NDUFB7 mutations cause brain neuronal defects, lactic acidosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction in humans and zebrafish.

Complex I of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain is one of the largest membrane protein assemblies ever discovered. A patient carrying a homozygous NDUFB7 intronic mutation died within two months after birth due to cardiorespiratory defects, preventing further study. Here, we report another patient with compound heterozygous mutations in NDUFB7 who suffers from pons abnormality, lactic acidosis, prematurity, prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, incomplete closure of the abdominal wall (ventral hernia), and a poorly functioning gastrointestinal tract (pseudo-obstruction).

Association between hemoglobin level and clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis.

Objective: Abnormal hemoglobin levels may influence stroke outcome, while high-grade carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is linked to distal hemodynamic compromise. The relationship between hemoglobin and ischemic stroke (IS) outcome in patients with high-grade CAS remains unclear. We aimed to investigate this association in acute IS patients with high-grade CAS.

Effects of biological and abiotic factors on dark septate endophytes distribution and heavy metal resistance in different environments.

Introduction: Exploring the interactions between dark septate endophytes (DSE) in plant roots across diverse heavy metal habitats-considering host plants, site characteristics, and microbial communities-provides insights into the distribution patterns of DSE in metal-rich environments and their mechanisms for developing heavy metal resistance.

Methods: This study collected samples of three common plant species (, PA, , SV, and , AA) and their corresponding soil samples from three heavy metal-contaminated sites: Baiyang Lake, BY, Fengfeng mining area, FF, and Huangdao, HD. Utilizing high-throughput sequencing and physicochemical analysis methods, the biological and abiotic factors affecting DSE colonization and distribution in the roots were investigated.

Increased circulatory Krebs cycle metabolites in sepsis is associated with increased interleukin-6 release and worse survival.

Objective: Recent studies have proposed that Krebs cycle metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers for prognosis in sepsis. However, whether these metabolites are associated with disease severity and can be applied to improve the effectiveness of current prognosis assessment in sepsis remains unclear and is explored in this study.

Methods: This prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in medical intensive care units (ICUs).

Effect of Occupational Noise on Employee Health: A Longitudinal Study.

Objective: This study investigated the long-term health risks associated with occupational noise exposure. By using 9 years of health examination data from a major manufacturing company in Taiwan, this study compared the health indices of employees in noise-intensive and non-noise-intensive work environments.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 6278 health examination reports spanning 9 years was conducted to compare 20 health indices among 166 employees evenly distributed between noise-intensive and non-noise-intensive workgroups.

Effective Mucosal Adjuvantation of the Intranasal Enterovirus A71 Vaccine With Zymosan.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) has caused hand, foot, and mouth disease with an increased prevalence of neurological complications and acute mortality, threatening young children around the globe. By provoking mucosal immunity, intranasal vaccination has been suggested to prevent EV-A71 infection. However, antigens delivered via the nasal route usually fail to induce a protective memory response.

Stealth in non-tuberculous mycobacteria: clever challengers to the immune system.

Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are found extensively in various environments, yet most are non-pathogenic. Only a limited number of these organisms can cause various infections, including those affecting the lungs, skin, and central nervous system, particularly when the host's autoimmune function is compromised. Among these, Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary Diseases (NTM-PD) are the most prevalent.

The Association Between Serum Trimethylamine -Oxide and Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Trimethylamine -oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiome-derived metabolite, participates in the atherogenesis and vascular stiffening that is closely linked with cardiovascular (CV) complications and related deaths in individuals with kidney failure undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy. In these patients, arterial stiffness (AS) is also an indicator of adverse CV outcomes. This study assessed the correlation between serum TMAO concentration quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry and central AS measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in patients with chronic PD.

Relationship Between Serum Myostatin and Endothelial Function in Non-Dialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background/objectives: Myostatin, primarily produced by skeletal muscle, inhibits muscle growth and promotes protein degradation. It has been implicated in conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. However, its association with endothelial function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains unclear.

Effects of dark septate endophyte on root growth, physiology and transcriptome of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings under drought stress.

As the only evergreen relict species in the desert environment of western China, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Leguminosae) roots is colonized with dark septate endophytes (DSE), but the potential of DSE to alleviate the adverse effects of drought on seedling roots remains uncertain. This study examined the effects of DSE on root growth, physiology and transcriptome of A. mongolicus under drought stress.

Association of urinary volatile organic compounds and chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes: real-world evidence from the NHANES.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are widespread pollutants that may impact DM development.

Objective: This study aims to explore the association between urinary VOC metabolites and CKD in patients with DM.

Elevated Lipoprotein(a) Levels are Associated with Arterial Stiffness Measured by Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis.

Background: Arterial stiffness (AS) can be used to predict future cardiovascular diseases. High lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels were independently correlated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and death in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a useful biomarker of arteriosclerotic disorders and has a close relationship with a variety of CV events.

Pancreatic STAT5 activation promotes Kras-induced and inflammation-induced acinar-to-ductal metaplasia and pancreatic cancer.

Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy because it is often diagnosed at a late-stage. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) is a transcription factor implicated in the progression of various cancer types. However, its role in KRAS-driven pancreatic tumourigenesis remains unclear.

Maryland's Global Budget Revenue Payment Model and Shifts in the Surgical Site of Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objective: To assess the association between the Global Budget Revenue (GBR) payment model and shifts to the outpatient setting for surgical procedures among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in Maryland versus control states.

Summary Background Data: The GBR model provides fixed global payments to hospitals to reduce spending growth and incentivize hospitals to reduce the costs of care while improving care quality. Since surgical care is a major contributor to hospital spending, the GBR model might accelerate the ongoing shift from the inpatient to the outpatient setting to generate additional savings.

Serum Endocan Is a Risk Factor for Aortic Stiffness in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis.

: Endocan, secreted from the activated endothelium, is a key player in inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and angiogenesis. We aimed to investigate the link between endocan and aortic stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. : After recruiting HD patients from a medical center, their baseline characteristics, blood sample, and anthropometry were assessed and recorded.

Serum Lipoprotein(a) Levels as a Predictor of Aortic Stiffness in Patients on Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis.

BACKGROUND Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality in patients with kidney failure. Aortic stiffness (AS), measured primarily by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), reflects vascular aging and precedes end-organ failure. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum Lp(a) levels and cfPWV in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Association of endothelial dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease with sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which disturb skeletal muscle microperfusion, are highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated the association of endothelial dysfunction and PAD with sarcopenia in patients with non-dialysis CKD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 420 patients with stages 3-5 non-dialysis CKD aged 69.

Health-literacy, self-efficacy and health-outcomes of patients undergoing haemodialysis: Mediating role of self-management.

Background: Health literacy, self-efficacy and self-management are known to influence health-related well-being. However, the precise influence of self-management, health literacy and self-efficacy on health outcomes in Asian countries is under-researched.

Objectives: To examine the impact of health literacy and self-efficacy (independent variables) and self-management (mediator) on patients' health outcomes (dependent variable).