Association Between Protein-Rich Foods, Nutritional Supplements, and Age of Natural Menopause and Its Symptoms.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between protein-rich foods, various nutritional supplements, and age of natural menopause and its symptoms.

Methods: This study was a large-scale cross-sectional survey. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select a sample of 52,347 residents aged 35-60 years from 26 districts/counties across 13 cities in 12 provinces in China.

Classifying strategies for building community health movements: a guide for implementers.

Background: Enabling community-led health initiatives will contribute to reducing the burdens on the healthcare system. Implementing such initiatives successfully in high and upper-middle income Asian countries is poorly understood and documented. We undertook a Rapid Review, systematically synthesising the evidence to develop implementation guidelines to address this gap.

Changes of temporomandibular joint space volume during 1 year after transoral vertical ramus osteotomy in patients with mandibular asymmetry.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the difference in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space volume between the deviated (Dev) and non-deviated (NDev) side following transoral vertical ramus osteotomy (TOVRO) in patients with mandibular prognathism combined with asymmetry using reconstructed 3-dimensional images. Sixty joints from 30 patients who underwent TOVRO between January 2018 and December 2021 were included. Computed tomography (CT) or cone-beam CT was performed before surgery (T0), and 6 (T1) and 12 months postoperatively (T2).

Thymoquinone as a potent antimicrobial agent against Yersinia enterocolitica: Mechanisms of action and potential food safety applications.

Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica) is a Gram-negative foodborne pathogen associated with potentially fatal diseases. Herein, the antibacterial activity and possible mechanism of thymoquinone (TQ) against Y.

Changes in Cerebral Hemodynamic Among Patients With Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Task-Related Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

There remains a scarcity of studies to evaluate the treatment effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers a cost-effective method to measure cerebral hemodynamics. This study used fNIRS to evaluate the effect of ECT in patients suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic phase).

The Positive Regulatory Effect of DBT on Lipid Metabolism in Postpartum Dairy Cows.

Background/objectives: The transition from a non-lactating to a lactating state is a critical period for lipid metabolism in dairy cows. Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), stimulating energy metabolism, ameliorates diseases related to lipid metabolism disorders and is expected to be an effective supplement for alleviating excessive lipid mobilisation in periparturient dairy cows. This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplemental DBT on serum biochemical indices, faecal microbial communities, and plasma metabolites in dairy cows.

Deep learning-based drug screening for the discovery of potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is gradually increasing in prevalence and the complexity of its pathogenesis has led to a lengthy process of developing therapeutic drugs with limited success. Faced with this challenge, we proposed using a state-of-the-art drug screening algorithm to identify potential therapeutic compounds for AD from traditional Chinese medicine formulas with strong empirical support. We developed four deep neural network (DNN) models for AD drugs screening at the disease and target levels.

Performance of Radiomics-based machine learning and deep learning-based methods in the prediction of tumor grade in meningioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) grade of meningiomas is determined based on the biopsy results. Therefore, accurate non-invasive preoperative grading could significantly improve treatment planning and patient outcomes. Considering recent advances in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the performance of these models in predicting the WHO meningioma grade using imaging data.

Recent advances in engineering non-native microorganisms for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer that belongs to a group of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHB can be synthesized from renewable resources, making it a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. It is also considered non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible, which makes it suitable for various applications in the medicine and biomedicine.

Silver nanoparticle-loaded Konjac Glucomannan/silk fibroin composite hydrogels for enhanced wound healing.

Hydrogel dressings with good biocompatibility and extracellular matrix mimetic structure are important for the treatment of skin wounds. In this study, antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) loaded with konjac glucomannan and silk fibroin (KGM/SF) composite hydrogel were used as a dressing for wound healing. The uniform distribution of Ag NPs on the surface of the hydrogels imparts excellent antibacterial properties to KGM/SF composite hydrogels.

A legume-enriched diet improves metabolic health in prediabetes mediated through gut microbiome: a randomized controlled trial.

Healthy dietary patterns rich in legumes can improve metabolic health, although their additional benefits in conjunction with calorie restriction have not been well-established. We investigated effects of a calorie-restricted, legume-enriched, multicomponent intervention diet compared with a calorie-restricted control diet in 127 Chinese prediabetes participants, living in Singapore. The study was a 16-week, single-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial (n = 63 intervention group (IG), n = 64 control group (CG); mean ± SD age 62.

GABA receptors regulate the neural stem cell potential of Pkd2l1 cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons (CSF-cNs) exhibit neural stem cell (NSC) properties both in vitro and in vivo, and they may play a critical role in recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). GABA receptors (GABABRs) are expressed in Pkd2l1 CSF-cNs. However, their role in Pkd2l1 CSF-cNs still needs to be discovered.

Application of Ultrasound to Animal-Based Food to Improve Microbial Safety and Processing Efficiency.

Animal-based foods such as meat, dairy, and eggs contain abundant essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are crucial for human nutrition. Therefore, there is a worldwide growing demand for animal-based products. Since animal-based foods are vital resources of nutrients, it is essential to ensure their microbial safety which may not be ensured by traditional food preservation methods.

Novel Isothermal Amplification Integrated with CRISPR/Cas13a and Its Applications for Ultrasensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

We herein developed an ultrasensitive and rapid strategy to identify genomic nucleic acids by integrating a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 13a (Cas13a) into our recently developed isothermal technique, nicking and extension chain reaction system-based amplification (NESBA) reaction. In this technique, named CESBA, the NESBA reaction isothermally produces a large amount of RNA amplicons from the initial target genomic RNA (gRNA). The RNA amplicons bind to the crispr RNA (crRNA) and activate the collateral cleavage activity of Cas13a, which would then cleave the reporter probe nearby, consequently producing the final signals.

Machine learning classification and biochemical characteristics in the real-time diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma using Raman spectroscopy.

This study aimed to identify biomolecular differences between benign gastric tissues (gastritis/intestinal metaplasia) and gastric adenocarcinoma and to evaluate the diagnostic power of Raman spectroscopy-based machine learning in gastric adenocarcinoma. Raman spectroscopy-based machine learning was applied in real-time during endoscopy in 19 patients (aged 51-85 years) with high-risk for gastric adenocarcinoma. Raman spectra were captured from suspicious lesions and adjacent normal mucosa, which were biopsied for matched histopathologic diagnosis.

Nanofiltration Membranes for Efficient Lithium Extraction from Salt-Lake Brine: A Critical Review.

The global transition to clean energy technologies has escalated the demand for lithium (Li), a critical component in rechargeable Li-ion batteries, highlighting the urgent need for efficient and sustainable Li extraction methods. Nanofiltration (NF)-based separations have emerged as a promising solution, offering selective separation capabilities that could advance resource extraction and recovery. However, an NF-based lithium extraction process differs significantly from conventional water treatment, necessitating a paradigm shift in membrane materials design, performance evaluation metrics, and process optimization.

Revealing Local Structures of Chiral Molecules via X-ray Circular Dichroism.

Chirality is crucial due to its role in biological and chemical systems, where molecular handedness impacts structure and function. Chiral molecules with nonsuperimposable mirror images exhibit distinct biological activities pivotal in drug design and catalysis. This theoretical study explores X-ray circular dichroism (XCD) as a tool for probing the local structures of chiral molecules.

Outcome evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis for an integrated multidisciplinary diabetic limb salvage program: a combined observational and simulation study.

Introduction: To compare the clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization of patients enrolled in the multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot in Primary and Tertiary (DEFINITE) Care program with a matched historical cohort and estimate the program's long-term cost-effectiveness using simulation.

Research Design And Methods: This study consisted of two components: a 1-year observational outcome evaluation and a long-term simulation-based cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). We conducted an observational study to analyze 2798 patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) enrolled in the program between June 2020 and June 2021 (DEFINITE Care group) and 5462 patients with DFUs from June 2016 to December 2017 as historical controls.

Animal experiments and network pharmacology to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of dapagliflozin in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder associated with chronic low-grade inflammation of the ovary. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of antidiabetic drugs that can reduce the weight and hyperglycemia of type 2 diabetes patients. Dapagliflozin is a highly selective, orally active and reversible inhibitor of the human SGLT2.

Highly sensitive split ring resonator-based sensor for quality monitoring of edible oils.

This research presents the design and analysis of a compact metamaterial (MTM)-based star-shaped split-ring resonator (SRR) enclosed in a square, constructed on a cost-effective substrate for liquid chemical sensing applications. The designed structure has dimensions of 10 × 10 mm and is optimized for detecting adulteration in edible oils. When the sample holder is filled with different percentages of oil samples, the resonance frequency of the MTM-based SRR sensor shift significantly.

Cryo-EM reveals cholesterol binding in the lysosomal GPCR-like protein LYCHOS.

Cholesterol plays a pivotal role in modulating the activity of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTOR1), thereby regulating cell growth and metabolic homeostasis. LYCHOS, a lysosome-localized G-protein-coupled receptor-like protein, emerges as a cholesterol sensor and is capable of transducing the cholesterol signal to affect the mTORC1 function. However, the precise mechanism by which LYCHOS recognizes cholesterol remains unknown.

Pharmacogenomic curriculum in Australian medical schools: a content analysis study.

Aims: To ascertain and describe pharmacogenomic concepts included in the intended curriculum of accredited Australian medical schools.

Methods: Content analysis of curriculum learning objectives of Australian medical schools was conducted, focusing on keywords and phrases pertaining to pharmacogenomic education. Learning objectives related to pharmacogenomics were categorized using (1) undergraduate medical genomic competencies per the Association of Professors in Human and Medical Genetics (2) Bloom's Taxonomy for cognitive and knowledge dimensions and (3) knowledge translation (enabling science, translation science and clinical implementation).

Characterizing Cardiac Adipose Tissue in Post-AMI Patients via CT Imaging: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study.

Aims: To identify differences in CT-derived perivascular (PVAT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) characteristics that may indicate inflammatory status differences between post-treatment acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

Methods And Results: A cohort of 205 post-AMI patients (age 59.8±9.