Structural and load-dependent arterial stiffness across the adult life span.

Background: The arterial stiffening is attributed to the intrinsic structural stiffening and/or load-dependent stiffening by increased blood pressure (BP). The respective lifetime alterations and major determinants of the two components with normal aging are not clear.

Methods: A total of 3053 healthy adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled.

Gaps in knowledge and management of iron deficiency in heart failure: a nationwide survey of cardiologists in China.

Background: Heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend routine testing for iron deficiency (ID) and, for those with ID, intravenous iron if the left ventricular ejection fraction is <50%. Guideline adherence to these recommendations by cardiologists in China is unknown.

Methods And Results: An independent academic web-based survey was designed and distributed via social networks to cardiologists across China.

[The impact of frailty on the prognosis of chronic heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator implantation].

The aim of this study was to assess the frailty status of patients with heart failure undergoing CRT-D and then explore the predictive value of frailty for all-cause mortality and heart failure-related readmissions in these patients. We retrospectively included 374 patients with chronic heart failure who underwent CRT-D treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between June 2020 and June 2024. Based on the Tilburg Debilitation Assessment Scale, 175 patients (46.

Comparison of Gensini score and SYNTAX score for predicting in-stent restenosis in patients with coronary artery disease and drug-eluting stent implantation.

The present study was aimed to investigate whether Gensini score or SYNTAX score was a valuable tool to predict in-stent restenosis (ISR) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation. A retrospective case-control study and a validating retrospective cohort study were designed. All subjects' information was collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University.

Enhanced Immune Response Against Echinococcus Granulosus Through a CTLA-4/B7 Affinity-Based Vaccine.

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that poses a significant threat to the health of individuals living in rural regions. While vaccination represents a potential strategy for disease prevention, there is currently no effective vaccine available for humans to prevent cystic echinococcosis (CE). This study aimed to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) against Echinococcus granulosus for human use, employing immunoinformatics methods.

Expert consensus on pulpotomy in the management of mature permanent teeth with pulpitis.

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth.

Tumor burden with AFP improves survival prediction for TACE-treated patients with HCC: An international observational study.

Background & Aims: Current prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are not extensively validated and widely accepted. We aimed to develop and validate a continuous model incorporating tumor burden and biology for individual survival prediction and risk stratification.

Methods: Overall, 4,377 treatment-naive candidates for whom TACE was recommended, from 39 centers in five countries, were enrolled and divided into training, internal validation, and two external validation datasets.

Rapid identification of horse oil adulteration based on deep learning infrared spectroscopy detection method.

As a natural oil, horse oil has unique biological activity ingredients and therapeutic characteristics, which has important application value and market potential in healthcare, food, skin care and other fields. However, fraud is rampant in the horse oil market, and traditional methods such as chemical analysis and physical property detection are time-consuming, costly, and have low accuracy in detecting adulteration. Excessive adulteration may cause health risks, skin problems, and economic losses.

Inhibition of the MyD88 signaling pathway could upregulates Ghrelin expression to synergistically regulate hepatic -infected progression.

Introduction: AE and whether the inhibition of the MyD88 inflammatory pathway can enhance Ghrelin expression to collaboratively modulate AE progression remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated Ghrelin serum levels and changes in TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway proteins and inflammatory factors in AE patients and mouse models at different stages of infection (-4, -8, and -12 weeks). Additionally, we administered the MyD88 inhibitor TJ-M2010-5 intraperitoneally to infected mice to evaluate alterations in inflammation and Ghrelin levels, as well as disease progression.

Recombinant dsAAV9-mediated Endogenous Overexpression of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Activating AMPK and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways.

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of enhanced expression of endogenous macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods: A recombinant double-stranded adeno-associated virus serotype 9 with MIF or green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes (dsAAV9-MIF/GFP) was transduced into mice and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). The models of cardiac 60 min ischemia and 24 h reperfusion and 12 h hypoxia/12 h reoxygenation (H/R) were established in mice and NRVMs, respectively.

MANF overexpression ameliorates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of human nucleus pulposus cells by facilitating mitophagy through promoting MFN2 expression.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a degenerative condition associated with impaired mitophagy. MANF has been shown to promote mitophagy in murine kidneys; however, its role in IDD remains unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which MANF influences IDD development through the regulation of mitophagy.

Insight into the history and trends of liver transplantation for echinococcosis: A bibliometric analysis.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated favorable efficacy in managing end-stage alveolar echinococcosis. Nevertheless, the current research focal points and advancement trends remain ambiguous.

Aim: To map the research landscape to underscore critical areas of focus, influential studies, and future directions of LT for echinococcosis treatment.

Identification of JNK-JUN-NCOA axis as a therapeutic target for macrophage ferroptosis in chronic apical periodontitis.

This study aimed to investigate the involvement of macrophage ferroptosis in chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) and determine if blocking JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis could alleviate CAP by regulating macrophage ferroptosis. Firstly, the models of apical periodontitis (AP) and models of CAP, including clinical specimens and rats' periapical lesions, were utilized to investigate the role of macrophage ferroptosis in CAP by detecting the ferroptosis related factors. The activation of the JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis was observed in CAP models.

Remote ischemic preconditioning on perioperative autonomic nervous system function and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Background: Cholecystectomy often disrupts autonomic balance, impacting recovery. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) may enhance ANS function and protect organs, but its role in cholecystectomy is unclear.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients aged 45 to 65 years, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were randomly assigned to either the RIPC group or the control group.

Expert consensus on apical microsurgery.

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus.

Transcriptome-wide association identifies as a regulator of mitophagy in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without palate.

This study investigated pathogenic genes associated with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) through transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS). By integrating expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we identified key susceptibility genes, including . Notably, the variant rs12884809 G>A was associated with an increased risk of NSCL/P by enhancing the binding of the transcription factor ELK1 to the promoter, thereby activating its expression.

Identification of serum biomarkers for cystic echinococcosis in sheep through untargeted metabolomic analysis using LC-MS/MS technology.

Background: Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by an Echinococcus tapeworm infection. While diagnostic methods for humans often rely on ultrasound imaging and immunodiagnostic techniques, diagnosis in intermediate hosts typically has no widely used diagnostic markers, hampering disease control efforts.

Methods: The differences in serum metabolites of sheep infected with Echinococcus granulosus and a control group were analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) separation with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection.

Locking compression plate as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase for the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by fracture-related infection: experiences from 22 cases.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and psychological outcomes of using a locking compression plate (LCP) as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase in the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by fracture-related infection (FRI).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records and consecutive X-ray images of patients with tibial bone defects who were treated with an LCP as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase, between June 2017 and December 2022. The ASAMI criteria were applied to assess the bone and functional outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated by using the Paley classification.

Protective effect of appendectomy against the onset of ulcerative colitis: A case-control study.

Background: Previous studies suggest that appendectomy has a protective effect against ulcerative colitis (UC); however, relatively few studies focusing on this topic have been reported in China.

Aim: To explore the correlation between appendectomy and the onset of UC.

Methods: A total of 313 patients with newly diagnosed UC and 313 healthy individuals were selected for this study.

Risk prediction of new-onset thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicenter prospective cohort study based on Chinese SLE treatment and research group (CSTAR) registry.

Background: Thrombocytopenia (TP) is a hematological manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is associated with unfavorable prognostic outcomes. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for new-onset TP in SLE patients.

Methods: Based on the multicenter prospective Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group (CSTAR) registry, newly diagnosed SLE patients without TP at registration were enrolled.

Role of PCBP2 in regulating nanovesicles loaded with curcumin to mitigate neuroferroptosis in neural damage caused by heat stroke.

Objective: This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which nanovesicles (NVs) transport curcumin(CUR) across the blood-brain barrier to treat hypothalamic neural damage induced by heat stroke by regulating the expression of poly(c)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2).

Methods: Initially, NVs were prepared from macrophages using a continuous extrusion method. Subsequently, CUR was loaded into NVs using sonication, yielding engineered cell membrane Nanovesicles loaded with curcumin (NVs-CUR), which were characterized and subjected to in vitro and in vivo tracking analysis.

Large Language Models in Worldwide Medical Exams: Platform Development and Comprehensive Analysis.

Background: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly integrated into medical education, with transformative potential for learning and assessment. However, their performance across diverse medical exams globally has remained underexplored.

Objective: This study aims to introduce MedExamLLM, a comprehensive platform designed to systematically evaluate the performance of LLMs on medical exams worldwide.

Determining the Optimal Age for Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery: A Post Hoc Analysis of the CMOSS Randomized Trial.

Background: Previous trials have failed to demonstrate the benefits of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery for patients with carotid or middle cerebral artery occlusion. However, little evidence has focused on the effect of age on prognosis. This study aimed to explore whether EC-IC bypass surgery can provide greater benefits than medical therapy alone in specific age groups.