1.Applications of Vaterite in Drug Loading and Controlled Release
Xiao-Hui SONG ; Ming-Yu PAN ; Jian-Feng XU ; Zheng-Yu HUANG ; Qing PAN ; Qing-Ning LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):162-181
Currently, the drug delivery system (DDS) based on nanomaterials has become a hot interdisciplinary research topic. One of the core issues is drug loading and controlled release, in which the key lever is carriers. Vaterite, as an inorganic porous nano-material, is one metastable structure of calcium carbonate, full of micro or nano porous. Recently, vaterite has attracted more and more attention, due to its significant advantages, such as rich resources, easy preparations, low cost, simple loading procedures, good biocompatibility and many other good points. Vaterite, gained from suitable preparation strategies, can not only possess the good drug carrying performance, like high loading capacity and stable loading efficiency, but also improve the drug release ability, showing the better drug delivery effects, such as targeting release, pH sensitive release, photothermal controlled release, magnetic assistant release, optothermal controlled release. At the same time, the vaterite carriers, with good safety itself, can protect proteins, enzymes, or other drugs from degradation or inactivation, help imaging or visualization with loading fluorescent drugs in vitro and in vivo, and play synergistic effects with other therapy approaches, like photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and thermochemotherapy. Latterly, some renewed reports in drug loading and controlled release have led to their widespread applications in diverse fields, from cell level to clinical studies. This review introduces the basic characteristics of vaterite and briefly summarizes its research history, followed by synthesis strategies. We subsequently highlight recent developments in drug loading and controlled release, with an emphasis on the advantages, quantity capacity, and comparations. Furthermore, new opportunities for using vaterite in cell level and animal level are detailed. Finally, the possible problems and development trends are discussed.
2.Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography
Meng-Meng MIAO ; Yu-Xuan REN ; Wen-Wei WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Xiang-Hong LIN ; Hui-Dan LIN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):244-257
ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
3.Application and innovation of functional perforator flaps in reconstruction of tissue defects.
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(9):1071-1075
OBJECTIVE:
To review the nomenclature, functional unit construction, technical essentials, and prevention and treatment of complications of functional perforator flaps, so as to provide references for the structural and functional reconstruction of composite tissue defects.
METHODS:
By retrieving and analyzing domestic and foreign literature on anatomical research, technical innovation and clinical application of functional design and application of perforator flaps, combined with the clinical practice of our team, the methods for harvesting and integrating functional units of perforator flaps were summarized.
RESULTS:
Functional perforator flap refers to a perforator flap that, on the basis of perforator blood supply, carries one or more tissue functional units (such as muscles, nerves, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, bones, mucous membranes, joints or articular cartilages, etc.) with sufficient blood supply located in the supra-fascia and/or sub-fascia, and is used to reconstruct one or more functions of the recipient site. The design and transfer of functional perforator flaps should not only meet the needs of precise coverage of the wound, but also reconstruct the functions of the recipient site such as muscle contraction, flap sensation, lymphatic drainage, blood flow bridging, bone growth, glandular secretion or joint movement, while avoiding iatrogenic dysfunction in the donor site.
CONCLUSION
Functional perforator flaps have broken through the limitation of "wound coverage" and realize the integrated reconstruction of "structure-function-aesthetics".
Humans
;
Perforator Flap/blood supply*
;
Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*
;
Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery*
;
Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods*
;
Skin Transplantation/methods*
4.Functional perforator flap: concept and clinical applications.
Hu JIAO ; Mengqing ZANG ; Lu ZHOU ; Shengyang JIN ; Jiadong PAN ; Miao WANG ; Xin WANG ; Yuanbo LIU
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(9):1076-1085
OBJECTIVE:
To review the clinical applications of functional perforator flaps in restoring human body functions.
METHODS:
An extensive literature review was conducted on both domestic and international publications to summarize the clinical use of functional perforator flaps for functional restoration.
RESULTS:
Perforator flaps are among the most commonly used flaps in reconstructive surgery. Beyond providing soft tissue repair, they are increasingly employed to reconstruct diverse bodily functions, leading us to propose the concept of the "functional perforator flap". Although various forms of functional perforator flaps are currently utilized, reports are predominantly scattered case studies, lacking systematic organization. Commonly used functional perforator flaps can be categorized into five types: chimeric perforator flaps, perforator flaps for nerve function restoration, perforator flaps for lymphatic drainage enhancement, flow-through perforator flaps, and perforator flaps for restoring bone and joint motion. These flaps significantly broaden the application scope of perforator flaps, elevating the goal of reconstruction from mere wound repair to achieving repair concurrent with functional reconstruction.
CONCLUSION
The application of various functional perforator flap designs significantly improves wound reconstruction outcomes and represents an effective approach for managing complex defects. Future developments will undoubtedly see more forms of functional perforator flaps reported to meet increasingly sophisticated reconstructive demands.
Humans
;
Perforator Flap/blood supply*
;
Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*
;
Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery*
;
Skin Transplantation/methods*
;
Wound Healing
5.Infrared thermography-assisted design and harvesting of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps.
Chenxi ZHANG ; Jiadong PAN ; Shanqing YIN ; Guoqing SHAO ; Xianting ZHOU ; Gaoxiang YU ; Luzhe WU ; Xin WANG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(9):1143-1148
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the application value of infrared thermography in the design and harvesting of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps.
METHODS:
Between June 2024 and December 2024, 9 cases of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps were designed and harvested with the assistance of infrared thermography. There were 7 males and 2 females, aged 21-61 years (mean, 39.8 years). The body mass index ranged from 19.49 to 26.45 kg/m² (mean, 23.85 kg/m²). Causes of injury included 5 cases of traffic accident injuries and 4 cases of machine crush injuries. There were 3 cases of leg wounds, 2 cases of foot wounds, and 4 cases of hand wounds. After debridement, the size of wound ranged from 7 cm×4 cm to 13 cm×11 cm. The time from admission to flap repair surgery was 5-12 days (mean, 7 days). Preoperatively, perforator localization was performed using a traditional Doppler flow detector and infrared thermography, respectively. The results were compared with the actual intraoperative locations; a discrepancy ≤10 mm was considered as consistent localization (positive), and the positive predictive value was calculated. All 9 cases were repaired with ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps designed and harvested based on thermographic images. The size of flap ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 14 cm×8 cm, with a thickness of 3-6 mm (mean, 5.2 mm). One donor site was repaired with a full-thickness skin graft, and the others were sutured directly. Postoperatively, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and anti-vascular spasm treatments were administered, and follow-up was conducted.
RESULTS:
The Doppler flow detector identified 22 perforating vessels within the set range, among which 16 were confirmed as superficial fascia layer perforators intraoperatively, with a positive predictive value of 72.7%. The infrared thermograph detected 23 superficial fascia layer perforating vessels, and 21 were verified intraoperatively, with a positive predictive value of 91.3%. There was no significant difference between the two methods [OR (95%CI)=3.93 (0.70, 22.15), P=0.100]. The perforator localization time of the infrared thermograph was (5.1±1.3) minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of the Doppler flow detector [(10.1±2.6) minutes; MD (95%CI)=-5.00 (-7.08, -2.91), P<0.001]. Postoperatively, 1 case of distal flap necrosis healed after dressing change; all other flaps survived successfully. The skin grafts at donor site survived, and all incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-6 months (mean, 4.7 months). No pain or other discomfort occurred at the donor or recipient sites. All patients with foot wounds could walk with shoes, and no secondary flap revision was required. Flaps in 3 hand wound cases, 2 foot wound cases, and 3 leg wound cases recovered light touch and pressure sensation, but not pain or temperature sensation; the remaining 2 cases had no sensory recovery.
CONCLUSION
Preoperative localization using infrared thermography for repairing ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps can help evaluate the blood supply status of perforators, reduce complications, and improve surgical safety and flap survival rate.
Humans
;
Perforator Flap/blood supply*
;
Adult
;
Male
;
Thermography/methods*
;
Female
;
Thigh/blood supply*
;
Middle Aged
;
Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*
;
Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods*
;
Infrared Rays
;
Skin Transplantation/methods*
;
Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery*
;
Young Adult
6.Mechanisms of ribosomopathy and phase separation-related ribosomopathy.
Zhiyuan PAN ; Guofen LIN ; Hao LIU ; Guozhi LI ; Xiaoyi ZHANG ; Jiewen DAI
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(6):503-526
Ribosome is an intracellular ribonucleoprotein particle that serves as the site of protein biosynthesis. Ribosomal dysfunction caused by mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins (RPs) and ribosome biogenesis factors (RBFs) can lead to a spectrum of diseases, collectively known as ribosomopathy. Phase separation is a thermodynamic process that produces multiple phases from a homogeneous mixture. The formation of membraneless organelles and intracellular structures, including ribosomes and nucleoli, cannot occur without the involvement of phase separation. Here, ribosome structure, biogenesis, and their relationship with ribosomopathy are systematically reviewed. The tissue specificity of ribosomopathy and the role of phase separation in ribosomopathy are particularly discussed, which may offer some clues for understanding the mechanisms of ribosomopathy. Then, some new ideas for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ribosomopathy are provided.
Humans
;
Ribosomes/physiology*
;
Ribosomal Proteins/metabolism*
;
Mutation
;
Animals
;
Cell Nucleolus/metabolism*
;
Protein Biosynthesis
;
Phase Separation
7.Exploration of potential active ingredients and mechanism of action of Xihuang pill-medicated serum against glioma based on HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology and experimental verification
Jing PAN ; Qi-hai ZHANG ; Hao-wen FAN ; Xia WANG ; Wei-feng YAO ; Hong-bin XU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(3):693-703
Qualitative analysis of the ingredients absorbed into blood and their metabolites of Xihuang pill (XHP) were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technology. Network pharmacology was used to explore the potential anticancer mechanisms of the ingredients against glioma, and their specific mechanisms were validated through molecular docking and experimental verification. SD rats were intragastrically administered with XHP, and rat serum samples were collected. Ingredients absorbed into blood and their metabolites were identified based on the retention time of chromatographic peaks, accurate molecular mass, characteristic fragment ions, and comparisons with reference substances and literature data. PharmMapper and SwissTarget Prediction databases were used to obtain the targets of the XHP-medicated serum, while GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGKB, TTD, and DrugBank databases were used to obtain glioma disease targets. The "component-target" network relationship diagram was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagram was constructed using the STRING database, and the targets were analyzed using GO and KEGG analyses. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability of core targets with their corresponding compounds in XHP-medicated serum. The potential mechanism of the anti-glioma effect of 11-keto-
8.Correlation analysis between serum vitamin D level and central precocious puberty in girls
Yongzheng LOU ; Yanan XU ; Pingping ZHANG ; Jiewen PAN ; Dongmei GAN ; Shuni SUN
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(3):16-20
Objective To investigate the correlation between serum vitamin D level and central precocious puberty(CPP)in girls.Methods A total of 103 girls(case group)with central precocious puberty from Ningbo Woman and Children's Hospital and 53 healthy girls(control group)from health check-ups in Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital were collected as subjects.The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25(OH)D3]in the two groups were detected by chemiluminescence method.The weight and height of girls in the case group were measured.The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and its peak value,luteinizing hormone(LH)and its peak value,estradiol(E2),prolactin(PRL),human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)and thyroid function were measured by radioimmunoassay.The peak value of LH/FSH was calculated.B ultrasound examination of uterine adnexa was completed to calculate uterine volume and bilateral ovarian volume.According to the results of serum 25-(OH)D3,girls in the case group were divided into normal vitamin D group and vitamin D deficiency group,and the differences of hormone levels,uterine and ovarian development between the two groups were compared.Results The serum level of 25-(OH)D3 in case group was lower than that in control group,and the vitamin D deficiency rate in case group was higher than that in control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).The age of breast nodules in vitamin D deficiency group was lower than that in vitamin D normal group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in body weight,height,body mass index(BMI),uterine volume and left ovarian volume between vitamin D normal group and vitamin D deficiency group(P>0.05),and the right ovarian volume in vitamin D deficiency group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D normal group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in serum levels of FSH,LH,PRL,HCG,peak value of FSH and thyroid function between normal and deficient groups(P>0.05).The levels of E2,LH and LH/FSH in vitamin D deficiency group were significantly higher than those in vitamin D normal group(P<0.05);25-(OH)D3 was negatively correlated with LH/FSH peak(r=-0.197,P<0.05),but was not significantly correlated with thyroid function,FSH,LH,PRL,E2,HCG,FSH and LH peak(P>0.05).Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is associated with central precocious puberty in girls.Vitamin D deficiency may lead to early onset of precocious puberty.Vitamin D deficiency may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function,resulting in changes in reproductive hormone indexes and consequent increase in ovarian volume in girls.
9.Research progress of caput femoris posterior tilt and its impact on prognosis in nondisplaced femoral neck fractures.
Rong-Yao YU ; Qing-Jiang PANG ; Xian-Jun CHEN ; Xiao YU ; Lin SHI ; Cheng-Hao WANG ; Sheng YU ; Chen-Tong PAN
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2023;36(10):969-974
There are still many unresolved problems in the treatment and prognosis of nondisplaced femoral neck fractures, such as nonunion and avascular necrosis of the caput femoris .In order to reduce the risk of various complications after non-displaced femoral neck fractures, the caput femoris posterior tilt of femoral neck fractures and its impact on prognosis have attracted more and more attention. A large number of scholars' studies have found that when the posterior tilt exceeds 20°, the risk of internal fixation failure increases significantly. Based on this concept, we can choose to use primary artificial joint replacement instead of three-screw internal fixation according to the different posterior tilt angles of patients to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. At the same time, our analysis found that comminution of the posterior segment of the femoral neck would lead to an increase in the posterior inclination angles. The purpose of this review was to investigate the relationship between caput femoris posterior tilt of femoral neck fractures and surgical outcome, and to introduce a new method for measuring caput femoris posterior tilt of the femoral neck.
Humans
;
Prognosis
;
Postoperative Complications/epidemiology*
;
Femoral Neck Fractures/complications*
;
Femur Neck
;
Reoperation
;
Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods*
;
Retrospective Studies
10.Protective effects of ginseng total saponins on reward-directed operant conditioning in hindlimb suspension rats
DONG Lijinchuan ; CHEN Ying ; HU Qin ; BAO Yu ; PAN Ruile ; ZENG Guirong ; PENG Bo ; LIU Xinmin ; SHI Zhe
Digital Chinese Medicine 2023;6(4):416-425
Objective:
To explore the therapeutic effects of ginseng total saponins (GTSs) on cognitive impairments in astronauts caused by prolonged exposure to microgravity environment.
Methods:
Fifty specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Wistar rats were randomized into control, hindlimb suspension (HLS), Huperzine A (HLS-Hup A 0.1 mg/kg), low-dose GTSs (HLS-GTSs 100 mg/kg), and high-dose GTSs (HLS-GTSs 200 mg/kg) groups, based on the completion time of reward-directed conditioning tasks. Except for rats in the control group, the others were subjected to HLS and treated with drugs (day 20 – 58), received reflex test under the condition of rewarding, and underwent Nissl body staining and Western blot detection on hippocampal.
Results:
After modeling, rats in HLS group exhibited a reduction in the number of lever presses and an increase in the completion time of the reward-directed operant conditioning task Ⅰ (P < 0.05) when compared with the control group, which were not substantially altered in the HLS-GTSs 100 and 200 mg/kg groups (P > 0.05). In the reward-directed operant conditioning task Ⅱ, the HLS group rats demonstrated a marked decrease in the number of lever presses (P < 0.05) and nose pokes (P < 0.01) when compared with the control group rats; the HLS-GTSs 100 mg/kg showed a significant increase in the number of lever presses and nose pokes (P < 0.05), while the HLS-GTSs 200 mg/kg demonstrated a significant reduction in completion time and an elevation in the number of lever presses (P < 0.05) when compared with the HLS group rats. In visual signal discrimination task, compared with the control group rats, the HLS group rats showed decrease in the indexes of the visual signal discrimination(P < 0.01), while HLS-GTSs 100 and 200 mg/kg groups exhibited manifest increase in it (P < 0.01). In reward extinction experiment, the number of lever presses in HLS rats significantly increased when compared with the control group (P < 0.01); compared with the HLS group,
HLS-GTSs 100 and 200 mg/kg groups demonstrated a marked descrease (P < 0.05). The expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1 (NR1) and phosophorylated N-methyl-Daspartic acid receptor 2B (p-NR2B) proteins were markedly decreased in rats in the HLS group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), while that of NR2B protein maintained the same (P > 0.05). GTSs increased the expression levels of p-NR2B (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
GTSs improved the learning and memory ability of complex operations by regulating the NR1/NR2B phosphorylation pathways in rats.

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