1.Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation complicated by Takayasu arteritis: A case report
Jianbin GAO ; Jian LI ; Yu YANG ; Mier MA ; Kairui YANG ; Wei LUO ; Ning WANG ; Da ZHU ; Wenbin OUYANG ; Xiangbin PAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):163-166
Patients with Takayasu arteritis combined with aortic valve disease often have a poor prognosis following surgical valve replacement, frequently encountering complications such as perivalvular leakage, valve detachment, and anastomotic aneurysm. This article presents a high-risk case wherein severe aortic valve insufficiency associated with Takayasu arteritis was successfully managed through transcatheter aortic valve implantation via the transapical approach. The patient had satisfactory valve function with no complications observed during the six-month postoperative follow-up. This case provides a minimally invasive and feasible alternative for the clinical management of such high-risk patients.
2.The Structure and Function of The YopJ Family Effectors in The Bacterial Type III Secretion System
Ao-Ning LI ; Wen-Bo LI ; Yu-Ying LU ; Min-Hui ZHU ; Yu-Long QIN ; Yong ZHAO ; Zhao-Huan ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):516-533
The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) serves as a pivotal virulence apparatus for numerous Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, enabling them to infect both animal and plant hosts. Functioning as a molecular syringe, the T3SS directly translocates bacterial effector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm into the interior of eukaryotic host cells. These effectors are central weapons that precisely manipulate a wide spectrum of host cellular physiological processes, ranging from cytoskeletal dynamics to immune signaling, to establish a favorable niche for bacterial survival and proliferation. Among the diverse arsenal of T3SS effectors, the YopJ family constitutes a critical group of virulence factors. Members of this family are characterized by a conserved catalytic triad structure—a hallmark of the CE clan of cysteine proteases that has been evolutionarily repurposed to confer acetyltransferase activity. A defining and intriguing feature of these enzymes is their stringent dependence on a host-derived eukaryotic cofactor, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), for allosteric activation. This requirement acts as a sophisticated molecular safeguard, ensuring enzymatic activity only within the appropriate host environment, thereby preventing detrimental effects on the bacterium itself. While seminal studies on individual members such as Yersinia’s YopJ and Salmonella’s AvrA have provided deep mechanistic insights, a systematic and integrative understanding of the structure-function relationships across the entire family remains fragmented. Key questions persist regarding how a conserved catalytic core has diverged to recognize distinct host substrates in different kingdoms of life. To address this gap, this article provides a systematic review of the YopJ family, focusing on three interconnected aspects: their structural features, their catalytic mechanism, and their divergent immunosuppressive strategies in animal versus plant hosts. By conducting a comparative analysis of the sequences and resolved three-dimensional structures of three representative members (e.g., HopZ1a, PopP2, AvrA), we elucidate regions of significant variation embedded within the conserved core catalytic architecture. These variable regions, often involving surface loops and substrate-binding interfaces, are crucial determinants of target specificity and functional specialization. The functional divergence of this effector family is most apparent when comparing their modes of action in different hosts. In animal hosts, YopJ-family effectors primarily sabotage innate immune signaling pathways. They achieve this by acetylating key serine and threonine residues within the activation loops of critical kinases in the MAPK and NF‑κB pathways. This post-translational modification blocks the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of these kinases, leading to potent suppression of inflammatory cytokine production. Conversely, in plant hosts, the strategy broadens to dismantle the two-tiered plant immune system. YopJ homologs target a more diverse set of substrates, including immune-associated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), microtubule networks via tubulin acetylation (which disrupts cellular trafficking and signaling), and transcription factors central to defense gene regulation. This multi-target approach effectively suppresses both Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI). In conclusion, this synthesis aims to deepen the mechanistic understanding of YopJ family-mediated pathogenesis by integrating structural biology with cellular function across host kingdoms. Elucidating the precise molecular basis for substrate selection—how conserved platforms achieve target diversity—is a major frontier. Furthermore, this knowledge provides a vital theoretical foundation for developing novel anti-virulence strategies. Targeting the conserved IP6-binding pocket or the catalytic acetyltransferase activity itself represents a promising avenue for designing broad-spectrum inhibitors that could disarm this critical family of bacterial effectors, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches against a range of pathogenic bacteria.
3.Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of malignant solid tumors
Chen WANG ; Jun LI ; Ning WANG ; Xinjuan YU ; Xiaolu YU ; Tingtian LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(16):2067-2072
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of malignant solid tumors. METHODS Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on apatinib combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (combination group) versus monotherapy (apatinib or PD-1/PD-L1)combined with (or) chemotherapy/other treatments (control group) in the treatment of malignant solid tumors were collected from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data and China Biomedical Literature Database. The search time limit was from the establishment of the databases to May 2025. After literature screening, data extraction and literature quality evaluation, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0. RESULTS A total of 28 RCTs involving 2 974 patients were included. The objective response rate [RR=1.639, 95%CI(1.452,1.851), P<0.000 01], disease control rate [RR=1.284, 95%CI(1.178,1.399), P<0.000 01] and CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ as well as the incidence of ADR such as hypertension, fatigue, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia were significantly higher in the combination group than control group (P<0.05 or P<0.000 01). The progressive disease rate [RR= 0.497, 95%CI(0.437, 0.566), P<0.000 01] and serum tumor + marker levels and CD8 were significantly lower in the combination group than control group (P<0.05 or P<0.000 01). Subgroup analysis results of different types of tumors showed that the objective response rate and disease control rate were significantly higher in the combination group than control group (P<0.05). The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the stability of this study was good. The results of publication bias analysis showed that there was a high possibility of publication bias in this study. CONCLUSIONS Apatinib combined with PD-1/ PD-L1 inhibitors has a significant efficacy in the treatment of different types of tumors, but attention should be paid to the occurrence of hypertension, fatigue, proteinuria and thrombocytopenia.
4.Analysis of T7 RNA Polymerase: From Structure-function Relationship to dsRNA Challenge and Biotechnological Applications
Wei-Chen NING ; Yu HUA ; Hui-Ling YOU ; Qiu-Shi LI ; Yao WU ; Yun-Long LIU ; Zhen-Xin HU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2280-2294
T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) is one of the simplest known RNA polymerases. Its unique structural features make it a critical model for studying the mechanisms of RNA synthesis. This review systematically examines the static crystal structure of T7 RNAP, beginning with an in-depth examination of its characteristic “thumb”, “palm”, and “finger” domains, which form the classic “right-hand-like” architecture. By detailing these structural elements, this review establishes a foundation for understanding the overall organization of T7 RNAP. This review systematically maps the functional roles of secondary structural elements and their subdomains in transcriptional catalysis, progressively elucidating the fundamental relationships between structure and function. Further, the intrinsic flexibility of T7 RNAP and its applications in research are also discussed. Additionally, the review presents the structural diagrams of the enzyme at different stages of the transcription process, and through these diagrams, it provides a detailed description of the complete transcription process of T7 RNAP. By integrating structural dynamics and kinetics analyses, the review constructs a comprehensive framework that bridges static structure to dynamic processes. Despite its advantages, T7 RNAP has a notable limitation: it generates double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a byproduct. The presence of dsRNA not only compromises the purity of mRNA products but also elicits nonspecific immune responses, which pose significant challenges for biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review provides a detailed exploration of the mechanisms underlying dsRNA formation during T7 RNAP catalysis, reviews current strategies to mitigate this issue, and highlights recent progress in the field. A key focus is the semi-rational design of T7 RNAP mutants engineered to minimize dsRNA generation and enhance catalytic performance. Beyond its role in transcription, T7 RNAP exhibits rapid development and extensive application in fields, including gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccines. This review systematically examines the structure-function relationships of T7 RNAP, elucidates the mechanisms of dsRNA formation, and discusses engineering strategies to optimize its performance. It further explores the engineering optimization and functional expansion of T7 RNAP. Furthermore, this review also addresses the pressing issues that currently need resolution, discusses the major challenges in the practical application of T7 RNAP, and provides an outlook on potential future research directions. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of T7 RNAP, ranging from its structural architecture to cutting-edge applications. We systematically examine: (1) the characteristic right-hand domains (thumb, palm, fingers) that define its minimalistic structure; (2) the structure-function relationships underlying transcriptional catalysis; and (3) the dynamic transitions during the complete transcription cycle. While highlighting T7 RNAP’s versatility in gene editing, biosensing, and mRNA vaccine production, we critically address its major limitation—dsRNA byproduct formation—and evaluate engineering solutions including semi-rationally designed mutants. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying key challenges, this work aims to provide novel insights for the development and application of T7 RNAP and to foster further thought and progress in related fields.
5.Analysis of learning curve of TiRobot-assisted lumbar pedicle screw fixation based on the cumulative sum test
Yuquan LIU ; Xiang LI ; Qi FEI ; Kuo CHEN ; Weiyang ZUO ; Bin ZHU ; Guoqiang ZHANG ; Lingjia YU ; Xuehu XIE ; Ning LIU ; Haining TAN ; Hai MENG ; Tianqi FAN ; Yong YANG
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(1):10-17
Objective:To analyze the learning curve of TiRobot-assisted lumbar pedicle screw fixation (LPSF) by cumulative sum (CUSUM) test method.Methods:The clinical data of 50 patients who underwent TiRobot-assisted LPSF from January 2020 to December 2022 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. CUSUM analysis and learning curve fitting were performed with robot usage time as the main indicator with the time for each step refined (robot registration time, path planning time and guide wire placement time), to select the best learning curve fitting model with the R2 value closest to 1. Using the turning point of the learning curve as the boundary, the learning curve was divided into two stages as learning stage and maturity stage, and then the observation indexes were compared between the two stages. Results:All 50 patients successfully completed the surgery without perioperative complications, with a total of 244 pedicle screws implanted. The total robot usage time and robot registration time showed a gradually decreasing trend with the increase of case number, and the learning curves were successfully fitted and reached their peaks at the seventeenth and thirteenth cases respectively. The entire learning process was divided into learning stage (17 cases) and maturity stage (33 cases) based on the turning point of the learning curve of total robot usage time. The path planning time and guide wire placement time did not show significant changes with the increase in the case number. The total robot usage time, robot registration time and the intraoperative blood loss in the learning stage were significantly higher than those in the maturity stage: (35.35 ± 1.58) min vs. (30.61 ± 0.43) min, (20.83 ± 1.56) min vs. (14.94 ± 0.29) min and 400 (150, 500) ml vs. 200 (110, 300) ml, the guide wire placement time of per screw was significantly lower than that in the maturity stage: 2.00 (1.83, 2.34) min/screw vs. 2.33 (2.13, 2.69) min/screw, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). There were no statistical difference in the path planning time, path planning time of per screw, guide wire placement time and the accuracy of screw placement between two stages ( P>0.05). Conclusions:TiRobot-assisted LPSF is a new technology with safety and effectiveness, and it has a relatively short learning curve. To achieve technological maturity, at least 17 surgeries are required with accumulated experience, and the robot registration is the main step of the learning process. After reaching maturity stage, the robot usage time is significantly shortened and intraoperative trauma is significantly reduced while the relatively high screw placement accuracy is ensured.
6.Research on dry and wet durability of reusable surgical gowns
Ze-chen LIN ; Min WAN ; Yu-peng SUN ; Hui-jie SUN ; Jian-jun SUN ; Qing ZHANG ; Bo ZHANG ; An-ning LI ; Fu-xin DU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):28-33
Objective To explore the changes of durability properties of reusable surgical gowns when used in dry and wet conditions.Methods Reusable surgical gowns made of single-layer polyester fiber or 3-layer composite material were selected as test samples,and a Martindale abrasion and pilling tester was used as the basic test platform and modified to form fixtures suitable for the wet state environment.The reusable surgical gowns underwent abrasion experiments in wet and dry conditions to observe the changes in their fiber structure,and were subjected to water penetration resistance and swelling strength tests.Results Visually the reusable surgical gowns had few changes of the microscopic textile fiber structure in dry and wet conditions,and the gowns made of single-layer polyster fiber gained advantages over the outer layers of those of 3-layer composite material in abrasion resistance with the same friction cycles.In dry and wet conditions,the hydrostatic pressure values of the gowns of single-layer polyster fiber gradually decreased with the increase of the degree of abrasion,which were always lower than those of the gowns of 3-layer composite material;the swelling strength of the gowns of single-layer polyster fiber was always greater than that of the gowns of 3-layer composite material,which decreased with the deterioration of the wear more significantly than that of the gowns of 3-layer composite material.Conclusion The reusable surgical gowns made of single-layer polyester fiber or 3-layer composite material have few differences in durability and protective properties at the early stages of ablation in dry and wet conditions.The durability of the gowns decreases as the degree of wear increases,while the trend of the decrease is slowing down until the fabric breaks down and completely loses its barrier effect.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):28-33]
7.Validity of Breg Balance Scale on assessing the balance function in patients with Parkinson's disease
Chen WANG ; Shan TIAN ; Wei-ning WANG ; Ce LI ; Yu-lian ZHU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(3):403-407
Objective To analyze the applicability of Berg Balance Scale(BBS)in the balance assessment of Parkinson's disease(PD)patients with balancing instrument test as the standard,so as to formulate targeted intervention programs accordingly.Methods A total of 186 patients with PD admitted to Department of Neurology and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from Jan 2020 to Sep 2022 were selected as the research objects.The static balance function of the patients was evaluated by balancing instrument.The balance function parameters were analyzed according to BBS and levodopa equivalent dose.Results The drug dose did not affect the score of balance instrument.There was a good correlation between BBS and balance instrument.The higher the scale score,the lower the balance instrument score(r=-0.333,P<0.001).There was a positive correlation between levodopa equivalent dose and item 11 of BBS in subjects with BBS total score of 21-40(r=0.715,P=0.046).There was a significant negative correlation between levodopa equivalent dose and item 6 of BBS in subjects with BBS total score of 51-56(r=-0.300,P=0.001).The number of people who lost the most points in BBS from large to small was item 14 of standing on one leg(134 cases),item 13 of standing without support with one foot in front(122 cases),item 11 of turning 360 degrees(75 cases),item 8 of reaching forward with outstretched arms(70 cases),and item 12 of placing one feet alternately on a step or a stool(56 cases).Conclusion In the absence of balancing instrument,BBS has good clinical applicability in the evaluation of PD patients,and some items can be focused on according to the lost points.
8.Comparison of the therapeutic efficacy of different methods of anesthesia in microscopic varicocelectomy for the treatment of varicocele
Qun-sheng LI ; Ning-hua LI ; Lei ZHOU ; Dong-run LI ; Jie LU ; Chun-yan HE ; Yu-nu ZHOU ; Jian-mo CHEN ; Wen-tao YANG
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(8):692-697
Objective:To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of local anesthesia and spinal anesthesia for the patients with varicocele(VC)who underwent microsurgical varicocelectomy(MV).Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the data of VC patients who underwent MV treatment at the Andrology Department of the Affiliated Ruikang Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to March 2023.Cases with complete clinical data and follow-up evaluation were selected and divided into a control group(spinal anesthesia)and an observation group(local anesthesia)according to different anesthesia methods.The surgical time(including anesthesia time),visual analogue scale(VAS)score for pain,hospital stay,treatment cost,sperm concentration,for-ward motile sperm rate,and normal sperm morphology rate after three months of surgery,as well as postoperative complications and re-currence rate were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 107 eligible cases were included,with 56 cases in the con-trol group and 51 cases in the observation group.There was no significant difference in the VAS score for pain during and after four hours of surgery,as well as postoperative complications,and recurrence rate between the two groups(P>0.05).There was an signif-icant increase in sperm concentration,forward motile sperm rate,and normal sperm morphology rate in both of two groups after three months of surgery(P<0.05).However,there was no significant difference between the two groups three months after surgery(P>0.05).The surgical time and hospital stay were shorter than those of the control group(P<0.05).And the treatment cost in observa-tion group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Both local anesthesia and lumbar anesthesia for MV treatment of VC have good efficacy and safety.However,patients treated with MV under local anesthesia for VC have obvious advanta-ges in terms of operation time(including anesthesia time),hospital stay,and treatment cost,which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
9.Analysis of the Causes of Subject Screening Failures in Clinical Trials of Antineoplastic Drugs and Protocol Nerfing Indicators
Shuopeng JIA ; Hailan MA ; Huiyao HUANG ; Jingxiao ZHU ; Anqi YU ; Yiru HOU ; Yu TANG ; Hong FANG ; Ning LI
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(3):497-502
Objective To analyze the reasons for the failure of subject screening in clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs and the impact of natriuretic criteria on the entry of subjects into clinical trials,to explore the strategies to improve the suc-cessful enrolment of screened subjects,and to provide reference bases for research institutes and sponsors in the formulation of na-triuretic criteria.Methods This study selected data from 40 drug clinical trials conducted at the Drug Clinical Trial Research Center of the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1,2016,to June 30,2022.It statistically described the collected data on the frequency and percentage composition of screening failures among participants and the inclu-sion and exclusion criteria in the protocols.Results A total of 425 subjects were screened out of 40 clinical trial programmers covering 8 tumor types,with the majority being<65 years of age(333,78.4%),of which the most important reasons included vol-untary withdrawal(71,16.7%),tumor metastasis(52,12.2%),failure to recover from treatment of pre-existing disease(38,8.9%),failure of bone marrow function(19,4.5%),and non-compliant liver function(15,3.5%).Among the nadir indicators,the age of the subjects(100%),ECOG score(97.5%),bone marrow function(ANC:95.0%,PLT:97.5%,HB:97.5%),liver function(T-BiL:95.0%,ALT:87.5%,AST:95.0%),renal function(CR:80.0%),and viral screening(HIV:80.0%,HBV:70.0%,HCV:62.5%)were relatively stringent.Conclusion The main reasons for subject screening failure in clinical trials in oncology in our hospital are voluntary withdrawal,brain metastasis,and failure of their biochemical test standards,which are close-ly related to the setting of clinical trial nadir criteria.Therefore,an in-depth understanding of subjects'characteristics,accurate set-ting of appropriate nadir criteria,continuous improvement of trial design,and strengthening of communication with subjects to pro-vide more relevant information will help to improve the screening success rate of clinical trials.
10.Role of CHMP4C in gastric cancer development through regulating necroptosis and its action mechanism
Qi-ning GUO ; Ya-ping LI ; Li PEI ; Long-chen YU ; Zheng-dong LUO ; Rui ZHAO ; Zhong-fang NIU ; Xin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(2):125-133
Objective:Exploring the role and mechanism of CHMP4C in regulating necroptosis during gastric can-cer development and progression.Method:The expression of CHMP4C in pan-cancer was analyzed by bioinformatics methods,and the expression of CHMP4C was detected in human normal gastric epithelial cells and GC cell lines by RT-qPCR and Western blot.Overexpression or knockdown of CHMP4C was performed in GC cell lines,and the effects of CHMP4C on the growth and proliferation of GC cells were detected using CCK-8 and clone formation assays.The CCK-8 experiment and Hoechst/PI double staining experiment were used to detect the changes in GC cell mortality and PI positive cell ratio after treatment with the necroptsis inducer TSZ or inhibitor necrostatin-1(Nec-1).Western blot assay was used to detect the protein and phosphorylation levels of RIPK1,RIPK3,and MLKL in GC cells.Result:CHMP4C was upregulated in GC tissues and cells.The CCK-8 and clone formation experiments showed that overex-pression of CHMP4C significantly improved the proliferation ability and colony formation efficiency of GC cells,while knockdown of CHMP4C significantly weakened GC cells.Moreover,the results of CCK-8 and Hoechst 33342/PI double staining experiments showed that upregulated CHMP4C could inhibit TSZ induced GC cell death;Nec-1 can reverse the decrease in GC cell viability caused by CHMP4C knockdown.Western blot experiment showed that the levels of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3,and p-MLKL were significantly decreased in overexpressing cells,while they were increased in knockdown cells.After treatment with Nec-1,the expression levels of these three proteins decreased in knockdown cells.Conclusion:CHMP4C may promote GC progression by negatively regulating necroptosis through inhibiting the phosphorylation of the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway,suggesting that it is expected to be a potential target for GC therapy.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail