1.Relationship of non-suicidal self-injury behavior with serum lipid levels and thyroid function among college students with depression
CHEN Lu, YANG Zhiqiang, CAO Xiaoping, ZHAO Yanxia, LIANG Shaoying, LUO Yi, LI Hongyu
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):394-397
Objective:
To explore the relationship between non suicidal self injury (NSSI) behavior and serum lipid levels as well as thyroid function among college students with depression.
Methods:
A total of 169 college students with depression in the psychiatry departments of tertiary hospitals (grade 3A and 3B) in Ningbo from December 2023 to April 2025 were selected. The Adolescent Self injury Scale (ASIS) was used to assess the presence of NSSI, and participants were accordingly divided into a NSSI group ( n =51) and a non NSSI group ( n =118). General demographic data (including gender, age, and family situation) were collected from both groups. Blood tests were performed to measure lipid profiles [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and thyroid hormones [triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)]. Multivariate Logistic regression was employed to analyze risk factors for NSSI, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum lipid and thyroid hormone levels for NSSI occurrence in college students with depression.
Results:
The levels of TC, LDL-C, and TSH in the NSSI group were (4.02±0.73) mmol/L, (2.32±0.36) mmol/L, and (6.57±1.95) mU/L , which were significantly higher than those in the non NSSI group [(3.41±0.56) mmol/L, (2.00±0.27) mmol/L, and ( 4.48± 1.09) mU/L, respectively] ( t =5.32, 5.60, 7.20, all P <0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that college students from single parent/reconstituted families, those who had experienced school bullying, and those with higher levels of TC, LDL-C, and TSH had a significantly increased risk of engaging in NSSI ( OR =5.22, 6.12, 5.90, 83.64, 3.64, all P <0.05). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combined detection of TC, LDL-C, and TSH had high diagnostic efficacy for predicting NSSI in college students with depression, with a sensitivity of 86.3% and a specificity of 94.9%.
Conclusions
NSSI behavior in college students with depression is associated with serum lipid levels and thyroid function. These biomarkers may serve as useful reference indicators for assessing the conditions of these patients.
2.HER2 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges
Zhao-Tao PAN ; Feng-Yu GAI ; Chen CHEN ; Tong LI ; Yan-Ping QING
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):936-950
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite therapeutic advancements over recent decades, the prognosis for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) remains poor. Approximately 2%-4% of mCRC cases exhibit human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification or overexpression, defining a distinct molecular subtype. This HER2-positive status is strongly associated with primary resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies, which are the standard of care for patients with RAS wild-type tumors. Beyond its well-established role in breast and gastric cancers, HER2 has emerged as a pivotal biomarker and actionable therapeutic target in mCRC. However, selecting appropriate treatment strategies remains challenging due to patient heterogeneity and diverse molecular subtypes. This review systematically summarizes the molecular biology, diagnostic strategies, and advances in targeted therapies for HER2-positive mCRC. On the diagnostic front, we discuss the applications of immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection technologies. We highlight discrepancies in diagnostic criteria across key clinical trials—such as HERACLES, DESTINY, and MOUNTAINEER—underscoring the urgent need for standardized, CRC-specific definitions to ensure consistent patient selection and comparability of efficacy data across studies. Although NGS enables comprehensive genomic profiling, its cost-effectiveness relative to traditional methods must be carefully considered. Therapeutically, we summarize clinical trial data for HER2-directed agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as tucatinib and lapatinib, monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan. We review dual-targeting strategies and note recent FDA approvals that represent significant milestones in second-line treatment. Additionally, we explore the potential of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with HER2-targeted therapies to enhance antitumor immunity through mechanisms including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. ADCs enable precise delivery of cytotoxic payloads, reducing off-target toxicity while effectively inhibiting oncogenic pathways. A substantial portion of this review is dedicated to dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance to HER2-targeted therapies—persistent challenges that limit clinical benefit. These mechanisms include reactivation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK, concurrent mutations in genes like KRAS or BRAF, and alterations in HER2 expression that compromise treatment efficacy. For instance, specific HER2 mutations (e.g., L755S) can reduce drug binding affinity, while ctDNA monitoring facilitates early detection of emerging resistance clones during disease progression, thereby enabling timely therapeutic adjustments. Tumor heterogeneity and dynamic interactions with the microenvironment further complicate resistance patterns observed in clinical practice. HER2-targeted therapy represents a new frontier in precision oncology for mCRC, offering renewed hope for improving patient outcomes. Realizing this potential will require continued optimization of diagnostic algorithms and treatment workflows. Future efforts must focus on overcoming resistance, validating liquid biopsy approaches for dynamic monitoring, and establishing unified clinical guidelines. HER2 has become an essential biomarker for stratifying mCRC patients beyond traditional RAS and BRAF status, underscoring the shift from empiric treatment to biomarker-driven precision medicine. International, multidisciplinary collaboration will be critical to validate emerging biomarkers and refine treatment algorithms globally.
3.Targeting GYS1: From Metabolic Regulatory Mechanisms to Precision Therapeutic Strategies
Jia-Nan ZHAO ; Yu-Xuan LI ; Jie ZHU ; Hong LI ; Xiao-Feng JIN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1807-1825
Glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1) is the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle, heart, brain, and other extrahepatic tissues, playing a central role in systemic energy homeostasis. The human GYS1 gene maps to chromosome 19q13.33, comprises 16 exons, and encodes a 737-amino-acid polypeptide that is highly conserved across mammals. GYS1 activity is subject to multilayered and precisely coordinated regulation. At the transcriptional level, the GYS1 promoter contains a hypoxia response element (HRE) that mediates HIF-1α-dependent induction under low-oxygen conditions, as well as a muscle-specific enhancer harboring MEF2 and MyoD binding sites that confers tissue-restricted expression. At the post-translational level, a hierarchical phosphorylation cascade serves as the primary activity switch: glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) sequentially phosphorylates four C-terminal serine residues following casein kinase II priming, while protein kinase A (PKA) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) provide parallel inhibitory inputs at both N- and C-terminal sites. Dephosphorylation and reactivation are mediated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) through tissue-specific glycogen-targeting regulatory subunits such as PPP1R3A and PPP1R3B, which anchor PP1 to glycogen particles and direct its activity toward GYS1. The allosteric activator glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) binds at the dimer interface, simultaneously enhancing catalytic efficiency and promoting dephosphorylation susceptibility, thereby establishing a feed-forward activation loop that couples substrate availability to glycogen synthesis. Beyond phosphorylation, GYS1 is regulated by ubiquitination (mediated by the E3 ligase PJA1), acetylation, O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification, and SUMOylation, which collectively modulate protein stability, subcellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. Epigenetic mechanisms, including CpG island methylation and histone acetylation dynamics, govern chromatin accessibility at the GYS1 locus, while muscle-specific microRNAs such as miR-1 and miR-206 fine-tune GYS1 expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of GYS1 has been identified as a central pathogenic driver in a spectrum of human diseases. In inherited glycogen storage disorders—including Lafora disease, adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD), and Pompe disease—loss of upstream regulatory control leads to GYS1 hyperactivation and the accumulation of structurally abnormal or excessive glycogen, resulting in progressive neurodegeneration, myopathy, and multiorgan dysfunction. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), impaired insulin signaling through the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β axis maintains GYS1 in a hyperphosphorylated inactive state in skeletal muscle, compromising postprandial glucose disposal and exacerbating hyperglycemia. In oncology, GYS1 exhibits context-dependent roles across multiple cancer types. In hepatocellular carcinoma, FMO2+ cancer-associated fibroblasts stabilize GYS1 by competitively inhibiting PJA1-mediated ubiquitination, and stabilized GYS1 subsequently activates NF‑κB/CCL19 signaling to promote tertiary lymphoid structure formation and enhance anti-PD-1 immunotherapy responsiveness. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, GYS1 promotes tumor progression through non-canonical NF‑κB pathway activation via the scaffold protein RPS27A. In triple-negative breast cancer, GYS1 has been identified as a trigger of disulfidptosis and an activator of NF-κB signaling through non-enzymatic facilitation of IκBα degradation. In colorectal cancer, mitochondrial fission deficiency drives AMPK-dependent GYS1 upregulation and glycogen accumulation as a compensatory survival mechanism, while in cervical cancer, GYS1-maintained glycogen reserves fuel the pentose phosphate pathway to generate NADPH for ROS clearance, thereby conferring cisplatin resistance in cancer stem cells. Therapeutic strategies targeting GYS1 have gained substantial momentum across these disease contexts. For glycogen storage disorders, antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs (e.g., ABX1100), and small-molecule inhibitors (e.g., MZ-101) have demonstrated preclinical and early clinical efficacy in reducing pathological glycogen accumulation. For T2DM, pharmacological activation of GYS1 through GSK3β inhibition or enhancement of PP1-mediated dephosphorylation is being explored to restore insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. In cancer, GYS1-directed interventions—including targeted silencing to sensitize tumors to chemotherapy and immune microenvironment modulation to enhance immunotherapy—represent emerging precision oncology approaches. This review provides a comprehensive and integrated account of GYS1 gene structure, tissue-specific distribution, regulatory networks, and pathogenic roles in metabolic disorders and malignancies, with the aim of establishing a theoretical framework for the development of GYS1-targeted precision therapies.
4.Effectiveness of group skills training intervention on social ability of high functional autism spectrum disorder children
HU Shasha, ZHAO Xiao, ZHU Zhenzhen, LIU Xiaoli, WANG Rong, HU Zhenyu, ZHANG Wenwu
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(2):167-171
Objective:
To evaluate the intervention efficacy of integrated group social skills training on social ability in school age patients with high functioning ASD, so as to provide a reference for improving social skills in children with high functioning ASD.
Methods:
From January 2021 to December 2023, 62 children aged 7-12 with high functioning ASD who visited the Children s Psychiatry Outpatient Department of the Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University were recruited, and were randomly divided into a training ( n =31) and a control group ( n =31) by a random number table method. The training group received a 20 week structured group social training program (mental interpretation courses and social courses), while the control group received only conventional treatment. Chinese version of Griffith Empathy Measure Parent Ratings (GEM-PR) and Social Response Scale (SRS) were used to assess the symptoms of social deficits before and after treatment. Emotional face recognition tasks and eye movement trajectories were used to test the characteristics of social visual attention in children with ASD. Group comparison was conducted using t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.
Results:
At baseline, there were no significant differences in GEM-PR score ( t = -1.20 to -0.81), SRS score ( t =-0.36-1.75), emotional face recognition accuracy and reaction time ( t =-0.58-1.85), and eye movement trajectory ( U/t =-1.63-0.29) between the two group ( P >0.05). After intervention, the total GEM-PR score and empathic cognitive factor score of training group [18.00(10.00,24.00),9.00(8.00,13.00)] were significantly higher than those of the control group [12.00(-1.00,18.00),2.00(-2.00,7.00)], and the total SRS score and social cognition, social perception, social communication, social motivation (73.23±14.20, 16.16±2.72, 6.58±2.50, 24.29±5.61, 9.52±3.73) were significantly lower than those of the control group (95.26±15.29, 19.90±2.84, 12.58±2.49,31.94±6.38, 13.74±4.81) ( U/t =-2.38, -4.59; -5.88, -5.29, -9.47, -5.01, -3.87, P <0.05). The overall correct rate of emotional face recognition and the correct rate of angry, fearful and neutral faces recognition in the training group [(81.55±6.62)%,(76.86±12.06)%,(79.61±12.42)%,(94.27±6.26)%] were significantly higher than the control group [(70.55±13.82)%,(62.82±18.77)%,(67.18±18.85)%,(79.60±20.05)%], and the average reaction time [(2 226.70±274.43)ms] was lower than the control group [(2 417.27±324.10)ms] (t=4.00, 3.50, 3.07, 3.89, -2.42, P<0.05). The time to first eye gaze [764.74 (748.64, 793.73) ms] in the training group was significantly lower than that in the control group [810.92 (782.86, 877.42) ms], and the proportion of moderatetohigh intensity attention area in the face [(37.37±1.27)%] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(30.34±1.23)%] (U/t=3.44, 8.89, P<0.05).
Conclusion
Integrated group social training can significantly improve the social communication and empathy ability of high functioning ASD children, increase active attention and recognition ability of faces, and improve mental development of children with ASD.
5.Mechanisms of Gut Microbiota Influencing Reproductive Function via The Gut-Gonadal Axis
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Li-Li QI ; Jin-Bo WANG ; Xu-Qi HU ; Meng-Ting WANG ; Hai-Guang MAO ; Qiu-Zhen SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1152-1164
Reproductive system diseases are among the primary contributors to the decline in social fertility rates and the intensification of aging, posing significant threats to both physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Recent research has revealed the substantial potential of the gut microbiota in improving reproductive system diseases. Under healthy conditions, the gut microbiota maintains a dynamic balance, whereas dysfunction can trigger immune-inflammatory responses, metabolic disorders, and other issues, subsequently leading to reproductive system diseases through the gut-gonadal axis. Reproductive diseases, in turn, can exacerbate gut microbiota imbalance. This article reviews the impact of the gut microbiota and its metabolites on both male and female reproductive systems, analyzing changes in typical gut microorganisms and their metabolites related to reproductive function. The composition, diversity, and metabolites of gut bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Firmicutes, including short-chain fatty acids, 5-hydroxytryptamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and bile acids, are closely linked to reproductive function. As reproductive diseases develop, intestinal immune function typically undergoes changes, and the expression levels of immune-related factors, such as Toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines (including IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β), also vary. The gut microbiota and its metabolites influence reproductive hormones such as estrogen, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone, thereby affecting folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. Additionally, the metabolism and absorption of vitamins can also impact spermatogenesis through the gut-testis axis. As the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproductive diseases becomes clearer, targeted regulation of the gut microbiota can be employed to address reproductive system issues in both humans and animals. This article discusses the regulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal immune function through microecological preparations, fecal microbiota transplantation, and drug therapy to treat reproductive diseases. Microbial preparations and drug therapy can help maintain the intestinal barrier and reduce chronic inflammation. Fecal microbiota transplantation involves transferring feces from healthy individuals into the recipient’s intestine, enhancing mucosal integrity and increasing microbial diversity. This article also delves into the underlying mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences reproductive capacity through the gut-gonadal axis and explores the latest research in diagnosing and treating reproductive diseases using gut microbiota. The goal is to restore reproductive capacity by targeting the regulation of the gut microbiota. While the gut microbiota holds promise as a therapeutic target for reproductive diseases, several challenges remain. First, research on the association between gut microbiota and reproductive diseases is insufficient to establish a clear causal relationship, which is essential for proposing effective therapeutic methods targeting the gut microbiota. Second, although gut microbiota metabolites can influence lipid, glucose, and hormone synthesis and metabolism via various signaling pathways—thereby indirectly affecting ovarian and testicular function—more in-depth research is required to understand the direct effects of these metabolites on germ cells or granulosa cells. Lastly, the specific efficacy of gut microbiota in treating reproductive diseases is influenced by multiple factors, necessitating further mechanistic research and clinical studies to validate and optimize treatment regimens.
6.Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies for adult patients with mild and moderate major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hong-Jun KUANG ; Hui-Sheng YANG ; Yi-Xuan FENG ; Han TANG ; Qi FAN ; Yu-Qin XU ; Shuo CUI ; Richard MUSIL ; Hedi LUXENBURGER ; Yi-Xuan ZHANG ; Hong ZHAO ; Yu-Qing ZHANG
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):471-491
BACKGROUND:
Acupuncture therapy provides a complementary and alternative approach to treating major depressive disorder (MDD), but its efficacy and safety have still not been comprehensively assessed. Recently published systematic reviews remain confusing and inconclusive.
OBJECTIVE:
This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy alone or combined with antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD.
SEARCH STRATEGY:
Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from their inceptions to March 2025.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture therapy with antidepressants, or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants with acupuncture therapy or antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS:
Five reviewers independently extracted data from original literature using a standardized form, and the data were verified by two reviewers to ensure accuracy. Statistical meta-analyses, publication bias analyses, and subgroup analyses were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence.
RESULTS:
A total of 60 eligible studies including 4675 participants were included. Low-certainty evidence showed that compared with antidepressants, acupuncture therapy (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-0.87, -0.27]; I2 = 86%; P = 0.006) or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants (SMD = -1.00; 95% CI = [-1.18, -0.81]; I2 = 77%; P < 0.00001) may reduce the severity of depression at the end of treatment. Low-certainty evidence indicated that compared with acupuncture therapy alone, acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants slightly reduced the severity of depression at the end of treatment (SMD = -0.38; 95% CI = [-0.61, -0.14]; I2 = 18%; P = 0.002). Similar results were also found for acupuncture's relief of insomnia. The reported adverse effects of acupuncture therapy were mild and transient. For most of the subgroup analyses, acupuncture type, scale type, and the course of treatment did not show a significant relative effect.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture therapy may provide antidepressant effects and relieve insomnia with mild adverse effects for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD. But the certainty of evidence was very low. More high-quality, well designed, large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed in the future. Please cite this article as: Kuang HJ, Yang HS, Feng YX, Tang H, Fan Q, Xu YQ, Cui S, Musil R, Luxenburger H, Zhang YX, Zhao H, Zhang YQ. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies for adult patients with mild and moderate major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):471-491.
Humans
;
Acupuncture Therapy/methods*
;
Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy*
;
Adult
;
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
7.Optimization of Rh blood group antigen precision transfusion strategy across multiple hospital campuses by PDCA circle
Qiming YING ; Luyan CHEN ; Kedi DONG ; Yiwen HE ; Yating ZHAN ; Yexiaoqing YANG ; Feng ZHAO ; Dingfeng LYU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(1):106-111
[Objective] To explore the effectiveness of applying the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle to enhance the compatibility rate of five Rh blood group antigen phenotypes between donors and recipients across multiple hospital campuses. [Methods] Clinical blood transfusion data from May to July 2022 were selected. Specific improvement measures were formulated based on the survey results, and the PDCA cycle management model was implemented from August 2022. The post-intervention phase spanned from August 2022 to October 2023. The Rh phenotype compatibility rate, the detection rate of Rh system antibodies, and the proportion of Rh system antibodies among unexpected antibodies were compared between the pre-intervention phase (May to July 2022) and the post-intervention phase. [Results] After the continuous improvement with the PDCA cycle, the compatibility rate for the five Rh blood group antigen phenotypes between donors and recipients from August to October 2023 reached 81.90%, significantly higher than the 70.54% recorded during the pre-intervention phase (May to July 2022, P<0.01), and displayed a quarterly upward trend (β=0.028, P<0.05). The detection rate of Rh blood group system antibodies (β=-9.839×10-5, P<0.05) and its proportion among all detected antibodies (β=-0.022, P<0.05) showed a quarterly decreasing trend, both demonstrating a negative correlation with the enhanced compatibility rate (r values of -0.981 and -0.911, respectively; P<0.05). [Conclusion] The implementation of targeted measures through the PDCA cycle can effectively increase the compatibility rate of five Rh blood group antigen phenotypes between donors and recipients, reduce the occurrence of unexpected Rh blood group antibodies, thereby lowering the risk of transfusion and enhancing the quality and safety of medical care.
8.Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Potential Drug Targets
Han CHANG ; Meng-Xiang ZHAO ; Xiao-Feng JIN ; Bin-Bin YING
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2512-2534
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck malignancy worldwide, accounting for more than 90% of all oral cancers, and is characterized by high invasiveness and poor long-term prognosis. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Oral leukoplakia and erythroplakia are the main precancerous lesions lesions, with oral leukoplakia being the most common. Both OSCC and premalignant lesions are closely associated with aberrant activation of multiple signaling pathways. Post-translational modifications (such as ubiquitination and deubiquitination) play key roles in regulating these pathways by controlling protein stability and activity. Growing evidence indicates that dysregulated ubiquitination/deubiquitination can mediate OSCC initiation and progression via aberrant activation of signaling pathways. The ubiquitination/deubiquitination process mainly involves E3 ligases (E3s) that catalyze substrate ubiquitination, deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that remove ubiquitin chains, and the 26S proteasome complex that degrades ubiquitinated substrates. Abnormal expression or mutation of E3s and DUBs can lead to altered stability of critical tumor-related proteins, thereby driving OSCC initiation and progression. Therefore, understanding the aberrantly activated signaling pathways in OSCC and the ubiquitination/deubiquitination mechanisms within these pathways will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms and improve OSCC treatment by targeting relevant components. Here, we summarize four aberrantly activated signaling pathways in OSCC―the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Hippo pathway, and canonical NF-κB pathway―and systematically review the regulatory mechanisms of ubiquitination/deubiquitination within these pathways, along with potential drug targets. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is aberrantly activated in approximately 70% of OSCC cases. It is modulated by E3s (e.g., FBXW7 and NEDD4) and DUBs (e.g., USP7 and USP10): FBXW7 and USP10 inhibit signaling, while NEDD4 and USP7 potentiate it. Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway leads to β‑catenin nuclear translocation and induction of cell proliferation. This pathway is modulated by E3s (e.g., c-Cbl and RNF43) and DUBs (e.g., USP9X and USP20): c-Cbl and RNF43 inhibit signaling, while USP9X and USP20 potentiate it. Hippo pathway inactivation permits YAP/TAZ to enter the nucleus and promotes cancer cell metastasis. This pathway is modulated by E3s (e.g., CRL4DCAF1 and SIAH2) and DUBs (e.g., USP1 and USP21): CRL4DCAF1 and SIAH2 inhibit signaling, while USP1 and USP21 potentiate it. Persistent activation of the canonical NF-κB pathway is associated with an inflammatory microenvironment and chemotherapy resistance. This pathway is modulated by E3s (e.g., TRAF6 and LUBAC) and DUBs (e.g., A20 and CYLD): A20 and CYLD inhibit signaling, while TRAF6 and LUBAC potentiate it. Targeting these E3s and DUBs provides directions for OSCC drug research. Small-molecule inhibitors such as YCH2823 (a USP7 inhibitor), GSK2643943A (a USP20 inhibitor), and HOIPIN-8 (a LUBAC inhibitor) have shown promising antitumor activity in preclinical models; PROTAC molecules, by binding to surface sites of target proteins and recruiting E3s, achieve targeted ubiquitination and degradation of proteins insensitive to small-molecule inhibitors, for example, PU7-1-mediated USP7 degradation, offering new strategies to overcome traditional drug limitations. Currently, NX-1607 (a Cbl-b inhibitor) has entered phase I clinical trials, with preliminary results confirming its safety and antitumor activity. Future research on aberrant E3s and DUBs in OSCC and the development of highly specific inhibitors will be of great significance for OSCC precision therapy.
10.Progress on Wastewater-based Epidemiology in China: Implementation Challenges and Opportunities in Public Health.
Qiu da ZHENG ; Xia Lu LIN ; Ying Sheng HE ; Zhe WANG ; Peng DU ; Xi Qing LI ; Yuan REN ; De Gao WANG ; Lu Hong WEN ; Ze Yang ZHAO ; Jianfa GAO ; Phong K THAI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(11):1354-1358
Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a transformative surveillance tool for estimating substance consumption and monitoring disease prevalence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enables the population-level monitoring of illicit drug use, pathogen prevalence, and environmental pollutant exposure. In this perspective, we summarize the key challenges specific to the Chinese context: (1) Sampling inconsistencies, necessitating standardized 24-hour composite protocols with high-frequency autosamplers (≤ 15 min/event) to improve the representativeness of samples; (2) Biomarker validation, requiring rigorous assessment of excretion profiles and in-sewer stability; (3) Analytical method disparities, demanding inter-laboratory proficiency testing and the development of automated pretreatment instruments; (4) Catchment population dynamics, reducing estimation uncertainties through mobile phone data, flow-based models, or hydrochemical parameters; and (5) Ethical and data management concerns, including privacy risks for small communities, mitigated through data de-identification and tiered reporting platforms. To address these challenges, we propose an integrated framework that features adaptive sampling networks, multi-scale wastewater sample banks, biomarker databases with multidimensional metadata, and intelligent data dashboards. In summary, wastewater-based epidemiology offers unparalleled scalability for equitable health surveillance and can improve the health of the entire population by providing timely and objective information to guide the development of targeted policies.
China/epidemiology*
;
Humans
;
Wastewater/analysis*
;
COVID-19/epidemiology*
;
Public Health
;
Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring
;
SARS-CoV-2


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail