Objective: To investigate the factors influencing intraoperative blood transfusion in patients with hip fractures and to develop a machine learning (ML) model for predicting this risk. Methods: A total of 424 patients with hip fractures who underwent surgical treatment between November 2022 and March 2025 in our hospital were selected. Key feature variables of intraoperative blood transfusion risk were identified using the Boruta algorithm. Four different ML algorithms—support vector machine (SVM), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), mixed discriminant analysis (MDA), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)—were used to develop predictive models for intraoperative blood transfusion risk. The predictive performance of the four ML models were evaluated using accuracy, precision, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, precision-recall curves (PRC), precision-recall gain curves (PRGC), and F1 scores. Shapley additive interpretation (SHAP) was used to interpret the final model. Results: Among the 424 patients, 77(18.2%) received intraoperative blood transfusion. The Boruta algorithm identified albumin (ALB), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), types of anesthesia, types of fracture, and hemoglobin (Hb) as key feature variables for predicting intraoperative blood transfusion risk. In model evaluation, the SVM model outperforms the other three models across multiple metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), recall, recall gain, accuracy, precision, F1 score, and the area under the precision-recall curve (PRC-AUC). The SVM model, interpreted and visualized based on SHAP values, effectively predicted intraoperative blood transfusion risk in patients with hip fracture. A visual online application was developed based on the SVM model (https://pbo-nomogram.shinyapps.io/blood/). Conclusion: Preoperative low ALB and Hb levels, prolonged APTT, general anesthesia, and intertrochanteric fractures are risk factors for intraoperative blood transfusion in hip fracture patients. The risk prediction model for intraoperative blood transfusion constructed based on the SVM algorithm has optimal performance, which provides new ideas and methods for the clinical early identification of hip fracture patients with high transfusion risk and the implementation of targeted interventions.

Inteins are unique protein insertion sequences capable of self-excision, enabling the covalent ligation of flanking extein peptides via amide bond formation. This process proceeds spontaneously without requiring external enzymes, cofactors, or chemical reagents, granting inteins exceptional biocompatibility and traceless performance in protein engineering applications. Split inteins represent a specialized and versatile subclass whose splicing domains are encoded by two separate gene fragments rather than a single continuous open reading frame. These fragments, known as the N-terminal (IntN) and C-terminal (IntC) split inteins, associate through non-covalent interactions including hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces to assemble into an active three-dimensional structure, which then drives efficient extein ligation and enables protein trans-splicing. Protein trans-splicing mediated by split inteins has become a cornerstone for traceless protein ligation owing to its high specificity and irreversibility, fundamentally reshaping strategies for protein modification, assembly, and functional regulation. Compared with traditional chemical ligation methods, split intein systems require no complex chemical derivatization of peptide fragments and can operate efficiently at micromolar concentrations under physiological conditions, thus avoiding structural and functional damage caused by organic reagents. In contrast to enzymatic ligation tools such as sortase, split inteins eliminate the need for additional enzymes or cofactors, simplifying reaction systems, reducing costs, and minimizing non-specific side products. These distinctive advantages render split inteins highly promising for applications in chemical biology, synthetic biology, and biopharmaceutical development. In recent years, deepened mechanistic understanding has established structure-guided rational design as the primary approach to overcoming key limitations of split inteins, including intrinsic aggregation propensity, strict extein sequence dependence, and limited splicing efficiency. Bioinformatic tools have been used to identify aggregation-prone regions in the IntN fragment, and site-directed mutagenesis of hydrophobic residues, relocation of split sites, or removal of misfolding-prone sequences has substantially reduced in vitro aggregation and improved soluble expression and assembly activity. Rational engineering of catalytic residues and adjacent flexible loops has relaxed strict amino acid preferences at extein junctions, enhancing sequence tolerance and reducing the risk of functional impairment in target proteins. Consensus design based on multiple sequence alignments has yielded ultra-fast splicing variants such as Cfa DnaE and Cat-TerL, which exhibit significantly accelerated kinetics and improved tolerance to denaturing conditions. Meanwhile, advances in structural biology have further clarified the conformational dynamics and catalytic mechanisms of splicing, supporting the precise design of high-performance intein modules. On this basis, electrostatic interaction tuning and metagenomic screening have yielded multiple mutually orthogonal split intein pairs, enabling selective multi-fragment protein ligation and providing new routes for the efficient synthesis of large multi-domain functional proteins. With these engineered split inteins offering continuously improved performance and expanded applicability, protein trans-splicing has been widely applied in numerous cutting-edge areas of protein research and biomedicine. In gene delivery, split intein-based systems overcome the packaging limit of adeno-associated viral vectors, enabling the accurate reconstitution of large therapeutic proteins and base editors in target cells, thereby enhancing the efficacy and scope of gene therapy for genetic diseases. In internal protein sequence editing, split inteins mediate precise sequence replacement and modification in flexible regions or loops of target proteins, without the need for complex multi-step ligation and protein refolding involved in traditional protein semisynthesis. In protein-protein interaction studies, intein-mediated splicing covalently captures transient and weak intracellular complexes, enabling sensitive, high-throughput interaction detection and drug screening. In synthetic biology, conditionally controllable splicing systems support the construction of diverse intracellular and cell-surface biological logic gates for the precise regulation of cellular behavior. In mechanistic biochemical research, split inteins enable photocatalytic proximity labeling and site-specific tagging, allowing the preparation of homogeneous protein samples carrying precise post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination and polyglutamylation for chromatin interactome analysis and epigenetic studies. Moreover, covalent trapping strategies using split inteins stabilize transient enzymatic intermediates, providing unprecedented insights into molecular mechanisms such as nucleosome ubiquitination that are difficult to elucidate using conventional methods. This review systematically summarizes key technological advances in split inteins over the past decade, highlighting engineering strategies, mechanistic insights, and the development of orthogonal components. It comprehensively surveys emerging applications at the frontiers of protein research, analyzes current core challenges, and proposes future directions, particularly emphasizing artificial intelligence-driven de novo design and novel splicing pathways to break existing technical bottlenecks. By enabling traceless, efficient, and versatile protein manipulation, split inteins continue to serve as indispensable tools that drive innovation in protein engineering and fundamental life science research.

As an extension of the central nervous system, the retina is the only tissue in the body that allows direct in vivo observation of both neural and vascular structures, offering a unique non-invasive window for the assessment of cerebral neurovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that multimodal imaging techniques—such as fundus photography, optical coherence tomography(OCT), and OCT angiography(OCTA)—enable quantitative analysis of retinal indicators including vascular caliber, fractal dimension, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and microvascular density. These metrics can, to some extent, reflect the severity and progression risk of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Consequently, retinal imaging holds promise as a powerful tool for early screening, risk stratification, and treatment monitoring. This article systematically reviews the application of retinal imaging technologies in the diagnosis and management of cerebral neurovascular disorders, with a particular focus on the important role of artificial intelligence(AI)-driven image analysis in enhancing screening efficiency, improving risk assessment accuracy, and promoting multidisciplinary collaborative care, thereby providing insights for clinical translation.

Objective:This study sought to examine the clinicopathological features of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) and to discuss its differential diagnosis.Methods:A total of 36 MEITL cases, collected between June 2015 and January 2024 from the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, were analyzed. Patients underwent immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER), and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement testing. Clinical data, laboratory results, and follow-up information were collected for correlation analysis.Results:The cohort included 36 patients (20 males and 16 females) aged 17-76 years (median: 57 years). Tumors outside the intestine were observed in 22 cases (61%). A total of 32 patients (89%) underwent surgical intervention and/or chemotherapy, and one patient received auto-HSCT. The median follow-up duration was 11.5 months (range: 8-73 months), with a median overall survival of 6 months (range: 1-67 months) ; 34 patients died during the follow-up period. Morphologically, nine cases (25%) exhibited significant pleomorphism. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that high expression levels of both P53 and c-Myc were correlated with atypical morphology ( P=0.003 and P=0.016, respectively). Notably, patients with high P53 expression had significantly shorter survival times than those with low P53 expression ( χ2=4.922, P=0.027), whereas survival did not differ significantly based on c-Myc expression levels ( χ2=0.034, P=0.854). Furthermore, a PD-L1 CPS score ≥10 was observed in 22 cases (68.8%). Scattered EBER positivity in background cells was identified in four cases. All tested cases (17/17, 100.0%) showed clonal TCR gene rearrangements. Conclusions:MEITL is a rare but highly aggressive lymphoma with distinct clinical and pathological features. A subset of cases may exhibit atypical morphological patterns, complicating the diagnostic process. Improving awareness of this neoplasm is helpful for early and precise diagnosis as well as the estabolishment of novel therapy regimen.

Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of Kanggan Mixture(KGM)on key targets in rats with acute lung injury,network pharmacology and in vivo micro-CT experiments were employed.Methods Network pharmacology was utilized to forecast the target genes and principal pathways involved in the intervention of KGM in acute lung injury(ALI).Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI rat models were utilized,and micro-computed tomography(micro-CT)was employed to evaluate the extent of lung injury in vivo.Experiments were conducted to verify the intervention mechanism of KGM on ALI rats.Results The findings revealed that 190 chemical constituents were identified from KGM,and 579 potential targets and 204 pathways associated with KGM's impact on ALI were predicted.The principal components of KGM,such as quercetin,luteolin,kaempferol,betulin,and lupenone,exhibit anti-viral,anti-inflammatory,and immunomodulatory properties by targeting TP53,AKT1,SRC,EP300,and STAT3,and modulating the FoxO signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and MAPK signaling pathway,demonstrating an influence on acute lung injury.Micro-CT results suggest that KGM can improve lung texture enhancement and lung injury in ALI rats,with an increase in end-expiratory lung volume(inspiratory phase-expiratory phase).The HE and W/D ratio results indicate that KGM can improve lung tissue injury and reduce the lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio(P<0.01).Blood cell analysis results show that the anti-inflammatory agent can decrease the WBC(white blood cell count)and N%(neutrophil percentage)in ALI rats'blood(P<0.01),and increase lymphocytes(P<0.05).Real-time quantitative PCR,WES,and immunohistochemistry results suggest that KGM can decrease the mRNA expression,protein distribution,and protein expression levels of TP53,AKT1,SRC,EP300,and STAT3 in lung tissue of ALI rats(P<0.05).Conclusion KGM has a certain intervention effect on acute lung injury,mainly achieved through the core targets STAT3,EP300,SRC,AKT1,and TP53.

The scientific research and innovation capabilities of medical students are intrinsically linked to the sustained and high-quality development of national healthcare initiatives.Cultivating outstanding medi-cal students with independent scientific capabilities and innovative consciousness is a critical component in the education and training of high-level medical professionals.Our investigation revealed that within the imperfections of the cultivating model,some faculty and students at medical schools have an insufficient understanding of scientific research and innovation and lack motivation for engaging in such activities,which hinder the progression of scientific research activities.Consequently,we initiated a teaching practice and exploratory study on the"tutorial system"aimed at fostering medical students'scientific research and innovation abilities.Based on the principle of"research informing teaching,teaching and research advan-cing together,"this study implements a"tutorial system"coordinated by tutors,supplemented by graduate and undergraduate student mentors,to cultivate innovative thinking,stimulate interest in scientific re-search,and enhance practical and research skills among medical students.Through collaborative efforts within"scientific research innovation teams,"various educational methods—including preliminary re-search,in-class and extracurricular activities,intra-group and inter-group interactions,and theoretical and practical applications—are employed to improve and strengthen the cultivation of medical students'scientif-ic research and innovation abilities.This study aims to provide valuable references for optimizing medical education management systems and enhancing the quality of medical student training.

ObjectiveTo observe the analgesic efficacy and safety of Qihuang acupuncture theory combined with opioid analgesics in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain due to lung cancer. MethodsPatients with moderate to severe cancer pain from lung cancer were randomly divided into Qihuang acupuncture group and control group， with 33 cases in each group. The control group was treated with long-acting opioid analgesics at maintenance doses and supplementary analgesic medications as needed. In case of breakthrough pain， short-acting opioids were used for rescue. The Qihuang acupuncture group received Qihuang acupuncture treatment in addition to the treatment used in the control group， administered once every other day， with 3 sessions constituting one treatment course. The treatment duration for both groups was 5 days. The primary outcome was the change in pain intensity， measured using the numerical rating scale （NRS） before and after treatment， and the NRS change rate was calculated. Secondary endpoints included the daily NRS change rate， the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group （ECOG） Performance Status （PS） score， the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire （EORTC QLQ-C30） score， and the 24-hour equivalent hydrocodone sustained-release tablet dose. Laboratory tests， including routine blood， urine， stool， liver function， and kidney function， were performed before and after treatment. Adverse events were recorded throughout the trial. ResultsAll patients completed the trial， and both groups showed a decrease in average NRS scores and PS scores after treatment， with the Qihuang acupuncture group showing lower average NRS scores and PS scores than the control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. After treatment， the NRS change rate in the Qihuang acupuncture group was （0.42±0.17）， significantly higher than that in the control group （0.14±0.27， P＜0.01）. The daily NRS change rate during treatment was also higher in the Qihuang acupuncture group compared to the control group （P＜0.01）. The Qihuang acupuncture group showed an increase in overall health status and functional scores in the EORTC QLQ-C30， and a decrease in symptom scores for fatigue， nausea and vomiting， pain， dyspnea， insomnia， appetite loss， constipation， and financial difficulties. In contrast， overall health status and constipation scores in the control group increased， while scores of fatigue， nausea and vomiting， pain， and appetite loss decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. After treatment， the 24-hour equivalent hydrocodone sustained-release tablet dose did not show significant difference in the Qihuang acupuncture group （P＞0.05）， while the control group showed a significant increase in the 24-hour dose （P＜0.01）. No significant abnormalities were observed in laboratory tests before and after treatment in either group. During the study， the incidence of nausea and vomiting as well as constipation in the Qihuang acupuncture group was both 3.03% （1/33）， while the incidence in the control group was 27.27% （9/33） and 36.36% （12/33）， respectively， with the Qihuang acupuncture group showing significantly lower incidence （P＜0.01）. No serious adverse reactions were observed in either group. ConclusionQihuang acupuncture therapy combined with opioid analgesics is more effective than using opioids alone in relieving pain in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain due to lung cancer. It can improve the patients' physical condition and quality of life， reduce the dose of opioid analgesics， and has good safety.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.03.002.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.07.024.].

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement is one of the most significant subtypes of temporomandibular joint disorders, but its etiology and mechanism are poorly understood. In this study, we elucidated the mechanisms by which destruction of inflamed collagen fibrils induces alterations in the mechanical properties and positioning of the TMJ disc. By constructing a rat model of TMJ arthritis, we observed anteriorly dislocated TMJ discs with aggravated deformity in vivo from five weeks to six months after a local injection of Freund's complete adjuvant. By mimicking inflammatory conditions with interleukin-1 beta in vitro, we observed enhanced expression of collagen-synthesis markers in primary TMJ disc cells cultured in a conventional two-dimensional environment. In contrast, three-dimensional (3D)-cultivated disc cell sheets demonstrated the disordered assembly of inflamed collagen fibrils, inappropriate arrangement, and decreased Young's modulus. Mechanistically, inflammation-related activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway occurs during the progression of TMJ arthritis. NF-κB inhibition reduced the collagen fibril destruction in the inflamed disc cell sheets in vitro, and early NF-κB blockade alleviated collagen degeneration and dislocation of the TMJ discs in vivo. Therefore, the NF-κB pathway participates in the collagen remodeling in inflamed TMJ discs, offering a potential therapeutic target for disc displacement.
Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/pathology* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Joint Dislocations/pathology* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Arthritis, Experimental