1.Three-dimensional Electrical Impedance Tomography for Monitoring Gastric Hemorrhage
Zi-Han ZHAO ; Bo SUN ; Jing-Shi HUANG ; Zhi-Wei LI ; Yang WU ; Nan LI ; Jia-Feng YAO ; Tong ZHAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1062-1075
ObjectiveGastric hemorrhage is one of the most common and life-threatening emergencies of the upper digestive tract. Early identification and continuous monitoring are essential for reducing rebleeding rates and mortality, particularly within the critical early hours after onset. Although endoscopy and radiological imaging can accurately localize bleeding sites, these approaches are invasive, resource-intensive, and unsuitable for continuous bedside monitoring. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), as a noninvasive and radiation-free functional imaging technique, offers real-time visualization of conductivity distribution and has the potential for detecting intragastric bleeding based on the electrical contrast between blood and surrounding gastric tissues. In this study, a three-dimensional gastric EIT (3D-gEIT) framework is proposed to achieve noninvasive, real-time, and dynamic monitoring of gastric hemorrhage, with emphasis on spatial localization and quantitative volume assessment. MethodsA three-dimensional upper-abdominal simulation model incorporating the stomach, gastric wall, gastric contents, and surrounding tissues was established. Three electrode configurations, namely the dual layer ring, the four layer staggered ring, and the opposed dual plane array, were designed and systematically compared to evaluate their influence on depth sensitivity and spatial resolution. Based on the Tikhonov-Noser hybrid regularization scheme, a region-clustering constraint was introduced to develop the TK-Noser-RCC algorithm. This approach aggregates spatially adjacent elements with similar conductivity variations, thereby enhancing structural continuity and suppressing isolated noise artifacts. To validate the proposed framework, an upper-abdominal physical phantom was constructed using agar to simulate background tissue conductivity. Hemispherical high-conductivity inclusions with volumes ranging from 10 ml to 50 ml were attached to the inner gastric wall to mimic localized bleeding under different gastric filling states. Boundary voltages were acquired under a 120 kHz excitation current and reconstructed using the TK-Noser-RCC algorithm. Furthermore, an in vivo animal experiment was performed using a porcine model with adult-scale abdominal dimensions. A total of 100 ml of autologous blood was injected incrementally into the stomach to simulate progressive gastric hemorrhage, and time-difference EIT reconstruction was conducted at each injection stage to assess the dynamic system response under physiological conditions. ResultsSimulation results demonstrated that the opposed dual-plane electrode array achieved superior depth sensitivity distribution and spatial resolution. For a 40 ml hemorrhage model, the average ICC and SSIM improved by 55.9% and 38.8% compared with the dual-layer ring configuration, and by 64.0% and 39.5% compared with the four-layer staggered configuration. The proposed region-clustering constraint significantly enhanced reconstruction stability. Under added Gaussian noise of 40 dB and 30 dB, ICC values remained approximately 0.85, indicating effective artifact suppression and preservation of boundary integrity. In physical phantom experiments, reconstructed hemorrhage volumes increased approximately linearly with the preset hemispherical volumes, and the reconstructed high-conductivity regions closely matched the actual bleeding locations. Both empty-stomach and full-stomach conditions were evaluated, demonstrating that the opposed dual-plane configuration maintained stable imaging performance across varying gastric contents. In the animal experiment, reconstructed low-impedance regions expanded progressively with increasing injected blood volume. The spatial localization of the hemorrhage remained stable throughout the procedure, and no significant artifacts were observed. Quantitative analysis showed that reconstructed volume and average conductivity variation exhibited an approximately linear growth trend with injected blood volume, confirming the sensitivity of the system to dynamic intragastric conductivity changes. ConclusionThe proposed 3D-gEIT framework enables quantitative reconstruction of gastric hemorrhage volume and spatial distribution with improved depth sensitivity, structural continuity, and noise robustness compared with conventional EIT approaches. By integrating optimized electrode configuration and a region-clustering-constrained reconstruction algorithm, the system provides stable dynamic monitoring under both controlled phantom conditions and in vivo physiological environments. This method offers a noninvasive, real-time, and low-cost imaging strategy for early diagnosis, postoperative monitoring, and bedside surveillance of gastric bleeding.
2.Dual Targeting of TBK1 and JAK-STAT1 Pathways by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate Suppresses Type I Interferon-driven Inflammation
Liang LI ; Qi-Huan SHENG ; Huan LIU ; Wen-Hao YANG ; Jia-Lin SHI ; Ying-Jie SUN ; Rui JING ; Wei-Hua MAI ; Zhi-Min LI ; Xiao-Li XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1969-1983
ObjectiveType I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is essential for antiviral innate immunity, yet its sustained or excessive activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases and interferonopathies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Current strategies targeting this pathway, exemplified by JAK inhibitors, act mainly on downstream signal transduction and provide limited direct control over upstream IFN-I production, while also carrying the risk of broad immunosuppression. Phyllanthus emblica L. has long been used in traditional medicine for inflammatory disorders, but the bioactive constituent responsible for its regulation of IFN-I signaling and the underlying molecular mechanism have not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the active anti-inflammatory component of P. emblica and to characterize its mechanism of action on the IFN-I pathway in macrophages. MethodsActive components ofP. emblica and their candidate targets were screened by network pharmacology using the TCMSP and DrugBank databases (oral bioavailability≥30%, drug-likeness≥0.18) and intersected with inflammation-related genes retrieved from public databases. The predicted interaction between EGCG and IFN-I pathway proteins (TBK1, IRF3, STAT1) was evaluated by molecular docking, with BX795 and GSK8612 used as reference TBK1 inhibitors. Mechanistic experiments were performed in THP-1-derived macrophages and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Upstream signaling was activated by transfection of the nucleic acid analogs poly(I∶C) and poly(dA∶dT) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, whereas downstream signaling was activated by exogenous IFN-β. An siRNA-mediated TREX1 knockdown model was used to mimic endogenous nucleic acid-driven interferonopathy. Expression of IFN-β1 and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) was measured by RT-qPCR, protein phosphorylation by Western blot, and IFN-β secretion by ELISA. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) were used to probe the interactionbetween EGCG and IRF3. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a candidate IFN-I-suppressive constituent of P. emblica, with predicted binding to TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1. Molecular docking yielded binding energies of -9.2, -7.2, and -8.2 kcal/mol for TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1, respectively, indicating an affinity for TBK1 comparable to that of the reference inhibitors BX795 (-5.7 kcal/mol) and GSK8612 (-6.4 kcal/mol). EGCG suppressed IFN-β1 and ISG mRNA expression under poly (I∶C), poly (dA∶dT), and LPS stimulation in both THP-1 macrophages and BMDM. At the protein level, EGCG reduced the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 without affecting the levels of the upstream sensors cGAS and RIG-I, and lowered IFN-β secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. CETSA and DARTS showed that EGCG did not enhance the thermal stability or protease resistance of IRF3, indicating that its effect on IRF3 is indirect. Following IFN-β stimulation, prolonged EGCG treatment reduced STAT1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner without an apparent change in IRF9, and partially attenuated ISG transcription; this effect was not monotonicly concentration-dependent, and CXCL10 showed the most consistent suppression. In TREX1-knockdown cells, the elevated mRNA levels of ISG15, ISG56, and CXCL10 were reduced by EGCG. ConclusionEGCG suppresses IFN-I responses by concurrently inhibiting TBK1-IRF3-dependent IFN‑β production and JAK-STAT1-mediated downstream transcription. These in vitro findings provide a mechanistic basis for the anti-inflammatory use of P. emblica in traditional medicine and identify EGCG as a candidate for further evaluation in interferon-driven autoimmune disease models.
3.Expression characteristics and diagnostic value of PD-1 and PD-L1 in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Yuexin SHI ; Li LI ; Jun YAN ; Caijun WU ; Zhi YAO ; Yuan-zhen JIAN ; Ziqing LI ; Fang LI ; Lulu YANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(11):1655-1662
Objective To investigate the expression characteristics and clinical diagnostic value of programmed death receptor 1(PD-1)and its corresponding ligand(PD-L1)in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods One hundred and sixty COPD patients who visited Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from April 2024 to November 2024 were included and divided into an acute exacerbation group of 100 cases and a stable group of 60 cases according to the severity of the disease.Additionally,40 healthy volunteers during the same period were recruited as the control group.The general clinical data of the patients were collected.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test(CAT)and Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire(mMRC)Scale were used to test the severity of the disease;respiratory function testing was performed and fasting venous blood was collected for serum PD-1 and PD-L1 testing.Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between serum PD-1,PD-L1,CAT,and mMRC,and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the influencing factors of AECOPD.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum PD-1 and PD-L1 level for AECOPD.Results Serum PD-1 level in the stable COPD group and AECOPD group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group,while serum PD-L1 level was significantly decreased,showing statistical significance(P<0.05);The level of PD-1 gradually increased with the grading of lung function and the deterioration of AECOPD,with statistical significance(P<0.05);Pearson correlation showed that serum PD-1 level was positively correlated with CAT scores in COPD patients,while negatively with CAT scores,showing statistical significance(P<0.05);Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that elevated levels of serum inter-leukin-6(IL-6),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),and PD-1 were risk factors for AECOPD,while elevated level of PD-L1 was protective factor for AECOPD(P<0.05);ROC curve showed that the levels of PD-1,PD-L1,IL-6,NLR,and the area under the ROC curve(AUC)for their combined prediction of AECOPD diagnosis were 0.884,0.867,0.868,0.802,and 0.995,respectively.Conclusion Serum PD-1 and PD-L1 in AECOPD patients have presented certain expression characteristics,with elevated PD-1 level while decreased PD-L1 level.Both have good clinical diagnostic value for AECOPD.
4.Present situation of sensors applied to monitoring of spinal morphology and motion
Shi-yu ZHOU ; Ya-qin LI ; Yang-xi HUANG ; Xiao CHEN ; Jing WANG ; Zhi-min LIANG ; Yu-chen GUO ; Xue YANG ; Ling-li LI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):105-110
The application of sensors to the monitoring of spinal morphology and motion was reviewed in terms of the research object and monitoring index.The present situation of the application of sensors was introduced,such as inertial sensor,stretchable strain sensor and electromagnetic sensor.The deficiencies of sensors applied to the monitoring of spinal morphology and motion were analyzed,and the future directions of the application were pointed out.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):105-110]
5.Present situation of sensors applied to monitoring of spinal morphology and motion
Shi-yu ZHOU ; Ya-qin LI ; Yang-xi HUANG ; Xiao CHEN ; Jing WANG ; Zhi-min LIANG ; Yu-chen GUO ; Xue YANG ; Ling-li LI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):105-110
The application of sensors to the monitoring of spinal morphology and motion was reviewed in terms of the research object and monitoring index.The present situation of the application of sensors was introduced,such as inertial sensor,stretchable strain sensor and electromagnetic sensor.The deficiencies of sensors applied to the monitoring of spinal morphology and motion were analyzed,and the future directions of the application were pointed out.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):105-110]
6.Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes the Development of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Upregulating HuR to Suppress hsa_circ_0057552
Rui YANG ; Bian-Li GU ; Lin-Lin SHI ; Shuo-Xuan LI ; Yao-Wu LANG ; Zhi-Xiang ZUO ; She-Gan GAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(11):1678-1686
Recent studies have revealed a significant association between Porphyromonas gingivalis(P.gingivalis)infection and poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).Although cer-tain circular RNAs(circRNA)have been shown to suppress ESCC tumorigenesis and progression,their regulatory mechanisms in P.gingivalis infection-associated ESCC remain elusive.In this study,RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that P.gingivalis infection downregulated hsa_circ_0057552 expression in ESCC cells and tissues in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Actinomycin D assays further confirmed that P.gingivalis infection reduced the RNA stability of hsa_circ_0057552 in ESCC cells(P<0.05).Functional assays in vitro and a subcutaneous tumor xenograft model in vivo revealed that hsa_circ_0057552 overexpression significantly inhibited ESCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and tumor growth(P<0.05).Additionally,PCR array screening combined with RT-qPCR and Western blotting in-dicated that P.gingivalis infection markedly upregulated human antigen R(HuR)expression at both RNA and protein levels(P<0.05).Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that HuR knockdown signifi-cantly increased hsa_circ_0057552 expression(P<0.01),whereas hsa_circ_0057552 overexpression had no regulatory effect on HuR.Finally,si-HuR treatment reversed the inhibitory effect of P.gingivalis on hsa_circ_0057552 transcription.This study demonstrated that P.gingivalis may promote the progression of ESCC through a novel mechanism involving the regulation of HuR/hsa_circ_0057552,thereby identif-ying a novel therapeutic target and molecular marker for P.gingivalis-associated ESCC.
7.Effects of TREM2 on synaptic plasticity induced by cocaine addiction
Rui-ke XU ; Zhi-wen WANG ; Jiao-jiao OUYANG ; Qi DU ; Li-hua LI ; Shi-jun HONG ; Yan-xia PENG ; Gen-meng YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(12):2341-2347
Aim To investigate the role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloidcells 2(TREM2)in syn-aptic plasticity induced by cocaine addiction.Methods C57BL/6J mice and Trem2 knockout mice were uti-lized in this study to evaluate the alterations in postsyn-aptic density protein 95(PSD-95)and synapsin 1(SYN1)within the cortex and hippocampus of co-caine-addicted mice by using immunological tech-niques.Results HE staining and Nissl staining showed increased neuronal damage in the hippocampus and cortex of mice after cocaine addiction.The results of immunohistochemistry and fluorescence of PSD-95 and SYN1 were consistent with the expression trend of Western blot.In the wild type mouse model,the ex-pression level of PSD-95 in the hippocampus and cortex was lower than that in the saline group,and the ex-pression of SYN1 was higher than that in the saline group.In the knockout mouse model,the expression levels of PSD-95 and SYN1 in the hippocampus and cortex were significantly higher than those in the saline group after cocaine addiction.The expression levels of PSD-95 and SYN1 in the hippocampus and cortex of cocaine knockout mice were higher than those of co-caine wild type mice.Conclusion Cocaine addiction can change the synaptic plasticity,and TREM2 plays a regulatory role in the synaptic plasticity of hippocampus and cortex in mice with cocaine injury.TREM2 is ex-pected to be a new target for studying the mechanism of cocaine addiction.
8.Clinical features and influencing factors of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma achieving five-year sustained complete remission after local treatment combined with systemic therapy
Yu YIN ; Yikai SHI ; Jun YANG ; Zhi LI ; Xiaoli ZHU ; Caifang NI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(8):1589-1596
Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with China Liver Cancer Staging(CNLC)stage Ⅲhepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)achieving five-year sustained complete remission(CR)after local treatment combined with systemic therapy,as well as potential contributing factors,and to provide a reference for optimizing the treatment of advanced HCC.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of six patients with CNLC stage Ⅲ HCC who were treated in Department of Interventional Radiology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University,from January 2016 to December 2019 and achieved five-year sustained CR.Baseline characteristics,treatment modalities,and follow-up data were summarized,and a literature review was performed.Results The six patients had a mean age of 58.3±10.1 years,among whom five had stage Ⅲa HCC and one had stage Ⅲb HCC,and all patients had a history of hepatitis.The mean preoperative MELD score was 8.2±0.8 for the six patients,and there were five patients with Child-Pugh class A liver function and one with Child-Pugh class B liver function.All patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,followed by sequential targeted drug therapy after surgery,with sorafenib for four patients and lenvatinib for two patients.Four patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus also received 125I seed implantation,one patient with the single-nodule type underwent radiofrequency ablation,and three patients received immunotherapy with camrelizumab.The median time to AFP normalization was 6 months,the median time from treatment to CR was 5.5 months,and the median follow-up time was 63 months.Conclusion Good liver function at baseline,an early and rapid reduction in AFP,and the combination of local treatment and systemic therapy are key factors for achieving long-term CR in patients with advanced HCC.Multi-center large-scale studies are needed in the future to further explore prognostic factors and optimize treatment regimens.
9.Clinical features and influencing factors of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma achieving five-year sustained complete remission after local treatment combined with systemic therapy
Yu YIN ; Yikai SHI ; Jun YANG ; Zhi LI ; Xiaoli ZHU ; Caifang NI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(8):1589-1596
Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with China Liver Cancer Staging(CNLC)stage Ⅲhepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)achieving five-year sustained complete remission(CR)after local treatment combined with systemic therapy,as well as potential contributing factors,and to provide a reference for optimizing the treatment of advanced HCC.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of six patients with CNLC stage Ⅲ HCC who were treated in Department of Interventional Radiology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University,from January 2016 to December 2019 and achieved five-year sustained CR.Baseline characteristics,treatment modalities,and follow-up data were summarized,and a literature review was performed.Results The six patients had a mean age of 58.3±10.1 years,among whom five had stage Ⅲa HCC and one had stage Ⅲb HCC,and all patients had a history of hepatitis.The mean preoperative MELD score was 8.2±0.8 for the six patients,and there were five patients with Child-Pugh class A liver function and one with Child-Pugh class B liver function.All patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,followed by sequential targeted drug therapy after surgery,with sorafenib for four patients and lenvatinib for two patients.Four patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus also received 125I seed implantation,one patient with the single-nodule type underwent radiofrequency ablation,and three patients received immunotherapy with camrelizumab.The median time to AFP normalization was 6 months,the median time from treatment to CR was 5.5 months,and the median follow-up time was 63 months.Conclusion Good liver function at baseline,an early and rapid reduction in AFP,and the combination of local treatment and systemic therapy are key factors for achieving long-term CR in patients with advanced HCC.Multi-center large-scale studies are needed in the future to further explore prognostic factors and optimize treatment regimens.
10.Comparative analysis of Exoview and Mimics three-dimensional reconstruction in thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy
Jun-ping ZHU ; Meng-meng GUO ; Jia-xing SHI ; Zhi-gang GUO ; Sheng-hui YANG ; Zhen QIAO
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(11):998-1003
Objective To compare the effects of sequential Exoview and Mimics three-dimensional reconstruction with fluorescence method in thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy.Methods The clinical data of 160 patients with lung cancer admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,79 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy with the sequential Exoview three-dimensional reconstruction and fluorescence method before the operation were classified as the Exoview group,and 81 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy with the sequential Mimics three-dimensional reconstruction and fluorescence method before the operation were classified as the Mimics group.The surgical completion status,the coincidence rate between the number of left and right pulmonary artery branches evaluated before operation and intraoperative findings,reconstruction time,segment display effect,general indicators of operation(operation time,intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph node dissection,thoracic tube placement time,postoperative hospital stay),pulmonary function[forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1%)]and complications were compared between the two groups.Results All patients in the two groups successfully completed thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy,and indocyanine green was injected once in each group.The operation process was roughly consistent with the preoperative simulation,and no thoracotomy was performed.There was no statistically significant difference in the resection of lung segment between the two groups of patients(P>0.05).The coincidence rate between the number of left and right pulmonary artery branches evaluated before operation and intraoperative findings in the Exoview group was higher than that in the Mimics group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the segment display effect between the Exoview group and the Mimics group(P>0.05).The operation time and the reconstruction time in the Exoview group were shorter those that in the Mimics group,and the intraoperative blood loss was less than that in the Mimics group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the number of lymph node dissection,the thoracic tube placement time,or the postoperative hospital stay between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in FEV1 or FEV1%7 days after surgery compared with those before surgery(P>0.05).The FEV1 and FEV1%of patients in the Mimics group 7 days after surgery were lower than those beforesurgery(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in FEV1 or FEV1%between the Exoview group and the Mimics group before and 7 days after surgery(P>0.05).The total incidence of complications in the Exoview group was 1.27%,compared with 4.94%in the Mimics group,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion Both sequential Exoview and Mimics three-dimensional reconstruction with fluorescence method are safe and effective for thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy,while Exoview has more advantages in preoperative assessment of the number of pulmonary artery branches,and it has shorter reconstruction time and operation time,with less impact on lung function.

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