1.Fibroblast Growth Factors in Parkinson’s Disease: Multi-target Neuroprotective Mechanisms Involving Neuroinflammation, Cellular Stress, and Ferroptosis
Hui WANG ; Zi-Gui ZHOU ; Teng-Teng HAN ; Chang-Zhi YANG ; Xue-Wen TIAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):855-874
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the pathological accumulation ofα‑synuclein. Although extensive progress has been made in elucidating its pathogenesis, current therapeutic approaches remain largely symptomatic, and effective disease-modifying treatments are still unavailable. Increasing evidence indicates that PD is driven by the interaction of multiple pathological processes, including neuroinflammation, iron homeostasis dysregulation and ferroptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and impaired protein homeostasis, which together contribute to neuronal vulnerability and degeneration. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a family of 22 ligands that play important roles in neural development, stress responses, metabolic regulation, and the maintenance of nervous system homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that several FGF family members, such as FGF1, FGF2, FGF9, and FGF21, exert neuroprotective effects in cellular and animal models of PD. These effects include the regulation of inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, iron homeostasis, cellular stress adaptation, and neuronal survival. Compared with therapeutic strategies targeting a single pathogenic pathway, FGFs appear to influence multiple disease-related processes, suggesting their potential relevance to the complex pathophysiology of PD. Experimental evidence indicates that altered FGF signaling may contribute to dopaminergic neuron dysfunction through the coordinated regulation of several interconnected mechanisms. FGFs have been reported to modulate neuroinflammation by affecting the activation of microglia and astrocytes, thereby influencing the inflammatory environment in the central nervous system. In addition, FGFs are involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis and ferroptosis, partly through antioxidant signaling pathways associated with NRF2, SLC7A11, and GPX4. Moreover, FGFs can alleviate ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction by activating intracellular signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, AMPK-PGC-1α, as well as SIRT1-dependent programs, which support cellular energy metabolism and redox balance. Recent advances in single-cell and spatial transcriptomic studies further suggest that FGF signaling is not limited to neuron-intrinsic mechanisms but also involves interactions among different glial cell types. Altered FGF ligand-receptor communication between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes has been observed in PD models and is associated with increased susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons to oxidative stress and ferroptosis. These findings indicate that the biological effects of FGFs are influenced by cell type and disease stage and may vary under different pathological conditions. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding the roles of FGF family members in PD, with a focus on their involvement in iron homeostasis dysregulation and ferroptosis, neuroinflammation, cellular stress responses, and neuronal protection and regeneration. By integrating current evidence, this review aims to provide a clearer understanding of how FGFs participate in PD pathogenesis and to offer a theoretical basis for future studies exploring their potential value in disease-modifying therapeutic strategies.
2.Compact Fundus Imaging System Using Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensing for High-speed Auto-focus
Zhe-Kai LIN ; Long CHEN ; Geng-Yong ZHENG ; Jin-Tian HUANG ; Jia-Xin DONG ; Shang-Pan YANG ; Wen-Zheng DING ; Ding-An HAN ; Xue-Hua WANG ; Ya-Guang ZENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1076-1086
ObjectiveThe widespread adoption of portable fundus cameras for primary care and community screening is hindered by limitations in current autofocus(AF) technologies. Image-based methods relying on sharpness evaluation require iterative searches, resulting in slow convergence, while projection-based techniques are susceptible to optical artifacts and calibration errors. To address these challenges, this study introduces a novel AF system based on direct wavefront sensing, designed to deliver simultaneous high speed, high precision, and operational robustness within the compact form factor essential for portable ophthalmic devices. MethodsOur approach fundamentally reimagines the AF process by directly measuring the ocular wavefront aberration. We developed a custom portable fundus camera integrating a miniaturized Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) into the optical path. An 850 nm laser diode projects a point source onto the retina via oblique illumination to minimize corneal reflections. Light scattered from this spot carries the eye’s refractive error through the imaging optics and is directed to the SHWS, positioned at a plane optically conjugate to the primary color CMOS imaging sensor. A microlens array within the SHWS samples the incident wavefront, generating a pattern of focal spots on a CCD. Real-time centroid analysis of these spots provides a map of local wavefront slopes. These measurements are processed through a singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm to fit a Zernike polynomial basis set, enabling real-time reconstruction of the wavefront phase. The defocus component (S) is extracted from the second-order Zernike coefficients, providing a direct, quantitative measure of the refractive error in diopters. This value serves as a precise error signal in a closed-loop control system, which commands a voice-coil actuated focusing lens to its null position in a single, deterministic step, eliminating the need for iterative search algorithms. ResultsComprehensive evaluation demonstrated the system’s high performance. Testing on a calibrated model eye (OEMI-7) established a highly linear relationship between the computed defocus S and the focusing lens position across a ±20 Diopter (D) compensation range, achievable within a 5 mm mechanical travel. The system achieved a focusing precision of 0.08 D, corresponding to an 18-fold improvement over a conventional projection spot-size method tested under identical conditions. The total focus acquisition time, encompassing wavefront measurement, computation, and lens actuation, averaged under 0.5 s. Clinical validation with 25 human volunteers (50 eyes, refractive range -15 D to +10 D) confirmed practical efficacy. The wavefront-sensing AF succeeded in 92% of attempts with a mean time of 0.5 s, substantially outperforming a projection-based benchmark which achieved only a 32% success rate with an average time of 4.25 s. The system provided instantaneous directional guidance and maintained stability during minor ocular movements. Objective assessment of image quality, via amplitude contrast of retinal vasculature, showed consistent and significant enhancement following AF correction across the entire tested diopter range. ConclusionThis work successfully implements and validates a direct wavefront-sensing autofocus paradigm for portable fundus cameras. By directly quantifying and compensating for the optical defocus aberration, this method bypasses the fundamental limitations of image-processing and projection-based techniques, enabling rapid, precise, and deterministic diopter compensation. The developed system delivers an exceptional combination of a wide operational range (±20 D), high accuracy (0.08 D), fast convergence (0.5 s), and a compact physical footprint. This technology provides a practical and high-performance focusing solution capable of enhancing the reliability, throughput, and diagnostic utility of portable retinal imaging in large-scale screening applications. Future efforts will be directed towards system cost optimization and performance adaptation for diverse ocular conditions.
3.The SMAD-Pathway Mediates HMGB1-Induced Proliferation and Metastatic Progression in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
De-De LIAN ; Xue Mei LI ; Yu-Xi JIA ; Ming-Wei ZHOU ; Xiang-Ru CHEN ; Yang-Yang TIAN ; Min LI ; Ming-Hui SUN ; Ye ZHAO ; Hong-Jun LI ; Qing-Ling ZHANG
Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(1):51-58
Background:
High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-binding protein involved in arthritis, ischemia, sepsis, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, meningitis, and cancer. HMGB1 exhibits dual roles in cancer, acting as either a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on context.
Objective:
This research aimed to elucidate HMGB1’s functional significance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
Methods:
We overexpressed HMGB1 in cSCC cell lines using recombinant adenovirus and examined its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration.
Results:
Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated HMGB1 expression levels in cSCC tissue relative to normal epidermis. To assess the influence of HMGB1, we employed recombinant adenoviruses expressing HMGB1 to transduce SCC cell lines (SCC12 and SCC13). Enhanced HMGB1 expression significantly promoted cellular proliferation and colony formation capacity.Notably, HMGB1 overexpression elevated the levels of proliferation regulators, including P63, SOX2, CDK4 and CDK6. Furthermore, HMGB1 overexpression substantially enhanced tumor invasiveness, accompanied by upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers. Mechanistically, overexpression of HMGB1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β signaling by increasing phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, the key mediators of EMT.
Conclusion
These data imply that HMGB1 acts as a tumor-promoting factor in cSCC.
4.Molecular epidemiological characteristics of 87 Clostridioides difficile isolates in Xi'an region
Yang LUAN ; Yixian TIAN ; Jin ZHANG ; Zerun XUE ; Ye ZHANG ; Yuan WU
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(12):1852-1857
OBJECTIVE To understand the molecular epidemiological characteristics,antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance mechanisms of Clostridioides difficile in Xi'an region,and provide data support for the prevention and control of C.difficile infection and the rational clinical use of antibiotics.METHODS A total of 87 strains of C.difficile,which were successfully isolated from stool samples collected from 6 hospitals from Oct.2018 to Dec.2022,were tested for virulence genes,population structure and genetic diversity were detected by Multilocus sequence typing(MLST)and Ribotyping(RT)methods,the drug sensitivity was detected by Etest,additionally,amino acid variations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions GyrA and GyrB were detected.RESULTS There were 41 strains(62.12%)with the genotype A+B+CDT—,23 strains(34.85%)with the genotype A-B+CDT—,and 2 strains(3.03%)with the genotype A+B+CDT+.MLST was divided into 25 ST types,and the main types were ST3,ST42 and ST39.There were 37 RT types,mainly were RT012,RT106 and RT001.All strains were sensitive to vancomycin and metronidazole,and the resistance rates to ciprofloxacin,levofloxacin and moxifloxacin were 90.80%,28.73%and 21.84%,respectively.GyrA contains two amino acid variations at Thr82-Ile and Asp205-Glu,and GyrB contains 6 amino acid variations.CONCLUSIONS The predominant toxin-producing strain of C.difficile in Xi'an is of A+B+CDT-genotype and the primary molecular types are ST54/RT012,ST42/RT106,ST3/RT001 and ST37/RT017.No strains resistant to vancomycin or metronidazole are detected.Amino acid variations in GyrA or GyrB of C.difficile are associated with quinolone resistance.To ef-fectively prevent the outbreak of C.difficile infection,it is crucial to enhance molecular epidemiology studies and strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance efforts.
5.Application of cerium oxide nanoparticles in dentistry
Xue TIAN ; Jiahui YANG ; Yuran WANG ; Jiahao ZHANG ; Yitong CHEN ; Biao ZENG ; Yiqiang YANG
STOMATOLOGY 2025;45(11):876-880
Currently,a wide range of oral antibacterial materials are clinically used,including metal element antibacterial materials(such as silver,zinc,copper,titanium),and non-metal element antibacterial materials(such as fluorine).In recent years,cerium ox-ide nanoparticles have attracted great interest in the field of oral medicine due to their unique antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,antioxi-dant,redox capabilities.At the same time,they also have the characteristics of promoting tissue regeneration,inhibiting biofilm forma-tion and good biocompatibility.To enhance the performance of oral materials,nanoparticles have been integrated into products such as composite resins,adhesives,and denture systems.Additionally,they have shown potential for modifying oral ceramic materials and an-ti-tumor effects.This review focuses on the latest research progress in various fields of oral medicine,including endodontics,periodon-tology,implantology,prosthodontics,and orthodontics,based on the biological characteristics of nano-cerium oxide.Our goal is to re-veal the potential of cerium oxide in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and to provide ideas and references for the expansion of clinical applications in oral medicine.
6.Problems and thinking of non-technical skill training of clinicians
Yang LIU ; Jing TIAN ; Jialiang SHI ; Jiayun XUE ; Oudong XIA
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(1):132-136
Recently, continuing medical education has made progress under the support of national policies. However, the exploration of continuing medical education has overlooked the concept of non-technical skills. The lack of training in non-technical skills has become increasingly prominent, which seriously restricts the development of medical education. Drawing on the developmental trajectory and curriculum design experiences of non-technical skill training in Europe and the United States, this study examines the current situation and the problems of non-technical skill training in China. By establishing an effective curriculum support system to enhance engagement, improving the training process for non-technical skills to optimize the curriculum structure, and focusing on faculty cultivation targets to establish admission standards, this study aims to promote the steady and healthy advancement of non-technical skill training, and achieve a "win-win" situation in terms of patient safety and the sustainable development of continuing medical education.
7.Analysis of completion rate of tumor evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer : a national multicenter real-world study
Kexuan LI ; Tixian XIAO ; Xiaodong WANG ; Bin WU ; Guole LIN ; Yuchen GUO ; Ming QU ; Si WU ; Xiaodong YANG ; Yinshengbo′er BAO ; Baohua WANG ; Fan ZHANG ; Xiangwang YU ; Beizhan NIU ; Junyang LU ; Lai XU ; Guannan ZHANG ; Zhen SUN ; Guoyou ZHANG ; Yan SHI ; Hong JIANG ; Yongjing TIAN ; Yongxiang LI ; Hongwei YAO ; Jun XUE ; Quan WANG ; Lie YANG ; Qian LIU ; Yi XIAO
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(1):113-119
Objective:To investigate the completion rate of tumor evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer patients in the national multicenter real-world database.Methods:The prospective real-world study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 074 patients who underwent surgical treatment for mid and low rectal cancer in 47 national medical institutions, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital et al, from May 12,2023 to May 11,2024 were collected. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (2) initial colonoscopy and pathologic evaluation of tumors in patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (3) initial imaging evaluation of patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (4) imaging evaluation after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3). Count data were described as absoluter numbers and/or percentages. Results:(1) Clinical characteristics of patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 713 males and 361 females, aged 63(56,70)years. The body mass index of 1 074 patients was 24(21,26)kg/m 2.For American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, there were 147 cases of stage Ⅰ, 641 cases of stage Ⅱ, 157 cases of stage Ⅲ, 2 cases of stage Ⅳ, and there were 127 cases missing data. (2) Initial colonoscopy and pathologic evaluation of tumors in patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 787 cases (73.28%) undergoing complete colonoscopy, and there were only 197 cases (18.34%) undergoing immunohistochemical evaluation of all four mismatch repair proteins. (3) Initial imaging evaluation of patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 842(78.40%) patients completing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound evaluation, and there were 914(85.10%) patients completing chest, abdomen, and pelvis enhanced computed tomography (CT) evaluation. In the 149 patients completing rectal ultrasound evaluation, there were 122 cases (81.88%) comple-ting T staging evaluation, and there were 81 cases (54.36%) completing N staging evaluation. In the 808 patients completing rectal MRI evaluation, there were 708 cases (87.62%) completing T staging evaluation, and there were 590 cases (73.02%) completing N staging evaluation. (4) Imaging evalua-tion after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 388 patients with neoadjuvant therapy, there were 332 patients (85.57%) completing MRI or ultrasound evaluation, and there were 327 patients (84.28%) completing chest, abdomen, and pelvis enhanced CT evalua-tion. In the 70 patients completing rectal ultrasound evaluation, there were 65 cases (92.86%) com-pleting T staging evaluation, and there were 49 cases (70.00%) completing N staging evaluation. In the 327 patients completing rectal MRI evaluation, there were 246 cases (75.23%) completing T staging, and there were 228 cases (69.72%) completing N staging evaluation. Conclusion:The com-pletion rate of tumor imaging evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer patients on a national scale is relatively good.
8.Chemical contituents from Dictamni Cortex
Yan LIU ; Tian-tian WEN ; Ye SUN ; Qing-shan CHEN ; Li-li ZHANG ; Hai-xue KUANG ; Bing-you YANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(3):812-821
AIM To study the chemical constituents from Dictamni Cortex.METHODS The 70%ethanol extract from Dictamni Cortex was isolated and purified by HP-20 macroporous resin,silica gel,MCI,ODS and preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Thirty-three compounds were isolated and identified as rutin(1),apigenin(2),catechin(3),hesperetin(4),leonuriside A(5),androsin(6),2-methoxy-4-acetylphenol-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1"-6')-β-glucopyranoside(7),vanillic acid(8),gallic acid(9),4-hydroxybenzoic acid(10),benzoic acid(11),involcranoside B(12),benzyl β-D-glucopyranoside(13),bphenylethyl-rutinoside(14),1-bromonaphthalene(15),cimifugin(16),9(S),12(S),13(S)-trihydroxyoctadeca-10(E),15(Z)-dienoic acid(17),methyl-9,12,13-trihydroxyoctadeca-10,15-dienoate(18),7,8-dihydroxy-9,12(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid(19),vernolic acid(20),9,10(erythro)-dihydroxy-11 E-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester(21),(7Z,9E,13Z)-11-hydroxyhexadeca-7,9,13-trienoic acid(22),(7Z,10Z,14E,16Z,19Z)-13-hydroxydocosa-7,10,14,16,19-pentaenoic acid(23),(9E)-8,11,12-trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid methyl ester(24),n-hexanol-O-rutinoside(25),hexyl β-sophoroside(26),3-pentyl 6'-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl)-β-D-glucopyranoside(27),3-methylbut-3-enyl-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside(28),3-methyl-but-2-en-1-yl β-D-glucopyranoside(29),3-methylbutan-1-ol-β-D-glucopyranoside(30),pregnenolone(31),2-butoxytetrahydrofuran(32),psydrin(33).CONCLUSION Compounds 2-4,8-13,15-16,25-28 and 32-33 are isolated from Rutaceae family for the first time.
9.Molecular epidemiological characteristics of 87 Clostridioides difficile isolates in Xi'an region
Yang LUAN ; Yixian TIAN ; Jin ZHANG ; Zerun XUE ; Ye ZHANG ; Yuan WU
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(12):1852-1857
OBJECTIVE To understand the molecular epidemiological characteristics,antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance mechanisms of Clostridioides difficile in Xi'an region,and provide data support for the prevention and control of C.difficile infection and the rational clinical use of antibiotics.METHODS A total of 87 strains of C.difficile,which were successfully isolated from stool samples collected from 6 hospitals from Oct.2018 to Dec.2022,were tested for virulence genes,population structure and genetic diversity were detected by Multilocus sequence typing(MLST)and Ribotyping(RT)methods,the drug sensitivity was detected by Etest,additionally,amino acid variations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions GyrA and GyrB were detected.RESULTS There were 41 strains(62.12%)with the genotype A+B+CDT—,23 strains(34.85%)with the genotype A-B+CDT—,and 2 strains(3.03%)with the genotype A+B+CDT+.MLST was divided into 25 ST types,and the main types were ST3,ST42 and ST39.There were 37 RT types,mainly were RT012,RT106 and RT001.All strains were sensitive to vancomycin and metronidazole,and the resistance rates to ciprofloxacin,levofloxacin and moxifloxacin were 90.80%,28.73%and 21.84%,respectively.GyrA contains two amino acid variations at Thr82-Ile and Asp205-Glu,and GyrB contains 6 amino acid variations.CONCLUSIONS The predominant toxin-producing strain of C.difficile in Xi'an is of A+B+CDT-genotype and the primary molecular types are ST54/RT012,ST42/RT106,ST3/RT001 and ST37/RT017.No strains resistant to vancomycin or metronidazole are detected.Amino acid variations in GyrA or GyrB of C.difficile are associated with quinolone resistance.To ef-fectively prevent the outbreak of C.difficile infection,it is crucial to enhance molecular epidemiology studies and strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance efforts.
10.Dynamic electrical impedance tomography imaging algorithm based on complementary information fusion network
Xin-yi WANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Xiang TIAN ; Ning YANG ; Jun-jie DU ; Xue-chao LIU ; Feng FU ; Xue-tao SHI ; Can-hua XU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):1-6
Objective To propose a dynamic electrical impedance tomography imaging algorithm based on complementary information fusion network(CIFN)to enhance image quality of dynamic electrical impedance imaging.Methods There were three modules for initialization,multi-frame complementary information extraction and information fusion involved in the CIFN.Firstly,multi-frame dynamic conductivity distribution images were obtained by the initialization module;secondly,spatial complementary information was extracted from the images by using the multi-frame complementary information extraction module;finally,the fusion of lesion target distribution information and target re-reconstruction were realized by the information fusion module to aquire high-quality EIT images.With a 16-electrode multilayer cranial simulation model,the CIFN-based imaging method was compared with Tikhonov regularization algorithm,spectral constraint algorithm and U-Net algorithm in terms of imaging results of types of lesions to verify its performance.Results Compared with the Tikhonov regularization algorithm,spectral constraint algorithm and U-Net algorithm,the proposed CIFN-based algorithm exhibited the lowest mean absolute error(MAE)and the highest structural similarity(SSIM)when used to image different lesion targets,which accurately reconstructed the distribution of lesion targets and gained high imaging stability under common noise levels.Conclusion The proposed CIFN-based imaging algorithm obtains high imaging quality on a cranial simulation model and reconstruction results close to the real model distribution,which provides algorithmic support for subsequent clinical studies on electrical impedance imaging.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):1-6]

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