Environmental pollution is a significant public health challenge worldwide, and investigating the causal relationship between environmental exposure and population health outcomes is a key objective of environmental epidemiology research. In recent years, the complexity of environmental exposures has increasingly come to the forefront, making it challenging for observational studies that dominate environmental epidemiology to accurately estimate causal effects. Causal inference methods are particularly advantageous in controlling for confounding factors, thus holding great potential in environmental epidemiology research. Researchers can use appropriate causal inference methods to simulate the process of randomization, providing strong support for revealing the causal relationship between environmental exposure and health outcomes. However, there is a lack of reviews on the application of causal inference methods in environmental epidemiology studies in China. Therefore, this study introduced the basic principles of common causal inference statistical methods in environmental epidemiology, summarized the applicable conditions, advantages and disadvantages of various methods, and provided R software implementation codes for these methods, aiming to offer guidance for optimizing research design and practicing causal inference statistical methods.

Recent research from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor among women, posing a significant threat to women's health. Surgery remains the primary therapeutic modality for breast cancer. Recently, endoscopic and robotic breast surgical techniques have gained acceptance among both surgeons and patients. However, considerable variation exists in surgical approaches and outcomes. To standardize these techniques, facilitate their broader clinical adoption, and ultimately improve patient care, the Endoscopic-robotic Breast Surgery Clinical Trials Consortium (ErBSCTC) of China has developed this guideline. This document encompasses the technologies and instrumentation utilized in endoscopic and robotic breast surgery, surgical techniques, perioperative management, complication handling, long-term follow-up, and oncologic outcomes, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals involved in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast diseases.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women in China, with surgery being one of the primary treatment modalities. Endoscopic/robotic breast surgery (ErBS) is gaining widespread acceptance among patients and surgeons alike due to its advantages of minimal invasiveness, superior cosmetic outcomes, and accelerated recovery. However, substantial heterogeneity currently exists across China regarding patient selection, standardized operative techniques, perioperative management, and complication handling, underscoring the urgent need for evidence-based consensus guidelines. To promote standardization and ensure consistent quality of ErBS, the Chinese Endoscopic-Robotic Breast Surgery Clinical Trials Consortium (CErBSCTC) has systematically reviewed the latest high-quality evidence and formulated the "Protocol for China Endoscopic and Robotic Breast Surgery Guidelines (2026 edition)", which outlines a comprehensive methodology for guideline development.

This guideline, presented in three parts, details the core aspects of endoscopic/robotic breast surgery, including its techniques, equipment, surgical procedures, perioperative management, complication treatment, long-term follow-up, and outcomes. Part one offered a comprehensive overview of indications for endoscopic and robotic breast surgery, intraoperative techniques, surgical instrument choices, and common endoscopic and robotic breast reconstruction procedures. This part will cover other endoscopic breast procedures beyond immediate breast reconstruction and include perioperative management strategies, to provide healthcare professionals involved in endoscopic and robotic breast surgery with systematic operational guidelines and clinical decision-making references.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and a major cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. IgAN exhibits marked heterogeneity in clinical presentation, histopathology, and pathogenic mechanisms, contributing to variable treatment responses and prognosisamong patients. Precise risk assessment and individualized intervention are therefore of critical importance. This review systematically traces the evolution of IgAN management from traditional risk stratification toward biomarker-driven precision medicine. We first review the clinical utility and limitations of established risk stratification tools, including the KDIGO guidelines, the Oxford MEST-C classification, and the International IgAN Prediction Tool. We then discuss emerging biomarkers closely linked to disease pathogenesis, including galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), anti-Gd-IgA1 autoantibodies, B cell activating factor (BAFF), a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), and complement components, as well as the targeted therapies they have informed. In addition, urinary biomarkers and multi-omics approaches show promise for dynamic disease monitoring and individualized risk stratification.

Elderly patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) exhibit significant prognostic heterogeneity and poor tolerance to immunotherapy. However, there is a lack of early prognostic prediction tools specifically for this population. This study aimed to develop a prognostic prediction model applicable to elderly PMN patients.

Infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN) is an immune-mediated glomerular injury triggered by infectious agents. This article reports a case of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis following acute hepatitis B virus infection, which continued to progress despite standard antiviral and immunosuppressive therapy. Given the significant elevation of soluble complement membrane attack complex (sC5b-9), an indicator of terminal complement pathway activation, the patient was treated with eculizumab. Following treatment, the patient's urine protein-to-creatinine ratio significantly decreased, hypoalbuminemia and hematuria markedly improved, and sC5b-9 levels declined. This case suggests that abnormal complement system activation may be a key mechanism driving disease persistence in some patients with IRGN. For those unresponsive to conventional therapy, complement function screening and targeted terminal complement pathway inhibition may represent an effective salvage strategy.

Wilson disease （WD） is a hereditary disorder of copper metabolism characterized by abnormal copper accumulation in tissues， including the liver and brain， which leads to severe hepatic and neurological damage. This disease is often accompanied by lipid metabolism abnormalities， and the exploration of related mechanisms has attracted increasing attention. This article introduces the clinical features of lipid metabolism disorders in WD patients， summarizes the research advances in the serum levels of lipids and hepatic steatosis， analyzes the potential mechanisms of the interaction between copper and lipid metabolism， and highlights the significance of lipid-related molecules in disease diagnosis and clinical evaluation. In clinical practice， the monitoring and assessment of lipid metabolism parameters should be taken seriously in patients with WD， in order to promote comprehensive disease management and improve the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect and mechanism of Euphorbia hirta L.-derived exosome-like nanovesicles（Eh-ENVs） on acetaminophen （APAP）-induced liver injury based on the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）/NAD（P）H：quinone oxidoreductase 1 （NQO1） pathway. METHODS The safety of Eh-ENVs was evaluated by examining their effects on the viability of RAW264.7 and AML12 cells， as well as serum liver and kidney function indicators and histopathology of liver， lung， and other tissues in normal mice. A lipopolysaccharide （1 μg/mL）-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was constructed to investigate the effects of 10 and 20 μg/mL Eh-ENVs on the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species （ROS） level in model cells， and the uptake efficiency of Eh-ENVs by RAW264.7 cells was also examined. An APAP-induced liver injury mouse model was established to investigate the effects of 4 mg/kg Eh-ENVs on serum liver function indicators， liver histopathology， mRNA expression of inflammatory factors， malondialdehyde （MDA） level， superoxide dismutase （SOD） level， and mRNA and protein expressions related to the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway in liver tissue of model mice. RESULTS In vitro results showed that Eh-ENVs had no inhibitory effect on the proliferation of RAW264.7 and AML12 cells；Eh-ENVs could be efficiently taken up by RAW264.7 cells and significantly reduced the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and ROS level in cells （ P ＜0.05）. In vivo results showed that 4 mg/kg Eh-ENVs had no obvious toxic side effects on normal mice，could significantly decrease the serum alanine transaminase （ALT） and aspartate transaminase （AST） levels in model mice （ P ＜0.05），upregulated/increased the mRNA expressions of IL-10， as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， and NQO1， and SOD level in liver tissue （ P ＜0.05）， and down-regulated/decreased the mRNA expression of TNF-α， IL-1β and MDA level in liver tissue （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Eh-ENVs may activate the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway to inhibit inflammatory response and alleviate oxidative stress， thereby improving APAP-induced liver injury.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.