Targeted Gut Microbiome Therapy: Applications and Prospects of Probiotics, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Natural Products in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered as one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide. Studies have shown significant differences in the gut microbiota between healthy individuals and T2DM patients, suggesting that gut microorganisms may play a key role in the onset and progression of T2DM. This review systematically summarizes the relationship between gut microbiota and T2DM, and explores the mechanisms through which gut microorganisms may alleviate T2DM.

Transcriptomics-Based Investigation of Resistance Differences to Swine Fever between Large White pigs and Min pigs.

The genetic foundations underlying the observed disease resistance in certain indigenous pig breeds, notably the Min pigs of China, present a compelling underexplored subject of study. Exploring the mechanisms of disease resistance in these breeds could lay the groundwork for genetic improvements in pig immunity, potentially augmenting overall pig productivity. In this study, whole blood samples were collected from pre- and post- swine fever vaccinated Min and Large White pigs for transcriptome sequencing.

Flower-like Biomimetic Enzyme for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Zearalenone in Vegetable Oil Deodorizer Distillate.

In order to achieve high quality production of vitamin E and plant sterols, it is necessary to conduct rapid and accurate detection of fungal toxins in their production raw material (vegetable oil deodorizer distillate, VODD). In this study, the flower-like biomimetic enzyme of silver-doped ZnO was synthesized through wet chemical method and in-situ reduction method. Based on above work, a flower-like biomimetic enzyme modified glass carbon electrode was fabricated, and its excellent detection capability against fungal toxins zearalenone was confirmed through electrochemical analysis.

Quantitative Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SS-OCTA) Analysis of Macular Microvascular Alterations in Bietti Crystalline Dystrophy.

Purpose: Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare retinal dystrophy characterized by progressive visual impairment. This study aimed to evaluate changes in retinal and choroidal vessels and blood flow in BCD patients using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and to investigate potential parameters associated with visual function.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 166 eyes from 86 clinically diagnosed BCD patients, classified into three disease stages based on Yuzawa's classification.

Exploring the genetic causal inference between plasma lipidome and hemorrhagic stroke.

Objectives: Recent research indicates that the plasma lipidome composition may undergo alterations following hemorrhagic stroke. Nevertheless, the causal inference between plasma lipidome and hemorrhagic stroke remains elusive.

Materials And Methods: Exposure data were achieved from a recent Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) study of 179 lipid species involving 7,174 individuals, while the outcome data were obtained from the FinnGen consortium (R10), including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (nITH).

Association between epigenome-wide DNA methylation changes and early neurodevelopment in preschool children: Evidence from a former impoverished county in Central China.

Background: Existing epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) investigating the association between DNA methylation (DNAm) and child neurodevelopment have been predominantly conducted within Western populations, and yielded inconsistent results, leading to a significant gap within non-Western setting, particularly in resource-limited rural areas of Central China.

Objectives: To investigate the association between altered epigenome-wide DNAm and neurodevelopment in preschool children from resource-limited rural areas of Central China.

Methods: This case-control study involved 64 preschoolers.

Histone modification-based functional characterization and genetic association of polymorphisms in LRRC6 and MTMR10 within CRC susceptibility regions 8q24 and 15q13.3.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified susceptibility loci for colorectal cancer (CRC), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates functional genetic variants in promoter regions of Leucine Rich Repeat Containing 6 (LRRC6) at 8q24 and Myotubularin Related Protein 10 (MTMR10) at 15q13.3 and their association with CRC susceptibility.

Lung-targeted delivery of PTEN mRNA combined with anti-PD-1-mediated immunotherapy for In Situ lung cancer treatment.

mRNA-based protein replacement therapy has become one of the most widely applied forms of mRNA therapy, with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) being extensively studied as efficient delivery platforms for mRNA. However, existing LNPs tend to accumulate in the liver or kidneys after intravenous injection, highlighting the need to develop vectors capable of targeting specific organs. In this study, we synthesized a small library of ionizable lipids and identified PPz-2R as a promising candidate, exhibiting lung-targeting capabilities, high mRNA transfection efficiency, and good stability through structure-activity relationship studies.

The effect of sciatic nerve block on sciatic nerve depth and pain level in patients with ankle fracture based on different approaches under ultrasound guidance.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of using different approach sciatic nerve blocks on the sciatic nerve depth and pain degree in patients with ankle fracture. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 151 patients with ankle fractures who were admitted to the hospital from May 2020 to May 2023. The patients were divided into a control group (n=76) using the greater trochanteric plane approach (GTA) and an observation group (n=75) using the suprapopliteal approach (PA).

Novel compound heterozygous CYP17A1 mutations identified in a family with two siblings affected by 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency.

Background: 17α-Hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency (17OHD) is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), caused by mutations in the CYP17A1 gene. It typically manifests clinically as variable degree of hypertension, hypokalemia, and disorders of sexual development (DSD), which can include abnormal sexual differentiation in males and sexual infantilism in females. Over 100 mutations in CYP17A1 have been identified, with most cases involving missense mutations or small deletions.

IRF1-RIG-I signaling defects in the aged alveolar epithelial cells may contribute to decreased pulmonary antiviral immune responses.

Background: Alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) are the primary targets of many pathogens and play an important role in sensing viruses and regulating immunity. Yet, little is known about the antiviral responses in the aged AECs.

Methods: The responses of young or aged AECs after viral infection were analyzed using methods such as flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot detection, and transwell chemotaxis assay.

Regulatory networks of bZIPs in drought, salt and cold stress response and signaling.

Abiotic stresses adversely impact plants survival and growth, which in turn affect plants especially crop yields worldwide. To cope with these stresses, plant responses depend on the activation of molecular networks cascades, including stress perception, signal transduction, and the expression of specific stress-related genes. Plant bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factors are important regulators that respond to diverse abiotic stresses.

Being a "Lay Expert": A Choice for Chinese Parents of Young Autistic Children.

The lack of rehabilitation teachers for autistic children is common in lower-middle income countries. Designing programs to train parents to become "para-rehabilitators," that is, "lay experts," is one of the ways to solve this problem. The purpose of this study was to explore the feelings, problems, and hopes of Chinese parents participating in the parent-implemented rehabilitation model.

Computational identification and experimental validation of novel microRNAs along with their targets through RT-PCR approach.

Various metabolic and cell signaling processes impact the functions of sugarcane plant cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in enhancing yield and providing protection against various stressors. This study seeks to identify and partially characterize several novel miRNAs in sugarcane using tools, while also offering a preliminary assessment of their functions.

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab in microsatellite instability-high metastatic colorectal cancer (CheckMate 8HW): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial.

Background: CheckMate 8HW prespecified dual primary endpoints, assessed in patients with centrally confirmed microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient status: progression-free survival with nivolumab plus ipilimumab compared with chemotherapy as first-line therapy and progression-free survival with nivolumab plus ipilimumab compared with nivolumab alone, regardless of previous systemic treatment for metastatic disease. In our previous report, nivolumab plus ipilimumab showed superior progression-free survival versus chemotherapy in first-line microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer in the CheckMate 8HW trial. Here, we report results from the prespecified interim analysis for the other primary endpoint of progression-free survival for nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab across all treatment lines.

Selective activation of mesoscale functional circuits via multichannel infrared stimulation of cortical columns in ultra-high-field 7T MRI.

To restore vision in the blind, advances in visual cortical prosthetics (VCPs) have offered high-channel-count electrical interfaces. Here, we design a 100-fiber optical bundle interface apposed to known feature-specific (color, shape, motion, and depth) functional columns that populate the visual cortex in humans, primates, and cats. Based on a non-viral optical stimulation method (INS, infrared neural stimulation; 1,875 nm), it can deliver dynamic patterns of stimulation, is non-penetrating and non-damaging to tissue, and is movable and removable.

Minimally invasive treatment strategies for submucosal tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract: Advances in innovative endoscopy-based therapies.

The increasing detection of submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) is due to the increased clinical use of endoscopy and imaging technology. Some of these SMTs have malignant potential and may cause clinical symptoms. Thus, it is recommended in clinical guidelines to consider resection of these SMTs.

Assessing the African burden of breast cancer: A demographic analysis using Global Cancer Observatory 2022.

Background: Breast cancer is a major health issue for women in Africa. This study aims to assess the burden of the disease using the latest estimates from Global Cancer Observatory 2022.

Methods: Data were sourced from the Global Cancer Observatory 2022.

Towards practical and privacy-preserving CNN inference service for cloud-based medical imaging analysis: A homomorphic encryption-based approach.

Background And Objective: Cloud-based Deep Learning as a Service (DLaaS) has transformed biomedicine by enabling healthcare systems to harness the power of deep learning for biomedical data analysis. However, privacy concerns emerge when sensitive user data must be transmitted to untrusted cloud servers. Existing privacy-preserving solutions are hindered by significant latency issues, stemming from the computational complexity of inner product operations in convolutional layers and the high communication costs of evaluating nonlinear activation functions.

The UCP2/PINK1/LC3b-mediated mitophagy is involved in the protection of NRG1 against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Available evidence indicates that neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) can provide a protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and is involved in various cardioprotective interventions by potential regulation of mitophagy. However, the molecular mechanisms linking NRG-1 and mitophagy remain to be clarified. In this study, both an in vivo myocardial I/R injury model of rats and an in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model of H9C2 cardiomyocytes were applied to determine whether NRG-1 postconditioning attenuated myocardial I/R injury through the regulation of mitophagy and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Monitoring of inflammatory preterm responses via myometrial cell based multimodal electrophysiological and optical biosensing platform.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, with inflammation-induced PTB posing a significant challenge due to its complex pathophysiology. To address this, we developed an in vitro platform utilizing hTERT-immortalized human myometrial (hTERT-HM) cells integrated with a multielectrode array (MEA) biosensing system and optical calcium imaging. Compared to primary uterine myometrial cells, hTERT-HM cells exhibit superior reproducibility, high scalability, and convenient manipulation, facilitating the consistent and large-scale investigations.

Lift-CM: An integrated lift-heater centrifugal microfluidic platform for point-of-care pathogen nucleic acid detection using isothermal amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a.

Pathogen nucleic acid detection technology based on isothermal amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a system offers advantages in terms of high sensitivity, high specificity, and rapidity. However, this method has not been widely applied because of its shortcomings in utilizing conventional instruments, which cannot satisfy the requirements for Point of Care Testing (POCT), such as integration, convenience, and miniaturization. In this study, we developed an integrated lift-heater centrifugal microfluidic platform (Lift-CM) to automate the processes of isothermal amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a detection.

Crocin facilitates osteogenesis and angiogenesis by moderating oxidative stress and ferroptosis via Nrf2/GPX4 pathway.

Bone formation is a complex multi-factor process of bone defect healing. Oxidative stress (OS) is predisposed to induce regulatory cell death (RCD), such as ferroptosis. At present, the antioxidant effects of Crocin on erastin induced oxidative damage were studied.