Research Progress on Obesity-Associated Kidney Diseases.

The pathogenesis of obesity-associated kidney disease (OAKD) involves many aspects,including the overactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,insulin resistance,chronic inflammation,disorder of lipid metabolism and imbalance of gut microecology.Treatment strategies for OAKD focus on lifestyle adjustments,pharmacotherapy,bariatric surgery,and fecal microbiota transplantation.A deeper understanding of the hazards of OAKD and its pathogenesis will contribute to the development of personalized and precise strategies for prevention,diagnosis and treatment of OAKD in the future.

Mic60 is essential to maintain mitochondrial integrity and to prevent encephalomyopathy.

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (ME) are frequently associated with mutations of mitochondrial DNA, but the pathogenesis of a subset of ME (sME) remains elusive. Here we report that haploinsufficiency of a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, Mic60, causes progressive neurological abnormalities with insulted mitochondrial structure and neuronal loss in mice. In addition, haploinsufficiency of Mic60 reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP production, increases reactive oxygen species, and alters mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complexes in neurons in an age-dependent manner.

Clinical study of vacuum phenomenon in closed pelvic fracture.

Background: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and clinical findings of the vacuum phenomenon (VP) in closed pelvic fractures.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 352 patients with closed pelvic fractures who presented to our institution from January 2017 to December 2020. Pelvic fractures were diagnosed by plain radiography and computed tomography (CT).

Postoperative subacute static progressive stretch does not increase the risk of distal lower limb venous thromboembolism.

Purpose: Static progressive stretch (SPS) can be applied to treat chronic joint stiffness. However, the impacts of subacute application of SPS to the distal lower limbs, where deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is common, on venous thromboembolism remain unclear. This study aims to explore the risk of venous thromboembolism events following subacute application of SPS.

An Ideal Hallmark Closest to Complete Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: High-sensitivity Quantitative HBsAg Loss.

In the era of antiviral therapy, the main goal of treatment has shifted from the persistent inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication to the pursuit of serological clearance of HBs surface antigen (HBsAg). Based on the life cycle of HBV, HBsAg originates from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and integrated HBV DNA, thus reflecting their transcriptional activity. Complete HBsAg loss may mean elimination or persistent inactivity of the HBV genome including cccDNA and integrated HBV DNA.

Survival Analysis of Patients with Thoracic Duct Ligation during Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy.

Objective: To determinate the effect of thoracic duct ligation during thoracoscopic esophagectomy on esophageal cancer patients survival.

Study Design: A descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, Shandong, China, from June, 2016 to June, 2021.

Nrf2 expands the intracellular pool of the chaperone AHSP in a cellular model of β-thalassemia.

In β-thalassemia, free α-globin chains are unstable and tend to aggregate or degrade, releasing toxic heme, porphyrins and iron, which produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). α-Hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) is a potential modifier of β-thalassemia due to its ability to escort free α-globin and inhibit the cellular production of ROS. The influence of AHSP on the redox equilibrium raises the question of whether AHSP expression is regulated by components of ROS signaling pathways and/or canonical redox proteins.

Impact of chronic outward force on arterial responses of proximal and distal of long superficial femoral artery stent.

Background: Self-expanding nitinol stent (SENS) implantation is commonly oversized in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), and leads to chronic outward force (COF) and in-stent restenosis (ISR). This study aimed to investigate the impact of COF of oversizing SENS on ISR of SFA.

Methods: In patients with implanted SENS in SFA, intimal hyperplasia especially between proximal segment and distal segment was evaluated by quantitative angiography, and the impact of COF on mid-term angiographic outcomes was investigated.

Zeolitic Metal Cluster Carboxylic Framework for Selective Carbon Dioxide Chemical Fixation through the Superlarge Cage.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with zeolitic structure process fantastic structural metrics and display excellent applications in many aspects; however, they are difficult to assemble. Herein, on the basis of a tetrahedral ZnO cluster and a 3,5-bis(2,4-dicarboxylphenyl)nitrobenzene (HL) ligand, a novel sodalite (SOD) zeolitic cluster framework (ZCF), {[Zn(O)(L)]·4DMF·6HO} (; DMF = ,-dimethylformamide), has been hydrothermally synthesized. Compared with the traditional SOD zeolitic framework of ZIF-8, the cage size of is dramatically improved from 16.

Impact of hepatitis C virus genotype 3 on liver disease progression in a Chinese national cohort.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3, particularly subtype 3b, is increasing in prevalence and distribution in China. This study evaluated the prevalence, regional distribution, clinical characteristics, host factors, treatment outcomes, and disease progression of patients with HCV genotype 3 in China.

Methods: A 5-year follow-up was preceded by a cross-sectional study.

Correlation analysis of hepatitis C virus core antigen and low viral loads: Can core antigen replace nucleic acid test?

Value of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (cAg) test has been controversy in patients with low HCV loads for its lower sensitivity. We assessed correlation between HCV-cAg and HCV RNA in serum samples with low viral loads and analyzed the performance of HCV-cAg assay in determining diagnosis and treatment outcomes in chronic hepatitis C patients. Both HCV RNA and HCV-cAg were detected for 2298 serum samples.

Establishment of a Canine Training Model for Digestive Tract Reconstruction after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Purpose: Practical training models can be a viable and effective educational tool that allows surgeons to acquire specific surgical techniques or skills. However, a suitable animal training model for reconstruction after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has not yet been reported. Therefore, we explored the feasibility and safety of establishing an animal training model for digestive tract reconstruction after a simulated PD using mongrel dogs.

A novel point-of-care oral anti-HCV assay: Is it reliable for screening hepatitis C virus infection in the era of direct-acting antivirals?

Recent advance in the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) offers the potentials to eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide and makes universal screening more urgent. A point-of-care (POC) oral anti-HCV assay, the Fortune assay, was developed and its performance was evaluated. Individuals with or without HCV infection were recruited in three Centers.

Ligation of thoracic duct during thoracoscopic esophagectomy can lead to decrease of T lymphocyte.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy has been one of the most preferable surgical treatments for early esophageal cancer. Some scholars suggested that the thoracic duct should be routinely ligated to reduce the incidence of postoperative chylothorax, while another group raised an objection. As a classic indicator of immune function, T lymphocyte subsets can be applied to assess the effects of prophylactic thoracic duct ligation during thoracoscopic esophagectomy.

Four new metal-organic frameworks based on diverse secondary building units: sensing and magnetic properties.

Four new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), {[Zn(L)(OH)(HO)]·NMP·2HO} (1), {[HN(Me)][Zn(L)(HO)]·DMF·HO} (2), {[Co(L)(HO)]·2HO} (3) and {[Mn(L)(HO)]·6HO} (4), were assembled employing a symmetrical V-shaped rigid multicarboxylic acid ligand HL (HL = 2,4-di(3',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid) with different metal ions, resulting in versatile frameworks as well as various types of coordination modes of HL. 1 forms a three-dimensional (3D) 4-connected sra net based on trinuclear [Zn(μ-OH)(μ-COO)(μ-COO)] clusters, while 2 displays a 3D (4,6)-connected net based on two types of binuclear [Zn(μ-COO)(μ-COO)] and [Zn(μ-COO)] clusters. 3 and 4 contain similar [M(μ-COO)(μ-COO)] (3, M = Co; 4, M = Mn) clusters but result in different 4-connected 3D and 2D frameworks, respectively.

The influence of coordination modes and active sites of a 5-(triazol-1-yl) nicotinic ligand on the assembly of diverse MOFs.

Six new complexes based on 5-(triazol-1-yl)nicotinic acid (HL), namely [Cu(L)(HO)(OH)] (1), [Co(L)(HO)] (2), [Mn(L)(HO)] (3), {[Co(L)(HO)(DMF)(NO)]·(Cl)·DMF·2HO} (4), {[Cu(L)(O)]·CHOH·2.5HO} (5) and {[Co(L)(HO)]·2DMA·2HO} (6), were synthesized under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions. The L ligand in 1-6 reveals various coordination modes and forms diverse secondary building units (SBUs) in the final structures.

Effect of Ligation of the Thoracic Duct During Oesophagectomy on the Absorption of D-xylose.

Objective: To assess if prophylactic thoracic duct ligation during oesophagectomy influences the absorptive function of oesophageal cancer patients.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, from August 2014 to December 2015.

Hepatitis B virus infection in Chinese patients with hepatitis C virus infection: prevalence, clinical characteristics, viral interactions and host genotypes: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Little is known about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in China. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, viral interactions and host genotypes of HBV/HCV dual infection compared with HCV monoinfection.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

HBcrAg Identifies Patients Failing to Achieve HBeAg Seroconversion Treated with Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of serum hepatitis B virus core-related antigens (HBcrAg) for predicting hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients treated with conventional interferon (IFN) alfa-2b or pegylated IFN.

Methods: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled: 29 for the training group and 29 for the validating group. HBcrAg was measured at baseline, week 12, end of the treatment, and 12- and 24-week follow-ups.

Early predictive efficacy of core antigen on antiviral outcomes in genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infected patients.

Response-guided therapy is of limited use in developing countries because hepatitis C virus RNA detection by sensitive molecular methods is time- and labor-consuming and expensive. We evaluated early predictive efficacy of serum hepatitis C virus core antigen kinetics on sustained virologic response in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus during pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment. For 478 patients recruited, hepatitis C virus RNAs were detected at baseline, and at weeks 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 using Cobas TaqMan.

Serum viral duplex-linear DNA proportion increases with the progression of liver disease in patients infected with HBV.

Objective: HBV has two forms of genomic DNA, relaxed-circular DNA (rcDNA) and duplex-linear DNA (dlDNA). Compared to rcDNA, dlDNA has been demonstrated to integrate more frequently into host cellular chromosomes, which may have oncogenic consequences. However, the dlDNA proportion relative to total HBV DNA and its clinical significance in patients remain to be investigated.

Prevalence and characterization of hepatitis B and C virus infections in a needle-sharing population in Northern China.

Background: The epidemiologies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in specific populations in certain areas of China are poorly understood. A pilot survey of HCV/HBV infections was carried out in villages in Kuancheng County, Heben Province, where injection of sodium benzoate or amphetamines using shared needles has been a common practice. The aims of this study were to analyze the endemicity and characterize HCV/HBV infections in this population.

Suppression of Mic60 compromises mitochondrial transcription and oxidative phosphorylation.

Precise regulation of mtDNA transcription and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is crucial for human health. As a component of mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS), Mic60 plays a central role in mitochondrial morphology. However, it remains unclear whether Mic60 affects mitochondrial transcription.