Predicting the recurrence of facial synkinesis after epineurectomy of facial nerve trunk using logistic regression model.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting epineurectomy of the facial nerve trunk for facial synkinesis and use them to establish a prediction model to assess the recurrence of post-operative facial synkinesis.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with synkinesis after facial paralysis were enrolled in this study. They were randomized to the training and testing sets.

Epineurectomy of extracranial facial nerve trunk for non-flaccid sequelae following Bell's palsy: A single-arm trial.

Background: Non-flaccid facial palsy sequelae manifest as sequelae following Bell's palsy. Currently, there are no effective remedies for addressing this issue. In this study, we proposed a new surgical solution, epineurectomy of the extracranial facial nerve trunk, and assessed its safety and efficacy as a potential remedy.

The value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing with different nucleic acid extracting methods of cell-free DNA or whole-cell DNA in the diagnosis of non-neutropenic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Purpose: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS) is a novel molecular diagnostic technique. For nucleic acid extraction methods, both whole-cell DNA (wcDNA) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) are widely applied with the sample of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). We aim to evaluate the clinical value of mNGS with cfDNA and mNGS with wcDNA for the detection of BALF pathogens in non-neutropenic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Salvaging the transected hypoglossal nerve using descendens hypoglossi in patients undergoing hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis for facial palsy: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFA) is the most commonly used surgical treatment for severe facial palsy that does not respond to conservative treatments. A major complication of HFA is the loss of tongue function. The authors aimed to evaluate whether anastomosing the transected hypoglossal nerve using the ramus descendens hypoglossi could prevent tongue deviation and dysfunction in patients undergoing HFA.

Microvascular Decompression Using the Gelatin Sponge Insertion Technique for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Objectives: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the primary surgical intervention for trigeminal neuralgia (TN), with Teflon being the most conventional decompressing material. However, Teflon has been associated with adhesion and granulomas after MVD, which closely correlated with the recurrence of TN. Therefore, we developed a new technique to prevent direct contact between Teflon and nerve.

Hippo-PKCζ-NFκB signaling axis: A druggable modulator of chondrocyte responses to mechanical stress.

Recent studies have implicated a crucial role of Hippo signaling in cell fate determination by biomechanical signals. Here we show that mechanical loading triggers the activation of a Hippo-PKCζ-NFκB pathway in chondrocytes, resulting in the expression of NFκB target genes associated with inflammation and matrix degradation. Mechanistically, mechanical loading activates an atypical PKC, PKCζ, which phosphorylates NFκB p65 at Serine 536, stimulating its transcriptional activation.

Interplay of RAP2 GTPase and the cytoskeleton in Hippo pathway regulation.

The Hippo signaling is instrumental in regulating organ size, regeneration, and carcinogenesis. The cytoskeleton emerges as a primary Hippo signaling modulator. Its structural alterations in response to environmental and intrinsic stimuli control Hippo signaling pathway activity.

Hypoxic Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Direct Schwann Cells Proliferation, Migration, and Paracrine to Accelerate Facial Nerve Regeneration via circRNA_Nkd2/miR-214-3p/MED19 Axis.

Background: Facial nerves have the potential for regeneration following injury, but this process is often challenging and slow. Schwann cells (SCs) are pivotal in this process. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC)-derived exosomes promote tissue repair through paracrine action, with hypoxic preconditioning enhancing their effects.

Improving the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes induced by ceramic nanowire fillers with abundant lithium vacancies.

The addition of ceramic fillers is regarded as an effective strategy for enhancing the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes. However, particulate fillers typically fail to provide continuous conductive pathways and effective reinforcement. Herein, we report a ceramic nanowire filler with long-range interfacial conductivity and abundant lithium vacancies for a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based all-solid-state polymer electrolyte.

Profiling and Bioinformatics Analyses of Hypoxia-Induced Differential Expression of Long Non-coding RNA in Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells.

Hypoxic microenvironments are intricately linked to malignant characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the progression of GBM and closely associated with hypoxia. Nevertheless, the differential expression profiles as well as functional roles of lncRNAs in GBM cells under hypoxic conditions remain largely obscure.

Interplay of RAP2 GTPase and the cytoskeleton in Hippo pathway regulation.

The Hippo signaling is instrumental in regulating organ size, regeneration, and carcinogenesis. The cytoskeleton emerges as a primary Hippo signaling modulator. Its structural alterations in response to environmental and intrinsic stimuli control Hippo kinase cascade activity.

Polymer Coating with Balanced Coordination Strength and Ion Conductivity for Dendrite-Free Zinc Anode.

Decorating Zn anodes with functionalized polymers is considered as an effective strategy to inhibit dendrite growth. However, this normally brings extra interfacial resistance rendering slow reaction kinetics of Zn . Herein, a poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) coating with modulated coordination strength and ion conductivity for dendrite-free Zn anode is reported.

Hippo Signaling Modulates the Inflammatory Response of Chondrocytes to Mechanical Compressive Loading.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative disease resulting from mechanical overload, where direct physical impacts on chondrocytes play a crucial role in disease development by inducing inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation. However, the signaling cascades that sense these physical impacts and induce the pathogenic transcriptional programs of KOA remain to be defined, which hinders the identification of novel therapeutic approaches. Recent studies have implicated a crucial role of Hippo signaling in osteoarthritis.

Triclosan is associated with breast cancer via oxidative stress and relative telomere length.

Introduction: Triclosan (TCS), a widely prescribed broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. The relationship and biological mechanisms between TCS exposure and breast cancer (BC) are disputed. We aimed to examine the correlation between urinary TCS exposure and BC risk and estimated the mediating effects of oxidative stress and relative telomere length (RTL) in the above association.

Branched-chain aminotransferase 1 promotes Schwann cell migration and proliferation to accelerate facial nerve regeneration through the Twist/FoxC1 and Sox2 pathways.

Facial paralysis caused by injury to the facial nerve is common clinical presentation resulting in significant physical and psychological damage. In addition, due to the lack of understanding about the mechanisms of injury and repair and the lack of effective treatment targets, the clinical treatment outcomes for such patients remain poor. Schwann cells (SCs) have a central role in the regeneration of nerve myelin.

MicroRNA-186-5p inhibits H9c2 cells apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation by targeting ERK1/2.

Background: Serum miR-186-5p levels are increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and might contribute to assessing the prognosis of AMI patients. In this study, we further investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-186-5p that participated in the pathological processes of myocardial ischemia.

Methods: The AMI models of rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) models of H9c2 cells were established.

PP2Ac/STRN4 negatively regulates STING-type I IFN signaling in tumor-associated macrophages.

Stimulator of IFN genes type I (STING-Type I) IFN signaling in myeloid cells plays a critical role in effective antitumor immune responses, but STING agonists as monotherapy have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials. The mechanisms that downregulate STING signaling are not fully understood. Here, we report that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), with its specific B regulatory subunit Striatin 4 (STRN4), negatively regulated STING-Type I IFN in macrophages.

Development of a novel glycolysis-related genes signature for isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-associated glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: The significant difference in prognosis between IDH1 wild-type and IDH1 mutant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) may be attributed to their metabolic discrepancies. Hence, we try to construct a prognostic signature based on glycolysis-related genes (GRGs) for IDH1-associated GBM and further investigate its relationships with immunity.

Methods: Differentially expressed GRGs between IDH1 wild-type and IDH1 mutant GBM were screened based on the TCGA database and the Molecular Signature Database (MSigDB).

Prediction of BRAF mutation status in glioblastoma multiforme by preoperative ring enhancement appearances on MRI.

Background: Ring enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important characteristic of GBM. Though patients suffering from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with BRAF mutation (MUT BRAF) in V600E benefit from BRAF-targeted inhibitors, the relationship between ring enhancement and MUT BRAF remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between BRAF mutation status and the appearance of ring enhancement so as to guide preoperative targeted therapy for MUT BRAF GBM.