Correcting mitochondrial loss mitigates NOTCH1-related aortopathy in mice.

Loss-of-function mutations in NOTCH1 were previously linked to thoracic aortopathy, a condition for which non-surgical treatment options are limited. Based on clinical proteome analysis, we hypothesized that mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis in aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are crucial for regulating the progression of NOTCH1-related aortopathy. Here we demonstrate that SMC-specific Notch1 knockout mice develop aortic pathology, including stiffening, dilation and focal dissection.

Prevalence and predictors of left atrial thrombus in patients with rheumatic atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac surgery: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Unlike non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF), where left atrial thrombus (LAT) is predominantly confined to the left atrial appendage (LAA), a significant proportion of LAT in rheumatic AF occurs within the left atrial cavity (LAC). However, LAC thrombosis in rheumatic AF has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of LAT and its subtypes and identify potential predictors of LAT.

Effects of postoperative glucocorticoids on mitigation of organ dysfunction in patients with type A aortic dissection: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the organ-protective efficacy of postoperative glucocorticoid in patients with type A aortic dissection.

Methods: Postoperative type A aortic dissection patients were randomly allocated to receive either postoperative glucocorticoid or standard-of-care treatment. Intravenous methylprednisolone was administered for 3 days.

A Functional Basis for the Assembly of Australian Subtropical Rainforest Tree Communities.

Understanding the role of climate in the assembly of rainforest tree communities is informative for predicting how future climates will impact species and communities. We surveyed rainforest tree communities across the Australian subtropics (spanning 600 to 2500 mm rainfall year) and measured functional traits on 285 (91%) of all recorded species. We used principal component analysis to create axes approximating species' hydraulic strategies, leaf economics and stature and included these as predictors in joint species distribution models, along with traits describing dispersal ability and leaf phenology.

Isobutyric Acid Promotes Immune Evasion in Colorectal Cancer via Increased PD-L1 Expression.

Introduction: Isobutyric acid (IBA), a short-chain fatty acid, has been unequivocally demonstrated to exert significant influence on the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of its intricate regulatory mechanisms remains elusive.

Methods: Employing advanced techniques such as western blot, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry, we systematically investigated the impact of IBA on the expression of PD-L1 in CRC cells.

Activation technology of steel slag for concrete exposed to plateau climate: a state-of-the-art review.

As a byproduct of steelmaking, steel slag occupies significant land resources and poses potential environmental and safety challenges due to its extensive accumulation. Recently, steel slag has shown promising applications in the field of concrete. However, considering the complexity of the plateau environment, the utilization of steel slag is relatively lacking, and its low reactivity and poor volume stability remain the main factors restricting its application in plateau concrete.

Characterizing Gut Microbiota in Older Chinese Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a clinical manifestation that occurs in the course of dementia like Alzheimer's disease. The association between cognitive impairment and gut microbiota is unclear.

Objective: We aimed to identify gut microbiota characteristics and key gut microbiota biomarkers associated with cognitive impairment in a relatively large cohort of older adults in China.

Detecting Nonadditive Biotic Interactions and Assessing Their Biological Relevance among Temperate Rainforest Trees.

AbstractInteractions between and within abiotic and biotic processes generate nonadditive density-dependent effects on species performance that can vary in strength or direction across environments. If ignored, nonadditivities can lead to inaccurate predictions of species responses to environmental and compositional changes. While there are increasing empirical efforts to test the constancy of pairwise biotic interactions along environmental and compositional gradients, few assess both simultaneously.

Reoperative extended arch repair for acute type A aortic dissection after previous cardiac surgery: insights from a relatively young redo series.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of previous cardiac surgery (PCS) on clinical outcomes after reoperative extended arch repair for acute type A aortic dissection.

Methods: This study included 37 acute type A aortic dissection patients with PCS (PCS group) and 992 without PCS (no-PCS group). Propensity score-matching yielded a subgroup of 36 pairs (1:1).

Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Survival Based on Ferritin and Transferrin Ratio in Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Our objective is to develop a predictive model utilizing the ferritin and transferrin ratio (FTR) and clinical factors to forecast overall survival (OS) in breast cancer (BC) patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 2858 BC patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2021. Subsequently, the cohort of 2858 BC patients underwent random assignment into distinct subsets: a training cohort comprising 2002 patients and a validation cohort comprising 856 patients, maintaining a proportional ratio of 7:3.

Determining the optimal distal resection margin in rectal cancer patients by imaging of large pathological sections: An experimental study.

Objective: To determine the distal resection margin in sphincter-sparing surgery in patients with low rectal cancer based on imaging of large pathological sections.

Methods: Patients who underwent sphincter-sparing surgery for ultralow rectal cancer at Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital within the period from January 2016 to March 2022 were tracked and observed. The clinical and pathological data of the patients were collected and analyzed.

Optimizing health resource allocation for improving timely HIV diagnosis in China.

Introduction: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) updated the 95-95-95 targets for the HIV endgame in 2030. To achieve the first target in a timely manner, we investigate the optimized strategy of resource allocation to maximize timely HIV diagnosis in 14 populations in China.

Methods: We developed a mathematical model by integrating epidemiological, demographical and behavioural data from 12 high-risk and two general populations to evaluate the impact of various resource allocation strategies of HIV testing on HIV incidence in China.

The propagation of disturbances in ecological networks.

Despite the development of network science, we lack clear heuristics for how far different disturbance types propagate within and across species interaction networks. We discuss the mechanisms of disturbance propagation in ecological networks, and propose that disturbances can be categorized into structural, functional, and transmission types according to their spread and effect on network structure and functioning. We describe the properties of species and their interaction networks and metanetworks that determine the indirect, spatial, and temporal extent of propagation.

Multi-omics and single-cell sequencing analyses reveal the potential significance of circadian pathways in cancer therapy.

Background: Circadian rhythm disturbance is an independent risk factor for cancer. However, few studies have been reported on circadian rhythm related genes (CRGs) in cancer, so it is important to further explore the impact of CRGs in pan-cancer.

Research Design And Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to collect cancer-related data such as copy number variation, single nucleotide variants, methylation, and survival differences.

Effect of glucocorticoid for patients with type A aortic dissection undergoing surgical repair with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: A single-center, retrospective study.

Background: Postoperative patients with Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) often experience severe inflammatory responses caused by multiple factors perioperatively. However, the effect of postoperative glucocorticoid (GC) use, which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, on complications or all-cause mortality is unclear.

Methods: Patients with TAAD who underwent surgical repair requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest between January 2020 and December 2021 were included in the study.

Differential Gut Microbiota, Dietary Intakes in Constipation Patients with or without Hypertension.

Scope: Diet and gut microbiota are involved in blood pressure regulations, but few studies have focused on the constipation patients. The study seeks to identify differences in gut microbiota between hypertensive and normotensive subjects in constipation patients, analyzes the relationship between dietary patterns and blood pressure, and explores mediation effects of gut microbiota.

Methods And Results: Gut microbial genera and dietary information of 186 functional constipation participants are characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing and a food frequency questionnaire.

LINC02015 modulates the cell proliferation and apoptosis of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells by transcriptional regulation and protein interaction network.

Long intergenic nonprotein coding RNA 2015 (LINC02015) is a long non-coding RNA that has been found elevated in various cell proliferation-related diseases. However, the functions and interactive mechanism of LINC02015 remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of LINC02015 in the cell proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to explain the pathogenesis of aortic diseases.

Three-Dimensional Cardiomyocyte-Nanobiosensing System for Specific Recognition of Drug Subgroups.

Abnormal cardiac electrophysiological activities significantly contribute to the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize effective drugs, which require an accurate, stable, and sensitive platform. Although conventional extracellular recordings offer a non-invasive and label-free manner to monitor the electrophysiological state of cardiomyocytes, the misrepresented and low-quality extracellular action potentials are difficult to provide accurate and high-content information for drug screening.

Septuagenarians with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing extended aortic arch repair: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Extended arch repair in elderly patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) remains challenging for cardiac surgeons. Data on extended arch repair for ATAAD in septuagenarians are scarce.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive adult patients with ATAAD undergoing extended arch repair from January 2015 to December 2021 were identified.