1.Application of multistimuli-responsive hydrogels in bone damage repair:special responsiveness and diverse functions
Yu WANG ; Minjie FAN ; Pengfei ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(2):469-479
BACKGROUND:Multistimuli-responsive hydrogels have received extensive attention in the field of bone tissue engineering due to their special responsive capabilities and diverse functions.OBJECTIVE:To review the application of multistimuli-responsive hydrogels in bone damage repair,and explore their research and development ideas and future development directions.METHODS:Relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed,Web of Science,and WanFang databases.English search terms included"hydrogels,bone defect,bone repair,bone healing,bone tissue engineering,degenerative joint diseases,osteoarthritis,Cartilage."Chinese search terms were"multistimuli-responsive hydrogels,smart hydrogels,bone damage repair,bone tissue engineering."The search time limit was from database inception to August 2024.A total of 83 articles were included in the review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Multistimuli-responsive hydrogels can react to various levels of physical,chemical,and biological stimuli,while exerting inherent functions such as swelling,deformation,degradation,and other special functions endowed by materials,making them highly potential in addressing clinical problems in bone damage repair.However,in practical applications,how to ensure that these materials maintain stability and durability in the complex biological environment and can be degraded in a controllable and harmless manner when needed is an urgent problem to be solved.
2.Analysis of the changes in intestinal microbiota of patients with moderate to severe acne based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology
Shichao JIANG ; Xiaomeng WANG ; Zheng CHEN ; Song QIAO ; Fan YANG ; Birong GUO
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):98-103
ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between acne vulgaris and gut microbiota. MethodsA total of 29 clinical cases diagnosed with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris and 26 healthy individuals as control subjects were recruited. Fecal specimens were collected from all participants, and further analysis of gut microbial communities was performed by leveraging high-throughput sequencing techniques that target the hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA genes. ResultsAssociations between acne vulgaris and alterations in gut microbiota were identified. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidota exhibited a statistically significant elevation in the acne vulgaris cohort when compared with the healthy control group (P<0.01), while Cyanobacteria was significantly lower in the acne group (P<0.01). At the genus level, the top five different bacterial taxa in both groups were Bacteroides, Escherichia⁃Shigella, Klebsiella, Roseburia, and Parabacteroides. Among them, Bacteroides, Roseburia, and Parabacteroides were more abundant in acne patients. Linear discriminant analysis identified five biomarkers all belonging to the Bacteroidota phylum in the acne and control groups. These biomarkers belong to the phylum Bacteroidetes. ConclusionThere are significant differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota between acne patients and healthy people. Changes in the richness of specific bacterial genera may become new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of acne.
3.Pathogenesis Evolution and Stage-based Treatment of Gout: An Exploration Based on Theory of ''Endogenous Dampness Leading to Bi Syndrome''
Yingjie ZHANG ; Fan YANG ; Ruifang YANG ; Zhuoming ZHENG ; Siwei PENG ; Yan XIAO ; Peng CHEN ; Youxin SU ; Jiemei GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):74-83
Gout is a crystal-associated arthropathy caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals and is closely related to purine metabolic disorders and impaired uric acid excretion. It is clinically characterized by hyperuricemia, recurrent joint swelling and pain, and tophus formation. The disease course is divided into three stages: The hyperuricemia stage, acute attack stage, and chronic gouty arthritis stage. Modern medicine has reached a consensus on its pathology, but traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) lacks a systematic stage-specific understanding of gout pathogenesis and its underlying mechanisms, making it difficult to guide precise syndrome differentiation and treatment. By integrating classical TCM theory, clinical practice, and modern medical understanding, and drawing upon descriptions of Bi syndrome caused by endogenous dampness and turbidity in classical texts such as Huangdi Neijing·Ling Shu and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, our team proposes the pathogenic concept of gout as ''endogenous dampness leading to Bi syndrome'' and the core pathogenesis of ''spleen deficiency with internal retention of dampness-turbidity''. We systematically elucidate the evolution of pathogenesis across different stages and corresponding therapeutic strategies. This study posits that metabolic byproducts such as urate fall under the category of ''endogenous pathogenic dampness-turbidity''. When genetic or dietary factors lead to metabolic abnormalities, it manifests as ''spleen deficiency with impaired transport and transformation'', resulting in ''internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity''. When damp-turbidity stagnates in the blood vessels, serum uric acid levels rise. When it stagnates in the viscera and limbs, monosodium urate crystals deposit in the joints. Triggered by precipitating factors, this leads to gout attacks—the core pathological process of ''endogenous dampness leading to Bi syndrome''. Based on this theory, the stage-specific pathogenic characteristics of gout are proposed: The hyperuricemia stage is characterized by ''spleen deficiency with impaired transport and transformation, internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity'', the acute attack stage is primarily marked by ''dampness-turbidity and static heat obstructing the limbs and joints'', while the chronic stage is defined by ''spleen deficiency with internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity, intermingled with phlegm-stasis binding''. The treatment principle centers on ''strengthening the spleen and draining dampness'' throughout all stages. During the hyperuricemia stage, treatment focuses on ''strengthening the spleen, draining dampness, and eliminating turbidity''. In the acute attack stage, the treatment should "strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, clear heat, eliminate turbidity, alleviate swelling, and relieve pain''. In the chronic stage, the treatments emphasizes to ''strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, transform turbidity, clear heat, resolve phlegm, and activate blood circulation''. This approach has yielded favorable therapeutic outcomes in clinical practice. This theoretical system clarifies the nature of gout as ''spleen deficiency being the root, dampness-turbidity being the secondary manifestation'' and systematically analyzes its pathogenesis evolution process and characteristics. The constructed stage-based treatment protocol has been validated through clinical and basic research, providing systematic theoretical guidance and a practical framework for the precise TCM management of gout, thereby promoting the modernization of TCM pathogenesis theory related to gout.
4.Application of multistimuli-responsive hydrogels in bone damage repair:special responsiveness and diverse functions
Yu WANG ; Minjie FAN ; Pengfei ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(2):469-479
BACKGROUND:Multistimuli-responsive hydrogels have received extensive attention in the field of bone tissue engineering due to their special responsive capabilities and diverse functions.OBJECTIVE:To review the application of multistimuli-responsive hydrogels in bone damage repair,and explore their research and development ideas and future development directions.METHODS:Relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed,Web of Science,and WanFang databases.English search terms included"hydrogels,bone defect,bone repair,bone healing,bone tissue engineering,degenerative joint diseases,osteoarthritis,Cartilage."Chinese search terms were"multistimuli-responsive hydrogels,smart hydrogels,bone damage repair,bone tissue engineering."The search time limit was from database inception to August 2024.A total of 83 articles were included in the review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Multistimuli-responsive hydrogels can react to various levels of physical,chemical,and biological stimuli,while exerting inherent functions such as swelling,deformation,degradation,and other special functions endowed by materials,making them highly potential in addressing clinical problems in bone damage repair.However,in practical applications,how to ensure that these materials maintain stability and durability in the complex biological environment and can be degraded in a controllable and harmless manner when needed is an urgent problem to be solved.
5.Study on Reducing Hepatotoxicity and Retaining Anti-osteoporosis Activity of Psoraleae Fructus Though Salt Processing Based on Zebrafish
Yiqi LIU ; Xuan WANG ; Qiqi FAN ; Zehua CHANG ; Shuo FAN ; Na WANG ; Zheng LI ; Xinfang XU ; Chongjun ZHAO ; Xiangri LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):79-90
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of salt processing of Psoraleae Fructus (PF) through modern analytical techniques and biotechnology, focusing on its effects related to hepatotoxicity and anti-osteoporosis activity. MethodsThe zebrafish model was utilized to evaluate the impact of PF and salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus (SPF) on the hepatotoxicity (using 134.17 , 178.89, 268.34 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of PF, 135.04, 180.06, 270.08 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of SPF, respectively) and anti-osteoporotic activity (using 33.54 , 67.08 and 134.17 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of PF, 33.76, 67.52, 135.04 mg·L-1 as low, medium, and high dose groups of SPF, respectively), which was using alizarin red skull staining of zebrafish as an indicator of different batches of PF. The specific dosage of a batch of PF was taken as an example. Then ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis was employed to identify the chemical composition of PF before and after salt processing, and PCA, OPLS-DA, and independent sample t-test were used to elucidating the compositional changes associated with the effects of salt processing on hepatotoxicity and anti-osteoporosis activity. ResultsUnder specific conditions, PF induced notable hepatotoxicity in zebrafish while simultaneously demonstrating protective effect against prednisolone-induced osteoporosis. In comparison to PF, SPF showed alleviated hepatotoxicity while retaining significant anti-osteoporosis activity. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed that after salt processing, the overall chemical composition of PF showed a downward trend, with 69 components showing a decrease in content, represented by psoralen, and 13 components showing an increase, represented by 4′-O-methyl psoralen B. Further multivariate statistical analysis revealed 11 key differential components before and after salt processing of PF, including psoralen and bakuchiol. ConclusionSalt processing effectively diminishes hepatotoxicity without impairing therapeutic efficacy against osteoporosis of PF, which may be related to the compositional changes before and after salt processing of PF and provides key evidence to reveal the scientific significance of salt processing of PF.
6.Determination study of α-dicarbonyl degradation products in icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution by o-phenylenediamine derivatization HPLC-MS/MS
Xiaomin FAN ; Lina ZHANG ; Feng ZHENG
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2026;57(2):233-239
Icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution may produce cytotoxic α-dicarbonyl degradation products during heat sterilization, which must be monitored and controlled. The study established an o-phenylenediamine (OPD) derivatization HPLC-MS/MS method for the detection of these degradation products, enabling qualitative and quantitative analysis of α-dicarbonyl degradation products in icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution. The results indicated that the main α-dicarbonyl degradation products in icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution are 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), 3-deoxygalactosone (3-DGal), 4-deoxyglucosone (4-DG), and 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE), along with two monocarbonyl degradation products, furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The quantitative method for 3-DG, 3-DGal, 3,4-DGE and their structural analog, glucosone, was validated. 3-DG, 3-DGal, and glucosone exhibited good linear relationships within the range of 5-150 ng/mL, while 3,4-DGE showed good linearity in the range of 1-150 ng/mL. The spiked recovery rates for all compounds were between 86.8% and 100.0%. The detection limits for glucosone, 3-DG, and 3-DGal were approximately 2.4 ng/mL, and approximately 0.5 ng/mL for 3,4-DGE. The method established in this study can accurately determine α-dicarbonyl degradation products in icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution, providing an important basis for the quality control.
7.Plasma miRNA testing in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter real-world study
Jie HU ; Ying XU ; Ao HUANG ; Lei YU ; Zheng WANG ; Xiaoying WANG ; Xinrong YANG ; Zhenbin DING ; Qinghai YE ; Yinghong SHI ; Shuangjian QIU ; Huichuan SUN ; Qiang GAO ; Jia FAN ; Jian ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(3):350-354
Objective To explore the application of plasma 7 microRNA (miR7) testing in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study is a multicenter real-world study. Patients with single hepatic lesion (maximum diameter≤2 cm) who underwent plasma miR7 testing at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, and Peking University People’s Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into very early-stage HCC group and non-HCC group, and the clinical pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared. The value of plasma miR7 levels, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage HCC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). In patients with both negative AFP and DCP (AFP<20 ng/mL, DCP<40 mAU/mL), the diagnostic value of plasma miR7 for very early-stage HCC was analyzed. Results A total of 64 528 patients from 4 hospitals underwent miR7 testing, and 1 682 were finally included, of which 1 073 were diagnosed with very early-stage HCC and 609 were diagnosed with non-HCC. The positive rate of miR7 in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in non-HCC patients (67.9% vs 24.3%, P<0.001). ROC curves showed that the AUCs for miR7, AFP, and DCP in distinguishing HCC patients from the non-HCC individuals were 0.718, 0.682, and 0.642, respectively. The sensitivities were 67.85%, 43.71%, and 44.45%, and the specificities were 75.70%, 92.78%, and 83.91%, respectively. The pairwise comparison of AUCs showed that the diagnostic efficacy of plasma miR7 detection was significantly better than that of AFP or DCP (P<0.05). Although its specificity was slightly lower than AFP and DCP, the sensitivity was significantly higher. Among patients negative for both AFP and DCP, miR7 maintained an AUC of 0.728 for diagnosing very early-stage HCC, with 67.82% sensitivity and 77.73% specificity. Conclusions Plasma miR7 testing is a potential molecular marker with high sensitivity and specificity for the differential diagnosis of small hepatic nodules. In patients with very early-stage HCC lacking effective molecular markers (negative for both AFP and DCP), miR7 can serve as a novel and effective molecular marker to assist diagnosis.
8.Feixin Decoction Treats Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension by Regulating Pyroptosis in PASMCs via PPARγ/NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway
Junlan TAN ; Xianya CAO ; Runxiu ZHENG ; Wen ZHANG ; Chao ZHANG ; Jian YI ; Feiying WANG ; Xia LI ; Jianmin FAN ; Hui LIU ; Lan SONG ; Aiguo DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):1-9
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Feixin decoction treats hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) by regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway. MethodsForty-eight male SD rats were randomly allocated into normal, hypoxia, and low-, medium- and high-dose (5.85, 11.7, 23.4 g·kg-1, respectively) Feixin decoction groups, with 8 rats in each group. Except the normal group, the remaining five groups were placed in a hypoxia chamber with an oxygen concentration of (10.0±0.5)% for 8 h per day, 28 days, and administrated with corresponding drugs during the modeling process. After 4 weeks of treatment, echocardiographic parameters [pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAT), pulmonary artery ejection time (PET), right ventricular anterior wall thickness (RVAWd), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)] were measured for each group. The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was measured by the right heart catheterization method, and the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated by weighing the heart. The pathological changes in pulmonary arterioles were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The co-localization of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) with NLRP3, N-terminal gasdermin D (N-GSDMD), and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1) in pulmonary arteries was detected by immunofluorescence. The protein levels of PPARγ, NF-κB, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), N-GSDMD, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18(IL-18), and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue was determined by Western blot. The ultrastructural changes in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were observed by transmission electron microscopy. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the hypoxia group showed increased RVSP and RVHI (P<0.01), decreased right heart function (P<0.01), increased pulmonary vascular remodeling (P<0.01), increased co-localization of α-SMA with NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and Caspase-1 in pulmonary arterioles (P<0.01), up-regulated protein levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, N-GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18, and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01), a down-regulated protein level of PPARγ (P<0.05, P<0.01), and pyroptosis in PASMCs. Compared with the hypoxia group, Feixin decoction reduced RVSP and RVHI, improved the right heart function and ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased the co-localization of α-SMA with NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and Caspase-1 (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, N-GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18, and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01), up-regulated the protein level of PPARγ (P<0.05, P<0.01), and alleviated pyroptosis in PASMCs. ConclusionFeixin decoction can ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling and right heart dysfunction in chronically induced HPH rats by regulating pyroptosis in PASMCs through the PPARγ/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.
9.Co-management of the liver and the kidney: New prospects in the clinical management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease with chronic kidney disease
Qiongyue FAN ; Danqin SUN ; Chunsun DAI ; Minghua ZHENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(9):1744-1751
This article investigates the collaborative management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As major public health issues worldwide, MAFLD and CKD are closely related in terms of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management strategies, and however, there are still many challenges in the multidisciplinary collaborative management of the two diseases. This article systematically elaborates on the epidemiology of MAFLD and CKD, summarizes their common risk factors such as metabolic disorder, genetic susceptibility, and active metabolites, and reviews the mutual screening strategies and combined management models based on noninvasive imaging, serum markers, FIB-4 score, and liver stiffness measurement. In addition, this article summarizes the advances in the application of lifestyle intervention and new drugs (such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors) and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in improving the prognosis of patients. Due to the close association between MAFLD and CKD, their joint management is crucial, and therefore, it is necessary to establish a multidisciplinary collaboration mechanism and implement the measures of precise screening, comprehensive treatment, and long-term monitoring, so as to improve the prognosis of patients and reduce the risk of complications. Finally, this article proposes that in the future, more effective combined treatment regimens should be explored to expand the clinical options for the co-management of the liver and the kidney.
10.Trends in death and life lost due to falls among the elderly in Wenzhou City from 2015 to 2023
LI Huijun ; YE Zhenmiao ; FAN Lihui ; ZHENG Yuhang ; XIE Yimin ; JIANG Xuexia ; GAO Haojun ; ZHANG Mohan ; LUO Yongyuan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(5):460-464
Objective:
To investigate the trends in mortality and life loss due to falls among the elderly in Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the basis for formulating prevention and control measures for falls among the elderly.
Methods:
The data on fall-related deaths among the elderly aged 60 and above in Wenzhou City were collected through the Wenzhou Chronic Disease Monitoring and Management Information System from 2015 to 2023. The crude mortality was calculated and standardized using the data from the Sixth National Population Census in 2010. The life loss were measured using potential years of life lost (PYLL), average years of life lost (AYLL), and potential years of life lost rate (PYLLR). The trends in mortality and life loss among the elderly were analyzed using the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC).
Results:
There were 11 378 deaths due to falls among the elderly in Wenzhou City from 2015 to 2023, with a crude mortality of 82.67/100 000 and a standardized mortality of 65.32/105, which appeared no significant changing trend (AAPC=3.401%、2.995%,both P>0.05). There was a tendency towards a rise from 2019 to 2023 (APC=12.592%、11.507%, both P<0.05). The majority of falls occurred at home, with 6 312 cases accounting for 55.48%. The primary types of fall-related deaths were slips, trips, and falls on the same level, with 8 541 cases representing 75.07%. The crude mortality and standardized mortality of falls in males were 76.63/105 and 60.86/105, which were lower than that in females at 88.72/100 000 and 70.33/100 000 (both P<0.05), and the trends were consistent with the overall population. The crude mortality of falls among the elderly increased with age (P<0.05). From 2015 to 2023, the crude mortality of falls among the elderly aged 60 to <65 years showed an upward trend (AAPC=4.860%, P<0.05), while no significant trend was observed in other age groups (all P>0.05). The PYLL was 5 123 person-years, the AYLL was 0.45 years per person, and the PYLLR was 0.37‰. From 2015 to 2023, PYLL showed an upward trend (AAPC=5.477%, P<0.05). The PYLL, AYLL, and PYLLR for males were 3.08 times, 3.48 times, and 2.67 times those of females, respectively.
Conclusions
From 2015 to 2023, the mortality of falls among the elderly in Wenzhou City had remained relatively stable. However, PYLL showed an upward trend. Males and older seniors were key groups for falls prevention. It is recommended to enhance health education and promote age-friendly home modifications to prevent falls among the elderly.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail