Association Between Artificial Liver Support System and Prognosis in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Objective: The artificial liver support system (ALSS) has been recruited as an available method for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), but its impact on the outcome of ACLF remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between ALSS treatment and short-term prognosis of hepatitis B-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF).

Methods: This was a retrospective observational cohort study, and data were obtained from the Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, between Mar 2015 and December 2021.

Wild-Type and rtA181T/sW172* Mutant Strains of Hepatitis B Virus Drive Hepatocarcinogenesis via Distinct GRP78-Mediated ER Stress Pathways.

Glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78), a key marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, but its role in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced tumorigenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of GRP78 to HBV-associated tumor development and explore the ERS pathways involved. The results showed that increased GRP78 expression in patients with HBV-related HCC was associated with a poor prognosis within the first 2 years following diagnosis.

Exome Sequencing Identified Susceptible Genes for High Residual Risks in Early-Onset Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease.

Aims: Despite the tremendous improvement in therapeutic medication and intervention for coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD), residual risks remain. Exome sequencing enables identification of rare variants and susceptibility genes for residual risks of early-onset coronary atherosclerotic disease (EOCAD) with well-controlled conventional risk factors.

Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing of subjects who had no conventional risk factors, defined as higher body mass index, smoking, hypertension and dyslipidemia, screened from 1950 patients with EOCAD (age ≤ 45 years, at least 50% stenosis of coronary artery by angiography), and selected control subjects from 1006 elder (age ≥ 65 years) with < 30% coronary stenosis.

Association between the systemic immune-inflammation index and the outcome of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Risk factors that influence the outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are not fully understood. The systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) is an independent prognostic factor for multiple diseases. However, the impact of the SII on the outcome of liver fibrosis is unclear.

Association between lactate-to-albumin ratio and short-term prognosis of acute-on-chronic liver failure treated with artificial liver support system.

Background: The impact of lactate-to-albumin ratio (LAR) on the outcome of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is scant.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between LAR and short-term prognosis in patients with COSSH (Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B) ACLF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with COSSH ACLF treated with an artificial liver support system.

Potential diagnostic value of circulating miRNAs in HFrEF and bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Few studies have compared the performances of those reported miRNAs as biomarkers for heart failure with reduced EF (HFrEF) in a population at high risk. The purpose of this study is to investigate comprehensively the performance of those miRNAs as biomarkers for HFrEF.

Methods: By using bioinformatics methods, we also examined these miRNAs' target genes and possible signal transduction pathways.

Successful recovery from acute-on-chronic liver failure due to acute hepatitis E virus superinfection in chronic hepatitis B: A case report.

Introduction: Acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a self-limiting disease, but HEV superinfection in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may lead to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and significantly increase short-term mortality. Diagnosis and comprehensive management of these patients remain in a dilemma.

Case Presentation: A 32-year-old man with chronic HBV infection for 8 years received entecavir due to abnormal liver function for 4 months.

Association between systemic immune inflammation index and short term prognosis of acute on chronic liver failure.

The systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) has been identified as an independent prognostic factor for multiple diseases. However, the impact of SII on outcome of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is scant. A retrospective study enrolled patients with ACLF treated with artificial liver support system.

AIM2 Deficiency Alleviates Cardiac Inflammation and Hypertrophy in HFD/STZ-Induced Diabetic Mice by Inhibiting the NLRC4/IRF1 Signaling Pathway.

Absent in melanoma 2(AIM2) exacerbates atherosclerosis by inflammasome assembly. However, AIM2-mediated inflammation in diabetic cardiomyopathy remains incompletely understood. Here we investigate the role of AIM2 in high glucose (HG)- and diabetes-induced inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

TRIM25-mediated XRCC1 ubiquitination accelerates atherosclerosis by inducing macrophage M1 polarization and programmed death.

Background: Macrophage-mediated cleaning up of dead cells is a crucial determinant in reducing coronary artery inflammation and maintaining vascular homeostasis. However, this process also leads to programmed death of macrophages. So far, the role of macrophage death in the progression of atherosclerosis remains controversial.

Outcome of patients with different stages of acute-on-chronic liver failure treated with artificial liver support system.

Background: Elevated international normalized ratio of prothrombin time (PT-INR) is one of the key characteristics of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Whether the staging of PT-INR has the ability to screen out subgroups of ACLF patients who would be more eligible for artificial liver support system (ALSS) treatment has not been studied in detail.

Methods: A previous study enrolled patients receiving ALSS treatment with regional citrate anticoagulation from January 2018 to December 2019.

Synthesis and Characterization of 2D Ternary Compound TMD Materials TaVSe.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are garnering considerable scientific interest, prompting discussion regarding their prospective applications in the fields of nanoelectronics and spintronics while also fueling groundbreaking discoveries in phenomena such as the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE) and exciton dynamics. The abundance of binary compound TMDs, such as MX (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te), has unlocked myriad avenues of exploration. However, the exploration of ternary compound TMDs remains relatively limited, with notable examples being TaNiS and TaNiSe.

Efficacy of an mHealth App to Support Patients' Self-Management of Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Hypertension is a significant global disease burden. Mobile health (mHealth) offers a promising means to provide patients with hypertension with easy access to health care services. Yet, its efficacy needs to be validated, especially in lower-income areas with a high-salt diet.

Association of direct bilirubin to total bilirubin ratio with 90-day mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia occurs when the liver fails to process bilirubin properly. A disproportionate increase in direct bilirubin indicates a decreased ability of the hepatocytes to uptake and/or convert bilirubin, which may impact the prognosis of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the association of direct bilirubin to total bilirubin ratio (DB/TB) with outcomes in patients with ACLF remains unclear.

Exploring indicators of success in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention with Stingray system-based antegrade dissection re-entry: Insights from retrospective analysis.

Background: The predictors of success of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) using the Stingray system (Stingray ADR) remain elusive, mainly owing to the lack of consecutive angiographic and procedural records of patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify indicators that can determine the success of CTO PCI performed using the Stingray ADR technique.

Methods: The clinical data of 115 patients who underwent CTO PCI through Stingray ADR at the same cardiac center were retrospectively and consecutively collected.

A Novel Parallel Wire-based Antegrade Dissection Re-entry Technique for Failed Retrograde Attempt of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions with Risk Nomogram Analysis.

Background: Rapid development in coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventional techniques and devices have achieved a greater success rate with favorable outcomes. Antegrade dissection re-entry (ADR) technique is an important CTO crossing strategy and a desirable approach for long CTOs with good distal landing zone. However, unsuccessful procedures in contemporary CTO-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain, especially in lesions with non-interventional collaterals.

Epigenetically altered macrophages promote development of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis.

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) risk is elevated in diabetic patients, but the underlying mechanism such as involvement of epigenetic control of foam macrophages remains unclear. We have previously shown the importance of immune regulation on endothelial cells to AS development in diabetes. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that diabetes may promote AS through modification of the epigenetic status of macrophages.

Giant Superlinear Power Dependence of Photocurrent Based on Layered Ta NiS Photodetector.

Photodetector based on two-dimensional (2D) materials is an ongoing quest in optoelectronics. 2D photodetectors are generally efficient at low illuminating power but suffer severe recombination processes at high power, which results in the sublinear power-dependent photoresponse and lower optoelectronic efficiency. The desirable superlinear photocurrent is mostly achieved by sophisticated 2D heterostructures or device arrays, while 2D materials rarely show intrinsic superlinear photoresponse.

A novel tapered guide extension catheter facilitated successful completion of complex percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Guide extension catheters (GEC) are widely applied to cope with insufficient backup support in complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and safety with a novel 5-4F tapered GEC used in complex lesion.

Methods: The single-center retrospective study enrolled a total of 615 patients, in whom the 5F or 5-4F Expressman GEC was used to facilitate PCI procedure.

Treatment strategy for spontaneous coronary artery dissection based on anatomical characteristics.

Objectives: To compare the clinical and angiographic characteristics of high-risk and low-risk spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) patients to determine the optimal treatment strategy.

Background: SCAD is a rare and emerging cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death, especially in young female patients. However, the indication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with SCAD remains elusive.

The Value of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Leishmaniasis Diagnosis: A Case Series and Literature Review.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by spp. and spreads through sandfly bites. Owing to the wide range of nonspecific clinical symptoms, patients with leishmaniasis are frequently misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed.

Comparing albuvirtide plus ritonavir-boosted lopinavir regimen to two nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus ritonavir-boosted lopinavir in HIV-infected individuals who failed initial treatment: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

Background: Albuvirtide (ABT), a fusion inhibitor against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, has good efficacy and tolerability for HIV treatment. However, there is a paucity of data regarding ABT-based regimen as second-line therapy. This current study evaluated the efficacy and safety of switching to ABT + ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) treatment in a cohort of HIV-infected individuals who failed initial treatment.

Atorvastatin-induced tolerogenic dendritic cells improve cardiac remodeling by suppressing TLR-4/NF-κB activation after myocardial infarction.

Objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) caused by ischemic cardiomyocyte necrosis induces inflammatory responses that strongly affect ventricular remodeling. Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) can suppress this effect on inflammatory responses. However, the precise role of atorvastatin-induced tDCs in ventricular remodeling after MI remains unclear.