Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite therapeutic advancements over recent decades, the prognosis for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) remains poor. Approximately 2%-4% of mCRC cases exhibit human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification or overexpression, defining a distinct molecular subtype. This HER2-positive status is strongly associated with primary resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies, which are the standard of care for patients with RAS wild-type tumors. Beyond its well-established role in breast and gastric cancers, HER2 has emerged as a pivotal biomarker and actionable therapeutic target in mCRC. However, selecting appropriate treatment strategies remains challenging due to patient heterogeneity and diverse molecular subtypes. This review systematically summarizes the molecular biology, diagnostic strategies, and advances in targeted therapies for HER2-positive mCRC. On the diagnostic front, we discuss the applications of immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection technologies. We highlight discrepancies in diagnostic criteria across key clinical trials—such as HERACLES, DESTINY, and MOUNTAINEER—underscoring the urgent need for standardized, CRC-specific definitions to ensure consistent patient selection and comparability of efficacy data across studies. Although NGS enables comprehensive genomic profiling, its cost-effectiveness relative to traditional methods must be carefully considered. Therapeutically, we summarize clinical trial data for HER2-directed agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as tucatinib and lapatinib, monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan. We review dual-targeting strategies and note recent FDA approvals that represent significant milestones in second-line treatment. Additionally, we explore the potential of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with HER2-targeted therapies to enhance antitumor immunity through mechanisms including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. ADCs enable precise delivery of cytotoxic payloads, reducing off-target toxicity while effectively inhibiting oncogenic pathways. A substantial portion of this review is dedicated to dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance to HER2-targeted therapies—persistent challenges that limit clinical benefit. These mechanisms include reactivation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK, concurrent mutations in genes like KRAS or BRAF, and alterations in HER2 expression that compromise treatment efficacy. For instance, specific HER2 mutations (e.g., L755S) can reduce drug binding affinity, while ctDNA monitoring facilitates early detection of emerging resistance clones during disease progression, thereby enabling timely therapeutic adjustments. Tumor heterogeneity and dynamic interactions with the microenvironment further complicate resistance patterns observed in clinical practice. HER2-targeted therapy represents a new frontier in precision oncology for mCRC, offering renewed hope for improving patient outcomes. Realizing this potential will require continued optimization of diagnostic algorithms and treatment workflows. Future efforts must focus on overcoming resistance, validating liquid biopsy approaches for dynamic monitoring, and establishing unified clinical guidelines. HER2 has become an essential biomarker for stratifying mCRC patients beyond traditional RAS and BRAF status, underscoring the shift from empiric treatment to biomarker-driven precision medicine. International, multidisciplinary collaboration will be critical to validate emerging biomarkers and refine treatment algorithms globally.

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.

ObjectivePost-ischemic acute inflammation and the subsequent persistent dysregulation of the immune microenvironment represent major pathological drivers that aggravate neuronal injury and severely restrict functional recovery following ischemic stroke. Although current reperfusion therapies partially restore blood flow, they fail to effectively modulate the secondary inflammatory cascade and oxidative stress, which remain critical barriers to neurological restoration. To address this challenge, this study aimed to engineer and systematically evaluate a biomimetic nanosystem composed of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-loaded platelet membrane-camouflaged lipid nanoparticles (PLP). This nanosystem was designed to achieve dual lesion-targeted delivery and immune microenvironment remodeling. By verifying its spatiotemporal accumulation, anti-inflammatory activity, and neuroprotective efficacy, we sought to establish an integrated therapeutic strategy that simultaneously enables lesion targeting, immune regulation, and functional recovery after ischemic injury. MethodsThe physicochemical properties of PLP, including hydrodynamic particle size, zeta potential, structural stability, and morphology, were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The preservation of platelet membrane-derived adhesion and immunoregulatory proteins was confirmed by SDS-PAGE through comparative analysis of protein band profiles between PLP and native platelet membranes. The in vitro biological activities of PLP were evaluated using two complementary cellular models. LPS-induced M1-polarized RAW264.7 macrophages were employed to assess inflammatory modulation, while oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced BV2 microglial cells and SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were utilized to investigate neuroinflammatory regulation and neuronal protection. For in vivo validation, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model was established to mimic ischemia-reperfusion injury. The spatiotemporal biodistribution and lesion-targeting capability of the PLP were monitored through live fluorescence imaging. Therapeutic efficacy was comprehensively evaluated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunofluorescence analysis, body weight monitoring, and neurological severity score (NSS) assessment. ResultsPLP nanoparticles displayed a uniform spherical morphology, nanoscale particle size distribution, and stable negative surface charge, indicating favorable colloidal stability and circulation potential. SDS-PAGE results confirmed the effective retention of key platelet membrane proteins associated with endothelial adhesion, immune evasion, and inflammatory regulation, demonstrating the successful biomimetic construction. Optimal therapeutic concentrations were determined in OGD/R-induced BV2 cells, where PLP exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity.In vitro experiments demonstrated that PLP significantly inhibited the polarization of RAW264.7 macrophages toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and markedly reduced neuronal apoptosis under ischemia-reperfusion conditions. In vivo fluorescence imaging revealed that PLP rapidly accumulated in the ischemic brain hemisphere and maintained prolonged retention for up to 7 d, suggesting enhanced lesion-specific targeting and sustained drug release. Compared with control group, PLP treatment significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, attenuated reactive astrogliosis, improved weight recovery, and accelerated neurological functional restoration, as reflected by significantly improved NSS scores. ConclusionThis study establishes a multifunctional biomimetic nanoplatform that integrates platelet membrane-mediated active targeting with the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective properties of TGF-β1. The PLP system enables rapid lesion homing and long-term retention while synergistically regulating the post-stroke inflammatory microenvironment by suppressing pro-inflammatory immune activation, reducing neuronal apoptosis, and limiting excessive astrocyte reactivity. Importantly, this study proposes a conceptually therapeutic paradigm that combines targeted delivery with immune microenvironment remodeling to achieve comprehensive neurovascular protection. These findings provide strong experimental evidence supporting the translational potential of biomimetic nanotherapeutics as next-generation precision interventions for ischemic stroke.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated by fatigue.Methods:COPD patients enrolled in the RealDTC study from June 2023 to March 2024 were included. Demographic data, history of acute exacerbations in the past year, smoking status, biofuel exposure, occupational exposure, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, forced expiratory volume in the first second predicted of percentage (FEV 1%pred), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1)/forced vital capacity (FVC), and comorbidities (bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus) were collected. Fatigue was evaluated using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire, with a score ≤43 defined as fatigue. Patients were divided into fatigue and non-fatigue groups, and multivariate regression analysis was used to screen factors associated with fatigue in COPD patients. Results:A total of 597 COPD patients were included, of which 280(46.9%) had fatigue symptoms. Compared with non-fatigue patients, fatigue patients had lower FEV 1%pred, FEV 1/FVC, and body mass index (BMI), higher CAT and mMRC scores, and a higher proportion of occupational exposure, bronchiectasis, and treatment with long-acting β 2-agonists (LABA)/long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA)/inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that high CAT score ( OR=2.312, 95% CI: 1.366-3.911), high mMRC score ( OR=1.484, 95% CI: 1.053-2.091), occupational exposure ( OR=1.513, 95% CI: 1.082-2.116), comorbid bronchiectasis ( OR=2.452, 95% CI: 1.102-5.457), low BMI ( OR=0.935, 95% CI: 0.891-0.981), and high CAT-energy score ( OR=1.301, 95% CI: 1.149-1.473) were risk factors for fatigue in COPD patients. The CAT-energy score was highly correlated with the FACIT-F score ( r=0.260, P<0.001), and a CAT-energy score ≥2 could preliminarily screen COPD patients with fatigue. Conclusions:COPD patients with comorbid fatigue have a heavy symptom burden, are more likely to have a history of occupational exposure and bronchiectasis, and the CAT-energy score is of great reference value for screening COPD patients with fatigue.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated by anorexia.Methods:This cross-sectional study included patients registered in the RealDTC study from May 2023 to December 2023. Demographic data, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea questionnaire score, Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) score, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), forced expiratory volume in the first second predicted of percentage (FEV 1%pred), FEV 1/forced vital capacity (FVC), Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grade, GOLD group, number of acute exacerbations and hospitalizations in the past year, and score of the Functional Assessment of Anorexia Cachexia Therapy-Anorexia/Cachexia Subscale-12 (FAACT-A/CS-12) were collected. Patients with a FAACT-A/CS-12 score ≤30 were diagnosed as having anorexia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of anorexia in COPD patients. Results:A total of 617 COPD patients were included, of whom 109(17.7%) had anorexia. Compared with non-anorexia patients, COPD patients with anorexia had higher age, CAT, mMRC and CCQ scores, and more acute exacerbations and hospitalizations in the past year, while body mass index, FEV 1, FEV 1%pred and FEV 1/FVC were lower (all P<0.05). The proportions of patients with primary education or below, GOLD 3-4 grade and GOLD E group were higher in COPD patients with anorexia (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that a CAT score of 10-<20 [odds ratio ( OR)=4.017, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.673-59.645], a CAT score of 20-<30 ( OR=9.686, 95% CI: 3.777-24.842), a CAT score of ≥30 ( OR=78.286, 95% CI: 7.654-800.689) and ≥1 hospitalization in the past year ( OR=2.050, 95% CI: 1.292-3.254) were independent risk factors for anorexia in COPD patients (all P<0.05). Conclusions:COPD patients with anorexia have poor lung function, high symptom burden and high risk of acute exacerbation. Clinicians should pay attention to the management of COPD patients with anorexia and take corresponding intervention measures.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of frailty in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:COPD patients aged ≥65 years registered in the RealDTC study from June 2023 to March 2024 were included. Demographic data, history of exacerbations in the past year, exposure to risk factors (smoking, biomass fuel exposure, occupational exposure), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, forced expiratory volume in the first second predicted of percentage (FEV 1%pred), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) to forced vital capacity (FVC), and comorbidities (bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus) were collected. According to Fried′s frailty phenotype, patients meeting any 3 of the 5 criteria were defined as frail and divided into a frailty group and a non-frailty group. Multivariate regression analysis was used to screen the related factors of frailty in elderly COPD patients, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) of related factors for frailty assessment. Results:A total of 496 elderly COPD patients were included, of which 144(29.0%) had comorbid frailty. The frailty group had lower mass body index (BMI), FEV 1%pred, and FEV 1/FVC, higher mMRC and CAT scores, more exacerbations and hospitalizations in the past year (all P<0.001), and higher proportions of patients with junior high school education or below, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group E, and GOLD grades 3 and 4 (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that low education level ( OR=2.117, 95% CI: 1.119-4.003), low BMI ( OR=0.927, 95% CI: 0.867-0.991), GOLD grade 4 ( OR=4.251, 95% CI: 1.477-12.235), high CAT score ( OR=1.174, 95% CI: 1.127-1.224), and high mMRC score ( OR=4.578, 95% CI: 3.364-6.231) were independent risk factors for frailty in elderly COPD patients (all P<0.05). The ROC curve showed that CAT score (AUC=0.78) and mMRC score (AUC=0.81) had the highest AUC for assessing frailty in elderly COPD patients. Conclusions:Elderly COPD patients with frailty have lower BMI, worse lung function, and more severe symptom burden. The results provide clinical reference for the management of frail elderly COPD patients.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features，diagnosis，treatment and prognosis of children with juvenile dermatomyositis(JDM) complicated with interstitial lung disease(ILD).Methods:The clinical manifestations，laboratory examination，treatment and prognosis of 7 children with JDM-ILD who were hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology and Immunology，Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University from December 2019 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 7 cases，4 were male and 3 were female.The age of onset was 1.8-10.0 years（mean age 5.6 years），the occurrence time of pulmonary involvement was 0.6-4.0 months（mean time 2.0 months），and the follow-up time was 1.8-4.0 years.All the 7 cases had typical rash and different degrees of myasthenia.Four cases were accompanied by skin mucosal ulceration and 4 cases had fever during the course of the disease.Of the 7 cases，2 were accompanied by macrophage activation syndrome，and 1 of them had nervous system involvement，including convulsion and coma.All the children had increased creatase of varying degrees，and only 1 case had increased creatine kinase.Five cases had positive anti- melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5（MDA5）antibody and 4 cases had positive anti- Ro-52 antibody.Interleukin-6 was increased in 5 cases，interferon-γ was increased in 3 cases，and tumor necrosis factor-α was increased in 2 cases.Electromyography showed myogenic injury，MRI showed different degrees of myositis.Chest high-resolution CT showed ground glass shadow，rope shadow，consolidation shadow，pleural thickening，mesh shadow，etc.Four cases had limited lung function or mixed ventilation function restriction.All 7 cases received methylprednisolone pulse treatment combined with immunosuppressant treatment，and 5 cases received immunoglobulin treatment.Pulmonary lesions improved in 5 cases and partially improved in 1 case.One case died due to macrophage activation and multiple organ failure.Conclusion:The respiratory symptoms of JDM-ILD are obscure，and the incidence of ILD is high in children with anti-MDA5 antibody positive.High-resolution CT contributes to early diagnosis.Reasonable early application of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants could improve the survival rate and quality of life.

The etiology of preeclampsia (PE) remains poorly understood. Recent years have seen deepening research into epigenetics, where acetylation modifications of histones have garnered significant attention for their roles in various diseases, particularly in tumor pathologies. Several studies have indicated a crucial role for histone 3 acetylation in PE and hypoxia. Additionally, abnormal expressions of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and/or histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of PE. This review aims to analyze the changes in histone 3 in PE, as well as the mechanisms underlying HDACs and HATs and their upstream or downstream target genes in the disease to elucidate the role of histone acetylation modifications in PE. It also seeks to uncover the potential clinical value of histone acetylation modulatory inhibitors, particularly HDAC inhibitors, in PE.

Medical ultrasound technology is widely used for diagnosis and therapy in clinical practice.Ultrasound probes,which are directly contact with patients,pose a potential risk of pathogen transmission.This expert consen-sus was developed by a multidisciplinary team based on international guidelines,standards in China,and the results of a national survey,aiming to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infection through standardizing reprocessing of medical ultrasound probes,and formulating consensus recommendations with the Delphi method.The consensus clarifies the reprocessing principles for three types of ultrasound probes of different infection risks:external-use ul-trasound probes,interventional percutaneous ultrasound probes,and internal-use ultrasound probes,puts forward systematic suggestions on the reprocessing standards and disinfection levels of ultrasound probe isolation covers and coupling agents,the reprocessing procedures and methods of ultrasound probes,as well as architectural layout and management of reprocessing,so as to provide a scientific prevention and control framework for ensuring ultrasound diagnosis and therapy safety.

Purpose To analyze the expression of SNAP23 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)and its influence on invasion of ESCC cells.Methods A total of 41 cases of ESCC and paired normal adjacent tissue(NAT)were collected.The expression and localization of SNAP23 were detected by immunohistochemical EnVision method.The differences of SNAP23 expression levels between ESCC tissues and NAT tissues were compared to analyze the relationship between SNAP23 expression and clinicopathological characteristics.The expression level of SNAP23 in human immortalized esophageal epithelial cells SHEE and ESCC cell lines TE-1,TE-13 and KYSE150 were detected by Western blot.Lentiviral vector transfection technique was used to construct stable transfection cell lines with knock-down and overexpression of SNAP23 gene.The effect of SNAP23 on invasion of ESCC cell line TE-13 was evaluated by cell invasion experiment.Results The expression of SNAP23 in ESCC was significantly higher(53.7％,22/41)than that in the NAT group(19.5％,8/41),the difference was statistically significant(x2=10.303,P＜0.01).The expression level of SNAP23 in ESCC tissues was significantly correlated with maximum tumor diameter(x2=4.193,P＜0.05)and invasion depth(x2=7.264,P＜0.05),but was not correlated with patient gender,age,tumor site,tumor type,pathologic grade,vascular embolus,nerve invasion and lymph node metastasis(P＞0.05).Compared with human immortalized esophageal epithelial cells SHEE,SNAP23 was highly expressed in ESCC cell lines(P＜0.000 1).Compared with the sh-NT group,the invasion of ESCC cell line TE-13 was inhibited when SNAP23 expression was knocked down(P＜0.000 1);compared with the Vector group,the invasion of ESCC cell line TE-13 was enhanced after overexpression of SNAP23(P＜0.000 1).Conclusion SNAP23 is highly expressed in ESCC tis-sue and cell lines,and its expression level in ESCC tissues is positively correlated with tumor maximum diameter and invasion depth;SNAP23 promotes the invasion of ESCC cells.