Background: Dry medical thoracoscopy (MT) allows access into the pleural cavity in the absence of effusion; but its role, safety, and techniques remain poorly defined. This scoping review summarises current evidence on indications, procedural approaches, diagnostic yield, and safety of dry MT; and highlights gaps to guide future research. Methods: We conducted a scoping review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for original studies reporting on dry MT involving pneumothorax induction. Study selection and data extraction followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Results: Thirteen studies involving 357 patients were included. 146 cases (40.9%) were completely ‘dry’ (complete absence of pleural fluid). Techniques for pneumothorax induction varied, including blunt dissection, Veress needle, Boutin needle, bladeless trocar, Saugman cannula and guidewire-assisted catheter insertion. Procedural success ranged from 80.6% to 100%, though definitions were inconsistently reported. Thoracic ultrasound was frequently used for site selection and needle guidance, but standardised criteria were lacking. Malignancy and chronic pleurisy were common histological findings. Complications occurred in 5.9% of cases, most commonly chest pain. No studies reported long-term follow-up. Conclusion Dry MT appears technically feasible and generally safe. Heterogeneity in techniques, outcome definitions, and limited follow-up constrain further interpretation. Future studies should aim to standardise procedural definitions, evaluate predictors of success, and compare pneumothorax induction methods. Prospective research with long-term outcomes is needed to definite the role of dry MT more clearly.

A biosynthetic gene cluster for the bioactive fungal sesterterpenoids variecolin ( 1) and variecolactone ( 2) was identified in Aspergillus aculeatus ATCC 16872. Heterologous production of 1 and 2 was achieved in Aspergillus oryzae by expressing the sesterterpene synthase VrcA and the cytochrome P450 VrcB. Intriguingly, the replacement of VrcB with homologous P450s from other fungal terpenoid pathways yielded three new variecolin analogues ( 5- 7). Analysis of the compounds' anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo revealed that although 5 and 1 had comparable activities, 5 was associated with significantly reduced toxic side effects in cancer-bearing mice, indicating its potentially broader therapeutic window. Our study describes the first tests of variecolin and its analogues in animals and demonstrates the utility of synthetic biology for creating molecules with improved biological activities.

Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists ; Consensus ; Cardiovascular System ; Cardiology ; Asia

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of glomuvenous malformation (GVM). Methods: Thirty-one cases of GVM diagnosed at the Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2011 to December 2021 were collected. Their clinical and pathological features were analyzed. The expression of relevant markers was examined using immunohistochemistry. The patients were also followed up. Results: There were 16 males and 15 females in this study, with an average age of 11 years (range, 1-52 years). The locations of the disease included 13 cases in the limbs (8 cases in the upper limbs, 5 cases in the lower limbs), 9 cases in the trunks, and 9 cases in the foot (toes or subungual area). Twenty-seven of the cases were solitary and 4 were multifocal. The lesions were characterized by blue-purple papules or plaques on the skin surface, which grew slowly. The lumps became larger and appeared to be conspicuous. Microscopically, GVM mainly involved the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, with an overall ill-defined border. There were scattered or clustered irregular dilated vein-like lumens, with thin walls and various sizes. A single or multiple layers of relatively uniform cubic/glomus cells were present at the abnormal wall, with scattered small nests of the glomus cells. The endothelial cells in the wall of abnormal lumen were flat or absent. Immunohistochemistry showed that glomus cells strongly expressed SMA, h-caldesmon, and collagen IV. Malformed vascular endothelial cells expressed CD31, CD34 and ERG. No postoperative recurrence was found in the 12 cases. Conclusions: GVM is an uncommon type of simple venous malformation in the superficial soft tissue and different from the classical glomus tumor. Morphologically, one or more layers of glomus cells grow around the dilated venous malformation-like lumen, which can be combined with common venous malformations.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Glomus Tumor/surgery* ; Endothelial Cells/pathology* ; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/pathology* ; Immunohistochemistry