In recent years, research on stem cell therapy in the field of lung transplantation has gradually increased, demonstrating its potential in improving the outcomes of lung transplantation. As a treatment option for end-stage lung diseases, lung transplantation faces challenges such as scarcity of donor organs, postoperative complications and rejection. Stem cells, with their self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation capabilities, have emerged as strong candidates for alternative or adjunctive treatments. Current studies show that embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells play significant roles in lung tissue regeneration and immune regulation. However, stem cell therapy still needs to overcome issues such as the selection of cell sources, low survival rates after transplantation and unclear long-term efficacy in clinical applications. Future research should focus on exploring new stem cell sources, improving transplantation techniques and establishing efficacy evaluation systems.

ObjectiveTo construct a competency model for "dual-qualified" teachers in vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy programs based on the World Health Organization's rehabilitation competency framework (RCF) and relevant domestic and international standards, and explore the training pathways for rehabilitation therapy teachers in China. MethodsLiterature analysis and comparative research methods were employed to systematically review RCF, physiotherapist-education-framework-FINAL, the Minimum-Standards-for-the-Education-of-Occupational-Therapists, and the "dual-qualified" teacher standards in vocational education for China. Focusing on the characteristics of vocational undergraduate talent cultivation, it took the integration of the "educator-clinical rehabilitation therapist" dual roles as its starting point, combining rehabilitation industry competence with educator standards as its basic principle, and using RCF as its foundational dimension. It then integrated advanced competency dimensions required of vocational undergraduate teachers to form a dimensional framework. Following the systematic curriculum development concept of the work process, the core activities of each dimension were designed by combining, improving and expanding the concept integration method, and describing the ability characteristics in a graded and progressive manner, to construct a model. ResultsThis model was guided by the core concepts of three types of values ​​and four types of professional beliefs. Vertically, it encompassed 28 activities across eight competency dimensions, including teaching practice, rehabilitation practice, digital literacy, professionalism, learning and development, management and leadership, applied research, and social service. Horizontally, it encompassed 53 corresponding competency characteristics across three advanced levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced). ConclusionThis model, through its vertical dimension design and horizontal progressive development, clearly describes the advancement of vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy teachers from newly hired teachers to backbone teachers and professional leaders. It not only aligns with the general requirements of the national standards for "dual-qualified" teachers in higher vocational colleges in China, but also incorporates an international perspective on rehabilitation education and practice, and possesses the characteristics of vocational undergraduate education that integrates multiple abilities and roles. At the theoretical level, it provides core theoretical support for establishing standardized and internationalized "dual-qualified" teacher standards for vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy programs in China; at the practical level, it serves as an "action map" for teacher professional development, assessment and evaluation, providing a key reference for constructing a systematic high-end skilled rehabilitation talent training system.

ObjectiveTo construct a competency model for "dual-qualified" teachers in vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy programs based on the World Health Organization's rehabilitation competency framework (RCF) and relevant domestic and international standards, and explore the training pathways for rehabilitation therapy teachers in China. MethodsLiterature analysis and comparative research methods were employed to systematically review RCF, physiotherapist-education-framework-FINAL, the Minimum-Standards-for-the-Education-of-Occupational-Therapists, and the "dual-qualified" teacher standards in vocational education for China. Focusing on the characteristics of vocational undergraduate talent cultivation, it took the integration of the "educator-clinical rehabilitation therapist" dual roles as its starting point, combining rehabilitation industry competence with educator standards as its basic principle, and using RCF as its foundational dimension. It then integrated advanced competency dimensions required of vocational undergraduate teachers to form a dimensional framework. Following the systematic curriculum development concept of the work process, the core activities of each dimension were designed by combining, improving and expanding the concept integration method, and describing the ability characteristics in a graded and progressive manner, to construct a model. ResultsThis model was guided by the core concepts of three types of values ​​and four types of professional beliefs. Vertically, it encompassed 28 activities across eight competency dimensions, including teaching practice, rehabilitation practice, digital literacy, professionalism, learning and development, management and leadership, applied research, and social service. Horizontally, it encompassed 53 corresponding competency characteristics across three advanced levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced). ConclusionThis model, through its vertical dimension design and horizontal progressive development, clearly describes the advancement of vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy teachers from newly hired teachers to backbone teachers and professional leaders. It not only aligns with the general requirements of the national standards for "dual-qualified" teachers in higher vocational colleges in China, but also incorporates an international perspective on rehabilitation education and practice, and possesses the characteristics of vocational undergraduate education that integrates multiple abilities and roles. At the theoretical level, it provides core theoretical support for establishing standardized and internationalized "dual-qualified" teacher standards for vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy programs in China; at the practical level, it serves as an "action map" for teacher professional development, assessment and evaluation, providing a key reference for constructing a systematic high-end skilled rehabilitation talent training system.

ObjectiveTo construct a competency model for "dual-qualified" teachers in vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy programs based on the World Health Organization's rehabilitation competency framework (RCF) and relevant domestic and international standards, and explore the training pathways for rehabilitation therapy teachers in China. MethodsLiterature analysis and comparative research methods were employed to systematically review RCF, physiotherapist-education-framework-FINAL, the Minimum-Standards-for-the-Education-of-Occupational-Therapists, and the "dual-qualified" teacher standards in vocational education for China. Focusing on the characteristics of vocational undergraduate talent cultivation, it took the integration of the "educator-clinical rehabilitation therapist" dual roles as its starting point, combining rehabilitation industry competence with educator standards as its basic principle, and using RCF as its foundational dimension. It then integrated advanced competency dimensions required of vocational undergraduate teachers to form a dimensional framework. Following the systematic curriculum development concept of the work process, the core activities of each dimension were designed by combining, improving and expanding the concept integration method, and describing the ability characteristics in a graded and progressive manner, to construct a model. ResultsThis model was guided by the core concepts of three types of values ​​and four types of professional beliefs. Vertically, it encompassed 28 activities across eight competency dimensions, including teaching practice, rehabilitation practice, digital literacy, professionalism, learning and development, management and leadership, applied research, and social service. Horizontally, it encompassed 53 corresponding competency characteristics across three advanced levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced). ConclusionThis model, through its vertical dimension design and horizontal progressive development, clearly describes the advancement of vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy teachers from newly hired teachers to backbone teachers and professional leaders. It not only aligns with the general requirements of the national standards for "dual-qualified" teachers in higher vocational colleges in China, but also incorporates an international perspective on rehabilitation education and practice, and possesses the characteristics of vocational undergraduate education that integrates multiple abilities and roles. At the theoretical level, it provides core theoretical support for establishing standardized and internationalized "dual-qualified" teacher standards for vocational undergraduate rehabilitation therapy programs in China; at the practical level, it serves as an "action map" for teacher professional development, assessment and evaluation, providing a key reference for constructing a systematic high-end skilled rehabilitation talent training system.

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 compare the histological staining performance of four various tissue fixatives, including a self-developed fixative, for preparing paraffin sections of rat eyeball tissue. MethodsTwenty 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5 per group). After anesthesia by intraperitoneal injection of Zoletil™ 50 at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight, the rats were euthanized by exsanguination via the abdominal aorta. Bilateral eyeballs were carefully extracted intact and fixed for 72 h in 10% formaldehyde fixative, glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde mixed fixative, Davidson's fixative, and self-developed fixative, respectively. After fixation, the eyeballs were longitudinally sectioned along the optic nerve, with the portions containing the optic nerve preserved. The tissues were then dehydrated, embedded, and sectioned. Following hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, histological staining quality was compared among ocular structures including the cornea, lens, and retina. ResultsThe overall appearance of rat eyeballs showed marked shrinkage in the 10% formaldehyde group and the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group, whereas the eye morphology remained round and intact in the modified Davidson's fixative group and self-developed fixative group. The corneal stroma exhibited obvious rupture, and the cells were arranged in folded arrangement in the modified Davidson's fixative group, 10% formaldehyde group, and self-developed fixative group. In contrast, the corneal cells in the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group were neatly arranged, showing no rupture or folding, and exhibited clear staining, indicating the highest quality of corneal sectioning among all groups. In the 10% formaldehyde group, cracks were observed in the equatorial and cortical regions of the lens, but the lens fiber structure remained intact. The lenses in the modified Davidson's fixative group showed extensive rupture and detachment. The glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group displayed only slight cracks at the equator. In the self-developed fixative group, mild red folding was limited to the peripheral lens region, with the remaining structures intact and unbroken. These findings indicated that the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde and self-developed fixative groups achieved the best lens sectioning quality. The retina was severely detached from the choroid/sclera layer, with extensive rupture of each cellular layer in the 10% formaldehyde fixative group. In the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group, partial detachment between the retina and choroid/sclera was observed. The outer plexiform layer and nerve fiber layer showed separation with edema, while the cells in all layers were neatly arranged. In both the Davidson's fixative and the self-developed fixative groups, the retina remained intact without rupture, and no structural separation was observed in any layer. Both demonstrated advantages in preserving the integrity and orderly arrangement of all retinal layers; however, the self-developed fixative group exhibited greater contrast. ConclusionThe choice of fixative significantly affects the morphological preservation of various structures in the rat eye. The self-developed fixative demonstrates the best overall performance in maintaining overall eye morphology, the structural integrity of the lens, and retinal adhesion. For studies focusing solely on the corneal structure, the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde mixed fixative is recommended. The 10% formaldehyde fixative exhibits unsatisfactory fixation effects for all the aforementioned ocular structures and is not recommended for detailed morphological studies of eyeball tissues.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）. MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design，confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals，such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days，and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale （CARIFS） and the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment，48 hours after medication，72 hours after medication， and （6+1） d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group （90 cases） or the control group （90 cases）. All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was （5.29±1.25） d，and that in the control group was （5.40±1.68） d，without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention，52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative，without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention，there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions， including headache，muscle soreness， and the need for extra care （P<0.05）. On the （6+1） days after the intervention，the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions， including sore throat，bad sleep，uncomfortable feeling，poor spirit and fatigue，crying more than usual，the need for extra care，symptom，function，influence on parents，and total score （P<0.05）. The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom， function， and influence on parents，as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time，scores of both groups decreased significantly，with a statistically significant difference （P<0.01）. Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention，the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up，the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group，with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases， there were no complications，severe cases， and critical cases in the two groups，without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome） are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules， and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of birth defect-related mortality. However, more recent CHD mortality data for China are lacking. Additionally, limited studies have evaluated sex, rural-urban, and region-specific disparities of CHD mortality in China. METHODS: We designed a population-based study using data from the Dataset of National Mortality Surveillance in China between 2008 and 2021. We calculated age-adjusted CHD mortality using the sixth census data of China in 2010 as the standard population. We assessed the temporal trends in CHD mortality by age, sex, area, and region from 2008 to 2021 using the joinpoint regression model. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2021, 33,534 deaths were attributed to CHD. The period witnessed a two-fold decrease in the age-adjusted CHD mortality from 1.61 to 0.76 per 100,000 persons (average annual percent change [AAPC] = -5.90%). Females tended to have lower age-adjusted CHD mortality than males, but with a similar decline rate from 2008 to 2021 (females: AAPC = -6.15%; males: AAPC = -5.84%). Similar AAPC values were observed among people living in urban (AAPC = -6.64%) and rural (AAPC = -6.12%) areas. Eastern regions experienced a more pronounced decrease in the age-adjusted CHD mortality (AAPC = -7.86%) than central (AAPC = -5.83%) and western regions (AAPC = -3.71%) between 2008 and 2021. Approximately half of the deaths (46.19%) due to CHD occurred during infancy. The CHD mortality rates in 2021 were lower than those in 2008 for people aged 0-39 years, with the largest decrease observed among children aged 1-4 years (AAPC = -8.26%), followed by infants (AAPC = -7.01%). CONCLUSIONS CHD mortality in China has dramatically decreased from 2008 to 2021. The slower decrease in CHD mortality in the central and western regions than in the eastern regions suggested that public health policymakers should pay more attention to health resources and health education for central and western regions.
Humans ; Heart Defects, Congenital/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; China/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Rural Population

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the causal association between circulating levels of zinc, magnesium, and other minerals and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies of European populations, including 18 382 ASD cases and 27 969 controls. Genetic data for iron, calcium, and magnesium were obtained from the UK Biobank, and data for zinc and selenium were sourced from an Australian-British cohort. A total of 351 genetic instrumental variables were selected. Causal inference was performed using inverse-variance weighting as the primary analysis method. Sensitivity analyses were performed by Cochran's Q test and MR-PRESSO global test to assess the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: No statistically significant causal effect was observed for circulating zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, or iron levels on ASD risk (all P>0.05). The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from the inverse-variance weighting analysis were 0.934 (0.869-1.003) for zinc, 1.315 (0.971-1.850) for magnesium, 1.055 (0.960-1.159) for calcium, 1.015 (0.953-1.080) for selenium, and 0.946 (0.687-1.303) for iron. Sensitivity analysis revealed significant heterogeneity in the causal association between circulating calcium and ASD (P=0.006), while the effect estimate remained stable after MR-PRESSO correction (P=0.487). The causal effect estimates for the remaining minerals demonstrated good robustness. CONCLUSIONS This study did not find significant evidence supporting a causal association between circulating zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, or iron levels and ASD risk, providing important clues for the etiology of ASD and precision nutritional interventions.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Magnesium/blood* ; Zinc/blood* ; Minerals/blood* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Selenium/blood*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for short-term efficacy and prognosis in newly treated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). METHODS: The general data, laboratory indicators, disease stage and other clinical data of 91 newly treated PTCL patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2015 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the patients were stratified into groups based on these cutoffs to compare clinical features and short-term efficacy between the different groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were 45.30 and 1.74×10⁹/L, respectively. Patients in different PNI groups showed statistically significant differences in age, Ann Arbor stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, international prognostic index (IPI), prognostic index for PTCL-not otherwise specified (PIT), pathological subtypes, and complete response (CR) rate (P < 0.05). PTCL patients in different SIRI groups exhibited significant differences in Ann Arbor stage, LDH level, IPI score, PIT score, and CR rate (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥60 years old (OR =2.750), Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR =5.200), IPI score ≥2 (OR =7.650), low PNI (OR =3.296), and high SIRI (OR =3.130) were independent risk factors affecting treatment efficacy in PTCL patients (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that low PNI and elevated β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) levels were independent risk factors affecting OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION PNI and SIRI have certain application value in evaluating short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with PTCL. Compared with SIRI, PNI demonstrates greater predictive value for patient prognosis.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Nutrition Assessment ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Inflammation