1.Research Progress on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Flap Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Jiwei ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Xinshan WANG ; Xingzhang YAO ; Zhenxing JIANG ; Zhijun HE ; Tao LIU ; Jianliang LI ; Hui YAO ; Jie AN ; Qiuyue ZHAO ; Xiaotao WEI ; M Rayan GHAZI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):851-861
Flap transplantation is a critical surgical strategy for the reconstruction of tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, and congenital malformations, and its survival rate directly determines surgical efficacy and patient prognosis. Following transplantation, flaps inevitably undergo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, during which oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and metabolic disturbances are intricately intertwined, ultimately leading to cellular injury and tissue necrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple forms of programmed cell death—including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis—play central roles in flap I/R injury. The extensive crosstalk and molecular interactions among these pathways form a highly complex cell death network. Specifically, apoptosis is mediated by the imbalance of Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of cysteine-dependent aspartate-specific protease (caspase) cascades; pyroptosis is driven by the NLRP3-caspase-1-GSDMD axis, resulting in membrane pore formation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; ferroptosis is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); necroptosis is triggered by the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-RIPK3-MLKL signaling complex, leading to membrane rupture; and PANoptosis represents an integrated form of inflammatory cell death that coordinates multiple death pathways. Importantly, these forms of programmed cell death are not independent but are interconnected through extensive signaling crosstalk. Key regulatory molecules, including caspase-8, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), collectively modulate the dynamic balance among these pathways. Therefore, the multidimensional interplay and spatiotemporal dynamics of programmed cell death constitute a fundamental pathological basis of flap I/R injury. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in the mechanisms and interactions of various programmed cell death pathways in flap I/R injury, aiming to elucidate the underlying regulatory network. These insights may provide novel theoretical foundations for optimizing flap protection strategies, improving flap survival, and promoting tissue repair.
2.Differences in arousal threshold among obstructive sleep apnea patients of different genetic backgrounds and influencing factors
Rui ZHAO ; Ping YAO ; Zhiqiang ZHANG ; Zhiguo GUO ; Minqi XIE ; Hui DANG ; Yanrong JIA ; Jing CHENG ; Dongsheng LYU
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(3):240-245
BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) represents a prevalent sleep disordered breathing condition characterized by complex pathophysiology. The arousal threshold (ArTH), a core non-anatomical contributor to OSA pathogenesis, is intimately tied to the disease severity and clinical phenotypes. To date, research regarding factors associated with ArTH has yielded inconsistent findings, and ArTH profiles and disparities across populations with different genetic backgrounds are not fully elucidated. ObjectiveTo explore the differences of ArTH in OSA patients with different genetic backgrounds and analyze the key factors affecting ArTH, thereby providing evidence for understanding OSA pathophysiology and formulating targeted treatment regimens. MethodsA total of 285 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for OSA, as defined by the Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea, were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All participants underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) at the Sleep Medicine Center of Inner Mongolia Mental Health Center from December 2022 to May 2024. Based on the study design, the cohort was stratified into two distinct genetic background subgroups (group A and group B). Demographic and clinical characteristics, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, and overnight PSG data were collected. The apnea hypopnea index (AHI), the lowest pulse oxygen saturation (LSpO2), and fraction of hypopneas (FHypopneas) were utilized as surrogate indicators to estimate ArTH in OSA patients. The influencing factors of low ArTH were tested by binary Logistic regression analysis. ResultsAmong the 285 OSA patients, there were 227 cases (79.65%) in group A and 58 cases (20.35%) in group B. Comparisons between the two genetic background subgroups revealed no statistically significant differences in the proportion of low ArTH, ESS score, PSG parameters, and the three markers for low ArTH (AHI<30 events/h, LSpO2>82.5%, FHypopneas>58.3%) (P>0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis identified sex (OR=2.421, 95% CI: 1.070–5.478), BMI (OR=0.847, 95% CI: 0.770–0.932), N1 sleep duration (OR=0.974, 95% CI: 0.963–0.985), and hypertension (OR=0.348, 95% CI: 0.143–0.848) as independent factors associated with low ArTH in the total cohort. Stratified analysis by genetic backgrounds revealed that sex(OR=3.799, 95% CI: 1.389–10.392), BMI(OR=0.819, 95% CI:0.723–0.929), and N1 sleep duration(OR=0.973, 95% CI: 0.961–0.986) were independent factors of low ArTH in group A. In contrast, only N1 sleep duration (OR=0.951, 95% CI: 0.911–0.993) remained a significant factor in group B. ConclusionArthur may have conservative characteristics in patients with OSA with different genetic backgrounds, but the pathophysiological mechanism of OSA may have population heterogeneity. [Funded by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Fundation Project (number, 2024QN08050); Intra-institutional Scientific Research Project of Inner Mongolia Mental Health Center (number, 2022QNWN0010)]
3.Clinical analysis of visceral artery aneurysm treated with transcatheter arterial embolization using medical adhesive
Hui HE ; Baokui ZHAO ; Gang LIU ; Liang YAO ; Hengwei WANG ; Haiyu SONG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(9):1545-1548
Objective To investigate the methodology,technical considerations,and precautions of transcatheter arterial emboliza-tion(TAE)using medical adhesive as the primary embolic agent for visceral artery aneurysm(VAA).Methods A total of 14 patients with VAA treated with medical adhesive-based TAE were retrospectively analyzed.Among the 14 patients,6 cases were hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms,4 cases were true gastroduodenal aneurysms,3 cases were gastroduodenal pseudoaneurysms,and 1 case was renal artery pseudoaneurysm.Among the 14 patients,medical adhesive alone was used in 12 cases,while the other 2 cases were employed medical adhesive combined with supplemental coil embolization.Follow-up assessments including abdominal computed tomography angiography(CTA)and laboratory tests were conducted at 3,6,and 12 months post-procedure.Results Technical success was achieved in all cases with mean procedure duration of(60.4±8.2)min and average hospital stay of(8.9±2.1)d.No recanalization,aneurysm enlargement,or non-target embolization were observed during follow-up.Conclusion Medical adhesive-based TAE demonstrates high technical success when performed by experienced interventionists,with low complication rate,low recurrence rate,and low pro-cedure-related mortality,representing a cost-effective preferred treatment for VAA.
4.Clinical analysis of visceral artery aneurysm treated with transcatheter arterial embolization using medical adhesive
Hui HE ; Baokui ZHAO ; Gang LIU ; Liang YAO ; Hengwei WANG ; Haiyu SONG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(9):1545-1548
Objective To investigate the methodology,technical considerations,and precautions of transcatheter arterial emboliza-tion(TAE)using medical adhesive as the primary embolic agent for visceral artery aneurysm(VAA).Methods A total of 14 patients with VAA treated with medical adhesive-based TAE were retrospectively analyzed.Among the 14 patients,6 cases were hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms,4 cases were true gastroduodenal aneurysms,3 cases were gastroduodenal pseudoaneurysms,and 1 case was renal artery pseudoaneurysm.Among the 14 patients,medical adhesive alone was used in 12 cases,while the other 2 cases were employed medical adhesive combined with supplemental coil embolization.Follow-up assessments including abdominal computed tomography angiography(CTA)and laboratory tests were conducted at 3,6,and 12 months post-procedure.Results Technical success was achieved in all cases with mean procedure duration of(60.4±8.2)min and average hospital stay of(8.9±2.1)d.No recanalization,aneurysm enlargement,or non-target embolization were observed during follow-up.Conclusion Medical adhesive-based TAE demonstrates high technical success when performed by experienced interventionists,with low complication rate,low recurrence rate,and low pro-cedure-related mortality,representing a cost-effective preferred treatment for VAA.
5.Preparation of the Fusion Protein Between Diphtheria Toxin Mutants and the Receptor Binding Domain of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E(EHc)Molecules and the Immunological Effect Evaluation
Qiu-Ju JIA ; Yao-Hui ZHAO ; Xiao-Yu LIU ; Shuo YU ; Jian-Sheng LU ; Yun-Zhou YU ; Ming LIAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1421-1431
CRM 197(cross-reacting material 197),a naturally occurring mutant of diphtheria toxin,is a safe and effective vaccine vector and extensively used on developing conjugate or combined vaccines.The mutant loses its enzymatic activity,but fully retains its receptor-binding ability and immunogenicity.In current work,the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM 197 and its fusion proteins with the receptor-binding do-main of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E(EHc)were developed using genetic engineering technology.These recombinant proteins were confirmed by Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197 fusion proteins,and their immunogenicity was evalua-ted.These two fusion protein molecules,CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197,as subunit vaccines,elicited a robust humoral immune response targeting both CRM197 and EHc antigens in the immunized mice.Compared to the mixture of CRM197 and EHc,the mice vaccinated with the fusion proteins(CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197)induced higher levels of anti-CRM197 antibodies,and the mice vaccinated with EHc-CRM197 also generated strongest anti-EHc antibodies.Consequently,as a carrier molecule in the fusion protein vaccine,EHc enhances the immunogenicity of CRM197 molecules.Likewise,CRM197 boosts the immunogenicity of EHc in the EHc-CRM197 fusion protein.
6.Preparation of the Fusion Protein Between Diphtheria Toxin Mutants and the Receptor Binding Domain of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E(EHc)Molecules and the Immunological Effect Evaluation
Qiu-Ju JIA ; Yao-Hui ZHAO ; Xiao-Yu LIU ; Shuo YU ; Jian-Sheng LU ; Yun-Zhou YU ; Ming LIAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1421-1431
CRM 197(cross-reacting material 197),a naturally occurring mutant of diphtheria toxin,is a safe and effective vaccine vector and extensively used on developing conjugate or combined vaccines.The mutant loses its enzymatic activity,but fully retains its receptor-binding ability and immunogenicity.In current work,the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM 197 and its fusion proteins with the receptor-binding do-main of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E(EHc)were developed using genetic engineering technology.These recombinant proteins were confirmed by Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197 fusion proteins,and their immunogenicity was evalua-ted.These two fusion protein molecules,CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197,as subunit vaccines,elicited a robust humoral immune response targeting both CRM197 and EHc antigens in the immunized mice.Compared to the mixture of CRM197 and EHc,the mice vaccinated with the fusion proteins(CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197)induced higher levels of anti-CRM197 antibodies,and the mice vaccinated with EHc-CRM197 also generated strongest anti-EHc antibodies.Consequently,as a carrier molecule in the fusion protein vaccine,EHc enhances the immunogenicity of CRM197 molecules.Likewise,CRM197 boosts the immunogenicity of EHc in the EHc-CRM197 fusion protein.
7.Non-pharmacological interventions in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome:A network meta-analysis
Xiao-hui WEI ; Meng-yao MA ; Hang SU ; Tong HU ; Yu-xin ZHAO ; Xing-chao LIU ; Hong-yan BI
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(3):234-245
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of shockwave therapy,acupuncture,hyperthermia,biofeedback therapy,elec-trical nerve stimulation,magnetotherapy and ultrasound therapy in the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS),and to provide evidence-based support for clinical decision-making.Methods:Two researchers independently searched PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Cochrane Library,CNKI,Wanfang,VIP and Chinese Biomedical Literature databases for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on the effects of different interventions on CP/CPPS from the establishment of the databases to August 2024.We evaluated the quality of the included literature and extracted the relevant data according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions,followed by network meta-analysis using Revman 5.3,R 4.33 and Stata17 software.Results:A total of 25 RCTs involving 1 794 cases were included.The results of network meta-analysis showed that electrical nerve stimulation,shockwave therapy,biofeedback therapy,magnetotherapy,ultrasound therapy and acupuncture were significantly superior to conventional medication and placebo in the total NIH-CPSI scores(P<0.05),and so were electrical nerve stimulation and shock-wave therapy to acupuncture and hyperthermia(P<0.05),magnetic therapy to hyperthermia,and ultrasound therapy to placebo(P<0.05).Shockwave therapy,biofeedback therapy,electrical nerve stimulation,magnetotherapy and ultrasound therapy achieved re-markably better clinical efficacy than conventional medication and placebo in the treatment of CP/CPPS,and so did shockwave therapy than electrical nerve stimulation,hyperthermia,ultrasonic therapy,magnetotherapy and acupuncture.Conclusion:For the treat-ment of CP/CPPS,electrical nerve stimulation is advantageous over the other interventions in improving total NIH-CPSI scores,and shockwave therapy is advantageous in relieving pain symptoms and clinical efficacy.This conclusion,however,needs to be further veri-fied by more high-quality clinical studies.
8.Research status of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds applied in medicine
Hui LU ; Guangze YAO ; Yujie WEI ; Hui WANG ; Xinyang ZHAO ; Senlin ZHU ; Yiling LIU ; Qianlei YANG ; Yan AN
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2025;44(3):253-258
Arsenic (organoarsenic) compound is one of the oldest drugs used by humans to treat various diseases. From its initial application in treating various skin diseases to the 1970s when arsenic trioxide (ATO) was proven to be able to significantly relieve acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds gradually occupied an important position in the history of medical development. This article reviews the pharmaceutical research progress of inorganic arsenic compounds and organic arsine compounds, covering anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibiotic aspects. It further explores the potential for developing new arsenic (organoarsenic) drugs with higher efficacy and lower toxicity, aiming to provide new research directions and ideas for the application of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds in disease treatment.

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