Elucidating the Causal Link Between Treg-Related Immune Traits and Atherosclerosis-Related Cardiovascular Diseases: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomisation Analysis.

Aim: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the specific association between Treg immune traits and atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases remains unclear, impeding their potential for clinical therapeutic application.

Method: Fifty-eight Treg-related immune traits were obtained from the latest summary level genome-wide association study, which included 3,757 individuals from Sardinia.

Effect of smoking behaviour and related blood DNA methylation on visceral adipose tissues.

Background: Recent studies have found that tobacco smoking is associated with fat distribution, yet limited research has focused on its relationship with visceral adipose tissues (VATs). Furthermore, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions among smoking, epigenetic modifications, and VATs remain unknown.

Method: We performed univariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to elucidate the causal relationship between smoking behaviours and VATs, including epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue (EPAT), liver fat (LF), and pancreas fat (PF).

De-Methyl Esterification Modification of Root Pectin Mediates Cd Accumulation of Lactuca sativa.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soil brings severe health risks through the dietary intake of Cd-polluted crops. The comprehensive role of pectin in lowering Cd accumulation is investigated through low Cd accumulated (L) and high Cd accumulated (H) cultivars of L. sativa.

Retinal vascular morphological characteristics in diabetic retinopathy: an artificial intelligence study using a transfer learning system to analyze ultra-wide field images.

Aim: To investigate the morphological characteristics of retinal vessels in patients with different severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and in patients with or without diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: The 239 eyes of DR patients and 100 eyes of healthy individuals were recruited for the study. The severity of DR patients was graded as mild, moderate and severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) according to the international clinical diabetic retinopathy (ICDR) disease severity scale classification, and retinal vascular morphology was quantitatively analyzed in ultra-wide field images using RU-net and transfer learning methods.

Non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted scleral buckling surgery for retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes.

Aim: To evaluate scleral buckling (SB) surgery using a non-contact wide-field viewing system and 23-gauge intraocular illumination for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in silicone oil (SO)-filled eyes.

Methods: Totally 9 patients (9 eyes) with retinal detachment in SO-filled eyes were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted buckling surgery with 23-gauge intraocular illumination.

Chewing Gum May Alleviate Degree of Thirst in Patients on Hemodialysis.

: Fluid restriction commonly causes dry mouth in patients on hemodialysis (HD). The observed effects of chewing gum on the amount of saliva, interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), and degree of thirst in patients on HD have been inconsistent. We investigated whether chewing gum can modulate these three parameters in patients on HD.

Jianpi Decoction Combined with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Alleviates Cancer Cachexia and Prevents Muscle Atrophy by Directly Inhibiting E3 Ubiquitin Ligase.

Objective: To provide comprehensive evidence for the anti-cancer cachexia effect of Jianpi Decoction (JP) and to explore its mechanism of anti-cancer cachexia.

Methods: A mouse model of colon cancer (CT26)-induced cancer cachexia (CC) was used to investigate the anti-CC effect of JP combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Thirty-six mice were equally divided into 6 groups: normal control, CC, MPA (100 mg•kg•d), MPA + low-dose (20 mg•kg•d) JP (L-JP), MPA + medium-dose (30 mg•kg•d) JP (M-JP), and MPA + high-dose (40 mg•kg•d) JP (H-JP) groups.

The potential role of ribonucleic acid methylation in the pathological mechanisms of fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), resulting from the loss of functional fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein (RBP) encoded by the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) methylation can lead to developmental diseases, including FXS, through various mechanisms mediated by 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N-methyladenosine, etc. Emerging evidence suggests that modifications of some RNA species have been linked to FXS.

Dynamic regulation and key roles of ribonucleic acid methylation.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) methylation is the most abundant modification in biological systems, accounting for 60% of all RNA modifications, and affects multiple aspects of RNA (including mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs). Dysregulation of RNA methylation causes many developmental diseases through various mechanisms mediated by -methyladenosine (mA), 5-methylcytosine (mC), -methyladenosine (mA), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), and pseudouridine (Ψ). The emerging tools of RNA methylation can be used as diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic markers.

Perceptions of the CanMEDS Competencies of Faculty and Students in Different Curriculum Systems of a Medical School in China.

Introduction: The Ottawa-Shanghai Joint School of Medicine (OSJSM) has adopted the uOttawa's undergraduate medical education (UGME) program vertically integrated (VI) curriculum.However, limited information is available regarding whether the VI and non-VI curricula foster different perspectives on necessary competencies.

Methods: This study included 167 undergraduate medical students and 142 faculty members from different curricula at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Cerebellum neuropathology and motor skill deficits in fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a leading form of inherited intellectual disability and single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is characterized by core deficits in cognitive flexibility, sensory sensitivity, emotion, and social interactions. Motor deficits are a shared feature of FXS and autism. The cerebellum has emerged as one of the target brain areas affected by neurodevelopmental diseases.

Characteristics of macular microvasculature before and after idiopathic macular hole surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the macular microvasculature before and after surgery for idiopathic macular hole (MH) and the association of preoperative vascular parameters with postoperative recovery of visual acuity and configuration.

Methods: Twenty eyes from 20 patients with idiopathic MH were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were obtained before, 2wk, 1, and 3mo after vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling.

Macular density alterations in myopic choroidal neovascularization and the effect of anti-VEGF on it.

Aim: To analyse macular microvascular alterations in myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) and the efficiency of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy for mCNV by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: A total of 123 patients were included in this retrospective study, divided into mCNV group, high myopia (HM) group, and normal group at the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2017 to January 2019. Superficial vessel density, deep capillary density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, A-circularity index (AI) and vessel density around the 300 µm width of the FAZ region density (FD) and the area of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesion (only for mCNV group) were measured on 3×3 mm OCTA images.

A decrease in macular microvascular perfusion after retinal detachment repair with silicone oil.

Aim: To observe whether silicone oil (SO) tamponade could decrease macular perfusion after retinal detachment repair.

Methods: A prospective observational case-control study. Patients diagnosed with primary macular off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment undergoing successful retinal repair surgery with vitrectomy were strictly selected.

Comprehensive evaluation of intravitreal conbercept versus half-dose photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Aim: To compare the safety and efficacy of conbercept intravitreal injection and half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods: This study was retrospective. Thirty-seven patients (37 eyes) with chronic CSC received conbercept injections while 57 patients (57 eyes) were treated with half-dose PDT.

Comparison of persistent submacular fluid in different preoperative macular status after vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Aim: To compare the incidence of persistent submacular fluid (SMF) and visual outcome after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in different preoperative macular status according to optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: A non-randomized, retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent successful PPV for RRD. OCT exams were taken preoperatively and 1mo after surgery, until SMF disappeared.

Selection of cuffed endotracheal tube for children with congenital heart disease based on an ultrasound-based linear regression formula.

It remains to be discovered whether a formula predicting the subglottic transverse diameter measured by ultrasound (SGD) for the selection of an appropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) for children without congenital heart disease (CHD) is useful for children with CHD. A formula for predicting SGD was established after assessing 60 children ≤ 8 years without CHD and validated on 60 children with CHD. We selected the cuffed ETT size based on the SGD by ultrasound (SGD).

Effect of intravitreal conbercept treatment before vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injections as pretreatment for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent PPV for PDR from January 2014 to October 2016. Patients who underwent IVC injection before PPV were assigned to the IVC group; the others were assigned to the control group.

Feasibility study on robot-assisted retinal vascular bypass surgery in an ex vivo porcine model.

Purpose: To describe a new robot-assisted surgical system for retinal vascular bypass surgery (RVBS) and to compare the success rate with freehand RVBS.

Methods: A robot-assisted system for retinal microsurgery was constructed to include two independent robotic arms. A 23-gauge light probe and an intraocular forceps were affixed to the arm end effectors to perform the intraocular manipulation.

Cooperative robot assistant for vitreoretinal microsurgery: development of the RVRMS and feasibility studies in an animal model.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe the development of a robotic aided surgical system named RVRMS (robotic vitreous retinal microsurgery system) and to evaluate the capability for using it to perform vitreoretinal surgery.

Methods: The RVRMS was designed and built to include the key components of two independent arms. End-effectors of each arm fix various surgical instruments and perform intraocular manipulation.

In Vivo Retinal Vein Bypass Surgery in a Porcine Model.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of retinal vein bypass surgery for induced branch retinal-vein occlusion (BRVO) in the living porcine eye.

Methods: Fifteen minipigs were used in the study. Seven days before vascular surgery, hyaluronidase and plasmin were intravitreally injected for induction of posterior vitreous detachment.

[Efficacy of infliximab combined with surgery in the treatment of perianal fistulizing Crohn disease].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab combined with surgery in the treatment of perianal fistulizing Crohn disease (CD).

Methods: Clinical data of 15 patients with perianal fistulizing CD receiving infliximab combined with surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from March 2010 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. One week after operation, all the patients received infliximab infusion thrice at weeks 0, 2, and 6.