1.Research progress of biomaterial-mediated brain-computer interfaces in neural rehabilitation
Xiangxiang YU ; Jie SHI ; Yucheng CHEN ; Lifeng CHENG ; Liangcan HE ; Kai LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(2):213-220
Neurological disorders such as post-stroke hemiplegia, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson disease represent a major global health burden. Brain-computer interface (BCI), which creates direct communication pathways between the nervous system and external devices, offers a promising strategy for functional restoration. The long-term efficacy of such BCI fundamentally depends on the performance of biomaterials at the neural interface. Ideal materials must concurrently satisfy biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, enduring chemical stability, and mechanical compatibility with brain tissue. This review systematically outlines the application of conductive polymers, inorganic nanomaterials, natural biomaterials, and composites in BCI, with a focus on how advanced designs, such as bionic and encapsulated electrodes, improve signal fidelity and surgical feasibility through structural innovation. It further summarizes key material-modification techniques and analyzes the complex foreign-body response orchestrated by microglia, astrocytes, and peripheral immune cells. Finally, it provides insights into future research directions and clinical translation of BCI-based neurorehabilitation, while highlighting critical challenges including long-term biosafety and the establishment of standardized evaluation frameworks, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and effective clinical deployment.
2.Efficacy and safety of Shuganning injection in treatment of liver injury: A clinical analysis
Qiaoxin WEI ; Mei LIU ; Daimeng SHI ; Shaoli YOU ; Yu CHEN ; Shuangsuo DANG ; Dongliang YANG ; Yuemin NAN ; Mingliang CHENG ; Zhongping DUAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(6):1349-1357
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of Shuganning injection in the treatment of liver injury by observing the clinical outcome of patients with liver injury after treatment with Shuganning injection and comparing it with reduced glutathione (GSH). MethodsThis study was conducted among 175 patients with liver injury who attended 6 hospitals in China (Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University; Nanyang First People’s Hospital; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University; The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital; The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University; The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University) from April 25, 2019 to February 28, 2022. The patients were divided into experimental group (89 patients treated with Shuganning injection) and control group (86 patients treated with GSH), and the course of treatment was 4 weeks for both groups. Related indicators were recorded before treatment, after treatment, and after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks, including liver function parameters, blood biochemical parameters, blood lipids, coagulation profiles, liver fibrosis markers, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, and ultrasound findings, as well as adverse events during treatment. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison of observation indicators before treatment, at week 4 of treatment, and after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks. When the efficacy evaluation of TCM syndromes was used as the outcome, a pooled analysis was performed for the effective cases and the markedly effective cases, and a Logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and its 95%CI. ResultsAfter 4 weeks of treatment with Shuganning injection, the patients showed significant reductions in TCM syndrome score (P<0.001) and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin (all P<0.001) and a significant increase in the level of albumin (P=0.002), and these significant improvements persisted after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks. Furthermore, compared with the control group, the experimental group had a significantly higher proportion of patients assessed as effective or markedly effective cases (48.31% vs 32.56%, P=0.033). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a significantly greater change in TCM syndrome score at weeks 1-4 of treatment and after drug withdrawal for 8 weeks (P<0.05). At week 4 of treatment, the experimental group had a significantly greater reduction in alanine aminotransferase than the control group (P<0.05), and at week 8 after drug withdrawal, the experimental group had a significantly greater reduction in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase than the control group (all P<0.05). One patient in the experimental group (1.12%) experienced an adverse event, which was determined to be associated with the progression of viral hepatitis. ConclusionShuganning injection can effectively improve liver injury, with good long-term efficacy and a low incidence rate of adverse reactions.
3.Fluorescence Suppression Method of Raman Spectroscopy and Its Application in Skin and Cosmetics Analysis
Yun-Xia CHEN ; Jia-Rong WANG ; Jian-Yu ZHU ; Shi-Wen LIN ; Ya-Nan LIU ; Xiao-Yue MA ; Guang-Cheng XI ; Juan LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1914-1926
Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 106 to 108 times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.
4.Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin in alleviating uremic cardiomyopathy and related mechanism
Shi CHENG ; Yeqing XIE ; Wei LU ; Jiarui XU ; Yong YU ; Ruizhen CHEN ; Bo SHEN ; Xiaoqiang DING
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(2):248-258
Objective To investigate the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (empagliflozin, EMPA) on myocardial remodeling in a mouse uremic cardiomyopathy (UCM) model induced by 5/6 nephrectomy, through the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB/AKT)/p65 signaling pathway. Methods The animals were divided into three groups: Sham group (n=6), UCM group (n=8), and UCM+EMPA group (n=8). A UCM model was established in C57BL/6N mice using the 5/6 nephrectomy. Starting from 5 weeks post-surgery, EMPA or a placebo was administered. After 16 weeks, blood pressure, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, 24-hour urine glucose and urine sodium were measured. Cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson trichrome staining were used to observe pathological changes in the heart and kidneys. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining was used to evaluate myocardial hypertrophy. The real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of myocardial hypertrophy- and fibrosis-related mRNAs. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of PI3K, AKT and p65 in myocardial tissues. Results After 16 weeks, UCM group exhibited significantly higher blood pressure, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen than sham group (P<0.01); UCM+EMPA group exhibited lower blood pressure, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and higher 24 h urine sodium and glucose than UCM group (P<0.05). Echocardiographic results showed ventricular remodeling in the UCM group, evidenced by left ventricular wall thickening, left ventricular enlargement, increased left ventricular mass, and decreased systolic function (P<0.05); ventricular remodeling was alleviated (P<0.05), though there was no significant improvement in systolic function in UCM+EMPA group. HE and Masson stainings revealed myocardial degeneration, necrosis, and interstitial fibrosis in UCM group (P<0.01); the myocardial pathology improved with reduced collagen deposition in UCM+EMPA group (P<0.01). WGA staining confirmed myocardial hypertrophy in UCM group (P<0.01), while myocardial hypertrophy was alleviated in UCM+EMPA group (P<0.01). RT-qPCR results showed myocardial hypertrophy- and fibrosis-related genes (NPPA, NPPB, MYH7, COL1A1, COL3A1, TGF-β1) were upregulated in UCM group (P<0.05), but downregulated in UCM+EMPA group. Western blotting showed PI3K, p-AKT/AKT ratio, and p-p65/p65 ratio were increased in UCM group, but decreased in UCM+EMPA group (P<0.05). Conclusion EMPA can improve myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in the UCM mouse model, and it may play the role through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/p65 signaling pathway.
5.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
6.Hypoxic transcriptional phenotype and cellular ultrastructural changes of tumor-associated macrophages in gliomas
Haizhen FAN ; Lixia WANG ; Yue CHENG ; Lujing WANG ; Qianying RUAN ; Jiale JI ; Mengru WANG ; Zhen QIN ; Yi ZHANG ; Zhicheng HE ; Yifang PING ; Yu SHI
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(9):904-911
Objective To investigate the effects of hypoxia on the transcriptional phenotype and ultrastructure of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)in glioma.Methods CD14+monocytes were isolated from healthy human peripheral blood samples collected from the Blood Bank of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University,and the cells were induced to differentiate into TAMs through co-culture with glioma cell-conditioned medium.Hypoxic TAM models were established using varying concentrations of cobalt chloride hexahydrate(CoCl2,50~400 μmol/L)or hypoxic conditions(1%,5%,10%O2)for 48 h,while normoxic TAM models(21%O2)served as controls.RT-qPCR and transcriptome sequencing were employed to analyze transcriptional changes in TAMs under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was applied to compare the differences in angiogenesis,glycolysis and other hypoxia-responsive pathways between the 2 conditions.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)or immunofluorescence staining was conducted to assess the ultrastructural alterations in cytoskeleton,endoplasmic reticulum(ER),and mitochondria in normoxic and hypoxic TAMs(1%O2).Results Hypoxic TAMs exhibited up-regulated transcription of hypoxia-responsive markers(oxygen transport,glycolysis,pro-angiogenesis),with the effects correlating with hypoxia severity(P<0.05).GSEA revealed significant up-regulation of hypoxia,angiogenesis regulation,glycolysis and gluconeogenesis,and starvation stress pathways,alongside down-regulation of innate immunity,macrophage activation,cytoskeleton,and protein maturation pathways in hypoxic TAMs(P<0.05).TEM and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated obvious ultrastructure changes,including disrupted cytoskeletal organization,shortened rough ER with reduced ribosomes,mitochondrial swelling with cristae damage,and diminished ER-mitochondria contacts in hypoxic TAMs.Conclusion CoCl2 and hypoxia induce a hypoxic transcriptional phenotype in TAMs,which may potentially associated with ultrastructural remodeling of the cytoskeleton,ER,and mitochondria.
7.Preparation and In Vitro Degradation Characteristics Analysis of Poly(lactic-co-glycolide)Microspheres Based on Microfluidic Process
Bao-Cheng WANG ; Cong-Yu MA ; Ke WANG ; Si-Tong ZHENG ; Xiao-Yan ZHANG ; Yue-Mei ZHAO ; Xun ZHAO ; Jian-Bin PAN ; Zheng-Song GAO ; Hai-Wei SHI ; Yao-Zuo YUAN ; Hong-Yuan CHEN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(4):621-630
Poly(lactic-co-glycolide)(PLGA)is a key excipient in long-acting sustained-release preparations,and its degradation properties directly affect the drug release behavior.In this study,PLGA microspheres were prepared by microfluidic techniques,and the morphology changes of the microspheres were observed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).In alkaline environment,due to the accelerated hydrolysis of ester bonds,the surface of the microspheres was rapidly dissolved and eroded,and the degradation rate was significantly higher than that in acidic environment.High temperature accelerated the degradation of PLGA microspheres.Under neutral and alkaline conditions,the microspheres showed aggregation and adhesion.Under acidic conditions,the microspheres gradually decomposed into irregular fragments.The high ionic strength further promoted the surface corrosion of the microspheres,especially under extreme pH conditions.Simultaneously,PLGA microspheres encapsulating coumarin were prepared to simulate the microsphere formulation.The release rate of coumarin after degradation of the microspheres under different conditions was observed by measuring the absorbance with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry.The results were consistent with those of the blank microspheres.This study revealed that the degradation of PLGA microspheres was significantly pH-dependent,temperature sensitive and ion strength responsive.These findings not only helped to understand and optimize the long-term stability and controlled release performance of drug-carrying microspheres,but also provided a theoretical basis for further improvement of PLGA-based drug carrier design.
8.Screening of Illicit Oxyphenisatin Substances in Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-in-Source-Fragmentation-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Hong-Fei SHI ; Ke-Yu LIU ; Bo-Peng XU ; Cheng-Xin XU ; Xiu-Qi ZHOU ; Yi-Fei ZHOU ; Ming-Xin GUO
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(9):1576-1585,后插1-后插9,封3
By summarizing the mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns of oxyphenisatin substances,an analytical method was established for screening of illegally added oxyphenisatin compounds in weight-loss health foods using high performance liquid chromatography-in-source-fragmentation-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(HPLC-ISF-QTOF-MS),along with a quantitative method for 11 kinds of oxyphenisatin compounds.Based on the developed screening method,an oxyphenisatin derivative was discovered in the reference standards,which was tentatively identified as 4-(3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)phenyl acetate and confirmed by MS/MS analysis.The results showed that all 11 kinds of oxyphenisatin compounds had correlation coefficients greater than 0.9971,with limits of detection(LODs)ranging from 0.12 to 0.68 μg/L and limits of quantification(LOQ)from 0.21 to 2.29 μg/L.The LODs for 11 kinds of characteristic ions ranged from 0.45 to 9.11 μg/kg.At spiking levels of 25,50 and 100 μg/kg,the recoveries ranged from 78.9%to 117.3%.The instrumental precision,intra-day method precision and inter-day method precision were 0.23%?1.70%,0.7%?2.4%,and 1.1%?3.3%,respectively.The developed targeted and non-targeted detection method demonstrated high sensitivity,strong stability,rapid analysis,and an expanded screening range for oxyphenisatin substances,and provided robust technical support for regulatory authorities in combating illegal adulteration.
9.Prognostic comparison between pulmonary metastasectomy and combination immunotherapy with targeted molecular therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis:A propensity score matching analysis
Juxian SUN ; Chang LIU ; Xiandong TAO ; Yu YANG ; Hai JIN ; Shuqun CHENG ; Huazheng SHI ; Maolin YAN ; Jie SHI
Liver Research 2025;9(1):29-35
Background and aims:Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with pulmonary metastasis(PM)has a poor prognosis,and optimal treatment strategies remain controversial.This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with advanced HCC with PM who were treated with resection of pul-monary metastases versus those treated with targeted therapies combined with immunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of HCC patients with PM who underwent either pulmonary metastasectomy or immunotherapy combined with targeted therapies at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital,Changhai Hospital of Shanghai,Fujian Provincial Hospital,and West China Hospital of Sichuan University from September 2013 to October 2022.One-to-one propensity score matching(PSM)was employed to control the influence of potential confounders,and the survival outcomes were compared.Results:A total of 119 HCC patients with PM were included in this study.The overall survival(OS)of patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy was significantly longer than that of patients who received immunotherapy targeted combinations(OS:1-year,80.0%vs.59.3%;2-year,31.7%vs.20.3%;3-year,20.0%vs.0;P<0.001).After PSM,the long-term prognosis of the pulmonary metastasectomy group remained significantly better than that of the immunotherapy combination group(OS:1-year,87.0%vs.69.6%;2-year,34.8%vs.30.4%;3-year,21.7%vs.0;P=0.005).Multivariate analysis revealed that treat-ment allocation(hazard ratio(HR)=2.177,95%confidence interval(CI)=1.068-4.439)and hepatic tumor T stage(HR=2.342,95%CI=1.209-4.538)were independent risk factors for OS.Conclusions:Pulmonary metastasectomy was associated with improved survival compared to immu-notherapy combined with targeted therapies and may represent an optimal treatment option for highly selected HCC patients with resectable PM.
10.DTLCDR:A target-based multimodal fusion deep learning framework for cancer drug response prediction
Jie YU ; Cheng SHI ; Yiran ZHOU ; Ningfeng LIU ; Xiaolin ZONG ; Zhenming LIU ; Liangren ZHANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(8):1825-1836
Accurate prediction of drug responses in cancer cell lines(CCLs)and transferable prediction of clinical drug responses using CCLs are two major tasks in personalized medicine.Despite the rapid advancements in existing computational methods for preclinical and clinical cancer drug response(CDR)prediction,chal-lenges remain regarding the generalization of new drugs that are unseen in the training set.Herein,we propose a multimodal fusion deep learning(DL)model called drug-target and single-cell language based CDR(DTLCDR)to predict preclinical and clinical CDRs.The model integrates chemical descriptors,mo-lecular graph representations,predicted protein target profiles of drugs,and cell line expression profiles with general knowledge from single cells.Among these features,a well-trained drug-target interaction(DTI)prediction model is used to generate target profiles of drugs,and a pretrained single-cell language model is integrated to provide general genomic knowledge.Comparison experiments on the cell line drug sensitivity dataset demonstrated that DTLCDR exhibited improved generalizability and robustness in predicting unseen drugs compared with previous state-of-the-art baseline methods.Further ablation studies verified the effectiveness of each component of our model,highlighting the significant contribution of target information to generalizability.Subsequently,the ability of DTLCDR to predict novel molecules was validated through in vitro cell experiments,demonstrating its potential for real-world applications.Moreover,DTLCDR was transferred to the clinical datasets,demonstrating satisfactory performance in the clinical data,regardless of whether the drugs were included in the cell line dataset.Overall,our results suggest that the DTLCDR is a promising tool for personalized drug discovery.

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