Joint association of serum sodium and frailty with mild cognitive impairment among hospitalized older adults with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To examine the associations of serum sodium and frailty with the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among hospitalized older adults with chronic diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 403 hospitalized older adults with chronic diseases. Serum sodium concentration was assessed by the ion-selective electrode method, frailty status was evaluated by the FRAIL scale, and MCI was determined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Understanding contrast perception in amblyopia: a psychophysical analysis of the ON and OFF visual pathways.

Purpose: The study aimed to explore potential discrepancies in contrast sensitivity in the ON and OFF visual pathways among individuals with amblyopia compared to controls.

Methods: Eleven adult amblyopes (26.2 ± 4.

Development and validation of a multivariable nomogram predictive of hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion after pregnancy in hepatitis B virus-infected mothers.

Background And Aims: Current guidelines are controversial regarding the continuation of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) therapy after delivery in Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected pregnant women. The postpartum period may be an opportune moment for achieving hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion earlier with constant NAs therapy due to the restoration of immune function after delivery. We investigated prenatal and pregnant factors associated with HBeAg seroconversion after pregnancy and developed a nomogram to predict HBeAg seroconversion rates, aiding decision-making for optimal management in women.

TYROBP promotes the spread of pancreatic cancer by causing M2 TAM polarization.

Background And Aim: M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (M2 TAMs) are known to promote cancer progression, and exosomes are crucial mediators of communication within the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the specific role of exosomes derived from M2 TAMs in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression remains poorly understood. Tyrosine kinase binding protein (TYROBP, also known as DAP12 for DNAX activating protein-12) is a transmembrane signal transduction polypeptide that interacts with immune cell receptors, influencing cellular functions via signal transduction pathways.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Possible Cure of Autoimmune Disorders and Cancer via Attenuating Inflammation.

Autoimmune diseases and cancers, two seemingly unrelated diseases, have been threatening human health, and many of them have no cure. By identifying pathological inflammation as the driving cause of uncontrolled cell proliferation in both classes of diseases, and differentiating autoimmune disorders and cancers by whether the cell death programs are under control, we propose the attenuation of prolonged inflammation via maintaining mitochondrial reduction-oxidation (redox) homeostasis being a possible cure of both diseases. Importantly, we propose the feasibility of applying cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in treating autoimmune disorders and cancers given its redox-modulatory nature, which not only extends the medical utilities of CAP to autoimmune diseases and all other inflammation-driven disorders, but also positions the efficacy of CAP against cancer cells to its suppressive role on prolonged inflammation.

Performance of self-performed SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of self-tested SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests.

Methods: Databases of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for original studies investigating accuracy of self-tested SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests, with RT-PCR as "gold standard."

Results: Forty-five eligible studies were found after database searching and screening using pre-defined criteria.

An inflammatory cytokine signature predicts IgA nephropathy severity and progression.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most prevalent primary glomerulonephritis, resulting in end-stage renal disease and increased mortality rates. Prognostic biomarkers reflecting molecular mechanisms for effective IgAN management are urgently needed. Analysis of kidney single-cell transcriptomic sequencing data demonstrated that IgAN expressed high-expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNFSF10, TNFSF12, CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL12 than healthy controls (HCs).

Invited Review for 20th Anniversary Special Issue of PLRev "AI for Mechanomedicine".

Mechanomedicine is an interdisciplinary field that combines different areas including biomechanics, mechanobiology, and clinical applications like mechanodiagnosis and mechanotherapy. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized mechanomedicine, providing advanced tools to analyze the complex interactions between mechanics and biology. This review explores how AI impacts mechanomedicine across four key aspects, i.

Enhanced tumor-targeting ability of transferrin-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles by in vivo AMF stimulation.

The protein corona formed on the surface of ligand-functionalized nanoparticles has been associated with the loss of targeting capability of the nanoparticles in vivo. Here, we developed a remote magnetothermal stimulation approach to regulate the in vivo active-targeting capability of transferrin (Tf)-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (SPIO-Tf). This technique harnesses the heat dissipation by the magnetic nanoparticles in response to alternating magnetic fields to re-expose buried Tf on the nanoparticle surface, thereby restoring its binding function.

Association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and mortality in critically ill patients with congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome that significantly impacts patient outcomes, especially in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AST/ALT), has also been reported as a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies investigated the correlations between the AST/ALT ratio and ICU mortality in critically ill patients with CHF.

From metabolomics to therapeutics: identifying causal metabolites and potential drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common age-related disease that causes pain and impaired mobility. Various blood metabolites are reportedly associated with bone health; however, their impact on OA remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) study to identify causal metabolites and therapeutic targets in OA.

Phosphocreatine ameliorates hepatocellular apoptosis mediated by protecting mitochondrial damage in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibiting TLR4 and Agonizing Akt Pathway.

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (HI/R) presents significant challenges in surgical liver transplantation and hepatic ischemic shock, with few effective clinical preventive measures available. This study explores the potential protective effects and underlying mechanisms of phosphocreatine (PCr) in the context of HI/R. We established an in vitro ischemia/reperfusion model using hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and normal liver L02 cells.

Corrigendum: Identification of oxidative stress-related diagnostic markers and immune infiltration features for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by bibliometrics and bioinformatics.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.

The diagnosis value of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) multi-parameter imaging in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Lung cancer continues to pose a serious risk to human health. With a high mortality rate, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major type of lung cancer, making up to 85% of all cases of lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (AC), and lung squamous cell carcinoma (SC) are the two primary types of NSCLC.

CT imaging using variable helical pitch scanning for lower extremity arterial disease: Reduced contrast medium dose, improved image quality and diagnostic accuracy.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the feasibility of reducing contrast medium (CM) volume, improving image quality and diagnostic accuracy using variable helical pitch (VHP) scanning for patients with lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD).

Materials And Methods: Eighty patients who underwent lower extremity CT angiography (CTA) were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to either the VHP group (n = 40) or the conventional group (n = 40). Quantitative parameters and qualitative scores were compared between the two groups.

Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke monitoring tool for stroke patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to translate, adapt, and test the psychometric properties of the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke (LUNS) monitoring tool for Chinese stroke patients.

Materials And Methods: The LUNS monitoring tool was translated and cross-culturally adapted using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy translation methodology and two rounds of expert consultation. A cross-sectional study was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the tool from April to October 2023 in Xi'an.

Boosting FRET Efficiency of Chromophores with Aggregation-Caused Quenching by a Crystallization-Induced Precise Co-assembly Strategy.

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) plays a critical role in organic optoelectronic materials. However, developing facile and effective strategies to achieve high-efficiency energy harvesting of chromophores with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) remains an appealing yet challenging task, that has not yet been explored. Herein, a subtly strategy, crystallization-induced precise co-assembly (CIPCA) involving a molecular "lightening agent," to effectively improve FRET efficiency of ACQ chromophores is developed.

A gut feeling of statin.

Statins, known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are widely utilized to reduce blood cholesterol levels and possess pleiotropic effects, including the influence on inflammation and macrophage proliferation. Despite their significant impact in diminishing the incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality, individual responses to statin therapy vary considerably. Understanding this variability is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes and minimizing adverse effects.

Establishment and verification of reference intervals for blood cell analysis in extremely high altitude.

Objective: This study aimed to establish the reference intervals for complete blood count (CBC) in healthy adults at very high altitudes.

Methods: This study recruited 4,863 healthy adults (3,598 males and 1,265 females) who received routine health check-ups at Ali District People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 through the LIS system. CBC was detected by the XT-4000i automatic cell analyzer and statistically analyzed by SPSS 23.

Metabolomic alterations in the plasma of patients with various clinical manifestations of COVID-19.

Background: The metabolomic profiles of individuals with different clinical manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have not been clearly characterized.

Methods: We performed metabolomics analysis of 166 individuals, including 62 healthy controls, 16 individuals with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 88 patients with moderate (n = 42) and severe (n = 46) symptomatic 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19; 17 with short-term and 34 with long-term nucleic-acid test positivity). By examining differential expression, we identified candidate metabolites associated with different SARS-CoV-2 infection presentations.

Barriers and facilitators to narrative nursing implementation for junior nurses: A qualitative study.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of barriers and facilitators to the implementation of narrative nursing by junior nurses. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from October 2023 to February 2024.