How does gut microbiota affect the vaginitis axis? The mediating role of plasma metabolites.

Vaginitis is the most common problem afflicting women of childbearing age. However, the underlying etiological factors remain poorly understood, leading to recurrent vaginitis and constraining clinical management. Here, we explored whether the gut microbiota influences the risk of vaginitis by performing a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using the largest genome-wide association studies to date.

Epitaxial Stabilization of a Pyrochlore Interface between Weyl Semimetal and Spin Ice.

Pyrochlore materials are known for their exotic magnetic and topological phases arising from complex interactions among electron correlations, band topology, and geometric frustration. Interfaces between different pyrochlore crystals characterized by complex many-body ground states hold immense potential for novel interfacial phenomena due to the strong interactions between these phases. However, the realization of such interfaces has been severely hindered by limitations in material synthesis methods.

Rational Fabrication of Functionally-Graded Surfaces for Biological and Biomedical Applications.

As a ubiquitous feature of the biological world, gradation, in either composition or structure, is essential to many functions and processes. Taking protein gradation as an example, it plays a pivotal role in the development and evolution of human bodies, including stimulation and direction of the outgrowth of peripheral nerves in a developing fetus. It is also critically involved in wound healing by attracting and guiding immune cells to the site of injury or infection.

A Novel Approach of Ultrasound-Guided Transforaminal Cervical Nerve Root Injection With Fluoroscopic Validation: A Case Report and Technical Illustration.

Cervical radiculopathies are commonly treated with nerve root injections. This study presents a novel ultrasound (US)-guided cervical transforaminal injection technique using a curved transducer to enhance visualization of the anterior wall of the superior articular process and achieve successful epidural spread of injection. A 56-year-old patient with chronic C6 radiculopathy was treated using our US-guided approach with a combination of 5% dextrose and vitamin B12, leading to significant improvement in symptoms.