Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by damage to the articular cartilage, synovitis, and subchondral bone remodeling. Its pathological mechanisms involve extracellular matrix degradation, cell apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory responses. Among these, dysregulated apoptosis is a central driver of disease progression, making chondrocyte apoptosis a critical therapeutic target. This review summarizes current understanding of OA pathogenesis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines [e.g., interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6] exacerbate cartilage catabolism by activating signaling pathways like NF-κ B and MAPK. Chemokines, including the C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) family and the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXC) family, amplify the inflammatory cascade by recruiting inflammatory cells, thereby contributing to the pathological process of osteoarthritis. In the study of programmed cell death, apoptosis is divided into extrinsic (death receptor pathway) and intrinsic (mitochondrial pathway) types. Both pathways induce chondrocyte apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. Reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors can promote excessive chondrocyte apoptosis through these pathways. Therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis are diverse and include non-coding RNAs (miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA) that inhibit apoptosis by regulating related signaling pathways; phytochemicals that exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects; exosomes that suppress apoptosis by modulating immune responses and metabolism; and proteins/cytokines as well as melatonin, which protect chondrocytes by regulating specific signaling pathways. Clinical studies suggest these approaches hold promise for precision and personalized therapy, though challenges such as high cost, off-target effects, and drug resistance remain. In addition, drug delivery systems based on biomaterials (hydrogels) and nanotechnology can improve drug bioavailability and targeting. For example, drug-loaded hydrogels enable sustained release, and nanoparticles enhance drug stability and delivery efficiency, offering new perspectives for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective To establish an acute rejection model of cervical heart transplantation in mice and evaluate the survival and dynamic rejection process post-transplantation. Methods Mice were randomly divided into sham operation group (n=10), syngeneic transplantation group (n=21), and allogeneic transplantation group (n=65). Sham operation, syngeneic cervical heart transplantation, and allogeneic cervical heart transplantation were performed respectively. The survival of recipient mice and grafts, histopathological changes of graft tissues, subpopulations of splenic lymphocytes, and expression of inflammatory factors in serum and grafts were observed. Results The survival rate and graft survival rate of the sham operation group and syngeneic transplantation group were 100% at 7 days after surgery. In the allogeneic transplantation group, 5 cases failed and died on the first day after surgery. The survival rate at 7 days after surgery was 86%, and all surviving mice had grafts that stopped beating at 7 days after surgery. The allogeneic transplantation group showed significant rejection at 7 days after surgery, accompanied by tissue damage and CD8⁺ T cell infiltration. The proportion of CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen continued to rise post-operation, while the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells showed a downward trend. The expression of interferon-γ in serum and grafts peaked at 5 days after surgery, while the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α showed no statistical significance. Conclusions Acute rejection following heart transplantation in mice intensifies between 5 to 7 days after surgery, which may be a critical time window for immunological intervention.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by damage to the articular cartilage, synovitis, and subchondral bone remodeling. Its pathological mechanisms involve extracellular matrix degradation, cell apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory responses. Among these, dysregulated apoptosis is a central driver of disease progression, making chondrocyte apoptosis a critical therapeutic target. This review summarizes current understanding of OA pathogenesis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines [e.g., interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6] exacerbate cartilage catabolism by activating signaling pathways like NF-κ B and MAPK. Chemokines, including the C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) family and the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXC) family, amplify the inflammatory cascade by recruiting inflammatory cells, thereby contributing to the pathological process of osteoarthritis. In the study of programmed cell death, apoptosis is divided into extrinsic (death receptor pathway) and intrinsic (mitochondrial pathway) types. Both pathways induce chondrocyte apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. Reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors can promote excessive chondrocyte apoptosis through these pathways. Therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis are diverse and include non-coding RNAs (miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA) that inhibit apoptosis by regulating related signaling pathways; phytochemicals that exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects; exosomes that suppress apoptosis by modulating immune responses and metabolism; and proteins/cytokines as well as melatonin, which protect chondrocytes by regulating specific signaling pathways. Clinical studies suggest these approaches hold promise for precision and personalized therapy, though challenges such as high cost, off-target effects, and drug resistance remain. In addition, drug delivery systems based on biomaterials (hydrogels) and nanotechnology can improve drug bioavailability and targeting. For example, drug-loaded hydrogels enable sustained release, and nanoparticles enhance drug stability and delivery efficiency, offering new perspectives for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a crucial post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism and the most abundant and highly conserved RNA epigenetic modification in eukaryotes. Previous studies have indicated the involvement of m6A modification in various tissue regeneration processes, including liver regeneration. Vir-like m6A methyltransferase associated protein (VIRMA) is an m6A methyltransferase with robust methylation capability. However, its role in liver regeneration remains poorly understood. In this study, we generated liver-specific Virma knockout mice using the Cre-loxP system and investigated the biological functions of VIRMA in liver regeneration using both the Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy (ALPPS) mouse model and the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) mouse model. The expression level of VIRMA was rapidly up-regulated after ALPPS surgery and gradually down-regulated during liver repair. Virma deficiency significantly impaired liver regeneration capacity and disrupted cell cycle progression. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) analysis revealed that Shq1 is an effective downstream target of VIRMA-mediated m6A modification. The upregulation of Shq1 enhanced the proliferation ability of cells, which was attenuated by the specific AKT inhibitor ipatasertib. Supplementation of Shq1 in vivo alleviated the liver cell proliferation inhibition caused by Virma deficiency. Furthermore, the m6A-binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein a2b1 (HNRNPA2B1) enhanced the mRNA stability of Shq1. Mechanistically, Virma deficiency resulted in decreased m6A modification on Shq1 mRNA, leading to reduced binding ability of m6A-binding protein HNRNPA2B1 with Shq1, thereby decreasing the mRNA stability of Shq1 and reducing its protein expression level. Downregulation of Shq1 inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby suppressing cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, ultimately impeding liver regeneration. In summary, our results demonstrate that VIRMA plays a critical role in promoting liver regeneration by regulating m6A modification, providing valuable insights into the epigenetic regulation during liver regeneration.

Objective:To explore the surgical strategies and clinical efficacy of open partial nephrectomy in the treatment of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 patients with renal AML and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus who underwent partial nephrectomy at Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from October 2014 to December 2022. There were 2 male and 3 female patients, with a median age of 37 years, ranged from 33 to 45 years. All patients were identified during routine physical examinations. Four patients presented with right-sided lesions, while one had a left-sided lesion. The diameter of the primary tumor within the kidney ranged from 3.0 to 7.0 cm, with a median diameter of 5.5 cm.The length of the tumor thrombus within the inferior vena cava ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 cm, with a median length of 1.5 cm. Among them, 2 patients underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy combined with extracorporeal workbench tumor resection and autologous kidney transplantation (the workbench surgery group), while 3 patients underwent open in-situ partial nephrectomy combined with removal of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (the in-situ nephron-sparing surgery group). The surgical method of the workbench surgery group: The patients first underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy on the affected side combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus removal, then the incision was extended to remove the affected kidney, and table partial nephrectomy was performed. After completely removing the tumor and tumor thrombus within the affected kidney and renal vein, autologous kidney transplantation was performed in the iliac fossa. The surgical method of the in-situ kidney preservation surgery group: The affected kidney, renal artery and vein on the affected side, inferior vena cava, and contralateral renal vein were dissected and exposed. The distal end of the inferior vena cava, the contralateral renal vein, the proximal end of the inferior vena cava, and the renal artery on the affected side were blocked respectively. The venous wall was opened in the middle of the renal vein, and the tumor thrombus was gradually pulled out. According to the pre-marked tumor boundary, the tumor within the kidney was gradually removed by alternate blunt and sharp dissection combined with suction, and the wound surface was sutured layer by layer. The perioperative conditions, complications, and follow-up results of the patients were analyzed.Results:All 5 surgeries were successfully completed, with a median operation time of 100 to 450 minutes and a median operation time of 200 minutes. The intraoperative bleeding volume was 100 to 600 ml, with the median of 150 ml. In the in-situ nephron-sparing surgery group, the renal artery occlusion time was 28 to 41 minutes, and the median occlusion time was 34 minutes. All patients were discharged safely after surgery, and there were no serious perioperative complications. The postoperative pathology of all 5 patients was renal angiomyolipoma, without any epithelioid components. The patients were followed up for 12 to 90 months, with a median follow-up duration of 24 months. None of the 5 patients had tumor recurrence or metastasis, and no patient developed chronic kidney dysfunction during follow-ups.Conclusions:Renal AML with venous tumor thrombus is a challenging clinical problem. In situ open partial nephrectomy or the combined approach through the workbench and autologous kidney transplantation can effectively remove the tumor thrombus and maximize the protection of renal function. For cases of ① multiple or complex renal AML; ② complex vascular system structure within the renal sinus requiring precise anatomy; ③ renal AML with a previous history of hemorrhage, complex adhesions around, and difficult dissociation, table partial nephrectomy combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus removal and autologous kidney transplantation can be selected. For cases where the expected surgical operation is simple, in situ open partial nephrectomy can significantly shorten the operation time and reduce surgical trauma.

Objective:To explore the surgical strategies and clinical efficacy of open partial nephrectomy in the treatment of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 patients with renal AML and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus who underwent partial nephrectomy at Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from October 2014 to December 2022. There were 2 male and 3 female patients, with a median age of 37 years, ranged from 33 to 45 years. All patients were identified during routine physical examinations. Four patients presented with right-sided lesions, while one had a left-sided lesion. The diameter of the primary tumor within the kidney ranged from 3.0 to 7.0 cm, with a median diameter of 5.5 cm.The length of the tumor thrombus within the inferior vena cava ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 cm, with a median length of 1.5 cm. Among them, 2 patients underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy combined with extracorporeal workbench tumor resection and autologous kidney transplantation (the workbench surgery group), while 3 patients underwent open in-situ partial nephrectomy combined with removal of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (the in-situ nephron-sparing surgery group). The surgical method of the workbench surgery group: The patients first underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy on the affected side combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus removal, then the incision was extended to remove the affected kidney, and table partial nephrectomy was performed. After completely removing the tumor and tumor thrombus within the affected kidney and renal vein, autologous kidney transplantation was performed in the iliac fossa. The surgical method of the in-situ kidney preservation surgery group: The affected kidney, renal artery and vein on the affected side, inferior vena cava, and contralateral renal vein were dissected and exposed. The distal end of the inferior vena cava, the contralateral renal vein, the proximal end of the inferior vena cava, and the renal artery on the affected side were blocked respectively. The venous wall was opened in the middle of the renal vein, and the tumor thrombus was gradually pulled out. According to the pre-marked tumor boundary, the tumor within the kidney was gradually removed by alternate blunt and sharp dissection combined with suction, and the wound surface was sutured layer by layer. The perioperative conditions, complications, and follow-up results of the patients were analyzed.Results:All 5 surgeries were successfully completed, with a median operation time of 100 to 450 minutes and a median operation time of 200 minutes. The intraoperative bleeding volume was 100 to 600 ml, with the median of 150 ml. In the in-situ nephron-sparing surgery group, the renal artery occlusion time was 28 to 41 minutes, and the median occlusion time was 34 minutes. All patients were discharged safely after surgery, and there were no serious perioperative complications. The postoperative pathology of all 5 patients was renal angiomyolipoma, without any epithelioid components. The patients were followed up for 12 to 90 months, with a median follow-up duration of 24 months. None of the 5 patients had tumor recurrence or metastasis, and no patient developed chronic kidney dysfunction during follow-ups.Conclusions:Renal AML with venous tumor thrombus is a challenging clinical problem. In situ open partial nephrectomy or the combined approach through the workbench and autologous kidney transplantation can effectively remove the tumor thrombus and maximize the protection of renal function. For cases of ① multiple or complex renal AML; ② complex vascular system structure within the renal sinus requiring precise anatomy; ③ renal AML with a previous history of hemorrhage, complex adhesions around, and difficult dissociation, table partial nephrectomy combined with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus removal and autologous kidney transplantation can be selected. For cases where the expected surgical operation is simple, in situ open partial nephrectomy can significantly shorten the operation time and reduce surgical trauma.

Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo understand the characteristics of PM_2.5 pollution in the air of Pearl River Delta city in Guangdong Province under the COVID-19 epidemic and the health risks of inhaling elements in PM_2.5. MethodsIn 2022， 10 PM_2.5 monitoring points were set up in 10 districts in Guangzhou， Shenzhen， Foshan and Zhuhai， and air samples were collected for 7 consecutive days every month to analyze the concentration of PM_2.5 and the 12 elements in PM_2.5. The classic "four-step" method was used to evaluate the carcinogenic risk and chronic non-carcinogenic risk of the elements in air PM_2.5 on health. The age-sensitive characteristics of metal elements were combined in the carcinogenic risk assessment， and age-sensitive factors were introduced to analyze the impact of air pollution on population health. ResultsA total of818 samples were collected. and the average annual PM_2.5 concentration in the four cities of the Pearl River Delta was 30.17 （1.00-166.00， s=21.06） μg·m^-3， which was lower than the concentration limit of the secondary standard of the Ambient Air Quality Standard （GB 3095-2012）. The difference of PM_2.5 concentration in the four cities was statistically significant. The PM_2.5 concentrations in Zhuhai and Shenzhen， which were located near the sea， were lower than those in Guangzhou and Foshan. The monthly mean concentration of PM_2.5 in the four cities was the lowest at 13.70 （4.00-34.00， s=5.93） μg·m^-3 in July and the highest at 57.73 （14.00-146.00， s=27.96） μg·m^-3 in January， showing a low concentration from May to October and a high concentration from November to April of the following year. The average daily PM_2.5 concentration exceeded the secondary standard for 29 days， mainly distributed in January and November. The average annual mass concentration of elements in PM_2.5 in the four cities was Al>Mn>Pb>As>Ni>Cr>Se>Sb>Cd>Tl>Be>Hg. AS and Mn have chronic non-carcinogenic risk in population， while Cr， AS， Cd， Be and Ni have carcinogenic risk in population. ConclusionThe PM_2.5 pollution levels of the four cities in the Pearl River Delta are low and variable. Coastal cities are lower than non-coastal cities， which shows the characteristics of first decreasing and then increasing throughout the year. The order of mass concentration of metal elements of PM_2.5 in four cities is basically the same except Be and Ni. As and Mn in PM_2.5 show a certain degree of chronic non-carcinogenic risk， and As， Cr， Cd， Ni and Be have a certain degree of carcinogenic risk. The four cities need to take effective intervention measures to continue to strengthen the pollution control and health protection of Cr， As， Cd and Mn in the air， and control the health burden caused by air pollution.

Objective:To summarize the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment methods, and prognosis of papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP).Methods:The clinical and pathological data of six pathologically confirmed PRNRP patients admitted to Renji Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from August 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, three were male and three were female, with an average age of (55.3±10.5) years old. All six cases were incidentally discovered during health examinations. Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT scans showed tumors with cortical phase manifestations of uneven enhancement, avascularity, and indistinct borders, with CT values of (85.6±18.7) HU. In the corticomedullary phase, the CT values showed mild elevation, with an average of (94.3±4.7) HU. In the delayed phase, the tumor boundaries were clear, and the enhancement degree was significantly lower than that of the surrounding renal cortex and medulla, with a tumor CT value of (86.3±11.9) HU. The pseudocapsule of the tumor was not clearly displayed on contrast-enhanced CT scans. All cases underwent partial nephrectomy, including two cases of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and four cases of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.Results:Postoperative pathological measurements revealed a maximum tumor diameter ranging from 6 to 15 mm, with an average diameter of (11.0±3.5) mm. All six cases were classified as pT 1aN 0M 0 stage. Microscopically, the tumors exhibited branching papillary structures with eosinophilic cytoplasm, and the tumor cells displayed low-grade nuclei located at the top of the cytoplasm and away from the basal membrane. Immunohistochemical analysis showed diffuse strong positivity for GATA3 and CK7, while CA-Ⅸ expression was negative. The median follow-up time after surgery was 10(9, 13) months, and no tumor recurrence or metastasis was observed. Conclusions:PRNRP is a rare, low-grade malignant papillary renal tumor. Contrast-enhanced CT scan has characteristic features of avascularity. Pathological morphological features are low-grade nuclei located at the top of the cytoplasm and far away from the basal membrane, forming a "reverse polarity". The immunophenotype shows positive expression of GATA3 and CK7. Partial nephrectomy is the recommended treatment approach, and the postoperative prognosis is favorable.

Objective:To investigate the safety of minimally invasive liver resection for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with portal hypertension.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 807 patients with resectable HCC who underwent minimally invasive liver resection in 8 medical centers, including Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Affiliated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine et al, from June 2011 to November 2022 were collected. There were 670 males and 137 females, aged 58(50,66)years. Of the 807 patients, 173 cases with portal hypertension were divided into the portal hypertension group, and 634 cases without portal hypertension were divided into the non-portal hypertension group. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and post-operative situations; (3) subgroup analysis. Propensity score matching was done by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper setting as 0.001. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was constructed using the non-parameter rank sun test. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 807 patients, 268 cases were successfully matched, including 134 cases in the portal hypertension group and 134 cases in the non-portal hypertension group. The elimination of the tumor diameter and robot-assisted surgery confounding bias ensured comparability between the two groups after propensity score matching. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The occlusion time of porta hepatis, cases with intraoperative blood transfusion, cases with postoperative complication, cases with complication >Ⅱ grade of Clavien-Dindo classification, cases of Clavien-Dindo classification as Ⅰ grade, Ⅱ grade, Ⅲ grade, Ⅳ grade, cases with liver related complication were 27.0(15.0,43.0)minutes, 33, 55, 15, 13, 29, 14, 1, 37 in the portal hypertension group, versus 35.0(22.0,60.0)minutes, 17, 25, 5, 14, 9, 4, 1, 13 in the non-portal hypertension group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-2.15, χ2=6.30, 16.39, 4.38, 20.72, 14.16, P<0.05). (3) Subgroup analysis. Results of subgroups analysis showed that in cases with major live resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 243.5(174.6,296.3)minutes, 200.0(150.0,600.0)mL, 7.5(6.0,13.0)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 270.0(180.0,314.5)minutes, 200.0 (75.0,450.0)mL, 7.0(5.5,10.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-0.54, -1.73, -0.92, P>0.05). In cases with non-major live resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 170.0(120.0,227.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 8.0(5.0,10.0)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 170.0(120.0,227.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 7.0(5.5,9.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-1.39, -0.10, 1.05, P>0.05). In cases with anatomical liver resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 210.0(150.0,285.0)minutes, 150.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 8.0(6.0,9.3)days in the portal hypertension group, versus 225.5(146.3,306.8)minutes, 100.0(50.0,250.0)mL, 7.0(6.0,9.0)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indica-tors between the two groups ( Z=-0.75, -0.26, -0.91, P>0.05). In cases with non-anatomical liver resection, the operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 173.5(120.0,231.5)minutes, 175.0(50.0,300.0)mL, 7.0(5.0,11.0)days in the portal hyper-tension group, versus 186.0(123.0,262.5)minutes, 100.0(50.0,200.0)mL, 7.0(5.0,9.5)days in the non-portal hypertension group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-0.97, -1.12, -0.98, P>0.05). Conclusion:Minimally invasive liver resection or even major liver resection is safe and feasible for screened HCC patients complicated with portal hyper-tension, but attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications.