Prediction of Bacterial Etiology in Pediatric Patients with Acute Epididymitis: A Comparison of C-Reactive Protein and Urinalysis in Terms of Diagnostic Accuracy.

: We aimed to determine the proportion of bacterial etiology in pediatric acute epididymitis (AE) and to compare the predictive accuracy of C-reactive protein (CRP) and urinalysis. : Pediatric patients diagnosed with AE in National Taiwan University Hospital from 2009 to 2018 were retrospectively identified. Patient profiles, including clinical symptoms, physical findings, laboratory data, and treatment types, were collected.

Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Isolates from the ICU of a Tertiary Hospital in East China.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes and genotypes, and homology features of carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) in intensive care unit (ICU) and to provide basis for effectively prevention, control and treatment of nosocomial infections caused by CRAB.

Methods: A total of 39 CRAB strains isolated from hospitalized patients in the ICU and neurosurgical ICU (NICU) between 2020 and 2023 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Virulence factor genes (VFGs), antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), multilocus sequencing typing (MLST), complete genome multilocus sequencing typing (cgMLST), average nucleotide identity (ANI), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses were performed using WGS.

A single-cell compendium of human cerebrospinal fluid identifies disease-associated immune cell populations.

Single-cell transcriptomics applied to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for elucidating the pathophysiology of neurologic diseases has produced only a preliminary characterization of CSF immune cells. CSF derives from and borders central nervous system (CNS) tissue, allowing for comprehensive accounting of cell types along with their relative abundance and immunologic profiles relevant to CNS diseases. Using integration techniques applied to publicly available datasets in combination with our own studies, we generated a compendium with 139 subjects encompassing 135 CSF and 58 blood samples.

Msx1-Modified Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Rotator Cuff Repair: A Comprehensive Analysis of Tendon-Bone Healing and Cellular Mechanisms.

This study investigates the therapeutic potential of Msx1-overexpressing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in enhancing tendon-bone healing in rotator cuff injuries. BMSCs were genetically modified to overexpress Msx1 and were evaluated in vitro for their proliferation, migration, and differentiation potential. Results demonstrated that Msx1 overexpression significantly increased BMSC proliferation and migration while inhibiting osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation.

Fabrication of Nano Copper Highly Conductive and Flexible Printed Electronics by Direct Ink Writing.

Nanoscale metals have emerged as crucial materials for conductive inks in printed electronics due to their unique physical and chemical properties. However, the synthesis of high-precision and highly conductive copper ink remains a challenge. Herein, a high-precision, highly conductive, and oxidation-resistant nanocopper ink was synthesized to fabricate highly conductive and flexible printed electronic devices.

Evolutionary engineering of : Crafting a synthetic methylotroph via self-reprogramming.

Methanol, as a non-edible feedstock, offers a promising sustainable alternative to sugar-based substrates in biochemical production. Despite progress in engineering methanol assimilation in nonmethylotrophs, the full transformation into methanol-dependent synthetic methylotrophs remains a formidable challenge. Here, moving beyond the conventional rational design principle, we engineered a synthetic methylotrophic through genome rearrangement and adaptive laboratory evolution.

Synergy of Cu-doping and reconstruction on BiOCO for promoting CO electroreduction over a wide pH range.

A one-pot hydrothermal reaction was proposed to synthesize Cu-doped BiOCO. Doping Cu with smaller electronegativity than that of Bi and electrochemical reconstruction on BiOCO optimize the hybridization between Bi 6p of BiOCO and O 2p of *OCHO, acquiring FE of ∼100% at a current density of >100 mA cm over a wide pH range.

Plasma CircCYP24A1 as a Novel Biomarker of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: A clinical challenge in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains the lack of applicable plasma biomarkers for screening and diagnosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) hold great potential as biomarkers for cancer. The study aims to explore a circRNA as a potential plasma biomarker for screening strategies and diagnostic approaches to ESCC.

Association Between Hypoglycemia Agents and Long-term Survival Outcomes for Patients with Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Treated with Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Immunotherapy.

Background And Objective: There is a lack of data on the impact of hypoglycemia agents, especially metformin, on prognosis for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Our aim was to investigate the association between hypoglycemia agents, especially metformin, and long-term survival outcomes for patients with NMIBC treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Methods: All patients with NMIBC treated with intravesical BCG therapy from 2001 to 2020 were identified in a territory-wide database in Hong Kong.

δ-Toxin Induces Ca Influx-Independent Degranulation of Murine Cultured Mast Cells.

Cutaneous colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is frequently observed in patients with atopic dermatitis. SA produces a wide variety of bacterial toxins, among which δ-toxin was found to induce degranulation of mast cells. Degranulation of mast cells could enhance bacterial clearance and protection from future SA infection but lead to exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.

Implementing a robust platform analytical procedure for measuring adeno-associated virus vector genome titer.

The vector genome (vg) titer measurement, which is used to control patient dosing and ensure control over drug product manufacturing, is essential for the development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy products. While qPCR and droplet digital PCR technologies are commonly implemented for measuring vg titer, chromatographic techniques with UV detectors represent promising future approaches, in line with traditional biotherapeutics. Here, we introduce a novel vg titer measurement approach using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, which achieves excellent method precision (<2% relative SD), demonstrates linearity across a range of concentrations and varied particle content, is stability indicating, and can be bridged with existing vg titer methods.

Relaxin-2 improves type I diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction in rats by protecting cavernous endothelial and smooth muscle function, and inhibiting penile fibrosis and apoptosis.

Background: Diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED) responds poorly to first-line treatments, necessitating the development of new therapeutic strategies. Relaxin-2 (RLX-2) plays a crucial role in protecting vascular endothelium, vasodilatation, and antifibrosis in various diseases. However, its effects and mechanisms on DMED remain unclear.

A reconfigurable memristor diode based on a CuInPS/graphene lateral heterojunction.

The conventional reconfiguration of transistors requires an additional independent terminal for controllable gate input, which complicates the device structure and makes circuit integration difficult. In this work, we propose a reconfigurable diode based on a 2D layered copper indium thiophosphate (CIPS) and graphene (Gr) van der Waals lateral heterojunction, exhibiting distinctively bias-dependent reconfiguration. The reconfiguration characteristics include reversible memristive behaviors with a current on/off ratio of about 10 and switchable rectifying polarity with a rectifying ratio of up to 3 × 10.

Transglutaminase-triggered dual gradients of mechanical and biochemical cues self-assembling peptide hydrogel for guiding MC3T3-E1 cell behaviors.

The mechanical properties and bioactive motif densities of extracellular matrix materials play crucial roles in regulating cell behaviors, such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. However, current studies on cellular responses to ECM predominantly concentrated on polymer hydrogels featuring a single factor, such as the mechanical strength, the types of bioactive motifs, and the morphology of the polymers. This limited focus may overlook the complex interplay of multiple factors.

Efficacy and safety of Epimedium total flavonoids for primary osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Epimedium total flavonoids (EF) have been recommended to be one of the effective components in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of primary osteoporosis (POP) in China. Due to the lack of evidence-based medical evidence on the efficacy and safety of EF for the treatment of POP, the current systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out aimed at evaluating the curative effects and safety profile of EF treatment for POP in order to provide decision making references for clinical research.

Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched from the date of inception to 11 August 2024.

hMAGEA2 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for melanoma progression and metastasis.

The incidence of melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, continues to increase worldwide, particularly among populations with lighter skin tones. The diagnostic challenge of melanoma lies in the absence of a distinctive clinical presentation, as its characteristics vary based on anatomical location, growth type, and histopathology. The melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) gene family is differentially expressed in various human cancers, including melanoma.

RNF38 promotes gilteritinib resistance in acute myeloid leukemia via inducing autophagy by regulating ubiquitination of LMX1A.

Background: Gilteritinib is a commonly used targeted drug for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the emergence of gilteritinib resistance greatly reduces the therapeutic effect. RING finger protein 38 (RNF38), a protein with RING Finger domain and E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, has been implicated in tumorigenesis and drug resistance. However, the role and mechanism of RNF38 in the gilteritinib resistance of AML remains unclear.

Effects of hypoxia on survival, apoptosis, and the transcriptome of the Chinese yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica).

Mauremys mutica is a widely cultured pond turtle in China that can hold its breath underwater for up to 7 h. However, the adaptive mechanism of this hypoxia-resistant phenotype remains unknown. In the present study, no M.

Electrochemical reconstruction of metal-organic gels into crystalline oxy-hydroxide heterostructures for efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis.

Metal-organic gels (MOGs) are emerging soft materials with distinct metal active centers, multifunctional ligands and hierarchical porous structures, showing promising potential in the field of electrocatalysis. However, the reconfiguration of MOGs during the electrocatalytic process remains underexplored, with current studies in early developmental stages. To deeply investigate the application of MOG materials in electrocatalysis, the compositional transformations and structural changes under an electrochemical activation method were studied in detail, leading to high-performance OER pre-electrocatalysts.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia: The Role of Inflammation.

Background And Hypothesis: The complex immune-brain interactions and the regulatory role of mitochondria in the immune response suggest that mitochondrial damage reported in schizophrenia (SZ) may be related to abnormalities observed in immune and brain functions.

Study Design: Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA CN), a biomarker of mitochondrial function, was assessed in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of 121 healthy individuals and 118 SZ patients before and after 8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment, and a meta-analysis related to blood mtDNA CN was conducted. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in SZ patients were obtained from the medical record system.