Methylation of T and B Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

The role of abnormal epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) has garnered increasing attention. Lymphocyte dysfunction is a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of ARDs. Methylation is crucial for maintaining normal immune system function, and aberrant methylation can hinder lymphocyte differentiation, resulting in functional abnormalities that disrupt immune tolerance, leading to the excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines, thereby exacerbating the onset and progression of ARDs.

Enhanced Adsorptivity of Hexavalent Chromium in Aqueous Solutions Using CTS@nZVI Modified Wheat Straw-Derived Porous Carbon.

Using KOH-modified wheat straw as the precursor, wheat straw biochar was produced through carbonization at 500 °C. Subsequently, a synthetic material containing nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) was prepared via liquid phase reduction (nZVI-WSPC). To enhance its properties, chitosan (CTS) was used by crosslinking to form the new adsorbent named CTS@nZVI-WSPC.

Development and psychometric testing of physiopsychological disorders scale for medical rescuers fighting epidemics in China.

Objective: Develop and psychometrically test the physiopsychological disorders scale for medical rescuers fighting epidemics (PDS-MRFE).

Method: A three-phase approach was used to develop and test the physiopsychological disorders scale: (1) creating the item pool, (2) preliminarily evaluating items, and (3) refining the scale and estimating the psychometric properties. The items of the instrument were generated based on a comprehensive literature review and a qualitative study conducted with 31 medical rescuers (18 nurses and 13 doctors) fighting epidemics.

Distinct dyadic quality of life profiles among patient-caregiver dyads with advanced lung cancer: a latent profile analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the heterogeneity of dyadic quality of life (QoL) profiles, determine whether these profiles differ in terms of demographic and medical factors, neuroticism, resilience, and family functioning, and explore the combined effect of patient and caregiver neuroticism, resilience, and family functioning on dyadic QoL profiles.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 304 advanced lung cancer patient-caregiver dyads. Self-report questionnaires were administered to patient-caregiver dyads to assess demographic and medical characteristics, neuroticism, resilience, family functioning, and QoL.

Circulating eosinophils associated with responsiveness to COVID-19 vaccine and the disease severity in patients with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant infection.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal circulating eosinophil (EOS) data impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine, the predictive role of circulating EOS in the disease severity, and its association with T cell immunity in patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant infection in Shanghai, China.

Methods: We collected a cohort of 1,157 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron/BA.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors predictive of pulmonary embolism complicated in bronchiectasis patients: a retrospective study.

Objective: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a rare complication in bronchiectasis (BE) patients associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. However, data regarding bronchiectasis patients complicated with PE are limited. Early diagnosis of PE in bronchiectasis patients can improve the prognosis, this study aimed to investigate the clinical features and potential risk factors for early diagnosis of PE in bronchiectasis patients.

Porous boron nitride nanofibers as effective nanofillers for poly(vinyl alcohol) composite hydrogels with excellent self-healing performances.

New composite hydrogels with excellent self-healing properties were prepared by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and boron nitride nanofibers (BNNFs) a facile one-pot assembly method. One-dimensional porous BNNFs with high aspect ratio, abundant hydroxyl functional groups, especially excellent flexibility which has been first demonstrated in experiments, can act as a decent inorganic nanofillers to effectively improve the mechanical and self-healing properties of PVA hydrogels. Both the tensile and compression performances of hydrogels have been greatly improved by the trace addition of BNNFs (only ∼1.

Eudragit S100-Coated Chitosan Nanoparticles Co-loading Tat for Enhanced Oral Colon Absorption of Insulin.

In order to improve oral absorption of insulin, especially the absorption at the colon, Eudragit S100® (ES)-coated chitosan nanoparticles loading insulin and a trans-activating transcriptional peptide (Tat) were employed as the vehicle. In vitro releases of insulin and Tat from ES-coated chitosan nanoparticles had a pH-dependant characteristic. A small amount of the contents was released from the coated nanoparticles at pH 1.

Aldose reductase is involved in the development of murine diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Hepatic aldose reductase (AR) expression is known to be induced in liver diseases, including hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the role of AR in the development of these diseases remains unclear. We performed this current study to determine whether and how AR might be involved in the development of diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.