Effects of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on arterial stiffness and inflammatory factors in patients with coronary heart disease complicated with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment brings more benefits than risks to most coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the pathophysiological mechanism by which CPAP treatment improves the prognosis of patients with CHD and OSA remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether CPAP can improve arterial stiffness and inflammatory factor levels in CHD patients with OSA, and to further improve prognosis.

Possible linking and treatment between Parkinson's disease and inflammatory bowel disease: a study of Mendelian randomization based on gut-brain axis.

Background: Mounting evidence suggests that Parkinson's disease (PD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are closely associated and becoming global health burdens. However, the causal relationships and common pathogeneses between them are uncertain. Furthermore, they are uncurable.

Association between four anthropometric indices with age-related Macular Degeneration from NHANES 2005-2008.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) decrease vision and presents considerable challenges for both public health and clinical management strategies. Obesity is usually implicated with increased AMD, and body mass index (BMI) does not reflect body fat distribution. An array of studies has indicated a robust relationship between body fat distribution and obesity.

Influence of buccal mucosa width/height ratio, emergence profile and buccal bone width on peri-implant tissues: a prospective one-year study.

Background: The stability of soft and hard tissues surrounding the implant is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also affects the long-term stability of the implant. The present study was to explore the influence of buccal mucosa width/height (W/H) ratio, emergence profile and buccal bone width on peri-implant soft and hard tissue changes in the posterior region.

Methods: Fifty-eight posterior implant restoration cases were recruited in this study.

Bayesian network for predicting mandibular third molar extraction difficulty.

Background: This study aimed to establish a model for predicting the difficulty of mandibular third molar extraction based on a Bayesian network to meet following requirements: (1) analyse the interaction of the primary risk factors; (2) output quantitative difficulty-evaluation results based on the patient's personal situation; and (3) identify key surgical points and propose surgical protocols to decrease complications.

Methods: Relevant articles were searched to identify risk factors. Clinical knowledge and experience were used to analyse the risk factors to establish the Bayesian network.

Enhancing newborn screening sensitivity and specificity for missed NICCD using selected amino acids and acylcarnitines.

Purpose: To enhance the detection rate of Neonatal Intrahepatic Cholestasis caused by Citrin Deficiency (NICCD) through newborn screening (NBS), we analyzed the metabolic profiles of missed patients and proposed a more reliable method for early diagnosis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, NICCD patients were classified into "Newborn Screening" (64 individuals) and "Missed Screening" (52 individuals) groups. Metabolic profiles were analyzed using the non-derivatized MS/MS Kit, and genetic mutations were identified via next-generation sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Risk factors for radial artery calcification in patients with and without uremia.

Background: Calcification of the radial artery is one of the main causes of anastomotic stenosis in autogenous arteriovenous fistulas in uremic patients. However, the pathogenesis of calcification is still unknown. This study attempted to screen and validate the risk factors for vascular calcification in patients with uremia.

Molecule interacting with CasL-2 enhances tumor progression and alters radiosensitivity in cervical cancer.

Objective: Cervical cancer is a common malignancy among women, and radiotherapy remains a primary treatment modality across all disease stages. However, resistance to radiotherapy frequently results in treatment failure, highlighting the need to identify novel therapeutic targets to improve clinical outcomes.

Methods: The expression of molecule interacting with CasL-2 (MICAL2) was confirmed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines through western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

A prediction study on the occurrence risk of heart disease in older hypertensive patients based on machine learning.

Objective: Constructing a predictive model for the occurrence of heart disease in elderly hypertensive individuals, aiming to provide early risk identification.

Methods: A total of 934 participants aged 60 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study with a 7-year follow-up (2011-2018) were included. Machine learning methods (logistic regression, XGBoost, DNN) were employed to build a model predicting heart disease risk in hypertensive patients.

Efficacy and safety of proton radiotherapy in treating choroidal melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Proton beam therapy (PBT) has been gradually introduced for treating choroidal melanoma. This study systematically reviewed clinical reports to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PBT in choroidal melanoma patients.

Methods: This systematic review included all the primary studies involving PBT for choroidal melanoma patients through April 2024.

Effects of Trichinella spiralis and its serine protease inhibitors on intestinal mucosal barrier function.

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic nematode that poses significant public health risks and causes substantial economic losses. Understanding its invasion mechanisms is crucial.

Health utility scores of six common cancers in China measured by SF-6Dv2.

Purpose: Given the recent update of SF-6Dv2, detailed data on utility scores for cancer patients by cancer type remain scarce in China and other regions, which limits the precision of cost-utility analyses (CUA) in cancer interventions. The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate utility scores of six common cancers in China measured using SF-6Dv2, and identify the potential factors associated with utility scores.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2022 to December 2023.

Targeting KRAS: from metabolic regulation to cancer treatment.

The Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) protein plays a key pathogenic role in oncogenesis, cancer progression, and metastasis. Numerous studies have explored the role of metabolic alterations in KRAS-driven cancers, providing a scientific rationale for targeting metabolism in cancer treatment. The development of KRAS-specific inhibitors has also garnered considerable attention, partly due to the challenge of acquired treatment resistance.

Early urea-to-creatinine ratio to predict rapid muscle loss in critically ill patients with sepsis: a single-center retrospective observational study.

Background: Patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU) often experience rapid muscle loss. The urea-to-creatinine ratio (UCR) is thought to reflect muscle breakdown (creatinine) and catabolism (urea) and is commonly used to assess nutritional and metabolic status. This study aimed to investigate whether changes in UCR (ΔUCR) can predict the development of rapid muscle loss in patients with sepsis.

Efficacy and safety of single-branched stent graft in the treatment of type B aortic dissection: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Background: Thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) is the most commonly employed method for treating type B aortic dissection (TBAD). One of the primary challenges in TEVAR is the reconstruction of the left subclavian artery (LSA). Various revascularization strategies have been utilized, including branch stent techniques, fenestration techniques, chimney techniques, and hybrid techniques.

Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric arterial stenosis associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting multiple systems. However, arterial stenosis is a rare manifestation in patients with NF1. Since the symptoms of arterial stenosis caused by NF1 are often atypical and have a high under-diagnosis rate, this can lead to serious complications such as hypertension, ischemic stroke, or even death.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in China: a comparative study.

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare yet significant neurological disorder with high mortality. Understanding its evolving characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes, particularly in Chinese patients after the COVID-19 pandemic, is critical for developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 471 CVST cases from Xuanwu Hospital, comparing data before (2013-2017, n = 243) and after (2021-2023, n = 228) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Microbial communities associated with the skin, gill, and gut of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

The microbiota inhabiting the surface of fish mucosal tissue play important roles in the nutrition, metabolism and immune system of their host. However, most investigations on microbial symbionts have focused on the fish gut, but the microbiota associated with external mucosal tissues (such as the skin and gill) is poorly understood. This study characterised the traits and dynamic of microbial communities associated with the skin, gill and gut of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) culturing with net enclosures or pens at different sampling times (with seasonal transition).

Efficacy of Xpert MTB/RIF assay in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in samples with different results by smear and culture in a coastal city with high incidence of tuberculosis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global problem that seriously jeopardizes human health. Among them, the diagnosis and treatment of smear- or culture-negative TB patients is a challenge. The Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay has been reported to be a novel molecular diagnostic tool for rapidly detecting TB.

Public awareness, attitudes, and motivation toward biobanks: a survey of China.

Background: Biobanks are vital for advancing medical research, and public participation is a crucial determinant of their success. This study uses a survey to assess the awareness, attitudes, and motivation of the public in China with regard to participating in biobanks.

Methods: We conducted an online survey that yielded 616 responses from participants with diverse demographic backgrounds.

Inflammatory bowel disease increases the risk of pancreatitis: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Previous studies have suggested an association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and pancreatitis, including acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). We aimed to examine the potential causal relationship between IBD and pancreatitis using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method.

Methods: We obtained data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in European individuals for IBD and its main subtypes, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (31,665 IBD cases, 13,768 UC cases, 17,897 CD cases and 33,977 controls).

Biological characterization and clinical significance of cuproptosis-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Lung cancer has high morbidity and mortality rates, which results in a poor prognosis. Cuproptosis is a novel cell death mechanism. The aim of this study was to examine the biological characteristics and clinical significance of genes associated with cuproptosis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of LUAD.

Association of insulin resistance surrogates with live birth outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a common pathophysiologic feature in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, there have been no studies investigating the association of IR surrogates with pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Therefore, we explored the association between these factors among PCOS patients.