Obesity modifies the association between abnormal glucose metabolism and atrial fibrillation in older adults: A community-based longitudinal and prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To investigate the modifying role of obesity in the association between abnormal glucose metabolism and atrial fibrillation (AF) risk in older individuals.

Methods: From April 2007 to November 2011, 11663 participants aged ≥60 years were enrolled in Shandong area. Glucose metabolic status were determined using fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels, obesity determined using body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat area (VFA).

Two functionally interchangeable Vps9 isoforms mediate pollen tube penetration of style.

Style penetration by pollen tubes is essential for reproductive success, a process requiring canonical Rab5s in Arabidopsis. However, functional loss of Arabidopsis Vps9a, the gene encoding for guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of Rab5s, did not affect male transmission, implying the presence of a compensation program or redundancy. By combining genetic, cytological, and molecular approaches, we report that Arabidopsis Vps9b is a pollen-preferential gene, redundantly mediating pollen tube penetration of style with Vps9a.

Long-term safety and influence on growth in patients receiving sirolimus: a pooled analysis.

Background: Sirolimus is increasingly utilized in treating diseases associated with mTOR pathway overactivation. Despite its potential, the lack of evidence regarding its long-term safety across all age groups, particularly in pediatric patients, has limited its further application. This study aims to assess the long-term safety of sirolimus, with a specific focus on its impact on growth patterns in pediatric patients.

Easily misdiagnosed X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

Background: Addison's disease and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) (Addison's-only) are two diseases that need to be identified. Addison's disease is easy to diagnose clinically when only skin and mucosal pigmentation symptoms are present. However, X-ALD (Addison's-only) caused by ABCD1 gene variation is ignored, thus losing the opportunity for early treatment.

Bacteriophage ISP eliminates Staphylococcus aureus in planktonic phase, but not in the various stages of the biofilm cycle.

Metal-implant associated bacterial infections are a major clinical problem due to antibiotic treatment failure. As an alternative, we determined the effects of bacteriophage ISP on clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in various stages of its life cycle in relation to biofilm formation and maturation. ISP effectively eliminated all planktonic phase bacteria, whereas its efficacy was reduced against bacteria attached to the metal implant and bacteria embedded within biofilms.

Exhaustive clinical examination of etiology and initial response to first-line treatment in 577 children with infantile epileptic spasm syndrome children: A 5-year retrospective observational study.

Objective: Employing whole-exome sequencing (WES) technology to investigate the etiology of infantile epileptic spasm syndrome (IESS), and determining whether different etiologies exhibit phenotypic variations, while elucidating the potential associated factors, might improve short-term responses to first-line treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with IESS admitted for treatment between January 2018 and June 2023. Clinical phenotypic differences among etiological classifications and clinical manifestations were analyzed.

The monocyte-derived cytokine response in whole blood from preterm newborns against sepsis-related bacteria is similar to term newborns and adults.

Introduction: Sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated innate immune response. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns, in particular for newborns that are born premature. Although previous literature indicate that the pro-inflammatory response may be impaired in preterm newborns, serum levels of monocyte-derived cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, vary highly between newborns and can reach adult-like concentrations during sepsis.

Engineering of a Biologically Active Glycosylated Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analogue.

Glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide, etc.

Accelerated Course of Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy After Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can not only infect the respiratory system but also affect the nervous system through the release of inflammatory factors. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 infection on cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).

Methods: Changes in the neurological symptoms of cerebral ALD after infection with COVID-19 from January 2022 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.

Challenges in the Management of Children and Adolescents With Epilepsy in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey-Based Study.

Introduction: To investigate the challenges in the management of children and adolescents with epilepsy in China during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 845 patients with epilepsy using an online-based questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on sociodemographic characteristics, epilepsy-related conditions, health care access, COVID-19 vaccination, and the mental health of caregivers.

Changes of Vaginal Microecology of Women with Intrauterine Adhesions.

Background: Reproductive tract infection is one of the important causes of intrauterine adhesions (IUA). The evaluation of vaginal microecology could provide significant guidance for the treatment of reproductive tract infection. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between IUA and vaginal microecology.

Glycosylation Improves the Proteolytic Stability of Exenatide.

Exenatide was the first marketed GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Modification to the chemical structure or the formulation has the potential to increase the stability of exenatide. We introduced human complex-type sialyloligosaccharide to exenatide at the native Asn28 position.

Influence of surface characteristics of implant materials on MRSA biofilm formation and effects of antimicrobial treatment.

Introduction: One of the main causes of treatment failure in bacterial prosthetic joint infections (PJI) is biofilm formation. The topography of the biofilm may be associated with susceptibility to antimicrobial treatment. The aims of this study were to assess differences in topography of biofilms on different implant materials and the correlation thereof with susceptibility to antimicrobial treatment.

Vigabatrin-associated brain abnormalities on MRI in tuberous sclerosis complex patients with infantile spasms: are they preventable?

Background: Vigabatrin (VGB) is currently the most widely prescribed first-line medication for individuals with infantile spasms (IS) and especially for those with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), with demonstrated efficacy. Meanwhile, its adverse events, such as vigabatrin-associated brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; VABAM), have also been widely reported.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to observe the occurrences of VABAM in patients with IS caused by TSC (IST) and further explore the associated risk factors.

Effects of YO and LiAlO on the Microstructure and Optical Properties of Reactively Sintered AlON Based Transparent Ceramics.

Sintering aid was very crucial to influence the microstructure and thus the optical property of the sintered optical ceramics. The purpose of this work was to explain the difference between the sintering aids of Li and Y on AlON (AlON) ceramic via reaction sintering method. The effects of LiAlO (LA) and YO on the sintering of AlO-AlN system were carefully compared, in terms of X-ray diffraction (XRD), microstructure, density, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and optical transmittance.

Differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs and mRNAs in PC12 cells under lysophosphatidylcholine stimulation.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was previously found to show neuroprotective effect on nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induced signalings. Also, numerous studies reported the emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) involved in neurodegenerative disease. However, the biological mechanism of LPC and expression profile of lncRNAs has not been reported.

Safety of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in tuberous sclerosis complex patients with epilepsy treated with rapamycin.

Purpose: To assess the safety of inactivated coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) vaccine in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients with epilepsy.

Methods: All patients with epilepsy were selected from Efficacy and Safety of Sirolimus in Pediatric Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis (ESOSPIT) project and younger than 17 years old. The patients were treated with mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin).

A novel method to improve femoral head and stem taper stability intraoperatively in total hip arthroplasty - a proof of concept study.

Background: Mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC) has been associated with the compromised durability and fixation of modular total hip implants, adverse reaction of local tissue, and other undesirable clinical outcomes in total hip arthroplasty (THA). MACC is primarily caused by the relative motion between the femoral head and stem. To minimize the relative motion the taper connection between the two components must be strong enough.

Sirolimus treatment for tuberous sclerosis complex prior to epilepsy: Evidence from a registry-based real-world study.

Objective: To evaluate whether sirolimus treatment could relieve the later burden of new-onset seizures in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) prior to epilepsy.

Methods: A real-world matched case-control study was nested in another registry cohort study. Infants with TSC (<12 months old) without seizures whose parents agreed on sirolimus treatment for other symptoms were eligible for inclusion to the early sirolimus (ES) group.

Mitochondrial hijacking: A potential mechanism for SARS-CoV-2 to impair female fertility.

As well as causing respiratory lesions, the multi-organ complications caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are also well known. Combined with the epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 with high transmission rate and low lethality, the impact of complications caused by its infection on infected individuals seems to be of greater concern. There has been evidence that viral infection is complicated by female reproductive impairment, but the mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 impairs female fertility is unclear.

TMEM107 inhibits EMT and invasion of NSCLC through regulating the Hedgehog pathway.

Background: Transmembrane protein 107 (TMEM107) is a key regulator of the cilium composition and Hedgehog signaling. Lower TMEM107 gene copies are correlated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, TMEM107 protein expression, localization, and function in NSCLC remain unclear.

Biomechanical comparison of plantar-to-dorsal and dorsal-to-plantar screw fixation strength for subtalar arthrodesis.

Objective: To compare screw fixation strength for subtalar arthrodesis.

Methods: Eight matched pairs of cadaver feet underwent subtalar joint arthrodesis with two 7.3mm cannulated screws.