Research progress on animal models of corneal epithelial-stromal injury.

A corneal epithelial-stromal defect is recognized as a major contributor to corneal scarring. Given the rising prevalence of blindness caused by corneal scarring, increasing attention has been focused on corneal epithelial-stromal defects. Currently, the etiology and pathogenesis of these defects remain inadequately understood, necessitating further investigation through experimental research.

Long-read assembled metagenomic approaches improve our understanding on metabolic potentials of microbial community in mangrove sediments.

Background: Mangrove wetlands are coastal ecosystems with important ecological features and provide habitats for diverse microorganisms with key roles in nutrient and biogeochemical cycling. However, the overall metabolic potentials and ecological roles of microbial community in mangrove sediment are remained unanswered. In current study, the microbial and metabolic profiles of prokaryotic and fungal communities in mangrove sediments were investigated using metagenomic analysis based on PacBio single-molecule real time (SMRT) and Illumina sequencing techniques.

[Metformin prevents non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats: role of phospholipase A2/lysophosphatidylcholine lipoapoptosis pathway in hepatocytes].

Objective: To investigate the potential preventive effects of metformin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and roles of phospholipase A2/lysophosphatidylcholine pathway in hepatocyte lipoapoptosis in a rat NAFLD model induced by high-fat diet.

Method: Male SD rats (n = 36) were randomly divided into three groups with 12 rats in each and treated with different diet and drugs: group I: ordinary diet, group II: high-fat diet, group III: high-fat diet and metformin. Ten weeks later, the rats were sacrificed and their body weight and liver weight were obtained, serum lipid metabolic indexes, insulin resistance indexes and secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels and other parameters were measured.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: An early mediator predicting metabolic syndrome in obese children?

Aim: To investigate if non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an early mediator for prediction of metabolic syndrome, and if liver B-ultrasound can be used for its diagnosis.

Methods: We classified 861 obese children (6-16 years old) into three subgroups: group 0 (normal liver in ultrasound and normal transaminases); group 1 (fatty liver in ultrasound and normal transaminases); and group 2 (fatty liver in ultrasound and elevated transaminases). We measured the body mass index, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), lipid profile and transaminases in all the participants.

[Relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease in children with obesity].

Objective: To study the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children with obesity.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-one obese children and 24 non-obese children as control were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride, blood pressure, liver function, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were examined.