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.

ObjectiveTo investigate the present situation of input, output, outcome and impact of all registered community-based rehabilitation stations in Inner Mongolia in China, and analyze how the input predict the output, outcome and impact. MethodsFrom March 1st to April 30th, 2025, a questionnaire survey was conducted on all registered community-based rehabilitation stations in Inner Mongolia, covering four dimensions: input, output, outcome and impact. A total of 1 365 questionnaires were distributed. The input included four items: laws and policies, human resources, equipment and facilities, and rehabilitation information management. The output included two items: technical paths and benefits/effectiveness. The outcome included three items: coverage rates, rehabilitation interventions and functional results. The impact included two items: health and sustainability. Each item contained several questions, all of which were described in a positive way. Each question was scored from one to five. A lower score indicated that the situation of the community-based rehabilitation station was more in line with the content described in the question. Regression analysis was performed using the total score of each item of input dimension as independent variables, and the total scores of the output, outcome and impact dimensions as dependent variables. ResultsA total of 1 262 valid questionnaires were collected. The mean values of input, output, outcome and impact of community-based rehabilitation stations were 1.827 to 1.904, with coefficient of variation of 45.892% to 49.239%. The regression analysis showed that, rehabilitation information management, human resources, and laws and policies significantly predicted the output dimension (R² = 0.910, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, all four items in the input dimension predicted both the outcome (R² = 0.850, P < 0.001) and impact dimensions (R² = 0.833, P < 0.001). ConclusionInput, output, outcome and impact of the community-based rehabilitation stations in Inner Mongolia were generally in line with the content of the questions, although some imbalances were observed. Additionally, the input of community-based rehabilitation stations could significantly predict their output, outcome and impact.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of Runmu Dihuang decoction （RMDHD） in treating perimenopausal dry eye with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome based on the silent information regulator 3 （SIRT3）/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsSixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups （n=10 per group）： Sham operation group， model group， sodium hyaluronate eye drop group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose RMDHD groups （5.625， 11.25， 22.50 g·kg^-1）. Except for the sham operation group， all rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy and were administered 0.1% benzalkonium chloride eye drops combined with long-term chronic irritation to establish a perimenopausal dry eye model with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome. Drug administration began in the 11th week after modeling and continued for 21 days. General conditions， screen-grip test scores， tear secretion volume， tear film breakup time （TFBUT）， and corneal fluorescein staining were recorded. Serum levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， estradiol （E₂）， and progesterone （PROG） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Pathological changes in the lacrimal glands， corneas， and uteri were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Protein expression levels of SIRT3， HIF-1α， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， and total NF-κB p65 in the lacrimal glands were detected by Western blot. The expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the lacrimal glands was assessed by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultsAfter model establishment， no significant differences were observed among the groups except the sham operation group. Compared with the sham operation group， the other groups exhibited slowed movement， dull responses， increased irritability， reduced body weight， elevated rectal temperature， decreased screen-grip test scores， reduced tear secretion， and significantly shortened TFBUT （P<0.05）. After treatment， compared with the model group， the sodium hyaluronate eye drop group and all RMDHD groups showed improved general conditions， significantly increased tear secretion （P<0.05）， prolonged TFBUT （P<0.05）， and elevated screen-grip test scores （P<0.05）. Serum ROS and FSH levels were significantly decreased， while E₂ and PROG levels were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Pathological damage to the cornea， lacrimal glands， and uterus was ameliorated. In addition， protein expression levels of SIRT3 and HIF-1α in the lacrimal glands were significantly upregulated （P<0.05）， whereas the expression of p-NF-κB p65， IL-1β， and TNF-α was significantly downregulated （P<0.05）. ConclusionRMDHD increases tear secretion and TFBUT， improves lacrimal gland and corneal injury， and alleviates dry eye symptoms in a perimenopausal dry eye rat model with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome. The underlying mechanism may be related to regulation of the SIRT3/HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway， inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses， and reduction of ocular surface tissue damage.

Electromagnetic fields can regulate the fundamental biological processes involved in bone remodeling. As a non-invasive physical therapy, electromagnetic fields with specific parameters have demonstrated therapeutic effects on bone remodeling diseases, such as fractures and osteoporosis. Electromagnetic fields can be generated by the movement of charged particles or induced by varying currents. Based on whether the strength and direction of the electric field change over time, electromagnetic fields can be classified into static and time-varying fields. The treatment of bone remodeling diseases with static magnetic fields primarily focuses on fractures, often using magnetic splints to immobilize the fracture site while studying the effects of static magnetic fields on bone healing. However, there has been relatively little research on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis using static magnetic fields. Pulsed electromagnetic fields, a type of time-varying field, have been widely used in clinical studies for treating fractures, osteoporosis, and non-union. However, current clinical applications are limited to low-frequency, and research on the relationship between frequency and biological effects remains insufficient. We believe that different types of electromagnetic fields acting on bone can induce various “secondary physical quantities”, such as magnetism, force, electricity, acoustics, and thermal energy, which can stimulate bone cells either individually or simultaneously. Bone cells possess specific electromagnetic properties, and in a static magnetic field, the presence of a magnetic field gradient can exert a certain magnetism on the bone tissue, leading to observable effects. In a time-varying magnetic field, the charged particles within the bone experience varying Lorentz forces, causing vibrations and generating acoustic effects. Additionally, as the frequency of the time-varying field increases, induced currents or potentials can be generated within the bone, leading to electrical effects. When the frequency and power exceed a certain threshold, electromagnetic energy can be converted into thermal energy, producing thermal effects. In summary, external electromagnetic fields with different characteristics can generate multiple physical quantities within biological tissues, such as magnetic, electric, mechanical, acoustic, and thermal effects. These physical quantities may also interact and couple with each other, stimulating the biological tissues in a combined or composite manner, thereby producing biological effects. This understanding is key to elucidating the electromagnetic mechanisms of how electromagnetic fields influence biological tissues. In the study of electromagnetic fields for bone remodeling diseases, attention should be paid to the biological effects of bone remodeling under different electromagnetic wave characteristics. This includes exploring innovative electromagnetic source technologies applicable to bone remodeling, identifying safe and effective electromagnetic field parameters, and combining basic research with technological invention to develop scientifically grounded, advanced key technologies for innovative electromagnetic treatment devices targeting bone remodeling diseases. In conclusion, electromagnetic fields and multiple physical factors have the potential to prevent and treat bone remodeling diseases, and have significant application prospects.

Objective To investigate the short-and long-term prognoses and the risk factors affecting"text-book outcome"(TO)after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD)for pancreatic ductal adenocar-cinoma(PDAC).Methods The clinical and follow-up data of patients diagnosed with PDAC and treated with LPD from January 2019 to Dec-ember 2022 were retrospectively anal-yzed.The prognosis was compared bet-ween TO and non-TO groups,and uni-variate and multivariate logistic regre-ssion analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors for TO.Results A total of 284 patients were enrolled in this study,including 185 cases in the TO group and 99 cases in the non-TO group.The 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival(OS)rates of the TO and non-TO groups with PDAC were 87.3%vs.85.9%,52.5%vs.38.4%,and 18.0%vs.4.5%,respectively(P=0.020);the recurrence-free survival(RFS)rates were 74.1%vs.65.7%,27.1%vs.21.0%,and 10.0%vs.0%,respectively(P=0.042).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that operation time>360 min(OR=0.561,95%CI:0.321-0.979,P=0.042),intraoperative blood loss>400 ml(OR=0.392,95%CI:0.175-0.879,P=0.023),hard or tough texture of pancreas(OR=2.240,95%CI:1.247-4.022,P=0.007),and main pancreatic duct dia-meter>3 mm(OR=1.931,95%CI:1.126-3.312,P=0.017)were independent prognostic factors for TO.Conclusion After the learning curve,more than 60%of patients with PDAC can achieve TO after LPD.The chances of achieving TO are significantly reduced when the operation time>360 min,the intraoperative blood loss>400 ml,the texture of pancreas was soft,and the diameter of the main pancreatic duct>3 mm.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of endovascular treatment for venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 7 patients with venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2020 to December 2024. Among them, there were 5 males and 2 females, with the age of (22.3±8.1) years. The primary diseases included 2 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome, 1 case of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, 1 case of portal veno-hepatic sinus vascular disease, 1 case of ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency, 1 case of primary biliary cirrhosis, and 1 case of autoimmune cirrhosis. Analyze the patient's clinical manifestations, obstruction of venous outflow tract, hemoglobin levels within one week before and one week after the operation, endovascular treatment conditions, and intraoperative complications such as abdominal hemorrhage and vascular injury. Ultrasound was used to measure the depth of ascites and pleural effusion. All patients were followed up immediately after the operation through phone calls or follow-up visits. The clinical symptoms, abdominal vascular ultrasound, enhanced CT and survival status of the patients were followed up.Results:All 7 patients were diagnosed with venous outflow tract obstruction by intraoperative angiography, including 1 cases of inferior vena cava obstruction, 2 cases of hepatic vein obstruction, and 4 cases of vena cava combined with hepatic vein obstruction. A total of 12 endovascular treatments were performed on 7 patients. Among them, 4 patients received balloon dilation and angioplasty once, 1 patient received balloon dilation and angioplasty twice, 1 patient underwent hepatic vein stent implantation after 2 hepatic vein balloon dilation and angioplasty, and 1 patient underwent intrahepatic portosystemic shunt via jugular vein after 2 hepatic vein balloon dilation and angioplasty. The abdominal distensionof the patients were all relieved after the operation, the ascites and pleural effusion decreased, and the edema symptoms of the lower extremities disappeared. There were no intraoperative complications. The preoperative hemoglobin of 7 patients was (113.4±34.0) g/L, and the postoperative hemoglobin was (126.6±34.8) g/L, which increased significantly compared with that before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-0.71, P=0.038). Seven patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, with a median of 12 months. None of them had obvious symptoms including abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasound and CT indicated that the blood flow of the transplanted liver was unobstructed, and no patient died. Conclusion:Venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation can cause severe symptoms. Endovascular treatment is an effective treatment for venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation.

Objective:To analyze the prognostic factors of patients with liver cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and to construct a prognostic prediction model based on machine learning methods.Methods:The clinical data of 388 patients with liver cirrhosis and PVT admitted to the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2022 to April 2024 were retrospectively collected and analyzed, including 243 males and 145 females, aged (56.9±10.9) years. A total of 388 patients were randomly divided into the training set ( n=310) and the testing set ( n=78) in a 4∶1 ratio. The Boruta algorithm was used to screen the key features in the training set, and then four machine learning algorithms, including random forest, support vector machine, generalized linear model and Bayesian, were used to establish a survival prediction model. Model performance was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the test set and the training set. The patients were followed up for 1 year for survival. Sort the importance of features based on the SHAP value. Results:There were 250 patients (80.6%) who survived and 60 (19.4%) who died. The model for end-stage liver disease score, total bilirubin, serum creatinine, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, D-dimer, white blood cell count, severe ascites ratio, and Child-Pugh grade C ratio of liver function in the death group were higher than those in the survival group, and the red blood cell count and hematocrit were lower than those in the survival group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curve for predicting survival by random forest, support vector machine, generalized linear model and Bayesian model were 0.92, 0.78, 0.81 and 0.71 in the training set, and the area under the ROC curve in the testing set were 0.81, 0.72, 0.67 and 0.68, respectively. Random forest had the best prediction performance, with an accuracy of 81.7%, a sensitivity of 84.6%, and a specificity of 76.9% in the testing set. In the analysis of the importance of characteristic parameters of the random forest model, total bilirubin, red blood cells, hematocrit, serum creatinine, ascites classification, etc. had a relatively high contribution to the model. Conclusion:In the survival prediction model of patients with liver cirrhosis and PVT based on machine learning algorithm, the random forest model had high prediction performance, and total bilirubin may be the most important factor affecting the survival prognosis of patients.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of three-dimensional(3D) printing-assisted fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair (F/B-TEVAR) for the treatment of endoleak after open surgery for type A aortic dissection.Methods:A multi-center retrospective case series analysis was conducted on 16 patients with anastomotic leakage following Stanford type A aortic dissection open repair, admitted to 12 medical centers between January 2019 and December 2023. All surgeries were led by the vascular surgery team from Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The study included 12 males and 4 females, with an age of (58.1±8.2) years (range: 42 to 75 years). Preoperative patient-specific 3D-printed models or 3D parametric surface topological guides were created based on aortic CT angiography data. These models assisted intraoperative external positioning of fenestration sites, combined with stent diameter selection and inner branch techniques to complete endovascular repair. Surgical procedures, complications, and clinical outcomes were evaluated, with follow-up CT imaging to assess efficacy.Results:All patients successfully underwent surgery without conversion to open repair. One patient had distal stent migration from a prior open repair, requiring intraoperative coverage of the main stent window and conversion to an in situ fenestration procedure. The mean operative time was (332.6±111.2)minutes (range: 80 to 460 minutes). No renal failure, paraplegia, or branch artery loss occurred. Postoperative follow-up ( M(IQR)) was 18(18) months(range: 6 to 36 months), with follow-up rates of 16/16 at 6 months, 10/16 at 12 months, 8/16 at 24 months, and 2/16 at 36 months. During follow-up, endoleak occurred in 3 patients, cerebral infarction in 1 patient, and death in 1 patient. The remaining patients demonstrated stable stent positioning, patent branches, and no endoleak. Conclusion:3D technology-guided F/B-TEVAR shows favorable mid-to short-term outcomes in treating anastomotic leakage after open repair of type A aortic dissection.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of non-ECG-gated scan using wide-body detector in left atrial computed tomo-graphy angiography(CTA)and to assess its value in evaluating left atrial appendage closure(LAAC)outcomes.Methods Patients who underwent LAAC and completed left atrial CTA were prospectively selected.Participants were randomly divided into groups A and B.In group A,the heart rate was measured using a finger clip oximeter before the examination,and the heart rate was set as the simula-ted heart rate.The simulated signal was generated by the CT equipment to complete the examination.In group B,the conventional ECG-gated scan was adopted.The residual leakage of left atrial appendage occluder,image quality,patient comfort and radiation dose of the two groups were compared,and statistical analysis was performed for these indicators.Results Both groups completed the evaluation of the endothelialization degree of the left atrial appendage occluder,and there was no significant difference in the objective image quality evaluation or subjective image score between the two groups(P＞0.05).The total scores of the physiological dimension,psy-chological dimension,social cultural dimension and environmental dimension of patients in group A were higher than those in group B(P＜0.001),and the volume CT dose index(CTDIvol)and dose length product(DLP)decreased by 25％and 25.36％respectively,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.001).Conclusion During the left atrial CTA examination,the wide-body detector with non-ECG-gated scan mode can provide good image quality for clinical use and observe the embolization of the left atrial appendage after LAAC surgery.At the same time,it can effectively reduce the radiation dose for patients and improve patient comfort dur-ing the examination,showing high clinical feasibility and appli-cation value.