A two-sample Mendelian randomization study reveals the causal effects of statin medication on gut microbiota abundance in the European population.

Background: Observational studies have reported changes in gut microbiota abundance caused by long-term statin medication therapy. However, the causal relation between statin medication and gut microbiota subsets based on genetic variants remains unclear.

Methods: We used genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on statin medication from the FinnGen database and gut microbiota abundance GWAS data from the IEU OpenGWAS project.

Super-enhancer Activates Master Transcription Factor NR3C1 Expression and Promotes 5-FU Resistance in Gastric Cancer.

Poor response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) remains an obstacle in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). Super enhancers (SEs) are crucial for determining tumor cell survival under drug pressure. SE landscapes related to 5-FU-resistance are mapped to GC using chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq).

Lipid droplet formation induced by icaritin derivative IC2 promotes a combination strategy for cancer therapy.

Background: Lipid metabolism is crucial in cancer progression. Lipid droplets (LDs) generated in cancer cells can act as protective mechanisms through alleviating lipotoxicity under stress conditions. We previously developed IC2 from the Chinese medicine icaritin as an inhibitor of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1).

Frailty and the risk of age-related macular degeneration: a prospective cohort and Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Both frailty and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are related to aging and may share some common mechanisms. We aimed to examine the observational and causal association between frailty and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: We included 320,810 participants free of AMD at baseline from the UK Biobank.

Interventional treatment of right lower lobe bronchial schwannoma under bronchoscopy: A case report and literature review.

Bronchial schwannoma is a rare benign tumor traditionally managed through surgical resection. This case report describes a 69-year-old Chinese woman with an asymptomatic bronchial schwannoma incidentally discovered during routine health check-up. Computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy revealed a broad-based mass (27 mm × 16 mm) at the right lower lobe bronchus, causing complete obstruction of the dorsal segment and severe stenosis (>80%) of the basal segment.

PTX 3 (pentraxin3) is associated with lung function among people with stable-stage smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic respiratory illness. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is abnormally elevated in the plasma of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. However, the role and significance of PTX3 in the clinical diagnosis of COPD remain unclear.

Needlescopic Laparoscope Sleeve Gastrectomy (NLSG): a Potential Surgical Approach.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become the most popular weight loss surgery currently, but it inevitably leaves multiple small scars in the abdomen. Although the appearance of single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy achieve better cosmetic results, it may lead to postoperative complications such as umbilical hernia and umbilical infection. The author has developed a new surgical approach that can compensate for these deficiencies, which we called needlescopic laparoscope sleeve gastrectomy (NLSG).

Dataset for identifying paracentral acute middle maculopathy lesions in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images.

This paper introduces a comprehensive dataset of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images of human eyes affected by paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM). Acquired with an SD-OCT device (Optovue, Fremont, California, USA), the dataset includes 133 OCT images of lesions. Each image is paired with a corresponding YOLO label in TXT format, representing manually annotated lesion regions of PAMM, created with the assistance of ophthalmologists.

Comparative study of cryorecanalisation and cryoablation using flexible bronchoscopy for the treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis.

To compare the efficacy and safety of cryorecanalisation and cryoablation using flexible bronchoscopy for the treatment of tumor-like endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB). Patients with tumor-like EBTB (104) were randomly divided into a cryorecanalisation (54 patients) or cryoablation (50 patients) group to assess the differences in efficacy and complications between the treatments. The cryorecanalisation and cryoablation treatments' therapeutic efficacies were 81.

In vivo confocal microscopy findings about ocular surface recovery in patients following pterygium excision combined with conjunctival autograft.

Purpose: To study cellular and neural changes around the donor and recipient areas after pterygium excision combined with autologous conjunctival transplantation using corneal confocal microscopy, we evaluated the postoperative impact of this surgical procedure.

Methods: Patients with primary pterygium located on the nasal side who visited the Department of Ophthalmology of Wuxi Second People's Hospital between April and August 2023 were enrolled. Age-matched healthy eyes were included as the control group.

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodules based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

This study evaluates the clinical efficacy of microwave ablation in patients with benign thyroid nodules based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. A total of 92 patients with benign thyroid nodules admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as research subjects and divided into control group and observation group according to different treatment methods, with 46 cases in each group. All patients received microwave ablation.

Orosomucoid 1 interacts with S100A12 and activates ERK signalling to expedite the advancement of bladder cancer.

The research endeavors to expound the role of ORM1 in bladder cancer (BCa) and the implied response mechanism. RT-qPCR and Western blotting examined ORM1 and S100A12 expression. Functional experiments assessed the cellular phenotypes.

Exploring causal associations between interleukins, their receptors, and acute respiratory distress syndrome: a bidirectional-Mendelian Randomization study.

Background: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung condition posing significant health risks. Observational studies have indicated a potential linkage between ARDS and various interleukins, such as Interleukin-8, -2, -6, and -1β. However, the causal relationships between specific interleukins, their receptors, and ARDS remain unclear.

Relapse risk factors analysis within 1 year after the first onset of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: A two-center retrospective study.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is a highly relapsing and disabling disease that causes severe neurological dysfunction in young patients and often has a poor prognosis. Our study aimed to investigate risk factors affecting NMOSD relapse and to establish a relapse prediction model within 1 year after the first onset, providing a reference for individualized diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 102 NMOSD patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and the Second People's Hospital of Wuxi from January 2020 to August 2023 at their initial presentation.

Dietary caloric restriction protects experimental autoimmune uveitis by regulating Teff/Treg balance.

Uveitis, an autoimmune disease, often leads to blindness. CD4 T cells, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells (Th1 and Th17), play a critical role in its pathogenesis. Caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to alleviate autoimmune diseases.

Mechanism and Application of Chinese Herb Medicine in Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) encompasses damage to nerves located outside the central nervous system, adversely affecting both motor and sensory functions. Although peripheral nerves possess an intrinsic capacity for self-repair, severe injuries frequently result in significant tissue loss and erroneous axonal junctions, thereby impeding complete recovery and potentially causing neuropathic pain. Various therapeutic strategies, including surgical interventions, biomaterials, and pharmacological agents, have been developed to enhance nerve repair processes.

Correction: Wang et al. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Accelerate Leukaemia Development in a Mouse Model. 2024, , 646.

At the request of the authors, Haiyan Xu has been removed from the original publication [...

Research advances in branched-chain amino acid metabolism in tumors.

The metabolic reprogramming of amino acids is an important component of tumor metabolism. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) perform important functions in tumor progression. They are the important amino donor and are involved in the synthesis of various non-essential amino acids, nucleotides, and polyamines to satisfy the increased demand for nitrogen sources.

The diagnostic value investigation of programmed cell death genes in heart failure.

Background: We aimed to identify the potential diagnostic markers and associated molecular mechanisms based on programmed cell death (PCD)-related genes in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods: Three HF gene expression data were extracted from the GEO database, including GSE57345 (training data), GSE141910 and GSE76701 (validation data), followed by differentially PCD related genes (DPCDs) was shown between HF and control samples. Enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed based on the DPCDs.

Peptide-Guided Assembly of Silver Nanoparticles for the Diagnosis of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

Peptide-engineered nanoparticles have great potential for biomedical research and application. In this work, we have designed and fabricated an electrochemical biosensor based on peptide-guided assembly of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in which a peptide is endowed with dual functions to recognize target and guide assembly of AgNPs. As a proof of concept, the performance of this biosensor is validated by quantifying human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein.

Pulrodemstat, a selective inhibitor of KDM1A, suppresses head and neck squamous cell carcinoma growth by triggering apoptosis.

Background: Chemotherapy is often ineffective as a first-line treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and a more precise and effective therapeutic option is urgently needed.

Methods: High-throughput screening of a histone demethylase inhibitor library was performed to identify potential drugs for treating HNSCC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and single-cell sequencing were used to evaluate the potential diagnostic value and expression distribution of candidate drug targets.