Effective symptom management can alleviate the physical and psychological distress experienced by patients with cancer, improve quality of life, and contribute to treatment adherence and improve clinical outcomes. However, most existing guidelines are developed for healthcare professionals, and patients and the public have limited access to standardized and comprehensible guidance on symptom management. To address this gap and to facilitate effective communication and shared decision-making, this study proposes the development of a patient version of the cancer symptom management guideline. The development process will adhere to the methodological framework recommended by the Guidelines International Network and the World Health Organization. The GRADE approach will be employed to assess the certainty of evidence and to formulate recommendations. In addition, the process will be informed by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Ⅱ (AGREE Ⅱ) instrument and the Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare-Public or Patient Versions of Guidelines (RIGHT-PVG). This protocol outlines the establishment of the guideline working group, the identification and prioritization of key questions, evidence retrieval and appraisal, and the formulation of recommendations, with the aim of ensuring methodological rigor and transparency in the development of the patient guideline and providing methodological reference for similar guideline initiatives.

Objective To explore the feasibility of magnetic compression technique (MCR) in the treatment of severe single mid-ureteral stricture in a rabbit model. Methods After 10 female New Zealand rabbits were selected, the distal end of the right ureter was ligated with silk thread. Two weeks after the operation, when the right ureter was dilated, the mid-ureter was ligated again with silk thread to create a severe single mid-ureteral stricture animal model. Longitudinal incisions were made at the upper and lower ends of the ligation site, and cylindrical NdFeB magnets with central holes (sub-magnets and main magnets) were placed to anastomose and recanalize the mid-ureteral stricture. The magnets were adjusted to the appropriate position to automatically align and attract each other. The longitudinal incision sites of the ureter were sutured with 6-0 Prolene thread, and the abdominal cavity was closed layer by layer. The operation time was recorded. X-ray films were taken every two days to confirm the position of the magnets and record the time of magnet detachment. Three weeks after the operation, the anastomotic specimens were obtained, and the formation of the anastomosis was evaluated with gross observation and histological staining. Results Two weeks after ligation, all experimental rabbits showed obvious dilation of the right ureter. The mid-ureteral ligation and placement of the male and female magnets were successfully completed in all 10 experimental rabbits, with an operation time of (24.00±5.15)minutes. The male and female magnets attracted each other well. X-ray examination showed that the magnets detached and entered the distal ureter (14.0±1.9) days after magnetic compression. The recanalization of the severe single mid-ureteral stricture was successfully achieved. The gross specimens and histological examination of the anastomosis showed that the anastomosis remained patent and the mucosal healing was good. All experimental rabbits survived well after the operation without serious complications. Conclusion MCT provides a new idea and novel method for the treatment of mid-ureteral stricture. This study confirmed the feasibility of this technique in treating severe single mid-ureteral stricture in a rabbit model. The operation is relatively simple and has potential for clinical application.

[摘 要] 目的：探究半乳糖凝集素-9（Gal-9）对胰腺癌细胞的侵袭与迁移功能的促进作用及其机制。方法：基于公开单细胞转录组数据分析胰腺癌中免疫检查点分子的表达谱，结合Western blotting和ELISA验证Gal-9在胰腺癌细胞及临床相关模型中的表达与分泌特征。建立C57BL/6小鼠胰腺原位移植瘤模型，通过免疫组化、免疫荧光染色和流式细胞术分析Gal-9对肿瘤细胞增殖及其对瘤内CD8+ T细胞浸润与功能状态的影响。Gal-9重组蛋白及肿瘤细胞条件培养基（CM）处理肿瘤相关成纤维细胞（CAF），Western blotting、RT-qPCR和免疫荧光检测CAF中Ⅰ型胶原表达变化。免疫共沉淀、免疫荧光染色和Western blotting分析Gal-9与CD44的相互作用及JAK2/STAT3通路相关蛋白的表达。构建过表达Gal-9胰腺癌细胞与CAF共移植的裸鼠皮下荷瘤模型，结合天狼星红和马松染色评估小鼠肿瘤组织中胶原沉积情况。脱细胞外基质法提取CAF中沉积的细胞外基质（ECM）蛋白；通过细胞划痕、Transwell迁移及侵袭实验，检测CAF来源Ⅰ型胶原对胰腺癌细胞侵袭、迁移功能的影响，并通过siRNA干扰Gal-9表达进行功能反向验证。结果：与经典免疫检查点分子PD-L1和CTLA-4相比，Gal-9在胰腺癌中显著高表达（P < 0.000 1）。体内实验表明，Gal-9促进肿瘤生长（P < 0.001），上调Ki-67表达，同时减少肿瘤内CD8⁺ T细胞浸润并诱导肿瘤组织中TIM-3⁺细胞比例升高，Granzyme B、IFN-γ及TNF-α表达下降（P < 0.05）。体外实验显示，外源性Gal-9及肿瘤细胞来源的CM均可上调CAF中Ⅰ型胶原表达（P < 0.001）。机制研究表明，在CAF中抗Gal-9抗体免疫沉淀复合物中检测到CD44，且JAK2/STAT3蛋白表达水平增加。CAF来源的Ⅰ型胶原处理胰腺癌细胞后，肿瘤细胞的迁移和侵袭数量增加。相反，肿瘤细胞中敲低Gal-9表达后，CAF来源Ⅰ型胶原水平下降，同时肿瘤细胞侵袭和迁移数量下降。结论：胰腺癌来源的Gal-9具有双重作用：一方面，通过促进肿瘤细胞增殖和诱导CD8+ T细胞耗竭促进肿瘤进展；另一方面，通过结合CAF上的CD44受体，激活JAK2/STAT3信号通路，刺激CAF合成并分泌Ⅰ型胶原，进而增强胰腺癌细胞的侵袭迁移能力。

ObjectiveIdentification and analysis, animal regression test, and drug susceptibility study were conducted on a pathogenic strain causing diarrhea in cynomolgus monkeys, aiming to provide a practical basis for the clinical treatment of Citrobacter freundii. MethodsFresh fecal samples were collected from nine diarrheal cynomolgus monkeys and streaked on Salmonella-Shigella (SS) medium, LB medium, and Columbia blood agar medium, and incubated at 37 ℃ for 24 h. Subsequently, the isolated strain was identified by colony morphology observation, Gram staining, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and PCR was used to detect its major virulence genes. After propagation, the isolate was intragastrically administered to healthy cynomolgus monkeys and C57BL/6 mice for animal regression tests to evaluate its pathogenicity. Finally, the disk-diffusion method was used to detect the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolate. ResultsA single bacterial strain, designated MF071743, was isolated from 9 fecal samples collected from diarrheal cynomolgus monkeys. The isolate formed pink, smooth, round colonies on SS medium; translucent, smooth, moist, shiny colonies with neat edges on LB medium; and smooth, moist, off-white colonies on Columbia blood agar medium. Gram staining revealed that the isolate was a Gram-negative, spore-free short bacillus. Biochemical tests showed that the isolate was positive for motility test, mannitol test, hydrogen sulfide test, methyl red test, citrate utilization test, gas production from glucose test, raffinose test, sorbitol test, and D-xylose test, but negative for phenylalanine test, gluconate test, indole test, Voges Proskauer (VP) test, urease test, lysine test, ornithine test, and adonitol test. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the gene sequence similarity between strain MF071743 and Citrobacter freundii was 99.0%. PCR results showed that this strain carries genes encoding the urease accessory proteins UreD, UreE, and UreF. Animal intragastric administration assays demonstrated that the strain caused loose stools in cynomolgus monkeys, and all C57BL/6 mice died within 72 h. Drug susceptibility test results indicated that the isolate was sensitive to 16 antibiotics, including ceftriaxone, amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, and levofloxacin, while it exhibited resistance to 5 antibiotics, including ampicillin, cefazolin, vancomycin, erythromycin, and cephalexin. ConclusionA strain of Citrobacter freundii with certain drug resistance was isolated from the feces of diarrheal cynomolgus monkeys. The results of this study provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in captive laboratory monkeys.

OBJECTIVE To analyze trends in the burden of disease associated with falls from 1990 to 2023， identify risk factors for falls， and provide a reference for the development of measures to reduce the burden of disease associated with falls and the formulation of public health policies. METHODS Based on the data of 2023 from the Global Burden of Disease （GBD） database， the changes in fall-related prevalence， mortality， disability-adjusted life years （DALYs） and incidence in China and globally from 1990 to 2023 were analyzed， and the stratified analyses by gender， age and socio-demographic index （SDI） were conducted. The risk factors related to falls in 2023 were systematically analyzed， and the impact of multimorbidity and polypharmacy on the occurrence of falls by combining relevant literature evidence was explored. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Globally， the percentage changes in age-standardized rates of fall-related prevalence， mortality， DALYs and incidence from 1990 to 2023 were －2.4% （95%UI： －4.8% to －0.3%）， －7.8% （95%UI： －20.5% to 10.9%）， －10.6% （95%UI： －16.5% to －4.3%）， and －4.6% （95%UI： －8.1% to －0.8%）， respectively. However， in some regions， the percentage changes in age-standardized rates for these indicators were greater than 0 （e.g.， prevalence， mortality and DALYs in Australasia， and incidence in Andean Latin America）. In China， the percentage changes in age-standardized rates of fall-related mortality and DALYs from 1990 to 2023 were －18.3% （95%UI： －56.7% to 32.3%） and 1.9% （95%UI： －10.1% to 12.4%）， while the percentage changes in age-standardized rates of prevalence and incidence were 25.9% （95%UI： 20.2% to 32.0%） and 35.7% （95%UI： 28.5% to 44.1%）， respectively. Globally， in regions with high and medium-to-high SDI levels， the percentage changes in age-standardized rates of fall-related prevalence and incidence showed an upward trend， while DALYs showed a downward trend； however， the trend in mortality was unclear. In regions with a middle SDI level， the percentage changes in age-standardized rates of fall-related prevalence and incidence both showed an upward trend， while the trends in mortality and DALYs were unclear. In regions with low-to-medium SDI level， the percentage changes in age-standardized rate of fall-related prevalence， DALYs and incidence all showed a downward trend， while the trend in mortality was unclear； in regions with low SDI level， the trends for all above indicators were unclear. Correlation analyses of the burden of fall-related diseases in China and globally indicated that the risk of fall-related diseases was higher among younger and middle-to-older adult male populations， while women were concentrated in older age groups. Meanwhile， as the SDI levels increase， the percentage change in age-standardized rate of DALYs for fall-related diseases showed a clear upward trend， and this trend was more pronounced in high-SDI regions. Tobacco use， alcohol consumption， low bone density， and occupational risks were risk factors for falls， with low bone density and occupational risks contributing significantly （exceeding 20% in some regions）； multimorbidity and polypharmacy could also significantly increase the risk of falls. It is recommended that clinical settings establish a list of fall-risk increasing drugs and a warning system， improve medication reviews， strengthen medication education and adherence management， foster multidisciplinary collaboration， and develop medication strategies for specific patient populations to reduce the incidence of falls and alleviate the burden of disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Wenyang Jiedu granules （WYJD） alleviate influenza A virus （IAV）-induced pneumonia based on single-cell transcriptome sequencing. MethodsThirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a blank control group （Control）， IAV group， and WYJD low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （WYJD-L， WYJD-M， WYJD-H； 2.925， 5.85， 11.7 g·kg^-1， n=6）. Except for the Control group， all other groups were intranasally inoculated with IAV subtype H1N1 （A/PR/8/34） to establish an infection model. Two hours after modeling， drug administration was initiated and continued for 5 consecutive days， with daily monitoring of body weight and general condition. On day 6， mice were sacrificed and samples were collected. Lung index was calculated， and histopathological examination of lung tissue was performed. Lung tissues from the Control， IAV， and WYJD-H groups were subjected to single-cell transcriptome sequencing （n=3）， focusing on type I alveolar epithelial cells （AT1） to analyze changes in gene expression and signaling pathways. Western blot was used to detect the expression changes of relevant proteins to validate the single-cell sequencing results. ResultsCompared with the Control group， the IAV group exhibited significantly decreased body weight （P<0.05） and significantly increased lung index （P<0.05）. Compared with the IAV group， all WYJD-treated groups exhibited significantly increased body weight （P<0.01） and significantly decreased lung index （P<0.01）. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that WYJD inhibited overactivation of interferon and inflammatory signaling pathways in AT1 cells after IAV infection， including interferon-γ response， interferon-α response， tumor necrosis factor-α/nuclear factor-κB （TNF-α/NF-κB）， and interleukin-6/Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （IL-6/JAK/STAT3） pathways. Compared with the Control group， the number of AT1 cells in the IAV group showed a decreasing trend. Compared with the IAV group， the WYJD-H group showed an increasing trend， although neither difference was statistically significant. Further analysis of AT1 cell subpopulation gene expression showed that， compared with the Control group， the IAV group exhibited increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes FAS cell surface death receptor （FAS） and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A （CDKN1A）， a significant increase in tumor protein p53 （Tp53） expression （P<0.05）， and significant decreases in expression of the AT1 marker gene advanced glycosylation end-product-specific receptor （AGER） and membrane structural gene caveolin1 （CAV1） （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the IAV group， the WYJD-H group showed significantly decreased expression of FAS， CDKN1A， and Tp53 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and significantly increased expression of AGER and CAV1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Regarding interferon response-related genes， compared with the Control group， the IAV group showed increased expression of interferon-stimulated gene 15 （ISG15）， interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 （IFIT3）， signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 （STAT2）， bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 （BST2）， and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 （CXCL10）， with a significant increase in 2′，5′-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein 1 （OASL1） （P<0.05）. Compared with the IAV group， the WYJD-H group showed significantly decreased expression of all the above genes， with highly significant differences for ISG15， IFIT3， STAT2， BST2， and OASL1 （P<0.01）， and a significant difference for CXCL10 （P<0.05）. Among inflammation-related genes， compared with the Control group， the IAV group showed significantly increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 （ICAM1）， tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 （TNFAIP3）， keratin 8 （KRT8）， tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1A （TNFRSF1A）， and TNFRSF1B （P<0.01）， and increased expression of NFKBIA， a negative regulator of NF-κB （P<0.05）. Compared with the IAV group， the WYJD-H group showed significantly decreased expression of KRT8 and TNFRSF1B （P<0.05）， while ICAM1， NFKBIA， TNFAIP3， and TNFRSF1A showed decreasing trends without statistical significance. Western blot validation showed that， compared with the Control group， protein expression levels of ISG15， FAS， p53， and phosphorylated p65 （p-p65） in lung tissue of the IAV group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the IAV group， the WYJD-H group showed significantly decreased expression of these proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionWYJD may alleviate viral pneumonia by targeting gene expression in AT1 cells， inhibiting overactivated interferon and inflammatory signaling pathways after IAV infection， and downregulating pro-apoptotic signaling， thereby reducing alveolar epithelial injury.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）. MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design，confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals，such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days，and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale （CARIFS） and the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment，48 hours after medication，72 hours after medication， and （6+1） d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group （90 cases） or the control group （90 cases）. All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was （5.29±1.25） d，and that in the control group was （5.40±1.68） d，without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention，52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative，without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention，there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions， including headache，muscle soreness， and the need for extra care （P<0.05）. On the （6+1） days after the intervention，the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions， including sore throat，bad sleep，uncomfortable feeling，poor spirit and fatigue，crying more than usual，the need for extra care，symptom，function，influence on parents，and total score （P<0.05）. The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom， function， and influence on parents，as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time，scores of both groups decreased significantly，with a statistically significant difference （P<0.01）. Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention，the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up，the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group，with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications，severe cases， and critical cases， there were no complications，severe cases， and critical cases in the two groups，without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome） are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules， and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children （heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome）.

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, necessitating the development of advanced therapeutic strategies with enhanced efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity. Among promising bioactive agents, lactoferrin (LF)—a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein abundantly found in mammalian milk and exocrine secretions—has garnered significant interest for its potent and multifaceted anti-cancer properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of LF’s role in oncology, encompassing its structural biology, diverse mechanisms of action, and groundbreaking advancements in its application through nano-engineering. LF exerts anti-tumor effects through multiple pathways, including extracellular action, intracellular action, and immune regulation. It demonstrates a remarkable affinity for cancer cell membranes, binding to overexpressed anionic components such as glycosaminoglycans and sialic acids, as well as to specific receptors including the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). This selective binding facilitates targeted uptake. Upon internalization, LF orchestrates a direct assault by inducing cell-cycle arrest in phases such as G0/G1 or S phase through the modulation of key regulators including cyclins, CDKs, and p53. Furthermore, it promotes programmed cell death via apoptotic pathways, involving caspase activation and downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as survivin. A more recently elucidated mechanism is the induction of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by overwhelming lipid peroxidation. Beyond direct cytotoxicity, LF acts as a potent immunomodulator. It enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity, modulates T-lymphocyte populations, and crucially reprograms tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from a pro-tumor M2 state to an anti-tumor M1 state, thereby reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The translation of LF’s potential has been significantly accelerated by nanotechnology. The inherent biocompatibility and natural tumor-targeting capabilities of LF make it an ideal platform for sophisticated drug-delivery systems. This review details various fabrication strategies for LF-based nanoparticles (NPs), including self-assembly, sol-in-oil emulsion, and electrostatic nanocomplexes, among others. Research demonstrates that nano-formulations not only protect LF from degradation but also enhance its bioactivity and anti-cancer potency. More importantly, LF NPs serve as versatile carriers for a wide array of therapeutic agents, including conventional chemotherapeutics, natural compounds, and imaging agents. These engineered systems enable synergistic therapy and facilitate site-specific delivery. Notably, the ability of LF to bind to receptors on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been leveraged to develop nano-systems for glioblastoma treatment. Other innovative designs utilize LF to modulate the TME—for instance, by alleviating tumor hypoxia to sensitize cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite compelling pre-clinical evidence, the clinical translation of LF and its nano-formulations remains nascent. While early-phase trials have established a favorable safety profile for recombinant human LF, larger Phase III studies have yielded mixed results, underscoring the complexity of its action in humans. Key challenges include enhancing drug targeting, optimizing loading efficiency, ensuring batch-to-batch reproducibility, and achieving deep tumor penetration. Future research must focus on the rational design of next-generation LF-NPs. This entails developing standardized manufacturing protocols, engineering “smart” stimuli-responsive systems for targeted drug release in the TME, and constructing multi-targeting platforms. A concerted interdisciplinary effort is paramount to bridge the gap between bench and bedside. In conclusion, LF, particularly in its nano-engineered forms, represents a highly promising and versatile agent in the oncological arsenal, holding immense potential for precise and effective cancer therapy.

ObjectiveThe accuracy of Y-chromosome haplogroup assignment is crucial for tracing paternal lineage in male samples. With the advancement of high-throughput sequencing technologies, high-density Y-SNP genotyping from whole-genome or array-based data has become a standard method for determiningY-chromosome haplogroups. This study systematically evaluated the performance of 4 commonly used high-density SNP genotyping systems—namely, the Global Screening Array (GSA), Chinese Genotyping Array (CGA), Affymetrix array, and the 1240K capture panel—for haplogroup assignment. This work provides a reference for data comparison across different systems. MethodsWe extracted genotype data for the 4 Y-SNP panels from 30× whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of 1 590 male samples from the 1000 Genomes Project. Additionally, GSA array genotype data from 384 relative pairs (spanning 1st- to 12th-degree relationships) from 109 Chinese Han families were collected. Haplogroup assignment was performed using Y-LineageTracker v1.3.0 software. We assessed the concordance and resolution of haplogroup assignments between the four Y-SNP panels and the WGS data. The consistency and resolution of haplogroup assignments were also evaluated for both the 1000 Genomes Project samples and the 109 family samples collected in this study. Furthermore, the impact of varying numbers of Y-SNPs on haplogroup assignment was examined. ResultsThe GSA and CGA panels demonstrated superior resolution and discrimination of haplogroup subclades compared with the other two panels. The haplogroup assignments from the GSA, CGA, and 1240K panels showed high concordance with WGS data, with consistency rates exceeding 88.70%, whereas the Affymetrix platform exhibited a significantly lower consistency rate of 61.89%. Specifically, the GSA and CGA panels consistently demonstrated superior performance compared with the other two panels in the assignment of haplogroups O-M175 and H-L901, achieving complete concordance (100%) for both haplogroups. In contrast, the Affymetrix panel erroneously assigned all individuals belonging to haplogroup O-M175 to haplogroup K2-M526. Furthermore, its accuracy for haplogroup H-L901 was exceedingly low, at merely 1.41%. This poor performance was characterized by the misassignment of 98.59% of H-L901 samples—specifically, 1.41% to J-M304 and a predominant 97.18% to F-M89. For haplogroup R-M207, all four panels exhibited uniformly high levels of consistency, with concordance values exceeding 94.00%. Notably, for haplogroup E-M96, the 1240K and Affymetrix panels outperformed the GSA and CGA panels in terms of concordance, representing the first instance in which these two panels surpassed the latter. Conversely, for haplogroups J-M304, Q-M242, and I-M170, all 4 panels showed relatively elevated misclassification rates, with the Affymetrix array demonstrating the poorest overall performance. None of the four panels showed any discordant haplogroup assignments among the familial relative pairs analyzed. A positive correlation was observed between the number of Y-SNPs (ranging from 1 000 to 10 000) and classification consistency; however, classification consistency plateaued when the number of Y-SNPs exceeded 10 000. Furthermore, a random sampling analysis conducted on the GSA and CGA panels demonstrated that the haplogroup misclassification rate exhibited negligible fluctuation across the Y-SNP range of 500 to 1 000. Conversely, a marked enhancement in classification consistency was observed as the number of markers increased from 1 000 to 5 000, ultimately reaching a plateau within the interval of 5 000 to 8 000 markers. ConclusionThese findings indicate that the GSA and CGA panels provide high resolution and concordance, delivering reliable Y-haplogroup assignment for forensic investigations.

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, necessitating the development of advanced therapeutic strategies with enhanced efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity. Among promising bioactive agents, lactoferrin (LF)—a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein abundantly found in mammalian milk and exocrine secretions—has garnered significant interest for its potent and multifaceted anti-cancer properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of LF’s role in oncology, encompassing its structural biology, diverse mechanisms of action, and groundbreaking advancements in its application through nano-engineering. LF exerts anti-tumor effects through multiple pathways, including extracellular action, intracellular action, and immune regulation. It demonstrates a remarkable affinity for cancer cell membranes, binding to overexpressed anionic components such as glycosaminoglycans and sialic acids, as well as to specific receptors including the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). This selective binding facilitates targeted uptake. Upon internalization, LF orchestrates a direct assault by inducing cell-cycle arrest in phases such as G0/G1 or S phase through the modulation of key regulators including cyclins, CDKs, and p53. Furthermore, it promotes programmed cell death via apoptotic pathways, involving caspase activation and downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as survivin. A more recently elucidated mechanism is the induction of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by overwhelming lipid peroxidation. Beyond direct cytotoxicity, LF acts as a potent immunomodulator. It enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity, modulates T-lymphocyte populations, and crucially reprograms tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from a pro-tumor M2 state to an anti-tumor M1 state, thereby reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The translation of LF’s potential has been significantly accelerated by nanotechnology. The inherent biocompatibility and natural tumor-targeting capabilities of LF make it an ideal platform for sophisticated drug-delivery systems. This review details various fabrication strategies for LF-based nanoparticles (NPs), including self-assembly, sol-in-oil emulsion, and electrostatic nanocomplexes, among others. Research demonstrates that nano-formulations not only protect LF from degradation but also enhance its bioactivity and anti-cancer potency. More importantly, LF NPs serve as versatile carriers for a wide array of therapeutic agents, including conventional chemotherapeutics, natural compounds, and imaging agents. These engineered systems enable synergistic therapy and facilitate site-specific delivery. Notably, the ability of LF to bind to receptors on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been leveraged to develop nano-systems for glioblastoma treatment. Other innovative designs utilize LF to modulate the TME—for instance, by alleviating tumor hypoxia to sensitize cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite compelling pre-clinical evidence, the clinical translation of LF and its nano-formulations remains nascent. While early-phase trials have established a favorable safety profile for recombinant human LF, larger Phase III studies have yielded mixed results, underscoring the complexity of its action in humans. Key challenges include enhancing drug targeting, optimizing loading efficiency, ensuring batch-to-batch reproducibility, and achieving deep tumor penetration. Future research must focus on the rational design of next-generation LF-NPs. This entails developing standardized manufacturing protocols, engineering “smart” stimuli-responsive systems for targeted drug release in the TME, and constructing multi-targeting platforms. A concerted interdisciplinary effort is paramount to bridge the gap between bench and bedside. In conclusion, LF, particularly in its nano-engineered forms, represents a highly promising and versatile agent in the oncological arsenal, holding immense potential for precise and effective cancer therapy.