Characteristics and metabolic potential of biliary microbiota in patients with giant common bile duct stones.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an effective minimally invasive operation for the management of choledocholithiasis, while successful extraction is hampered by large diameter of stones. Emerging studies have revealed the close correlation between biliary microbiota and common bile duct stones (CBDS). In this study, we aimed to investigate the community characteristics and metabolic functions of biliary microbiota in patients with giant CBDS.

Functional Evaluation of Intermediate Coronary Lesions with Integrated Computed Tomography Angiography and Invasive Angiography in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Background And Objectives: The hemodynamic evaluation of coronary stenoses undergoes a transition from wire-based invasive measurements to image-based computational assessments. However, fractional flow reserve (FFR) values derived from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and angiography-based quantitative flow ratio have certain limitations in accuracy and efficiency, preventing their widespread use in routine practice. Hence, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of FFR derived from the integration of CCTA and invasive angiography (FFR) with artificial intelligence assistance in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

A novel therapeutic strategy for alleviating atrial remodeling by targeting exosomal miRNAs in atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent cardiac arrhythmias, and atrial remodeling is related to the progression of AF. Although several therapeutic approaches have been presented in recent years, the continuously increasing mortality rate suggests that more advanced strategies for treatment are urgently needed. Exosomes regulate pathological processes through intercellular communication mediated by microribonucleic acid (miRNA) in various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Atrial myocyte-derived exosomal microRNA contributes to atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrosis plays a critical role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Exosomes are a promising cell-free therapeutic approach for the treatment of AF. The purposes of this study were to explore the mechanisms by which exosomes derived from atrial myocytes regulate atrial remodeling and to determine whether their manipulation facilitates the therapeutic modulation of potential fibrotic abnormalities during AF.

Akkermansia muciniphila prevents cold-related atrial fibrillation in rats by modulation of TMAO induced cardiac pyroptosis.

Background: Cold exposure is one of the most important risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF), and closely related to the poor prognosis of AF patients. However, the mechanisms underlying cold-related AF are poorly understood.

Methods: Various techniques including 16S rRNA gene sequencing, fecal microbiota transplantation, and electrophysiological examination were used to determine whether gut microbiota dysbiosis promotes cold-related AF.

Potential role of circular RNA in cyclosporin A-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a well-known and effective drug that is commonly used in autoimmune diseases and allotransplantation. However, kidney toxicity and cardiotoxicity limit its use. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role in disease, especially cardiovascular disease.

Serum lncRNAs in early pregnancy as potential biomarkers for the prediction of pregnancy-induced hypertension, including preeclampsia.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key mediators of biological regulation with diagnostic value as disease biomarkers. We explored serum lncRNA levels in early pregnancy as potential biomarkers of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE). We performed a two-phase nested case-control study in pregnant women before 20 weeks' gestation (before clinical diagnosis).

Metformin alleviates hyperuricaemia-induced serum FFA elevation and insulin resistance by inhibiting adipocyte hypertrophy and reversing suppressed white adipose tissue beiging.

Hyperuricaemia (HUA) significantly increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and is strongly associated with the increased prevalence of high serum free fatty acids (FFAs) and insulin resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well established, especially the effect of uric acid (UA) on adipose tissue, a vital organ in regulating whole-body energy and FFA homeostasis. In the present study, we noticed that adipocytes from the white adipose tissue of patients with HUA were hypertrophied and had decreased UCP1 expression.

Wang-Landau algorithm as stochastic optimization and its acceleration.

We show that the Wang-Landau algorithm can be formulated as a stochastic gradient descent algorithm minimizing a smooth and convex objective function, of which the gradient is estimated using Markov chain Monte Carlo iterations. The optimization formulation provides us another way to establish the convergence rate of the Wang-Landau algorithm, by exploiting the fact that almost surely the density estimates (on the logarithmic scale) remain in a compact set, upon which the objective function is strongly convex. The optimization viewpoint motivates us to improve the efficiency of the Wang-Landau algorithm using popular tools including the momentum method and the adaptive learning rate method.

Liver gene transfection by retrograde intrabiliary infusion facilitated by temporary biliary obstruction.

Background: The hepatobiliary tract may be a valuable administration site for gene delivery. We demonstrated the role of temporary biliary obstruction for gene transfection by retrograde intrabiliary infusion.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received intrabiliary infusion of luciferase plasmid via an artificial common bile duct, with temporary biliary obstruction for 0 minutes (NO group), 30 minutes (30 min group) and 24 hours (24 h group), respectively (n = 4 for each group).

Prognostic value of long non-coding RNA 01296 expression in human solid malignant tumours: a meta-analysis.

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 01296 (LINC01296) has been reported to play an important role in many human malignancies, but a consistent perspective has not been established now. To explore the prognostic value of LINC01296 in different types of human solid malignant tumours, we performed this meta-analysis.An electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biological Medical Literature database and WanFang database was applied to select eligible literatures.

Spexin protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide with pleiotropic functions in adipose tissue including energy balance adjustment, fatty acid uptake, and glucose homeostasis. SPX level is closely associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as age, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes; however, its physiological significance in the cardiovascular system remains mostly undefined. We therefore here investigated the roles of SPX in regulating hypoxia-induced alterations in energy metabolism and mitochondrial function.

Effects of miR‑106b‑3p on cell proliferation and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, and targeting of ZNRF3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRs) is frequently associated with cancer progression. Deregulation of miR‑106b‑3p has been observed in various types of human cancer. However, the biological function of miR‑106b‑3p in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography versus laparoscopic exploration for common bile duct stones in post-cholecystectomy patients: a retrospective study.

Background And Objective: Common bile duct (CBD) stones are common in patients even after cholecystectomy. Besides endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP), laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is also applied. This study aims to compare clinical indications, therapeutic benefits and complications for these two managements.

Fabrication of High-Energy Li-Ion Cells with Li4 Ti5 O12 Microspheres as Anode and 0.5 Li2 MnO3 ⋅0.5 LiNi0.4 Co0.2 Mn0.4 O2 Microspheres as Cathode.

In this work, we propose an effective way to prepare nanosized Li4 Ti5 O12 (LTO) microspheres and 0.5 Li2 MnO3 ⋅0.5 LiNi0.