Bioscience trends最新文献

{"title":"Moving long-term care insurance upstream: A geriatric-syndrome-oriented framework for healthy aging in China.","authors":"Xiqi Hu, Xiaoli Wu, Ya-Nan Ma, Ying Xia","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01147","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is commonly understood as a social insurance mechanism that compensates care-related costs after disability has occurred. This compensation function remains essential, but it is insufficient in the context of rapid population aging, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, and long-term family caregiving burden. In older adults, disability often emerges from the cumulative interaction of geriatric syndromes, including frailty, recurrent falls, cognitive decline, malnutrition, depressive symptoms, pressure injuries, together with multimorbidity, environmental vulnerability, and caregiver burden. This article argues that the next stage of LTCI reform should not simply expand coverage or reimbursement, but should incorporate earlier identification of functional risk, comprehensive geriatric assessment, continuous care, caregiver support, and functional outcome evaluation. Existing quasi-experimental studies from China suggest that current LTCI pilots are associated with partial benefits in cognitive and psychological outcomes, changes in healthcare utilization including reduced hospitalization in some studies, modest improvements in health-related quality of life, and favorable frailty-related outcomes. However, these studies do not establish the effectiveness or added value of a geriatric-syndrome-oriented LTCI model. We therefore distinguish between the current evidence base and a proposed reform model, outline potential pathways linking LTCI to healthy aging, and propose operational priorities for future evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"270-274"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148248948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathways to embed digital health technologies and their governance mechanisms in Long-Term Care Insurance Systems: A comparative review of Japan, South Korea, and China.","authors":"Yuhan Cheng, Yue Han, Li Wang, Jiajia Ma, Kenji Karako, Yan Shi, Peipei Song","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01098","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01098","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rapid population aging is increasing demand for long-term care (LTC), prompting many countries to institutionalize financing and service provision through long-term care insurance (LTCI). Digital health technologies are increasingly embedded into LTCI, and yet the pathways in which they are embedded and their governance effects differ across institutional contexts. This comparative review synthesizes evidence from Japan, South Korea, and China across five operational domains-institutional foundations, eligibility determination, service management, fund oversight, and policy steering-and uses a sociotechnical systems lens to analyze how technology and institutions co-evolve. We propose a three-layer model of institutional embedding linking welfare-boundary constraints, governance mechanisms shaping data-driven operations, and path dependence in policy and implementation. In the three countries, digital health technologies have not fundamentally expanded the welfare boundary of LTCI, but they have reshaped how LTCI is administered, shifting i) needs assessment from experience-led judgment toward data-driven decision-making support, ii) service management from flexible discretion toward rules and platform-based coordination, and iii) oversight from ex post auditing toward process-oriented monitoring. Distinct national pathways have emerged: a supplementary-technology pathway in Japan, a state-led integration pathway in South Korea, and an exploratory co-evolutionary pathway in China. These benefits are accompanied by practical risks, including algorithmic bias, inconsistent data quality, privacy and security concerns, and potential erosion of institutional flexibility. The proposed model helps explain cross-national divergence and provides a governance-oriented basis for selecting embedding strategies and safeguards in different LTCI contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"275-286"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinically constrained optical design of a high-numerical aperture miniature immersion objective for probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy.","authors":"Yu Feng, Jiali Chen, Yong Wan, Xiaoxiao Ma, Bin Zhang, Fang Chen, Yingwei Fan, Hongen Liao","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01117","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a critical modality for the early, minimally invasive diagnosis of intraluminal diseases. However, its clinical translation is constrained by the inherent optical-mechanical trade-offs between numerical aperture (NA), probe diameter, and clinical maneuverability. Achieving high-performance imaging within the strict dimensional limits of standard biopsy channels remains a significant technical bottleneck. To address these challenges, we propose a clinically constrained optical design strategy. This integrated design approach incorporates anatomical boundary constraints directly into the optical optimization process. Based on this method, the developed miniature immersion objective achieved a 0.78 μm lateral resolution across a 300 μm field of view, while the integrated pCLE probe maintained a 1.1 μm lateral resolution. This system realizes stable cellular-level imaging under constrained geometry. It is bending-compatible and clinically deployable. Animal experiments and representative histology-correlated clinical gastric images demonstrated the feasibility of resolving tissue microstructures and clinically relevant mucosal abnormalities, supporting the translational potential of the integrated pCLE probe.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"311-323"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148155161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From organ replacement to functional restoration: A paradigm shift in liver failure therapy.","authors":"Yuanzhe Liu, Tong Jiang, Cong Ren, Yinbiao Cao, Zhanyu Yang, Haowen Tang","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01107","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Liver transplantation has long been the definitive treatment for end-stage liver diseases, and yet its clinical use remains constrained by donor shortages, surgical risks, and the burden of lifelong immunosuppression. Emerging regenerative strategies, and particularly chemically induced liver progenitors (CLiPs), are reshaping this paradigm by enabling functional restoration rather than organ replacement. CLiP technology utilizes small-molecule-mediated partial reprogramming of mature hepatocytes into proliferative progenitor-like cells, which can be expanded and re-differentiated into functional hepatic lineages. This commentary discusses the conceptual shift from replacement to regeneration, it evaluates the clinical positioning of CLiP-based therapies, and it highlights key translational challenges. Rather than serving as a complete substitute for liver transplantation, such approaches may significantly reduce transplant demand by restoring critical hepatic function in selected patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"340-344"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147979833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brain-computer interfaces: A lifeline for paralysis or a Pandora's box for humanity?","authors":"Tetsuya Asakawa","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01142","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent advances in computerized technologies, neuroscience, and materials and engineering have transformed brain‑computer interfaces (BCIs) from conventional unidirectional signal recording systems (brain-to-device) to bidirectional closed-loop neuromodulation systems (brain-device-brain). BCI-based devices enable direct information exchange between the human central nervous system and external electronic devices, and they are widely used in scenarios such as rehabilitation of patients with dyskinesia or enhancement of the self-care ability of disabled individuals. This editorial discusses the rapidly evolving field of BCIs, highlighting both their transformative potential to restore neurological function and the emerging ethical concerns associated with neural data access, cognitive enhancement, and human autonomy. The academic consensus and future translational prospects are also discussed. This article attempts to provide insightful, balanced, and critical viewpoints to help BCI-related research. Indeed, the future of BCIs will depend not only on technological innovation but also on society's ability to establish robust ethical and regulatory frameworks. Whether BCIs become a lifeline for millions of patients or a source of new societal risks will be determined by the choices made today.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"265-269"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From pilot programs to nationwide implementation: Reform of China's long-term care insurance in an aging society.","authors":"Ren Chen, Wei Tang","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01145","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>China is experiencing rapid population aging and a growing burden of disability, creating urgent demand for sustainable long-term care systems. In response, China has progressively developed a long-term care insurance system since the launch of national pilot programs in 2016. China's long-term care insurance has evolved through three major stages: Pilot launch phase (2016-2019), Expansion phase (2020-2025), and Comprehensive implementation phase (2026-present). The system has significantly expanded coverage, improved access to long-term care for severely disabled older adults, reduced the family caregiving burden, and promoted the transformation of elder care from a family-based responsibility to a shared social responsibility. However, substantial structural challenges remain. These include heavy dependence on medical insurance funds, lack of a sustainable financing mechanism, regional disparities in disability assessment standards, a dearth of professional caregivers, fragmented governance structures, and inadequate digital supervision systems. Looking forward, China's long-term care insurance is expected to transition from a supplementary medical insurance arrangement toward an integrated social care security system. Future reforms should focus on establishing diversified financing mechanisms, unified disability assessment standards, delivery of community-centered care, integrated health and social care governance, and digitalized regulatory systems. China's experience may provide an important policy reference for other rapidly aging middle-income countries facing growing long-term care demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"254-264"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148216162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Allele-specific effects of distinct SLC26A4 variants on cochlear function and transcriptomic programs in compound heterozygous models.","authors":"Yue Li, Yiding Yu, Yan Zhao, Lin Deng, Jinge Xie, Shan Gao, Ying Li, Qingjia Cui, Shuo Wang, Lihui Huang","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01058","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SLC26A4 is a major causative gene for hereditary hearing loss, its mutation spectrum shows pronounced population specificity. In Chinese populations, patients predominantly carry biallelic mutations, and compound heterozygous genotypes are prevalent, which results in a wide spectrum of auditory phenotypes. However, how different alleles interact within these contexts to shape phenotypic variability remains poorly understood. We employed cellular and mouse models to explore the allele-specific mechanisms associated with two novel mutations, a frameshift mutation and a missense mutation, in compound heterozygous that share the same splice-site pathogenic allele. In vitro, wild-type (WT) and mutant (c.574delC, c.1211C>A) SLC26A4 constructs were expressed in HeLa cells to assess pendrin localization. Both mutations reduced membrane enrichment and increased intracellular retention. In vivo, compound heterozygous knock-in mouse models (Slc26a4^{c.574delC/c.919-2A>G} and Slc26a4^{c.1211C>A/c.919-2A>G}) were generated using CRISPR/Cas9. The auditory function and cochlear pathology were investigated. Both compound mutants exhibited elevated ABR thresholds, with more severe hearing loss in Slc26a4^{c.574delC/c.919-2A>G} mice. Correspondingly, these mice showed marked hair cell disruption, stereociliary loss, and cochlear structural abnormalities, whereas the Slc26a4^{c.1211C>A/c.919-2A>G} mice displayed milder changes. Transcriptomic profiling examined by bulk RNA-sequencing revealed broader differential expression in Slc26a4^{c.574delC/c.919-2A>G} mice, enriched in structural and developmental pathways, while the missense model showed predominantly immune-related signatures. Our findings demonstrate that allele-specific functional divergence in compound heterozygous SLC26A4 mutations leads to distinct auditory dysfunction, cochlear pathology, and transcriptional programs. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the phenotypic heterogeneity of hearing loss and may indicate future allele-specific interventions or therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"217-234"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147497716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The orchestrated network of skin photoaging: From intercellular crosstalk to molecular signaling.","authors":"Bingmin Li, Cong Ren, Lixia Zhang, Weijie Gu","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01042","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Photoaging is a distinct form of pathological skin aging driven primarily by chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which clinically manifests as wrinkles, dyspigmentation, and loss of elasticity. Although core molecular events induced by UV-such as oxidative stress and DNA damage-are relatively well-understood, there is still a lack of a systematic and integrated understanding of how diverse cell types in the skin collectively drive photoaging through complex interactive networks. This review systematically elaborates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying skin photoaging. The key pathways involved are examined, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, dysregulated autophagy, activation of inflammatory cascades, and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This review further details the pivotal roles of and reciprocal crosstalk among fibroblasts, keratinocytes, melanocytes, and various immune cells. By providing an integrated perspective on these interactions, this review outlines the cellular and molecular mechanism of UV-associated senescence, which uniquely integrates the roles of the immune microenvironment and cellular crosstalk, providing a roadmap for next-generation anti-photoaging strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"178-191"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147497658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling of the hepatitis B virus life cycle and the efficacy of antivirals in human iPSC-derived hepatic organoids.","authors":"Tanbin Liu, Junming Xu, Xiaoni Chen, Jingyi Li, Jie Ke, Jiasen Xu, Hongzhou Lu, Fenfang Wu","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01043","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health burden, affecting approximately 296 million people worldwide, and yet progress in mechanistic studies and development of antivirals has been limited by the lack of physiologically relevant and sustainable in vitro models. This study established a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived multilineage hepatic organoid system that robustly supports the complete HBV life cycle, including viral entry, replication, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) formation, antigen secretion, and production of infectious progeny virus. These organoids exhibit stable expression of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), a key receptor for HBV entry, and remain viable long term under infection conditions for at least 20 days, with sustained secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg. Importantly, the model recreates key pathological features of chronic HBV infection, including downregulation of hepatocyte functional genes (e.g., ALB and CYP3A4) and induction of fibrosis-associated markers such as COL1A1, reflecting early extracellular matrix remodeling. Moreover, results indicated the utility of this platform in the evaluation of antivirals. Treatment with tenofovir effectively reduced viral DNA and antigen production without affecting cccDNA levels, whereas bulevirtide resulted in stage-specific inhibition of viral entry, highlighting the model's capacity to resolve mechanism-of-action differences. At the same time, drug-induced hepatotoxicity was assessed within the same system. Collectively, this hiPSC-derived hepatic organoid model provides a scalable and physiologically relevant platform that bridges the gap between conventional cell culture and in vivo systems, offering a powerful tool for studying HBV pathogenesis, host-virus interactions, and preclinical antiviral discovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"235-244"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147509510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics and management of constitutional indocyanine green excretory defect.","authors":"Jiaao Wang, Ziqi Hou, Jun Ji, Ding Hu, Changlong Wei, Zhihong Zhang, Yuanzhi Zhou, Haichuan Wang, Jiwei Huang","doi":"10.5582/bst.2026.01032","DOIUrl":"10.5582/bst.2026.01032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Indocyanine green (ICG) test is a popular and widely implied assessment of hepatic functional reserve (HFR) due to its safety and efficiency. However, as the application of ICG expanded, an exceedingly rare disorder, the constitutional ICG excretory defect (CIED), gradually emerged. CIED is considered as a harmless dye excretory defect, which features remarkable ICG plasma retention (plasma ICG 15-min retention rate is higher than 50%) without any severe liver impairments. Previous investigations revealed that it has no particular symptoms and it is not a contraindication of surgical treatments. The deficiency of the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 is affirmed to be the underlying cause of CIED. It is of great significance to identify this disorder from other reasons elevating ICG-R15 and provide such patients with effective and safe treatments. The utility of ^99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy, Child-Pugh and ALBI scores, and liver biopsy in identification and supplementary HFR assessment in CIED has been affirmed. Moreover, other methods based on radioactive tracers, serum biomarkers and imaging examinations have potential. Based on existing evidence, we proposed a clinical strategy that prioritizes ALBI and Child-Pugh scores, as well as imaging examinations, such as computerized tomography and ultrasound examinations, for the initial identification of CIED. Thereafter, ^99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy or biopsy is used to verify CIED and assess HFR. In conclusion, we comprehensively reviewed the characteristics, mechanisms and coping strategies of CIED, aiming to provide updated insights of this disorder.</p>","PeriodicalId":8957,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience trends","volume":" ","pages":"160-177"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147509546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}