1.Research Progress on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Flap Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Jiwei ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Xinshan WANG ; Xingzhang YAO ; Zhenxing JIANG ; Zhijun HE ; Tao LIU ; Jianliang LI ; Hui YAO ; Jie AN ; Qiuyue ZHAO ; Xiaotao WEI ; M Rayan GHAZI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):851-861
Flap transplantation is a critical surgical strategy for the reconstruction of tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, and congenital malformations, and its survival rate directly determines surgical efficacy and patient prognosis. Following transplantation, flaps inevitably undergo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, during which oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and metabolic disturbances are intricately intertwined, ultimately leading to cellular injury and tissue necrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple forms of programmed cell death—including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis—play central roles in flap I/R injury. The extensive crosstalk and molecular interactions among these pathways form a highly complex cell death network. Specifically, apoptosis is mediated by the imbalance of Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease (caspase) cascades; pyroptosis is driven by the NLRP3-caspase-1-GSDMD axis, resulting in membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; ferroptosis is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); necroptosis is triggered by the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-RIPK3-MLKL signaling complex, leading to membrane rupture; and PANoptosis represents an integrated form of inflammatory cell death that coordinates multiple death pathways. Importantly, these forms of programmed cell death are not independent but are interconnected through extensive signaling crosstalk. Key regulatory molecules, including caspase-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), collectively modulate the dynamic balance among these pathways. Therefore, the multidimensional interplay and spatiotemporal dynamics of programmed cell death constitute a fundamental pathological basis of flap I/R injury. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in the mechanisms and interactions of various programmed cell death pathways in flap I/R injury, aiming to elucidate the underlying regulatory network. These insights may provide novel theoretical foundations for optimizing flap protection strategies, improving flap survival, and promoting tissue repair.
2.Mechanism of Action of Main Active Components of Epimedii Folium in Treatment of Common Andrological Diseases: A Review
Tao ZHANG ; Maobin YU ; Jinkun QI ; Bailong JIANG ; Meijun LIU ; Ziyang MA ; Peihai ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):337-346
Andrological diseases have become an important public health problem threatening men's health worldwide, which significantly affects the quality of life of patients and brings a heavy disease burden. Western medicine often faces the dilemma of obvious side effects and limited efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of andrological diseases and has accumulated rich clinical experience. Epimedii Folium, as a traditional Chinese medicine for strengthening kidney and Yang, exerts a key therapeutic effect on andrology diseases through multi-component synergy, multi-target regulation, and multi-pathway intervention. Recent studies have found that the main active components of Epimedii Folium, such as icariin, icariside, and icaritin, are the key material basis for the treatment of andrological diseases. The active components of Epimedii Folium can play a role in common andrological diseases such as erectile dysfunction, male infertility, and prostate cancer by regulating the activity of the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway, participating in oxidative stress response, regulating the secretion of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones, improving spermatogenic dysfunction, and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the systematic action network and molecular mechanisms of the active components of Epimedii Folium have not been fully elucidated, thereby limiting its potential for clinical translation and application. In the future, it is necessary to combine cutting-edge technologies such as metabolomics, single-cell sequencing, and targeted nanoscale drug delivery systems, strengthening the research on the compatibility rules of active components and organ-specific delivery, providing a scientific basis for the development of innovative andrology traditional Chinese medicine formulas with international competitiveness, and promoting the innovation and breakthrough of andrology disease treatment modes.
3.Clinical Application of Ultrasound-guided Cervical Plexus Block Combined with Superior Laryngeal Nerve Block in Tracheostomy in Burn Patients
Shuang-ping OU ; Jiang-tao LIU ; Xi LIAO ; Pei-yang XU ; Ming LIU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(11):1822-1829
Objective:To investigate the clinical application of ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block combined with superior laryngeal nerve block in tracheotomy for burn patients.Methods:A total of 88 burn patients who underwent tracheotomy from January 2022 to December 2022 were divided into observation group(44 cases)and matched group(44 cases).The matched group received conventional general anesthesia,while the observation group underwent ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block combined with superior laryngeal nerve block.The operation time,anesthetic effect,intraoperative hemodynamic parameters,postoperative complications,and patient satisfaction were compared.Results:The surgery time in the observation group was shorter than that in the matched group(P<0.05).The anesthetic effect in the observation group was superior to that in the matched group,with more stable intraoperative hemodynamics,and smaller fluctuations in heart rate and mean arterial pressure(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative cough reflex,hoarseness,postoperative pain score,and respiratory complications in the observation group were lower than those in the matched group(P<0.05).Patient satisfaction in the observation group was higher than that in the matched group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block combined with superior laryngeal nerve block for tracheotomy in burn patients can effectively improve anesthetic effect,reduce operation time,stabilize intraoperative hemodynamics,reduce postoperative complications,and improve patient satisfaction,which is worthy of clinical application.
4.Comparison of the toxicity and safety of protein derivatives from novel fusion strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Hao-qi XU ; Jiang-tao DONG ; Jie ZHANG ; Fang WU ; Su LIANG ; Xiao-ling LIU ; Lan-ru GAO ; Ju WANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Jiang-dong WU ; Le ZHANG ; Xi-ling DENG ; Wan-jiang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(4):376-384
The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and safety of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion strain protein derivatives,referred to as B/R strain active proteins.In cellular experiments,RAW264.7 cells were treated with each vaccine preparation,and apoptosis rates were measured.In subsequent animal experiments,C57BL/6 mice were immunized via subcutaneous injection,and their survival and body weight changes were monitored and recorded at 2,4,8,12,and 16 weeks.The lungs and spleens were harvested to calculate organ coefficients,and pathological examinations were conducted.At the eighth week of immunization,the mice were infected with high concentrations of BCG,and pathological changes in the lungs and spleens were observed 4 weeks post-infection.The apoptosis rate at 6 hours was significantly higher in the experimental group than the PBS group(P<0.05).At 12 and 24 hours,the apoptosis rate in the experimental group remained higher than that in the PBS group,although this difference was not statistically significant.After immunization,mice in all four groups exhibited normal growth patterns,as indicated by stable body weight changes.At 4 and 12 weeks post-immunization,the lung coefficients in the protein group were significantly higher than those in the PBS group at the same time points.Additionally,the lung coefficients in the BCG group were significantly elevated across all time periods(P<0.05).The spleen coefficients in the protein and BCG groups were significantly higher than those in the PBS group at 2,4,8,12,and 16 weeks,whereas the ICD B/R group showed higher spleen coefficients than the PBS group only at week 8(P<0.05).Pathological examination revealed normal lung and spleen tissues in the PBS group.However,during the 2-8 weeks immunization period,lung and spleen tissues in all experimental groups exhibited varying degrees of damage,which gradually diminished by 12-16 weeks.Notably,no tuberculosis nodules were observed in any experimental group.After infection with high concentrations of BCG,no overt pathological changes were observed on the surfaces of the lungs and spleens in any group.Microscopic examination revealed less severe pathological changes in the lungs and spleens of mice in the experimental groups than the PBS group.Furthermore,no statistically significant differences were observed between the protein group and the BCG group.Our findings suggested that the B/R strain active proteins'toxicity and safety profiles were comparable to those of BCG,and showed immunoprotective effects.This study provides an experimental foundation for the development of a novel tuberculosis vaccine.
5.Types and contents of fatty acids and the risk of knee osteoarthritis
Xiran TANG ; Weijian CHEN ; Tao JIANG ; Xianyun TAN ; Wengang LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(17):3724-3731
BACKGROUND:In recent years,epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis,and fatty acid intake,metabolism and biosynthesis are closely related to the development of obesity.However,the causal relationship between fatty acids and osteoarthritis is still unknown.OBJECTIVE:Using the Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between five fatty acid phenotypes and knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:The genome-wide association study data on fatty acid ratios from the UK Biobank(met-D)and genome-wide association study data on knee osteoarthritis from the EBI-A database were pooled together.Single nucleotide polymorphisms were used as instrumental variables and sensitive single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected for analysis.Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to evaluate the causal relationship between fatty acids and knee osteoarthritis outcome risk.We used inverse variance weighting method,MR-Egger regression method,weighted median method,weighted model method,and simple model method to study the causal relationship between fatty acids and knee osteoarthritis.Further inverse Mendelian randomization analysis was performed in the same way to ensure the validity of the results.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The forward analysis and inverse variance weighting method showed a causal relationship between three types of fatty acid phenotypes and knee osteoarthritis.Among them,the proportion of saturated fatty acids to total fatty acids was positively correlated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis(odds ratio[OR]=1.825,95%confidence interval(CI):1.230,2.706,P=0.003),the proportion of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids was negatively correlated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis(OR=0.822,95%CI:0.688 8,0.981,P=0.03),and the proportion of omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids was positively correlated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis(OR=1.268,95%CI:1.079,1.491,P=0.004).There were two types of fatty acid phenotypes that do not have a causal relationship with knee osteoarthritis,including total fatty acids(OR=0.925,95%CI:0.804-1.066,P=0.283)and the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids(OR=0.877,95%CI:0.756-1.018,P=0.084).The reverse analysis results indicated that when knee osteoarthritis was used as exposure data,there was no significant causal relationship with the phenotype of fatty acids.The sensitivity analysis results showed that the P-values of the bidirectional Mendelian randomization Cochran's Q-test and MR Egger regression were both greater than 0.05,indicating that there was no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy in the causal effect analysis between fatty acid phenotype and knee osteoarthritis.To conclude,reducing the content of saturated fatty acids and omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and increasing the content of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis.This provides valuable clues for studying the biological mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis and exploring the early prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis,as well as providing new directions for the development of interventional drugs.
6.Research on the current status and risk prediction model of oral frailty among the elderly in Anhui Prov-ince
Wenyi JIANG ; Huan LIU ; Xiubin TAO ; Qin XU ; Jiahui MIN ; Yang LUO ; Ming ZHANG
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2025;41(2):261-266
Objective:To investigate the occurrence and influencing factors of oral frailty among the elderly in China.Methods:General information questionnaire,Oral Frailty Scale,Sarcopenia Screening Questionnaire(SARC-F),Social Network Scale-6(LSNS-6)and Subjective Cognitive Decline Questionnaire(SCD-Q9)were used to conduct a survey in Anhui Province.A survey was conducted among 3 063 elderly people to analyze their current status and influencing factors related to oral frailty.Results:The incidence of oral frailty among the elderly in Anhui Province was 46.82%(1434/3063).Binary logistic regression analysis showed sarcopenia(OR=8.742,95%CI:7.156-10.679),social isolation(OR=1.601,95%CI:1.313-1.953),and subjective cogni-tive decline(OR=2.424,95%CI:1.905-3.085),90 years old and above(OR=2.261,95%CI:1.304-3.922)and having disability(OR=1.341,95%CI:1.040~1.729)are risk factors for oral frailty in the elderly in Anhui Province.Conclusion:The incidence of oral frailty is high among the elderly in Anhui Province.Risk factors for oral frailty include sarcopenia,social isolation,subjective cognitive decline,advanced age,and disability.
7.Research progress on mechanisms of PD-1 inhibitor resistance in the treatment of gastric cancer
Xu JIANJIANG ; Liu TAO ; Jiang LEI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2025;52(4):188-192
Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide.Although the incidence of GC has significantly de-creased over the past decade owing to advancements in early stage diagnostic techniques,its mortality rate remains high.Immune check-point inhibitors(ICIs),such as programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)inhibitors,have become a promising treatment option for patients with GC.However,only a minority of patients with GC exhibit durable responses to PD-1 inhibitor therapy.Moreover,the overall efficacy of these treatments is limited.Existing studies have indicated that immunotherapeutic failure is closely associated with the development of res-istance to PD-1 inhibitors;however,the mechanisms underlying this resistance are not fully understood.Therefore,this review aimed to ex-plore the potential molecular mechanisms contributing to the resistance to PD-1 inhibitors in the treatment of GC and provide a new re-search perspective on the clinical responses to this resistance.
8.Analysis of the difference of cerebral vascular morphology and serum indexes between patients with VCIND and cognitively normal cerebral vascular disease
Tao ZHANG ; Yunhua ZHENG ; Ye LIU ; Tengbo JIANG ; Xiuling LEI ; Guizhen JIANG ; Jingbo XU
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(10):11-15
Objective To investigate the differences of cerebral vascular morphology and serum indexes between patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia(VCIND)and cognitively normal cerebral vascular disease.Methods A total of 100 VCIND patients hospitalized in Quzhou Hospital of Zhejiang Medical and Health Group from June 2023 to September 2024 were included in experimental group,and 100 cognitively normal patients with cerebral vascular disease hospitalized during the same period were included in control group.Cerebral artery extension and dilation,cerebrovascular stenosis,collateral circulation establishment,inflammatory factors and lipid metabolism indexes were compared between two groups by means of cerebrovascular angiography and serum examination.The relationship between the severity of cognitive impairment and the vascular lesion of different responsibility was also explored.Results The rate of cerebral artery extension and dilation,rate of vascular stenosis in experimental group were higher than those in control group,and the rate of collateral circulation establishment was lower than that in control group(P<0.05).The levels of interleukin-6,interleukin-1 β,tumor necrosis factor-α,total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein,apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a)in experimental group were significantly higher than those in control group,level of high density lipoprotein was lower than that in control group(P<0.05).In experimental group,there were 20 cases of anterior cerebral artery vascular disease,22 cases of middle cerebral artery vascular disease,26 cases of posterior cerebral artery vascular disease,32 cases of vertebrobasilar artery vascular disease.There were no significant differences in the scores of mini-mental state examination,Montreal cognitive assessment and Hachinski ischemic scale among patients with different responsible vascular diseases(P>0.05).Conclusion Patients with cerebral artery extension and dilation,cerebral artery stenosis,no establishment of collateral circulation,inflammatory response and abnormal lipid metabolism were high-risk groups for VCIND.Such patients need early cognitive intervention to prevent VCIND occurrence.
9.Types and contents of fatty acids and the risk of knee osteoarthritis
Xiran TANG ; Weijian CHEN ; Tao JIANG ; Xianyun TAN ; Wengang LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(17):3724-3731
BACKGROUND:In recent years,epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis,and fatty acid intake,metabolism and biosynthesis are closely related to the development of obesity.However,the causal relationship between fatty acids and osteoarthritis is still unknown.OBJECTIVE:Using the Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between five fatty acid phenotypes and knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:The genome-wide association study data on fatty acid ratios from the UK Biobank(met-D)and genome-wide association study data on knee osteoarthritis from the EBI-A database were pooled together.Single nucleotide polymorphisms were used as instrumental variables and sensitive single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected for analysis.Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to evaluate the causal relationship between fatty acids and knee osteoarthritis outcome risk.We used inverse variance weighting method,MR-Egger regression method,weighted median method,weighted model method,and simple model method to study the causal relationship between fatty acids and knee osteoarthritis.Further inverse Mendelian randomization analysis was performed in the same way to ensure the validity of the results.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The forward analysis and inverse variance weighting method showed a causal relationship between three types of fatty acid phenotypes and knee osteoarthritis.Among them,the proportion of saturated fatty acids to total fatty acids was positively correlated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis(odds ratio[OR]=1.825,95%confidence interval(CI):1.230,2.706,P=0.003),the proportion of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids was negatively correlated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis(OR=0.822,95%CI:0.688 8,0.981,P=0.03),and the proportion of omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids was positively correlated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis(OR=1.268,95%CI:1.079,1.491,P=0.004).There were two types of fatty acid phenotypes that do not have a causal relationship with knee osteoarthritis,including total fatty acids(OR=0.925,95%CI:0.804-1.066,P=0.283)and the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids(OR=0.877,95%CI:0.756-1.018,P=0.084).The reverse analysis results indicated that when knee osteoarthritis was used as exposure data,there was no significant causal relationship with the phenotype of fatty acids.The sensitivity analysis results showed that the P-values of the bidirectional Mendelian randomization Cochran's Q-test and MR Egger regression were both greater than 0.05,indicating that there was no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy in the causal effect analysis between fatty acid phenotype and knee osteoarthritis.To conclude,reducing the content of saturated fatty acids and omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and increasing the content of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis.This provides valuable clues for studying the biological mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis and exploring the early prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis,as well as providing new directions for the development of interventional drugs.
10.Efficacy and safety of a facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention with half-dose recombinant staphylokinase in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Tian-yu WU ; Wen-hao ZHANG ; Peng-sheng CHEN ; Chen LI ; Tian WU ; Zhan LÜ ; Tong WANG ; Kun LIU ; Zhi-wen TAO ; Xiao-xuan GONG ; Liang YUAN ; Yong LI ; Bo CHEN ; Xin CHEN ; Zeng-guang CHEN ; Nai-quan YANG ; Yuan-yuan SANG ; Xiao-yan WANG ; Bai-hong LI ; Li ZHU ; Guo-yu WANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Chuan LU ; Jun JIANG ; Rui-na HAO ; Chun-jian LI
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(8):431-438
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)with half-dose recombinant staphylokinase(r-SAK)in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)who are expected to undergo PCI within 120 minutes.Methods From October 2021 to August 2022,a total of 200 STEMI patients in eight centers were included and randomly assigned in a 1﹕1 ratio to either r-SAK group or control group.Patients received loading doses of aspirin and ticagrelor and intravenous heparin and were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of either 5 mg r-SAK or normal saline prior to PCI.The outcomes were set as ST-segment resolution(STR)at 60-90 minutes after PCI,the proportion and transition of pathological Q waves on the 5th day after PCI,and the proportion of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T(hs-cTnT)peaking within 12 hours of onset.The safety outcome was major bleeding events defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium(BARC)≥type 3 bleeding during hospitalization.Results Compared with the control group,the r-SAK group had a higher proportion of STR≥70%within 60-90 minutes after PCI(58.3%vs.40.3%,P=0.009);a lower proportion of pathological Q waves(59.1%vs.74.1%,P=0.040);a lower rate of Q wave progression(14.8%vs.43.2%,P<0.001);a higher rate of Q wave disappearance(12.5%vs.3.7%,P=0.027);and a higher proportion of hs-cTnT peaking within 12 hours of symptom onset[31/40(77.5%)vs.17/33(51.5%),P=0.027].Regarding the safety outcome,no significant difference in BARC≥type 3 bleeding was found between the two groups during hospitalization(P>0.05).Conclusions For STEMI patients who were expected to undergo primary PCI within 120 minutes of symptom onset,the facilitated PCI with half-dose r-SAK significantly increased the proportion of STR≥70%at 60-90 minutes after PCI,reduced the formation of pathological Q waves,and shortened the time to peak hs-cTnT,without increasing the risk of bleeding,which should be an alternative reperfusion strategy worthy of further study.

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