1.The Role and Mechanism of Circadian Rhythm Regulation in Skin Tissue Regeneration
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Xiao-Meng MA ; Zhen-Kai JIN ; Kun LI ; Min WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1165-1178
Circadian rhythm is an endogenous biological clock mechanism that enables organisms to adapt to the earth’s alternation of day and night. It plays a fundamental role in regulating physiological functions and behavioral patterns, such as sleep, feeding, hormone levels and body temperature. By aligning these processes with environmental changes, circadian rhythm plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and promoting optimal health. However, modern lifestyles, characterized by irregular work schedules and pervasive exposure to artificial light, have disrupted these rhythms for many individuals. Such disruptions have been linked to a variety of health problems, including sleep disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction, underscoring the critical role of circadian rhythm in human health. Among the numerous systems influenced by circadian rhythm, the skin—a multifunctional organ and the largest by surface area—is particularly noteworthy. As the body’s first line of defense against environmental insults such as UV radiation, pollutants, and pathogens, the skin is highly affected by changes in circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm regulates multiple skin-related processes, including cyclic changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as DNA repair mechanisms and antioxidant defenses. For instance, studies have shown that keratinocyte proliferation peaks during the night, coinciding with reduced environmental stress, while DNA repair mechanisms are most active during the day to counteract UV-induced damage. This temporal coordination highlights the critical role of circadian rhythms in preserving skin integrity and function. Beyond maintaining homeostasis, circadian rhythm is also pivotal in the skin’s repair and regeneration processes following injury. Skin regeneration is a complex, multi-stage process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, all of which are influenced by circadian regulation. Key cellular activities, such as fibroblast migration, keratinocyte activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling, are modulated by the circadian clock, ensuring that repair processes occur with optimal efficiency. Additionally, circadian rhythm regulates the secretion of cytokines and growth factors, which are critical for coordinating cellular communication and orchestrating tissue regeneration. Disruptions to these rhythms can impair the repair process, leading to delayed wound healing, increased scarring, or chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent information on the interactions between circadian rhythms and skin physiology, with a particular focus on skin tissue repair and regeneration. Molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation in skin cells, including the role of core clock genes such as Clock, Bmal1, Per and Cry. These genes control the expression of downstream effectors involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, oxidative stress response and inflammatory pathways. By understanding how these mechanisms operate in healthy and diseased states, we can discover new insights into the temporal dynamics of skin regeneration. In addition, by exploring the therapeutic potential of circadian biology in enhancing skin repair and regeneration, strategies such as topical medications that can be applied in a time-limited manner, phototherapy that is synchronized with circadian rhythms, and pharmacological modulation of clock genes are expected to optimize clinical outcomes. Interventions based on the skin’s natural rhythms can provide a personalized and efficient approach to promote skin regeneration and recovery. This review not only introduces the important role of circadian rhythms in skin biology, but also provides a new idea for future innovative therapies and regenerative medicine based on circadian rhythms.
2.Predictive effects of different motor evoked potential warning thresholds on motor function recovery fol-lowing decompression for cervical and thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
Li LI ; Huan LI ; Kai CHEN ; Jia LIU ; Wenwen SHEN ; Yuqing WANG ; Xiufang WU ; Yushu BAI ; Qiang LI ; Jian-min LIU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(18):2898-2905
Objective To explore the optimal warning threshold of motor evoked potentials(MEP)in decompression surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL)at cervical and thoracic segments,and the predictive role of different MEP parameters on postoperative lower extremity motor function.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 227 patients diagnosed with cervical or thoracic OPLL and underwent decompression surgery from January 2022 to January 2024 in the hospital.There were 131 males and 96 females,with an average age of(60±10)years.All patients underwent continuous neuro-physiological monitoring during the operation,and the minimum ratio of MEP amplitude change to the baseline at the beginning of the operation(Dmax)and the ratio of MEP terminal amplitude change to the baseline at the end of the operation(Dend)were recorded.The correlations between these two ratios and the lower extremity motor func-tion immediately after the operation and at 1 year were compared.According to the Medical Research Council muscle strength score(MRC)standard,a postoperative score increase of≥1 point compared to preoperative was defined as postoperative motor dysfunction.Pearson correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the correlations between Dmax and Dend and the lower extremity motor function immediately after the operation and at 1 year.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn to predict postoperative lower extremity motor dysfunc-tion using Dmax and Dend.Results Among the 227 patients,186 had cervical OPLL and 41 had thoracic OPLL.The incidence of lower extremity motor dysfunction immediately after the operation and at 1 year was 7 cases(3.76%)and 2 cases(1.08%)in the cervical group,and 9 cases(21.95%)and 3 cases(7.32%)in the thoracic group,respectively.The incidence of lower extremity motor dysfunction in the thoracic group was higher than that in the cervical group(P<0.001).The baseline induction rate of bilateral lower extremity MEPs was 98.92%(368/372)in the cervical group and 96.34%(79/82)in the thoracic group.The Pearson correlation coefficients of Dend with the bilateral lower extremity motor function immediately after the operation in the cervical and thoracic groups were both greater than those of Dmax,and the differences were statistically significant(cervical group:r=0.669,0.517,P=0.001 2;thoracic group:r=0.882,0.727,P=0.003 6),while the differences in the Pearson corre-lation coefficients of Dend and Dmax with the bilateral lower extremity motor function at 1 year were not statistically significant(cervical group:r=0.457,0.352,P=0.088;thoracic group:r=0.760,0.625,P=0.098).The cut-off values of Dend for the cervical group were 0.853 immediately after the operation and at 1 year,and the cut-off values of Dmax were 0.881 and 0.978,respectively.For the thoracic group,the cut-off values of Dend were 0.532 immediately after the operation and 0.639 at 1 year,and the cut-off values of Dmax were 0.532 and 0.640,respec-tively.Conclusions In OPLL surgery,the MEP monitoring strategy should be adjusted according to the surgical segment.For the cervical segment,Dmax should be emphasized to balance high sensitivity and specificity,while for the thoracic segment,Dmax or Dend can be flexibly selected.Higher MEP warning thresholds are required for cervical OPLL surgery(Dmax:0.881 immediately after the operation and 0.978 at 1 year;Dend:0.853),while significantly lower thresholds are needed for thoracic OPLL(Dmax/Dend:0.532 immediately after the operation and 0.640 at 1 year).
3.Effects of Zhenwu decoction on inflammation,oxidative stress,and apoptosis in glomerular epithelial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide
Man-fei WANG ; Xi CHAI ; Xia-xia GAO ; Kai-bo CHU ; Yu-min ZHANG ; Yue-feng TIAN ; Li-qing HE
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):985-993
Aim To investigate the effect of Zhenwu decoction on inflammation,oxidative stress and apopto-sis of human glomerular epithelial cells(HGEC)in-duced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)based on Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway,and to explore the underlying mechanism.Methods HGEC were treated with LPS(1.0 mg·L-1)for 24 h to construct an oxidative damage model.On this basis,2.5%,5%and 10%Zhenwu decoction-containing serum were added to the low,medium and high dose groups of Zhenwu decoc-tion,and a normal group was set up.The changes of cell activity were assessed by MTT method and LDH method.The contents of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10,SOD,CAT,GSH-Px,ROS and MDA in each group were de-tected by ELISA.The apoptosis of each group was de-tected by flow cytometry.The mRNA and protein ex-pressions of Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3,caspase-9 and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.Results Compared to the normal group,the model group of HGEC exhibited increased levels of inflammatory cytokines,enhanced oxidative stress response and aggravated apoptosis;after inter-vention with various doses of Zhenwu decoction,the in-flammatory levels in HGEC were reduced,oxidative damage and apoptosis were effectively ameliorated,and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway were upregulated.Conclu-sions Zhenwu decoction can protect HGEC from LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative damage and im-prove apoptosis.The mechanism may be related to the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
4.Progress in diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients
Kai-jun WU ; Dai-hui CHEN ; Mao LI ; Si-min LIANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(4):354-357
Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19)in December 2019,SARS-CoV-2,which is constantly mutating,has brought unprecedented challenges to the field of solid organ transplantation.However,kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)are at high risk of developing severe disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection due to years of immunosuppressants and a variety of complications.This article aims to review the latest diagnosis and treatment progress of kidney transplantation under the current new epidemiological background,so as to provide reference for the subsequent management of KTRs under the new epidemiological background.
5.Expert Consensus on the Ethical Requirements for Generative AI-Assisted Academic Writing
You-Quan BU ; Yong-Fu CAO ; Zeng-Yi CHANG ; Hong-Yu CHEN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN ; Yuan-Yuan CHEN ; Zhu-Cheng CHEN ; Rui DENG ; Jie DING ; Zhong-Kai FAN ; Guo-Quan GAO ; Xu GAO ; Lan HU ; Xiao-Qing HU ; Hong-Ti JIA ; Ying KONG ; En-Min LI ; Ling LI ; Yu-Hua LI ; Jun-Rong LIU ; Zhi-Qiang LIU ; Ya-Ping LUO ; Xue-Mei LV ; Yan-Xi PEI ; Xiao-Zhong PENG ; Qi-Qun TANG ; You WAN ; Yong WANG ; Ming-Xu WANG ; Xian WANG ; Guang-Kuan XIE ; Jun XIE ; Xiao-Hua YAN ; Mei YIN ; Zhong-Shan YU ; Chun-Yan ZHOU ; Rui-Fang ZHU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(6):826-832
With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.
6.Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba ameliorates cartilage inflammation in knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway
Li-kai YU ; Zi-shan SU ; Di TIAN ; Ze-en WANG ; Shang-qi LIU ; Pei-min WANG ; Nong-shan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1382-1390
Aim To verify the mechanism of action of Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba in treating KOA carti-lage inflammation based on network pharmacology and in vitro and in vivo experiments.Methods The effec-tive ingredients of Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba were screened through the database,the core targets of"drug disease"were analyzed,and pathway enrichment analy-sis and molecular docking verification were conducted.Experimental verification:Primary chondrocytes were extracted from mice and divided into the control group,IL-1β group,treatment group,and treatment+TLR4 agonist group.CCK-8 method was used to screen the optimal intervention concentration of Carthami Flos-Ly-copodii Herba.ELISA was used to detect the content of inflammatory factors in chondrocytes.Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression related to cellular pathways.Subsequently,a KOA mouse model was constructed using the DMM method.After admin-istration,the knee joint injury of mice was evaluated u-sing safranin O-green staining.ELISA was used to de-tect the levels of inflammatory factors in serum.West-ern blot was employed to detect collagen Ⅱ,MMP13,Aggrecan,and apoptosis related protein expression in cartilage tissue.TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells.Results A total of 26 active ingredients of Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba were screened,as well as 123 potential targets for treating KOA.The enrichment analysis results indicated that it mainly involved mechanisms such as Toll like receptors and cell apoptosis.The experimental results showed that Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba alleviated the in-flammatory response of chondrocytes and affected the expression of pathway related proteins.Compared with KOA mice,safflower stretched muscle grass could im-prove cartilage damage and reduce the concentration of serum inflammatory factors,regulate the expression of collagen Ⅱ,MMP13,Aggrecan,and apoptosis related proteins in cartilage tissue,and reduce the fluorescence intensity of TUNEL staining in the tissue.Conclusions Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba can improve KOA cartilage inflammation,and its mechanism may be relat-ed to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
7.Cinnamaldehyde enhances synovial macrophage efferocytosis in KOA mice by regulating RhoA/ROCK1/MLC pathway
Zi-shan SU ; Li-kai YU ; Di TIAN ; Shang-qi LIU ; Ze-en WANG ; Pei-min WANG ; Nong-shan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1636-1643
Aim To investigate the therapeutic effects of cinnamaldehyde on synovial lesions in mice with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and its regulatory mecha-nism in the phagocytic function of synovial macropha-ges.Methods In the animal experiments,mouse ser-um and synovial tissue were extracted.HE staining was used to evaluate the inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovial tissue.ELISA was employed to detect the lev-els of inflammatory factors such as interleukins in the serum.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Ras homolog family member A(RhoA),Rho-associ-ated protein kinase 1(ROCK1),myosin light chain(MLC),and p-MLC proteins in the synovial tissue.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of in-flammatory factors and pathway-related mRNA in the synovial tissue.TUNEL staining was used to detect ap-optosis in the synovial tissue.In the cellular experi-ments,after the intervention,RAW267.4 cells were subjected to Western blot and RT-qPCR for the detec-tion of the aforementioned indicators,and confocal mi-croscopy was used to assess phagocytic function.Re-sults After cinnamaldehyde intervention,the synovial inflammatory infiltration was significantly reduced,the protein and mRNA expression of the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signaling pathway was markedly downregulated,the fluorescence intensity of TUNEL staining signifi-cantly decreased,and the phagocytic function of macro-phages was enhanced.Conclusion Cinnamaldehyde can inhibit RhoA/Rock1/MLC signaling pathway,en-hance macrophage burial,improve synovial inflamma-tion,and delay the progression of KO A mice.
8.Application of long-read sequencing based haplotype construction in preimplantation genetic testing for a patient with Incontinentia pigmenti
Wenjie MA ; Min XIE ; Kai KANG ; Mengnan GU ; Lulu YAN ; Shanshan WU ; Haibo LI ; Jiangyang XUE
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(5):518-524
Objective:To provide preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a patient with Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) due to IKBKG gene variant but without family samples through construction of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based haplotype by Long-read sequencing (LRS) technology. Methods:A female IP patient with a heterozygous IKBKG c. 1167dup variant but without family genetic data who sought genetic counseling at Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University in November 2021 was selected as the study subject. The IKBKG gene has a highly homologous pseudogene IKBKGP1. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the couple, and LRS was used to obtain informative SNP loci flanking the variant locus, enabling the construction of SNP haplotype with a long segment spanning from the non-homologous region of IKBKG to the variant site. Trophoblast cells were biopsied from blastocysts fertilized through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to determine the SNP information of the embryos. Linkage analysis with the parental SNP haplotypes was conducted to detect the carrier status of the embryos and exclude chromosomal aneuploidies. Sanger sequencing was carried out to validate the result. A euploid embryo without the pathogenic variant was selected for transfer. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out by amniocentesis at mid-trimester to verify the result of PGT, and follow-up was conducted after the baby was born. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No. EC2023-094). Results:In total seven blastocysts were tested, and PGT results indicated that two embryos were euploid and did not carry the pathogenic variant. One euploid embryo was transferred, which resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Amniocentesis at 24 weeks of gestation confirmed that the status of fetal IKBKG gene, and its chromosomal status was consistent with the PGT results. A healthy male infant was born at 38 + 6 weeks of gestation. Conclusion:For IP patients with de novo mutation or without family samples, PGT with LRS can directly construct the SNP-based haplotype while avoiding interference from pseudogenes, providing an effective strategy for PGT.
9.Combining transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroacupuncture in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment
Zhe ZHANG ; Huan WU ; Xiaofei WANG ; Yuwei CAO ; Min WANG ; Zhaoqing ZHANG ; Kai LI
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2025;47(4):313-318
Objective:To observe any effect of combining repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with electro-acupuncture in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment (PISC).Methods:Three groups of PISC patients were formed through random selection: an rTMS group, an electro-acupuncture group, and a combined group. In addition to routine medication and conventional rehabilitation training, the rTMS and electro-acupuncture groups received rTMS and electro-acupuncture treatment, while the combined group underwent both for six weeks. Before the treatment, immediately afterward and 3, 6, and 12 months later, everyone′s cognitive functioning was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The modified Barthel Index (MBI), the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were also applied. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) was employed to measure the mean cerebral blood flow velocity (Vm), pulsatility index (PI), and breath-holding index (BHI) in the subjects′ bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). The total effectiveness rates and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared among the three groups.Results:The MoCA scores, MBI scores, HAMD-17 scores, NIHSS scores, and Vm of the MCA had improved significantly in all three groups right after the treatment. There was further significant improvement in the average MoCA scores 12 months later. The combined group showed significantly higher MoCA scores than the other two groups at each time point after the treatment. That group also had superior MBI, HAMD-17 and NIHSS scores and a better BHI compared to the other 2 groups, on average. Its total effectiveness rate was significantly higher too. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the groups.Conclusions:Combining rTMS with electro-acupuncture significantly improves cognition, ADL ability, depression and neurological functioning after a stroke. The combined treatment is worthy of wider clinical application.
10.Construction of a postoperative mortality risk model for patients with acute aortic dissection based on XGBoost-SHAP method
Xin ZHANG ; Min FANG ; Yi CAO ; Ting-Ting LI ; Xian-Kong LIU ; Jia-Yi DANG ; Xue-Sen ZHAO ; Hong-Qin REN ; Jia-Ze GENG ; Kai-Wen WANG ; Tie-Sheng HAN ; Yong-Bo ZHAO ; Dong MA
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(10):1226-1234
Objective To develop a predictive model for postoperative mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)using the Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)algorithm combined with Shapley Additive Explanation(SHAP),and to establish a prediction website to serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic support platform for clinicians and patients.Methods A retrospective cohort study design was adopted.Data from 782 AAD patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2013 to December 2023 were collected,including basic information and initial serum biomarker test results.Patients were randomly divided into training and test sets at a 7:3 ratio.An external validation set consisting of 313 AAD patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 was also established for further model validation.Variables were screened using LASSO regression,and an XGBoost machine learning model was constructed and interpreted using SHAP.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Using the Shiny package,the XGBoost model was deployed to shinyapps.io to create a prediction website for postoperative mortality risk in AAD patients.One patient was selected by simple random sampling from the test set and the external validation set respectively for the prediction example on the Shiny webpage.Results The XGBoost model demonstrated high predictive performance for postoperative mortality in AAD patients,with area under the ROC curve(AUC)values of 0.928(95%CI 0.901-0.956)in the training set,0.919(95%CI 0.891-0.949)in the test set,and 0.941(95%CI 0.915-0.967)in the external validation set.SHAP values indicated the following order of variable importance in the model(from highest to lowest):"lactate dehydrogenase""blood chlorine""multiple organ injury""carbon dioxide combining power""prothrombin time""α-hydroxybutyric acid""creatine kinase isoenzyme""Stanford classification""combined use of bedside blood purification""gender""acute kidney injury""gastrointestinal bleeding""brain injury"and"shock".A risk prediction website for adverse postoperative outcomes in AAD patients was developed using XGBoost-SHAP method(https://dun-dunxiaolu.shinyapps.io/document/)and validated with examples.One randomly selected patient from each of the test and external validation sets was applied:the predicted mortality risk value for patient 1(who died postoperatively)was 0.9539,and that for patient 2(who survived postoperatively)was 0.0206.Conclusions The XGBoost-SHAP model demonstrates high accuracy in predicting postoperative mortality risk for AAD patients.The online prediction tool established based on this model enhances the identification efficiency of high-risk postoperative mortality patients.

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