Increased GDF-15 in chronic male patients with schizophrenia: correlation with body mass index and cognitive impairment.

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a significant role in metabolism and inflammation. Elevated serum levels of GDF-15 have been associated with mood disorders. We propose that GDF-15 may potentially influence cognitive impairment and metabolism in male patients with chronic schizophrenia (CS), although there is limited research on this topic.

FOLR2 macrophage depletion from intestinal metaplasia to early gastric cancer: single-cell sequencing insight into gastric cancer progression.

Background: The immune landscape associated with different subtypes of intestinal metaplasia (IM) and early gastric cancer (EGC) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the immune landscape of complete intestinal metaplasia (CIM), incomplete intestinal metaplasia (IIM), and EGC, as well as the underlying mechanisms of EGC progression.

Methods: Gastric biopsy samples were collected from five patients with CIM, six patients with IIM, and four patients with EGC, followed by single-cell RNA sequencing.

Laser-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for lung nodules: a promising approach with reduced operation time.

Background: Pulmonary nodule ablation is an effective method for treating pulmonary nodules. This study is based on the traditional CT-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of pulmonary nodules. By comparing laser guidance technology with freehand method, this study aims to explore the safety and efficacy and patients' pain scores of these two approaches.

Serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio in relation to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Sarcopenia was recognized to be one of the common comorbidities in heart failure (HF). The sarcopenia index (SI), based on serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio, was developed as a simple tool to evaluate skeletal muscle mass but has not been well-studied in the correlation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The aim of this study is to analyze the SI in patients with HF, especially patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and to develop a prediction model for HFpEF.

Identification and validation of differentially expressed disulfidptosis-related genes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases with no effective treatment due to its complex pathogenesis. A novel cell death, disulfidptosis, has been extensively studied in the cancer field but rarely in cardiovascular diseases. This study revealed the potential relationship between disulfidptosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and put forward a predictive model containing disulfidptosis-associated genes (DRGs) of GYS1, MYH10, PDMIL1, SLC3A2, CAPZB, showing excellent performance by SVM machine learning model.

Unraveling the role of SSH1 in chronic neuropathic pain: A focus on LIMK1 and Cofilin Dephosphorylation in the prefrontal cortex.

Background And Objective: Neuropathic pain, a debilitating condition stemming from nervous system injuries, has profound impacts on quality of life. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a crucial role in the modulation of pain perception and emotional response. This study explores the involvement of Slingshot Homolog 1 (SSH1) protein in neuropathic pain and related emotional and cognitive dysfunctions in a mouse model of spared nerve injury (SNI).

Membrane palmitoylated protein MPP1 inhibits immune escape by regulating the USP12/ CCL5 axis in urothelial carcinoma.

Background: The response rate to immunotherapy in patients with urothelial carcinoma remains limited. Studies have shown that membrane palmitoylated proteins (MPPs) play key roles in tumor progression. However, the mechanisms by which MPP1 regulates immune escape in urothelial carcinoma are not well understood.

Midday napping duration and risk of stroke: A prospective study in China.

Background: Evidence on the potential effects of midday napping on risk of stroke in Chinese populations remains limited.

Objectives: We aimed to prospectively investigate the association between midday napping and risk of subsequent stroke and stroke subtypes in the Kailuan study.

Methods: Midday napping duration was obtained from a self-reported questionnaire.

Platelet distribution width in patients with influenza A virus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome: An old indicator with promising clinical application.

This study aims to investigate the predictive value of platelet distribution width (PDW) in patients with influenza A virus (IAV) infection. The clinical data of 105 IAV-infected patients was collected and analyzed. We found that creatine kinase (CK), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, PDW, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were independent risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) development.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induces ROS Production and Activates NLRP3 Inflammasome Via the PERK-CHOP Signaling Pathway in Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential roles of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the development of dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, derived from corneal tissues of a dry eye mouse model, was processed using the Seurat R program. The results were validated using a scopolamine-induced dry eye mouse model and a hyperosmotic-induced cell model involving primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and immortalized human corneal epithelial (HCE-2) cells.

Malnutrition defined by Controlling Nutritional Status score was independently associated with prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma primarily on elderly patients.

Objectives: Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score is an effective tool for the assessment of malnutrition and proved to be associated with survival of Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. We investigated the impact of CONUT score on specific subgroups of DLBCL patients, including age and International prognostic Index (IPI) risk groups.

Methods: Data of 287 newly diagnosed DLBCL in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively collected.

Examining the relationship between weekend catch-up sleep and phenotypic age acceleration: Insights from a cross-sectional study.

Background: Phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) is a potential aging biomarker. While weekend catch-up sleep (WCS) is commonly practiced to compensate for weekday sleep deficits, its relationship with PhenoAgeAccel remains unclear.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 7,683 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

A literature review of artificial intelligence (AI) for medical image segmentation: from AI and explainable AI to trustworthy AI.

Background And Objective: Medical image segmentation is a vital aspect of medical image processing, allowing healthcare professionals to conduct precise and comprehensive lesion analyses. Traditional segmentation methods are often labor intensive and influenced by the subjectivity of individual physicians. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed this field by reducing the workload of physicians, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of disease diagnosis.

Association of resting amygdalar activity with persistent atrial fibrillation mediated by right atrial inflammation activity on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography.

Background: Recent studies have shown that resting amygdalar activity is associated with cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms that link resting amygdalar activity with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) remain to be comprehensively delineated. We aimed to estimate the association between resting amygdalar activity, right atrium (RA) inflammatory activity, and PerAF.

The value of contrast-enhanced energy-spectrum mammography combined with clinical indicators in detecting breast cancer in Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 lesions.

Background: Under the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), category 4 lesions have a high probability of malignancy. This study sought to investigate the efficacy of a model that combined the BI-RADS score with the enhancement score and clinical indicators in the diagnosis of BI-RADS 4 lesions based on contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) in breast cancer patients.

Methods: The data of female patients with BI-RADS scores of 4 who underwent CESM at the Department of Medical Imaging of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to July 2023 were retrospectively collected.

Advancements in the Treatment of Atherosclerosis: From Conventional Therapies to Cutting-Edge Innovations.

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, driven by a complex interplay of lipid dysregulation, inflammation, and vascular pathology. Despite advancements in understanding the multifactorial nature of atherosclerosis and improvements in clinical management, existing therapies often fall short in reversing the disease, focusing instead on symptom alleviation and risk reduction. This review highlights recent strides in identifying genetic markers, elucidating inflammatory pathways, and understanding environmental contributors to atherosclerosis.

Integrative multi-omics and machine learning approach reveals tumor microenvironment-associated prognostic biomarkers in ovarian cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality, yet its heterogeneity poses challenges in treatment and prognosis. Recognizing the crucial role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in OC progression, this study leverages integrative multi-omics and machine learning to uncover TME-associated prognostic biomarkers, paving the way for more personalized therapeutic interventions.

Methods: Employing a rigorous multi-omics approach, this study analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from OC and normal tissue samples, including high-grade serous OC (HGSOC) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO: GSE184880) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) OC cohort, utilizing the Seurat package to annotate 700 TME-related genes.

[Establishment and validation of a sepsis 28-day mortality prediction model based on the lactate dehydrogenase-to-albumin ratio in patients with sepsis].

Objective: To develop and validate a predictive model of 28-day mortality in sepsis based on lactate dehydrogenase-to-albumin ratio (LAR).

Methods: Sepsis patients diagnosed in the department of intensive care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from August 1, 2017 to September 1, 2022 were retrospective selected. Clinical data, laboratory indicators, disease severity scores [acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)] were collected.

Identification of t(X;1)(q28;q21) generating a novel GATAD2B::MTCP1 gene fusion in CMML and its persistence during progression to AML.

Objective: Hematological malignancies often involve chromosomal translocations and fusion genes that drive disease progression. While is well-known in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), its role in myeloid neoplasms is less understood. This report presents the first identification of the t(X;1)(q28;q21) translocation leading to the fusion in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformed from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

Osteoblastic ferroptosis inhibition by small-molecule promoting GPX4 activation for peri-prosthetic osteolysis therapy.

Peri-prosthesis osteolysis (PPO) represents the most severe complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgery and imposes the primary cause of prosthesis failure and subsequent revision surgery. Antiresorptive therapies are usually prescribed to treat PPO, especially for elderly people. Nevertheless, the efficacy of anti-osteoporotic medications remains constrained.

Spatial transcriptome profiling identifies DTX3L and BST2 as key biomarkers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis.

Background: Understanding the stepwise progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is crucial for developing customized strategies for early detection and optimal clinical management. Herein, we aimed to unravel the transcriptional and immunologic alterations occurring during malignant transformation and identify clinically significant biomarkers of ESCC.

Methods: Digital spatial profiling (DSP) was performed on 11 patients with early-stage ESCC (pT1) to explore the transcriptional alterations in epithelial, immune cell, and non-immune cell stromal compartments across regions of distinct histology, including normal tissues, low- and high-grade dysplasia, and cancerous tissues.

Longitudinal relationship between 24-Hour Movement behavior patterns and physical function and quality of life after stroke: a latent transition analysis.

Background: 24-hour movement behavior, including Physical activity (PA), Sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep, is independently associated with health after stroke. Few studies have explored 24-hour movement behavior patterns in stroke survivors and their transitions, as well as the health implications of the transitions. This study aimed to explore the different subgroups and stability of 24-hour movement behavior patterns in people after stroke and the relationship of profile transitions with physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

An integrated "Engage & Evasion" approach for mononuclear phagocyte system escape and efficient extracellular vesicle therapy.

Ischemic diseases are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality, posing a substantial threat to human health. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an essential role in enhancing neovascularization in ischemic tissues, thereby facilitating tissue repair and regeneration. However, the utilization of EVs is hindered by their rapid uptake and clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), which markedly impedes their therapeutic efficacy and organ-specific accumulation.