Effects of amoxicillin dosage on cure rate, gut microbiota, and antibiotic resistome in vonoprazan and amoxicillin dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori: a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

Background: Vonoprazan and amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy as a mainstream Helicobacter pylori regimen has gained momentum worldwide, but the optimum dosages remain unclear. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of VA dual therapy with 2 g amoxicillin or 3 g amoxicillin, and to assess the short-term effects of therapy on the gut microbiota and antibiotic resistome.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial at 12 centres in China.

Protocol for isolating extracellular vesicles from alveolar macrophages phagocytosing MRSA in vitro cell culture models.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in delivering bioactive cargo in infectious diseases. Here, we present a protocol for isolating EVs from alveolar macrophages (AMs) that phagocytose methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro cell culture models. We describe steps for bacterial preparation; infection of AMs with MRSA; and isolation, purification, and characterization of EVs.

Assessing the causality between pulmonary arterial hypertension and cancer: insights from Mendelian randomization.

Background: Previous clinical studies have suggested an increased risk of tumor development in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, it remains unclear whether there is a causal relationship between PAH and tumor occurrence. This study investigates the causal link between PAH and cancer from a genetic perspective using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Curcumin suppresses metastasis, invasion, and proliferation in osteosarcoma cells by regulating the EGFR/Src signaling axis.

We explored the biological mechanisms by which curcumin (Cur) confronts osteosarcoma (OS) tumorigenesis and potential drug gene targets based on network pharmacology and in vitro cell experiments. Cur has been recognized for its significant role in combating various types of tumors. However, the intrinsic molecular mechanisms through which it affects OS remain uncharted.

SS18-SSX drives TYK2 expression to activate STAT3/Bcl2 axis, facilitating apoptosis evasion and advancing synovial sarcoma progression.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma characterized by high-grade malignancy and poor prognosis. Preliminary research indicates that apoptosis evasion is a key factor in SS progression, primarily attributed to the overexpression of anti-apoptotic genes. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still not fully understood.

Modifiable lifestyle factors and risk of intracranial aneurysm: A univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomisation study.

The aim of this study was to assess the potential causal relationship between lifestyle factors and intracranial aneurysms (IAs) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. The study used a pooled dataset from a genome-wide association study that covered information on 24 lifestyle factors, intracranial aneurysm cases, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and unruptured aneurysms. Five MR methods were applied for analysis by selecting single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables, with the inverse variance weighting method as the main method.

A rare perspective: fine-needle aspiration cytologic features of hyaline vascular type of Castleman disease: A case report.

Rationale: Castleman disease, also known as Castleman syndrome, is a rare, nonmalignant lymphoproliferative disorder. The localized subtype of this disease is primarily the hyaline vascular type of Castleman disease (HVCD). Although this disease is a benign lesion, the histologic features are similar to those of some malignant lymphomas, so an accurate diagnosis of the disease is required.

From tumor microenvironment to emerging biomarkers: the reshaping of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment by neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer with high morbidity and mortality. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has significantly increased complete response rates and postoperative R0 resection rates after neoadjuvant therapy. These drugs can largely reverse the suppression of the immune system caused by the tumor microenvironment, allowing the reactivation of anti-tumor immune infiltrating cells, significantly improving the patient's tumor microenvironment, and thus preventing tumor development.

KLF2 controls the apoptosis of neutrophils and is associated with disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Neutropenia is more common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is a major cause of life-threatening infections. The increased apoptosis of neutrophils is likely to be an essential cause of neutropenia in SLE. However, the detailed mechanisms of increased neutrophil apoptosis in SLE remain unknown.

Understanding frailty: a qualitative study of older heart failure patients' frail experience and perceptions of healthcare professionals with frailty.

Background: Although frailty is highly prevalent in hospitalized older heart failure (HF) patients, its management is often delayed. Understanding the unique experiences of frail elderly HF patients and the perceptions of healthcare professionals (HPs) regarding frailty can facilitate the integration of frailty prevention and intervention into clinical practice. This study aimed to use a descriptive qualitative approach to obtain the experiences of frailty in older HF patients and the perceptions of HPs concerning frailty.

Added value of amide proton transfer-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 in differentiating clinically significant prostate cancer.

Background: Amide proton transfer-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (APTw-MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values can effectively differentiate clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). However, their added value in Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v.

Interactions of transcranial magnetic stimulation with brain oscillations: a narrative review.

Brain responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) and comprise TMS-evoked potentials and TMS-induced oscillations. Repetitive TMS may entrain endogenous brain oscillations. In turn, ongoing brain oscillations prior to the TMS pulse can influence the effects of the TMS pulse.

Case report: A case of esophageal small cell carcinoma misdiagnosed as leiomyoma.

Primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESC) is a rare, extremely aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid growth, early metastasis, and poor prognosis. This study presents a case of early-stage PESC that was initially misdiagnosed as an esophageal leiomyoma, which was observed as a submucosal tumor during gastroscopy. The patient subsequently underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), which successfully achieved complete tumor resection.

New insights into the role of mitophagy related gene affecting the metastasis of osteosarcoma through scRNA-seq and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OSA), the most common primary bone malignancy, poses significant challenges due to its aggressive nature and propensity for metastasis, especially in adolescents. Mitophagy analysis can help identify new therapeutic targets and combined treatment strategies.

Methods: This study integrates single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and bulk-seq to identify mitophagy-related genes (MRGs) associated with the progression of OSA metastasis and analyze their clinical significance.

Association between blood heavy metals and fecal incontinence in American adults: A population-based study.

Background: Previous studies have revealed the impact of heavy metals (HMs) on gut microbiota and intestinal structure. However, the relationship between HMs and fecal incontinence (FI) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the association between blood HMs exposure and FI.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of heparin-binding protein in cerebrospinal fluid for patients with intracranial infections.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of heparin-binding protein (HBP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for patients with intracranial infections.

Methods: This study included 211 subjects, of whom 138 were diagnosed with intracranial infections, 20 were patients with non-infectious inflammatory encephalopathies, and 53 controls who were eventually excluded from intracranial infections and inflammatory encephalopathies. The levels of HBP and procalcitonin (PCT) in CSF were detected in the subjects, and the diagnostic value of CSF HBP and PCT for intracranial infections was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

TFAP2A drives non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and resistance to targeted therapy by facilitating the ESR2-mediated MAPK pathway.

Cancer is among the leading causes of death related diseases worldwide, and lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in the world. Transcription factors (TFs) constitute a class of structurally and functionally intricate proteins. Aberrant expression or functional deficiencies of transcription factors may give rise to abnormal gene expression, contributing to various diseases, including tumours.

Deciphering the impact of heavy metal mixed exposure on lipid metabolism using three statistical models.

Lipid metabolism disorders pose a significant threat to human health. However, the relationship between heavy metal mixed exposure and lipid metabolism remains poorly understood. This study recruited 1717 residents living near a chromium factory in northeast China.

Palladium-Based Nanocomposites Remodel Osteoporotic Microenvironment by Bone-Targeted Hydrogen Enrichment and Zincum Repletion.

Osteoporosis presents a marked global public health challenge, characterized by deficient osteogenesis and a deteriorating immune microenvironment. Conventional clinical interventions primarily target osteoclast-mediated bone damage, yet lack a comprehensive therapeutic approach that balances bone formation and resorption. Herein, we introduce a bone-targeted nanocomposite, A-Z@Pd(H), designed to address these challenges by integrating diverse functional components.

Microenvironmental G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-mediated glutamine metabolic coupling between cancer-associated fibroblasts and triple-negative breast cancer cells governs tumour progression.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer, known for its lack of effective treatments and unfavorable prognosis. The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a novel estrogen receptor, is linked to increased malignancy in various cancers. However, its involvement in the metabolic regulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a key component in the tumour microenvironment, remains largely unexplored.

Epidermal stem cell-derived exosomes improve wound healing by promoting the proliferation and migration of human skin fibroblasts.

Background: Epidermal stem cells (ESCs) are primarily located in the basal layer of the epidermis and play a crucial role in wound healing. ESCs-derived exosomes (ESCs-Exo) are emerging as promising candidates for skin regeneration and wound healing. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Association Between Uric Acid to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Kidney Function in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The relationship between the uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) and kidney function in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is unclear. Therefore, this research explored the link between the UHR and kidney function in PAs. This research was conducted at the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and involved PA individuals hospitalized between October 2017 and April 2022.

Green Synthesis of Biocompatible Chiral Gold Nanoparticles.

Chiral gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been investigated widely and have shown great potential in biomedical applications, such as biosensing, combating bacterial infections and tissue regeneration. However, some stabilizers and reducing agents for the synthesis of chiral Au NPs can produce toxicity in living organisms. Therefore, it is interesting to design green methods to prepare chiral gold nanoparticles that are nontoxic, environment-friendly, and low-cost.