Features, functions, and associated diseases of visceral and ectopic fat: a comprehensive review.

Obesity is a complex, chronic, and recurrent disease marked by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses significant health risks. The distribution of body fat, especially ectopic fat deposition, plays a crucial role in the development of chronic metabolic diseases. Under normal conditions, fatty acids are primarily stored in subcutaneous adipose tissue; however, excessive intake can lead to fat accumulation in visceral adipose tissue and ectopic sites, including the pancreas, heart, and muscle.

Factors that influence participation in physical activity in Chinese teenagers: perspective of school educators and parents in respect of the social ecology model.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to explore the viewpoints of parents, teachers, and administrators on the factors influencing adolescent physical activity in China.

Methods: The study employed semi-structured interviews with school teachers, school principals, government officers, and parents. Twenty-five participants were recruited from Jiangsu Province, China, and completed the interview.

High-dose radiation induces dendritic cells maturation by promoting immunogenic cell death in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Aim And Background: Due to the radiosensitivity and deep anatomical location of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), radiotherapy serves as the cornerstone of standardized treatment for this malignancy. Beyond its cytotoxic effects, radiotherapy can serve as an immunological adjuvant by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD). Dendritic cells (DCs), as potent antigen-presenting cells, play a critical role in tumor immunotherapy, but their exact role in the ICD process of NPC remains unclear.

The transport of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media: Impacts of functional groups and solution chemistry.

Global attention to microplastics (MPs) pollution has been increasing as it has become a novel environmental issue. Natural aging processes alter MPs surface properties, introducing charged functional groups that affect their transport in porous media. This study investigated the transport of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) in saturated porous media through column experiments, including non-functionalized PSMPs (PS-Bare), carboxyl-modified PSMPs (PS-COOH), and amino-modified PSMPs (PS-NH).

Puerarin combined with insoluble dietary fiber alleviates obesity induced by high-fat diet through regulating the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway influenced by gut microbiota.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of puerarin (Pue) and insoluble dietary fiber from (HEIDF) on obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice, focusing on their effects on lipid and glucose metabolism, gut microbiota (GM), and serum metabolites. Glucose tolerance, tissue pathology, and serum biochemical levels were conducted to assess the effects of puerarin combined with insoluble dietary fiber (LH) on glucose and lipid metabolism. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabonomics were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Primitive Ewing Sarcoma of Epididymis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We present the case of a 22-year-old man with a firm and tender mass in the left scrotum region. Color Doppler ultrasound and radiographic examination (CT and MRI) suggested that the mass arose from the left epididymis without tumor metastasis. The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings revealed a chrysanthemum-like arrangement of round tumor cells, along with strong positive expression of CD99, vimentin, CD117, CD56, and Ki-67 (70%), supporting the diagnosis of primary epididymal Ewing sarcoma.

Synthesis of Amorphous MnFe@SBA Composites for Efficient Adsorptive Removal of Pb(Ⅱ) and Sb(V) from Aqueous Solution.

The extensive release of water contaminated with lead (Pb(II)) and antimony (Sb(V)) constitutes a serious threat to the human living environment and public health, necessitating immediate attention. In this study, a novel MnFe@SBA composite was synthesized using the hydrothermal method through the in situ growth of MnFeO on SBA-15. The MnFe@SBA exhibits an amorphous structure with a high specific surface area of 405.

Rational design of a donor-acceptor structure in covalent heptazine frameworks to boost photocatalytic nitrogen fixation.

Herein, the construction of potential donor-acceptor (D-A) structures was guided using density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance of TAPT-CHF was then experimentally determined to be 327.58 μmol g h, which was attributed to its efficient photo-induced charge separation and migration ability.

Role of humic acid on benzo[a]anthracene: Insights from aging on adsorption, speciation distribution and bioavailability.

As a crucial component of soil organic matter, humic acid (HA) persists in soil and exert a complex interaction with hydrophobic organic pollutants, yet its specific role still remains unclear. In this study, HA was obtained from weathered coal via alkaline dissolution and acidic precipitation for the adsorption of benzo[a]anthracene (BAA). Subsequently, an aging simulation was employed to assess its long-term performance.

Unveiling the Dual Active Sites of Ni/Co(OH)-Ru Heterointerface for Robust Electrocatalytic Alkaline Seawater Splitting.

Constructing bifunctional electrocatalysts through the synergistic effect of diverse metal sites is crucial for achieving high-efficiency and steady overall water splitting. Herein, a "dual-HER/OER-sites-in-one" strategy is proposed to regulate dominant active sites, wherein Ni/Co(OH)-Ru heterogeneous catalysts formed on nickel foam (NF) demonstrate remarkable catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as well as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Meanwhile, the potentials@10 mA cm of Ni/Co(OH)-Ru@NF for overall alkaline water and seawater splitting are only 1.

Machine learning-based prediction model integrating ultrasound scores and clinical features for the progression to rheumatoid arthritis in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.

Objectives: Predicting rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression in undifferentiated arthritis (UA) patients remains a challenge. Traditional approaches combining clinical assessments and ultrasonography (US) often lack accuracy due to the complex interaction of clinical variables, and routine extensive US is impractical. Machine learning (ML) models, particularly those integrating the 18-joint ultrasound scoring system (US18), have shown potential to address these issues but remain underexplored.

Hydrogen gas inhalation prior to high-intensity training reduces attenuation of nitric oxide bioavailability in male rugby players.

Background: Inhalation of hydrogen gas (H) as an antioxidant supplement may alleviate exercise-induced oxidative damage and protect post-exercise hydrogen peroxide signaling, which may help mediate beneficial exercise adaptation. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of H inhalation on plasma nitric oxide (NO) level and its synthesis precursor in professional athletes.

Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial was conducted with professional male rugby players for 3 weeks.

Ohm's law lost and regained: observation and impact of transmission and velocity zeros.

The quantum conductance and its classical wave analogue, the transmittance, are given by the sum of the eigenvalues of the transmission matrix. However, neither measurements nor theoretical analysis of the transmission eigenchannels have been carried out to explain the dips in conductance found in simulations as new channels are introduced. Here, we measure the microwave transmission matrices of random waveguides and find the spectra of all transmission eigenvalues, even at dips in the lowest transmission eigenchannel that are orders of magnitude below the noise in the transmission matrix.

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire.

Aim: Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) as a cognitive process in multiple mental disorders is a key risk factor for mental disorders. It is associated with the development and maintenance of the illness. The perseverative thinking questionnaire (PTQ) is an instrument to evaluate RNT with excellent reliability and validity.

Association of motoric cognitive risk syndrome with depression in older adults: a meta-analysis and systematic review of cross-sectional and cohort studies.

Background: In an aging society, depression has become a public health challenge that can lead to many adverse health outcomes; evidence addressing the link between depression and motor cognitive risk syndrome (MCR, a novel syndrome that effectively predicts dementia) is still lacking.

Methods: A PRISMA checklist was used to systematically review the relevant peer-reviewed literature for the primary data analysis. A computer search of CNKI, Wan Fang Data, CBM, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Ovid databases, all from creation to March 15, 2023.

Perborate Activated Peroxymonosulfate Process for Improving the Coagulation Efficiency of by Polymeric Aluminum Chloride.

In this study, the sodium perborate (SP)-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) process was used to enhance the coagulation efficiency of cyanobacteria with polymeric aluminum chloride (PAC), aiming to efficiently mitigate the impact of algal blooms on the safety of drinking water production. The optimal concentrations of SP, PMS, and PAC were determined by evaluating the removal rate of OD and zeta potential of the algae. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed ternary PMS/SP/PAC process achieved a remarkable OD removal efficiency of 95.

Chlamydia psittaci infection induces IFN-I and IL-1β through the cGAS-STING-IRF3/NLRP3 pathway via mitochondrial oxidative stress in human macrophages.

Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) is a multi-host pathogen that elicits robust innate immune responses in macrophages. Chlamydiae target host mitochondria to manipulate the cellular fate and metabolic functions.

Evaluating the combined estrogenic effects of plant growth regulators electrochemical and E-Screen methods.

The study shows that plant growth regulators (PGRs) have estrogenic effects, which may disrupt the normal physiological functions of endogenous estrogen in organisms. This study used electrochemical methods to investigate the electrochemical behavior and estrogenic effects of PGRs gibberellic acid (GA), ethylene (ETH), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on estrogen-free human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) cells when exposed individually or in combination. The results indicate that GA, ETH, and NAA, whether used alone or in combination, exhibit estrogenic effects on MCF-7 cells.

Dual group-based trajectories of physical activity and cognitive function in aged over 55: a nationally representative cohort study.

Background: As individuals age, they commonly experience reduced physical activity and cognitive decline. While evidence, there is limited trajectory research on their concurrent progression and interrelation in individuals over 55 years old.

Methods: The data was collected from 5,765 individuals aged over 55 years who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) between 2011 and 2020.

PRMT1-mediated methylation of ME2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth by inhibiting ubiquitination.

The mitochondrial malic enzyme 2 (ME2), which is frequently elevated during carcinogenesis and may be a target for cancer therapy, catalyzes the conversion of malate to pyruvate. The processes controlling ME2 activity, however, remain largely unclear. In this work, we show that human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues contain high levels of ME2 and that the methylation of ME2 stimulates the growth and migration of HCC cells.

The association between oral health and mild cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Older adults with cognitive impairment can experience poor oral health due to reduced self-care ability, yet the impact of various oral health indicators on the cognitive ability remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between oral health indicators and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 234 older adults aged 65 years or over was performed form January to March 2023 at health screening departments of hospitals.

Spatial pattern, source apportionment, and source-oriented health risk quantifying of heavy metals in farmland soils of southern China.

The contamination of heavy metal has permeated many parts of China, especially in densely populated and industrialized southern China. This study focused on the degree of pollution in farmland soil heavy metals (HMs), and its spatial distribution characteristics and source apportionment. Meanwhile, we conducted an evaluation of the health risks attributed to soil HMs and analyzed the factors that impact them.

Electrochemical response mechanism of DNA damaged cells: DNA damage repair and purine metabolism activation.

In modern society, due to the sharp increase in pollutants that cause DNA damage, there is a growing demand for innovative detection techniques and biomarkers. In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of HepG2 cells exposed to CdCl was investigated, and the electrochemical response mechanism of DNA damage was identified by exploring the correlation between the DNA damage response and purine metabolism. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of ATM and Ku70 increased at 0.