Clinical and laboratory characteristics of Sjögren's syndrome-associated autoimmune liver disease: a real-world, 10-year retrospective study.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of Sjögren's syndrome-associated autoimmune liver disease (SS-ALD) patients and identify potential risk and prognostic factors.

Methods: SS patients with or without ALD, who visited Tongji Hospital between the years 2011 and 2021 and met the 2012 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for Sjögren's syndrome, were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical and laboratory data of the enrolled patients, including autoimmune antibodies, were collected and analyzed with principal component analysis, correlation analysis, LASSO regression, and Cox regression.

Molecular mechanism of osteoclast differentiation of PBMC in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that causes severe joint deformities and impaired functionality, affecting the well-being and daily life of individuals. Consequently, there is a pressing demand for identifying viable therapeutic targets for treating RA. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation in PBMC from patients with RA through transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

The Circadian Rhythm Regulates the Hepato-ovarian Axis Linking Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

This study aimed to identify shared gene expression related to circadian rhythm disruption in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to discover common diagnostic biomarkers. Visceral fat RNA samples were collected from 12 PCOS and 14 non-PCOS patients, a sample size representing the clinical situation and sufficient to capture PCOS gene expression profiles. Along with liver transcriptome profiles from NAFLD patients, these data were analyzed to identify crosstalk circadian rhythm-related genes (CRRGs) between the diseases.

P2YR-IGFBP2 signaling: new contributor to astrocyte-neuron communication.

In a recent article published in Nature Communications (Shigetomi et al Nat Commun 15(1):6525, 2024), Shigetomi et al. identified that upregulated astrocytic purinergic P2Y receptors (P2YR), acting via the downstream molecule, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), play a crucial role in neuronal hyperexcitability. In epilepsy and stroke models, P2YR-IGFBP2 signaling was found to mediate astrocyte-driven neuronal hyperexcitability and so is a new contributor to astrocyte-neuron communication.

Treponema denticola major surface protein (Msp): a key player in periodontal pathogenicity and immune evasion.

Treponema denticola, a bacterium that forms a "red complex" with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia, is associated with periodontitis, pulpitis, and other oral infections. The major surface protein (Msp) is a surface glycoprotein with a relatively well-established overall domain structure (N-terminal, central and C-terminal regions) and a controversial tertiary structure. As one of the key virulence factors of T.

Effects of combined transversus abdominis plane block under direct vision and acupoint injection on promoting rapid recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective: To study the effect of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block under direct vision with acupoint injection on the rapid recovery of patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: Ninety-three patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected and divided into control, TAP block under direct vision (TAP-DV), and TAP-DV with acupoint injection (TAP-DVA) groups using a random number table method. Postoperative VAS, Ramsay score, IL-6, CRP, and postoperative rehabilitation indices were compared among the three groups.

Interventions supporting meaningful connections for people with serious mental illness: a concept-framed systematic narrative review.

Purpose: Meaningful connections, encompassing relationships providing emotional support, understanding, acceptance, and a sense of belonging, are vital for social inclusion and well-being of Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). The mixed methods review critically explored multifaceted approaches supporting people with SMI to foster meaningful (non-intimate) social relationships or connections.

Methods: Searches of eight electronic databases returned 4882 records.

Machine learning-based assessment of morphometric abnormalities distinguishes bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) have overlapping clinical presentations which may make it difficult for clinicians to distinguish them potentially resulting in misdiagnosis. This study combined structural MRI and machine learning techniques to determine whether regional morphological differences could distinguish patients with BD and MDD.

Methods: A total of 123 participants, including BD (n = 31), MDD (n = 48), and healthy controls (HC, n = 44), underwent high-resolution 3D T1-weighted imaging.

Efficacy and safety of KN026 and docetaxel for HER2-positive breast cancer: a phase II clinical trial.

Background: The standard first-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive recurrent/metastatic breast cancer currently includes pertuzumab plus trastuzumab and docetaxel. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of KN026, an anti-HER2 bispecific antibody, plus docetaxel in first-line treatment of HER2-positive recurrent/metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: This open-label, single-arm, phase II study enrolled patients with HER2-positive recurrent/metastatic breast cancer in 19 centers across China from December 30, 2019 to May 27, 2021.

Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis at -Block Active Sites Using Various Nitrogen Sources: Theoretical Insights.

Electrochemical nitrogen conversion for ammonia (NH) synthesis, driven by renewable electricity, offers a sustainable alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. However, this conversion process remains limited by a low Faradaic efficiency (FE) and NH yield. Although transition metals have been widely studied as catalysts for NH synthesis through effective electron donation/back-donation mechanisms, there are challenges in electrochemical environments, including competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and catalyst stability issues.

Efficient Nitrate to Ammonia Conversion on Bifunctional IrCu Alloy Nanoparticles.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NORR) to ammonia presents a promising alternative strategy to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. However, the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) reduces the Faradaic efficiency toward ammonia, while the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) increases the energy consumption. This study designs IrCu alloy nanoparticles as a bifunctional catalyst to achieve efficient NORR and OER while suppressing the unwanted HER.

Exciton Emission Enhancement in Two-Dimensional Monolayer Tungsten Disulfide on a Silicon Substrate via a Fabry-Pérot Microcavity.

Exciton emitters in two-dimensional monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) provide a boulevard for the emerging optoelectronic field, ranging from miniaturized light-emitting diodes to quantum emitters and optical communications. However, the low quantum efficiency from limited light-matter interactions and harmful substrate effects seriously hinders their applications. In this work, we achieve a ∼438-fold exciton photoluminescence enhancement by constructing a Fabry-Pérot cavity consisting of monolayer WS and a micron-scale hole on the SiO/Si substrate.

Boosting C-O Bond Cleavage and Reverse Water-Gas Shift Activity via Enriched in-plane Sulfur Vacancies in Single-Layer Molybdenum Disulfide.

The reduction of CO2 to CO provides a promising approach to the production of valuable chemicals through CO2 utilization. However, challenges persist with the rapid deactivation and insufficient activity of catalysts. Herein, we developed a soft-hard dual-template method to synthesize layered MoS2 using inexpensive and scalable templates, enabling facile regulation of sulfur vacancies by controlling the number of layers.

Guest-Molecule-Induced Glass-Crystal Transition in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Antimony Halides.

The glassy state of inorganic-organic hybrid metal halides combines their excellent optoelectronic properties with the outstanding processability of glass, showcasing unique application potential in solar devices, display technologies, and plastic electronics. Herein, by tailoring the organic cation from -phenylpiperazine to dimethylamine gradually, four types of zero-dimensional antimony halides are obtained with various optical and thermal properties. The guest water molecules in crystal (-phenylpiperazine)SbCl·Cl·5HO lead to the largest distortion of the Sb-halogen unit, resulting in the red emission different from the yellow emission of other compounds.

Flexible Tactile Sensors with Self-Assembled Cilia Based on Magnetoelectric Composites.

Traditional tactile sensors are single-function, and it is difficult to meet the needs of applications in complex environments. This paper describes the development and applications of flexible tactile sensors with cilia based on magnetoelectric composites made of neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) microparticles with a silver (Ag) nanoshell in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). These sensors adopt the inherent magnetism of NdFeB microparticles and the excellent conductivity of the Ag coating.

Effects of a home-based multicomponent exercise programme on frailty in postcardiac surgery patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of a home-based multicomponent exercise programme on frailty in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: A convenience sample of 92 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at two medical centres in Taiwan were recruited and randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 46) and control (n = 46) groups. The intervention group underwent a 12-week home-based multicomponent exercise programme, including individual nursing consultation, home-based exercise intervention, nutritional assessment and guidance, and continuous support.

Efficacy and safety of Anlotinib in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as a first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A single-arm clinical trial.

The effectiveness and safety of combining anlotinib with gemcitabine and cisplatin in the first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) have not been definitively established. This research seeks to investigate the potential benefits and risks of utilizing this combination therapy in the first-line management of R/M NPC. The research involved 22 individuals diagnosed with R/M NPC and who had not undergone any previous treatment.

Associations between anthropogenic heat emissions and serum lipids among adults in northeastern China.

Few epidemiological studies have investigated associations between anthropogenic heat emissions (AE) and serum lipids. We recruited 15,477 adults from 33 communities in northeastern China in 2009. We estimated AE flux by using data on energy consumption and socio-economic statistics covering building, transportation, industry, and human metabolism.

Membrane Proteins in Nanodiscs: Methods and Applications.

Membrane proteins, a principal class of drug targets, play indispensable roles in various biological processes and are closely associated with essential life functions. Their study, however, is complicated by their low solubility in aqueous environments and distinctive structural characteristics, necessitating a suitable native-like environment for molecular analysis. Nanodisc technology has revolutionized this field, providing biochemists with a powerful tool to stabilize membrane proteins and significantly enhance their research possibilities.

[Development of a predictive scoring model for non-response to intravenous immunoglobulin in Kawasaki disease].

Objectives: To explore the predictive factors for non-response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and to establish an IVIG non-response prediction scoring model for the Sichuan region.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by collecting clinical data from children with KD admitted to four tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province between 2019 and 2023. Among them, 940 children responded to IVIG, while 74 children did not respond.

[Explanation and interpretation of blood transfusion provisions for children with hematological diseases in the national health standard "Guideline for pediatric transfusion"].

To guide clinical blood transfusion practices for pediatric patients, the National Health Commission has issued the health standard "Guideline for pediatric transfusion" (WS/T 795-2022). Blood transfusion is one of the most commonly used supportive treatments for children with hematological diseases. This guideline provides guidance and recommendations for blood transfusions in children with aplastic anemia, thalassemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Influence of the Type of Bulk-Fill, Resin-Based Composite on Internal Adaptation in Class V Restorations.

Objective: To investigate the effects of bulk-fill, resin-based composite types (high or low viscosity) on the internal adaptation of Class V restorations.

Study Design: Experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Hefei Stomatological Hospital, Hefei, China, from October 2022 to December 2023.

A magneto-controlled microfluidic device for voltammetric immunoassay of carbohydrate antigen-125 with silver-polypyrrole nanotags.

An innovative magnetic immunoassay was developed for the voltammetric detection of carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125) on a home-made microfluidic device including a multisyringe pump, selection valve and magneto-controlled detection cell. Two kinds of biofunctionalized nanostructures including anti-CA-125 capture antibody-conjugated magnetic beads and anti-CA-125 detection antibody-labeled silver-polypyrrole (Ag-PPy) nanohybrids were utilized for a sandwiched immunoreaction in the presence of CA-125. With the help of an external magnet, the formed magnetic immunocomplexes were attached to the sensing interface to activate the electrical contact between Ag-PPy nanohybrids and the base electrode, thus resulting in the switching on of the sensor circuit for the generation of voltammetric signals thanks to electroactive Ag-PPy nanohybrids.

Functional variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Background: Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF; a recessive disorder) have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Evidence suggests individuals with a single CFTR variant may also have increased CRC risk.

Methods: Using population-based studies (GECCO, CORECT, CCFR, and ARIC; 53 785 CRC cases and 58 010 controls), we tested for an association between the most common CFTR variant (Phe508del) and CRC risk.