Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with ^99mTc, ⁶⁸Ga, and ¹⁸F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, reveal the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis in peripheral blood of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients, and provide new strategies and potential diagnostic biomarkers for the treatment of the disease.Methods:From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, workers with suspected occupational diseases who were diagnosed with coal workers' pneumoconiosis in the Third People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were included in the study, including 77 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis stage Ⅰ, 10 patients with stage Ⅱ, 6 patients with stage Ⅲ, and 49 workers with dust-free lung disease as the control group. General information of the subjects was collected, blood samples were collected for routine blood and blood biochemical results, and plasma levels of interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-18 were measured. Combined with the results of clinical examination, multi-factor ordered logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the influencing factors of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. At the same time, the expression of pyroptosis related proteins in blood cells was detected to reveal the molecular mechanism of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.Results:All 142 subjects were male, with an average age of (51.65±6.31) years old and an average working age of (15.94±9.38) years. There were significant differences in smoking age ( F=4.95, P=0.003) and lunch break distribution ( H=8.84, P=0.031) among all groups. The hemoglobin content of stage Ⅰ patients was higher than that of stage Ⅱ patients, and the neutrophil percentage of stage Ⅲ patients was higher than that of the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). The levels of total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin in stage Ⅰ patients were higher than those in control group, while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in stage Ⅱ patients was higher than that in the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in stage Ⅲ of coal workers' pneumoconiosis were higher than those in the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that smoking age ( OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.06) and IL-1β level ( OR=4.61, 95% CI: 1.59-13.32) were independent risk factors for coal workers' pneumoconiosis ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of nucleotide-binding of oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, GSDMD, Caspase-4 and other proteins in stage Ⅲ of coal workers' pneumoconiosis were significantly increased ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Smoking age is a risk factor for coal workers' pneumoconiosis, IL-1β may be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and pyroptosis may play a role in the development of peripheral inflammation of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation of polymorphism and loci interaction of nucleic acid binding oligomeric domain-like receptor heat protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) gene and susceptibility to coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) in Xinjiang Region. Methods A total of 109 CWP were selected as the case group, and 69 coal miners with similar age, years of dust exposure and work types were selected as the control group by convenient sampling method. Blood samples of individuals in workers in these two groups were collected, and the genotypes of single nucleotide polymorphism loci, rs1539019, rs4612666, rs4925650 and rs7525979, in the NLRP3 gene were detected using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction. The optimal genetic model was selected based on the Akaike information criterion. Results The results of unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with the C allele of rs1539019 or rs4612666 had a higher risk of CWP than those with the A or T allele (all P<0.05), and individuals with the AA genotype of rs1539019 or the TT genotype of rs4612666 had a lower risk of CWP than those with the CC genotype (all P<0.05), after adjusting for age, years of work, alcohol, and smoking. The optimal genetic models for rs1539019 and rs4612666 were the recessive model and the additive model, respectively, and these differences were associated with the susceptibility to CWP at the Bonferroni-corrected level (all P<0.05). No correlation was found between rs4925650 and rs7525979 and the susceptibility to CWP (all P>0.05). In the smoking population, the rs1539019 co-dominant model, recessive model, and additive model were associated with a decreased risk of CWP (all P<0.05). The rs4612666 co-dominant model, dominant model and additive model were associated with an increased risk of CWP (all P<0.05), with the optimal genetic models being the recessive model and the additive model among smokers. The rs1539019 and rs4612666 were not found to be associated with the increased risk of CWP in non-smokers (all P>0.05). The rs4612666 dominant model and additive model were associated with an increased risk of CWP (all P<0.05), and the rs4925650 recessive model and over-dominant model were associated with a decreased and increased risk of developing CWP (all P<0.05), with the optimal genetic models being the dominant model and the over-dominant model in drinkers. The rs1539019 co-dominant model, dominant model, recessive model, and additive model were associated with a decreased risk of developing CWP (all P<0.05), and the rs4612666 co-dominant model, recessive model, and additive model were associated with an increased risk of developing CWP (all P<0.05), with the optimal genetic models being the additive model and the recessive model in non-drinkers. The result of haplotype analysis showed that the ACAC and ACGC haplotypes were associated with a reduced risk of CWP (all P<0.05). Conclusion The rs1539019 and rs4612666 loci of the NLRP3 gene are associated with susceptibility to CWP. This study provides clues for further research on the risk of CWP in coal workers.

ObjectiveTo explore the rehabilitation outcome of personalized pulmonary rehabilitation therapy in pneumoconiosis patients in the rehabilitation station. Methods A total of 42 pneumoconiosis patients were selected as the study subjects from seven pneumoconiosis rehabilitation stations in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region using the judgment sampling method. Patients were treated with personalized rehabilitation therapy for three months, and the outcome was analyzed. Results The six-minute walking test distance, maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and FEV₁/FVC ratio of the pneumoconiosis patients were higher after rehabilitation therapy than those before therapy (all P<0.05). The score of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test of patients after therapy was lower than that in pre-treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in respiratory difficulty, Borg scale, balance ability, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, nutritional status scores, body mass index, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rate before and after rehabilitation therapy (all P>0.05). Conclusion The individualized pulmonary rehabilitation therapy of pneumoconiosis patients at pneumoconiosis rehabilitation station can improve the respiratory muscle strength and lung function of patients, and improve their quality of life.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 （PD-1/PD-L1） inhibitors combined with bevacizumab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） based on platinum- containing dual therapy. METHODS Retrieved from CNKI， Wanfang， VIP， Web of Science， PubMed and other Chinese and English databases， cohort studies or randomized controlled trial studies on the treatment of advanced NSCLC with platinum- containing double agents in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and bevacizumab （trial group） versus platinum-containing double agents with or without PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor or bevacizumab （control group） were collected from the inception to April 25， 2024. After screening literature， extracting data and evaluating quality， meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed by using RevMan 5.4.1 software. RESULTS A total of 15 pieces of literature were included， involving 13 clinical studies with a total of 3 282 patients. Compared with the control group， partial response rate [RR＝0.75，95%CI（0.68，0.82），P＜0.000 01]， complete response rate [RR＝0.47，95%CI（0.29，0.76），P＝0.002]， progressive disease rate [RR＝1.23，95%CI（1.11，1.37），P＜0.000 1]， objective response rate （ORR） [RR＝0.72，95%CI（0.67，0.79），P＜0.000 01] and disease control rate （DCR） [RR＝0.85， 95%CI （0.77，0.95），P＝0.003] were higher in the trial group. There was no statistically significant difference in the stable disease rate [RR＝1.25， 95%CI （0.86， 1.83）， P＝0.25] or overall adverse drug reaction incidence rate [RR＝0.95， 95%CI （0.90， 1.00）， P＝ 0.07] between the two groups of patients. Sensitivity analyses showed robust and reliable results for all outcome indicators. CONCLUSIONS PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with bevacizumab based on platinum-containing dual therapy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC can improve patients’ clinical benefits， such as ORR and DCR， without increasing the risk of adverse drug reaction.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, reveal the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis in peripheral blood of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients, and provide new strategies and potential diagnostic biomarkers for the treatment of the disease.Methods:From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, workers with suspected occupational diseases who were diagnosed with coal workers' pneumoconiosis in the Third People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were included in the study, including 77 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis stage Ⅰ, 10 patients with stage Ⅱ, 6 patients with stage Ⅲ, and 49 workers with dust-free lung disease as the control group. General information of the subjects was collected, blood samples were collected for routine blood and blood biochemical results, and plasma levels of interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-18 were measured. Combined with the results of clinical examination, multi-factor ordered logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the influencing factors of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. At the same time, the expression of pyroptosis related proteins in blood cells was detected to reveal the molecular mechanism of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.Results:All 142 subjects were male, with an average age of (51.65±6.31) years old and an average working age of (15.94±9.38) years. There were significant differences in smoking age ( F=4.95, P=0.003) and lunch break distribution ( H=8.84, P=0.031) among all groups. The hemoglobin content of stage Ⅰ patients was higher than that of stage Ⅱ patients, and the neutrophil percentage of stage Ⅲ patients was higher than that of the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). The levels of total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin in stage Ⅰ patients were higher than those in control group, while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in stage Ⅱ patients was higher than that in the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in stage Ⅲ of coal workers' pneumoconiosis were higher than those in the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that smoking age ( OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.06) and IL-1β level ( OR=4.61, 95% CI: 1.59-13.32) were independent risk factors for coal workers' pneumoconiosis ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of nucleotide-binding of oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, GSDMD, Caspase-4 and other proteins in stage Ⅲ of coal workers' pneumoconiosis were significantly increased ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Smoking age is a risk factor for coal workers' pneumoconiosis, IL-1β may be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and pyroptosis may play a role in the development of peripheral inflammation of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

Objective:To observe the effects of warming needle therapy combined with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang(decoction for dissipating phlegm and unblocking collaterals)on post-stroke cognitive impairment due to obstruction of wind-phlegm. Methods:A total of 78 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group,with 39 patients in each group.Both groups received conventional treatment.The control group was additionally treated with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang,while the observation group received warming needle therapy in addition to the treatment given to the control group.Scores on the mini-mental state examination(MMSE),Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),and activities of daily living(ADL)were assessed before and after treatment.Adverse reactions and clinical efficacy were analyzed and compared between the two groups after treatment. Results:The total effective rate was 82.1%in the observation group and 61.5%in the control group,showing statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.05).After treatment,the MMSE,MoCA,and ADL scores of both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment within each group(P<0.05).Notably,the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).No adverse reactions occurred in either group during the treatment period. Conclusion:Based on the conventional treatment,compared to modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang alone,warming needle therapy combined with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang showed superior clinical efficacy in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment due to obstruction of wind-phlegm,and this combined therapy also showed high safety.

Objective: To examine the association of long working hours and shift work with occupational stress among medical staff in level A tertiary hospitals, so as to provide insights into promotion of physical and mental health among medical personnel. Methods: One level A tertiary hospital was sampled using a stratified cluster sampling method from southern and northern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and all medical personnel were recruited from these two hospitals. Participants' demographics, working duration, and working in shifts were collected using questionnaires, and occupational stress was measured using the Core Scale for Measurement of Occupational Stress proposed by National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The associations of long working hours (weekly working duration of >40 hours) and shift work with occupational stress were examined using a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 2 529 questionnaires were allocated, and 2 262 were valid, with an effective rate of 89.44%. The respondents had a mean age of (35.12±8.71) years, and included 1 696 women (74.98%). Of all respondents, there were 722 doctors (31.92%), 1 033 nurses (45.67%), 361 medical or pharmaceutical technicians (15.96%), 1 808 with long working hours (79.93%) and 1 264 with shift work (55.88%). The score of occupational stress was (44.79±8.49) points, and the prevalence of occupational stress was 28.69% among respondents. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age, marital status, length of service, position, smoking and physical exercise, long working hours (>40 h, β'=0.124; >48 h, β'=0.175; ≥55 h, β'=0.323) and shift work (β'=0.203) were influencing factors for occupational stress among medical personnel（P<0.05）; however, there was no interaction between long working hours and shift work (P>0.05). Conclusion Long working hours and shift work may increase the risk of occupational stress among medical personnel in level A tertiary hospitals.

Objective To identify the risk factors of new-onset hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in kidney transplant recipients. Methods Clinical data of 149 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. According to serum triglyceride (TG) level after operation, they were divided into the non-HTG group (TG≤1.7 mmol/L, n=60) and new-onset HTG group (TG>1.7 mmol/L, n=89). Baseline data of all recipients were compared between two groups. The risk factors of HTG in kidney transplant recipients were analyzed by generalized estimating equation (GEE), and validated by multiple regression equations. Results No significant differences were observed in baseline data between two groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of HTG in the middle and high tacrolimus (Tac) concentration groups was higher than that in the low Tac concentration group [odds ratio (OR) 3.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-7.93, P=0.018 in the middle Tac concentration group; OR 5.11, 95%CI 1.31-19.98, P=0.019 in the high Tac concentration group]. Compared with type-A blood recipients, the risk of new-onset HTG was significantly increased in type-O blood counterparts (OR 2.77, 95%CI 1.14-6.71, P=0.024). The risk of new-onset HTG was decreased along with the increase of preoperative globulin level (OR 0.93, 95%CI 0.87-0.99, P=0.043). At postoperative 3 months, Tac blood concentration in the new-onset HTG group was significantly higher compared with that in the non-HTG group, and significant difference was observed (P<0.05). Multiple regression equations confirmed that the risk of new-onset HTG in type-O blood kidney transplant recipients was higher than that in type-A blood counterparts, and the risk of new-onset HTG in the middle and high Tac concentration groups was higher than that in the low Tac concentration group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Type-O blood kidney transplant recipients are more prone to HTG. It is necessary to strengthen postoperative monitoring and control of blood lipids. The blood concentration of Tac probably affects the new-onset HTG in kidney transplant recipients. Maintaining an appropriate blood concentration of Tac may be beneficial to lowering the risk of HTG.

Gene Ontology(GO)has been widely used to annotate functions of genes and gene prod-ucts.Here,we proposed a new method,TripletGO,to deduce GO terms of protein-coding and non-coding genes,through the integration of four complementary pipelines built on transcript expression profile,genetic sequence alignment,protein sequence alignment,and naive probability.TripletGO was tested on a large set of 5754 genes from 8 species(human,mouse,Arabidopsis,rat,fly,budding yeast,fission yeast,and nematoda)and 2433 proteins with available expression data from the third Critical Assessment of Protein Function Annotation challenge(CAFA3).Experimental results show that TripletGO achieves function annotation accuracy significantly beyond the current state-of-the-art approaches.Detailed analyses show that the major advantage of TripletGO lies in the coupling of a new triplet network-based profiling method with the feature space mapping technique,which can accurately recognize function patterns from transcript expression profiles.Meanwhile,the combination of multiple complementary models,especially those from transcript expression and protein-level alignments,improves the coverage and accuracy of the final GO anno-tation results.The standalone package and an online server of TripletGO are freely available at https://zhanggroup.org/TripletGO/.