1.Brain injury biomarkers and applications in neurological diseases.
Han ZHANG ; Jing WANG ; Yang QU ; Yi YANG ; Zhen-Ni GUO
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(1):5-14
Neurological diseases are a major health concern, and brain injury is a typical pathological process in various neurological disorders. Different biomarkers in the blood or the cerebrospinal fluid are associated with specific physiological and pathological processes. They are vital in identifying, diagnosing, and treating brain injuries. In this review, we described biomarkers for neuronal cell body injury (neuron-specific enolase, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1, αII-spectrin), axonal injury (neurofilament proteins, tau), astrocyte injury (S100β, glial fibrillary acidic protein), demyelination (myelin basic protein), autoantibodies, and other emerging biomarkers (extracellular vesicles, microRNAs). We aimed to summarize the applications of these biomarkers and their related interests and limits in the diagnosis and prognosis for neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and infection. In addition, a reasonable outlook for brain injury biomarkers as ideal detection tools for neurological diseases is presented.
Humans
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Biomarkers/cerebrospinal fluid*
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Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis*
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Brain Injuries/metabolism*
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Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/cerebrospinal fluid*
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/blood*
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S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/blood*
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tau Proteins/cerebrospinal fluid*
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Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/blood*
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Myelin Basic Protein/cerebrospinal fluid*
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Neurofilament Proteins/blood*
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MicroRNAs/blood*
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Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism*
2.Innovative strategies for improving CAR-T cell therapy: A nanomedicine perspective.
Mengyao WANG ; Zhengyu YU ; Liping YUAN ; Peipei YANG ; Caixia JING ; Ying QU ; Zhiyong QIAN ; Ting NIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(21):2769-2782
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have reshaped the treatment landscape of hematological malignancies, offering a potentially curative option for patients. Despite these major milestones in the field of immuno-oncology, growing experience with CAR-T cells has also highlighted several limitations of this strategy. The production process of CAR-T cells is complex, time-consuming, and costly, thus leading to poor drug accessibility. The potential carcinogenic risk of viral transfection systems remains a matter of controversy. Treatment-related side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome, can be life-threatening. And the biggest challenge is the inadequate efficacy related to poor infiltration and retention of CAR-T cells in tumor tissues and impaired T cell activation caused by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Innovative strategies are urgently needed to address these problems, and nanomedicine offers good solutions to these challenges. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in the application of nanomaterials to enhance CAR-T cell therapy. We examine the role of innovative nanoparticle-based delivery systems in the production of CAR-T cells, with a particular focus on polymeric delivery systems and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Furthermore, we explore various strategies for delivering immune stimulators, which significantly enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cells by modulating T cell viability and functionality or by reprogramming the immunosuppressive TME. In addition, we discuss several novel therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating the adverse effects associated with CAR-T therapies. Finally, we offer an integrated perspective on the future challenges and opportunities facing CAR-T therapies.
Humans
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Nanomedicine/methods*
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Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism*
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Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods*
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T-Lymphocytes/immunology*
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Nanoparticles/chemistry*
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Animals
3.Advances in the role of protein post-translational modifications in circadian rhythm regulation.
Zi-Di ZHAO ; Qi-Miao HU ; Zi-Yi YANG ; Peng-Cheng SUN ; Bo-Wen JING ; Rong-Xi MAN ; Yuan XU ; Ru-Yu YAN ; Si-Yao QU ; Jian-Fei PEI
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(4):605-626
The circadian clock plays a critical role in regulating various physiological processes, including gene expression, metabolic regulation, immune response, and the sleep-wake cycle in living organisms. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial regulatory mechanisms to maintain the precise oscillation of the circadian clock. By modulating the stability, activity, cell localization and protein-protein interactions of core clock proteins, PTMs enable these proteins to respond dynamically to environmental and intracellular changes, thereby sustaining the periodic oscillations of the circadian clock. Different types of PTMs exert their effects through distincting molecular mechanisms, collectively ensuring the proper function of the circadian system. This review systematically summarized several major types of PTMs, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation and oxidative modification, and overviewed their roles in regulating the core clock proteins and the associated pathways, with the goals of providing a theoretical foundation for the deeper understanding of clock mechanisms and the treatment of diseases associated with circadian disruption.
Protein Processing, Post-Translational/physiology*
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Circadian Rhythm/physiology*
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Humans
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Animals
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CLOCK Proteins/physiology*
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Circadian Clocks/physiology*
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Phosphorylation
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Acetylation
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Ubiquitination
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Sumoylation
4.Current status and suggestions on regulation of traditional Chinese medicine raw materials and preparations under regulatory system of drugs.
Li-Ping QU ; Yong-Dan XU ; Wei-Jing HE ; Ding-Kun ZHANG ; Nan YANG ; Min-Xian SONG ; Zhi-Qiang MIN ; Ting-Mo ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):824-832
At present, the cause of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in China has entered a new period of high-quality development. How to strengthen the foundation for the TCM industry from the source is an important issue that deserves the attention of the authorities, industry, and academia. This study systematically analyzed the regulatory system of TCM raw materials and preparations. The study took the TCM industry chain and the product life cycle as a clue and focused on the dimensions of TCM resource protection and plant cultivation(farming), production and quality supervision of TCM raw materials and preparations, and their market access and distribution. It analyzed the current situation of the regulation of TCM raw materials and preparations under the regulatory system of drugs, discussed the main problems, and put forward corresponding suggestions. The results can provide an important reference value for the subsequent improvement of the regulatory system of drugs and the construction of a prominent regulatory system of drugs in accordance with TCM characteristics.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/economics*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards*
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China
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Quality Control
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Humans
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Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*
5.Single-nucleus transcriptomics decodes the link between aging and lumbar disc herniation.
Min WANG ; Zan HE ; Anqi WANG ; Shuhui SUN ; Jiaming LI ; Feifei LIU ; Chunde LI ; Chengxian YANG ; Jinghui LEI ; Yan YU ; Shuai MA ; Si WANG ; Weiqi ZHANG ; Zhengrong YU ; Guang-Hui LIU ; Jing QU
Protein & Cell 2025;16(8):667-684
Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism*
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Humans
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Aging/pathology*
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Nucleus Pulposus/pathology*
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Male
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Female
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Transcriptome
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Middle Aged
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Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology*
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Adult
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Cellular Senescence
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Stem Cells/pathology*
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Aged
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Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*
6.Correlation between visceral fat area and triglyceride-glucose index in people with normal body mass index based on quantitative CT
Xin LI ; Yang ZHOU ; Zhi ZOU ; Jing ZHOU ; Xiaolin ZHANG ; Min QU ; Hao LI ; Yongli LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(1):104-108
Objective To explore the correlation between visceral fat area(VFA)and triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index in people with normal body mass index(BMI)based on quantitative CT(QCT).Methods Totally 1 358 healthy adults with normal BMI who underwent QCT body composition measurement were retrospectively enrolled and divided into normal visceral fat group(normal group,VFA<100 cm2,n=509),mild visceral fat accumulation group(mild group,100 cmn2≤VFA<150 cm2,n=431)and severe visceral fat accumulation group(severe group,VFA≥150 cm2,n=418)according to VFA measured with QCT.Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were performed to observe correlations of TyG index with general data and body composition in 20-40,41-60,61-90 years old men and women with normal BMI,respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to screen the independent impact factors of TyG index in normal BMI people.Results Low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),glutamic-pyruvic transaminase(GPT),VFA and subcutaneous fat area(SFA)of men with normal BMI at different age stages were weakly-lowly positively correlated with TyG index(r=0.143-0.459,all P<0.05),while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were weakly-lowly negatively correlated with TyG index(r=-0.410--0.222,all P<0.05).LDL-C,VFA and SFA of women with normal BMI at different age stages were weakly-lowly positively correlated with TyG index(r=0.206-0.495,all P<0.05).GPT,TC,VFA and liver fat content(LFC)were all independent risk factors,while HDL-C was independent protective factor for TyG index in people with normal BMI(all P<0.05).Conclusion VFA was positively correlated with TyG index in people with normal BMI.Measurement of abdominal body composition based on QCT combined with lipid indexes had certain potential for predicting insulin resistance and relative metabolic diseases in abdominal obese people.
7.Analysis of clinical applicability and implementation of expert consensus on the implementation and removal of protective restraints in psychiatry
Jianing GU ; Dongmei XU ; Jing SHAO ; Jing GAO ; Zhuang CAI ; Yanhua QU ; Xiaolu YE ; Mengqian ZHANG ; Dongli MEI ; Yanhong ZHANG ; Bo YANG ; Gen CHENG ; Lina WANG ; Junrong YE ; Ruiyue LIN ; Yongling ZHOU ; Runjuan MA
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(11):1359-1365
Objective To understand the clinical applicability and implementation of expert consensus on the implementation and removal of protective restraints in psychiatry,and to provide references for promoting the standardized practice of psychiatric protective restraints and updating the consensus.Methods By the convenience sampling method,a questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses from 480 hospitals in 30 provinces from June 15 to July 15,2024.The survey was conducted using the instrument for evaluating clinical applicability of guide-lines(version 2.0)and a self-compiled questionnaire on the clinical implementation of the restraint consensus.Results A total of 7,844 valid questionnaires were collected,with a valid questionnaire recovery rate of 93.78%.The results of clinical applicability scoring showed that the consensus had the lowest availability score(64.72%)and the highest acceptability score(76.74%).The results showed that nurses' receiving training and the level of their hospitals were the main influencing factors for scores in various dimensions(P<0.05).4,774 participants(87.42%)believed that the application of consensus could enhance the standardization of nurses' restraint operations.The safety rate of the restraint consensus was 79.51%,and the economic ratio was 76.87%.Among the evaluators,1,739(22.17%)believed that there were implementation obstacles in the consensus.Conclusion The clinical applicability of the consensus is relatively good,and the application of the consensus helps to improve the standardization of clinical operations.In the future,efforts should be made to strengthen the promotion and training of the consensus,develop hierarchical promotion strategies according to the characteristics of medical institutions,and improve the quality of evidence for the consensus,so as to further enhance the clinical application effect of the consensus.
8.Applicability of aquatic rehabilitation techniques in preventive and therapeutic efficacy against lumbago in pilots
Pengfei ZHANG ; Jing WANG ; Panpan ZHANG ; Jie BAO ; Li XU ; Huijie JIANG ; Shaochen QU ; Bin YANG ; Jiajia JI ; Jia LI
Chinese Journal of Aerospace Medicine 2025;36(3):231-235
Objective:To introduce the research and innovations around the application of aquatic rehabilitation techniques in the treatment of lumbago, and to summarize specific methods and applications in aeromedicine. Literature resource and selection Literature on the prevention and treatment of lumbago using aquatic rehabilitation techniques as well as on the rehabilitation of lumbago in pilots was retrieved and selected. Literature quotation Sixty-one references were cited. Literature synthesis Aquatic rehabilitation techniques can be classified into shower therapy, immersion therapy, and aquatic exercise therapy according to treatment regimens. Among them, immersion therapy and aquatic exercise therapy are commonly used in the treatment of lumbago. Aquatic rehabilitation techniques can effectively alleviate patients′ lumbago, improve their functional disorders, and enhance their quality of life. Prior to aquatic therapy, patients with lumbago need to have their motor function assessed to tailor the treatment protocol based on diagnostic findings and specific therapeutic objectives. Aquatic rehabilitation techniques, when used to prevent and treat lumbago in pilots under convalescence, are not only more effective than land-based training, but also more accessible to pilots due to their comfort and compliance. Many of our military rehabilitation and convalescent centers in China have integrated modern aquatic rehabilitation techniques into rehabilitation treatment by drawing on their rich water resources so as to improve the physical and mental health, social adaptability and military adaptability of pilots. Conclusions:When used for the prevention and treatment of lumbago, aquatic rehabilitation techniques are highly effective, safe and enjoyable, so they should be made more accessible to pilots during convalescence.
9.Rapid Identification of Different Parts of Nardostachys jatamansi Based on HS-SPME-GC-MS and Ultra-fast Gas Phase Electronic Nose
Tao WANG ; Xiaoqin ZHAO ; Yang WEN ; Momeimei QU ; Min LI ; Jing WEI ; Xiaoming BAO ; Ying LI ; Yuan LIU ; Xiao LUO ; Wenbing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):182-191
ObjectiveTo establish a model that can quickly identify the aroma components in different parts of Nardostachys jatamansi, so as to provide a quality control basis for the market circulation and clinical use of N. jatamansi. MethodsHeadspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-SPME-GC-MS) combined with Smart aroma database and National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) database were used to characterize the aroma components in different parts of N. jatamansi, and the aroma components were quantified according to relative response factor(RRF) and three internal standards, and the markers of aroma differences in different parts of N. jatamansi were identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) and cluster thermal analysis based on variable importance in the projection(VIP) value >1 and P<0.01. The odor data of different parts of N. jatamansi were collected by Heracles Ⅱ Neo ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose, and the correlation between compound types of aroma components collected by the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose and the detection results of HS-SPME-GC-MS was investigated by drawing odor fingerprints and odor response radargrams. Chromatographic peak information with distinguishing ability≥0.700 and peak area≥200 was selected as sensor data, and the rapid identification model of different parts of N. jatamansi was established by principal component analysis(PCA), discriminant factor alysis(DFA), soft independent modeling of class analogies(SIMCA) and statistical quality control analysis(SQCA). ResultsThe HS-SPME-GC-MS results showed that there were 28 common components in the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi, of which 22 could be quantified and 12 significantly different components were screened out. Among these 12 components, the contents of five components(ethyl isovalerate, 2-pentylfuran, benzyl alcohol, nonanal and glacial acetic acid,) in the aboveground part of N. jatamansi were significantly higher than those in the underground part(P<0.01), the contents of β-ionone, patchouli alcohol, α-caryophyllene, linalyl butyrate, valencene, 1,8-cineole and p-cymene in the underground part of N. jatamansi were significantly higher than those in the aboveground part(P<0.01). Heracles Ⅱ Neo electronic nose results showed that the PCA discrimination index of the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi was 82, and the contribution rates of the principal component factors were 99.94% and 99.89% when 2 and 3 principal components were extracted, respectively. The contribution rate of the discriminant factor 1 of the DFA model constructed on the basis of PCA was 100%, the validation score of the SIMCA model for discrimination of the two parts was 99, and SQCA could clearly distinguish different parts of N. jatamansi. ConclusionHS-SPME-GC-MS can clarify the differential markers of underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi. The four analytical models provided by Heracles Ⅱ Neo electronic nose(PCA, DFA, SIMCA and SQCA) can realize the rapid identification of different parts of N. jatamansi. Combining the two results, it is speculated that terpenes and carboxylic acids may be the main factors contributing to the difference in aroma between the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi.
10.Establishment and preliminary evaluation of droplet digital PCR methods for detecting Schistosoma japonicum DNA in host infection
Xian-shi TANG ; Jing YANG ; Guo-li QU ; Yong-liang XU ; De-sheng TONG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):544-552
This study established a droplet digital PCR(ddPCR)EvaGreen assay and probe methods for Schistosoma japonicum detection,and evaluated their application in detecting early infections in the S.japonicum host oncomelania and mice.Primers and corresponding probes for both ddPCR methods were designed and synthesized,and plasmids containing target sequences were constructed.The sensitivity of the two methods was tested through detection of the corresponding plasmids,and infectious and mixed oncomelania genomic DNA.Their specificity was evaluated by the detection of genomic DNA of negative oncomelania,Schistosoma mansoni,Clonorchis sinensis,Spirometra mansoni,and S.japonicum(as a positive control).The ddPCR probe method was evaluated by detection of early infection of oncomelania exposed tomiracidium with various ratios and incubation times,and the early migration and distribution of cercaria or schistosomula in mouse hosts infected with 200 cercaria via abdominal skin contact.According to standard curves constructed through the detection of plasmid serial dilutions,the regression equation for the EvaGreen assay was y=-0.839 9x+7.050 9,with a correlation coefficient R2=0.988 1,and the regression equation for the probe method was y=-1.047 5x+7.255 1,with a correlation coefficient R2=0.999 8.The lowest limit of plasmid detection with the probe method was between 38.94 cp/μL and 194.74 cp/μL.Both methods successfully detected positive reactions in the genomic DNA samples of infectious oncomelania at concentrations above 0.002 ng/μL and in the genomic DNA of each group of oncomelania mixtures.No significant differences between probe methods were observed in the detection values in the control group and the genomic DNA of negative oncomelania,S.mansoni,C.sinensis,and S.mansoni.However,the detection value of genomic DNA of negative oncomelania(291 ng/μL)with the EvaGreen assay was(20.3±4.39)cp/μL,a value significantly higher than the(1.5±0.1)cp/μL observed in the control group.For detection of early infection in oncomelania,the probe method detected Schistosoma japonicum DNA after 30 s incubation at room temperature with a≥5∶1 ratio of miracidium to oncomelania;the detection value peaked after a short time(5 min),and the peak value showed a fold increase similar to the increase in the miracidium to oncomelania ratio.Detection of early stage infection in mice with the probe method revealed that the schistosomula entered the lungs on day 2 and the liver on day 4,and continually migrated within the organs with abundant blood supply(spleen,kidney,and brain)in the first 9 days;moreover,a tendency toward ectopic parasitism was observed in the heart and pancreas on day 9,and a constantly negative control level was observed in the testes.The ddPCR probe method was more accurate and specific than the EvaGreen assay in the detection of plasmids,and infectious and mixed oncomelania,and the latter showed non-specific reactions in negative oncomelania detection.In a practical application,the probe method was demonstrated to be sensitive,to effectively reflect the early infection of oncomelania,and to reveal schistosomula migration and distribution in multiple organs of infected mice.

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