1.Mechanism Exploration of Doxorubicin and Sepsis Induced Myocardial Injury: Differences and Convergences
Tao ZHANG ; Zihan NAN ; Lixia LIU ; Jiaqi LIU ; Xiukai CHEN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Suwen SU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):23-32
Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity and sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) represent significant clinical challenges in patients undergoing chemotherapy, sharing a common pathological basis of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has recently been shown to play a critical role in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced SIMI. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms underlying myocardial injury caused by DOX and sepsis, identifying ferroptosis as a central common pathway. DOX triggers a burst of reactive oxygen species within mitochondria and inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity through redox cycling of its quinone group and high-affinity accumulation in mitochondrial cardiolipin. LPS, by activating pattern recognition receptors and related inflammatory signaling pathways, provokes a cytokine storm and mitochondrial dysfunction. Both can disrupt the core regulatory axis of cysteine-glutathione (GSH)-GPX4, synergistically promoting ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, epigenetic regulation plays a key role in DOX- and LPS-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and may serve as a promising therapeutic target. A deeper understanding of the ferroptosis mechanism and its epigenetic regulatory network in the synergistic injury induced by DOX and sepsis is of great importance for developing novel strategies to mitigate chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and improve outcomes in cancer patients with concurrent infections.
2.Expert Consensus on Blood Flow and Oxygen Delivery Phenotyping and Clinical Management of Septic Shock(2025)
Wei HUANG ; Xinchen WANG ; Wenzhao CHAI ; Keliang CUI ; Bo YAO ; Zhiqun XING ; Cui WANG ; Jingjing LIU ; Shiyi GONG ; Dongkai LI ; Wanhong YIN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Wei DU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):40-58
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Septic shock is the primary cause of mortality in sepsis, with its core pathophysiological mechanism being severe ischemia and hypoxia in critical units—composed of microcirculation and the mitochondria of functional cells—resulting from disruptions in blood flow and oxygen flow following a dysregulated host response. Due to the systemically convergent yet clinically heterogeneous nature of the host response, current understanding and management strategies for hemodynamics remain inconsistent, often leading to inadequate resuscitation or overtreatment. To improve the quality of care, based on a systematic review of the "blood flow-oxygen flow" theory, an expert panel emphasizes reevaluating septic shock from an integrated perspective of blood flow and oxygen flow, and has formulated the
3.Expert Consensus on Neurocritical Care Monitoring and Management in Beijing and Tibet(2025)
Drolma PHURBU ; Wenjin CHEN ; Heng ZHANG ; Jian ZHANG ; Xiaomeng WANG ; Guoying LIN ; Wenjun PAN ; Xiying GUI ; Xin CAI ; Chodron TENZIN ; Jianlei FU ; Qianwei LI ; TSEYANG ; Yijun LIU ; Bo LIU ; Tsering DROLMA ; Yudron SONAM ; KYILV ; Samdrup TSERING ; Wa DA ; Juan GUO ; Cheng QIU ; Huan CHEN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Yangong CHAO ; Dawei LIU ; Wenzhao CHAI ; Chenggong HU ; Wanhong YIN ; Shihong ZHU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):59-72
Neurocritical care involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms, and its incidence is higher, injuries are more severe, and treatment is more challenging in high-altitude environments. This consensus, based on the latest domestic and international evidence-based medical data, establishes a standardized, goal-oriented framework for neurocritical care management applicable in high-altitude regions and nationwide. The consensus was developed following international standards for evidence quality assessment and underwent two rounds of Delphi expert consultation, resulting in 32 recommendation statements covering three parts: management systems, monitoring and assessment, and core strategies. Key updates include: advocating for the establishment of independent neurocritical care units and implementing precise tiered diagnosis and treatment based on the "Five Differences in Critical Care" concept; constructing a "trinity" multimodal brain monitoring system centered on cerebral blood flow, cerebral oxygenation, and brain function, emphasizing routine bedside transcranial Doppler ultrasound, cerebral oximetry, and continuous electroencephalography monitoring; shifting management strategies from mild hypothermia therapy to targeted temperature management, and defining the "446" target management pathway for the supercritical stage; emphasizing the assessment of static and dynamic cerebrovascular autoregulation functions through multimodal methods to achieve individualized optimal mean arterial pressure management; elevating cerebrospinal fluid management goals to the level of "glymphatic system" function maintenance; implementing a multidisciplinary collaborative, whole-process management model focusing on patients' long-term neurological functional outcomes; de-escalation criteria include multidimensional indicators such as recovery of brain structure, restoration of cerebrovascular autoregulation, improvement in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, and reduction in biomarker levels; and integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence into post-critical care management and rehabilitation planning. This consensus systematically integrates the entire process of neurocritical care management, reflecting the modern connotation of goal-oriented, dynamic, and multimodal integration in neurocritical care medicine. It aims to adapt to new trends such as deepening understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms, the integration of medicine and engineering, and the empowerment of artificial intelligence, thereby further advancing the discipline of critical care medicine.
4.Explainable Machine Learning Model for Predicting Prognosis in Patients with Malignant Tumors Complicated by Acute Respiratory Failure: Based on the eICU Collaborative Research Database in the United States
Zihan NAN ; Linan HAN ; Suwei LI ; Ziyi ZHU ; Qinqin ZHU ; Yan DUAN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Lixia LIU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):98-108
To develop and validate a model for predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality risk in patients with malignant tumors complicated by acute respiratory failure (ARF) based on an explainable machine learning framework. Clinical data of patients with malignant tumors and ARF were extracted from the eICU Collaborative Research Database in the United States, including demographic characteristics, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory test indicators, and major interventions within the first 24 hours after ICU admission.The study outcome was ICU death.Enrolled patients were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3.Predictor variables were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression.Five machine learning algorithms-extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector machine (SVM), Logistic regression, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and C5.0 Decision Tree-were employed to construct predictive models.Model performance was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and other metrics.The optimal model was further interpreted using the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) algorithm. A total of 3196 patients with malignant tumors complicated by ARF were included.The training set comprised 2, 261 patients and the validation set 935 patients; 683 patients died during ICU stay, while 2513 survived.LASSO regression ultimately selected 12 variables closely associated with patient ICU outcomes, including sepsis comorbidity, use of vasoactive drugs, and within the first 24 hours after ICU admission: minimum mean arterial pressure, maximum heart rate, maximum respiratory rate, minimum oxygen saturation, minimum serum bicarbonate, minimum blood urea nitrogen, maximum white blood cell count, maximum mean corpuscular volume, maximum serum potassium, and maximum blood glucose.After model evaluation, the XGBoost model demonstrated the best performance.The AUCs for predicting ICU mortality risk in the training and validation sets were 0.940 and 0.763, respectively; accuracy was 88.3% and 81.2%;sensitivity was 98.5% and 95.9%.Its predictive performance also remained optimal in sensitivity analyses.SHAP analysis indicated that the top five variables contributing to the model's predictions were minimum oxygen saturation, minimum serum bicarbonate, minimum mean arterial pressure, use of vasoactive drugs, and maximum white blood cell count. This study successfully developed a mortality risk prediction model for ICU patients with malignant tumors complicated by ARF based on a large-scale dataset and performed explainability analysis.The model aids clinicians in early identification of high-risk patients and implementing individualized interventions.
5.Impact of thymectomy on immune function: Long-term risks and clinical management
Xiaoting LIN ; Zulin PAN ; Peng LIU ; Guoyan QI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):211-217
The thymus is a key organ for T-cell development and the establishment of central immune tolerance. Research on immune function changes and long-term health risks following thymectomy is characterized by significant population heterogeneity and controversial conclusions. This article systematically reviews the key immunological alterations after thymectomy - including reduced T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity, regulatory T cell (Treg) dysfunction, accelerated immune aging, and compensatory immune responses, and clarifies population differences in postoperative risks of infection, autoimmune diseases, and tumors, as well as the impact of surgical approaches. The clinical outcome after thymectomy is not solely determined by thymus loss, but rather depends on a dynamic balance between "immune deficiency risk" and "host compensatory capacity," which is modulated by multiple factors such as age at surgery, extent of resection, and individual immune status. This review proposes a "risk-compensation balance model" framework, providing an integrated theoretical basis for explaining the heterogeneity in outcomes across different populations and surgical methods. It also holds significant implications for future efforts in individualized surgical decision-making, establishment of stratified immune monitoring systems, and exploration of targeted immune intervention strategies.
6.Allogeneic lung transplantation in miniature pigs and postoperative monitoring
Yaobo ZHAO ; Ullah SALMAN ; Kaiyan BAO ; Hua KUI ; Taiyun WEI ; Hongfang ZHAO ; Xiaoting TAO ; Xinzhong NING ; Yong LIU ; Guimei ZHANG ; He XIAO ; Jiaoxiang WANG ; Chang YANG ; Feiyan ZHU ; Kaixiang XU ; Kun QIAO ; Hongjiang WEI
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):95-105
Objective To explore the feasibility and reference value of allogeneic lung transplantation and postoperative monitoring in miniature pigs for lung transplantation research. Methods Two miniature pigs (R1 and R2) underwent left lung allogeneic transplantation. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity tests and blood cross-matching were performed before surgery. The main operative times and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) after opening the pulmonary artery were recorded during surgery. Postoperatively, routine blood tests, biochemical blood indicators and inflammatory factors were detected, and pathological examinations of multiple organs were conducted. Results The complement-dependent cytotoxicity test showed that the survival rate of lymphocytes between donors and recipients was 42.5%-47.3%, and no agglutination reaction occurred in the cross-matching. The first warm ischemia times of D1 and D2 were 17 min and 10 min, respectively, and the cold ischemia times were 246 min and 216 min, respectively. Ultimately, R1 and R2 survived for 1.5 h and 104 h, respectively. Postoperatively, in R1, albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) decreased, and alanine aminotransferase increased; in R2, ALB, GLB and aspartate aminotransferase all increased. Urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased in both recipients. Pathological results showed that in R1, the transplanted lung had partial consolidation with inflammatory cell infiltration, and multiple organs were congested and damaged. In R2, the transplanted lung had severe necrosis with fibrosis, and multiple organs had mild to moderate damage. The expression levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 increased in the transplanted lungs. Conclusions The allogeneic lung transplantation model in miniature pigs may systematically evaluate immunological compatibility, intraoperative function and postoperative organ damage. The data obtained may provide technical references for subsequent lung transplantation research.
7.Advances in reno-protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of hyperuricemia
Xiaoting ZHOU ; Yu DUAN ; Xingyuan LI ; Qin LIU ; Aijun LIU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2026;44(4):167-172
Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a common metabolic disorder characterized by persistently elevated serum uric acid levels, leading to uric acid-related renal injury through complex mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. Key traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas (e.g., Simiao Powder, Tongfengning) and individual herbal compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids, polysaccharides) with urate-lowering and renal protective properties were systematically summarized, including their mechanisms of regulating uric acid transporters (organic anion transporter 3, urate anion transporter 1, glucose transporter type 9), inhibiting inflammatory responses (via NF-κB signaling), reducing oxidative stress (via mitochondrial pathways and antioxidant enzyme enhancement), and attenuating renal fibrosis (via PI3K/AKT signaling). The challenges of current studies mainly focus on unclear mechanisms of action and insufficient clinical research. Future research may further explore TCM resources, clarify dual-action mechanisms of urate reduction and renal protection, and identify new therapeutic strategies for hyperuricemia-related renal injury.
8.A study on the latent profile analysis and influencing factors of public acceptance of palliative care in Hainan Province
Ling ZHANG ; Xiaoting ZHAO ; Wenling LIU ; Shiyuan WANG ; Wei LIU ; Hongjiao CHEN ; Xing GAO
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(5):669-677
ObjectiveTo explore the potential categories and characteristics of the public hospice care demand in Hainan Province, and analyze different potential types of influencing factors, so as to provide reference for relevant departments to improve the public awareness and demand of hospice care. MethodsUsing convenience sampling method, select 6484 cities of the public as the survey object, using the general data questionnaire, the hospice care demand questionnaire of the potential profile analysis, and analyze the influencing factors of the public hospice care demand category. ResultsThe characteristics of the hospice care demand in Hainan Province were divided into three potential categories: low demand group (14.19%), medium demand group (49.99%) and high demand group (35.82%). Multivariate analysis showed that gender, age, education level, cultural belief, and life-death education experience were the main influencing factors of public hospice care demand (p<0.05). Males, those aged 41-60 years, and those with high school education or below had relatively lower hospice care demand, while those with life-death education experience had relatively higher demand. ConclusionRelevant departments should focus on hospice care knowledge popularization and demand enhancement for males, middle-aged groups, and people with low education levels, while strengthening universal life-death education through stratified and classified publicity strategies and educational interventions to improve different populations’ awareness and acceptance of hospice care.
9.Lentivirus-modified hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy for advanced symptomatic juvenile metachromatic leukodystrophy: a long-term follow-up pilot study.
Zhao ZHANG ; Hua JIANG ; Li HUANG ; Sixi LIU ; Xiaoya ZHOU ; Yun CAI ; Ming LI ; Fei GAO ; Xiaoting LIANG ; Kam-Sze TSANG ; Guangfu CHEN ; Chui-Yan MA ; Yuet-Hung CHAI ; Hongsheng LIU ; Chen YANG ; Mo YANG ; Xiaoling ZHANG ; Shuo HAN ; Xin DU ; Ling CHEN ; Wuh-Liang HWU ; Jiacai ZHUO ; Qizhou LIAN
Protein & Cell 2025;16(1):16-27
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Lentivirus-modified autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) has recently been approved for clinical use in pre and early symptomatic children with MLD to increase ARSA activity. Unfortunately, this advanced therapy is not available for most patients with MLD who have progressed to more advanced symptomatic stages at diagnosis. Patients with late-onset juvenile MLD typically present with a slower neurological progression of symptoms and represent a significant burden to the economy and healthcare system, whereas those with early onset infantile MLD die within a few years of symptom onset. We conducted a pilot study to determine the safety and benefit of HSCGT in patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD and report preliminary results. The safety profile of HSCGT was favorable in this long-term follow-up over 9 years. The most common adverse events (AEs) within 2 months of HSCGT were related to busulfan conditioning, and all AEs resolved. No HSCGT-related AEs and no evidence of distorted hematopoietic differentiation during long-term follow-up for up to 9.6 years. Importantly, to date, patients have maintained remarkably improved ARSA activity with a stable disease state, including increased Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score and decreased magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion score. This long-term follow-up pilot study suggests that HSCGT is safe and provides clinical benefit to patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD.
Humans
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Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics*
;
Pilot Projects
;
Genetic Therapy/methods*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Male
;
Follow-Up Studies
;
Female
;
Lentivirus/genetics*
;
Child
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Child, Preschool
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism*
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Cerebroside-Sulfatase/metabolism*
;
Adolescent
10.The nuclear phosphoinositide-p53 signalosome in the regulation of cell motility.
Xiaoting HOU ; Yu CHEN ; Bo ZHOU ; Fengting LIU ; Lingyun DAI ; Chunbo CHEN ; Noah D CARRILLO ; Vincent L CRYNS ; Richard A ANDERSON ; Jichao SUN ; Mo CHEN
Protein & Cell 2025;16(10):840-857
Dysregulation of p53 and phosphoinositide (PIPn) signaling are both key drivers of oncogenesis and metastasis. Our recent findings reveal a previously unrecognized interaction between these pathways, converging in the nucleus to form a PIPn-p53 signalosome that modulates nuclear AKT activation and downstream signaling, thereby influencing cancer cell survival and motility. This review examines recent insights into nuclear PIPn signaling in the context of established roles for p53 in cell dynamics and migration while also deliberating current research on how nuclear PIPns interact with p53 to form signalosomes that affect cell motility. We emphasize the critical role of PIPns in stabilizing p53 and activating de novo nuclear AKT signaling, which subsequently modulates key motility-related pathways. Understanding the unique operation and function of the PIPn-p53 signalosome in nuclear phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT activation offers novel therapeutic strategies for controlling cancer metastasis by targeting pertinent interactions and events.
Humans
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Cell Movement
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Cell Nucleus/metabolism*
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Phosphatidylinositols/metabolism*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
;
Animals
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Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*

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