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.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors associated with future exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have no history of exacerbation in the past year.Methods:COPD patients with no exacerbation history in the past year, registered in the RealDTC study from January 2018 to December 2023, were enrolled. Demographic data, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea questionnaire scores, 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), Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, GOLD groups, and inhaled medication regimens were collected. All patients were followed up for one year, and the number of exacerbations was recorded. Patients were divided into an exacerbation group and a non-exacerbation group based on the occurrence of exacerbations during the follow-up period. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors for exacerbations in COPD patients. Results:A total of 2 901 COPD patients were included, among which 633 patients (21.8%) experienced exacerbations during the follow-up period. Compared with the non-exacerbation group, patients in the exacerbation group were older, with higher CAT and mMRC scores, lower body mass index (BMI), FEV 1%pred, and FEV 1/FVC. The proportions of patients with high school education or above and those using long-acting β 2-agonist (LABA) + long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) medications were also lower (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.010, 95% CI: 1.000-1.021), CAT score ≥20 ( OR=1.415, 95% CI: 1.074-1.865), education level of junior high school or below ( OR=1.243, 95% CI: 1.003-1.540), LABA + LAMA inhalation ( OR=0.605, 95% CI: 0.432-0.848), and BMI ( OR=0.969, 95% CI: 0.943-0.995) were independent risk factors for future exacerbations in COPD patients with no exacerbation history in the past year (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The risk of future exacerbations remains high in COPD patients with no exacerbation history in the past year. High CAT scores, low education levels, and low BMI are associated with future exacerbations. Clinicians should pay close attention to the management of such patients and implement appropriate interventions.

Objective To develop a deep learning model based on fundus retinal images to improve the detection rate of mild cognitive impairment(MCI)in patients with coronary heart disease,achieve early intervention and improve prognosis.Methods The study was a single-center cross-sectional study that retrospectively included patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease(CHD)by coronary angiography(≥50％ stenosis of at least one coronary vessel)from Beijing Anzhen Hospital between November 2021 and December 2022.The whole data set was randomly divided into the training set and the testing set according to the ratio of 8∶2 for model development.After that,the patient data of the same center from January 2023 to April 2023 were included in the time verification method to verify the model.The diagnostic criteria for MCI were MMSE＜27 or MoCA＜26.Four kinds of convolutional neural network(CNN)architectures were used to train fundus images,and a comprehensive vision model of MCI detection was established through model integration.The area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity and specificity of the receiver operating curve(ROC)were used to evaluate the performance of the AI model.Results We collected 5 880 eligible fundus images from 3 368 CHD patients.Based on the results of the MMSE scale,the algorithm was labeled,including 2 898 males and 527 MCI patients.The AUC of the deep learning model in the test group is 0.733(95％CI 0.688-0.778),and the sensitivity of the algorithm in the test group is 0.577(95％CI 0.528-0.625)by using the operating point with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity.With a specificity of 0.758(95％CI 0.714-0.802),corresponding to a validated AUC of 0.710(95％CI 0.601-0.818).Based on the results of the MoCA scale,the algorithm labels 2 437 males and 1 626 MCI patients.The AUC of the deep learning model in the test group was 0.702(95％CI 0.671-0.733).The operating point with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity was selected,and the sensitivity of the algorithm was 0.749(95％CI 0.719-0.778)and the specificity was 0.561(95％CI 0.527-0.595),corresponding to the AUC value of the verification group was 0.674(95％CI 0.622-0.726).Conclusions The deep learning algorithm model based on fundus images has good diagnostic performance,and may be used as a new non-invasive,convenient and rapid screening method for MCI in CHD population.

Aim To investigate the pharmacological mechanism of Ebselenin(Ebselen,EbSe)in the treat-ment of Escherichia coli(E.coli)infection,which had no significant inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacte-ria,based on previous studies.Methods After EbSe intervention in E.coli infected Raw264.7 cells,the via-bility of Raw264.7 cells was determined by CCK-8 method,the morphology and structure of Raw264.7 cells were observed by electron microscope,and the in-tracellular bacterial load of Raw264.7 cells was calcu-lated by coated plate method.Polarization status of peritoneal macrophages,Raw264.7 intracellular NO and ROS content and intracellular HO-1 expression in Raw264.7 and E.coli acutely infected mice after E.co-li infection by flow cytometry.qPCR was used to detect the expression of related mRNAs in Raw264.7 cells.qPCR was used to detect the intracellular GSH content in Raw264.7 cells by spectrophotometric assay,and the state of cytoskeletal proteins was observed by immuno-fluorescence.Western blot assay was performed to de-tect the intracellular Txnrd1 expression level.Results Microtiter method,CCK-8,and electron microscopy observations showed that EbSe had no effect on the growth of E.coli and Raw264.7 cells in vitro.The re-sults of smear plate counting showed that EbSe reduced the intracellular bacterial load of Raw264.7 in the in-fected group.Flow cytometry results showed that EbSe upregulated the number of M2-type macrophages.The EbSe-treated infected group had reduced intracellular NO and ROS levels and increased GSH levels.The qPCR results showed that the expression of IL-6,IL-1β,and iNOS was decreased,and the expression of HO-1,Txnrd1,and Glut1 was increased in DHB4-in-fected Raw264.7 cells after EbSe treatment.Cytoskel-etal staining showed that the morphology of the EbSe-treated infected cells was similar to that of oxPAPC-in-duced cells.Western blot results showed the expres-sion of Txnrd1 protein in EbSe-treated infected cells in-creased.Conclusion EbSe exerts anti-E.coli acute infection effect by regulating macrophage polarization and inhibiting macrophage excessive inflammatory state.

Meniere's disease represents an idiopathic inner ear disorder characterized by endolymphatic hy-drops.Currently,the research methods for identifying genes associated with this disease mainly involve first-genera-tion sequencing and second-generation sequencing.This article reviews research on the genetic study of Meniere's disease,mainly summarizing the candidate genes with repeated pedigree validation in familial Meniere's disease,as well as those frequently reported in sporadic Meniere's disease.

Fibroblast growth factor,as a critical protein regulating cell growth and differentiation,exhibits aberrant signaling closely associated with various pathological pathologies,including cancer.Among the members of the fibroblast growth factor family,fibroblast growth factor 9(FGF9)has been identified as a critical player in cancer initiation and progression.While numerous studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms of FGF9 individually,comprehensive reviews addressing its impact in cancer remain scarce.This article systematically reviews the functional mechanisms and regulatory networks of FGF9 in cancer,with a focus on its roles in common malignancies such as lung cancer,liver cancer,gastric cancer,colorectal cancer,breast cancer,and ovarian cancer.The aim is to facilitate translational research on FGF9 for targeted cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Numerous c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition(c-MET)inhibitors have been reported as potential anticancer agents.However,most fail to enter clinical trials owing to poor efficacy or drug resistance.To date,the scaffold-based chemical space of small-molecule c-MET inhibitors has not been analyzed.In this study,we constructed the largest c-MET dataset,which included 2,278 molecules with different struc-tures,by inhibiting the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of kinase activity.No significant differences in drug-like properties were observed between active molecules(1,228)and inactive mol-ecules(1,050),including chemical space coverage,physicochemical properties,and absorption,distri-bution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)profiles.The higher chemical diversity of the active molecules was downscaled using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding(t-SNE)high-dimensional data.Further clustering and chemical space networks(CSNs)analyses revealed commonly used scaffolds for c-MET inhibitors,such as M5,M7,and M8.Activity cliffs and structural alerts were used to reveal"dead ends"and"safe bets"for c-MET,as well as dominant structural fragments consisting of pyr-idazinones,triazoles,and pyrazines.Finally,the decision tree model precisely indicated the key structural features required to constitute active c-MET inhibitor molecules,including at least three aromatic het-erocycles,five aromatic nitrogen atoms,and eight nitrogen-oxygen atoms.Overall,our analyses revealed potential structure-activity relationship(SAR)patterns for c-MET inhibitors,which can inform the screening of new compounds and guide future optimization efforts.

AIM To investigate the effects of Wenfei Jiangzhuo Formula on mitochondrial function of Aβ25-35-induced BV-2 cells.METHODS In the establishment of cell model of Alzheimer's disease(AD)using Aβ25-35 on the BV-2 cells,the optimal concentration and time point of Aβ25-35 intervention were determined;and the groups for the intervention of LFHP-1c group(inhibitor)or the serum containing Wenfei Jiangzhuo Formula were set up.The detection of the optimal intervention concentration and time point by CCK-8 assay;the observation of cell migration and apoptosis by Transwell assay and Hoechst 33342 staining;the detection of the positive expressions of PGAM5 and Drp1 by immunofluorescence;and the detection of cellular PGAM5,Drp1,OPA1,and Mfn1/2 mRNA and protein expressions by RT-qPCR and Western blot were conducted.RESULTS The best AD cell model was established by 48 h exposure to 5 μmol/L of Aβ25-35,and most active cell viability was achieved with the 48 h use of serum containing 20％Wenfei Jiangzhuo Formula.Compared with the control group,the model group displayed decreased number of cell migration,more bright blue positive apoptotic cells,increased number of PGAM5 and Drp1 positive cells and their mRNA and protein expressions(P＜0.05);and decreased mRNA and protein expressions of OPA1 and Mfn1/2(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with the medicines shared increased number of cell migration,less bright blue positive apoptotic cells,decreased number of PGAM5 and Drp1 positive cells and their mRNA and protein expressions(P＜0.05);and elevated OPA1 and Mfn1/2 mRNA and protein expressions(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Wenfei Jiangzhuo Formula exerts cerebroprotective effects to improve cognition by reducing cell damage and improving the balance of mitochondrial homeostasis through PGAM5-Drp1 axis in AD model.

Objective To explore the changes of durability properties of reusable surgical gowns when used in dry and wet conditions.Methods Reusable surgical gowns made of single-layer polyester fiber or 3-layer composite material were selected as test samples,and a Martindale abrasion and pilling tester was used as the basic test platform and modified to form fixtures suitable for the wet state environment.The reusable surgical gowns underwent abrasion experiments in wet and dry conditions to observe the changes in their fiber structure,and were subjected to water penetration resistance and swelling strength tests.Results Visually the reusable surgical gowns had few changes of the microscopic textile fiber structure in dry and wet conditions,and the gowns made of single-layer polyster fiber gained advantages over the outer layers of those of 3-layer composite material in abrasion resistance with the same friction cycles.In dry and wet conditions,the hydrostatic pressure values of the gowns of single-layer polyster fiber gradually decreased with the increase of the degree of abrasion,which were always lower than those of the gowns of 3-layer composite material;the swelling strength of the gowns of single-layer polyster fiber was always greater than that of the gowns of 3-layer composite material,which decreased with the deterioration of the wear more significantly than that of the gowns of 3-layer composite material.Conclusion The reusable surgical gowns made of single-layer polyester fiber or 3-layer composite material have few differences in durability and protective properties at the early stages of ablation in dry and wet conditions.The durability of the gowns decreases as the degree of wear increases,while the trend of the decrease is slowing down until the fabric breaks down and completely loses its barrier effect.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):28-33]

Objective:To analyze the risk factors associated with future exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have no history of exacerbation in the past year.Methods:COPD patients with no exacerbation history in the past year, registered in the RealDTC study from January 2018 to December 2023, were enrolled. Demographic data, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea questionnaire scores, 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), Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, GOLD groups, and inhaled medication regimens were collected. All patients were followed up for one year, and the number of exacerbations was recorded. Patients were divided into an exacerbation group and a non-exacerbation group based on the occurrence of exacerbations during the follow-up period. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors for exacerbations in COPD patients. Results:A total of 2 901 COPD patients were included, among which 633 patients (21.8%) experienced exacerbations during the follow-up period. Compared with the non-exacerbation group, patients in the exacerbation group were older, with higher CAT and mMRC scores, lower body mass index (BMI), FEV 1%pred, and FEV 1/FVC. The proportions of patients with high school education or above and those using long-acting β 2-agonist (LABA) + long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) medications were also lower (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.010, 95% CI: 1.000-1.021), CAT score ≥20 ( OR=1.415, 95% CI: 1.074-1.865), education level of junior high school or below ( OR=1.243, 95% CI: 1.003-1.540), LABA + LAMA inhalation ( OR=0.605, 95% CI: 0.432-0.848), and BMI ( OR=0.969, 95% CI: 0.943-0.995) were independent risk factors for future exacerbations in COPD patients with no exacerbation history in the past year (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The risk of future exacerbations remains high in COPD patients with no exacerbation history in the past year. High CAT scores, low education levels, and low BMI are associated with future exacerbations. Clinicians should pay close attention to the management of such patients and implement appropriate interventions.