Effects of live and pasteurized forms of Lactobacillus casei Zhang on acute kidney injury and chronic renal fibrosis.

Lactobacillus casei Zhang (Lac.z), isolated from traditional sour horse milk in Inner Mongolia, can alleviate various diseases and promote health. Our previous studies found that pretreatment with live Lac.

Targeting the transmembrane cytokine co-receptor neuropilin-1 in distal tubules improves renal injury and fibrosis.

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a co-receptor for various cytokines, including TGF-β, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for fibrosis. However, its role and mechanism in renal fibrosis remains elusive. Here, we show that NRP1 is upregulated in distal tubular (DT) cells of patients with transplant renal insufficiency and mice with renal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury.

Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis of Connexin 43 as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Human Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC).

: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is involved in the transfer of small signaling molecules between neighboring cells, thereby exerting a major influence on the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. However, there is a lack of systematic research on Cx43 expression and its predictive role in clinical diagnosis and prognosis in pan-cancer. : Several biological databases were used to evaluate the expression levels of GJA1 (encoding Cx43) and its diagnostic and prognostic significance in pan-cancer.

Do disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase the burden on ankylosing spondylitis patients with mild-moderate COVID-19? evidence from a retrospective cohort study.

The impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) on the outcomes of mild-moderate COVID-19 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NSAIDs, csDMARDs, and TNFi on AS patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. This cohort study utilized patient-reported PCR/antigen tests to determine the occurrence of COVID-19 and assessed clinical manifestations to determine its severity.

Effects of probiotics on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a review of human clinical trials.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global public health issue, of which the prevalence is about 25% worldwide. The incidence of NAFLD is increasing in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and the metabolic syndrome. The crosstalk between gut microbiota and metabolism-related diseases has been raised great concern.

The probiotic Zhang-mediated correction of gut dysbiosis ameliorates peritoneal fibrosis by suppressing macrophage-related inflammation the butyrate/PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway.

Peritoneal fibrosis is a complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) that restricts its clinical application for the treatment of end-stage renal disease. Zhang (LCZ), a probiotic strain isolated from traditional fermented koumiss, exhibits health benefits such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, improvement of insulin resistance and mitigation of renal injury. However, whether LCZ can prevent peritoneal fibrosis remains unknown.

[Distribution Characteristics and Health Effects of Bioaerosols in Spring over Xi'an City].

A large amount of fluffy caktins appears in spring in Xi'an that may cause air pollution and lead to health risks such as asthma. In this study, bioaerosol, PM, and fluffy catkins were collected from different sample points (traffic site and campus site) in Xi'an in spring. The variations in bioaerosol, fluffy catkins, and the bacterial community structure were investigated using culture-dependent and high-throughput sequencing methods.

Clinical value of plasmablasts in predicting disease relapse in patients with IgG4-related disease.

Objectives: To explore the value of plasmablasts in predicting disease relapse in IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD).

Methods: Treatment-naïve IgG4-RD patients treated with glucocorticoid (GC) monotherapy or leflunomide (LEF) and GC combination therapy diagnosed at the Chinese PLA General Hospital during February 2017 and January 2018 were included in this study. The absolute plasmablast count was measured by using the absolute count tubes with flow cytometry.

Size distribution, community composition, and influencing factors of bioaerosols on haze and non-haze days in a megacity in Northwest China.

Bioaerosols have become a major environmental concern in recent years. In this study, the diurnal variations and size distributions of bioaerosols, as well as airborne bacterial community compositions and their influencing factors on haze and non-haze days in Xi'an, China, were compared. The results indicated that the mean bacteria and fungi concentrations on non-haze days were 1.

[Measurement Analysis and Superposed Effect of Residential Indoor Air Pollutants in Xi'an].

To understand the levels of indoor air pollution and protect public health, our research group conducted monitoring of the concentrations of indoor pollutants (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), -butyl acetate, ethylbenzene, styrene, and undecane) and a health effect assessment for 830 households of Xi'an City from December 2017 to December 2020. Simultaneously, the superposed effect of pollutants was analyzed. The results showed that the exceedance rates of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, TVOC, and xylene were 92.

Pu'er tea rich in strictinin and catechins prevents biofilm formation of two cariogenic bacteria, and .

Cariogenic bacteria, such as and , are main pathogens responsible for human dental caries. Pu'er tea is empirically observed to prevent tooth decay. Besides caffeine and catechins commonly found in oolong tea, strictinin is also found as an abundant phenolic compound in Pu'er tea.

Eosinophilic fasciitis associated with generalized morphea and IgA nephropathy.

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by increased peripheral blood eosinophils and diffuse fasciitis, generalized morphea (GM) is a subtype of localized scleroderma, and IgA nephropathy is a chronic glomerulonephritis caused by abnormal deposition of IgA in the mesangial area of the glomeruli. We describe a 49-year-old male patient with hard skin, cutaneous hyperpigmentation, and proteinuria. The patient had suffered from a long disease course of hard skin, while urine protein was newly detected.

Additive effect of leflunomide and glucocorticoids compared with glucocorticoids monotherapy in preventing relapse of IgG4-related disease: A randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of leflunomide (LEF) and glucocorticoids (GCs) combination therapy compared with GCs monotherapy in preventing relapse of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).

Methods: A 12-month, randomized, open-label, controlled trial was conducted at a large academic medical center (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02703194).

Cd contamination status and cost-benefits analysis in agriculture soils of Yangtze River basin.

Soil is a fundamental carrier to support for human living and development and has been polluted seriously by heavy metals. This fact highlights the urgency to realize soil heavy metal pollution prevention through soil heavy metals contamination status assessment and root cause analysis. The previous research tends to focus status assessment and source identification without consideration of economic aspect.

When brucellosis met the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for spondyloarthritis: a comparative study.

Objectives: To distinguish brucellosis patients fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria for spondyloarthritis (SpA) from SpA patients.

Methods: Brucellosis patients diagnosed from September 2012 to December 2017 who met the ASAS classification criteria for SpA were analyzed with clinical characteristics and laboratory and imaging examinations. Axial or peripheral SpA patients were respectively included into the comparative analysis with a 4:1 ratio.

Disability and health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in China.

Method: A cross-section survey was conducted in 21 general hospitals in China. Eight hundred and seven patients were recruited.

A carbonothioate-based highly selective fluorescent probe with a large Stokes shift for detection of Hg.

Mercury (Hg) is one of the heavy metal pollutants in the environment. Even a very small amount of mercury can cause serious harm to human beings. Herein, we reported a new carbonothioate-based fluorescent probe for the detection of Hg without interference from other metal ions.

Effects of telmisartan on improving leptin resistance and inhibiting hepatic fibrosis in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of telmisartan (TEL) on hepatic fibrosis, serum leptin, leptin protein in liver tissue and its mRNA expression level in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control (N), model (M), polyene phosphatidylcholine (P) and TEL (T) groups. Group M and the intervention groups were given a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce NAFLD, followed by 4 weeks of intragastric administration of normal saline (1.

The value of F-FDG PET/CT in the distinction between retroperitoneal fibrosis and its malignant mimics.

Objective: To discuss the utility of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) in the diagnosis of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (iRPF).

Methods: IRPF patients diagnosed between September 2011 and June 2016 were included. Retroperitoneal malignancy patients were included as control.

Combination therapy of leflunomide and glucocorticoids for the maintenance of remission in patients with IgG4-related disease: a retrospective study and literature review.

Background: Although glucocorticoids are effective in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), patients may relapse during or after glucocorticoid tapering. Immunosuppressive agents, including leflunomide (LEF), are regarded as steroid-sparing agents in other autoimmune disorders and need to be discussed in the management of IgG4-RD.

Aim: To identify the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of LEF and glucocorticoids in IgG4-RD.

3d-4f Metal-Organic Framework with Dual Luminescent Centers That Efficiently Discriminates the Isomer and Homologues of Small Organic Molecules.

A 3d-4f luminescent metal-organic framework (MOF), [Tb2(Cu8I8)(C12H8NO2)6(H2O)4]·5C4H8O2 (4), and three analogues {[La2(Cu8I8)(C12H8NO2)6(C4H8O2)2(H2O)2]·3C4H8O2·2H2O (1), [Ce2(Cu8I8)(C12H8NO2)6(H2O)4]·5C4H8O2 (2), and [Eu2(Cu8I8)(C12H8NO2)6(H2O)4]·5C4H8O2 (3)}, were self-assembled from copper(I) halide clusters and lanthanide metal ions with an organic linker [3-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid] under solvothermal conditions. Compound 4 with high quantum yield (Φ = 68%) exhibits reversible luminescence behavior, accompanying the removal and recovery of guest molecules (1,4-dioxane). Because of the unique porous structure and dual luminescent centers of compound 4, it can efficiently differentiate benzene series with different sizes and provide readouts in corresponding optical signals.

[Effects of telmisartan on resistin expression in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and insulin resistance].

Objective: To investigate the effects of telmisartan on expression of resistin in serum and liver under conditions of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and insulin resistance using a rat model system.

Methods: Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (NC, n=10), a model control group (MC, n=15), a polyene phosphatidylcholine prevention group (PP, n=10), and a telmisartan prevention group (TP, n=10). The NC group was given a standard diet and the other groups were given a high-fat diet for 16 weeks in order to induce NASH.

Multifunctional luminescence properties of co-doped lanthanide metal organic frameworks.

Two novel lanthanide metal organic frameworks [Eu4(bpt)4(DMF)2(H2O)6]·(DMF)5·(H2O)4 () and [Tb4(bpt)4(DMF)2(H2O)8]·(DMF)5·(H2O)3 () were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, forming a three-dimensional structure (H3bpt = biphenyl-3,4',5-tricarboxylate). Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that compounds and are heteromorphic and have different topologies due to the change of metal ions with different radii and coordination steric hindrance. The unique luminescence properties of Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) ions motivated us to dope different amounts of Tb(3+) into a single host to obtain light tunable materials.

The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on work capacity in Chinese patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of RA on work capacity and identify factors related to work capacity impairment in patients with RA.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicentre study was performed in 21 tertiary care hospitals across China. A consecutive sample of 846 patients with RA was recruited, of which 589 patients of working age at disease onset constituted the study population.