Clinical significance of post-chemoradiotherapy 2-[F]FDG PET/CT response in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A real-world study.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of post-chemoradiotherapy 2-[F]FDG PET/CT in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC) and develop an accurate prognostic model based on the 2-[F]FDG PET/CT results.

Methods: 900 LANPC patients who underwent pretreatment and post-chemoradiotherapy 2-[F]FDG PET/CT from May 2014 to August 2022 were included in the study. We divided the patients into two distinct cohorts for the purpose of our study: a training cohort comprising 506 individuals, included from May 2008 to April 2020, and a validation cohort consisting of 394 individuals, included from May 2020 to August 2022.

Retinoids and retinoid-binding proteins: Unexpected roles in metabolic disease.

Alterations in tissue expression levels of both retinol-binding protein 2 (RBP2) and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) have been associated with metabolic disease, specifically with obesity, glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis. Our laboratories have shown that this involves novel pathways not previously considered as possible linkages between impaired retinoid metabolism and metabolic disease development. We have established both biochemically and structurally that RBP2 binds with very high affinity to very long-chain unsaturated 2-monoacylglycerols like the canonical endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and other endocannabinoid-like substances.

Retinoid signaling in pancreas development, islet function, and disease.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) signaling is essential in numerous different biological contexts. This review highlights the diverse roles of ATRA during development, function, and diseases of the pancreas. ATRA is essential to specify pancreatic progenitors from gut tube endoderm, endocrine and exocrine differentiation, and adult islet function.

Comparison of thermal ablation and surgery for hyperparathyroidism: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Surgery and thermal ablation are both viable treatment modalities for patients diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism (HPT). However, the comparative efficacy of these approaches remains uncertain. The objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical complications and therapeutic strategies in managing HPT.

The profound effect of diabetes mellitus control on outcomes of coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection caused by the soil-dwelling Coccidioides immitis/posadasii. One prior study showed that persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) with elevated glucose at the time of coccidioidomycosis had poorer coccidioidal outcomes compared to persons without DM. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between hemoglobin A1C (A1C) and outcomes among persons with coccidioidomycosis and co-existing DM.

Supporting Unhealthy Substance use care Through a whole person Approach and user centered INtegration into primary care (SUSTAIN): Study protocol for a type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

Background: Unhealthy substance use (USU) is common and ranges from use above guideline-recommended levels to severe substance use disorder. USU results in substantial morbidity and mortality yet primary care practices rarely systematically screen, diagnose, and treat USU. Supporting Unhealthy Substance use care Through a whole person Approach and user centered INtegration into primary care (SUSTAIN) tests whether the implementation of a co-designed change package for USU improves patient function.

Original article: Efficacy and safety of single-dose suraxavir marboxil tablet in the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in adults: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of suraxavir marboxil (GP681, abbreviated as suraxavir) in adults with uncomplicated influenza.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial in 18 Chinese centers. Participants had to be aged 18-65 years with positive influenza test, presenting with at least one influenza systemic and respiratory symptoms in at least moderate severity within 48 hours of onset.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic periphyton responses to warming, nutrient enrichment and small omnivorous fish: a shallow lake mesocosms experiment.

Global change stressors, including climate warming, eutrophication, and small-sized omnivorous fish, may exert interactive effects on the food webs and functioning of shallow lakes. Periphyton plays a central role in the primary production and nutrient cycling of shallow lakes but constitutes a complex community composed of eukaryotes and prokaryotes that may exhibit different responses to multiple environmental stressors with implications for the projections of the effects of global change on shallow lakes. We analyzed the effects of warming, nutrient enrichment, small omnivorous fish and their interactions on eukaryotic and prokaryotic periphyton structures in shallow lake mesocosms.

Cobalt regulation biocathode with sulfate-reducing bacteria for enhancing the reduction of antimony and the removal of sulfate in a microbial electrolysis cell simultaneously.

Antimony (Sb) contamination in water resources poses a critical environmental and health challenge globally. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) are employed to reduce SO to S for removing Sb in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Yet, the reduction efficiency of reducing SO and Sb(Ⅴ) through SRB remains relatively low, and the underlying mechanism remains elusive.

The Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of Cepharanthine in Uric Acid-Induced Neuroinflammation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cepharanthine (CEP) is an alkaloid extracted from Stephania cephalantha Hayata, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) renowned for its heatclearing and dehumidifying properties. For centuries, Stephania cephalantha Hayata has been employed in the treatment of a wide range of diseases, including pain, edema, inflammation, and fever.

Aim Of The Study: Our research aims to investigate the role and mechanism of Cepharanthine in ameliorating uric acid (UA) induced neuroinflammatory responses.

Changyanning tablet alleviates Crohn's disease by inhibiting GPX4-mediated ferroptosis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Changyanning tablets (CYN) are a marketed traditional Chinese medicine composed of Diijincao (Euphorbia humifusa Willd.), Jinmaoercao (Hedyotis chrysotricha (Palib.) Merr.

Low progesterone levels and their role in the co-existence of polycystic ovary syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis: a comprehensive analysis among Iraqi patient.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a low-grade and chronic inflammation defined by irregular hormonal status that primarily triggers females in their reproductive age. Multi cysts are a primary manifestation of PCOS; a high level of androgen production characterizes the condition via ovaries. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, and symmetrical inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects 1-2% of adults.

Development and Internal Validation of a Novel Nomogram to Predict the Risk of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury Following Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy.

Objectives: To develop a predictive tool to assist in predicting the risk of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) following robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on the prospectively maintained, IRB-approved database to identify all consecutive patients who underwent RAPN between 2008 and 2023. Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), horseshoe kidneys, solitary kidneys, and previous renal transplant recipients were excluded.

Postpartum furosemide for accelerating recovery in patients with preeclampsia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial: Furosemide for postpartum hypertension.

Background: Preeclampsia is a major hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, which may lead to severe complications, particularly in the first two weeks of the postpartum period. During the postpartum period, blood pressure levels remain high, often increasing to levels higher than those experienced during pregnancy. Furosemide, a fast-acting diuretic, reduces the intravascular volume overload and may represent an alternative to accelerate the normalization of blood pressure levels.

Safety and effectiveness of pulsed field ablation for pulmonary vein isolation in atrial fibrillation patients: One-year single center experience.

Introduction And Objectives: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is one of the cornerstones of rhythm-control therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel ablation modality that involves the application of electrical pulses causing cellular death, and it has preferential tissue specificity. In this study, we aimed to share a one-year single center experience of AF ablation with PFA.

Integrative multi-omics analysis of autism spectrum disorder reveals unique microbial macromolecules interactions.

Introduction: Gut microbiota alterations have been implicated in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet the mechanisms linking these changes to ASD pathophysiology remain unclear.

Objectives: This study utilized a multi-omics approach to uncover mechanisms linking gut microbiota to ASD by examining microbial diversity, bacterial metaproteins, associated metabolic pathways and host proteome.

Methods: The gut microbiota of 30 children with severe ASD and 30 healthy controls was analyzed.

CHMP4C promotes pancreatic cancer progression by inhibiting necroptosis via the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway.

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) cannot currently be completely cured and has a poor prognosis. Necroptosis is a distinct form of regulated cell death that differs from both necrosis and apoptosis. Understanding the role of necroptosis during PC progression would open new avenues for targeted therapy.

Diagnostic value of three urine miRNAs composite score in BK virus nephropathy.

Noninvasive detection of BK virus, for early detection of BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy post-renal transplantation, is currently an active subject of investigation. In this study, we developed and validated a novel risk score diagnostic assay (PymiR Score) based on measurements of three urine miRNAs, including BKV-related miRNA (bkv-miR-B1-5p), polyomavirus-related miRNA (bkv-miR-B1-3p) and renal tubular injury-related miRNA (miR-21-5p), by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The limit of detection of the three miRNAs was 2 × 10 copies/mL, while the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were in the ranges of 2.

Boric acid-substituted phthalocyanine/ciprofloxacin co-assembled nanoparticles for constructing bacteria-responsive intelligent wound dressings with synergistic therapy and recognition of bacterial infections.

In contemporary times, the waning effectiveness of antibiotics against bacterial infections is progressively giving rise to significant concerns in public health. Although photodynamic technology possesses a potent ability to deactivate bacteria, its non-selective attack on normal cells poses potential side effects. Hence, in this study, a boric acid-substituted phthalocyanine photosensitizer (BAPc) was synthesized, exhibiting remarkable bacterial targeting capability.

Investigating the influence of the molecular structure and physiochemical properties of starches from glutinous and japonica sorghum on light-flavor liquor fermentation.

Glutinous and japonica sorghum can be applied to different production processes by their amylopectin content and starch structure. However, the differences in the fine structure and physiochemistry properties of their starches, as well as their fermentation properties remain unclear. Compared with japonica sorghum, glutinous sorghum has a higher amylopectin content, short amylose chain content, relative crystallinity, and ∆H, but lower setback (SB), and starch granule size.

Zinc oxide nanoparticle-embedded tannic acid/chitosan-based sponge: A highly absorbent hemostatic agent with enhanced antimicrobial activity.

This study reports the development of a highly absorbent Chitosan (CS)/Tannic Acid (TA) sponge, synthesized via chemical cross-linking with Epichlorohydrin (ECH) and integrated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as a novel hemostatic anti-infection agent. The chemical properties of the sponges were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and zeta potential measurements. Morphological and elemental analyses conducted through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) revealed a uniform distribution of ZnO NPs, with particle sizes below 20 nm.

Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan composite film with cassia oil encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin and its application in fresh banana.

In this study, composite films were developed by encapsulating cassia oil (CO) with β-cyclodextrin through a microencapsulation technique and incorporating it into a chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glycerol matrix. The primary objective of the film was to inhibit bacterial growth on the surface of fresh bananas and extend their shelf life. Characterization methods were employed to evaluate the physical properties and functionality of the composite films.

Sodium caseinate‑sodium alginate binary complex stabilized W/O/W emulsion gels loaded with proanthocyanidins from Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott: Formation, structure, stability, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

This study developed a W/O/W emulsion gel encapsulating proanthocyanidins from Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott (APC) using polyglycerol ricinoleate (PGPR) as the lipophilic emulsifier and sodium caseinate (NaCN)-alginate (Alg) as the hydrophilic emulsifier. The optimal preparation process was established based on particle size, zeta potential, phase separation, centrifugal stability, and microscopic morphology: 4.