Machine learning for predicting the prognosis of patients with thymoma and thymic carcinoma.

Background: Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum. However, there are little research on applying machine learning (ML) approaches to the prognostic prediction of thymoma and thymic carcinoma. The study aims to develop predictive models utilizing ML techniques to accurately forecast the 5-year survival of patients with thymoma and thymic carcinoma.

Emodin mitigates rheumatoid arthritis through direct binding to TNF-α.

Emodin has shown certain anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity in preliminary studies. However, the precise mechanisms of emodin's anti-RA effects, particularly its direct targets, remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-RA activity of emodin and elucidate its potential mechanisms, with a specific focus on identifying its molecular targets.

Quercetin, a Compound of the Total Flavonoids of Schltr., Ameliorates Rheumatoid Arthritis by Targeting TNF-α.

Objective: The total flavonoids of Schltr. (TFPF) exhibit notable anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) properties, highlighted by their inhibitory action on TNF-α. This study investigates the specific compounds of TFPF responsible for TNF-α inhibition and delineates their mechanism of action.

Referring Camouflaged Object Detection.

We consider the problem of referring camouflaged object detection (Ref-COD), a new task that aims to segment specified camouflaged objects based on a small set of referring images with salient target objects. We first assemble a large-scale dataset, called R2C7K, which consists of 7K images covering 64 object categories in real-world scenarios. Then, we develop a simple but strong dual-branch framework, dubbed R2CNet, with a reference branch embedding the common representations of target objects from referring images and a segmentation branch identifying and segmenting camouflaged objects under the guidance of the common representations.

Controlling crystallization in covalent organic frameworks to facilitate photocatalytic hydrogen production.

The catalytic performance, depending on the surface nature, is ubiquitous in photocatalysis. However, surface engineering for organic photocatalysts through structural modulation has long been neglected. Here, we propose a zone crystallization strategy for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that enhances surface ordering through regulator-induced amorphous-to-crystalline transformation.

Internal transcribed spacer sequencing to explore the intrinsic composition of fungal communities in fungal esophagitis.

Background: Fungal esophagitis (FE) is caused by fungal invasion of the esophageal mucosa. Under endoscopy, the esophageal mucosa shows edema, congestion, erosion, and ulceration, and bleeds easily when touched, and the surface of the mucosa is covered with small white spots like "bean curd residue". Clinical cases showing typical FE under endoscopic imaging but negative esophageal mucosal brush (referred to as suspected FE) have increased the difficulty and challenge of clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The effects and mechanisms of aqueous Persicaria capitata extract on uropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesion.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans are common, with uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) being the primary pathogen. The adhesive capabilities of UPEC are a substantial pathogenicity factor. Due to limitations of first-line antibiotics, Persicaria capitata (Buch.

Conservative phase-field-based lattice Boltzmann equation for gas-liquid-solid flow.

In this paper, a conservative phase-field based lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) is developed to simulate gas-liquid-solid flows with large fluid density contrasts. In this model, the gas-liquid interface is captured by the conservative Allen-Cahn equation (CACE), where an additional source term is incorporated to realize the wettability of solid structure. Subsequently, a LBE is designed to solve this modified CACE (MCACE), while the two-phase flow field is resolved by using another classical incompressible LBE, and the fluid-solid interaction force is calculated by smoothed-profile method (SPM).

Current status of healthcare financial literacy among medical trainees and junior hospitalists: An observational survey study.

The absence of comprehensive education on hospital value-based purchasing during undergraduate medical education may lead to inadequate comprehension of healthcare finance during Graduate Medical Education and subsequent medical practice. Medicine residents and junior hospitalists (defined as those who completed their residency in the last 5 years) may lack essential healthcare financial skills to address the needs of their patients and the healthcare system effectively. To assess healthcare financial literacy among medical students, medicine residents, and junior hospitalists, we conducted a survey at an academic Internal Medicine residency affiliated with a US Medical School.

Global burden of thyroid cancer in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) from 1990 to 2021: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system and head-and-neck region, yet data on its burden in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is lacking. This study aimed to estimate the global burden of TC among AYAs from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: Utilizing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data, we analyzed age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) on global, regional, and national scales.

The relationship between biological aging and psoriasis: evidence from three observational studies.

Background: The relationship between psoriasis and aging remains unclear. Biological age is considered as a tool for strong association with aging, but there is a lack of reports on the relationship between biological age and psoriasis. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between biological age and psoriasis.

Adropin-Driven Browning: Targeting M2 Macrophages to Combat PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disorders. The exact pathogenesis of PCOS remains unclear. Adropin, a secreted protein encoded by the energy homeostasis gene (Enho), has immunometabolic regulatory functions.

A scoping review of photovoice for people living with diabetes.

Objectives: The purpose of this review was to examine the characteristics of published photovoice method studies for people with diabetes, including the purposes, the methodological variations, and the main strengths and challenges during photovoice research.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted with citations retrieved from the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies published before 18 March 2023, when the search was conducted, were included.

Zero Background Visualizing Phosphorescence Lateral Flow Immunoassay of Cardiac Troponin I for Rapid and Accurate Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction.

Fluorescence lateral flow immunoassays (FL-LFIA) have attracted considerable attention in clinical diagnosis due to their outstanding merits of affordable, sensitive, on-site, and quick detection. However, they are still plagued by significant signal interference, such as autofluorescence and scattered light. The development of high-performance and robust phosphors, i.

The predicted value for venous thromboembolism based on a modified model of caprini combined with fasting blood glucose and D-dimer: a retrospective study.

Background: The Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) is a classical score that evaluates the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) aimed at patients with lower extremity fractures (LEF). However, the influencing factors of RAM pay more attention to clinical characteristic variables and recognized thrombophilia markers such as prothrombin, while ignoring the influence of other laboratory indicators on thrombosis. This is the first paper to screen predictive risk factors associated with VTE to modify the Caprini model and determine its diagnostic value.

Differential Mechanisms of Soybean-Derived ACE2-Activating Peptides IVPQ and IAVPT in ACE2-Mediated Endothelial Protection.

This study aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of soybean-derived peptides IVPQ and IAVPT, which were initially identified as potent ACE2-activating peptides, on Ang II-induced endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the underlying mechanisms via ACE2 activation. IVPQ and IAVPT ameliorated Ang II-induced malignant migration and NO reduction in HUVECs via the activation of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis, resulting in Ang II degradation and decreased Ang II signaling. These protective effects were attenuated by ACE2 knockdown to different degrees, which was possibly due to different mechanisms of activating ACE2, where IAVPT directly activated ACE2 at a concentration of 1.

Association between dietary antioxidants, serum albumin/globulin ratio and quality of life in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients: a 7-year follow-up study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between dietary antioxidant index (DAI) combined with serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and postoperative Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: All patients were newly diagnosed with ESCC and underwent radical esophagectomy. Dietary data and routine blood tests were collected preoperatively to compute DAI and AGR.

Incomplete non-puerperal uterine inversion in an adolescent girl: a case report.

Background: Non-puerperal uterine inversion (NPUI) is particularly rare and presents a significant diagnostic challenge. This case report describes the youngest case of incomplete NPUI, noteworthy due to the unidentified factor that triggered the uterine inversion.

Case: This case report presents a retrospective analysis of a 19-year-old female patient diagnosed with incomplete uterine inversion, the main symptoms of which were vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain.

Identification of prognostic biomarker of non-small cell lung cancer based on mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis-related genes and determination of anti-tumor effect of ARL14.

Background: Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis (MPTDN) is a non-apoptotic mode of cell death triggered by oxidative stress and cytosolic Ca overload. Recent evidence suggests that activation of MPTND can effectively induce cancer cell death and may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer. Yet, the role of MPTDN-related genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unrevealed.

Rational Design and Optimization of the Band Gap and p-Type Doping in High-Efficiency CdTe Solar Cells through CuSeCN Treatment.

Broadening the alloyed CdSeTe region in the absorber layer is the key to preparing highly efficient CdTe-based solar cells (SCs). With CdSe prejunction doping, the diffusion distance via the non-in situ Se doping method is restricted, and the doping ions are difficult to completely diffuse through the whole absorber layer. Moreover, the commonly used p-type back contact material CuSCN shows efficient copper doping characteristics, but the S element is not an ideal doping source for the CdTe absorber.

Beam Scanning with Ultra-Low Sidelobes and In-Band Ultra-Low Scattering Characteristics Empowered by Single Space-Time-Coding Radiation-Scattering Metasurface.

The integrated modulation of radiation and scattering provides an unprecedented opportunity to reduce the number of electromagnetic (EM) apertures in the platform while simultaneously enhancing communication and stealth performance. Nevertheless, achieving full-polarization, arbitrary amplitude, and phase modulation of radiation scattering remains a challenge. In this paper, a strategy that realizes space-time coding of radiation scattering within the same frequency band, which enables the simultaneous and independent modulation of amplitude and phase, is proposed.

Optimization of SARS-CoV-2 M Inhibitors by a Structure-Based Multilevel Virtual Screening Method.

With the aim of developing novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to address the ongoing evolution and emergence of drug-resistant strains, the reported SARS-CoV-2 M inhibitor was selected as a lead to find novel, highly potent, and broad-spectrum inhibitors. Using a fragment-based multilevel virtual screening strategy, 15 hit compounds were identified and subsequently synthesized. Among them, (IC = 1.

Coordination Self-Assembly Induced Hot Exciton Fluorescence and Multi-Source Excitation Long Afterglow.

Metal-organic complexes with long afterglow luminescence have attracted extensive attention due to potential applications in display, sensing and information security. However, most of the metal-organic complex long afterglow materials reported so far are limited to the use of UV light as the excitation source, and the ambiguity of the structure-activity relationship makes the development of metal-organic complexes extremely limited. Herein, a series of metal-organic complexes with ultralong emission lifetime is constructed by coordination assembly of Zn(II) with three isomers.

Significance of Relative Left Ventricle Wall Thickness in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Given the strong association between relative wall thickness (RWT) and cardiovascular dysfunction, this study aims to explore RWT as a novel cardiovascular indicator to predict the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) after lung cancer surgery and guide clinical interventions. This study retrospectively analyzed 170 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer in Nanjing First Hospital, China, between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients were divided into AKI group (n = 52) and non-AKI group (n = 118) based on the occurrence of AKI.

Efficacy and safety of consolidative thoracic radiotherapy after first-line chemoimmunotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) has shown potential benefits in improving local control and overall survival (OS) in chemotherapy-responsive small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases. However, its role in the era of chemoimmunotherapy remains underexplored. In the current era of immunotherapy, this study evaluated the efficacy and safety of consolidative TRT (cTRT) in patients with extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) and assessed its impact on OS.