Effects of supplementary light treatment on saffron: integrated physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptome analyses.

Background: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a perennial, bulbous flower whose stigma is one of the most valuable spices, herbal medicines, and dyes. Light is an essential environmental regulator of plant growth, development, and metabolism.

Experiences and barriers in downward referral decision-making for palliative care patient caregivers under China's three-tiered linkage model: A qualitative study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore hospice caregivers' downward referral decision-making experiences and barriers under the triadic linkage model in China and to analyze the deeper social dynamics of hospice referral choices.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers handling hospice referrals from two primary hospice agencies in Nanjing, China. The themes were analyzed and summarized using the Colaizzi 7-step analysis.

Salt stress affects the bacterial communities in rhizosphere soil of rice.

Salt is a primary factor limiting the utilization of saline lands in coastal beach areas, with rhizosphere microorganisms playing a crucial role in enhancing crop stress resistance and exhibiting high sensitivity to environmental changes. Rice ( L.) is the preferred crop for reclaiming salinized soils.

The relationship between atherogenic index of plasma and plaque vulnerabilities: an optical coherence tomography study.

Background: Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been recommended as a marker of plasma atherogenicity. The impact of AIP on plaque characteristics is not fully understood.

Purpose: The study investigates the relationship between AIP and coronary plaque features in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Mechanistic insights into pH-sensitive photoluminescence of carbon dots: The role of carboxyl group.

We present a mechanistic study of pH-sensitive photoluminescence (PL) in two deliberately designed systems of carbon dots (CDs), which are relatively poor and rich in carboxyl groups anchored on their surfaces, denoted CDs-COOH(p) and CDs-COOH(r), respectively. The underlying PL mechanisms for the two contrasting CD systems are revealed to be different. As for CDs-COOH(p), the pH response of PL exhibits an asymmetric volcano-shaped pattern featuring dynamic and static quenching under acidic and alkaline conditions, dominated by the effects of hydrogen bonding and non-emissive ground-state complex, respectively.

Evaluation of Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate with Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Integrated for Prognosticating Adverse Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events and Risk Stratification Among Acute Coronary Syndrome with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objective: This research aimed to address the critical need for effective prognostic tools in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by exploring the potential significance of integrating estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Methods: Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were the primary endpoint. Log rank test was conducted to compare the Kaplan-Meier curves across the overall follow-up period, and multivariate Cox regression was used to investigate the association between the eGDR/NLR and MACCE.

Prognostic value of serum glycated albumin in acute coronary syndrome patients without standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Glycated albumin (GA) has been demonstrated to be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, as a specific subgroup of ACS, a significant proportion of patients with ACS without standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs) are currently being identified. The prognostic value of serum GA for adverse events in such patients remains unexplored.

Effects of Toothpaste Containing 2% Zinc Citrate on Gingival Health and Three Related Bacteria-A Randomized Double-Blind Study.

Objectives: Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontitis, one of the most common oral diseases and the primary cause of tooth loss. This study aims to evaluate the effect of toothpaste containing 2% zinc citrate on gingival health and the abundance of three bacteria related to gingivitis and periodontitis.

Methods And Materials: Eleven volunteers with the same oral health status were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 5) and control (n = 6) groups.

SDS-Net: A Synchronized Dual-Stage Network for Predicting Patients Within 4.5-h Thrombolytic Treatment Window Using MRI.

Timely and precise identification of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within 4.5 h is imperative for effective treatment decision-making. This study aims to construct a novel network that utilizes limited datasets to recognize AIS patients within this critical window.

The Molecular Basis of Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of Sperm Flagella and Its Impact on Clinical Practice.

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a specific form of severe flagellar or ciliary deficiency syndrome. MMAF is characterized by primary infertility with abnormal morphology in the flagella of spermatozoa, presenting with short, absent, bent, coiled, and irregular flagella. As a rare disease first named in 2014, studies in recent years have shed light on the molecular defects of MMAF that comprise the structure and biological function of the sperm flagella.

Experiences of family caregivers of patients with end-of-life cancer during the transition from hospital to home palliative care: a qualitative study.

Background: The transition of family caregivers of patients with end-of-Life cancer receiving palliative care from hospital to home is a complex and challenging process. This phase of care involves not only the physical and psychological health of the patient but also the role adaptation and emotional support of the family caregivers. To gain a deeper understanding of the various experiences and feelings during this process, we conducted a qualitative study.

Lipoprotein(a) as a novel biomarker for predicting adverse outcomes in ischemic heart failure.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the association between Lp(a) and adverse outcomes in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum Lp(a) levels and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in IHF patients.

Effects of variations in hydrological connectivity on the macrobenthic community structure in reclaimed wetlands.

The Nanhui Dongtan Wetland is the most extensively reclaimed part of the Yangtze River Estuary wetland. In recent decades, urbanization has led to the extensive reclamation of the intertidal wetlands of Nanhui Dongtan. Macrobenthos are crucial as secondary production groups in the food web.

Preoperative inter-arm differences and normative-based thresholds for lymphedema in Chinese breast cancer patients: Insights from a large cohort study.

Objective: Early detection and diagnosis of lymphedema are crucial for effective treatment and prevention of its progression. Normative-based diagnostic thresholds can enhance diagnostic accuracy in the absence of preoperative measurements. This study aimed to investigate preoperative inter-arm differences and the associated factors, as well as to determine normative-based thresholds for lymphedema in Chinese breast cancer patients.

Ligustilide alleviates oxidative stress during renal ischemia-reperfusion injury through maintaining Sirt3-dependent mitochondrial homeostasis.

Background: Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is an inevitable complication during renal transplantation and is closely related to patient prognosis. Mitochondrial damage induced oxidative stress is the core link of renal I/R injury. Ligustilide (LIG), a natural compound extracted from ligusticum chuanxiong hort and angelica sinensis, has exhibited the potential to protect mitochondrial function.

The prognostic role of remnant cholesterol in Asian menopausal women received percutaneous coronary intervention with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Remnant cholesterol (RC) exert a significant influence on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease development. However, the prognostic implications of RC in menopausal women received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain uncertain.

Methods: RC was derived by subtracting the sum of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from the total cholesterol.

Dynamic structural twist in metal-organic frameworks enhances solar overall water splitting.

Photocatalytic overall water splitting holds great promise for solar-to-hydrogen conversion. Maintaining charge separation is a major challenge but is key to unlocking this potential. Here we discovered a metal-organic framework (MOF) that shows suppressed charge recombination.

The synergistic effect of the atherogenic index of plasma and hyperuricemia on the prediction of coronary chronic total occlusion lesion: an observational cross-sectional study.

Background: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and hyperuricemia (HUA) have been shown to be closely associated with morbidity and mortality of coronary artery disease. However, studies targeting predictive value of AIP and HUA for chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions are still lacking.

Methods: In total, 5,238 patients meeting the eligibility criteria were recruited in this analysis.