1.Research advances on trained immunity in atherosclerosis
Meng GUO ; Jiayu CHEN ; Zhen SUN ; Jun XIE
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):583-590
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly atherosclerosis, represent a major global health burden. Recent studies have revealed that innate immune cells such as monocytes and macrophages can develop immune memory after an initial stimulus, a phenomenon termed “trained immunity”. Growing evidence indicates that trained immunity serves as an underlying mechanism of chronic inflammation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on outlining the key effector cells involved in trained immunity and their mechanisms of formation, including processes such as metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modifications, which collectively lead to a heightened immune response upon secondary stimulation. Furthermore, this review systematically summarizes the role of trained immunity in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and elaborates on various therapeutic strategies targeting trained immunity along with their application prospects.
2.Research on Electrical Impedance and Microwave Dual-modality Tomography Algorithm Based on Conditional Diffusion Models
Jin-Zhen LIU ; Xiang-Qian MENG ; Hui XIONG ; Li-Min ZHOU ; Chun-Chan LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1780-1792
ObjectiveStroke poses a heavy burden due to its high mortality and morbidity rates. Accurate and real-time detection of lesions is pivotal for prompt clinical intervention and favorable prognosis. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and microwave tomography (MWT) have emerged as compelling alternatives for stroke screening, owing to their non-ionizing, non-invasive and portable nature. EIT provides information on tissue conductivity, and MWT offers high sensitivity to changes in dielectric properties. However, single-modality imaging is inherently limited, EIT suffers from low sensitivity to deep-seated tissues and severe ill-posedness of inverse problems, whereas MWT is challenged by strong nonlinearity in inverse scattering and susceptibility to modeling errors. Consequently, the clinical utility of standalone EIT or MWT for stroke diagnosis remains constrained by poor spatial resolution and imaging artifacts. To improve the accuracy and robustness of stroke imaging, a dual-modality fusion conditional denoising diffusion probabilistic model (DM-DDPM) was proposed for high-precision dual-modality image reconstruction. MethodsA dual-encoder network with a symmetric architecture and independently trained parameters was constructed to extract heterogeneous features separately from EIT boundary voltage measurements and MWT scattered field signals. Attentional feature fusion (AFF) is employed to integrate complementary information from the two modalities adaptively, generating robust fused priors that suppress redundant noise while preserving key physical characteristics. Subsequently, the fused priors are embedded into a Transformer-based diffusion model via a cross attention mechanism to guide the reverse denoising process. This approach effectively reduces artifacts and enhances the stability of conductivity distribution reconstruction. Time step embedding is introduced to enable the network to perceive the diffusion stage and further improve the accuracy of noise prediction. ResultsSimulated experiments demonstrated that DM-DDPM significantly outperforms single-modality and multi-modality networks under various noise levels. A head model simulation dataset was constructed based on COMSOL Multiphysics, and tests were carried out under 50 dB, 40 dB and 30 dB signal-to-noise ratio levels. At 30 dB, the average relative error (RE) was below 0.20, while the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and correlation coefficient (CC) remained above 0.90 and 0.89, respectively. Compared with single-modality and multi-modality networks, artifacts were significantly reduced, lesion edges were clearer, and localization was more accurate. The model maintains high reconstruction quality and strong robustness for single, double, and triple lesions simultaneously. Furthermore, physical experiments were conducted using a 16-electrode EIT system and a 16-antenna MWT system with asynchronous data acquisition. These experiments confirmed the feasibility of the method in real-world scenarios and demonstrated that it can robustly reconstruct simulated lesions despite environmental interference and measurement noise, validating its reliability for practical clinical applications. ConclusionThe proposed method effectively combines complementary dual-modality information with a conditional diffusion model. Low accuracy and poor noise resistance in single-modality imaging were effectively addressed, while the noise amplification issue caused by direct multimodal data fusion was avoided. The proposed algorithm exhibits strong anti-noise interference ability and high imaging stability in both simulation and physical experiments. Precise localization of stroke lesions with different quantities was achieved, providing a high-precision, and practical technical support for clinical stroke detection.
3.Ferroptosis and Its Potential Targeting Applications
Meng-Dan LIU ; Hai-Zhen MO ; Li-Shan YAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(9):1268-1279
Ferroptosis,a novel form of programmed cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxida-tion,plays a crucial role in both disease treatment and microbial control due to its multi-level regulatory mechanisms.It mainly involves iron metabolism,lipid peroxidation,and antioxidant systems.In the field of disease treatment,ferroptosis is regarded as a highly promising therapeutic target because of its key role in autoimmune diseases,cancer,and cardiovascular diseases.This review systematically summarizes the core regulatory factors of ferroptosis,such as glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4(ACSL4)and their interaction networks,and deeply explores the application prospects of targeted intervention strategies based on ferroptosis signaling pathways in disease treatment and micro-bial control.Additionally,we also summarize the current issues faced by ferroptosis in practical applica-tions and proposes strategies,such as nanodelivery,improved drug chemical stability and enhanced water solubility to optimize therapeutic efficacy.We aim to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidelines for exploring more targeted treatments using ferroptosis.
4.Effect of butorphanol on lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury by regulating SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway
Jun FANG ; Ximing LIU ; Zhen LI ; Meng YANG ; Qingyong DONG
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(8):94-101
Objective To investigate the effect of butorphanol on lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury by regulating the stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)pathway.Methods Human C28/12 chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and assigned to the following groups:control(normal culture),model(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide),model+low-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+1μmol/L butorphanol),model+medium-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+2 μmol/L butorphanol),model+high-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol),and model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol+500 nmol/L CXCR4 agonist NUCC-390).Cell viability,interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels,apoptosis,and SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway-related proteins were evaluated by MTT assay,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,flow cytometry,and Western blot,respectively.Results Chondrocyte survival rate and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased while TNF-α,IL-6,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved caspase-3,SDF-1α,and CXCR4 proteins were increased in the model group compared with the control group(P<0.05).The above indicators were improved in the model+low-,medium-,and high-dose butorphanol groups compared with the model group,while the result for the model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390 group were opposite to those of the model+high-dose butorphanol group.Conclusions Butorphanol may improve lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury induced by inhibiting the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway.
5.Application of transcranial electrical stimulation in psychiatry and the progress of clinical research
Lin MENG ; Shiqi WU ; Zhen WU ; Yueqing DONG
Tianjin Medical Journal 2025;53(11):1228-1232
Transcranial electrical stimulation(tES)is a process,in which a specific pattern of low-intensity electrical currents is applied to the cerebral cortex through a combination of electrode sheets placed on the surface of scalp,modulating neural activity and corresponding human behaviors.In recent years,its application in the field of psychiatry has been gradually increasing.This paper reviews the clinical applications and latest research progress of tES technology in schizophrenia,depressive disorders,bipolar disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorder and sleep disorders,aiming to provide references for its application and further research in the field of psychiatric practice.
6.Dosimetric effect of combined physical optimization and gEUD optimization on hippocampus avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy
Zhen LI ; Jin-bao JIAO ; Ding-biao GU ; Meng-hao CHEN
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(11):44-49
Objective To investigate the dosimetric effect of a biological optimization approach combining physical optimization with generalized equivalent uniform dose(gEUD)on hippocampus avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy(HA-WBRT).Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 20 patients with multiple brain metastases who underwent whole-brain radiotherapy at a certain hospital between May 2021 and December 2022.Two radiotherapy plans including plan_DV and plan_gEUD were designed for each patient by using Eclipse V15.6 planning system.Plan_DB used conven-tional dose-volume(DV)physical optimization,and plan_gEUD went through re-optimization with an Upper gEUD function applied to hippocampal region and hippocampal protection zone.Evaluation was carried out in accordance with RTOG 0933 guidance for the absolute values D2%,D98%and D50%received by 2%,98%,and 50%of the target volume in the planning target volume,conformity index(CI),homogeneity index(HI),gradient index(GI)and the dosimetric indexes of hippocampal region,hippocampal protection zone and other organs at risk(OARs).SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results The two kinds of plans both had the target volume coverage meet the requirements of RTOG 0933 guidance.Plan_gEUD had the D98%,D2%and V105 of the planning target volume lower than those of plan_DV,with the differences being statistically significant(all P<0.05).The two kinds of plans had no significant differences in monitor unit,D50%and Dmax of PTV,HI,CI and GI(all P>0.05).Plan_gEUD had the Dmax and Dmean of hippocampal region and them of hippocampal pro-tection zone lower than those of plan_DV,and the optic nerve Dmax of plan_gEUD was higher than that of plan_DV,with the differences being statistically significant(all P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences between the two kinds of plans in the Dmax of inner ear,optic chiasm,lens,and eyeball(all P>0.05).Conclusion Physical optimization in the HA-WBRT plan combined with gEUD optimization results in a greater dose reduction to the hippocampus while maintaining target coverage.
7.Difference in liver toxicity between normal rats and Yin deficiency rats treated with psoralen and preliminary exploration of its mechanism
Tian-xian PEI ; Fu-zhen LI ; Meng-ying CHEN ; Xue-tong WANG ; Li-zhen QIU ; Heng-yu XI ; Kun ZHOU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):843-850
Aim To study the difference in hepatotox-icity of psoralen on normal rats and Yin-deficiency rats from the perspective of lipid metabolism,so as to help explain the mechanism of psoralen cautiously used in patients with Yin deficiency recorded in ancient books.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into the nor-mal control group(carboxymethyl cellulose-Na,CMC-Na),normal administration group(CMC-Na+psor-alen),Yin-deficiency control group(CMC-Na+thy-roxine)and Yin-deficiency administration group(CMC-Na+thyroxine+psoralen).The model of Yin-deficiency was established by thyroxine(1 mg·kg-1)for ten days,and then psoralen(200 mg·kg-1)was given for three days.The serum indexes related to liver injury were detected by automatic biochemical analy-zer,the morphological changes of liver tissue were ob-served using HE and oil red O staining,and the relative transcription levels of lipid metabolism related enzymes and mRNA of transporter and endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors were detected using Real-time PCR.Results After intragastric administration of psoralen for three days,compared with the normal group,the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bile acid(TBA)and triglyeride(TG)in Yin deficiency group increased more significantly,while TC,ALB and TP de-creased more significantly,and liver HE and oil red O staining showed more obvious lipid degeneration.TG synthesis factors adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC),fatty acid synthase(FASN)and sterolregulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)were down-regulated more significantly,TG transport factors mili-total pro-tein(MTP)and lipoprotein pipase(LPL)were down-regulated more evidently,fatty acid β-oxidation related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A(CPT1A),carnitine/organic cation transporter 2(OCTN2)and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-alpha(PPARα)were down-regulated more apparently,TC transporter adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G8(ABCG8)and bile acid receptor farne-soid X receptor(FXR)were down-regulated more ob-viously,and endoplasmic reticulum stress factor activa-ting transcription factor 4(ATF4)was up-regulated more significantly.Conclusions Psoralen can cause more severe hepatotoxicity in Yin deficiency rats than that in normal administration group,and its mechanism may be related to the disorder of hepatic lipid metabo-lism,aggravation of hepatic cholestasis and steatosis,and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress re-sponse.
8.The synergistic effect and mechanism verification of effective components of Biejia-Ezhu against triple-negative breast cancer based on network pharmacology and component compatibility theory
Dou-dou FENG ; Xiao-shan LUO ; Yan-yun MENG ; Jing-zhe ZHAO ; Jiu-long ZHU ; Ya-zhen HUANG ; Qing XIE ; Xiang-Li LING ; Su XIE
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):950-959
Aim To explore the compatibility and po-tential mechanism of effective components of Biejia-Ezhu against triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)and verify it by experiments.Methods Effective compo-nents and targets of Biejia-Ezhu were obtained by TC-MSP and Swiss Target Prediction.Disease targets of TNBC were obtained from OMMI and GeneCards data-bases.The PPI network was constructed using STRING database.GO and KEGG path enrichment analysis was performed using DAVID database.Cytoscape3.9.1 software was used to construct the"drug-component-target-disease"network,screen key targets and compo-nents for molecular docking,and further verify the com-patibility of key components and targets in vitro.Re-sults ① A total of 71 effective components were iden-tified in the Biejia-Ezhu drug pair.There were 146 drug targets associated with the disease.A total of 113 signaling pathways were identified by KEGG analysis.The 71 potential active components of Biejia-Ezhu mainly acted on key targets such as mTORC1,ULK1,TNF,EGFR,ESR1,STAT3,HIF1A,and PTGS2.Mo-lecular docking results showed that glycine and curcu-min were the key active components of Biejia-Ezhu,and both had strong docking activity against key target proteins mTORC1 and ULK1.②The results of in vitro experiment showed that glycine combined with curcu-min significantly inhibited the proliferation and clonal formation ability of TNBC cells(P<0.05),up-regula-ted the expression of autophagy marker LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ,down-regulated the expression of EGFR,down-regula-ted the expression of pathway protein mTORC1,p-mTOR,p-ULK1,and promoted the expression of path-way protein ULK1(P<0.05).Conclusion The key component of Biejia-Ezhu against triple-negative breast cancer is glycine-curcumin,the mechanism of which may be related to the regulation of the mTORC1/ULK1 signaling pathway to promote autophagy.
9.Construction of cuproptosis-related genes prognostic model for oral squamous cell carcinoma based on bioinformatics
Baixin GAO ; Ling LI ; Jingfei ZHANG ; Chao YUAN ; Meng ZHANG ; Zhen CAI
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2025;41(2):253-260
Objective:The transcriptome data was utilized to screen cuproptosis-related genes(CRGs)in oral squamous cell car-cinoma(OSCC),and the characteristic genes were identified for constructing a prognostic model for predicting patients'survival time.Methods:OSCC transcriptome gene expression and clinical data were obtained from TCGA and GEO.Through Lasso regres-sion analysis and Cox regression analysis,relevant prognostic genes were screened and prognostic models were constructed.Ac-cording to the median value of risk scores,patients were divided into high and low risk groups,and their survival rates were com-pared.Finally,the predictive performance of the model was verified.Results:In this study,9 characteristic genes with prognostic value(ENO2,P4HA1,SLC2A3,AQP1,PLS1,NXPH4,CTSG,TRAC,THBS1)were screened out and a 9-gene prognostic model was constructed.The survival rate of high-risk group based on prognostic model was significantly lower than that of low-risk group.The area under curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was 0.701,0.729 and 0.702 at 1 year,3 years and 5 years,respectively,which verifies that the risk model has good predictive performance.The nomogram predicted that the 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival probabilities of OSCC patients are 89.6%,72.4%,and 63.9%respectively,and the cal-ibration curve confirmed the accuracy of the nomogram prediction.Conclusion:The 9-gene prognostic model based on CRGs screening could predict the prognosis of OSCC patients,which is helpful for clinical personalized treatment of OSCC patients and prediction of their survival rate.
10.Effect of multiple modified process management intervention on cardiac function and psychological state in patients with severe CHD
Jing-jing TAN ; Wei CHEN ; Jie ZHEN ; Dong-yan LIU ; Meng-qi GAO ; Dong-mei CHUANG
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;34(4):475-480
Objective:To explore the effect of multiple modified process management intervention on cardiac func-tion,psychological state,stress level,sleep quality and adverse events in patients with severe coronary atherosclerot-ic heart disease(CHD).Methods:This randomized controlled study enrolled 130 severe CHD patients who were treated in Affiliated Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University between January 2020 and May 2023.Patients were randomly divided into control group(n=65)and intervention group(n=65).Patients in the control group were treated with routine management intervention,while those in the intervention group were given addi-tional multiple modified process management interventions.Both groups were intervened for 4 weeks.Cardiac func-tion,levels of norepinephrine(NE)and cortisol(COR),scores of Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS),General Comfort Questionnaire(GCQ),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),and the incidence of adverse events during intervention were compared between the two groups.Results:Compared to those in control group after intervention,patients in intervention group had significant higher left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)[(57.81±2.15)%vs.(50.11±2.99)%]and GCQ score[(95.88±5.37)points vs.(75.81±6.67)points](P<0.001 all),and significant lower left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV)[(109.81±5.37)ml vs.(129.26±5.17)ml],left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV)[(50.85±3.08)ml vs.(66.02±3.77)ml],levels of NE[(61.56±5.49)pg/ml vs.(69.86±5.03)pg/ml],COR[(85.63±5.19)ng/ml vs.(92.28±6.57)ng/ml],scores of SAS[(30.06±5.19)points vs.(49.51±5.85)points],SDS[(31.86±4.51)points vs.(40.00±5.10)points]and PSQI[(8.72±1.58)points vs.(13.89±2.40)points],and incidence of ad-verse events(4.69%vs.23.44%)(P<0.01 all).Conclusion:The multiple modified process management interven-tion may improve the cardiac function,adverse psychological state,stress level,sleep quality and reduce the inci-dence of adverse events in patients with severe CHD.

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