Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research. This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.

Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain.

Factors influencing childbirth self-efficacy and vaginal delivery rates in Chongqing: An observational study.

This study aims to investigate the current status of childbirth self-efficacy among pregnant women in Chongqing Municipality, analyze the factors affecting childbirth self-efficacy, and provide relevant measures and evidence to improve childbirth self-efficacy and increase the rate of natural vaginal deliveries among pregnant women. This observational study employed a questionnaire survey method, involving 1142 pregnant women who underwent prenatal examinations at 6 hospitals in Chongqing in February 2023. Participants accessed the "Wen-Juan-Xing" app by scanning a QR code to fill out the questionnaire.

An efficient framework based on local multi-representatives and noise-robust synthetic example generation for self-labeled semi-supervised classification.

While self-labeled methods can exploit unlabeled and labeled instances to train classifiers, they are also restricted by the labeled instance number and distribution. SEG-SSC, k-means-SSC, LC-SSC, and LCSEG-SSC are sophisticated solutions for overcoming the above restrictions. However, when some classes overlap, they suffer from the following challenging technical defects: (a) they fail to effectively improve the labeled instance distribution by identifying a single local representative in a cluster; (b) they have a low accuracy or a high degree of manual interference for predicting identified unlabeled local representatives; and (c) they fail to effectively improve the labeled instance number due to noise generation.

Chromones from Saposhnikovia divaricata and their inhibition of IL-1β-induced proliferative activity in SW982 cells.

Nine previously undescribed chromones, named sadivamones O-W (1-9), and five known analogues (10-14), were isolated from the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. The detailed structural analysis of each compound was finalized by a variety of methods including NMR (1D and 2D), mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) spectroscopic data, and sugar hydrolysis.

Small molecule inhibits KCNQ channels with a non-blocking mechanism.

Voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) are crucial targets for neuropsychiatric therapeutics owing to their role in controlling neuronal excitability and the established link between their dysfunction and neurological diseases, highlighting the importance of identifying modulators with distinct mechanisms. Here we report two small-molecule modulators with the same chemical scaffold, Ebio2 and Ebio3, targeting a potassium channel KCNQ2, with opposite effects: Ebio2 acts as a potent activator, whereas Ebio3 serves as a potent and selective inhibitor. Guided by cryogenic electron microscopy, patch-clamp recordings and molecular dynamics simulations, we reveal that Ebio3 attaches to the outside of the inner gate, employing a unique non-blocking inhibitory mechanism that directly squeezes the S6 pore helix to inactivate the KCNQ2 channel.

Structural characterization of polysaccharides from Polygonatum Sibiricum and effect on alleviating hyperlipidemia in egg yolk emulsion-induced mice.

Polysaccharides are the major bioactive composition of Polygonatum sibiricum (P. sibiricum). However, the structural and functional identifications of these polysaccharides were still limited.

Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP) exposure leads to cell apoptosis to HUVEC cells and toxicity to Caenorhabditis elegans through increasing the oxidative stress.

Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP), a common phthalate plasticizer, is frequently encountered in everyday life. Despite its widespread use, there is a dearth of toxicological research on DIOP, resulting in incomplete knowledge of its potential harmful effects. Our current research endeavored to provide a comprehensive evaluation of DIOP's toxicological profile using both cellular and Caenorhabditis elegans models as our in vitro and in vivo study subjects.

Physical activity promotes the development of cognitive ability in adolescents: the chain mediating role based on self-education expectations and learning behaviors.

Cognitive ability plays a crucial role in adolescents' academic performance and subsequent career development. Although previous studies have demonstrated that physical activity, self-education expectations, and learning behaviors positively affect the cognitive development of adolescents, the extent of their influence and their mediating roles require further elucidation. This study is based on tracking survey data from 2,688 adolescents in Chinese households collected in 2018.

Triglycerides mediate the relationships of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk in US participants.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized as a significant public health problem worldwide. Several clinical studies have investigated the associations between Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds with the risk of NAFLD in general adults, but the mediating effect of triglycerides (TG) was remained unexplored. In this study, 6990 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003-2018) database were enrolled.

Reproductive and Flight Characteristics of (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Fuzhou, China.

The biological characteristics of Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), a moth that threatens coastal forests in Fuzhou, China, are closely linked to its spread risk. To characterize these traits, we primarily investigated emergence, reproductive, and flight behaviors. Our findings show that females typically emerge, mate, and copulate during specific times of day.

Self-catalyzed nitric oxide nanocomplexes induce ferroptosis for cancer immunotherapy.

Ferroptosis, triggered by membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) and diminished antioxidants, can be induced by intracellular iron (II, Fe). However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in causing Fe overload for ferroptosis remains uncertain. This study reveals that NO can stimulate endogenous Fe release by upregulating heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) expression.

Inhibition of breast cancer growth with AN-329, a novel Hsp110 inhibitor, by inactivating p-STAT3/c-Myc axis.

Breast cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women, is characterized by its propensity for metastasis. Heat shock protein 110 (Hsp110), a molecular chaperone encoded by the HSPH1 gene, has been implicated in cancer progression, including breast cancer, where it is upregulated and associated with worse outcomes. However, the role of Hsp110 in breast cancer pathogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target have not been thoroughly investigated.

Colorectal cancer cells establish metabolic reprogramming with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through lactate shuttle to enhance invasion, migration, and angiogenesis.

Fibroblasts undergo metabolic reprogramming after contact with cancer cells in tumor microenvironment, producing lactate to provide a metabolic substrate for neighboring tumor cells. The exchange of lactate between cancer cells and fibroblasts via monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) is known as the lactate shuttle. Colorectal cancer cells may establish a metabolic coupling akin to the lactate shuttle in collaboration with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to augment their invasive and migratory capabilities.

Development and Validation of a Prognostic Nomogram Model for HER2-Positive Male Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: HER2-positive male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare condition that has a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to establish a nomogram model for predicting the prognosis of HER2-positive MBC patients.

Methods: 240 HER2-positive MBC patients from 2004 to 2015 were retrieved from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database.

Socioeconomic status, individual behaviors and risk of anxiety disorders: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The association between socioeconomic status and individual behaviors (SES/IB) and anxiety disorders has garnered increasing attention, yet the impact of SES/IB on anxiety disorders remains unclear. Therefore, we employed a Mendelian randomization (MR) design to evaluate the causal relationship between SES/IB and anxiety disorders.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample MR study to assess the causal effects of SES and IB (smoking behaviors, drinking behaviors, sleeping behaviors, habitual physical activity, leisure sedentary behaviors, and reproductive behaviors) on anxiety disorders.

A cost-sensitive decision model for efficient pooled testing in mass surveillance of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant challenges on global health, emphasizing the persistent threat of large-scale infectious diseases in the future. This study addresses the need to enhance pooled testing efficiency for large populations. The common approach in pooled testing involves consolidating multiple test samples into a single tube to efficiently detect positivity at a lower cost.

Evaluation of the Potential Flight Ability of the Casuarina Moth, (Lepidoptera: Erebidae).

Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a potentially invasive pest, similar to Vnukovskij and Motschulsky (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). To evaluate its potential for spread and flight distance related to egg deposition on vessels at ports, we employed a flight mill to assess the flight capabilities of its adults under varying conditions. Our findings revealed that females primarily flew short distances and ceased flying after 3:00 AM, whereas males covered much longer distances throughout the day.

Temporal changes in plasma metabolic signatures to predict immune response of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an effective treatment for people living with HIV (PLHIVs), requiring an extended period to achieve immune reconstitution. Metabolic alterations induced by ART are crucial for predicting long-term therapeutic responses, yet comprehensive investigation through large-scale clinical studies is still lacking. Here, we collected plasma samples from 108 PLHIVs to the untargeted plasma metabolomics study, based on the longitudinal metabolomics design.

Increased cTnI Predicts Early Death in Patients with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia: A Multicenter Study in North China.

Background: Myocardial injury is common in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) patients. Currently, research on the prognostic value of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) for predicting the mortality of SFTS patients, especially death within 7 days is limited.

Methods: Between May 2011 and October 2022, clinical and laboratory data on admission of consecutive SFTS cases were collected from six medical centres in China.

Nanoenabled intracellular zinc bursting for efficacious reversal of gefitinib resistance in lung cancer.

Following the identification of specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations, gefitinib, one of the first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has proven efficacious in targeting NSCLC that is driven by specific EGFR-activating mutations. However, most patients who initially respond to gefitinib, develop acquired resistance. In the current study, we devised a novel strategy to enhance the efficacy of gefitinib.