Thrombus is a major factor leading to cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Although fibrinolytic anti-thrombotic drugs have been widely used in clinical practice, they are still limited by narrow therapeutic windows, short half-lives, susceptibility to inactivation, and abnormal bleeding caused by non-targeting. Therefore, it is crucial to effectively deliver thrombolytic agents to the site of thrombus with minimal adverse effects. Based on the long blood circulation and excellent drug-loading properties of human serum albumin (HSA), we employed genetic engineering techniques to insert a functional peptide (P-selectin binding peptide, PBP) which can target the thrombus site to the N-terminus of HSA. The fusion protein was expressed using Pichia pastoris and purified by Ni-chelating affinity chromatography. After being loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), the fusion protein formed homogeneous and stable nanoparticles (named as PBP-HSA@Au) with a diameter of 17.7 ± 1.0 nm and a zeta potential of -11.3 ± 0.2 mV. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis tests demonstrated the superb biocompatibility of PBP-HSA@Au. Platelet-targeting experiments confirmed the thrombus-targeting ability conferred by the introduction of PBP into PBP-HSA@Au. Upon near-infrared ray (NIR) irradiation, PBP-HSA@Au rapidly converted light energy into heat, thereby disrupting fibrinogen and exhibiting outstanding thrombolytic efficacy. The designed HSA fusion protein delivery system provides a precise, rapid, and drug-free treatment strategy for thrombus therapy. This system is characterized by its simple design, high biocompatibility, and strong clinical applicability. All animal experiments involved in this study were carried out under the protocols approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Jiangnan University [JN. No20230915S0301015(423)].

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)combined with serum Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 1(SMURF1)detection for thyroid cancer.Methods A total of 144 suspected thyroid cancer patients admitted to Lishui branch of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from February 2019 to February 2020 were selected as the study subjects.Based on the histopathological results,they were divided into the thyroid cancer group(76 cases)and the benign group(68 cases).All patients underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination and serum SMURF1 level detection;the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters,serum SMURF1 detection alone,and the combination of the two methods for thyroid cancer were analyzed.Results Contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters peak intensity(PI),mean perfusion intensity(SImean)and maximum perfusion intensity(SImax)in the thyroid cancer group were lower than those in the benign group,and the level of SMURF1 mRNA was higher than that in the benign group(P<0.05).The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameter SImax in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 82.89%,the specificity was 72.06%,the accuracy was 77.78%,and the Kappa value was 0.552.The sensitivity of serum SMURF1 in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 65.79%,the specificity was 94.12%,the accuracy was 79.17%,and the Kappa value was 0.589.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and Kappa value of SImax combined with serum SMURF1 in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer were 97.37%,85.29%,91.67%and 0.832,respectively,which were higher than those of SImax and SMURF1 alone(P<0.05),the AUC of the combination of the two methods was 0.927,which was significantly higher than that of the two methods alone(Zcombined vs.SImax=3.999,P<0.001;Zcombined vs.SMURF1=3.270,P=0.001).Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with serum SMURF1 detection can improve the diagnostic efficiency of thyroid cancer,which may avoid the over-diagnosis on the premise of ensuring the effective diagnosis of thyroid cancer patients.

DNA origami is a powerful technique for generating nanostructures with dynamic properties and intelligent controllability. The precise geometric shapes, high programmability, and excellent biocompatibility make DNA origami nanostructures an emerging drug delivery vehicle. The shape, size of the carrier material, as well as the loading and release of drugs are important factors affecting the bioavailability of drugs. This paper focuses on the controllable design of DNA origami nanostructures, efficient drug loading, and intelligent drug release. It summarizes the cutting-edge applications of DNA origami technology in biomedicine, and discusses areas where researchers can contribute to further advancing the clinical application of DNA origami carriers.

Objective Hydroquinone(HQ),one of the phenolic metabolites of benzene,is widely recognized as an important participant in benzene-induced hematotoxicity.However,there are few relevant proteomics in HQ-induced hematotoxicity and the mechanism hasn't been fully understood yet. Methods In this study,we treated K562 cells with 40 μmol/L HQ for 72 h,examined and validated protein expression changes by Label-free proteomic analysis and Parallel reaction monitoring(PRM),and performed bioinformatics analysis to identify interaction networks. Results One hundred and eighty-seven upregulated differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)and 279 downregulated DEPs were identified in HQ-exposed K562 cells,which were involved in neutrophil-mediated immunity,blood microparticle,and other GO terms,as well as the lysosome,metabolic,cell cycle,and cellular senescence-related pathways.Focusing on the 23 DEGs and 5 DEPs in erythroid differentiation-related pathways,we constructed the network of protein interactions and determined 6 DEPs(STAT1,STAT3,CASP3,KIT,STAT5B,and VEGFA)as main hub proteins with the most interactions,among which STATs made a central impact and may be potential biomarkers of HQ-induced hematotoxicity. Conclusion Our work reinforced the use of proteomics and bioinformatic approaches to advance knowledge on molecular mechanisms of HQ-induced hematotoxicity at the protein level and provide a valuable basis for further clarification.

Objective To investigate and analyze the distribution of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1(CYFRA21-1)and squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen(SCCA)levels in healthy pregnant women during pregnancy and to assess their diagnostic value for cervical cancer in pregnancy.Methods A total of 441 healthy pregnant women and 69 patients with cervical cancer in pregnancy who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from Jan 2021 to May 2024 were selected,and 165 healthy women in the Physical Examination Center of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University were included in the same period as the control group.The healthy pregnant women were divided into 143 in early pregnancy(T1 group),147 in middle pregnancy(T2)and 151 in late pregnancy(T3).Serum CYFRA21-1 and SCCA values were detected and analyzed in all groups.One-way ANOVA,independent samples t-test,Mann-Whitney U-test,Kruskal-Wallis H-test,logistic analysis,and ROC curves were used for comparative analysis.Results The CYFRA21-1 and SCCA values were 1.66(1.19-2.17)ng/mL and 0.8(0.6-1.0)ng/mL in the control group,3.07(2.11-4.14)ng/mL and 0.9(0.7-1.3)ng/mL in the healthy pregnant women group,and were 4.33(2.99-7.60)ng/mL and 1.8(0.9-8.5)ng/mL in the patients with cervical cancer in pregnancy group,respectively.There was a statistically significant difference in the two serum values between every two groups(P<0.05).CYFRA21-1 levels were 3.13(2.46-4.05)ng/mL,1.89(1.50-2.53)ng/mL and 4.19(3.48-5.43)ng/mL in the T1,T2,and T3 groups,respectively;and SCCA levels were 0.9(0.7-1.1)ng/mL,0.7(0.6-1.0)ng/mL and 1.2(0.8-1.7)ng/mL,respectively.The results of T1 and T3 groups were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05);however,there was no statistically significant difference between the results of the T2 group and those of the control group(P>0.05).The areas under the ROC curves for the diagnosis of cervical cancer in pregnancy for CYFRA21-1,SCCA,human epididymis protein 4(HE4),anti-carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and joint indicators were 0.684,0.724,0.612,0.791 and 0.913,with sensitivities of 36%,48%,38%,57%and 73%,specificities of 96%,97%,89%,86%and 99%,respectively.The cut-off values of each indicator were 6.05 ng/mL,2.60 ng/mL,51.45 pg/mL and 1.75 ng/mL,respectively.Conclusion Serum CYFRA21-1 and SCCA levels were higher in pregnant women during early and late pregnancy compared with non-pregnant individuals,while they were not statistically different from non-pregnant women during mid-trimester.CYFRA21-1 and SCCA have diagnostic value for patients with cervical cancer during pregnancy.

Objective To investigate the effect of artemisinin(ART)on the malignant biological behavior of colorectal cancer(CRC)cells stimulated by glucose and its mechanism.Methods The concentration gradients of 0,5,10,20,40 and 60 μmol/L of ART were used to treat the human colorectal cancer cell line SW480,and then the cell viability was detected by CCK-8.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Transwell was used to detect the cell migration and invasion.Western blot was used to detect the apoptosis,epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)related proteins expression.Results Compared with the 0 μmol/L of ART,the viability of SW480 cells decreased under 5,10,20,40,60 μmol/L of ART treatment(P<0.05),and IC50 was 36.91 μmol/L.Therefore,the cells treated with 10,20 and 40 μmol/L of ART were as the low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose ART groups,the cells treated with 0 μmol/L of ART were as the control group,and the cells treated with 40 μmol/L of ART and 10 μmol/L of Coumermycin A1 were as the Coumermycin A1 group.Compared with the control group,the cell scratch wound healing rate,invasion ability,and expression levels of Bcl-2,N-cadherin,Vimentin,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 in the low-dose ART group,the medium-dose ART group,and the high-dose ART group decreased obviously(P<0.05),while the apoptosis rate,and expression levels of Bax,Caspase-3 and E-cadherin increased(P<0.05).Compared with the high-dose ART group,the cell scratch wound healing rate,invasion ability,and expression levels of Bcl-2,N-cadherin,Vimentin,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 in the Coumermycin A1 group increased obviously(P<0.05),while the apoptosis rate,and expression levels of Bax,Caspase-3 and E-cadherin decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion ART may inhibit the viability,migration,invasion and EMT of glucose-stimulated CRC cells and promote apoptosis by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

To clone and express the K26 gene of Leishmania isolated from three types of visceral leishmaniasis epidemic ar-eas in China and evaluate its effect on detecting specific antibodies against visceral leishmaniasis.The K26 fragments from Leishmania isolated KS-6,SC6 and JIASHI-1 was synthesized and cloned into pET32a vector.The recombinant plasmid pET32a-K26 was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 strains and induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside(IPTG).The expressed recombinant protein was purified by the His-tagged affinity column(Ni-NTA).Serum samples of 110 visceral leishmaniasis patients were used for evaluating the sensitivity by ELISA.Serum samples from patients with malaria,schisto-somiasis japonica,cystechinococcosis,toxoplasmosis,paragon-imiasis,clonorchiosis and 40 healthy people were used for eval-uating the specificity.Detection results of ELISA were compared with that of rK39 strip of American InBios company.Comparation among three K26 antigens were given by x2 test.The sensitivity of the recombinant K26 protein of KS-6,SC6 and JIASHI-5 strains of Leishmania and rK39 strip test to detect the sera of patients with visceral leishmaniasis was 90.00％(99/110),92.73％(102/110),90.91％(100/110)and 93.64％(103/110),respectively.There was no cross reactivity with malaria(10),schistosomiasis japonica(10),cystechinococcosis(10),toxoplasmosis(5),paragonimiasis(5)and clonorchiosis(5),and 40 sera from healthy people were also negative.The specificity was 100.00％.There was no statistical difference in the sensitivity of the recombinant K26 protein of KS-6,SC6 and JIASHI-1 strains of Leishmania and rK39 strip test,x2 values are 0.97,0.07 and 0.57 respectively and the P values are 0.33,0.79 and 0.45,respectively.There was no statis-tical difference in the sensitivity of three K26 antigens(x2=0.53,P=0.97).Conclusion The recombinant K26 antigen has po-tential application value in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

In recent years,natural antimicrobial peptides have become an important direction in the development of novel antibiotics.Cecropin has the characteristics of wide antibacterial spectrum,good tolerance and low adverse drug reactions.As the first antimicrobial peptide discovered in the family of Cecropin,Cecropin A has many important biological activities.In this paper,the research on the antibacterial,antifungal,antiparasitic and antitumor activities of Cecropin A and its derivatives in recent years was reviewed,and its application prospect was prospected,in order to provide reference for further research and development of cecropin.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Cleidion brevipetiolatum pax et Hoffm.and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The extract from C.brevipetiolatum was isolated and purified by silica gel,MCI,Rp-18,Sephadex LH-20,preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The MTT and Griess methods were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of compounds.RESULTS Seventeen compounds were isolated and identified as cleomiscosin C(1),scopoletin(2),fraxedin(3),isofraxidin(4),luteolin(5),apigenin(6),chrysoeriol(7),1-hydroxy-2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-allylbenzene(8),1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-allylbenzene(9),trans-1-(4-propenyl)-phenol-β-D-glucopyranosyl(10),benzyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(11),2-phenylethyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(12),(+)-syringaresinol(13),aurantiamide(14),(S)-(+)-2-cis-abscisic acid(15),loliolide(16),and hydroxychavicol(17).The ethanol extract of C.brevipetiolatum and its ethyl acetate portion showed NO inhibition with IC50 values of(44.11±5.29),(24.25±3.59)μg/mL,respectively.The IC50 values of compounds 2,and 5-7 were 3.55-14.53 μmol/L.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-7 and 13-17 are isolated from this plant for the first time.Simple coumarins and flavones from this plant show good inhibition of the production of NO.