Stearic acid metabolism in human health and disease.

Named after the Greek term for "hard fat", stearic acid has gradually entered people's field of vision. As an important component of various physiological cellular functions, stearic acid plays a regulatory role in diverse aspects of energy metabolism and signal transduction. Its applications range from serving as a bodily energy source to participating in endogenous biosynthesis.

Complications and patient-reported outcomes after radiotherapy in breast cancer patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction: a retrospective study from a large Chinese breast disease center.

Background: Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) can influence the outcome of implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). This study aims to investigate the complications and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following PMRT between direct-to-implant (DTI) and tissue expander-to-implant (TEI) reconstruction.

Methods: The retrospective study included breast cancer patients undergoing IBBR and PMRT.

Brain endocannabinoid control of metabolic and non-metabolic feeding behaviors.

The central endocannabinoid (eCB) system in brain shows a crucial role in the regulation of feeding behaviors, influencing both metabolic and non-metabolic mechanisms of appetite control, which has been paid much attention. Although there are already many review articles discussing eCB modulation of feeding behaviors, our paper attempts to summarize the recent advancements through synapses, circuits, and network in brain. Our focus is on the dual role of eCB signalling in regulating metabolic energy balance and hedonic reward-related feeding.

Isoquercitrin improves diabetes nephropathy by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most severe kidney complications and the primary contributor to end-stage renal disease on a global scale. It exacerbates the morbidity, mortality, and financial burden for individuals with diabetes. Isoquercitrin, a natural compound found in various plants, has demonstrated potential as an antidiabetic agent.

Endoscopic Papillary Large Balloon Dilatation With or Without Endoscopic Sphincterotomy in the Treatment of Common Bile Duct Stones.

Purpose Of Review: Endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) has been proved to have better efficacy and safety in removing common bile duct stones. Conventional endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is usually performed before EPLBD. However, EPLBD without EST has recently reported short-term outcomes similar to those of EPLBD with EST.

Application of machine learning methods for predicting esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.

Objective: To develop and compare machine learning models based on CT morphology features, serum biomarkers, and basic physical conditions to predict esophageal variceal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred twenty-four cirrhotic patients with esophageal variceal bleeding and non-bleeding were included in the retrospective study. Clinical and serum biomarkers were used in our study.

Nesfatin-1 is involved in hyperbaric oxygen-mediated therapeutic effects in high fat diet-induced hyperphagia in mice.

Obesity is a worldwide health issue. Effective and safe methods for obesity management are highly desirable. In the current study, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment was investigated as a potential treatment against obesity-associated hyperphagia and hyperenergy intake.

Primary Systemic Amyloidosis Characterized by Multiple Keratinous Cysts: A Case Report.

A 67-year-old male presented with plaques around the orbit and ecchymosis on the neck and back of hands for 2 years. Physical examination showed seborrheic-keratosis-like plaques around the orbit, ecchymosis on the neck and back of hands, as well as nail dystrophy. Serum λ light chain was positive.

Intra-articular injection of vancomycin after arthrotomy closure following gentamicin-impregnated bone cementation in primary total knee arthroplasty provides a high intra-articular concentration while avoiding systemic toxicity: a prospective study.

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the safety and intra-articular elution profiles of vancomycin and gentamicin bone cement in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), with a focus on serum safety thresholds and therapeutic efficacy.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent unilateral primary TKA were prospectively enrolled. The implants were fixed using gentamicin-impregnated bone cement, and after arthrotomy closure, 1000 mg of vancomycin suspended in 25 mL of normal saline was directly injected into the joint.

A multi-functional oxidative konjac glucomannan/ε-poly-l-lysine hydrogel with antibacterial, haemostatic, and chronic diabetic wound-treating properties.

A chronic diabetic wound, one of the most severe complications of diabetes, has a high incidence and causes great pain to patients, threatening their lives. In this paper, oxidative konjac glucomannan (OKGM) was reacted with ε-poly-l-lysine (EPL) through the dynamic Schiff's base reaction to make a multi-functional hydrogel. This hydrogel had excellent mechanical properties, injectability, self-healing ability, adhesivity and cytocompatibility.

Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on the gut microbiota and metabolites in the small intestine, cecum, and colon of male rats.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) is a widely abused recreational drug that has also gained interest for potential clinical applications in mental health. With the growing recognition of gut microbiota's role in mental health, this study examined whether repeated oral MDMA administration could affect gut microbiota in the small intestine, cecum, and colon of male rats. Repeated oral MDMA administration (10 mg/kg/day for 14 days) caused significant changes in the gut microbiota across these regions, with distinct effects observed in each.

Marine actinomycetes-derived angucyclines and angucyclinones with biosynthesis and activity--past 10 years (2014-2023).

Actinomycete bacteria derived from marine environments are a good source of natural products with diverse biological activities such as cytotoxicity, antiviral, and antimicrobial actions. This review summarizes 191 angucyclines and angucyclinones derived from marine actinomycetes reported in the literature from 2014 to 2023 and introduced the latest developments in actinomycete-silenced biosynthetic gene cluster activation, including heterologous recombination and in situ activation. The key role of redox post-modifications in the biosynthetic process of atypical angucyclines.

SPW-TransUNet: three-dimensional computed tomography-cone beam computed tomography image registration with spatial perpendicular window Transformer.

Background: Current medical image registration methods based on Transformer still encounter challenges, including significant local intensity differences and limited computational efficiency when dealing with three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) and cone beam CT (CBCT) images. These limitations hinder the precise alignment necessary for effective diagnosis and treatment planning. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a novel method that overcomes these challenges by enhancing feature interaction and computational efficiency in 3D medical image registration.

A diagnostic index for predicting heart rate variability decline and prognostic value in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is an important marker of autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular health. Holter monitoring is a crucial method for evaluating HRV, but the procedure and result analysis are relatively complex. This study aims to develop a simplified diagnostic index for predicting HRV decline in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and evaluate its prognostic value.

ZO-1 boosts the in vitro self-renewal of pre-haematopoietic stem cells from OCT4-reprogrammed human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells through cytoskeleton remodeling.

Background: The challenge of expanding haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) in vitro has limited their clinical application. Human hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells (hHFMSCs) can be reprogrammed to generate intermediate stem cells by transducing OCT4 (hHFMSCs) and pre-inducing with FLT3LG/SCF, and differentiated into erythrocytes. These intermediate cells exhibit gene expression patterns similar to pre-HSCs, making them promising for artificial haematopoiesis.

Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of four pediatric patients with Kleefstra syndrome.

Background: Kleefstra syndrome spectrum (KLEFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that can lead to intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. KLEFS encompasses Kleefstra syndrome-1 (KLEFS1) and Kleefstra syndrome-2 (KLEFS2), with KLEFS1 accounting for more than 75%. However, limited information is available regarding KLEFS2.

Efficacy, safety, and biomarker analysis of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

Background: Recent phase III randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve prognosis in advanced HER-2-negative gastric cancer patients with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) higher than 5. However, these findings are not confirmed in real-world settings, and the benefits in PD-L1 CPS < 5 patients remain controversial.

Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study, data from across thirteen medical centers were analyzed by inverse probability of treatment weighting for matching, alongside univariate and multivariate COX proportional hazard regression models.

Inter- and intracellular mitochondrial communication: signaling hubs in aging and age-related diseases.

Mitochondria are versatile and complex organelles that can continuously communicate and interact with the cellular milieu. Deregulated communication between mitochondria and host cells/organelles has significant consequences and is an underlying factor of many pathophysiological conditions, including the process of aging. During aging, mitochondria lose function, and mitocellular communication pathways break down; mitochondrial dysfunction interacts with mitochondrial dyscommunication, forming a vicious circle.

Machine learning models predict the progression of long-term renal insufficiency in patients with renal cancer after radical nephrectomy.

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a common severe complication after radical nephrectomy in patients with renal cancer. The timely and accurate prediction of the long-term progression of renal function post-surgery is crucial for early intervention and ultimately improving patient survival rates.

Objective: This study aimed to establish a machine learning model to predict the likelihood of long-term renal dysfunction progression after surgery by analyzing patients' general information in depth.

Deficiency of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin elicits Hemophilia-like bleeding and clotting disorder.

Coagulation is related to inflammation, but the key pathway, especially innate immune system and coagulation regulation, is not well understood and need to be further explored. Here, we demonstrated that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), an innate immune inflammatory mediator, is upregulated in thrombosis patients. Furthermore, it contributes to the initiation and amplification of coagulation, hemostasis, and thrombosis.

Stem Cell Therapies and Ageing: Unlocking the Potential of Regenerative Medicine.

A multifaceted biological process of ageing culminates in the gradual decline of tissue and organ functions, escalating vulnerability to age-related diseases. Stem cell therapies, standing at the frontier of regenerative medicine, hold the potential to mitigate the challenges induced by ageing. By harnessing the unique regenerative capabilities of stem cells, these therapies aim to renew and heal ageing or damaged cells and tissues, thereby bolstering their function.

Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in myocardial infarction patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are known to improve cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with heart failure (HF), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, their efficacy following myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.

The Efficacy and Safety Profile of Balanced Propofol Sedation for Bronchoscopy.

Purpose: We conducted a prospective, real-world study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of balanced propofol sedation (BPS) in bronchoscopy and identify an advantageous sedation regimen for such procedures.

Patients And Methods: The participants were placed in four groups based on their sedation regimen (exposure factor): the M-S group (midazolam + sufentanil for traditional sedation), R-S group (remimazolam + sufentanil for traditional sedation), M-S-P group (midazolam + sufentanil + propofol for BPS), and R-S-P group (remimazolam + sufentanil + propofol for BPS). The primary outcomes included satisfaction metrics (satisfaction of the patients, endoscopic physicians, and nurses) and follow-up questionnaires.

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A injection in plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections for treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF).

Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, conducting a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies from their inception to December 30 2023. The inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BTA injections with control interventions in terms of pain reduction, functional improvement, or the occurrence of adverse events in treating patients with PF were extracted for meta-analysis.

The Association of Fructose Metabolism With Anesthesia/Surgery-Induced Lactate Production.

Background: In elderly individuals, excessive lactate levels in the brain may be associated with the development of cognitive impairment after surgery, including delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR). Since the origin of this increased lactate is unknown, here we assessed associations between metabolic pathways and postoperative dNCR.

Methods: This study included 43 patients (≥60 years old) who had surgery under general anesthesia.