1.The Regulatory Effects and Mechanisms of Piezo1 Channel on Chondrocytes and Bone Metabolic Dysregulation in Osteoarthritis
Yan LI ; Tao LIU ; Yu-Biao GU ; Hui-Qing TIAN ; Lei ZHANG ; Bi-Hui BAI ; Zhi-Jun HE ; Wen CHEN ; Jin-Peng LI ; Fei LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):564-576
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.
2.Application of Tuina Gongfa prescription in treating pulmonary diseases guided by the concept of"preventing a disease before it arises"
Ji MA ; Yu ZHANG ; Yumin LIU ; Yazhou LI ; Chao ZHOU ; Yuanshuai NING ; Dengjun JI ; Yan ZHANG ; Fei GU
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2025;23(5):431-436
Gongfa is an essential approach to prevent and treat diseases in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),often used to prevent a disease before it arises.Guided by TCM and modern scientific theories,the Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)Gongfa prescription theory implements the principle,method,prescription,and form in clinical pattern-identified treatment to prescribe the corresponding Tuina Gongfa prescription,i.e.,to prescribe a basic Tuina Gongfa prescription,specifically for a systemic disease,and modify Gongfa forms based on the basic prescription according to different patterns.The Gongfa prescription for pulmonary diseases designs corresponding Gongfa forms from six perspectives:lifting Yang,securing the exterior,opening the orifices,soothing the chest,harmonizing the stomach,and regulating Qi to prevent and treat diseases.The application of the pulmonary Gongfa prescription indicates the potential to apply the Tuina Gongfa prescription theory for the clinical prevention,treatment,and rehabilitation of disorders of other systems,thereby fully realizing the unique role of TCM Gongfa.
3.Comparative analysis of characteristics and functions of exosomes from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived platelets and apheresis platelets
Weihua HUANG ; Yan ZANG ; Aihua QIN ; Ziyang FENG ; Heshan TANG ; Fei GUO ; Chuyan WU ; Qiu SHEN ; Baohua QIAN ; Haihui GU ; Zhanshan CHA
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(9):1154-1161
Objective: To compare the biological characteristics of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived platelet exosomes (hiPSC-Plt-Exos) with those of conventional apheresis platelet exosomes (Plt-Exos), specifically focusing on their differential abilities to enhance the proliferation and migration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). Methods: Exosomes were isolated from hiPSC-derived Plt and apheresis Plt concentrate using size exclusion chromatography. These exosomes were then characterized through nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Western blotting. Co-culture experiments into hUC-MSCs were conducted with hiPSC-Plt-Exos and apheresis Plt-Exos, respectively. Their effects on the proliferation and migration of hUC-MSCs were assessed via cell proliferation assays and scratch tests. Results: hiPSC-Plt-Exos and apheresis Plt-Exos exhibited comparable particle sizes, morphological features (such as the characteristic cup-shaped structure), and surface markers (including CD9 and HSP70). Notably, hiPSC-Plt-Exos demonstrated a significantly greater ability to enhance the proliferation and migration of hUC-MSCs compared to apheresis Plt-Exos (P<0.05). These differences provide critical comparative data for their application in various clinical contexts. Conclusion: This study establishes a theoretical foundation for developing precise therapeutic strategies based on hiPSC-Plt-Exos. Furthermore, it underscores the necessity of selecting the appropriate type of exosomes according to the specific disease microenvironment to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
4.Computational pathology in precision oncology: Evolution from task-specific models to foundation models.
Yuhao WANG ; Yunjie GU ; Xueyuan ZHANG ; Baizhi WANG ; Rundong WANG ; Xiaolong LI ; Yudong LIU ; Fengmei QU ; Fei REN ; Rui YAN ; S Kevin ZHOU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2868-2878
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, computational pathology has been seamlessly integrated into the entire clinical workflow, which encompasses diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and biomarker discovery. This integration has significantly enhanced clinical accuracy and efficiency while reducing the workload for clinicians. Traditionally, research in this field has depended on the collection and labeling of large datasets for specific tasks, followed by the development of task-specific computational pathology models. However, this approach is labor intensive and does not scale efficiently for open-set identification or rare diseases. Given the diversity of clinical tasks, training individual models from scratch to address the whole spectrum of clinical tasks in the pathology workflow is impractical, which highlights the urgent need to transition from task-specific models to foundation models (FMs). In recent years, pathological FMs have proliferated. These FMs can be classified into three categories, namely, pathology image FMs, pathology image-text FMs, and pathology image-gene FMs, each of which results in distinct functionalities and application scenarios. This review provides an overview of the latest research advancements in pathological FMs, with a particular emphasis on their applications in oncology. The key challenges and opportunities presented by pathological FMs in precision oncology are also explored.
Humans
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Precision Medicine/methods*
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Medical Oncology/methods*
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Artificial Intelligence
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Neoplasms/pathology*
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Computational Biology/methods*
5.A study on latent classes and influencing factors of blood glucose trajectories after transplantation in lung transplantation patients
Luyao GUO ; Fei ZENG ; Meijuan LAN ; Lingyun CAI ; Jiangshuyuan LIANG ; Peipei GU ; Yan ZHU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(12):1447-1453
Objective To explore the latent classes and influencing factors of blood glucose trajectories after transplantation in lung transplantation patients,and provide references for identifying high-risk population of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.Methods 122 lung transplantation patients who were hospitalized in a tertiary A general hospital in Hangzhou from January 2022 to March 2023 were selected conveniently as survey subjects.Socio-demographic and disease-related data were collected,and fasting plasma glucose at 1 week before surgery(T0),1 week after surgery(T1),1 month after surgery(T2),3 months after surgery(T3),6 months after surgery(T4),1 year after surgery(T5)were collected.Growth mixture model was used to identify categories of blood glucose trajectories after lung transplantation,and binary Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors.Results A total of 109 lung transplantation patients were enrolled in the study,and 2 latent classes of blood glucose trajectories were identified:high risk(23.85%)and low risk(76.15%)of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.BMI,drinking history,afternoon blood glucose and tacrolimus trough concentration were the influencing factors of latent classes of blood glucose trajectories after lung transplantation(all P<0.05).Conclusion There are 2 latent classes of blood glucose trajectories after lung transplantation,namely high risk and low risk of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.Medical staff should pay attention to diabetes screening and assessment of lung transplantation patients who are overweight or obese,have a drinking history before transplantation,have high afternoon blood glucose in early stage of transplantation and have high tacrolimus trough concentration in stable stage of transplantation,so as to formulate a comprehensive and individualized blood glucose management program.
6.Postpartum care for a patient with pregnancy complicated by complex congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension crisis
Yan ZHU ; Fei ZENG ; Meijuan LAN ; Jiangshuyuan LIANG ; Peipei GU ; Luyao GUO ; Lingyun CAI
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(14):1690-1693
This paper summarizes the nursing experience of a pregnant woman with congenital heart disease who developed pulmonary artery hypertension crisis after cesarean section.Nursing key points:monitoring and management of inhaled nitric oxide therapy to reduce pulmonary hypertension;providing sequential respiratory support care and dynamically adjusting oxygen therapy regimen;precise volume regulation and alertness to serious complications;optimizing puerperal supervision strategy to reduce the risk of infection;preventing and controlling stress bleeding and implementing a stepped dietary management strategy;implementing phased rehabilitation training to accelerate the recovery process;carrying out personalized psychological care and health education.With comprehensive nursing care,the patient recovered well and was discharged smoothly after an 18-day hospital stay.
7.Guideline for Adult Weight Management in China
Weiqing WANG ; Qin WAN ; Jianhua MA ; Guang WANG ; Yufan WANG ; Guixia WANG ; Yongquan SHI ; Tingjun YE ; Xiaoguang SHI ; Jian KUANG ; Bo FENG ; Xiuyan FENG ; Guang NING ; Yiming MU ; Hongyu KUANG ; Xiaoping XING ; Chunli PIAO ; Xingbo CHENG ; Zhifeng CHENG ; Yufang BI ; Yan BI ; Wenshan LYU ; Dalong ZHU ; Cuiyan ZHU ; Wei ZHU ; Fei HUA ; Fei XIANG ; Shuang YAN ; Zilin SUN ; Yadong SUN ; Liqin SUN ; Luying SUN ; Li YAN ; Yanbing LI ; Hong LI ; Shu LI ; Ling LI ; Yiming LI ; Chenzhong LI ; Hua YANG ; Jinkui YANG ; Ling YANG ; Ying YANG ; Tao YANG ; Xiao YANG ; Xinhua XIAO ; Dan WU ; Jinsong KUANG ; Lanjie HE ; Wei GU ; Jie SHEN ; Yongfeng SONG ; Qiao ZHANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Yuwei ZHANG ; Junqing ZHANG ; Xianfeng ZHANG ; Miao ZHANG ; Yifei ZHANG ; Yingli LU ; Hong CHEN ; Li CHEN ; Bing CHEN ; Shihong CHEN ; Guiyan CHEN ; Haibing CHEN ; Lei CHEN ; Yanyan CHEN ; Genben CHEN ; Yikun ZHOU ; Xianghai ZHOU ; Qiang ZHOU ; Jiaqiang ZHOU ; Hongting ZHENG ; Zhongyan SHAN ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Dong ZHAO ; Ji HU ; Jiang HU ; Xinguo HOU ; Bimin SHI ; Tianpei HONG ; Mingxia YUAN ; Weibo XIA ; Xuejiang GU ; Yong XU ; Shuguang PANG ; Tianshu GAO ; Zuhua GAO ; Xiaohui GUO ; Hongyi CAO ; Mingfeng CAO ; Xiaopei CAO ; Jing MA ; Bin LU ; Zhen LIANG ; Jun LIANG ; Min LONG ; Yongde PENG ; Jin LU ; Hongyun LU ; Yan LU ; Chunping ZENG ; Binhong WEN ; Xueyong LOU ; Qingbo GUAN ; Lin LIAO ; Xin LIAO ; Ping XIONG ; Yaoming XUE
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(11):891-907
Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.
8.Application of Tuina Gongfa prescription in treating pulmonary diseases guided by the concept of"preventing a disease before it arises"
Ji MA ; Yu ZHANG ; Yumin LIU ; Yazhou LI ; Chao ZHOU ; Yuanshuai NING ; Dengjun JI ; Yan ZHANG ; Fei GU
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2025;23(5):431-436
Gongfa is an essential approach to prevent and treat diseases in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),often used to prevent a disease before it arises.Guided by TCM and modern scientific theories,the Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)Gongfa prescription theory implements the principle,method,prescription,and form in clinical pattern-identified treatment to prescribe the corresponding Tuina Gongfa prescription,i.e.,to prescribe a basic Tuina Gongfa prescription,specifically for a systemic disease,and modify Gongfa forms based on the basic prescription according to different patterns.The Gongfa prescription for pulmonary diseases designs corresponding Gongfa forms from six perspectives:lifting Yang,securing the exterior,opening the orifices,soothing the chest,harmonizing the stomach,and regulating Qi to prevent and treat diseases.The application of the pulmonary Gongfa prescription indicates the potential to apply the Tuina Gongfa prescription theory for the clinical prevention,treatment,and rehabilitation of disorders of other systems,thereby fully realizing the unique role of TCM Gongfa.
9.A study on latent classes and influencing factors of blood glucose trajectories after transplantation in lung transplantation patients
Luyao GUO ; Fei ZENG ; Meijuan LAN ; Lingyun CAI ; Jiangshuyuan LIANG ; Peipei GU ; Yan ZHU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(12):1447-1453
Objective To explore the latent classes and influencing factors of blood glucose trajectories after transplantation in lung transplantation patients,and provide references for identifying high-risk population of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.Methods 122 lung transplantation patients who were hospitalized in a tertiary A general hospital in Hangzhou from January 2022 to March 2023 were selected conveniently as survey subjects.Socio-demographic and disease-related data were collected,and fasting plasma glucose at 1 week before surgery(T0),1 week after surgery(T1),1 month after surgery(T2),3 months after surgery(T3),6 months after surgery(T4),1 year after surgery(T5)were collected.Growth mixture model was used to identify categories of blood glucose trajectories after lung transplantation,and binary Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors.Results A total of 109 lung transplantation patients were enrolled in the study,and 2 latent classes of blood glucose trajectories were identified:high risk(23.85%)and low risk(76.15%)of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.BMI,drinking history,afternoon blood glucose and tacrolimus trough concentration were the influencing factors of latent classes of blood glucose trajectories after lung transplantation(all P<0.05).Conclusion There are 2 latent classes of blood glucose trajectories after lung transplantation,namely high risk and low risk of post-transplant diabetes mellitus.Medical staff should pay attention to diabetes screening and assessment of lung transplantation patients who are overweight or obese,have a drinking history before transplantation,have high afternoon blood glucose in early stage of transplantation and have high tacrolimus trough concentration in stable stage of transplantation,so as to formulate a comprehensive and individualized blood glucose management program.
10.Postpartum care for a patient with pregnancy complicated by complex congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension crisis
Yan ZHU ; Fei ZENG ; Meijuan LAN ; Jiangshuyuan LIANG ; Peipei GU ; Luyao GUO ; Lingyun CAI
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(14):1690-1693
This paper summarizes the nursing experience of a pregnant woman with congenital heart disease who developed pulmonary artery hypertension crisis after cesarean section.Nursing key points:monitoring and management of inhaled nitric oxide therapy to reduce pulmonary hypertension;providing sequential respiratory support care and dynamically adjusting oxygen therapy regimen;precise volume regulation and alertness to serious complications;optimizing puerperal supervision strategy to reduce the risk of infection;preventing and controlling stress bleeding and implementing a stepped dietary management strategy;implementing phased rehabilitation training to accelerate the recovery process;carrying out personalized psychological care and health education.With comprehensive nursing care,the patient recovered well and was discharged smoothly after an 18-day hospital stay.

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