Yan Li

Cancer remains one of the most prominent global health concerns, posing a substantial threat to public health. Millions of people die from cancer each year, and many cancer types remain incurable at present. Conventional cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, often fail to achieve optimal clinical outcomes and are frequently associated with severe trauma and adverse effects. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic strategies to address these limitations. Hydrogels have been widely utilised as platforms for loading drugs, proteins, DNA, and stem cells in biomedical tissue repair and cancer therapy. Through modification of their physicochemical properties and functions, hydrogels can be endowed with responsiveness to multiple stimuli. In recent years, stimuli-responsive hydrogels (also known as smart-responsive hydrogels), as novel drug delivery systems, have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in cancer treatment. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are capable of altering their mechanical properties, swelling behaviour, hydrophilicity, bioactivity, and molecular permeability in response to endogenous stimuli (including pH, ROS, and temperature) and exogenous stimuli (including light, ultrasound, and magnetic fields). This review highlights recent advances and applications of responsive hydrogels triggered by endogenous stimuli (including pH, ROS, and temperature) and exogenous stimuli (including light, ultrasound, and magnetic force) in cancer drug delivery and treatment. Finally, the current application limitations and future prospects of smart-responsive hydrogels are summarised.

Atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality despite advances in pharmacological and interventional therapies. Current treatment approaches face limitations including systemic side effects, inadequate local drug delivery, and restenosis following vascular interventions. Gel-based technologies offer unique advantages through tunable mechanical properties, controlled degradation kinetics, high drug-loading capacity, and potential for stimuli-responsive therapeutic release. This review examines gel platforms across multiple scales and applications in atherosclerosis research and intervention. First, gel-based in vitro models are discussed. These include hydrogel matrices simulating plaque microenvironments, three-dimensional cellular culture platforms, and microfluidic organ-on-chip devices. These devices incorporate physiological flow to investigate disease mechanisms under controlled conditions. Second, therapeutic strategies are addressed through macroscopic gels for localized treatment. These encompass natural polymer-based, synthetic polymer-based, and composite formulations. Applications include stent coatings, adventitial injections, and catheter-delivered depots. Natural polymers often possess intrinsic biological activities including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may contribute to therapeutic effects. Third, nano- and microgels for systemic delivery are examined. These include polymer-based nanogels with stimuli-responsive drug release responding to oxidative stress, pH changes, and enzymatic activity characteristic of atherosclerotic lesions. Inorganic–organic composite nanogels incorporating paramagnetic contrast agents enable theranostic applications by combining therapy with imaging-guided treatment monitoring. Current challenges include manufacturing consistency, mechanical stability under physiological flow, long-term safety assessment, and regulatory pathway definition. Future opportunities are discussed in multi-functional integration, artificial intelligence-guided design, personalized formulations, and biomimetic approaches. Gel technologies demonstrate substantial potential to advance atherosclerosis management through improved spatial and temporal control over therapeutic interventions.

Objective: This study evaluated therapeutic effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (QiShengli Tablets) in patients with carotid artery plaques, in combination with lifestyle interventions, lipid-lowering therapy. We aimed to provide novel insights into safe clinical application of ginsenoside Rg1 for managing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Methods: From January 2022 to October 2023, 106 carotid artery plaques patients Aged ≥60 and 0.05). All patients were treated 3 months. Carotid atherosclerosis–related outcomes were assessed after treatment, and data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0.Results: Carotid ultrasound revealed significant intergroup differences in plaque number and volume changes after treatment (P < 0.05). No significant intergroup differences were observed in arterial stiffness index (P > 0.05). Fibroblast growth factor 21 levels differed significantly among the groups (P < 0.05), whereas Lumican and Fibulin-1 levels did not (P > 0.05). Analysis biochemical indicators revealed significant post-treatment differences in LDL-C, TC, Hcy, IL-6, TNF-α, 25(OH)D, and insulin resistance (IR) (P < 0.05). Notably, after treatment of three groups, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale score was statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques, adding ginsenoside Rg1 to standard therapy reduced the number and volume of carotid plaques. It improved quality of life, decreased specific inflammatory markers, and enhanced blood pressure control and Insulin Resistance (IR). These suggest ginsenoside Rg1 may have clinical value in the future management of carotid atherosclerosis.

The rapid pace of modern life has contributed to a significant decline in sleep quality, which has become an urgent global public health issue. Melatonin, an endogenous hormone that regulates circadian rhythms, is vital in maintaining normal sleep cycles. While oral melatonin supplementation is widely used, transdermal delivery systems present advantages that include the avoidance of first-pass metabolism effects and enhanced bioavailability. In this study, a novel melatonin transdermal delivery system was successfully developed using a thermosensitive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) [p(NVCL)]-based carrier. The p(NVCL) polymer was synthesized through free radical polymerization and characterized for its structural properties and phase transition temperature, in alignment with skin surface conditions. Orthogonal optimization experiments identified 3% azone, 3% menthol, and 4% borneol as the optimal enhancer combination for enhanced transdermal absorption. The formulation demonstrated exceptional melatonin loading characteristics with high encapsulation efficiency and stable physicochemical properties, including an appropriate pH and optimal moisture content. Comprehensive in vivo evaluation using normal mouse models revealed significant sleep quality improvements, specifically a shortened sleep latency and extended non-rapid eye movement sleep duration, with elevated serum melatonin and serotonin levels. Safety assessments including histopathological examination, biochemical analysis, and 28-day continuous administration studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility with no adverse reactions or systemic toxicity. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging provided direct evidence of enhanced transdermal absorption and superior biodistribution compared to oral administration. These findings indicate that the p(NVCL)-based melatonin transdermal gel system offers a safe, effective and convenient non-prescription option for sleep regulation, with promising potential for clinical translation as a consumer sleep aid.

Introduction: Early-life factors were reported to exert influence on the health condition of individuals in the long-term. However, limited research explored the connection between early-life factors and multimorbidity in later years. Methods: We utilized the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study to assess this possible association in the present cross-sectional study. Multimorbidity was determined based on 14 common chronic diseases included in the study. Logistic regression was employed to examine the link between early-life factors and subsequent multimorbidity. Results: Out of 7,578 participants who met the inclusion criteria for analysis, 3,765 (49.68%) were females. The mean age was 68.25 ± 6.70 years. Participants who rated their health during childhood as average (odds ratio [OR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.96) or better [OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57–0.91] were significantly less likely to experience multimorbidity in older life. By contrast, experiencing violence from two of the family members was significantly associated with future multimorbidity (OR [95% CI], 1.29 [1.04–1.60]). A superior family financial situation was also negatively associated with multimorbidity, with average (OR [95% CI], 0.72 [0.63–0.83]) and better off than average (OR [95% CI], 0.76 [0.62–0.93]). Discussion: Individuals with poor health status, inferior family socioeconomic status, or experienced violence from family members in childhood were more likely to suffer from multimorbidity in later life. Enhanced social monitoring of potentially adverse conditions in youngsters and targeted interventions could help mitigate the progression of multimorbidity in later life.

Background Geriatric syndromes are posing increasing health threat in an aging population. The reliable indicator of geriatric syndromes is of great clinical value for early diagnosis and intervention. Aims To investigate the potential application of slow gait speed as a signal for identifying common geriatric syndromes besides sarcopenia in the elderly. Methods A total number of 985 elderly outpatients (457 men and 528 women) were recruited in the study. The subjects were classified into two groups according to the gait speed cut-off (1.0m/s), with the individuals being assigned as normal speed group (NSG) when the gait speed≥1.0m/s and the slow speed group (SSG) was defined as the gait speed Results Compared to the NSG, SSG subjects were significantly older, shorter in height, lighter in weight and consumed more medicine. SSG subjects also showed a higher score in Edmonton symptom assessment, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and had a lower score in Barthel index of Activities of Daily Living (BADL) assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). There was a significantly higher prevalence of frailty, disability, depression, and dementia in SSG when compared to NSG. In addition, gait speed was an independent predictive factor associated with a higher risk of frailty, disability, dementia, and swallowing dysfunction. Conclusions Slow gait speed could be used as an indicator for several common geriatric syndromes in elderly outpatients. We recommended the 6 meters walk test as a routine examination for the elderly in the geriatric department.

Background In China geriatricians is inadequate for the growing elderly. We need more doctors to recognize geriatric syndromes with a simple examination, which could help more elderly have better care.Aims Clarified that slow gait speed could be a signal to identify common geriatric syndromes besides sarcopenia in elderly outpatients.Methods According to the gait speed cut-off (< 1.0m/s), we classified 985 elderly outpatients (457 men and 528 women) into two groups. The groups were defined as the normal speed group (NSG, gait speed ≥ 1.0m/s), and the slow speed group (SSG, gait speed < 1.0m/s). We used the CGA management system Simply Edition (CGA-SE) software to collect data and compared demographic variations and the prevalence of functional decline in the two groups.Results Participants in SSG were significantly older, shorter in height, lighter in weight, used more drugs, and had a higher score in Edmonton, SDS, SAS, and MNA, and a lower score in BADL, and MMSE than in NSG. And they had significantly higher prevalence percentages in frailty, disability, depression, and dementia than in NSG. In addition, gait speed was an independent protective factor associated with frailty, disability, dementia, and swallowing dysfunction. And slow gait speed was an independent risk factor associated with frailty, depression, and dementia. Furthermore, participants with comorbidity, better function in daily life, and good cognition usually had faster gait speeds. However, participants with polypharmacy, low education, malnutrition risk, and frailty usually had slow gait speed(p < 0.05).Discuss Clinical physicians should give more attention to those with slow gait speed elderly outpatients, and be alert to their geriatric syndromes.Conclusions Slow gait speed could be a signal for several common geriatric syndromes in elderly outpatients. We recommended 6 meters gait speed test as a routine examination for the elderly, not only in the geriatric department but also others serving the elderly.

Non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high incidence, and can lead to liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma in severe cases. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no safe and effective treatment for the management of this disease. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is an active monomer derived from ginseng and notoginseng. In the present study, HHL‑5 hepatocytes were used to establish an in vitro cell model of NAFLD by medium‑ and long‑chain fat emulsion treatment, and the effects of Rg1 on adipose accumulation, apoptosis and the expression levels of apoptosis‑related proteins in HHL‑5 hepatocytes were examined. The results demonstrated that Rg1 inhibited the accumulation of fat in HHL‑5 cells, while inhibiting apoptosis, and Rg1 downregulated the expression levels of the pro‑apoptotic protein Bax and upregulated the expression levels of the anti‑apoptotic protein Bcl‑2, indicating that Rg1 could promote the stability or integrity of mitochondria and exert an anti‑apoptotic effect by regulating Bcl‑2 family proteins. In addition, Rg1 markedly downregulated the expression levels of sphingosine‑1‑phosphate lyase 1 (SGPL1), a key enzyme in the sphingosine signaling pathway, in HHL‑5 cells with steatosis, and increased the expression levels of the downstream pro‑survival signals phosphorylated (p‑)Akt and p‑Erk1/2. Furthermore, overexpression of SGPL1 abolished the anti‑apoptotic effect of Rg1 on SGPL1‑overexpressing HHL‑5 cells with steatosis, and downregulated the expression levels of pro‑survival proteins, such as Bcl‑2, p‑Akt and p‑Erk1/2, whereas the expression levels of pro‑apoptotic Bax were markedly increased. In conclusion, although there are some reports regarding the protective effect of Rg1 on fatty liver cells, to the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report that Rg1 may exert an anti‑apoptotic effect on fatty liver cells by regulating SGPL1 in the sphingosine signaling pathway. Rg1 is the main component of the prescription drug Xuesaitong in China; therefore, the findings of the present study may provide a theoretical molecular basis for the use of Rg1 or Xuesaitong in the treatment of patients with NAFLD.