potential in a wide range of fields such as renewable energy production and green chemistry. Despite their significant potential, the large-scale industrial application of hydrogenases has long been constrained by several inherent limitations, including high sensitivity to molecular oxygen, the challenges in the in vitro reconstitution and maturation of their catalytic centers, and the inefficiency and instability of the natural electron transfer pathways. To overcome these limitations and enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases, researchers have developed various strategies, among which enzyme molecular engineering, photo-driven modification, and enzyme immobilization techniques are the most common exploration directions. Particularly, enzyme immobilization technology is widely used to improve the reusability of hydrogenases, but traditional immobilization methods often come with disadvantages in practical applications, such as complex multi-step procedures and insufficient biocompatibility of the immobilization materials. In recent years, bioencapsulation technology has emerged as a promising alternative strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases. This method utilizes biologically derived encapsulation materials to construct physically confined and precisely defined chemical microenvironments around the enzyme molecules, offering simpler self-assembly processes and superior biocompatibility. With these biomimetic constructs, bioencapsulation technology not only provides better oxygen tolerance but also helps to create a local microenvironment conducive to sustained catalytic function. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress of two main bioencapsulation strategies for hydrogenases: one is the encapsulation technology based on protein-based nanocages; the other is the engineering strategy for whole-cell hydrogenase expression. In the nanocage-based systems, this article focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of virus-like capsids and carboxysome protein shells, which serve as efficient enzyme encapsulation scaffolds, not only providing a stable physical barrier to prevent oxygen diffusion but also enabling high-density enzyme loading, thereby promoting substrate channeling effects and electron transfer kinetics. This article also discusses whole-cell encapsulation systems, which achieve hydrogenase compartmentalization within engineered cellular structures or by using external natural polysaccharide-based encapsulation matrices to wrap whole-cell catalysts. Bioencapsulation strategies can bring multiple synergistic benefits: they can effectively protect hydrogenases from oxygen-mediated inactivation, significantly delay the decline of catalytic activity over time, and enhance the hydrogen production rate by increasing the local concentration of active enzyme molecules and optimizing the electron transfer efficiency from redox partners to the catalytic center.Despite the significant progress made, several technical challenges remain to be addressed. The main obstacles include limited enzyme loading and encapsulation efficiency, insufficient long-term stability of encapsulation materials under operating conditions, and the need to improve the matching of the photo-biological interface in systems integrating light-harvesting components with enzymatic catalysis. Future efforts can focus on the integration of multiple technological approaches, such as using computer-aided protein design to optimize encapsulation structures, developing engineered electron transfer pathways to enhance catalytic conversion efficiency, and designing composite multifunctional materials with both structural stability and functional adaptability. These directions collectively aim to achieve efficient, stable, and scalable hydrogen production applications of bioencapsulated hydrogenase systems.
3.Teprotumumab combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Yuan LIU ; Qian YANG ; Juan DU ; Hu CHANG ; Ge GAO
International Eye Science 2026;26(7):1264-1269
AIM: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of teprotumumab combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO), and its impacts on thyroid function, levels of inflammatory factors, and adverse reactions in patients. METHODS: Active TAO patients admitted to the Ophthalmology Department were enrolled and randomly divide into the steroid group and the combined group. Then the steroid group was treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy, while the combined group was combined with intravenous infusion of teprotumumab on the basis of the steroid group. The clinical therapeutic effect, the CAS, OSDI, M-C-TAO-QOL scores, ocular sign indicators(fissure width, proptosis), levels of inflammatory factors(TNF-α, CRP, IL-17), thyroid function(TSH, FT3, FT4)before and after treatment, and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups.RESULTS:Totally 96 TAO patients(192 eyes)were included, with 48 cases(96 eyes)in each group. In the combined group, there were 17 males and 31 females, with an average age of 51.85±3.53 y; in the steroid group, there were 14 males and 34 females, with an average age of 51.26±3.84 y. The total effective rate of the combined group(94%)was higher than that of the steroid group(79%)(P<0.05). After treatment, the CAS score, OSDI score, fissure width, proptosis, levels of TNF-α, CRP, and IL-17 in the combined group were all lower than those in the steroid group, and the M-C-TAO-QOL score was higher than that in the steroid group(P<0.05). However, there was no difference in thyroid function indicators and adverse reactions between two groups after treatment(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of teprotumumab and glucocorticoid pulse therapy for TAO has a prominent therapeutic effect. Meantime, it can more effectively control ocular inflammation, improve ocular signs and quality of life of patients, and has no obvious adverse effect on thyroid function, with controllable safety.
4.Clinical characteristics and short-term prognosis of acute myocardial infarction following cardiac surgery
Tingting YANG ; Yunqing SHI ; Beijian ZHANG ; Juying QIAN ; Shufu CHANG ; Junbo GE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(3):486-492
Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and short-term prognosis of postoperative acute myocardial infarction (PAMI) after cardiac surgery. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 45 PAMI patients who underwent coronary angiography after cardiac surgery at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from February 2015 to February 2025. General information, type of surgery, onset time and causes of PAMI, and in-hospital recovery condition were collected. Univariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to in-hospital survival. Results The patients’ age was (62.40±11.72) years, 31 cases (68.89%) were male, 21 cases (46.67%) had hypertension. Twenty-six patients (57.78%) underwent cardiac valve surgery, and 16 patients (35.56%) received coronary artery bypass grafting. The onset time of PAMI was 24 (0, 48) hours, with 38 cases (84.44%) developing within 48 hours after surgery. Twenty-eight patients (62.22%) presented with new lesions in coronary arteries/bypass grafts, and 20 patients (44.44%) were considered to have thrombus-induced PAMI. Nine patients died in hospital, 13 patients failed to recover and were discharged automatically, and 23 patients were discharged after recovery. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that new lesion in coronary arteries/bypass grafts was risk factor for in-hospital survival (OR=0.235, P=0.036). Conclusions PAMI frequently occurs within 48 hours post-cardiac surgery, and thrombosis is the most common cause of PAMI. New lesions in coronary arteries/bypass grafts are closely correlated with poor short-term prognosis.
5.Serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 Expression in Patients with Esophageal Cancer and Their Association with Postoperative Lung Infection After Mediastinoscopy
Yu FENG ; Rulin QIAN ; Dong CUI ; Chaoying CHANG ; Maolin CHEN
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(1):68-73
Objective To investigate serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 expression in patients with esophageal cancer and their relationship to lung infection after mediastinoscopy. Methods A total of 118 patients with esophageal cancer were selected and divided into infected and uninfected groups according to whether they developed lung infection after surgery. An automatic microbiological identification system was used to detect the pathogenic bacteria of lung infection. ELISA was used to detect the levels of β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postoperative lung infection in patients with esophageal cancer. ROC curves were plotted to analyze the assessment value of serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 on postoperative lung infection. Results Fifty-two strains of bacteria were isolated from the sputum of 38 patients with postoperative lung infections, and these included 35 (67.31%) Gram-negative, 14 (26.92%) Gram-positive, and 3 (5.77%) fungal strains. The difference in long-term smoking history between the infected and uninfected groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Serum β2-MG and PSGL-1 levels were significantly higher and sCHE levels were significantly lower in the infected group than in the uninfected group (P<0.05). Serum β2-MG and PSGL-1 levels were sequentially higher (P<0.05) and sCHE levels were sequentially lower (P<0.05) in the mild, moderate, and severe lung infection groups. Long-term smoking history, β2-MG, and PSGL-1 were risk factors affecting postoperative lung infection in patients with esophageal cancer (P<0.05), and sCHE was a protective factor (P<0.05). The AUCs of serum β2-MG, sCHE, and PSGL-1 for assessing postoperative lung infections were 0.807, 0.845, and 0.800, respectively, and the AUC of the three combined factors for assessing postoperative lung infections was 0.954, which was superior to that assessed individually (Zcombination vs. β2-MG=2.576, Zcombination vs. sCHE=2.623, Zcombination vs. PSGL-1=2.574, all P<0.05). Conclusion The serum levels of β2-MG and PSGL-1 increase and the sCHE level decreases in patients with esophageal cancer and postoperative pulmonary infection, which are also related with lung infection. Combined testing can improve the evaluation value of postoperative pulmonary infection in patients.
6.Emergency medical response strategy for the 2025 Dingri, Tibet Earthquake
Chenggong HU ; Xiaoyang DONG ; Hai HU ; Hui YAN ; Yaowen JIANG ; Qian HE ; Chang ZOU ; Si ZHANG ; Wei DONG ; Yan LIU ; Huanhuan ZHONG ; Ji DE ; Duoji MIMA ; Jin YANG ; Qiongda DAWA ; Lü ; JI ; La ZHA ; Qiongda JIBA ; Lunxu LIU ; Lei CHEN ; Dong WU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(04):421-426
This paper systematically summarizes the practical experience of the 2025 Dingri earthquake emergency medical rescue in Tibet. It analyzes the requirements for earthquake medical rescue under conditions of high-altitude hypoxia, low temperature, and low air pressure. The paper provides a detailed discussion on the strategic layout of earthquake medical rescue at the national level, local government level, and through social participation. It covers the construction of rescue organizational systems, technical systems, material support systems, and information systems. The importance of building rescue teams is emphasized. In high-altitude and cold conditions, rapid response, scientific decision-making, and multi-party collaboration are identified as key elements to enhance rescue efficiency. By optimizing rescue organizational structures, strengthening the development of new equipment, and promoting telemedicine technologies, the precision and effectiveness of medical rescue can be significantly improved, providing important references for future similar disaster rescues.
7.Investigation of Effect of Different Drying Conditions on Appearance Characteristics and Internal Indicators of Pinelliae Rhizoma Based on Standardization
Suqing LIU ; Xueli ZHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Cong YANG ; Changfu YANG ; Jun YU ; Bingpeng ZHENG ; Huiwu LI ; Yanhua JIANG ; Chang LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):208-215
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of different drying conditions on the appearance and intrinsic quality indicators of Pinelliae Rhizoma for screening suitable drying conditions, so as to provide reference for its standardized production and quality evaluation. MethodsDifferent dried samples of Pinelliae Rhizoma were prepared by lime-assisted sweating method and intermittent drying method. Visual analysis was employed to measure the color brightness values(L*) of the surface, cross-section and powder of the samples, texture analyzer was used to determine the hardness of the samples under different drying conditions. The total starch content was calculated by measuring the contents of amylose and amylopectin in the samples with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the contents of seven nucleoside components(uracil, hypoxanthine, uridine, inosine, guanosine, β-thymidine and adenosine) in the samples. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between the external characteristics and intrinsic indicators of the different dried samples. Principal component analysis(PCA) was used to comprehensively rank the data of various indicators, and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) was used to screen differential components with variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1. Furthermore, the difference between the optimal drying condition for Pinelliae Rhizoma and the traditional sun-drying method was explored by independent samples t-test. ResultsWith the increase of temperature, the color of the intermittently dried samples gradually deepened, while their hardness gradually decreased. Concurrently, the contents of extract, total starch, uridine and adenosine exhibited an upward trend, whereas the contents of uracil, hypoxanthine and inosine displayed a downward trajectory. Compared with the intermittent drying group, the content of extract in the samples subjected to lime-assisted sweating increased. With the increase of lime dose, the hardness and the total content of nucleoside components in the samples showed a downward trend, while the total starch content showed an upward trend. Correlation analysis showed that the comprehensive score of L* was negatively correlated with the contents of uracil, hypoxanthine and inosine, and positively correlated with the contents of uridine, guanosine and adenosine. Hardness was negatively correlated with adenosine content, and positively correlated with the contents of inosine, uracil and hypoxanthine. Through comprehensive consideration and comprehensive score of principal components, the method of 5% lime-mixed sweating for 6 days emerged as the top-ranking approach. Except for the extract, the results of independent samples t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the 5% lime-mixed sweating for 6 days and the traditional sun-drying in terms of other content indicators. ConclusionThe whiteness and firmness of Pinelliae Rhizoma exhibit significant correlations with its chemical composition, while uridine, uracil, guanosine, adenosine and inosine are the key constituents responsible for the quality difference of Pinelliae Rhizoma under different drying conditions. The lime-assisted sweating method optimized in this study can be proposed as a viable alternative to the traditional sun-drying method. This method not only ensures the quality of the medicinal material but also effectively reduces the drying time and prevents mold contamination, which provides a valuable reference for the standardization of drying conditions and the establishment of quality evaluation criteria for Pinelliae Rhizoma.
8.Relationship between kinase insert domain receptor rs2305948 polymorphism and clopidogrel resistance in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving percutaneous coronary intervention
Miao SHI ; Jianliang CHANG ; Xingyu ZHU ; Qian FENG ; Suyan CHEN ; Senlin LI
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(2):170-175
Objective To investigate the relationship between kinase insert domain receptor(KDR)rs2305948 polymorphism and clopidogrel resistance(CR)in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 468 patients with acute coronary syndrome,who were admitted to the Zhangjiakou Municipal First Hospital of China from September 2022 to September 2023,were selected as the subjects of study.All patients received PCI treatment and took medication of clopidogrel after the treatment.The occurrence of CR was recorded.The factors influencing the occurrence of CR were analyzed.The clinical significance of KDR rs2305948 polymorphism in predicting CR in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI was evaluated.Results Of 468 patients with acute coronary syndrome,116(24.79%)developed CR.Logistic multivariate regression analysis indicated that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C,95%CI=1.420-8.390,OR=3.452),type 2 vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR-2,95%CI=1.374-8.118,OR=3.340),KDR rs2305948 T/T genotype(95%CI=1.677-9.905,OR=4.076),and T allele(95%CI=1.390-8.207,OR=3.377)were the independent factors influencing the occurrence of CR inpatients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI(all P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the sensitivity,specificity,and area under ROC curve(AUC)of the T/T genotype of KDR rs2305948 in predicting CR in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI were 75.86%,70.45%,and 0.773(95%CI=0.666-0.880)respectively.Conclusion In patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI,the risk of developing CR is higher.The KDR rs2305948 polymorphism is correlated with CR in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI,and it has a certain predictive value for CR.
9.Effect of dexmedetomidine on epidural fibrosis after spinal surgery in rats via the transforming growth factor-β1 pathway
Guoqing HOU ; Hailong YUE ; Qian CHANG ; Juntao MA
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(1):77-82
Objective To investigate the impact of dexmedetomidine on epidural fibrosis after spinal surgery in rats through the transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)signaling pathway.Meth-ods A total of 40 rats were selected,with 10 rats assigned to control group.The remaining 30 rats underwent spinal surgery modeling and were randomly divided into model group,dexmedetomidine group,and dexmedetomidine+TGF-β1 agonist group,with 10 rats in each.Rats with unsuccessful modeling were excluded,resulting in 9 rats in each group for subsequent analysis.Pathological char-acteristics of epidural scar tissue,fibroblast count,PCNA-positive cell expression rate,levels of in-flammatory markers[interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1β,IL-8],stress response indicators[malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)],and expression levels of mRNAs and proteins related to the TGF-β1 signaling pathway were observed and compared among the groups.Results Compared with the control group,the other three groups showed increased fibroblast count,elevated PCNA-positive cell expression rate,higher levels of IL-6,IL-1β,IL-8,and MDA,lower SOD levels,and increased expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA,Smad3 mRNA,and TGF-β1 and Smad3 proteins,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,both the dexmedetomidine group and the dexmedetomidine+TGF-β1 agonist group exhibited decreased fibroblast count,re-duced PCNA-positive cell expression rate,lower levels of IL-6,IL-1 β,IL-8 and MDA,higher SOD levels,and decreased expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA,Smad3 mRNA,and TGF-β1 and Smad3 proteins,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Compared with the dexmedetomidine group,the dexmedetomidine+TGF-β1 agonist group showed increased fibroblast count,elevated PCNA-positive cell expression rate,higher levels of IL-6,IL-1 β,IL-8 and MDA,lower SOD lev-els,and increased expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA,Smad3 mRNA,and TGF-β1 and Smad3 proteins,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can significantly alleviate the inflammatory response and stress response after spinal surgery in rats and reduce postoperative epidural fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
10.Mass spectrometry imaging for unearthing and validating quality markers in traditional Chinese medicines.
Zhiyun WANG ; Huajie CHANG ; Qian ZHAO ; Wenfeng GOU ; Yiliang LI ; Zhengwei TU ; Wenbin HOU
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2025;17(1):31-40
Quality marker (Q-Marker) is an innovative concept and model for quality control of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), which will navigate the new direction of quality development of TCMs. Yet, how to characterize the overall quality attributes of TCMs and their biological effects is still debating. In view of this key scientific issue, this paper proposes a research method based on mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technology for the discovery and confirmation of TCMs Q-Marker. MSI is powerful in investigating the spatial distribution of molecules in a variety of samples, and visualizing the information obtained from MS. On this basis, combine with the five principles of TCMs Q-Marker validation, i.e., specificity, transmission and traceability, testability, prescription compatibility, and validity, were applied to confirm the finalized Q-Marker. It will lead the new direction of quality development of TCMs.

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