Circadian and Autophagy Markers Correlate with Poor Prognosis in Meningioma Patients.

Purpose: Patients with meningiomas mostly present good outcomes and optimal prognosis, but different grades of tumors have very different symptoms and recurrence rates. Therefore, effective diagnosis is crucial for early intervention and controlling tumor development. Circadian cycle and autophagy have both been proven to be related to neoplasm formation and pathogenesis; however, there is limited exploration and discussion on the relationships between the circadian cycle and autophagy in patients with meningiomas.

Efficacy and safety of gut microbiome-targeted treatment in patients with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The study aimed to comprehensively analyze and establish a framework for evaluating the efficacy of microbiome-targeted treatment (MTT) for depression.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on MTT in treating depression until October 19, 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MTT.

An expanding universe of mutational signatures and its rapid evolution in single-stranded RNA viruses.

The study of mutational processes in somatic genomes has gained recent momentum, uncovering a wide array of endogenous and exogenous factors associated with somatic changes. However, the overall landscape of mutational processes in germline mutations across the tree of life and associated evolutionary driving forces are rather unclear. In this study, we analyzed mutational processes in single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses which are known to jump between different hosts with divergent exogenous environments.

High-density mapping in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in Asia Pacific region: An observational study.

Background: Few clinical studies of atrial fibrillation (AF) have focused on Asian patients; data are lacking on current mapping and ablation strategies in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

Objective: The HD Mapping Observational Study (NCT04022954) was designed to characterize electroanatomic mapping (EAM) with market-released high-density mapping (HDM) catheters in subjects with AF in APAC.

Methods: Subjects undergoing HDM and indicated for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat AF were prospectively enrolled in APAC.

From Lesions to Lessons: Two Decades of Filamentous Plant Pathogen Genomics.

Filamentous plant pathogens pose a severe threat to food security. Current estimates suggest up to 23% yield losses to pre- and post-harvest diseases and these losses are projected to increase due to climate change (Singh et al. 2023; Chaloner et al.

Alterations in Gut Microbiota Composition Are Associated with Changes in Emotional Distress in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in regulating emotional and behavioral responses via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This study explores associations between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), emotional distress (ED), and gut microbiome alterations before and after OSA treatment. Sixty-six children diagnosed with OSA via polysomnography participated, undergoing adenotonsillectomy alongside routine educational sessions.

Exploring Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysregulation in Lung Tissues of Offspring Rats Exposed to Prenatal Polystyrene Microplastics: Effects of Melatonin Treatment.

Metabolomics research provides a clearer understanding of an organism's metabolic state and enables a more accurate representation of its functional performance. This study aimed to investigate changes in the metabolome of lung tissues resulting from prenatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and to understand the underlying mechanisms of lung damage in rat offspring. We conducted metabolomic analyses of lung tissue from seven-day-old rat pups exposed to prenatal PS-MPs.

Student-Led Medical Mandarin Summer Course for Medical Students With Existing Mandarin Fluency.

Introduction: In regions with significant Mandarin-speaking populations, language discordance in health care poses considerable challenges. Previous studies have shown that patients with language-concordant providers had higher ratings of satisfaction and trust. Despite this, there is a shortage of Mandarin-speaking primary care physicians in California.

Incidence and outcome of hepatitis D virus infection in people with HIV in the era of tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves survival in HBV-coinfected people with HIV (PWH). We investigated the incidence of HDV infection and its clinical impact in HBV-coinfected PWH in the era of tenofovir-containing ART.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2022, HBV-coinfected PWH were included and followed until December 2023.

[Cataracts extraction combined with multifocal intraocular lens optic implantation in Berger space in school-age children with cataracts].

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cataract extraction combined with multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) optic implantation in Berger space in school-age children with cataracts. It was a prospective study. The clinical data of school-age children with cataract who underwent cataract extraction combined with multifocal IOL implantation at Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2019 to June 2023 were collected.

Reimagining hospital management: the balanced scorecard as a catalyst for employee retention and organizational excellence.

Employee turnover in healthcare institutions is a critical issue affecting both quality of care and organizational costs. This study examines the potential impact of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a communication tool on employee turnover rates in a Japanese hospital setting. A case study of Bethlehem Garden Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, was conducted to examine turnover rates before and after the implementation of BSC.

A Systematic Method to Detect Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Microsatellite Instability in Plasma Cell-Free DNA: plasmaMSI.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) detection using tumor tissue is a well-established prognostic and predictive biomarker for certain types of cancers. However, tumor tissue samples are less convenient to obtain than blood plasma samples. The main challenge facing next-generation sequencing-based MSI detection in blood plasma samples is the ultralow signal/noise ratio in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

Construction and validation of a predictive model for the risk of rebleeding in patients with esophageal and gastric varices hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: Esophageal and gastric varices hemorrhage (EGVH) is a life-threatening condition with the 6-week mortality rate of 15-25%. Up to 60% of patients with EGVH may experience rebleeding with a mortality rate of 33%. The existing scoring systems, such as RS scoring system (Rockall score, RS) and GBS scoring system (Glasgow-Blatchford score, GBS), have limitations in predicting the risk of rebleeding.

Utility of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Evaluating Disseminated Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection in Patients With Anti-interferon-γ Autoantibodies.

Background: Managing disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection in patients with neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies (AIGAs) poses substantial challenges due to the lack of established treatment guidance and predictive tools for clinical outcomes. In this study, we investigated the utility of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (2-[F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in guiding treatment decisions, with a focus on its ability to predict rehospitalization outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the first available 2-[F]FDG PET scans of patients with AIGAs and disseminated NTM infection from a prospective observational multicenter cohort.

High-resolution imaging of organic and inorganic nanoparticles at nanometre-scale resolution by X-ray ensemble diffraction microscopy.

Coherent diffraction microscopy (CDM) is a robust direct imaging method due to its unique 2D/3D phase retrieval capacity. Nonetheless, its resolution faces limitations due to a diminished signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in high-frequency regions. Addressing this challenge, X-ray ensemble diffraction microscopy (XEDM) emerges as a viable solution, ensuring an adequate SNR in high-frequency regions and effectively surmounting resolution constraints.

Multistep Algorithm to Predict RVOT PVC Site of Origin for Successful Ablation Using Available Criteria: A Two-Center Cross-Validation Study.

Background: Predicting premature ventricular contraction (PVC) origin pre-ablation is a fundamental step, as right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) PVC often leads to higher success rates.

Objective: To compare nine published ECG criteria to differentiate between RVOT and non-RVOT origins of PVCs and develop a stepwise algorithm using those criteria to better determine PVC origin to predict ablation success.

Methods: Two centers were involved in this study, the derivation group and the validation group.

Overexpression of BMAL-1 is related to progression of urothelial carcinoma in arsenic exposure area.

Background: Environmental exposure to arsenic has long been associated with various clinical and pathophysiological aspects of urothelial carcinoma (UC), although the role of arsenic in UC and its impact on circadian proteins, particularly BMAL-1, remains unestablished. Previous research suggests that arsenic upregulates Aurora kinase A (AURKA), subsequently inhibiting GSK-3β, which might lead to overexpression of BMAL-1; nevertheless, the underlying pathway and its clinical significance in UC with arsenic exposure have yet to be validated. This study focuses on two potential upstream regulators of BMAL-1, AURKA and GSK-3β.

Computed tomography-based pulmonary vasculature analysis of decreased lung perfusion after thoracic radiotherapy in patients with lung cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to quantitatively assess changes in lung perfusion after thoracic radiotherapy in lung cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Patients underwent chest computed tomography (CT) for pulmonary vasculature analysis before radiotherapy and at 3 and 12 months after radiotherapy. The correlation between the percentage decrease in lung perfusion after radiotherapy and the delivered radiotherapy dose was analyzed.

PKN2 Promotes Peripheral Nerve Repair by Regulating Autophagy via Activation of the AKT-mTOR Pathway: An In Vitro Study.

This study aims to explore the role of Protein Kinase N2 (PKN2) in peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target. The study employed a PC12 cell model to assess the effects of PKN2 overexpression on cell proliferation, migration, synaptic growth, and autophagic activity, with a focus on the regulatory role of the protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. The results demonstrated that PKN2 overexpression significantly promoted PC12 cell proliferation and cell migration, while also enhancing synaptic growth.

Strongly enhanced shift current at exciton resonances in a noncentrosymmetric wide-gap semiconductor.

Excitons are fundamental quasiparticles that are ubiquitous in photoexcited semiconductors and insulators. Despite causing a sharp and strong photoabsorption near the interband absorption edge, charge-neutral excitons do not yield photocurrent in conventional photovoltaic processes unless dissociated into free charge carriers. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that excitons can directly contribute to photocurrent generation through a nonlinear light-matter interaction in a noncentrosymmetric semiconductor CuI.

Alterations of Gut Microbiome Composition and Function Pre- and Post-Adenotonsillectomy in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Importance: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is linked with alterations in the gut microbiome. The influence of adenotonsillectomy (AT), a primary intervention for OSA, on gut microbiota dynamics relative to disease severity remains to be elucidated.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of OSA severity and AT on the gut microbiome in pediatric patients.