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Advancing space medicine: a global perspective on in-orbit research and future directions AI Introduction
Keywords:Space medicine;International Space Station;In-orbit experiments85|42|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13
EDITORIAL
Association between periodontal disease and systemic diseases: a cross-sectional analysis of current evidence AI Introduction
Abstract:BackgroundNumerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been published that evaluate the association between periodontal disease and systemic diseases, many of which address similar topics. Moreover, their quality requires assessment. Therefore, we performed a cross-sectional analysis to examine the evidence on the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic diseases.MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched to identify relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Only studies that considered periodontal disease as the exposure factor and various systemic diseases as the outcome were included. The basic characteristics and per-tinent data from the selected studies were extracted. The modified version of A Measurement Tool to Assess System-atic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) was employed for quality assessment, while R software was used for statistical analysis.ResultsAmong the 212 relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 57 were finally included in our analysis. These studies involved 75 diseases and 81 disease-related outcomes, with cancer (19/81) being the most frequently addressed topic. Of the 81 outcomes, 67 demonstrated a significant association. Notably, the highest risk estimate was found for head and neck cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 3.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.78 − 5.64], while the low-est was observed for premature rupture of the amniotic sac [relative risk (RR) = 1.10, 95% CI 1.08 − 1.12]. The meth-odological quality ratings indicated that approximately 71.93% of included studies were classified as "Critically low" , with another 17.54% rated as "Low" , and only about 10.53% categorized as "Moderate" .ConclusionsPeriodontal disease significantly elevates the risks associated with 15 cancer-related, 8 cardiovascular-related, 8 metabolic-related, and 5 neurological-related outcomes. However, the overall methodological quality of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses is generally suboptimal and requires enhancement to generate higher-quality evidence in the future.Keywords:Periodontal disease;Periodontitis;Cancer;Cardiovascular diseases;Metabolic disorders;Neurological conditions;Evidence analysis98|42|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13
Abstract:BackgroundWith the increasing risk of nuclear exposure, more attention has been paid to the prevention and treat-ment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Although amino acids are key nutrients involved in hematopoietic regula-tion, the impacts of amino acids on bone marrow hematopoiesis following irradiation and the associated mecha-nisms have not been fully elucidated. Hence, it is of paramount importance to study the changes in amino acid metabolism after irradiation and their effects on hematopoiesis as well as the related mechanisms.MethodsThe content of serum amino acids was analyzed using metabolomic sequencing. The survival rate and body weight of the irradiated mice were detected after altering the methionine content in the diet. Extracel-lular matrix (ECM) protein analysis was performed via proteomics analysis. Inflammatory factors were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were employed to determine the mechanism by which S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) regulates macrophage polarization.ResultsThe survival time of irradiated mice was significantly associated with alterations in multiple amino acids, particularly methionine. A high methionine diet promoted irradiation tolerance, especially in the recovery of bone marrow hematopoiesis, yet with dose limitations. Folate metabolism could partially alleviate the dose bottleneck by reducing the accumulation of homocysteine. Mechanistically, high methionine levels maintained the abundance of ECM components, including collagens and glycoproteins, in the bone marrow post-irradiation, among which the level of S100A4 was significantly changed. S100A4 regulated macrophage polarization via the STAT3 pathway, inhibited bone marrow inflammation and facilitated the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/pro-genitor cells.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated that an appropriate elevation in dietary methionine enhances irradia-tion tolerance in mice and explains the mechanism by which methionine regulates bone marrow hematopoiesis after irradiation.Keywords:Irradiation;Methionine;macrophage;S100A4;Bone marrow hematopoiesis79|44|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13
RESEARCH
Bioactive peptides and proteins for tissue repair: microenvironment modulation, rational delivery, and clinical potential AI Introduction
Abstract:Bioactive peptides and proteins (BAPPs) are promising therapeutic agents for tissue repair with considerable advan-tages, including multifunctionality, specificity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, the high complexity of tissue microenvironments and their inherent deficiencies such as short half-live and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation, adversely affect their therapeutic efficacy and clinical applications. Investigating the fundamental mechanisms by which BAPPs modulate the microenvironment and developing rational delivery strategies are essential for optimizing their administration in distinct tissue repairs and facilitating clinical translation. This review initially focuses on the mechanisms through which BAPPs influence the microenvironment for tissue repair via reac-tive oxygen species, blood and lymphatic vessels, immune cells, and repair cells. Then, a variety of delivery platforms, including scaffolds and hydrogels, electrospun fibers, surface coatings, assisted particles, nanotubes, two-dimensional nanomaterials, and nanoparticles engineered cells, are summarized to incorporate BAPPs for effective tissue repair, modification strategies aimed at enhancing loading efficiencies and release kinetics are also reviewed. Additionally, the delivery of BAPPs can be precisely regulated by endogenous stimuli (glucose, reactive oxygen species, enzymes, pH) or exogenous stimuli (ultrasound, heat, light, magnetic field, and electric field) to achieve on-demand release tai-lored for specific tissue repair needs. Furthermore, this review focuses on the clinical potential of BAPPs in facilitating tissue repair across various types, including bone, cartilage, intervertebral discs, muscle, tendons, periodontal tissues, skin, myocardium, nervous system (encompassing brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve), endometrium, as well as ear and ocular tissue. Finally, current challenges and prospects are discussed.Keywords:Bioactive peptides and proteins (BAPPs);Growth factors;Delivery strategies;Tissue regeneration;Clinical potential86|55|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13Targeting RTKs/nRTKs as promising therapeutic strategies for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer: evidence from clinical trials AI Introduction
Abstract:The extensive heterogeneity and the limited availability of effective targeted therapies contribute to the challenging prognosis and restricted survival observed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Recent research indicates the aberrant expression of diverse tyrosine kinases (TKs) within this cancer, contributing significantly to tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and migration. The contemporary paradigm shift towards precision medicine has high-lighted TKs and their receptors as promising targets for pharmacotherapy against a range of malignancies, given their pivotal roles in tumor initiation, progression, and advancement. Intensive investigations have focused on various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecule inhibitors that specifically target proteins such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), cellular mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2), among others, for combating TNBC. These agents have been studied both in monotherapy and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. Despite these advances, a substantial terrain of unexplored potential lies within the realm of TK targeted therapeutics, which hold promise in reshaping the therapeutic landscape. This review summarizes the various TK targeted therapeutics that have undergone scrutiny as potential therapeutic interventions for TNBC, dissecting the outcomes and revelations stemming from diverse clinical investigations. A key conclusion from the umbrella clinical trials evidences the necessity for in-depth molecular characterization of TNBCs for the maximum efficiency of TK targeted therapeutics, either as standalone treatments or a combination. Moreover, our observation highlights that the outcomes of TK targeted therapeutics in TNBC are substantially influenced by the diversity of the patient cohort, emphasizing the prioritization of individual patient genetic/molecular profiles for precise TNBC patient stratification for clinical studies.Keywords:Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC);Tyrosine kinase;clinical trial;Personalised medicine;Genetic diversity;Patient stratification51|40|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13
Abstract:Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) represent an emerging technology that facilitates direct communication between the brain and external devices. In recent years, numerous review articles have explored various aspects of BCIs, including their fundamental principles, technical advancements, and applications in specific domains. How-ever, these reviews often focus on signal processing, hardware development, or limited applications such as motor rehabilitation or communication. This paper aims to offer a comprehensive review of recent electroencephalogram(EEG)-based BCI applications in the medical field across 8 critical areas, encompassing rehabilitation, daily communi-cation, epilepsy, cerebral resuscitation, sleep, neurodegenerative diseases, anesthesiology, and emotion recognition. Moreover, the current challenges and future trends of BCIs were also discussed, including personal privacy and ethical concerns, network security vulnerabilities, safety issues, and biocompatibility.Keywords:Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs);Medical applications;Rehabilitation;Communication;Brain monitoring;diagnosis98|58|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13
REVIEW
Short-term suborbital space flight curtails astronauts’ dopamine levels increasing cortisol/BDNF and prompting pro-oxidative/inflammatory milieu AI Introduction
Keywords:Suborbital space flight;Oxidative stress and inflammation;Neuroplasticity52|61|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13Exploring new horizons in CAR-based therapy for the treatment of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy AI Introduction
Keywords:Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO);Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO);Chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)-based therapy41|54|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated:2025-12-13
LETTER TO THE EDITOR








