1.The Regulatory Effects and Mechanisms of Piezo1 Channel on Chondrocytes and Bone Metabolic Dysregulation in Osteoarthritis
Yan LI ; Tao LIU ; Yu-Biao GU ; Hui-Qing TIAN ; Lei ZHANG ; Bi-Hui BAI ; Zhi-Jun HE ; Wen CHEN ; Jin-Peng LI ; Fei LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):564-576
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.
2.Treatment Modalities and Long-Term Outcomes in Unruptured Vertebrobasilar Fusiform Aneurysms: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study
Linggen DONG ; Dachao WEI ; Xiheng CHEN ; Mingtao LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Yong SUN ; Qingbin NIE ; Jun FENG ; Guomin XIAO ; Jinghua ZHOU ; Shengli HU ; Lifei FENG ; Lifeng QI ; Hongen LIU ; Geng GUO ; Yufang LI ; Renfu TIAN ; Jianghua YU ; Dianshi JIN ; Liang HAO ; Tian TIAN ; Shizhong ZHANG ; Yang WANG ; Liping LIU ; Ming LV
Journal of Stroke 2026;28(2):250-262
Background:
and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis.
Methods:
This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.
Results:
Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs.
Conclusions
Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.
3.Resistance of Aedes albopictus to common insecticides in Zhejiang Province, 2024
Qin-mei LIU ; Jin-na WANG ; Tian-qi LI ; Ming-yu LUO ; Zhou GUAN ; Zhen-yu GONG ; Ji-min SUN
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):96-100
Objective In order to understand the current resistance status of Aedes albopictus(Ae. albopictus) adult population to commonly used insecticides and the resistance dynamics development in Zhejiang Province and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific and rational use of hygienic insecticides. Methods Resistance determination was carried out using the diagnostic dose method(GB/T 26347-2010)recommended by WHO in the adult mosquito contact cylinder method to monitor the resistance of Ae. albopictus field populations in 11 cities and districts in Zhejiang Province in 2024. Results The monitoring result showed that adult Ae. albopictus in 11 areas were resistant or suspected resistant populations to both cis-cypermethrin and permethrin; suspected and resistant populations to the organophosphate insecticide malathion were as high as 81.82%; while suspected resistance to the carbamate insecticide residual carbofuran accounted for 45.45%, and the rest of the monitoring sites were sensitive to it. Conclusions The result suggest that the generalized resistance of Ae. albopictus populations to pyrethroids and organophosphorus insecticides in the field in Zhejiang Province needs to be highly emphasized. In future mosquito vector and mosquito-borne disease control, insecticides should be selected based on the resistance monitoring information, while following scientific guidelines for insecticide use.
4.Annual review of basic research on lung transplantation worldwide in 2025
Jier MA ; Kemeng SUN ; Xiaohan JIN ; Jiaqi LI ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Chama LOUJAINE ; Junmin ZHU ; Hengtao LIN ; Xiangyun ZHENG ; Junjie WANG ; Zengwei YU ; Yaling LIU ; Haoji YAN ; Dong TIAN
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(4):582-593
Lung transplantation is a definitive treatment for end-stage lung disease and can significantly improve patient prognosis. However, postoperative complications such as infection, rejection, ischemia-reperfusion injury and chronic lung allograft dysfunction intertwine to form a complex pathological network, posing persistent challenges to long-term patient survival. In 2025, research teams worldwide have made systematic progress in the field of basic lung transplantation research. By integrating cutting-edge technologies including single-cell multi-omics, spatial transcriptomics and novel animal models, significant breakthroughs have been achieved in the evolutionary dynamics of drug-resistant infections, molecular mechanisms of immune regulation, programmed cell death, optimization of donor lung protection strategies and early warning of chronic lung allograft dysfunction. This article systematically reviews the representative advances in basic lung transplantation research worldwide in 2025, and deeply analyzes the implications of mechanistic breakthroughs for optimizing diagnosis and treatment strategies, aiming to anchor the direction for innovative breakthroughs and clinical translation in basic lung transplantation research.
5.Construction and preparation of virus-like particle expression vector for yellow fever virus
Miaomiao LYV ; Chunying GAO ; Yunfeng LI ; Zhiying JIN ; Min WAN ; Jie TIAN ; Weina KANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(5):12-16
Objective To prepare virus-like particles (VLPs) for yellow fever virus (YFV) using the pACYCDuet-1 single-plasmid dual expression system. Methods Gene fragments including NS1, NS5, and 5' untranslated region (UTR) and 3' UTR fragment of YFV were cloned into the expression plasmid pACYCDuet-1-MS2-TMpac (carrying MS2 coat protein gene) and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) for expression. VLPs were observed by TEM. After DNase I/RNase A digestion, RNA was extracted and transcribed into cDNA, which was subjected to fluorescence quantitative PCR detection. Results According to SN/T 3560-2013, double digestion and colony PCR of pACYCDuet-1-MS2-TMpac-YFV both produced expected bands. SDS-PAGE showed a target band at 25-35 kDa. RT-PCR amplified VLPs after enzyme digestion, and TEM revealed VLPs with clear edges and translucent interiors. Thus, the plasmid was successfully constructed, and the phage coat protein packaged YFV genes with nuclease resistance. Conclusion VLPs containing specific gene fragments of yellow fever virus have been successfully prepared. These nuclease-resistant VLPs can serve as safe and stable quality control materials to ensure the reliability of laboratory detection for YFV.
6.Research status and application progresses of artificial intelligence combined with imaging in total knee arthroplasty
Zhenxin LI ; Feng JIN ; Huanxuan GUO ; Xiaoyan TIAN ; Yunlong RAN ; Xiaolong BAI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(1):152-155
Total knee arthroplasty(TKA)is mainly used for the treatment of advanced knee osteoarthritis.Accurate preoperative planning and rapid prosthesis recognition are essential for smooth operation and postoperative rehabilitation.However,manual prosthesis recognition rely on doctors'experience,easily leading to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.Recent years,artificial intelligence(AI)had been integrated with medical imaging,represented by machine learning(ML)and its branch deep learning(DL),and displayed relatively powerful auxiliary functions in TKA.The research status and application progresses of AI combined with imaging in TKA were reviewed in this article.
7.Strategies Study on DRG Subdivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery Cases
Hongxing YU ; Xinru ZHAO ; Mingju WANG ; Fuxing LI ; Rui TIAN ; Qin LUO ; Jin ZHANG ; Jie LUO
Chinese Hospital Management 2025;45(5):92-96
Objective To explore strategies for further subdivision of DRG in gastrointestinal surgery cases,providing references to enhance the differentiation of DRG subgroups.Methods A total of 5 108 gastrointestinal surgery cases were selected from a tertiary grade A hospital and a tertiary hospital in Hubei Province,spanning from January 2019 to June 30,2023,and another secondary hospital's data from 2020 and 2021.It employs single factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to identify factors influencing case costs.Additionally,the opinions of nine clinicans were gathered regarding factors affecting resource consumption in gastrointestinal surgery cases.The four selected case groups were further subdivided considers the peak characteristics of disease costs.It compares subdivided groups with the DRG Payment Subgroups Scheme(Version 2.0).Results Groups GB1,GB2,GC1,and GC2 were subdivided into 7,4,7,and 6 DRG groups,respectively.The coefficient of variation of each subdivided DRG were reduced,homogeneity was increased,and inter-group differentiation was increased.The results were consistent with the DRG Payment Subgroups Scheme(Version 2.0).Conclusion Based on DRG grouping,the DRG groups can be further subdivided according to the peak characteristics presented by case costs.This subdivision strategy is helpful to provide new ideas for case grouping of Medicare payment.
8.Observation on the therapeutic effect of a modified Devine procedure with subcutaneous sliding fixation method for concealed penis.
Mohammed Abdulkarem AL-QAISI ; Hai-Fu TIAN ; Jia-Jin FENG ; Ke-Ming CHEN ; Jin ZHANG ; Yun-Shang TUO ; Xue-Hao WANG ; Bin-Cheng HUANG ; Muhammad Arslan Ul HASSAN ; Rui HE ; Guang-Yong LI
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(4):470-474
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a modified Devine procedure with a subcutaneous sliding fixation method for the treatment of congenital concealed penis, we retrospectively selected 45 patients with congenital concealed penises who were admitted to General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (Yinchuan, China) between September 2020 and November 2023. In all cases, the penis was observed to be short, and retracting the skin at the base revealed a normal penile body, which immediately returned to its original position upon release. All patients underwent the modified Devine procedure with subcutaneous sliding fixation and completed a 12-week postoperative follow-up. A statistically significant increase in penile length was observed postoperatively, with the median length increasing from 4.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.5-4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.9-4.4) cm to 8.0 (IQR: 7.8-8.0; 95% CI: 7.7-7.9) cm, with P < 0.001. The parents were satisfied with the outcomes, including increased penile length, improved hygiene, and enhanced esthetics. Except for mild foreskin edema in all cases, no complications (such as infections, skin necrosis, or penile retraction) were observed. The edema was resolved within 4 weeks after the operation. This study demonstrates that the modified Devine procedure utilizing the subcutaneous sliding fixation method yields excellent outcomes with minimal postoperative complications, reduced penile retraction, and high satisfaction rates among patients and their families.
Humans
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Male
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Penis/abnormalities*
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Retrospective Studies
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Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods*
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Treatment Outcome
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Child
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Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*
9.Explanation and interpretation of blood transfusion provisions for children with hematological diseases in the national health standard "Guideline for pediatric transfusion".
Ming-Yi ZHAO ; Rong HUANG ; Rong GUI ; Qing-Nan HE ; Ming-Yan HEI ; Xiao-Fan ZHU ; Jun LU ; Xiao-Jun XU ; Tian-Ming YUAN ; Rong ZHANG ; Xu WANG ; Jin-Ping LIU ; Jing WANG ; Zhi-Li SHAO ; Yong-Jian GUO ; Xin-Yin WU ; Jia-Rui CHEN ; Qi-Rong CHEN ; Jia GUO ; Ming-Hua YANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(1):18-25
To guide clinical blood transfusion practices for pediatric patients, the National Health Commission has issued the health standard "Guideline for pediatric transfusion" (WS/T 795-2022). Blood transfusion is one of the most commonly used supportive treatments for children with hematological diseases. This guideline provides guidance and recommendations for blood transfusions in children with aplastic anemia, thalassemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. This article presents the evidence and interpretation of the blood transfusion provisions for children with hematological diseases in the "Guideline for pediatric transfusion", aiming to assist in the understanding and implementing the blood transfusion section of this guideline.
Humans
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Child
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Hematologic Diseases/therapy*
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Blood Transfusion/standards*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
10.Explanation and interpretation of the compilation of blood transfusion provisions for children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the national health standard "Guideline for pediatric transfusion".
Rong HUANG ; Qing-Nan HE ; Ming-Yan HEI ; Xiao-Fan ZHU ; Jun LU ; Xiao-Jun XU ; Tian-Ming YUAN ; Rong ZHANG ; Xu WANG ; Jin-Ping LIU ; Jing WANG ; Zhi-Li SHAO ; Ming-Yi ZHAO ; Yong-Jian GUO ; Xin-Yin WU ; Jia-Rui CHEN ; Qi-Rong CHEN ; Jia GUO ; Rong GUI ; Ming-Hua YANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(2):139-143
To guide clinical blood transfusion practices for pediatric patients, the National Health Commission has issued the health standard "Guideline for pediatric transfusion" (WS/T 795-2022). Blood transfusion for children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is highly complex and challenging. This guideline provides recommendations on transfusion thresholds and the selection of blood components for these children. This article presents the evidence and interpretation of the transfusion provisions for children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with the aim of enhancing the understanding and implementation of the "Guideline for pediatric transfusion".
Humans
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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
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Child
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Blood Transfusion/standards*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic


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