1.The mechanism and clinical characteristics in comorbidity of autoimmune liver diseases and autoimmune thyroid diseases
Yinghui RAN ; Wei LU ; Fumei YANG ; Xiaohong LI ; Rong ZHU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):432-437
Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) are a group of chronic liver diseases caused by abnormal activation of the immune system, mainly including autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, and overlap syndrome. Clinical studies have shown that patients with AILD are often comorbid with thyroid diseases, especially autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This article systematically reviews the epidemiological association, potential shared pathogenesis, and overlapping features between AILD and thyroid diseases. A deeper understanding of the immunological links between AILD and AITD may provide a theoretical basis for precision medicine and future research.
2.Guidelines for standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics (2026 edition)
Pengxiang ZHOU ; Maobai LIU ; Xiaoli DU ; Xiaoyang LU ; Mei DONG ; Rong DUAN ; Ruigang HOU ; Xiaoyu LI ; Qi CHEN ; Yanxiao XIANG ; Weiyi FENG ; Rong CHEN ; Deshi DONG ; Yong YANG ; Li LI ; Xiaocong ZUO ; Jinfang HU ; Hongliang ZHANG ; Qingchun ZHAO ; Qi LIN ; Yang HU ; Jiaying WU ; Rongsheng ZHAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1105-1112
OBJECTIVE To formulate Guidelines for the standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics ( 2026 edition ) in response to the challenges faced by such clinics in China, including uneven development, large discrepancies in service specifications, insufficient patient awareness, and limited medical insurance coverage. METHODS Led by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Professional Committee of the Chinese Hospital Association, the Evidence-based Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, and the Hospital Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Cross-strait Medical and Health Exchange Association, a total of 19 domestic hospital pharmacy experts were organized. Through a systematic review of national policies and literature research, current practical experience was summarized. Consensus on the contents of the guidelines was reached after in-depth discussions. RESULTS &CONCLUSIONS The guidelines covered five sections: definition and connotation of pharmacist-managed clinics, establishment requirements, implementation and management, post competency, and practical research. Firstly, the definition and connotation included three operational forms of pharmacist-managed clinics (independent mode, physician-pharmacist joint mode, and online pharmacist-managed clinic mode) and classified service modes (specialty-specific, drug-specific, and disease-specific pharmacist-managed clinics). The establishment requirements were further refined, covering system construction (pharmaceutical service management system, quality control and assessment mechanism), personnel qualifications (professional credentials, continuing education and professional training, etc), service recipients, as well as service venues and facilities. Subsequently, the implementation and management of pharmacist-managed clinics were proposed, involving service procedures, intervention measures, documentation and records, patient education and follow-up, humanistic care, as well as risk management and quality control. Finally, post competency encompassed the competency requirements for pharmacists providing services in pharmacist-managed clinics, as well as the suggestions on teaching methods; practical research encouraged the conduct of high-quality pharmaceutical practice in the setting of pharmacist-managed clinics. The guidelines provide valuable guidance for the standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics in China in terms of establishment, management, teaching, and research, fill the guideline gap in this field, and can promote the high-quality development of pharmacist-managed clinics.
3.Erchentang Ameliorates SiO2-induced Lung Injury by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorders via Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Jun LU ; Xinyi ZHU ; Ziyi LIU ; Jixia HU ; Jialu CHEN ; Rong XIAO ; Zhibin WANG ; Chang LIU ; Fangguo LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):32-42
ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of Erchentang (ECT) on SiO2-induced lung injury in rats and to explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsA rat model of lung injury was established by a single intratracheal instillation of 50 mg·mL-1 SiO2 suspension. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, model, low and high-dose (4.5 g·kg-1·d-1 and 9 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) ECT, and dexamethasone (0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1). All the groups were treated for 4 consecutive weeks. Histopathological alterations in the lung tissue were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the lung tissue were measured through biochemical assays. The expression of key molecules in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway was determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence assay. The primary active components of ECT were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and their binding affinity to Nrf2/HO-1 was assessed by molecular docking. Untargeted metabolomics of the lung tissue was performed based on UPLC-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and correlation analysis was performed to identify differential metabolites and parameters closely associated with the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight gain, an increase in lung index, increased MDA content, weakened SOD and GSH-Px activities in the lung tissue, down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and protein levels of HO-1 and GPX4, and an up-regulated protein level of Keap1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Treatment with ECT attenuated the SiO2-induced decline in body weight (P<0.05), alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and silicotic nodule formation in alveoli, and reduced the MDA content and enhanced the SOD and GSH-Px activities in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). UPLC-MS/MS and molecular docking revealed that core components of ECT, such as hesperidin and glycyrrhizic acid, displayed strong binding affinity to Nrf2/HO-1. Molecular biological experiments demonstrated that ECT promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of HO-1 and GPX4, and down-regulated Keap1 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomic analysis indicated that ECT reversed the SiO2-induced aberrant expression of metabolites, including linoleic acid and glutamine (P<0.05, P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that Nrf2 and HO-1 were positively correlated with SOD and GSH-Px (P<0.05, P<0.01), but negatively correlated with glutamine and serine (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionECT may activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway through its core active components, thereby regulating oxidative stress and metabolic disorders to ameliorate SiO2-induced lung injury in rats. This study provides experimental evidence for ECT in the prevention and treatment of occupational lung injury.
4.Design Strategies and Antitumor Applications of Zinc-based Nanomaterials for Achieving “Zinc Overload”
Rong WANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Yun-Feng BAI ; Feng FENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1896-1913
“Zinc overload” has emerged as a promising strategy in tumor nanomedicine, wherein exogenous modulation of metal ion homeostasis selectively triggers cancer cell death. Among various bioactive ions, zinc (Zn2+) stands out due to its unique ability to simultaneously disrupt energy metabolism, damage mitochondria, degrade mutant p53, and activate antitumor immunity. Notably, tumor cells exhibit greater sensitivity to Zn2+ overload while normal cells maintain higher tolerance. This review systematically summarizes design strategies for achieving “zinc overload” using biodegradable zinc-based nanomaterials, focusing on two fundamental questions: how to specifically deliver Zn2+ to tumors (targeted delivery), and how to trigger controlled release at the tumor site (release strategies). Current challenges are critically analyzed and future perspectives are offered. For targeted delivery, the strategies are categorized into passive, active, and biomimetic approaches. Passive targeting relies on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect but suffers from poor enrichment efficiency and rapid clearance. Active targeting conjugates ligands (e.g., folic acid, hyaluronic acid) to recognize overexpressed receptors, significantly enhancing cellular uptake. It is emphasized that hyaluronic acid-modified ZIF-8 can co-deliver siRNA for GLUT1 silencing, achieving systematic energy exhaustion. Biomimetic delivery using cell membranes confers immune evasion, prolonged circulation, and homologous targeting, exhibiting the lowest off-target toxicity. This approach is considered to guide future nanocarrier design. For Zn2+ release, 4 mechanisms are discussed. Endogenous environment-responsive release exploits acidic pH to degrade materials like ZIF-8 or ZnO, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, and autophagic blockade. Incorporation of other ions (Ca2+, Mn2+, Ni2+) enables synergistic metabolic interference and immune activation. Exogenous responsive release using near-infrared light offers spatiotemporally precise activation. For example, a nanorobot combining black phosphorus with ZIF-8 accelerates Zn2+ release under dual acid and light stimuli. Ion exchange represents an elegant trigger: zinc complexes (e.g., Zn-carnosine) have higher affinity for Cu2+; competitive coordination releases Zn2+ while depleting Cu2+, dually inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. This mechanism is proposed to hold promise for overcoming metabolic reprogramming. Finally, biological regulation—silencing the ZnT1 zinc transporter to block Zn2+ efflux—represents a paradigm shift from passive delivery to active homeostatic disruption. This “block and attack” strategy may prevent acquired resistance. The therapeutic consequences of zinc overload are multifaceted. Zn2+ causes lysosomal membrane permeabilization and impaired SNARE complex formation, blocking autophagic flux and inducing a distinct cell death termed “zincosis”. In mitochondria, Zn2+ inhibits glutathione reductase, causing oxidative stress and electron transport chain blockade. Meanwhile, Zn2+ suppresses glycolytic enzymes (GAPDH, LDHA), leading to ATP depletion and reversing drug resistance by downregulating P-glycoprotein. Moreover, zinc overload triggers immunogenic cell death, promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cell infiltration. Combined with cGAS-STING activation, this reshapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and inhibits distant metastasis. These interconnected mechanisms endow zinc overload with a unique advantage over single-modality treatments. Despite remarkable preclinical efficacy, challenges remain: systemic toxicity from off-target release, potential zinc tolerance via metallothionein upregulation, and insufficient pharmacokinetic data. Future directions should prioritize: (1) intelligent stimuli-responsive materials; (2) combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors;(3) theragnostic integration; (4) deeper mechanistic studies; and (5) artificial intelligence-assisted screening. Zinc overload therapy is expected to become an indispensable component of integrated tumor treatment.
5.Introduction and enlightenment of the Recommendations and Expert Consensus for Plasm a and Platelet Transfusion Practice in Critically ill Children: from the Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative-Control/Avoidance of Bleeding (TAXI-CAB)
Lu LU ; Jiaohui ZENG ; Hao TANG ; Lan GU ; Junhua ZHANG ; Zhi LIN ; Dan WANG ; Mingyi ZHAO ; Minghua YANG ; Rong HUANG ; Rong GUI
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(4):585-594
To guide transfusion practice in critically ill children who often need plasma and platelet transfusions, the Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative-Control/Avoidance of Bleeding (TAXI-CAB) developed Recommendations and Expert Consensus for Plasma and Platelet Transfusion Practice in Critically Ill Children. This guideline addresses 53 recommendations related to plasma and platelet transfusion in critically ill children with 8 kinds of diseases, laboratory testing, selection/treatment of plasma and platelet components, and research priorities. This paper introduces the specific methods and results of the recommendation formation of the guideline.
6.Research progress in engineered hydrogels for organoids.
Ziran CHEN ; Rong HUANG ; Pengyu LI ; Yan LU ; Kai LI ; Wei SONG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3036-3048
Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cellular structures formed through the differentiation and self-organization of pluripotent stem cells or tissue-derived cells, showing considerable potential in the research on disease mechanism, personalized medicine, and developmental biology. However, the development of organoids is limited by the complex composition, batch-to-batch variations, and immunogenicity of basement-membrane matrix in the current culture system, which hinders the clinical translation and in vivo applications of organoids. Hydrogels are highly hydrated 3D polymer network materials, with modifiable mechanical and biochemical properties by engineering, representing an ideal alternative to basement-membrane matrix. This article reviews the research progress in engineered hydrogels with defined composition currently used in organoid culture. We introduce the structural characteristics and engineering design considerations of hydrogels, emphasize the latest research progress and specific application cases, and discuss the future development of these engineered hydrogels, provide valuable insights for the further advancement and optimization of engineered hydrogels for organoid.
Hydrogels/chemistry*
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Organoids/cytology*
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Tissue Engineering/methods*
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Humans
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Animals
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Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology*
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Cell Culture Techniques, Three Dimensional/methods*
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Tissue Scaffolds
7.Research Progress of Endothelial Mechanoreceptors in Aortic Dilation Disease
Rong ZHAO ; Huiying SUN ; Shuangshuang LI ; Qingsheng LU
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(2):492-498
The hemodynamics within the aortic lumen is highly complex,and the mechanical stimuli generated by blood flow play a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of aortic dilation disease.Endothelial cells,as key components of the vascular endothelium,respond precisely to microenvironmental changes caused by blood flow through mechanoreceptors,including ion channels,receptor tyrosine kinases,and membrane structures.These mechanoreceptors convert mechanical stresses into biochemical signals,thereby affecting the physiological functions and pathological changes of blood vessels.In recent years,significant advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms by which endothelial mechanoreceptors are involved in aortic dilation diseases.This review summarizes the research progress of mechanoreceptor-mediated endothelial cell function in regulating aortic dilation diseases and provides a perspective on future research directions,with the aim of offering new insights and potential targets for the development of clinical treatment strategies.
8.Mendelian randomization reveals the effect of plasma lipidomics on pan-creatitis
Qi-rong JIANG ; Zhe-yu NIU ; Fa-ji YANG ; Yi-jie HAO ; Shi-zhe ZHANG ; Jun LU
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(6):436-443
Objective:To investigate the causal effects of plasma lipidomics on pancreatitis using Mendelian ran-domization(MR)and evaluate the roles of intra-pancreatic fat deposition(IPFD)and gallstone disease in this relation-ship.Methods:A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted,with 179 plasma lipids as exposures and acute pancreati-tis(AP)and chronic pancreatitis(CP)as outcomes.Data were sourced from genome-wide association studies(GWAS),the UK Biobank,and the FinnGen project.Two-step Mendelian randomization(TSMR)and multivariable Mendelian ran-domization(MVMR)analyses were applied to assess the mediating roles of IPFD and gallstone disease in the associa-tion between plasma lipids and pancreatitis.Results:MR analysis identified two sterols negatively associated with AP(P<0.05)and seven sterols negatively associated with CP(P<0.05).One phospholipid showed a positive association with CP(P<0.05).IPFD was positively associated with both AP and CP.Gallstone disease was confirmed as a risk fac-tor for AP.However,TSMR analysis indicated that neither IPFD nor gallstone disease mediated the relationship be-tween plasma lipids and pancreatitis.Conclusion:The causal relationship exists among plasma lipomics and AP/CP,also between IPFD,cholelithiasis and pancreatitis.These findings highlight novel risk factors and potential biomarkers to support early diagnosis and intervention for pancreatitis.
9.Construction of evaluation index system for function testing of scissors surgical instruments in central sterile supply department
Jun PENG ; Rong XU ; Juan ZHU ; Xi-qiong DING ; Lu-lu HUANG
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(4):76-81
Objective To establish a scientific and objective index system for the function testing and evaluation of scissors surgical instruments in the central sterile supply department to provide systematic and comprehensive function testing and evaluation indexes for the sterile supply personnel.Methods Firstly,an initial pool of items was developed by literature review and semi-structured interview;secondly,an expert correspondence questionnaire was formed based on group discussion,and the final evaluation indexes were determined after 2 rounds of Delphi expert correspondence in March to June 2023;and lastly,the weights of the evaluation indexes were clarified with the hierarchical analysis method.Results The 2 rounds of Delphi expert correspondence had the effective response rate being 85%and 100%,the expert authority coefficient being 0.94 and 0.96 and the Kendall concordant coeffient being 0.339 and 0.350,respectively,and the consistency test showed all P<0.001.The established index system involved in 3 first-level indicators,7 second-level indicators and 20 third-level indicators,of which the first-level indicators of appearance,structure and performance had the weights of 0.171 2,0.384 7 and 0.444 0,respectively.Conclusion The evaluation index system of scissors surgical instruments developed gains advantages in scientificity,rationality and practicality,and facilitates objective function evaluation of scissors surgical instruments in the central sterile supply department.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(4):76-81]
10.Expert consensus: reducing free-sugar for caries prevention
Xiaojuan ZENG ; Xuenan LIU ; Min LIU ; Yan SI ; Ying ZHANG ; Jianqiang LAI ; Xianbin DING ; Chang SU ; Xiang SI ; Youguang LU ; Huancai LIN ; Shuguo ZHENG ; Wensheng RONG ; Minquan DU ; Xiaoyan OU ; Rongmin QIU ; Maigeng ZHOU ; Chunxiao WANG
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2025;60(4):311-319
In modern society, sugary foods have become an integral part of many people′s lives. However, excessive sugar consumption has adverse effects on both overall health and oral health, serving as a contributing factor to the global increasing incidence in oral diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, obesity, and diabetes. In response to the health risks related to high-sugar diets, the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Dental Federation (FDI) have proposed initiatives and recommendations, with various governments implementing different policies and strategies to reduce sugar intake. Chinese government has also taken proactive measures. The "Healthy China Action (2019-2030)" initiative introduced by the State Council in 2019 established a crucial benchmark in limiting the average daily intake of added sugar to 25 g per person forward to 2030. Experts from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the field of oral health have meticulously examined the impacts of sugar reduction on oral health, as well as strategies, methods, and practical considerations related to reducing sugar intake through several meeting and wrote the "Expert consensus: reducing free-sugar for caries prevention", which was subsequently reviewed and revised based on the feedback from multiple stakeholders. They have conducted thorough analyses of global trends in sugar reduction and best practices to provide valuable insights to China for crafting effective policies and strategies on sugar reduction. This consensus mainly includes the classification of free sugars, the latest scientific evidence on dental caries, recommendations from WHO on sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, nutrition labeling, advertising, food reform, adjusting supply systems, education, and promotion strategies, as well as sugar reduction actions taken by various governments around the world. Combining the actual situation in China, policy recommendations and authoritative popular science knowledge on sugar reduction for caries prevention to public are proposed to advocate for experts in multiple fields to focus on sugar reduction for caries prevention, promote the work process, and provide the scientific basis for oral health educators.

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