The emergence of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) system represents a revolutionary paradigm shift in molecular diagnostics, offering transformative potential for RNA analysis within the rigorous demands of forensic science. Conventional forensic RNA detection methodologies, such as reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or microarray analysis, are significantly hampered by inherent limitations including complex, multi-step protocols requiring sophisticated laboratory infrastructure, pronounced susceptibility to inhibitors prevalent in complex forensic matrices (e.g., humic acids, heme, indigo dyes), and often inadequate sensitivity for trace or degraded samples typical of crime scenes, thereby failing to meet the critical operational imperatives of forensic practice: rapidity, high specificity, sensitivity, portability, and robustness against interference. This review posits that CRISPR-Cas-based RNA detection technology provides a groundbreaking solution by leveraging the programmable, sequence-specific recognition conferred by the synergistic interaction between a designed guide RNA (gRNA) and Cas effector proteins (e.g., Cas12a, Cas13a, Cas14). Upon target RNA binding, specific Cas enzymes undergo conformational activation, exhibiting collateral cleavage activity―a unique catalytic amplification mechanism where the enzyme non-specifically cleaves surrounding reporter molecules, enabling ultra-high sensitivity. To further enhance detection limits, CRISPR-Cas systems are strategically integrated with isothermal pre-amplification techniques like recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) or loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which efficiently amplify target RNA at constant temperatures, eliminating the need for thermal cyclers. This powerful cascade―isothermal pre-amplification followed by CRISPR-mediated sequence-specific recognition and collateral signal amplification―achieves exceptional sensitivity, often down to the single-molecule (attomolar) level, while drastically reducing analysis time to potentially 30-60 min. Crucially, the compatibility of CRISPR-Cas detection with simple, equipment-free readout systems, such as lateral flow strips (LFS) for visual colorimetric results or portable fluorescence/electrochemical sensors, facilitates true point-of-need (PON) forensic analysis directly at crime scenes, morgues, or field labs. This enables rapid applications like specific body fluid identification (e.g., distinguishing menstrual blood via miRNA, identifying saliva via mRNA), post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation through RNA degradation/expression patterns, donor age inference via age-related RNA markers, tissue identification, and microbial forensics, thereby accelerating investigative leads, minimizing sample degradation risks, and optimizing resource allocation. However, significant challenges impede widespread adoption, including persistent environmental interference inhibiting enzymes, fluctuations in Cas/amplification enzyme activity affecting reproducibility, a critical lack of standardized protocols and validated quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) frameworks essential for forensic reliability and court admissibility, and current limitations in multiplex detection capability. Consequently, future research must prioritize overcoming multiplexing bottlenecks for comprehensive analysis, enhancing system robustness through Cas protein engineering and optimized reagents, developing fully integrated, sample-to-answer microfluidic or lateral flow devices for user-friendly field deployment, and collaboratively establishing universally accepted validation guidelines, performance standards, and stringent QA/QC procedures. Furthermore, the urgent development of clear ethical guidelines governing the use of this highly sensitive technology, particularly concerning RNA data privacy and potential misuse, is imperative. This review systematically outlines the principles, forensic applications, current limitations, and future trajectories of CRISPR-RNA detection, with the authors’ conviction that focused efforts addressing these challenges will translate this technology into a cornerstone of next-generation forensic practice, driving unprecedented efficiency and innovation in field investigations and laboratory analysis to enhance justice delivery.

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of herpes zoster infection and affects patients' quality of life. Acupuncture therapy is regarded as a competitive method of treatment for analgesia. OBJECTIVE: To summarize evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different acupuncture therapies for treating PHN. METHODS: Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to August 5, 2022, including 4 international electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and 4 Chinese databases (Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database and Wanfang Database). Methodological quality was assessed by A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2). The Risk of Bias in Systematic Review (ROBIS) tool was used to assess the risk of bias in SRs. Evidence level was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Totally, 7 SRs were included, including 128 studies and 9,792 patients. In AMSTAR 2, most of the SRs were of low or critically low levels since they had more than 1 critical deficiency. In ROBIS, 1 SR (14.29%) was rated as high risk, and the other 6 (85.71%) were rated as low risk. In the GRADE system, 9 outcomes (28.13%) were valued as high level, 5 (15.63%) as moderate level, 1 (3.13%) as low, and 17 (53.13%) as very low. In the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy, the group "moxibustion vs. original medical treatment" [mean difference (MD)=-1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.80 to -1.08, I²=99%, P<0.00001] was of the highest heterogeneity and the group "bloodletting vs. original medical treatment" (MD=-2.80, 95% CI: -3.14 to -2.46, I²=0, P<0.00001) was of the lowest heterogeneity. Six SRs have reported the safety of their studies and no serious events were shown in the treatment and control groups. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture therapy seems to be effective in treating PHN. Despite the evidence that suggested the advantages of acupuncture therapy in relieving pain and promoting efficacy and safety, the methodological quality was quite low. Further studies should pay more attention to the quality of original studies and evidence for SRs to confirm these findings. (PROSPERO registration No. CRD42022344790).
Humans ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Systematic Reviews as Topic

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary brain tumor characterized by poor prognosis. Conventional chemo-radiotherapy demonstrates limited therapeutic efficacy and is often accompanied by significant side effects, largely due to factors such as drug resistance, radiation resistance, the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and the activation of DNA damage repair mechanisms. There is a pressing need to enhance treatment efficacy, with BRD4 identified as a promising target for increasing GBM sensitivity to therapy. Lacking small molecule inhibitors, BRD4 can be degraded using PROteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC), thereby inhibiting DNA damage repair. To deliver PROTAC, SIAIS171142 (SIS) effectively, we designed a responsive nanocapsule, MPL_(SS)P@SIS, featuring GBM-targeting and GSH-responsive drug release. Modified with 1-methyl-l-tryptophan (MLT), nanocapsules facilitate targeted delivery of SIS, downregulating BRD4 and sensitizing GBM cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After intravenous administration, MPL_(SS)P@SIS selectively accumulates in tumor tissue, enhancing the effects of radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ) by increasing DNA damage and oxidative stress. GSH activates the nanocapsules, triggering BRD4 degradation and hindering DNA repair. In mouse models, the nanosensitizer, combined with TMZ and X-ray irradiation, efficiently inhibited the growth of GBM. These findings demonstrate a novel PROTAC-based sensitization strategy targeting BRD4, offering a promising approach for effective GBM therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy of DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy for management of cancer pain and provide reference for its standardized clinical application. Methods and. RESULTS: Recommendations were formulated based on literature review and expert group discussion, and consensus was reached following expert consultation. The consensus recommendations are comprehensive, covering the entire treatment procedures from preoperative assessment and preparation, surgical operation process, postoperative management and traditional Chinese medicine treatment to individualized treatment planning. The study results showed that the treatment plans combining traditional Chinese with Western medicine effectively alleviated cancer pain, reduced the use of opioid drugs, and significantly improved the quality of life and enhanced immune function of the patients. Postoperative follow-up suggested good treatment tolerance among the patients without serious complications. CONCLUSIONS The formulated consensus is comprehensive and can provide reference for clinicians to use DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy. The combined treatment has a high clinical value with a good safety profile for management of cancer pain.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pain Management/methods* ; China

Protrusive facial deformities, characterized by the forward displacement of the teeth and/or jaws beyond the normal range, affect a considerable portion of the population. The manifestations and morphological mechanisms of protrusive facial deformities are complex and diverse, requiring orthodontists to possess a high level of theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the relevant orthodontic field. To further optimize the correction of protrusive facial deformities, this consensus proposes that the morphological mechanisms and diagnosis of protrusive facial deformities should be analyzed and judged from multiple dimensions and factors to accurately formulate treatment plans. It emphasizes the use of orthodontic strategies, including jaw growth modification, tooth extraction or non-extraction for anterior teeth retraction, and maxillofacial vertical control. These strategies aim to reduce anterior teeth and lip protrusion, increase chin prominence, harmonize nasolabial and chin-lip relationships, and improve the facial profile of patients with protrusive facial deformities. For severe skeletal protrusive facial deformities, orthodontic-orthognathic combined treatment may be suggested. This consensus summarizes the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of numerous renowned oral experts nationwide, offering reference strategies for the correction of protrusive facial deformities.
Humans ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Patient Care Planning ; Cephalometry

Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Objective To investigate the effect of MALAT1 expressions on cell proliferation and apoptosis in astrocytes by regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK1,2)pathway.Methods The MALAT1 gene was knocked down and over-expressed in C8-D1A cells by lentiviral and plasmid vectors,respectively.The expressions of MALAT1,cell proliferation-related markers(Ki67,MCM2,PCNA)and apoptosis-related proteins(Caspase-3,Bax,Bcl-2)were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used for cell proliferation and apoptosis in C8-D1A cells.Immunofluorescence was adopted to detect the protein expressions of Caspase-3 and Ki67.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of Caspase-3,Bax,Bcl-2,ERK1/2,p-ERK1/2,p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK.Results Compared with the control group,over-expressed MALAT1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in C8-D1A cells while the knockdown of MALAT1 significantly enhanced cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic ability in C8-D1A cells.The proportion of C8-D1A cells in G0/G1-phase and G2/M-phase was higher than in the control group as evidenced by flow cytometry,but was lower in S-phase.Meanwhile,data showed that Caspase-3 was increased while p-ERK1/2 was decreased in terms of protein levels.The mRNA expressions of Ki67 and PCNA were decreased.After knockdown of MALAT1,the proportion of C8-D1A cells in S-phase was higher,but was lower in G2/M-phase.The protein expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax decreased while those of p-ERK1/2 and p-p38MAPK increased.The mRNA expressions of Ki67,MCM2 and PCNA were increased.The differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion MALAT1 promotes astrocyte apoptosis and inhibits proliferation by regulating the MAPK/ERK1,2 signaling pathway.

Introduction::The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, a novel biomarker for metabolic syndrome (MetS), has been validated in the general population as being significantly correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, its capabilities to predict CVD in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) remain underexplored.Methods::We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 16,081 PLWH who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (China) from 2005 to 2022. The baseline TG/HDL-C ratio was calculated as TG (mmol/L) divided by HDL-C (mmol/L). We employed a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model to assess the association between the TG/HDL-C ratio and CVD occurrence, using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests to compare survival distributions. The increase in prediction risk upon the addition of the biomarker to the conventional risk model was examined through the assessment of changes in net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Nonlinear relationships were investigated using a restricted cubic spline plot, complemented by a two-piecewise Cox proportional hazards model to analyze threshold effects.Results::At the median follow-up of 70 months, 213 PLWH developed CVD. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated a significant association between the increased risk of CVD and a higher TG/HDL-C ratio (log-rank P <0.001). The multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model indicated that the CVD hazard ratios (HR) (95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]) for Q2, Q3, and Q4 versus Q1 of the TG/HDL-C ratio were 2.07 (1.24, 3.45), 2.17 (1.32, 3.57), and 2.20 (1.35, 3.58), respectively ( P <0.05). The consideration of the TG/HDL-C ratio in the model, which included all significant factors for CVD incidence, improved the predictive risk, as indicated by the reclassification metrics (NRI 16.43%, 95% CI 3.35%-29.52%, P = 0.014). The restriction cubic spline plot demonstrated an upward trend between the TG/HDL-C ratio and the CVD occurrence ( P for nonlinear association = 0.027, P for overall significance = 0.009), with the threshold at 1.013. Significantly positive correlations between the TG/HDL-C ratio and CVD were observed below the TG/HDL-C ratio threshold with HR 5.88 (95% CI 1.58-21.88, P = 0.008), but not above the threshold with HR 1.01 (95% CI 0.88-1.15, P = 0.880). Conclusion::Our study confirms the effectiveness of the TG/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of CVD risk in PLWH, which demonstrates a significant nonlinear association. These findings indicate the potential of the TG/HDL-C ratio in facilitating early prevention and treatment strategies for CVD among PLWH.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5％were gram-positive and 70.5％were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3％,76.7％and 77.9％,respectively.Overall,94.0％of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8％of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2％in the isolates from children and 95.7％in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1％in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7％-23.1％of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1％to 13.3％.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5％in 2019 to 18.0％in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0％in 2019 to 72.5％in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.