Relationship between Age-Related Hearing Loss and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Background: With the aging of the population, the deterioration of visual and auditory functions amongst the elderly has attracted much attention. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are common eye and ear diseases that seriously affect the quality of life of elderly population.

Methods: This study utilised a whole cohort sampling method, with a total of 713 participants aged 50 years and older in the community from June 2022 to October 2023, resulting in the inclusion of 620 participants.

The gut-brain axis underlying hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis.

Up to 50-70% of patients with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is closely related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, with an unclear mechanism. Here, by constructing gut-brain modules to assess bacterial neurotoxins from metagenomic datasets, we found that phenylalanine decarboxylase (PDC) genes, mainly from Ruminococcus gnavus, increased approximately tenfold in patients with cirrhosis and higher in patients with HE. Cirrhotic, not healthy, mice colonized with R.

Google Trends applications for COVID-19 pandemic: A bibliometric analysis.

Introduction: COVID-19 is one of the most severe global health events in recent years. Google Trends provides a comprehensive analysis of the search frequency for specific terms on Google, reflecting the public's areas of interest. As of now, there has been no bibliometric study on COVID-19 and Google Trends.

New cytotoxic compounds from (Kom.) Nakai.

Twenty-one compounds were isolated and identified from the ethanol extract of (Kom.) Nakai, including two new compounds ( and ), a new artificial product () and eighteen known compounds (). Compounds and were isolated from for the first time.

Near-infrared-II-driven Z-scheme heterojunction Polyglycolated MoS/CoFeO amplified edge potential for dual-mode imaging guided tumor synergistic therapy.

Targeting the peculiarities of tumor tissue microenvironment different from normal tissue, such as lower pH and overexpression of hydrogen peroxide is the key to effective treatment. In this study, acid-responsive Z-scheme heterojunctions polyglycolated MoS/CoFeO (MoS = molybdenum disulfide, CoFeO = cobalt ferrite) was synthesized using a two-step hydrothermal method, designated as MSCO-PEG, guided by dual modes of photoacoustic imagine (PAI) and nuclear magnetic imaging (MRI). MSCO-PEG (PEG = polyethylene glycol) responded to the acidic environment of tumor tissues and overexpression of hydrogen peroxide to turn on multimodal synergistic treatment of tumor cells under near-infrared-II (NIR-II) illumination.

Association of Serum Uric Acid Level With Bone Mineral Density and the Risk of Osteoporosis: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Serum uric acid (SUA) may play positive roles in diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as osteoporosis (OP). Nevertheless, the specific impact of SUA levels on both bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk of OP remains uncertain. Considering such information crucial for clinicians when making decisions about urate-lowering therapy (ULT), we sought to fill this gap by conducting dose-response meta-analyses.

Ferroptosis: A novel cell death modality as a synergistic therapeutic strategy with photodynamic therapy.

Although there has been significant progress in current comprehensive anticancer treatments centered on surgery, postoperative recurrence and tumor metastasis still significantly affect both prognosis and quality of life of the patient. Hence, the development of precisely targeted tumor therapies and exploration of immunotherapy represent additional strategies for tumor treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively safe treatment modality that not only induces multiple modes of tumor cell death but also mediates the secondary immunological responses against tumor resistance and metastasis.

Piezoresistive Sensor Based on Porous Sponge with Superhydrophobic and Flame Retardant Properties for Motion Monitoring and Fire Alarm.

Polyurethane sponge is frequently selected as a substrate material for constructing flexible compressible sensors due to its excellent resilience and compressibility. However, being highly hydrophilic and flammable, it not only narrows the range of use of the sensor but also poses a great potential threat to human safety. In this paper, a conductive flexible piezoresistive sensor (CHAP-PU) with superhydrophobicity and high flame retardancy was prepared by a simple dip-coating method using A-CNTs/HGM/ADP coatings deposited on the surface of a sponge skeleton and modified with polydimethylsiloxane.

Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves.

Objective: The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture.

Methods: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation.

Diabetic ulcer with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A case report.

Background: Chronic skin ulcers are a risk factor for the development of skin tumors. In patients with diabetes, chronic refractory ulcers may also contribute to higher susceptibility to skin tumors. Timely surgical removal of chronic and nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers can effectively prevent progression to squamous cell carcinoma.

Ferritinophagy mediated by the AMPK/ULK1 pathway is involved in ferroptosis subsequent to ventilator-induced lung injury.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) remains a cornerstone of critical care; however, its prolonged application can exacerbate lung injury, leading to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Although previous studies have implicated ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of VILI, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the roles of ferritinophagy in ferroptosis subsequent to VILI.

Biotransformation analysis of daidzin in vitro based on fecal bacteria and probiotics.

Daidzin, as one of isoflavone glycosides, has been reported to have multiple activities with few absorbed into body. However, the metabolic behavior of daidzin by intestinal flora has not been researched, that this defect severely constrains its applications. In this study, daidzin and its metabolites were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by HPLC and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) in the fermentation system for daidzin and fecal bacteria.

Correlation of serum cotinine with fatty liver index in adults: data from the NHANES March 2017 and 2018.

Background: The correlation between serum cotinine and fatty liver index (FLI) needs further investigation for the early identification, prevention, and treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Methods: Data from the NHANES database spanning from March 2017 to 2018 was used to perform the population-based study to assess the relationship between serum cotinine and FLI. A variance estimation strategy was applied to address the data volatility.

Integrative Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics Profiling of Symptomatic Accessory Navicular Bone Based on Tandem Mass Tag Technology.

Background: The accessory navicular bone (ANB) is a common accessory bone in the foot. Certain ANBs significantly impair patients' feet normal walking function. Foot injury is associated with ANB after athletic training.

Reversing Persistent PTEN Activation after Traumatic Brain Injury Fuels Long-Term Axonal Regeneration via Akt/mTORC1 Signaling Cascade.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to enduring axonal damage and persistent neurological deficits. While PTEN's role in neuronal growth is recognized, its long-term activation changes post-TBI and its effects on sensory-motor circuits are not well understood. Here, it is demonstrated that the neuronal knockout of PTEN (PTEN-nKO) significantly enhances both structural and functional recovery over the long term after TBI.

Copper peroxide-loaded lignin-based non-isocyanate polyurethane foam for wound repair applications.

Wound healing is a complex process and the mechanism of the tissue repair process involves many complex steps: inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. Wounds can be divided into two main categories: acute and chronic wounds. Non-healing wounds usually follow a bacterial infection.

[Theoretical basis of bone-touching acupuncture method for brain diseases based on the "bone-brain axis"].

The bone-touching acupuncture method, as one of the five-body acupuncture techniques, is widely used and highly effective in the treatment of brain diseases, though its theoretical foundation has been lacking. This paper explores the close connection between bones and the brain in both physiological and pathological states, as described in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classics, and explains the "bone-brain axis" concept within the framework of TCM. It summarizes the effects and characteristics of the five-body acupuncture techniques, traces the origins and modern applications of the bone-touching acupuncture method, and discusses its theoretical basis for treating brain diseases.

Itaconic Acid Oligomers for Electrostatically Spun Degradable Implantable Biobased Polyurethane.

Developing implantable medical materials with excellent comprehensive performance has important practical applications. Cardiovascular and bile ducts are characterized by various forms of diseases and high morbidity and mortality. One of the effective treatment modalities for such diseases is replacement surgery.

Quantitative flow ratio-guided staged percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The need for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and staged PCI strategy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with multivessel coronary disease is well documented. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency, safety, and cost benefit of quantitative flow ratio (QFR)-guided staged PCI in patients with STEMI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 2256 patients meeting STEMI criteria having at least one lesion (≥50 %) in non-infarct-related (NIR) arteries.

Infliximab Trough Levels Are Associated With Endoscopic Remission in Small Bowel Crohn's Disease.

Goals: To identify the association between infliximab trough levels (ITL) and treatment outcomes in small bowel Crohn's disease (SB-CD).

Background: Higher ITL are associated with favorable treatment outcomes in CD. However, the association between ITL and SB-CD treatment outcomes are rarely studied.

Comparing surgical readmission, in-hospital complications, and charges between total hip arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty for geriatric femoral neck fractures.

Aims: For displaced femoral neck fractures (FNFs) in geriatric patients, there remains uncertainty regarding the effect of total hip arthroplasty (THA) compared with hemiarthroplasty (HA) in the guidelines. We aimed to compare 90-day surgical readmission, in-hospital complications, and charges between THA and HA in these patients.

Methods: The Hospital Quality Monitoring System was queried from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019 for displaced FNFs in geriatric patients treated with THA or HA.

Metabolism and mRNA translation: a nexus of cancer plasticity.

Tumors often face energy deprivation due to mutations, hypoxia, and nutritional deficiencies within the harsh tumor microenvironment (TME), and as an effect of anticancer treatments. This metabolic stress triggers adaptive reprogramming of mRNA translation, which in turn adjusts metabolic plasticity and associated signaling pathways to ensure tumor cell survival. Emerging evidence is beginning to reveal the complex interplay between metabolism and mRNA translation, shedding light on the mechanisms that synchronize ribosome assembly and reconfigure translation programs under metabolic stress.