Homeostatic Measure of Insulin Resistance Is Associated With Future Asthma Exacerbations: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that insulin resistance affects asthma outcomes. However, the effect of the homeostatic measure of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) on airway inflammation and asthma exacerbations (AEs) is poorly understood.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between HOMA-IR and clinical and inflammatory characteristics in patients with asthma, and the association between HOMA-IR and AEs in the following year.

Assessment of aortic and peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with knee osteoarthritis by ultrasound Doppler derived pulse wave velocity.

Information regarding regional arterial stiffness assessment in osteoarthritis (OA) was scarce and sometimes contradictory. We aimed to investigate the aortic, lower limb peripheral arterial stiffness and their associations with knee OA. Patients with primary knee OA and matched non-OA controls were prospectively enrolled from two medical centers in China.

Comparing Diagnostic Efficacy of C-TIRADS Positive Features on Different Sizes of Thyroid Nodules.

Purpose: To explore the diagnostic value of positive features in the Chinese Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (C-TIRADS) for thyroid nodules of different sizes.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1864 patients with 2347 thyroid nodules were selected from January 2021 to December 2022 and assessed according to C-TIRADS. According to the maximum diameter, nodules were divided into the A1 group (≤10 mm), A2 group (>10 mm,<20 mm), and A3 group (≥20 mm).

Increasing the Stability of Metal-Organic Frameworks by Coating with Poly(tetrafluoroethylene).

When compared to industrially stable zeolites, the instability of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been denounced by researchers. Boosting the stability of existing MOFs is highly important for practical applications. In this report, we develop a new strategy to prepare MOFs/poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) composites, which can highly improve the chemical, pressure, and photostabilities of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8.

Integral characterization of normal and alopecic hair at different degeneration stages by in-situ visible and chemical imaging.

Direct exploration to differences between normal hair (NH) and alopecic hair (AH) at different degeneration stages is still lacking. To reveal compositional and structural variation of AH with reference to NH internally and externally, infrared spectroscopic imaging combined with scanning electron microscopy was applied to investigate integral changes of hair chemical profiles and surface texture structures, and infrared macro-fingerprinting analysis revealed detailed chemical compositions of NH and AH. Results showed that AH had excessive irregular laminated structures compared to NH, leading to a lower weight bearing capacity.

The Oleaceae family: A source of secoiridoids with multiple biological activities.

In the quest to search and discover bioactive compounds from nature, terpenoids have emerged as one of the most interesting and researched classes of compounds. Secoiridoid, a type of the terpenoid, has also been extensively studied, especially their chemical structures and pharmacological effects. Oleaceae is a family of woody dicotyledonous plants with broad economic and medicinal values.

A label-free electrochemical sensor for detection of mercury(II) ions based on the direct growth of guanine nanowire.

A simple, sensitive and label-free electrochemical sensor is developed for detection of Hg(2+) based on the strong and stable T-Hg(2+)-T mismatches. In the presence of Mg(2+), the parallel G-quadruplex structures could be specifically recognized and precipitated in parallel conformation. Therefore, the guanine nanowire was generated on the electrode surface, triggering the electrochemical H2O2-mediated oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB).

Guanine nanowire based amplification strategy: Enzyme-free biosensing of nucleic acids and proteins.

Sensitive and specific detection of nucleic acids and proteins plays a vital role in food, forensic screening, clinical and environmental monitoring. There remains a great challenge in the development of signal amplification method for biomolecules detection. Herein, we describe a novel signal amplification strategy based on the formation of guanine nanowire for quantitative detection of nucleic acids and proteins (thrombin) at room temperature.

Experimental Study of Antiatherosclerosis Effects with Hederagenin in Rats.

The research tries to establish Wistar rat's model of atherosclerosis for evaluating the antiatherosclerotic effect of hederagenin and exploring its antiatherosclerosis-related mechanisms. The statistical data have shown that hederagenin exhibits multiple pharmacological activities in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, antiplatelet aggregation, liver protection, and anti-inflammation, indicating that hederagenin may exert a protective effect on vascular walls by improving lipid metabolism disorders and lipid deposition. The results show that hederagenin can correct the imbalance of endothelial function by inhibiting the release of large amounts of iNOS and increasing eNOS contents and inhibits the IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce the release of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and other inflammatory factors.

Effects of Kaixin Powder on melatonin receptor expression and (125)I-Mel binding affinity in a rat model of depression.

Objective: To explore the effects of Kaixin Powder (, KXP) on melatonin receptor (MR) expression and (125)I-Mel binding affinity in a depression rat model.

Methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: a blank control group, model group, ramelteon group, KXP high-dosage group (HKXP), medium-dosage group (MKXP) and low-dosage group (LKXP). To establish the depression model, all groups except the blank control group were singly housed and exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress.

[A family-based association study of FXYD6 gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia].

Objective: To study the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FXYD6 gene and schizophrenia in a family-trios population.

Methods: Six SNPs (rs10790212, rs11544201, rs555577, rs1815774, rs4938446 and rs497768) in the FXYD6 gene were genotyped by allele-specific PCR method in 101 nuclear families, and transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was performed.

Results: SNPs rs10790212 and rs11544201 showed significant association with schizophrenia (P<0.