Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a pro-inflammatory granule protein released by activated neutrophils, known for its role in modulating vascular permeability and its pathological significance in infectious diseases. In recent years, HBP has garnered attention due to its immune-activating effects in contexts such as sepsis, acute lung injury and organ transplantation. It has been proposed as a potential biomarker for early detection of infection and inflammation. While preliminary progress has been made in animal studies, clinical evidence remains limited. Therefore, this article focuses on the mechanism of action of HBP in transplantation-related complications, explores its potential pathways for predicting infection risk, mediating ischemia-reperfusion injury and rejection, and evaluates the feasibility of intervention strategies such as neutralizing antibodies, heparin derivatives and albumin. The pivotal role of HBP in regulating inflammatory responses post-transplant may offer a novel target for postoperative infection monitoring and personalized therapeutic interventions.

Objective To systematically analyze the disease burden, long-term trends, and age-sex distribution of major valvular heart disease (VHD) subtypes—rheumatic heart disease (RHD), non-rheumatic valvular disease (NRVD), and non-rheumatic calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD)—in global, Chinese, and US populations from 1990 to 2021, providing evidence for public health strategies and clinical resource allocation. Methods Based on publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, we extracted incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for VHD from 1990 to 2021. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) were calculated using the GBD 2021 global standard population, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) with its 95% uncertainty interval (UI) was computed for the period. Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/Eurostat surveys, and Chinese national registries were used for trend triangulation and contextual background. Results From 1990 to 2021, the ASR and disease burden of RHD significantly decreased globally and in China (EAPC for DALYs in China: −4.8%, 95%UI: −5.0% to −4.6%). In contrast, the burden of NRVD and CAVD steadily increased in aging populations like those in China and the US, with a higher burden observed in older adults and males. In 2021, the incidence of NRVD and CAVD peaked in individuals aged ≥65 years, with rates being significantly higher in men than in women. RHD burden was concentrated in low socio-demographic index (SDI) regions, whereas NRVD/CAVD burden was strongly associated with high-SDI regions. Conclusion The global VHD epidemiological landscape is transitioning from an RHD-dominant to an NRVD/CAVD-dominant pattern. China faces a dual challenge of a residual RHD burden and a rapidly growing burden of degenerative valvular diseases. Developing tailored screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for different disease subtypes and populations is crucial.

Myopic traction maculopathy(MTM)is a common vision-threatening complication in patients with high myopia. With the global increase in high myopia, the prevalence of MTM has been rising worldwide, leading to a growing burden of disease, economic costs,and social impact. The emergence and development of optical coherence tomography(OCT)have provided robust technical support for the staging of MTM. Based on the evolving understanding of its pathological mechanisms and natural course, various staging systems have been proposed and applied in clinical practice, offering crucial guidance for the personalized management of MTM patients. Additionally, innovations and refinements in surgical techniques and materials, such as pars plana vitrectomy(PPV), posterior scleral reinforcement, and macular buckling(MB), have expanded the therapeutic options for MTM. This article systematically reviews the staging systems and treatment strategies for MTM, focusing on the role of OCT-based staging in guiding individualized treatment plans. It also summarizes the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of existing and emerging surgical approaches, including PPV, MB, and their combined procedures. The review further proposes that future research should focus on developing predictive models integrating multimodal data to clarify surgical timing and indications, as well as conducting large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials to explore the selection of PPV, MB, or combined surgeries. The review aims to discuss personalized treatment for MTM, providing theoretical foundations and practical directions for optimizing clinical management and improving patient prognosis for MTM patients.

Copper is an essential trace element in the human body, extensively involved in key physiological and biochemical processes such as antioxidant defense, energy metabolism, neural signaling, and immune regulation. In recent years, increasing research has focused on the potential role of copper dyshomeostasis in the development of chronic diseases. Studies indicate that abnormal copper levels, particularly elevated free copper, may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and cancer by inducing oxidative stress, impairing mitochondrial function, and disrupting immune regulation. Concurrently, copper homeostasis abnormalities have been demonstrated to be closely associated with increased all-cause mortality and accelerated aging. This systematic review comprehensively examined physiological functions, metabolic pathways, and environmental exposure characteristics of copper. It emphasized the epidemiological and mechanistic links between copper metabolism disorders and multiple chronic diseases, while exploring the potential applications of copper ion transporters and chelating agents in disease intervention. This work provides scientific evidence for the prevention, control, and precision treatment of copper-related chronic diseases.

The brain-gut interaction theory is a multidimensional integrative concept based on the brain-gut axis， involving neural， endocrine， and immune regulatory networks as well as the gut microbiota. Zang-fu organs （脏腑） theory in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） shows a high degree of consistency with the brain-gut interaction theory， and the core functions such as the spleen and stomach governing the ascending of the clear and descending of the turbid， the liver governing the free flow of qi， and the heart governing mental and emotional activities are closely associated with the multi-level regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis. TCM therapy can modulate brain-gut interactions through multiple pathways in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases， including the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone secretion， neurotransmitter levels， the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses， as well as the gut microecology. However， current basic research on the brain-gut interaction theory in TCM for spleen and stomach diseases still faces several challenges， such as difficulties in integrating TCM spleen-stomach theory with modern pathophysiology， lack of innovation in research concepts， and limitations in research methodologies. It is therefore proposed that multidisciplinary collaboration， multi-omics technologies， and targeted research approaches should be adopted to provide more comprehensive methods for basic research on TCM spleen and stomach diseases， thereby promoting the in-depth development of brain-gut interaction theory.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of fluid suppression (FS) techniques combined with amide proton transferweighted imaging (APTw) for assessment of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, glioma subtypes, and tumor proliferation. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 117 patients with adult-type diffuse gliomas. Conventional APTw, FSAPTw, and spillover-corrected FS-APTw (SCFS-APTw) metrics were calculated from 3T MRI data in tumor parenchyma, necrotic or cystic regions, and contralateral normal-appearing white matter. APTw signals were compared across the three techniques within each region, between IDH-mutant and IDH-wildtype gliomas, and among astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma subtypes. Diagnostic performance for distinguishing IDH mutation status and glioma subtypes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Correlations between APTw metrics and Ki-67 expression were also analyzed. Results: Both FS-APTw and SCFS-APTw significantly reduced signal intensity in tumor parenchyma and necrotic or cystic regions, with SCFS-APTw demonstrating a stronger suppression effect. IDH-wildtype gliomas showed significantly higher APTw metrics than IDH-mutant gliomas (all P < 0.001). Glioblastomas exhibited significantly higher metrics than oligodendrogliomas (all corrected P ≤ 0.015) and astrocytomas (all corrected P < 0.001). SCFS-APTw achieved the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.846 for identification of IDH mutation status. For differentiation between astrocytomas and glioblastomas, the 90th percentile of APTw yielded the highest AUC (0.860), followed by SCFS-APTw (0.849). For discrimination between oligodendrogliomas and glioblastomas, the highest AUC (0.832) was obtained using the 90th percentile of SCFS-APTw. None of these metrics successfully differentiated oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas. SCFS-APTw demonstrated the strongest correlation with Ki-67 expression (r = 0.451). Conclusion FS techniques effectively reduce elevated APTw signals originating from fluid compartments. Their combination with APTw imaging enables evaluation of IDH mutation status, glioma subtypes, and tumor proliferative activity in adulttype diffuse gliomas.

Background/Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. While combined chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to delay CCA progression to a certain extent, the absence of specific molecular biomarkers or targets significantly hinders the diagnosis and treatment of CCA. Methods: Through cross-analysis of proteomics and ADMA modificationomics, we identified DDX1 overexpressed in CCA with elevated R602-ADMA modifications. HPLC-MS/MS identified PRMT1 as the methyltransferase and USP10 as the deubiquitinating enzyme for DDX1. Immunofluorescence and nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning experiments confirmed DDX1’s nuclear localization. GO and KEGG analyses clarify the biological functions of DDX1 in response to hypoxia. RNA-seq transcriptomics analyzed key pathways influenced by DDX1. A hydrodynamic in situ CCA mouse model was established to validate the chemopreventive effects of the PRMT1-specific inhibitor GSK715 on CCA development. Results: DDX1 promotes CCA progression both in vivo and in vitro and can be inhibited by GSK715. Mechanistically, PRMT1 mediates ADMA modification at position R602 of DDX1. This modification promotes DDX1 nuclear localization by recruiting USP10 to deubiquitinate DDX1, while simultaneously inhibiting PRMT1 degradation. DDX1 promotes the transcription of PRMT1 and USP10 by binding to the mRNA 3’UTR region, establishing a positive feedback regulatory pathway. This mechanism promotes the occurrence and development of CCA and can serve as a target for the inhibitor GSK715 to suppress CCA progression. Conclusions Our study identified DDX1-R602-ADMA modification as a novel ADMA modification in CCA. It further confirmed its pivotal role in CCA progression. Targeting the USP10-PRMT1-DDX1 axis may represent a significant therapeutic approach for CCA.

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to arthralgia in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, with cold dampness obstruction pattern (CDO) and damp heat obstruction pattern (DHO) as the main pattern types. Fine therapeutic effects have been obtained in clinical practice following the differentiation of CDO and DHO. However, suitable animal models are not available currently. For adapting to the clinical diagnosis, as well as carrying out basic research of integrated Chinese and Western medicine and preclinical study on new Chinese medicine in a better way, the “Guidelines for Establishing Animal Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Cold Dampness Obstruction Pattern and Damp Heat Obstruction Pattern” (referred to as “Guidelines”) were compiled by our research group in cooperation with renowned experts in clinical, pharmaceutical, zoological, and methodological research fields. According to the theory of disease and syndrome integration, experts standardized the establishment methods for animal models of rheumatoid arthritis with CDO and DHO. The Guidelines were compiled via the nominal group method according to the principle of evidence coming in main place, consensus as the auxiliary, and experience as the references. Contents such as animal species, arthritis induction methods, external stimulation conditions, and assessment indicators were specified in the Guidelines based on the comprehensive evaluation of pathogenesis homology, behavioral phenotypic consistency, and drug therapy predictability between animal models and human diseases. The Guidelines will be applicable to the research on syndromes in rheumatoid arthritis, elucidation of acting mechanism, and development of new medicine, and provide reference for standardizing other types of animal models with the integration of disease and syndrome, to promote the modernization of Chinese medicine research.

In recent years, the field of cardiovascular surgery has undergone revolutionary changes and made rapid progress in various aspects, bringing more hope and possibilities for the health and well-being of patients. The constant emergence of new technologies brings new opportunities and hope, as well as constant challenges to past concepts. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in cardiovascular surgery in recent years, especially since 2023. It introduces cutting-edge knowledge and technologies in the field of cardiovascular surgery, including lifelong management of aortic valve disease, artificial valves, mitral valves, treatment options for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist, coronary artery surgery, cardiac structural interventions for chronic heart failure, aortic dissection, and comprehensive surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. It also analyzes and explores future development directions in depth, aiming to provide useful references and inspiration for cardiovascular doctors and jointly promote the continuous progress of cardiovascular surgery in China.

The trillions of commensal microorganisms living in the gut lumen profoundly influence the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver through a unique gut-liver axis. Disruptions in the gut microbial communities, arising from environmental and genetic factors, can lead to altered microbial metabolism, impaired intestinal barrier and translocation of microbial components to the liver. These alterations collaboratively contribute to the pathogenesis of liver disease, and their continuous impact throughout the disease course plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Persistent inflammatory responses, metabolic rearrangements and suppressed immunosurveillance induced by microbial products underlie the pro-carcinogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, intrahepatic microbiota derived from the gut also emerges as a novel player in the development and progression of liver cancer. In this review, we first discuss the causes of gut dysbiosis in liver disease, and then specify the pivotal role of gut microbiota in the malignant progression from chronic liver diseases to hepatobiliary cancers. We also delve into the cellular and molecular interactions between microbes and liver cancer microenvironment, aiming to decipher the underlying mechanism for the malignant transition processes. At last, we summarize the current progress in the clinical implications of gut microbiota for liver cancer, shedding light on microbiota-based strategies for liver cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy.