Melanin deposition and key molecular features in Xenopus tropicalis oocytes.

Background: Melanin pigmentation in oocytes is a critical feature for both the esthetic and developmental aspects of oocytes, influencing their polarity and overall development. Despite substantial knowledge of melanogenesis in melanocytes and retinal pigment epithelium cells, the molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte melanogenesis remain largely unknown.

Results: Here, we compare the oocytes of wild-type, tyr and mitf Xenopus tropicalis and found that mitf oocytes exhibit normal melanin deposition at the animal pole, whereas tyr oocytes show no melanin deposition at this site.

Development and validation of a novel prediction model for osteoporosis : from serotonin to fat-soluble vitamins.

Aims: We aimed to develop and validate a novel prediction model for osteoporosis based on serotonin, fat-soluble vitamins, and bone turnover markers to improve prediction accuracy of osteoporosis.

Methods: Postmenopausal women aged 55 to 65 years were recruited and divided into three groups based on DXA (normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis). A total of 109 participants were included in this study and split into healthy (39/109, 35.

High frequency of melanoma in /.

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer characterized by high therapy resistance, has undergone extensive investigation through the utilization of BRAF-driven melanoma animal models. However, there exists a paucity of animal models for the rare hereditary melanoma resulting from germline mutations. Here, employing CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated on a knockout background to model human germline mutation-induced hereditary melanoma.

Development of a model to predict the risk of multi-drug resistant organism infections in ruptured intracranial aneurysms patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia in the neurological intensive care unit.

Objective: This study was developed to explore the incidence of multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) infections among ruptured intracranial aneurysms(RIA) patient with hospital-acquired pneumonia(HAP) in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU), and to establish risk factors related to the development of these infections.

Methods: We collected clinical and laboratory data from 328 eligible patients from January 2018 to December 2022. Bacterial culture results were used to assess MDRO strain distributions, and risk factors related to MDRO infection incidence were identified through logistic regression analyses.

Impact of Heating Conventional Cigarettes with a Novel Device on Health-related Biomarkers and Cigarette Use Patterns among Chinese Adult Smokers Unwilling to Quit: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: We evaluated the impact of heating conventional cigarettes with a novel heated tobacco product (HTP) device on biomarkers and cigarette use patterns in Chinese adult smokers unwilling to quit smoking.

Methods: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 50 eligible participants were allocated to either Control group (smoking conventional cigarettes) or HTP device group (switching to using heated conventional cigarettes by the HTP device). Participants in the HTP device group went through a 2-day run-in period then used heated conventional cigarettes exclusively for 5 days, followed by flexible use for 14 days.

Comparative Effectiveness of Mobile Health-Based Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Modalities and Traditional Clinic-Delivered Treatments - Beijing Municipality, China, May 2022 to April 2024.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Most Chinese smokers have not accessed professional help due to a lack of sufficient smoking cessation services. Mobile health (mHealth) can mitigate obstacles related to time and transportation, thereby providing effective support for smokers seeking to quit.

What Is Added By This Report?: This study offers real-world evidence supporting the effectiveness of mHealth-based comprehensive smoking cessation interventions.

Candida albicans accelerates atherosclerosis by activating intestinal hypoxia-inducible factor2α signaling.

The gut microbiota is closely linked to atherosclerosis. However, the role of intestinal fungi, essential members of the complex microbial community, in atherosclerosis is poorly understood. Herein, we show that gut fungi dysbiosis is implicated in patients with dyslipidemia, characterized by higher levels of Candida albicans (C.

Dramatically Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Nano-TiN-Dispersed n-Type Bismuth Telluride by Multi-Effect Modulation.

Bismuth telluride (BiTe)-based alloys have been extensively employed in energy harvesting and refrigeration applications for decades. However, commercially produced BiTe-based alloys using the zone-melting (ZM) technique often encounter challenges such as insufficient mechanical properties and susceptibility to cracking, particularly in n-type BiTe-based alloys, which severely limit the application scenarios for bismuth telluride devices. In this work, we seek to enhance the mechanical properties of n-type BiTeSe alloys while preserving their thermoelectrical performance by a mixed mechanism of grain refinement and the TiN composite phase-introduced pinning effect.

A lung disease diagnosis algorithm based on 2D spectral features of ultrasound RF signals.

Lung diseases are commonly diagnosed based on clinical pathological indications criteria and radiological imaging tools (e.g., X-rays and CT).

Study on the correlation between serum indole-3-propionic acid levels and the progression and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between the serum level of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) and the progression and prognosis of acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Methods: This study enrolled 197 patients with ACI, and 53 participants from a community-based stroke screening program during the same period were included as the control group. The patients with ACI were divided into quartiles of serum IPA.

Gut Microbiota-Tryptophan Metabolism-GLP-1 Axis Participates in β-Cell Regeneration Induced by Dapagliflozin.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, efficacious antidiabetic agents that have cardiovascular and renal benefits, can promote pancreatic β-cell regeneration in type 2 diabetic mice. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to use multiomics to identify the mediators involved in β-cell regeneration induced by dapagliflozin.

Machine Learning-Based Clinical Prediction Models for Acute Ischemic Stroke Based on Serum Xanthine Oxidase Levels.

Objective: Early prediction of the onset, progression and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is helpful for treatment decision-making and proactive management. Although several biomarkers have been found to predict the progression and prognosis of AIS, these biomarkers have not been widely used in routine clinical practice. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a form of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), which is widespread in various organs of the human body and plays an important role in redox reactions and ischemia‒reperfusion injury.

The Effect of Diabetes Management Shared Care Clinic on Glycated Hemoglobin A1c Compliance and Self-Management Abilities in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the impact of diabetes management shared care clinic (DMSCC) on glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compliance and self-management abilities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of patients with T2DM participating in the DMSCC. At baseline and after management, the HbA1c levels were measured, the HbA1c compliance rate were calculated, and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities-6 (SDSCA-6), Diabetes Empowerment Scale-DAWN Short Form (DES-DSF), and Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale-Five-item Short Form (PAID-5) were completed.

Dapagliflozin ameliorates diabetes-induced spermatogenic dysfunction by modulating the adenosine metabolism along the gut microbiota-testis axis.

Male infertility is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Dapagliflozin is widely used to manage the type II DM. This study aimed to assess the dapagliflozin's effects on the spermatogenesis by administering either dapagliflozin (Dapa) or vehicle (db) to male db/db mice, and using littermate male db/m mice as the control (Con).

Endometrial protein expression and phosphorylation landscape decipher aberrant insulin and mTOR signalling in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.

Research Question: What are the proteomic and phosphoproteomic differences between the endometrium of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and the endometrium of healthy control women during the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle?

Design: In total, 54 endometrial samples were collected during the proliferative and secretory phases from women with RPL (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 26). Comprehensive proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses were conducted using label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (n = 44), and verified through Western blotting (n = 10). Three comparison groups were established: total RPL endometrium versus total control endometrium; RPL proliferative endometrium versus control proliferative endometrium; and RPL secretory endometrium versus control secretory endometrium.

The mechanism effects of root exudate on microbial community of rhizosphere soil of tree, shrub, and grass in forest ecosystem under N deposition.

Forests are composed of various plant species, and rhizosphere soil microbes are driven by root exudates. However, the interplay between root exudates, microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of canopy trees, understory shrubs, grasses, and their responses to nitrogen (N) deposition remains unclear. Pinus tabulaeformis, Rosa xanthina, and Carex lancifolia were used to investigate root exudates, rhizosphere soil microbial communities, and their responses to N application in forest ecosystem.

A WeChat mini-program-based approach to smoking cessation behavioral interventions: Development and preliminary evaluation in a single-arm trial.

Objective: This study sought to develop a WeChat mini-program for smoking cessation behavioral interventions (named the WQ mini-program) and evaluate its usability, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy among Chinese smokers.

Methods: The WQ mini-program was designed based on behavioral change theories and clinical practice guidelines, and clinical smoking cessation experts participated in the development process. Fifty Chinese smokers and five software experts were involved in a single-arm trial.

The gut metabolite 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid rejuvenates spermatogenic dysfunction in aged mice through GPX4-mediated ferroptosis.

Background: Aging-related fertility decline is a prevalent concern globally. Male reproductive system aging is mainly characterized by a decrease in sperm quality and fertility. While it is known that intestinal physiology changes with age and that microbiota is shaped by physiology, the underlying mechanism of how the microbiota affects male reproductive aging is still largely unexplored.

Structure of a fungal 1,3-β-glucan synthase.

1,3-β-Glucan serves as the primary component of the fungal cell wall and is produced by 1,3-β-glucan synthase located in the plasma membrane. This synthase is a molecular target for antifungal drugs such as echinocandins and the triterpenoid ibrexafungerp. In this study, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of 1,3-β-glucan synthase (Fks1) at 2.

Microbial-host-isozyme analyses reveal microbial DPP4 as a potential antidiabetic target.

A mechanistic understanding of how microbial proteins affect the host could yield deeper insights into gut microbiota-host cross-talk. We developed an enzyme activity-screening platform to investigate how gut microbiota-derived enzymes might influence host physiology. We discovered that dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is expressed by specific bacterial taxa of the microbiota.

Effectiveness and Acceptability of a Comprehensive Mobile Health-Based Modality for Smoking Cessation - Beijing Municipality, China, 2022.

What Is Already Known On This Topic?: Mobile health interventions have been demonstrated to be effective in aiding smoking cessation among smokers. Nevertheless, research on this topic remains limited in China.

What Is Added By This Report?: Following two months of utilizing the services of a comprehensive mobile health (mHealth)-based modality ("Way to Quit" modality) which integrated three online interventions through the WeChat application, 29.

Transcriptome analysis reveals tumor antigen and immune subtypes of melanoma.

Purpose: To screen potential tumor antigens for melanoma vaccine development and identify different immune subtypes.

Methods: Transcriptional data (HTSEQ-FPKM) and clinical information of a 472 Melanoma cohort GDC TCGA Melanoma (SKCM) were downloaded from the UCSC XENA website (http://xena.ucsc.