Ablation of Hepatic Asah1 Gene Disrupts Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis and Promotes Fibrotic Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of chronic liver conditions, ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which may progress to fibrosis/cirrhosis. Here, the GSE163211 data set was analyzed, and Asah1 (encoding acid ceramidase) was identified as a crucial lysosomal gene that positively correlated with NAFLD stages in obese patients. To evaluate the role of Asah1 in the progression of NAFLD, Asah1/Alb mice (hepatocyte-specific deletion of Asah1) and Asah1 floxed (Asah1/wild-type) mice were fed with either a normal diet or a high-fat, high-cholesterol paigen diet (PD) for 20 weeks.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Is Associated With Augmented Lysosomal Signaling in Hypercholesterolemic Mice.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) caused by hypercholesterolemia can lead to myocardial ischemia, with or without obstructive atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. However, the molecular pathways associated with compromised coronary microvascular function before the development of myocardial ischemic injury remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypercholesterolemia on the function and integrity of the coronary microcirculation in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Identification and validation of autophagy-related genes in Hirschsprung's disease.

Background: Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder characterized by aganglionosis in the intermuscular and submucosal nerve plexuses of the gut, leading to impaired gastrointestinal function. Although the precise cause and pathophysiology of HSCR remain elusive, increasing evidence points to a significant role of autophagy in its development, warranting further investigation into its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: This study utilized publicly available microarray expression profiling datasets, GSE96854 and GSE98502, from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO).

Replication-coupled inheritance of chromatin states.

During the development of eukaryote, faithful inheritance of chromatin states is central to the maintenance of cell fate. DNA replication poses a significant challenge for chromatin state inheritance because every nucleosome in the genome is disrupted as the replication fork passes. It has been found that many factors including DNA polymerases, histone chaperones, as well as, RNA Pol II and histone modifying enzymes coordinate spatially and temporally to maintain the epigenome during this progress.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction is Associated with Augmented Lysosomal Signaling in Hypercholesterolemic Mice.

Accumulating evidence indicates that coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) caused by hypercholesterolemia can lead to myocardial ischemia, with or without obstructive atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the molecular pathways associated with compromised coronary microvascular function prior to the development of myocardial ischemic injury remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypercholesterolemia on the function and integrity of the coronary microcirculation in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Role of EZH2-mediated epigenetic modification on vascular smooth muscle in cardiovascular diseases: A mini-review.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are integral to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase, plays a crucial role in epigenetic regulation of VSMCs gene expression. Emerging researches suggest that EZH2 has a dual role in VSMCs, contingent on the pathological context of specific CVDs.

P-NiFeO/N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes/NiFe Multi-Phase Heterojunctions for Overall Water Splitting and Urea Electrolysis.

The design and construction of highly efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting and urea electrolysis are significantly important for promoting energy conversion and realizing green hydrogen production. In this work, we constructed a multi-phase heterojunction through a simple hydrothermal and phosphorization process. The P-doped NiFeO (P-NiFeO) nanoparticles were uniformly anchored on the bamboo-like N-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) grown via a NiFe-alloy autocatalysis.

Prognostic utility of the geriatric nutritional risk index for head and neck cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess the potential prognostic utility of geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for head and neck cancer (HNC). We selected studies and extracted data after searching the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. The associations between GNRI and survival outcomes were explored by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) through a random-effects meta-analysis.

The impact of magnetic field-assisted freeze-thaw treatment on the quality of foxtail millet sourdough and steamed bread.

Foxtail millet and sourdough are used to make foxtail millet sourdough steamed bread to improve the flavor and taste. Compared with the conventional freeze-thaw treatment (CFT), the effect of magnetic field-assisted freeze-thaw treatment (MFT) on the storage quality of foxtail millet sourdough and steamed bread is explored. The results showed that compared with CFT, MFT shortened the phase transition time of dough; decreased the water loss rate, the water mobility, and the freezable water content; increased the fermentation volume; stabilized the rheological properties; and minimized the damage of freezing and thawing to the secondary structure and microstructure of the gluten.

An enhanced machine learning approach for effective prediction of IgA nephropathy patients with severe proteinuria based on clinical data.

IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is a disease of the glomeruli that may eventually lead to chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. The signs and symptoms of IgAN nephropathy are usually not specific enough and are similar to those of other glomerular or inflammatory diseases. This makes a correct diagnosis more difficult.

Patient experiences of receiving a diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) presents with a wide range of clinical symptoms and comorbidities that impact quality of life. The diagnosis is challenging and often delayed due to the heterogeneity of the disease and lack of diagnostic biomarkers, which adds to the disease burden by affecting patients' psychosocial adaptation and overall well-being. Previous studies have revealed that healthcare professionals and the public have a limited understanding and familiarity with the condition, which leads to disapproval and skepticism that greatly impact patients' social spheres and welfare.

B1 Power Modification for Amide Proton Transfer Imaging in Parotid Glands: A Strategy for Image Quality Accommodation and Evaluation of Tumor Detection Feasibility.

Background: In the application of APTw protocols for evaluating tumors and parotid glands, inhomogeneity and hyperintensity artifacts have remained an obstacle. This study aimed to improve APTw imaging quality and evaluate the feasibility of difference B1 values to detect parotid tumors.

Methods: A total of 31 patients received three APTw sequences to acquire 32 lesions and 30 parotid glands (one patient had lesions on both sides).

Predicting Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients With Early-Stage Diabetic Kidney Disease Using a Radiomic Model: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Objective: There is an urgent need for effective predictive strategies to accurately evaluate the risk of fragility fractures in elderly patients in the early stages of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study included 715 older patients in the early stages of DKD diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2019. Patients were randomly allocated to a training cohort (n = 499) and a validation cohort (n = 216).

Nanoscale engineering of solid-state materials for boosting hydrogen storage.

The development of novel materials capable of securely storing hydrogen at high volumetric and gravimetric densities is a requirement for the wide-scale usage of hydrogen as an energy carrier. In recent years, great efforts nanoscale tuning and designing strategies on both physisorbents and chemisorbents have been devoted to improvements in their thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Increasing the hydrogen storage capacity/density for physisorbents and chemisorbents and improving the dehydrogenation kinetics of hydrides are still considered a challenge.

Effect of sodium bicarbonate infusion on hospital mortality in acute kidney injury patients with metabolic acidosis.

Background: Physicians usually consider that sodium bicarbonate (SB) infusion can be used for metabolic acidosis; however, there is little evidence available to assess its effect on hospital mortality in large AKI cohorts. Here, we investigated the effect of SB infusion in patients with AKI complicated by metabolic acidosis.

Method: Patients with AKI complicated by metabolic acidosis were screened from the MIMIC-IV database.

In situ lithiation modulation of LiNiCoMnO as bifunctional electrocatalysts for highly efficient overall water splitting.

LiNiCoMnO (NCM811) is a common cathode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and the ever-increasing consumption of large quantities of LIBs raises critical concerns about their recycling. Herein, we propose an in-situ lithiation route to tune the structure and electrocatalytic properties of NCM811 by Li intercalation and exfoliation in LIBs. In this strategy, the morphology and microstructure of the lithiated NCM811 can be controlled by a specified discharge voltage.

Exploring biochar and fishpond sediments potential to change soil phosphorus fractions and availability.

Phosphorus (P) availability in soil is paradoxical, with a significant portion of applied P accumulating in the soil, potentially affecting plant production. The impact of biochar (BR) and fishpond sediments (FPS) as fertilizers on P fixation remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of BR, modified biochar (MBR), and FPS as fertilizer replacements.

Protective effects of fisetin in an Aβ1-42-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system and is found predominantly in elderly populations. As amyloid b protein (Ab) is one of the key players responsible for the pathogenesis of AD, we sought to investigate the protective effects of fisetin in an Ab1-42-induced rat model of AD. In this model, the protective effects of fisetin on learning and memory impairment induced by Ab1-42 were determined via the Morris water maze and passive avoidance test.

Three-dimensional carbon network-supported black phosphorus-cobalt heterojunctions: An efficient electrocatalyst for high-rate oxygen evolution.

Black phosphorus (BP), as a burgeoning two-dimensional material, has shown good electrocatalytic activity due to its unique electronic structure and abundant active sites.However, the presence of lone pair electrons in black phosphorus leads to its poor stability and rapid degradation in an oxygen/water environment, which greatly limits its practical application. Herein, BP-Co heterojunctions were synthesized on carbon nanotube@nitrogen-doped carbon (BP-Co/CNT@NC) by the pyrolysis of ZnCo-zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and subsequent solvothermal treatment.

The future trajectory of carbon emissions in the process of carbon neutrality in South Korea.

The excessive use of fossil energy in industrialization has caused the frequent occurrence of global warming and environmental pollution issues, which seriously threaten the sustainable social and economic development of South Korea and other countries. In response to the international community's call to effectively address climate change, South Korea has announced achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In this context, this paper takes the carbon emission of South Korea from 2016 to 2021 as a sample and focuses on using the GM(1,1) model to predict the carbon emission change trajectory of South Korea in the process of achieving carbon neutrality.

Nasal Patency in Sitting, Supine, and Prone Positions in Individuals with and without Allergic Rhinitis.

(1) Background: Physiological changes in nasal patency in response to posture contribute to sleep-related problems. Previously, we reported that the supine and prone positions cause a significant decrease in nasal patency in subjective and objective assessments of healthy individuals. Therefore, we conducted a study to evaluate the effect of posture on nasal patency in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR); (2) Methods: The present study comprised 30 patients diagnosed with AR and 30 healthy subjects without nasal disease (non-AR).

Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota between Wild and Captive Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys.

Environmental shifts and dietary habits could directly affect the gut microbiota of animals. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota of golden snub-nosed monkeys under two different conditions: captive and wild. Our study adopted a non-invasive sampling method, using full-length 16S rRNA Pacbio SMAT sequencing technology to compare the gut microbiota of wild and captive golden snub-nosed monkeys.

Utility of modified Glasgow prognostic score for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Whether the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) is useful for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains controversial. An electronic database search on EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 30 June 2022 was performed for study selection and data extraction. The associations between the mGPS and survival outcomes were evaluated using a random-effects meta-analysis and expressed as pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs.

Correlation between F-FDG PET/MR parameters with the expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor and the diagnostic value of PET/MR in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between parameters of PET/MR and the expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to evaluate diagnostic efficacy of independent and combined PET/MR parameters for the expression level of EGFR.

Materials And Methods: 21 patients who had undergone PET/MR and been proven HNSCC pathologically were included in this retrospective study. The PET/MR sequences included 18-flurodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET, T1, T2-weighted imaging, DWI, ADC and DCE.