Metabolic crosstalk between the mitochondrion and the nucleus is essential for Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular pathogenic protist with a remarkable ability to infect a wide range of host cells, displays an equally exceptional design of its carbon metabolism. There are, however, critical gaps in our understanding of the metabolic network in T. gondii.

Association of relative fat mass with prevalence of erectile dysfunction in US men: an analysis of NHANES 2001-2004.

The high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) underscores the critical importance of interventions and preventive measures targeting potential risk factors, among which obesity stands out. Relative fat mass (RFM) emerges as a superior indicator for quantifying body fat compared to traditional metrics like body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC). However, research on the relationship between RFM and ED is extremely limited.

Association between life's essential 8 and testosterone deficiency in US men: findings from national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 2011-2016.

Background: Testosterone deficiency (TD) is closely associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We intended to explore the association of Life's Essential 8 (LE8), the recently updated measurement of cardiovascular health, with the prevalence of TD among US male adults.

Methods: The population-based cross-sectional study selected male adults aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2016.

Association between weight-adjusted waist index and testosterone deficiency in adult American men: findings from the national health and nutrition examination survey 2013-2016.

Background: Testosterone deficiency (TD) and obesity are globally recognized health concerns, with a bidirectional causal relationship between them. And a newly discovered obesity indicator, the Weight-Adjusted-Waist Index (WWI), has been proposed, demonstrating superior adiposity identification capability compared to traditional body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) indicators. Therefore, we present the inaugural investigation into the associations of WWI with total testosterone levels and the risk of TD.

Don't wait any longer, conceive in time: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on semen parameters after varicocelectomy.

Background: Varicocelectomy was considered to be beneficial to patients with varicocele-related infertility. However, there are only a few researchers who have explored the relationship between better timing and postoperative semen improvement in patients.

Methods: We conducted this meta-analysis by enrolling published prospective studies to find out the best waiting time after varicocelectomy to wait for better improvement of semen quality.

Metabolic plasticity, essentiality and therapeutic potential of ribose-5-phosphate synthesis in Toxoplasma gondii.

Ribose-5-phosphate (R5P) is a precursor for nucleic acid biogenesis; however, the importance and homeostasis of R5P in the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii remain enigmatic. Here, we show that the cytoplasmic sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) is dispensable. Still, its co-deletion with transaldolase (TAL) impairs the double mutant's growth and increases C-glucose-derived flux into pentose sugars via the transketolase (TKT) enzyme.

Causal effect of gut microbiota on the risk of prostatitis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated that chronic prostatitis (CP) is closely related to the gut microbiota (GM). Nevertheless, the causal relationship between GM and CP has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to investigate this association.

Role of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzyme 1 in growth and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii and development of attenuated live vaccine.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous pathogen that infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans, causing substantial socioeconomic and healthcare burdens. However, there is no ideal vaccine for toxoplasmosis. As metabolism is important in the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma, some key pathways are promising antiparasitic targets.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in urban cats from China.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infects almost all warm-blooded animals, and cats play a crucial role in the epidemiology of T. gondii as the definitive host. Despite sporadic reports on the seroprevalence of T.

Influence of poly(lactide) stereocomplexes as nucleating agents on the crystallization behavior of poly(lactide)s.

The influence of the addition of linear and four-arm poly(lactide) (PLA) stereocomplexes (scPLAs) on the non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) from the molten state was investigated. The linear PLAs and four-arm PLA with a similar chain length for each arm were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The linear and four-arm scPLAs were then prepared by solution blending and characterized by H-NMR, FTIR, and WAXD analysis.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells increase drug resistance in CD133-expressing gastric cancer cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are recruited to primary tumours to compose the tumour microenvironment. In various cancers, CD133-positive cells have been shown to possess cancer stem cell properties that confer chemoresistance. This study aimed to investigate the role of BM-MSCs in the anti-tumour drug resistance of CD133-expressing gastric cancer cells and explore the underlying mechanisms that governing this role.