Macrophage Infiltration Correlated with IFI16, EGR1 and MX1 Expression in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Within Lupus Nephritis-Associated Tubulointerstitial Injury via Bioinformatics Analysis.

Objective: A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted to investigate potential new diagnostic biomarkers and immune infiltration characteristics associated with tubulointerstitial injury in lupus nephritis (LN), and to examine possible correlations between key genes and infiltrating immune cells.

Methods: The GSE32591, GSE113342, and GSE200306 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the pooled dataset. Support vector machine-recursive feature elimination analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model were used to screen for possible markers, and the compositional patterns of the 22 types of immune cell fractions in LN were determined using CIBERSORT.

Aspartame intake during pregnancy induces placental dysfunction through impaired mitochondrial function and biogenesis modulation.

Introduction: Aspartame is a nonnutritive sweetener (NSS), which is widely used in foods and beverages worldwide. The safety of aspartame, a commonly used artificial sweetener, has been debated. Here, we investigated the potential effects and underlying mechanisms of aspartame consumption during pregnancy on placental dysfunction and birth outcomes.

Przewaquinone A inhibits Angiotensin II-induced endothelial diastolic dysfunction activation of AMPK.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction (ED), characterized by markedly reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, vasoconstriction, and a shift toward a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state, is an important contributor to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases. Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is widely involved in cardiovascular development. Przewaquinone A (PA), a lipophilic diterpene quinone extracted from Salvia przewalskii Maxim, inhibits vascular contraction.

Evaluation of cutout factors with small and narrow fields using various dosimetry detectors in electron beam keloid radiotherapy.

Background: The inherent problems in the existence of electron equilibrium and steep dose fall-off pose difficulties for small- and narrow-field dosimetry.

Objective: To investigate the cutout factors for keloid electron radiotherapy using various dosimetry detectors for small and narrow fields.

Method: The measurements were performed in a solid water phantom with nine different cutout shapes.

Recommendations and guidelines of integrative medicine for COVID-19 care: The APEC project outcome.

This article - Recommendations and Guidelines of Integrative Medicine (IM) for COVID-19 Care - was one of the outcomes from an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Project (Integrative Medicine (IM) and COVID -19 Care) during the time between May 2022 and March 2023. With the efforts from care providers, researchers, health policy makers and healthcare administrative leaders among APEC economies, the purpose of this file was to provide comprehensive IM systems for COVID-19 care as recommendations and suggestive guidelines including care methods, tools, procedures, symptom conditions and targets selections, and points need to be considered during care applications. All cited COVID-19 care practices have confirmed their efficacy and usefulness either used alone or combined with conventional medicine.

Cardiopulmonary prognosis of prophylactic endotracheal intubation in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding undergoing endoscopy.

Background: It is controversial whether prophylactic endotracheal intubation (PEI) protects the airway before endoscopy in critically ill patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). The study aimed to explore the predictive value of PEI for cardiopulmonary outcomes and identify high-risk patients with UGIB undergoing endoscopy.

Methods: Patients undergoing endoscopy for UGIB were retrospectively enrolled in the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD).

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-Related Radiation Ulcer: Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention Strategy.

Background: Radiation ulcers after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are increasingly common. However, their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies have not been well studied.

Objectives: To present our experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of PCI-related radiation ulcers.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Identified Rare Genetic Variants Associated with Undervirilized Genitalia in Taiwanese Pediatric Patients.

Disorders/differences of sex development (DSDs) are a group of rare and phenotypically variable diseases. The underlying genetic causes of most cases of 46XY DSDs remains unknown. Despite the advent of genetic testing, current investigations of the causes of DSDs allow genetic-mechanism identification in about 20-35% of cases.

Aspartame Consumption, Mitochondrial Disorder-Induced Impaired Ovarian Function, and Infertility Risk.

Frequent consumption of diet drinks was associated with oocyte dysmorphism, decreased embryo quality, and an adverse effect on pregnancy rate. We investigated the harmful effects of aspartame and potential mechanisms through which it increases infertility risk through clinical observations and in vivo and in vitro studies. Methods: We established a cohort of 840 pregnant women and retrospectively determined their time to conceive.

Psychometrics and measurement invariance: Health Literacy Scale for Vietnamese and Indonesian married immigrants.

Aims: To examine the psychometrics and measurement invariance of the Short-Form Health Literacy 12-item questionnaire (HL-SF12) among Vietnamese and Indonesian married immigrants.

Design: A cross-sectional survey design.

Methods: In total, 1171 Vietnamese and Indonesian married immigrants were enrolled between September 2019 and December 2019.

A Pilot Study of Interactive-Video Games in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Early preventive strategies for improving cognitive function are crucial for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Cognitive training exercises may improve cognitive functioning. However, there was limited evidence from training programs that combined cognitive-specific and physical activities, particularly in using interactive video games as interventions.

Multidisciplinary Approach to Brain Fog and Related Persisting Symptoms Post COVID-19.

A third of patients who developed COVID-19 experience a persisting, diverse array of symptoms including respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric complaints referred to as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Symptoms can last for months after the original infection and appear unrelated to the severity of the initial illness, which suggests that even patients who did not require extensive interventions at the acute stage may experience new and/or long-term symptoms. Brain fog is a colloquial term for a common complaint among patients with PASC and generally implies cognitive impairment in domains of attention and processing speed.

[Ginger-separated moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome and its effect on intestinal flora].

Objective: To observe the effect of ginger-separated moxibustion on fatigue state and intestinal flora in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Methods: A total of 62 patients with CFS were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with normal diet and moderate exercise; on the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with ginger-separated moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 30 min each time, once every other day, three times a week.

Changes in Glucose Metabolism after Adrenalectomy or Treatment with a Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist for Primary Aldosteronism.

Background: Data on the effects of excess aldosterone on glucose metabolism are inconsistent. This study compared the changes in glucose metabolism in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) after adrenalectomy or treatment with a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA).

Methods: Overall, 241 patients were enrolled; 153 underwent adrenalectomy and 88 received an MRA.

Tomotherapy as an Alternative Irradiative Treatment for Complicated Keloids.

The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment of complicated keloids with helical tomotherapy (HT) and electron beam radiotherapy. From July 2018 to September 2018, 11 patients with 23 keloid lesions treated with HT were enrolled. Additionally, 11 patients with 20 lesions treated with electron beam radiotherapy in the same period were enrolled.

Effects of Childhood Adversity and Its Interaction with the MAOA, BDNF, and COMT Polymorphisms on Subclinical Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms in Generally Healthy Youth.

We aimed to investigate the effects of childhood adversity and its interaction with the polymorphisms in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes on attention and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in a community sample of generally healthy youth. Participants (N = 432) completed questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms (i.e.

[Effect of ginger-separated moxibustion on fatigue, sleep quality and depression in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the effect of ginger-separated moxibustion on fatigue, sleep quality and depression in the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Methods: A total of 62 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were randomized into an observation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the control group, the patients had normal diet and proper physical exercise.

[Effects of TimeSlips on Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life in People With Dementia in Day Care Centers].

Background: Day care centers provide supportive services to older individuals with disability and dementia. Those who suffer from cognitive impairment typically also suffer from depression.

Purpose: To explore whether TimeSlips, a reminiscence creative storytelling approach, improves depressive symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in older individuals of day care centers who have mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Adrenalectomy Completely Cured Hypertension in Patients With Familial Hyperaldosteronism Type I Who Had Somatic KCNJ5 Mutation.

Context: Familial hyperaldosteronism type I (FH-I) or glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA) is caused by unequal crossing over of the steroid 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) genes. Somatic KCNJ5 mutations have not been reported in patients with GRA; therefore, the appropriate treatment and prognosis of such concurrent cases remain unknown.

Case Description: Two siblings of a Taiwanese family with GRA were found to have adrenal adenomas and somatic KCNJ5 mutations.

[Preventive oral rehydration salts III could protect intestinal function in rats with exertional heatstroke].

Objective: To observe the damage of various organs of rats with exertional heatstroke (EHS), and to investigate the protective effect of oral rehydration salts III (ORS III) on multi-organ function in rats with EHS.

Methods: Fifty-one male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups by random digit table: normal control group (n = 13), EHS group (n = 13), EHS+water group (n = 12), and EHS+ORS III group (n = 13). All rats in the EHS groups received adaptive training for 7 days before the experiment.

Renoprotective effect of oral rehydration solution III in exertional heatstroke rats.

Aim: Exertional heastroke (EHS) can lead to acute kidney injury. Oral rehydration solution III (ORS III), recommended by WHO in 2004, is used to rehydrate children with gastroenteritis. This study aimed to characterize the renoprotective effect of ORS III in EHS rats.

Is cupping blister harmful?-A proteomical analysis of blister fluid induced by cupping therapy and scald.

Objective: Cupping therapy has a long history in traditional medicine especially in Asian countries. It was controversial whether cupping induced blisters are beneficial to healing effects, and the formation and content in the blisters remain unexplored. We aimed to identify and compare the molecular components of the blister fluid from the cupping therapy and the scalds to explore the necessary of inducing cupping induced blisters.