Assessing the Psychometric Strength of the Chinese Version of the Existential Breastfeeding Difficulty Scale: A Dual Approach Using Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory.

Problem: Challenges faced during the initial phase of breastfeeding contribute significantly to the cessation of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers within the first 6 months. Therefore, evaluating these challenges from a psychological perspective has immense clinical and research importance.

Background: The Existential Breastfeeding Difficulty Scale (ExBreastS) is a self-reported questionnaire designed to assess the psychological challenges of mothers during early breastfeeding.

Network dynamics in post-stroke cognitive impairment: insights from effective connectivity analysis.

This study investigates post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) by utilizing spectral dynamic causal modeling (spDCM) to examine changes in effective connectivity (EC) within the default mode, executive control, dorsal attention, and salience networks. Forty-one PSCI patients and 41 demographically matched healthy controls underwent 3D-T1WI and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging on a 3.0T MRI.

PIN1 Prolyl Isomerase Promotes Initiation and Progression of Bladder Cancer through the SREBP2-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis Pathway.

This study provides deeper insights into the regulatory role of the phospho-dependent prolyl isomerase PIN1 in bladder cancer. The identification of the link between PIN1 and SREBP2-mediated transcription and cholesterol biosynthesis offers the potential for developing novel therapeutic strategies for bladder cancer.

Lifespan trajectories of the morphology and tractography of the corpus callosum: A 5.0 T MRI study.

The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest white matter fiber bundle connecting the two hemispheres, facilitating interhemispheric integration and hemispheric specialization. Neuroimaging studies have identified the CC as a marker for aging and various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, studies focusing on high-resolution imaging and detailed lifespan characterizations of CC morphology and connectivity are still limited, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Osteoblastic ferroptosis inhibition by small-molecule promoting GPX4 activation for peri-prosthetic osteolysis therapy.

Peri-prosthesis osteolysis (PPO) represents the most severe complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgery and imposes the primary cause of prosthesis failure and subsequent revision surgery. Antiresorptive therapies are usually prescribed to treat PPO, especially for elderly people. Nevertheless, the efficacy of anti-osteoporotic medications remains constrained.

Prediction of T Stage of Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Therapy by Multi-Parameter Magnetic Resonance Radiomics Based on Machine Learning Algorithms.

Introduction: Since the response of patients with rectal cancer (RC) to neoadjuvant therapy is highly variable, there is an urgent need to develop accurate methods to predict the post-treatment T (pT) stage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of multi-parametric MRI radiomics models and identify the most accurate machine learning (ML) algorithms for predicting pT stage of RC.

Method: This retrospective study analyzed pretreatment clinical features of 171 RC patients who underwent 3 T MRI prior to neoadjuvant therapy and subsequent total mesorectal excision.

Impact of Learning Adjustment Dimensions on Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Nursing Freshmen: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital.

Purpose: To examine the influence of learning adjustment dimensions (motivation, attitude, ability, teaching pattern, and environment) on depressive symptoms in Chinese nursing freshmen, and the mediating role of psychological capital.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 471 nursing freshmen at a university in May 2024. The anonymous self-reported questionnaire included the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Learning Adjustment Questionnaire, and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire.

Prosocial behavior associated with trait mindfulness, psychological capital and moral identity among medical students: a moderated mediation model.

Purpose: As future doctors, medical students' prosocial behaviors may affect the relationship between doctors and patients. This study aims to explore the effects of trait mindfulness on prosocial behaviors, as well as the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating role of moral identity among medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between July and October 2023 across four medical colleges in China, using cluster random sampling.

Analysis of Herbal Constituents and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of Gegen-Huangqi Decoction in Rat Plasma Using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS.

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, gegen-huangqi (GH) decoction, has been employed for over 200 years, notably for its therapeutic effects in treating conditions such as atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Despite its long-standing use, comprehensive studies on the chemical constituents of GH and their in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) remain limited. This study aimed to profile the bioactive compounds present in GH decoction and to explore their PK characteristics using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

Transcriptomics integrated with metabolomics reveals the effect of benzo[a]pyrene exposure on acute lung injury.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a major harmful component in PM2.5, is widely present in automobile emissions and atmospheric pollution. BaP exposure directly targets the lungs, often resulting in acute lung injury (ALI).

FIBRINOGEN-LIKE PROTEIN 2 PROTECTS THE AGGRAVATION OF HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA ON THE SEVERITY OF HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA ACUTE PANCREATITIS BY REGULATING MACROPHAGES.

Objective: The mechanisms underlying the increased severity of hypertriglyceridemia acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) remain poorly understood. Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2) has been identified as a regulator of macrophage activity, mediating immune suppression. This study aims to examine the role of FGL2 in the susceptibility to severe conditions of HTG-AP.

Exploring the heterogeneity of hepatic and pancreatic fat deposition in obesity: implications for metabolic health.

Objective: This retrospective observational study investigates the heterogeneity of hepatic and pancreatic fat deposition and its implications for metabolic health in individuals with obesity.

Methods: A total of 706 patients with obesity underwent an MRI to quantify liver and pancreatic fat. Patients were classified into four groups based on fat deposition: no fat (None), fatty pancreas only (NAFPD), fatty liver only (NAFLD), and both conditions (NAFLD+NAFPD).

Irisin improves ROS‑induced mitohormesis imbalance in H9c2 cells.

Abnormal mitohormesis is a key pathogenic mechanism that induces a variety of cardiac diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Irisin as a muscle factor serves a cardioprotective role in response to cellular oxidative stress injury. Rat cardiomyocyte cells (H9c2) were treated with 40 µM exogenous HO to establish an oxidative stress model, followed by addition of 75 nM exogenous irisin for experiments to determine mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species, and Mitohormesis‑related factors by attrition cytometry.

Multi-omics insights into the microbiota-gut-brain axis and cognitive improvement post-bariatric surgery.

Background: Although numerous studies have shown that bariatric surgery results in sustained weight loss and modifications in gut microbiota composition and cognitive function, the exact underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of bariatric surgery on cognitive function through the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA).

Methods: Demographic data, serum samples, fecal samples, cognitive assessment scales, and resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were obtained from 39 obese patients before and after (6 months) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Using dredged sediments from Lake Taihu as a plant-growing substrate: Focusing on the impact of microcystins.

Using dredged sediment as plant growth substrates is a promising way to deal with large amounts of excavated sediments. However, it is a big challenge to deal with various pollutants in sediments, among which microcystins (MCs) gained limited attention. In this study, sediments collected from Lake Taihu were mixed with agricultural soil at a 1:1 ratio to create various growing substrates for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.

Effects of Income on Subjective Well-Being in the Elderly: Complete Mediation Roles of Self-Rated Health and Psychological Capital.

Although income and living conditions of residents have greatly improved in recent years, people's subjective well-being does not seem to increase daily. This study aimed to explore income, self-rated health, and psychological capital on subjective well-being, using data from the China General Social Survey conducted in 2017. A total of 1136 elderly as subsamples data were selected from 12 582 participants, involving general sociodemographic characteristics, income, self-rated health, psychological capital, and subjective well-being.

Racial Disparities in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Characteristics and Survival.

To investigate and compare the distribution of histological subtypes, stage at presentation, and survival outcomes among Chinese American, Non-Hispanic White, and African American patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We identified Chinese American, Non-Hispanic White, and African American patients with NPC who were diagnosed between 2010 and 2017. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-square test, propensity score matching, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.

Parkin deficiency exacerbates particulate matter-induced injury by enhancing airway epithelial necroptosis.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) disrupts the function of airway epithelial barriers causing cellular stress and damage. However, the precise mechanisms underlying PM-induced cellular injury and the associated molecular pathways remain incompletely understood. In this study, we used intratracheal instillation of PM in C57BL6 mice and PM treatment of the BEAS-2B cell line as in vivo and in vitro models, respectively, to simulate PM-induced cellular damage and inflammation.

Engineered targeting OIP5 sensitizes bladder cancer to chemotherapy resistance via TRIP12-PPP1CB-YBX1 axis.

Chemoresistance is an important cause of treatment failure in bladder cancer, and identifying genes that confer drug resistance is an important step toward developing new therapeutic strategies to improve treatment outcomes. In the present study, we show that gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GEM/DDP) therapy induces NF-κB signaling, which promotes p65-mediated transcriptional activation of OIP5. OIP5 recruits the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIP12 to bind to and degrade the phosphatase PPP1CB, thereby enhancing the transcription factor activity of YBX1.