Associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and newborn telomere length: Effect modification by infant sex.

Background: Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) ubiquitously present in the environment. There are limited studies on the impact of phthalate exposure during the gestational period on neonatal telomere length.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between maternal serum phthalate concentrations in early pregnancy and neonatal telomere length and whether this correlation exhibits sex-specificity.

Tubular CD44 plays a key role in aggravating AKI through NF-κB p65-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is in rapid prevalence nowadays. Of note, the underlying mechanisms have not been clarified. Several reports showed a cluster of differentiation-44 (CD44), a cell-surface glycoprotein, might be involved in AKI.

Multi-metal mixture exposure and cognitive function in urban older adults: The mediation effects of thyroid hormones.

The existing studies on the association between multi-metal mixture exposure and cognitive function in the older adults are limited and controversial, with no studies considering the mediating effect of thyroid hormones on the connection between them. This study of 441 urban older adults assessed 21 urinary metal levels and cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Urinary metal levels were measured via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and thyroid hormones levels were obtained from medical records.

TREM2 alleviates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by attenuating ferroptosis via the SHP1/STAT3 pathway.

Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a complex and life-threatening condition characterized by excessive inflammatory responses, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress. A comprehensive investigation and effective therapeutic strategies are crucial for managing this condition. In this study, we established in vivo sepsis models using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in wild-type (WT) mice and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) knockout (TREM2-KO) mice to assess lung morphology, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis.

Copper-Based Nanoparticles for Effective Treatment Against Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury in Mice Model.

Introduction: Lung injury, a common complication of sepsis, arises from elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death driven by inflammation. In this study, a novel class of ultrasmall nanoparticles (CuO USNPs) was developed to address sepsis-induced lung injury (SILI).

Methods: The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized to assess their properties.

β-catenin-inhibited Sumoylation modification of LKB1 and fatty acid metabolism is critical in renal fibrosis.

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a serine/threonine kinase controlling cell homeostasis. Among post-translational modification, Sumoylation is vital for LKB1 activating adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the key regulator in energy metabolism. Of note, AMPK-regulated fatty acid metabolism is highly involved in maintaining normal renal function.

Incorporation of amylose improves rheological and textural properties of seed salt-soluble protein.

The interactions between corn amylose (CA) and seed salt-soluble protein (MOSP) were explored to improve the gel properties of MOSP. With increasing CA content, the MOSP-CA gel network structure was improved but the size of the gel porosity decreased firstly and then increased; the water holding retention (WHR) of MOSP-CA was decreased from approximately 94 % to 85.43 ± 2.

Risk factors analysis of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in inpatients with overlapping syndrome of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical data of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea overlap syndrome (OS) during hospitalization and to evaluate the risk factors of patients treated with Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV).

Methods: Demographic and clinical data of patients with confirmed OS during hospitalization were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether noninvasive ventilator was used during hospitalization, including OS treated with NIV (244 cases) and OS without NIV (239 cases).

Cannabinoid receptor 2 plays a key role in renal fibrosis through inhibiting lipid metabolism in renal tubular cells.

Aims: Renal fibrosis is a common feature in various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Tubular cell damage is a main characterization which results from dysregulated fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and lipid accumulation. Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) contributes to renal fibrosis, however, its role in FAO dysregulation in tubular cells is not clarified.

FAM3A plays a key role in protecting against tubular cell pyroptosis and acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is in high prevalence worldwide but with no therapeutic strategies. Programmed cell death in tubular epithelial cells has been reported to accelerate a variety of AKI, but the major pathways and underlying mechanisms are not defined. Herein, we identified that pyroptosis was responsible for AKI progression and related to ATP depletion in renal tubular cells.

Enhancement of Motor Learning and Corticospinal Excitability: The Role of Electroacupuncture and Motor Training in Healthy Volunteers.

BACKGROUND This study embarked on an innovative exploration to elucidate the effects of integrating electroacupuncture (EA) with motor training (MT) on enhancing corticospinal excitability and motor learning. Central to this investigation is the interplay between homeostatic and non-homeostatic metaplasticity processes, providing insights into how these combined interventions may influence neural plasticity and motor skill acquisition. MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation enrolled 20 healthy volunteers, subjecting them to 4 distinct interventions to parse out the individual and combined effects of EA and MT.

MAGL protects against renal fibrosis through inhibiting tubular cell lipotoxicity.

Renal fibrosis, with no therapeutic approaches, is a common pathological feature in various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Tubular cell injury plays a pivotal role in renal fibrosis. Commonly, injured tubular cells exhibit significant lipid accumulation.

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 promotes tubular cell senescence and renal fibrosis through β-catenin-inhibited fatty acid oxidation.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly increasing. Renal fibrosis is a common pathological feature in various CKD. Previous studies showed tubular cell senescence is highly involved in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis.

Assessment of nonylphenol exposure based on global urinary concentration data and its risk analysis.

Nonylphenol (NP) has been recognized as a priority hazardous substance because of its estrogenic activity and ubiquity in the environment. Therefore, it is important to understand the daily intake of NP in humans and evaluate the potential health risks of NP. The median or average estimated daily intake (EDI) of NP was estimated based on urinary NP or alkyl-chain-oxidized NP metabolites concentration data from published epidemiological studies.

The CXCR4-AT1 axis plays a vital role in glomerular injury via mediating the crosstalk between podocyte and mesangial cell.

Glomeruli stand at the center of nephrons to accomplish filtration and albumin interception. Podocytes and mesangial cells are the major constituents in the glomeruli. However, their interdependency in glomerular injury has rarely been reported.

Serum granulosa cell-derived TNF-α promotes inflammation and apoptosis of renal tubular cells and PCOS-related kidney injury through NF-κB signaling.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder with endocrinal and metabolic problems in reproductive aged women. Evidence shows that PCOS is in a high prone trend to develop kidney diseases. In this study, we investigated the mediators responsible for PCOS-related kidney injury.

Sirtuin 6 is a key contributor to gender differences in acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is rapidly increasing nowadays and at a high risk to progress into chronic kidney disease (CKD). Of note, men are more susceptive to AKI, suggesting gender differences in AKI patients. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear.

A new inexpensive ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization simulation model.

Background: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are life-saving tools for fluid therapy during surgery. Ultrasound-guided CVC placement has been shown to be safe and highly efficient. However, it is difficult for medical workers with less experience in ultrasonography to acquire the necessary skill in a short time.

B7-1 mediates podocyte injury and glomerulosclerosis through communication with Hsp90ab1-LRP5-β-catenin pathway.

Podocyte injury is a hallmark of glomerular diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. B7-1 is increased in injured podocytes, but its intrinsic role is controversial. The clinical data here revealed the intimate correlation of urinary B7-1 with severity of glomerular injury.

CXC Chemokine Receptor 2 Accelerates Tubular Cell Senescence and Renal Fibrosis β-Catenin-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Renal fibrosis is a common feature of various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, its underlying mechanism has not been totally clarified. C-X-C motif chemokine receptor (CXCR) family plays a role in renal fibrosis, however, detailed mechanisms have not been elucidated.

β-catenin-controlled tubular cell-derived exosomes play a key role in fibroblast activation via the OPN-CD44 axis.

Tubular injury and peripheral fibroblast activation are the hallmarks of chronic kidney disease (CKD), suggesting intimate communication between the two types of cells. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. Exosomes play a role in shuttling proteins and other materials to recipient cells.

AMPK Activator O304 Protects Against Kidney Aging Through Promoting Energy Metabolism and Autophagy.

Aging is an important risk factor for kidney injury. Energy homeostasis plays a key role in retarding aging, and mitochondria are responsible for energy production. In the kidney, renal tubular cells possess high abundance of mitochondria to meet the high energy consumption.

Placebo response varies between different types of sham acupuncture: A randomized double-blind trial in neck pain patients.

Background: In prospective experimental studies of neck pain patients, it is difficult to determine whether responses to sham acupuncture differ from responses to real acupuncture due to the heterogeneous methodologies in control/sham interventions. Here we aim to compare the specific and nonspecific effects of electroacupuncture with four types of sham acupuncture.

Methods: In this double-blind, sham-controlled study, we randomly assigned 175 patients with neck pain to receive 10 sessions of electroacupuncture, shallow puncture, nonacupoint deep puncture, nonacupoint shallow puncture, or nonpenetration acupuncture.

[Effect of electroacupuncture combined with motor training on motor learning and motor cortex excitability].

Objective: To compare the effect of electroacupuncture (EA), motor training (MT) and EA combined with MT on motor learning and motor cortex excitability in healthy subjects, and to explore the effect of EA combined with MT on synaptic metaplasticity.

Methods: Using self-control design, 12 healthy subjects were assigned into an EA group, a motor training group (MT group) and an EA plus motor training group (EA+MT group) successively, wash-out period of at least 2 weeks was required between each group. EA was applied at left Hegu (LI 4) in the EA group for 30 min, with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency and 0.

The rCC16 Protein Protects Against LPS-Induced Cell Apoptosis and Inflammatory Responses in Human Lung Pneumocytes.

Objective: Our previous clinical study showed that low lung levels of CC16 strongly influence the occurrence and development of ARDS. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of rCC16 on LPS-induced inflammation in A549 cells and to determine its mechanism.

Methods: Cell apoptosis and inflammation was induced by LPS stimulation.