Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Objective To investigate the effects of Remimazolam combined with Esketamine on cellular immunity,cognitive function,and sleep quality in elderly patients with lung cancer during surgery.Methods A total of 106 elderly lung cancer patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic lobectomy from September 2023 to March 2025 were selected and divided into the control group(n=53)and the research group(n=53)according to random number table method.The control group received Midazolam combined with Esketamine for general anesthesia,while the research group received Remimazolam combined with Esketamine for general anesthesia.The intraoperative and postoperative conditions,hemodynamic parameters[heart rate(HR),mean arterial pressure(MAP)]before anesthesia induction(T0),at tracheal intubation(T1),at 1 min before one-lung ventilation(OLV)(T2),at skin incision(T3),at 1 h after OLV(T4),and immediately after extubation(T5),as well as pain and inflammatory factors[5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),prostaglandin E2(PGE2),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)],cellular immunity[peripheral blood natural killer(NK)cells,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+],the levels of serum interleukin(IL)-2,interferon-γ(IFN-γ),cognitive function[Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)],sleep quality[Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)],and recovery quality[Postoperative Quality of Recovery-15(QoR-15)score]were compared between the two groups of patients.The adverse reactions and complications were also compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in duration of surgery,duration of anesthesia,intraoperative blood loss,and time to spontaneous breathing recovery of patients between the two groups(P>0.05).The total dosage of Sufentanil in the research group was less than that in the control group,and time to postoperative eye opening,duration of recovery room stay and length of postoperative hospitalization were shorter than those in the control group(P<0.05).At T0 and T5,there was no significant difference in HR and MAP between the two groups(P>0.05),and at T1-T4,HR and MAP in the research group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).At the time of recovery,the levels of serum 5-HT,PGE2,hs-CRP,and TNF-α in the research group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and at the time of recovery,the peripheral blood NK cells,CD3+,CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+ratio,serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the research group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).At 1 d after surgery,the MMSE and QoR-15 scores of the research group were higher than those of the control group,while the PSQI score was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions and complications in the research group[5.66%(3/53)and 3.77%(2/53)],was lower than that of the control group[18.87%(10/53)and 15.09%(8/53)](P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of Remimazolam and Esketamine in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy can better maintain intraoperative hemodynamics,stabilize cellular immune function,reduce serum pain and inflammatory factor levels,improve postoperative cognitive function and sleep quality,reduce adverse reactions and complications,and promote postoperative recovery.

Objective To compare the efficacy of artificial intelligence(AI)diagnostic group and artificial reading group in the diagnosis for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Methods From January 2023 to December 2023,80 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and 20 patients without fractures but with nonspecific low back pain were included in the study.According to the patient's computed tomography(CT)image,the AI software diagnosis and physicians of different seniority(one senior physician,one intermediate physician and one junior physician)diagnosis were performed.The diagnostic efficacy of different detection methods was compared.Results The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC)and Kappa value of each group were as follows:AI image interpretation:0.975,0.900,0.975,0.900,0.938,0.875;senior physician:0.950,0.900,0.974,0.818,0.925,0.819;intermediate physician:0.825,0.850,0.957,0.548,0.837,0.560;and junior physician:0.750,0.750,0.923,0.429,0.751,0.390.Conclusion The diagnostic performance of AI was comparable to that of senior physician,and significantly higher than that of intermediate and primary physicians.

Alzheimer's disease(AD)is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that mainly manifests clinically as progressive functional impairments in cognition,memory,and language.With the accelerated transition toward an older population in China,the number of people suffering from AD in China is increasing.The exact pathogenesis of AD remains unclear,with current therapeutic strategies mainly limited to symptomatic treatments.Animal models are important tools for preclinical research,enabling explorations of molecular mechanisms,behavioral functions,and treatment strategies of diseases.Future mechanistic research and drug development of AD should involve the establishment of animal models that are consistent with clinical pathological characteristics.This review summarizes the AD animal models commonly used in research,providing details on the strains,age,modeling method and doses.It also discusses research on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)components and their pharmacodynamic mechanisms in related AD animal models,aiming to provide references for the development of new animal models and in-depth exploration of the specific pharmacological activities,targets,metabolic pathways,and clinical applications of each TCM component.

Cancer stands as a significant global public health challenge, and cancer screening serves as a pivotal strategy for reducing its mortality. Presently, only a limited number of cancer types have appropriate screening methods available. Traditional single-cancer screening approaches are fraught with limitations, including invasiveness, low accuracy, and poor patient compliance. Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) leveraging liquid biopsy technology enables non-invasive and efficient early detection of multiple cancers by analyzing biomarkers such as cell-free DNA, cell-free RNA, proteins, and metabolites in blood and other bodily fluids. This innovative approach substantially broadens the spectrum of detectable cancers and enhances population coverage, showcasing immense potential for improving existing cancer screening strategies. This expert consensus comprehensively reviews the progress of liquid biopsy-based MCED, biomarker selection and detection technologies, the criteria for cancer type selection, research design and clinical utility evaluation, as well as implementation pathways. The overarching goal of this consensus is to offer scientific guidance for further research and the widespread adoption of MCED, thereby facilitating the continuous optimization of cancer screening strategies.

Gallstones are the primary benign disease diagnosed and treated in biliary surgery.With the development of medical technology and the increasing awareness of health among the population,the detection rate of gallstones has been increasing annually,with the majority being asymptomatic or mild cases.Currently,the clinical treatment of gallstones mainly includes observation,conservative,or surgical treatment(laparoscopic cholecystectomy).However,there remains some controversy regarding the clinical management of these patients.For asymptomatic or mild gallstones,the main point of contention in both academic and clinical settings is how to determine the indications for cholecystectomy.This article reviews relevant literature from both domestic and international sources,addressing the controversies surrounding the clinical management of gallstones and the determination of indications for cholecystectomy,and elaborates on these issues from multiple perspectives.

BACKGROUND:One of the main goals after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is to restore normal gait patterns.However,to date,a limited number of studies have examined changes in gait asymmetry after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.OBJECTIVE:To explore asymmetric changes in knee kinematics and dynamics under different stride length conditions.METHODS:Thirty subjects(15 males and 15 females)3 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the single knee were included in this study.Among them,each subject received the walking test with three different stride lengths,a normal stride length and a 30％as well as a 50％increase in the normal stride length.Knee kinematic and kinetic indices were collected by means of an Italian BTS infrared motion capture system and a dynamometer table,where kinematic indices included knee flexion,extension,and adduction angles,and kinetic indices included ground reaction forces,knee flexion moments,knee extension moments,and knee adduction moments.The asymmetry index values of the kinematic and kinetic indices were calculated.A one-way analysis of variance was used to compare the differences in asymmetry of each parameter under different stride length conditions.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the asymmetry indices of normal step length,the indices of knee flexion angle,knee flexion moments,knee adduction moments,knee extension moments,and ground reaction forces were significantly lower when the step length was increased by 30％(P＜0.05);the indices of knee adduction angle,knee flexion angle,knee extension angle,knee adduction moments,knee extension moments,knee flexion moments,and ground reaction forces were significantly lower when the step length was increased by 50％(P＜0.05).(2)When the step length was increased by 50％,the indexes of knee adduction angle,knee extension moments,and ground reaction forces were significantly lower than when the step length was increased by 30％(P＜0.05).(3)These findings suggest that increasing stride length improves gait asymmetry after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction,but an increase of 50％is superior,which in turn relieves the loads placed on the anterior cruciate ligament during walking.Meanwhile,step length can be used as an adjustable variable in gait to prevent and relieve symptoms of pain,improve knee function,and enhance quality of life in patients with post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction injuries in future clinical work.

BACKGROUND:Unilateral knee osteoarthritis patients experience abnormal alterations in lower extremity gait biomechanics,yet few studies have analyzed changes in gait dynamics and muscle activation in knee osteoarthritis patients from the perspective of gait asymmetry.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of unilateral knee osteoarthritis on gait dynamics and muscle activation asymmetry in elderly women.METHODS:Thirty female patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis attending Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Guizhou Hospital from October 2023 to March 2024 were selected as the knee osteoarthritis group,and 30 healthy elderly females without musculoskeletal disorders from the neighboring community were recruited as the control group.The kinetic and muscle activation levels of the subjects in both groups during walking were synchronously collected by a P-6000 force platform and a Free EMG300 surface EMG device.Kinetic parameters included the first and second peak forces of vertical ground reaction force.Muscle activation indexes included normalized root mean square values of rectus femoris,long head of biceps femoris,and lateral gastrocnemius muscle during the braking and pushing phases.Asymmetry index of the kinetic and muscle activation indexes were calculated separately in patients with K-L grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ knee osteoarthritis and controls and compared between groups by independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The difference between the second peak of vertical ground reaction force of both limbs in the knee osteoarthritis group was statistically significant(P＜0.05),as well as the difference between the standardized root mean square of rectus femoris in the braking phase and gastrocnemius and biceps femoris in the pushing phase(P＜0.05).(2)In terms of asymmetry index,the difference between the asymmetry index values of the first peak of vertical ground reaction force between the two groups of subjects was not statistically significant(P＞0.05),while the difference between the second peak asymmetry index values was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The difference in asymmetry index values of standardized root mean square of rectus femoris muscle during the braking phase as well as gastrocnemius and biceps femoris muscles during the pushing phase was statistically significant between the two groups of subjects(P＜0.05).(3)The asymmetry index of the standardized root mean square values of the second peak of vertical ground reaction force,rectus femoris in the braking phase,gastrocnemius in the pushing phase,and biceps femoris in the osteoarthritis group of the knee with K-L classification grade Ⅱand Ⅲ were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05).The asymmetry indices of standardized root mean square values of the second peak of vertical ground reaction force,rectus femoris in the braking phase and biceps femoris in the pushing phase were higher in the osteoarthritis group of the knee with K-L classification Ⅲ than in the osteoarthritis group of the knee with classification Ⅱ(P＜0.05).(4)The asymmetry indices of the second peak of vertical ground reaction,the rectus femoris muscle in the braking phase,and the muscle activation of the biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscles in the pushing phase can be used as an important index for identifying gait asymmetry in the knee osteoarthritis,which is helpful in providing a theoretical basis for the development of rehabilitation treatment programs.It is also worth noting that extra attention should be paid to patients with higher severity of knee osteoarthritis in the clinical monitoring of gait asymmetry.

Objective To investigate the impact of aortic valve calcification on ascending aortic elasticity.Methods A total of 103 patients with aortic valve calcification indicated by coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)(calcification group),and 101 patients without aortic valve calcification(non calcification group)were selected.The calcification group was subdivided into group A,group B,and group C based on the number of calcified leaflets.The original data was automatically reconstructed at 5％R-R intervals throughout the cardiac cycle.Cross-sectional area and diameter of the ascending aorta were measured at 45 mm above the annulus,and four ascending aortic elasticity indicators aortic(％A),aortic distensibility(AD),aortic compliance(AC)and aortic stiffness index(ASI)were calculated.Agatston method was used to calculate the aortic valve calcification score.The effect of aortic valve calcification on the elasticity of the ascending aortic and its correlation were analyzed.Results The％A,AD,and AC of the calcification group were lower than those of the non calcification group,but the ASI was higher than that of the non calcification group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The number of calcified leaflets affected ascending aortic elasticity,with comparisons between groups A and B,the difference was no statistically significant(P＞0.05),groups A and C,and groups B and C,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Calcification score was negatively correlated with％A,AD,and AC,and positively correlated with ASI.Conclusion Aortic valve calcification can affect the elasticity of the ascending aortic,and more than two calcified leaflets have more significant effects on the elasticity of the ascending aortic.