CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Background: CT-routine MRI fusion imaging has recently become available to evaluate spinal anatomy before surgery. Due to the 3-5 mm slice thickness and non-isotropic of routine MRI sequence, the CT-routine MRI fusion imaging is not good. The MRI multiple recalled gradient echo (MERGE) sequence is potentially useful in diagnosis of lumbar degeneration disease due to the better nerve roots visualization, 1 mm slice thickness and its isotropy.

Establishing age-group specific reference intervals of human salivary proteome and its preliminary application for epilepsy diagnosis.

Salivary proteins serve multifaceted roles in maintaining oral health and hold significant potential for diagnosing and monitoring diseases due to the non-invasive nature of saliva sampling. However, the clinical utility of current saliva biomarker studies is limited by the lack of reference intervals (RIs) to correctly interpret the testing result. Here, we developed a rapid and robust saliva proteome profiling workflow, obtaining coverage of >1,200 proteins from a 50-µL unstimulated salivary flow with 30 min gradients.

Neratinib enhances the efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy in HR/HER2-low breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1 via hsa-miR-23a-5p.

HR/HER2-low breast cancer is a significant subgroup of conventional HR/HER2-negative breast cancer, and combination of CDK4/6 inhibitor and endocrine therapy is the standard first-line and second-line treatments for advanced HR/HER2-low breast cancer. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether HER2 signaling affects the effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitor administered in combination with endocrine therapy for HR/HER2-low breast cancer and suitable intervention measures. This study revealed poor efficacy for CDK4/6 inhibitor combined with endocrine therapy for HR/HER2-low breast cancer in vitro and in vivo models.

Association between exposure to urinary metal and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in US adults.

Background: Further evidence is required regarding the influence of metal mixture exposure on mortality. Therefore, we employed diverse statistical models to evaluate the associations between eight urinary metals and the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods: We measured the levels of 8 metals in the urine of adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018.

Applications and Future Prospects of Medical LLMs: A Survey Based on the M-KAT Conceptual Framework.

The success of large language models (LLMs) in general areas have sparked a wave of research into their applications in the medical field. However, enhancing the medical professionalism of these models remains a major challenge. This study proposed a novel model training theoretical framework, the M-KAT framework, which integrated domain-specific training methods for LLMs with the unique characteristics of the medical discipline.

Significant differences in knee kinematics of healthy subjects with high and low anterior tibial laxity.

Background: Anterior tibial laxity is considered to be a risk factor for knee injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. The anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction also aims to restore anterior tibial laxity. While anterior tibial laxity is considered to be linked to dynamic knee stability, the mechanisms connecting anterior tibial laxity to these stability issues are not fully understood.

Magnolol as an Antibacterial Agent Against Drug-resistant Bacteria Targeting Filamentous Temperature-sensitive Mutant Z.

The emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria poses critical health threats worldwide. It is urgently needed to develop potent and safe antibacterial agents with novel bactericidal mechanisms to treat these infections. In this study, magnolol was identified as a potential bacterial cell division inhibitor by a cell-based screening approach.

Molecular insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of Bushen-Qiangdu-Zhilv decoction for ankylosing spondylitis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic immune disease characterized by high disability rates, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. BuShen-QiangDu-ZhiLv Decoction (BQZD), developed by the renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Jiao Shude, has been traditionally used for AS treatment. However, the bioactive components and the precise mechanisms underlying BQZD's therapeutic effects remain largely unexplored.

Dual-targeted halofuginone hydrobromide nanocomplexes for promotion of macrophage repolarization and apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of the synovium. Currently, treatment options focus on either reducing inflammation or inhibiting synovial hyperplasia. However, these modalities are unsatisfactory in achieving the desired therapeutic outcomes.

An explainable and supervised machine learning model for prediction of red blood cell transfusion in patients during hip fracture surgery.

Aim: The study aimed to develop a predictive model with machine learning (ML) algorithm, to predict and manage the need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion during hip fracture surgery.

Methods: Data of 2785 cases that underwent hip fracture surgery from April 2016 to May 2022 were collected, covering demographics, medical history and comorbidities, type of surgery and preoperative laboratory results. The primary outcome was the intraoperative RBC transfusion.

miR-151a-5p predicts severity of diabetic retinopathy and protects from retinal cell injury by inactivating MAPK signaling via DKK3.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is always accompanied by various complications, where diabetic retinopathy was a serious microvascular complications threatening the visual function of patients. This study evaluated the significance of miR-151a-5p and its effect on DR progression aiming to explore a novel biomarker for disease screening and monitoring. Study enrolled 137 patients with DM and 103 diabetes patients with DR.

Exploring and analyzing two aging related genes FPR1 and UCHL1 and their potential molecular mechanisms in aggravating lumbar disc herniation.

The aim of this research was to investigate dysregulated pivotal genes in individuals with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers and treatment targets for LDH. Key aging-related genes in LDH were identified through multiple methods. Two dysregulated key genes (FPR1 and UCHL1) were finally identified, showing high diagnostic value in both training and external validation cohorts.

Clinical characteristics and predictive indictors of macrolide-unresponsive pneumonia in children: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Macrolide-unresponsive pneumonia (MUMPP) cases have been rapidly increasing. The primary reason for this increased incidence is the pathogen's acquisition of resistance through mutations in 23S rRNA genes. Due to the unfeasibility of testing for macrolide susceptibility at the time of admission, this study aimed to assess the clinical features of pediatric MUMPP, using insights from laboratory tests and patterns of chest radiographic resolution.

Microenvironment-responsive injectable hydrogel for neuro-vascularized bone regeneration.

Bone is a richly innervated and vascularized tissue, whereas nerve-vascular network reconstruction was often ignored in biomaterial design, resulting in delayed or incomplete bone healing. Inspired by the bone injury microenvironments, here we report a controllable drug delivery strategy using a pH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual-response injectable hydrogel. Based on the dynamic borate ester bond covalent crosslinking, nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) and curculigoside (CCG) are integrated into PVA/TSPBA (PT) to construct a responsive injectable hydrogel (PTHC), which scavenges excessive ROS from the injury microenvironment and responsively releases HA and CCG, providing favorable homeostasis and sustained release drug delivery system for bone repair.

Amygdalin alleviates psoriasis-like lesions by improving skin barrier function.

Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease that is caused by the immune system. Amygdalin possesses immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects. To explore the possible effects of amygdalin on psoriasis and its pathogenesis of action, we examined the effects of amygdalin on imiquimod-induced psoriasis, tape-stripping-induced skin barrier disruption, and investigated the potential mechanism of action in vitro.

Methionine-driven YTHDF1 expression facilitates bladder cancer progression by attenuating RIG-I-modulated immune responses and enhancing the eIF5B-PD-L1 axis.

The impact of amino acids on tumor immunotherapy is gradually being uncovered. In this study, we screened various essential and non-essential amino acids and found that methionine enhances mRNA methylation and reduced the activation of Type I interferon pathway in bladder cancer. Through RNA sequencing, point mutations, MB49 mouse tumor models, and single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that high methionine levels elevate the expression of mA reader YTHDF1, promoting the degradation of RIG-I, thereby inhibiting the RIG-I/MAVS-mediated IFN-I pathway and reducing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy.

Linking Gut Microbiota, Oral Microbiota, and Serum Metabolites in Insomnia Disorder: A Preliminary Study.

Purpose: Despite recent findings suggesting an altered gut microbiota in those suffering from insomnia disorder (ID), research into the gut microbiota, oral microbiota, serum metabolites, and their interactions in patients with ID is sparse.

Patients And Methods: We collected a total of 114 fecal samples, 133 oral cavity samples and 20 serum samples to characterize the gut microbiota, oral microbiota and serum metabolites in a cohort of 76 ID patients (IDs) and 59 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). We assessed the microbiota as potentially biomarkers for ID for ID by 16S rDNA sequencing and elucidated the interactions involving gut microbiota, oral microbiota and serum metabolites in ID in conjunction with untargeted metabolomics.

A sequential stimuli-responsive hydrogel promotes structural and functional recovery of severe spinal cord injury.

Utilizing drug-loaded hydrogels to restore nerve conductivity emerges as a promising strategy in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, many of these hydrogels fail to deliver drugs on demand according to the dynamic SCI pathological features, resulting in poor functional recovery. Inspired by the post-SCI microenvironments, here we report a time-sequential and controllable drug delivery strategy using an injectable hydrogel responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Phosphoglycerate mutase 1-mediated dephosphorylation and degradation of Dusp1 disrupt mitochondrial quality control and exacerbate endotoxemia-induced myocardial dysfunction.

Endotoxemia, caused by lipopolysaccharides, triggers systemic inflammation and myocardial injury by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis. This study examines the roles of dual specificity phosphatase 1 (Dusp1) and phosphoglycerate mutase family member 1 (Pgam1) in this process. This study utilized cardiomyocyte-specific knockout ( ) and transgenic ( ) mice, alongside knockout ( ) mice, subjected to LPS-induced endotoxemia.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury based on AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway].

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) by regulating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/Unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) signaling pathway.

Methods: Thirty-three male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group and an EA group, with 11 rats in each group. The right middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model was prepared by thread occlusion method in the model group and the EA group.

Chronic kidney disease and thyroid hormones.

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and significantly impacts renal outcomes and mortality. This study investigated the associations between thyroid function and clinical outcomes, and also the therapeutic effects of thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THRT) in CKD patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the China Renal Data System.

Levistolide a Attenuates Acute Kidney Injury in Mice by Inhibiting the TLR-4/NF-κB Pathway.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a significant reduction in kidney function and the accumulation of metabolites such as Creatinine (CRE) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN). Levistolide A (LA), an active component of Ligusticum chuanxiong, offers multiple therapeutic benefits, including cardiovascular and neuroprotection, antitumor and analgesic effects, as well as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, and proapoptotic actions. However, the underlying mechanism of LA in treating AKI has not been fully elucidated.

Longitudinal trajectories of sleep inertia among intern nurses with shift work in China: Prevalence, risk factors and outcomes.

There is a growing consensus regarding the significant individual differences in responses to sleep inertia. However, little is known about the longitudinal trajectories of sleep inertia. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the incidence rates of sleep inertia, longitudinal trajectories, influencing factors and outcomes among intern nurses with shift work.