International Journal of Biology and Life Sciences
International Journal of Biology and Life Sciences (IJBLS) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Darcy & Roy Press. The mission of the journal is to provide an academic forum for discussing the issues of biology, medicine, health, life sciences across the world. All articles published are rigorously and fast reviewed meeting the Journal Quality standards.
Impact of Preoperative versus Postoperative Rectus Sheath Block on Analgesic Outcomes
Objective This study aimed to determine the optimal timing for administering ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods A total of 60 patients who were scheduled to receive laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to either Group A or Group B.Group A received the rectus sheath block under ultrasound guidance before surgery, while Group B received the same intervention after surgery.The two groups were compared in terms of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores assessed both at rest and with movement at three time points: 10 minutes after tracheal extubation (T1), 24 hours post-surgery (T2), and 48 hours post-surgery (T3).Recorded parameters also included mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) measured before and after skin incision. Additional analyses covered intraoperative propofol and remifentanil consumption, the need for rescue analgesia after surgery, perioperative Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scores, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) on postoperative day one, and the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Results In both groups, VAS scores at rest and during activity recorded at T2 and T3 were significantly lower than those measured at T1 (P < 0.05). At T1, Group A showed significantly lower VAS scores than Group B under both resting and active conditions (P < 0.05). However, no significant intergroup differences were observed at T2 or T3. Group A also experienced a significantly longer interval before the first request for patient-controlled analgesia, as well as a reduced duration of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and better PSQI scores (P < 0.001). Compared with Group B, Group A had significantly reduced intraoperative use of propofol and remifentanil, along with a lower post-incision mean arterial pressure (P < 0.05). Conclusion Administering ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block prior to surgery offers better early postoperative pain control for patients receiving laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer, decreases the need for intraoperative general anesthetics, and enhances postoperative sleep quality.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Clinical Research Progress of the Ratio of Inflammatory Index Monocytes to High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a major disease causing fractures and disability in elderly women, and its onset is closely related to chronic low-grade inflammation. The ratio of monocytes to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as an emerging comprehensive inflammation indicator, simultaneously reflects the imbalance of pro-inflammatory cell activation and anti-inflammatory lipoprotein protective function, providing a new perspective for understanding the inflammatory mechanism of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This article reviews the biological basis of MHR, explores its potential mechanisms involved in bone metabolism disorders by mediating oxidative stress, osteoclast activation and other pathways, and systematically evaluates its clinical application value and prospects in postmenopausal women's osteoporosis risk prediction, severity assessment and treatment response monitoring. Existing evidence shows that MHR is expected to become a convenient and economical auxiliary biomarker, but its clinical application still requires more prospective studies to verify.
Research Progress on the Mechanisms and Applications of Active Ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Intervention of Exercise-Induced Fatigue
High-intensity or prolonged exercise training easily leads to exercise-induced fatigue, thereby affecting sports performance and increasing the risk of skeletal muscle injury and immunosuppression. In recent years, with the cross-integration of sports pharmacology and natural product chemistry, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has demonstrated unique clinical advantages in promoting recovery from exercise fatigue due to its "holistic regulation" characteristics, which involve multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. This article systematically reviews the core mechanisms by which the active ingredients of TCM intervene in exercise-induced fatigue, exploring their molecular pathways in targeting oxidative stress, regulating the immune microenvironment, accelerating the clearance of metabolic waste, and modulating central neurotransmitters. Furthermore, this review evaluates the current application status of single Chinese herbs and classic compound formulas in sports medicine, and prospectively discusses the scientific barriers and methodological limitations in current research. This aims to provide rigorous evidence-based medical support for the development of novel, natural anti-fatigue sports supplements.
From α-Synuclein Pathology to Practice: Understanding Parkinson's Disease Through Luk et al. (2012)
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common type of neurodegenerative disorder; it is characterized by broken motor functions and the buildup of the α-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies. The 2012 study from Luk and colleagues changed how PD pathology is understood, demonstrating the synthetic forms of the pre-fibrils of α-synuclein protein can prompt a complete neurodegenerative cascade in the wild type mice through a mechanism of prion like transmission. This review analyses the current understanding of the structures of the α-synuclein protein, how the protein aggregates and the formation of Lewy bodies. We discuss as well the evidence supporting the prion-like hypothesis of the progression of the disease. We discuss the fibril constructions' dorsal striatum of the mice's dorsal nuclear fibrils, and the nontransgenic mice's dorsal striatum's dorsal nuclear fibrils, and in the fibril constructions' dorsal striatum's nontransgenic mice dorsal Striatum's fibrils dorsal nuclear the dorsal Striatum's nontransgenic mice fibrils, dorsal Striatum, nontransgenic mice. The immuno-therapy. As well, the biomedical guidelines the brain areas, degeneration of brain areas, and the LD-like degeneration of the dorsal Striatum, compartments of the dorsal Striatum's compartments, the compartments'entre eux compartments, the compartments of the compartments of Striatum.
Microscale Gut Microbiota Spatial Heterogeneity Correlates with neuroinflammation in an Alzheimer’s Disease Model
Rising evidence implicates composition of the gut microbiota in neurodegenerative processes, yet little is known about correlations between microscale spatial organization of microbial communities along mucosa of the intestine and brain inflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In our investigation, we applied a validated transgenic mouse model of AD and age-matched wild-type controls to evaluate whether microscale heterogeneities in gut microbiota — i.e., small-scaled, spatially-resolved variations in microbial community composition over adjacent mucosal microenvironments in the intestine — are correlated with markers of neuroinflammation. We applied high-resolution spatial sampling of mucosal surfaces in small intestine and colon coupled with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and spatial in situ fluorescent hybridization to map community structure at sub-millimeter scale. Concurrent analyses of central nervous system inflammation involved immunohistochemical quantification of microglia and astrocytic activation and measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in hippocampal tissue. Behaviorally, animals received a battery of cognitive tests in order to place molecular results in context. We found our AD-model mice demonstrated enhanced microscale patchiness and beta-diversity of mucosa-associated microbiotas compared to controls, specifically in proximal colon. Regions of high local heterogeneity correlated with enhanced hippocampal microglia activation and greater levels of inflammatory cytokines. Further, variability of spatial patterns in microbiotas explained greater variability in neuroinflammatory markers compared to bulk measures of fecal community composition. These results implicate that microscale spatial structure of microbes in the gut — not only compositional content — could play a role as a causal factor in, or reflector of, neuroinflammatory states in AD, providing a new direction for mechanistic research as well as spatially-directed microbiome interventions.
Healthcare Big Data Governance and Intelligent Analytics Platforms: A Review
With the deepening advancement of healthcare informatization and the rapid development of digital healthcare technology, healthcare data has emerged as a core strategic resource driving healthcare service innovation and scientific decision-making. However, pervasive challenges—including uneven data quality, inconsistent standards, severe system silos, and prominent security risks—substantially constrain the effective realization of data value. Healthcare big data governance and intelligent analytics platforms, as critical infrastructure addressing these challenges, have become a significant research direction in healthcare informatics. This paper systematically reviews research progress in healthcare big data governance and intelligent analytics platforms. The study analyzes four core dimensions: data standardization, data quality management, security and privacy protection, and knowledge graph construction. Regarding data standardization, this paper outlines the application status of the HL7 FHIR standard system, ICD coding, SNOMED CT clinical terminology, and LOINC laboratory result standards. For data quality management, it examines research progress in data quality assessment dimensions, data cleaning algorithms, and governance frameworks. In security and privacy protection, it discusses the application of data anonymization techniques, federated learning, and differential privacy. For knowledge graphs, it summarizes construction methods and application scenarios for disease, pharmaceutical, and clinical pathway knowledge graphs. The findings indicate that healthcare big data governance has evolved from single-point technology applications toward systematic governance frameworks. Intelligent analytics platforms have achieved significant outcomes in improving data quality, enabling interoperability, and ensuring data security. The application of FHIR standards has improved healthcare data exchange efficiency by more than 40%. Federated learning technology has achieved a "data immobile, model mobile" privacy protection paradigm. Knowledge graph technology provides semantic reasoning capabilities for clinical decision support. However, healthcare big data governance still confronts challenges including uneven technology maturity, high implementation costs, difficulties in cross-institutional collaboration, and a shortage of professional talent. This paper provides a systematic reference for theoretical research and practical applications in healthcare big data governance and offers guiding significance for platform construction decisions by hospital information directors and data managers. Future research needs to explore real-time data governance, automated governance processes, multimodal data fusion, and intelligent governance.
Current Status and Influencing Factors of Sense of Coherence in Patients with Parkinson's Disease
By systematically reviewing existing studies on the sense of coherence (SOC) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), this paper summarizes the current research status and analyzes major influencing factors associated with SOC in this population. Parkinson's disease is characterized by progressive motor dysfunction accompanied by complex psychological and social challenges, which significantly impair patients’ adaptive capacity and quality of life. As a core psychological construct derived from the salutogenic model, sense of coherence represents an individual's ability to comprehend, manage, and assign meaning to stressful life events. Increasing evidence suggests that SOC plays a crucial protective role in psychological adjustment, disease coping, and health behavior maintenance among patients with chronic illnesses. This review integrates domestic and international findings to clarify the multidimensional determinants of SOC in PD patients, including social support, educational level, disease severity, psychological status, exercise participation, and adaptive capacity. Furthermore, the clinical implications of strengthening SOC through nursing interventions are discussed. The study aims to provide theoretical support for developing targeted psychosocial and nursing strategies to enhance psychological resilience, promote self-management ability, and ultimately improve quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.
A Study on the Frequency Correlation of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Functional Impact in Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain
The aim of this study is to investigate the differential effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on pain and functional improvement in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). We selected 80 CLBP patients admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine/Pain Department of Zigong Fourth People's Hospital from July 2023 to September 2024, and randomly divided them into a control group (n=20), a 1Hz rTMS group (n=20), a 5Hz rTMS group (n=20), and a 10Hz rTMS group (n=20). Pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) scores were assessed before treatment, after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment, and adverse reactions during treatment and follow-up were recorded. The results showed that VAS and RMDQ scores at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up were significantly lower than those before treatment in all four groups (all P<0.05). After treatment, pairwise comparisons of VAS scores between groups showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05); for RMDQ scores, significant differences were only found between the control group and the 5Hz group, and between the 5Hz group and the 10Hz group (all P<0.05). At the 1-month follow-up, VAS scores showed significant differences between each rTMS group and the control group (all P<0.05), and also between the 1Hz group and the 10Hz group (P<0.05); RMDQ scores showed significant differences between the control group and the 5Hz group, between the 5Hz group and the 10Hz group, and between the 1Hz group and the 10Hz group (all P<0.05), while no statistically significant differences were found in other pairwise comparisons. No significant adverse reactions were reported in any group during treatment and follow-up. The conclusion indicates that rTMS can safely and effectively alleviate pain and improve function in CLBP patients. High-frequency stimulation (10Hz, 5Hz) showed superior effects in pain reduction and functional recovery compared to low-frequency stimulation (1Hz) and the control group, and the degree of pain improvement showed a frequency-dependent trend (10Hz > 5Hz > 1Hz > control group).
Research Progress on the Application of Remimazolam as a Novel Sedative-Anesthetic Agent
Remimazolam is a novel, ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine characterized by its rapid onset of action. It has been approved for procedural sedation and general anesthesia, exhibiting typical pharmacodynamic profiles akin to other benzodiazepines, such as midazolam. The drug demonstrates high organ-independent clearance and acts primarily on the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptors. It is rapidly metabolized by nonspecific esterases, predominantly carboxylesterases, into inactive metabolites with significantly reduced binding affinity—approximately 300 to 400 times lower for GABA-A receptors compared to the parent compound. Following administration, plasma concentrations of remimazolam decline predictably and rapidly; at adequate doses, no prolonged sedative effects are observed. Currently, remimazolam has been successfully employed in endoscopic procedures as well as for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, offering rapid and predictable onset and recovery, minimal impact on respiratory and hemodynamic parameters, and an absence of severe drug-related adverse events. Moreover, its effects can be reversed by flumazenil. Although remimazolam holds considerable potential for sedation in patients requiring anesthesia, further research is needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in broader sedative applications. This review aims to outline the pharmacokinetic profile of remimazolam, its current clinical utility, and future directions in clinical practice.
Research Progress on Ferroptosis in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains a pivotal determinant of patient prognosis. Emerging evidence identifies ferroptosis as a central mechanism driving neuronal damage post‑SAH. The breakdown of hemoglobin/heme precipitates intracerebral labile iron overload, while the hypoxic microenvironment triggers ferritinophagy, further destabilizing iron homeostasis. This iron metabolic derangement, coupled with phospholipid remodeling mediated by enzymes such as ACSL4 and LPCAT3, leads to the accumulation of peroxidation‑prone polyunsaturated fatty acids within neuronal membranes. Oxidative stress induced by SAH compromises the critical System Xc⁻/GSH/GPX4 axis and the parallel FSP1/CoQ10 pathway, culminating in unchecked lipid peroxidation. Moreover, ferroptosis not only precipitates direct neuronal death but also releases damage‑associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that activate microglia, establishing a “ferroptosis‑neuroinflammation” positive feedback loop that exacerbates cerebral injury. In response to this pathology, ferroptosis inhibitors such as ferrostatin‑1 and liproxstatin‑1, alongside natural agents like puerarin and melatonin, have demonstrated neuroprotective efficacy. Circulating ferroptosis markers (ACSL4, SLC7A11, GPX4) also show promise for prognostic evaluation. In summary, targeting the ferroptosis pathway offers novel therapeutic avenues for managing EBI after SAH.
Advances in the Application of Exosomes in the Treatment of Gynecological Malignant Tumors
Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm, widely present in human body fluids and cell culture supernatants. They can carry various bioactive substances such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, mediating intercellular communication and material exchange by targeting and delivering signaling molecules, thereby regulating the physiological functions of recipient cells. In recent years, exosome research in gynecological malignancies has garnered significant attention. They not only participate in tumor initiation, progression, invasion, and metastasis by reshaping the tumor microenvironment, mediating immune evasion, and regulating drug resistance, but also demonstrate immense potential as novel therapeutic targets and drug delivery vehicles in tumor diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis assessment. This review begins with the biological characteristics of exosomes and their regulatory mechanisms in tumors, focusing on their current applications in treating gynecological malignancies such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. It systematically analyzes existing challenges in exosome isolation and purification, targeted delivery, and clinical translation, while outlining future development directions. The aim is to provide novel insights and strategies for the clinical management of gynecological malignancies.
Application of Twin-Block Appliance in the Treatment of Skeletal ClassⅡmaloc-clusion
Class II skeletal malocclusion has a high incidence rate, significantly impacting patients oral function and mental health, making early intervention crucial. The Twin-Block appliance, invented by Dr. Clark in 1982, has seen substantial improvements in clinical application value through multiple iterations. The optimal timing for its use should be determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of the patients growth and developmental status, with better efficacy observed during adolescence and limited application in adult maxillary reconstruction. This appliance effectively improves the morphology of oral hard and soft tissues, upper airway function, and temporomandibular joint status, although studies on the upper airway are limited by small sample sizes. Compared to appliances such as Herbst and Activator, Twin-Block has both advantages and limitations, ne-cessitating clinical selection based on specific needs. This article synthesizes the latest domestic and international research findings to elaborate on the application and research progress of Twin-Block in treating Class II skeletal malocclusion. It covers the therapeutic principles, structural composition, evolutionary improvements, optimal timing for use, clinical outcomes, and comparative analysis with various removable appliances. These findings lay the foundation for the future development of Twin-Block toward digitalization, personalization, and precision, providing a scientific theoretical basis for optimizing clinical treatment plans for Class II skeletal malocclusion and exploring new approaches and directions for functional correction of this type of malocclusion.
Exosomes as Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Strategies and Mechanisms for Mitigating Cisplatin-Induced Hair Cell Damage
Cisplatin is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent widely used for various solid tumors; however, its clinical utility is severely compromised by cisplatin-induced ototoxicity (CIO), which leads to permanent sensorineural hearing loss. The primary pathological hallmark of CIO is the irreversible damage and loss of auditory hair cells, driven by mechanisms including oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammatory cascades. Despite numerous candidates for otoprotection, efficient delivery to the inner ear remains a significant challenge due to the blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB) and the risk of systemic side effects. Recently, exosomes—small extracellular vesicles—have emerged as a promising bio-inspired drug delivery system (DDS) for inner ear therapy. Due to their low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, and innate ability to cross biological barriers, exosomes offer a revolutionary platform for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. This review systematically delineates the molecular mechanisms of cisplatin-induced hair cell damage and highlights the recent advances in utilizing exosome-encapsulated drugs, including small molecules, nucleic acids, and proteins for otoprotection. We further discuss innovative strategies for exosome engineering, such as surface modification and active loading techniques, to enhance their targeting precision and therapeutic efficacy within the cochlea. Finally, the challenges of clinical translation and future perspectives of exosome-based nanomedicine in hearing preservation are addressed, providing a theoretical framework for the development of next-generation otoprotective strategies.
Studies and Applications of Multi-Sensory Integration Abnormalities and Neuroplasticity in PPPD
Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a vestibular dysfunction disorder characterized by chronic non-rotatory dizziness, postural instability, and excessive sensitivity to complex visual environments. Its pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Recent studies have shown that PPPD patients have enhanced visual dependence, abnormal vestibular and proprioceptive senses, leading to multimodal perceptual conflicts and forming a vicious cycle of "visual-anxiety-symptom aggravation". At the same time, the structural and functional plasticity of the brain regions in patients is disordered, further solidifying the abnormal perceptual patterns. This review sorts out the related research on the abnormal multisensory integration and neural plasticity changes of PPPD, aiming to reveal its important role in the chronicity of the disease and its precise treatment, with the expectation that in the future, through interdisciplinary research, the dynamic interaction relationship will be revealed, and based on neural plasticity, multi-level and individualized treatment strategies will be developed.
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness
A Study on the Effectiveness of Structured Health Education in the Perioperative Period for Patients with Knee Meniscus Injuries
Objective To explore the application effectiveness of structured health education in the perioperative period for patients with knee meniscus injuries. Methods A non-prospective controlled study was conducted. Forty patients undergoing meniscus injury surgery in the Orthopedics Department of our hospital from January 2024 to September 2024 were assigned to the control group and received conventional health education. Forty patients undergoing meniscus injury surgery from November 2024 to June 2025 were assigned to the observation group and received structured health education, which included establishing a health education team, optimizing educational materials, providing mobile platform support, and daily supervision. The Tegner scores, TSK-11 fear of movement scores, and the proportion of factors influencing failure to return to sports were compared between the two groups at 3 months postoperatively. Results The Tegner score in the observation group showed a significant increase compared to pre-intervention levels, and the TSK-11 fear of movement score demonstrated marked improvement. Statistical analysis revealed that the differences in these indicators between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Further analysis of reasons for not returning to sports revealed that the proportion of participants in the observation group who were unable to resume sports due to personal fear and lack of knowledge about knee joint rehabilitation was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusion Implementing structured perioperative health education for patients with meniscus injuries effectively promotes postoperative recovery of knee joint function, alleviates fear of movement, and reduces barriers to rehabilitation through systematic interventions. This approach holds significant clinical value in facilitating patients' return to physical activity.
Optimization and Evaluation of a Dendritic Cell-targeting Strategy based on Lipid Nanoparticle-mRNAVaccine
Infectious diseases and cancer are major public health challenges facing the world today, posing a persistent threat to human health. Vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology have demonstrated great potential in disease prevention and control due to their efficient delivery and immune activation capabilities. Although the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) has significantly improved the intracellular delivery efficiency of mRNA, issues such as insufficient mRNA stability, poor targeting, limited expression levels, and cumulative liver toxicity still retain. This study proposes a dual optimization strategy for mRNA vaccines: by optimizing the untranslated region (UTR) sequence, introducing a 5’ cap structure, and a segmented poly(A) tail at the 3’ end, significantly enhancing mRNA stability and translation efficiency. And we innovatively employed mannose-modified polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated lipid nanoparticles, leveraging mannose receptors on dendritic cells (DCs) to achieve active targeted delivery. This study effectively enhanced the targeting transfection efficiency of LNP/mRNA vaccines for dendritic cells, providing a new idea for the optimization strategy of LNP- based mRNA vaccines and having important application reference value for promoting tumor immunotherapy and the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Pyruvate Kinase of Rhodococcus Opacus
In order to deeply explore the key regulation mechanism of carbon metabolism of Rhodococcus, the pyruvate kinase (PyK) of Rhodococcus opacus was systematically analyzed by bioinformatics. The results show that the enzyme has a typical PK-like superfamily domain, which can form a homotetramer spatial conformation, and its ADP binding site with metal ions is highly conserved in evolution. Multi-sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis further revealed that it was conserved in many species, and suggested that it belonged to Cluster II PyK, and its activity did not depend entirely on potassium ions. In addition, the prediction of phosphorylation sites showed that the enzyme had 44 potential modification sites, indicating that its activity might be regulated by complex post-translational modifications. This study provides an important theoretical basis and a new transformation strategy for optimizing the lipid synthesis and environmental remediation ability of Rhodococcus through metabolic engineering.
Copyright (c) 2026 Suhang Yu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
GDF-9 Affects the Development and Maturation of Oocytes
Within the intricate regulatory network of the female reproductive system, growth factors secreted by oocytes orchestrate follicular development through sophisticated paracrine signaling mechanisms. Among these factors, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily serves as a central regulatory hub, playing a pivotal role in this process. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9), an essential member of the TGF-β superfamily, possesses multifaceted and indispensable biological functions. It not only finely regulates cellular proliferation and differentiation but also participates extensively in the entire course of oocyte growth and maturation, making it a crucial determinant for normal oocyte development. This review focuses on the key gene GDF-9, aiming to provide a comprehensive and in-depth overview of its fundamental characteristics and molecular structure, with particular emphasis on its dynamic expression patterns within ovarian tissues. Furthermore, we explore the complex regulatory mechanisms and specific functions of GDF-9 during the critical process of in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), in order to offer a more systematic and insightful theoretical foundation and practical reference for research in female reproductive health.
Research Progress on the Clinical Application of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in reproductive-aged women. It is characterized by infrequent or absent ovulation, hyperandrogenemia, and polycystic-like changes in the ovaries, among other clinical features, which affect the reproductive and metabolic health of patients. Increasing studies have shown that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a crucial role in multiple pathological and physiological processes of PCOS, providing a new research direction for the precise diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This article comprehensively reviews the potential value of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related markers in the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of PCOS, as well as the clinical progress and challenges of targeted ERS treatment, with the aim of providing new ideas for the clinical management of PCOS.
A Study on Generation Z College Students' Recognition and Acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness Culture from the Perspective of Healthy China
This study focuses on Generation Z college students in Fujian Province, investigating their cognition, recognition, and acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM wellness culture through a combination of questionnaires and interviews. The results show that over 60% of students hold a positive attitude towards TCM wellness culture, but their overall familiarity is relatively low, with only a small minority being very knowledgeable. Core concepts such as Yin-Yang and Five Elements, and the homology of medicine and food, have relatively higher recognition. Key factors influencing students' acceptance include health management needs, recognition of scientific validity, and compatibility with personal constitution. Strengthening physical fitness and enhancing immunity are the primary purposes for use, while personal constitution or symptoms are the most important factors considered when choosing methods. Students pay more attention to the practical role of TCM in daily wellness and solving common health problems, preferring low-trauma conditioning methods. They also suggest promoting TCM wellness culture through practical experiences, thematic activities, and general education courses. This study provides empirical evidence for the inheritance, innovation, and targeted dissemination of TCM culture among youth.
Research on Dermoscopic Lesion Classification Based on Deformable Transition Layer and Multi-path Hybrid Attention Fusion
As the largest organ of the human body, the skin undertakes crucial physiological functions such as protecting the organism and regulating metabolism, and its health status is directly related to the quality of human life. Skin lesions are diverse in types and similar in morphology; failure to accurately identify and intervene in a timely manner can easily lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, posing a serious threat to patients' lives and health. However, dermoscopic images are commonly plagued by irregular lesion morphology, blurred boundaries and low discrimination of fine-grained features, which restrict the classification performance of traditional deep learning models. To address the above pain points, an improved DenseNet121 architecture integrating multi-path hybrid attention and deformable transition layer (HADT-DenseNet) is proposed. Based on DenseNet121, this architecture introduces deformable convolution to replace the traditional convolution in the transition layer to realize adaptive sampling of irregular lesion features. Meanwhile, a multi-path branch structure is designed, with hybrid attention blocks inserted between key dense blocks to enhance attention features in both channel and spatial dimensions. Through a hierarchical feature fusion strategy, the basic dense features are organically combined with attention-enhanced features to improve the multi-level nature of feature expression. Experimental results on the public ISIC 2017 dataset show that HADT-DenseNet achieves a classification accuracy of 92.3%, a precision of 88.2%, an AUC of 96.1% and an F1-score of 91.8%, which is significantly superior to the baseline model DenseNet121 and other improved variants based on common attention mechanisms. This study provides an effective and feasible new approach for the intelligent auxiliary diagnosis of skin lesions.
Clinical Comparison of Traditional Open Fusion Surgery and Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Fusion for the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of traditional open fusion surgery and unilateral biportal endoscopic surgery in treating lumbar spinal stenosis, and to provide a reference for clinicians in choosing the surgical approach. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 80 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent surgery at Yulin Red Cross Hospital from January 2020 to February 2024. The patients were divided into two groups: one group underwent traditional open fusion surgery, while the other group underwent unilateral biportal endoscopic spine surgery. The study compared the general clinical data of the two groups, as well as various perioperative data, including surgical time, blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, serum inflammatory markers, short-term and long-term complications, and patient satisfaction with the surgical procedures. Conclusion: (1) UBE has demonstrated its advantages, such as precise positioning, small incisions, minimal bleeding, reduced postoperative pain, higher patient satisfaction, and shortened hospital stay for patients.(2) Traditional open fusion provides a larger surgical field and operating space during the procedure. However, the extensive exposure, long incisions, and prolonged recovery time are its drawbacks.(3) In clinical decision-making, individual patient differences, the complexity of the condition, and medical resources should be comprehensively considered. The choice of surgical method should take into account multiple factors to achieve the best clinical outcomes.
Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Technique
The Role of FTO in the Regulation of T Cell Function and Immune Infiltration, and Its Potential Applications in Immunotherapy
The Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Protein (FTO), a primary N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase, has emerged as a critical regulator of T cell function, immune infiltration, and immunotherapy efficacy. This review synthesizes current evidence on FTO's enzymatic mechanisms, its impact on T cell differentiation and exhaustion, and its role in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). We explore how FTO-mediated m6A demethylation modulates key transcripts involved in T cell survival , effector function, and metabolic pathways. Additionally, we examine FTO's influence on immune cell infiltration patterns across cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and glioblastoma, and its contribution to immunosuppressive niches. The review highlights therapeutic strategies targeting FTO—such as small-molecule inhibitors and PROTAC degraders—and their synergistic potential with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), radiotherapy, and targeted agents. Finally, we address unresolved questions regarding FTO substrate specificity, context-dependent functions, and challenges in clinical translation, emphasizing opportunities for advancing cancer immunotherapy through epigenetic reprogramming.
The Role and Mechanisms of Lipoproteins in Cancer
As the primary contributor to disease-related mortality worldwide, cancer demands the implementation of predictive risk stratification systems to enable early therapeutic engagement. Epidemiological studies confirm that pre-symptomatic detection through biomarker panels reduces cancer-specific mortality by 22-45% across major malignancies. This research systematically evaluates the mechanistic contributions and pathophysiological roles of circulating lipoproteins, specifically focusing on the dichotomous effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-mediated cholesterol efflux and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-driven pro-tumorigenic signaling in malignant transformation. By conducting a comprehensive literature review, this study delineates the molecular pathways of cholesterol biosynthesis and intracellular trafficking, elucidates its mechanistic role in tumor proliferation and metastasis, and critically evaluates the emerging evidence for hypolipidemic agents as adjunctive cancer therapeutics. Comprehensive analysis suggests that blood lipids and lipoproteins may influence cancer development through insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress pathways.
A Review of the Opportunities and Challenges for the Highland Tibetan Medicine Health and Wellness Industry under the "Healthy China" Perspective
In recent years, the issue of population aging has become increasingly prominent, and societal demand for diversified and specialized healthcare services has continued to grow. Against this backdrop, the Tibetan medicine industry has developed steadily, while the plateau health and wellness industry has also shown a positive growth trend. Owing to its unique natural environment, plateau health and wellness bases demonstrate significant potential in promoting human health. This paper first reviews the environmental characteristics of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and analyzes the current status of plateau health and wellness base development in China, as well as the development of the Tibetan medicine industry. On this basis, the paper further explores the practice of Tibetan medicinal bathing in plateau Tibetan medicine–oriented health and wellness tourism, its integration pathways with modern industries, and the existing limitations. The study aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of plateau health and wellness and Tibetan medicine, provide scientific support for the in-depth exploration of Tibetan medicinal resources and the sustainable advancement of the plateau health and wellness industry, and thereby better safeguard the physical and mental health of local residents and visitors while promoting the high-quality development of the plateau Tibetan medicine industry.
A Case Report of Severe Scrub Typhus with Unexplained Multiple Organ Dysfunction and Literature Review
Objective: To explore the difficulties in the early diagnosis, clinical features and treatment strategies of severe scrub typhus, and to enhance clinicians' understanding of multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) caused by it. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of one case that presented with high fever, shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury (AKI), abnormal liver function and was eventually diagnosed with severe scrub typhus, and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results: The patient was an elderly male who was admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine due to "fever and cough for 5 days". Upon admission, the patient was in critical condition and rapidly progressed to septic shock, ARDS (requiring invasive mechanical ventilation), AKI, liver injury, and coagulation dysfunction, and was transferred to the ICU 2 days after admission. Early empirical broad-spectrum antibacterial treatment was ineffective, and a black eschar was found in the right thoracolumbar area during a detailed re-examination. The patient denied travel history, fieldwork, outdoor activities, etc. As the patient lived alone and his family members were unable to provide more medical history, there was a high suspicion of scrub typhus based on the characteristic black eschae on the skin at the time. Metagenomic sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF mNGS) suggested that scrub typhus was in the middle of the body, and the antibiotic was changed to doxycycline before reporting. After 48 hours, the patient's body temperature began to drop, hemodynamics gradually stabilized, organ function gradually recovered, and he was discharged after 14 days. Conclusion: Severe scrub typhus can lead to MODS and progress to life-threatening MOF, and eschar is a key clue for early diagnosis. For patients with severe infections of unknown cause, a very detailed and comprehensive skin examination should be performed, regardless of whether there is a clear epidemiological history or not. Early application of treatments such as doxycycline is key to improving prognosis.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Metagenomic Sequencing (BALF mNGS)
Advances in the Application of Non-invasive Myocardial Work Assessment in Evaluating the Risk and Prognosis of Stroke-Heart Syndrome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Timely assessment of the risk of stroke-heart syndrome (SHS) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), accurate prediction of clinical prognosis and optimization of clinical treatment strategies are crucial for improving the overall clinical outcomes of such patients. Traditional assessment methods including conventional echocardiography and single serological tests have inherent limitations, such as insufficient sensitivity and low specificity for detecting early myocardial dysfunction, which make it difficult to fully reflect the pathophysiological changes of SHS. The non-invasive myocardial work (MW) technique integrates speckle-tracking echocardiography with left ventricular pressure-strain loop analysis to dynamically quantify the mechanical properties and energy metabolism efficiency of the myocardium, thus providing a novel non-invasive approach for the evaluation of SHS in AIS patients. By reviewing the recent relevant literature, this article elaborates on the fundamental principles of the MW technique and its clinical applications in SHS risk screening, prognostic assessment and guidance of clinical treatment decisions in AIS patients. It also discusses the current limitations and future development directions of this technique, aiming to clarify the clinical value of the MW technique in the diagnosis and management of AIS patients complicated with SHS.
Research Progress on Prognostic Prediction Models for Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO)
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), a critical life-support technology for refractory cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest, has seen a significant increase in utilization over the past decade. However, its high medical costs, complex operational requirements, and substantial mortality rate necessitate precise prognostic tools for clinical decision-making. This article systematically reviews the recent advancements in prognostic prediction models for VA-ECMO, focusing on the paradigm shift from traditional scoring systems to machine learning and deep learning models. Traditional prediction models, such as the SAVE score and SOFA score, are developed based on logistic regression and Cox regression. While offering strong clinical interpretability, they possess inherent limitations. Machine learning models (e.g., logistic regression, random forest, deep neural networks) demonstrate superior predictive performance by processing complex non-linear relationships. Multicenter validation studies underscore the importance of model generalizability. Lactate, age, and albumin have been identified as key predictive factors across multiple studies. Future directions should concentrate on prospective multicenter research, the development of dynamic prediction models, and the implementation of standardized reporting guidelines to facilitate the clinical translation and application of VA-ECMO prognostic prediction models.
Veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Copper Homeostasis Imbalance and Cuproptosis in Secondary Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
With high mortality and disability rates, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) impact patients' daily functional abilities. Secondary brain injury following ICH is a critical factor in the loss of daily functionality, involving multiple mechanisms such as blood-brain barrier disruption, brain edema, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation, and activating various forms of cell death. Cuproptosis, a novel form of copper-dependent cell death, was introduced, which involves copper-dependent mitochondrial metabolic mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that cuproptosis is closely related to the progression and prognosis of ICH. However, the specific role of cuproptosis in ICH remains unclear, highlighting the importance of investigating the mechanisms of cuproptosis in secondary brain injury. This review summarizes the physiological functions of copper, the foundations of copper homeostasis, the mechanisms of cuproptosis, and its pathophysiological role in ICH, with a focus on the roles of neuroinflammation and mitochondrial damage. Finally, we explore future research directions in regulating copper homeostasis and inhibiting cuproptosis, particularly in relation to challenges in drug development, treatment windows, and target selection. Understanding the relationship between copper homeostasis, cuproptosis, and ICH offers new insights for the treatment of ICH and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Mechanism of miR-135a-5p influencing KRT8 expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in clear cell renal carcinoma via targeted regulation of TFAP2A
Clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent pathological subtype of renal cell carcinoma. Early symptoms are often insidious, and advanced-stage patients have low sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, resulting in poor prognosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the core driver of its invasion and metastasis. Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), transcription factors, and keratin is involved in the malignant progression of ccRCC. Among these, miR-135a-5p plays a regulatory role in various tumors, but its systemic regulatory relationship with transcription factor TFAP2A, keratin KRT8, and EMT in ccRCC remains unclear. This article reviews the basic biological characteristics, expression patterns, and biological functions of miR-135a-5p, TFAP2A, and KRT8 in ccRCC, based on recent research progress. The regulatory network of these three genes is analyzed: miR-135a-5p is lowly expressed in ccRCC and exhibits a tumor suppressor effect by inhibiting TFAP2A expression through targeting the 3'-UTR; TFAP2A, as a tumor suppressor gene, is lowly expressed in ccRCC and can target and regulate the expression of KRT8 and EMT-related genes; abnormal KRT8 expression is correlated with the malignancy of ccRCC and affects cell invasion and metastasis by regulating EMT. These three genes form the miR-135a-5p/TFAP2A/KRT8 regulatory axis, jointly participating in the regulation of ccRCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and prognosis. This article also points out current research limitations and looks forward to future research directions, providing theoretical reference for the molecular mechanism research, early diagnosis, and novel targeted therapies of ccRCC.