Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of systemic thrombolysis(ST)and standard anticoagulation(SA)in the treatment of lower extremity fracture complicated with distal deep vein thrombosis(DDVT).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 60 patients with lower extremity fracture complicated with DDVT treated from January 2021 to December 2023.When the lower limb venography indicated a calf thrombus burden score ≥3 points,a retrievable inferior vena cava filter(IVCF)was successfully placed in the healthy femoral vein before orthopedic surgery.The patients who received further anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy after surgery were allocated into a ST group(n=30,urokinase ST and SA)and a SA group(n=30,only SA).The two groups were compared in terms of calf thrombus burden score,thrombus dissolution rate,IVCF placement time,IVCF retrieval rate,intercepted thrombi,hemoglobin level,platelet count,D-dimer level,and complications.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the calf thrombus burden score between the two groups before treatment(P=0.431).However,after treatment,the scores in both groups decreased(both P<0.001),with the ST group showing lower score than the SA group(P=0.002).The thrombus dissolution rate in the ST group was higher than that in the SA group(P<0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in the IVCF placement time between the two groups(P=0.359),and the IVCF retrieval rate was 100% in both groups.The ST group had fewer intercepted thrombi than the SA group(P=0.002).There was no statistically significant difference in hemoglobin level(P=0.238),platelet count(P=0.914),or D-dimer level(P=0.756)between the two groups before treatment.However,after treatment,both groups showed an increase in platelet count(both P<0.001)and a decrease in D-dimer level(both P<0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of complications between the two groups(P=0.704).Conclusions Both SA and ST demonstrate safety and efficacy in the treatment of lower extremity fractures complicated with DDVT,serving as valuable options for clinical application.Compared with SA,ST not only enhances the thrombus dissolution in the calf but also mitigates the risk of thrombosis associated with IVCF.
Humans ; Venous Thrombosis/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombolytic Therapy/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Fractures, Bone/complications* ; Lower Extremity/injuries* ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult

Objective To explore the predictive value of transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1),chromobox homolog 7(CBX7),and soluble urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor(suPAR)for post-operative recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization.Methods A total of 200 pa-tients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia admitted to the hospital from April 2020 to June 2023 were select-ed as the research subjects.All patients were treated with cervical conization.All patients were followed up for one year.According to the postoperative recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia patients after cervical conization,they were divided into the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group.Univariate and multiva-riate Logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the risk factors influencing the postoperative re-currence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to analyze the value of TGF-β1,CBX7 and suPAR in predicting the postoperative re-currence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization.A nomogram model for predicting the postoperative recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization was established using R software and verified both internally and externally.The calibration curve and decision curve were used to ana-lyze the calibration ability and application value of the nomogram.Results The levels of TGF-β1,CBX7 and suPAR in the recurrence group were all higher than those in the non-recurrence group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic analysis showed that TGF-β1,CBX7,and suPAR were all risk factors for postoperative recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization(P<0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the combined prediction of TGF-β1,CBX7,and suPAR for the postoperative recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization was higher than AUC of the individual detection of each index(Z=3.554,2.311,2.520,P<0.05).The correction curve of the nomogram model for predicting the postoperative recur-rence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization approached the ideal curve(P=0.298,0.687).Conclusion The combination of TGF-β1,CBX7 and suPAR has certain value in predicting the postoperative recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization.

Objective:To explore the effects of radical resection of pelvic autonomic nerve sparing cervical cancer on urodynamics, sexual function and prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.Methods:A total of 76 patients with cervical cancer admitted to Dingzhou People’s Hospital from Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2023 were selected as research objects, and all patients were divided into control group and study group by random number table method, with 38 cases in each group. The control group was treated with traditional laparoscopic radical cervicectomy, and the study group was treated with laparoscopic radical cervicectomy preserving pelvic autonomic nerve. Perioperative indexes, preoperative and postoperative urodynamics, tumor markers, sexual function and postoperative adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The operation time of the observation group was longer than that of the control group ( P<0.05). The exhaust time and defecation time of the observation group were lower in the observation group than in the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the amount of blood loss or lymph node dissection between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in urodynamic indexes between the two groups before surgery ( P>0.05). In the observation group after surgery, the bladder compliance, maximum urine flow rate and maximum detrusor systolic blood pressure were (81.55±13.18 mL/cm H 20, 20.46±4.65 L/s, 35.09±7.41 cm H 20), while they were (60.14±10.27) mL/cm H 20, (14.48±3.92) L/s, (28.15±6.94) cm H 20 in the control group. The observation group were higher than the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in maximum bladder volume between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in sexual function scores between the two groups before surgery ( P>0.05). The scores of sexual desire, vaginal wetness and pain, sexual arousal and orgasm, and sexual satisfaction in the observation group were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups ( P>0.05) . Conclusion:Radical resection of pelvic autonomic nerve preserving cervical cancer can improve urodynamic indexes and sexual function of patients with cervical cancer, and has the same efficacy as conventional laparoscopic radical resection of cervical cancer without increasing adverse reactions, and has a good effect and safety.

Objective:To study the diagnostic value and correlation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound time-intensity curve in the main pathological features of cervical cancer.Methods:From August 2021 to August 2023, 100 patients with cervical cancer and 100 patients with benign cervical tumors examined in Dingzhou People’s Hospital were selected for study. Patients with benign cervical tumors were included in the control group, and patients with cervical cancer were included in the observation group.The two groups of patients were examined by PHILIPS EPIQ7 C color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument and PHILIPS EPIQ5 color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument to obtain the quantitative parameters of the time-intensity curve of the two groups. The bivariate Spearman correlation test was used to analyze the main pathological features of cervical cancer patients (lesion diameter, pathological type, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, differentiation degree, clinical stage) and the correlation between radiotherapy and chemotherapy and the acquisition of time-intensity curve. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to analyze the diagnostic value of the time-intensity curve.Results:The time to peak (TTP) value of the cervical cancer group was lower than that of the control group, and the peak intensity (PI) and maximum peak intensity ratio (PI/PIc) values were higher than those of the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma, vascular invasion < 1/2, no lymph node metastasis, moderate to high differentiation, stage I-II, and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patients with squamous cell carcinoma, vascular invasion ≥ 1/2, lymph node metastasis, low differentiation, stage III-IV, and before radiotherapy and chemotherapy had lower TTP values, higher PI and PI/PIc values, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Pathological type, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, differentiation degree and clinical stage were negatively correlated with TTP, and positively correlated with PI and PI/PIc ( P<0.05) .Chemoradiotherapy was positively correlated with TTP, and negatively correlated with PI and PI/PIc ( P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of time intensity curve were higher than those of TTP, PI, PI/Ic, area under curve (AUCTC) and mean transit time (MTT), and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The AUC values of combined detection of TTP, PI, PI/PIc and time intensity curve were all > 0.85, and the diagnostic value was high. Conclusions:The time-intensity curve of contrast-enhanced ultrasound is closely related to the main pathological features of cervical cancer, such as pathological type, lymph node metastasis and staging. According to the changes, the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be judged, which can provide a good reference for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of vericiguat tablets combined with sacubitril valsartan sodium(Sac/Val)tablets in the treatment of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF).Methods The HFrEF patients were divided into control group and treatment group according to the cohort method.The control group was treated with Sac/Val tablets 200 mg per time,bid,orally.On the basis of control group,the treatment group was treated with vericiguat tablets 2.5 mg per time,qd,taken with meal.Two groups were treated for 3 months.The clinical efficacy,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD)and end-systolic diameter(LVESD),levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),nitric oxide(NO),N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and serum creatinine(SCr),and safety were compared between the two groups.During follow-up,the heart failure rehospitalization rates and major adverse cardiovascular events were compared between the two groups.Results Treatment group was enrolled 53 patients,control group was enrolled 53 patients.After treatment,the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 94.34％(50 cases/53 cases)and 81.13％(43 cases/53 cases)with statistical significant difference(P＜0.05).After treatment,the LVEF of treatment and control groups were(48.02±5.20)％and(43.02±4.33)％,the LVEDDs were(52.85±6.30)and(55.63±6.88)mm,the LVESDs were(41.64±6.40)and(44.22±5.85)mm,the levels of hs-CRP were(10.22±2.63)and(14.60±2.98)mg L-1,the levels of IL-6 were(14.48±2.40)and(17.36±2.52)pg·mL-1,the levels of NO were(102.60±20.16)and(92.16±16.33)μmol·L-1,the levels of NT-proBNP were(898.74±102.20)and(1315.60±182.64)ng·L-1,the levels of BUN were(12.02±2.28)and(13.45±2.33)mmol·L-1,the levels of SCr were(82.22±5.89)and(85.64±6.03)μmol·L-1,the heart failure rehospitalization rates were 5.66％and 13.21％,respectively;the differences were statistical significant between two groups(all P＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions of treatment group were hyperkalemia,hypotension,renal dysfunction,dizziness and headache,while those in control group were renal dysfunction,hyperkalemia,and hypotension.The major adverse cardiovascular events of treatment group were angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction,while those in control group were angina pectoris,acute myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation.The incidences of total adverse drug reactions in treatment and control groups were 13.21％and 7.55％,the incidences of major adverse cardiovascular events were 5.66％and 13.21％,respectively,without statistically significant differences(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Vericiguat tablets combined with Sac/Val tablets have a definitive clinical efficacy in the treatment of HFrEF patients,which can improve cardiac and endothelial function,reduce inflammatory response and readmission times,without increasing the incidences of adverse drug reactions.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a common complication of diabetes mellitus(DM)and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Increasing evidence indicates that the nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the onset and progression of DKD.Numerous experimental studies have demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine can attenuate inflammatory responses by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway,thereby delaying the progression of DKD.This review summarizes the relationship between the NF-κB signaling pathway and DKD,and discusses advances in research into how traditional Chinese medicine interventions targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway can alleviate DKD,with the aim of providing new references for targeted therapy of DKD.

This study was aimed at identifying the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the death of a young tiger at the Fujian Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.Tissue samples from the lungs,liver,and intestines of the deceased tiger were collected,and the bacteria were cultured inasterile environment.The bacterial strains were characterized according to their morphological and molecular biological properties,including assessment of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes,mouse lethality tests,and antibiotic susceptibility evaluations.A predominant bacterial strain isolated from the liver of the deceased tiger was identified as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)strain Tiger22513F.Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Tiger22513F strain exhibited close genetic similarity to the reference strain ETEC(MF919609.1),with 99.9%nucleotide similarity,and resided on the same evolutionary branch.The Tiger22513F strain contained 11 antibiotic resistance genes(tetA,sul1,sul3,cmlA,floR,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaCMY-2,qnrA,qnrS,and qnrD)along with five virulence genes(VT1,fyuA,tsh,iucD,and ST).Mouse lethality tests indicated significant pathogenicity toward mice,affecting primarily the lungs,liver,and intestines.Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that this strain exhibited resistance to various classes of beta-lactam antibiotics,as well as quinolones and aminoglycosides.This investigation successfully isolated a multi-drug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain with pronounced pathogenicity from the liver of a deceased tiger;thus providing valuable scientific insights for clinical diagnosis,as well as prevention and control measures,against ETEC infections in South China tigers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of diagnostic-driven therapy for invasive fungal disease(IFD) in patients with myeloid hematologic malignancies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 91 patients with myeloid hematologic malignancies who received diagnostic-driven therapy for IFD at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on medication: 44 patients in the caspofungin group and 47 patients in the voriconazole group. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The overall response rates in the caspofungin and voriconazole groups were 67.4% and 60.0%, respectively. Among patients who transitioned to diagnostic-driven therapy following prophylactic or empirical treatment with triazole antifungal agents, the response rate of the caspofungin group was significantly higher than that of the voriconazole group (76.9% vs 35.3%, P <0.05). A total of 9 patients in both groups experienced adverse reactions, and no grade III or higher adverse reactions occurred. The incidence of grade I-II adverse reactions in the caspofungin group was lower than in the voriconazole group (2.3% vs 17.0%, P <0.05). CONCLUSION In patients with myeloid hematologic malignancies, caspofungin and voriconazole demonstrate comparable clinical efficacy in diagnostic-driven therapy for IFD, but caspofungin is associated with a lower incidence of adverse reactions. Caspofungin exhibits significant effectiveness when initiating diagnostic-driven therapy after prophylactic or empirical treatment with broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agents.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematologic Neoplasms/complications* ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Voriconazole/therapeutic use* ; Caspofungin/therapeutic use* ; Invasive Fungal Infections/diagnosis* ; Male ; Female ; Mycoses/drug therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Adult