Circulating short-chain and branched short-chain fatty acids and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes: findings from the 4C study.

Previous studies suggested that fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched short-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) are associated with glucose regulation. However, the potential relationship between circulating SCFAs and BCFAs with incident diabetes risk in both men and women remains unidentified in prospective cohort studies. In this study, we examined a panel of nine serum SCFAs and BCFAs in 3414 subjects with incident diabetes, and matched normoglycemic controls from the China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort study.

Non-linear association of the metabolic score for insulin resistance with obstructive sleep apnea: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2015-2018.

Background: The relationship between the Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR), a novel index integrating multiple metabolic parameters, and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains under explored.

Methods: Analyses were conducted on data from 2,348 participants included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2015 to 2018. Logistic regression, stratified analyses, curve-fitting analyses, and threshold effects analyses were employed to evaluate the association between METS-IR and the risk of OSA.

Chinese Guidelines on the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis (2024).

With progress in basic and clinical research on hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis worldwide, the Chinese Society of Hepatology of the Chinese Medical Association has invited experts in relevant fields to revise the 2018 "Chinese Guidelines on the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis." The updated guidelines provide recommendations for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and both primary and secondary prevention of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis.

Maternal high-fat diet disrupts intestinal mucus barrier of offspring by regulating gut immune receptor LRRC19.

Maternal high fat diet (MHFD) increased colitis susceptibility in adulthood. However, the mechanism remains unclear. We sought to explore whether novel gut immune receptor leucine-rich repeat C19 (LRRC19) contributed to the impaired mucus barrier of offspring exposed to MHFD via gut immune response and microbiota.

Reprogramming to restore youthful epigenetics of senescent nucleus pulposus cells for mitigating intervertebral disc degeneration and alleviating low back pain.

Aging is a pivotal risk factor for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and chronic low back pain (LBP). The restoration of aging nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) to a youthful epigenetic state is crucial for IVDD treatment, but remains a formidable challenge. Here, we proposed a strategy to partially reprogram and reinstate youthful epigenetics of senescent NPCs by delivering a plasmid carrier that expressed pluripotency-associated genes (Oct4, Klf4 and Sox2) in Cavin2-modified exosomes (OKS@M-Exo) for treatment of IVDD and alleviating LBP.

AMPK activation by hepatitis E virus infection inhibits viral replication through attenuation of autophagosomes and promotion of innate immunity.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is generally asymptomatic or leads to acute and self-limiting hepatitis. The mechanisms orchestrating such an infection course remain to be elucidated. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a pivotal cellular sensor for maintaining metabolic homeostasis.

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics and risk of pancreatic cancer: a prospective analysis in the UK Biobank.

Background: Plasma metabolite levels in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) have changed, but the relationship between the altered plasma metabolites and the risk for PC occurrence is not fully clear, as well as the predictive value of the specific metabolites.

Methods: In this study, we obtained the metabolomics data of 243,145 people from the UK Biobank. An extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression, and covariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between metabolites and PC risk.

The influence of Lactobacillus johnsonii on tumor growth and lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a key factor in the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study explores the effect of intratumoral bacteria on LNM in PTC. The intrathyroidal microbiome is analyzed in 55 PTC patients by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Utilization of lactate trajectory models for predicting acute kidney injury and mortality in patients with hyperlactatemia: insights across three independent cohorts.

This study aims to investigate the association between lactate trajectories and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and hospital mortality in patients with hyperlactatemia. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study using data from three independent cohorts. By the lactate levels during the first 48 h of ICU admission, patients were classified into distinct lactate trajectories using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) method.

Increasing collagen synthesis in fibroblasts: The roles of PCL microspheres and the SAMD11-PLOD1 axis in skin rejuvenation.

The degradation of extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and elastin with aging leads to skin sagging. Polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres are used as facial fillers because of their ability to provide volume, biodegradability, and collagen-stimulating properties. The direct biological effects of PCL microspheres on fibroblasts, particularly in stimulating sustained collagen production, require further investigation.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation ameliorates testicular damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion through reshaping macrophage and neutrophil inflammatory properties.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is the main pathophysiology of testicular torsion-detorsion (T/D). However, there is no safe and effective treatment for testicular I/R injury.

Methods: The levels of NAD related genes were measured in the sham group, I/R + saline-treated group, and I/R + NMN-treated group by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR).

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with lenvatinib and immune checkpoint inhibitor versus lenvatinib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter study with propensity score and coarsened exact matching.

Purpose: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) combined with lenvatinib (Len) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still needs further confirmation. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HAIC combined with Len and ICI (HAIC + Len + ICI) versus Len alone in advanced HCC.

Methods: A total of 290 patients in Len group and 349 patients in HAIC + Len + ICI group were analysed.

Dietary risk factors in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: a cohort study with paired healthy relatives as controls.

Purpose: Conflicting results have been reported on dietary factors in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Here, we compared the dietary intakes of IBD patients with those of paired healthy relatives (HRs), aiming to minimize the impact of genetic and environmental confounders.

Methods: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD, N = 45) and ulcerative colitis (UC, N = 20), their paired HRs (N = 45, N = 20) and healthy non-relative (HNR, N = 25, N = 55) controls were recruited.

A Biomimetic Sweeping Microrobot for Active Therapy of Ulcerative Colitis.

Overproduction of pathogenic cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays crucial roles in the onset and perpetuation of ulcerative colitis (UC). Inspired by sweeping robots, a magnesium@polylactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer@polyethylenimine (Mg@PLGA@PEI) microswimmer capable of cleaning off deleterious disease triggers along its path of progress is designed. Mg@PLGA@PEI is successfully synthesized by adopting a core-shell structure with a small opening which allows for Mg-water reaction.

Electroactive Dressing with Selective Sorption of Exudate Enables Treatment of Complicated Wound.

Exudate management and cell activity enhancement are vital to complicated wound healing. However, current exudate management dressings indiscriminately remove exudate, which is detrimental to cell activity enhancement. Herein, a novel class of electroactive bilayer (cMO/PVA) dressing is developed by constructing manganese oxide nanoneedle-clusters decorated commercial carbon cloth (MO), in situ casting polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, and finally charging.

Methylseleninic Acid Elevating the Nrf2-GPX4 Axis Relieves Endothelial Dysfunction and Ferroptosis Induced by Arsenic Exposure.

Chronic exposure to arsenic (As), a ubiquitous contaminant, poses deleterious health risks to humans, including cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have implicated ferroptosis, in which the essential micronutrient selenium (Se) plays a crucial role, in several As-induced pathological processes. However, whether Se can counteract As-induced endothelial dysfunction through ferroptosis remains unclear.

Rare multiple schwannomas of the left upper extremity: A case report.

Schwannomas are rare benign neoplasms originating from Schwann cells of peripheral nerve sheaths. The current study presents a distinctive case involving multiple schwannomas along the peripheral nerves of the left upper extremity. The patient exhibited multiple gradually enlarging subcutaneous masses distributed along the nerves of the left upper limb, without pain, neurological deficits or a positive Tinel's sign upon physical examination.

Bacterial metabolites: Effects on the development of breast cancer and therapeutic efficacy (Review).

Evidence suggests that various gut metabolites significantly impact breast cancer (BC) and its treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and require further investigation. In the present study, the current literature was reviewed to evaluate the roles of microbial metabolites in the development of BC and its response to treatment.

The impact of frequency-specific music stimulation on consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of frequency-specific music stimulation on the awareness and brain connectivity in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC).

Methods: A total of 25 DOC patients were exposed to auditory stimulation through music at varying frequencies (low: <0.5 Hz, middle: 0.

Elevated body roundness index increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in Chinese patients with circadian syndrome.

Objective: The body roundness index (BRI) and circadian syndrome (CircS) are considered new risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet it remains uncertain whether elevated BRI is associated with CVD incidence in CircS patients. In this study, we investigated the association between BRI and CVD occurrence among CircS participants.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 8,888 participants aged ≥45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2011-2020 wave).

Develop and validate machine learning models to predict the risk of depressive symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment.

Background: Cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms are prevalent and closely interrelated mental health issues in the elderly. Traditional methods for identifying depressive symptoms in this population often lack effectiveness. Machine learning provides a promising alternative for developing predictive models that can facilitate early identification and intervention.

Sex differences in the relationship between body mass index in Chinese adolescents and future risk of hypertension: a decade-long cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) during adolescence and the future risk of developing hypertension, with a particular focus on potential sex differences.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis based on a cohort study involving 2,020 adolescents aged 10-15 years who underwent health check-ups at the MJ Health Screening Center between 1999 and 2008. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate the association between BMI and hypertension risk, with stratification by gender.

CD44v6-mediated regulation of gastric cancer stem cells: a potential therapeutic target.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an essential role in tumor initiation, development, and chemoresistance. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate CSC traits in gastric cancer, particularly the role of CD44v6 as a key CSC marker, remain poorly understood.

MGAT4EP promotes tumor progression and serves as a prognostic marker for breast cancer.

Breast cancer remains a global health challenge with varied prognoses despite treatment advancements. Therefore, this study explores the pseudogene MGAT4EP as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer. Using TCGA data and bioinformatics, MGAT4EP was identified as significantly overexpressed in breast cancer tissues and associated with poor prognosis.