Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life, with current treatments often proving insufficient and accompanied by adverse effects. Recent research has identified the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and its resident macrophages as crucial mediators of chronic OA pain through neuroinflammation driven by macrophage polarization. We present a novel injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel system, KAF@PLEL, designed to deliver an anti-inflammatory peptide (KAF) specifically to the DRG. This biodegradable hydrogel enables sustained KAF release, promoting the reprogramming of DRG macrophages from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, we evaluated the hydrogel's biocompatibility, effects on macrophage polarization, and therapeutic efficacy in chronic OA pain management. The system demonstrated significant capabilities in preserving macrophage mitochondrial function, suppressing neuroinflammation, alleviating chronic OA pain, reducing cartilage degradation, and improving motor function in OA rat models. The sustained-release properties of KAF@PLEL enabled prolonged therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. These findings suggest that KAF@PLEL represents a promising therapeutic approach for improving outcomes in OA patients through targeted, sustained treatment.

As a common neurological disease in China, stroke has an extremely high rate of death and disability, of which 80% is ischemic stroke (IS), causing a serious burden to individuals and society. Neuronal death is an important factor in the pathogenesis of stroke. Studies have shown that mitochondrial dynamics, as a key mechanism regulating intracellular energy metabolism and cell death, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IS. In recent years, targeting mitochondrial dynamics has become an emerging therapeutic tool to improve neurological impairment after stroke. This paper reviews the research advance in recent years in IS mitochondrial dynamics, summarizing and discussing the overview of mitochondrial dynamics, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in IS, and the studies on mitochondrial dynamics-based treatment of IS. This paper helps to explore the mechanism of the role of mitochondrial dynamics in IS and effective interventions, and provides a theoretical strategy for targeting mitochondrial dynamics to treat IS in the clinic.
Humans ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/physiology* ; Ischemic Stroke/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/physiology* ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia/physiopathology* ; Energy Metabolism

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of a domestic hair follicle extraction system versus traditional follicular unit excision (FUE) in extracting hair follicles for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) .Methods:A multicenter, randomized, self-controlled clinical trial was conducted on AGA patients aged 18 - 59 years who were recruited from the Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, and the China-Japan Friendship Hospital between June 2023 and September 2024. Each patient's scalp was randomly divided into two sides (experimental side vs. control side) using an envelope method. The experimental side underwent robotic hair transplantation with a domestic hair follicle extraction system, and the control side underwent traditional FUE. Hair follicles were extracted from the safe donor area in the occipital region, and implanted into the ipsilateral hair loss area. The primary outcome was the hair transection rate which was calculated immediately after follicular extraction. The secondary outcomes included the hair follicle unit loss rate and the change in hair density at the recipient site on postoperative day 14. Safety was evaluated by assessing the incidence of folliculitis at the donor site on postoperative day 14 and the overall incidence of adverse events. Surgical outcomes were evaluated at 9 months after surgery. Comparisons of evaluation indicators among groups were performed by using a paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results:A total of 55 patients with AGA (51 males and 4 females, aged 32.71 ± 5.75 years) completed the hair follicle transplantation and postoperative follow-up. The hair transection rate ( M[ Q1, Q3]) was 6.65% (4.56%, 10.16%) in the experimental group and 5.28% (3.04%, 8.89%) in the control group (difference = 1.24%, 95% CI: -0.24%, 2.65%) . The hair follicle unit loss rate was 2.00% (1.00%, 3.50%) in the experimental group and 0.50% (0, 2.00%) in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( P = 0.008) . On postoperative day 14, there was no significant difference in the hair density between the experimental group and control group (72.20 ± 25.95 per cm 2vs. 76.49 ± 30.84 per cm 2, P = 0.173) . At 9-month follow-up, both groups showed improvement in the investigator's overall score in the recipient areas. Seven adverse events occurred in 7 subjects (12.72%) in each group, and all were mild folliculitis. Conclusion:The domestic hair follicle extraction system demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to the traditional FUE in hair transplantation.

Changes in hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) can affect scalp aging and hair growth. With increasing age, HFSCs exhibit a decrease in quiescence maintenance and self-renewal capacity, as well as differentiation potential, leading to shortened hair growth cycles and even hair loss. This review summarizes recent research advances in the multifactorial interactions underlying hair loss, including the regulatory mechanisms of HFSC quiescence, the impact of aging on HFSC function, and aging of the stem cell microenvironment. Additionally, this review discusses the relationship between stem cells and hair shafts, and the mechanisms of action of stem cells in scalp aging, including alterations in signaling pathways, chromatin remodeling, and epigenetic regulation, etc. Furthermore, stem cell-based therapeutic strategies are summarized, such as the use of stem cells or their secreting exosomes, modulation of the stem cell microenvironment, and pharmacological interventions.

Objective To observe the value of conventional MRI and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for differentiating soft tissue lymphoma(STL)and soft tissue sarcoma(STS).Methods Conventional MRI and DWI data of 25 cases of STL(STL group)and 38 cases of STS(STS group)were retrospectively analyzed.MRI features being statistically different between groups were included in logistic regression analysis to screen the independent risk factors of STL and to evaluate the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of their combination for predicting STL.Receiver operating characteristic curve was generated,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmean),the minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmin),the maximum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmax)values for distinguishing STL from STS.Results Slightly hyperintensity on T1WI,non-necrosis,involvement of multiple muscle groups and homogeneous enhancement were all independent risk factors of STL(all P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of their combination for predicting STL was 72.00％(18/25),89.47％(34/38)and 82.54％(52/63),respectively.ADCmean,ADCmin and ADCmax values of STL was(1.06±0.18)× 10-3,(0.77±0.14)×10-3 and(1.47±0.31)× 10-3mm2/s,respectively,all lower than those of STS([1.31±0.17]× 10-3,[1.02±0.23]× 10-3 and[1.64±0.16]× 10-3 mm2/s;t=-4.829--2.498,all P＜0.05).The AUC of ADCmean,ADCmin and ADCmax values and their combination for differential diagnosis of STL and STS was 0.845,0.844,0.683 and 0.877,respectively.Conclusion Conventional MRI features,including T1WI signal intensity,necrosis,involvement of multiple muscle groups and enhancement pattern,along with ADCmean and ADCmin values derived from DWI contributed to differentiating STL and STS.

Objective:To investigate the methodological differences in the detection, the inflammatory markers and the pathogenic epidemiological characteristics of influenza A virus in clinical laboratories, in order to provide more diagnostic and epidemiological data for diagnosis and prevention for children with influenza A.Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to collect 96 731 patients with suspected influenza A from January 2016 to October 2024 in Nanyang City Center Hospital from the Clinical Laboratory Testing Information System, including 5 731 patients with confirmed influenza A, aged 5.2 (2.8, 43.7) years old. We analyzed the distribution of influenza A patients from age and mixed infections, the relationship between patient age and positive detection rate by restricted cubic spline (RCS), analyzed differences in testing methods used Kappa consistency testing and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, established a model of inflammatory markers by logistic regression, as well as developed a prediction model and also the mutation of the hemagglutinin (HA) sequence of the influenza A subtype H3N2 virus using evolutionary tree analysis.Results:RCS analysis showed an inverted 'S' shaped non-linear relationship between the positive detection rate of influenza A and the age groups of the patients. Among the mixed infections, 1.43%(1 352/94 867) of the cases were combined with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The Kappa values of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and serological indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detecting influenza A in nasopharyngeal swabs and alveolar lavage fluid in clinical laboratories were 0.632 and 0.809, respectively, and those of magnetic particle chemiluminescence assay were 0.614 and 0.668, respectively, and the area under curves in ROC curve of IFA and RT-PCR were 0.869 and 0.792, respectively. The inflammatory indexes were usually elevated in severe children compared with mild children. By binary logistic regression model analysis, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer/fibrinogen and prognosis nutrition index were the risk factors and serum amyloid A/C reactive protein ratio was the protective factor for severe children with influenza A, and the OR values of the above factors were 1.760, 7.076, 1.045, and 0.719, respectively, and P<0.01. By the Bayesian Interdiction Criterion, the optimal seasonal autoregressive moving average mixed model for influenza A epidemics was ARIMA (1, 1, 1) (2, 1, 2) 12 with the highest prediction accuracy of 98.63%. The seven strains of H3N2 all belonged to the same isoforms, with nucleotide similarity of the HA gene ranging from 99.5% to 99.9%, and the glycosylation site, receptor-binding site, and the conserved amino acid residue Glycosylation sites, receptor binding sites and conserved amino acid residues remained unchanged. HA sequence analysis showed that the prevalent strains in Nanyang had undergone mutation to different degree compared with the vaccine strains. Conclusion:Scientific and rational testing and characteristic inflammatory markers in the clinical laboratory are of great clinical value in the diagnosis of children with severe influenza A. At the same time, the epidemiological monitoring of influenza A variants should be strengthened.

Objective Utilizing patient journey mapping to decipher disease management behaviors,barriers,and needs in young and middle-aged liver transplant recipients,providing implications for self-management optimization and quality of life improvement.Methods Using purposive sampling,12 young and middle-aged liver transplant patients who attended outpatient clinics or were hospitalized in liver transplant center of a tertiary hospital in Qingdao were selected for semi-structured interviews from September to November 2024.Thematic extraction and analysis were performed using Colaizzi's 7-step analysis,ultimately resulting in the development of a patient journey map.Results The journey stages were divided into transplantation decision-making period,transplantation waiting period,perioperative period,and post-discharge management period,and the journey key elements were designed as behaviors,barriers,and needs.A total of 25 themes were extracted,including behaviors(such as referrals to higher-level hospitals,verification of treatment options),barriers(such as lack of decision-making autonomy,health information-seeking barriers),and needs(such as shared decision-making,financial assistance).Ultimately,resulting in a map of the disease management journey for young and middle-aged liver transplant recipients.Conclusion The behaviors,barriers,and needs in disease management among young and middle-aged liver transplant recipients demonstrate distinct phase-specific patterns.Healthcare providers should deliver precise and dynamic interventions tailored to each clinical phase,aiming to foster optimal self-management behaviors,address phase-specific banriers,and meet evolving patient needs throughout the transplant continuum.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(OPSCC)is a malignant tumor originating from the squamous epithelium of the oro-pharyngeal mucosa,accounting for more than 90％of oropharyngeal malignancies.In recent years,human papillomavirus(HPV)infec-tion has become one of the primary etiological factors of oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.The incidence of HPV-associated oropharyn-geal squamous carcinoma has been rising annually,with a noticeable trend toward younger populations,posing a significant threat to hu-man health.Due to the distinct biological behavior and clinical characteristics of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma com-pared to its non-HPV-related counterpart,the diagnostic and treatment strategies for oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma have undergone substantial changes.Prevention and screening for oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma are of critical importance.The diagnostic and treat-ment process involves multi-disciplinary collaboration,including oral and maxillofacial surgery,otolaryngology,head and neck surgery,oncology,radiology and pathology.Based on evidence from clinical practice,a comprehensive,integrated diagnostic and therapeutic ap-proach has been established,centered around the concept of"prevention,screening,diagnosis,treatment,and rehabilitation",covering the entire patient lifecycle and providing a valuable reference for clinical practice.

Objective To screen genes associated with poor prognosis of colorectal cancer(CRC)through bioinformatics analysis.Methods The gene expression profiles of GSE74602,GSE110223,GSE113513 and GSE141174 were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,including samples from 65 CRC tissues and 65 normal tissues.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between CRC tissues and normal tissues were screened out by GEO2R tool and Venn software,and the consistent genes were extracted from DEGs by Venn software.A protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed by the STRING database to identify key genes,which were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier Plotter and GEPIA.Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis was conducted on the 13 selected genes.Results There were 171 DEGs obtained from the four datasets,including 148 up-regulated genes and 23 down-regulated genes.Up-regulated DEGs were enriched in the redox processes,bicarbonate transport,digestion,ion trans-membrane transport,and one-carbon metabolism;and down-regulated DEGs were enriched in the positive regulation of cell proliferation.The survival curve analysis showed that 30 of the 87 genes were significantly associated with poor survival prognosis.GEPIA showed that 13 of the 30 genes were highly expressed in CRC tissues compared to normal tissues,among which MYC and FGFR3 markedly enriched in the CRC pathway.Conclusion This study identifies that MYC and FGFR3 are significantly up-regulated in CRC and closely associated with poor prognosis,suggesting that they may serve as potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for CRC patients.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with pregnancy-related chronic pain visiting the pain clinic.Methods:The number of pregnant patients who completed a pregnancy registration at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from 2022 to 2024 was collected. The medical records were reviewed to identify the patients who visited the department of pain of our hospital due to chronic pain related to pregnancy. The clinical characteristics such as the visiting situation, gestational weeks, age and types of pain were analyzed.Results:From 2022 to 2024, the total number of registered pregnant patients was 64, 818, of which, 2, 224 cases visited the pain clinic, and the annual proportions of pregnancy-related chronic pain visits were 2.540%, 3.836% and 3.889% respectively. Among the patients who attended the clinic, 77.97% were pregnant (5.82% in early pregnancy, 41.93% in mid-pregnancy, and 52.25% in late pregnancy), and 21.03% were postpartum patients. A total of 83.72% were aged 20-34 yr. The types of pain were pelvic girdle pain (40.96%), limb joint pain (28.82%), low back pain (14.16%), cervical spondylosis (3.64%), peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome (3.42%), headache (2.97%), chest and back pain (2.79%), pelvic and perineal pain (1.66%), neuralgia (0.94%) and other pains (0.63%).Conclusions:From 2022 to 2024, the proportion of registered pregnant women at our hospital who visited to the pain clinic due to pregnancy-related chronic pain increases year by year. The common types of pain are pelvic girdle pain, limb joint pain and low back pain.