The association between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing angiography: a propensity-matched study.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been proven to prevent decline in kidney function and failure. Whether SGLT2i affect the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) remains uncertain.

Methods: Use of SGLT2i was assessed in consecutive diabetics undergoing coronary angiography (CA) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from January 2020 to May 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Chongqing, China.

Updated classification with spinal dysraphism and treatment outcomes of arteriovenous shunts below conus: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Arteriovenous shunts below conus medullaris (AVS-BC) are understudied, particularly those associated with spinal dysraphism. This study aimed to refine the classification and management of AVS-BC.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with AVS-BC from two centers over two decades was performed, focusing on clinical presentations, angioarchitecture, and treatment outcomes.

Strong and efficient bismuth telluride-based thermoelectrics for Peltier microcoolers.

Thermoelectric Peltier coolers (PCs) are being increasingly used as temperature stabilizers for optoelectronic devices. Increasing integration drives PC miniaturization, requiring thermoelectric materials with good strength. We demonstrate a simultaneous gain of thermoelectric and mechanical performance in (Bi, Sb)Te, and successfully fabricate micro PCs (2 × 2 mm cross-section) that show excellent maximum cooling temperature difference of 89.

Causal association of immune cells and endometritis: a Mendelian randomization study.

Research exploring the link between immune cell profiles and the development of endometritis remains scant. This gap necessitates further study to decode the complex interrelations influencing this condition. In this analysis, we leveraged two-sample Mendelian randomization to examine the causal ties between the phenotypes of immune cells and the incidence of endometritis.

Mechanisms of cuproptosis and its relevance to distinct diseases.

Copper is a trace element required by the organism, but once the level of copper exceeds the threshold, it becomes toxic and even causes death. The underlying mechanisms of copper-induced death are inconclusive, with different studies showing different opinions on the mechanism of copper-induced death. Multiple investigations have shown that copper induces oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, nucleolar stress, and proteasome inhibition, all of which can result in cell death.

Bibliometric analysis of the global trends in immune-related recurrent pregnancy loss research over the last two decades.

Problem: A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore the scientific output on immune-related recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and its key aspects. Despite the lack of clear explanations for most RPL cases, immune factors were found to play a significant role.

Method Of Study: The study utilized a bibliometric approach, searching the Web of Science Core Collection database for relevant literature published between 2004 and 2023.

Application of Biotechniques for In Vitro Virus and Viroid Elimination in Pome Fruit Crops.

Sustainable production of pome fruit crops is dependent upon having virus-free planting materials. The production and distribution of plants derived from virus- and viroid-negative sources is necessary not only to control pome fruit viral diseases but also for sustainable breeding activities, as well as the safe movement of plant materials across borders. With variable success rates, different in vitro-based techniques, including shoot tip culture, micrografting, thermotherapy, chemotherapy, and shoot tip cryotherapy, have been employed to eliminate viruses from pome fruits.

Isolated spinal artery aneurysm: etiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.

Objective: Isolated spinal aneurysms (ISAs) are rare causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which encompass a highly heterogeneous group of clinical entities with multifarious pathogeneses, clinical characteristics, and treatment strategies. Therefore, knowledge about the ISAs remains inadequate. In this study, the authors present a comprehensive analysis of clinical data associated with ISAs at their institutions to enhance the understanding of this disease.

Gut microbiota and risk of polycystic ovary syndrome: Insights from Mendelian randomization.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine and metabolic syndrome with complex origins and pathogenesis that has not yet been fully elucidated. Recently, the interconnection between gut microbiota and metabolic diseases has gained prominence in research, generating new insights into the correlation between PCOS and gut microbiota composition. However, the causal link between PCOS and gut microbiota remains relatively unexplored, indicating a crucial gap in current research.

Correlation between Carotid Blood Flow Velocity and Total Magnetic Resonance Imaging Burden of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Patients with Recent Small Subcortical Infarcts.

Background: The common and internal carotid arteries are the upstream vessels of the small cerebral vessels. The relationship between hemodynamic changes in the significant cervical vessels and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains uncertain. This research sought to analyze the correlation between carotid blood flow velocity and the total magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) burden of CSVD in patients with recent small subcortical infarcts (RSSIs).

Wide-temperature-range thermoelectric n-type Mg(Sb,Bi) with high average and peak zT values.

Mg(Sb,Bi) is a promising thermoelectric material suited for electronic cooling, but there is still room to optimize its low-temperature performance. This work realizes >200% enhancement in room-temperature zT by incorporating metallic inclusions (Nb or Ta) into the Mg(Sb,Bi)-based matrix. The electrical conductivity is boosted in the range of 300-450 K, whereas the corresponding Seebeck coefficients remain unchanged, leading to an exceptionally high room-temperature power factor >30 μW cm K; such an unusual effect originates mainly from the modified interfacial barriers.

[Characteristics and Dominant Influencing Factors of the Fungal Community Structure in Soils Co-contaminated with Rare Earth Elements and Heavy Metals].

Rare earth elements (REEs) have been listed as emerging pollutants and are often enriched together in soils with heavy metals (HMs), which results in ecological crises. The ecological effects caused by REEs have been attracting increasing amounts of attention, but most studies neglect the synergistic effect of REEs and HMs. The soil fungal community plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem functions, and understanding the fungal community structure and its dominant influencing factors in the co-contaminated soils will help to develop soil remediation strategies that could reduce or remedy the impacts of human production activities on the environment.

Multimodality Treatment of Deep-seated Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations: The Experiences of One Center.

Objective: Treatment of deep-seated cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains challenging for neurosurgeons or neuroradiologists. This study aims to review the experiences of one center in using multimodality treatment for deep-seated AVMs.

Methods: The AVM database of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University was searched, and 96 patients who were diagnosed with a deep-seated cerebral AVM between 2010 and 2020 were identified.

Determination of the components of danyikangtai powder into the plasma and its pharmacodynamic study.

Danyikangtai powder has a definite therapeutic effect on pancreatitis. However, the internal mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this experiment is to quickly identify the blood components of danyikangtai powder and evaluate its efficacy.

Evolution of defect structures leading to high ZT in GeTe-based thermoelectric materials.

GeTe is a promising mid-temperature thermoelectric compound but inevitably contains excessive Ge vacancies hindering its performance maximization. This work reveals that significant enhancement in the dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) could be realized by defect structure engineering from point defects to line and plane defects of Ge vacancies. The evolved defects including dislocations and nanodomains enhance phonon scattering to reduce lattice thermal conductivity in GeTe.

Effect of social app-assisted education and support on glucose control in patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus.

Background: Social app-assisted education and support may facilitate diabetes self-management. We aim to evaluate the effect of WeChat, a popular social app, on glycemic control in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We conducted a parallel-group, open-label, randomized clinical trial that included 160 patients with both CHD and diabetes mellitus from a tertiary hospital in China.

Sildenafil Inhibits the Growth and Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition of Cervical Cancer via the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 Pathway.

Aims: The study aims to explore new potential treatments for cervical cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, causing >250,000 deaths worldwide. Patients with cervical cancer are mainly treated with platinum compounds, which often cause severe toxic reactions.