Ninth Hospital of Nanchang

BackgroundA growing body of research indicates that mechanobiology plays a pivotal role in cancer pathogenesis and holds considerable therapeutic potential. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this interdisciplinary field is lacking, partly due to challenges in cross-database data integration. In this study, we aim to construct a systematic knowledge map of cancer mechanobiology to delineate its research progress, core structure, and emerging trends.MethodsIn this study, we integrated 1,947 publications from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection and Scopus (1976–2025). To address cross-database heterogeneity, we developed a novel, customized, multi-stage data-standardization workflow combining a bespoke Python parsing engine with fuzzy string matching algorithms and manual verification. The unified dataset was analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix.ResultsThe United States and China are the most prolific countries, while the University of California system is the most productive institution. Valerie M. Weaver is the most published author, while Matthew J. Paszek is the most co-cited, indicating foundational influence. Cell is the most influential journal based on co-citation frequency. Keyword analysis reveals a thematic evolution from “extracellular matrix stiffness” and “mechanotransduction” to frontier areas such as “cancer immunotherapy” and “YAP signaling protein.”ConclusionIn this study, we construct a comprehensive bibliometric map of cancer mechanobiology. Our findings elucidate the developmental trajectory and research hotspots of the field, providing a data-driven reference for future investigations, international collaborations, and clinical translation of physical oncology.

AimsTo analyze and compare the efficacy and safety of cryoballoon catheter ablation (CBA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the first treatment of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF).Methods116 patients with PerAF who underwent the first-time catheter ablation were enrolled retrospectively, including 56 patients in CBA group and 60 patients in RFA group. The primary endpoint was symptomatic onset after 3 months of ablation or occurrence of atrial arrhythmia (ATA) with any documented duration more than 30 s. The secondary endpoints were perioperative complications and re-ablation 3 month after procedure.ResultsNo remarkable difference existed between CBA group and RFA group in the recurrence rate one year after operation (CBA 16.1% vs. RFA 23.3%, P = 0.360). Additionally, the complication rates were similar between the two groups (CBA 25.0% vs. RFA 35.0%, P = 0.312).ConclusionIn this real-world study, the effectiveness and overall safety of CBA and RFA in the treatment of PerAF were comparable.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1642787.].

IntroductionCritical femoral diaphyseal defects exceeding 3 cm present significant challenges in trauma and military orthopedics, particularly in blast injury scenarios requiring rapid rehabilitation.MethodsThe purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the biomechanical in vitro performance of two personalized prostheses (Groups A and B) designed explicitly for critical femoral diaphyseal defects through integrated biomechanical testing and finite element analysis (FEA). Using fourth-generation composite femurs simulating 10 cm defects (n = 16), we compared axial compression, torsion, four-point bending stiffness, and cyclic fatigue performance against intact bones (Group D) and diaphyseal fractures without defects (Group C).ResultsKey findings demonstrate comparable compressive stiffness between prostheses groups (Group A: 764.12±112.63 N/mm; Group B: 693.63±136.31 N/mm) and intact femurs (808.59±18.1 N/mm, p>0.05). The torsional stiffness is comparable between prostheses groups (Group A: 2.28±0.15 Nm/°; Group B: 2.18±0.22 Nm/°) versus diaphyseal fractures without defects (2.01±0.19 Nm/°). The stiffness results comply with mobilization requirements. FEA revealed maximum von Mises stresses in prosthesis fixation systems below the yield strength of Ti6Al4V, with digital image correlation validating the stress distribution patterns. The porous scaffold design achieved optimal modulus (1,132.85 MPa) between cortical and cancellous bone, reducing the “stress shielding” effect. Both prostheses endured 1800 N cyclic loading (100,000 cycles ≈, 13.3 years of physiological use) without structural failure.DiscussionThese customized prostheses address critical military medical needs by enabling immediate weight-bearing, reducing surgical complexity compared to bone transport techniques, and maintaining long-term mechanical integrity. The stiffener design philosophy and additive manufacturing flexibility provide adaptable solutions for complex combat-related trauma, significantly advancing early functional recovery in resource-constrained environments.

ObjectiveBuilding upon the established role of P21 Activated Kinase 6 (PAK6) in tumor progression and chemoresistance pathways, we postulate its potential as a dual-function biomarker for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This investigation aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of PAK6’s diagnostic validity and prognostic significance through comparative analysis of PAK6 serological levels across distinct clinical cohorts to determine diagnostic thresholds, and its clinical correlation with therapeutic responsiveness.Patients and MethodsThis study included 109 patients diagnosed with SCLC, 92 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 85 patients with pulmonary nodules (PN), and 94 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examinations as the normal control group (NC). Serum PAK6 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) were quantified via chemiluminescence assays. Progression-free survival (PFS) data for SCLC patients were collected through case review and telephone follow-up.ResultsSerum PAK6 levels were significantly higher in the SCLC group compared to the other three groups (p < 0.01). Similarly, NSE and ProGRP levels were markedly elevated in the SCLC group compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between PAK6 and variables such as gender, VA (Veteran’s Administration Lung Cancer Study Group) stage, age, smoking status, CEA, CA19-9, NSE, and ProGRP. The serum tumor markers (STMs) PAK6, NSE, and ProGRP exhibited superior diagnostic performance, with AUCs of 0.892, 0.834, and 0.935, respectively (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.857–0.927], [0.778–0.890], and [0.909–0.960]), compared to CEA and CA19-9 (AUCs = 0.676 and 0.611, respectively; 95% CI [0.622–0.731] and [0.547–0.675]) (p < 0.01). Furthermore, PAK6, NSE, and ProGRP levels significantly decreased after three months of treatment, while CEA and CA19-9 showed no significant changes. Survival analysis demonstrated that higher PAK6 levels were associated with poorer SCLC prognosis. Increased serum PAK6 expression correlated with shorter PFS (HR = 2.02 [1.33–3.07], P = 0.001).ConclusionSerum PAK6 holds significant clinical value for the diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prognosis evaluation of SCLC and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the disease.

Abstract Background One of the characteristics of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is cardiac hypertrophy, which was reported to be related to lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1), but the mechanism needs to be explored. Here, we explored how LOX-1 facilitated ACM induced cardiac hypertrophy and its molecular mechanisms. Methods H9C2 cells and rats were treated with alcohol to establish ACM models in vitro and in vivo, and before alcohol treatment, H9C2 cells were transfected with sh/oe-LOX-1 and oe-P38MAPK adenovirus vector to knockdown or overexpression LOX-1 and P38MAPK. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to quantify cardiomyocyte area and observe autophagosomes, respectively. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of LOX-1, P38MAPK, p-P38MAPK, markers of cardiac hypertrophy, autophagy and apoptosis in H9C2 cells and rats, respectively. Furthermore, ACM rats were injected with of sh-LOX-1 to test whether LOX-1 knockdown could alleviate alcohol-induced heart injury by inhibiting the P38MAPK signaling pathway. Results Alcohol induced H9C2 cells hypertrophy, obvious autophagy as well as apoptosis, and increased the expression of LOX-1 and P38MAPK. LOX-1 overexpression enhanced the deleterious effects of alcohol, whereas sh-LOX-1 relatively counteracted. The rescure experiment showed that P38MAPK overexpression partially counteracted the protective effect of LOX-1 knockdown by promoting hypertrophy, autophagy and apoptosis in H9C2 cells. In addition, sh-LOX-1 ameliorated alcohol-induced cardiac injury in rats. Conclusion LOX-1 knockdown could inhibit P38MAPK signaling pathway to exert anti-hypertrophy, anti-autophagy and anti-apoptosis effects in ACM. LOX-1 is expected to be a potential target for the treatment of ACM.

Constipation during pregnancy can induce serious complications, including miscarriage and preterm labour, while the evidence of probiotics in improving constipation during pregnancy was little. In this study, 29 healthy pregnant women and 65 constipated pregnant women were enrolled to assess the effectiveness of probiotics on constipation during pregnancy. Our results showed that the probiotics were effective in improving the Constipation Severity Scale (CSS) and Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) scores, including increasing defecation frequency, decreasing defecation time, and improving fecal characteristics. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the probiotics effectively restored the diversity of intestinal microbiota. At the phylum level, Firmicutes (13.27% vs 57.20%) and Actinobacteria (3.77% vs 12.80%) were increased, while Bacteroidetes (77.82% vs 20.24%) was decreased. At the level of the genus, Faecalibacterium (2.03% vs 10.33%), Bifidobacterium (1.21% vs 8.56%), and Phascolarctobacterium (0.05% vs 2.88%), the beneficial bacteria were increased, while the Bacteroides (29.23% vs 12.28%) and Prevotella (24.32% vs 4.92%) were decreased. In conclusion, these results indicated that probiotics can effectively relieve the constipation symptoms by improving the diversity of intestinal microbiota, regulating the disturbance of microflorae, and restoring the balance of microflorae to exert a stronger moderating effect than diet and lifestyle modification. Our results provided clinical data and a theoretical basis for the exploitation of probiotics in treating constipation during pregnancy. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2100052069.

The application of antifibrotic drugs to treat patients with chronic liver diseases who are receiving antiviral therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been established. Here, we aimed to assess the impact of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) on the occurrence of HCC in patients with hepatitis B virus-related compensated cirrhosis receiving the antiviral drug entecavir (ETV). A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed. Compensated liver cirrhosis patients were divided into the ETV+FZHY group or the ETV group according to treatment. The cumulative incidence of HCC was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests. Propensity score matching was used for confounding factors. Stratified analysis and Cox regression were used to determine the effects of FZHY on the occurrence of HCC and liver function decompensation. Out of 910 chronic hepatitis B patients, 458 were in the ETV+FZHY group and 452 were in the ETV group. After propensity score matching, the 5-year cumulative incidence of HCC was 9.8% in the ETV+FZHY group and 21.8% in the ETV group (p<0.01). The adjusted hazard ratio for HCC was 0.216 (0.108, 0.432) when FZHY treatment was >36 months. Age, diabetes, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, albumin, hepatitis B e-antigen, and fibrosis 4 score were associated with the occurrence of HCC. FZHY decreased the risk of HCC in patients aged >45 years with a hepatitis B virus DNA level of ≥2,000 IU/l. Adjunctive FZHY treatment reduced HCC occurrence in patients with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis who were treated with ETV, possibly due to the antifibrotic properties of FZHY.