Cell therapy for scleroderma: progress in mesenchymal stem cells and CAR-T treatment.

Cell therapy is an emerging strategy for precision treatment of scleroderma. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies in scleroderma and discusses the challenges and future directions for development. MSCs possess multiple functions, including immunomodulation, anti-fibrosis, and promotion of vascular regeneration, all of which can improve multiple pathological processes associated with scleroderma.

Case report: Successful therapy with recombinant human vascular endostatin in an elderly man with colon telangiectasia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

An 83-year-old male presented to our Digestive System Department with a 5-day history of severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and a 14-year history of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with low platelet levels. Colonoscopy revealed extensive telangiectasias throughout the colon, particularly in the transverse and ascending segments. Standard treatment with proton-pump inhibitors and somatostatin proved ineffective.

Efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea therapy on patients with -thalassemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Our aim is to review the safety and efficacy of hydroxyurea (HU) on -thalassemia patients.

Methods: Studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of HU on β-thalassemia patients were searched in Pub-Med, Cochrane Databases, Web of Science, China-Biology-Medicine, CNKI, Embase, VIP, and WanFang data. The proportions of response rate (RR) (50% fall in transfusion need in transfusion-dependent -thalassemia patients, or 1 g/dL elevate in hemoglobin (Hb) levels in transfusion-independent -thalassemia patients) and good RR (transfusion-free in transfusion-dependent -thalassemia patients or 2 g/dL elevate in Hb levels in transfusion-independent β-thalassemia patients) were utilized to evaluate the effect size (ES).

Pathogenesis and regenerative therapy in vitiligo and alopecia areata: focus on hair follicle.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of functional melanocytes in the hair follicles and epidermis, leading to white patches on the skin and mucous membranes. Alopecia areata (AA) is a common immune-mediated condition in which autoimmune attack on hair follicles cause non-scarring hair loss. Both diseases significantly impact patients's physical and mental health.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among physicians and pharmacists toward antibiotic use in sepsis.

Background: Sepsis management in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) presents a significant challenge within contemporary healthcare. The primary challenge lies in ensuring the timely and appropriate utilization of antibiotics. Inappropriate antibiotic use in sepsis management can result in a multitude of adverse outcomes.

Global, regional, and national burden inequality of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global health issue, often linked to diabetes, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis. However, aggregated statistics can obscure heterogeneity across subtypes, age, gender, and regions. This study aimed to analyze global CKD trends from 1990 to 2021, focusing on age, gender, socio-demographic index (SDI), and regional variations.

Difference between estimated glomerular filtration rate based on cystatin C versus creatinine and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health.

Background: The difference between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated from cystatin C and creatinine (eGFRdiff) serves as a biomarker of kidney function impairment. However, the role of eGFRdiff in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health and its impact on mortality in CKM syndrome patients has not yet been studied.

Methods: This study included 3,622 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 1999 and 2004.

Association between neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: evidence from NHANES 2017-2020.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely associated with chronic inflammation and lipid metabolism disorders. The neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) is an integrative marker reflecting inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism disorders and is associated with various diseases. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between NHR and NAFLD, MASLD, and liver fibrosis.

Influence of kinesiophobia on activity, function, and anxiety levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes joint inflammation and affects quality of life. Appropriate physical activity can enhance joint function and lower cardiovascular disease risk. However, individuals with RA often have reduced physical activity levels, likely due to kinesiophobia, or fear of movement.

Current perspectives for metabolomics and lipidomics in dyslipidemia of acne vulgaris: a mini review.

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common inflammatory disorder involving the pilosebaceous unit. Many studies have reported that people with AV have higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) compared to healthy controls. Hence, they concluded that an unhealthy lipid profile is an independent risk factor for AV.

Evolution of artificial intelligence in healthcare: a 30-year bibliometric study.

Introduction: In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including machine learning, deep learning, and large language models, has significantly supported clinical work. Concurrently, the integration of artificial intelligence with the medical field has garnered increasing attention from medical experts. This study undertakes a dynamic and longitudinal bibliometric analysis of AI publications within the healthcare sector over the past three decades to investigate the current status and trends of the fusion between medicine and artificial intelligence.

A study on the pharmacovigilance of various SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter two inhibitors (SGLT2is) are widely used in clinical practice due to their proven cardiovascular and renal benefits. However, various adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have been reported. This study aims to systematically update the ADRs associated with SGLT2is and identify the differences among various SGLT2is acovigilance of various SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Malignant breast adenomyoepithelioma: case report and literature review.

Malignant adenomyoepithelioma (MAME) of the breast is a rare tumor with both benign and malignant features. We report a case of a 67-year-old woman who presented with a mass in the outer quadrant of the right breast, detected during a routine check-up. The mass was classified as BI-RADS 3.

The mediating effect of clinical belongingness on the relationship between anxiety and professional identity in nursing interns: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Previous studies have reported that anxiety negatively affects professional identity (PI), and clinical belongingness is positively correlated with PI among nursing interns. However, little is known about the relationship between anxiety, PI, and clinical belongingness among nursing interns.

Objective: To explore the relationship between PI, clinical belongingness, and anxiety among nursing interns, and to demonstrate the mediating role of clinical belongingness in this relationship.

Clinical features and prognostic factors of pediatric Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a single-center retrospective study.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical features and prognostic factors of pediatric LCH patients treated in a single center of China.

Methods: Pediatric LCH cases were treated following the SD-LCH protocol at the Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Shandong First Medical University in Jinan, China. An analysis was conducted on 82 recently identified LCH cases to retrospectively evaluate the initial symptoms, therapeutic alternatives, and extended results.

Litter quality modulates changes in bacterial and fungal communities during the gut transit of earthworm species of different ecological groups.

Earthworms are keystone animals stimulating litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. However, earthworms comprise diverse species which live in different soil layers and consume different types of food. Microorganisms in the gut of earthworms are likely to contribute significantly to their ability to digest organic matter, but this may vary among earthworm species.

Emerging engineered nanozymes: current status and future perspectives in cancer treatments.

Composite nanozymes are composed of enzymes with similar or different catalytic capabilities and have higher catalytic activity than a single enzyme. In recent years, composite nanozymes have emerged as novel nanomaterial platforms for multiple applications in various research fields, where they are used to produce oxygen, consume glutathione, or produce toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cancer therapy. The therapeutic approach using composite nanozymes is known as chemo-dynamic therapy (CDT).

Health workers' adoption of digital health technology in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the facilitators of and barriers to the acceptance and use of digital health technology by health workers in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: We searched several databases for relevant articles published until 25 April 2024. We extracted data on four unified theories of acceptance and use of technology factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions) and six additional factors (attitude, habit, incentive, risk, trust and self-efficacy); how these affected the outcomes of behavioural intention and actual use; and the strength of association if reported.

Implementation of digital HIV services in Guangzhou's primary health-care system, China.

Objective: To describe changes in access to voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counselling and testing services following the implementation of a mini-application (app) at primary health-care facilities across Guangzhou, China.

Methods: In 2018, the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Lingnan Community Support Center co-developed WellTest, a mini-app within the WeChat environment, to address voluntary counselling and testing service needs. The mini-app provides on-demand information for clients, links them to health services, and allows users to provide feedback on health-care quality and share test results with partners.

Simultaneous determination of nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, and beta-D-N4-hydroxycytidine in human plasma and epithelial lining fluid using LC-MS/MS and its clinical application to compare rates of achieving effective concentrations.

Currently, the trials found that the clinical efficacy of molnupiravir is lower than ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir. An explanation for these different efficacies in clinical treatments is still limited. The analysis method was developed and validated to simultaneously quantify nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, and beta-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) in human plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Efficacy of rituximab as second-line therapy for autoimmune encephalitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Approximately 20%-50 % of individuals with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) demonstrate suboptimal responses to first-line therapies, leading to persistent neurological deficits and the need for second-line interventions. Although rituximab has shown potential as an alternative treatment in AE, the existing evidence remains insufficient. This study systematically evaluated and meta-analyzed the efficacy of rituximab in AE patients who either failed or exhibited inadequate responses to first-line treatments, aiming to refine and optimize therapeutic strategies for AE.

On some integral inequalities of Grüss type involving the generalized fractional Saigo -integral operator.

Using the generalized Saigo fractional integral operator, the authors of this study prove several novel fractional integral inequalities of the Grüss type. By fixing the values of functions, specific situations derived from previously established findings are shown. The ultimate purpose of this work is to investigate the Grüss-type integral inequalities with the Saigo -integral operator, a more generalized integral operator.

Common agricultural weeds among alien invasive plants in China: Species lists and their practical managing strategies.

Plant invasion is a big challenge to weed management of agricultural lands. In order to reveal the list of common weed species among alien invasive plants, and reveal practical management strategies, we extracted the species lists of common alien agricultural weeds (CAAWs) of various arable lands and plantations, by comparing the lists of alien invasive plant species and common weed species published in China. Totally 88 species from 18 families were recognized as CAAWs, among which 43.

Impact of straw returning on soil ecology and crop yield: A review.

Several studies have demonstrated the effect of straw return on enhancing soil ecology, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and cumulative effects on plant yield. Recent studies have focused on straw return methods and their impact on soil nutrient cycling and the overall physicochemical composition of the soil. Despite the substantial progress and successes, several research gaps in these studies require further investigations to harness the full potential of straw return.

A shared value network model based on synergy theory in intelligent manufacturing.

With the in-depth development and integration of science and technology, intelligent manufacturing has gradually become a trend in the manufacturing industry. However, it is difficult for the traditional business model to maximize the use of resources. To address these problems, a shared value network model based on synergy theory is first proposed, which consists of three layers: resource network layer, value connection layer and resource coordination layer.