1.The Application of Quantum Dots in Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Ji-Sheng SHEN ; Li-Li QI ; Jin-Bo WANG ; Zhi-Jian KE ; Qi-Chao WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):1917-1931
Quantum dots (QDs), nanoscale semiconductor crystals, have emerged as a revolutionary class of nanomaterials with unique optical and electrochemical properties, making them highly promising for applications in disease diagnosis and treatment. Their tunable emission spectra, long-term photostability, high quantum yield, and excellent charge carrier mobility enable precise control over light emission and efficient charge utilization, which are critical for biomedical applications. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the use of quantum dots for disease diagnosis and therapy, highlighting their potential and the challenges involved in clinical translation. Quantum dots can be classified based on their elemental composition and structural configuration. For instance, IB-IIIA-VIA group quantum dots and core-shell structured quantum dots are among the most widely studied types. These classifications are essential for understanding their diverse functionalities and applications. In disease diagnosis, quantum dots have demonstrated remarkable potential due to their high brightness, photostability, and ability to provide precise biomarker detection. They are extensively used in bioimaging technologies, enabling high-resolution imaging of cells, tissues, and even individual biomolecules. As fluorescent markers, quantum dots facilitate cell tracking, biosensing, and the detection of diseases such as cancer, bacterial and viral infections, and immune-related disorders. Their ability to provide real-time, in vivo tracking of cellular processes has opened new avenues for early and accurate disease detection. In the realm of disease treatment, quantum dots serve as versatile nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery. Their nanoscale size and surface modifiability allow them to transport therapeutic agents to specific sites, improving drug bioavailability and reducing off-target effects. Additionally, quantum dots have shown promise as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT). When exposed to specific wavelengths of light, quantum dots interact with oxygen molecules to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can selectively destroy malignant cells, vascular lesions, and microbial infections. This targeted approach minimizes damage to healthy tissues, making PDT a promising strategy for treating complex diseases. Despite these advancements, the translation of quantum dots from research to clinical application faces significant challenges. Issues such as toxicity, stability, and scalability in industrial production remain major obstacles. The potential toxicity of quantum dots, particularly to vital organs, has raised concerns about their long-term safety. Researchers are actively exploring strategies to mitigate these risks, including surface modification, coating, and encapsulation techniques, which can enhance biocompatibility and reduce toxicity. Furthermore, improving the stability of quantum dots under physiological conditions is crucial for their effective use in biomedical applications. Advances in surface engineering and the development of novel encapsulation methods have shown promise in addressing these stability concerns. Industrial production of quantum dots also presents challenges, particularly in achieving consistent quality and scalability. Recent innovations in synthesis techniques and manufacturing processes are paving the way for large-scale production, which is essential for their widespread adoption in clinical settings. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the latest research progress in quantum dot applications, including drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, photodynamic therapy, and pathogen detection. It also discusses the multiple barriers hindering their clinical use and explores potential solutions to overcome these challenges. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the future directions of quantum dot research, emphasizing the need for further studies on toxicity mitigation, stability enhancement, and scalable production. By addressing these critical issues, quantum dots can realize their full potential as transformative tools in disease diagnosis and treatment, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing biomedical science.
2.Oncogene goosecoid is transcriptionally regulated by E2F1 and correlates with disease progression in prostate cancer
Yue GE ; Sheng MA ; Qiang ZHOU ; Zezhong XIONG ; Yanan WANG ; Le LI ; Zheng CHAO ; Junbiao ZHANG ; Tengfei LI ; Zixi WU ; Yuan GAO ; Guanyu QU ; Zirui XI ; Bo LIU ; Xi WU ; Zhihua WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(15):1844-1856
Background::Although some well-established oncogenes are involved in cancer initiation and progression such as prostate cancer (PCa), the long tail of cancer genes remains to be defined. Goosecoid ( GSC) has been implicated in cancer development. However, the comprehensive biological role of GSC in pan-cancer, specifically in PCa, remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of GSC in PCa development. Methods::We performed a systematic bioinformatics exploration of GSC using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Expression Omnibus, German Cancer Research Center, and our in-house cohorts. First, we evaluated the expression of GSC and its association with patient prognosis, and identified GSC-relevant genetic alterations in cancers. Further, we focused on the clinical characterization and prognostic analysis of GSC in PCa. To understand the transcriptional regulation of GSC by E2F transcription factor 1 ( E2F1), we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Functional experiments were conducted to validate the effect of GSC on the tumor cellular phenotype and sensitivity to trametinib. Results::GSC expression was elevated in various tumors and significantly correlated with patient prognosis. The alterations of GSC contribute to the progression of various tumors especially in PCa. Patients with PCa and high GSC expression exhibited worse progression-free survival and biochemical recurrence outcomes. Further, GSC upregulation in patients with PCa was mostly accompanied with higher Gleason score, advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Mechanistically, the transcription factor, E2F1, stimulates GSC by binding to its promoter region. Detailed experiments further demonstrated that GSC acted as an oncogene and influenced the response of PCa cells to trametinib treatment. Conclusions::GSC was highly overexpressed and strongly correlated with patient prognosis in PCa. We found that GSC, regulated by E2F1, acted as an oncogene and impeded the therapeutic efficacy of trametinib in PCa.
3.Clinical observation of sinus tarsi syndrome after lateral ankle sprain
Xiao-Xu XU ; Lei ZHANG ; Bo JIANG ; Jin SUN ; Xiao-Hua LIU ; Sheng ZHANG ; Yan LI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(4):387-391
Objective To study the incidence rate of sinus tarsi syndrome after lateral ankle sprain and observe the clinical efficacy of sinus tarsal corticosteroid injections.Methods From January 2021 to Janury 2022,391 patients with lateral ankle sprain and 88 patients with sinus tarsi syndrome using corticosteroid injections(compound betamethasone 1 ml+lidocaine hy-drochloride 4 ml)were retrospectively analyzed.There were 22 males and 66 females,aged from 29 to 60 years old with an av-erage of(41.00±7.52)years old,duration of the disease from 1 to 12 months with an average of(5.6±4.2)months.The visual analogue scale(VAS)and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)scores were collected before,1 month,3 months,6 months,and 12 months after treatment.Results All 88 patients completed a 12-month follow-up.The incidence rate of sinus tarsi syndrome after lateral ankle sprain was 22.5%.One month after treatment,VAS was 1.20±0.89,AOFAS score was 88.70±7.04.Three months after treatment,VAS was 1.60±1.35,AOFAS score was 85.20±10.95.Six months after treat-ment,VAS 2.35±1.39,AOFAS 80.30±9.75.Twelve months after treatment,VAS was 2.80±1.51,AOFAS score was 79.1±9.94.Significant differences were found before and after treatment at all four time points of follow-up(P<0.05).Conclusion The re-sults of this study showed that the incidence rate of sinus tarsi syndrome after lateral ankle sprain was 22.5%.Corticosteroid injec-tions were effective in the short term with a 65%recurrence rate of symptoms within 1 year.For patients with no significant long-term effect of conservative treatment,clinicians may explore alternative approaches,including options like ankle arthroscopy.
4.Hip joint biomechanical analysis of the acetabular anatomical reconstruction and nonanatomical reconstruction in to-tal hip arthroplasty for Crowe type Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of the hip by finite element method
Heng ZHANG ; Yu-Fan ZHOU ; Bo-Wen LI ; Kuan-Xin LI ; Yang LIU ; Jian-Sheng ZHOU ; Jian-Ning ZHAO
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(5):505-515
Objective To analyze the hip joint biomechanies of the acetabular anatomical reconstruction and nonanatomi-cal reconstruction in total hip arthroplasty(THA)for Crowe type Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of the hip(DDH)by finite ele-ment method,which provided theoretical foundation and experimental basis for the anatomical acetabular reconstruction dur-ing THA in clinical practice.Methods One patient with left end-stage hip arthritis secondary to Crowe type Ⅲ DDH was se-lected in this study,who underwent total hip arthroplasty in the orthopedic department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College in April 2020.This patient was female,57 years old.The preoperative and postoperative three dimentional CT scan of the patient's pelvis were performed.Fourteen acetabular cup models with different anteversion,inclination and rotation center height were established in Mimics and 3-Matic software.The boundary and load conditions were set in Abaqus software.The Von Mises and stress distribution of the hip joint were calculated and observed.Results In the Crowe type Ⅲ DDH THA,if the hip rotation center was restored anatomically and the acetabular cup's inclination was set as 40°,the cup's anteversion var-ied from 5° to 25°,the lowest Von Mises value of acetabular cup and polyethylene liner occured in 20°anteversioin;if the hip rotation center was restored anatomically and the acetabular cup's anteversion was set as 15°,the cup's inclination varied from 35° to 55°,the lowest Von Mises value of acetabular cup and polyethylene liner occured in 35° inclination;if the acetabular cup's anteversion and inclination were set as 15°and 40°respectively,the up migration of hip rotaion center varied from 0 mm to 20 mm,the lowest Von Mises value of acetabular cup and polyethylene liner occured in 10 mm up migration.In all fourteen models,the Von Mises value of the acetabulum,acetabulum cup and polyethylene liner were lowest when the acetabular cup's anteversion and inlcination were 15°,35° respectively,as well as the rotation center was restored anatomically.Conclusion In total hip arthroplasty for Crowe type Ⅲ DDH,the anatomical restoration of hip rotation center with 15° anteversion and 35° in-clination of the acetabular cup are suggested,bone graft above the acetabular cup and additional screws are recommended si-multaneously to further reduce the Von Mises of hip joint.
5.Molecular epidemiological analysis of group A rotavirus in diarrhea cases in children under 5 years of age in Guangdong Province,2021-2022
Cai-Xia LI ; Chang ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Han-Ri ZENG ; Huan-Ying ZHENG ; Bo-Sheng LI ; Bi-Xia KE
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(9):834-840
This study investigated the epidemiological and genotypic characteristics of group A rotavirus(RVA)in children under 5 years of age with diarrhea at a viral diarrhea surveillance sentinel hospital in Guangdong Province from 2021 to 2022,to provide a basis for RVA prevention and control.A total of 1 858 fecal samples from children under 5 years of age with diarrhea in 2021-2022 were collected.Rotavirus antigen was detected with ELISA,and positive samples were further sequenced and categorized.Among the 1 858 samples,156 were RVA positive.The positivity rates in boys and girls were 8.76%and 7.87%,respectively.Significant differences were observed in the detection rates of RVA infection among age groups.The rate of RVA infection increased gradually from December to April of the following year.In 2021,the main endemic strains of RVA in the Guangdong region were of the G9P[8]subtype,and the rare G8P[8]subtype increased in China.In 2022,the G8P[8]subtype surpassed the G9P[8]subtype for the first time.In cases of diarrhea in infants younger than 5 years in Guangdong Province from 2021 to 2022,the RVA genotypes were diverse,the G9P[8]genotype significantly decreased,and the G8P[8]subtype became a dominant genotype.Continuous RVA genotype monitoring remains necessary to assess the risk of RVA-related disea-ses.
6.Global research trends in zoonotic diseases from a One Health perspective
Si-Meng YAO ; Sheng-Bo CAO ; Cui-Xia LI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(10):994-1002
In accordance with the One Health concept,this study was aimed at exploring research trends and major topics in global zoonotic diseases,and providing suggestions for the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in China.Using biblio-metric analysis,we analyzed 289 411 relevant articles in the SCIE database from 2012 to 2022 in the field of zoonotic diseases.We conducted in-depth analysis of publication trends,research themes,and cutting-edge topics in the field of zoonotic diseases.The number of publications in the field of zoonotic diseases has significantly increased since 2019.The United States had the most publications in this field,and was followed by China,which has shown strong growth.Further analysis of co-occurrence clustering of keywords in 7 115 highly cited articles in zoonotic diseases in the past 11 years revealed three major research themes:animal health,human health,and environmental health,according to the One Health concept.Keyword evolution a-nalysis showed that zoonotic disease articles were broadly related to issues such as"food safety"and"microbial resistance"in earlier years,whereas"COVID-19,""COVID-19 variants,"and"COVID-19 vaccine"have become recent research hotspots.Practicing the One Health concept and promoting interdisciplinary,interdepartmental,and interregional collaboration are crucial for enhancing the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in China,thereby safeguarding national security,public health,and ecological safety.
7.A multicenter study of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China
Li-Xiu SHI ; Jin-Xing FENG ; Yan-Fang WEI ; Xin-Ru LU ; Yu-Xi ZHANG ; Lin-Ying YANG ; Sheng-Nan HE ; Pei-Juan CHEN ; Jing HAN ; Cheng CHEN ; Hui-Ying TU ; Zhang-Bin YU ; Jin-Jie HUANG ; Shu-Juan ZENG ; Wan-Ling CHEN ; Ying LIU ; Yan-Ping GUO ; Jiao-Yu MAO ; Xiao-Dong LI ; Qian-Shen ZHANG ; Zhi-Li XIE ; Mei-Ying HUANG ; Kun-Shan YAN ; Er-Ya YING ; Jun CHEN ; Yan-Rong WANG ; Ya-Ping LIU ; Bo SONG ; Hua-Yan LIU ; Xiao-Dong XIAO ; Hong TANG ; Yu-Na WANG ; Yin-Sha CAI ; Qi LONG ; Han-Qiang XU ; Hui-Zhan WANG ; Qian SUN ; Fang HAN ; Rui-Biao ZHANG ; Chuan-Zhong YANG ; Lei DOU ; Hui-Ju SHI ; Rui WANG ; Ping JIANG ; Shenzhen Neonatal Data Network
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(5):450-455
Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75%(27/36);boys accounted for 64%(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86%)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53%)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61%)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36%)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75%)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72%)and seizures in 10 neonates(34%).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33%,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44%(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.
8.A new suberin from roots of Ephedra sinica Stapf
Bo-wen ZHANG ; Meng LI ; Xiao-lan WANG ; Ying YANG ; Shi-qi ZHOU ; Si-qi TAO ; Meng YANG ; Deng-hui ZHU ; Ya-tong XU ; Wei-sheng FENG ; Xiao-ke ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(3):661-666
Six compounds were isolated from the roots of
9.Effects of bunched cognitive behavior intervention on disease fear and psychological security in glioma patients
Bo GAO ; Xuerong ZONG ; Yan SHENG ; Liping YANG ; Wei WANG ; Bo LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2024;33(3):252-258
Objective:To investigate the effects of bunched cognitive behavior intervention on disease fear and psychological security in patients with glioma.Methods:A total of 92 patients with glioma who underwent surgical treatment from January 2022 to June 2023 were selected.According to the order of enrollment, all subjects were divided into research group( n=44)and control group( n=48). The patients in control group received routine medical and nursing intervention, and patients the research group adopted glioma bunched cognitive behavior intervention on the basis of routine medical and nursing intervention, including 4 intervention cycles.At enrollment, 2 weeks after intervention, and 4 weeks after intervention, all subjects were evaluated by the fear of progression questionnaire-short form (FoP-Q-SF), safety questionnaire (SQ), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS). All the data in this study were processed by SPSS 26.0 statistical software.The scores of FoP-Q-SF, SQ, SAS and SDS before and after intervention were compared by repeated measures ANOVA between the two groups. Results:(1)The total FoP-Q-SF score, physiological health dimension scores, and social family dimension scores of the two groups showed significant interaction effects before and after intervention ( F=254.839, 52.738, 12.237, all P<0.05). Further simple effect analysis showed that after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention, the FoP-Q-SF scores of the research group (2 weeks after intervention: 33.80±4.94, 36.48±4.04; 4 weeks after intervention: 31.25±4.55, 35.94±4.47) and social family dimensions (2 weeks after intervention: 15.32±2.56 points, 17.06±2.14; 4 weeks after intervention: 14.05±2.59, 16.96±1.99) were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The physiological health dimension score of the research group was lower than that of the control group after 4 weeks of intervention (4 weeks after intervention: 17.30±2.92, 19.06±2.38) ( P<0.05). After 4 weeks of intervention, the FoP-Q-SF score, physiological health dimension score, and social family dimension score of the research group were all lower than those at 2 weeks after intervention and before intervention (all P<0.05). (2)The total SQ score, interpersonal security dimension score and the determined control score of the two groups showed significant interaction effects before and after intervention( F=193.129, 54.706, 44.015, all P<0.05). Further simple effect testing showed that after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention, the total SQ score and interpersonal security score of the research group were higher than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The determined control score of the research group was higher than that of the control group after 4 weeks of intervention ( P<0.05). After 2 and 4 weeks of intervention, the total SQ score, interpersonal security score, and determination control score of the research group were higher than before intervention (all P<0.05), and the total SQ score and interpersonal security score of the research group were higher than 2 weeks after intervention (both P<0.05). (3)The SAS score and SDS score of the two groups showed significant interaction effects before and after intervention( F=237.867, 282.882, both P<0.05). Further simple effect analysis showed that after 2 and 4 weeks intervention, the SAS and SDS scores of the research group were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The SAS and SDS scores of the research group were lower after 2 weeks and 4 weeks intervention than before intervention (all P<0.05). The SAS and SDS scores of the research group at 4 weeks after intervention were lower than those at 2 weeks after intervention (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Bundled cognitive behavioral intervention can improve disease fear and negative emotions in patients with glioma, and enhance psychological security.
10.Icariin plus curcumol enhances autophagy through the mTOR pathway and promotes cathepsin B-mediated pyroptosis of prostate cancer cells
Xu-Yun Wang ; Wen-Jing Xu ; Bo-Nan Li ; Tian-Song Sun ; Wen Sheng
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2024;14(2):55-64
Objective: To examine the effect of icariin plus curcumol on prostate cancer cells PC3 and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: We employed the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay and colony formation assay to assess cell viability and proliferation. Autophagy expression was analyzed using monodansylcadaverine staining. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were used to evaluate protein expressions related to autophagy, pyroptosis, and the mTOR pathway. Cellular damage was examined using the lactate dehydrogenase assay. Moreover, cathepsin B and NLRP3 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation. Results: Icariin plus curcumol led to a decrease in PC3 cell proliferation and an enhancement of autophagy. The levels of LC3- Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and beclin-1 were increased, while the levels of p62 and mTOR were decreased after treatment with icariin plus curcumol. These changes were reversed upon overexpression of mTOR. Furthermore, 3-methyladenine resulted in a decrease in inflammatory cytokines, pyroptosis-related protein levels, and lactate dehydrogenase concentration, compared to the icariin plus curcumol group. Inhibiting cathepsin B reversed the regulatory effects of icariin plus curcumol. Conclusions: Icariin plus curcumol demonstrates great potential as a therapeutic agent for castration-resistant prostate cancer by enhancing autophagy via the mTOR pathway and promoting pyroptosis mediated by cathepsin B. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of icariin and curcumol for prostate cancer treatment.

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