The accumulation of uremic toxins such as urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, and uric acid of patients with renal failure in vivo would lead to aggravated kidney damage. In this study, coated aldehyde oxy-starch (CAO) was used as an adsorbent to investigate its in vitro adsorption performance on renal failure indexes for urea, indoxyl sulfate (INS), monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (Cr). The effects of variables such as pH, temperature, concentration, dosage, and time on the adsorption capacity of CAO were systematically investigated, employing analytical techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that CAO exhibited a strong adsorption capacity for urea, INS, and MMA, alongside a moderate adsorption capacity for DMA, UA, and Cr. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO were fitted in pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm aligned with the Freundlich adsorption model. The enthalpy change ΔH of urea in adsorption was in the range of 40 to 60 kJ·mol^-1, which demonstrated the presence of strong adsorption force due to the interactions of coordinating groups. The ΔH of UA was greater than 80 kJ·mol^-1, indicating the generation of chemical bonds during the adsorption. Both of them, Gibbs free energy ΔG was less than 0, within the range of -20 to 0 kJ·mol^-1, suggested that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO occurred spontaneously as physical adsorption process. The adsorption entropy ΔS of urea and UA was > 0, which indicated an increase in entropy throughout the adsorption. The infrared spectroscopygram showed the formation of a chemical bond, specifically the imine bond, following the adsorption of urea by CAO, thereby indicating a chemical reaction during the adsorption. This study elucidates the adsorption mechanism of CAO on various indexes of renal failure, providing a scientific basis for its clinical usage.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg^-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D₃03)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.

Background: and Purpose This study aimed to investigate the association between residual inflammatory risk (RIR) and vulnerable plaques using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Methods: This retrospective study included 70%–99% symptomatic ICAS patients hospitalized from January 2016 to December 2022. Patients were classified into four groups based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): residual cholesterol inflammatory risk (RCIR, hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L), RIR (hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L and LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L), residual cholesterol risk (RCR, hs-CRP <3 mg/L and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L), and no residual risk (NRR, hs-CRP <3 mg/L and LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L). Vulnerable plaque features on HRMRI included positive remodeling, diffuse distribution, intraplaque hemorrhage, and strong enhancement. Results: Among 336 included patients, 21, 60, 58, and 197 were assigned to the RCIR, RIR, RCR, and NRR groups, respectively. Patients with RCIR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.606; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.346–9.662; P=0.011) and RIR (aOR, 3.361; 95% CI, 1.774–6.368, P<0.001) had higher risks of strong enhancement than those with NRR. Additionally, patients with RCIR (aOR, 2.965; 95% CI, 1.060–8.297; P=0.038) were more likely to have intraplaque hemorrhage compared with those with NRR. In the sensitivity analysis, RCR (aOR, 2.595; 95% CI, 1.201–5.608; P=0.015) exhibited an additional correlation with an increased risk of intraplaque hemorrhage. Conclusion In patients with symptomatic ICAS, RIR is associated with a higher risk of intraplaque hemorrhage and strong enhancement, indicating an increased vulnerability to atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: and Purpose This study aimed to investigate the association between residual inflammatory risk (RIR) and vulnerable plaques using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Methods: This retrospective study included 70%–99% symptomatic ICAS patients hospitalized from January 2016 to December 2022. Patients were classified into four groups based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): residual cholesterol inflammatory risk (RCIR, hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L), RIR (hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L and LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L), residual cholesterol risk (RCR, hs-CRP <3 mg/L and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L), and no residual risk (NRR, hs-CRP <3 mg/L and LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L). Vulnerable plaque features on HRMRI included positive remodeling, diffuse distribution, intraplaque hemorrhage, and strong enhancement. Results: Among 336 included patients, 21, 60, 58, and 197 were assigned to the RCIR, RIR, RCR, and NRR groups, respectively. Patients with RCIR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.606; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.346–9.662; P=0.011) and RIR (aOR, 3.361; 95% CI, 1.774–6.368, P<0.001) had higher risks of strong enhancement than those with NRR. Additionally, patients with RCIR (aOR, 2.965; 95% CI, 1.060–8.297; P=0.038) were more likely to have intraplaque hemorrhage compared with those with NRR. In the sensitivity analysis, RCR (aOR, 2.595; 95% CI, 1.201–5.608; P=0.015) exhibited an additional correlation with an increased risk of intraplaque hemorrhage. Conclusion In patients with symptomatic ICAS, RIR is associated with a higher risk of intraplaque hemorrhage and strong enhancement, indicating an increased vulnerability to atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: and Purpose This study aimed to investigate the association between residual inflammatory risk (RIR) and vulnerable plaques using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Methods: This retrospective study included 70%–99% symptomatic ICAS patients hospitalized from January 2016 to December 2022. Patients were classified into four groups based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): residual cholesterol inflammatory risk (RCIR, hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L), RIR (hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L and LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L), residual cholesterol risk (RCR, hs-CRP <3 mg/L and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L), and no residual risk (NRR, hs-CRP <3 mg/L and LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L). Vulnerable plaque features on HRMRI included positive remodeling, diffuse distribution, intraplaque hemorrhage, and strong enhancement. Results: Among 336 included patients, 21, 60, 58, and 197 were assigned to the RCIR, RIR, RCR, and NRR groups, respectively. Patients with RCIR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.606; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.346–9.662; P=0.011) and RIR (aOR, 3.361; 95% CI, 1.774–6.368, P<0.001) had higher risks of strong enhancement than those with NRR. Additionally, patients with RCIR (aOR, 2.965; 95% CI, 1.060–8.297; P=0.038) were more likely to have intraplaque hemorrhage compared with those with NRR. In the sensitivity analysis, RCR (aOR, 2.595; 95% CI, 1.201–5.608; P=0.015) exhibited an additional correlation with an increased risk of intraplaque hemorrhage. Conclusion In patients with symptomatic ICAS, RIR is associated with a higher risk of intraplaque hemorrhage and strong enhancement, indicating an increased vulnerability to atherosclerotic plaques.

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.

Human physiological indicators have become an important standard for assessing health in modern society.Traditional detection methods often require a separate laboratory,complex operation process and long detection time,so it is urgent to develop portable,fast and accurate on-site detection technologies for bioanalysis.Point-of-care testing(POCT),which differs from traditional laboratory testing,can realize the rapid in situ detection of biomarkers without the complicated analytical process of the laboratory.Smartphones,which are an essential tool in our daily life,not only have independent operating systems and built-in storage functions,but also have high-definition cameras,which have great application potential in POCT visualization.The combination of various biosensing technologies and smartphones has developed into a new direction in the field of POCT.This review mainly introduced the research progress of smartphone-based visual biosensors in POCT in recent years,including colorimetric sensors,fluorescence sensors,chemiluminescence sensors and electrochemiluminescence sensors.Finally,the problems faced by smart-phone-based visual biosensors in the application of POCT were summarized,and their future development was prospected.

Objective To observe the effects of abdominal penetrating moxibustion combined with acupuncture at the"four chong points"on balance,walking function and trunk control in patients recovering from stroke.Methods Seventy-eight patients recovering from stroke were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 39 patients in each group.The control group was given conventional rehabilitation exercises,while the observation group was given abdominal penetrating moxibustion combined with acupuncture at the"four chong points"on the basis of the control group.Both groups were treated for 2 consecutive months.After 2 months of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in the Berg Scale score and the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT)were observed before and after treatment.The changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)scores were compared before and after treatment between the two groups.The Sheikh Trunk Control Scale scores were also evaluated.Results(1)The total effective rate of the observation group was 94.87%(37/39),and the total effective rate of the control group was 80.00%(31/39),and the efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the Berg scores of the patients in the two groups were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the Berg scores of the observation group were higher than those of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the TUGT time and NIHSS score of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the TUGT time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group,and the NIHSS score was lower than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the Sheikh trunk control scores of the two groups were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the Sheikh trunk control score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Abdominal penetrating moxibustion method combined with acupuncture at the four chong points for the treatment of stroke recovery can effectively restore the patients'balance and walking function,improve the patients'trunk control ability,and the therapeutic effect is precise.

Objective To investigate the rate of germline variants in patients with pancreatic cancer and clinical characteristics related with germline variants.Methods A total of 271 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study.Germline variants of 21 tumor susceptibility genes were detected by next-generation sequencing,and the relationship between germline variants and clinical factors such as age of onset,family history and personal history was analyzed.Results The rate of germline P/LP variants was 6.3%in unselected pancreatic cancer patients,but was high as 17.1%in genetic high-risk group patients(those with a family or personal history of cancer,or early-onset).Genes with higher frequency of germline variants in pancreatic cancer patients were PALB2,BRCA2,and ATM.Conclusion The rate of germline variants in overall pancreatic cancer patients is not high,but it increases significantly in genetic high-risk group,proving the importance of clinical factors in the screening of hereditary pancreatic cancer.

Osteosarcopenia (OS) is a multifactorial, multiaetiologic degenerative metabolic syndrome in which sarcopenia coexists with osteoporosis, and its influences are related to aging-induced mechanics, genetics, inflammatory factors, endocrine disorders, and irregular lifestyles. With the accelerated aging process in our country, osteosarcopenia has become a public health problem that cannot be ignored, with a higher risk of falls, fractures, impaired mobility and death. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have conducted a lot of research on osteosarcopenia, but their pathogenesis is still unclear. Understanding the signaling pathways associated with osteosarcopenia is of great significance for further research on the pathogenesis of these disorders and for finding new targets for treatment. Studies have shown that activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway promotes osteoblast differentiation as well as skeletal muscle regeneration, indicating that inhibition of thePI3K/Akt signaling pathway is closely related to the development of osteosarcopenia. Muscle factor-mechanical stress interactions can maintain osteoblast viability by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that Wnt signaling is important in muscle and bone crosstalk. The Notch signaling pathway also plays an important role in improving bone and muscle mass and function, but different researchers hold different views, which need to be further validated and refined in subsequent studies. Exercise, as an existing non-pharmacological treatment with strong and sustained effects on physical function and muscle strength, also significantly increases bone density in osteoporosis patients, which may be mainly due to the fact that exercise induces changes in the form and function of bones, in the form of muscular pulling and indirectly improves the bone mass, and changes in the bone strength can also change the number, shape as well as the function of the muscles. At the same time, the mechanism of different exercise modalities focuses on different aspects, and there are differences in exercise time, exercise intensity, and therapeutic effects in the implementation of interventions. Aerobic exercise can improve the quality of skeletal muscle and increase the expression of osteogenesis-related genes by stimulating mitochondrial biosynthesis, as well as improve the quality and strength of bones and muscles through the Wnt/β- catenin and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, effectively preventing and controlling the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. High-intensity resistance exercise has a significant effect on improving the quality of muscles and bone mineral density, but older people with osteosarcopenia suffer from a decline in muscle quality and strength, and a decline in bone mineral density, which makes them very susceptible to fracture, so they should select the intensity of the training in a gradual and orderly manner, from small to large. What kind of exercise intensity and exercise modalities are most effective in improving the occurrence and development of osteosarcopenia needs to be further investigated. Therefore, this paper mainly reviews the epidemiology of osteosarcopenia, diagnostic criteria, the related signaling pathways (PI3K/Akt pathway, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Notch pathway, NF-κB pathway) that jointly regulate the metabolic process of myocytes and skeletal cells, as well as the interventional effects of different exercise modes on osteosarcopenia, with the aim of providing theoretical bases for the clinical treatment of osteosarcopenia, as well as enhancing the preventive capacity of the disease in old age.