Efficacy of Hongjing I granule, an herbal medicine, in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: HJIG is a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) that has been used in China for over 20 years. We conducted a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Chinese Herbal Medicine, Hongjing I granule (HJIG), in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: This study is structured as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, executed across multiple centers.

High-Throughput Computer Screen Aids Discovery of Methotrexate as miR-20b Inhibitor to Suppress Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Progression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in tumor progression, and regulating miRNA expression with small molecules may offer a new approach to cancer therapy. Among them, miRNA-20b has been found to be dysregulated in several cancers, including nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, an in silico high-throughput computer screen was conducted to identify small molecules that downregulate miR-20b using the three-dimensional structure of the Dicer binding site on pre-miR-20b.

A narrative review of acupuncture for sexual dysfunction: perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

Background And Objective: Despite the growing popularity of acupuncture for sexual dysfunction (SD) in the Western world, many clinicians struggle to understand the exact therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture which is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study aims to describe the fundamentals of acupuncture theory from TCM perspectives and its relevance to SD; evaluate the current state of acupuncture research within literature evidence; and critically analyze its therapeutic effects in premature ejaculation (PE), erectile dysfunction (ED), and female SD.

Methods: All published English-language SD clinical studies treated by acupuncture were searched in PubMed from database inception to 1 April 2024.

The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism.

Background: Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common diseases in andrology and leads to serious male sexual dysfunction. Although several targeted oral drug therapies are used to treat PE, they often face challenges related to imprecise targeting and adverse effects. Acupuncture has shown potential in prolonging ejaculation time and improving couples' sexual quality of life.

Decoding the Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signatures and Immune Infiltration Patterns in Ovarian Cancer: Bioinformatic Prediction Integrated with Experimental Validation.

Background: Ovarian cancer is a type of gynecological cancer with extremely high fatality rate. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death, inhibits the immune infiltration of tumor cells. Therefore, it is worthwhile to explore the effects of ferroptosis-related gene signatures and immune infiltration patterns on the clinical prognosis of ovarian cancer.

A randomized double-blinded study assessing the effect of different doses of transnasal dexmedetomidine on the median effective concentration of ropivacaine for a caudal block.

Background: Perineural administration of dexmedetomidine (PN-DEX) can enhance the efficacy of local anesthetics used in regional nerve blocks while decreasing the median effective concentration (EC50) of these anesthetics. Intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine (IN-DEX) is more accessible for sedation during regional anesthesia because of its non-invasive systemic administration and demonstrates synergism with local anesthetic. However, it remains unclear whether IN-DEX affects the EC50 of local anesthetics used in caudal blocks.

Risk Factors and a Prediction Model for Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Ischemic Stroke With Atrial Fibrillation.

Objectives: To identify the risk factors of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and to establish a prediction model for HT in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: From January 2015 to December 2018, patients with AIS and AF were enrolled. Demographics, lesion features, and blood test results were collected.

Key amino acids in odorant-binding protein OBP7 enable Bradysia odoriphaga to recognize host plant volatiles.

Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) is a devastating underground pest that can cause serious economic losses. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are crucial components of the insect olfactory system, playing key roles in locating host plants, oviposition sites, and mates. Therefore, they are considered potential targets for pest control.

Spectrum of Craniofacial and Oral Malformations in China, a Multicenter Study.

Objective: Craniofacial and oral malformations (COMs) represent an important class of human developmental disorders with profound implications on the anatomical structure, appearance, and various physiological functions. In this study, we aimed to define the spectrum of COMs and analysis its features or possible influencing factors to improve the surveillance and control of the disease.

Materials And Methods: We organized a multicenter survey of COMs from 19 hospitals in 14 provinces.

Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase reverses bone loss in periodontitis by upregulating EMCN and inhibiting osteoclasts.

Background: Improving the microenvironment to augment endogenous regenerative potential has emerged as a fundamental concept for stimulating and expediting periodontal tissue repair and regeneration. Previous studies have demonstrated that TPPU, a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor (sEHi), mediates the suppression of inflammatory bone loss in periodontitis models. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive.

Spectral analysis based blind frequency offset estimation for digital subcarrier multiplexing systems with adjustable roll-off factors and various modulation formats.

We proposed a blind frequency offset estimation (FOE) method for digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSM) signals. By utilising spectral information from the DSM signal and analysing the correlation between the frequency offset (FO) and the summed power of the signal spectrum, the proposed FOE method can accurately and effectively handle various modulation schemes assigned to each subcarrier. The proposed FOE method exhibits a flexibility to the roll-off factor of the root raised cosine (RRC) spectral shaping and can achieve a high level of accuracy in FOE under different roll-off factors and subcarrier numbers, with an FOE error of less than 30 MHz under a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size of 2048.

The SlbHLH92 transcription factor enhances salt stress resilience by fine-tuning hydrogen sulfide biosynthesis in tomato.

Ongoing soil salinization severely hampers plant growth and the sustainability of global crops production. Hydrogen sulfide (HS), acting as a critical gaseous signaling molecule, plays a vital role in plant response to various environmental cues such as salt stress. Nonetheless, it is not well understood how the transcriptional network regulates HS production in response to salt stress in tomato.

An ultrasound-activated piezoelectric sonosensitizer enhances mitochondrial depolarization for effective treatment of orthotopic glioma.

Despite the significant advancements in piezoelectric materials for sonodynamic therapy (SDT), the suppression of orthotopic glioma remains challenging, primarily due to the unclear mechanism and the restriction of blood-brain barrier (BBB). Herein, we proposed that layered piezoelectric SrBiTaO nanoparticles (SBTO NPs) could effectively depolarize the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) of glioma cells under ultrasound (US) exposure. The US-induced band bending in SBTO NPs enhanced redox ability, promoting an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Phosphocreatine ameliorates hepatocellular apoptosis mediated by protecting mitochondrial damage in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibiting TLR4 and Agonizing Akt Pathway.

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (HI/R) presents significant challenges in surgical liver transplantation and hepatic ischemic shock, with few effective clinical preventive measures available. This study explores the potential protective effects and underlying mechanisms of phosphocreatine (PCr) in the context of HI/R. We established an in vitro ischemia/reperfusion model using hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and normal liver L02 cells.

Graphdiyne as an emerging sensor platform: Principles, synthesis and application.

Background: Graphdiyne (GDY) is a kind of carbon material, which has highly delocalized π-conjugated system and feasible green synthesis. Nowadays, the use of GDY substrate as a sensing platform has become a new research hotspot and is rapidly developing. However, its application as a sensor is still relatively overlook compared to other fields.

Bismuth-based mesoporous nanoball carrying sorafenib for synergistic photothermal and molecularly-targeted therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft mouse model.

Sorafenib (SOR), a multi-kinase inhibitor for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has limited clinical application due to severe side effects and drug resistance. To overcome these challenges, we developed a bismuth-based nanomaterial (BOS) for thermal injury-assisted continuous targeted therapy in HCC. Initially, the mesoporous nanomaterial was loaded with SOR, forming the BOS@SOR nano-carrier system for drug delivery and controlled release.

Impact of repeated heat-pressing on the microstructure and flexural strength of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics.

Background: The leftover material from the heat-pressing of IPS e.max Press ceramic is often discarded, despite some laboratories exploring its potential for reuse. However, there is a lack of data on the performance of IPS e.

Prosthesis choice in the adult USA population with partial edentulism.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of prostheses and investigate how demographic and socioeconomic characteristics influence choices of restoration types in the adult population of the United States over 20 years of age.

Materials And Methods: The study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 2017 to March 2020 Pre-Pandemic Data. We examined demographic and socioeconomic variables, dentition status, and restoration types among participants with partial edentulism.

Integrated nutritional and functional components analyses reveal insights into the peel and pulp quality at different harvest times of 'Dahongpao' tangerine (Citrus reticulata Blanco).

The fruit of Citrus reticulata 'Dahongpao' (DHP) is typically harvested when fully ripe, exhibiting a dark red color, high sweetness, and pleasant taste. However, it remains uncertain whether the optimum harvesting time for its medicinal part (peel) aligns with that of the fruit. The findings of the study indicated that the peel exhibited the highest concentration of total flavonoids (4.

Dominant Contribution of Non-dust Primary Emissions and Secondary Processes to Dissolved Aerosol Iron.

Solubility largely determines the impacts of aerosol Fe on marine ecosystems and human health. Currently, modeling studies have large uncertainties in aerosol Fe solubility due to inadequate understanding of the sources of dissolved Fe. This work investigated seasonal variations of Fe solubility in coarse and fine aerosols in Qingdao, a coastal city in the Northwest Pacific, and utilized a receptor model for source apportionment of total and dissolved aerosol Fe.

Population Distribution and Patients' Awareness of Food Impaction: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Food impaction can contribute to a variety of oral health problems. However, the prevalence of food impaction in the population and patient awareness of these issues are poorly reported on.

Methods: A questionnaire about food impaction was designed and uploaded to an online platform (Sojump) which was then circulated among the study participants using various social media platforms.

Mitochondrial STED Imaging and Membrane Potential Monitoring with a Cationic Molecular Probe.

Mitochondria are essential organelles that not only undergo dynamic morphological changes but also exhibit functional activities such as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). While super-resolution techniques such as stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy can visualize the ultrastructure of mitochondria and the MMP probe can monitor mitochondria function, few dyes meet both demands. Here, a small molecule (MitoPDI-90) based on perylene diimide with cationic groups is reported and used for mitochondrial STED imaging and MMP indication.

N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO regulates neuronal oxidative stress via YTHDC1-ATF3 axis in arsenic-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Excessive exposure to metals in daily life has been proposed as an environmental risk factor for neurological disorders. Oxidative stress is an inevitable stage involved in the neurotoxic effects induced by metals, nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we used arsenic as a representative environmental heavy metal to induce neuronal oxidative stress and demonstrated that both in vitro and in vivo exposure to arsenic significantly increased the level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) by down-regulating its demethylase FTO.