Zinc Combined with Metformin Corrects Zinc Homeostasis and Improves Steroid Synthesis and Semen Quality in Male Type 2 Diabetic Mice by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway.

Male infertility is a common complication of diabetes. Diabetes leads to the decrease of zinc (Zn) content, which is a necessary trace element to maintain the normal structure and function of reproductive organs and spermatogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of metformin combined with zinc on testis and sperm in diabetic mice.

Medical, Endoscopic, and Surgical Treatments for Rectal Cuffitis in IBD Patients with an Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis: A Narrative Review.

Background: Ulcerative colitis patients who undergo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) without mucosectomy may develop inflammation of the rectal cuff (cuffitis). Treatment of cuffitis typically includes mesalamine suppositories or corticosteroids, but refractory cuffitis may necessitate advanced therapies or procedural interventions. This review aims to summarize the existing literature regarding treatments options for cuffitis.

Measurement of Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents Outside the Office for the Diagnosis of Hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: To review the benefits of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and home blood pressure monitoring in children and to discuss implementation of guideline-recommended ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Recent Findings: Compared with office blood pressure, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and home blood pressure monitoring provide superior accuracy, reproducibility, and stronger associations with target organ damage although future work is needed to determine the utility of home blood pressure monitoring to predict hypertension status on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Due to the benefits of out-of-office blood pressure measurement, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has been recommended to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents since publication of the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines on hypertension.

L-carnitine protects against oxidative damage and neuroinflammation in cerebral cortex of rats submitted to chronic chemically-induced model of hyperphenylalaninemia.

Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder characterized by high phenylalanine levels, the main toxic metabolite of the disease. Hyperphenylalaninemia can cause neurological impairment. In order to avoid this symptomatology, patients typically follow a phenylalanine-free diet supplemented with a synthetic formula that provides essential amino acids, including L-carnitine.

Molecular mechanism of osteoclast differentiation of PBMC in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that causes severe joint deformities and impaired functionality, affecting the well-being and daily life of individuals. Consequently, there is a pressing demand for identifying viable therapeutic targets for treating RA. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation in PBMC from patients with RA through transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

Pancreas-guided C-shaped surgical procedure: a safer and more efficient procedure for laparoscopic left hemicolectomy in obese patients.

The surgical risk is higher for obese patients undergoing laparoscopic left hemicolectomy. To enhance the surgical safety and efficacy for obese patients, we have innovatively integrated the advantages of various surgical approaches to modify a pancreas-guided C-shaped surgical procedure. The safety and quality were assessed through a retrospective analysis.

Impact of hemoadsorption with CytoSorb® on meropenem and piperacillin exposure in critically ill patients in a post-CKRT setup: a single-center, retrospective data analysis.

Purpose: CytoSorb® (CS) adsorbent is a hemoadsorption filter for extracorporeal blood purification often integrated into continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT). It is primarily used in critically ill patients with sepsis and related conditions, including cytokine storms and systemic inflammatory responses. Up to now, there is no evidence nor recommendation for the use of CS filters in sepsis (22).

Preoperative Carcinoembryonic Antigen as a Predictor of 5-Year Survival in Rectal Cancer: Proposing a New Prognostic Cutoff.

Purpose: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an important prognostic factor for rectal cancer. This study aims to introduce a novel cutoff point for CEA within the normal range to improve prognosis prediction and enhance patient stratification in rectal cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 316 patients with stages I to III rectal cancer who underwent surgical tumor resection were enrolled.

Septicemic omphalophlebitis by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in a southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis).

Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) are mysticete cetaceans commonly observed in the coastal waters of Brazil, particularly in Santa Catarina State. There is limited understanding of the causes of calf mortality in this species, particularly concerning infectious diseases. We report a case of omphalophlebitis caused by Streptococcus equi subsp.

Screening of primary aldosteronism and pheochromocytoma among patients with hypertension: an Italian nationwide survey.

Purpose: The delayed or missed diagnosis of secondary hypertension contributes to the poor blood pressure control worldwide. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic approach to primary aldosteronism (PA) and pheochromocytoma (PHEO) among Italian centers associated to European and Italian Societies of Hypertension.

Methods: Between July and December 2023, a 10-items questionnaire was administered to experts from 82 centers of 14 Italian regions and to cardiologists from the ARCA (Associazioni Regionali Cardiologi Ambulatoriali) Piemonte.

Intraoperative vascular anastomosis occlusion due to cold agglutinin disease during brain surgery: a case report.

Background: Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is an autoimmune hemolytic anemia that induces blood coagulation and hemolysis upon exposure to cold temperatures. Strict temperature control is essential to mitigate these effects, especially during surgical procedures where hypothermia is possible.

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old male, 165 cm and 72 kg, diagnosed with CAD, underwent cerebral vascular anastomosis.

Associations of fat, bone, and muscle indices with disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) severity and fat, bone, and muscle indices.

Methods: This study included 102 patients with OSAHS and retrospectively reviewed their physical examination data. All patients underwent polysomnography, body composition analysis, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography (CT) and blood test.

The effect of different timings of protein supplementation on variable outcomes in hemodialysis patients: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are commonly prescribed to provide protein and energy to hemodialysis (HD) patients. There is a debate about the appropriate timing to administer ONS. We aimed to study the effect of different timings of ONS on variable outcomes in HD patients.

Does Nocturnal Blood Pressure Matter in Retinal Small Vessels? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature.

Purpose Of The Review: Τhe association between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and alterations in the retinal microvasculature remains understudied, with few available studies to provide conflicting results. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether an association exists between retinal microvascular alterations and nocturnal BP patterns, determined by 24h ambulatory BP measurement.

Recent Findings: Our search concluded to 1002 patients (6 studies).

Development of Electrospinning Setup for Vascular Tissue-Engineering Application with Thick-Hierarchical Fiber Alignment.

Background: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge.

Methods: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring.

Target-regulated AgS/FeOOH heterojunction activity: a direct label-free photoelectrochemical immunosensor.

Myoglobin (Mb), an important cardiac marker, plays a crucial role in diagnosing, monitoring, and evaluating the condition of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Here, we propose a label-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for the detection of Mb through target regulated the photoactivity of AgS/FeOOH heterojunction. The AgS/FeOOH nanospindles were synthesized and served as a sensing platform for the fabrication of bio-recognized process for Mb.

Circulating chemokine levels and receptor polymorphisms have potential as biomarkers for fibrosis stages in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Background: Chemokines and their receptors, which regulate lymphoid organ development and immune cell trafficking, are integral to the mechanisms underlying viral control, hepatic inflammation, and liver damage in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. This study explores the potential relationship between serum chemokine levels/polymorphisms and hepatitis C infection in affected individuals, with a particular focus on their utility as biomarkers across different stages of fibrosis.

Methods And Results: Serum levels of the chemokines CXCL11, CXCL12, and CXCL16 were measured in patients with mild/moderate and advanced fibrosis due to CHC, as well as in healthy controls, using the ELISA method.

Overexpression of FTO alleviates traumatic brain injury induced posttraumatic epilepsy by upregulating NR4A2 expression via m6A demethylation.

Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a debilitating chronic outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although FTO has been reported as a possible intervention target of TBI, its precise roles in the PTE remain incompletely understood. Here we used mild or serious mice TBI model to probe the role and molecular mechanism of FTO in PTE.

The treatment of acute traumatic aortic injuries with TEVAR: a retrospective analysis of 19 cases in a level-1 trauma center.

Introduction: Blunt traumatic aortic injury (TAI) is a critical condition and a leading cause of mortality in trauma patients, often resulting from high-speed accidents. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has developed into the preferred therapeutic approach due to its minimally invasive nature and promising outcomes. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of TEVAR for managing TAI over a 10-year period at a Level-1 trauma center.

Alterations of amino acids in older adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia.

Metabolomics provide a promising tool for understanding dementia pathogenesis and identifying novel biomarkers. This study aimed to identify amino acid biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VD). By amino acid metabolomics, the concentrations of amino acids were determined in the serum of AD and VD patients as well as age-matched healthy controls.

Ritlecitinib, a JAK3 /TEC inhibitor, modulates the markers of celiac autoimmunity in alopecia areata and vitiligo patients.

Background: Celiac disease (CeD) has shown an association with autoimmune disorders including vitiligo and alopecia areata (AA). Ritlecitinib, a JAK3 and TEC kinase family inhibitor, has been approved for treatment of patients with AA and is in late-stage development for vitiligo. Ritlecitinib inhibits cytotoxic T cells, NK cells, and B cells which play a role in the pathogenesis of CeD.

Evaluation of the serum level of Lipocalin 2 in vitiligo.

Vitiligo is considered as depigmenting skin disorder where patches of skin losing their pigment. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is one of the Inflammatory adipokines that has a potential role in skin disorders and other inflammatory diseases as well. To measure the concentration level of LCN2 in vitiligo patients compared to healthy controls and to investigate its relation to disease activity and other clinical data to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Exploring the effect of hsa-miR-19b-3p on IL-1R1 expression and serum levels in alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition marked by hair loss, linked to inflammatory processes involving the interleukin-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) pathway. This study aims to explore the relationship between IL-1R1 gene expression, serum IL-1R1 levels, and hsa-miR-19b-3p in relation to AA severity. Using a case-control design, we assessed 100 AA patients and 100 healthy controls, measuring serum IL-1R1 through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analyzing IL-1R1 gene and hsa-miR-19b-3p expression levels via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

IL-35 modulates Tfh2 and Tfr cell balance to alleviate allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) represents a persistent inflammatory condition affecting the upper respiratory tract, characterized by abnormal initiation of the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated cascade. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and regulatory T (Tfr) cells are pivotal in orchestrating the development of IgE production in AR patients. IL-35, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, secreted by various cellular subpopulations.

Clinical efficacy and safety of sodium thiosulfate in the treatment of uremic pruritus: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Uremic pruritus (UP) is a debilitating condition frequently associated with chronic kidney disease, severely impairing patients' quality of life and contributing to increased mortality. Recent studies have suggested that intravenous sodium thiosulfate (STS) may offer therapeutic relief for pruritus in patients undergoing hemodialysis. To assess its effectiveness, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the potential of intravenous STS in managing UP.