1.Fluorescence Suppression Method of Raman Spectroscopy and Its Application in Skin and Cosmetics Analysis
Yun-Xia CHEN ; Jia-Rong WANG ; Jian-Yu ZHU ; Shi-Wen LIN ; Ya-Nan LIU ; Xiao-Yue MA ; Guang-Cheng XI ; Juan LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1914-1926
Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 106 to 108 times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.
2.A Mechanistic Framework of Exercise-induced Amelioration of Autism Spectrum Disorder via miR-132, miR-34a, and miR-146a
Xiao YANG ; Ya-Qi XUE ; Xin-Jian SHU ; Yan-Yan WANG ; Niu LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(8):2210-2219
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with a steadily rising global prevalence, yet effective pharmacological interventions remain notably limited, highlighting an urgent need for safe, accessible, and mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. Physical exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention that ameliorates both core symptoms—social communication deficits and restricted repetitive behaviors—and associated features including cognitive dysfunction and motor impairments, in children and adolescents with ASD. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating these beneficial effects remain incompletely defined, impeding the development of evidence-based exercise prescriptions and biomarker-driven rehabilitation protocols. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate approximately 60% of protein-coding genes. Within the central nervous system, miRNAs orchestrate diverse neurobiological processes including neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal differentiation, dendritic spine morphogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammatory homeostasis. Notably, miRNAs are remarkably stable in biological fluids and can be packaged into extracellular vesicles, rendering them attractive candidates as both mechanistic mediators and non-invasive peripheral biomarkers. Among the hundreds of miRNAs expressed in the brain, three—miR-132, miR-34a, and miR-146a—have emerged as particularly relevant to ASD pathophysiology. This review focuses on these three miRNAs for the following reasons: miR-132 is a master regulator of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity through its modulation of BDNF/MeCP2/PTEN signaling and has been consistently downregulated in ASD prefrontal cortex; miR-34a functions as a pro-apoptotic factor that suppresses Bcl-2-mediated neuronal survival pathways and is upregulated in ASD cerebellum; and miR-146a serves as a key brake on neuroinflammation via TLR7/IRAK1 signaling and shows region-specific dysregulation in ASD temporal lobe. We first summarize evidence from human post-mortem brain tissues and ASD animal models demonstrating the consistent dysregulation of these three miRNAs. Notably, the pathological consequences of these miRNA alterations—impaired synaptic plasticity, excessive neuronal apoptosis, and sustained neuroinflammation—are interconnected and collectively contribute to the heterogeneous symptomatology of ASD. We then present a synthesis of emerging evidence demonstrating that various exercise modalities, including swimming, treadmill running, and voluntary wheel running, can concurrently reverse these ASD-like behavioral phenotypes and normalize the expression of the three key miRNAs. These data provide the first direct experimental evidence linking exercise-induced miRNA modulation to ASD symptom improvement. On the basis of these findings, we propose an integrative “exercise-miRNA-ASD” framework wherein exercise functions as a multi-targeted modulator—simultaneously enhancing synaptic plasticity, promoting neuronal survival, and attenuating neuroinflammation—through coordinated regulation of the three miRNAs. Importantly, this framework is not merely descriptive but offers testable predictions: exercise-induced miRNA changes should be dose-dependent, show temporal correlation with behavioral improvements, and be blunted by miRNA-specific antagonists or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout. Beyond its specific application to ASD, this framework has broader implications. The miR-132/BDNF, miR-34a/Bcl-2, and miR-146a/TLR7 pathways are not ASD-specific but represent fundamental neural stress and repair mechanisms that are dysregulated across Alzheimer’s disease (AD), traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and major depressive disorder. Exercise has been shown to modulate these same miRNAs in several of these conditions, suggesting that the “exercise-miRNA-neural function” axis may represent a conserved neuroprotective mechanism that transcends diagnostic boundaries. Thus, we propose that ASD serves as an ideal model disease for elucidating this universal mechanism, with findings potentially generalizable to other neurological disorders. We also critically evaluate current translational barriers: the near-absence of human clinical trials with serial miRNA profiling; the undefined dose-response relationships between exercise parameters and miRNA expression; the unresolved causality issue (current evidence demonstrates association, not causation); and the uncertain correlation between peripheral exosomal miRNA levels and brain miRNA dynamics. We argue that future research must prioritize CRISPR/Cas9-based miRNA manipulation in animal models combined with longitudinal exercise interventions to establish causality, and that cross-disease validation studies are essential to determine whether exercise-induced miRNA changes represent a shared neuroprotective signature or disease-specific responses. Ultimately, we envision a paradigm where a simple blood test measuring exosomal miR-132, miR-34a, and miR-146a levels could guide personalized exercise prescriptions, enabling precision rehabilitation for individuals with ASD and potentially other neurological conditions.
3.Network toxicology and its application in studying exogenous chemical toxicity
Yanli LIN ; Zehua TAO ; Zhao XIAO ; Chenxu HU ; Bobo YANG ; Ya WANG ; Rongzhu LU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):238-244
With the continuous development of society, a large number of new chemicals are continuously emerging, which presents a challenge to current risk assessment and safety management of chemicals. Traditional toxicology research methods have certain limitations in quickly, efficiently, and accurately assessing the toxicity of many chemicals, and cannot meet the actual needs. In response to this challenge, computational toxicology that use mathematical and computer models to achieve the prediction of chemical toxicity has emerged. In the meantime, as researchers increasingly pay attention to understanding the interaction mechanisms between exogenous chemical substances and the body from the system level, and multiomics technologies develop rapidly such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, huge amounts of data have been generated, providing rich information resources for studying the interactions between chemical substances and biological molecules. System toxicology and network toxicology have also developed accordingly. Of these, network toxicology can integrate these multiomics data to construct biomolecular networks, and then quickly predict the key toxicological targets and pathways of chemicals at the molecular level. This paper outlined the concept and development of network toxicology, summarized the main methods and supporting tools of network toxicology research, expounded the application status of network toxicology in studying potential toxicity of exogenous chemicals such as agricultural chemicals, environmental pollutants, industrial chemicals, and foodborne chemicals, and analyzed the development prospects and limitations of network toxicology research. This paper aimed to provide a reference for the application of network toxicology in other fields.
4.Design, synthesis and evaluation of oxadiazoles as novel XO inhibitors
Hong-zhan WANG ; Ya-jun YANG ; Ying YANG ; Fei YE ; Jin-ying TIAN ; Chuan-ming ZHANG ; Zhi-yan XIAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):164-171
Xanthine oxidase (XO) is an important therapeutic target for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. Based on the previously identified potent XO inhibitor
5.The Role and Mechanism of Circadian Rhythm Regulation in Skin Tissue Regeneration
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Xiao-Meng MA ; Zhen-Kai JIN ; Kun LI ; Min WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1165-1178
Circadian rhythm is an endogenous biological clock mechanism that enables organisms to adapt to the earth’s alternation of day and night. It plays a fundamental role in regulating physiological functions and behavioral patterns, such as sleep, feeding, hormone levels and body temperature. By aligning these processes with environmental changes, circadian rhythm plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and promoting optimal health. However, modern lifestyles, characterized by irregular work schedules and pervasive exposure to artificial light, have disrupted these rhythms for many individuals. Such disruptions have been linked to a variety of health problems, including sleep disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction, underscoring the critical role of circadian rhythm in human health. Among the numerous systems influenced by circadian rhythm, the skin—a multifunctional organ and the largest by surface area—is particularly noteworthy. As the body’s first line of defense against environmental insults such as UV radiation, pollutants, and pathogens, the skin is highly affected by changes in circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm regulates multiple skin-related processes, including cyclic changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as DNA repair mechanisms and antioxidant defenses. For instance, studies have shown that keratinocyte proliferation peaks during the night, coinciding with reduced environmental stress, while DNA repair mechanisms are most active during the day to counteract UV-induced damage. This temporal coordination highlights the critical role of circadian rhythms in preserving skin integrity and function. Beyond maintaining homeostasis, circadian rhythm is also pivotal in the skin’s repair and regeneration processes following injury. Skin regeneration is a complex, multi-stage process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, all of which are influenced by circadian regulation. Key cellular activities, such as fibroblast migration, keratinocyte activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling, are modulated by the circadian clock, ensuring that repair processes occur with optimal efficiency. Additionally, circadian rhythm regulates the secretion of cytokines and growth factors, which are critical for coordinating cellular communication and orchestrating tissue regeneration. Disruptions to these rhythms can impair the repair process, leading to delayed wound healing, increased scarring, or chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent information on the interactions between circadian rhythms and skin physiology, with a particular focus on skin tissue repair and regeneration. Molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation in skin cells, including the role of core clock genes such as Clock, Bmal1, Per and Cry. These genes control the expression of downstream effectors involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, oxidative stress response and inflammatory pathways. By understanding how these mechanisms operate in healthy and diseased states, we can discover new insights into the temporal dynamics of skin regeneration. In addition, by exploring the therapeutic potential of circadian biology in enhancing skin repair and regeneration, strategies such as topical medications that can be applied in a time-limited manner, phototherapy that is synchronized with circadian rhythms, and pharmacological modulation of clock genes are expected to optimize clinical outcomes. Interventions based on the skin’s natural rhythms can provide a personalized and efficient approach to promote skin regeneration and recovery. This review not only introduces the important role of circadian rhythms in skin biology, but also provides a new idea for future innovative therapies and regenerative medicine based on circadian rhythms.
6.Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
Pei SUN ; Hong HAN ; Yi-Kang SUN ; Xi WANG ; Xiao-Chuan LIU ; Bo-Yang ZHOU ; Li-Fan WANG ; Ya-Qin ZHANG ; Zhi-Gang PAN ; Bei-Jian HUANG ; Hui-Xiong XU ; Chong-Ke ZHAO
Ultrasonography 2025;44(2):112-123
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations.
Methods:
This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits.
Results:
Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01).
Conclusion
Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.
7.Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
Pei SUN ; Hong HAN ; Yi-Kang SUN ; Xi WANG ; Xiao-Chuan LIU ; Bo-Yang ZHOU ; Li-Fan WANG ; Ya-Qin ZHANG ; Zhi-Gang PAN ; Bei-Jian HUANG ; Hui-Xiong XU ; Chong-Ke ZHAO
Ultrasonography 2025;44(2):112-123
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations.
Methods:
This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits.
Results:
Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01).
Conclusion
Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.
8.Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
Pei SUN ; Hong HAN ; Yi-Kang SUN ; Xi WANG ; Xiao-Chuan LIU ; Bo-Yang ZHOU ; Li-Fan WANG ; Ya-Qin ZHANG ; Zhi-Gang PAN ; Bei-Jian HUANG ; Hui-Xiong XU ; Chong-Ke ZHAO
Ultrasonography 2025;44(2):112-123
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations.
Methods:
This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits.
Results:
Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01).
Conclusion
Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.
9.Application of colloidal gold method and chemiluminescence method for detecting gonadotropins in morning urine to assess pubertal development status in children.
Xue-Qi ZHAO ; Wen-Li LU ; Wen-Ying LI ; Jun-Qi WANG ; Zhi-Ya DONG ; Yuan XIAO ; Xiao-Fei ZHANG ; Li JIANG ; Xiao-Yu MA
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(2):199-204
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the application of the colloidal gold method and chemiluminescence method in detecting gonadotropin (Gn) in morning urine for assessing pubertal development status in children.
METHODS:
A total of 132 children diagnosed with central precocious puberty (CPP), early and fast puberty (EFP), and premature thelarche (PT) at Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from November 2021 to December 2022 were included, along with 685 healthy children who underwent routine health examinations at the hospital's pediatric health care department during the same period. All 132 patients underwent a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test. Both patients and healthy children had their urinary Gn levels measured using the colloidal gold method and chemiluminescence method, including levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The correlation between serum Gn and urinary Gn detected by the two methods, as well as the correlation between Tanner stages of healthy children and urinary Gn, was analyzed.
RESULTS:
Urine Gn levels detected by both the colloidal gold method and chemiluminescence method showed a positive correlation with serum LH baseline values, LH peak values, baseline LH/FSH ratios, and peak LH/FSH ratios (P<0.05). In healthy children, urinary LH levels detected by the chemiluminescence method gradually increased from Tanner stage Ⅰ to Ⅳ (P<0.05), while urinary FSH levels were lower in Tanner stage I than in stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and IV (P<0.05). Urinary LH levels detected by the colloidal gold method were lower in Tanner stage I compared to stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and IV, with the highest levels observed in Tanner stage Ⅳ (P<0.05). Additionally, urinary FSH levels in Tanner stage Ⅲ were higher than in stages Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for evaluating Tanner stages I and II in healthy children using urinary LH and FSH levels by the chemiluminescence method and urinary LH levels by the colloidal gold method were 0.730, 0.699, and 0.783, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The colloidal gold method and chemiluminescence method for detecting Gn in morning urine show good correlation with serum Gn levels. As a non-invasive and convenient detection method, the colloidal gold method can serve as a useful tool for screening the onset of pubertal development in children.
Humans
;
Child
;
Male
;
Female
;
Gold Colloid
;
Luminescent Measurements/methods*
;
Gonadotropins/urine*
;
Puberty
;
Luteinizing Hormone/urine*
;
Child, Preschool
;
Adolescent
;
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/urine*
10.Application value of thromboelastography in assessing coagulation function in children with severe hemophilia A after emicizumab therapy: a single-center study.
Dong PENG ; Ying WANG ; Gui-Chi ZHOU ; Qian LI ; Mei-Zhu LUO ; Li-Ping LUO ; Ya-Xian KUANG ; Xiao-Ying FU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(3):293-299
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the application value of thromboelastography (TEG) in assessing coagulation function in children with severe hemophilia A (HA) after emicizumab (EMI) therapy.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and TEG testing results of 17 children with severe HA before and after EMI treatment at Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2023 to July 2024. Correlation analysis was conducted between coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) equivalent activity and reaction time (R value) measured by TEG.
RESULTS:
After EMI treatment, the mean bleeding rate for children with severe HA was 1.6 events per year, with 15 children (88%) without spontaneous bleeding or joint bleeding. The children with severe HA showed a significant reduction in APTT after EMI treatment (P<0.05), with a significantly shorter APTT than the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no correlation between APTT and FVIII equivalent activity after treatment (P>0.05). After EMI treatment, TEG parameters, including R value, kinetic time, alpha angle (α), maximum amplitude, clot strength, and coagulation index, shifted from a hypocoagulable state before treatment to a nearly normal state after treatment (P<0.05). The R value demonstrated a strong negative correlation with FVIII equivalent activity (r=-0.758, P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The bleeding condition of children with severe HA can be effectively controlled after EMI treatment. Routine APTT testing cannot reflect true coagulation function, whereas TEG testing is clinically valuable in assessing the coagulation function of children with severe HA undergoing EMI treatment.
Humans
;
Thrombelastography
;
Hemophilia A/physiopathology*
;
Male
;
Child
;
Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use*
;
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use*
;
Blood Coagulation/drug effects*
;
Child, Preschool
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Female
;
Partial Thromboplastin Time
;
Adolescent
;
Infant

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail