Objective To explore the relationship between uric acid, visceral fat thickness and insulin resistance in elderly patients with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Methods A total of 347 elderly patients with HTG admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to January 2025 were retrospectively selected, and the related factors of insulin resistance in elderly HTG were analyzed. Results Among the 347 elderly patients with HTG, 218 cases had insulin resistance and 129 cases did not develop insulin resistance, and were included in the insulin resistance group (n=218) and the non-insulin resistance group (n=129) respectively. Compared with the non-insulin resistance group, patients in the insulin resistance group had higher proportions of severe HTG and concurrent fatty liver, higher levels of IL-6, TNF- α, FFA and uric acid, and thicker visceral fat thickness (P<0.05). After logistic regression analysis, it was found that the related factors for insulin resistance in elderly patients with HTG included the severity of HTG, IL-6, FFA, uric acid, and visceral fat thickness (P<0.05). Conclusion The severity of HTG, IL-6, FFA, uric acid, and visceral fat thickness are related to insulin resistance in elderly HTG patients. Clinically, it is necessary to pay attention to targeted interventions for uric acid control and visceral fat reduction in elderly patients with HTG so as to improve the insulin resistance status.

Osteoporosis （OP） is a metabolic disorder characterized by microstructural deterioration of bone and increased bone fragility due to reduced bone mass， which can cause the development of bone-related diseases. This condition imposes significant economic and psychological burdens on patients. While modern medicine has extensively researched the pathogenesis of OP， it remains incompletely understood. Current clinical management primarily relies on anti-resorptive drugs and synthetic metabolic agents. However， long-term use of some medications may yield suboptimal therapeutic outcomes and lead to severe adverse reactions. Given the necessity for prolonged or lifelong treatment for OP， there is a critical need to identify highly effective， safe， and cost-effective pharmaceutical interventions. In light of evolving disease management paradigms and recent advancements in OP research， traditional Chinese medicine has demonstrated emerging advantages in addressing this condition. Through literature review， this study delves into the pathogenesis of OP from five perspectives： hormonal dysregulation， autophagy， ferroptosis， oxidative stress， and intestinal flora alteration. Furthermore， it summarizes the therapeutic efficacy and specific mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound formulas against OP through regulating hormone levels， interfering with autophagy， inhibiting ferroptosis， counteract oxidative stress，and maintain intestinal flora balance. These multifaceted insights are expected to provide theoretical reference and guide future clinical traditional Chinese medicine approaches for preventing and managing OP.

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is a glycoprotein that is barely expressed in normal tissues but highly expressed in malignant tumors; it is remarkably associated with poor prognosis. Various targeted therapeutics against Trop2, such as anti-Trop2 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugate drugs targeting Trop2, have been developed, and some therapeutics have been approved or are in clinical trials for cancer treatment. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the gene structure, mechanism of action, clinical research, drug development, and other aspects of Trop2 to provide references for the clinical development of effective and safe Trop2-targeting drugs.

Reactive astrocytes, which exhibit a correlation with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, are present in a considerable number during the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying factors shaping astrocyte reactivity and neuroinflammation in PD remain inadequately elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7)/FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) autocrine signaling intensifies astrocyte reactivity and inflammation. Genetic deletion of Arrb2, β-Arrestin2 encoding gene, led to escalated astrocyte reactivity in MPTP-treated mice, which was further substantiated in astrocyte-specific Arrb2 knockdown mice. RNA sequencing profiling of Arrb2 knockout astrocytes identified Fgf7 as a critical effector of astrocyte reactivity. Subsequently, conditional knockdown of Fgf7 and its receptor Fgfr2 in astrocytes elicited advantageous effects for MPTP-treated mice by restraining the inflammatory phenotypic transition of reactive astrocytes. Furthermore, deletion of astrocytic Fgf7 mitigated MPTP-induced pathology in Arrb2 knockout mice. Mechanistically, STAT1 was distinguished as the transcription factor suppressing Fgf7 expression, while β-Arrestin2 counteracted the proteasomal degradation of STAT1 by binding to RNF220, an E3 ubiquitin ligase for STAT1. More importantly, selectively engaging dopamine D2 receptor (Drd2)/β-Arrestin2-biased signaling using the agonist UNC9995 exhibited therapeutic potential in MPTP-treated mice via moderation of astrocytic FGF7 production, thereby restoring balance in astrocyte reactivity. Collectively, our study bridges a crucial knowledge gap by elucidating the novel functions of FGF family members within the central nervous system, particularly within the context of PD. The autocrine signaling of FGF7/FGFR2 represents a novel mechanism and a potential druggable target for modulating astrocyte-derived inflammation.

Ovulatory dysfunction (OD) is one of the main causes of infertility in women of childbearing age, which not only affects their reproductive ability, but also physical and mental health. Traditional treatment strategies have limited efficacies, and the emergence of biomedicines provides a promising alternative solution via the strategies of combining engineered design with modern advanced technology. This review explores the pathophysiological characteristics and related induction mechanisms of OD, and evaluates the current cutting-edge advances in its treatments. It emphasizes the potentials of biomedicines strategies such as hydrogels, nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles in improving therapeutic precision and efficacy. By mimicking natural physiological processes, and achieving controlled drug release, these advanced drug carriers are expected to address the challenges in ovarian microenvironment reprogramming, tissue repair, and metabolic and immune regulation. Despite the promising progress, there are still challenges in terms of biomedical complexity, differences between animal models and human physiology, and the demand for intelligent drug carriers in the therapy of OD. Future researches are mainly dedicated to developing precise personalized biomedicines in OD therapy through interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting the development of reproductive regenerative medicine.

Objective:To compare the accuracy of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound with three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and conventional 2D ultrasound in measuring bladder volume in pelvic tumor patients, using computed tomography (CT) as the reference.Methods:A set of bladder phantoms were constructed to compare CT and ultrasound measurements with actual injected volumes. Clinical data of 104 pelvic tumor patients who received radiotherapy at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Portable transabdominal ultrasound was used to obtain the largest bladder cross-section, and the maximum diameters in the left-right (LR), anterior-posterior (AP), and superior-inferior (SI) directions (D LR, D AP, D SI) were measured. The 2D ultrasound volume was calculated as V=0.523 × D LR × D AP × D SI. Full-bladder transverse videos were recorded and processed in Matlab R2016a through frame extraction(60 images), followed by contrast enhancement, edge detection segmentation, cubic spline interpolation, and image smoothing to achieve 3D reconstruction. Paired t-tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman analyses were performed to assess systematic bias and consistency between ultrasound methods and CT. Multivariate linear regression was applied to evaluate the effects of slice thickness, posture, age, and other factors on CT measurements. Results:In the phantom study, deviations of 2D ultrasound and CT from actual injected volumes were (0.73±3.05) ml ( t=-0.48, P=0.667) and (1.52±11.27) ml ( t=0.17, P=0.875), with ICC values>0.999. In the clinical study, mean bladder volumes measured by 3D-reconstructed ultrasound, conventional 2D ultrasound, and CT were (373.5±153.31), (314.89±135.28), (382.82±157.57) ml, respectively. The 3D-reconstructed method showed excellent agreement with CT (ICC=0.98; Bland-Altman mean bias=-9.32 ml, P=0.096), while 2D ultrasound also showed good consistency (ICC=0.91), but significantly underestimated bladder volume (mean bias=-67.93 ml, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that 2D ultrasound had the best agreement with CT in the medium-volume group (200-500 ml, ICC=0.902), whereas agreement decreased in the small-volume (<200 ml, ICC=0.884) and large-volume (>500 ml, ICC=0.840) groups (all P<0.001). The 3D-reconstructed ultrasound maintained excellent consistency with CT across all subgroups (all ICC>0.95), and the measured bladder volume was not statistically significant. Multivariate regression showed that slice thickness, posture, age, sex, and surgical status had no significant effects on CT measurements. Conclusions:Ultrasound with 3D reconstruction enables accurate bladder volume monitoring through true 3D contour reconstruction, while conventional 2D ultrasound systematically underestimates bladder volume and requires correction.

Objective:To compare the preliminary efficacy and adverse events of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with or without immunotherapy in bladder preservation therapy for localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) confined to the pelvis.Methods:Clinical data of 60 patients with MIBC who received CRT with or without immunotherapy for bladder preservation at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2016 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into CRT plus immunotherapy group and CRT-alone group. Survival outcomes, bladder function preservation, recurrence and metastasis, as well as early and late radiation toxicities were evaluated. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for between-group comparisons. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival rates were compared by the log-rank test. Results:In the CRT plus immunotherapy group ( n=23), the median follow-up was 20 months. The median OS and median PFS were not reached. The 2-year OS, PFS, LRFS, and DMFS rates were 95.7%, 70.7%, 70.7%, and 92.9%, respectively, and 22 patients (96%) preserved normal bladder function. Patients with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 had significantly higher 1-year PFS rate than those with CPS <1 (100% vs. 66.7%, P=0.004). In the CRT-alone group ( n=37), the median follow-up was 37 months, with median OS and PFS of 68 and 19 months, respectively. The 2-year OS, PFS, LRFS, and DMFS rates were 92.0%, 41.1%, 60.9% and 81.5%, respectively, and 33 patients (89%) preserved normal bladder function. Compared with the CRT-alone group, the CRT plus immunotherapy group showed a significant improvement in PFS ( χ2=4.38, P=0.036), while no significant differences were observed in OS, LRFS, or DMFS (all P>0.05). The incidence of acute hematologic toxicity in the CRT plus immunotherapy group and CRT-alone group were 52% (12/23), 27% (10/37) respectively, and late genitourinary toxicity was 22% (5/23), 8% (3/37), respectively, with no significant differences in overall acute or late toxicities (all P>0.05). Conclusions:For localized MIBC, bladder preservation with CRT combined with immunotherapy significantly improves PFS compared with CRT alone, while maintaining comparable safety. The PD-L1 status may serve as a favorable predictor for immunotherapy efficacy.

Mandibular reconstruction refers to the restoration of the continuity of the mandible through techniques such as autologous bone grafting,thereby restoring the patient's basic appearance,reconstructing the occlusal relationship,and restoring functions such as opening the mouth,chewing,and swallowing,in order to achieve a unity of oral and maxillofacial forms and functions.Due to the fact that mastication necessitates the coordinated efforts of the masticatory muscles,mandible,dental arch,and tongue,the recovery of masticatory function not only serves as a robust indicator for the success of surgery but also enhances the patients'quality of life,facilitating an early return to normal life.Currently,for the rehabilitation of oral function in patients after mandibular reconstruction surgery,standardized tools have been established in the fields of swallowing,occlusion,and speech assessment,and targeted training has been implemented,yielding significant therapeutic outcomes.However,research related to masticatory function faces two major challenges.First,existing assessment tools primarily focus on a single dimension,such as masticatory efficiency or subjective perception,and an integrated assessment system that encompasses multiple dimensions,including bite force distribution and oral sensory perception,has not yet been established.Second,although individual studies have explored factors affecting postoperative masticatory function,a systematic consensus has not been veached,leading to a lack of precision and individualization in clinical interventions,which significantly prolongs the patients'rehabilitation period.This paper reviews the scope and limitations of existing assessment tools for masticatory function in patients after mandibular reconstruction and systematically analyzes the key factors affecting postoperative masticatory function,aiming to promote a shift in clinical practice from"structural reconstruction"to a"function-perception collaborative rehabilitation"approach,and to provide a theoretical framework for constructing evidence-based,personalized masticatory rehabilitation programs.

Objective:To investigate expression changes of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs)and their subtypes CD4+TILs,CD8+TILs,CD20+TILs and Foxp3+TILs in paired tumor samples pre-and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NACT)in high-grade serous ovarian cancer(HGSOC)patients and their association with chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis.Methods:A total of 40 patients with HGSOC who underwent NACT and interval debulking surgery(IDS)at Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from August 2017 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.CD4+TILs,CD8+TILs,CD20+TILs and Foxp3+TILs expressions in paired tumor samples pre-and post-NACT were detected by immunohistochemical staining.Divided patients into two groups based on KELIM score and platinum sensitivity,expressions of TILs,CD4+TILs,CD8+TILs,CD20+TILs and Foxp3+TILs were compared be-tween two groups,and their correlation with prognosis was analyzed.Results:Density of TILs(P=0.003,P=0.01),CD8+TILs(P<0.001,P=0.014)and CD20+TILs(P<0.001,P=0.003)post-NACT in patients with KELIM scores≥1 and platinum sensitivity were in-creased compared with pre-NACT.In contrast,there was no significant change in density of TILs pre-and post-NACT in patients with KELIM scores<1 and platinum resistance.Patients with high expression of CD8+TILs pre-NACT had longer progression free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)than patients with lower expression(P<0.001,P=0.011);patients with high expression of TILs post-NACT showed prolonged median PFS and OS(P<0.001,P=0.009);patients with high expression of CD20+TILs post-NACT showed prolonged median PFS(P=0.005).In multivariate analysis,density of CD8+TILs pre-NACT(HR=0.309,P=0.032),density of TILs post-NACT(HR=0.192,P=0.014),age(HR=2.962,P=0.036)were independent prognostic factors for PFS.Conclusion:Patients with HGSOC who have increased TILs density after NACT are more likely to be platinum sensitive.Expression of TILs,CD8+TILs and CD20+TILs in tumor site can serve as effective prognostic factors in HGSOC patients.

Objective:To investigate the mutation spectrum of the PIK3CA gene in breast cancer, providing a new basis for the precise treatment of breast cancer with PIK3CA inhibitors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 144 breast cancer patients who underwent biopsy before neoadjuvant therapy archived from 2015 to 2020 at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was utilized to detect the mutations of 520 genes closely related to the development of solid tumors and targeted therapies. The study compared the differences between reported mutation types and focused on analyzing the mutation status of the PIK3CA gene. The clinical and pathological characteristics, including age of onset, molecular subtypes, and Ki-67, were also analyzed. The correlation between PIK3CA mutations and clinicopathological characteristics was examined using Pearson×s chi-square test and Mann Whitney test. Logistic regression was employed to analyze factors influencing PIK3CA mutations. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression models were constructed using R programming.Results:Among the 144 breast cancer samples, 61 (42.3%, 61/144) exhibited PIK3CA gene mutations, of which 23 cases (53.5%, 23/43) were HER2-positive breast cancer, 28 cases (44.4%, 28/63) were luminal breast cancer, and 10 cases (27.8%, 10/36) were triple-negative breast cancer. Of the detected mutations, three hotspot mutations (H1047R, E545K, and E542K) accounted for 72.1% of the total PIK3CA mutations, with H1047R (52.4%), E545K (16.4%), and E542K (3.3%) most commonly detected. The remaining rare mutations accounted for 26.3%. Co-mutations involving PIK3CA and other genes were also observed in the cohort, occurring with TOP2A and FOXA1, while being mutually exclusive with GATA3 and BRCA2. PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with HER2 status and were not significantly correlated with the patient′s age, menopausal status, HR status, Ki-67 index, molecular typing, TNM stage or pCR status. Likewise, no significant correlation was found between different PIK3CA mutation status and overall survival.Conclusions:This cohort study shows the overall mutation rate of PIK3CA in breast cancer and the mutation frequencies across different molecular subtypes. The findings reveal a significant correlation between PIK3CA mutations and HER2 status, which provides a new basis for the precise treatment of breast cancer with PIK3CA inhibitors.