Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter From 1990 to 2021 in China: Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Update.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) represent increasingly significant health burden globally. We aimed to systematically evaluate the status and trends of AF/AFL burden and attributable risk factors in China.

Methods: We assessed the burden of AF/AFL measured as prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), by sex and age groups in China based on the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2021 project.

Healthy dietary patterns in relation to cognitive performance and Alzheimer's disease mortality.

Background: Dietary factors play a major role in cognitive aging, but few studies have assessed and compared the associations between specific dietary patterns and Alzheimer's disease (AD) mortality.

Methods: We included 27,773 U.S.

Distorting Local Structures to Modulate Ligand Fields in Vanadium Oxide for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Layered hydrate vanadates are promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Various intercalants have been preinserted into the interplanar space of hydrate vanadates with significantly enhanced kinetics and stabilized structures. However, such an enhancement is induced by various intercalants, and the relationship between the property enhancement and the type of intercalant still needs to be revealed.

The relationship between body appreciation and weight-related health behaviors among Chinese adolescents.

Introduction: Research on body appreciation has flourished globally in recent years. College students and adults, rather than adolescents have been mainly focused in China. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the current status of body appreciation and weight-related health behaviors among Chinese adolescents, and elucidate their multifaceted relationships.

Development of Sheep Intestinal Organoids for Studying Deoxynivalenol-Induced Toxicity.

Sheep are an important livestock species whose gastrointestinal tract is essential for overall health. Feed contaminants such as bacterial toxins and mycotoxins severely damage the sheep intestine, yet the mechanisms remain mostly elusive partially due to the lack of physiologically relevant in vitro models. Here, we investigated molecular mechanisms underlying deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced toxicity by developing intestinal organoids from isolated intestinal crypts of Hu sheep.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 linked to schizophrenia through regulation of neural progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified numerous genomic loci linked to schizophrenia (SCZ), while their pathogenic mechanisms largely remain unclear. This study demonstrated protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) as a key target of SCZ risk SNPs with allele-specific enhancer activity at 16q22.1.

Disparate and shared transcriptomic signatures associated with cortical atrophy in genetic behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration.

Background: Cortical atrophy is a common manifestation in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD), exhibiting spatial heterogeneity across various genetic subgroups, which may be driven by distinct biological mechanisms.

Methods: We employed an integrative imaging transcriptomics approach to identify both disparate and shared transcriptomic signatures associated with cortical thickness in bvFTD with C9orf72 repeat expansions or pathogenic variants in GRN or MAPT. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted on each gene list significantly associated with cortical thickness.

Vitronectin stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis by activating the cAMP/PKA/CREB axis in the liver.

Vitronectin, a protein derived the human placenta, has been identified as an inducer of insulin resistance in trophoblast cells in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). As a secreted protein, vitronectin may have systemic effects on dysregulated glucose metabolism in GDM. To address this speculation, we generated a GDM mouse model using high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Correlations between postmortem quantitative MRI parameters and demyelination, axonal loss and gliosis in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used to monitor disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aims to systematically evaluate the correlation between MRI measures and histopathological changes, including demyelination, axonal loss, and gliosis, in the central nervous system of MS patients. We systematically reviewed post-mortem histological studies evaluating myelin density, axonal loss, and gliosis using quantitative imaging in MS.

Development of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for rituximab and its application to therapeutic drug monitoring.

Background: Rituximab pharmacokinetics in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) exhibit significant interindividual variability. Accurate measurement of serum rituximab concentrations is essential for effective therapeutic monitoring. This study develops a highly sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) for rituximab (rituximab-TRFIA) with a wide detection range, aimed at enhancing therapeutic drug monitoring in MN treatment.

Establishment of Time-Resolved Fluorescence Immunoassay for Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies and Clinical Application.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) is a specific marker for Graves' disease (GD) and the measurement of which can improve the accuracy of GD diagnosis. Current detection methods utilize porcine-derived polyclonal-TRAb, which is unstable and is a source of significant inter-assay variability. This study aims to establish a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) method based on stable source of recombinant human TSHR and TRAb for the detection of serum TRAb.

Biallelic variants in the cause mitochondrial respiratory complex assembly defects associated with Leigh syndrome in probands.

Background: Variants in have been reported to be associated with Leigh syndrome. However, further expansion of the -phenotype and variants spectrum of -related Leigh syndrome are still required.

Methods: Two patients diagnosed with Leigh syndrome were recruited, and whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify the genetic variants responsible for the abnormal gait, dystonia, and bilateral basal ganglia lesions, followed by validation using Sanger sequencing.

Calcofluor White-Phosphatidylethanolamine Conjugate-Enhanced Ethosomal Delivery of Voriconazole for Targeting .

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of systemic fungal infections, especially among immunocompromised individuals, highlights the need for advancements in targeted and effective antifungal treatments. This study presents a novel nanomaterial, CFW-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate (CFW-PEc), designed to enhance the delivery and efficacy of antifungal agents by targeting fungal cell walls through specific chitin binding. Ethosomes, lipid-based nanocarriers known for their ability to improve drug delivery across skin and cell membranes, were utilized in this study.

Effect of the iris-ciliary angle on the prediction of the vault for phakic implantable collamer lens in the manufacturer's calculator.

Background: This study aims to explore the effects of the iris-ciliary angle (ICA) on the accurate prediction of the vault after implantable collamer lens (ICL) using the manufacturer's online calculation and ordering system (OCOS).

Methods: The participants were categorized into three groups according to the size of ICA as follows: narrow ICA group (< 40°); normal ICA group (40°-60°); wide ICA group (> 60°). We compared the preoperative ocular characteristics and postoperative vault at 3 months among the three groups.

Impacts of distorted local chemical coordination on electrochemical performance in hydrated vanadium pentoxide.

Modulating and elevating the operating voltage of a given cathode is a significant challenge to enhance the energy density of secondary batteries without sacrificing power output. The chemical coordination strongly influences the energy levels of d-orbitals of redox cations in cathode materials, which tie to their operating voltage. In contrast to concentrated studies on enhancing the specific capacity, in this study, we choose bi-layered hydrated vanadium pentoxide as the model to modulate the d-orbital energy levels through local chemical coordination manipulation, achieving a higher operating voltage in rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Exploring the association between sleep problems and loneliness in adolescents: Potential mediating effects of rumination and resilience.

Sleep problems positively predict loneliness to a large extent, which would harm adolescent health. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism. This research investigates the potential mediating roles of rumination and resilience in the relation among adolescents and further examines the changing relationships.

The Causal Effect of Urate Level on Female Infertility: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background/objective: This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between urate level and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: To identify instrumental variables, we selected independent genetic loci associated with serum urate levels in individuals of European ancestry, utilizing data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The GWAS dataset included information on serum urate levels from 288,649 CKDGen participants.

Early detection of dementia through retinal imaging and trustworthy AI.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global healthcare challenge lacking a simple and affordable detection method. We propose a novel deep learning framework, Eye-AD, to detect Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) using OCTA images of retinal microvasculature and choriocapillaris. Eye-AD employs a multilevel graph representation to analyze intra- and inter-instance relationships in retinal layers.

Research progress of dental pulp regeneration treatment.

The dental pulp is the only soft tissue structure within the tooth, serving functions such as sensation and nutrition. However, the dental pulp is highly susceptible to necrosis due to external factors. Currently, root canal therapy is the most commonly used treatment for pulp necrosis.

PTBP1 Regulates DNMT3B Alternative Splicing by Interacting With RALY to Enhance the Radioresistance of Prostate Cancer.

Radiotherapy is a curative arsenal for prostate cancer (PCa), but radioresistance seriously compromises its effectiveness. Dysregulated RNA splicing factors are extensively involved in tumor progression. Nonetheless, the role of splicing factors in radioresistance remains largely unexplored in PCa.

Disparate and shared transcriptomic signatures associated with cortical atrophy in genetic bvFTD.

Cortical atrophy in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD) exhibits spatial heterogeneity across genetic subgroups, potentially driven by distinct biological mechanisms. Using an integrative imaging-transcriptomics approach, we identified disparate and shared transcriptomic signatures associated with cortical thickness in , or -related bvFTD. Genes associated with cortical thinning in -bvFTD were implicated in neurotransmission, further supported by mapping synaptic density maps to cortical thickness maps.

Insights from Multiple Stakeholders Regarding Adolescent Obesity in China: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

With a significant increase in the obesity epidemic in China, addressing adolescent obesity should be highlighted as a priority. The current qualitative study aims to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders regarding adolescent obesity, providing guidance for developing effective obesity interventions for Chinese adolescents. A total of 12 focus group discussions were convened with a range of representative stakeholders including adolescents (n = 37), parents (n = 28), and school staff (n = 21) from sample schools.