Achondroplasia (ACH) is a common inherited skeletal dysplasia (inherited dwarfism) that compromises quality of life across the lifespan. In 2021, vosoritide became the first approved precision therapy for ACH and is now available in more than 40 countries. Compared with prior symptomatic measures, vosoritide has demonstrated favorable efficacy and a reassuring safety profile. Nevertheless, existing international ACH guidelines largely emphasize complication management and symptomatic care, and there is no unified consensus on pharmacologic therapy. To address this gap, an international expert group developed the International Consensus Guidelines for the Implementation and Monitoring of Vosoritide Therapy in Patients with Achondroplasia providing systematic recommendations that span the continuum of care - from initial patient contact and pre-treatment assessment to medication counseling, injection training, and long-term outcome monitoring. These recommendations complement and refine current management and nursing protocols for individuals with ACH and offer practical guidance for clinicians across diverse regions. This article highlights key elements of the guideline to provide evidence-based support and clinical direction for healthcare professionals in China treating children with ACH using vosoritide.
Humans ; Achondroplasia/drug therapy* ; Consensus ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Child

Objective To investigatethe relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and clinicopathological characteristics, p53 expression, and survival of Chinese patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 3882 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, 970 matched patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 970 matched patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma were included to compare the incidence of GERD symptoms. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were divided into two groups according to the presence and absence of GERD symptoms. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics and p53 expression between the two groups were compared by chi-square test, and the differences in survival between the two groups were compared by landmark analysis. Results The incidence of GERD symptoms increased successively in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, the proportions of male, less than 65 years old, lower thoracic tumors, tumors without squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiation, early tumors (stage 0-I), and p53-positive tumors in the group with GERD symptoms were higher than those in the group without GERD symptoms; moreover, the long-term survival (≥15 years) was better. Conclusion GERD symptom is an important clinical sign of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is closely related to specific clinicopathological characteristics, p53 overexpression, and good long-term prognosis.

Objective To propose a whole-life cycle management model for valvular heart disease (VHD), systematically elucidate its underlying logic and implementation pathways, and concurrently review and analyze its preliminary application outcomes. Methods Since 2020, West China Hospital of Sichuan University has established a management system encompassing "assessment-decision-intervention-follow-up", including: (1) a risk-stratified, tiered management pathway; (2) six core functions ("promotion, screening, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation") coordinated by disease-specific managers; (3) an intelligent decision support information platform; and (4) a collaborative network of multidisciplinary teams and regional academic alliances. To evaluate the effectiveness of this management model, we retrospectively included three cohorts: (1) the population screened by echocardiography from 2020 to 2024, analyzing the detection rate of aortic valve disease and risk stratification; (2) patients enrolled in the whole-life cycle management from April 2021 to December 2024, assessing follow-up outcomes, hospital satisfaction, and changes in quality of life; (3) patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) from January 2022 to January 2024, evaluating the one-year all-cause mortality rate, perioperative complications, and improvements in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Results Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 583 874 individuals underwent echocardiographic screening. A total of 48 089 patients with aortic valve disease were identified, including 3 401 (7.1%) high-risk patients, 18 657 (38.8%) moderate-risk patients, and 26 031 (54.1%) low-risk patients. Among them, 2 417 patients were enrolled in whole-life cycle management. Patient satisfaction scores showed a yearly increase, rising from 73.89 points before 2020 to 93.74 points in 2024. The 1-year mortality rate in the TAVR cohort decreased to 5.3%, significantly lower than the 8.2% observed under early standard management between 2014 and 2019 (P<0.01). Conclusion Through process optimization and resource integration, the VHD whole-life cycle management model has demonstrated significant effectiveness in standardizing diagnostic and follow-up procedures, enhancing patient satisfaction and quality of life, and reducing mortality. These outcomes highlight its practical value for broader implementation in China.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged occupational noise exposure poses potential health risks, but its impact on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and methylation patterns remains unclear. METHOD: We recruited 306 factory workers, using average binaural high-frequency hearing thresholds from pure-tone audiometry to assess noise exposure. MtDNA damage was evaluated through mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and lesion rate, and mtDNA methylation changes were identified via pyrophosphate sequencing. RESULTS: There was a reduction in MT-RNR1 methylation of 4.52% (95% CI: -7.43% to -1.62%) among workers with abnormal hearing, whereas changes in the D-loop region were not statistically significant (β = -2.06%, 95% CI: -4.44% to 0.31%). MtDNAcn showed a negative association with MT-RNR1 methylation (β = -0.95, 95% CI: -1.23 to -0.66), while no significant link was found with D-loop methylation (β = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.58 to 0.48). Mediation analysis indicated a significant increase in mtDNAcn by 10.75 units (95% CI: 3.00 to 21.26) in those with abnormal hearing, with MT-RNR1 methylation mediating 35.9% of this effect. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that occupational noise exposure may influence compensatory increases in mtDNA content through altered MT-RNR1 methylation.
Humans ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; DNA Methylation ; Male ; Adult ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Female

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the antioxidative mechanism of snake venom-derived protein C activator (PCA) in mitigating vascular endothelial cell injury. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in DMEM containing 1.0 g/L D-glucose and exposed to hypoxia (1% O₂) for 6 h followed by reoxygenation for 2 h to establish a cell model of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). The cell model was treated with 2 μg/mL PCA alone or in combination with 2-ME2 (a HIF-1α inhibitor) or DMOG (a HIF-1α stabilizer), and intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein expression levels of HIF-1α, BNIP3, and Beclin-1 were detected using DCFH-DA fluorescence probe, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. The OGD/R cell model was transfected with a BNIP3-specific siRNA or a scrambled control sequence prior to PCA treatment, and the changes in protein expressions of HIF-1α, BNIP3 and Beclin-1 and intracellular ROS production were examined. RESULTS: In the OGD/R cell model, PCA treatment significantly upregulated HIF-1α, BNIP3 and Beclin-1 expressions and reduced ROS production. The effects of PCA were obviously attenuated by co-treatment with 2-ME2 but augmented by treatment with DMOG (a HIF-1α stabilizer). In the cell model with BNIP3 knockdown, PCA treatment increased BNIP3 expression and decreased ROS production without causing significant changes in HIF-1α expression. Compared with HUVECs with PCA treatment only, the cells with BNIP3 knockdown prior to PCA treatment showed significantly lower Beclin-1 expression and higher ROS levels. CONCLUSIONS Snake venom PCA alleviates OGD/R-induced endothelial cell injury by upregulating HIF-1α/BNIP3 signaling to suppress ROS generation, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent against oxidative stress in vascular pathologies.
Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Snake Venoms/chemistry* ; Beclin-1

This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of vanillic acid(VA) against cardiac fibrosis(CF) induced by isoproterenol(ISO) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, VA group(100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc), ISO + VA group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO + dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) inhibitor(Mdivi-1) group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip), and ISO + VA + Mdivi-1 group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip). The treatment groups received the corresponding medications once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the day after the last administration, cardiac functions were evaluated, and serum and cardiac tissue samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), cardiac troponin I(cTnI), reactive oxygen species(ROS), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, as well as cardiac tissue catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) activities, and cytochrome C levels in mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, uranium acetate and lead citrate staining were used to observe morphological and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in the cardiac tissues, and myocardial injury area and collagen volume fraction were calculated. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the relative content and M1/M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage polarization markers [CD86, CD206, arginase 1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)], CF markers [type Ⅰ collagen(Coll Ⅰ), Coll Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)], and cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α) in cardiac tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, α-SMA, Drp1, p-Drp1, voltage-dependent anion channel(VDAC), hexokinase 1(HK1), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D(GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D(GSDMD-N), IL-1β, IL-18, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-xl(Bcl-xl), Bcl-2-associated death promoter(Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1), pro-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1), and cleaved-PARP-1 in cardiac tissues. The results showed that VA significantly improved cardiac function in mice with CF, reduced myocardial injury area and cardiac index, and decreased serum levels of AST, CK-MB, cTnI, LDH, ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. VA also lowered MDA and MPO levels, mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and mRNA and protein expressions of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA in cardiac tissues, and increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cardiac tissue levels of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC, and mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, VA ameliorated cardiac pathological damage, inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition, reduced collagen volume fraction, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. VA decreased the ratio of F4/80~+CD86~+ M1 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD86 and iNOS in cardiac tissue, and increased the ratio of F4/80~+CD206~+ M2 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD206 and Arg-1. VA also reduced protein expressions of p-Drp1, VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, IL-18, Bad, Bax, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP-1, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C, and increased the expressions of HK1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9 proteins, as well as the Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bad ratios and mitochondrial cytochrome C content. These results indicate that VA has a significant ameliorative effect on ISO-induced CF in mice, alleviates ISO-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways, suppression of myocardial cell inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, reduction of collagen volume fraction and CollⅠ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA expressions, thus mitigating CF.
Animals ; Isoproterenol/adverse effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Vanillic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Dynamins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Humans

To address the challenges of capturing micro-strains in detecting esophageal motility disorders and the limitations of existing high-resolution manometry and functional intraluminal imaging probes in directly measuring esophageal tissue electrical impedance, this study proposes a novel flexible balloon sensor structure that integrates a piezoelectric film assembly with a distributed impedance electrode array. Using the electrical analysis module in the finite element analysis (FEA) software, simulations of the forward problem for esophageal impedance detection were conducted to optimize the excitation source parameters, and a physical prototype was fabricated. Under a relative excitation mode with a voltage sensitivity of 2.059%, the voltage output characteristics of the impedance electrode array were analyzed during linear changes in the balloon filling volume. Based on the performance variation of the piezoelectric film assembly, 80% was selected as the optimal filling volume. Force-electric coupling tests were conducted on the balloon sensor using a pressure testing platform, revealing that both the piezoelectric film assembly inside the balloon and the impedance electrodes outside the balloon exhibited significant load differentiation characteristics as the force application point shifted. In summary, this balloon sensor facilitates the localization of force application while simultaneously analyzing esophageal tissue properties, offering a novel diagnostic approach and objective tool for esophageal disease detection.
Esophagus/physiology* ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Finite Element Analysis ; Manometry/methods* ; Electrodes ; Esophageal Motility Disorders/physiopathology* ; Equipment Design

Objective:To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics and follow-up status of pediatric patients with hepatic glycogen storage disease in order to further improve the prognosis.Methods:The clinical data of hospitalized children diagnosed with hepatic glycogen storage disease in the Department of Gastroenterology at the Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2010 to April 2023 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The results of laboratory examination and gene sequencing were analyzed, and the number of cases that exceeded three (n) were grouped according to the genetic results: Group 1 was type Ⅰ ( n=8), Group 2 was type Ⅲ ( n=5), and Group 3 was type Ⅸa ( n=8).The growth, development and prognosis of the children were followed up. The related clinical characteristics of pediatric hepatic glycogen storage disease were summarized. Results:Twenty-five pediatric patients with hepatic glycogen storage disease were enrolled in this study, with fifteen males and ten females. The mean age of diagnosis was (29.1±13.5) months. There were twelve cases (48%) accompanied with varying degrees of hypoglycemia, and two cases (8%) with severe hypoglycemia.There were nineteen cases with stature retardation (76%), four cases with anemia (16%), three cases with proteinuria (12%), and one case with cholestasis (4%).The genetic results showed that there were four cases of type Ⅰa (16%), four cases of type Ⅰb (16%), one case of type Ⅱ (4%), five cases of type Ⅲ (20%), two cases of type Ⅳ (8%), one case of type Ⅵ (4%), and eight cases of type Ⅸ (32%).The three subgroups analysis showed that there were significant statistical differences in uric acid and triglycerides among the three groups ( P<0.05), while there were no statistical significant differences in transaminase levels, fasting blood glucose, lactate, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels ( P>0.05). The height-for-age Z scores of the three groups were -2.86±1.62, -1.46±1.06, and -1.83±0.98, respectively. The growth and development of groups 2 and 3 were significantly improved compared with group 1 ( P<0.05), with Z scores of -2.28±1.07, 0.20±1.54, and 0.10±1.44 after at least one year of follow-up. All pediatric patients with type Ⅸa had discontinued using raw corn starch after more than one year of follow-up and their transaminases had returned to normal. Four pediatric patients with type Ia were orally administered raw corn starch on a regular basis, and the aminotransferases, uric acid, and lactate were normal, with hypoglycemia being monitored. Among the four cases with type Ⅰb, one had recurrent respiratory tract and intestinal infections, two were combined with Crohn's disease, and one was monitored for hypoglycemia. In four cases of type Ⅲ, raw corn starch was discontinued, and a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet was adopted, with the exception of the presence of high creatine kinase and normal aminotransferase. Liver failure resulted in the death of one type Ⅵ case, while two were type Ⅳ cases; one died, and one case recently had slightly elevated aminotransferase. Conclusion:When pediatric patients exhibit manifestations such as hepatomegaly, elevated transaminases, fasting hypoglycemia, and delayed growth and development, it is necessary to be alert to hepatic glycogen storage disease. Clinical manifestations and biochemical indicators combined with genetic testing are helpful for the diagnosis of hepatic glycogen storage disease. Simultaneously, targeted nutritional management should be carried out according to the metabolic characteristics of different subtypes, with attention on growth and development status.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the functions of interleukin-6(IL-6)/Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway in adenomyosis(ADM),and to assess the therapeutic potential of JAK2 inhibitor AG490.METHODS:(1)Neonatal female mice were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group and ADM group.An ADM mice model was established by tamoxifen.Additionally,Western blot was employed to detect the expression of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins.(2)Human endometrial adenocarcinoma Ishikawa cells were treated with AG490,and Western blot was performed to evaluate the expression of the proteins related to IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),cell migration and cell proliferation.Besides,wound-healing and Transwell assays were carried out to investigate the cell migration and inva-sion.Colony formation and EdU assays were employed to investigate the cell proliferation,and flow cytometry analysis was performed to investigate the cell apoptosis.(3)The ADM mice were randomly divided into 2 groups:ADM group and AG490 group.The expression of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins in uterine tissues was detected by Western blot.Besides,Western blot and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the expression of the proteins re-lated to cell EMT,migration and proliferation.Cell apoptosis in uterine tissues was detected by TUNEL assay.RE-SULTS:(1)The expression of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins exhibited an increasing trend in ADM mice(P<0.05).(2)Treatment with AG490 significantly suppressed the expression of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins in Ishikawa cells(P<0.05).The protein level of E-cadherin showed an increasing trend(P<0.01),while the expression levels of N-cadherin,vimentin and Slug showed a decreasing trend(P<0.05)in Ishikawa cells after AG490 treatment.Besides,the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was down-regulated(P<0.05),and the capa-bilities of cell migration and invasion were suppressed in AG490-treated Ishikawa cells(P<0.05).The expression levels of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 exhibited a decreasing trend(P<0.05),and the expression level of Bax increased(P<0.05)in Ishikawa cells after treatment with AG490.Additionally,AG490 inhibited Ishikawa cell proliferation,and enhanced the cell apoptosis(P<0.01).(3)The p-JAK2/JAK ratio and the IL-6 expression exhibited a decreasing trend in AG490 group(P<0.01).Moreover,the expression of E-cadherin was up-regulated(P<0.05),while the expression of N-cadherin,vi-mentin,Snail,Slug and Twist was down-regulated(P<0.05)in ADM mice after treatment with AG490.Compared with ADM group,the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreased in AG490 group(P<0.05),alongside the down-regulated Bcl-2/Bax ratio and PCNA expression(P<0.01).Besides,the cell apoptosis was enhanced by AG490.CONCLUSION:The IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in ADM and facilitates endometrial cell EMT,prolifera-tion,invasion and migration.Additionally,AG490 inhibits the progression of ADM by blocking the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 sig-naling pathway.