Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of the Novel Recombinant Muscovy Duck Parvovirus Isolated from Geese.

Goose parvovirus (GPV) and Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) are the main agents associated with waterfowl parvovirus infections that caused great economic losses in the waterfowl industry. In 2020, a recombinant waterfowl parvovirus, 20-0910G, was isolated in a goose flock in Taiwan that experienced high morbidity and mortality. The whole genome of 20-0910G was sequenced to investigate the genomic characteristics of this isolate.

Paradoxical spinopelvic motion: does global balance influence spinopelvic motion in total hip arthroplasty?

Background: Recent research has proposed a classification of spinopelvic stiffness according to pelvic spatial orientation for risk stratification in patients who undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the influence of global alignment was not investigated, and this study evaluated the effect of global balance (sagittal vertical axis [SVA]) on spinopelvic motion.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive primary THA patients.

Assessment of diabetic small-fiber neuropathy by using short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging.

Among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the association between hyperspectral imaging (HSI) examination and diabetic neuropathy (DN) is ascertained using HSI of the feet using four types of spectral difference measurements. DN was evaluated by traditional Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), evaluation of painful neuropathy (ID-Pain, DN4) and sudomotor function by measuring electrochemical skin conductance (ESC). Of the 120 T2DM patients and 20 healthy adults enrolled, T2DM patients are categorized into normal sudomotor (ESC >60 μS) and sudomotor dysfunction (ESC ≤ 60 μS) groups.

Biomechanical analysis of reduction technique for lumbar spondylolisthesis: anterior lever versus posterior lever reduction method.

Background: Reduction of lumbar spondylolisthesis during spinal fusion surgery is important for improving the fusion rate and restoring the sagittal alignment. Despite the variety of reduction methods, the fundamental mechanics of lumbar spondylolisthesis reduction remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical behavior while performing spondylolisthesis reduction with the anterior and posterior lever reduction method.

Targeting Tumor Cells with Nanoparticles for Enhanced Co-Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a fatal malignant tumor, and effective therapies to attenuate its progression are lacking. Nanoparticle (NP)-based solutions may enable the design of novel treatments to eliminate GC. Refined, receptor-targetable NPs can selectively target cancer cells and improve the cellular uptake of drugs.

Associations between LncRNA Polymorphisms and Lymph Node Metastasis in Prostate Cancer.

Current evidence elucidates that long noncoding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 () could regulate genetic expression and play a crucial role in both the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of could alter the oncogenesis in various cancers. However, the associations between SNPs and prostate cancer have barely been investigated to date.

Thermal Stability, Smoke Density, and Flame Retardance of Ecotype Bio-Based Flame Retardant Agricultural Waste Bagasse/Epoxy Composites.

In the study, agricultural waste bagasse was used as a bio-based flame retardant for reducing the flammability of epoxy. Specifically, an interpenetrating network (IPN) was formed through a ring opening reaction between the hydroxyl functional group of bagasse and the epoxy group of triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC), forming Bagasse@TGIC. Next, 9, 10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-oxide (DOPO) was mixed with Bagasse@TGIC, inducing a reaction between the active hydrogen of DOPO and the epoxy group of TGIC, ultimately forming Bagasse@TGIC@DOPO with an IPN structure.

Anti-Inflammatory Fibronectin-AgNP for Regulation of Biological Performance and Endothelial Differentiation Ability of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

The engineering of vascular regeneration still involves barriers that need to be conquered. In the current study, a novel nanocomposite comprising of fibronectin (denoted as FN) and a small amount of silver nanoparticles (AgNP, ~15.1, ~30.

Dual-lumen power injectable peripherally inserted central catheters in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A prospective observational study.

Aims And Objectives: To explore whether dual-lumen power injectable peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) could be effectively and safely applied in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and for serum cyclosporine level monitoring.

Background: Compared to conventional central venous access devices, PICC provides a feasible route not only for fluid infusion, but also for blood sample collection in patients undergoing oncological treatments.

Design: A prospective observational study was conducted according to the STROBE guidelines.

Changes in the Composition of the Soil Bacterial Community in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Farmland.

The structural changes of microorganisms in soil are the focus of soil indicators research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the composition of the soil bacterial community in heavy metal-contaminated soil. A total of six soil samples (two sampling times) were collected from contaminated farmland at three different depths (surface, middle, and deep layer).

Nanogold-Carried Graphene Oxide: Anti-Inflammation and Increased Differentiation Capacity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Graphene-based nanocomposites such as graphene oxide (GO) and nanoparticle-decorated graphene with demonstrated excellent physicochemical properties have worthwhile applications in biomedicine and bioengineering such as tissue engineering. In this study, we fabricated gold nanoparticle-decorated GO (GO-Au) nanocomposites and characterized their physicochemical properties using UV-Vis absorption spectra, FTIR spectra, contact angle analyses, and free radical scavenging potential. Moreover, we investigated the potent applications of GO-Au nanocomposites on directing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for tissue regeneration.

The Role of HSP70 in the Protective Effects of NVP-AUY922 on Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome in Endotoxemic Rats.

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction syndrome with high morbidity and mortality caused by bacterial infection. The major characteristics of sepsis are systemic inflammatory responses accompanied with elevated oxidative stress, leading to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). As a molecular chaperon to repair unfolded proteins, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) maintains cellular homeostasis and shows protective effects on inflammatory damage.

Attentional demands of cane-free walking and cane walking in subacute stroke patients who have just learned to walk without a cane.

This study compared the attentional demands between cane-free walking and cane walking in patients with stroke during the transitional period of cane weaning. Patients with stroke who had just learned to walk cane-free were recruited. Cross-sectional measurement was scheduled within 30 days since the patients were able to walk independently without a quad cane.

A Study on Circular Economy Material Using Fish Scales as a Natural Flame Retardant and the Properties of Its Composite Materials.

Fish scales (FSs) are fishery wastes that can cause environmental pollution. This study aimed to solve this environmental problem. FSs were used as a flame retardant for polymer materials, making them valuable.

The radiological outcome in lumbar interbody fusion among rheumatoid arthritis patients: a 20-year retrospective study.

Background: Clinical outcomes amongst Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients have shown satisfactory results being reported after lumbar surgery. The increased adoption of the interbody fusion technique has been due to a high fusion rate and less invasive procedures. However, the radiographic outcome for RA patients after receiving interbody fusion has scarcely been addressed in the available literature.

Pre-screening for osteoporosis with calcaneus quantitative ultrasound and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone density.

Calcaneal quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) is a useful prescreening tool for osteoporosis, while the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the mainstream in clinical practice. We evaluated the correlation between QUS and DXA in a Taiwanese population. A total of 772 patients were enrolled and demographic data were recorded with the QUS and DXA T-score over the hip and spine.

Association of Hospitalised Infection With Socioeconomic Status in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Biologics or Tofacitinib: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Use of biologics or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) is associated with infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Socioeconomic status is substantial in infectious diseases; however, the impact of socioeconomic status on risk for infection in patients with RA receiving b/tsDMARD remains unclear. We used the 2003-2017 Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients with RA receiving b/tsDMARDs.

Fabrication of hyaluronic acid-gold nanoparticles with chitosan to modulate neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Chitosan (Chi) is a natural material which has been widely used in neural applications due to possessing better biocompatibility. In this research study, a novel of nanocomposites film based on Chi with hyaluronic acid (HA), combined with varying amounts of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), was created resulting in pure Chi, Chi-HA, Chi-HA-AuNPs (25 ppm), and Chi-HA-AuNPs (50 ppm).

Methods: This study focused on evaluating their effects on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) viability, colony formation, and biocompatibility.

An Easy Adjustable Sling Technique of Ectatic Vertebral Artery Transposition for Microvascular Decompression.

Hemifacial spasm caused by an elongated, tortuous, or enlarged vertebral artery (VA) can be difficult to treat. Greater rates of incomplete cure also have been noted. In this video, we demonstrate the key steps of a simple and effective adjustable sling technique of an ectatic VA transposition for microvascular decompression.

M33 condenses chromatin through nuclear body formation and methylation of both histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 27.

Heterochromatin, a type of condensed DNA in eukaryotic cells, has two main categories: Constitutive heterochromatin, which contains H3K9 methylation, and facultative heterochromatin, which contains H3K27 methylation. Methylated H3K9 and H3K27 serve as docking sites for chromodomain-containing proteins that compact chromatin. M33 (also known as CBX2) is a chromodomain-containing protein that binds H3K27me3 and compacts chromatin in vitro.

Treatment of hyperprolactinemia: A single-institute experience.

Background: Dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine and cabergoline have been found to be an effective treatment for hyperprolactinemia, not only inducing adenoma shrinkage but also lowering serum prolactin levels. Among known dopamine agonists, cabergoline is the drug of choice due to its enhanced tolerability compared with bromocriptine. This study aimed to evaluate cabergoline's effectiveness, along with transsphenoidal surgery, in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia.