1.Research progress on the etiology and treatment of acquired paralytic strabismus
Shuting RU ; Shuiling CHEN ; Wanyu ZHOU ; Wu SUN ; Liqun CHU
International Eye Science 2026;26(4):662-667
Acquired paralytic strabismus is a common neuromuscular disorder in adults,characterized by diplopia, visual confusion, impaired ocular motility, and ocular deviation, which severely affects the patient's quality of life and overall health. The disease has a complex etiology, encompassing multiple pathological mechanisms such as vascular pathologies, trauma, inflammation, neoplasms, and immune-related disorders. Treatment primarily focuses on addressing the underlying cause. While conventional Western approaches, such as medication and surgery, can alleviate symptoms, some carry the risk of adverse effects, and their long-term recurrence rates warrant careful consideration. Traditional Chinese medicine utilizes distinctive therapies such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and other adjunctive therapies, which have shown promising therapeutic effects but are constrained by a lack of high-quality evidence from large-scale randomized controlled trials. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the etiological classification and traditional Chinese and Western medical treatments of acquired paralytic strabismus. It innovatively summarizes the clinical features associated with different causes, analyzes current therapeutic strategies and research landscape, aiming to inform clinical practice and suggest future research directions.
2.Changing trend of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among people aged 15—39 years in China in 1990—2021
Wenkai JIANG ; Huiqi SUN ; Junhao FENG ; Ru HE ; Wenrui PENG ; Ming TIAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):160-166
ObjectiveTo investigate the changing trends of the incidence rate, prevalence rate, mortality rate, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among people aged 15 — 39 years in China in 1990 — 2021. MethodsThe data of 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study were downloaded to obtain the epidemiological data of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease, benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases, and pancreatitis among people aged 15 — 39 years in China, and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to assess the changing trends of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY rates. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the incidence and mortality rates from 2022 to 2030. ResultsIn 2021, there were 10 448 778 new cases of benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases among the individuals aged 15 — 39 years in China, which was increased by 3.8% compared with the data in 1990, while the numbers of prevalent cases, deaths, and DALYs were reduced by 20.4%, 59.6%, and 50.2%, respectively. In 2021, the age-standardized incidence rates of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease, benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases, and pancreatitis were 1 104.40/100 000, 1 045.05/100 000, and 16.64/100 000, respectively; the age-standardized prevalence rates were 20 592.37/100 000, 2 364.85/100 000, and 9.43/100 000, respectively; the age-standardized mortality rates were 1.61/100 000, 0.04/100 000, and 0.18/100 000, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, there was a tendency of increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease (EAPC=0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23 — 0.63), and there was also a tendency of increase in the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases (incidence rate: EAPC=1.07, 95%CI: 0.91 — 1.24; prevalence rate: EAPC=0.75, 95%CI: 0.59 — 0.89), while there was a tendency of reduction in the age-standardized mortality rate of all three disease categories. Predictions for 2022 — 2030 indicated a potential reduction in the incidence rate of benign gallbladder/biliary tract diseases and an increase in the incidence rate of pancreatitis. ConclusionThere has been an overall upward trend in the incidence rate of liver fibrosis/chronic liver disease and gallbladder/biliary tract diseases over the past three decades, and it is needed to pay attention to the disease burden of benign hepatobiliary diseases among the people aged 15 — 39 years in China.
3.The SMAD-Pathway Mediates HMGB1-Induced Proliferation and Metastatic Progression in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
De-De LIAN ; Xue Mei LI ; Yu-Xi JIA ; Ming-Wei ZHOU ; Xiang-Ru CHEN ; Yang-Yang TIAN ; Min LI ; Ming-Hui SUN ; Ye ZHAO ; Hong-Jun LI ; Qing-Ling ZHANG
Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(1):51-58
Background:
High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-binding protein involved in arthritis, ischemia, sepsis, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, meningitis, and cancer. HMGB1 exhibits dual roles in cancer, acting as either a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on context.
Objective:
This research aimed to elucidate HMGB1’s functional significance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
Methods:
We overexpressed HMGB1 in cSCC cell lines using recombinant adenovirus and examined its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration.
Results:
Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated HMGB1 expression levels in cSCC tissue relative to normal epidermis. To assess the influence of HMGB1, we employed recombinant adenoviruses expressing HMGB1 to transduce SCC cell lines (SCC12 and SCC13). Enhanced HMGB1 expression significantly promoted cellular proliferation and colony formation capacity.Notably, HMGB1 overexpression elevated the levels of proliferation regulators, including P63, SOX2, CDK4 and CDK6. Furthermore, HMGB1 overexpression substantially enhanced tumor invasiveness, accompanied by upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers. Mechanistically, overexpression of HMGB1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β signaling by increasing phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, the key mediators of EMT.
Conclusion
These data imply that HMGB1 acts as a tumor-promoting factor in cSCC.
4.The Role and Mechanism of Aerobic Exercise in Enhancing Insulin Sensitivity by Reducing Circulating Glutamate
Xiao-Rui XING ; Qin SUN ; Huan-Yu WANG ; Ruo-Bing FAN ; Ru WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1373-1385
ObjectiveTo explore the role and potential mechanism of circulating glutamate in enhancing insulin sensitivity by aerobic exercise. This research may provide a novel strategy for preventing metabolic diseases through precise exercise interventions. MethodsTo investigate the effects of elevated circulating glutamate on insulin sensitivity and its potential mechanisms, 18 male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group (C), a group receiving 500 mg/kg glutamate supplementation (M), and a group receiving 1 000 mg/kg glutamate supplementation (H). The intervention lasted for 12 weeks, with treatments administered 6 d per week. Following the intervention, an insulin tolerance test (ITT) and a glucose tolerance test (GTT) were conducted. Circulating glutamate levels were measured using a commercial kit, and the activity of the skeletal muscle InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was analyzed via Western blot. To further investigate the role of circulating glutamate in enhancing insulin sensitivity through aerobic exercise, 30 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: a control group (CS), an exercise intervention group (ES), and an exercise combined with glutamate supplementation group (EG). The ES group underwent treadmill-based aerobic exercise, while the EG group received glutamate supplementation at a dosage of 1 000 mg/kg in addition to aerobic exercise. The intervention lasted for 10 weeks, with sessions occurring 6 d per week, and the same procedures were followed afterward. To further elucidate the mechanism by which glutamate modulates the InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, C2C12 myotubes were initially subjected to graded glutamate treatment (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10 mmol/L) to determine the optimal concentration for cellular intervention. Subsequently, the cells were divided into 3 groups: a control group (C), a glutamate intervention group (G), and a glutamate combined with MK801 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) intervention group (GK). The G group was treated with 5 mmol/L glutamate, while the GK group received 50 μmol/L MK801 in addition to 5 mmol/L glutamate. After 24 h of intervention, the activity of the InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was analyzed using Western blot. ResultsCompared to the mice in group C, the circulating glutamate levels, the area under curve (AUC) of ITT, and the AUC of GTT in the mice of group H were significantly increased. Additionally, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, IRS1, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins in skeletal muscle were significantly downregulated. Compared to the mice in group CS, the circulating glutamate levels, the AUC of ITT, and the AUC of GTT in the mice of group ES were significantly reduced. Additionally, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, IRS1, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins in skeletal muscle of group ES mice were significantly upregulated. There were no significant changes observed in the mice of group EG. Compared to the cells in group 0 mmol/L, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, p-IRS1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT proteins in cells of group 5 mmol/L were significantly downregulated. Compared to the cells in group C, the expression levels of p-InsRβ, p-IRS1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT proteins in the cells of group G were significantly downregulated. No significant changes were observed in the cells of group GK. ConclusionLong-term aerobic exercise can improve insulin sensitivity by lowering circulating levels of glutamate. This effect may be associated with the upregulation of the InsR/IRS1/AKT signaling pathway activity in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, glutamate can weaken the activity of the InsR/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in skeletal muscle, potentially by binding to NMDAR expressed in skeletal muscle.
5.Comparative Analysis of Exercise-induced Transcriptomic Responses in Human and Mouse Homologous Genes: Divergence and Convergence Based on The GEPREP Database
Qian SUN ; Wei-Chu TAO ; Ru WANG ; Bing-Xiang XU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1617-1630
Exercise, as a non-pharmacological intervention, holds a pivotal role in metabolic regulation, neuroplasticity, and immune homeostasis maintenance. However, human exercise studies are constrained by ethical limitations in tissue sampling, especially for key organs such as muscles and the brain. Meanwhile, rodent models like mice exhibit physiological differences in exercise patterns and metabolic rates from human. Despite these challenges, approximately 70% of human and mouse genes are conserved, providing a molecular basis for cross-species comparisons. This paper leverages the GEPREP database, which integrates human and mouse exercise transcriptomic data from multiple platforms, to conduct a comprehensive cross-species analysis of exercise-induced gene expression patterns. We employ a stringent data standardization process, including the conversion of orthologous genes and the filtering of low-expressing genes, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the analysis. A mixed-effects model is utilized to assess differential gene expression across multiple cohorts, identifying genes that are significantly upregulated or downregulated in response to exercise. The analysis reveals a complex pattern of gene expression, with a significant number of genes showing conserved responses between humans and mice, particularly in acute aerobic exercise, where genes such as ATF3, PPARGC1A, and ANKRD1 are commonly upregulated. These genes are implicated in muscle stress response, metabolic regulation, and muscle adaptation, highlighting the shared molecular pathways activated by exercise across species. However, the study also uncovers substantial species-specific differences in gene expression, especially in chronic aerobic exercise, where the number of divergently regulated genes increases. These differences suggest that while some fundamental biological processes are conserved, the specific regulatory mechanisms and gene expression patterns can vary significantly between humans and mice. Functional enrichment analysis further reveals that conserved genes are involved in muscle development, inflammation regulation, and energy metabolism, while species-specific genes are associated with ion transport, extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, and muscle contraction, indicating the multifaceted impact of exercise on skeletal muscle function. The findings emphasize the importance of considering species-specific differences when interpreting results from animal models and translating them to human health applications. The study highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the molecular underpinnings of exercise-induced adaptations and underscores the value of cross-species comparative analyses in uncovering the evolutionary and functional basis of these responses. Future research should focus on integrating multi-omics data and expanding the analysis to include other tissues to provide a more comprehensive view of the systemic effects of exercise. Additionally, the development of species-specific gene editing models and the validation of key genes in exercise physiology will further enhance our understanding of the evolutionary logic behind exercise interventions. This study not only provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of exercise-induced adaptations but also underscores the necessity of validating findings from animal models in human cohorts to ensure the reliability and applicability of translational research in exercise science. By addressing these aspects, the study aims to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications, ultimately contributing to the development of personalized exercise prescriptions and interventions that can effectively promote health and prevent diseases.
6.Research progress on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer
Liji CHEN ; Hongmei MA ; Shifa ZHANG ; Kaize ZHONG ; Dongbao YANG ; Jiuhe SUN ; Hongfeng LIU ; Ru SONG ; Jishan ZHANG ; Haibo CAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):714-721
Esophageal cancer is one of the malignant tumors that poses a threat to human health, with both high incidence and malignancy. Currently, surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer; however, the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. In recent years, inhibitors of programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (programmed death ligand-1, PD-L1) have achieved breakthrough progress in other solid tumors, and research on esophageal cancer is gradually being conducted. With the demonstration of good efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced unresectable esophageal cancer, their incorporation into neoadjuvant treatment regimens has become a hot topic. Therefore, this article reviews the mechanism of action of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and their application in the neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer.
7.Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Sleep Deprivation-induced Acceleration of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Si-Ru YAN ; Ming-Yang CAI ; Ya-Xuan SUN ; Qing HUO ; Xue-Ling DAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2474-2485
Sleep deprivation (SD) has emerged as a significant modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with mounting evidence demonstrating its multifaceted role in accelerating AD pathogenesis through diverse molecular, cellular, and systemic mechanisms. SD is refined within the broader spectrum of sleep-wake and circadian disruption, emphasizing that both acute total sleep loss and chronic sleep restriction destabilize the homeostatic and circadian processes governing glymphatic clearance of neurotoxic proteins. During normal sleep, concentrations of interstitial Aβ and tau fall as cerebrospinal fluid oscillations flush extracellular waste; SD abolishes this rhythm, causing overnight rises in soluble Aβ and tau species in rodent hippocampus and human CSF. Orexinergic neurons sustain arousal, and become hyperactive under SD, further delaying sleep onset and amplifying Aβ production. At the molecular level, SD disrupts Aβ homeostasis through multiple converging pathways, including enhanced production via beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) upregulation, coupled with impaired clearance mechanisms involving the glymphatic system dysfunction and reduced Aβ-degrading enzymes (neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme). Cellular and histological analyses revealed that these proteinopathies are significantly exacerbated by SD-induced neuroinflammatory cascades characterized by microglial overactivation, astrocyte reactivity, and sustained elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) through NF‑κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of neurotoxicity. The synaptic and neuronal consequences of chronic SD are particularly profound and potentially irreversible, featuring reduced expression of critical synaptic markers (PSD95, synaptophysin), impaired long-term potentiation (LTP), dendritic spine loss, and diminished neurotrophic support, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) depletion, which collectively contribute to progressive cognitive decline and memory deficits. Mechanistic investigations identify three core pathways through which SD exerts its neurodegenerative effects: circadian rhythm disruption via BMAL1 suppression, orexin system hyperactivity leading to sustained wakefulness and metabolic stress, and oxidative stress accumulation through mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species overproduction. The review critically evaluates promising therapeutic interventions including pharmacological approaches (melatonin, dual orexin receptor antagonists), metabolic strategies (ketogenic diets, and Mediterranean diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids), lifestyle modifications (targeted exercise regimens, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia), and emerging technologies (non-invasive photobiomodulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation). Current research limitations include insufficient understanding of dose-response relationships between SD duration/intensity and AD pathology progression, lack of long-term longitudinal clinical data in genetically vulnerable populations (particularly APOE ε4 carriers and those with familial AD mutations), the absence of standardized SD protocols across experimental models that accurately mimic human chronic sleep restriction patterns, and limited investigation of sex differences in SD-induced AD risk. The accumulated evidence underscores the importance of addressing sleep disturbances as part of multimodal AD prevention strategies and highlights the urgent need for clinical trials evaluating sleep-focused interventions in at-risk populations. The review proposes future directions focused on translating mechanistic insights into precision medicine approaches, emphasizing the need for biomarkers to identify SD-vulnerable individuals, chronotherapeutic strategies aligned with circadian biology, and multi-omics integration across sleep, proteostasis and immune profiles may delineate precision-medicine strategies for at-risk populations. By systematically examining these critical connections, this analysis positions sleep quality optimization as a viable strategy for AD prevention and early intervention while providing a comprehensive roadmap for future mechanistic and interventional research in this rapidly evolving field.
8.A clinical study on the effectiveness of feedforward control mode on improving occupational burnout among operating room nurses
Ru GU ; Liyan ZHAO ; Qianru WANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Dan LEI ; Yang YAO ; Pan LIU ; Jinzhu SUN ; Na LI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(10):1373-1378
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of feedforward control mode on improving occupational burnout among operating room nurses through theoretical research and clinical practice, with a view to promoting their physical and mental health and enhancing the quality of surgical nursing. MethodsA total of 440 operating room nurses from different regions, scales, and nursing experiences in Shaanxi Province from November 2023 to December 2023 were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 220 nurses in each group. While the control group received routine intervention measures, the experimental group introduced a feedforward control mode based on the control group, with “emotional exhaustion,” “depersonalization,”and“personal achievement” as observation indicators. ResultsThe incidence of occupational burnout in the experimental group was 11.4%, while that in the control group was 20.0%. The experimental group showed a significantly lower incidence than the control group (P=0.013). ConclusionThe feedforward control mode can significantly alleviate nurses’ sense of job burnout, promote the improvement of surgical nursing quality, as well as continuously improve the scientific rigor, advancement, and humanistic nature of nursing services, which is conducive to building a harmonious and efficient nursing team. The spirit of teamwork, reflected in mutual support, mutual trust, and joint efforts for surgical success and patient health, has become an important component of nurses’ professional ethics.
9.Relationship between C-reactive protein/albumin ratio and severity in patients with severe pneumonia and its predictive value for 28-day mortality risk
Yu-Ru FU ; Zhen-Kang SUN ; Cheng LIU ; Dong-Feng LI
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(3):309-317
Objective To explore the relationship between C-reactive protein/albumin ratio(CAR)and the disease severity in patients with severe pneumonia,and its predictive value for 28-day mortality risk.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 152 patients with severe pneumonia admitted to Fuyang People's Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022.They were divided into non-critical illness group(n=51),critical illness group(n=63),and extremely critical illness group(n=38)based on the disease severity.The clinical data such as age and gender of patients was collected,and Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between CAR and the severity of illness[determined by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score].Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify independent influencing factors of the severity of illness.According to the survival status of patients after 28 days of treatment,they were divided into survival group(n=107)and death group(n=45).CAR was categorized into quintiles(Q1-Q5),and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between CAR and 28-day mortality risk in severe pneumonia patients.A restricted cubic spline(RCS)model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between CAR and mortality risk.The predictive value of CAR and related indicators for patient mortality risk was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).Results CAR was significantly positively correlated with the severity of the disease(APACHE Ⅱ score)(r=0.716,P<0.05).Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR),blood lactate(Lac),and high CAR were independent risk factors for the disease severity in patients with severe pneumonia(P<0.05).After adjusting for confounding factors,the mortality risk increased with the increase of CAR(P<0.05).Subgroup analysis of the screened confounding factors revealed that the correlation between CAR and 28-day mortality risk in severe pneumonia patients remained stable across different APACHE Ⅱ scores,GCS scores,SOFA scores,white blood cell counts(WBC),neutrophils(NEU),red cell volume distribution width(RDW),procalcitonin(PCT),and Lac,with interactions observed between NLR and Lac subgroups(P<0.05).The RCS model indicated that there was no non-linear dose-response relationship between CAR and 28-day mortality risk in patients with severe pneumonia of different genders.ROC curve analysis showed that CAR,Lac,and NLR had good predictive value for 28-day mortality in severe pneumonia patients,with the combined predictive efficacy being significantly higher than that of individual indicators.Conclusion There is a close relationship between CAR and the progression and prognosis of severe pneumonia,making it a new approach to assessing the severity of illness and predicting mortality risk in patients.
10.Differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes induced by rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide combined with basic fibroblast growth factor
Wei-Hong LIANG ; Hui-Ying YANG ; Xin-Ru XU ; Hao-Dan SUN ; Yang LÜ ; Hai-Ping WANG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(6):681-687
Objective To explore the effects of pretreatment with rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide(RGP)and basic fibroblast growth factor(FGF-2)alone or in combination on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)into cardiomyoid cells and the related mechanisms.Methods BMSCs pretreated with FGF-2 and RGP alone or in combination were cultured for 1,2,and 4 weeks.The expression levels of NKx2.5 and GATA-4 were detected by Real-time PCR.BMSCs pretreated with FGF-2 or RGP alone and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002 were used to detect the expression levels of myocardial specific proteins and related pathway proteins by Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank control group,pretreatment with FGF-2 or RGP alone increased the expression rate of myocardial specific markers,and the effect of combined pretreatment with FGF-2 and RGP was more obvious(P<0.05).Compared with pretreatment with FGF-2 or RGP alone,pretreatment with LY294002 combined with FGF-2 or RGP significantly down-regulated the expression of cardiac-specific proteins in BMSCs and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt(P<0.05).Conclusion Both FGF-2 and RGP can induce BMSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,and the combination of FGF-2 and RGP has a better inductive effect.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail