Decreased STING predicts adverse efficacy in bortezomib regimens and poor survival in multiple myeloma.

Purpose: STING (stimulator of interferon genes) is involved in viral and bacterial defense through interferon pathway and innate immunity. Increased susceptibility to infection is a common manifestation of multiple myeloma (MM). Thus, we aimed to explore the clinical significance and possible mechanism of STING in MM.

Hearing loss rather than vestibular loss identifies patient subgroups with different outcomes in Meniere's disease.

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between Meniere's disease (MD) duration and both hearing thresholds and vestibular dysfunction.

Design: Retrospective cohort study. First, the relationships between MD duration and pure-tone audiometry thresholds for each frequency, the canal paresis (CP) ratio, and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain were analysed.

Cascade-Responsive Nanoparticles for Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Based Glioblastoma Gene Therapy.

CRISPR/Cas9 (CRISPR, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) gene editing technology represents great promise for treating glioblastoma (GBM) due to its potential to permanently eliminate tumor pathogenic genes. Unfortunately, delivering CRISPR to the GBM in a safe and effective manner is challenging. Herein, a glycosylated and cascade-responsive nanoparticle (GCNP) that can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and activate CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing only in the GBM is designed.

High glucose induces renal tubular epithelial cell senescence by inhibiting autophagic flux.

Autophagy, a cellular degradation process involving the formation and clearance of autophagosomes, is mediated by autophagic proteins, such as microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and sequestosome 1 (p62), and modulated by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) as well as chloroquine (CQ). Senescence, characterised by permanent cell cycle arrest, is marked by proteins such as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21) and tumour protein 53 (p53). This study aims to investigate the relationship between cell senescence and renal function in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and the effect of autophagy on high-glucose-induced cell senescence.

Genetically Confirmed Optimal Causal Association of Cerebrospinal Fluid Metabolites With Hemorrhagic Stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) mainly includes intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), both of which seriously affect the patient's prognosis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolites and HS showed a link in observational studies. However, the causal association between them is not clear.

Long-term Corneal Biomechanical Properties of Thin Corneas After Small Incision Lenticule Extraction Surgery: A Prospective Controlled Study.

Purpose: To investigate long-term corneal biomechanical changes in thin corneas after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods: Patients with indications for SMILE were enrolled in this study between November 2017 and March 2018. Patients were matched for age, spherical diopter, cylinder, spherical equivalent (SE), and lenticule thickness (LT), and then categorized into the thin cornea group (preoperative thinnest central corneal thickness [CCT] of 500 µm or less, 32 eyes) or normal cornea group (CCT of greater than 500 µm, 32 eyes).

Identification of cancer cell-intrinsic biomarkers associated with tumor progression and characterization of SFTA3 as a tumor suppressor in lung adenocarcinomas.

Background: Recent advancements in contemporary therapeutic approaches have increased the survival rates of lung cancer patients; however, the long-term benefits remain constrained, underscoring the pressing need for novel biomarkers. Surfactant-associated 3 (SFTA3), a long non-coding RNA predominantly expressed in normal lung epithelial cells, plays a crucial role in lung development. Nevertheless, its function in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains inadequately understood.

Silicon reduces lead accumulation in Moso bamboo via immobilization and suppression of metal cation transporter genes in roots.

Lead (Pb) is a hazardous element that affects the growth and development of plants, while silicon (Si) is a beneficial element for alleviating the stress caused by heavy metals, including Pb. However, the mechanisms of Si reduce Pb accumulation in Moso bamboo remain unclear. In this study, physiological assessments and transcriptome analyses were conducted to investigate the interaction between Si and Pb.

Efficacy of Hongjing I granule, an herbal medicine, in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: HJIG is a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) that has been used in China for over 20 years. We conducted a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Chinese Herbal Medicine, Hongjing I granule (HJIG), in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: This study is structured as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, executed across multiple centers.

Characteristics and prognostic values of abdominal aortic branches calcification in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Vascular calcification is highly prevalent and associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, extreme splanchnic arterial calcification in calciphylaxis with poor prognosis raises questions regarding the reliability of previous vascular calcification scoring methods. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the distribution characteristics of abdominal aortic branch calcification and identify a more reliable predictor of mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Stress signaling, response, and adaptive mechanisms in submerged macrophytes under PFASs and warming exposure.

Heat stress disturbs cellular homeostasis and alters the fitness of individual organisms. However, it is unclear whether thermal perturbations exacerbate the toxic effects of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) on trophic endpoints in freshwater ecosystems. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to investigate the impact of warming and PFASs on the widespread submerged macrophytes (Hydrilla verticillata) at a molecular level.

Rational Design of NIR-II Fluorescence/Photoacoustic Nanosensor Tailored for Mechanisms of Diabetes-Related Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cause of cancer induced death worldwide. Current statistics has disclosed that the diabetic BC patients have significantly worse survival rate compared with nondiabetic BC patients. However, the specific mechanism is still being explored.

The biofunction of in intestinal-related diseases.

Intestinal homeostasis is essential for maintaining human health, and its dysfunction is related to the onset and progression of various diseases, including immune and metabolic disorders, and even tumorigenesis. Intestinal microbiota plays a critical role in intestinal homeostasis, with () emerging as a key commensal bacterium utilizing mucin as its sole carbon and nitrogen source. has been recognized in both experimental and clinical studies for its beneficial role in managing intestinal inflammation, tumors, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and secondary conditions such as liver and metabolic diseases.

Morusin regulates the migration of M2 macrophages and GBM cells through the CCL4-CCR5 axis.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive tumor in the central nervous system. Tumor-associated macrophage (TAMs) represent a major immune cell population in tumor microenvironment (TME) and exert immunosuppressive effects that impede GBM treatment. Morusin is a flavonoid extracted from mulberry trees and has anti-tumor properties against various cancers, including glioma.

High glucose promotes macrophage switching to the M1 phenotype via the downregulation of STAT-3 mediated autophagy.

Aim: Imbalanced M1/M2 macrophage phenotype activation is a key point in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Macrophages mainly exhibit the M1 phenotype, which contributes to inflammation and fibrosis in DKD. Studies have indicated that autophagy plays an important role in M1/M2 activation.

Ozone concentration, physical activity, and emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents.

Background: No prior study has examined the mutual association of long-term outdoor ozone (O) concentration and physical activity (PA) with emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) in children and adolescents. This study aims to investigate the association between long-term outdoor O concentration and the risk of EBPs in children and adolescents and further explore whether increased PA levels modify this association.

Methods: Data were obtained from the 2020 wave follow-up examination of an ongoing prospective cohort study (COHERENCE project) in Guangzhou, China.

An assessment of clinical reception training using standard patient and dental simulator in prosthodontic dentistry for dental undergraduates: a historical control trial.

Background: Clinical reception training plays a crucial role in developing undergraduates' clinical thinking and competence. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical reception training conducted by standard patients (SPs) and dental simulators among undergraduate students.

Materials And Methods: In the first week of the internship, sixty-five 5-year undergraduate students were divided into two groups: SP group, which received traditional theoretical training along with clinical reception training, and control group that only received traditional theoretical training.

Numerical study on the evolution characteristics of contact and fluid flow in shear-induced rough joint.

In order to investigate the influence of shear on contact characteristics and fluid flow evolution of rough rock fractures, a series of shear-flow tests were carried out by numerical experiments. Firstly, a sandstone specimen with a rough fracture was made in the laboratory, and the numerical model of the fracture was reconstructed in FLAC3D software. Experiments were conducted to investigate the depth of penetration of the fracture under different normal stress (1, 3, and 5 MPa) and shear displacement (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm).

Activin A promoted the anti-tumor effect of ActRIIA CD8 T cells in mouse hepatoma.

Background: Activin A, a noteworthy member of the TGF-β superfamily. Activin A can regulate the biological functions of various immune cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, etc. The purpose of this study is to investigate the regulatory effect and related mechanisms of activin A on CD8 T cells.

Brg1 and RUNX1 synergy in regulating TRPM4 channel in mouse cardiomyocytes.

Background: Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 4 (TRPM4), a non-selective cation channel, plays a critical role in cardiac conduction abnormalities. Brg1, an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler, is essential for regulating gene expression in both heart development and disease. Our previous studies demonstrated Brg1 impacted on cardiac sodium/potassium channels and electrophysiological stability, its influence on TRPM4 expression and function remained unexplored.

Characterization and Role of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor in the Lacrimal Gland: Novel Insights into Diabetic Dry Eye Pathogenesis.

This study aimed to investigate the expression of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) in the lacrimal gland and explore the effects of topical application of GLP-1R agonist on lacrimal gland function in a murine model of type 1 diabetes. Tear secretion was evaluated using phenol red threads, RNA sequencing was used to explore gene expression profiles associated with hyperglycemia-induced lacrimal gland injuries, and histologic analysis was conducted to evaluate the degree of damage. The expression of GLP-1R in the lacrimal gland was first identified, and a down-regulation trend associated with diabetes was observed.

Antibacterial poly(ethyl methacrylate) surfaces constructed by facile amination with polyethyleneimine of different architectures.

Polymethacrylate and its derivatives are widely used in food industry and biomedical applications for their plasticity, biocompatibility and optical transparency. However, susceptibility to bacterial growth on their surfaces limits their applications. In this study, linear and branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) molecules were grafted onto poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) via aminolysis using a simple one-step method to enhance the antibacterial properties of PEMA films.

Exploring a new chapter in traditional Chinese medicine: The potential of in liver cancer treatment.

In the ongoing quest for new treatments in medicine, traditional Chinese medicine offers unique insights and potential. Recently, studies on the ability of to inhibit M2-type tumour-associated macrophage polarisation by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway to suppress liver cancer have undoubtedly revealed new benefits and hope for this field of research. The purpose of this article is to comment on this study and explore its strengths and weaknesses, thereby providing ideas for the future treatment of liver cancer.