The concept of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) has been widely accepted around the world since it was proposed nearly 30 years ago, but there are still no universal criteria for the definition and diagnosis of ACLF worldwide. In recent years, the key clinical features for describing ACLF, such as the underlying chronic liver diseases, acute intrahepatic or extrahepatic insults, acute hepatic decompensation, extrahepatic organ failure, short-term high mortality, and the reversible course of the disease, have gradually narrowed the differences and reached a consensus. The pathogenesis of ACLF has not been fully elucidated, and most relevant studies focus on systemic inflammation and immune dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the evolution in the clinical definition of ACLF during the last few years and suggest clear criteria for ACLF diagnostics. In addition, we summarize the current understanding of ACLF pathogenesis and review the latest therapeutic targets against this condition. Lastly, we present a novel experimental mouse model that has been proven to be instrumental for the assessment of novel potential therapies for ACLF.
Yang Zhao, Xueqian Wang, Tong Lei, Hezhe Lu, Yong Zhao, Guiying Wang
中华医学杂志英文版2026年 139卷 08期
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000004009
摘要
Chemokines play a critical role in regulating immune cell infiltration and their interactions with cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Disrupted chemokine gradients influence immune cell recruitment and activation, as well as tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. By modulating these processes, chemokines shape the immune landscape of the tumor microenvironment, driving either immunosuppressive or immunostimulatory responses with corresponding pro- or antitumor effects. Dysregulated expression of chemokines and their receptors is strongly associated with tumor initiation, progression, and clinical outcomes. As a result, the chemokine receptor axis has gained prominence as a therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. This review explores chemokine expression profiles across various tumor types and their receptor-mediated interactions with immune cells. It also summarizes current strategies to therapeutically target chemokine signaling, both as standalone interventions and in combination with other treatment modalities.
The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic response, and is closely associated with long-term treatment efficacy. Notably, therapeutic interventions are not only influenced by the immune microenvironment but also actively remodel its cellular and molecular architecture. In recent years, advanced technologies such as single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and other multi-omics approaches have provided unprecedented insights into the dynamic interplay between therapeutic modalities and the TIME, as well as the secondary microenvironmental changes that critically influence immunotherapy outcomes. In this review, we summarize therapy-induced remodeling of the TIME, elucidate the mechanisms by which these changes modulate immunotherapy responsiveness, and discuss potential strategies for therapeutic optimization. A deeper understanding of therapy-driven alterations in the TIME, empowered by emerging high-resolution technologies, will not only facilitate the monitoring and prediction of treatment efficacy but also guide the development of more precise and individualized combination treatment strategies.
Liuqing Yang, Yu Gu, Jun Shao, Li Zhang, Chengdi Wang
中华医学杂志英文版2026年 139卷 08期
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003955
摘要
Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of liquid biopsy, advancing the noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary diseases. Its molecular characteristics, particularly methylation profiles, fragmentation patterns, and mutations, now enable a range of clinical applications—from early detection of lung cancer to rapid pathogen identification and severity assessment in pneumonia, and to precise risk stratification in chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Beyond diagnostic applications, dynamic changes in cfDNA levels and profiles provide critical insights into disease monitoring across a spectrum of pulmonary disorders. While challenges in detection sensitivity, analytical standardization, and clinical validation remain, the ongoing integration of multi-omics data and artificial intelligence is refining the predictive power of cfDNA-based models. Future developments are expected to consolidate the role of cfDNA analysis as an indispensable tool in precision pulmonology, ultimately transforming diagnostic pathways and enabling more personalized, proactive management of respiratory health.
Shengyu Jing, Ao Chen, Yan Xia, Jiaqi Ma, Danbo Lu, Zhangwei Chen, Juying Qian, Junbo Ge
中华医学杂志英文版2026年 139卷 08期
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000004006
摘要
Background:
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, yet comprehensive analyses of its burden across sociodemographic contexts and future projections are limited. This study leverages the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database to assess the global, regional, and national burden of IHD from 1990 to 2021 and predicts trends up to 2030.
Methods:
Data on IHD prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality were extracted from the GBD 2021 database. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to evaluate temporal trends. The Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) model was employed to project age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) through 2030. Analyses were stratified by sociodemographic index (SDI), age, sex, and region.
Results:
From 1990 to 2021, global IHD cases increased by 127%, reaching 254.28 million, with the sharpest rises in East Asia and Andean Latin America. Age-standardized incidence, DALYs, and mortality rates declined globally (EAPC: -44%, -120%, and -130%). High-SDI regions exhibited significant reductions in mortality (EAPC: -130%), while low-, low-middle-, and middle-SDI regions faced rising burdens in some indications. Men had consistently higher rates than women, particularly in the elderly population. Projections suggest continued declines in ASIRs through 2030, driven largely by reductions among adults aged ≥70 years, while incidence among younger adults (30-49 years) is expected to fluctuate.
Conclusions:
Although the global absolute burden of IHD increased from 1990 to 2021, age-standardized rates declined, and the burden is projected to decrease further through 2030. These findings highlight the critical need for enhanced prevention and healthcare policies to address the global IHD burden effectively. In low- and middle-SDI regions, policy efforts should be intensified to control risk factors, whereas in high-SDI regions the focus should be on secondary prevention and rehabilitation.
Background:
The prerequisite for achieving the goal of the World Health Organization to completely eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 is China’s accurate understanding of the current disease burden, thereby providing a basis for formulating and optimizing intervention measures.
Methods:
Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 dataset, we extracted data on acute hepatitis A, B, C, and E in China, including incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and their corresponding age-standardized rates (ASRs). To account for differences in age and sex distributions, we calculated ASRs based on the age-specific data extracted from the GBD 2023 dataset. To further assess temporal patterns across different age groups, we estimated the average annual percent change (AAPC). We applied the autoregressive integrated moving average model to project acute viral hepatitis (AVH) disease burden for 2024-2030.
Results:
In 2023, there were an estimated 48.7 million incidence cases of AVH in China, including approximately 19.0 million cases of acute hepatitis A (AHA), 19.2 million cases of acute hepatitis B (AHB), 1.35 million cases of acute hepatitis C (AHC), and 9.2 million cases of acute hepatitis E (AHE). From 1990 to 2023, the overall age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) of the four major AVH types in China declined (AAPC = -0.90%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.93% to -0.87%). In the previous decade, divergent trends were observed. The ASIR of AHC increased (AAPC = 1.42%, 95% CI: 1.39-1.46%), AHE remained stable (AAPC = -0.04%, 95% CI: -0.39-0.32%), whereas AHA and AHB decreased. Moreover, the age-standardized mortality and DALYs rates for AVH significantly decreased. Age-specific analysis further revealed an upward trend in standardized incidence among individuals aged 25-29 years (AAPC = 0.14%, 95% CI: 0.10-0.19%). A continued decline in the ASIR of AVH is projected for 2024-2030.
Conclusions:
In China, the overall burden of AVH has decreased between 1990 and 2023. AHB vaccination among younger populations should be strengthened, and targeted prevention and control strategies should be implemented for those at high risk of AHC, to curb the spread of the disease and reduce the overall burden.
Xia Yang, Jin Wang, Huimin An, Yongtao He, Yi Gan, Qi Chen, Bo Liu, Wangyang Tang, Guoxiang Fu, Zhinong Jiang
中华医学杂志英文版2026年 139卷 08期
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003942
摘要
Background:
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low breast cancer (BC) is an emerging subtype with specific clinicopathological features and therapeutic strategies. However, limited studies are available on the molecular characteristics and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Methods:
This study was conducted using the clinicopathological and genomic data of 1006 TNBC patients, which were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC), and Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University (SRRSH) cohorts. The clinicopathological features, survival outcomes, molecular characteristics, and immune profiles of TNBCs based on HER2 status were evaluated.
Results:
Patients were stratified into HER2-low (N = 676) and HER2-zero (N = 330) groups according to their HER2 status. We found HER2-low TNBCs had a lower histological grade and Ki67 index compared to the HER2-zero subgroup in the SRRSH cohort. However, no significant association has been found between the HER2 status and the disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), or overall survival (OS) in TNBCs. Genomic mutation analysis showed that the HER2-low TNBCs exhibited higher mutated frequencies of PIK3CA, MUC17, and PTEN, while FAT3, RYR2, and CSMD3 were more frequently mutated in the HER2-zero subgroup. Furthermore, the combined mutation of PIK3CA and MUC17, which had a higher frequency in the HER2-low subgroup, was associated with poorer survival in TNBCs. Immune profile analysis revealed a higher percentage of plasma cells in patients with low HER2 expression.
Conclusion:
Taken together, our study reflected the impact of the HER2 status on the clinicopathological and molecular features of TNBCs, which might offer additional introspection and improvement for translational studies and therapeutic decisions for TNBCs.
Xingmei Shu, Ranjiaxi Wang, Yan Liu, Xiaoqian Shi, Yuhao Liu, Yinan Chen, Jinming Shi, Mingyang Liu, Yongmei Song, Dan Li
中华医学杂志英文版2026年 139卷 08期
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003596
摘要
Background:
Ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1 (S6K1) is frequently amplified and correlates with drug resistance and poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Although S6K1 functions primarily in the process of translation, the genome-wide translational profiles regulated by S6K1 remain unclear. This study sought to clarify the pivotal role of S6K1 in translational regulation and investigate its novel targets in breast cancer.
Methods:
Ribosome profiling sequencing (Ribo-seq) was performed to explore genome-wide translational profiles regulated by S6K1 in breast cancer cells. Integrated multiomics analyses, including Ribo-seq, RNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry, were employed to identify a new target of S6K1 translational regulation, the autophagy-related gene clusterin (CLU). Western blotting and immunofluorescence were utilized to confirm that S6K1 regulated CLU translation, thus influencing autophagy in breast cancer cells. Bafilomycin A1 (a late-stage autophagy inhibitor) was used to demonstrate that S6K1 regulated autophagosome formation in breast cancer cells through affecting the translation of CLU.
Results:
S6K1 depletion resulted in the downregulation of global messenger RNA (mRNA) translation and affected translation in multiple pathways that play crucial roles in carcinogenesis, with autophagy-related pathways being the most prominently affected. The role of S6K1 in autophagy was further confirmed in breast cancer cells, and CLU was identified as a novel target regulated by S6K1 at the translational level. Additionally, the overexpression of S6K1 promoted the translation of CLU, thus facilitating the formation of autophagosomes.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that the overexpression of S6K1 promoted autophagy in breast cancer cells by facilitating the translation of the autophagy-related gene CLU.
Background:
Clonal hematopoiesis is a proposed marker of aging. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a candidate risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, hematological malignancies, and all-cause mortality, while its associations with the diseases of other systems and cause-specific mortality remain inconclusive.
Methods:
We estimated the longitudinal risk for CHIP with 70 common diseases, all-cause, and cause-specific mortality among 431,546 participants in the UK Biobank. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to test the causal associations of CHIP with incident diseases. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to generate the hazard ratio [HR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] for each CHIP phenotype with the common health-related outcomes. Also evaluated the joint associations between CHIP and telomere length for diseases and mortalities.
Results:
This study included 431,546 participants (mean age, 56.49 years; 45.7% male), of whom 20,274 had CHIP. CHIP at baseline was associated with increased risk of cancers (HR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.10-1.17), infections (HR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.16), ischemic heart diseases (HR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12), diseases of the blood (HR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.26-1.37), nervous (HR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10), respiratory (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.13), and genitourinary systems (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.14), and related mortality (false discovery rate <0.05). CHIP carriers were also at elevated risk of incident mental (HR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.12) and dermatological (HR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11) disorders and mortality due to circulatory system (HR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.11-1.28). Most of the associations between CHIP and diseases or mortalities were robust after adjustment for inflammatory parameters. Large clone size CHIP had higher longitudinal risks compared with small clone size or overall CHIP. CHIP due to TET2 mutation was associated with more outcomes than other common CHIP driver genes. Significant interactions were observed between CHIP and short telomere length, the additive and multiplicative effects on the risk of diseases and mortalities were more obvious among large clone size CHIP.
Conclusion:
This study showed that CHIP was associated with diseases and mortalities of multiple systems, suggesting CHIP was a candidate risk factor for human health.