Integrating network pharmacology and experimental validation reveals therapeutic effects of D-mannose on NAFLD through mTOR suppression.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a chronic liver condition and metabolic disorder, has emerged as a significant health issue worldwide. D-mannose, a natural monosaccharide widely existing in plants and animals, has demonstrated metabolic regulatory properties. However, the effect and mechanism by which D-mannose may counteract NAFLD have not been studied.

Highly sensitive dual-function sensor for refractive index and temperature using D-shaped microchannel photonic crystal fiber.

An innovative ultra-sensitive, dual-functional sensor employing a D-shaped microchannel photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for refractive index (RI) and temperature measurements is proposed and comprehensively investigated. Its high-sensitivity is achieved through the incorporation of gold (Au) and magnesium fluoride (MgF) as plasmonic materials in the micro-rectangular channel. This configuration significantly enhances the interaction between the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) field and y-polarized evanescent field on external surfaces.

A Molecular Dynamics Analysis of the Thickness and Adhesion Characteristics of the Quasi-Liquid Layer at the Asphalt-Ice Interface.

The quasi-liquid layer (QLL), a microstructure located between ice and an adhering substrate, is critical in generating capillary pressure, which in turn influences ice adhesion behavior. This study employed molecular dynamics (MD) methods to obtain QLL thickness and utilized these measurements to estimate the adhesive strength between ice and asphalt. The research involved constructing an ice-QLL-asphalt MD model, encompassing four asphalt types and five temperature ranges from 250 K to 270 K.

Clinical evaluation on automatic segmentation results of convolutional neural networks in rectal cancer radiotherapy.

Purpose: Image segmentation can be time-consuming and lacks consistency between different oncologists, which is essential in conformal radiotherapy techniques. We aimed to evaluate automatic delineation results generated by convolutional neural networks (CNNs) from geometry and dosimetry perspectives and explore the reliability of these segmentation tools in rectal cancer.

Methods: Forty-seven rectal cancer cases treated from February 2018 to April 2019 were randomly collected retrospectively in our cancer center.

Downregulation of microRNA‑423‑5p suppresses TGF‑β1‑induced EMT by targeting FOXP4 in airway fibrosis.

Airway fibrosis (AF) is a common disease that can severely affect patient prognosis. Epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) participates in the pathophysiological development of AF and several studies have demonstrated that some microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to the development of EMT. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of miR‑423‑5p in the EMT process and its possible underlying mechanism in BEAS‑2B cells.

Left Main Bronchus Stenosis Lesion, Neutrophil Count, and Platelet Count Are Predictors of Post-Tuberculosis Bronchomalacia.

BACKGROUND Post-tuberculosis bronchomalacia (PTBM) is one of the main conditions occurring in patients after tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB), and is also associated with the recurrence of symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate the predictors of PTBM in patients who had been undergoing appropriate TB treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinical data of 104 patients with symptomatic airway stenosis after TBTB between January 01, 2019 and June 31, 2020 were recorded and analyzed.

Downregulation of miR‑483‑5p inhibits TGF‑β1‑induced EMT by targeting RhoGDI1 in pulmonary fibrosis.

Transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1)‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) serves a significant role in pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) contribute to PF pathogenesis via EMT regulation. However, the role of miR‑483‑5p in PF remains unclear.

Clinical significance of serum transforming growth factor-β1 and procollagen type I N-propeptide in post-tuberculosis tracheobronchial stenosis.

Non-invasive strategies for monitoring post-tuberculosis (TB) tracheobronchial stenosis (PTTS) are clinically important but currently lacking. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP) have been identified as markers of fibrosis. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum TGF-β1 and PINP in PTTS.

Laboratory Investigation of Aging Resistance for Rubberized Bitumen Modified by Using Microwave Activation Crumb Rubber and Different Modifiers.

Different modification methods, such as adding modifiers and pretreating crumb rubber, have been developed to achieve decent engineering properties and reduce the viscosity of rubberized bitumen. This study evaluated the influence of the modification methods on the aging resistance for rubberized bitumen. Two types of crumb rubber-a 40-mesh crumb rubber and a microwave-pretreated crumb rubber-and two kinds of modifiers-Sasobit and Trans-polyoctenamer-were selected to prepare rubberized bitumen.

Clinical significance of serum transforming growth factor-β1 in lung cancer.

Background: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a critical role in human cancer development. Present study aimed to explore the clinical significance of serum TGF-β1 levels in patients with lung cancer and analyze the relationship between TGF-β1 and existing tumor markers for lung cancer.

Methods: Serum was collected from 118 patients with lung cancer and 40 healthy volunteers.