Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients with peripheral lung masses (PLMs), and to assess the diagnostic utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating benign and malignant PLMs. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 69 patients with PLM treated in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from January 2020 to December 2023. All patients underwent percutaneous biopsy, and were categorized into benign group (n＝36) and malignant group (n＝33). 25 patients were HIV-positive and 44 patients were HIV-negative. The clinical features and CEUS parameters in patients were compared across these groups. Results Patients with malignant masses were significantly older than those with benign masses (P＜0.05). In the malignant group, HIV-negative patients exhibited significantly larger tumor diameters compared to HIV-positive patients (P＜0.05); in the HIV-positive patients, no significant difference in tumor size was observed between benign and malignant masses. 19 patients underwent CEUS. 10 malignant masses, irrespective of HIV status (10 positive and 9 negative), commonly presented with indistinct margins, delayed enhancement, heterogeneous perfusion, and delayed peak enhancement on CEUS. 9 benign masses showed earlier peak enhancement compared to 10 malignant masses (P＜0.05); no significant differences were observed in the initiation and washout time of enhancement between benign and malignant masses. In HIV-positive patients, 5 benign masses frequently demonstrated discrepancies between CEUS findings and pathological results. Conclusions The clinical and CEUS characteristics were different between benign and malignant PLMs. However, CEUS shows limited accuracy in distinguishing benign and malignant PLMs, underscoring the need for pathological confirmation.

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a refractory disease of the digestive system characterized by diverse etiologies， complex pathogenesis， a prolonged course， and frequent relapses. In recent years， the incidence of UC has been increasing annually， severely impairing patients' quality of life， posing a risk of malignant transformation that may threaten patients' lives， and resulting in a substantial medical burden. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） compound formulas， with their advantages of multi-component and multi-target actions， have become a new therapeutic option for UC. The NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome is a core component of innate immunity， and its aberrant activation is closely associated with the onset and progression of UC， involving multiple processes such as inflammation and oxidative stress， and exhibiting crosstalk with pathways including nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， and thioredoxin-interacting protein （TXNIP）. At present， NLRP3 has become one of the most intensely studied hotspots in UC-related research. Although increasing studies have focused on the regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by TCM compound formulas for UC treatment， challenges remain due to the complex pathogenesis of UC and the compositional diversity of TCM， hindering the realization of precision therapy. In this context， by reviewing literature from the past decade， this paper summarizes the activation process of NLRP3 and its relationship with UC， and elucidates the roles and mechanisms by which TCM compound formulas regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome and related signaling pathways， with a view to providing a reference for further research into the pathogenesis of UC， TCM treatment strategies， and their mechanisms of action.

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a refractory disease of the digestive system characterized by diverse etiologies， complex pathogenesis， a prolonged course， and frequent relapses. In recent years， the incidence of UC has been increasing annually， severely impairing patients' quality of life， posing a risk of malignant transformation that may threaten patients' lives， and resulting in a substantial medical burden. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） compound formulas， with their advantages of multi-component and multi-target actions， have become a new therapeutic option for UC. The NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome is a core component of innate immunity， and its aberrant activation is closely associated with the onset and progression of UC， involving multiple processes such as inflammation and oxidative stress， and exhibiting crosstalk with pathways including nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， and thioredoxin-interacting protein （TXNIP）. At present， NLRP3 has become one of the most intensely studied hotspots in UC-related research. Although increasing studies have focused on the regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by TCM compound formulas for UC treatment， challenges remain due to the complex pathogenesis of UC and the compositional diversity of TCM， hindering the realization of precision therapy. In this context， by reviewing literature from the past decade， this paper summarizes the activation process of NLRP3 and its relationship with UC， and elucidates the roles and mechanisms by which TCM compound formulas regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome and related signaling pathways， with a view to providing a reference for further research into the pathogenesis of UC， TCM treatment strategies， and their mechanisms of action.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system in patients with end-stage heart failure. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients with end-stage heart failure who were treated with Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system from March 2022 to June 2024 in 4 hospitals in Jiangsu Province. The efficacy of the device was evaluated by comparing changes in clinical indicators at preoperative, discharge, 3-month postoperative, and 6-month postoperative timepoints, including the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). The safety of the device was assessed by analyzing the intraoperative position and orientation of the blood pump inlet cannula, as well as the incidence of adverse events. Results In this study, 39 patients were collected, including 34 males and 5 females with a mean age of (56.4±12.5) years, ranging from 20 to 75 years. There was no operative death. There was no death in postoperative 3 months with a survival rate of 100.0%. There were 3 deaths in 6 months postoperatively, with a survival rate of 92.3%. All patients had a preoperative NYHA cardiac function classification of class Ⅳ. The NYHA cardiac function class of the patients improved (P<0.05) at discharge, 3 and 6 months after surgery when compared to the preoperative period. LVEF was significantly higher at 3 months after surgery than that during the preoperative period (P<0.05). LVEDD was significantly smaller at discharge, 3 and 6 months after surgery than that during the preoperative period (P<0.05). The safety evaluation's findings demonstrated that all 39 patients' intraoperative blood pump inlet tubes were oriented correctly, the artificial blood vessel suture sites were appropriate, there were no instances of device malfunction or pump thrombosis, or instances of bleeding or hemolysis, and the rate of the remaining adverse events was low. Conclusion With a low rate of adverse events and an excellent safety profile, the Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system can efficiently enhance cardiac function in patients with end-stage heart failure. It also has considerable clinical uses.

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.

Objective To explore the imaging features, clinical outcome, and prognosis of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) in patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Methods A retrospective study of 82 patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma who have IPNs. The clinical characteristics, imaging features of IPN, and survival of patients were analyzed with statistical software. Results The IPN size of 82 patients was 6.453±0.864 mm. IPN diameter, shape, density, and nodule discovery interval may be CT imaging features related to malignancy tendency. Age (HR=1.047, 95%CI: 1.007-1.088) and interval between each nodule discovery (HR=3.194, 95%CI: 1.052-9.694) are independent factors that affect the survival of patients with malignant IPN. Conclusion The imaging features of chest CT may provide important guidance for determining the nature and survival prognosis of benign and malignant nodules.

ObjectiveTo investigate the high-risk detection rate and aggregation of cardiovascular diseases（CVD） in 8 districts of Shanghai and influencing factors， and to provide scientific references for prevention and control of CVD. MethodsBased on the Cardiovascular Disease Screening and Management Program in Shanghai from 2016 to 2021， 104 685 participants aged 35 to 75 in 8 districts of Shanghai were selected for analysis. χ² test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis of the influencing factors of CVD and aggregation of CVD. ResultsThe proportion of high-risk CVD individuals in the population was 19.17%， including the high-risk individuals with hypertension （8.65%）， dyslipidemia （6.33%）， CVD history （5.58%）， and WHO assessed risk ≥20% types （2.69%）， respectively. Old age， overweight and obesity， central obesity， smoking， drinking， farmers， unmarried， and low family income were the risk factors of CVD， while high education level was the protective factor. In the participants， 16 323 people （81.34%） were classified as CVD high-risk groups； The number of aggregation of 1， 2 and ≥3 high risk types of CVD were 16 323（81.34%）， 3 236（16.13%）， 509（2.54%）， respectively. Old age， low education level， low annual family income， farmers， unmarried， smoking， drinking， overweight， obesity and central obesity were associated with the risk of aggregation of high risk types of CVD， and the correlation strength increased with the increase of aggregation types. ConclusionThe prevention and control of CVD in Shanghai should focus on the hypertension， elderly， overweight， obesity， central obesity， smoking， drinking， low educated， low family income， farmers and unmarried people， and targeted intervention measures should be taken to reduce the risk of CVD among residents.

Cells undergo glucose metabolism reprogramming under the influence of the inflammatory microenvironment, changing their primary mode of energy supply from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. This process is involved in all stages of inflammation-related diseases development. Glucose metabolism reprogramming not only changes the metabolic pattern of individual cells, but also disrupts the metabolic homeostasis of the body microenvironment, which further promotes aerobic glycolysis and provides favourable conditions for the malignant progression of inflammation-related diseases. The metabolic enzymes, transporter proteins, and metabolites of aerobic glycolysis are all key signalling molecules, and drugs can inhibit aerobic glycolysis by targeting these specific key molecules to exert therapeutic effects. This paper reviews the impact of glucose metabolism reprogramming on the development of inflammation-related diseases such as inflammation-related tumours, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease, and the therapeutic effects of drugs targeting glucose metabolism reprogramming on these diseases.

BACKGROUND:At present,the use of a locking bone plate combined with steel wire or steel cable for the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fracture often adopts monocortical fixation,which is not stable and the proximal end of the bone cannot be achieved anatomically fitted by plate.The customized anatomical plate system can effectively solve this problem. OBJECTIVE:To explore the biomechanical strength of a customized anatomical plate system in fixation of Vancouver BI periprosthetic femoral fracture. METHODS:CT thin layer scanning data of normal femurs of 1 006 cases were selected and input into the MIMICS 21.0 software to establish the three-dimensional reconstruction model of the femur,which was set as the three-dimensional reconstruction group.56 complete human femoral specimens were selected as the femoral specimen group.The measured results of the two groups for femoral anatomical appearance were compared.If there was no significant difference between the two groups,the approximate appearance of a customized anatomical plate system was designed based on the measurement results in MIMICS 21.0 software and NX11.0 software.The customized anatomical plate system was designed and prepared according to the above measurement results.Eight pairs of frozen human femurs were selected to make Vancouver BI periprosthetic femoral fracture,which of the left were thin layer scanned by dual-source CT to obtain data.The data were transferred to determine the customized anatomical plate system model by the above design software.Eight sets of customized anatomical plate systems were ultimately produced,relying on the instrument company.The eight pairs of models were numbered 1-8.The left side was fixed with the customized anatomical plate system(customized anatomical plate system group);the right side was fixed with a metal locking plate system-large locking plate(claw plate group).L1-L4 and R1-R4 were subjected to vertical short-cycle loading test and vertical loading test.L5-L8 and R5-R8 were subjected to horizontal short-cycle loading test and four-point bending test.The vertical loading test and four-point bending test were used to collect bending load,bending displacement,and bending strain.Two short cycle loading tests were used to collect strain displacement to compare the maximum load,maximum displacement,bending stiffness,and short-period displacement resistance of the two kinds of bone plates. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There were no significant differences in all indexes between the three-dimensional reconstruction group and the femoral specimen group(P>0.05).Individual customized anatomical plate system was designed based on the measurement results combined with digital software.(2)In the vertical loading test,the maximum load was higher(P=0.015),the maximum bending displacement was smaller(P=0.014),and the bending stiffness was higher(P=0.005)in the customized anatomical plate system group compared with the claw plate group.(3)In the four-point bending test,the maximum load was higher(P=0.023),the bending stiffness was higher(P=0.005),and the maximum bending displacement was not significant(P=0.216>0.05)in the customized anatomical plate system group compared with the claw plate group.(4)In the vertical short-cycle loading test,the average level of bending displacement in the customized anatomical plate system group(0.23±0.10 mm)was significantly lower than that in the claw plate group(0.44±0.02 mm)(P<0.05).(5)There was no significant difference in the average level of bending displacement between the two groups in the horizontal short cycle loading test(P>0.05).(6)It is concluded that the customized anatomical plate system has personalized anatomical characteristics,and the fixation of Vancouver BI periprosthetic femoral fracture is more stable,which has certain significance for clinical treatment.

Objective To investigate the renal protective effect and mechanism of sodium acetate(Ace)on hyperuricemic nephropathy(HN)in mice.Methods Uric acid nephropathy mice model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate combined with adenine gavage.Mice were divided into blank control group(0.9％NaCl+0.5％carboxymethyl cellulose sodium),Ace group(200 mmol·L-1 Ace+0.5％carboxymethyl cellulose sodium),model group(0.9％NaCl+350 mg·kg-1 potassium oxonate+70 mg·kg-1 adenine),and experimental group(based on model group with additional 200 mmol·L-1 Ace).Serum and urine uric acid(UA)and serum creatinine(SCr)levels were observed in each group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression levels of kidney injury molecule-1(Kim-1)and anti-aging gene Klotho,renal fibrosis markers Collagen Ⅰ and Fibronectin,intestinal inflammation-related factors interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β),and mRNA expression levels of tight junction proteins Zo-1.Results The serum UA levels of blank control group,Ace group,model group,and experimental group mice were(259.52±24.40),(227.71±35.91),(604.06±73.55),and(496.24±30.16)μmol·L-1,respectively;SCr levels were(16.85±0.40),(16.18±0.94),(22.38±1.56),and(19.78±1.43)μmol·L-1;Kim-1 mRNA relative expression levels were 1.04±0.25,1.17±0.28,13.00±2.87,and 4.24±3.92;Klotho mRNA relative expression levels were 1.04±0.15,1.02±0.18,0.43±0.12,and 0.69±0.12;Collagen Ⅰ mRNA relative expression levels were 1.05±0.15,1.02±0.18,3.19±1.09,and 1.61±0.55;Fibronectin mRNA relative expression levels were 1.07±0.18,1.02±0.25,7.86±2.40,and 3.34±2.10;intestinal IL-1β mRNA relative expression levels were 1.00±0.01,1.01±0.03,2.55±0.63,and 1.21±0.28;intestinal Zo-1 mRNA relative expression levels were 1.00±0.07,1.07±0.09,0.54±0.20,and 0.92±0.17.The above indicators in blank control group compared with model group,and experimental group compared with model group,all showed statistically significant differences(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001).Conclusion Sodium acetate can effectively reduce UA levels in HN mice,significantly improve renal injury and fibrosis,and its mechanism may be related to the improvement of intestinal inflammatory response and up-regulation of intestinal Zo-1/Occuludin pathway to reduce intestinal mucosal permeability.