Membrane proteins are integral components of cellular membranes, accounting for approximately 30% of the mammalian proteome and serving as targets for 60% of FDA-approved drugs. They are critical to both physiological functions and disease mechanisms. Their functional protein-protein interactions form the basis for many physiological processes, such as signal transduction, material transport, and cell communication. Membrane protein interactions are characterized by membrane environment dependence, spatial asymmetry, weak interaction strength, high dynamics, and a variety of interaction sites. Therefore, in situ analysis is essential for revealing the structural basis and kinetics of these proteins. This paper introduces currently available in situ analytical techniques for studying membrane protein interactions and evaluates the characteristics of each. These techniques are divided into two categories: label-based techniques (e.g., co-immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assay, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, resonance energy transfer, and proximity labeling) and label-free techniques (e.g., cryo-electron tomography, in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and structure prediction tools). Each technique is critically assessed in terms of its historical development, strengths, and limitations. Based on the authors’ relevant research, the paper further discusses the key issues and trends in the application of these techniques, providing valuable references for the field of membrane protein research. Label-based techniques rely on molecular tags or antibodies to detect proximity or interactions, offering high specificity and adaptability for dynamic studies. For instance, proximity ligation assay combines the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of PCR amplification, while proximity labeling enables spatial mapping of interactomes. Conversely, label-free techniques, such as cryo-electron tomography, provide near-native structural insights, and Raman spectroscopy directly probes molecular interactions without perturbing the membrane environment. Despite advancements, these methods face several universal challenges: (1) indirect detection, relying on proximity or tagged proxies rather than direct interaction measurement; (2) limited capacity for continuous dynamic monitoring in live cells; and (3) potential artificial influences introduced by labeling or sample preparation, which may alter native conformations. Emerging trends emphasize the multimodal integration of complementary techniques to overcome individual limitations. For example, combining in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry with proximity labeling enhances both spatial resolution and interaction coverage, enabling high-throughput subcellular interactome mapping. Similarly, coupling fluorescence resonance energy transfer with nuclear magnetic resonance and artificial intelligence (AI) simulations integrates dynamic structural data, atomic-level details, and predictive modeling for holistic insights. Advances in AI, exemplified by AlphaFold’s ability to predict interaction interfaces, further augment experimental data, accelerating structure-function analyses. Future developments in cryo-electron microscopy, super-resolution imaging, and machine learning are poised to refine spatiotemporal resolution and scalability. In conclusion, in situ analysis of membrane protein interactions remains indispensable for deciphering their roles in health and disease. While current technologies have significantly advanced our understanding, persistent gaps highlight the need for innovative, integrative approaches. By synergizing experimental and computational tools, researchers can achieve multiscale, real-time, and perturbation-free analyses, ultimately unraveling the dynamic complexity of membrane protein networks and driving therapeutic discovery.

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

Objective:To compare the differences in breastfeeding rates and the incidence of clinical complications in very/extremely low birth weight infants with and without the use of donor milk banks.Methods:Before and after the establishment of the donor milk bank,a total of 279 very/extremely low birth weight infants who were hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital in Beijing were selected.In the study,136 infants who did not receive donated breast-feeding were included in con-trol group and 143 infants who received donated breast-feeding were included in observation group.The clinical data of mothers and their infants were collected.The mother's information included gestational age,maternal comorbidities,and mode of delivery.Infant information includes gender,weight,gesta-tional age,duration of breastfeeding,total enteral feeding time,hospitalization time and incidence of complications(feeding intolerance,necrotizing enterocolitis,retinopathy of prematurity).Results:The maternal ages were(33.5±4.2)years in the observation group and(32.5±3.9)years in the con-trol group.Cesareans were performed in 95 cases(70.4％)and 81 cases(66.9％),respectively.The gestational ages of preterm infants were(29.2±2.1)weeks and(29.1±2.2)weeks,with birth weights of(1 140.5±247.1)g and(1 169.4±228.6)g,respectively.Newborn boys accounted for 72 cases(50.3％)in the observation group and 63 cases(46.3％)in the control group.No statistically significant differences were found in baseline characteristics between the two groups(all P＞0.05).After the use of donor milk banks,the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in very/low birth weight infants increased from 3.1％to 10.5％(x2=5.778,P=0.016)during hospitalization,the time to full enteral feeding was shortened from 13dto10d(Z=-4.567,P＜0.001),the first breastfeeding time was shortened from the third day of admission to the first day of admission(Z=-11.812,P＜0.001),the first breastfeeding of mother's own milk was extended from the third day of admission to the fourth day of admission(Z=-4.652,P＜0.001),and the incidence of feeding intolerance during hospitalization was reduced from 34.0％to 10.0％(x2=17.015,P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis,late-onset sepsis,retinopathy of prematurity and total length of hospital stay(P＞0.05).Conclusion:The use of donor milk bank can improve the breastfeeding rate,shorten the time to first breastfeeding,and reduce the incidence of feeding intolerance in very/extremely low birth weight infants,which provides a reference for the clinical treatment of very/extremely low birth weight infants.

Objective:To compare the differences in breastfeeding rates and the incidence of clinical complications in very/extremely low birth weight infants with and without the use of donor milk banks.Methods:Before and after the establishment of the donor milk bank,a total of 279 very/extremely low birth weight infants who were hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital in Beijing were selected.In the study,136 infants who did not receive donated breast-feeding were included in con-trol group and 143 infants who received donated breast-feeding were included in observation group.The clinical data of mothers and their infants were collected.The mother's information included gestational age,maternal comorbidities,and mode of delivery.Infant information includes gender,weight,gesta-tional age,duration of breastfeeding,total enteral feeding time,hospitalization time and incidence of complications(feeding intolerance,necrotizing enterocolitis,retinopathy of prematurity).Results:The maternal ages were(33.5±4.2)years in the observation group and(32.5±3.9)years in the con-trol group.Cesareans were performed in 95 cases(70.4％)and 81 cases(66.9％),respectively.The gestational ages of preterm infants were(29.2±2.1)weeks and(29.1±2.2)weeks,with birth weights of(1 140.5±247.1)g and(1 169.4±228.6)g,respectively.Newborn boys accounted for 72 cases(50.3％)in the observation group and 63 cases(46.3％)in the control group.No statistically significant differences were found in baseline characteristics between the two groups(all P＞0.05).After the use of donor milk banks,the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in very/low birth weight infants increased from 3.1％to 10.5％(x2=5.778,P=0.016)during hospitalization,the time to full enteral feeding was shortened from 13dto10d(Z=-4.567,P＜0.001),the first breastfeeding time was shortened from the third day of admission to the first day of admission(Z=-11.812,P＜0.001),the first breastfeeding of mother's own milk was extended from the third day of admission to the fourth day of admission(Z=-4.652,P＜0.001),and the incidence of feeding intolerance during hospitalization was reduced from 34.0％to 10.0％(x2=17.015,P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis,late-onset sepsis,retinopathy of prematurity and total length of hospital stay(P＞0.05).Conclusion:The use of donor milk bank can improve the breastfeeding rate,shorten the time to first breastfeeding,and reduce the incidence of feeding intolerance in very/extremely low birth weight infants,which provides a reference for the clinical treatment of very/extremely low birth weight infants.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of research and evidence related to antihypertensive Chinese patent medicines combined with western medicines for the treatment of hypertension， synthesize and update the evidence， form expert consensus， and provide evidence for clinical decision-making. MethodThe databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， WanFang Data Knowledge Service Platform （WanFang）， Vip Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database （VIP）， Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System （Sinomed）， National Library of Medicine （PubMed）， Cochrane Library， Web of Science， and US Clinical Trials Registry were searched for randomized controlled trials of antihypertensive Chinese medicine combined with western medicine for the treatment of hypertension from database construction to July 31， 2022. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the bias risk assessment tool in Cochrane Handbook 6.3. Evidence synthesis of main outcome indicators was performed using R software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment， Development， and Evaluation profiler （GRADEprofiler） 3.6 was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence. Expert consensus was formed based on the Delphi method after two rounds of voting. Result64 pieces of literature were included， and the results of literature quality evaluation and risk of bias showed that 70.31% （45/64） of the studies indicated some risks， and 29.69% （19/64） indicated high risks. Compared with conventional western medicines， the combination of Chinese patent medicines with western medicines can significantly lower systolic pressure （SBP） and diastolic pressure （DBP）， increase the effective rate of antihypertensive， reduce the incidence of adverse reactions， endothelin-1， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores. Egger's test showed that Songling Xuemaikang capsules reduced SBP and DBP. Tianma Gouteng granules reduced SBP and DBP and increased the effective rate of antihypertensive， and Xinmaitong capsules reduced SBP and increased the effective rate of antihypertensive， without significant publication bias. Songling Xuemaikang capsules increased the effective rate of antihypertensive， and Xinmaitong capsules decreased DBP， with significant publication bias. The results of the GRADE evidence quality evaluation showed that most evidence was at grades B and C. Finally， four strong recommendations and 14 weak recommendations were formed. ConclusionCompared with conventional western medicines for the treatment of hypertension， antihypertensive Chinese patent medicines combined with western medicines have advantages in reducing blood pressure and improving drug use safety， but they are mostly weak recommendations in terms of efficacy， and more high-quality evidence is needed.

Objective:To compare the anesthetic potency of dexmedetomidine combined with remifentanil for colonoscopy in the patients with different body mass indexes (BMIs) to assess the clinical significance of the influence of weight on the level of pain during the procedure.Methods:American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 18-64 yr, undergoing elective colonoscopy, were divided into 3 groups based on the BMI: group Ⅰ (underweight group, BMI<18.5 kg/m 2), group Ⅱ (normal weight group, BMI 18.5-24.0 kg/m 2), and group III (overweight group, 24.0 kg/m 2 < BMI <30.0 kg/m 2). The prescribed dose of dexmedetomidine was infused within 2 min, then remifentanil was infused as a bolus of 1 μg/kg within 2 min followed by an infusion of 0.1 μg · kg -1 · min -1 throughout the surgery, and then colonoscopy was performed in patients of each group. The up-and-down sequential allocation was used to determine the dose of dexmedetomidine, the initial dose of dexmedetomidine in each group was 0.3 μg/kg, and the ratio between the two successive doses was 1.2. The positive response was defined as the Modified Observer′s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale score > 1 and occurrence of body movement during the operation. Each time the dose of dexmedetomidine increased/decreased in the next patient depending on whether or not the response was positive. The median effective dose (ED 50) and 95% confidence interval ( CI) of dexmedetomidine were calculated using the Dixon-Massey formula. Results:Compared with group Ⅰ (0.42 [95% CI 0.38-0.47] μg/kg), the ED 50 of dexmedetomidine was significantly decreased in group II (0.23 [95% CI 0.19-0.32] μg/kg) and in group III (0.18 [95% CI 0.13-0.22] μg/kg) ( P<0.05). The ED 50 of dexmedetomidine was significantly decreased in group Ⅲ when compared with group Ⅱ ( P<0.05). Conclusions:With the increase of patients′ BMIs, the anesthetic potency of dexmedetomidine for colonoscopy is significantly enhanced when combined with remifentanil, indicating that clinicians should pay attention to the influence of weight on the level of pain during procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated, we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery. METHODS: We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15, 2020 to April 29, 2022. Demographics, epidemiological, clinical symptoms, radiological and laboratory data, treatment medicines and outcomes, and follow up were analyzed, and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated. RESULTS: A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included. One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis. The median age was 54.5 years, and all were males (100.0%). Two cases (50.0%) were moderate, and one was mild and asymptomatic, respectively. Three cases (75.0%) had at least one comorbidity (brucellosis excluded). All 4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening. Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission, respectively. Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine, western medicines for three cases, no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization. All patients were cured and discharged. Moreover, one case (25.0%) had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19, and other three cases (75.0%) have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery. Conducting the literature review, two similar cases have been reported in two case reports, and were both recovered, whereas, no data of follow up after recovery. CONCLUSION These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery. More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Brucellosis ; COVID-19 ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; Case Reports as Topic

This study explored the effect and mechanism of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction(MWYF) on pulmonary fibrosis(PF) mice. MWYF was prepared, and its main components were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a pirfenidone(PFD) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose MWYF groups, with 10 mice in each group. The PF model was induced in mice except for those in the control group by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin(BLM), and model mice were treated with saline or MWYF or PFD by gavage the next day. The water consumption, food intake, hair, and activity of mice were observed daily. The pathological changes in lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, Masson staining, and CT scanning. The level of hydroxyproline(HYP) in lung tissues was detected by alkaline hydrolysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of collagen type Ⅲ(COL3) and fibronectin. The mRNA expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), type Ⅰ collagen α1(COL1α1), COL3, and vimentin were detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR). Superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) kits were used to detect oxidative stress indicators in lung tissues and serum. The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2) protein was detected by immunofluorescence. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, catalase(CAT), and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) in lung tissues were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. Twelve chemical components were detected by UPLC-MS/MS. Animal experiments showed that MWYF could improve alveolar inflammation, collagen deposition, and fibrosis in PF mice, increase body weight of mice, and down-regulate the expression of fibrosis indexes such as HYP, α-SMA, COL1α1, COL3, fibronectin, and vimentin in lung tissues. In addition, MWYF could potentiate the activity of SOD in lung tissues and serum of PF mice, up-regulate the expression level of Nrf2, and promote its transfer to the nucleus, up-regulate the levels of downstream antioxidant target genes CAT and HO-1, and then reduce the accumulation of lipid metabolite MDA. In summary, MWYF can significantly improve the pathological damage and fibrosis of lung tissues in PF mice, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of the Nrf2 pathway to regulate oxidative stress.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Fibronectins/metabolism* ; Vimentin/metabolism* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a user-friendly risk score for older mitral regurgitation (MR) patients, referred to as the Elder-MR score. METHODS: The China Senile Valvular Heart Disease (China-DVD) Cohort Study functioned as the development cohort, while the China Valvular Heart Disease (China-VHD) Study was employed for external validation. We included patients aged 60 years and above receiving medical treatment for moderate or severe MR (2274 patients in the development cohort and 1929 patients in the validation cohort). Candidate predictors were chosen using Cox's proportional hazards model and stepwise selection with Akaike's information criterion. RESULTS: Eight predictors were identified: age ≥ 75 years, body mass index < 20 kg/m², NYHA class III/IV, secondary MR, anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m², albumin < 35 g/L, and left ventricular ejection fraction < 60%. The model displayed satisfactory performance in predicting one-year mortality in both the development cohort (C-statistic = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.69-0.77, Brier score = 0.06) and the validation cohort (C-statistic = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.68-0.78, Brier score = 0.06). The Elder-MR score ranges from 0 to 15 points. At a one-year follow-up, each point increase in the Elder-MR score represents a 1.27-fold risk of death (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.21-1.34, P < 0.001) in the development cohort and a 1.24-fold risk of death (HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.17-1.30, P < 0.001) in the validation cohort. Compared to EuroSCORE II, the Elder-MR score demonstrated superior predictive accuracy for one-year mortality in the validation cohort (C-statistic = 0.71 vs. 0.70, net reclassification improvement = 0.320, P < 0.01; integrated discrimination improvement = 0.029, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The Elder-MR score may serve as an effective risk stratification tool to assist clinical decision-making in older MR patients.