Quantification of racial and ethnic disparities in alcohol-related problems in light of different methodological approaches.

Aim: We applied the Institute of Medicine (IOM) definition of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare to estimate disparities in alcohol-related problems. This estimation involved adjusting for drinking patterns, gender and age, with observed disparities further explained by socioeconomic status (SES). We compared results of five statistical approaches which use different methods for adjusting covariates.

A New Anti-Interfering Platelet Counting Technology Utilizing Conventional Impedance and White Blood Cell Differential Channel.

Introduction: Accurate platelet (PLT) counting is crucial for disease diagnosis and treatment, especially under the condition of thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusion. A few PLT counting approaches have been established including impedance and fluorescent methods. The impedance PLT counting (PLT-I) approach could be interfered by small non-PLT particles in the blood, such as RBC/WBC fragments, microcytes, bacteria, and cryoglobulins.

Dahuang-Gancao Decoction Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Androgenetic Alopecia in Mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dahuang-Gancao decoction (DGD) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula that is recorded in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, and is widely used to treat damp-heat in the body. Since the pathological factors of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) also reflect damp-heat blockage, DGD has great potential for the treatment of AGA and has been used effectively in clinical practice.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study was to investigate whether external application of DGD could promote the activation and proliferation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and improve AGA through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Corneal first aid lens: Collagen-based hydrogels loading aFGF as contact lens for treating corneal injuries.

Severe corneal injuries can cause visual impairment even blindness. Surgically stitching or implanting biomaterials have been developed, but their implementation requires professional surgeons, failing to address the immediate need of medical treatment. The pressing challenge lies in developing multifunctional biomaterials that enable self-management of corneal injuries.

Dectin-2 depletion alleviates osteoclast-induced bone loss in periodontitis via Syk/NOX2/ROS signaling.

Periodontitis is the sixth most common disease worldwide and is closely associated with various systemic diseases, impacting overall health. It is characterized by the over-differentiation and activity of osteoclasts, leading to increased bone resorption and subsequent bone loss. Current treatments for bone loss are not ideal, highlighting the need for new targeted therapeutic strategies.

Stability of lead immobilization by Aspergillus niger and fluorapatite under different pH conditions.

The combination of Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and fluorapatite (FAp) has been applied in lead (Pb) immobilization. However, the different pH can affect the stability of the immobilized Pb minerals.

Yiqi Huayu Jiedu formula inhibits JAK2/STAT3-mediated partial EMT in treating chronic atrophic gastritis.

Background: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a precursor to gastric cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite current therapeutic strategies, preventing the transition from gastritis to cancer remains a challenge. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), particularly the Yiqi-Huayu-Jiedu (YQHYJD) formula, have exhibited promising results in CAG management.

ZIF-67-derived NiCoO hollow nanocages coupled with g-CN nanosheets as Z-scheme photocatalysts for enhancing CO reduction.

Photocatalytic CO reduction technology plays a significant role in the energy and environmental sectors, highlighting the necessity for developing high-efficiency and stable catalysts. In this study, a novel photocatalyst, xNiCoO/CN (x = 1, 3, and 5 wt%), was synthesized by depositing zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67)-derived nickel cobaltate (NiCoO) hollow nanocages onto porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN, CN) nanosheets for photocatalytic CO reduction. Under visible light irradiation, the resulting 3NiCoO/CN photocatalyst demonstrated exceptional CO yields of up to 2879.

[Knockdown of BHLHE40 inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion and PI3K/AKT signaling activity of osteosarcoma cells].

Objective To investigate the effect of basic helix-loop-helix family member E40 (BHLHE40) on the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma (OS) cells, and to explore the role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway in the biological behavior of OS mediated by BHLHE40, providing a scientific basis for targeted therapy of OS. Methods On the basis of clinical OS samples and OS cell lines, the expression differences of BHLHE40 between OS and adjacent tissues, as well as those between OS cells and normal osteoblast cell lines, were analyzed. BHLHE40 knockdown OS cells were obtained through shRNA transfection.

Efficient Gene Delivery Admitted by small Metabolites Specifically Targeting Astrocytes in the Mouse Brain.

The development of efficient and targeted methods for delivering DNA in vivo has long been a major focus of research. In this study, we introduce a gene Delivery approach Admitted by small Metabolites, named gDAM, for the efficient and targeted delivery of naked DNA into astrocytes in the adult brains of mice. gDAM utilizes a straightforward combination of DNA and small metabolites, including glycine, L-proline, L-serine, L-histidine, D-alanine, Gly-Gly, and Gly-Gly-Gly, to achieve astrocyte-specific delivery of naked DNA, resulting in transient and robust gene expression in these cells.

Identification of biomarkers for knee osteoarthritis through clinical data and machine learning models.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) represents a progressive degenerative disorder characterized by the gradual erosion of articular cartilage. This study aimed to develop and validate biomarker-based predictive models for KOA diagnosis using machine learning techniques. Clinical data from 2594 samples were obtained and stratified into training and validation datasets in a 7:3 ratio.

Comparison of the safety and efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy versus tenecteplase in patients with minor nondisabling acute ischemic stroke.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus tenecteplase in minor non-disabling acute ischemic stroke. This retrospective observational study utilized data from our stroke database. All consecutive patients with minor non-disabling acute ischemic stroke treated with either DAPT or tenecteplase between January 2020 and June 2023 were included in the analysis.

Evaluation of five questionnaires for obstructive sleep apnea screening in the elderly.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often leads to complications in the elderly. This study compares the usefulness of five screening tools for OSA in elderly patients. Data from elderly patients diagnosed with OSA, collected from the Sleep Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2012 to June 2017, is analyzed.

Small protein ERSP encoded by LINC02870 promotes triple negative breast cancer progression via IRE1α/XBP1s activation.

Clinical treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are currently limited to chemotherapy because of a lack of effective therapeutic targets. Recent evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) encode bioactive peptides or proteins, thereby playing noncanonical yet significant roles in regulating cellular processes. However, the potential of lncRNA-translated products in cancer progression remains largely unknown.

The regulatory role of integrin in gastric cancer tumor microenvironment and drug resistance.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health burden due to its high aggressiveness, early metastasis, and poor prognosis. Despite advances in chemotherapy and targeted therapies, drug resistance remains a major obstacle to improving patient outcomes. Integrins, a family of transmembrane receptors, play a pivotal role in mediating tumor growth, invasion, and drug resistance by interacting with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and regulating signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, FAK, and MAPK.

Room-temperature and recyclable preparation of cellulose nanofibers using deep eutectic solvents for multifunctional sensor applications.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have gained increasing attention due to their robust mechanical properties, favorable biocompatibility, and facile surface modification. However, green and recyclable CNF production remains challenging. Herein, a green, low-cost and room-temperature strategy was developed to exfoliate CNFs using deep eutectic solvents.

A new hereditary PROS1 gene mutation caused isolated cortical venous thrombosis.

Background: Protein S deficiency is a rare inherited disease. We report the case of a young man who unexpectedly developed isolated cortical vein thrombosis (ICoVT) associated with a novel PROS1 mutation.

Methods: Clinical symptoms were recorded, and physical examinations conducted.

Magnetic graphene-enhanced exonuclease III assisted amplification strategy driven carbon nanozyme for tri-mode detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Ultra-precision point-of-care detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in foods is an important issue. Here, the detection sensitivity was improved by a signal cascade amplification strategy synergised by exonuclease III assisted isothermal amplification and reverse magnetic strategy. The double-stranded DNA formed by the aptamer and the target DNA as a sensing switch, avoiding the complex process of specific nucleic acid extraction.

Celastrol ameliorates fibrosis in Western diet/tetrachloromethane-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by suppressing Notch/osteopontin signaling.

Background: Celastrol was recently identified as a potential treatment for obesity and hepatic steatosis. However, whether Celastrol effectively suppresses the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) stage remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Celastrol in the progression from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis.

A multicenter retrospective study of early cardiac toxicity in operable breast cancer patients receiving concurrent dual or mono anti-HER2 therapy with postoperative radiation therapy.

Purpose: This study aims to assess whether dual anti-HER2 therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab increases early cardiac toxicity compared to trastuzumab alone in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving postoperative radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: Consecutive operable BC patients receiving postoperative RT and trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab between January 2017 and September 2020 at seven tertiary hospitals in China were retrospectively reviewed. Cardiac examinations included echocardiography, electrocardiogram (ECG), NT-proBNP, and cTnI at baseline before RT and during the follow-up.

IL-33, a neutrophil extracellular trap-related gene involved in the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic inflammation is well recognized as a key factor related to renal function deterioration in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play an important role in amplifying inflammation. With respect to NET-related genes, the aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of DKD progression and therefore identify potential intervention targets.

Light-Dependent Chemoselective Amide or Thioamide Ligation of Acylsilanes with Amines using Elemental Sulfur.

Due to the diverse chemical and physical properties of functional groups, mild and controllable ligation methods are often required to construct complex drugs and functional materials. To make diverse sets of products with tunable physicochemical properties, it is also useful to employ complimentary ligation methods that adopt the same starting materials. Here, we disclose the efficient and modular synthesis of amides or thioamides through the chemical ligation of acyl silanes with amines, simply by turning a light on or off.