Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide, is defined by articular cartilage degradation, abnormal bone remodeling, and persistent chronic inflammation. It severely compromises patients’ quality of life, and currently, there is no radical cure. Abnormal mechanical stress is widely regarded as a core driver of OA pathogenesis, and the exploration of mechanical signal perception and transduction mechanisms has become crucial for deciphering OA’s pathophysiological processes. Piezo1, a key mechanosensitive cation channel belonging to the Piezo protein family, has recently gained significant attention due to its pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to mechanical stimuli in joint tissues. This review systematically examines Piezo1’s expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and pathological functions in OA, with a particular focus on its dual roles in modulating chondrocyte homeostasis and bone metabolism disorders, while also delving into the underlying molecular signaling pathways and potential therapeutic implications. Piezo1, consisting of approximately 2 500 amino acids and forming a unique trimeric propeller-like structure, is widely expressed in chondrocytes, osteocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and synovial cells. It exhibits permeability to cations such as Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺, and directly responds to membrane tension changes induced by mechanical stimuli like fluid shear stress and mechanical overload. In OA patients and animal models, Piezo1 expression is significantly upregulated, especially in cartilage regions subjected to abnormal mechanical stress (e.g., human temporomandibular joint cartilage). This overexpression is closely associated with aggravated cartilage degeneration, increased chondrocyte apoptosis, accelerated cellular senescence, and intensified inflammatory responses. Mechanical overload and pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β) are key inducers of Piezo1 upregulation: IL-1β activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to enhance Piezo1 expression, forming a pathogenic positive feedback loop that inhibits chondrocyte autophagy, promotes apoptosis, and further accelerates joint degeneration. Mechanistically, Piezo1 mediates OA progression through multiple interconnected pathways. When activated by mechanical stress, Piezo1 triggers excessive Ca²⁺ influx, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and mitochondrial dysfunction, which directly induce chondrocyte apoptosis. This process involves the activation of downstream signaling cascades such as cGAS-STING and YAP-MMP13/ADAMTS5. YAP, a transcriptional regulator, upregulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and aggrecanase (ADAMTS5), thereby accelerating cartilage matrix degradation. Additionally, Piezo1-driven Ca²⁺ overload promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulates senescence markers (p16 and p21), accelerating chondrocyte senescence via the p38MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Senescent chondrocytes secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors (e.g., IL-6, IL-1β), further amplifying joint inflammation. In terms of bone metabolism, Piezo1 maintains joint homeostasis by promoting the differentiation of fibrocartilage stem cells into chondrocytes and balancing bone formation and resorption through regulating the FoxC1/YAP axis and RANKL/OPG ratio. Therapeutically, targeting Piezo1 shows promising potential. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that Piezo1 inhibitors (e.g., GsMTx4) can reduce joint damage and alleviate pain in OA mice. Simultaneously, siRNA-mediated co-silencing of Piezo1 and TRPV4 (another mechanosensitive channel) decreases intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis, and promotes cartilage repair. Conditional knockout of Piezo1 using Gdf5-Cre transgenic mice alleviates cartilage degeneration in post-traumatic OA models by downregulating MMP13 and ADAMTS5 expression. Despite existing challenges, such as off-target effects of inhibitors, inefficient local drug delivery, and interindividual genetic variability, strategies like developing selective Piezo1 antagonists, optimizing targeted nanocarriers, and combining Piezo1-targeted therapy with physical therapy provide viable avenues for clinical translation. The authors propose that Piezo1 serves as a critical therapeutic target for OA, and future research should focus on deciphering its context-dependent regulatory networks, developing tissue-specific intervention strategies, and validating their efficacy and safety in clinical trials to address the unmet medical needs of OA patients.

The study focuses on the concept of multifunctional traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas and aims to evaluate the efficacy of the classical formula Xiaoyao San (逍遥散). Study employs the integrated evidence chain (Eff-iEC) method to organize, integrate, and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in treating different diseases with the same therapy, and to investigate the feasibility of using Eff-iEC to evaluate the multifunctionality of TCM formulas. The evaluation covered Xiaoyao San's therapeutic effects on depression, premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and menopausal syndrome. Concurrently, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used for evaluation, and authoritative medical documents were incorporated to corroborate the recognition of Xiaoyao San within the medical community. Depression and menopausal syndrome received higher ratings than other conditions in the Eff-iEC, GRADE, and Medical Community Recognition assessments. The Eff-iEC evidence grade for Xiaoyao San was rated as "High" or above for chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and menopausal syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome received a "Moderate ⁺" rating. The GRADE evidence level was "Low-〇〇⨁⨁" for depression, premenstrual syndrome, and chronic hepatitis; "Moderate-〇⨁⨁⨁" for dyspepsia and menopausal syndrome; and "Very Low-〇〇〇⨁" for irritable bowel syndrome. Depression and menopausal syndrome had the highest inclusion frequency, appearing in all 4 categories. Premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, and dyspepsia are not recommended in Western medical guidelines, but they are included in TCM guidelines, the China National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List, and the China National Essential Drug List. Irritable bowel syndrome appears only in the China National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List and China National Essential Drug List. The evaluation results obtained using the Eff-iEC method align with Medical Community Recognition, providing an objective and comprehensive assessment of Xiaoyao San's efficacy. The findings suggest that Xiaoyao San has strong evidence for treating depression and menopausal syndrome. However, further experimental and clinical trials are needed to assess its efficacy in treating premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and dyspepsia. These results support the clinical efficacy and rational use of Xiaoyao San, expand the application scope of the Eff-iEC method, and offer valuable insights and methodological references for the comparative evaluation of multifunctional TCM formulas.

Atherosclerosis （AS） is a chronic and inflammatory vascular disease. Macrophages are common immune cells and play an important role in the development of AS. In recent years， research has found that the formation of AS plaques is closely related to pathological and physiological processes such as macrophage polarization， energy metabolism， and lipid phagocytosis. This review aims to summarize the mechanism of macrophages in the development of AS， and to explore potential therapeutic methods for delaying AS by regulating macrophages， providing new ideas for the treatment and research of AS.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and possible mechanisms of Xianglian Huazhuo Granules （香连化浊颗粒， XHG） in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. MethodsA total of 140 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 70 cases in each group. The treatment group received 12.5 g of XHG orally， twice daily. The control group received 12.5 g of placebo orally， twice daily. Both groups were treated for 6 months. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， pathological types， serum tumor markers of the digestive system， and serum bile acids （TBA）， interleukin-23 （IL-23）， and Dickkopf-related protein 1 （DKK-1） levels were observed before and after treatment. Safety indicators and adverse events were recorded. After treatment， TCM syndrome efficacy and pathological types were evaluated， and patients were followed up for 18 months with gastric endoscopy and pathological results， which were compared with the results after treatment finished. ResultsTwo patients dropped out in the control group， and a total of 168 cases were included in the final analysis， 70 in the treatment group and 68 in the control group. The treatment group showed a significant reduction in TCM symptom scores， serum TBA， IL-23， and DKK-1 levels， and a significant increase in alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）， carbohydrate antigen 125 （CA125）， carbohydrate antigen 199 （CA199） levels； in the control group， carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA）， CA125， CA199 levels significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； and carbohydrate antigen 242 （CA242） level in both the treatment group and the control group decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The treatment group had lower TCM symptom scores and lower levels of serum TBA， IL-23， and DKK-1 compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. The effective rate for TCM syndrome efficacy in the treatment group was 80.00% （56/70）， significantly higher than the 20.59% （14/68） in the control group （P < 0.05）. The effective rate for pathological classification in the treatment group was 72.73% （8/11） for mixed intestinal metaplasia， significantly better than 46.15% （6/13） in the control group （P＜0.05）. No adverse events were reported in either group. Among 40 patients who had a follow-up endoscopy after one year， 21 were from the treatment group， of whom 11 showed reduced intestinal metaplasia， 9 showed no significant changes， and 1 had worsened； while 19 patients in the control group had 4 with reduced intestinal metaplasia， 13 with no significant changes， and 2 with worsened conditions. No cancer was detected in either group. The treatment group showed significantly better improvement in intestinal metaplasia on follow-up gastric endoscopy pathology than the control group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionXHG can significantly improve the clinical symptoms in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia and reduce the degree of mixed intestinal metaplasia. The mechanism may involve lowering serum TBA， DKK-1， and IL-23 levles， thus delaying the progression from inflammation to cancer.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)in reducing the consumption of analgesics after total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods Totally 124 patients undergoing unilateral TKA were included and divided into an intervention group and a control group according to random number table method,with 62 cases in each group.Both groups received routine postoperative analgesic protocols,with the intervention group additionally receiving TEAS treatment,30 min per time,twice a day.The additional doses of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia pumps and opioid analgesic consumption in two groups of patients after surgery were analyzed,as well as the adverse events and laboratory test results(WBC,PLT,SCr,BUN,ALT and AST)in both groups.Results The number of additional doses in the intervention group with the patient-controlled analgesia pump and the consumption of opioid analgesic were both lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);the incidence of postoperative nausea symptoms in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group,while other adverse reactions showed no significant difference(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in laboratory test results(WBC,PLT,SCr,BUN,ALT and AST)between the two groups on the day before surgery and on the 1st and 7th days after surgery(P>0.05).Conclusion TEAS can reduce the consumption of analgesics after TKA,decrease some adverse reactions associated with the use of analgesics,and has good safety.

Objective To analyze the pattern of group medication in Parkinson's disease cognitive disorders based on data mining.Methods The famous TCM experience and effective clinical treatment of cognitive impairment in the treatment of Parkinson's disease were retrieved in databases of CNKI,Wanfang and Weipu,from the founding of the databases to August 2024.Medication rules were analyzed.Results A total of 60 Chinese prescriptions were included,including 120 traditional Chinese medicines.High-frequency drugs for the treatment of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease included Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata,Radix Paeoniae Alba,Rhizoma Gastrodiae Praeparata,Fructus Lycii,Herba Cistanches,Acorus Calamus and others.The flavour of the medicine were mainly sweet,bitter and pungent,the nature of the medicine was mainly warm,cold and calm and the meridians of the medicine were mainly liver,kidney and heart.Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata-Comu Cervi Pantotrichum,Rhizoma Gastrodiae Praeparata-Hooker's Tree,Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata-Cistanches are the commonly used pairs;Lycium barbarum-Cornus officinalis-Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata,Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata-Radix Angelicae Sinensis-Radix Paeoniae Alba were commonly used combination.Cluster analysis yielded 5 broad categories.Conclusion The primary pharmacological agents employed in traditional Chinese medicine to address cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson's disease emphasize the replenishment of essence and nourishing the marrow.These agents are complemented by nootropic substances that facilitate bodily openness,promote liver health,alleviate wind,resolve phlegm,and invigorate blood circulation and meridian pathways,worth of clinical promotion and application.

Objective To examine of Ye Tianshi's approach to managing internal wind through herbal remedies.Methods A comprehensive search was conducted for medical cases pertaining to internal wind,liver wind,dizziness,head wind,deficiency labor,liver fire,insomnia,convulsions,epilepsy,and headache within the Clinical Guidelines in Medical Cases.Statistical analysis of symptom elements,target locations of symptom elements,frequency of Chinese medicinal substances,their properties,and meridian affiliations was performed using Excel.Prescription patterns were further analyzed through association rules and high-frequency drug clustering.Results The study included a total of 167 medical cases,from which 241 symptom elements and 333 target locations were extracted.A total of 183 prescriptions were analyzed,comprising 132 medicinal substances with an overall frequency of 1309 occurrences.The five most frequently used Chinese medicines were Sheng Di Huang,Fu Shen,E Jiao,Fu Ling,and Shu Di Huang.The predominant property observed was cold,followed by warm and neutral;the most common flavor was sweet,succeeded by bitter and warm.The leading meridian affiliations identified were liver,kidney,lung,heart,and spleen.The drug association rule analysis revealed 14 items,while high-frequency drug clustering resulted in 9 distinct categories.Conclusion Ye Tianshi's therapeutic approach to internal wind emphasizes the concept of"yang transforming into internal wind."The core principles of this treatment strategy involve nourishing bodily fluids to mitigate wind,addressing excess conditions in the upper body while rectifying deficiencies in the lower body,and promoting tranquility in the liver and stomach.Additionally,the use of pungent and sweet flavors is employed to facilitate the transformation of wind,to clear the liver and dispel heat,to eliminate wind and resolve phlegm,to tonify qi and enhance defensive qi,and to clear heat in order to soothe the spirit.This methodology seeks to achieve harmony among the organs and meridians while pacifying internal wind.

Objective To explore the clinical effectiveness of full endoscopic lamina fenestration discec-tomy(Endo-LOVE)in combination with nerve root pulsed radiofrequency(NR-PRF)in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease(LDD),along with the amelioration of postoperative residual symptoms.Methods A retro-spective analysis was performed on 102 patients with LDD who were treated in our hospital between January 2022 and June 2023.Among them,53 cases were assigned to the observation group(receiving Endo-LOVE combined with NR-PRF),and 49 cases were included in the control group(undergoing Endo-LOVE alone).The mean follow-up period was 15.05±1.15 months.The general data of the two groups were compared.Observations were carried out at preoperative,1-day,7-day,1-month,3-month,6-month,and final follow-up time points postopera-tively.The perioperative data and follow-up outcomes of the two groups were compared.Results Prior to surgery,no significant disparities were detected in the general conditions and clinical observation indicators(VAS,M-JOA,and ODI scores)between the two groups.Postoperatively,both groups exhibited a notable improvement in clinical indicators when compared to the preoperative levels(P<0.05).Within three months after surgery,the observation group showed significantly more pronounced improvement in all clinical indicators than the control group(P<0.05).At six months postoperatively and during the final follow-up,no statistically significant differences in clinical indi-cators were found between the two groups.Moreover,at the final follow-up,there was no statistically significant difference in the Macnab scores between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Endoscopic decompression for the treatment of LDD exhibits high safety and reliability.When combined with endoscopic NR-PRF,it enhances the clinical efficacy,reduces the incidence of postoperative residual symptoms,and facilitates rapid postoperative recovery.This complementary combination presents a novel therapeutic strategy for LDD.

The pathogenesis and progression of myocardial fibrosis(MF)are modulated by diverse cytokines and signaling pathways.Studies in recent years have revealed an extremely close association between MF evolution and programmed cell death(PCD)modali-ties,including apoptosis,autophagy,pyroptosis,necrosis,ferroptosis,and cuproptosis.This article reviews the characteristics of MF and distinct PCD modalities,with particular emphasis on cutting-edge discoveries elucidating PCD in the field of MF,hoping to pro-vide a theoretical-level reference basis for the in-depth exploration and clinical intervention of MF.

Objective:To investigate the differences in clinical outcomes of septic children with varying serum zinc levels,and to analyze the relationship between reduced serum zinc levels and organ dysfunction as well as 28-day mortality in septic children.Methods:This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock in the Department of critical care medicine of the children's Hospital of Soochow University between January 2017 and December 2022.Clinical characteristics,organ dysfunction,and prognosis were compared between two groups:children with low serum zinc levels and those with normal zinc levels.Results:The serum zinc level of septic children within 24 hours of admission was 9.60(5.52,13.80)μmol/L,with 50.54%(94/186)of the children exhibiting low serum zinc levels(<10.07 μmol/L).Compared to the normal serum zinc group,the low serum zinc group had a significantly lower Pediatric Critical Illness Score(PCIS)[(78.71±9.35)vs.(85.12±8.51),P=0.005]and higher 28-day mortality(46.80%vs.14.13%,P<0.001).The low serum zinc group also had a higher proportion of invasive mechanical ventilation(64.89%vs.47.82%,P=0.019),renal replacement therapy(15.59%vs.3.26%,P=0.003),and use of vasoactive drugs(56.38%vs.30.43%,P<0.001).The rate of underlying conditions in the low serum zinc group was significantly higher than that in the normal serum zinc group(57.44%vs.36.95%,P=0.005).Additionally,the low serum zinc group had a higher incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,shock,and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)compared to the normal serum zinc group(P<0.05).Serum zinc levels had predictive value for 28-day mortality in septic children(AUC=0.813;95%CI:0.725～0.902;P<0.001).A serum zinc level of less than 6.950 μmol/L predicted the death of septic children with a sensitivity of 0.618 and a specificity of 0.902.Conclusion:Sepsis in children is commonly associated with low serum zinc levels,especially in those with underlying conditions such as hematologic and oncologic disorders.Sepsis patients hypozincemia with a higher incidence of DIC,respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,shock,and MODS.A serum zinc level below 6.95 μmol/L serves as a significant predictor of 28-day mortality in children with severe sepsis.