Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Alcohol Extracts from Polygala fallax Hemsl on Endometriosis in Rats.

Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease that significantly affects women's health. Polygala fallax Hemsl. (PFH), a traditional Zhuang medicine, has been frequently used for gynecological disorders.

Biosensor-based dual-color droplet microfluidic platform for precise high-throughput screening of erythromycin hyperproducers.

Biosensor-based droplet microfluidic high-throughput screening is extensively utilized in engineering microbial cell factories for the efficient production of various natural products. Under ideal conditions, biosensors detect product concentrations in the environment and emit corresponding measurable signals. However, bacteria cell growth rates and gene expression are significantly regulated in response to fluctuating environments, leading to substantial heterogeneity in cell density and gene expression among different subpopulations.

Morphology, morphogenesis, and molecular phylogeny of a new brackish water ciliate, Heterodeviata longa nov. spec. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia).

The morphology and morphogenesis of a new Stichotrichida species, Heterodeviata longa nov. spec., isolated from a brackish water habitat in Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation and the protargol staining method.

Theabrownins improve burn-induced kidney injury by increasing the levels of guanidinoacetic acid and fumaric acid.

Background: Burns are a common and serious health issue, with severe burn-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) being a major factor contributing to poor recovery and increased mortality in patients. Theabrownins (TBs), bioactive compounds formed during tea leaf fermentation, have shown promising effects on reducing inflammation, combating oxidative stress, and enhancing metabolic function. However, the roles and mechanisms of TBs in burn-induced kidney injury are still not fully understood.

Next-generation sequencing-based population genetics unravels the evolutionary history of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa in China.

Background: Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk. is useful for its ornamental, medicinal, and ecological characteristics, and is considered a "Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species".

Stationary screen time, blood lipids, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease incidence.

Background And Aims: The associations between screen time exposure, blood lipids, and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) incidence have been less studied. We aimed to examine the associations of exposure to screen time with blood total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and ASCVD risk score, and risk of subsequent ASCVD incidence.

Methods And Results: A nationwide sample of 7124 China Health and Nutrition Survey 2009 participants were followed up to 2015 for ASCVD incidence.

Comparison of remimazolam tosylate and propofol in hemodynamic stability, postoperative cognitive function, and recovery in general anesthesia combined with regional nerve blocks: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: General anesthesia (GA) combined with regional anesthesia (RA) is commonly used to enhance perioperative analgesia and hemodynamic stability. This study aimed to compare the hemodynamic effects and postoperative cognitive function between remimazolam tosylate and propofol in patients undergoing GA combined with RA.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 4408 patients who underwent elective upper or lower limb surgeries at our institution from January 2020 to June 2024.

Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum.

Background: No consensus has yet been reached concerning whether there were significant differences in the vaginal microbiota according to maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) status. This study aimed to compare the vaginal microbiota of women with GDM and normal blood glucose before and after delivery and to prospectively evaluate the influence of GDM on the dynamic changes of vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum.

Methods: This study included 20 GDM patients and 31 average pregnant women who gave birth at the Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital.

ARNT-dependent HIF-2α signaling protects cardiac microvascular barrier integrity and heart function post-myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) compromises the cardiac microvascular endothelial barrier, increasing leakage and inflammation. HIF2α, predominantly expressed in cardiac endothelial cells during ischemia, has an unclear role in barrier function during MI. Here, we show that inducible, adult endothelial-specific deletion of Hif2α in mice leads to increased mortality, cardiac leakage, inflammation, reduced heart function, and adverse remodeling after MI.

Characterization of the vaginal microbiota in women of childbearing age with different Nugent scores.

The present study investigated the richness and diversity of vaginal microbiota among a cohort of 60 childbearing-age women. The samples were classified into three groups: healthy control (HC), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and BV intermediate (BVI). The number of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) per sample ranged from 50 to 212, with three groups having 469 (HC), 482 (BVI), and 456 (BV) OTUs.

CXCR4-Targeted Ultrasound Microbubbles for Imaging and Enhanced Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy in Liver Cancer.

Ultrasound molecular imaging is an innovative imaging modality that combines ultrasound with molecular probes to observe live biological processes at the cellular and molecular levels. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a specific target in liver tumors and plays a crucial role in promoting tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This study pioneered the use of CXCR4-targeted ultrasound molecular imaging for visualized antitumor therapy and investigated the potential of CXCR4-targeted microbubbles (MBs) in sensitizing liver tumor treatment.

Modulation of Mettl5 alleviates airway allergy by regulating the epigenetic profile of M2 macrophages.

M2 macrophages (M2 cells) are known to be involved in both Th2 responses and immune regulation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Functional abnormalities in macrophages are associated with airway allergy (AA).

Additive impact of depression and social isolation on future cardiovascular disease and mortality: The mediated effect of cardiometabolic diseases.

Background: Depression and social isolation are significant public health issues worldwide, characterized by a bidirectional relationship between the two. This study aims to evaluate the combined effects of depression and social isolation on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, as well as to assess the mediating role of cardiometabolic diseases in these associations.

Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

High-entropy doping in NASICON cathodes: Activating the V/V redox couple and inducing a reversible single solid-solution phase reaction for advanced sodium ion batteries.

NaV(PO) (NVP) with typical NASICON structure is highly regarded as one of the most appealing cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) for their excellent structural stability; however, the poor electronic conductivity and irreversible phase transition at high voltage (∼4 V) for the material result in poor rate capabilities and significant capacity degradation during electrochemical reactions. Herein, the high-entropy doping strategy of introducing six types of metal ions into the V-sites in NaV(PO) is used to design a high-performance cathode of NaV(Mn, Ca, Mg, Al, Zr)Nb(PO) (HE-NVP) for SIBs. After the high-entropy doping, a reversible V/V redox pair is activated at high voltage of ∼4 V, which significantly contributes to the enhancement of energy density and operating voltage.

Aerobic Exercise Training, Biological Age, and Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: Among individuals with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the predictive value for mortality by biomarker-based biological age (BA) and whether aerobic exercise training (AET) modifies the association are understudied.

Objectives: The authors aimed to investigate the association between BA and mortality among individuals with HFrEF and assess whether AET modifies the association.

Methods: Including participants in HF-ACTION (Heart Failure: A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training), BA acceleration was constructed by the Klemera-Doubal method, using the residual of a linear model of BA and chronological age.

Carbonized nitrogen-containing conjugated microporous polymers: Versatile platforms for high-performance carbon catalytic membranes and their angstrom-confined activation mechanism on peroxymonosulfate.

Engineering high-performance N-doped carbon catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and elucidating their activation mechanism are crucial for the degradation of emerging pollutants. In this study, we propose a novel self-template carbonization strategy (NSCS) based on a N-containing conjugated microporous polymer (NCMP, poly(triphenylamine)) to fabricate high-performance N-doped porous carbon catalysts. Owing to the unique N-mediated catalytic sites within the confined micropores of the NCMP precursor, the NSCS approach enables the investigation of reactive oxygen species evolution and their formation mechanisms as carbonization temperature increases from 200 to 1400 °C.

Decoding Lymph Node Skip Metastasis: Impact on Long-Term Outcomes in Stage T1 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Skip metastasis of lateral cervical lymph nodes not uncommonly occurs in early papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), which represents a heterogeneous metastasis type. Currently, few studies report on the relationship between skip metastasis and prognosis or propose treatment recommendations.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with unilateral T1-stage PTC who underwent lobectomy between 2007 and 2015.

DNA Methylation-Regulated ZDHHC13 Promotes the Progression of Parkinson's Disease.

Recent studies suggest that palmitoylation may influence proteins involved in neurotransmission and neurodegenerative changes, such as pathological α-synuclein. However, the role of palmitoylation in Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been systematically investigated. Additionally, findings on DNA methylation changes and PD-associated gene expression remain inconsistent.

MRI-Based Cervical VBQ Scores as Predictors of Cage Subsidence in Cervical Spine Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

Study DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.ObjectivePoor bone quality is a major risk factor for complications after cervical spine surgery. The MRI-based cervical vertebral bone quality (C-VBQ) score is a reliable tool for assessing bone quality.

Synthesizing Conductive Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets for High-Performing Chemiresistive Sensors.

Two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D -MOFs) are emerging as unique electrode materials with great potential for electronic applications. However, traditional devices based on -MOFs often utilize them directly in the powder or nanoparticle form, leading to weak adhesion to the device substrate and resulting in low stability and high noise levels in the final device. In this study, we present a novel approach utilizing thin -MOFs synthesized via a general MOF nanosheet sacrifice approach, enhancing their aspect ratio and flexibility for high-performance electronic applications.

Nickel-based nanomaterials: a comprehensive analysis of risk assessment, toxicity mechanisms, and future strategies for health risk prevention.

Nickel-based nanomaterials (NBNs) have seen a surge in usage across a variety of applications. However, the widespread use of NBNs has led to increased human exposure, raising questions about their associated health risks, both in the short and long term. Additionally, the spread of NBNs in the environment has attracted considerable attention, emerging as a vital focus for research and development.

Transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function in functional single ventricle: a comprehensive review.

Background: Functional single ventricle represents a complex congenital cardiac malformation where ventricular function directly impacts patients' quality of life and prognosis. Accurate assessment of ventricular function in FSV patients is crucial for treatment planning, surgical intervention, and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.

Main Text: Echocardiography, as a non-invasive, readily available, and real-time cardiac imaging modality, has emerged as the preferred method for evaluating functional single ventricle ventricular function.

Comprehensive review of the expanding roles of the carnitine pool in metabolic physiology: beyond fatty acid oxidation.

Traditionally, the carnitine pool is closely related to fatty acid metabolism. However, with increasing research, the pleiotropic effects of the carnitine pool have gradually emerged. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively investigate of the emerging understanding of the pleiotropic role of the carnitine pool, carnitine/acylcarnitines are not only auxiliaries or metabolites of fatty acid oxidation, but also play more complex and diverse roles, including energy metabolism, mitochondrial homeostasis, epigenetic regulation, regulation of inflammation and the immune system, tumor biology, signal transduction, and neuroprotection.