Signatures of lower respiratory tract microbiome in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia using shotgun metagenomic sequencing.

Background: Severe community-acquired pneumonia was associated with high morbidity and mortality in children. However, species-level microbiome of lower airway was sparse, and we used shotgun metagenomic next-generation sequencing to explore microbial signatures.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study to recruit children under 18 who required admission to an intensive care unit for community-acquired pneumonia between December 2019 and February 2022.

TWK10 relieves loperamide-induced constipation in rats fed a high-fat diet modulating enteric neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids and gut microbiota.

Obesity and constipation can alter the intestinal microbiota composition, affecting intestinal barrier integrity, immune function, and metabolic processes. Numerous studies have suggested that and could increase short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, thus improving the intestinal microbiota composition, mitigating obesity, and protecting the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of TWK10 (TWK10) on gut dysbiosis, obesity, and constipation induced by a high-fat diet and loperamide.

Identification of key biomarkers related to fibrocartilage chondrocytes for osteoarthritis based on bulk, single-cell transcriptomic data.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease that severely impacts patients' quality of life. Due to its unclear pathogenesis and lack of effective therapeutic targets, discovering new biomarkers for OA is essential. Recently, the role of chondrocyte subpopulations in OA progression has gained significant attention, offering potential insights into the disease.

The influence of transportation, social norms, cultural identity, and affective disposition in transnational media enjoyment.

Background: The globalization of the media market is forcing decision-makers to understand the psychological processes behind local audiences' enjoyment of foreign TV dramas. Transportation is a well-established psychological theory and framework utilized to elucidate and anticipate audience engagement and enjoyment in the cognitive process of experiencing a narrative text. Although there is a substantial body of literature on transportation and media enjoyment, there is a noticeable absence of studies on the relationship between audiences being "transported" into the narrative world of TV dramas and, particularly, the pleasure audiences derive from interacting with media content within a cross-cultural acceptance context.

Design of High-Performance Infrared Nonlinear Optical PAsS with Perfectly Aligned Polar Molecular Cage via a Bipolar-Axis-Symmetry Coupling Strategy.

Strong polar molecular cages have recently emerged as novel functional building units for high-performance infrared nonlinear optical (IR NLO) crystals. However, these highly polar molecular cages often arrange themselves in a way that cancels out their polarity, leading to a more energetically stable state. As a result, most cage crystal formations tend to crystallize in centrosymmetric space groups, which conflicts with the primary requirement for NLO crystals.

Neutrophil diversity and function in health and disease.

Neutrophils, the most abundant type of granulocyte, are widely recognized as one of the pivotal contributors to the acute inflammatory response. Initially, neutrophils were considered the mobile infantry of the innate immune system, tasked with the immediate response to invading pathogens. However, recent studies have demonstrated that neutrophils are versatile cells, capable of regulating various biological processes and impacting both human health and disease.

Advances in plant oxygen sensing: endogenous and exogenous mechanisms.

Oxygen is essential for the biochemical processes that sustain life in eukaryotic organisms. Although plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis, they often struggle to survive in low-oxygen environments, such as during flooding or submergence. To endure these conditions, they must reprogram their developmental and metabolic networks, and the adaptation process involves the continuous detection of both exogenous hypoxic signals and endogenous oxygen gradients.

Cardiovascular risk factors in relation to hair polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the NESCAV study.

Previous studies have found associations between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiovascular risk factors. However, the internal dose of PAH exposure was often examined by quantifying monohydroxylated metabolites of PAHs (OH-PAHs) in urine, which can only reflect recent exposure. On the other hand, hair covers wider temporal windows than urine and has been demonstrated to be a suitable matrix for PAH exposure assessment.

Association Between Current Medical Decision-Making Participation Self-Efficacy and Advance Care Planning Engagement Among Older Adults: Baseline Findings from a Nationwide Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Misconceptions of and cultural differences in aging influence older adults' medical decision-making self-efficacy and engagement in advance care planning (ACP). This study aims to investigate the association between current medical decision-making participation self-efficacy and ACP engagement among older individuals receiving home-based medical care (HBMC) in Taiwan. Baseline data analysis of a nationwide cohort study.

Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer and the Comparison With Sporadic Colorectal Cancer in Taiwan.

Introduction: We explored the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and compared with sporadic colorectal cancer in Taiwan.

Methods: In this retrospective study spanning 1987-2022, CACs diagnosed according to endoscopic and pathological reports from 14 tertiary centers were reported to our cohort. Clinical demographics, endoscopic findings, histological results, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analyzed.

NOP2/Sun RNA Methyltransferase 4 Regulates the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway to Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression.

Background/aims: NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 4 (NSUN4) is a prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of NSUN4 in HCC is still unexplored. This project mainly focuses on the function and mechanism of NSUN4 in HCC malignant progression.

Successful management of a multi-species outbreak of carbapenem-resistant organisms in Fiji: a prospective genomics-enhanced investigation and response.

Background: Fiji is a Pacific Island nation grappling with the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While genomic technologies are increasingly utilised to understand the emergence and spread of AMR globally, its application to inform outbreak responses in low- and middle-income settings has not been reported.

Methods: Through an established capacity building program, suspected carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) identified at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji (Jan 2022-Oct 2023) underwent whole genome sequencing and analysis.

Psychometric evaluation of DASS versions among Spanish and Chinese teachers using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM).

Background: Teachers in demanding work environments are prone to anxiety, depression, and stress. Validated measures across different cultural contexts are required. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and DASS-12 and DASS-8 among Spanish and Chinese primary school teachers.