Chronic liver diseases are a group of diseases in which the liver is subjected to a variety of injuries over a long period of time， resulting in irreversible pathological changes that last longer than 6 months. Emodin （EMO） is a natural anthraquinone derivative derived from Rheum officinale， and its pharmacological effect has been extensively studied， exhibiting a variety of biological properties and involving multiple signaling molecules and pathways. Western medicine or surgical treatment is currently the main treatment regimen for chronic liver diseases， and the advance in treatment is limited by various reasons such as side effects and high costs. Due to its natural origin and efficacy， EMO has unique advantages in the treatment of chronic liver diseases and has now become a research hotspot. This article summarizes the therapeutic effect of EMO on chronic liver diseases and its mechanism， in order to provide a certain scientific basis for the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of chronic liver diseases and the development of drugs in clinical practice.

Objective: To validate the performance of the Procleix UltrioPlex E assay (Grifols, Spain) on the Procleix Panther automated nucleic acid detection platform, which employs the TMA method to simultaneously detect HIV-1/HIV-2/HCV/HBV/HEV viruses, and to evaluate its value for screening transfusion-associated infectious diseases. Methods: In accordance with the requirements of ISO15189"Application of the Guidelines for the Accreditation of Quality and Capabilities of Medical Laboratories in the Field of Molecular Diagnostics (CNAS-CL02-A009: 2018)", "Guidelines for Performance Validation of Molecular Diagnostic Testing Procedures (CNAS-GL039: 2019)", and the "Technical Operating Procedures for Blood Banks (2019 Edition)", this study validated the reagent's performance in terms of analytical sensitivity validation, performance consistency validation, interference resistance, and cross-contamination resistance. Results: Probit analysis revealed that the 95% detection limits (95% confidence interval) for HBV, HCV, HIV, and HEV were 2.0 IU/mL, 1.5 IU/mL, 18.0 IU/mL and 3.7 IU/mL, respectively, which were consistent with the minimum detection limits stated in the kit's package insert and were comparable to the Procleix Ultrio Elite kit. Both kits were used to test the performance validation serum plate simultaneously, yielding results consistent with the serum plate (Kappa=1), indicating stable performance. Detection of medium-and low-concentration lipemia and weakly positive hemolysis samples demonstrated good interference resistance. Cross-contamination performance validation showed that the kit exhibited excellent cross-contamination resistance. Conclusion: The Procleix UltrioPlex E nucleic acid detection kit enables combined detection of HIV-1, HIV-2, HCV, HBV, and HEV, allowing single-test screening for multiple viruses in donor blood. The kit's analytical performance is stable and meets basic laboratory requirements, making it suitable for screening transfusion-associated infectious diseases in blood banks.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role and underlying mechanism of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of Xiaojinwan （XJW）-containing serum interfering with endothelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. MethodsXJW-containing serum was prepared by intragastric administration of XJW （4 g·kg^-1） to SD rats. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in vitro. β-Catenin overexpression and knockdown plasmids were constructed and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells. The optimal XJW-containing serum （4 g·kg^-1） according to previous studies was used for β-catenin intervention and overexpression experiments. The groups for intervention/overexpression experiments included intervention/overexpression blank group， β-catenin intervention/overexpression group， intervention/overexpression blank + XJW group， and β-catenin intervention/overexpression + XJW group. Cell morphology was observed under a microscope. Flow cytometry was used to detect and record apoptosis rates. Western blot was performed to measure apoptosis-related proteins ［B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and active-Caspase-3］ and EMT-related proteins （E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect β-catenin mRNA expression levels in different groups. ResultsIntervention experiment results showed that compared with the intervention blank group， the β-catenin intervention group and the intervention blank + XJW group showed increased apoptosis rates （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated protein levels of Bax， active Caspase-3， and E-cadherin （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased protein levels of Bcl-2 and Vimentin （P<0.05， P<0.01）. β-catenin mRNA expression was reduced in the β-catenin intervention group （P<0.05， 0.63 ± 0.15） and the intervention blank + XJW group （P<0.05， 0.79 ± 0.33）. Compared with the β-catenin intervention group， the β-catenin intervention + XJW group exhibited an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， elevated Bax and active Caspase-3 protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and Vimentin protein levels （P<0.05）. β-catenin mRNA expression was further reduced in the β-catenin intervention + XJW group （P<0.01， 0.22 ± 0.08）. Compared with the intervention blank + XJW group， the β-catenin intervention + XJW group showed an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， elevated Bax， active Caspase-3， and E-cadherin protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and vimentin protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. β-catenin mRNA expression was also reduced （P<0.05）. Overexpression experiment results showed that compared with the overexpression blank group， the β-catenin overexpression group exhibited a reduced apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， while the overexpression blank + XJW group showed an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.05）. In the β-catenin overexpression and β-catenin overexpression + XJW groups， Bax and E-cadherin protein levels decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and vimentin levels increased （P<0.05）. In the overexpression blank + XJW group， Bax and E-cadherin levels increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and vimentin levels decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. β-catenin mRNA expression increased in the β-catenin overexpression group （P<0.01， 7.26 ± 1.03） but decreased in the overexpression blank + XJW group （P<0.05， 0.73 ± 0.14）. Compared with the β-catenin overexpression group， the β-catenin overexpression + XJW group showed an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， elevated Bax and E-cadherin levels （P<0.05）， and decreased N-cadherin and vimentin levels （P<0.05）. β-catenin mRNA expression was reduced （P<0.05， 4.65 ± 1.02）. Compared with the overexpression blank + XJW group， the β-catenin overexpression + XJW group exhibited a reduced apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， decreased Bax and E-cadherin levels （P<0.01）， and increased Bcl-2， N-cadherin， and Vimentin levels （P<0.05）. β-catenin mRNA expression increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionXJW-containing serum inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation by suppressing EMT， which is associated with the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Diabetes is a very complex endocrine disease whose common feature is the increase in blood glucose concentration. Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to blindness, kidney and heart disease, neurodegeneration, and many other serious complications that have a significant impact on human health and quality of life. The number of people with diabetes is increasing yearly. The global diabetes prevalence in 20-79 year olds in 2021 was estimated to be 10.5% (536.6 million), and it will rise to 12.2% (783.2 million) in 2045. The main modes of intervention for diabetes include medication, dietary management, and exercise conditioning. Medication is the mainstay of treatment. Marketed diabetes drugs such as metformin and insulin, as well as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are effective in controlling blood sugar levels to some extent, but the preventive and therapeutic effects are still unsatisfactory. Peptide drugs have many advantages such as low toxicity, high target specificity, and good biocompatibility, which opens up new avenues for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Currently, insulin and its analogs are by far the main life-saving drugs in clinical diabetes treatment, enabling effective control of blood glucose levels, but the risk of hypoglycemia is relatively high and treatment is limited by the route of delivery. New and oral anti-diabetic drugs have always been a market demand and research hotspot. Inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) peptides are a class of multifunctional cyclic peptides. In structure, they contain three conserved disulfide bonds (C3-C20, C7-C22, and C15-C32) form a compact “knot” structure, which can resist degradation of digestive protease. Recent studies have shown that ICK peptides derived from legume, such as PA1b, Aglycin, Vglycin, Iglycin, Dglycin, and aM₁, exhibit excellent regulatory activities on glucose and lipid metabolism at the cellular and animal levels. Mechanistically, ICK peptides promote glucose utilization by muscle and liver through activation of IR/AKT signaling pathway, which also improves insulin resistance. They can repair the damaged pancrease through activation of PI3K/AKT/Erk signaling pathway, thus lowering blood glucose. The biostability and hypoglycemic efficacy of the ICK peptides meet the requirements for commercialization of oral drugs, and in theory, they can be developed into natural oral anti-diabetes peptide drugs. In this review, the structural properties, activity and mechanism of ICK pattern peptides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism were summaried, which provided a reference for the development of new oral peptides for diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the specific molecular mechanism of Yinqiao Powder in affecting macrophage polarization in herpes simplex keratitis(HSK)through the cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING)-interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)molecular pathway.METHODS:Human corneal epithelial cells(HCE-T)were divided into control, HSK, and HSK + Yinqiao Powder groups. M0 macrophages were grouped as Ctrl, HSV-1, HSV-1+oe-cGAS, HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder, and HSV-1+oe-cGAS+Yinqiao Powder. Conditional medium(CM)from each group of M0 macrophages was collected to intervene in HCE-T cells and divided into Ctrl-CM, HSV-1-CM, HSV-1+oe-cGAS-CM, and HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder-CM groups. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. ELISA was used to detect the concentrations of Arg-1 and iNOS in cell supernatants, and Western blotting was used to detect the relative protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3. Balb/c mice were divided into control, model, and drug groups. The model and drug groups were inoculated with HSV-1 on the cornea of Balb/c mice using the corneal scratch method to construct an HSK mouse model, and the drug group was treated with Yinqiao Powder. The incidence and mortality of the three groups were compared on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after modeling.RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the HCE-T cell viability in the HSK group was decreased but apoptosis was increased, which was reversed by Yinqiao Powder intervention. Compared with the Ctrl group, the Arg-1 concentration in the cell supernatant of the HSV-1 group was decreased, the iNOS concentration was increased, and the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3 were decreased. Compared with the HSV-1 group, the Arg-1 concentration was increased, the iNOS concentration was decreased, and the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3 were enhanced in the HSV-1+oe-cGAS group and the HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder group, and the same results were obtained in the HSV-1+oe-cGAS+Yinqiao Powder group. Compared with the Ctrl-CM group, the HCE-T cell viability was decreased and apoptosis was increased in the HSV-1-CM group, which was reversed by overexpressing cGAS in macrophages or intervening with Yinqiao Powder. In vivo experiments found that Yinqiao Powder intervention could improve the pathological progression of keratitis.CONCLUSION:Yinqiao Powder inhibits M1 polarization of macrophages through the cGAS-STING-IRF3 molecular pathway, thereby delaying the progression of HSK.

Objective To evaluate the surgical efficacy of unilateral pneumonectomy for the treatment of tuberculous destroyed lung, analyze the causes of severe postoperative complications, and explore clinical management strategies. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with tuberculous destroyed lung who underwent unilateral pneumonectomy at the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from 2017 to 2023. Postoperative severe complications were statistically analyzed. Patients were divided into a non-severe complication group and a severe-complication group, and the causes, management, and outcomes of complications were analyzed. Results A total of 134 patients were included, comprising 69 males and 65 females, with a mean age of 17-73 (40.43±12.69) years. There were 93 patients undergoing left pneumonectomy and 41 patients undergoing right pneumonectomy. Preoperative sputum smear was positive in 35 patients, all of which converted to negative postoperatively. There were 58 patients with hemoptysis preoperatively, and none experienced hemoptysis postoperatively. Postoperative incisional infection occurred in 8 (5.97%) patients, and postoperative pulmonary infection in 26 (19.40%) patients. Severe postoperative complications occurred in 17 (12.69%) patients, including empyema in 9 (6.72%) patients, bronchopleural fistula with empyema in 1 (0.75%) patient, severe pneumonia in 3 (2.24%) patients, postpneumonectomy syndrome in 1 (0.75%) patient, chylothorax in 1 (0.75%) patient, ketoacidosis in 1 (0.75%) patient, and heart failure with severe pneumonia in 1 (0.75%) patient. Perioperative mortality occurred in 2 (1.49%) patients, both of whom underwent right pneumonectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of ipsilateral thoracic surgery, concomitant Aspergillus infection, and greater blood loss were independent risk factors for severe complications following unilateral pneumonectomy for tuberculous destroyed lung (P<0.05). Conclusion Unilateral pneumonectomy for patients with tuberculous destroyed lung can significantly improve the clinical cure rate, sputum conversion rate, and hemoptysis cessation rate. However, there is a certain risk of severe perioperative complications and mortality, requiring thorough perioperative management and appropriate management of postoperative complications.

T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) is one of the simplest known RNA polymerases. Its unique structural features make it a critical model for studying the mechanisms of RNA synthesis. This review systematically examines the static crystal structure of T7 RNAP, beginning with an in-depth examination of its characteristic “thumb”, “palm”, and “finger” domains, which form the classic “right-hand-like” architecture. By detailing these structural elements, this review establishes a foundation for understanding the overall organization of T7 RNAP. This review systematically maps the functional roles of secondary structural elements and their subdomains in transcriptional catalysis, progressively elucidating the fundamental relationships between structure and function. Further, the intrinsic flexibility of T7 RNAP and its applications in research are also discussed. Additionally, the review presents the structural diagrams of the enzyme at different stages of the transcription process, and through these diagrams, it provides a detailed description of the complete transcription process of T7 RNAP. By integrating structural dynamics and kinetics analyses, the review constructs a comprehensive framework that bridges static structure to dynamic processes. Despite its advantages, T7 RNAP has a notable limitation: it generates double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a byproduct. The presence of dsRNA not only compromises the purity of mRNA products but also elicits nonspecific immune responses, which pose significant challenges for biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review provides a detailed exploration of the mechanisms underlying dsRNA formation during T7 RNAP catalysis, reviews current strategies to mitigate this issue, and highlights recent progress in the field. A key focus is the semi-rational design of T7 RNAP mutants engineered to minimize dsRNA generation and enhance catalytic performance. Beyond its role in transcription, T7 RNAP exhibits rapid development and extensive application in fields, including gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccines. This review systematically examines the structure-function relationships of T7 RNAP, elucidates the mechanisms of dsRNA formation, and discusses engineering strategies to optimize its performance. It further explores the engineering optimization and functional expansion of T7 RNAP. Furthermore, this review also addresses the pressing issues that currently need resolution, discusses the major challenges in the practical application of T7 RNAP, and provides an outlook on potential future research directions. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of T7 RNAP, ranging from its structural architecture to cutting-edge applications. We systematically examine: (1) the characteristic right-hand domains (thumb, palm, fingers) that define its minimalistic structure; (2) the structure-function relationships underlying transcriptional catalysis; and (3) the dynamic transitions during the complete transcription cycle. While highlighting T7 RNAP’s versatility in gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccine production, we critically address its major limitation—dsRNA byproduct formation—and evaluate engineering solutions including semi-rationally designed mutants. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying key challenges, this work aims to provide novel insights for the development and application of T7 RNAP and to foster further thought and progress in related fields.

Objective To explore the spatiotemporal expression patterns of Patched 1(Ptch1)and insulin enhancer binding protein-1(Isl 1)in mouse embryonic foregut and their relationship with the early development of trachea-main bronchus.Methods The foregut of 60 mouse embryos at E9.5-12.5 was separated for the detection of Isl1 and sonic hedgehog(Shh)protein by Western blotting.Serial paraffin sections of 6 mouse embryos at E9.5-14.5 were taken for immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence double staining with Isl1,Ptch1,forkhead box protein A2(Foxa2),type Ⅱ collagen α1 chain(Col2a1)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),as well as HE staining and Masson staining.Results The expression trend of Isl1 and Shh in foregut endoderm at E9.5-12.5 was similar,and the peak of Shh expression was later than Isl1.The foregut developed into the trachea at E9.5-12.5,Ptch1 was expressed in the thickening and protrusion of the respiratory endoderm,the laryngal-tracheal groove and the solid cell cord,accompanied by the increase and aggregation of Isl1-positive mesenchymal cells,forming a characteristic pyramidal structure centered on the respiratory endoderm and the solid cell cord;The main bronchus appeared at E12.5-13.5,Ptch1 was only expressed in its lateral wall,accompanied by the accumulation of Isl1-positive mesenchymal cells;The trachea-main bronchial epithelium lost Ptch1 expression and the surrounding Isl 1-positive mesenchymal cells also decreased rapidly at E13.5-14.5.Co12a1-positive chondrocytes first appeared in the Isl1-positive mesenchymal area adjacent to the Ptch1-positive epithelium at E12.5;Col2a1-positive cartilage was nested within the Isl1-positive mesenchymic area in a"C"shape and expanded in a proximal-distal pattern at E12.5-13.5;Col2a1-positive cartilage extended to the dorsal trachea beyond the Isl1-positive mesenchyma and encircles α-SMA positive smooth muscle in a circular manner at E14.5.Conclusion The expression of Ptch1 in the foregut endoderm is involved in the development and morphogenesis of the trachea-main bronchus epithelium,and is closely related to the proliferation and aggregation of Isl1-positive mesenchyme in the trachea-main bronchial wall,Subsequently,they jointly determine the time,location and extent of airway cartilage.

Objective To construct a finite element analysis model for the treatment of calcaneal fracture for Sanders Ⅲ type calcaneal by using simulated sustentaculum tali sustentacular screw placement,and to explore the effectiveness of the treatment of Sanders typeⅢcalcaneal fracture.Methods The finite element analysis method was used to study the effectiveness of the treatment of Sanders Ⅲ calcaneal fracture.Three calcaneal specimens of a healthy adult were taken for Micro-CT scanning to obtain the CT sections data,then Mimics 21.0 and Geomagic Wrap 2017 software were used to reconstruct the three-dimensional model of normal calcaneal bone,and SolidWorks 2017 software was used to map the internal fixation and fracture model according to the clinical fracture cases,and simulated surgery was performed.The data obtained were imported into ANSYS 17.0 finite element analysis software for material assignment and mesh division to establish a three-dimensional finite element model.The load and boundary constraints were applied to each model to perform finite element analysis and calculation,and then the stress of the finite element model and the maximum displacement of the fracture end were extracted.Results The maximum stress of the overall structure of each model was concentrated on internal fixation,in which the maximum stress of sustentaculum tali fracture and the maximum stress of screws in all fracture models are located on the sustentaculum tali sustentacular screw.The displacement of fracture end in each finite element model was less than 0.15 mm,and no internal fixation failure occurred.Conclusion It is effective to simulate the treatment of calcaneal fracture of Sanders type Ⅲ by using of sustentaculum tali sustentacular screw.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined telephone and WeChat follow-up for patients discharged with an indwelling closed thoracic drainage tube after surgery for stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods Patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema who were discharged with an indwelling drainage tube from the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, between November 2021 and November 2022 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into an observation group (combined telephone and WeChat follow-up) and a control group (telephone-only follow-up). The quality of life (QoL), treatment adherence, and recovery outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 81 patients were included. The observation group consisted of 49 patients (31 males, 18 females) with a mean age of (38.63±15.86) years. The control group consisted of 32 patients (27 males, 5 females) with a mean age of (36.91±17.33) years. The observation group showed significantly better postoperative QoL outcomes in the domains of physical functioning, emotional functioning, physical symptoms, global health status, and overall QoL compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Regarding treatment adherence, the observation group demonstrated superior performance in daily activity duration, use of a respiratory trainer, and adherence to coughing exercises compared to the control group (all P<0.001). The duration of chest tube indwelling was significantly shorter in the observation group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the observation group showed better recovery in albumin and hemoglobin levels (both P<0.05). Conclusion A combined telephone and WeChat follow-up approach can significantly improve the QoL and treatment adherence for patients discharged with an indwelling drainage tube. This method effectively shortens the duration of postoperative tube drainage, promotes nutritional recovery, and accelerates overall postoperative rehabilitation.