(P)ppGpp synthetase Rel facilitates cellulose formation of biofilm by regulating glycosyltransferase in Brucella abortus.

Biofilms are complex adhesive structures that establish chronic infection and allow robust protection from external stressors such as antibiotics. Cellulose as one of the compositions of bacteria biofilm which protect bacteria from stress, host immune responses and resistance to antibiotics. Bacterial stress responses are regulated via guanosine pentaphosphate and tetraphosphate (p)ppGpp.

Association between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective observational study of patients with solid tumors receiving ICI therapy. Clinical characteristics of patients were assessed at baseline and during ICI therapy.

Semaglutide protects against diabetes-associated cardiac inflammation via Sirt3-dependent RKIP pathway.

Background And Purpose: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) exert cardiovascular benefits in diabetic patients, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Semaglutide, a novel long-acting GLP-1RA, has shown a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. Based on these results, we investigated the therapeutic potential of semaglutide in diabetic cardiomyopathy and sought to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Detection, measurement, and diagnosis of lung nodules by ultra-low-dose CT in lung cancer screening: a systematic review.

Objective: There is a lack of recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews on the use of ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT) for the detection, measurement, and diagnosis of lung nodules. This review aims to summarize the latest advances of ULDCT in these areas.

Methods: A systematic review of studies in PubMed and Web of Science was conducted, using search terms specific to ULDCT and lung nodules.

Visible-Light-Mediated Three-Component Decarboxylative Coupling Reactions for the Synthesis of 4-Alkylpyridines.

4-Alkylation of pyridines has been achieved by a photocatalyzed three-component reaction of an olefin, an aryloxyacetic acid, and cyanopyridine using Ir[dF(CF)ppy](dtbbpy)PF as a photocatalyst. In this way, a new type of 4-alkylpyridines bearing aryl and aryloxy substituents on the phenyl was accessed with potential pharmaceutical value. In addition to mild reaction conditions, the method has several other advantages, including a multicomponent one-pot protocol, good functional group tolerance, and easy amplification of the reaction scale.

Risk stratification of thymic epithelial tumors based on peritumor CT radiomics and semantic features.

Objectives: To develop and validate nomograms combining radiomics and semantic features to identify the invasiveness and histopathological risk stratification of thymic epithelial tumors (TET) using contrast-enhanced CT.

Methods: This retrospective multi-center study included 224 consecutive cases. For each case, 6764 intratumor and peritumor radiomics features and 31 semantic features were collected.

Synthesis, structure, spectra, cytotoxicity and photo induced NO release of four isomeric nitrosylruthenium complexes.

Four isomeric nitrosyl ruthenium complexes [RuCl(2mqn)(Val)(NO)] (1-4) were prepared (2mqn, 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline; Val, l-valine) and characterized by H NMR, C NMR, absorption spectrum, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystal diffraction. Time-resolved FT-IR and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to monitor photo-induced NO release in solution, while NO released in living cells was imaged using a selective fluorescent probe. The isomeric complexes showed different levels of cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, and slightly photo-enhanced anti-proliferative activity was observed.

Successful treatment of resistant hypertension and severe complications in a 63-year-old man with primary aldosteronism without adrenalectomy: A case report.

Primary aldosteronism (PA), often due to aldosteronoma, commonly causes secondary hypertension and typically requires surgery. We present a case of an elderly man with longstanding hypertension, complicated by cerebral hemorrhage and myocardial infarction. Enhanced CT imaging identified a right-sided aldosteronoma and left adrenal gland fullness.

Antibacterial activity of t-cinnamaldehyde: An approach to its mechanistic principle towards enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC).

Background: Compounds of natural origin are potent source of drugs with unique mechanisms of action. Among phytochemicals, trans-cinnamaldehyde (t-CA) exhibits a wide range of biological activity, thus has been used for centuries to fight bacterial and fungal infections. However, the molecular basis of these properties has not been fully covered.

Cancer cost-related subjective financial distress among breast cancer: a scoping review.

Purpose: This article provided a comprehensive scoping review, synthesizing existing literature on the financial distress faced by breast cancer patients. It examined the factors contributing to financial distress, the impact on patients, coping mechanisms employed, and potential alleviation methods. The goal was to organize existing evidence and highlight possible directions for future research.

Environmental and seed-position effects on viability and germination of buried seeds of an invasive diaspore-heteromorphic annual grass.

Environmental factors, such as temperature and moisture, and plant factors, such as seed position on the mother plant, can affect seed viability and germination. However, little is known about the viability and germination of seeds in different positions on the mother plant after burial in soil under natural environmental conditions. Here, diaspores from three positions on a compound spike and seeds from two/three positions in a diaspore of the invasive diaspore-heteromorphic annual grass Aegilops tauschii were buried at four depths for more than 2 years (1-26 months) under natural conditions and viability and germination monitored monthly.

Altered gut microbiota and metabolite profiles provide clues in understanding resistant hypertension.

Background: Resistant hypertension is a severe phenotype in hypertension that may be driven by interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Specific changes in gut microbiota and metabolites have been shown to influence cardiovascular disease progression. However, microbial and metabolomic changes associated with resistant hypertension remain elusive.

Noninvasive Monitoring of Early Cardiac Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice by [Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT Imaging.

Cardiac fibrosis represents one of the representative pathological characteristics in the diabetic heart. Active fibroblasts play an essential role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis. The technologies for noninvasive monitoring of activated fibroblasts still have to be investigated.

Treatment for Resistant Hypertension Under the Guidance of Pharmacogenomics: A Randomised Controlled Open-Label Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacogenomics (PGx)-guided treatment in individuals with resistant hypertension (RH).

Study Design: Randomised controlled open-label study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, from June 2019 to November 2021.

Advancing Ultrasonic Defect Detection in High-Speed Wheels via UT-YOLO.

In the context of defect detection in high-speed railway train wheels, particularly in ultrasonic-testing B-scan images characterized by their small size and complexity, the need for a robust solution is paramount. The proposed algorithm, UT-YOLO, was meticulously designed to address the specific challenges presented by these images. UT-YOLO enhances its learning capacity, accuracy in detecting small targets, and overall processing speed by adopting optimized convolutional layers, a special layer design, and an attention mechanism.

A novel index for vegetation drought assessment based on plant water metabolism and balance under vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau.

Vegetation is vital to the ecosystem, contributing to the global carbon balance, but susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Monitoring vegetation drought remains challenging due to the lack of widely accepted drought indices. This study focused on vegetation, and simulated the vegetation suitable water demand and soil available water supply (calculated by Remote-sensing-based Water Balance Assessment Tool model).

Insight into the anti-proliferation activity and photoinduced NO release of four nitrosylruthenium isomeric complexes and their HSA complex adducts.

Four Ru(II)-centered isomeric complexes [RuCl(5cqn)(Val)(NO)] (1-4) were synthesized with 5cqn (5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline) and chiral Val (Val = L- or D-valine) as co-ligand, and their structures were confirmed using the X-ray diffraction method. The cytotoxicity and photodynamic activity of the isomeric complexes and their human serum albumin (HSA) complex adducts were evaluated. Both the isomeric complexes and their HSA complex adducts significantly affected HeLa cell proliferation, with an IC50 value in the range of 0.

Risk prediction models for postoperative delirium in elderly patients with fragility hip fracture: A systematic review and critical appraisal.

Background: Elderly patients with fragility hip fracture continue to experience a high rate of postoperative delirium (POD), which has a significant negative impact on prognosis and imposes a huge economic burden. A number of risk prediction models have been developed to detect POD early. However, the risk of bias and clinical applicability of the models remain unclear.

Repair of Oroantral Fistulas Using Free Bone and Mucoperiosteal Flaps After Endoscopic Removal of the Medial Wall of the Maxillary Sinus.

Introduction: Oroantral fistula (OAF) refers to a pathological connection between the oral cavity and maxillary sinus. It may lead to symptoms that include purulent mucus, nasal congestion, facial swelling, bad breath, and nasal regurgitation of food, all of which negatively impact patients' quality of life.

Objective: This study presents a novel approach for OAF repair using a 2-layered structure composed of free bone and a mucoperiosteal flap obtained from the medial wall of maxillary sinus.

The 90% minimum effective volume of 0.5 ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block : A biased coin up-and-down design.

Background: Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block is widely used in upper limb surgery; however, it requires a higher dose (20-30 mL) of local anesthetic. In this study, we aimed to determine the 90% minimum effective volume for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Methods: All patients received an ultrasound-guided two-point injection of 0.

Identification of osteoarthritis-characteristic genes and immunological micro-environment features through bioinformatics and machine learning-based approaches.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifaceted chronic joint disease characterized by complex mechanisms. It has a detrimental impact on the quality of life for individuals in the middle-aged and elderly population while also imposing a significant socioeconomic burden. At present, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the pathophysiology of OA.