Causal associations between hypertension and abnormal brain cortical structures: Insights from a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies suggest that hypertension affects brain cortical structure. However, the potential causal association has yet to be entirely determined. Thus, we aim to assess the causality between hypertension and abnormal cortical structure.

Quasi-Static Mechanical Biomimetics Evaluation of Car Crash Dummy Skin.

Accurate replication of soft tissue properties is essential for the development of car crash test dummy skin to ensure the precision of biomechanical injury data. However, the intricacy of multi-layer soft tissue poses challenges in standardizing the development and testing of dummy skin materials to emulate soft tissue properties. This study presents a comprehensive testing and analysis of the compressive mechanical properties of both single and multi-layered soft tissues and car crash dummy skin materials, aiming to enhance the biofidelity of dummy skin.

The fatty acid receptor CD36 promotes macrophage infiltration via p110γ signaling to stimulate metastasis.

Introduction: Metabolic regulators are key in controlling immune cell fate in the tumor microenvironment. The accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in cancer greatly contributes to metastasis and poor outcome. However, the metabolic pathways responsible for TAM accumulation are largely unknown.

Polysaccharides from as a Potential Prebiotic to Improve the Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet Mice.

Polysaccharides derived from have been found to exhibit hypolipidemic activity in hyperlipidemic mice, but the mechanism by which they modulate intestinal flora is still unclear. Currently, this study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of extracellular (EPTV) and intracellular polysaccharides from (IPTV) on the dysbiosis of intestinal flora in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The results showed that the oral administration of polysaccharides significantly ameliorated lipid accumulation and steatosis in hepatocytes.

Identification of Mycoviruses in the Pathogens of Fragrant Pear Valsa Canker from Xinjiang in China.

As a common disease, canker seriously affects the yield and quality of fragrant pear due to the lack of effective control measures. Some fungi have been reported to harbor rich reservoirs of viral resources, and some mycoviruses can be used as biocontrol agents against plant diseases. In this study, 199 isolates were obtained from diseased branches of fragrant pear in the main production areas of Xinjiang.

Central lymph nodes in frozen sections can effectively guide extended lymph node resection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objectives: The scope of lateral neck lymph node dissection (LND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains controversial. Our research aimed to explore the value of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in frozen sections for predicting neck lateral lymph node metastasis (NLLNM) and to guide clinical surgeons in performing surgical lymph node dissection.

Patients: A total of 275 patients with PTC with suspected 'Cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM, including CLNM and NLLNM)' underwent unilateral or bilateral thyroidectomy and an intraoperative frozen diagnosis of central lymph nodes (LNs), as well as central and neck lateral LND.

Real-Time Nondestructive Viscosity Measurement of Soft Tissue Based on Viscoelastic Response Optical Coherence Elastography.

Viscoelasticity of the soft tissue is an important mechanical factor for disease diagnosis, biomaterials testing and fabrication. Here, we present a real-time and high-resolution viscoelastic response-optical coherence elastography (VisR-OCE) method based on acoustic radiation force (ARF) excitation and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. The relationship between displacements induced by two sequential ARF loading-unloading and the relaxation time constant of the soft tissue-is established for the Kelvin-Voigt material.

Mechanisms and efficacy of metformin-mediated suppression of established experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: Metformin treatment attenuates experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation, as well as reduces clinical AAA diameter enlargement in patients with diabetes. The mechanisms of metformin-mediated aneurysm suppression, and its efficacy in suppressing established experimental aneurysms, remain uncertain.

Methods: Experimental AAAs were created in male C57BL/6J mice via intra-aortic infusion of porcine pancreatic elastase.

Treatment With Small Molecule Inhibitors of Advanced Glycation End-Products Formation and Advanced Glycation End-Products-Mediated Collagen Cross-Linking Promotes Experimental Aortic Aneurysm Progression in Diabetic Mice.

Background Although diabetes attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), the mechanisms by which diabetes suppresses AAAs remain incompletely understood. Accumulation of advanced glycation end- (AGEs) reduces extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in diabetes. Because ECM degradation is critical for AAA pathogenesis, we investigated whether AGEs mediate experimental AAA suppression in diabetes by blocking AGE formation or disrupting AGE-ECM cross-linking using small molecule inhibitors.

The HIF1α polymorphism rs2301104 is associated with obesity and obesity-related cytokines in Han Chinese population.

Aims: To evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms of HIF1α and obesity and obesity-related cytokines in the Han Chinese population.

Methods: The study consisted of 160 subjects with obesity and 166 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We genotyped three tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HIF1α by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based genotyping technology.

Fibulin-1: a novel biomarker for predicting disease activity of the thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the association between fibulin-1(FBLN1) and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Method: The plasma FBLN1 levels were measured in 80 participants, including 30 active TAO patients, 25 inactive TAO patients, and 25 Graves disease (GD) patients without TAO using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: TAO patients had significantly higher TRAb level than GD patients (p < 0.

Type I Interferon Receptor Subunit 1 Deletion Attenuates Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation.

Objective: Type I interferon receptor signaling contributes to several autoimmune and vascular diseases such as lupus, atherosclerosis and stroke. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of type I interferon receptor deficiency on the formation and progression of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods: AAAs were induced in type I interferon receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1)-deficient and wild type control male mice via intra-infrarenal aortic infusion of porcine pancreatic elastase.

Analysis of HIF2α polymorphisms in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome or unexplained infertility.

Objective: To evaluate HIF2α polymorphisms and glucose metabolism in a group of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or unexplained infertility (UI).

Patients: The infertile group (n=148) consisted of 96 women with PCOS, 52 women with UI, and176 women without infertility as a healthy control group.

Intervention: We genotyped 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HIF2α by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based genotyping technology.

Glucocorticoid therapy reduces ocular hypertension in active moderate-severe thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Purpose: Ocular hypertension (OHT) is an important clinical feature of thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO).While the prevalence and outcome of OHT in TAO remains unclear. This study investigates this in moderate-severe active TAO.

Effect of nickel (II) on the performance of anodic electroactive biofilms in bioelectrochemical systems.

The impact of nickel (Ni) on the performance of anodic electroactive biofilms (EABs) in the bioelectrochemical system (BES) was investigated in this study. Although it has been reported that Ni influences microorganisms in a number of ways, it is unknown how its presence in the anode of a BES affects extracellular electron transfer (EET) of EABs, microbial viability, and the bacterial community. Results revealed that the addition of Ni decreased power output from 673.

Dynamic follow-up of the effects of programmed death 1 inhibitor treatment on thyroid function and sonographic features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are widely used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thyroid dysfunction is common in patients treated with this therapy, although the dynamic changes in thyroid function and sonographic features remain unclear.

Methods: We analyzed 38 patients with HCC who received anti-PD-1 therapy at our hospital.

Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance using anode modified with FeO nanoparticles.

Low electricity generation efficiency is one of the key issues that must be addressed for the practical application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Modification of microbial electrode materials is an effective method to enhance electron transfer. In this study, magnetite (FeO) nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation were added to anode chambers in different doses to explore its effect on the performance of MFCs.

Comparison of the clinical characteristics of primary thyroid lymphoma and diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: Both primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) and diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSVPTC) are two rare malignant tumours with different therapies and prognoses. This study compared their clinical features.

Methods: From a retrospective review of the pathologic database at our institute between January 2015 and August 2020, 52 PTL patients and 40 DSVPTC patients were included.

Treatment with the Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor JNJ Promotes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Progression in Diabetic Mice.

Objective: Prolyl hydroxylase domain containing proteins (PHD) rigorously regulate intracellular hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) protein expression and activity. Diabetes impairs PHD activity and attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression. The extent to which dysregulated PHD activity contributes to diabetes mediated AAA suppression remains undetermined.

Recovery of heavy metals from industrial wastewater using bioelectrochemical system inoculated with novel Castellaniella species.

Water pollution is a global issue that has drastically increased in recent years due to rapid industrial development. Different technologies have been designed for the removal of pollutants from wastewater. However, most of these techniques are expensive, generate new waste, and focus solely on metal removal instead of metal recovery.

Recombinant Interleukin-19 Suppresses the Formation and Progression of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Background Interleukin-19 is an immunosuppressive cytokine produced by immune and nonimmune cells, but its role in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis is not known. This study aimed to investigate interleukin-19 expression in, and influences on, the formation and progression of experimental AAAs. Methods and Results Human specimens were obtained at aneurysm repair surgery or from transplant donors.

Volatile Organic Compounds to Identify Infectious (Bacteria/Viruses) Diseases of the Central Nervous System: A Pilot Study.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) infectious diseases are common diseases in emergency rooms and neurology departments. CNS pathogen identification methods are time consuming and expensive and have low sensitivity and poor specificity. Some studies have shown that bacteria and viruses can produce specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Effects of continuous intravenous infusion of propofol on intestinal flora in rats.

Under normal circumstances, the gut microbiota, host, and external environment establish a dynamic ecological balance and maintain human health. Once this balance is broken, the intestinal flora dysregulation will form, manifested by changes in the diversity, richness, proportion, location and biological characteristics of the gut microbiota. The hypothesis that propofol alters gut microbes was tested in a rat model with continuous intravenous infusion of propofol.

Body fat distribution and circulating adipsin are related to metabolic risks in adult patients with newly diagnosed growth hormone deficiency and improve after treatment.

Objective: The relationships between body fat distribution, the adipokine adipsin and metabolic risks were assessed in patients with adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) before and after growth hormone (GH) treatment.

Methods: Sixty newly diagnosed AGHD patients were included in our study, 24 of whom were evaluated after at least one year of GH treatment. Anthropometric parameters, glucolipid metabolism and the adipokine adipsin were measured.

Evaluation of HBV serological markers in treatment-naïve HBV mono-infected patients and HBV-HIV co-infected patients.

Objectives: Many studies have investigated the utility of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers in HBV-infected patients. However, only a few studies have examined HBV serological markers in HBV-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate correlations of HBV serological markers in treatment-naïve HBV mono-infected patients and HBV-HIV co-infected patients.