Roseburia intestinalis-derived butyrate alleviates neuropathic pain.

Approximately 20% of patients with shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). We investigated the role of gut microbiota in shingle- and PHN-related pain. Patients with shingles or PHN exhibited significant alterations in their gut microbiota with microbial markers predicting PHN development among patients with shingles.

cDTL contributes to breast cancer progression through regulating redox homeostasis via affecting the function of system xc.

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death caused by redox imbalance mediated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, which is intimately linked to human disease. Circular RNA, characterized by covalently closed loop structure, has attracted much attention due to its involvement in various biological functions. However, little is known about the role of circRNA in ferroptosis.

Tunable Topological Transitions Probed by the Quantum Hall Effect in Twisted Double Bilayer Graphene.

The moiré system provides a tunable platform for investigating exotic quantum phases. Particularly, the displacement field is crucial for tuning the electronic structures and topological properties of twisted double bilayer graphene (TDBG). Here, we present a series of -tunable topological transitions by the evolution of quantum Hall phases (QHPs) in the valence bands of TDBG.

Associations of elevated cardiac biomarkers with hyperuricemia and mortality in US adults without prevalent cardiovascular disease.

Background: NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-troponin T), and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-troponin I) have been widely recognized as significant cardiac biomarkers, and are increasingly being recommended for early risk identification in cardiovascular high-risk populations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of elevated cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, hs-troponin T, hs-troponin I) and their association with the risk of hyperuricemia in the general US adults without known cardiovascular disease. We further studied whether elevated cardiac biomarkers are associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with or without hyperuricemia.

LHX3 promotes EMT in hepatoma cell through β-catenin/TCF4 pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant cancer and lacks effective therapeutic targets. The role of LIM/homeobox protein Lhx3 (LHX3) has been extensively studied in various tumor tissues, where it has been identified as a promoter of tumorigenesis and malignancy. However, the specific functional role and potential mechanism of LHX3 in human HCCs are not clearly clarified.

High impact works on stem cell transplantation in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background: Low back pain is a major disorder that causes disability and is strongly associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Because of the limitations of contemporary interventions, stem cell transplantation (SCT) has been increasingly used to regenerate degenerative discs. Nevertheless, analyses of high-impact papers in this field are rare.

Synthesis of sucrose 6-acetate by immobilized aspergillus Niger lipase imprinted with oleic acid and sorbitol.

Biological and interfacial imprinting both were effective methods to improve the catalytic performance of lipase in organic solvent. Bioimprinting combined with interfacial activation of lipase was investigated for obtaining imprinted lipase with excellent catalytic performance. Enzymatic synthesis of sucrose-6-acetate in organic solvents to test the performance of imprinted lipase immobilized by adsorbing on macroporous resin.

Selenomethionine alleviates T-2 toxin-induced articular chondrocyte ferroptosis via the system Xc/GSH/GPX4 axis.

T-2 toxin can induce bone and cartilage development disorder, and oxidative stress plays an important role in it. It is well known that selenomethionine (Se-Met) has antioxidative stress properties and promotes the repair of cartilage lesion, but it remains unclear whether Se-Met can relieve damaged cartilage exposure to T-2 toxin. Here, the oxidative stress and ferroptosis of chondrocytes exposure to T-2 toxin were observed.

Environmental DNA-based assessment of multitrophic biodiversity in a typical river located in the Loess Plateau, China: Influence of PAHs and suspended sediments.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution and high suspended sediment (SS) contents are significant anthropogenic and natural stressors that threaten aquatic biodiversity. However, the characteristics of multitrophic biological communities and their co-occurrence patterns in response to PAHs in sediment-laden rivers remain unclear. This study investigated the spatial distribution of species across three trophic levels, including algae, metazoan, and fish, in the Beiluo River on the Loess Plateau, China, using environmental DNA metabarcoding.

Identification of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters in solitary hepatocellular carcinoma via imaging biomarkers in preoperative contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The value of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) radiological features and tumor three-dimensional volumetric quantification in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting the vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) pattern of solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. This study aimed to assess the value of these indicators for predicting the VETC pattern of solitary HCC.

Methods: In total, 36 patients with HCC were selected from a cohort containing 126 patients for further data evaluation.

The efficacy of plasma exosomal miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

Background: The response of gastric cancer (GC) patients to first-line programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade and S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) chemotherapy varies considerably, and the underlying mechanisms driving this variability remain elusive. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for efficacy prediction due to their roles in GC biology and stable expression in serum. In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers to predict patients' response to anti-PD-1 therapy and further elucidate the potential mechanisms by which these exosomal miRNAs modulate the immune response in GC.

Molecular epidemiology of in Hainan Province of China based on O-antigen.

Background: is a gram-negative bacterium widely found in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. This bacterium, which lacks an available vaccine, is the causative agent of melioidosis and has properties that potentially enable its exploitation as a bioweapon.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction assays targeting each of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) genetic types were used to investigate genotype frequencies in populations.

SPAG5 is a potential therapeutic target affecting proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of esophageal cancer cells.

Background: Sperm-associated antigen 5 (SPAG5) is a mitotic spindle protein crucial for coordinating the separation of sister chromatids into daughter cells. Increasing evidence suggests that SPAG5 is overexpressed in various malignancies, functioning as an oncogene. However, research specifically examining SPAG5 in esophageal cancer remains limited.

Newly estimated disability weights for 196 health states in Hubei Province, China.

Background: The disability weight (DW) reflects the severity of non-fatal outcomes and is an important parameter in calculating the burden of disease. However, the universality of the global, national, or subnational DWs remains controversial. This study aims to measure DWs specific to Hubei Province of China using non-parametric regression to anchor the DWs.

Association between bowel movement frequency, stool consistency and MAFLD and advanced fibrosis in US adults: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2005-2010.

Background: Although previous studies have established associations between specific gut microbiota (GM) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), research examining the relationship between functional gastrointestinal symptoms and MAFLD, including advanced fibrosis, remains limited. This study aims to investigate the association between stool consistency, bowel movement frequency (BMF), and the occurrence of MAFLD and advanced fibrosis in U.S.

Integrative multi-omics analysis reveals the contribution of neoVTX genes to venom diversity of Synanceia verrucosa.

Background: Animal venom systems are considered as valuable model for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic evolution. Stonefish are the most venomous and dangerous fish because of severe human envenomation and occasionally fatalities, whereas the genomic background of their venom has not been fully explored compared with that in other venomous animals.

Results: In this study, we followed modern venomic pipelines to decode the Synanceia verrucosa venom components.

The morphology and molecular mechanisms of enhanced olfaction in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi.

Winged aphids develop more sensitive olfaction than the wingless phenotype to identify potential habitat from afar. Two types of olfactory sensilla, primary rhinarium (PRh) and secondary rhinarium (SRh) are responsible for aphid olfactory perception, of which, SRh is involved in the perception of both E-β-farnesene (EBF) and plant volatiles. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play a vital role in the response of insect olfactory nerves located in the rhinarium to external odor stimuli.

Delta corticomedullary apparent diffusion coefficient on MRI as a biomarker for prognosis in IgA nephropathy.

Objectives: To explore the association of the cortico-medullary difference in apparent diffusion coefficient (ΔADC) with clinicopathological parameters of disease activity at the time of biopsy, and with the prognositic risk stratification in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients.

Methods: We included 112 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN who measured ΔADC. Patients underwent a kidney biopsy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging within one week of the biopsy.

Sox17 and Erg synergistically activate endothelial cell fate in reprogramming fibroblasts.

Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming is a potent tool for the in vitro and in vivo generation of arterial-like induced-endothelial cells from fibroblasts. In this study, we illustrate the pioneering roles of both Sox17 and Erg in the endothelial cell reprogramming process and demonstrate that emergent gene expression only occurs when both factors are co-expressed. Bioinformatic analyses and molecular validation reveal both Bach2 and Etv4 as integral mediators of Sox17-Erg reprogramming with different roles in lung and heart fibroblast reprogramming.

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A injection in plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections for treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF).

Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, conducting a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies from their inception to December 30 2023. The inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BTA injections with control interventions in terms of pain reduction, functional improvement, or the occurrence of adverse events in treating patients with PF were extracted for meta-analysis.

Improving Saline-Alkaline Soil and Ryegrass Growth with Coal Gangue Treatments.

Soil covering is a soil management technique used to address issues such as high alkalinity, nutrient deficiency, and a low soil and water-holding capacity in saline-alkali lands. Coal gangue, a solid waste generated from coal mining, contains nutrients and trace elements comparable to those in soil, making it a promising covering material. This study investigates the effects and mechanisms of coal gangue coverage on the physicochemical properties of soil, enzyme activity, and the growth of ryegrass.

Serum sestrin 2 and fetuin-A are associated with early pleural involvement in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Tuberculous pleuritis is the second most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Its prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are essential to decrease the morbidity and mortality of affected patients. We aimed to assess whether the serum sestrin 2 and fetuin-A levels can be used to diagnose early pleural involvement in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

RPA and Rad27 limit templated and inverted insertions at DNA breaks.

Formation of templated insertions at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is very common in cancer cells. The mechanisms and enzymes regulating these events are largely unknown. Here, we investigated templated insertions in yeast at DSBs using amplicon sequencing across a repaired locus.