Safety and efficacy of GLP-1/FGF21 dual agonist HEC88473 in MASLD and T2DM: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background And Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) are key regulators of glucose and lipid metabolism. In the present study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of a novel GLP-1/FGF21 dual agonist HEC88473 for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-ascending-dose phase 1b/2a trial.

Molecular investigation of an epidemic dissemination of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium sequence type 80 in Guangdong Province, China.

Objectives: The detection rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) displayed a dramatically increase in Guangdong, China from 2021 to 2023, for which the molecular epidemiology and genomic characteristics remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the genetic features and epidemiology of VREfm isolates in Guangdong.

Methods: A total of 54 Guangdong VREfm isolates were collected from three tertiary hospitals in Guangdong.

Efficacy of local-regional radiotherapy in de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients receiving chemo-immunotherapy: A multicenter, propensity score matching study.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of local-regional radiotherapy (LRRT) in de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dm NPC) patients receiving chemo-immunotherapy as first-line treatment and select the beneficiaries from LRRT.

Methods And Materials: M1-NPC patients receiving platinum-based chemo-immunotherapy with or without LRRT from four centers were included in this study. The propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was employed to balance the baseline characteristics between the LRRT and non-LRRT groups.

Heterozygous Inversion on Chromosome 17 involving PAFAH1B1 Detected by Whole Genome Sequencing in a Patient Suffering from Pachygyria.

Lissencephaly (LIS) is a subtype of malformations of cortical development (MCD), characterized by smooth brain surfaces and underdeveloped gyri and sulci. This study investigates the genetic cause of pachygyria in a Chinese male infant diagnosed with the condition, who previously showed no causative variant through trio whole exome sequencing (Trio-WES) and copy number variation sequencing (CNVseq). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted, revealing a novel heterozygous inversion spanning 1.

PTSP-BERT: Predict the thermal stability of proteins using sequence-based bidirectional representations from transformer-embedded features.

Thermophilic proteins, mesophiles proteins and psychrophilic proteins have wide industrial applications, as enzymes with different optimal temperatures are often needed for different purposes. Convenient methods are needed to determine the optimal temperatures for proteins; however, laboratory methods for this purpose are time-consuming and laborious, and existing machine learning methods can only perform binary classification of thermophilic and non-thermophilic proteins, or psychrophilic and non-psychrophilic proteins. Here, we developed a deep learning model, PSTP-BERT, based on protein sequences that can directly perform Three classes identification of thermophilic, mesophilic, and psychrophilic proteins.

Generation of INS-jGCaMP7f knock-in Ca reporter human embryonic stem cell line, GZLe001-C, using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene targeting.

As a member of the single-fluorophore genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs), jGCaMP7f is widely applied to investigate intracellular Ca concentrations. Here, we established an INS-jGCaMP7f knock-in H1 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line by integrating jGCaMP7f gene into insulin locus via CRISPR/Cas9 system. The reporter cell line not only effectively labelled the insulin-producing cells induced from hESC, but also reflected the cytosolic change of Ca level in response to different stimuli.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between remodified Hanley procedure and modified Hanley procedure for high complex horseshoe fistula: a retrospective study.

Background: Treating high horseshoe anal fistula (HHAF) with the modified Halley procedure (MHP) often falls short when focusing solely on deep postanal space (DPAS) drainage. Our study underscores the significance of addressing deep posterior intersphincteric space (DPIS) drainage, prompting MHP modifications.

Methods: We studied consecutive patients with HHAF treated with either MHP or remodified-MHP (Re-MHP) at Ningbo Medical Center of Lihuili Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021.

Impact of pan-cancer analysis of the exportins family on prognosis, the tumor microenvironment and its potential therapeutic efficacy.

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the role of the exportin (XPO) family in the development and progression of cancer. These nuclear transport proteins have been increasingly recognized for their involvement in oncogenic processes and tumor growth. We utilized updated public databases and bioinformatics tools to assess the expression levels of the XPO family and their associations with key oncological markers including patient survival, immune subtypes, tumor microenvironment, stemness scores, drug sensitivity, and DNA methylation across various cancers.

Artificial Intelligence-Empowered Multistep Integrated Radiation Therapy Workflow for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Purpose: To establish an artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered multistep integrated (MSI) radiation therapy (RT) workflow for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and evaluate its feasibility and clinical performance.

Methods And Materials: Patients with NPC scheduled for MSI RT workflow were prospectively enrolled. This workflow integrates RT procedures from computed tomography (CT) scan to beam delivery, all performed with the patient on the treatment couch.

Breaking the Myth of Enzymatic Azoreduction.

Flavin-dependent azoreductases have been applied to a wide range of tasks from decolorizing numerous azo dyes to releasing azo-conjugated prodrugs. A general narrative reiterated in much of the literature suggests that this enzyme promotes sequential reduction of both the azo-containing substrate and its corresponding hydrazo product to release the aryl amine components while consuming two equivalents of NAD(P)H. Indeed, such aryl amines can be formed by incubation of certain azo compounds with azoreductases, but the nature of the substrates capable of this apparent azo bond lysis remained unknown.

Development and Comprehensive Evaluation of Culture-Independent, Long Amplicon-Based Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Methods for Predicting Antimicrobial Resistance in Tuberculosis.

The great variety of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles among tuberculosis (TB) patients necessitates a comprehensive detection method. This study developed culture-independent, long amplicon-based targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) methods for predicting AMR across 16 drugs within the complex (MTBC). Multiplex PCR amplification was employed to enrich 20 gene regions, with sequencing performed on either the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) or Illumina platforms.

Genome of root celery and population genomic analysis reveal the complex breeding history of celery.

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is an important vegetable crop in the Apiaceae family. It comprises three botanical varieties: common celery with solid and succulent petioles, celeriac or root celery with enlarged and fleshy hypocotyls and smallage or leaf celery with slender, leafy and usually hollow petioles.

Effects of Visualized Health Education Based on Health Belief Model on Self-Management of Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease often require maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Effective self-management is crucial for the prognosis of patients undergoing MHD; however, their self-management practices remain suboptimal.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of visualized health education based on health belief model on self-management, self-efficacy, quality of life, and quality of dialysis in patients undergoing MHD.

Exploration of the Fertility Decision-Making Experiences of Women of Reproductive Age With Cancer: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

Women of reproductive age with cancer face unique considerations in terms of fertility. The related decision-making process is complicated, and insufficient support can lead to decisional conflict. The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to identify and integrate qualitative evidence regarding the fertility decision-making process of women of reproductive age undergoing treatment for cancer.

Two-dimensional Nanosheets by Liquid Metal Exfoliation.

Liquid exfoliation is a scalable and effective method for synthesizing 2D nanosheets (NSs) but often induces contamination and defects. Here, liquid metal gallium (Ga) is used to exfoliate bulk layered materials into 2D NSs at near room temperature, utilizing the liquid surface tension and Ga intercalation to disrupt Van der Waals (vdW) forces. In addition, the process can transform the 2H-phase of transition metal dichalcogenides into the 1T'-phase under ambient conditions.

Mechanism of starvation induced autophagy and apoptosis in the midgut of silkworm, Bombyx mori, based on calcium homeostasis.

Starvation can induce autophagy and apoptosis in intestinal cells. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we investigated autophagy and apoptosis in the midgut of the model insect, silkworm (Bombyx mori), focusing on calcium homeostasis. The results indicated that the body weight of silkworms decreased, along with damage to the morphology of their digestive tracts and midguts after starvation treatment.

Dietary 5-hydroxytryptophan supplementation improves growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets.

This study investigated the effects of dietary 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood profile, intestinal morphology, transcriptomics, and microbial composition in weaned piglets. A total of twenty-four 28-day-old weaned piglets (Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 8.28 ± 1.

Increased methane production associated with community shifts towards Methanocella in paddy soils with the presence of nanoplastics.

Background: Planetary plastic pollution poses a major threat to ecosystems and human health in the Anthropocene, yet its impact on biogeochemical cycling remains poorly understood. Waterlogged rice paddies are globally important sources of CH. Given the widespread use of plastic mulching in soils, it is urgent to unravel whether low-density polyethylene (LDPE) will affect the methanogenic community in flooded paddy soils.

Interlaboratory variability of HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization testing in breast cancer: results of a multicenter proficiency-testing ring study in China.

Background: Accurate detection of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is necessary to determine HER2 status. Although many attempts have been made to increase the consistency of the results, the actual situation still needs to be determined. To investigate the latest interlaboratory variability of HER2 FISH testing for breast cancer, a multicenter proficiency-testing ring study was conducted in China.

TET3-facilitated differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into oligodendrocyte precursor cells for spinal cord injury recovery.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) inflicts a severe burden on patients and lacks effective treatments. Owing to the poor regenerative capabilities of endogenous oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) following SCI, there is a growing interest in alternative sources, such as human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs). TET3 is a key DNA demethylase that plays an important role in neural differentiation, but its role in OPC formation is not well understood.

Association between pulmonary ventilation function and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults: an observational study from Southwest China.

Background: Despite the significant prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Southwest China, cognitive function among middle-aged and elderly individuals in this area surpasses the national average. This study aims to reveal the overall pulmonary ventilation function status of this population, and investigate whether pulmonary ventilation dysfunction is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in this region, as suggested by previous researches.

Methods: Data were obtained from the 2019-2021 baseline survey of a natural population cohort study conducted in Southwest China.

Sex-specific associations between exclusive breastfeeding and postpartum depression in Chinese women.

Background: Studies on the association of exclusive breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD) are inconsistent and no prior study has investigated whether this association was influenced by other factors. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between exclusive breastfeeding and PPD in Chinese population, as well as to determine whether other factors influence this association.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 7685 postpartum women from a hospital of Shenzhen, China, utilizing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to evaluate PPD.

Effect of a health management model based on the three-tier prevention and control system for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: a prospective cohort study in rural Central China (CENTRAL-HMM).

Background: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) present a significant challenge in the realm of chronic disease management in China. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a health management model rooted in a three-tier prevention and control system for CVDs.

Methods: From August 2020 to September 2020, this study enrolled 2033 CVDs patients from 105 villages across three townships in central China.

NOD-like receptor X1 promotes autophagy and inactivates NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome signaling by binding autophagy-related gene 5 to alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal injury.

Ischemic strokes pose serious risks to human health. We aimed to elucidate the function of NOD-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) model and in an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-treated human microglial cell line (HMC3) model. Following NLRX1 upregulation, infarct volumes were measured with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and pathological examination was conducted with hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Complex relationship between response rate and preference in pigeons: Williams (1992) revisited.

A decrease in the rate of reinforcement associated with one component of a multiple schedule is typically associated with a decrease in responding in that component as well as with an increase in responding in the unchanged component. This increase in responding, referred to as positive contrast, is thought to result from an increase in the subjective value associated with the unchanged component. Williams Animal Learning & Behavior, 19, 337-344, (1991) challenged this hypothesis in an experiment with pigeons in which Stimulus A, associated with a variable interval schedule, was always followed by Stimulus X, associated with extinction, while Stimulus B, associated with the same variable interval schedule, was always followed by Stimulus Y, also associated with a variable interval schedule.