Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the PSS-QoL questionnaire.

Background: The quality of life(QoL) of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome(PSS) is affected by a variety of symptoms, and it is important to comprehensively assess the factors affecting patients' QoL.The PSS-QoL is a specific tool for the assessment of patients' QoL in the PSS. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the PSS-QoL for the Chinese language,to establish a QoL assessment tool for PSS patients in Chinese culture and to test the reliability and validity of the PSS-QoL.

Interleukin-18 Gene Polymorphisms and Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

This study systematically analyzes the association between interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. The electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Excerpta Medica Database, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify meta-analyses that included case-control studies reporting IL-18 gene polymorphisms and RA susceptibility. Data were reanalyzed using Review Manager Software 5.

Study on Adhesion Performance and Aging Strength Degradation Mechanism of SBS Modified Asphalt with Different Anti-Aging Additive.

After aging, the adhesiveness of asphalt deteriorates, leading to a reduction in the durability of asphalt mixtures and affecting the service life of asphalt pavements. To enhance the anti-aging performance of asphalt, this study employed the method of melt blending to prepare three types of modified asphalt: graphene/SBS modified asphalt (G/SBSMA), crumb rubber/SBS modified asphalt (CR/SBSMA), and petroleum resin/SBS modified asphalt (PR/SBSMA). Different dosages of the three types of modified asphalt were tested for changes in conventional performance indicators.

EPC infusion ameliorates acute graft-versus-host disease-related endothelial injury after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Introduction: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) damages vascular endothelium. Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) can differentiate to endothelial cell and promote angiogenesis, but its role in endothelial damage in GVHD is unclear.

Methods: In this study, we intend to assess whether EPC infusion promotes the repair of endothelial injury in GVHD mouse model.

Research on High-Temperature Evaluation Indexes and Performance of Qingchuan Rock-SBS Composite Modified Asphalt.

The phenomenon of structural destabilization damage to asphalt pavement is becoming increasingly serious as a result of high temperatures and heavy traffic. Considering the advantages of Qingchuan rock asphalt (QRA) in its durability, high-temperature rutting resistance, and good compatibility with asphalt, it was proposed to compound rock asphalt with SBS to ameliorate the high-temperature performance of asphalt. In this study, DSR and BBR were used to determine the rheological properties of Qingchuan rock-modified asphalt (QRMA) and Qingchuan rock-SBS-modified asphalt (QRA-SBSMA), and the optimum blending amount of rock asphalt was determined based on the PG classification results.

Predictive significance of joint plasma fibrinogen and urinary alpha-1 microglobulin-creatinine ratio in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Background: Although many biomarkers have high diagnostic and predictive power for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), less studies were performed for the predictive assessment in DKD and its progression with combined blood and urinary biomarkers. This study aims to explore the predictive significance of joint plasma fibrinogen (FIB) concentration and urinary alpha-1 microglobulin-creatinine (α1-MG/CR) ratio in DKD.

Methods: A total of 234 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled, and their clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively assessed.

Evaluation on Improvement Effect of Different Anti-Stripping Agents on Pavement Performance of Granite-Asphalt Mixture.

There are abundant granite reserves in China, but the adhesion between granite and asphalt is poor, and there are problems such as insufficient water stability, which seriously restrict the application and promotion of granite in asphalt pavement. In order to improve the adhesion between granite and asphalt, as well as the water stability of asphalt mixture, amines and polymers were selected as anti-stripping agents. First, silane coupling agent modified asphalt (SCAMA), rock asphalt modified asphalt (RMA), SBS modified asphalt (SBS), and double rock composite modified asphalt (SCA&RMA) were produced; the modification effect of different anti-stripping modified asphalts was evaluated.

MicroRNA-139-5p inhibits inflammatory and oxidative stress responses of Salmonella-infected macrophages through modulating TRAF6.

Evidence indicates that macrophages play an important role in the immune system. Therefore, research involving inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in macrophages is of great significance. Many factors contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress, including Salmonella.

The role of hepatitis B core-related antigen in predicting hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation.

Background: Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a viral marker for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the relationship between HBcrAg and HBV recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) is unclear.

Aim: To investigate the correlation of serum HBcrAg level with HBV recurrence post-LT to evaluate the prognostic role of the pre-LT HBcrAg level.

hnRNPDL extensively regulates transcription and alternative splicing.

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are key players of genome regulation. Here we report the transcriptome study of HnRNP D-Like protein, which belongs to the hnRNP family. We used RNA-seq to analyze the global transcript level and alternative splicing on hnRNPDL shRNA-treated cells and control.

Selenoprotein S inhibits inflammation-induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification.

Vascular calcification is a prominent feature of many diseases including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. A significant association of selenoprotein S (SelS) gene polymorphism with atherosclerotic CVD has been reported in epidemiologic studies, but the underlying mechanism is far from clear. To investigate the role of SelS in inflammation-induced vascular calcification, osteoblastic differentiation and calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were compared between the cells with and without SelS knockdown.

Clinical Significance of Hemostatic Parameters in the Prediction for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Nephropathy.

It would be important to predict type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study was aimed at evaluating the predicting significance of hemostatic parameters for T2DM and DN. Plasma coagulation and hematologic parameters before treatment were measured in 297 T2DM patients.

Fatty Acid Oxidation in Zebrafish Adipose Tissue Is Promoted by 1α,25(OH)D.

1α,25(OH)D (vitamin D) is crucial for mineral homeostasis in mammals, but the precise effects of 1α,25(OH)D in adipose tissue remain to be clarified in vivo. The initial 25-hydroxylation is catalyzed by liver microsomal cytochrome P450 2R1 (CYP2R1), which is conserved in vertebrates. To probe the physiological function(s) of 1α,25(OH)D in teleosts, we generated two independent cyp2r1-deficient zebrafish lines.

Selenoprotein S Is Highly Expressed in the Blood Vessels and Prevents Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells From Apoptosis.

Atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent one of the greatest threats to human health worldwide. The protection of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from apoptosis in the plaque has become an important therapeutic target for atherosclerotic plaque stabilization. A significant association of selenoprotein S (SelS) gene polymorphism with atherosclerotic CVD has been reported in epidemiologic studies, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown.

[Risk factors associated with cardiac involvement in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis].

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with cardiac involvement (CI) in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM).

Methods: Medical records of 129 DM/PM patients were reviewed retrospectively. The risk factors associated with CI in those patients were screened through Xt tests or independent tests before a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.