ObjectiveTo construct a risk prediction model for frequent acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） under disease-syndrome combination， thus providing decision support for precise clinical intervention. MethodsA total of 2 029 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to August 2024 were retrospectively included. These patients were classified into groups of frequent acute exacerbations （≥2 times/year） and infrequent acute exacerbations （<2 times/year） according to the hospitalization times per year. Risk factors were screened by LASSO regression combined with logistic regression， and a nomogram model was constructed. The model performance was assessed based on the area under the curve （AUC）， calibration curves， and decision curve analysis （DCA）. ResultsThe differences in baseline characteristics between the frequent acute exacerbations group （1 196 cases） and infrequent acute exacerbations group （833 cases） were not statistically significant. LASSO regression combined with multivariate logistic regression screened the following independent risk factors： body mass index （BMI）， hospitalization days， number of smoking years， place of residence， use of noninvasive ventilators， oxygen-demanding therapy， liver cirrhosis， use of systemic glucocorticosteroids， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome （phlegm and stasis obstructing the lung）. The nomogram model showed good discrimination and calibration in both the training set （AUC=0.748） and validation set （AUC=0.774）. ConclusionThe risk prediction model for frequent acute exacerbations of COPD， integrating traditional Chinese medicine syndrome， constructed in this study has high accuracy. It can provide a scientific basis for early clinical identification of high-risk patients and individualized intervention.

Background: The tight junction protein claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) has been implicated in poor prognosis and suboptimal immunotherapy response in gastric cancer (GC). This study investigates the clinicopathological relevance of CLDN18.2 expression and its association with molecular subtypes in GC patients from a high-incidence region, combining transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to explore how CLDN18.2 contributes to progression and metastasis. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 494 GC patients (2019–2024) underwent immunohistochemical analysis for CLDN18.2, Epstein-Barr virus (Epstein–Barr virus–encoded RNA), p53, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and mismatch repair proteins (MLH1, MSH2, PMS2, and MSH6). CLDN18.2 positivity was defined as moderate to strong (2+/3+) membranous staining in ≥75% of tumor cells. Clinicopathological correlations, biomarker associations, and survival outcomes were evaluated. Transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing was performed to explore molecular mechanisms. Results: CLDN18.2 positivity was observed in 26.9% (133/494) of gastric adenocarcinomas. CLDN18.2-positive tumors correlated with TNM stage (p = .003) and shorter overall survival (p = .018). No associations were identified with age, sex, HER2 status, microsatellite instability, or Epstein-Barr virus infection. Transcriptomic profiling revealed CLDN18.2-high tumors enriched in pathways involving cell junction disruption, signaling regulation, and immune modulation. Proteomic profiling showed that tumors with high CLDN18.2 were enriched in multiple mechanism-related pathways such as integrated metabolic reprogramming, cytoskeletal recombination, immune microenvironment dysregulation, and pro-survival signaling. These mechanisms may collectively contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. Conclusions CLDN18.2 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in GC patients. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses demonstrate that CLDN18.2 promotes tumor progression and metastasis, underscoring its potential as an independent prognostic factor in regions with a high incidence of GC.

Purpose: The role of the Clinical Treatment Score post-5 years (CTS5) in male breast cancer (MBC) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of CTS5 between MBC and female breast cancer (FBC). Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative/estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer between 2010 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used for statistical analysis. Results: This study included 169,869 patients, comprising 168,422 (99.1%) FBC and 1,447 (0.9%) MBC patients. More MBC patients had intermediate risk (IR)/high risk (HR) disease compared to FBC patients (17.7% vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001). MBC patients had an inferior overall survival (OS) but similar breast cancer-specific survival compared to those with FBC. Sensitivity analyses showed that sex was an independent prognostic factor associated with OS but not breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) in both the low-risk (LR) and IR/HR cohorts. Those with MBC exhibited significantly worse OS (p < 0.001) than FBC patients in both cohorts. In MBC patients, those with IR/HR disease had significantly worse OS (p < 0.001) and BCSS (p < 0.001) compared to those with LR disease. For FBC patients, the IR/HR group had also significantly worse OS (p < 0.001) and BCSS (p < 0.001) compared to the LR group. Conclusion Our findings highlight critical differences in clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes between MBC and FBC, suggesting the need for sex-tailored approaches in breast cancer management.

Objective Exploring genetic differences among geographic strains of Anopheles sinensis in China. Methods Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I(COⅠ )and ribosomal the second internal transcribed spacer(ITS2), genetic distance analyses were conducted on An. sinensis samples collected nationwide. Results Genetic differentiation was observed within An. sinensis geographic strains, primarily reflected in the genetic distances of COⅠ sequences, with some distances between samples exceeding those between closely related species. However, ITS2 sequences showed relatively low levels of differentiation within geographic strains. No significant separation was observed, and gene exchange exhibited a random pattern among geographic strains. Conclusions Significant differences in genetic distance were observed among An. sinensis samples, along with evidence of interspecific continuity among sibling species. For the identification of closely related species using wild-collected Anopheles mosquitoes samples, reliance solely on commonly used barcodes such as COⅠ and ITS2 may be insufficient. Additional molecular markers, including COⅡ and D3 gene fragments, should also be considered. Caution should be exercised when using COⅠ genes to identify cryptic species, especially within Anopheles mosquitoes.

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common disabling condition in the elderly, and its clinical assessment relies not only on imaging and neurofunctional indicators but also on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation. To evaluate the concordance between existing LSS animal models and clinical characteristics of TCM and Western medicine, clarify their advantages and limitations, and explore their translational potential, Chinese and English databases, including CNKI, Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science, are searched using combinations of the terms "lumbar spinal stenosis," "model," "guideline," "consensus," and "norm" from inception to the end of June 2025. After screening, a total of 21 publications are included, of which 15 report animal experimental studies, and 6 are guidelines, consensus statements, or normative documents. Based on these, the existing modeling methods are summarized, diagnostic indicators are extracted from clinical guidelines and expert consensus, and clinical concordance is evaluated using an assessment system proposed in the relevant literature. The results show that the existing animal models are categorized into three concordance levels: high (laminectomy/spinous process removal with filling; laminectomy/spinous process + ligament/muscle removal with filling; autologous bone backfilling), moderate (nylon tape dural binding method, adjustable screws, fixation combined with removal of ligament/muscle), and low (balloon compression method, adjustable balloon compression method, bipedal standing, ligament/muscle resection, steel wire cerclage method). Overall, current animal models of LSS generally perform well in terms of structural construction but show clear limitations in replicating clinical diagnostic logic and TCM syndromes. Future research should enhance syndrome phenotype collection and enrich TCM-based evaluation systems based on existing models. Additionally, multifactorial integrated modeling strategies should be introduced to extend the depth of syndrome-level simulation. This study aims to analyze LSS animal models that can faithfully recapitulate disease pathogenesis, conform to clinical realities of both Western medicine and TCM clinical practice, and have broad application potential, so as to narrow the translational gap between experimental findings and clinical practice.

Intestinal permeability plays a pivotal role in the gut-liver axis and has emerged as a critical target for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. Based on recent studies in China and globally， this article reviews the definitions and interrelationship of intestinal barrier function and intestinal permeability， the methods for assessing intestinal permeability， and the mechanism of action and clinical significance of intestinal permeability in the development and progression of various liver diseases. Studies have shown that increased intestinal permeability is a significant hallmark and an important driving factor for multiple liver diseases， and this state leads to the translocation of bacteria and harmful substances， trigger a systemic inflammatory response， and thus exacerbates liver injury， fibrosis， and metabolic dysregulation. Therefore， it is closely associated with the development and progression of metabolic associated fatty liver disease， alcoholic liver disease， autoimmune liver diseases， and their end-stage events， including liver cirrhosis， liver failure， and hepatocellular carcinoma. Future research should focus on the standardization of assessment methods， the exploration of underlying mechanisms， and the clinical translation of these findings.

Abstract The prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents has become a national health strategy in China, and its prevention and management are transitioning from experience driven approaches to precise and intelligent strategies. Understanding the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in myopia prevention and control can provide a foundation for a comprehensive myopia prevention and control system. AI, with its powerful capabilities in data analysis and pattern recognition, shows significant potential in myopia risk prediction, screening and diagnosis, intervention support and behavior monitoring in children and adolescents. The article systematically summarizes the scientific evidence and consensus on the application of AI for myopia prevention and control in children and adolescents. From the perspective of public health practice, it proposes hierarchical expert recommendations for multiple scenarios including schools, families, communities and medical institutions, as well as policy and research with development. Furthermore, it discusses current challenges and future directions, aiming to provide a reference for building an intelligent, precise and fully covered comprehensive myopia prevention and control system in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND:Acute myocardial infarction can cause cardiac remodeling and heart failure,as well as skeletal myopathy,affecting patients'quality of life.Exercise therapy is an important rehabilitation method for patients with heart failure;however,the optimal exercise prescription has not been clarified. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of different exercise modes(aerobic exercise,resistance exercise)on skeletal muscle remodeling in rats with acute myocardial infarction induced heart failure and to explore the possible mechanism,so as to provide a basis for optimizing the exercise rehabilitation program. METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,myocardial infarction group,aerobic exercise group and resistance exercise group.Coronary artery ligation was used to create model of heart failure.After 3 months,animals in the aerobic exercise group and resistance exercise group underwent 12 weeks of corresponding exercise mode interventions,while those in the sham operation group and myocardial infarction group were kept quietly in mouse cages.After the experiment,maximal running speed and maximal weight-bearing load were measured by graded treadmill exercise test and ladder-climbing test respectively,and heart structure and function were evaluated by echocardiography.The heart was isolated,and hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius red staining were performed to detect cardiac remodeling.For the gstrocnemius muscle,ATPase staining was performed to observe changes in muscle fiber type and cell cross-sectional area,dihydroethidium method was used to evaluate reactive oxygen species levels,enzyme-linked immunosorbent method was used to determine malondialdehyde content and antioxidant enzyme activity,western blot was used to determine the expression of ubiquitin-proteasome system proteins,and the number of activated satellite cells(Pax7+/MyoD+)were detected by double immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Exercise performance:Compared with the sham operation group,maximal running speed and maximal weight-bearing load in the myocardial infarction group decreased(P<0.05);compared with the myocardial infarction group,the maximal running speed of the aerobic exercise group and the maximal weight-bearing load of the resistance exercise group increased(P<0.05).(2)Cardiac remodeling:Compared with the sham operation group,infarction area,myocardial cell cross-sectional area,and collagen content in the myocardial infarction group increased(P<0.05),while leftventricular ejection fraction and shortening fraction decreased(P<0.05);compared with the myocardial infarction group,there was no statistical difference in the above parameters in both aerobic exercise resistance exercise groups(P>0.05).(3)Skeletal muscle remodeling:Compared with the sham operation group,gastrocnemius muscle mass,gastrocnemius muscle mass index,cell cross-sectional area,superoxide dismutase activity,glutathione peroxidase activity,and the number of activated satellite cells decreased in myocardial infarction group(P<0.05),while reactive oxygen species content,malondialdehyde content,and the protein expression of ubiquitin,MuRF1 and MAFbx increased(P<0.05);compared with the myocardial infarction group,gastrocnemius muscle mass index,superoxide dismutase activity,the number of activated satellite cells increased in both aerobic exercise and resistance exercise groups(P<0.05),while reactive oxygen species content and the protein expression of ubiquitin,MuRF1,and MAFbx decreased(P<0.05);compared with the aerobic exercise group,gastrocnemius muscle mass,gastrocnemius muscle mass index,cell cross-sectional area,reactive oxygen species content,malondialdehyde content,the number of activated satellite cells increased in resistance exercise group(P<0.05),while superoxide dismutase activity,glutathione peroxidase activity down-regulated(P<0.05).To conclude,aerobic exercise and resistance exercise can both improve exercise performance of rats with heart failure,and the mechanism is related to reducing oxidative stress,inhibiting ubiquitin-proteasome system activity and activating satellite cells to improve skeletal muscle remodeling.Aerobic exercise has a better effect on improving skeletal muscle oxidative stress,while resistance exercise has a more significant effect on promoting skeletal muscle regeneration.

BACKGROUND:Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a common chronic inflammatory disease that causes damage to joint cartilage and surrounding tissues.Immune cells play an important role in the immune-inflammatory response in knee osteoarthritis,but the specific mechanisms involved are still not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the potential causal relationship between 731 immune cell phenotypes and the risk of knee osteoarthritis using Mendelian randomization. METHODS:Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies(GWAS)for 731 immune cell phenotypes(from GCST0001391 to GCST0002121)obtained from the GWAS catalog and GWAS data for knee osteoarthritis from the IEUGWAS database(ebi-a-GCST007090)were used.Inverse variance-weighted method,MR-Egger regression,weighted median method,weighted mode method,and simple mode method were employed to investigate the causal relationship between immune cells and knee osteoarthritis.Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the reliability of the Mendelian randomization results.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis was also performed using the same methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The forward MR analysis indicated significant causal relationships(FDR<0.20)between knee osteoarthritis and four immune cell phenotypes,namely CD27 on CD24+CD27+in B cells(OR=1.026,P=0.000 26,Pfdr=0.18),CD33 on CD33dim HLA DR-in myeloid cells(OR=1.014,P=0.000 50,Pfdr=0.18),and CD45RA+CD28-CD8br%CD8br in Treg cells(OR=1.001,P=0.000 78,Pfdr=0.18),and PDL-1 on monocytes in mononuclear cells(OR=0.952,P=0.000 98,Pfdr=0.18).These immune cell phenotypes showed direct positive or negative causal associations with the risk of knee osteoarthritis.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis revealed no significant causal relationships(FDR<0.20)between knee osteoarthritis as exposure and any of the 731 immune cell phenotypes.The results of sensitivity analysis show that the P-values of the Cochran's Q test and the MR-Egger regression method for bidirectional Mendelian randomization were both greater than 0.05,indicating that there is no significant heterogeneity and pleiotropy in the causal effect analysis between immune cell phenotypes and knee osteoarthritis.To conclude,there may be four potential causal relationships between immune cell phenotypes,such as CD27 on CD24+CD27+cells,CD33 on CD33dim HLA DR-cells,CD45RA+CD28-CD8br%CD8br cells,and PDL-1 on monocytes,and knee osteoarthritis.These findings provide valuable clues for studying the biological mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis and exploring early prevention and treatment strategies.They also offer new directions for the development of intervention drugs.

PURPOSE: To investigate the pathological changes of the synovium in mice with post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) treated with 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) and evaluate the therapeutic effects of 4-OI. METHODS: In the phenotypic validation experiment, the mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: wild-type (WT) group, sham group, and destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) group. Through MRI, micro-CT, and histological analysis, it was determined that the DMM surgery induced a mouse PTOA model with significant signs of synovitis. At 12 weeks post-DMM surgery, synovial tissues from the DMM group and WT group mice were collected for ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis. In the 4-OI treatment experiment, mice were randomly divided into the sham group, DMM group, DMM + 4-OI (50 mg/kg) group, and DMM + 4-OI (100 mg/kg) group. Von Frey tests and open field tests were conducted at intervals during the 12 weeks following the DMM surgery. After 12 weeks of surgery, the efficacy of 4-OI treatment on PTOA in mice was evaluated using MRI, micro-CT, histological analysis, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, we utilized network pharmacology analysis to predict the mechanism of 4-OI in treating PTOA synovitis and conducted preliminary validation. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The DMM surgery effectively induced a PTOA mouse model, which displayed significant symptoms of synovitis. These symptoms included a notable increase in both the number of calcified tissues and osteophytes (p < 0.001), an enlargement of the calcified meniscus and synovial tissue volume (p < 0.001), and thickening of the synovial lining layer attributable to M1 macrophage accumulation (p = 0.035). Additionally, we observed elevated histological scores for synovitis (p < 0.001). Treatment with 4-OI inhibited the thickening of M1 macrophages in the synovial lining layer of PTOA mice (p < 0.001) and reduced fibrosis in the synovial stroma (p = 0.004). Furthermore, it reduced the histological scores of knee synovitis in PTOA mice (p = 0.006) and improved the inflammatory microenvironment associated with synovitis. Consequently, this treatment alleviated pain in PTOA mice (p < 0.001) and reduced spontaneous activity (p = 0.003). Bioinformatics and network pharmacology analyses indicated that 4-OI may exert its therapeutic effects by inhibiting the differentiation of synovial Th17 cells. Specifically, compared to the lipopolysaccharide stimulation group, 4-OI reduced the levels of positive regulatory factors of Th17 cell differentiation (IL-1: p < 0.001, IL-6: p < 0.001), key effector molecules (IL-17A: p < 0.001, IL-17F: p = 0.004), and downstream effector molecules in the IL-17 signaling pathway (CCL2: p < 0.001, MMP13: p < 0.001). CONCLUSION 4-OI is effective in inhibiting synovitis in PTOA, thereby alleviating the associated painful symptoms.
Animals ; Synovitis/etiology* ; Mice ; Osteoarthritis/etiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Succinates/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; X-Ray Microtomography