1.An integrated optoelectronic fiber for simultaneous transmission of laser and electrical current and validation of tissue vaporization in ex vivo pig kidneys
Dongchong SUN ; Yutao ZHANG ; Likun GAI ; Chenglin ZHANG ; Yanna WANG ; Hao ZHANG ; Yalin SUN ; Yongmei WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(2):168-171
Objective To design and fabricate an integrated optoelectrical fiber to enable the simultaneous transmission of high-power laser and electrical current, thereby developing a novel tool for urological surgery.Methods A miniature metal sleeve was installed at the front end of a medical high-energy optical fiber, and corresponding conductive circuits were configured. The fiber was connected to a fiber thulium laser and a bipolar plasma generator simultaneously. Experiments of simulated vaporization were conducted on ex vivo porcine kidney tissues using thulium laser (50 W), plasma (100 W), and thulium laser + plasma (50 W+100 W), respectively. Tissue removal efficiency was calculated using the weighing method:tissue clearance rate (g/min)=[mass before vaporization (g) - mass after vaporization (g)]/vaporization time (min). Lateral tissue thermal damage was assessed with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. One-way analysis of variance and least significant difference test were used for statistical analysis.Results The integrated optoelectrical fiber was successfully constructed, which could simultaneously and continuously transmit thulium laser and plasma electrocision current. The tissue clearance rate of the thulium laser+plasma group was significantly higher than that of the thulium laser group and plasma group [(0.49±0.13) g/min vs. (0.14±0.02) g/min vs. (0.11±0.04) g/min, P<0.001]. The average lateral thermal damage depth of the thulium laser + plasma group showed no statistically significant difference compared to the thulium laser group [(985.5±178.5) μm vs.(957.5±197.4) μm, P>0.05], but both were significantly higher than that of the simple plasma group [(499.6±78.0) μm] (P<0.001). Conclusion The thulium laser + plasma energy transmitted simultaneously by the integrated optoelectrical fiber can vaporize kidney tissue more efficiently without additional thermal damage.
2.Dissecting Causal Relationships Between Gut Microbiota, 1400 Blood Metabolites, and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Yuxi LIU ; Daxiong FENG ; Hong ZHANG ; Likun WANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):211-221
Objective:
The precise mechanisms driving intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) development remain unclear, but evidence suggests a significant involvement of gut microbiota (GM) and blood metabolites. We aimed to investigate the causal relationships between GM, IVDD, and blood metabolites using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We utilized the summary statistics of GM from the MiBioGen consortium, 1400 blood metabolites from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) Catalog, and IVDD data from the FinnGen repository, which are sourced from the largest GWAS conducted to date. Employing bidirectional MR analyses, we investigated the causal relationships between GM and IVDD. Additionally, we conducted 2 mediation analyses, 2-step MR and multivariable MR (MVMR), to identify potential mediating metabolites.
Results:
Five bacterial genera were causally associated with IVDD, while IVDD did not show a significant causal effect on GM. In the 2-step MR analysis, Eubacteriumfissicatenagroup, RuminococcaceaeUCG003, Lachnoclostridium, and Marvinbryantia genera, along with metabolites X-24949, Pimeloylcarnitine/3-methyladipoylcarnitine (C7-DC), X-24456, histidine, 2-methylserine, Phosphocholine, and N-delta-acetylornithine, were all significantly associated with IVDD (all p < 0.05). MVMR analysis revealed that the associations between Eubacteriumfissicatenagroup genus and IVDD were mediated by X-24949 (8.1%, p = 0.024); Lachnoclostridium genus and IVDD were mediated by histidine (18.1%, p = 0.013); and RuminococcaceaeUCG003 genus and IVDD were mediated by C7-DC (-7.5%, p = 0.041).
Conclusion
The present MR study offers evidence supporting the causal relationships between several specific GM taxa and IVDD, as well as identifying potential mediating metabolites.
3.Dissecting Causal Relationships Between Gut Microbiota, 1400 Blood Metabolites, and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Yuxi LIU ; Daxiong FENG ; Hong ZHANG ; Likun WANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):211-221
Objective:
The precise mechanisms driving intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) development remain unclear, but evidence suggests a significant involvement of gut microbiota (GM) and blood metabolites. We aimed to investigate the causal relationships between GM, IVDD, and blood metabolites using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We utilized the summary statistics of GM from the MiBioGen consortium, 1400 blood metabolites from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) Catalog, and IVDD data from the FinnGen repository, which are sourced from the largest GWAS conducted to date. Employing bidirectional MR analyses, we investigated the causal relationships between GM and IVDD. Additionally, we conducted 2 mediation analyses, 2-step MR and multivariable MR (MVMR), to identify potential mediating metabolites.
Results:
Five bacterial genera were causally associated with IVDD, while IVDD did not show a significant causal effect on GM. In the 2-step MR analysis, Eubacteriumfissicatenagroup, RuminococcaceaeUCG003, Lachnoclostridium, and Marvinbryantia genera, along with metabolites X-24949, Pimeloylcarnitine/3-methyladipoylcarnitine (C7-DC), X-24456, histidine, 2-methylserine, Phosphocholine, and N-delta-acetylornithine, were all significantly associated with IVDD (all p < 0.05). MVMR analysis revealed that the associations between Eubacteriumfissicatenagroup genus and IVDD were mediated by X-24949 (8.1%, p = 0.024); Lachnoclostridium genus and IVDD were mediated by histidine (18.1%, p = 0.013); and RuminococcaceaeUCG003 genus and IVDD were mediated by C7-DC (-7.5%, p = 0.041).
Conclusion
The present MR study offers evidence supporting the causal relationships between several specific GM taxa and IVDD, as well as identifying potential mediating metabolites.
4.Dissecting Causal Relationships Between Gut Microbiota, 1400 Blood Metabolites, and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Yuxi LIU ; Daxiong FENG ; Hong ZHANG ; Likun WANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):211-221
Objective:
The precise mechanisms driving intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) development remain unclear, but evidence suggests a significant involvement of gut microbiota (GM) and blood metabolites. We aimed to investigate the causal relationships between GM, IVDD, and blood metabolites using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We utilized the summary statistics of GM from the MiBioGen consortium, 1400 blood metabolites from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) Catalog, and IVDD data from the FinnGen repository, which are sourced from the largest GWAS conducted to date. Employing bidirectional MR analyses, we investigated the causal relationships between GM and IVDD. Additionally, we conducted 2 mediation analyses, 2-step MR and multivariable MR (MVMR), to identify potential mediating metabolites.
Results:
Five bacterial genera were causally associated with IVDD, while IVDD did not show a significant causal effect on GM. In the 2-step MR analysis, Eubacteriumfissicatenagroup, RuminococcaceaeUCG003, Lachnoclostridium, and Marvinbryantia genera, along with metabolites X-24949, Pimeloylcarnitine/3-methyladipoylcarnitine (C7-DC), X-24456, histidine, 2-methylserine, Phosphocholine, and N-delta-acetylornithine, were all significantly associated with IVDD (all p < 0.05). MVMR analysis revealed that the associations between Eubacteriumfissicatenagroup genus and IVDD were mediated by X-24949 (8.1%, p = 0.024); Lachnoclostridium genus and IVDD were mediated by histidine (18.1%, p = 0.013); and RuminococcaceaeUCG003 genus and IVDD were mediated by C7-DC (-7.5%, p = 0.041).
Conclusion
The present MR study offers evidence supporting the causal relationships between several specific GM taxa and IVDD, as well as identifying potential mediating metabolites.
5.Research on the physical anatomical structure of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint
Chunlin WANG ; Zhaoyu SHU ; Shuai ZHANG ; Quan HAN ; Peigang FANG ; Hengtao QI ; Tiezheng WANG ; Ziyu KANG ; Wenxu ZHANG ; Linjiang WANG ; Qiang WANG ; Likun DONG ; Tao WANG ; Zengtao WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(7):992-999
Objective To investigate the anatomical structure and surface location of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint.Methods Firstly,the anatomical localization descriptions of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint from classical medical literature were reviewed and summarized.A total of 21 participants were recruited from Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January to March 2025.A Cartesian coordinate system was established over the Lieque(LU7)region on the right forearm.Following standardized manual pressure stimulation,the coordinates of the participant′s reported acupoint sensations were recorded.Based on surface pressure mapping result,10 participants were arbitrarily selected for acupuncture intervention.Upon elicitation of acupoint sensation,the ultrasound imaging was used for real-time visualization of anatomical spatial relationships between the needle tip and distal radial osseous landmarks.Five red latex-perfused adult upper limb specimens were selected for microdissection of the Lieque(LU7)regions pre-localized via ultrasonography,achieving definitive structural characterization of its anatomical strata.Another 10 participants were arbitrarily selected to find the physical structure of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint using ultrasound,and the similarities and differences of acupoint sensation responses were verified using acupuncture needle insertions into both the demarcated zone and peripheral tissues.Results The descriptions of the localization of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint in ancient books can be summarized as"one and a half cun above the wrist side"longitudinally,and"at the intersection head,between two tendons and two bones in the hollow"transversely.During surface pressure application,the sites of the participant′s elicited acupoint sensation were anatomically concentrated in the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge,specifically at the transitional interface between the extensor pollicis brevis tendon and scaphoid bone.During acupuncture-induced acupoint sensation,ultrasound imaging demonstrated that the location of the needle tip was located within the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge,accompanied by arterial hemodynamic perfusion signals into adjacent osseous interfaces.Microdissection findings revealed perforating branches of the radial artery traversing the cortical bone interface within the Lieque(LU7)acupoint region.Acupuncture stimulation at the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge elicited consistent acupoint sensations in all 10 participants,and the acupoint sensations differed from those of other surrounding tissues.Conclusion The anatomical structure of Lieque(LU7)acupoint is located within the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge,characterized by the presence of"hilus of bone"structure.
6.Update of molecular pathology in cartilage tumors
Yanli LUO ; Likun ZHANG ; Zhiyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(6):562-567
Cartilage tumors are a group of mesenchymal neoplasms characterized by tumor cells that produce cartilage matrix.The molecular pathology of cartilage tumors, as outlined in the 5th edition WHO classification, has been significantly updated.Key updates include: isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 mutations in enchondoma and chondrosarcoma, H3F3B mutations in chondroblastoma, NCOA2 rearrangements in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and GRM1 gene fusion and promoter replacement are associated with chondromyxoid fibroma, etc.Since these molecular abnormalities serve as specific diagnostic and differential diagnostic markers, this article focuses on recent advances in the molecular characterization of cartilage tumors.
7.Clinicopathological characteristics and SDHB phenotype of 30 cases of paragangli-oma with literature review
Likun ZHANG ; Shuyi LIU ; Chunyan CHEN ; Yi WANG ; Qianqian WANG ; Keyang SUN ; Jie CHEN ; Zhiyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(1):31-36
Purpose To summarize the clinicopathological features of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma(PPGL)and discuss the potential correlation between SDHB immunophenotype and prognosis in PPGLs.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 samples of PPGL along with their corresponding clinicopathological informa-tion,SDHB immunophenotype characteristics,and the risk of recurrence and metastasis.Results The study included 20 extra-adrenal paragangliomas and 10 pheochromocytoma cases.The male-to-female ratio was 13∶17,with a mean age of 56(range from 21 to 79).Four cases recurred,one case resulted in death and five cases failed to follow-up.All recurrent or fatal cases were paraganglioma patients.Among the 30 cases,3 had multiple nodular lesions,and the re-maining cases were single nodule.The neck was the most frequent site for paraganglioma(6/20),followed by retroper-itoneum(5/20).Histologically,the tumors displayed a variable"zellballen"architecture with a highly vascularized stroma.The chief cells had abundant pale eosinophilic cytoplasm and slightly to moderately atypical nuclei,and pe-ripherally located sustentacular cells.Positive immunoreactivity with markers of neuroendocrine cells,including Syn,CgA,and GATA3,was found in tumor chief cells,which were nonreactive for CK.The sustentacular cells exhibited positive immunoreactivity for the S-100 protein.SDHB deficiency was demonstrated in 12 of 30 cases,with only one case being pheochromocytoma.The recurrence rate in SDHB-deficient group was higher than that in the positive group(33.3%vs 6.7%).Only one case of paraganglioma developed distant metastasis and death.Conclusion SDHB de-ficiency was predominantly observed in paragangliomas and serverd as an indipentent factor for metastatic risk in PPGLs.It was closely associated with younger age at onset,invasiveness,extra-adrenal tumorgenesis,and a high rate of tumor recurrence.
8.Characteristics of gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma: a clinicopathological and molecular analysis
Jie WANG ; Lulu SHEN ; Xin ZHANG ; Hongxia LU ; Yi JIA ; Jing LIU ; Peng BU ; Likun ZAN
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(7):748-754
Objective:To investigate the clinical, pathological, and molecular biological characteristics of gastric hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAS) in order to provide reference for clinical treatment.Methods:Thirty-two patients diagnosed with hepatoid adenocarcinoma after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Shanxi Cancer Hospital were included from January 2019 to December 2021. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods were used to analyze immune markers and molecular characteristics in the pathological tissues from 32 patients with HAS. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier method were used to analyze the prognostic factors of overall survival and disease-free survival.Results:Among the 32 patients with HAS, 26 were male, 6 were female; aged 28-77 years, with an median age 62.0 (53.8, 67.2) years. Fifteen cases of HAS were located in the cardia, 10 cases in the antrum, and 7 cases in the body of the stomach. The maximum diameter of the mass was 3-10 cm, and mainly ulcerative in gross. The immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization results showed that the positive rates of AFP, SALLA4, and Glypican-3 were 68.8% (22/32), 68.8% (22/32), 78.1% (25/32), respectively; Seven patients had microsatellite status of dMMR. Two cases of HER2 gene amplification and 2 cases of EB virus positivity. The NGS results showed that HAS was often accompanied by multiple gene mutations, with 23 cases having ≥ 2 gene mutations and 6 cases having ≥10 gene mutations. The TP53 gene had the highest mutation frequency; 4 cases had genetic structural variations; 28 cases had copy number variation. In addition, there were 7 cases of MSI-H and 9 cases of TMB-H. Follow-up results showed that 12 cases died, 9 cases developed metastasis, and the shortest survival time was 5 months.Conclusions:Gastric HAS is a type of tumor with high invasiveness and poor prognosis. The combined detection of AFP, SALLA4 and Glypican-3 can improve the diagnostic rate of tumors. dMMR/MSI-H and TMB-H patients in HAS are significantly higher than those in ordinary gastric cancer, and the high frequency mutation genes in HAS are often accompanied by multiple potential therapeutic targets. Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy and targeted therapy are expected to become the treatment direction of HAS.
9.Characteristics of non-small cell lung carcinoma with trophoblastic differentiation in males: a clinicopathological analysis of 16 cases
Shengnan ZHAO ; Chunyan WU ; Likun HOU ; Huikang XIE ; Wei WU ; Wei ZHANG ; Liping ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(5):482-487
Objective:To investigate the clinical pathological features, immunophenotypes, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with trophoblastic differentiation in males, and to improve the understanding of this rare disease.Methods:The clinical and pathological features of 16 NSCLC with trophoblastic differentiation in males diagnosed in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Relevant literature was reviewed.Results:All 16 patients were male, with an onset median age of 66.5 (56.8, 68.8) years. They had no known personal history of cancer. Among the 8 resected NSCLC with trophoblastic differentiation, 3 showed concurrent lung adenocarcinoma, and 1 showed concurrent lung squamous cell carcinoma. Among the 10 patients who underwent serum β human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) testing after the surgery or biopsy, 7 had significantly increased β-HCG. On gross examination, the tumors were hemorrhagic and necrotic, resembling a hematoma, with a medium texture, clear boundaries and no capsules. At low magnification, tumor cells were arranged in a nested or solid pattern. Those cells often showed massive bleeding, necrosis, and vascular infiltration. They were composed of two types of cells, namely cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells. At high magnification, the tumor cells showed large nuclei and hyperchromatia. They also had rich purple blue to bichromatic cytoplasm, eosinophilic nucleoli, and sometimes bizarre nuclei. The syncytiotrophoblast cells expressed β-HCG, CKpan, GATA3, CD10, and SALL4. Fourteen patients were followed up for 1-37 months. Two of them died, while three showed distant metastasis.Conclusions:NSCLC with trophoblastic differentiation in males is a rare and highly malignant tumor, poorly understood with difficulty in diagnosis. It requires comprehensive histological analysis in combination with clinical and imaging studies. Properly diagnosing this disease relies on recognition of its histopathological characteristics, including large areas of bleeding and necrosis, large and peculiar syncytial trophoblast cells, and varying degrees of β-HCG expression. It seems that β-HCG expression is very valuable for diagnosing this rare tumor.
10.Research on the physical anatomical structure of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint
Chunlin WANG ; Zhaoyu SHU ; Shuai ZHANG ; Quan HAN ; Peigang FANG ; Hengtao QI ; Tiezheng WANG ; Ziyu KANG ; Wenxu ZHANG ; Linjiang WANG ; Qiang WANG ; Likun DONG ; Tao WANG ; Zengtao WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(7):992-999
Objective To investigate the anatomical structure and surface location of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint.Methods Firstly,the anatomical localization descriptions of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint from classical medical literature were reviewed and summarized.A total of 21 participants were recruited from Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January to March 2025.A Cartesian coordinate system was established over the Lieque(LU7)region on the right forearm.Following standardized manual pressure stimulation,the coordinates of the participant′s reported acupoint sensations were recorded.Based on surface pressure mapping result,10 participants were arbitrarily selected for acupuncture intervention.Upon elicitation of acupoint sensation,the ultrasound imaging was used for real-time visualization of anatomical spatial relationships between the needle tip and distal radial osseous landmarks.Five red latex-perfused adult upper limb specimens were selected for microdissection of the Lieque(LU7)regions pre-localized via ultrasonography,achieving definitive structural characterization of its anatomical strata.Another 10 participants were arbitrarily selected to find the physical structure of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint using ultrasound,and the similarities and differences of acupoint sensation responses were verified using acupuncture needle insertions into both the demarcated zone and peripheral tissues.Results The descriptions of the localization of the Lieque(LU7)acupoint in ancient books can be summarized as"one and a half cun above the wrist side"longitudinally,and"at the intersection head,between two tendons and two bones in the hollow"transversely.During surface pressure application,the sites of the participant′s elicited acupoint sensation were anatomically concentrated in the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge,specifically at the transitional interface between the extensor pollicis brevis tendon and scaphoid bone.During acupuncture-induced acupoint sensation,ultrasound imaging demonstrated that the location of the needle tip was located within the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge,accompanied by arterial hemodynamic perfusion signals into adjacent osseous interfaces.Microdissection findings revealed perforating branches of the radial artery traversing the cortical bone interface within the Lieque(LU7)acupoint region.Acupuncture stimulation at the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge elicited consistent acupoint sensations in all 10 participants,and the acupoint sensations differed from those of other surrounding tissues.Conclusion The anatomical structure of Lieque(LU7)acupoint is located within the proximal depression adjacent to the radiopalmar ridge,characterized by the presence of"hilus of bone"structure.

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