The mediating effect of circulating inflammatory proteins on the relationship between gut microbiota and FD: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is known to be influenced by gut microbiota (GM) and circulating inflammatory proteins (CIPs), however, the causal relationship between GM, CIPs and FD haven't been investigated. This study employed two-sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR) to investigate their associations using data from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). In this study, Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary analysis, with supplementary approaches including weighted median, weighted mode, simple mode, and MR-Egger.

Forces Bless You: Mechanosensitive Piezo Channels in Gastrointestinal Physiology and Pathology.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an organ actively involved in mechanical processes, where it detects forces via a mechanosensation mechanism. Mechanosensation relies on specialized cells termed mechanoreceptors, which convert mechanical forces into electrochemical signals via mechanosensors. The mechanosensitive Piezo1 and Piezo2 are widely expressed in various mechanosensitive cells that respond to GI mechanical forces by altering transmembrane ionic currents, such as epithelial cells, enterochromaffin cells, and intrinsic and extrinsic enteric neurons.

Real-world evidence of a novel tetravalent immunoglobulin Y effectiveness and safety in patients with the refractory Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Refractory Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection inevitably increase the difficulty of drug selection. Here, we described our experience with the use of a novel tetravalent IgY against H.

Diselenide-Linked Polymers under Sonication.

A series of Se-Se-linked polystyrenes have been synthesized and subjected to pulse sonication. Comprehensive investigations based on GPC measurements, derivatization experiments, and EPR spectroscopy verify the sonication-induced bond scission and metathesis of these polymeric diselenides. The metathesis kinetics and energy conversion efficiency by different stimuli including heating, light, and sonication are compared, which demonstrate that sonication can offer an alternative way to break the Se-Se bond and realize selective metathesis reactions between diselenide-linked polymers and small molecules.

Controlled Formation of a Main Chain Supramolecular Polymer Based on Metal-Ligand Interactions and a Thiol-Ene Click Reaction.

Supramolecular polymers with multiple functionalities and hierarchical structures have received considerable attention and become a hot research topic over the past years. Herein, a main-chain supramolecular polymer has been successfully fabricated by using metal-ligand interactions and a thiol-ene click reaction. H NMR, UV/Vis, DOSY, and viscosity measurements were carried out to investigate the molecular recognition and the process of supramolecular polymerization.

Photolysis of polymeric self-assembly controlled by donor-acceptor interaction.

A photodegradable supramolecular polymer was constructed using cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and an alkoxyanthracene guest. The monomeric unit was photostable because of the intramolecular donor-acceptor interaction. However, upon complexation with CB[8], the photolysis of alkoxyanthracene was enhanced, which endowed the supramolecular polymer with great photoreactivity.

Using community-based participatory research to design and initiate a study on immigrant worker health and safety in San Francisco's Chinatown restaurants.

Background: Restaurant workers have among the highest rates of work-related illness and injury in the US, but little is known about the working conditions and occupational health status of Chinese immigrant restaurant workers.

Methods: Community-based participatory research (CBPR) was employed to study restaurant working conditions and worker health in San Francisco's Chinatown. A community/academic/health department collaborative was formed and 23 restaurant workers trained on research techniques and worker health and safety.