Interleukin-34 is more suitable than macrophage colony-stimulating factor for predicting liver significant fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Aims: Interleukin-34 (IL-34) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) have similar functions, such as promoting the formation of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic value of serum IL-34 and CSF-1 for significant liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: A total of 369 CHB patients, consisting of 208 HBeAg-negative patients and 161 HBeAg-positive patients, were enrolled in this study.

Treatment with paraquat affects the expression of ferroptosis-related genes.

Objective: We aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying paraquat (PQ)-induced damage using cell lines (NCTC1469, TC-1, TCMK-1) and bioinformatic analysis of the GSE153959 dataset. Assessment of changes in the expression of ferroptosis-related genes in cellular damage due to paraquat poisoning and the important value of these genes in the pathogenesis.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Exogenous melatonin alleviates hemorrhagic shock‑induced hepatic ischemic injury in rats by inhibiting the NF‑κB/IκBα signaling pathway.

Melatonin (MT) is an indoleamine hormone that can counteract ischemia‑induced organ injury through its antioxidant effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of exogenous MT against hemorrhagic shock (HS)‑induced hepatic ischemic injury in rats, and the role of the nuclear factor (NF)‑κB signaling pathway in this process. A rat model of HS‑induced hepatic ischemic injury was established.

Hierarchically structured diamond composite with exceptional toughness.

The well known trade-off between hardness and toughness (resistance to fracture) makes simultaneous improvement of both properties challenging, especially in diamond. The hardness of diamond can be increased through nanostructuring strategies, among which the formation of high-density nanoscale twins - crystalline regions related by symmetry - also toughens diamond. In materials other than diamond, there are several other promising approaches to enhancing toughness in addition to nanotwinning, such as bio-inspired laminated composite toughening, transformation toughening and dual-phase toughening, but there has been little research into such approaches in diamond.

Effect of hydrocortisone on the 28-day mortality of patients with septic acute kidney injury.

To evaluate the efficacy of hydrocortisone in patients with septic acute kidney injury (SAKI). This retrospective cohort study consisted of all consecutive patients with SAKI who were admitted to the Taizhou First People's Hospital from March 2016 to February 2018. The patients who were treated with usual care including antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and blood glucose control were regarded as the control group, and those received add-on hydrocortisone by the clinicians' discretion was considered in the intervention group.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is superior to lamivudine plus adefovir in lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in lamivudine (LAM)-resistant patients with a suboptimal response to LAM plus adefovir (ADV).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of switching to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in suboptimal responders to lamivudine plus adefovir. Charts were reviewed for LAM-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who visited the Zhejiang Province People's Hospital and The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, from June 2009 to May 2013.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor expression in peripheral blood of patients with pregnancy induced hypertension syndrome and its clinical significance.

Objective: This study was conducted was to detect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in peripheral blood of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) syndrome and to investigate VEGF correlation with PIH occurrence.

Methods: Double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect VEGF levels in the peripheral blood of non-pregnant women (normal group, 30 cases), normal pregnant women (pregnancy group, 30 cases) and PIH patients (PIH group, 30 cases).

Results: VEGF level in the pregnancy group was significantly higher than in the normal group, and the difference between these two groups was significant (P < 0.