PreLect: Prevalence leveraged consistent feature selection decodes microbial signatures across cohorts.

The intricate nature of microbiota sequencing data-high dimensionality and sparsity-presents a challenge in identifying informative and reproducible microbial features for both research and clinical applications. Addressing this, we introduce PreLect, an innovative feature selection framework that harnesses microbes' prevalence to facilitate consistent selection in sparse microbiota data. Upon rigorous benchmarking against established feature selection methodologies across 42 microbiome datasets, PreLect demonstrated superior classification capabilities compared to statistical methods and outperformed machine learning-based methods by selecting features with greater prevalence and abundance.

Precision probiotics supplement strategy in aging population based on gut microbiome composition.

With the increasing prevalence of age-related chronic diseases burdening healthcare systems, there is a pressing need for innovative management strategies. Our study focuses on the gut microbiota, essential for metabolic, nutritional, and immune functions, which undergoes significant changes with aging. These changes can impair intestinal function, leading to altered microbial diversity and composition that potentially influence health outcomes and disease progression.

Examining arterial pulsation to identify and risk-stratify heart failure subjects with deep neural network.

Hemodynamic parameters derived from pulse wave analysis have been shown to predict long-term outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Here we aimed to develop a deep-learning based algorithm that incorporates pressure waveforms for the identification and risk stratification of patients with HF. The first study, with a case-control study design to address data imbalance issue, included 431 subjects with HF exhibiting typical symptoms and 1545 control participants with no history of HF (non-HF).

Spinal arteriovenous malformation with a calcified nodule: illustrative case.

Background: This article describes a rare case of cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) mimicking a neurogenic spinal tumor.

Observations: A 22-year-old female presenting with a C6-7 AVM with a calcification nodule experienced new-onset acute right upper radiculopathy associated with extradural compression of the spinal cord. Note that spinal AVMs with a calcified nodule are rare.

Ensemble learning model for identifying the hallmark genes of NFκB/TNF signaling pathway in cancers.

Background: The nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) regulatory pathways downstream of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) play a critical role in carcinogenesis. However, the widespread influence of NFκB in cells can result in off-target effects, making it a challenging therapeutic target. Ensemble learning is a machine learning technique where multiple models are combined to improve the performance and robustness of the prediction.

Epilepsies of presumed genetic etiology show enrichment of rare variants that occur in the general population.

Previous studies suggested that severe epilepsies, e.g., developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), are mainly caused by ultra-rare de novo genetic variants.

Altered gut microbiota in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a case-control study.

Introduction: The microbiota-gut-brain axis is implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Gut microbiota alterations in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are inconsistent and remain to be understood. This study aims to investigate the gut microbial composition associated with MCI, cognitive functions, and structural brain differences.

Original Article: The impacts of DRG payment system on financial balance of multiple trauma: Experiences of three trauma centers in Taiwan.

Introduction: There are concerns regarding the adequacy of applying the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment system for multiple traumas (i.e., major diagnostic category 24, MDC-24) patients in Taiwan.

The role of rare genetic variants enrichment in epilepsies of presumed genetic etiology.

Previous studies suggested that severe epilepsies e.g., developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are mainly caused by ultra-rare genetic variants.

Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals an Enhancer RNA Signature for Recurrence Prediction in Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most fatal malignancies worldwide, and this is in part due to high rates of tumor recurrence in these patients. Currently, TNM staging remains the gold standard for predicting prognosis and recurrence in CRC patients; however, this approach is inadequate for identifying high-risk patients with the highest likelihood of disease recurrence. Recent evidence has revealed that enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) represent a higher level of cellular regulation, and their expression is frequently dysregulated in several cancers, including CRC.

Altered gene expression profiles impair the nervous system development in individuals with 15q13.3 microdeletion.

The 15q13.3 microdeletion has pleiotropic effects ranging from apparently healthy to severely affected individuals. The underlying basis of the variable phenotype remains elusive.

Clinical Benefits and Challenges in Application of Novel Portable Gastric Capsule Endoscopy for Home Healthcare Patients.

Portable magnetic-assisted capsule endoscopy (MACE) provides satisfactory patient experience and safety with comparable performance in diagnosis of organic lesions when compared to conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. In this study, a total of 58 homecare patients were included for MACE either in the hospital ( = 42) or at home ( = 16), with mean age of 71.1 ± 12.

Multiomics reveal the central role of pentose phosphate pathway in resident thymic macrophages to cope with efferocytosis-associated stress.

Tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are heterogeneous cell populations found throughout the body. Depending on their location, they perform diverse functions maintaining tissue homeostasis and providing immune surveillance. To survive and function within, TRMs adapt metabolically to the distinct microenvironments.

Stratification of lncRNA modulation networks in breast cancer.

Background: Recently, non-coding RNAs are of growing interest, and more scientists attach importance to research on their functions. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are defined as non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. We already knew that lncRNAs are related to cancers and will be dysregulated in them.

Genomic basis for skin phenotype and cold adaptation in the extinct Steller's sea cow.

Steller's sea cow, an extinct sirenian and one of the largest Quaternary mammals, was described by Georg Steller in 1741 and eradicated by humans within 27 years. Here, we complement Steller's descriptions with paleogenomic data from 12 individuals. We identified convergent evolution between Steller's sea cow and cetaceans but not extant sirenians, suggesting a role of several genes in adaptation to cold aquatic (or marine) environments.

Phenotype-tissue expression and exploration (PTEE) resource facilitates the choice of tissue for RNA-seq-based clinical genetics studies.

Background: RNA-seq emerges as a valuable method for clinical genetics. The transcriptome is "dynamic" and tissue-specific, but typically the probed tissues to analyze (TA) are different from the tissue of interest (TI) based on pathophysiology.

Results: We developed Phenotype-Tissue Expression and Exploration (PTEE), a tool to facilitate the decision about the most suitable TA for RNA-seq.

Herniated disc of lumbar spine caused by bone cement leakage after kyphoplasty - A case report and literature review.

Introduction And Importance: To describe an unusual case with herniated disc caused by bone cement leaking to disc space after kyphoplasty.

Case Presentation: We reported a 72-year-old woman with L4 osteoporotic compression fracture. New-onset of left sciatica, numbness and intermittent claudication suffered her immediate after kyphoplasty.

Identification and Elucidation of the Protective isomiRs in Lung Cancer Patient Prognosis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 20-22 nucleotides in length, which are well known to participate in the post-transcriptional modification. The mature miRNAs were observed to be varied on 5' or 3' that raise another term-the isoforms of mature miRNAs (isomiRs), which have been proven not the artifacts and discussed widely recently. In our research, we focused on studying the 5' isomiRs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Feasibility of Upper Gastrointestinal Examination in Home Care Setting with a Magnetically Assisted Capsule Endoscopy System: A Retrospective Study.

The magnetic assisted capsule endoscope (MACE) with a hand-held magnetic field navigator (MFN) for upper gastrointestinal examination achieved satisfactory results in a healthy volunteer study. We evaluated the feasibility of upper gastrointestinal examination in the home care setting with the MACE system. Home care patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms that received an MACE exam were enrolled in the study.

Characterization of the Survival Influential Genes in Carcinogenesis.

The genes influencing cancer patient mortality have been studied by survival analysis for many years. However, most studies utilized them only to support their findings associated with patient prognosis: their roles in carcinogenesis have not yet been revealed. Herein, we applied an in silico approach, integrating the Cox regression model with effect size estimated by the Monte Carlo algorithm, to screen survival-influential genes in more than 6000 tumor samples across 16 cancer types.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among the Homeless in Taipei City: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The safety and health of homeless people are important social issues. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a sub-health-risk phenomenon that has been severely aggravated worldwide in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of MetS among the homeless in Taipei City, Taiwan.

Reduced lipolysis in lipoma phenocopies lipid accumulation in obesity.

Background: Elucidation of lipid metabolism and accumulation mechanisms is of paramount importance to understanding obesity and unveiling therapeutic targets. In vitro cell models have been extensively used for these purposes, yet, they do not entirely reflect the in vivo setup. Conventional lipomas, characterized by the presence of mature adipocytes and increased adipogenesis, could overcome the drawbacks of cell cultures.

The Effects of Obesity-Related Anthropometric Factors on Cardiovascular Risks of Homeless Adults in Taiwan.

Homelessness is a pre-existing phenomenon in society and an important public health issue that national policy strives to solve. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important health problem of the homeless. This cross-sectional study explored the effects of four obesity-related anthropometric factors-body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)-on cardiovascular disease risks (expressed by three CVD markers: hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia) among homeless adults in Taipei and compared the relevant results with ordinary adults in Taiwan.

Regulatory feedback loops bridge the human gene regulatory network and regulate carcinogenesis.

The development of disease involves a systematic disturbance inside cells and is associated with changes in the interactions or regulations among genes forming biological networks. The bridges inside a network are critical in shortening the distances between nodes. We observed that, inside the human gene regulatory network, one strongly connected core bridged the whole network.