Effect of preconception antibiotics exposure on female reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The preconception period is a window of opportunity to influence maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Inappropriate use of antibiotics results in gut dysbiosis and may affect host reproductive health through multiple dimensions. Animal studies demonstrate that antibiotic treatment profoundly affects ovarian functions and the estrous cycle, and it has a direct implication for infertility.

Utilizing AI for the Identification and Validation of Novel Therapeutic Targets and Repurposed Drugs for Endometriosis.

Endometriosis affects over 190 million women globally, and effective therapies are urgently needed to address the burden of endometriosis on women's health. Using an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven target discovery platform, two unreported therapeutic targets, guanylate-binding protein 2 (GBP2) and hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) are identified, along with a drug repurposing target, integrin beta 2 (ITGB2) for the treatment of endometriosis. GBP2, HCK, and ITGB2 are upregulated in human endometriotic specimens.

A bibliometric analysis of hepatolenticular degeneration research in traditional Chinese medicine using CiteSpace and VOSviewer: A study protocol for systematic review.

Background: The purpose of this review was to analyze treatments for hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), exploring the potential mechanisms and latest advances, as well as potential future directions.

Methods: We searched articles from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang database, the Chinese Medical Journal Database, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase. We used CiteSpace (version 5.

Inverse design of compact nonvolatile reconfigurable silicon photonic devices with phase-change materials.

In the development of silicon photonics, the continued downsizing of photonic integrated circuits will further increase the integration density, which augments the functionality of photonic chips. Compared with the traditional design method, inverse design presents a novel approach for achieving compact photonic devices. However, achieving compact, reconfigurable photonic devices with the inverse design that employs the traditional modulation method exemplified by the thermo-optic effect poses a significant challenge due to the weak modulation capability.

Influenza vaccination in patients with acute heart failure (PANDA II): study protocol for a hospital-based, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial in China.

Background: Influenza vaccination confers broad benefits in the elderly and certain high-risk populations, but its effectiveness in patients with acute heart failure (HF) is uncertain. Rates of influenza vaccination are low in China due to poor awareness, cultural misunderstandings, and cost.

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in patients with acute HF admitted to hospitals in China.

Ring-shaped segmentation phase design method for the combined point spread function.

The study presents a method for designing phase masks, specifically the ring-shaped segmentation method, which can be employed in creating the modulation phase for specialized point spread functions (PSFs), such as multi-focus PSFs and those with axial encoding functions. An algorithm for phase inversion optimization is introduced to enhance the optical transfer function efficiency of the designed phase mask, which is based on the Fresnel approximation imaging inverse operation and iterative Fourier transform algorithm. The ring-shaped segmentation phase design approach effectively combines individual phases, resulting in unified PSFs with unique properties.

Association of childhood obesity with pubertal development in boys: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Childhood obesity leads to early puberty development in girls, but its effect in boys remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the association between childhood obesity and puberty development in boys. We included 14 cohort studies with 114,822 boys.

Effect of Different Doping Concentrations on the Properties of Fe:ZnSe and Fe, Cr:ZnSe Crystals Grown by the Chemical Vapor Transport Method.

The Fe:ZnSe crystal is an important material for 3-5 μm mid-infrared lasers. In this work, we have grown different doping concentrations of Fe:ZnSe and Fe, Cr:ZnSe by the chemical vapor transport method. The doped crystals have the same structure.

Measurement of Four Uterine NK Cell Subtypes Using Multiplexed Fluorescent Immunohistochemical Staining in Women with Repeated Implantation Failure.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays a crucial role in biological research and clinical diagnosis, serving as the most commonly used method for identifying and visualizing tissue antigens. However, traditional IHC staining methods have limitations in distinguishing various subtypes of immune cells. This challenge has driven scientists to explore new technologies and methodologies for precise identification and differentiation of immune cell subtypes.

Integrin α6β4 Upregulates PTPRZ1 Through UCHL1-Mediated Hif-1α Nuclear Accumulation to Promote Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Invasive Properties.

Integrin α6β4 drives triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) aggressiveness through the transcriptional regulation of key genes. Here, we investigated how integrin α6β4 regulates protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 (PTPRZ1). Using stable re-expression of integrin β4 (ITGB4) in cells naturally devoid of integrin α6β4 or knockdown or knockout (KO) of ITGB4, we found that integrin α6β4 regulates PTPRZ1 expression.

Unveiling the fundamentals of flow boiling heat transfer enhancement on structured surfaces.

Micro- and nanostructured surfaces offer the potential to enhance two-phase heat transfer. However, the mechanisms behind these enhancements are not well-understood due to insufficient diagnostic methods, leading to reliance on trial-and-error surface development. We introduce in situ boroscopy to investigate microscale bubble dynamics during flow boiling nucleation and subsequent flow regime development.

Crystal Growth, Characterization, and Properties of Nonlinear Optical Crystals of LiAgGaTe for Mid-Infrared Applications.

LiGaTe is a promising nonlinear optical crystal with a large figure of merit (/), but it is difficult to grow the LiGaTe single crystal due to its extreme instability. In this work, we used Ag to replace Li and successfully grew a LiAgGaTe crystal by the modified Bridgman method for the first time. We found it has thermal stability below 200 °C in an atmospheric environment, and the thermal expansion coefficient is positive.

Consolidation in the right middle lobe in pediatric bronchial-pulmonary artery shunt: radiology's Aunt Minnie?

Purpose: By retrospectively studying the chest computed tomography (CT) data of children with bronchial artery (BA)-pulmonary artery fistula, this study summarizes the characteristic imaging features of the disease and provides imaging support for the diagnosis and clinical treatment of these children.

Methods: Digital subtraction angiography and CT angiography data were collected from 74 children with pulmonary hemorrhage following BA embolization. Bronchial-pulmonary shunt was present in 30 cases.

New persistent plant RNA virus carries mutations to weaken viral suppression of antiviral RNA interference.

Persistent plant viruses are widespread in natural ecosystems. However, little is known about why persistent infection with these viruses may cause little or no harm to their host. Here, we discovered a new polerovirus that persistently infected wild rice plants by deep sequencing and assembly of virus-derived small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs).

Liquiritigenin inhibits the migration, invasion, and EMT of prostate cancer through activating ER stress.

Liquiritigenin (LQ) is a monomeric compound found in licorice, a leguminous plant, and has been reported to exhibit antitumor effects in various lines of cancer cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which LQ exerts its antitumor effects remain largely unknown. In this study, the effects of LQ on the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer (PCa) cells were investigated.

A Retrospective Comparison Trial Investigating Aggregate Length of Stay Post Implementation of Seven Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols between 2015 and 2022.

(1) : Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols can create a cultural shift that will benefit patients by significantly reducing patient length of stay when compared to an equivalent group of surgical patients not following an ERAS protocol. (2) : In this retrospective study of 2236 patients in a multi-center, community-based healthcare system, matching was performed based on a multitude of variables related to demographics, comorbidities, and surgical outcomes across seven ERAS protocols. These cohorts were then compared pre and post ERAS protocol implementation.

Single-molecule tracking technology based on symmetric power exponential phases.

We present a design approach for a symmetric power exponential phase, resulting in a phase-modulated point-spread function with two symmetrical mainlobes that can be steered toward the optical axis opposite the x axis. This design offers nanoscale 3D localization capabilities suitable for 3D single-molecule tracking and localization imaging. The axial probing depth of this symmetric power exponential point-spread function can be adjusted as needed by manipulating specific parameters.

Upregulation of Fatty Acid Synthase Increases Activity of β-Catenin and Expression of NOTUM to Enhance Stem-like Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Dysregulated fatty acid metabolism is an attractive therapeutic target for colorectal cancer (CRC). We previously reported that fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme of de novo synthesis, promotes the initiation and progression of CRC. However, the mechanisms of how upregulation of FASN promotes the initiation and progression of CRC are not completely understood.

The Tumor Suppressor TPD52-Governed Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress is Modulated by APC.

Aberrant regulation of unfolded protein response (UPR)/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway is associated with cancer development, metastasis, and relapse, and the UPR signal transducer ATF6 has been proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for many cancers. However, a causal molecular link between ATF6 activation and carcinogenesis is not established. Here, it is found that tumor protein D52 (TPD52) integrates ER stress and UPR signaling with the chaperone machinery by promoting S2P-mediated cleavage of ATF6.

Metformin in Overcoming Enzalutamide Resistance in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Androgen deprivation is the standard treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, the disease eventually progresses as castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Enzalutamide, an AR inhibitor, is a typical drug to treating CRPC and due to continuous reliance on the drug, can lead to Enzalutamide-resistance (ENZ-r).