Biomedical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Mitochondrial dysfunction route as a possible biomarker and therapy target for human cancer","authors":"Rawan Al-Faze ,&nbsp;Hoda A. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. El-Atawy ,&nbsp;Hayat Zagloul ,&nbsp;Eida M. Alshammari ,&nbsp;Mariusz Jaremko ,&nbsp;Abdul-Hamid Emwas ,&nbsp;Gehan M. Nabil ,&nbsp;Demiana H. Hanna","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100714","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100714","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitochondria are vital organelles found within living cells and have signalling, biosynthetic, and bioenergetic functions. Mitochondria play a crucial role in metabolic reprogramming, which is a characteristic of cancer cells and allows them to ensure a steady supply of proteins, nucleotides, and lipids to enable rapid proliferation and development. Their dysregulated activities have been associated with the growth and metastasis of different kinds of human cancer, particularly ovarian carcinoma. In this review, we briefly demonstrated the modified mitochondrial function in cancer, including mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, dynamics, apoptosis of cells, autophagy, and calcium excess to maintain cancer genesis, progression, and metastasis. Furthermore, the mitochondrial dysfunction pathway for some genomic, proteomic, and metabolomics modifications in ovarian cancer has been studied. Additionally, ovarian cancer has been linked to targeted therapies and biomarkers found through various alteration processes underlying mitochondrial dysfunction, notably targeting (ROS), metabolites, rewind metabolic pathways, and chemo-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100714"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140055158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reflecting on the 1998 enterovirus outbreak: A 25-year retrospective and learned lessons","authors":"Peng-Nien Huang ,&nbsp;Shao-Hsuan Hsia ,&nbsp;Kuan-Ying Arthur Huang ,&nbsp;Chih-Jung Chen ,&nbsp;En-Tzu Wang ,&nbsp;Shin-Ru Shih ,&nbsp;Tzou-Yien Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infections are a major Asia-Pacific health issue. However, this infection can cause serious and potentially fatal neurological issues. We attempt to explain EV-A71's molecular virology, epidemiology, and recombination events in this review. The clinical and neurological signs of EV-A71 infections are well documented. The review discusses EV-A71 central nervous system infections' causes, diagnostic criteria, treatment choices, and prognosis. Some consequences are aseptic meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and acute transverse myelitis. These problems' pathophysiology and EV-A71's central nervous system molecular processes are examined in the review. EV-A71 infections must be diagnosed accurately for therapy. No particular antiviral medications exist for EV-A71 infections, thus supportive care is the main treatment. The study emphasises addressing symptoms including temperature, dehydration, and pain to ease suffering. EV-A71 CNS infections have different prognoses depending on severity. The review discusses long-term effects and neurological sequelae of EV-A71 infections. In conclusion, Asia-Pacific public health is threatened by EV-A71 infections. This review helps prevent, diagnose, and treat EV-A71 infections by addressing the mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, treatment choices, and prognosis. This study fully examines the challenges and considerations of managing and treating EV-A71 infections. It also recommends future research and development to generate effective viral infection treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100715"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11751406/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140139817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Good things come in small packages: The discovery of small RNAs in the smallest animal model","authors":"Chung-Pei Ma ,&nbsp;Szecheng J. Lo ,&nbsp;Bertrand Chin-Ming Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to two pioneering researchers, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, marking the fourth time research using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has received this prestigious recognition. With a rapid life cycle of just 3.5 days and four distinct larval stages, C. elegans serves as an ideal model for exploring complex genetic mechanisms, particularly heterochronic gene regulation. Ambros and Ruvkun's groundbreaking work on lin-4 and lin-14 genes in C. elegans revealed that lin-4 functions as a 22-nucleotide small RNA—now known as a microRNA (miRNA)—that binds complementarily to the 3′ UTR of lin-14 mRNA, effectively inhibiting LIN-14 protein synthesis. This discovery was the first demonstration of miRNA in post-transcriptional gene regulation, a finding that has since reshaped our understanding of genetic regulation across species. Their research on small RNAs in C. elegans not only opened a new paradigm in molecular biology but also highlighted the power of this model organism in uncovering universal biological principles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100832"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143424943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Past and future","authors":"Cheng-Lung Hsu ,&nbsp;Yu-Sun Chang ,&nbsp;Hsin-Pai Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor originated from the nasopharynx epithelial cells and has been linked with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, dietary habits, environmental and genetic factors. It is a common malignancy in Southeast Asia, especially with gender preference among men. Due to its non-specific symptoms, NPC is often diagnosed at a late stage. Thus, the molecular diagnosis of NPC plays a crucial role in early detection, treatment selection, disease monitoring, and prognosis prediction. This review aims to provide a summary of the current state and the latest emerging molecular diagnostic techniques for NPC, including EBV-related biomarkers, gene mutations, liquid biopsy, and DNA methylation. Challenges and potential future directions of NPC molecular diagnosis will be discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100748"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141136343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inherently imperfect, inherently evolving – The pursuit of precision through biomarkers","authors":"Aila Akosua Kattner","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100839","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100839","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Featuring a special section on cancer biomarkers, this issue of the <em>Biomedical Journal</em> highlights research on cfDNA, fecal miRNA, mitochondrial pathways, Epstein-Barr virus DNA, multi-biomarker panels combined with LC-MS-based methods, and circulating tumor cell (CTC) growth status as potential tools for cancer detection and management, including colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, it explores the social stigma surrounding mpox, and discusses the achievements in miRNA research that earned the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Advances in deep learning for trauma imaging are examined, alongside a review of decades of enterovirus research and current vaccination strategies. Other studies investigate the combined use of anthelmintic and antibiotic therapy for roundworm infection, and the application of a well-established Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formula, commonly prescribed for gynecological conditions, against autoimmune hepatitis. Further articles elucidate the role of the nuclear receptor HNF4 in Schistosoma, mitochondrial dysfunction in acute kidney injury, the effects of astragalus polysaccharides on prostate cancer, and the use of deep learning to predict mortality from electrocardiograms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100839"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epigenetic modifications of cfDNA in liquid biopsy for the cancer care continuum","authors":"Jodie Wong ,&nbsp;Rohit Muralidhar ,&nbsp;Liang Wang ,&nbsp;Chiang-Ching Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the clinical utility of liquid biopsy, with a particular focus on epigenetic approaches aimed at overcoming challenges in cancer diagnosis and treatment. It begins by elucidating key epigenetic terms, including methylomics, fragmentomics, and nucleosomics. The review progresses to discuss methods for analyzing circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and highlights recent studies showcasing the clinical relevance of epigenetic modifications in areas such as diagnosis, drug treatment response, minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, and prognosis prediction. While acknowledging hurdles like the complexity of interpreting epigenetic data and the absence of standardization, the review charts a path forward. It advocates for the integration of multi-omic data through machine learning algorithms to refine predictive models and stresses the importance of collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and data scientists. Such cooperative efforts are essential to fully leverage the potential of epigenetic features in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100718"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11745953/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140206324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Doxycycline cotherapy with albendazole relieves neural function damage in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis","authors":"Eny Sofiyatun ,&nbsp;Kuang-Yao Chen ,&nbsp;Chih-Jen Chou ,&nbsp;Hsin-Chia Lee ,&nbsp;Yi-An Day ,&nbsp;Pei-Jui Chiang ,&nbsp;Cheng-Hsun Chiu ,&nbsp;Wei-June Chen ,&nbsp;Kai-Yuan Jhan ,&nbsp;Lian-Chen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100727","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100727","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>We investigated the effects of combination therapy albendazole and doxycycline in Angiostrongylus cantonensis-infected mice during early and late treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: (i) uninfected, (ii) infected with A. cantonensis, (iii) infected + 10 mg/kg albendazole, (iv) infected + 25 mg/kg doxycycline, and (v) infected + 10 mg/kg albendazole + 25 mg/kg doxycycline. We administered drugs in both early treatments started at 7-day post infections (dpi) and late treatments (14 dpi) to A. cantonensis-infected C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. To assess the impact of these treatments, we employed the Morris water maze test to evaluate spatial learning and memory abilities, and the rotarod test to measure motor coordination and balance in C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, we monitored the expression of the cytokine IL-33 and GFAP in the brain of these mice using Western blot analysis.</div></div><div><h3><em>Results</em></h3><div>In this study, <em>A.</em> cantonensis infection was observed to cause extensive cerebral angiostrongyliasis in C57BL/6 mice. This condition significantly affected their spatial learning and memory abilities, as assessed by the Morris water maze test, as well as their motor coordination, which was evaluated using the rotarod test. Early treatment with albendazole led to favorable recovery outcomes. Both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice express IL-33 and GFAP after co-therapy. The differences of levels and patterns of IL-33 and GFAP expression in mice may be influenced by the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals within the immune system.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Combination therapy with anthelmintics and antibiotics in the early stage of A. cantonensis infection, in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice resulted in the death of parasites in the brain and reduced the subsequent neural function damage and slowed brain damage and neurobehavior impairment. This study suggests a more effective and novel treatment, and drug delivery method for brain lesions that can decrease the neurological damage of angiostrongyliasis patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100727"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140793297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Guizhi Fuling Wan ameliorates concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice","authors":"Shun-Li Kuo ,&nbsp;Chun-Han Su ,&nbsp;Kuei-Hung Lai ,&nbsp;Yu-Chia Chang ,&nbsp;Jyh-Sheng You ,&nbsp;Hsin-Hsin Peng ,&nbsp;Chun-Hong Chen ,&nbsp;Chi-Chen Lin ,&nbsp;Po-Jen Chen ,&nbsp;Tsong-Long Hwang","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated hepatic disease associated with intense complications. AIH is more common in females and needs effective drugs to treat. Guizhi Fuling Wan (GZFLW) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula for treating various gynecologic diseases. In this study, we aim to extend the new use of GZFLW for AIH.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The tandem MS-based analysis was used to identify secondary metabolites in GZFLW. Therapeutic effects of GZFLW were tested in a concanavalin A (Con A)-induced AIH model in mice. Ethnopharmacological mechanisms underlying the antiapoptotic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory protective effects were determined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Oral administration of GZFLW attenuates AIH in a Con A-induced hepatotoxic model <em>in vivo</em>. The tandem MS-based analysis identified 15 secondary metabolites in GZFLW. The Con A-induced AIH syndromes, including hepatic apoptosis, inflammation, reactive oxygen species accumulation, function failure, and mortality, were significantly alleviated by GZFLW in mice. Mechanistically, GZFLW restrained the caspase-dependent apoptosis, restored the antioxidant system, and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the livers of Con A-treated mice. Besides, GZFLW repressed the Con A-induced hepatic infiltration of inflammatory cells, splenic T cell activation, and splenomegaly in mice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings demonstrate the applicable potential of GZFLW in treating AIH. It prompts further investigation of GZFLW as a treatment option for AIH and possibly other hepatic diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100731"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11745949/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140855876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ECG-surv: A deep learning-based model to predict time to 1-year mortality from 12-lead electrocardiogram","authors":"Ching-Heng Lin ,&nbsp;Zhi-Yong Liu ,&nbsp;Jung-Sheng Chen ,&nbsp;Yang C. Fann ,&nbsp;Ming-Shien Wen ,&nbsp;Chang-Fu Kuo","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100732","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities have demonstrated potential as prognostic indicators of patient survival. However, the traditional statistical approach is constrained by structured data input, limiting its ability to fully leverage the predictive value of ECG data in prognostic modeling.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study aims to introduce and evaluate a deep-learning model to simultaneously handle censored data and unstructured ECG data for survival analysis. We herein introduce a novel deep neural network called ECG-surv, which includes a feature extraction neural network and a time-to-event analysis neural network. The proposed model is specifically designed to predict the time to 1-year mortality by extracting and analyzing unique features from 12-lead ECG data. ECG-surv was evaluated using both an independent test set and an external set, which were collected using different ECG devices.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The performance of ECG-surv surpassed that of the Cox proportional model, which included demographics and ECG waveform parameters, in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality, with a significantly higher concordance index (C-index) in ECG-surv than in the Cox model using both the independent test set (0.860 [95% CI: 0.859–0.861] vs. 0.796 [95% CI: 0.791–0.800]) and the external test set (0.813 [95% CI: 0.807–0.814] vs. 0.764 [95% CI: 0.755–0.770]). ECG-surv also demonstrated exceptional predictive ability for cardiovascular death (C-index of 0.891 [95% CI: 0.890–0.893]), outperforming the Framingham risk Cox model (C-index of 0.734 [95% CI: 0.715–0.752]).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ECG-surv effectively utilized unstructured ECG data in a survival analysis. It outperformed traditional statistical approaches in predicting 1-year all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death, which makes it a valuable tool for predicting patient survival.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100732"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11751416/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140853895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fecal miRNAs as potential biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer: An updated review","authors":"Chia-Chun Chen ,&nbsp;Pi-Yueh Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100769","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2024.100769","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100769"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11743092/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141722992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}