Editors-in-Chief

Shu-Min DUAN

Zhi-Hong LIU

ISSN 1673-1581

CN 33-1356/Q

Published by

Zhejiang University Press

2022 JIF 4.7

Submit Now

 

 

  • Current Issue
  • Highlights
  • Archive
  • Special Issues

  • Review

    Abstract：Oral administration is associated with high patient adherence, as it is not only the route for primary site absorption of nutrients and peptide drugs but also is important for treating intestinal diseases. However, traditional oral intestinal drugs are limited by drug degradation and inactivation, particularly for proteins and peptides, due to gastric acid and digestive enzymes, making it difficult to effectively deliver drugs to target sites. To address these challenges, controlled-release microencapsulated intestinal drugs (MeIDs) have been developed and have attracted attention for their ability to protect drugs from degradation by gastric acid and digestive enzymes. In this study, we systematically reviewed research articles on the preparation methods, release mechanisms, and evaluation strategies of MeIDs using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. Our findings show that the preparation of emulsions, microencapsulation methods, shell material selection, and drug properties need to be considered comprehensively for MeID development. In addition, we found that coating, micro/nanocarriers, and absorption enhancers can be combined to enhance microcapsule performance. Beyond focusing on drug loading efficiency and microcapsule morphology, we also found that cell models, animal models, and spectroscopic analysis techniques can be used to evaluate drug biocompatibility, stability, and efficacy. Finally, the literature has shown that optimizing the preparation process can regulate drug release kinetics. For future research, we suggest that studies should focus on low-cost methods for producing monodisperse microcapsules, developing dynamic responsive shell materials, and using organ-on-a-chip technology for precise evaluation, as part of the theoretical support towards the development of microencapsulated drugs and targeted drug delivery.  

    Weiguang SU, Dawei WANG, Siegfried YEBOAH, Jinshen WANG, Chonghai XU, Li WANG

    |

  • Review

    Abstract：Tinnitus, a prevalent auditory symptom, can significantly impair quality of life, yet no definitive pharmacological interventions exist despite extensive ongoing research into its pathophysiology and treatments. The advent of biomedical engineering has introduced neuromodulation as a pivotal therapeutic approach alongside conventional strategies such as pharmacotherapy and surgery. Through the deployment of invasive and non-invasive techniques, using various modalities including magnetic, electronic, and optical means, neuromodulation aims to regulate neural functions. This has not only led to the refinement of fundamental theories but has also enhanced the optimization of clinical applications. As an emerging and promising intervention, neuromodulation enriches the toolkit available for basic neuroscience inquiry and broadens the spectrum of clinical therapies for conditions affecting the central nervous system, including tinnitus. In this paper, we succinctly review the current understanding of tinnitus mechanisms, discuss the features of diverse neuromodulation technologies, explore their application in tinnitus management, and contemplate prospects for their development in treating tinnitus.  

    Peng LIU, Xinmiao XUE, Zhixin ZHANG, Hanwen ZHOU, Cong XU, Lijun ZHANG, Zhen LI, Yongqing ZHOU, Shanwei SONG, Yameng TIAN, Fangyuan WANG, Xiaoming LI, Shiming YANG

    |

  • Research Article

    Abstract：Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a primary inhibitor of ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death driven by the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides. GPX4 exists in three isoforms localized in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nucleus; however, the regulatory mechanisms governing nuclear GPX4 (nGPX4) remain largely unclear. Herein, we identified TATA box-binding protein-associated factor 1 (TAF1) as a pivotal regulator of nGPX4. TAF1 phosphorylates nGPX4, leading to its lysine 11 (K11)-linked ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, thereby promoting ferroptosis in tumor protein p53 (TP53)-mutant cells. Conversely, in TP53-wild-type (WT) cells, TAF1 phosphorylates TP53, facilitating murine double minute 2 (MDM2)-mediated TP53 degradation, which upregulates solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) expression and reduces cellular susceptibility to ferroptosis. Collectively, TAF1 plays dual and context-dependent roles in ferroptosis regulation, acting as both a promoter and an inhibitor depending on the TP53 status.  

    Kehong YE, Meifu GAN, Liang SUN, Chaoyi CHEN, Xuan LAI, Yinjun HE, Ming ZHU, Weiqin JIANG, Honghe ZHANG

    |

  • Research Article

    Abstract：Human flora-associated (HFA) mice are often used to simulate the structure of human intestinal microbiota and to study the causal relationships between diseases and gut microbiota. However, several factors affect the colonization efficiency of human microbiota in germ-free (GF) mice, and the differential effects of gavage and lower gut transplantation on colonization are still unclear. In this study, we explored the reproducibility of the recipient-to-donor gut microbiota community structure and function under different transplantation routes and the differences in microbial colonization between recipients via gavage transplantation (GT_mice group) and lower gut transplantation (LGT_mice group). High-throughput sequencing of the metagenome was performed on the feces of each subject, and the composition of microbiome of each group was analyzed. As expected, the introduction of human fecal microbiota into GF mice via lower gut transplantation had a high transfer efficiency, which was evident from the similar species community structure to that of the donor (Adonis R2=0.713 960 for LGT_mice group‒donor group; Adonis R2=0.774 095 for GT_mice group‒donor group) and a higher bacterial colonization rate. The findings provide unique insights into improving the accuracy of constructing humanized microbiota transplantation models, aiding our understanding of the relationships between the human gut microbiota and disease.  

    Yapeng YANG, Xiang TAN, Zeyue ZHANG, Lifeng LIANG, Zhifeng WU, Jinhui HE, Yuqing WANG, Miaomiao DONG, Jixia ZHENG, Hang ZHANG, Shuaifei FENG, Wei CHENG, Bota CUI, Hong WEI, Qinjin LI

    |

  • Research Article

    Abstract：As the impact of early albumin infusion on the prognosis of elderly individuals diagnosed with sepsis remains uncertain, this study aimed to investigate this effect in elderly patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU). We identified the information of elderly patients with sepsis requiring ICU admission from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. They were divided into hypoalbuminemia group and control group, and the primary outcome was 90-d mortality. A multivariate logistic regression model and a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model were used to analyze the correlation between hypoalbuminemia and patient prognosis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were performed to analyze the survival outcomes. Propensity score matching (PSM) was implemented to determine the precise effect of early albumin infusion on the prognosis of elderly ICU patients with sepsis, and subgroups of patients were identified to explore the factors influencing the relationship. Early hypoalbuminemia was strongly associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes in elderly patients with sepsis in the ICU. In-hospital mortality (28.6% vs. 19.1%, P<0.001) and 90-d mortality (48.8% vs. 33.4%, P<0.001) were both significantly higher in the early hypoalbuminemia group than in the control group. PSM analysis showed that early albumin infusion was associated with lower in-hospital mortality and 90-d mortality in elderly patients with sepsis combined with hypoalbuminemia in the ICU. Early infusion of albumin could improve patient prognosis and reduce in-hospital mortality and 90-d mortality.  

    Jinmin CHEN, Yuanqiang LU

    |

  • Research Article

    Abstract：The Tibetan-Yi Corridor in southwestern China is well-known for the origins, migration, and evolution of Sino-Tibetan populations. Previous genetic studies have primarily focused on Han and Tibetan populations, thereby leaving the significant genetic diversity within the Tibeto-Burman groups under-researched. In this study, to explore the genetic structure and admixture history of Tibeto-Burman populations in southwestern China, we sequenced the human genomes of 100 individuals from the Qiang and Yi ethnic groups in Sichuan Province. These populations were found to have the closest genetic affinity with nearby Tibeto-Burman-speaking Tujia and Tibetan populations. The Qiang share more allele sites with northern Altaic-speaking populations, while the Yi have closer genetic relationships with southern Hmong-Mien populations. The dominant ancestry of the Yi and Qiang derived from Neolithic millet agriculturalists in the Yellow River Basin, with a smaller proportion from Neolithic coastal populations in southern China, supporting the hypothesis of a northern origin of Sino-Tibetan populations. The Yi have more southern genetic components than the Qiang, reflecting the differential genetic influences of southeastern coastal populations on these groups. In summary, this study elucidates the fine-scale genetic structure of Tibeto-Burman populations and their genetic relationships with other Chinese populations, laying the foundation for forensic genetic research in East Asian populations.  

    Jun LIU, Li JIANG, Yongqiang KONG, Chunnian WANG, Shuo FENG, Xuanzhu CHEN, Deqin ZHANG, Chuanchao WANG, Caixia LI

    |

  • Correspondence

    Abstract：近年来，关于阿尔茨海默病（AD）的机制研究不断取得新进展，其与其他神经精神疾病之间共享的病理生理机制也逐渐明晰。然而，对于在疾病早期阶段表现出非典型症状（如情绪调节障碍）的AD患者，临床实践中难以将其与其他神经退行性疾病或情感障碍进行有效鉴别。本研究报告一例75岁女性患者，她出现了进行性记忆衰退及类似情感障碍的情绪与行为表现状态的反复波动。经多次检查和治疗尝试后，最终确诊为早期AD，且在治疗后病情趋于稳定。本个案报道旨在进一步揭示AD和情感障碍之间共同的病理生理机制，以提醒医疗卫生工作人员应关注早期AD以情绪异常为主要表现的非典型症状，并展望未来治疗策略的发展方向。  

    Lingzhuo KONG, Yan YANG, Weihua ZHOU, Shaohua HU

    |

  • Correspondence

    Abstract：既往皮电活动研究多聚焦于0.5 Hz以上的快速瞬变成分，而0.2 Hz以下的超慢频段是否携带与系统性疾病相关的生物电信息，目前尚缺乏充分探索。甲状腺癌兼具内分泌与代谢系统效应，是检验超慢体表电位与机体全身状态之间关系的理想临床模型。本研究通过自研CTP008高阻抗直流耦合采集系统，在321例恶性肿瘤患者（甲状腺癌82例，其他癌种239例）中完整保留了0.025–0.2 Hz超慢频段（Band 1）的振荡与稳态基线信息，并预先指定甲状腺癌组与其他癌种组之间的Band 1能量差异为唯一主要终点。经三阶段自动化质量控制排除5例高伪迹受试者后（最终316例），Mann-Whitney U检验显示甲状腺癌患者的Band 1能量显著高于其他癌种患者（中位数9.23 vs. 6.23，P=0.0014）。在逐步加严伪迹剔除阈值的敏感性分析中，该效应不仅未被削弱，反而略有增强，从而排除了伪迹驱动的解释。值得关注的是，信号采集位点位于手指与手腕，远离甲状腺本身，这一空间分离提示所观测到的差异更可能源于全身性代谢或自主神经状态的改变。本研究为超慢体表电位作为肿瘤系统状态非侵入性标志物提供了初步证据，并揭示了直流耦合生物传感技术在临床转化中的潜在价值。  

    Bohan DENG, Ruili ZHANG, Yuxuan LIU, Jinglao LIN, Shicong GUI, Xihao WEI, Yin CHENG, Li ZHENG, Shaohua HU, Pingping LYU, Yubo LI, Huafen WANG

    |
Loading...

Citation Ranking

>

Download Ranking

>

Browse Ranking

>
0