Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination from Large-scale Swine-Farming Wastewater in Sichuan Province, China: Removal Efficiency, Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment.

The widespread application of swine-farming wastewater to soil and water is increasingly contributing to heavy metal contamination, posing significant environmental risks. This study investigated the concentrations of eight heavy metals in swine-farming wastewater following different treatment processes, and assessed their ecological risks in Sichuan Province, China. The findings revealed that zinc, copper and nickel exhibited the highest concentrations, potentially causing heavy or strong contamination levels and leading to heavy or slight ecological risks.

Kidney and Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Patients With CKD Receiving GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

Rationale & Objective: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve cardiac and kidney outcomes in patients with diabetes; however their efficacy in individuals with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is uncertain. This study evaluated the effects of GLP-1RAs on kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported through May 25, 2024.

Maternal and Infant Characteristics and Pumping Profiles of Women That Predominantly Pump Milk for Their Infants.

Background: Whilst it is inconvenient and time-intensive, predominantly (PP) and exclusively pumping (EP) mothers rely on breast expression to provide milk for their infants and to ensure continued milk supply, yet these populations are poorly understood.

Methods: We assessed and characterised Western Australian PP mothers ( = 93) regarding 24 h milk production (MP) and infant milk intake and demographics, perinatal complications and breastfeeding difficulties, the frequencies of which were compared with published general population frequencies. Pumping efficacy and milk flow parameters during a pumping session in PP mothers ( = 32) were compared with those that pump occasionally (reference group, = 60).

Cobalt Protoporphyrin Downregulates Hyperglycemia-Induced Inflammation and Enhances Mitochondrial Respiration in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by hyperglycemic retinal pigment epithelial cells that secrete excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines and VEGF, leading to retinal damage and vision loss. Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) is a compound that can reduce inflammatory responses by inducing high levels of HO-1. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of CoPP were examined in ARPE-19 cells under hyperglycemia.

Milk Composition Is Predictive of Low Milk Supply Using Machine Learning Approaches.

The causes of low milk supply are multifactorial, including factors such as gene mutations, endocrine disorders, and infrequent milk removal. These factors affect the functional capacity of the mammary gland and, potentially, the concentrations of milk components. This study aimed to investigate the differences in milk composition between mothers with low and normal milk supply and develop predictive machine learning models for identifying low milk supply.

Current Updates on Molecular Diagnostic Assays Used for Detection of : A Systematic Review.

: is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen with the potential to cause invasive fungal infections and healthcare-associated outbreaks. Currently, there is no systematic review explicitly focusing on the up-to-date molecular diagnostics of this pathogen to cover the entire process, including sample pre-extraction procedures, nucleic acid extraction, and DNA-based detection. Sample pre-treatment and extraction are the prerequisites before molecular testing and have implications on the downstream detection but have not been reviewed elsewhere.

An animal model of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome for translational research.

Background: Despite the fact that an increasing number of studies have focused on developing therapies for acute lung injury, managing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a challenge in intensive care medicine. Whether the pathology of animal models with acute lung injury in prior studies differed from clinical symptoms of ARDS, resulting in questionable management for human ARDS. To evaluate precisely the therapeutic effect of transplanted stem cells or medications on acute lung injury, we developed an animal model of severe ARDS with lower lung function, capable of keeping the experimental animals survive with consistent reproducibility.

Clinical Characteristics of Snakebite Envenomings in Taiwan.

Snakebite envenomings continue to represent a major public health concern in Taiwan because of the presence of various venomous snakes whose habitats intersect with human activities. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the clinical characteristics, complications, and management strategies associated with snakebite envenomings in Taiwan. Taiwan is inhabited by six principal venomous snakes: , , , , , and , each presenting distinct clinical challenges.

The efficacy and safety of indobufen in patients with ischemic cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of indobufen in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and thromboembolic disorders. The primary focus is on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), thrombosis, bleeding events, and adverse reactions. The results are intended to provide a reference for the clinical application of indobufen and suggest directions for further large-scale, multi-center, prospective studies.

Genome-wide microsatellite characterization and their marker development and transferability in Broussonetia Species.

Background: Broussonetia papyrifera, B. monoica, and B. kaempferi belong to the genus Broussonetia (Moraceae).

Hearing Loss as a Risk Factor for Dementia: A Nationwide 15-Year Follow-Up Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Introduction: Although hearing loss is associated with dementia, the exact causal relationship between hearing loss and dementia remains unclear. Early detection and prevention of hearing loss are essential. In this study, data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan were used to monitor patients with hearing loss for 15 years to determine whether hearing loss leads to dementia.

Paternal Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside Diet Improved High-Fat, High-Fructose Diet-Induced Intergenerational Inheritance in Male Offspring's Susceptibility to High-Fat Diet-Induced Testicular and Sperm Damage.

High-fructose and high-fat diet (HFHFD) has been associated with impaired spermatogenesis, leading to decreased sperm quality and increased male infertility, with similar effects observed in offspring. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), a recognized food antioxidant, has shown promise in protecting in male reproduction and modulating epigenetic modifications. However, its potential role in ameliorating intergenerational inheritance induced by HFHFD remains underexplored.

AA-Stacked Hydrogen-Substituted Graphdiyne for Enhanced Lithium Storage.

Graphdiyne (GDY) has been considered a promising electrode material for application in electrochemical energy storage. However, studies on GDY featuring an ordered interlayer stacking are lacking, which is supposed to be another effective way to increase lithium binding sites and diffusion pathways. Herein, we synthesized a hydrogen-substituted GDY (HsGDY) with a highly-ordered AA-stacking structure via a facile alcohol-thermal method.

A real-world study to evaluate effectiveness of mepolizumab in treating severe asthma in Taiwan (REMIT).

Background: REMIT is the first real-world study of mepolizumab effectiveness in patients with severe asthma (SA) in Taiwan.

Objectives: The primary objective evaluated changes in clinically significant exacerbations (CSEs; defined as use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) or emergency department (ED) visits and/or hospitalizations) in the 12 months pre- and post-mepolizumab treatment. Secondary objectives assessed changes in the number of CSEs requiring ED visits/hospitalizations and daily maintenance OCS (mOCS) dosage 12 months pre- and post-mepolizumab treatment.

Practical Implementation of Federated Learning for Detecting Backdoor Attacks in a Next-word Prediction Model.

This article details the development of a next-word prediction model utilizing federated learning and introduces a mechanism for detecting backdoor attacks. Federated learning enables multiple devices to collaboratively train a shared model while retaining data locally. However, this decentralized approach is susceptible to manipulation by malicious actors who control a subset of participating devices, thereby biasing the model's outputs on specific topics, such as a presidential election.

Consensus and guidelines on diagnosis and management of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) from the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS).

A panel of 21 international experts are formed by the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society to work out the consensus and guidelines on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). PCV is a common subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and is more prevalent in Asian populations. Recent advancement in imaging technology allows greater understanding of the disease process of PCV.

Viral auxiliary roles in hydrolytic and biosynthetic metabolism regulate prokaryotic microbial interactions in anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) viruses have gained recognition as significant regulators of microbial interactions within AD communities, yet their ecological roles remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the ecological roles of AD viruses in regulating microbial interactions among syntrophic hosts. We recovered 3921 diverse viral sequences from four full-scale anaerobic digesters and confirmed their widespread presence across 127 global metagenomic sampling sites (with >95 % sequence similarity), underscoring the ubiquity of prokaryotic viruses in AD-related systems.

Workload-capacity imbalances and their impact on self-management complexity in patients with multimorbidity: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Multimorbidity is increasing globally, emphasizing the need for effective self-management strategies. The Cumulative Complexity Model (CuCoM) offers a unique perspective on understanding self-management based on workload and capacity. This study aims to validate the CuCoM in multimorbid patients and identify tailored predictors of self-management.

Prostatic aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) with initial presentation of urinary obstruction: a rare case report and literature review.

Background: Aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor known for its aggressive behavior and high recurrence rates, with male cases of AAM being less frequently reported. This study presents a rare case of primary prostatic AAM characterized by a prostatic urethral mass obstructing the bladder outlet, resulting in acute renal dysfunction.

Case Description: The 51-year-old male patient presented with lumbar pain, nausea, frequent urination, urgency, and incomplete urination.

To be aware or not to be aware of the prognosis in the terminal stage of cancer? A systematic review of the associations between prognostic awareness with anxiety, depression, and quality of life according to cancer stage.

Prognostic awareness (PA) has an important role in promoting informed care planning in cancer patients. However, studies in the literature showed discordant results regarding the impact of PA on psychological and quality of life outcomes. The present systematic review aimed to investigate the associations between PA with anxiety, depression, and quality of life in oncological patients according to early, advanced, and terminal cancer stages.

Visual detection of kanamycin with functionalized Au nanoparticles.

A simple and rapid colorimetric detection strategy, based on hydrogen bond identification of 6-thioguanine (6-TG) functionalized Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), is proposed for highly selective and sensitive determination of kanamycin (KA). In this strategy, the hydrogen bond interaction between 6-TG and kanamycin induces AuNPs to agglomerate, with a consequent color change of AuNPs from wine red to purple or even blue. The kanamycin concentrations can be quantified by employing UV-vis spectrophotometer.

Statin Use and the Risk of Graves' Orbitopathy: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Statin use is reported to reduce the risk of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) in Western populations. However, study regarding the protective effect of statins against GO in Asians with Graves' disease (GD) is scarce. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of statins in preventing GO in Asian GD patients.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation provides a new insight into resveratrol biosynthesis by causing a metabolic pathway shift from flavonoids to stilbenoids in cells.

Resveratrol is an important phytoalexin that adapts to and responds to stressful conditions and plays various roles in health and medical therapies. However, it is only found in a limited number of plant species in low concentrations, which hinders its development and utilization. Chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS) catalyze the same substrates to produce flavonoids and resveratrol, respectively.