OTUB2 contributes to vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease via the YAP-mediated transcription of PFKFB3.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue, with vascular calcification (VC) being a common and deadly complication. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms of VC remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether and how Otubain-2 (OTUB2) contributes to VC.

GP73 reinforces cytotoxic T-cell function by regulating HIF-1α and increasing antitumor efficacy.

Background: Immunotherapy that targets immune checkpoints has achieved revolutionary success, but its application in solid tumors remains limited, highlighting the need for reliable enhancement of the efficacy of immunotherapy. Golgi protein 73 (GP73), a Golgi membrane protein, has been implicated in various cellular processes, including immune regulation. Recent studies suggested that GP73 may play a role in modulating the immune response in patients with cancer.

Elevated Serum Homocysteine Levels Impair Embryonic Neurodevelopment by Dysregulating the Heat Shock Proteins.

Observational studies have found that elevated serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels during pregnancy may be associated with the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the effect of Hcy on fetal neural development and its underlying molecular mechanisms remains unclear. To uncover the molecular mechanism, we analyzed the serum Hcy concentration in pregnant women with normal and abnormal pregnancy outcomes and treated zebrafish model embryos with high Hcy.

[Evaluation of the trueness and tissue surface adaptation of digital and traditional complete denture bases].

Purpose: To compare the trueness of the tissue surface of the complete denture base among the digital cutting complete denture, the digital 3D printing complete denture and the conventional complete denture.

Methods: Three edentulous patients were selected, and three complete dentures were made for each case. Cutting dentures (cutting group), 3D printed dentures(printing group) were considered as the experimental groups, traditional dentures (traditional group) were considered as the control group.

The role of macrophage and adipocyte mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of obesity.

Obesity has emerged as a prominent global public health concern, leading to the development of numerous metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), sleep apnea and several system diseases. It is widely recognized that obesity is characterized by a state of inflammation, with immune cells-particularly macrophages-playing a significant role in its pathogenesis through the production of inflammatory cytokines and activation of corresponding pathways. In addition to their immune functions, macrophages have also been implicated in lipogenesis.

BRCC36 regulates β-catenin ubiquitination to alleviate vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease.

Background: The prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains substantial, but currently, there are no effective pharmaceutical therapies available. BRCA1/BRCA2-containing complex subunit 36 (BRCC36) has been implicated in osteoblast osteogenic conversion; however, its specific role in VC remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of BRCC36 in VC.

Comparisons of clinical scoring systems among suspected pulmonary embolism patients presenting to emergency department.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is among the most severe cardiovascular disorders worldwide. Timely and appropriate diagnosis of PE remains an important step in reducing PE related mortality and morbidity.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center cohort study, we comprehensively compared the screening performances of several clinical scoring systems (Wells score [WS], Revised Geneva score [RGS], WS + d-Dimer [D-D], RGS + D-D, WS + PE rule-out criteria [PERC] and RGS + PERC) among PE suspected patients.

PtCo nanoalloy embedded nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube for rechargeable Zn-air batteries.

The large-scale application of metal-air batteries strongly depends on the development of cost-effective, highly efficient, and durable bifunctional oxygen catalysts. In this work, a facile approach for preparing the monodisperse PtCo nanoalloy anchored the nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (PtCo/NCNT) for zinc-air batteries is reported. The nitrogen-doped carbon shell prevents PtCo nanoalloy from exfoliation, dissolution, and aggregation and enables the accessibility of electrolytes to the alloy surface and the electron transfer.

A novel polyp retrieval bag reduces the polyp fragmentation rate in colon polypectomy: a single-blind randomized controlled study.

Purpose: The fragmentation of polyps affects complete resection confirmation. The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a novel polyp retrieval bag for reducing the fragmentation rate of colon polyps.

Methods: Patients with a 5-15 mm colon polyp were recruited and randomized into two groups at a 1:1 ratio.

BPOZ-2-deficient mice exhibit aggravated inflammation-associated tissue damage after acute dextran sodium sulfate or diethylnitrosamine exposure.

An excessive inflammatory response plays an important role in pathological tissue damage associated with pathogen infection and tumorigenesis. Blood POZ-containing gene type 2 (BPOZ-2), an adaptor protein for the E3 ubiquitin ligase scaffold protein CUL3, is a negative regulator of the inflammatory response. In this study, we investigated the pathophysiological functions of BPOZ-2 in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon injury and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver damage.

Integrating Phenotypic Information of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Deep Representation of Sleep-Event Sequences for Cardiovascular Risk Prediction.

Background: Advances in mobile, wearable and machine learning (ML) technologies for gathering and analyzing long-term health data have opened up new possibilities for predicting and preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Meanwhile, the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and CV risk has been well-recognized. This study seeks to explore effective strategies of incorporating OSA phenotypic information and overnight physiological information for precise CV risk prediction in the general population.

Accurate nowcasting of cloud cover at solar photovoltaic plants using geostationary satellite images.

Accurate nowcasting for cloud fraction is still intractable challenge for stable solar photovoltaic electricity generation. By combining continuous radiance images measured by geostationary satellite and an advanced recurrent neural network, we develop a nowcasting algorithm for predicting cloud fraction at the leading time of 0-4 h at photovoltaic plants. Based on this algorithm, a cyclically updated prediction system is also established and tested at five photovoltaic plants and several stations with cloud fraction observations in China.

Long-term administration of probiotics prevents gastrointestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in septic mice partly by upregulating the 5-HT degradation pathway.

Sepsis can impair gastrointestinal (GI) barrier integrity. Oral probiotics (PT) can maintain the balance of GI microflora and improve GI function. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a key promoter of GI injury caused by sepsis.

Multimorbidity patterns and the association with health status of the oldest-old in long-term care facilities in China: a two-step analysis.

Background: The increasing prevalence of multimorbidity has created a serious global public health problem in aging populations. Certain multimorbidity patterns across different age ranges and their association with health status remain unclear. The main aim of this study is to identify multimorbidity patterns discrepancies and associated health status between younger-old and oldest-old.

In Situ Construction of Zinc-Mediated Fe, N-Codoped Hollow Carbon Nanocages with Boosted Oxygen Reduction for Zn-Air Batteries.

The rational design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts with unique morphology and luxuriant porous structure is significant but challenging for accelerating the reaction kinetics of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Herein, zinc-mediated Fe, N-codoped carbon nanocages (Zn-FeNCNs) are synthesized by pyrolyzing the polymerized iron-doped polydopamine on the surface of the ZIF-8 crystal polyhedron. The formation of the chelate between polydopamine and Fe serves as the covering layer to prevent the porous carbon nanocages from collapsing and boosts enough exposure and utilization of metal-based active species during carbonization.

A prospective study on the endometrium properties and the pregnancy rate of infertile women with thin endometrium receiving used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective: To evaluate whether Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules (ZGNZC) can increase the fertility rate of Chinese women with infertility due to thin endometrium.

Methods: Prospective, randomized, open-labeled 3-monthly study; 104 patients (aged 20-40 years) receiving either ZGNZC (experimental group,  = 55) or not (control group,  = 49). Main outcomes: thickness/type of the endometrium during ovulation and pregnancy rate.

PECSS: Pulmonary Embolism Comprehensive Screening Score to safely rule out pulmonary embolism among suspected patients presenting to emergency department.

Background: Pulmonary embolism is a severe cardiovascular disease and can be life-threatening if left untreated. However, the detection rate of pulmonary embolism using existing pretest probability scores remained relatively low and clinical rule out often relied on excessive use of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from pulmonary embolism suspected patients in Zhongshan Hospital from July 2018 to October 2022.

Development and validation of cancer-associated fibroblasts-related gene landscape in prognosis and immune microenvironment of bladder cancer.

Backgrounds: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most prevalent cancers of the genitourinary system, the clinical outcomes of patients with BLCA are bad, and the morbidity rate is high. One of the key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which are critically involved in BLCA tumorigenesis. Previous studies have shown the involvement of CAFs in tumor growth, cancer progression, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance in several cancers such as breast, colon, pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

Marrow adipose tissue is increased in overweight and obese women with PCOS independently of hyperandrogenism related obesity and metabolic disorders.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the increase in bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its relationship with hyperandrogenism, obesity, and metabolic disorders.

Methods: The study included 87 overweight or obese women with PCOS (mean age 29 ± 4 years), as well as 87 age-matched controls recruited from a separate population study. All PCOS patients were measured for anthropometric features, abdominal adipose tissue areas, BMAT, biochemistry, and sex hormones.

PD-L1 expression downregulation by RNF43 in gastric carcinoma enhances antitumour activity of T cells.

Ring finger protein 43 (RNF43), a transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been indicated to be a potential biomarker for gastric cancer treatment, as this protein increases tumour cell apoptosis and suppresses cellular proliferation. The role of RNF43 in cellular immunotherapy remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to explore the expression level of RNF43 in gastric cancer cell lines and its role in cellular immunotherapy.

Plasma visfatin and apelin levels in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that usually begins during adolescence. Patients may have severe metabolic disorders.

Objective: To investigate the levels of visfatin and apelin in adolescent girls with PCOS and to explore the importance of visfatin and apelin in glucose and lipid metabolism.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Feeding and Eating Disorders in Persons with Dementia: Systematic Review and Evidence Summary.

Background: Feeding and eating disorders related to cognitive and psycho-behavioral symptoms are strongly associated with health status in persons with dementia (PWD). Non-pharmacological interventions have been the priority selection to address this significant issue. However, the direct targets of non-pharmacological interventions are unclear and there is no consistent evidence of recommendations on the intervention of different dementia stages and the settings of intervention practice.