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 evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of different pathogen detection methods in active tuberculosis (ATB) of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and analyze their diagnostic value in different types of clinical specimens. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted, including adult KTRs with suspected ATB from the Eighth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2020 to January 2025. Baseline data of the recipients were collected and analyzed, and the diagnostic criteria were based on a composite reference standard (including clinical diagnosis and bacteriological confirmation). The single-detection efficacy of acid-fast staining smear, mycobacterium tuberculosis culture, Xpert test for the detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid and resistance to rifampicin (Xpert MTB/RIF), as well as tuberculosis or non-tuberculosis mycobacterial DNA detection was compared. The differences in sensitivity among different methods were analyzed. Results A total of 95 KTRs with suspected ATB and 136 specimens were included. And 52 cases were diagnosed as ATB, among which 48 cases were confirmed by bacteriological means (92%). The sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF and DNA detection (0.55 and 0.52, respectively) was significantly higher than that of acid-fast staining smear (0.30) and mycobacterium tuberculosis culture (0.35) (P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in the bacteriological diagnosis rate among different specimen types (P = 0.035). The detection sensitivity of each method was the highest in pus, puncture tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, followed by sputum and pleural and abdominal effusions, and the lowest in cerebrospinal fluid. Conclusions The sensitivity of nucleic acid amplification technology for immunosuppressed KTRs is slightly reduced, but it should still be recommended as the preferred initial screening tool. The comprehensive strategy of "multi-site sampling (prior to obtaining high bacterial load specimens) combined with multiple method detection" may improve the diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:To describe the prevalence of anxiety disorders and its distribution in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,and to explore the relevant factors of anxiety disorders.Methods:From June 2019 to Decem-ber 2019,representative multi-stage disproportionate stratified sampling procedure was used to sample in residents aged 18 and over in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.All respondents were face-to-face interviewed by trained interviewers.Composite International Diagnostic Interview-3.0(CIDI-3.0)was used to diagnose anxiety disorders according to the criteria and definition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition(DSM-Ⅳ).Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for statistical anal-ysis.Results:Totally 12 315 people were interviewed in the survey.The weighted 12-mouth prevalence rate of any anxiety disorder was 4.64％,and the lifetime prevalence rate was 6.25％.The weighted 12-month prevalence rate of anxiety disorders was higher in female than that in male(5.38％vs.3.92％).The rate was higher in rural resi-dents than that in urban residents(5.67％vs.3.95％).The rate was higher in people with chronic diseases than that in people without chronic diseases(6.81％vs.2.29％).Logistic regression analysis showed that unmarried(OR=2.32,95％CI:1.31-4.10),separated/divorced(OR=2.49,95％CI:1.33-4.67),in debt(OR=1.55,95％CI:1.04-2.32),chronic disease(OR=2.22,95％CI:1.39-3.53),family history of anxiety disorders(OR=12.05,95％CI:8.78-16.53),poor sleep(OR=2.64,95％CI:1.97-3.54)were risk factors of occurrence of anxiety disorders,while junior high school(OR=0.65,95％CI:0.44-0.96)was protective factor of anxiety disor-ders.Conclusion:Adults with chronic diseases,poor sleep,unmarried or separated/divorced,family history of anxi-ety disorders,and financial debt are at higher risk groups of anxiety disorder in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Re-gion.

Objective:To describe the prevalence and distributions of mood disorder in Inner Mongolia Au-tonomous Region,and analyze the related risk factors.Methods:The multistage stratified sampling method with un-equal probability was used to select permanent residents aged 18 years and over in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Re-gion.The Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was used as a diagnostic tool.Mood disorders were di-agnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition(DSM-Ⅳ).Single and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the related factors of mood disorders.Results:Totally,12 315 community residents were interviewed in the survey.The weighted 12-month prevalence and lifetime prevalence of mood disorder were 5.4％and 8.7％,respectively.Weighted 12-month prevalence of depressive disorder was 4.9％,and that of bipolar disorder was 0.3％.Among all subtypes of mood disorder,the 12-month prevalence rate of major depressive disorder(3.1％)was the highest.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female,unmarried,separated or divorced,unemployment,family history,other mental disorders,sleep disorders and chronic diseases(OR=1.56,2.80,2.07,1.42,13.46,7.97,3.23,2.13)were risk factors of mood disorder,while aged 65 years and over(OR=0.44)was protective factor of mood disorders.The lifetime consultation rate in patients with mood disorders was 15.5％,the rate of psychiatric consultation was 3.7％,the rate of medication was 1.8％.Con-clusion:It indicates that female residents and people who are unmarried,separated and divorced,unemployed,with family history,suffering from other mental disorders,suffering from sleep disorders,and suffering from chronic dis-eases may be high risk groups of mood disorders,and the utilization rate of health services is rather low in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

This consensus was developed by the Orthodontic Society of the Chinese Stomatological Association to provide a systematic, scientific, and practical guideline for informed consent in orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment is typically lengthy, highly individualized, and involves multiple factors such as growth and development, occlusal function, and facial esthetics. Rapid technological advances and diverse risk profiles make the traditional reliance on orthodontist experience or institutional templates insufficient to ensure patients′ full understanding and autonomous decision-making. To address this, the expert panel conducted extensive reviews of domestic and international guidelines, analyzed representative dispute cases, and performed multicenter patient-clinician surveys. Using a multi-round Delphi method, the group established a standardized informed consent framework covering the initial consultation, treatment, and retention phases. The consensus emphasizes that informed consent is not only a fundamental legal and ethical requirement but also a key step in building trust, improving patient compliance, and enhancing treatment satisfaction. Orthodontists should clearly and comprehensively explain treatment plans, potential risks, uncertainties, and associated costs, while respecting the autonomy of patients or guardians, and maintain continuous communication and dynamic evaluation throughout the treatment process. The release of this consensus provides unified and authoritative guidance for clinical orthodontics, helping to standardize informed consent, enhance its transparency, safeguard patient rights, reduce medical risks, and promote high-quality, sustainable development of orthodontic practice.

Objective:To investigate the clinical experience and efficacy of unrelated umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT).Methods:A case summary was conducted.The clinical data of 2 children with CAMT who were finally cured by unrelated umbilical cord blood HSCT in the Department of Pediatric Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2020 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Related studies were retrieved from databases CNKI, Wanfang and PubMed using search terms including " congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia" and " hematopoietic stem cell transplantation" from the inception to July 2024.The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment processes, and prognosis of CAMT patients treated by HSCT were then summarized.Results:Both cases exhibited scattered skin haemorrhages throughout the body and carried 2 compound heterozygous mutations with pathogenicity in the MPL gene.Both patients were finally diagnosed with CAMT.Case 1 was a girl aged 3 at the time of transplantation, and case 2 was also a girl, who aged 5 at the time of transplantation.Both of them received unrelated umbilical cord blood HSCT and hematopoietic reconstruction was achieved.The time of neutrophil and platelet implantation was 21 and 40 days after transplantation in case 1, and 20 and 31 days in case 2, respectively.The chimerism rate of neutrophil implantation in both children was complete chimerism of donor cells.Implantation syndrome was detected in case 1 following transplantation.Case 2 suffered implantation syndrome, hypertensive encephalopathy, and cytomegalovirus infection following transplantation.Both children showed no graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Both children had hematopoietic and immune reconstruction after transplantation and their primary diseases were cured.Cases 1 and 2 were followed up for more than 14 and 17 months, respectively.Both of them achieved disease-free survival during the follow up.Literature review of 26 cases with CAMT treated by HSCT, including the above-mentioned 2 cases was conducted, with an overall disease-free survival rate of 92.3%(24/26).Of 12 cases with CAMT typing, 10 were type Ⅰ and 2 were type Ⅱ.Of the 26 cases treated by HSCT, 17 had bone marrow HSCT, with an overall survival rate of 88.2%(15/17), and 2 had peripheral blood HSCT.Seven cases had umbilical cord blood HSCT (6 cases receiving unrelated umbilical cord blood HSCT and 1 case receiving related umbilical cord blood HSCT), with an overall survival rate of 100%.Unlike bone marrow and peripheral blood HSCT, unrelated umbilical cord blood HSCT did not result in 3-4 grade GVHD. Conclusions:Unrelated umbilical cord blood HSCT can achieve good therapeutic effects in CAMT patients when there is no suitable donor.Myeloablative pretreatment is conducive to CAMT patients.

Objective:To investigate the incidence, clinical management and influencing factors of late-onset neutropenia (LON) in children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) after Rituximab (RTX) treatment.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinical data of PNS children who received RTX treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from March 2020 to August 2024 and were followed up for at least 6 months were collected.The RTX regimen was a single dose of 375 mg/m 2 with a maximum dose of 500 mg, and an additional dose was administered when the reexamination showed that peripheral blood CD19 + B cells were ≥ 1% or nephrotic syndrome relapsed.The patients were divided into an LON group and a non-LON group according to the presence or absence of LON, and then a comparison was made between the groups.The cumulative incidence of LON was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression methods were used to identify the influencing factors of LON.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to assess the value of each influencing factor for predicting LON. Results:A total of 65 PNS patients were included.The incidence of LON was 19.3%(27/140) after 140 RTX treatment courses, and the first LON appeared 95.0 (64.0, 115.0) days after RTX treatment.Forty-nine patients received repeated RTX treatment.The incidence rates of LON after the first course, the second course, and the third course of RTX were 27.7%(18/65), 10.2%(5/49), and 18.8%(3/16), respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.764, P>0.05). There was also no significant difference in the incidence of LON between patients taking and not taking combined immunosuppressive agents after RTX treatment [35.3%(6/17) vs.37.8%(17/45), χ2=0.033, P>0.05]. Compared with the non-LON group, the LON group had a higher incidence of infections [48.1%(13/27) vs.15.0%(17/113), χ2=14.17, P<0.01], but no serious outcomes were observed in both groups.Multivariate Logistic analysis suggested that the age at treatment with RTX was an independent risk factor for LON after RTX treatment ( OR=0.763, 95% CI: 0.592-0.982). The area under the ROC curve of the age at treatment with RTX for predicting LON was 0.767 (95% CI: 0.628-0.906), with an optimal cutoff of 6.6 years, a sensitivity of 70.6%, and a specificity of 80.0%. Conclusions:The incidence of LON in PNS children after RTX treatment may be underestimated.Children who develop LON are at a higher risk of infections, but the prognosis is favorable.The age at treatment with RTX≤6.6 years is an independent risk factor for LON in PNS children.Close monitoring of neutrophil counts should be emphasized in younger PNS patients receiving RTX therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). METHODS: Clinical data of 10 patients with PTCL-NOS in Gansu Provincial Hospital from May 2016 to June 2023 were collected. The treatment outcomes were evaluated, and the factors affecting prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of onset for the 10 patients was 60.7 (47-75) years, with 7 males and 3 females. Nine cases received chemotherapy, while one case died suddenly after diagnosis, and the median course of chemotherapy was 6.9 (1-13) courses. Assessing the efficacy, 3 patients achieved complete remission (CR) while 7 patients showed progression. Age, sex, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, Ki-67 and the presence of hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis (HLH) were not statistically correlated with CR rate ( P >0.05). Patients with IPI score 3-5, and Ann Arbor stage III-IV had statistically lower CR rates (both P <0.05). Age, B symptoms, LDH level ,hemoglobin, Ki-67 index and PLR value were not statistically correlated with overall survival (OS) time ( P >0.05). Male, platelet <150×10⁹/L, IPI score 3-5, Ann Arbor stage III-IV, presence of HLH, NLR≥4.05, and LMR <2.81 were statistically correlated with shorter OS (all P <0.05). Among the 10 patients, 3 cases have survived and are still in CR status, while 7 cases have died, with a median survival time of 7.5 (1-85) months. CONCLUSIONS Patients with IPI score 3-5 and Ann Arbor stage III-IV have low CR rate and poor prognosis. The OS of patients who are male, with platelet <150×10⁹/L, IPI score 3-5, Ann Arbor stage III-IV, complication of HLH, NLR≥4.05, and LMR <2.81 is short, and prognosis is poor.
Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/diagnosis* ; Male ; Prognosis ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets