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.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Xielitang on dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）-induced ulcerative colitis （UC） mice and its possible mechanism. MethodsDSS was used to establish UC model. Sixty mice were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a sulfasalazine group （0.6 g·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose Xielitang groups （1.67， 3.34， 6.68 g·kg^-1）. After treatment for 42 d， the colon length was recorded， and the disease activity index （DAI） score was calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathomorphological changes of colon. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of farnesoid X receptor （FXR）， small heterodimer partner （SHP）， liver receptor homolog-1 （LRH-1）， cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase （CYP7A1）， and fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 （FGFR4） in liver and FXR， sodium-dependent bile acid transporter （ASBT）， and fibroblast growth factor 15 （FGF15） in ileum. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyze the intestinal flora. Moreover， ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the bile acid content. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly decreased colon length， IL-10 content， α-diversity index， abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus， and content of deoxycholic acid （DCA） and lithocholic acid （LCA） （P<0.01）， significantly increased DAI score， IL-6 and TNF-α content， abundance of Bacteroidetes， and the content of cholic acid （CA）， chenodeoxycholic acid （CDCA）， and taurocholic acid （TCA） （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly down-regulated protein expression of FXR， SHP， and FGFR4 in liver and FXR， ASBT， and FGF15 in ileum （P<0.01）， and significantly up-regulated protein expression of LRH-1 and CYP7A1 in liver （P<0.01）. In addition， the structure of colonic mucosa was destroyed， and inflammatory cells infiltrated in the model group. Compared with the model group， Xielitang could significantly increase the colon length， IL-10 content， α-diversity index， the abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus， and DCA and LCA content （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decrease DAI score， abundance of Bacteroidetes， and the content of IL-6， TNF-α， CA， CDCA， and TCA （P<0.01）， up-regulate the protein expression of FXR， SHP， and FGFR4 in liver and FXR， ASBT， and FGF15 in ileum （P<0.01）， and down-regulate the protein expression of LRH-1 and CYP7A1 in liver （P<0.01）. The pathological damage of colonic mucosa was obviously alleviated. ConclusionXielitang protects against UC probably by regulating the "intestinal microbiota-bile acid" axis， regulating intestinal flora imbalance， and maintaining bile acid homeostasis.

In 2022， Hainan provincial government launched the project for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis with the goals of a hepatitis B screening rate of 90%， a diagnostic rate of 90%， and a treatment rate of 80% among people aged 18 years and above by the year 2025， and the main intervention measures include population-based prevention， case screening， antiviral therapy， and health management. As of December 31， 2024， a total of 6.875 million individuals in the general population had been screened for hepatitis B， with a screening rate of 95.6%. A total of 184 710 individuals with positive HBsAg were identified， among whom 156 772 were diagnosed through serological reexamination， resulting in a diagnostic rate of 84.9%. A total of 50 742 patients with chronic hepatitis B were identified， among whom 42 921 had hepatitis B-specific health records established for health management， with a file establishment rate of 84.6%. A total of 31 553 individuals received antiviral therapy， with a treatment rate of 62.2%. A total of 2.503 million individuals at a high risk of hepatitis C were screened， among whom 4 870 tested positive for HCV antibody and 3 858 underwent HCV RNA testing， resulting in a diagnostic rate of 79.2%， and 1 824 individuals with positive HCV RNA were identified， among whom 1 194 received antiviral therapy， with a treatment rate of 65.5%. In addition， 159 301 individuals with negative HBsAg and anti-HBs and an age of 20 — 40 years were inoculated with hepatitis B vaccine free of charge. Through the implementation of the project for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis， a large number of hepatitis patients have been identified， treated， and managed in the province within a short period of time， which significantly accelerates the efforts to eliminate the crisis of viral hepatitis.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) have emerged as a serious global health issue due to its high rates of occurrence, disability, and mortality. DFU exhibit an exceptionally high recurrence rate, driven by a combination of behavioral and biological factors, leading to the recognition of fully epithelialized ulcers as being in "remission" rather than cured. However, the pathogenic factors underlying recurrent DFU (RDFU) remain poorly understood. This review examines the epidemiological characteristics and pathophysiological mechanisms of RDFU. Key mechanisms include neuropathy, angiopathy, epigenetic modifications, and metabolic memory. Research demonstrates that RDFU development results from the interplay of multiple factors: hyperglycemia-induced metabolic abnormalities, chronic inflammatory responses, vascular and neurological damage, as well as dysregulated epigenetic control. These factors interact synergistically, creating a vicious cycle that increases the risk of recurrence and delays recovery. By synthesizing current knowledge, this review aims to provide a foundation for future research and clinical management of RDFU. The insights presented support the development of personalized treatment strategies and effective preventive measures to reduce recurrence and improve patient outcomes.

AIM:To explore the relationship be-tween the level of myeloid-derived suppressor cell(MDSC)infiltration in tumor tissues and the clinical efficacy and prognosis of combined PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 92 NSCLC patients who received PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2019 to June 2024.Tumor tissue samples were examined using immunohistochemistry to detect the level of MDSC infiltration,dividing the patients into high-in-filtration group(MDSC≥2)and low-infiltration group(MDSC＜2).The objective response rate(iORR),disease control rate(iDCR),progression-free survival(PFS),and overall survival(OS)were compared between the two groups.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test were used to plot PFS and OS survival curves,and Cox regression analysis was applied to identify factors influencing prognosis.RESULTS:Among the 92 patients,53 were in the low MDSC infiltration group,and 39 were in the high MDSC infiltration group.The low MDSC infiltration group showed significantly better treatment responses compared to the high MDSC infiltration group.The objective response rate(iORR)was 77.3％in the low MDSC infiltration group,higher than the 56.4％in the high MDSC in-filtration group(P=0.033).The disease control rate(iDCR)was 94.3％,also significantly higher than the 66.7％in the high MDSC infiltration group(P=0.001).Moreover,the median progression-free sur-vival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)in the low MD-SC infiltration group were 16.9 months and 27.6 months,respectively,which were significantly lon-ger than those in the high MDSC infiltration group(PFS 12.6 months,OS 22.3 months).Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that both PFS and OS in the low MDSC infiltration group were significantly longer than those in the high MDSC infiltration group.Cox univariate analysis showed that smoking,PD-L1 ex-pression levels,tumor stage,and MDSC infiltration level were closely associated with PFS and OS.Mul-tivariate Cox regression analysis further indicated that high MDSC infiltration was an independent risk factor for both PFS(HR=2.678,P=0.013)and OS(HR=2.254,P=0.022).CONCLUSION:The level of MDSC infiltration in tumor tissues is closely related to the efficacy and prognosis of PD-1 inhibitor com-bined with chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.High MDSC infiltration suggests reduced treatment sen-sitivity and poor prognosis.MDSC infiltration level may serve as a predictive biomarker for the effica-cy and prognosis of PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application effect and preliminary experience of ureteroscopy-assisted flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy in the treatment of transplanted kidney stones.Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 9 kidney transplant recipients with graft stones who underwent ureteroscopy-assisted flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2020 and January 2023. The recipients' general information, surgical procedures, and postoperative outcomes were reviewed and summarized. Additionally, a comprehensive literature search was performed in both Chinese and international databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, and the China Academic Journals Full-text Database, as well as PubMed and Web of Science. The search terms included " kidney transplant" "flexible ureteroscope" "ureteroscope" and " urinary tract stones" . The search covered all publications available up to December 2023.Result:The 9 recipients had a mean age of 37. 56 years (range: 27–54 years) . The onset time of the kidney stones ranged from 1 to 13 months after kidney transplantation. All recipients were diagnosed with transplanted kidney stones by CT and showed no symptoms of kidney colic at the time of onset. All transplanted kidneys were located in the right iliac fossa, with varying degrees of hydronephrosis. The smallest stone diameter was 0. 5 cm, and the largest was 1. 3 cm. The number of stones ranged from 1 to 3 per recipient; 6 cases had solitary stones, and 3 had multiple stones in the renal pelvis and calyces. In all 9 surgeries, the ureteral orifice of the transplanted kidney was located at the apex of the bladder using ureteroscopy, and a hydrophilic guidewire was inserted into the renal pelvis. A second ureteroscopy was then performed, guiding the ureteroscope tip into the transplanted ureteral orifice in coaxial alignment with the guidewire. A flexible ureteroscope sheath was advanced along the guidewire, followed by the insertion of a digital flexible ureteroscope to perform holmium laser dusting lithotripsy. Stone composition analysis revealed mixed calcium oxalate monohydrate and calcium oxalate dihydrate. The surgical duration ranged from 30 to 75 minutes. No complications such as massive bleeding, septic shock, or rejection occurred. Postoperative review at 1 month, after ureteral stent removal, showed no residual stones in any patient. During 6 months of follow-up, no recurrence of stones was observed, and the renal function of the transplanted kidneys remained stable compared to preoperative levels. A total of 19 related articles were identified through literature review, including 11 in English and 8 in Chinese. Chinese reports on transplanted kidney stones were all from single-center studies with small case numbers. In contrast, foreign meta-analyses and multicenter studies showed that treatments for transplanted kidney stones abroad mainly included antegrade/retrograde ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephroscopy.Conclusion:Ureteroscopy-assisted flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy is a feasible treatment for transplanted kidney stones. It can effectively protect graft kidney function and has promising clinical application prospects.

Objective:To explore the changes in plasma lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and silencing information regulatory protein 1(SIRT1)in patients with sepsis complicated with acute kidney injury(AKI)and their relationship with short-term prognosis.Methods:243 sepsis patients who received treatment in our hospital from May 2022 to May 2024 were prospective selected,including 80 sepsis patients with AKI(AKI group)and 163 sepsis patients without AKI(non AKI group),the plasma Lp-PLA2 and SIRT1 levels between the two groups were compared.They were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group according to 28 d prognosis after admission in AKI group.The influencing factors of short-term prognosis in sepsis patients complicated with AKI were analyzed by multiple logistic regression model.The short-term prognostic value of plasma Lp-PLA2 and SIRT1 alone and in combination for sepsis complicated with AKI patients was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:Compared with non AKI group,AKI group had higher Lp-PLA2 and lower SIRT1(P＜0.05).39 deaths within 28 d after admission in AKI group(poor prognosis group),41 cases survived(good prognosis group),with poor prognosis rate of 48.75％(39/80).Sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score,acutephysiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score,creatinine(Scr),lactate dehydrogenase albumin ratio(LAR)in poor prognosis group were higher than those in good prognosis group,while procalcitonin(PCT)was lower than that in good prognosis group(P＜0.05).Compared with the good prognosis group,poor prognosis group had higher Lp-PLA2 and lower SIRT1 at admission(P＜0.05).Elevated SOFA score,elevated Scr,elevated APACHEⅡ score,and elevated plasma Lp-PLA2 were risk factors for poor prognosis in sepsis patients complicated with AKI(P＜0.05),while elevated plasma SIRT1 was a protective factor(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis results showed that,the combined detection of plasma Lp-PLA2 and SIRT1 predicted a poor prognosis for sepsis patients with AKI with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.935,which was better than the prediction of 0.813 and 0.858 for plasma Lp-PLA2 and SIRT1 alone.Conclusion:Sepsis complicated with AKI patients have elevated plasma Lp-PLA2 and decreased SIRT1,combined detection of the two can assist in predicting the risk of poor prognosis.

Vaccine immunization is the most effective and cost-efficient method for infectious disease prevention and control.Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia(caused by the novel coronavirus,COVID-19)at the end of 2019,third generation mRNA nucleic acid vaccines has been applied to stop viral spread.mRNA vaccines,rather than relying on the immune activation mode of traditional vaccines,are an innovative breakthrough using the body's own cells to produce antigens,thereby activating double specific immunity,forming immune memory,and providing more lasting specific immunity.Com-pared with the traditional first-generation(inactivated)and second-generation(genetically engineered)vaccines,mRNA vac-cines,because of the advantages provided by this platform,play important roles in the prevention and control of major sudden infectious diseases.Consequently,mRNA vaccines were the world's first COVID-19 vaccines to be applied clinically,thus ser-ving as a barometer in the field of vaccine research and development.Herein,the molecular design and presentation of mRNA vaccines,and the molecular mechanisms of their activation of the immune response are reviewed,to provide a theoretical basis for future application of novel mRNA vaccines in the prevention and control of animal infectious diseases.

Background and purpose:Approximately 30%of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer(CRC)develops pulmonary metastasis,yet less than 10%are eligible for surgical resection.Radiofrequency ablation(RFA)serves as an alternative therapy for non-surgical candidates,but the relationship between its efficacy and tumor diameter remains controversial.This study aimed to investigate the impact of tumor size on survival outcomes and local progression risk in CRC patients with pulmonary metastasis after RFA,and to validate the clinical utility of a 3 cm threshold for prognosis.Methods:This retrospective study included CRC patients with pulmonary metastasis who underwent RFA at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between January 2016 and December 2024.Patients were stratified into two groups based on maximum lesion diameter:≤3 cm(Small group)and 3-5 cm(Large group).Patient inclusion criteria:⑴ pathologically confirmed lung metastases originating from CRC,with metastases limited to the lungs or extra-pulmonary metastatic lesions having been radically treated;⑵ maximum lesion diameter<5 cm;⑶complete clinical data available;⑷ complete imaging data available,including computed tomography(CT)images during ablation and contrast-enhanced CT images during postoperative follow-up;⑸ follow-up time of at least＞6 months after RFA;⑹ technical complete ablation;⑺ fewer than 3 pulmonary metastatic lesions.Exclusion criteria:⑴ target lesions previously treated with local therapies such as RFA or radiotherapy;⑵ patients unable to tolerate RFA;⑶ patients with follow-up time＜6 months after RFA.Three senior interventional physicians performed percutaneous RFA under guidance of a 64-slice spiral CT scanner.Chest contrast-enhanced CT scans obtained 1 month after RFA were used as the baseline,followed by contrast-enhanced CT scans every 3 months for 1 year,then every 6 months for subsequent follow-up.This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center(ethical approval number:2108241-11).Primary endpoints included overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and local tumor progression(LTP).Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate COX regression were employed to evaluate the independent prognostic value of tumor size.Results:A total of 134 patients who met the inclusion criteria were ultimately enrolled,including 77 in the Small group and 57 in the Large group.With a median follow-up of 35 months,the≤3 cm group demonstrated superior 1-,3-,and 5-year OS rates(100.0%,95.1%,74.2%)compared to the 3-5 cm group(94.7%,36.8%,27.0%,P＜0.0001),and the≤3 cm group demonstrated superior 1-,3-,and 5-year PFS rates(90.9%,34.4%,23.3%)compared to the 3-5 cm group(13.8%,0.0%,0.0%,P＜0.000 1).The≤3 cm group also exhibited significantly lower 1-,3-,and 5-year LTP rates(0.0%,19.7%,33.6%)compared to the 3-5 cm group(46.0%,75.5%,75.5%,P＜0.000 1).Multivariable analysis identified tumor diameter＞3 cm as an independent predictor of worse OS[hazard ratio(HR)=6.49,95%CI:3.18-13.24,P＜0.001],while elevated preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)(≥5 ng/mL)correlated with shorter OS(HR=1.82,P=0.033).Conclusion:CRC patients with pulmonary metastasis and tumor diameters of 3-5 cm exhibited significantly inferior survival outcomes after RFA compared to the≤3 cm group.A tumor diameter of 3 cm can serve as a critical threshold for selecting RFA indications,and combining preoperative CEA levels can optimize patient stratification.