Individualized Nutritional Support Improves Cardiac Function and Nutritional Status of Elderly Heart Failure Patients.

Background    The quality of life of the patient is diminished by chronic heart failure (CHF), which also costs the healthcare system. This study examined the benefits of individualized nutritional support provided by a specialized nursing team on the nutritional status and cardiac function of elderly patients with CHF.Material and methods    This study included 102 elderly, hospitalized CHF patients.

Refractory heart failure due to acquired aortic coarctation after total arch replacement: find the right antidote!

A 31-year-old male presented with unexplainable symptoms of heart failure including recurrent fatigue and orthopnoea after total arch replacement for type A aortic dissection 2 months ago. Computed tomography angiography detected a severe intra-luminal stenosis, and we successfully implanted a balloon-expandable stent to dilate the stenosis. The patient with improved haemodynamics after endovascular reintervention remains stable at 2 years.

Applying a diffusion of innovations framework to characterise diffusion groups and more effectively reach late adopters: a cross-sectional study on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada in late 2021.

Background: Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory suggests innovations are adopted in stages by different groups (innovators/early adopters, early majority, late majority and late adopters). In healthcare, this could mean that there is the potential to worsen health disparities as later groups tend to also face more social and structural barriers. Determining the unique sociodemographic characteristics, beliefs and attitudes of those in each diffusion category could be useful for theorising how to reach later groups more effectively.

Identification of the enzymatic cleavage relationship between anti-aging protein α-Klotho and Alzheimer's disease biomarker BACE1.

Background: The α-Klotho is known to be involved in longevity and various age-related diseases, including cognitive impairment. BACE1, an important enzyme associated with the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease (AD), serves as a biomarker for predicting changes in cognitive function. Although both proteins are closely linked to age-related cognitive function, the mechanism of their interaction remains unclear.

Simplified ABO-OGS orientation improves training of orthodontic bracket positioning for undergraduate dental students.

Background: Mastery of orthodontic bracket bonding is an essential component of the undergraduate orthodontic curriculum. Traditional bracket bonding training using simple plaster models has some shortcomings, including a disconnect from clinical practice and poor perception of the criteria and accuracy. This study aims to optimize the bracket bonding course by comparing the traditional teaching method with simplified American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS)-oriented training methods.

Long-Term Longitudinal Computational Study of a Marfan Syndrome Patient After Hybrid Repair of Aortic Arch Dissection With Parallel Stent-Grafts.

Hybrid repair is a valuable alternative treatment for aortic arch disease in Marfan syndrome patients after proximal aorta replacement. This study aimed to investigate the long-term durability of this technique with the use of parallel stent-grafts and evaluate strategies to prevent abdominal aortic dilation. One Marfan syndrome patient who underwent hybrid aortic repair with parallel stent-grafts for arch dissection after the Bentall procedure was admitted.

Use of virtual simulation for regenerative endodontic training: randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an experimental teaching module based on virtual simulation (VS) to facilitate the instruction of undergraduates in regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) and to assess its impact on academic outcomes and students' perceptions.

Methods: A REPs-VS platform with detailed diagnostic thinking, treatment protocol, and outcome evaluation scripts we developed. In total, 123 undergraduates in the fourth year were randomly divided into group A (REPs-VS teaching mode) and group B (traditional teaching mode).

Recent Progress in Antibacterial Surfaces for Implant Catheters.

Catheter-related infections (CRIs) caused by hospital-acquired microbial infections lead to the failure of treatment and the increase of mortality and morbidity. Surface modifications of the implant catheters have been demonstrated to be effective approaches to improve and largely reduce the bacterial colonization and related complications. In this work, we focus on the last 5-year progress in the surface modifications of biomedical catheters to prevent CRIs.

Hemoglobin-to-red blood cell distribution width ratio as a protective factor against coronary artery disease: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES (2011-2018).

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and inflammation is a significant factor in its development. While the hemoglobin-to-red blood cell distribution width ratio (HRR), an indicator of inflammation, has been linked to various diseases, its association with CAD is not well established.

Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2011 to 2018.

Jian Pi Hua Tan Fang Reverses Trastuzumab Resistance of HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer Through PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway: Integrating Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Experimental Validation.

Background: Currently, trastuzumab resistance significantly impacts the treatment outcome for individuals with HER2-positive gastric cancer. In clinical practice, Jian Pi Hua Tan Fang (JPHTF) has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrences and metastases caused by gastric cancer. Yet, the treatment process remains unknown.

PTOV1 exerts pro-oncogenic role in colorectal cancer by modulating SQSTM1-mediated autophagic degradation of p53.

Background: Prostate Tumor Overexpressed 1 (PTOV1) is overexpressed and associated with malignant phenotypes in various types of tumors. However, the detailed roles of PTOV1 and its underlying mechanism in CRC remain unclear.

Methods: The clinical significance of PTOV1 was assessed in clinical databases and CRC samples.

Reducing methane emissions by developing low-fumarate high-ethanol eco-friendly rice.

Methane in rice paddies is mainly produced by methanogenic communities feeding on carbon from root exudates and debris. However, the dominant root secretion governing methane emissions is not yet identified after decades of studies, even though secreted carbohydrates and organic acids have been shown to contribute to methane emissions. In this study, we discovered that fumarate and ethanol are two major rice-orchestrated secretions and play a key role in regulating methane emissions.

Laminin-dystroglycan mediated ferroptosis in hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion induced-cognitive impairment through AMPK/Nrf2.

Hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion (HSR) is the main cause of death following trauma. Cognitive impairment may persist after successful resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock, but the mechanisms remain elusive. This study demonstrated the presence of ferroptosis in an in vitro model of oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) in HT22 neurons, and also in a murine model of HSR using 3-month-old C57BL/6 mice.

Total Percutaneous Transfemoral Endovascular Treatment of Non-A Non-B Aortic Dissection.

Although open repair remains the mainstream treatment for aortic arch dissection, its surgical complexity and perioperative complications are significant. We developed a novel stentgraft system for less-invasive endovascular aortic arch repair. We successfully performed a total percutaneous transfemoral endovascular repair of aortic arch dissection using a novel off-the-shelf endograft system.

RNF128 deficiency in macrophages promotes colonic inflammation by suppressing the autophagic degradation of S100A8.

Macrophages play important roles in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, the underlying mechanisms that govern macrophage-mediated inflammation are still largely unknown. In this study, we report that RNF128 is downregulated in proinflammatory macrophages.

Genotypic diversity and biological characterization of Alphabaculovirus mabrassicae isolates from a wide host range.

Background: Baculoviruses are ideal biological insecticides, providing long-lasting pest control and environmental benefits. Alphabaculovirus mabrassicae stains, with their broad host range, have been effective in agricultural pest management. Various A.

Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada.

: As the newcomer population in Canada continues to grow, we aimed to collaborate with newcomer families arriving in an urban center in Alberta, Canada to identify strategies to overcome identified barriers newcomers face in obtaining routine childhood vaccines (RCVs). : We recruited newcomers living in Calgary, Alberta to participate in a workshop utilizing the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to develop solutions addressing barriers to obtaining RCVs. Ranking exercises helped identify the top-proposed interventions based on perceived impact and feasibility for implementation.

Emotional and visual responses to trypophobic images with object, animal, or human body backgrounds: an eye-tracking study.

Background: Trypophobia refers to the visual discomfort (e.g., disgust or anxiety) experienced by some people when viewing clusters of bumps or holes.

Exploring PDE5A upregulation in bipolar disorder: insights from single-nucleus RNA sequencing of human basal ganglia.

Basal ganglia is proposed to mediate symptoms underlying bipolar disorder (BD). To understand the cell type-specific gene expression and network changes of BD basal ganglia, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing of 30,752 nuclei from caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra of control human postmortem brain and 24,672 nuclei from BD brain. Differential expression analysis revealed major difference lying in caudate, with BD medium spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing significantly higher PDE5A, a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase.

Arteriovenous access creation for hemodialysis patients with superior vena cava occlusion.

Background: The feasibility of creating arteriovenous (AV) access in hemodialysis patients with superior vena cava occlusion (SVCO) is debated due to impaired blood return to the right atrium. However, collateral venous networks may offer an alternative solution, allowing for the creation of peripheral AV access. This study evaluates the outcomes of AV access construction in hemodialysis patients with SVCO.

Multiple loci for foveolar vision in macaque monkey visual cortex.

In humans and nonhuman primates, the central 1° of vision is processed by the foveola, a retinal structure that comprises a high density of photoreceptors and is crucial for primate-specific high-acuity vision, color vision and gaze-directed visual attention. Here, we developed high-spatial-resolution ultrahigh-field 7T functional magnetic resonance imaging methods for functional mapping of the foveolar visual cortex in awake monkeys. In the ventral pathway (visual areas V1-V4 and the posterior inferior temporal cortex), viewing of a small foveolar spot elicits a ring of multiple (eight) foveolar representations per hemisphere.