An unfolded protein response (UPR)-signature regulated by the NFKB-miR-29b/c axis fosters tumor aggressiveness and poor survival in bladder cancer.

Background: Bladder cancer continues to pose a substantial global health challenge, marked by a high mortality rate despite advances in treatment options. Therefore, in-depth understanding of molecular mechanisms related to disease onset, progression, and patient survival is of utmost importance in bladder cancer research. Here, we aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms using a stringent differential expression and survival analyses-based pipeline.

Safety and immunogenicity of hepatitis E vaccine in compensated liver cirrhosis with chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a global health concern that causes acute hepatitis with severe consequences, particularly in patients with chronic liver disease. Despite the availability of a recombinant hepatitis E vaccine (Hecolin), its safety and immunogenicity in patients with pre-existing liver cirrhosis remain uncertain. This study aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of Hecolin in individuals with compensated liver cirrhosis who have chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

The function and regulatory network of sugarcane chitinase gene ScChiIV1 in response to pathogen stress.

Plant chitinase is a pathogenesis-related protein that can hydrolyze chitin, the main component of fungal cell walls, and plays an important role in plant disease defense responses. Our previous study found the sugarcane class IV chitinase gene ScChiIV1 (GenBank Accession No. KP165001) was responding positively to smut pathogen Sporisorium scitamineum stress, but its disease resistance function and mechanism were unclear.

Distribution and Host Selection of the Chigger Mite Leptotrombidium rupestre, a Potential Vector of Scrub Typhus, in Southwest China.

Leptotrombidium rupestre, a chigger species, is a potential vector of scrub typhus. Based on field surveys in southwest China between 2001 and 2022, this paper retrospectively reports the distribution and host selection of L. rupestre in the region for the first time.

The Bidirectional Relations Between Parental Autonomy Support, Gratitude and Academic Engagement in Chinese Adolescents.

Abundant evidence highlights the benefits of self-determined motivation (e.g., parental autonomy support as internalized extrinsic motivation, gratitude as intrinsic motivation) on academic engagement during adolescence, yet the potential mutual relations remain relatively unexplored.

Walnut oil prevents hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet and regulates intestinal flora and liver metabolism.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the preventive effect of walnut oil as medicinal food on abnormal lipid metabolism and its influence on liver metabolites and intestinal flora.

Methods: The rat model of abnormal lipid metabolism was established by feeding high-fat diet and administering a high-fat emulsion via gavage. The rats were randomly assigned to one of the five groups: the normal group (ND), the model group (HFD), and three walnut oil intervention groups differing in dosage [low-dose (OL, 2.

The Association Between Psychological Capital and Self-Management Behaviors in Men with Gout: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China.

Purpose: Gout is a common, chronic inflammatory joint disease, and men are more likely to suffer from gout. Improving patient self-management behaviors is a priority in gout healthcare. Psychological capital is associated with self-management behaviors in chronic diseases and can be improved through a number of interventions.

PPARα suppresses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in a high-fat diet context by reducing neutrophil extracellular trap release.

Background & Aims: The role of infiltrating neutrophils in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is modulated by cellular metabolism, specifically lipid homeostasis. Throughout the progression of HCC, alterations in lipid metabolism are intricately linked with regulation of neutrophil function and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). However, how much the protumor effect of a high-fat diet (HFD) depends on NETs and the potential interplay between NETs and other leukocytes in HCC remains uncertain.

NVP-2, in combination with Orlistat, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Cell cycle dysregulation and the corresponding metabolic reprogramming play significant roles in tumor development and progression. CDK9, a kinase that regulates gene transcription and cell cycle, also induces oncogene transcription and abnormal cell cycle in AML cells. The function of CDK9 for gene regulation in AML cells requires further exploration.

Evaluating Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapeutic Response for Bladder Carcinoma Using Amide Proton Transfer-Weighted MRI.

Rationale And Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) and diffusion-weighted MRI in evaluating the response of bladder cancer (BCa) to neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: From June 2021 to July 2023, participants with pathologically confirmed BCa were prospectively recruited to undergo MRI examinations, including APTw and diffusion-weighted MRI before and after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy. Histogram analysis features (mean, median, and entropy) were extracted from pre- and post-treatment APTw and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, respectively.

Comprehensive analysis of the expression and prognostic value of ARMCs in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has a very poor prognosis, and there are few treatments for PAAD. Therefore, it is important to find some biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of PAAD. Although some members of Armadillo repeat containing proteins (ARMCs) have been implicated in the development of certain cancers, their relationship with PAAD remains unknown.

Health-related quality of life profiles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a latent profile analysis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common rheumatic disease that most commonly affects joints and negatively impacts individuals' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although some studies have explored HRQoL of RA patients, existing studies treated RA patients as a homogeneous group based on their overall HRQoL and ignore the heterogeneity of patients' HRQoL patterns. This study aimed to identify subgroups of RA patients based on their HRQoL and variables associated with group membership.

Cancer detection in patients with prostate-specific antigen levels within the grey zone: can synthetic magnetic resonance imaging aid in the differentiation between prostate cancer and noncancerous lesions?

Background: The detection of prostate cancer (PCa) via conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels within the grey zone remains challenging. Whether synthetic MRI can provide supplementary benefits for the accurate diagnosis of PCa in this specific population is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic performance of synthetic MRI for differentiating PCa lesions from noncancerous lesions in patients with PSA levels within the grey zone (4-10 ng/mL).

Optimizing prostate biopsy decision-making for patients with Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥3 lesions: novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based nomograms.

Background: Current protocols endorse biopsies for men with Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS v2.1) scores ≥3. However, the subjective nature of PI-RADS can lead to increased false positives and unnecessary biopsies.

Effect of pH on antitumor activity of Chinese cobra (Naja atra) cytotoxin-XII.

Unlabelled: Cytotoxins (CTXs), proteins found in cobra venom, selectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation. Herein, we selected CTX-XII because of its potent antitumor activity to investigate the effect of solution pH on its response. MTT assay results showed significantly higher inhibition rates for CTX-XII at pH 5.

Signal pathways involved in contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) has emerged as a global public health concern, ranking as the third most prevalent cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury, which is related to adverse outcomes. However, its precise pathogenesis remains elusive. Consequently, researchers are dedicated to uncovering CI-AKI's pathophysiology and signaling pathways, including inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ferroptosis, to improve prevention and treatment.

Postoperative systemic arterial hypertension in infants with congenital heart diseases: prevalence and risk factors.

Objective: To determine the prevalence rate and risk factors for systemic arterial hypertension in infants with congenital heart diseases.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of postoperative systemic arterial hypertension incidence in infants who underwent cardiac surgery was conducted. The primary diagnosis was retrieved.

Enhancing carrot ( var. sativa Hoffm.) plant productivity with combined rhizosphere microbial consortium.

Background: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are an integral part of agricultural practices due to their roles in promoting plant growth, improving soil conditions, and suppressing diseases. However, researches on the PGPR in the rhizosphere of carrots, an important vegetable crop, is relative limited. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate and characterize PGPR strains from the rhizosphere soil of greenhouse-grown carrots, with a focus on their potential to stimulate carrot growth.

Interferon Regulatory Factors (, , , and ) in Sichuan taimen (): Identification and Functional Characterization.

: Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are multifunctional transcription factors that play important roles in the transcriptional regulation of interferons and in the immune response to pathogens. Therefore, studying the interferon system in fish is highly relevant in the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. : In this study, five IRF genes (, , , and ) were identified and characterized in , and their expression profiles were determined after LPS and Poly(I:C) treatment.

Chest-CT-based radiomics feature of epicardial adipose tissue for screening coronary atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of chest-CT epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) radiomics feature in coronary atherosclerotic stenosis.

Methods: Clinical data from 215 individuals who underwent coronary angiography and chest-CT scan from January to July 2022 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the coronary angiography results, the total population, men, and women were divided into the CAD group and non-CAD group.

Educational needs and its associated factors among patients with ankylosing spondylitis in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objective: Patient education is an important part of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) management. Effective patient education should be targeted at specific priorities and needs of the patients. However, the educational needs of patients with AS in China have not been systematically explored.