Evaluating the Relationship between Cathepsins and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer, with an etiology and progression that are not fully understood. Research suggests a link between cathepsins and PTC, but the causal nature of this link is unclear. This study uses Mendelian Randomization (MR) to investigate if cathepsins causally influence PTC risk.

Tomentediline A: A isoquinoline alkaloids with undescribed carbon skeleton from Corydalis tomentella.

Two undescribed isoquinolines (1-2), including one undescribed carbon skeleton isoquinoline together with six known ones (4-9) as well as an undescribed amide (3) and three known ones (10-12) were isolated from C. tomentella. Their planar structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive analyses of UV, NMR, HRESIMS, DP4+ statistical analysis and ECD calculations, respectively.

Appraising the effectiveness of immune cells on thyroid cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The intricate interplay between the immune system and tumor plays a pivotal role in thyroid cancer (TC) pathogenesis, potentially influencing both the causation and therapeutic outcomes. Despite extensive research, existing literature offers ambiguous insights regarding the association between immune cell traits and thyroid cancer progression.

Methods: To elucidate the potential causal relationships, we conducted an integrated two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Association between dietary consumption of fatty acids and age-related macular degeneration in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between dietary intake of fatty acids and the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the United States population. Adult participants of the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in this nationwide cross-sectional study. Dietary fatty acid intake was obtained from two 24-h dietary recall interviews.

MiR-34a ameliorates arterial blood flow in rats with lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans via Sirt1 signaling pathway.

In this study, we investigated the impact of microRNA-34a (miR-34a) on lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans in rats through the Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) signaling pathway. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal, model, and miR-34a mimics groups. Rats in the normal group were raised normally, while the model group underwent lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans induction and received saline injections.

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Melodinus axillaris W.T.Wang exhibit anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Melodinus axillaris W.T.Wang has been widely used as an important medicine in China.

Undescribed compounds from Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze and their coagulation activity studies.

Four rare compounds (1-4), including one 1,4-epoxy-benzoxepane derivative and one ringed prenylated naphthoquinoid skeleton, as well as one isopimarane-type diterpenoid and one megastigmane-type glycoside, along with three known megastigmane-type glycosides (5-7) were isolated from the ethanol extracts of C. chinense. Their structures were determined on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and DP4+ analysis.

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloid dimers from the Melodinus axillaris induce G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis via p38 MAPK activation in HCT116 cells.

Four monoterpenoid indole alkaloid dimers (MIADs), axidimins A-D (1-4), which possesses unprecedented apidosperma-aspidosperma-type skeletons, along with twelve known MIAs were isolated from Melodinus axillaris. Their structures were established by comprehensive analysis of the HRESIMS, NMR, ECD calculation and DP4 + analysis. A possible biosynthetic pathway for axidimins A-D was proposed.

Gastroprotective effect of eupatilin, a polymethoxyflavone from Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot, in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury via NF-κB signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot (AA) has been extensively utilized as an important medicine and food homology in China, Japan, Korea, and eastern parts of Russia, owing to its pharmacological effects, which include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitussive, and antiallergic properties.

Three Undescribed Flavonoids and Amide from Abrus mollis Hance with Hepatoprotective Effects.

Through a phytochemical investigation of Abrus mollis Hance, a folk medicinal plant in China, we isolated and identified three undescribed compounds, including two flavonoids and one amides alkaloid, along with nine known from this plant. Their structures were elucidated by analyses of 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD, and DP4+ analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of all twelve compounds on D-GalN-induced Brl-3 A cells.

The causal effect of obesity on diabetic retinopathy: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The causal effect of obesity on diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the causal association of generalized obesity evaluated by body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity evaluated by waist or hip circumference with DR, background DR, and proliferative DR using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Genetic variants associated with obesity at the genome-wide significance (P<5×10) level were derived using GWAS summary statistics from the UK Biobank (UKB) with a sample size of 461 460 individuals for BMI, 462 166 individuals for waist circumference, and 462 117 individuals for hip circumference.

The causal relationship between COVID-19 and increased intraocular pressure: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought great challenges to the global public health system and huge economic burdens to society, the causal effect of COVID-19 and intraocular pressure was blank.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the causal association between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) susceptibility, severity and criticality and intraocular pressure (IOP) by bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Materials And Methods: Genetic associations with COVID-19 susceptibility, severity and criticality were obtained from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.

Plasma lipid levels and risk of retinal vascular occlusion: A genetic study using Mendelian randomization.

The causal effects of plasma lipid levels and the risk of retinal vascular occlusion (RVO) have not been clearly identified, especially for high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Here, we try to identify these causal risk factors using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosen as instrumental variables (IVs).

Topical administration of diminazene aceturate decreases inflammation in endotoxin-induced uveitis.

Purpose: Our previous study demonstrated that an intraperitoneal injection of Diminazene Aceturate (DIZE) attenuated uveitis by activating ocular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects on the ocular anterior segment of a topical administration of a DIZE solution and explored the downstream target molecules involved in the anti-inflammatory mechanism after ACE2 activation.

Methods: Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats was induced by a subcutaneous injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 200 μg) in 0.

Activation of liver X receptor protects inner retinal damage induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate.

Purpose: To investigate whether activation of liver X receptors (LXRs) protects N-methyl-D-aspartic (NMDA)-induced retinal neurotoxicity in mice and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Inner retinal damage was induced by intravitreal injection of NMDA. A synthetic LXR ligand TO901317 (TO90, 50 mg/kg/d) or vehicle was intragastrically administrated from 3 days before to 1 day or 7 days after NMDA injection.

[The extraction and analysis of a- and b- wave from electroretinogram in human].

Objective: To determine the frequency range of a-b wave complex in the dark- and light-adapted electroretinogram (ERG) and to isolate the pure a- and b- waves.

Methods: Case series study. Full-field ERGs were recorded in 16 eyes of 8 normal volunteers from October to November 2011.