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 neuroprotective effect and related mechanism of electroacu-puncture(EA)combined with tanshinone Ⅱ A(Tan ⅡA)for the treatment of rats with cerebral ische-mia-reperfusion(I/R)injury.Methods Model rats with cerebral I/R were established by the modi-fied Longa suture occlusion method and randomly divided into Model group,EA group,Tan Ⅱ A group,and EA+Tan Ⅱ A group,with 16 rats in each group.Rats in the Sham group(n=16)had their carotid arteries exposed and dissected but not occluded.Neurological deficit score and Morris wa-ter maze test were used to assess neurological impairment and cognitive function in rats.2,3,5-triph-enyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining was used to evaluate cerebral infarction volume.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and TUNEL staining were used to assess neuronal damage in the hippocampus.Western blot was used to detect apoptosis-related proteins and proteins related to the Hippo signaling pathway.Results Compared with the Sham group,the Model group showed increased neurological deficit score,percentage of cerebral infarction area,escape latencies during acquisition training,proportion of TUNEL-positive stained cells in brain tissue,Caspase-3 activity,expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 protein and Bax protein,and decreased expression of time spent in the target quadrant during probe training,the number of platform crossings within 60 s,Bcl-2 protein,Yes-associated protein(YAP),and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif(TAZ)protein,and all the differences were significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the Model group,the EA group,Tan Ⅱ A group,and EA+Tan Ⅱ A group showed decreased neurological deficit score,percentage of cerebral infarction volume,escape latencies during acquisition training,time spent in the target quadrant during probe training,number of platform crossings within 60 s,proportion of TUNEL-positive stained cells in brain tissue,Caspase-3 activity,expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 protein and Bax protein,with the EA+Tan Ⅱ A group showing lower values than the EA group and Tan Ⅱ A group,and all the differences were significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the Model group,the EA group,Tan Ⅱ A group,and EA+Tan Ⅱ A group showed increased expression of Bcl-2,YAP,and TAZ proteins,with the EA+Tan Ⅱ A group showing higher protein expression levels than the EA group and Tan Ⅱ A group,and all the differences were significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of EA and Tan Ⅱ A for the treatment of cerebral I/R injury exhibits synergistic effect,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Hippo pathway activity.

BACKGROUND: Modern acupuncture anesthesia is a combination of Chinese and Western medicine that integrates the theories of acupuncture with anesthesia. However, some clinical studies of acupuncture anesthesia lack specific descriptions of randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding processes, with subsequent systematic reviews indicating a risk of bias. OBJECTIVE: Clinical trial registration is essential for the enhancement of the quality of clinical trials. This study aims to summarize the status of clinical trial registrations for acupuncture anesthesia listed on the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the ICTRP for clinical trials related to acupuncture anesthesia registered between January 1, 2001 and May 31, 2023. Additionally, related publications were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Data. Registrations and publications were analyzed for consistency in trial design characteristics. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Clinical trials that utilized one of several acupuncture-related therapies in combination with pharmacological anesthesia during the perioperative period were eligible for this review. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Data extracted from articles included type of surgical procedure, perioperative symptoms, study methodology, type of intervention, trial recruitment information, and publication information related to clinical enrollment. RESULTS: A total of 166 trials related to acupuncture anesthesia from 21 countries were included in the analysis. The commonly reported symptoms in the included studies were postoperative nausea and vomiting (19.9%) and postoperative pain (13.3%). The concordance between the publications and the trial protocols in the clinical registry records was poor, with only 31.7% of the studies being fully compatible. Inconsistency rates were high for sample size (39.0%, 16/41), blinding (36.6%, 15/41), and secondary outcome indicators (24.4%, 10/41). CONCLUSION The volume of acupuncture anesthesia clinical trials registered in international trial registries over the last 20 years is low, with insufficient disclosure of results. Postoperative nausea and vomiting as well as postoperative pain, are the most investigated for acupuncture intervention. Please cite this article as: Li Y, Liu YN, Guo Z, Gu ME, Wang WJ, Zhu Y, Zhuang XJ, Chen LM, Zhou J, Li J. Current situation of clinical trial registration in acupuncture anesthesia: A scoping review. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 256-263.
Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Anesthesia ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Registries

OBJECTIVE To standardize the strategies for prevention and control of Chikungunya(CHIK)in healthcare in-stitutions so as to reduce the risk of transmission in the institutions.METHODS A working group comprising the ex-perts in hospital infection control,infectious diseases,and microbiology systematically reviewed domestic and international evidence and current guidelines,integrated China's vector ecology and healthcare realities,conducted two rounds of Delphi to achieve expert consensus,and graded the evidence and recommendation strength using the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine system.RESULTS The consensus issues 18 actionable recommendations on triage,patient mosquito-proof isolation,integrated vector control,protection of susceptible populations,environmental cleaning and disinfection,specimen management,medical textile handling,and outbreak emergency response,with each statement assigned an evi-dence level and recommendation strength.CONCLUSION This consensus is for the first time in China to provide evidence-graded strategies for control of CHIK in healthcare institutions,offering work flow-oriented,implementable guidance for clinicians,laboratorians,and infection-control personnel under different risk scenarios and enhancing the comprehensive coping capacity of the healthcare institutions.

Isoflavones which mainly distributed in leguminous plants have plenty of health benefits.Isoflavone synthase(IFS)is a membrane-associated cytochrome P450 enzyme(CYP450)which carries out the unique aryl-ring migration and hydroxylation.So far,few crystal structures of plant P450s have been obtained.We determined the crystal structure of IFS from Medicago truncatula at 1.9 ? by MAD method using a selenomethionine substituted crystal and conducted molecular docking and mutagenesis study.The structure of IFS complexed with imidazole exhibits the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif which cor-responds to helix Ⅰ of other P450s.Compared with structures of common P450s,IFS/imidazole structure contains an extra domain,i.e.,the γ-domain.The structure reveals a homodimer in which the γ-domain of one molecule interacts with the β-domain of another.The plane of heme group makes an angle of ap-proximately 40° with the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif.Molecular docking combined with mutagenesis study suggested that Trp-128 and Asp-300 might play important roles in substrate binding and recogni-tion.Phe-301,Ser-303 and Gly-305 from the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif may play important roles in the aryl-ring migration.These novel structural features reveal insights into the unique reaction mechanism of IFS and provide a basis for engineering IFS in leguminous crops for health purpose.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

McCune-Albright syndrome(MAS) is a postzygotic somatic mutation disorder caused by activating mutations in the GNAS gene, which encodes the α subunit of the stimulatory G protein. Its clinical features typically include polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, cafe-au-lait skin pigmentation, and endocrine hyperactivity, such as Cushing′s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, and growth hormone excess. Here, we report two rare cases of MAS complicated with adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-independent Cushing syndrome, and provide a review and analysis of previously reported MAS cases associated with Cushing′s syndrome.

Aging is comprehensively influenced by multiple fac-tors such as internal genes,cellular metabolism,external envi-ronment,and lifestyle habits.Among them,epigenetic regula-tion plays a core role.Epigenetic modifications,including DNA methylation,histone modification,heterochromatin remodeling,and non-coding RNA regulation,act in concert with the three-di-mensional genome architecture to precisely regulate gene expres-sion.This review elaborates on the factors influencing epigenetic regulation,as well as the mechanisms of how epigenetics affects the occurrence of organismal aging and the corresponding inter-vention strategies,providing relevant insights for uncovering the mechanisms of aging and preventing/treating aging-related disea-ses.

Background and Aims:Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system,has been increasingly recognized in recent years as being closely associated with various liver-related diseases,such as hepatic encephalopathy,liver cirrhosis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Abnormal GABA expression is strongly linked to pathological processes including cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation.Although numerous studies have investigated the mechanistic roles of GABA in neurological complications of liver disease,a systematic overview of the field's research trends,collaborative networks,and emerging hotspots remains lacking.This study employs bibliometric methods to comprehensively map the evolution and frontier topics in GABA and liver-related disease research from 2005 to 2024,aiming to inform future research planning and resource allocation in this area.Methods:English-language publications from 2005 to 2024 related to GABA and liver-related diseases were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.Eligible articles were analyzed using VOSviewer,CiteSpace,and the R package"bibliometrix"to visualize and evaluate contributions by countries/regions,institutions,authors,and journals.Additional analyses included keyword clustering,co-citation analysis,and thematic evolution of research topics.Results:A total of 237 articles were included,contributed by 1 340 authors across 456 institutions in 47 countries,and published in 168 journals.The United States and China are leading contributors in this field.Although countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy had fewer publications,they demonstrated higher average citation counts,indicating strong research quality.Notably,Spain's Centro Investigación Principe Felipe and the research team led by Felipo Vicente exhibited high academic influence.Neurochemistry International and Hepatology were identified as core journals,with Hepatology having the highest impact factor(12.9).Keyword clustering revealed major research focuses including the regulatory role of GABA in the neural mechanisms of hepatic encephalopathy,the impact of liver-related metabolic disorders on neurotransmitter balance,the development and evaluation of GABA receptor-targeted therapeutics,and the function of the GABAergic system in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.As research deepens,the frequency of emerging keywords has diversified,with recent emphasis on terms such as"quality of life,""gene expression,"and"fatty liver disease,"reflecting a shift from fundamental mechanisms to clinical translation and interdisciplinary integration.Conclusion:The relationship between GABA and liver diseases has become a focal point of interdisciplinary research.Investigations have expanded from pathological mechanisms to therapeutic applications,with growing interest in GABA's roles in hepatic encephalopathy,metabolic dysregulation,and tumor progression.Future studies should explore the specific functions of GABA receptor subtypes,promote the development of precision-targeted therapies,and investigate novel mechanisms such as the gut microbiota-GABA metabolism-brain-liver axis to broaden the clinical and translational potential of GABA in neurological,metabolic,and oncological contexts.