1.Pre-operative risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in liver transplant recipients by non-invasive detection of pre-existing genetic lesions
Suqin YANG ; Sunbin LING ; Jianhua LI ; Yan WANG ; Jiapei WANG ; Qiwei HUANG ; Fanming LIU ; Yiqi ZHUANG ; Yingyu ZHENG ; Rui WANG ; Zhe YANG ; Xiaoping ZHENG ; Kai WANG ; Zhikun LIU ; Jun CHEN ; Jianguo WANG ; Haiyang XIE ; Lin ZHOU ; Leiming CHEN ; Guoqiang CAO ; Dandan CHEN ; Junfang JI ; Bin ZHAO ; Chao JIANG ; Di LU ; Xuyong WEI ; Hangjin JIANG ; Qiaonan SHAN ; Hengbo SHI ; Yong-Zhen XU ; Shusen ZHENG ; Zhengxin WANG ; Shengda LIN ; Xiao XU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):884-903
Background/Aims:
Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy.
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues.
Results:
We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.
2.Effect of cluster scalp acupuncture combined with Taijiquan on brain functional connectivity and network topology for patients with post-stroke depression
Yujie GUAN ; Keyan LIU ; Keqin YANG ; Yulin LIANG ; Jinpeng ZHANG ; Bin ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(6):621-630
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of cluster scalp acupuncture combined with Taijiquan training on depressive symptom, motor function, activities of daily living, serum markers, as well as brain functional connectivity (FC) and network topological properties in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). MethodsA total of 40 PSD patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine from September, 2022 to September, 2023 were enrolled and randomly divided into control group (n = 20) and experimental group (n = 20). The control group received cluster scalp acupuncture alone, while the experimental group underwent Taijiquan training in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment, while the serum levels of dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was applied to assess brain FC, as well as the global efficiency (Eg) and small-world property (σ) of brain networks. ResultsThe scores of HAMD-17, FMA and BI improved in both groups (t > 2.922, P < 0.01) after treatment, and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.517, P < 0.05). The serum levels of DA and 5-HT increased in both groups (t > 2.637, P < 0.05), and increased more in the experimental group (t > 2.192, P < 0.05). The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α decreased in the experimental group after treatment (t > 4.059, P < 0.001), and they were less than those in the control group (t > 2.154, P < 0.05). FC between left middle frontal gyrus and right anterior cingulate gyrus, as well as between left hippocampus and right precuneus were higher in the experimental group than in the control group after treatment (t > 3.867, P < 0.001), while Eg and σ increased in both groups (t > 2.828, P < 0.05), and they were higher in the experimental group (t > 2.675, P < 0.05). ConclusionCombination of Taijiquan training is more effective on depressive symptoms, motor function and activities of daily living in PSD patients, which may be related to up-regulation of serum DA and 5-HT, reduction of inflammatory factors, enhancement of prefrontal-limbic system functional connectivity and optimization of brain network topological properties.
3.Engineered Bacteriophages for The Treatment of Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Infections
Yu-Ying CHEN ; Chun-Mei HUANG ; Jin-Zhi PAN ; De-Liang LIU ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1581-1596
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.
4.The role and mechanism of protein synthesis in muscle atrophy induced by acute kidney injury
Xiaolin LIU ; Qiongzhi ZHAO ; Bin GUO ; Sheng ZHANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):416-423
ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription and ribosome biogenesis in muscle atrophy induced by acute kidney injury (AKI). MethodsEight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group (Ctrl) and a model group (AKI). An AKI model was established via intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin. Muscle atrophy was phenotypically assessed by measuring muscle mass, myofiber cross-sectional area (HE staining), and mRNA expression levels of atrophy-related genes (Murf-1, Atrogin-1, Igf-1) using qRT-PCR. In vivo protein synthesis rates were determined via the SUnSET assay (puromycin incorporation). Ribosome biogenesis was evaluated by assessing rRNA content and 47S pre-rRNA expression levels. Myotubes differentiated from mouse skeletal muscle cell lines (C2C12 myotubes) were treated with serum from AKI mice, and the effects on rDNA transcription, ribosome biogenesis, and protein metabolism were analyzed using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR) and Western blot. ResultsAKI successfully induced muscle atrophy, as evidenced by a significant reduction in skeletal muscle mass. The most pronounced decrease occurred in the extensor digitorum longus muscle (21.0%, P 0.01), along with a trend toward reduced myofiber cross-sectional area. At the molecular level, AKI inhibited muscle protein synthesis (83.14% reduction in puromycin incorporation, P 0.000 1) and impaired ribosome biogenesis, manifested by suppressed rDNA transcription elongation (52.62% decrease in 47S pre-rRNA ITS-1 levels, P 0.01) and reduced total rRNA content (65.29%, P 0.000 1). In contrast, serum from AKI mice promoted rDNA transcription initiation and protein synthesis in C2C12 myotubes in vitro. ConclusionAKI induces muscle atrophy by suppressing rDNA transcription and ribosome biogenesis in skeletal muscle, leading to impaired protein synthesis. Dysregulated ribosome biogenesis may play a critical role in AKI-induced muscle atrophy.
5.Application and prospect of artificial intelligence in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):721-730
BACKGROUND:Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity characterized by lateral bending and rotation of the spine.Its onset age covers the entire life cycle,becoming an important health issue that threatens people's health.Artificial intelligence continues to advance with the development of computer science.At present,artificial intelligence has great potential for application in medical diagnosis and treatment,and is gradually being applied in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis.OBJECTIVE:To comprehensively review the application of artificial intelligence in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis,elaborate on the progress of its application in recent years from multiple aspects,and look forward to its innovative points,providing reference for the future trend of intelligence.METHODS:Search covered databases such as PubMed,IEEE Xplore,CNKI,and WanFang,using Chinese and English search terms such as"scoliosis,artificial intelligence,machine learning,screen,diagnosis."Boolean logic was used to optimize the search strategy.Articles directly related to the application of artificial intelligence in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis were included,and articles with weak correlation,outdated experimental design,or poor credibility were excluded.Finally,83 articles were included for analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Artificial intelligence has shown unique application value and development prospects in multiple fields such as early screening of scoliosis,chest X-ray screening,smartphone screening,X-ray diagnosis,CT and MRI diagnosis,and reconstruction of three-dimensional spinal images.(2)The application of artificial intelligence in the screening and diagnosis of scoliosis has improved efficiency,reduced misdiagnosis rates,and alleviated the burden on medical staff,facilitating early detection and diagnosis of scoliosis and safeguarding spinal health.
6.Effect and mechanism of peroxiredoxin 1 in microglial inflammation after spinal cord injury
Yongcheng YIN ; Xiangrui ZHAO ; Zhijie YANG ; Zheng LI ; Fang LI ; Bin NING
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1106-1113
BACKGROUND:The inflammatory response of microglia is closely related to neuronal survival,regeneration,and functional recovery after spinal cord injury.Peroxiredoxin 1 is not only involved in the regulation of oxidative stress,but also has an important effect on cell proliferation,apoptosis,and inflammatory response.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role and mechanism of peroxiredoxin 1 in the inflammatory response of microglia following spinal cord injury.METHODS:(1)Twelve female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated(n=6)and spinal cord injury(n=6)groups.The sham-operated group was not modeled and acute spinal cord injury models were constructed in the spinal cord injury group using the modified Allen's method.Spinal cord tissue at the injured site was taken at 7 days after modeling and transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes.The expression of peroxiredoxin 1 in spinal cord tissues was verified using western blot and RT-qPCR.(2)Mouse microglia BV2 were divided into two groups:the control group was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide for 6 hours,and in the knockout group,lipopolysaccharide stimulation was applied for 6 hours at 24 hours after peroxiredoxin 1 was knocked down in the cells.RT-qPCR was performed to detect mRNA expression of peroxiredoxin 1,inflammatory factors(interleukin 1β,interleukin 6,inducible nitric oxide synthase,tumor necrosis factor α,C-C motif chemokine ligand 2,and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2),and western blot was performed to detect the expression of peroxiredoxin 1,inducible nitric oxide synthase,and reactive oxygen/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway proteins.Mouse microglia BV2 were treated in two groups:the control group was stimulated by hydrogen peroxide for 4 hours,and the knockout group was stimulated by hydrogen peroxide for 4 hours at 24 hours after knockdown of peroxiredoxin 1.The level of reactive oxygen species was detected by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Results from transcriptome sequencing,western blot and RT-qPCR confirmed that peroxiredoxin 1 expression levels in mouse spinal cord tissues were significantly higher in the spinal cord injury group than the sham-operated group(P<0.05).(2)Peroxiredoxin 1 knockdown in microglial cells led to decreased expression of peroxiredoxin 1 mRNA and protein(P<0.05),increased mRNA expression of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6,inducible nitric oxide synthase,tumor necrosis factor α,C-C motif chemokine ligand 2,and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2(P<0.05),increased protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase,P-P38,P-JNK and P-ERK proteins(P<0.05),and increased level of reactive oxygen species(P<0.05).To conclude,peroxiredoxin 1 regulates microglial inflammation by targeting the reactive oxygen species/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
7.Study on the role definition of full-time pharmacists in the management of early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs
Juan ZHAO ; Li GONG ; Jie SHEN ; Huiyao YANG ; Bin LIAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(3):294-298
OBJECTIVE To clarify the roles and functions of full-time pharmacists in the management of early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs, and to provide theoretical and practical support for their transformation from traditional drug managers to multi-dimensional roles in clinical research. METHODS Combined with relevant regulations such as the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) (2020 Edition), and based on the clinical practice experience of the Phase Ⅰ Clinical Ward in our hospital, this study systematically sorted out full-time pharmacists’ roles and functions in early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs, and explored the core challenges and optimization pathways for role transformation and capacity-building of domestic full-time clinical trial pharmacists. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Full-time pharmacists assumed multiple roles in early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs, including providing pharmaceutical support for protocol design, implementing whole-process standardized management of clinical trial drugs, ensuring medication safety for clinical trial subjects/participants, conducting quality control throughout the clinical trial process, and serving as a bridge for interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. Currently, there are challenges in this field in China, such as unclear roles, an imperfect capacity building system, and insufficient regulatory support. This paper proposes that by establishing a standardized role framework, clarifying the core responsibilities and authorities of full-time pharmacists, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to provide comprehensive support for their roles, so as to fully harness their pharmaceutical expertise and contribute to the standardization and efficiency of the antineoplastic new drug development process.
8.Research progress on polydopamine in the treatment of oral diseases
LU Xiangxiang ; JIANG Zhen ; XING Aili ; ZHAO Bin ; SUN Bin
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(3):302-3014
Due to the moist environment in the mouth, there are many challenges that arise, such as difficult biofilm removal, short drug retention time, and low tissue repair efficiency, while treating dental caries, periodontal disease, and other oral diseases. As a biomimetic biomaterial, polydopamine (PDA) possesses multifunctional properties, including mussel-inspired adhesion and stimuli-responsive drug release. PDA adhesion properties originate from its surface catechol and amino functional groups, which maintain strong wettability in aqueous environments. With smart responsiveness encompassing photothermal, pH, and enzymatic stimuli, PDA enables controlled drug release under specific conditions. Additionally, PDA exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and osteoblast-promoting functions, thus demonstrating significant application potential in the treatment of oral diseases. In hard tissue therapies, specifically for dental caries, PDA promotes enamel remineralization by inducing hydroxyapatite crystal growth and enhances dentin collagen mineralization through Ca2+ chelation while inhibiting cariogenic bacteria. In mandibular defect repair, functionalized PDA coatings on bone implants facilitate mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and differentiation, activate osteogenic signaling pathways, and synergistically promote vascularization to improve bone-implant integration. For soft tissue treatments, specifically for periodontitis, PDA alleviates alveolar bone resorption via antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects coupled with osteoclast inhibition. In denture stomatitis management, PDA’s strong wet adhesion prolongs drug retention, while its photothermal effect and reactive oxygen generation provide both broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and wound healing promotion. This review summarizes PDA’s synthesis mechanisms and biological functions, with an emphasis on its therapeutic applications in oral diseases, providing innovative strategies for oral healthcare.
9.Risk Factors Analysis and Predictive Model Construction for Acute Kidney Injury Following Amphotericin B Deoxycholate Use in Hospitalized Patients
Hao XIE ; Yixun SHI ; Zhiqing XU ; Minquan LI ; Xiaoli DU ; Gang CHEN ; Bin ZHAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(2):429-437
To investigate the risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) following the use of amphotericin B deoxycholate and to develop a predictive model to guide clinical monitoring and intervention. A retrospective analysis was conducted on hospitalized patients who received amphotericin B deoxycholate between January 2014 and September 2024. Patients were divided into a training set and a validation set. Demographic data, laboratory findings, and medication orders were collected. Based on the occurrence of AKI during treatment and within 7 days after discontinuation, patients were classified into an AKI group and a non-AKI group. Univariate analysis was used to screen for potential risk factors, multivariate logistic regression was employed to construct a predictive model, and model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The training set included 473 patients, comprising 255 males (53.91%) and 218 females (46.09%), with a median age of 52(35, 62) years. The AKI group consisted of 191 cases (40.38%), and the non-AKI group consisted of 282 cases (59.62%). The validation set included 114 patients, comprising 80 males (70.18%) and 34 females (29.82%), with a median age of 43.5 (31.0, 58.5) years. The AKI group consisted of 42 cases (36.84%), and the non-AKI group consisted of 72 cases (63.16%). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups in 23 factors (all Admission to the ICU, elevated serum creatinine at admission, and comorbid cardiac insufficiency as potential risk factors for AKI, while prophylactic use of diphenhydramine/promethazine or sodium bicarbonate showed a protective association. A predictive model with good discrimina-tion and calibration was developed, which may provide a basis for early identification of high-risk patients and timely adjustment of treatment strategies in clinical practice.
10.Application and prospect of artificial intelligence in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):721-730
BACKGROUND:Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity characterized by lateral bending and rotation of the spine.Its onset age covers the entire life cycle,becoming an important health issue that threatens people's health.Artificial intelligence continues to advance with the development of computer science.At present,artificial intelligence has great potential for application in medical diagnosis and treatment,and is gradually being applied in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis.OBJECTIVE:To comprehensively review the application of artificial intelligence in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis,elaborate on the progress of its application in recent years from multiple aspects,and look forward to its innovative points,providing reference for the future trend of intelligence.METHODS:Search covered databases such as PubMed,IEEE Xplore,CNKI,and WanFang,using Chinese and English search terms such as"scoliosis,artificial intelligence,machine learning,screen,diagnosis."Boolean logic was used to optimize the search strategy.Articles directly related to the application of artificial intelligence in screening and diagnosis of scoliosis were included,and articles with weak correlation,outdated experimental design,or poor credibility were excluded.Finally,83 articles were included for analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Artificial intelligence has shown unique application value and development prospects in multiple fields such as early screening of scoliosis,chest X-ray screening,smartphone screening,X-ray diagnosis,CT and MRI diagnosis,and reconstruction of three-dimensional spinal images.(2)The application of artificial intelligence in the screening and diagnosis of scoliosis has improved efficiency,reduced misdiagnosis rates,and alleviated the burden on medical staff,facilitating early detection and diagnosis of scoliosis and safeguarding spinal health.


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