Convergent evolution of berberine biosynthesis.

Berberine is an effective antimicrobial and antidiabetic alkaloid, primarily extracted from divergent botanical lineages, specifically (Ranunculales, early-diverging eudicot) and (Sapindales, core eudicot). In comparison with its known pathway in species, its biosynthesis in species remains elusive. Using chromosome-level genome assembly, coexpression matrix, and biochemical assays, we identified six key steps in berberine biosynthesis from , including methylation, hydroxylation, and berberine bridge formation.

Intelligent Pyroptosis Inducer for Precise and Augmented Tumor Therapy Through Specific Activation Pyroptosis in Tumor.

Pyroptosis inducer, a powerful anti-tumor agent that causes obvious programmed cell death and immune stimulation, has been challenged to trigger specific pyroptotic tumor cell death while keeping pyroptosis silence in normal cells. Here, an intelligent inducer is reported that acts as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger in normal cells to keep pyroptosis silence, while serving as ROS generator to induce obvious pyroptotic tumor cells death dependent on high hydrogen peroxide levels and near-infrared laser irradiation. This switchable activity ensures this inducer to precisely kill the tumor cells with augmented immunogenicity while causing minimal damage to normal cells.

Assessment of four-dimensional flow MRI for prediction of varices risk in cirrhotic patients.

Objective: This study aims to validate the application of abdominal four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cirrhotic patients and quantify its effectiveness in assessing the hemodynamic impacts of cirrhosis to evaluate varices.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent MRIs between September 2022 and June 2023 were enrolled. Groups were divided into varicose, non-varicose, and healthy groups.

EDNRA regulates the tumour immune environment and predicts the efficacy and prognosis of cancer immunotherapy.

The potential role of endothelin receptor A (EDNRA) in cancer immunotherapy has been demonstrated; however, the mechanism of its therapeutic value remains to be investigated. This study aimed to reveal the potential link between cancer immunotherapy and EDNRA in human tumours. Clinical characteristics and gene expression information were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas database.

Feature genes identification and immune infiltration assessment in abdominal aortic aneurysm using WGCNA and machine learning algorithms.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular condition. This study aimed to discover new indicators for the early detection of AAA and explore the possible involvement of immune cell activity in its development.

Methods: Sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus, the AAA microarray datasets GSE47472 and GSE57691 were combined to generate the training set.

Preparation and anti-colon cancer effect of a novel curcumin analogue (CA8): and evaluation.

Chemotherapy remains the first choice of treatment for colon cancer despite the inevitable adverse effects. Curcumin (CU) possesses antitumor activity but has poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and weak activity. To address this, nine novel monocarbonyl CU analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in the present study.

The updated prevalence and risk factors of dementia in old adults in China: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The continuously increasing aging population and life expectancy have led to an inconsistent and underestimated dementia prevalence in China. An updated epidemiologic study is urgently needed.

Objective: To update the prevalence rate and risk factors of dementia in China.

The First N,O-Chelated Diphenylboron-Based Fluorescent Probe for Peroxynitrite and Its Bioimaging Applications.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that takes part in the oxidation-reduction homeostasis while at the same time being responsible for activating numerous pathological pathways. Accordingly, monitoring the dynamic changes in ONOO concentration has attracted a great deal of attention, undoubtedly prompting the development of appropriate fluorescent chemosensors. Herein, we developed a novel N,O-chelated diphenylboron-based fluorescent probe (DPB) for ONOO featuring high selectivity, a quick response time (2.

Impact of Intravertebral Clefts Sclerosis on Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Efficacy in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Objective: To investigate the effect of intravertebral cleft sclerosis on the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Methods: We analyzed 68 OVCF patients with intravertebral clefts treated with PVP from January 2020 to June 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on computed tomography findings: intravertebral clefts sclerosis (IVCs, 36 cases) and intravertebral clefts nonsclerosis (IVCns, 32 cases).

An observational study of ultrasound semiquantitative scoring for predicting the risk of gout flare.

Objective: An observational study was conducted to determine whether semiquantitative scoring of ultrasound signs of gout predicted flare over 12 months.

Methods: Gout patients were enrolled consecutively in this 12-month prospective observational single-center study. Ultrasound evaluation and clinical assessment were performed at baseline.

Association between gut microbiota and acute upper respiratory tract infection: a Mendelian randomization study.

Targeting specific gut microbiota (GM) species to prevent and treat acute upper respiratory tract infection (AURTI) has attracted researchers' attention, but the relationship between the two is unclear. Based on the summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on GM and five types of AURTIs (acute nasopharyngitis (common cold), acute pharyngitis, acute sinusitis, acute upper respiratory infections, and acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites), we performed two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the causal relationship. Through inverse variance weighting (IVW) method, we found that 33 potential microbial taxa can influence the occurrence of AURTI.

Analysis of the relationships between interferon-stimulated genes and anti-SSA/Ro 60 antibodies in primary Sjögren's syndrome patients via multiomics and machine learning methods.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocyte infiltration of the exocrine glands. Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) are often upregulated in patients with pSS, and anti-SSA/Ro 60 antibodies are among the main items detected in pSS. However, the relationship between ISGs and anti-SSA/Ro 60 antibodies in pSS remains unclear.

Identifying the genetic association between severe autoimmune type 2 diabetes and the risk of focal epilepsy.

Background: Observational studies suggested a bidirectional relationship between severe autoimmune type 2 diabetes and focal epilepsy. However, it remains debated whether and in which direction a causal association exists. This genetics-based study aimed to explore the relationships of severe autoimmune type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and focal epilepsy outcomes with two sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) method.

Risk factors and nomogram predictive models for postsurgical progression/hyperprogression recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma with macroscopic vascular invasion.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop postsurgical progression/hyperprogression recurrence (type III-IV recurrence) prediction models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with macroscopic vascular invasion (MaVI) and to guide treatment strategies in the accurate healthcare era.

Patients And Methods: 393 HCC patients with MaVI from two central hospitals made up the entire study population. In developmental (290 patients) and validation (103 patients) cohorts, all patients were randomized into one or the other.

Characteristics of the current situation of drug use in elderly patients with chronic diseases in Chongqing: A cross-sectional survey.

Following improved accessibility to medical services, the phenomenon of polypharmacy in elderly patients with comorbidity has been increasing globally. Polypharmacy patients are prone to drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and even the risk of death etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fully understand the current status and characteristics of drug use in elderly patients with chronic diseases, focusing on polypharmacy factors to ensure that medications for elderly patients are effective and safe.

Does the intervention for adhesive capsulitis in patients with diabetes differ from that for patients without diabetes?: A systematic review.

Background: Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is often accompanied by pain and restriction in range of movement, which long lasting symptoms often have negative impact on patients' work and lives. Since diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for developing AC, and AC with DM have more limitations of joint motion than general people.

Aims: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the difference of clinical efficacy between diabetes and non-diabetes, and to explore whether AC with diabetes need special intervention compared to non-diabetes.

Anatomic Surface Measurement of the Lumbar Laminae for Safely Resection During Percutaneous Endoscopic Surgery: A Computed Tomography-Based 3-Dimensional Morphometric Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to use computed tomography-based 3-dimensional morphometric imaging to precisely quantify the anatomic parameters of the lumbar laminae and increase the precision of laminar fenestration during percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery.

Methods: Lumbar computed tomography data for the L1-L5 vertebrae of 62 patients (310 total vertebrae) were collected. Laminar width, height, thickness, and bilateral angle were measured in detail, and each parameter was compared and analysed.