1.Pathological Characteristics of Vascular Microenvironment Injury and Nanotargeted Diagnostic and Therapeutic Pathways in Ischemic Stroke
Yun-Zhe CI ; Li-Jing NIU ; Ying-Ying HAN ; Yan-Zhong CHANG ; Si-Yu TIAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2629-2646
Ischemic stroke accounts for approximately 80% of all stroke cases worldwide and remains a leading cause of long‑term neurological disability and mortality. Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy constitute the mainstay of acute reperfusion therapies, yet their clinical utility is severely constrained by narrow therapeutic time windows. Even when large‑vessel recanalization is successfully achieved, a considerable proportion of patients still suffer poor functional outcomes due to futile reperfusion and ischemia‑reperfusion injury. Historically, preclinical studies have largely focused on direct neuronal protection against calcium overload, oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Unfortunately, most promising neuroprotective agents that exhibited robust benefits in rodent models have failed to demonstrate satisfactory efficacy in phase‑Ⅱ and phase‑Ⅲ clinical trials. One critical contributor to such translational failure is the disregard for the pathological disturbance within the cerebral vascular microenvironment. Instead of merely regarding neuronal death as an autonomous cellular event, accumulating evidence indicates that sequential biochemical disruption of perivascular microenvironment acts as an initiating amplifier that propagates damage toward brain parenchyma after ischemic insult. The cerebral vascular microenvironment centers on brain microvessels and comprises endothelial cells, endothelial glycocalyx, basement membrane, pericytes, astrocytic end‑feet, perivascular microglia, as well as interstitial ions, inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species and extracellular matrix components. Distinct from the concept of neurovascular unit which emphasizes functional coupling between neurons, glia and vessels, the vascular microenvironment highlights dynamic biochemical homeostasis in perivascular interstitial space. Following cerebral ischemia, injured brain tissue can be spatially divided into the irreversibly damaged infarct core, metabolically‑stressed ischemic penumbra and mildly‑affected peripheral regions. These three zones lack rigid anatomical boundaries and evolve dynamically depending on reperfusion timing, presenting divergent features in blood perfusion, blood‑brain barrier integrity, cellular viability and immune‑inflammatory profiles. Four interrelated pathological cascades jointly disrupt microenvironmental homeostasis: calcium‑overload‑triggered cytotoxic cascades; blood‑brain barrier breakdown resulting from glycocalyx shedding, tight‑junction dissociation and matrix metalloproteinase‑driven basement‑membrane degradation; inflammatory‑immune dysregulation dominated by microglial phenotypic reprogramming; and mutual crosstalk between coagulation disturbance and neuroinflammation that exacerbates secondary brain injury. Multiple molecular layers orchestrate these pathological alterations. Excessive activation of HIF‑1α, NF‑κB and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways promotes barrier leakage, pro‑inflammatory factor secretion and extracellular‑matrix remodeling. Epigenetic modulation mediated by non‑coding RNAs including miRNAs and lncRNAs reshapes vascular microenvironment via three major patterns: modulating endothelial‑pericyte barrier integrity, switching microglia‑astrocyte inflammatory phenotypes, and driving metabolic reprogramming among multiple cell populations within microdomains. In addition, metabolic shift toward glycolysis among endothelial cells, microglia, astrocytes and compromised neurons establishes self‑amplifying vicious cycles of energy depletion and oxidative stress in perivascular niches. Targeted theranostic approaches oriented toward vascular microenvironment bring new opportunities for precision medicine of ischemic stroke. Magnetic nanoprobes and near‑infrared fluorescent probes respond to elevated reactive oxygen species, pH shift and inflammatory signals, enabling in situ visualization of pathological signatures of microenvironment and risk evaluation of hemorrhagic transformation. Function‑tailored nanodelivery systems exert multi‑modal protective effects: reactive oxygen species‑responsive polymeric micelles deliver calcium chelators to block calcium‑overload‑initiated injury cascades; nanozymes scavenge reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and revert microglial pro‑inflammatory polarization; biomimetic membrane‑coated nanoparticles accumulate at micro‑thrombosis sites to break thrombo‑inflammatory loops and mitigate no‑reflow phenomenon; ferroptosis‑inhibitor‑loaded nanocarriers eliminate excessive labile iron within perivascular toxic microdomains. During subacute and recovery phases, spatiotemporally controlled release of angiogenic factors by nanocarriers facilitates maturation of newly‑formed microvessels rather than blind vascular sprouting, which helps reconstruct intact blood‑brain barrier and restore microenvironmental homeostasis. Nevertheless, substantial translational bottlenecks still impede clinical transformation of these nanomedicines, including potential biosafety risks caused by in vivo material accumulation, protein‑corona‑induced impairment of targeting capacity, intrinsic blood brain barrier transport obstacles, lack of unified quality‑control criteria for large‑scale manufacture, reliance on high‑end clinical imaging instruments, and prominent interspecies discrepancies between experimental animals and human patients. On the basis of summarizing spatiotemporal pathological characteristics, multi‑level regulatory mechanisms and cutting‑edge microenvironment‑oriented diagnostic and interventional strategies, the present review advocates a conceptual shift from isolated neuronal protection to comprehensive reconstruction of perivascular vascular microenvironment homeostasis. Such perspective provides theoretical foundations for expanding therapeutic time windows and inspires future development of novel therapeutic modalities for ischemic stroke.
2.Risk factor and prediction model construction for oral mucosal pressure injuries in patients with endotracheal intubation in emergency intensive care unit
Ying ZHANG ; Yu PAN ; Yufeng HUANG ; Yuehua NI ; Yun ZHOU
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(3):75-79,83
Objective To explore the risk factors for oral mucosal pressure injuries(OMPI)in patients with endotracheal intubation in the emergency intensive care unit(EICU)and to construct a nomogram prediction model based on these factors.Methods A case-control study design was adopt-ed to retrospectively collect clinical data from 209 adult patients with endotracheal intubation admitted to EICU.The patients were divided into OMPI group(53 patients)and non-OMPI group(156 pa-tients)based on whether OMPI occurred during the observation period.The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed,and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen risk factors for OMPI in patients with endotracheal intubation in the EICU.R software was used to draw a nomogram prediction model,and the predictive performance of the model was evaluated through the receiver oper-ating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis.Results Statistical-ly significant differences were observed between the two groups in prone position ventilation,vasocon-strictor use,consciousness at the time of intubation,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score at the time of intubation,and duration of endotracheal intubation(P<0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that prone position ventilation(OR=2.545,95%CI,1.261 to 5.135),vasoconstrictor use(OR=1.984,95%CI,1.162 to 3.387),inability to express complaints at time of intubation(OR=3.618,95%CI,1.891 to 6.924),high APACHE 11 score(OR=2.394,95%CI,1.322 to 4.336),and long duration of endotracheal in-tubation(OR=3.995,95%CI,1.857 to 8.593)were all risk factors for OMPI in patients with en-dotracheal intubation in the EICU(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the nomogram prediction model was 0.881;calibration curve analysis showed that the mean absolute error between the predicted probability and the actual probability of the model was 0.016;and decision curve analysis showed that the prediction model had practical value in clinical practice.Conclusion Prone position ventilation,vasoconstrictor use,inability to express complaints at the time of intubation,high APACHE Ⅱ score,and long duration of endotracheal intubation are all risk factors for OMPI in patients with endotracheal intubation in the EICU.The nomogram model con-structed based on these factors has good predictive performance for OMPI risk.
3.Heterogeneity in pancreatic head cancer: prognostic implications of ventral pancreatic and dorsal pancreatic origins
Wenbin LIU ; Yun BIAN ; Chengwei CHEN ; Xiaohan YUAN ; Yixuan SHEN ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Yifei GUO ; Ying LI ; Jieyu YU ; Jianping LU
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2025;31(4):284-289
Objective:To investigate the impact of tumor origin (ventral pancreatic origin and dorsal pancreatic origin) on prognosis in patients with pancreatic head cancer.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 150 patients with pancreatic head cancer who received surgical treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Naval Medical University from October 2014 to December 2017. Among these patients, 92 were male and 58 were female, aged (61.2±8.8) years. The 150 patients were divided into two groups based on tumor origin: the ventral pancreatic cancer group ( n=72) and the dorsal pancreatic cancer group ( n=78). A comparative analysis of clinical, pathological, and imaging charac-teristics was conducted between the two groups. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the association between pancreatic head cancer origin and overall survival (OS). Results:Patients with pancreatic head carcinoma arising from the ventral and dorsal pancreas accounted for 48%(72/150) and 52%(78/150) of the study cohort, respectively. Pancreatic head carcinoma arising from the dorsal pancreas were more likely to show pathological features of pancreatic parenchymal atrophy [73.1%(57/78) vs. 47.2%(34/72), χ2=10.49, P=0.001] and pancreatitis [44.9%(35/78) vs. 29.2%(21/72), χ2=3.95, P=0.047]. In contrast, patients with pancreatic head carcinoma arising from the ventral pancreas was more frequently associated with contact with the superior mesenteric artery [25.0%(18/72) vs. 1.3%(1/78), χ2=19.04, P<0.001], perineural invasion [100%(72/72) vs. 88.5%(69/78), χ2=8.84, P=0.003], and positive surgical margins [15.3%(11/72) vs. 2.6%(2/78), χ2=7.65, P=0.006], with all differences statistically significant. The ventral pancreatic cancer group demonstrated cumulative survival rates of 33.2% and 0 at 1-year and 2-year postoperative intervals, respectively, while the dorsal pancreatic cancer group exhibited rates of 56.7% and 24.8% at the corresponding timepoints. Comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves between the two groups showed a statistically significant difference ( χ2=6.00, P=0.014). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis identified dorsal pancreatic origin pancreatic head cancer as an independent predictor of increased mortality risk compared to ventral origin tumors ( HR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.52-4.98, P=0.001). Conclusion:The embryonic origin of pancreatic head cancer determines its clinical, pathological, and imaging heterogeneity, and pancreatic head cancer arising from the ventral pancreas demonstrates significantly worse prognostic outcomes compared to dorsal pancreatic origin.
4.Effect of demethylase FTO knockout on 5-HT-induced abnormalities of coronary smooth muscle contractile function in mice with diabetes mellitus
Zi-fan WANG ; Liu-xiang JIANG ; Mei-ying LIANG ; Meng-yun LIU ; Mei-jiang CHEN ; Hui YANG ; Fang RAO ; Chun-yu DENG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(2):315-322
Aim To explore the influence of demethy-lase fat mass and obesity-related genes(FTO)on the abnormal contractile function of diabetic coronary smooth muscle.Methods Smooth muscle specific FTO knockout mice(FTOSMKO)were prepared by Cre-loxP recombinant technology.They were divided into four groups:control(WT)group,diabetes model group(DM),FTO knockout group(FTOSMKO),and FTOSMKO diabetic group(FTOSMKO-DM),with 15 mice in each group.Diabetic mice were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ);the remaining mice were injected with an equal amount of citric acid-sodi-um citrate buffer.The effects of 5-HTon the contractile response of coronary artery smooth muscle in the four groups of mice were observed by the technique of small-vessel ring tensiometry.Western blot and Dot blot were used to detect the changes of FTO protein and N6-methyladenine(m6A)methylation modification levels in mouse vascular tissues.Results Compared with the WT group,the DM group had significantly higher blood glucose(P<0.01)and lower body weight(P<0.05);the level of FTO protein in aorta of DM group increased(P<0.01),and the level of m6A methylation modification decreased(P<0.01).The 5-HT-induced contractile response significantly de-creased in the DM group compared with the WT group(P<0.01),whereas the contractile response signifi-cantly increased in the FTOSMKO-DM group compared with the DM group(P<0.01);the non-L-type calci-um channel-mediated vascular smooth muscle contrac-tile response was enhanced in the FTOSMKO-DM group,among which,the contractions induced by 1,4,5-triphosphate inositol receptor(IP3R)and caffeine-ac-tivated ranine receptor(RyR)mediated by sarcoplas-mic reticulum calcium release both significantly in-creased(P<0.05).Conclusions Specific knock-down of smooth muscle FTO improves coronary artery responsiveness to the vasoconstrictor 5-HT in diabetic mice,which may be related to abnormalities in the FTO-mediated 5-HT receptor signaling pathway.
5.Changes in Esophageal Cancer Survival: A Global Review of Survival Analysis from Cancer Registration Data over the Past Three Decades.
Zhuo Jun YE ; Dan Ni YANG ; Yu JIANG ; Yu Xuan XIAO ; Zhuo Ying LI ; Yu Ting TAN ; Hui Yun YUAN ; Yong Bing XIANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(5):571-584
OBJECTIVE:
To describe survival trends and global patterns of esophageal cancer (EC) using survival data from population-based cancer registries.
METHODS:
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SEER, and SinoMed databases for articles published up to 31 December 2023. Eligible EC survival estimates were evaluated according to country or region, period, sex, age group, pathology, and disease stage.
RESULTS:
After 2010, Jordan exhibited the highest age-standardized 5-year relative survival rates (RSRs)/net survival rates (NSRs) at 41.1% between 2010 and 2014, while India had the lowest, at 4.1%. Survival rates generally improved with diagnostic age across most countries, with significant increases in South Korea and China, of 12.7% and 10.5% between 2000 and 2017, respectively. Survival was higher among women compared to men, ranging from 0.4%-10.9%. Survival rates for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were similar, differing by about 4%. In China, the highest age-standardized RSRs/NSRs was 33.4% between 2015 and 2017. Meanwhile, the lowest was 5.3%, in Qidong (Jiangsu province) between 1992-1996.
CONCLUSION
Global EC survival rates have improved significantly in recent decades, but substantial geographical, sex, and age disparities still exist. In Asia, squamous cell carcinoma demonstrated superior survival rates compared to adenocarcinoma, while the opposite trend was observed in Western countries. Future research should clarify the prognostic factors influencing EC survival and tailor prevention and screening strategies to the changing EC survival patterns.
Humans
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Esophageal Neoplasms/mortality*
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Registries
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Male
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Female
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Survival Analysis
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Middle Aged
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Survival Rate
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Aged
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Global Health
7.Evaluation of chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula
Qing-gang ZHANG ; Dai-liang ZHANG ; Hong QI ; Shu-wen DING ; Yu-zhuo WANG ; Yun-lun LI ; Ji-fu HE ; Huan-ying GUO ; Gui-yun CAO ; Zhao-qing MENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(11):3555-3565
AIM To evaluate the chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula.METHODS HPLC characteristic chromatograms were established,the analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic YMC-Triart C18 column(4.6 mm× 250 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.2%phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.Puerarin was used as an internal standard to calculate the relative correction factors of 3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin apioside,magnolflorine,paeoniflora,daidzin,baicalin,palmatine,berberine,wogonoside and benzoylpaeoniflorin,after which the content detemination was made by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS).RESULTS The characteristic chromatograms of 9 batches of formula granules and 15 bacthes of traditional decoctions demonstrated the similarities of more than 0.90 at the detection wavelengths of 192,210,240,260,280,300,320,360 nm,along with similar total peak areas.Eleven constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 97.27%-101.64%with the RSDs of 0.36%-1.11%,the result obtained by QAMS and external standard method demonstrated no significant differences(P>0.05).The contents of various constituents in the formula granules approximated those in the traditional decoctions.CONCLUSION The consistent kinds and contents of various constituents are obversable in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula,which can provide a reference for the reasonable clinical application of this formula.
8.Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury (version 2025)
Aijun XU ; Shuixia LI ; Bo CHEN ; Mengyuan YE ; Lejiao LANG ; Ning NING ; Lin ZHANG ; Changqing LIU ; Zhonglan CHEN ; Weihu MA ; Weishi LI ; Xiaoning WANG ; Dongmei BIAN ; Jiancheng ZENG ; Xin WANG ; Yuan GAO ; Yaping CHEN ; Jiali CHEN ; Yun HAN ; Xiuting LI ; Yang ZHOU ; Xiaojing SU ; Qiong ZHANG ; Tianwen HUANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Hua LIN ; Xingling XIAO ; Ruifeng XU ; Fanghui DONG ; Bing HAN ; Luo FAN ; Yanling PEI ; Suyun LI ; Xiaoju TAN ; Rongchen GUO ; Yefang ZOU ; Xiaoyun HAN ; Junqin DING ; Yi WANG ; Shuhua DENG ; Jinli GUO ; Yinhua LIANG ; Yuan CEN ; Xiaoqin LIU ; Junru CHEN ; Haiyang YU ; Lunlan LI ; Ying REN ; Yunxia LI ; Jianli LU ; Ying YING ; Lan WEI ; Yin WANG ; Qinhong XU ; Yanqin ZHANG ; Yang LYU ; Shijun ZHANG ; Sui WENJIE ; Sanlian HU ; Shuhong YANG ; Guoqing LI ; Jingjing AN ; Baorong HE ; Leling FENG
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(6):530-541
Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.
9.Proficiency testing for 11 clinical biobanks in Beijing City: simulation study and result analysis
Qian ZHANG ; Yun ZHANG ; Lu HAN ; Min LIU ; Yongbo YU ; Yan WANG ; Ying HU ; Hui ZHONG ; Dan GUO ; Shipeng SUN ; Jinxi LIN ; Siyuan XU ; Xiaokun TANG ; Gaoyuan SUN ; Chuanbao ZHANG ; Hexin LI
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(9):1590-1596
Objective:To evaluate the sample preparation proficiency and storage proficiency of 11 clinical biobanks in Beijing through simulated experiments, and to establish an assessment method for the quality comparability of biological samples.Methods:An exploratory research design was adopted. In November 2023, artificial composite serum quality control materials containing six recombinant human protein markers—recombinant human alanine aminotransferase (rhALT), recombinant human aspartate aminotransferase (rhAST), recombinant human creatine kinase (rhCK), recombinant human creatine kinase-MB (rhCK-MB), recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide (rhBNP), and recombinant human troponin I (rhTNI)—were distributed to 11 clinical biobanks in Beijing City. Sample preparation and storage followed the standardized operating procedures. Proficiency differences were assessed through statistical analysis.Results:Three-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed all six protein markers showed a declining trend over storage time in ultra-low-temperature environments ( F values 11.68-4 179.66, all P<0.01). However, neither long-term/temporary refrigerator types ( F values 0.01-1.23, all P>0.05)nor placement locations within refrigerators significantly affected the stability of these six proteins ( F valus 0.03-1.47, all P>0.05). The biases in detection results for rhALT, rhAST, rhTNI, and rhBNP at different storage time points were within the allowable bias limits for each item, supporting their use as markers for protein stability in biobank samples. All 11 institutions passed the storage proficiency assessment. In the preparation proficiency assessment, deviations were observed in post-preparation sample results, with a notably high out-of-control rate for rhCK (36.36%). Conclusion:Sample preparation proficiency can serve as a quality control metric for clinical biobanks. Future external quality assessment systems for biobanks should focus on sample preparation rather than storage processes.
10.Informationization construction for equipment budget management in a public hospital
Sujuan YU ; Zhenlin LIU ; Yun TIAN ; Xiaoxiao LUAN ; Chenxi SHI ; Ying XIAO
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2025;41(6):479-484
The construction of an information system for equipment budget management in public hospitals is an important measure to strengthen comprehensive budget management, serving as an important foundation for promoting the development of clinical disciplines and enhancing operational management. Since September 2023, a tertiary public hospital had explored the construction of equipment budget management informatization. This practice had established a supporting budget management information system, which included an equipment demand reserve library and a general use product library, linked performance evaluation indicators, implemented visualizing real-time project progress, and strengthened data governance. A series of measures had been taken to move management to equipment demand research, expand the time window for departments to fill in budget requirements, simplify the department application process, and achieve a closed-loop management of the entire chain of department equipment demand research, budget approval, and execution, ensuring the rationality and accuracy of the budget. By the end of 2024, the budget management information system had covered 87 departments and included 30 000 sets of equipment applications, providing detailed data support and critical management references for demand departments, equipment management departments, and hospital decision-makers, while improving the quality and efficiency of in-hospital equipment management. This practice could provide references for other public hospitals in China to optimize their equipment budget management.

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