1.Nucleic Acid-driven Protein Degradation: Frontiers of Lysosomal Targeted Degradation Technology
Han YIN ; Yu LI ; Yu-Chuan FAN ; Shuai GUO ; Yuan-Yu HUANG ; Yong LI ; Yu-Hua WENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):5-19
Distinct from the complementary inhibition mechanism through binding to the target with three-dimensional conformation of small molecule inhibitors, targeted protein degradation technology takes tremendous advantage of endogenous protein degradation pathway inside cells to degrade plenty of “undruggable” target proteins, which provides a novel route for the treatment of many serious diseases, mainly including proteolysis-targeting chimeras, lysosome-targeting chimeras, autophagy-targeting chimeras, antibody-based proteolysis-targeting chimeras, etc. Unlike proteolysis-targeting chimeras first found in 2001, which rely on ubiquitin-proteasome system to mainly degrade intracellular proteins of interest, lysosome-targeting chimeras identified in 2020, which was act as the fastly developing technology, utilize cellular lysosomal pathway through endocytosis mediated by lysosome-targeting receptor to degrade both extracellular and membrane proteins. As an emerging biomedical technology, nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras utilize nucleic acids as certain components of chimera molecule to replace with ligand to lysosome-targeting receptor or protein of interest, exhibiting broad application prospects and potential clinical value in disease treatment and drug development. This review mainly introduced present progress of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras technology, including its basic composition, its advantages compared with antibody or glycopeptide-based lysosome-targeting chimeras, and focused on its chief application, in terms of the type of lysosome-targeting receptors. Most research about the development of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras focused on those which utilized cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor as the lysosome-targeting receptor. Both mannose-6-phosphonate-modified glycopeptide and nucleic aptamer targeting cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor, even double-stranded DNA molecule moiety can be taken advantage as the ligand to lysosome-targeting receptor. The same as classical lysosome-targeting chimeras, asialoglycoprotein receptor can also be used for advance of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras. Another new-found lysosome-targeting receptor, scavenger receptor, can bind dendritic DNA molecules to mediate cellular internalization of complex and lysosomal degradation of target protein, suggesting the successful application of scavenger receptor-mediated nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras. In addition, this review briefly overviewed the history of lysosome-targeting chimeras, including first-generation and second-generation lysosome-targeting chimeras through cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor-mediated and asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis respectively, so that a clear timeline can be presented for the advance of chimera technique. Meantime, current deficiency and challenge of lysosome-targeting chimeras was also mentioned to give some direction for deep progress of lysosome-targeting chimeras. Finally, according to faulty lysosomal degradation efficiency, more cellular mechanism where lysosome-targeting chimeras perform degradation of protein of interest need to be deeply explored. In view of current progress and direction of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras, we discussed its current challenges and development direction in the future. Stability of natural nucleic acid molecule and optimized chimera construction have a great influence on the biological function of lysosome-targeting chimeras. Discovery of novel lysosome-targeting receptors and nucleic aptamer with higher affinity to the target will greatly facilitate profound advance of chimera technique. In summary, nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras have many superiorities, such as lower immunogenicity, expedient synthesis of chimera molecules and so on, in contrast to classical lysosome-targeting chimeras, making it more valuable. Also, the chimera technology provides new ideas and methods for biomedical research, drug development and clinical treatment, and can be used more widely through further research and optimization.
2.Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Shentong Zhuyutang Combined with Dilongtang in Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation with Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Syndrome
Huangsheng TAN ; Yinbo WANG ; Yong HUANG ; Juyi LAI ; Hualong FENG ; Zhiming LAN ; Yuanfei FU ; Yong JIANG ; Shenghua HE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):47-54
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Shentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, and its effect on nucleus pulposus reabsorption and immune-inflammatory factors, exploring its therapeutic mechanism from the perspective of reabsorption. MethodsA total of 120 patients with LDH from the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, treated between June 2020 and January 2023, were randomly divided into the control group (52 cases, with 8 dropouts) and the observation group (49 cases, with 11 dropouts) according to a random number table. The control group received routine treatment, while the observation group was treated with Shentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang in addition to routine treatment. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score were measured before treatment and after 3 courses of treatment. Venous blood samples were collected for the determination of serological indexes. MR examination was performed during the 6-month follow-up to calculate the absorption rate. ResultsAfter treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in VAS, ODI, TCM syndrome score, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, and a significant increase in JOA score compared with pre-treatment values (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significantly lower VAS, ODI, TCM syndrome score, serum TNF-α, MMP-9, and VEGF levels, and a significantly higher JOA score (P<0.05). The proportion of nucleus pulposus reabsorption in the observation group was 57.14% (28/49), significantly higher than 21.15% (11/52) in the control group (χ2=6.161, P<0.05). ConclusionShentong Zhuyutang combined with Dilongtang can effectively relieve pain, improve lumbar function, and alleviate TCM clinical symptoms in LDH patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Imaging findings suggest that the treatment promotes the reabsorption of nucleus pulposus protrusion, while laboratory testing shows reduced serum levels of TNF-α, MMP-9, and VEGF, which contribute to the rehabilitation of patients.
3.Application of Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy in downstaging and conversion of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report
Ziwei LIANG ; Tiantian ZHANG ; Yong LIAO ; Xin HUANG ; Bin LIANG ; Zhongbin HANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Lin ZHANG ; Xiaobin FENG ; Li HUO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):41-45
This case report describes a 68-year-old male patient diagnosed with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After receiving Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (90Y-SIRT), the tumor significantly reduced in size, and tumor markers alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and abnormal prothrombin (PIVKA-Ⅱ) decreased. Postoperative pathological results showed minimal residual tumor cells, indicating that 90Y-SIRT has good efficacy and safety in downstaging and conversion of HCC, thereby facilitating subsequent surgical resection.
4.The multi-center mid-term clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement with total anatomic complete arterial myocardial revascularization for coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation
Ke GUO ; Xujun CHEN ; Baoshi ZHENG ; Chao SHI ; Keli HUANG ; Yong CAO ; Chengquan LIAO ; Jingwei CHEN ; Yu LIN ; Chengxin LIU ; Quansheng CAO ; Lin SHEN ; Zhendong WANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(1):58-67
Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement (C-MVR) with total anatomical arterial myocardial revascularization (TACR) in coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR).Methods:This is a retrospective multi-center case series study. Data were retrospectively collected from 127 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR who received TACR with C-MVR from July 2015 to April 2024 in 13 hospitals in China. There were 90 males and 37 females, aged (56.5±10.7) years (range: 33 to 74 years). Perioperative data and follow-up data including left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and patency rate of arterial grafts of patients were collected. Comparisons were made using paired sample t-test or χ2 test. Results:In this cohort of 127 patients, 67 underwent concurrent tricuspid valve repair. During surgery, 113 grafts of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), 127 grafts of the left radial artery, 80 grafts of the right radial artery, and 110 grafts of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) were harvested. The number of the distal anastomosis was 4.2±0.4 (range: 3 to 5). The aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were (97.5±23.4) minutes (range: 90 to 161 minutes) and (145.4±19.2) minutes (range: 101 to 210 minutes), respectively. There was one operative death. Intraoperative placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump was performed in 21 patients to improve the left ventricular ejection. No sternal ischemic occurred. All patients completed follow-up, with a mean follow-up period of (64.3±7.5) months (range: 4 to 110 months). No major cerebrovascular events occurred during the follow-up period, and all patients survived. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved postoperatively (55.0%±5.3% vs. 41.0%±15.3%, t=17.23, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class ≤2 increased postoperatively (23.6% (30/127) vs. 87.3% (110/126), χ2=103.77, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Classification ≤3 decreased postoperatively (4.8% (6/126) vs. 78.7% (100/127), χ2=142.19, P<0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased postoperatively ((5.70±4.50) cm vs. (6.10±0.23) cm, t=12.15, P<0.01). Coronary multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) follow-up was conducted for (60.5±11.7) months (range: 6 to 109 months) postoperatively. MDCTA confirmed the patency rates of the grafts: 96.4% (108/112) for the LIMA grafts, 88.9% (112/126) for the left radial artery grafts, 93.7% (74/79) for the right radial artery grafts, and 90.9% (100/110) for the free RIMA grafts. No significant differences in graft patency rates were observed between the arterial grafts ( χ2=5.24, P=0.155). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre study demonstrate satisfactory mid-term results of C-MVR with TACR for the treatment of coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR.
5.The multi-center mid-term clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement with total anatomic complete arterial myocardial revascularization for coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation
Ke GUO ; Xujun CHEN ; Baoshi ZHENG ; Chao SHI ; Keli HUANG ; Yong CAO ; Chengquan LIAO ; Jingwei CHEN ; Yu LIN ; Chengxin LIU ; Quansheng CAO ; Lin SHEN ; Zhendong WANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(1):58-67
Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement (C-MVR) with total anatomical arterial myocardial revascularization (TACR) in coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR).Methods:This is a retrospective multi-center case series study. Data were retrospectively collected from 127 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR who received TACR with C-MVR from July 2015 to April 2024 in 13 hospitals in China. There were 90 males and 37 females, aged (56.5±10.7) years (range: 33 to 74 years). Perioperative data and follow-up data including left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and patency rate of arterial grafts of patients were collected. Comparisons were made using paired sample t-test or χ2 test. Results:In this cohort of 127 patients, 67 underwent concurrent tricuspid valve repair. During surgery, 113 grafts of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), 127 grafts of the left radial artery, 80 grafts of the right radial artery, and 110 grafts of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) were harvested. The number of the distal anastomosis was 4.2±0.4 (range: 3 to 5). The aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were (97.5±23.4) minutes (range: 90 to 161 minutes) and (145.4±19.2) minutes (range: 101 to 210 minutes), respectively. There was one operative death. Intraoperative placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump was performed in 21 patients to improve the left ventricular ejection. No sternal ischemic occurred. All patients completed follow-up, with a mean follow-up period of (64.3±7.5) months (range: 4 to 110 months). No major cerebrovascular events occurred during the follow-up period, and all patients survived. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved postoperatively (55.0%±5.3% vs. 41.0%±15.3%, t=17.23, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class ≤2 increased postoperatively (23.6% (30/127) vs. 87.3% (110/126), χ2=103.77, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Classification ≤3 decreased postoperatively (4.8% (6/126) vs. 78.7% (100/127), χ2=142.19, P<0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased postoperatively ((5.70±4.50) cm vs. (6.10±0.23) cm, t=12.15, P<0.01). Coronary multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) follow-up was conducted for (60.5±11.7) months (range: 6 to 109 months) postoperatively. MDCTA confirmed the patency rates of the grafts: 96.4% (108/112) for the LIMA grafts, 88.9% (112/126) for the left radial artery grafts, 93.7% (74/79) for the right radial artery grafts, and 90.9% (100/110) for the free RIMA grafts. No significant differences in graft patency rates were observed between the arterial grafts ( χ2=5.24, P=0.155). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre study demonstrate satisfactory mid-term results of C-MVR with TACR for the treatment of coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR.
6.Two-dimensional black phosphorus materials for bone tissue engineering
Jiahan CHEN ; Chao FENG ; Xiaoxia HUANG ; Minghui NIU ; Xin WANG ; Yong TENG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(10):2124-2131
BACKGROUND:Black phosphorus has a high degree of homology with human bone,so it has been extensively studied in the field of bone tissue engineering in recent years.Since 2014,two-dimensional black phosphorus materials have garned significant attention in the field of biomedicine due to their excellent exceptional physical,chemical,and biological properties. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the advancements made in black phosphorus-based nanomaterials for bone tissue engineering,focus on the synthesis methods,osteogenic characteristics,and applications in biomaterials pertaining to two-dimensional black phosphorus nanomaterials. METHODS:Chinese and English key words were"black phosphorus,bone tissue engineering,bone defect,bone regeneration,osteogenesis."Relevant articles in PubMed and CNKI databases from January 2014 to December 2023 were searched.After exclusion and screening,96 articles were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Black phosphorus nanomaterials play an important role in bone tissue engineering due to their good biocompatibility,biodegradability,photothermal action,antibacterial ability,drug loading performance,and special osteogenic effect,and are ideal candidate materials for promoting bone regeneration.The preparation of black phosphorus nanomaterials is mainly a top-down top-layer stripping method.The main principle is to weaken the van der Waals force between the black phosphorus layers by physical or chemical means to obtain a single or less layer of phosphanse,that is,black phosphorus nanosheets or quantum dots.Black phosphate-based nanocomposites are mainly divided into hydrogels,3D printing scaffolds,composite scaffolds,electrospinning,bionic periosteum,microspheres,and bionic coatings.The research of nano-black phosphorus in bone tissue engineering is in its infancy,and still faces many challenges:the behavior of black phosphorus in vivo and the interaction mechanism with various biomolecules need to be further studied.The long-term potential toxicity of black phosphorus is unknown.The manufacturing process for black phosphorus is difficult to control.Therefore,how to develop uniform size,safe,reliable,and efficient nano black phosphorus and transform it into clinical application requires interdisciplinary research on modern biomedical technology,physicochemical technology,and precision manufacturing technology.
7.LIU Fengbin's Experience in Treating Autoimmune Liver Disease with the Method of Nourishing Yin and Removing Stasis Based on Stage
Xiling YANG ; Qiuhong YONG ; Chaoyuan HUANG ; Lina ZHAO ; Yiyuan ZHENG ; Chong PENG ; Kunhai ZHUANG ;
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(7):674-679
This paper summarizes Professor LIU Fengbin's clinical experience in treating autoimmune liver disease (AILD) using the method of nourishing yin and removing stasis based on stage differentiation. He believes that the pathogenesis of AILD generally involves both deficiency in essence and excess in manifestation, with essence deficiency often presenting as liver and kidney yin deficiency, which may progress to spleen deficiency and yang deficiency over time. The excess manifestation commonly includes qi stagnation, blood stasis, damp-heat, and phlegm toxicity. Clinically, he advocates for the treatment principle of nourishing yin and removing stasis. On the foundation of nourishing liver and kidney yin, different pathological factors causing stasis are eliminated according to their nature. Treatment is also tailored to different stages of AILD. In the early and asymptomatic stages, liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency are prominent, warranting a therapeutic approach of soothing the liver, regulating qi and strengthening the spleen. The modified Chaishao Qizhi Decoction (柴芍气滞汤) is used. During the symptomatic stage, pathogenic factors become more pronounced, often accompanied by a significant deficiency of vital qi, with damp-heat, water retention, and phlegm toxicity as key pathological features. The treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, using modified Sijunzi Decoction (四君子汤) combined with Yinchen Wuling Powder (茵陈五苓散). In the liver function decompensation stage, vital qi is severely deficient while pathogenic factors persist, with damp-heat, phlegm toxicity, and blood stasis obstructing the liver collaterals. Treatment should focus on nourishing blood, softening the liver, strengthening the spleen, and resolving stasis, using the modified Ruangan Yangxue Decoction (软肝养血汤). Throughout the treatment process, emphasis is placed on tonifying the liver and kidneys while protecting yin fluids.
8.Cost-effectiveness of second-line treatment of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors with ripretinib versus sunitinib
Yong CHEN ; Longzhuan HUANG ; Hangye GU ; Yaqing CHEN ; Jisheng CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):710-714
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ripretinib versus sunitinib as a second-line treatment option for patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). METHODS Based on the data of INTRIGUE study, a dynamic Markov model was constructed, with a cycle of 6 weeks; this model was used to simulate patients’ direct medical costs and quality- adjusted life years (QALYs) over 15 years. Using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) as the evaluation metric, a comparison was made between the ICER and the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold (3 times the per capita gross domestic product, which amounts to 268 200 yuan/QALY). One-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed on the model outputs to examine the stability of the model. RESULTS The health benefits of ripretinib were lower than those of sunitinib (1.21 QALYs vs. 1.31 QALYs). Still, the costs were higher (323 401.88 yuan vs. 227 532.40 yuan), making it an inferior regimen. The results of the one-way sensitivity analysis suggested that the cost of ripretinib and sunitinib, and the health utility value in progression-free survival status had a greater impact on the ICER of the model. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggested that the results of the study were stable, and the probability of the cost-effectiveness advantage of ripretinib was always much lower than that of sunitinib with the increase of WTP threshold, and showed a decreasing trend. CONCLUSIONS In the current economic context of China, ripretinib does not have a cost-effectiveness advantage over sunitinib as a second-line treatment for advanced GIST.
9.Discussion on the practice of ethical review in organ transplantation under refined management
Fang HUANG ; Xinfeng PAN ; Hui ZENG ; Qing HE ; Yong XU ; Lanlan WEI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(4):441-447
The development of organ transplantation has brought new hope to many patients with organ failure and their families, but it has also raised numerous ethical issues. How to balance the rights and interests between organ donors and recipients, as well as ensure the fairness and transparency of the transplantation process has become an urgent problem to be solved. Based on the latest Regulations on Organ Donation and Transplantation and the Working Rules of the Ethics Committee for Human Organ Transplantation, the current difficulties and challenges in organ transplantation ethics were deeply analyzed. Taking the ethical review practice of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital as an example, this paper explored issues such as full informed consent of both donors and recipients, risk assessment of marginal donors, and the review of relationships between donors and recipients. It also explored and constructed a set of complete ethical review models for organ transplantation through refined management. This model improved the efficiency and quality of ethical review as well as enriched the related knowledge system. It is expected that the implementation of this model can provide a reference for promoting effective ethical review nationwide, advancing the improvement and development of ethical review work in organ transplantation. Meanwhile, more medical ethics experts and practitioners are called upon to focus on and engage in the research and practice of ethical review in organ transplantation, jointly promoting progress in this field.
10.Pancreatic cancer neuroecology: Current status, mechanisms, and prospect from multi-dimensional perspectives
Shangyou ZHENG ; Honghui JIANG ; Chonghui HU ; Tingting LI ; Tianhao HUANG ; Rihua HE ; Yong JIANG ; Rufu CHEN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):611-618
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by nerve invasion and a high mortality rate, and its pathological process depends on the complex interaction network between tumor and the nervous system. Based on the concept of “pancreatic cancer neuroecology”, this article analyzes the mechanism of action of peripheral motor nerve, sensory nerve, and central nerve in tumorigenesis, pain regulation, and cachexia formation and emphasizes the synergistic regulatory role of immune cells, Schwann cells, and extracellular matrix in the microenvironment of perineural invasion. At the same time, this article further elaborates on the metabolic interaction and chemotaxis between neuraxis and tumor, the effect on promoting chemotherapy resistance, and the dynamic relationship between neuroplasticity and tumor adaptability. In clinical practice, this article summarizes the key value of perineural invasion in prognostic evaluation, preoperative evaluation, and the selection of surgical strategy. In addition, this article reviews the basic research advances in the biomarkers and potential targets associated with perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer and points out the limitations of current model and transformation research. In the future, systematically analyzing the nerve-tumor-immune network and targeting its key nodes may provide multi-dimensional strategies and new breakthroughs for the precise intervention of pancreatic cancer, the reversal of drug resistance, and the relief of symptoms.

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