Risk factors and retreatment for relapse in childhood primary nephrotic syndrome treated with rituximab.

Background: The effectiveness of rituximab (RTX) for steroid-dependent/frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (SDNS/FRNS) in children is well documented. However, there are insufficient data on relapse risk factors. Additionally, the retreat regimen for relapsed children requires further investigation.

Untargeted screening and differential analysis of bioactive compounds in male and female silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae through Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometry.

Silkworm pupae are highly valuable as edible insects due to their nutritional and bioactive properties. Investigating the bioactive compounds within silkworm pupae can provide useful information for advanced processing and utilization of this resource. In this study, untargeted metabolomics analysis was employed to characterize the bioactive compounds present in silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori).

Leptin signalling altered in infantile nephropathic cystinosis-related bone disorder.

Background: The CTNS gene mutation causes infantile nephropathic cystinosis (INC). Patients with INC develop Fanconi syndrome and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with significant bone deformations. C57BL/6 Ctns mice are an animal model for studying INC.

Mutation Characteristics of Primary Hyperoxaluria in the Chinese Population and Current International Diagnosis and Treatment Status.

Background: Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, mainly due to the increase in endogenous oxalate production, causing a series of clinical features such as kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis, progressive impairment of renal function, and systemic oxalosis. There are three common genetic causes of glycolate metabolism anomalies. Among them, PH type 1 is the most prevalent and severe type, and early end-stage renal failure often occurs.

Ecodesign of Kesterite Nanoparticles for Thin Film Photovoltaics at Laboratory Scale.

This manuscript investigates the efficient synthesis of copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticles for CZTS thin film solar cell applications with a primary focus on environmental sustainability. Underpinning the investigation is an initial life-cycle assessment (LCA) analysis. This LCA analysis is conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of different synthesis volumes, providing crucial insights into the sustainability of the synthesis process by considering the flows of material and energy associated with the process.

Differential detection of megakaryocytic and erythroid DNA in plasma in hematological disorders.

The tissues of origin of plasma DNA can be revealed by methylation patterns. However, the relative DNA contributions from megakaryocytes and erythroblasts into plasma appeared inconsistent among studies. To shed light into this phenomenon, we developed droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays for the differential detection of contributions from these cell types in plasma based on megakaryocyte-specific and erythroblast-specific methylation markers.

The early language gap between first- and second-language learners: acquisition of Chinese characters among preschoolers.

For culturally and linguistically diverse children, early second language (L2) development is important for school achievement and social inclusion. These children face challenges in acquiring L2, especially in Hong Kong, where the dominant Chinese language contrasts strongly with their home languages. Studies that compared the language abilities of first language (L1) and L2 students in English-speaking contexts have reported young L2 learners' disadvantage in using the dominant language in oral language and comprehension at school entry.

The relationship between liver function and neurophysiological factors in depressed individuals: a cross-sectional study using an integrated "East meets West" medicine approach.

Introduction: Depression is a common mental disorder worldwide. The pathology of depression may involve the dysregulation of neurotransmitters and immunity and produce genetic and environmental effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced for several thousand years and has a different understanding of depression compared to Western medicine.

Redox Signaling in Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Cachexia.

Redox signaling alterations contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated cachexia. This review aims to summarize studies about redox pathophysiology in CKD-associated cachexia and muscle wasting and to discuss potential therapeutic approaches based on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules to restore redox homeostasis. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems of antioxidant molecules have been studied in experimental models of kidney diseases and patients with CKD.

Double Disadvantage of Carers with a Disability: A Cross-Sectional Study of Care Duration and Perceived Importance for Service Improvement in Hong Kong, China.

Objectives: this study examined (i) the relationships between the care duration of carers and their perceptions of the importance of service improvement by types of service, and (ii) whether carers had a disability that moderated the impacts of care duration on these perceptions.

Design: survey data for cross-sectional analyses.

Method: The sample consisted of carers without disability ( = 625) and carers with a disability ( = 77).

Testing for EGFR Variants in Pleural and Pericardial Effusion Cell-Free DNA in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Importance: Molecular testing in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is commonly limited by inadequate tumor sample. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) genotyping as a complementary test is specific but only moderately sensitive. Genotyping of cfDNA in pleural and pericardial effusion (PE-cfDNA) can further optimize molecular diagnostic yield and reduce the need for repeated biopsies.

Growth Hormone Improves Adipose Tissue Browning and Muscle Wasting in Mice with Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Cachexia.

Cachexia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been linked to GH resistance. In CKD, GH treatment enhances muscular performance. We investigated the impact of GH on cachexia brought on by CKD.

Metabolic Advantage of 25(OH)D versus 1,25(OH)D Supplementation in Infantile Nephropathic Cystinosis-Associated Adipose Tissue Browning and Muscle Wasting.

Manifestations of infantile nephropathic cystinosis (INC) often include cachexia and deficiency of circulating vitamin D metabolites. We examined the impact of 25(OH)D versus 1,25(OH)D repletion in null mice, a mouse model of INC. Six weeks of intraperitoneal administration of 25(OH)D (75 μg/kg/day) or 1,25(OH)D (60 ng/kg/day) resulted in mice corrected low circulating 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)D concentrations.

Types of Community Support Services and Self-Efficacy for Continuous Community Living among Individuals with Disabilities and Caregivers.

Unlabelled: This study explored the impacts of five types of community support services (i.e., center-based care, home-based care, respite care, caregiver assistance, and financial subsidies) on self-efficacy for continuous community living among individuals with disabilities and caregivers.

Impact of glycaemic technologies on quality of life and related outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes: A narrative review.

Aims: To explore the association between the use of glycaemic technologies and person-reported outcomes (PROs) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: We included T1D and technology publications reporting on PROs since 2014. Only randomised controlled trials and cohort studies that used validated PRO measures (PROMs) were considered.

A scenario-based approach to predict energy demand and carbon emission of electric vehicles on the electric grid.

UK plans to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030 to be replaced by electric vehicles (EVs). The question is, will the UK's electrical grid infrastructure ready for this change? This comparative study investigates the effect of UK green vehicles on the electrical grid and presents a new insight into improving their energy demand and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions to the electrical grid. The results show that even when there is a very high level of market penetration of EVs, the overall effect on annual energy consumption may seem minimal.

Bacteroides ovatus-mediated CD27 MAIT cell activation is associated with obesity-related T2D progression.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is highly associated with obesity. However, the factors that drive the transition from excessive weight gain to glucose metabolism disruption are still uncertain and seem to revolve around systemic immune disorder. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are innate-like T cells that recognize bacterial metabolites, have been reported to be altered in obese people and to lead to metabolic dysfunction during obesity.

The diagnostic value of hepatobiliary scintigraphy for choledochal cysts in the era of magnetic resonance imaging with cholangiopancreatography and contrast-enhanced hepatobiliary phase: a case report and review.

Objective: Choledochal cysts (CCs) represent cystic dilatations of the intra- or extrahepatic biliary tract. The diagnosis of CCs may not always be straightforward particularly for the intrahepatic subtype. Whereas the gold standard for diagnosing CCs is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is commonly used as primary diagnostic tool for delineation of biliary pathologies including CCs.

Brief lifestyle interventions for prediabetes in primary care: a service evaluation.

Background: The increasing number of cases of prediabetes in the UK is concerning, particularly in Wales where there is no standard programme of support. The aim of the current service evaluation was to examine the effectiveness of brief lifestyle interventions on glucose tolerance in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In this pragmatic service evaluation clinical data on people deemed at risk of developing type 2 diabetes were evaluated from two GP clusters.

Enhancing Subjective Well-Being Through Qigong: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults in Hong Kong With Chronic Physical Illness.

Context: Eight-section Brocades, a qigong protocol, has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults with chronic physical illness, but its positive effects on quality of life, such as subjective well-being, aren't known.

Objective: This study intended to evaluate the efficacy of qigong for increasing subjective well-being in older adults with chronic physical illness.

Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted.

Differential Effects of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D versus 1α 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D on Adipose Tissue Browning in CKD-Associated Cachexia.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have low serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)D. We investigated the differential effects of 25(OH)D versus 1,25(OH)D repletion in mice with surgically induced CKD. Intraperitoneal supplementation of 25(OH)D (75 μg/kg/day) or 1,25(OH)D (60 ng/kg/day) for 6 weeks normalized serum 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)D concentrations in CKD mice, respectively.

Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Algorithm to Automatic Detection of Pituitary Microadenoma From MRI.

It is often difficult to diagnose pituitary microadenoma (PM) by MRI alone, due to its relatively small size, variable anatomical structure, complex clinical symptoms, and signs among individuals. We develop and validate a deep learning -based system to diagnose PM from MRI. A total of 11,935 infertility participants were initially recruited for this project.

Number of teeth is associated with all-cause and disease-specific mortality.

Background: Tooth loss has been shown to correlate with multiple systemic comorbidities. However, the associations between the number of remaining natural teeth (NoT) and all-cause mortality have not been explored extensively. We aimed to investigate whether having fewer NoT imposes a higher risk in mortality.

Phase II multicentre, double-blind, randomised trial of ustekinumab in adolescents with new-onset type 1 diabetes (USTEK1D): trial protocol.

Introduction: Most individuals newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have 10%-20% of beta-cell function remaining at the time of diagnosis. Preservation of residual beta-cell function at diagnosis may improve glycaemic control and reduce longer-term complications.Immunotherapy has the potential to preserve endogenous beta-cell function and thereby improve metabolic control even in poorly compliant individuals.