Handgrip strength in patients with type 2 diabetes correlates with diabetic polyneuropathy. A single-center, retrospective observational study in Japanese patients.

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are the standard method for diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy. Because a clear association between handgrip strength and diabetic neuropathy can serve as a screening tool, the present study evaluated the association between handgrip strength and NCS and diabetes-related complications. A total of 436 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were admitted to our hospital between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2023, and evaluated using Baba's diabetic neuropathy classification (BDC) were included.

Clinical outcomes of endocrine and other disorders induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors in Japanese patients.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of treatment and survival after administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in Japanese patients and had endocrine-related and/or other immune-related adverse events (irAEs), as well as irAEs in multiple organs. This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study of 571 Japanese patients treated with ICI at our hospital. We evaluated the occurrence of Grade 3 or higher irAEs and the life expectancy and treatment efficacy after ICI administration.

20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 alleviates DSS-induced colitis by promoting ERK-dependent maturation of MDSCs into M2 macrophages.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells with immunosuppressive functions that play various roles in tumors and inflammatory diseases. In colitis, MDSCs accumulate in the inflamed colon, where they mature into M2-polarized macrophages and modulate inflammatory responses. Ginsenosides, active components of ginseng, have been shown to display colitis-alleviating effects in mouse models.

The Emerging Threat of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Maturation and Activity of Immune Cells.

With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body.

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features Between Programmed Cell Death 1/Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Inhibitor-Induced Hypopituitarism and Idiopathic Hypopituitarism in Japanese Subjects.

Objective Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated hypopituitarism (ICI-HP) is a rare immune-related adverse event (irAE) of ICIs. This study aimed to identify characteristic pituitary findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ICI-HP. Methods This study is a single-center, retrospective, observational study.

Early Effects of Porcine Placental Extracts and Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes on Aging Stress in Skin Cells.

The initial efficacy of placental extracts (Pla-Exts) and human mesenchymal stem-cell-derived exosomes (hMSC-Exo) against aging-induced stress in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) was examined. The effect of Pla-Ext alone, hMSC-Exo alone, the combined effect of Pla-Ext and hMSC-Exo, and the effect of hMSC-Exo (Pla/MSC-Exo) recovered from cultures with Pla-Ext added to hMSC were verified using collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid synthase mRNA levels for each effect. Cells were subjected to photoaging (UV radiation), glycation (glycation end-product stimulation), and oxidation (HO stimulation) as HDF stressors.

pH-Responsive self-assembled polymer-photosensitizer conjugate for activable photodynamic therapy.

This paper reports synthesis, aqueous self-assembly and relevance of the pH-triggered activable photodynamic therapy of amphiphilic polyurethane (P1S) functionalized with a heavy-atom free organic photosensitizer. Condensation polymerization between 1,4-diisocyanatobutane and two different dihydroxy monomers (one having a pendant hydrophilic wedge and the other having 1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-one with a reactive carbonyl group) in the presence of a measured amount of ()-2-methylbutan-1-ol (chain-stopper) and DABCO catalyst produces a reactive pre-polymer P1. Hydrazide-functionalized thionated-naphthalenemonoimide (NMIS), which acts as a photosensitizer, reacted with the carbonyl-functionality of P1 to obtain the desired polymer-photosensitizer conjugate P1S in which the dye was attached to the polymer backbone an acid-labile hydrazone linker.

Proteomic profiling of cerebrospinal fluid reveals TKT as a potential biomarker for medulloblastoma.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays an important role in brain tumors, including medulloblastoma (MBL). Recent advancements in mass spectrometry systems and 'Omics' data analysis methods enable unbiased, high proteome depth research. We conducted proteomic profiling of the total CSF in MBL patients with the purpose of finding a potential diagnostic biomarker for MBL.

A self-sustaining effect induced by iron sulfide generation and reuse in pyrite-woodchip mixotrophic bioretention systems: An experimental and modeling study.

Dual electron donor bioretention systems have emerged as a popular strategy to enhance dissolved nitrogen removal from stormwater runoff. Pyrite-woodchip mixotrophic bioretention systems showed a promoted and stabilized removal of dissolved nutrients under complex rainfall conditions, but the sulfate reduction process that can induce iron sulfide generation and reuse was overlooked. In this study, experiments and models were applied to investigate the effects of filler configuration and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dissolution rate on treatment performance and iron sulfide generation in pyrite-woodchip bioretention systems.

N-terminal acetylation of Set1-COMPASS fine-tunes H3K4 methylation patterns.

H3K4 methylation by Set1-COMPASS (complex of proteins associated with Set1) is a conserved histone modification. Although it is critical for gene regulation, the posttranslational modifications of this complex that affect its function are largely unexplored. This study showed that N-terminal acetylation of Set1-COMPASS proteins by N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) can modulate H3K4 methylation patterns.

Machine learning in the prediction of immunotherapy response and prognosis of melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The emergence of immunotherapy has changed the treatment modality for melanoma and prolonged the survival of many patients. However, a handful of patients remain unresponsive to immunotherapy and effective tools for early identification of this patient population are still lacking. Researchers have developed machine learning algorithms for predicting immunotherapy response in melanoma, but their predictive accuracy has been inconsistent.

A Retrospective Study of Covid-19 Patients: A Real-Life Experience in a Secondary Care Hospital, Jashore, Bangladesh.

Covid-19 was first detected on 8th March of 2020 in Bangladesh after the global pandemic being started. As a new virus and disease there are scarcity of data of SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 respectively in our country. Aim of this study is to assess the demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, underlying co-morbid conditions, treatment pattern and outcome of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in Jashore, Bangladesh.

Protective effects of imeglimin on the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE KO mice treated with STZ.

Background: Imeglimin is a new anti-diabetic drug which promotes insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and reduces insulin resistance in insulin target tissues. However, there have been no reports examining the possible anti-atherosclerotic effects of imeglimin. In this study, we investigated the possible anti-atherosclerotic effects of imeglimin using atherosclerosis model ApoE KO mice treated with streptozotocin (STZ).

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor additively ameliorate hepatic steatosis through different mechanisms of action in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Aim: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors suppress the inactivation of incretin hormones and lower blood glucose levels by inhibiting DPP-4 function. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors lower blood glucose levels in an insulin-independent manner by inhibiting renal reabsorption of glucose. DPP-4 and SGLT2 inhibitors each have the potential to improve hepatic steatosis; however, their combined effects remain unclear.

Renal ultrasonography predicts worsening renal function in patients with heart failure under tolvaptan administration.

Aims: Renal dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure predicts a poor prognosis. Tolvaptan has a diuretic effect in patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure without adverse effects on renal function. We aimed to determine the effects of tolvaptan and predictors of worsening renal function in patients with heart failure.

Rational Design of Antifungal Peptides Based on the γ-Core Motif of a () Antifungal Protein to Improve Structural Integrity, Efficacy, and Spectrum.

Antifungal peptides offer promising alternative compounds for the treatment of fungal infections, for which new antifungal compounds are urgently needed. Constant and broad antifungal spectra of these peptides play essential roles in their reliable therapeutic application. It has been observed that rationally designed peptides using the evolutionarily conserved γ-core region (GXC-X-C) of an antifungal protein from () highly inhibit the growth of fungi.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Alleviates Memory and Motor Impairments Following Traumatic Brain Injury via the Modulation of Mitochondrial-Dysfunction-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis in Rats.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young adults, characterized by primary and secondary injury. Primary injury is the immediate mechanical damage, while secondary injury results from delayed neuronal death, often linked to mitochondrial damage accumulation. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed as a potential treatment for modulating secondary post-traumatic neuronal death.

Deep skin diseases diagnostic system with Dual-channel Image and Extracted Text.

Background: Due to the lower reliability of laboratory tests, skin diseases are more suitable for diagnosis with AI models. There are limited AI dermatology diagnostic models combining images and text; few of these are for Asian populations, and few cover the most common types of diseases.

Methods: Leveraging a dataset sourced from Asia comprising over 200,000 images and 220,000 medical records, we explored a deep learning-based system for Dual-channel images and extracted text for the diagnosis of skin diseases model DIET-AI to diagnose 31 skin diseases, which covers the majority of common skin diseases.

In-depth proteome analysis of brain tissue from Ewsr1 knockout mouse by multiplexed isobaric tandem mass tag labeling.

EWS RNA binding protein 1 (EWSR1) is a multifunctional protein whose epigenetic signatures contribute to the pathogenesis of various human diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, skin development, and tumorigenic processes. However, the specific cellular functions and physiological characteristics of EWSR1 remain unclear. In this study, we used quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics with tandem mass tag labeling to investigate the global proteome changes in brain tissue in Ewsr1 knockout and wild-type mice.