Burden of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Asia from 1990 to 2021.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the disease burden of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Asia.

Material And Methods: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 data evaluated NPC metrics by sex, and age in Asia. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to assess the trends of NPC burden.

Pectins play a central role in enhancing Al tolerance of alfalfa via looseing fibre-microfiber arrangement of cell wall in root tips.

Cell wall greatly affects Al tolerance of plants, but the precise mechanisms by which the cell wall modulating Al tolerance remains largely unknown. In the present study, Al tolerant alfalfa varieties (WL525 and WL903) accumulated less Al in root tips, cell wall and pectins, averagely decreased by 23.8 %, 41.

Iontophoresis-driven transdermal drug delivery system based on porous microneedles for hyperuricemia treatment.

An iontophoresis-driven porous microneedles (IPMNs) system has been developed for hyperuricemia management, which can be effectively prolong the anti-hyperuricemia effect. Porous microneedles (PMNs) with good biocompatibility, high porous volume, and excellent substance exchange capacity were firstly prepared for drug transdermal delivery and active iontophoresis.In vitro experiments showed that the transdermal delivery efficiency of anti-hyperuricemia drug (Allopurinol, AP) could be controlled using the iontophoresis current of IPMNs system.

National Survey of Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility in United States Veterans.

Introduction: Lung cancer screening is underutilized, especially in rural areas where lung cancer mortality is high. Approximately 11.2% of the United States (US) population over age 50 meet the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2021 lung cancer screening eligibility criteria; the proportion of eligible Veterans is unknown.

The evening complex component ELF3 recruits H3K4me3 demethylases to repress PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR4 and 5 in Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), light and circadian clock signaling converge on PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) 4 and 5 to produce a daily rhythm of hypocotyl elongation. PIF4 and PIF5 expression is repressed at dusk by the evening complex (EC), consisting of EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3), ELF4, and LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX). Here, we report that ELF3 recruits the JUMONJI (JMJ) H3K4me3 demethylases JMJ17 and JMJ18 to the PIF4 and PIF5 loci in the evening to remove their H3K4me3 marks.

Carbon dioxide, global boiling, and climate carnage, from generation to assimilation, photocatalytic conversion to renewable fuels, and mechanism.

The increasing CO concentration in the atmosphere has substantial impacts on the global temperature. For energy sustainability and minimization of the effects of global warming, an approach to understand CO capturing and a carbon neutral culture is extremely essential in the present circumstances. The CO emission from vehicles and industries can be minimized using energy cost-effective techniques and can be converted more selectively into reusable fuels via thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, biological and inorganic carbonate-based approaches.

Cost-effectiveness of robotic compared with laparoscopic rectal resection. Results from the Spanish prospective national trial ROBOCOSTES.

Objective: The costs related to robotic surgery are known to be greater than those associated with laparoscopy. However, the potential for better outcomes of the former could lead to a cost-effectiveness advantage. The aim of this study is therefore to highlight the difference in cost-effectiveness between robotic and laparoscopic rectal resection.

Otolaryngological manifestations of cystic fibrosis in children: A systematic review.

Purpose: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disorder in the Caucasian population. Otolaryngological manifestations pose a significant impact on the quality of life of children with CF. The primary aim of this review is to provide a state of the art update of current literature on the otolaryngological manifestations of CF in children.

Synthetic phenolic antioxidant contamination in farmland soils induced by mulching films: Distribution and transformation pathways.

The occurrence and distribution of synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) originating from mulch film in farmland soils, along with their transformation characteristics and pathways, remain largely unknown. This study is the first to investigate nineteen SPAs and four transformation products (TPs) in farmland soils across China. In film-mulching soils, concentrations of SPAs (median, range: 83.

Debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and bacterial community responses in aerobic and anaerobic soil microcosms.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that may pose risks to human health and environmental biota, including soil microbial communities. These risks are further affected by a multitude of factors, including environmental conditions encountered in real-world settings. A comprehensive understanding of how PBDEs transform and microbial communities respond to the exposure under varying environmental conditions is paramount for assessing the ecological risks or identifying potential degraders.

The secreted protease ADAMTS18 links early isoform transformation and maturation of glomerular basement membrane macromolecules to the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier.

The glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) has a unique spatial structure, including porous capillary endothelial cells, glomerular basal membrane (GBM) and highly specialized podocytes. This special structure is essential for the hemofiltration process of nephrons. GBM is the central meshwork structure of GFB formed by the assembly and fusion of various extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules, such as laminins and collagens, which undergo isoform transformation and maturation that may require precise regulation by metalloproteinases.

Paradoxical effects of inhibition of Δ14-reductase and Δ7-reductase on porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development after parthenogenetic activation.

Follicular fluid-derived meiosis-activating sterol (FF-MAS), an intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, plays a crucial role in the meiotic resumption of mammalian oocytes. Maintaining a high concentration of FF-MAS in vitro is challenging; therefore, AY9944 A-7, an inhibitor of Δ14-reductase [which converts FF-MAS to testis meiosis-activating sterol (T-MAS)] and Δ7-reductase (which converts T-MAS to cholesterol), has been used to enhance oocyte maturation. This study examined the effects of various concentrations (0, 10, 20, and 40 μM) of AY9944 A-7 on porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development.

From micro to macro, nanotechnology demystifies acute pancreatitis: a new generation of treatment options emerges.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease characterized by an acute inflammatory response in the pancreas. This is caused by the abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes by a variety of etiologic factors, which results in a localized inflammatory response. The symptoms of this disease include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and fever.

Enhancing immunotherapy efficacy with synergistic low-dose radiation in metastatic melanoma: current insights and prospects.

Recent advances in oncology research have highlighted the promising synergy between low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) and immunotherapies, with growing evidence highlighting the unique benefits of the combination. LDRT has emerged as a potent tool for stimulating the immune system, triggering systemic antitumor effects by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Notably, LDRT demonstrates remarkable efficacy even in challenging metastatic sites such as the liver (uveal) and brain (cutaneous), particularly in advanced melanoma stages.

Comparative evaluation of calretinin immunohistochemical expression in calcifying odontogenic cyst and ameloblastoma.

Background: Calretinin is a 29 kilodalton (KDa) calcium-binding protein that is expressed in normal and tumoral tissues. The expression of calretinin has been shown in the dental epithelium during odontogenesis and in different odontogenic cysts and tumors such as ameloblastoma. Since the epithelium of calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is similar to ameloblastoma and in both lesions, an arrangement of loose cells similar to stellate reticulum is seen, we aimed to investigate the comparative expression of calretinin in COC and ameloblastoma.

Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019.

Background: Emerging research found air pollution may be associated with incident Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. However, few studies have examined these associations at the global scale. This study aimed to assess the dynamic associations between ambient air pollution and the burden of AD and other dementias worldwide.

The association between 24-h movement behaviours and adiposity among Australian preschoolers: a compositional data analysis.

Introduction: The relationship between 24-h movement behaviours (i.e. sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity) and adiposity in preschoolers remains unclear.

Everyday activity strategies perceived by people with advanced cancer: a qualitative explorative study.

Background: Despite growing research on the daily life of people with advanced cancer, more specific knowledge is needed about the specific strategies these people use to manage everyday activities.

Purpose: This study explores how people with advanced cancer manage their everyday activities and describe their specific strategies.

Methods: The qualitative study was designed with an explorative approach.

Anatomical characterization of Semi-arid Bignoniaceae using light and scanning electron microscopy.

Background: The present research work was done to evaluate the anatomical differences among selected species of the family Bignoniaceae, as limited anatomical data is available for this family in Pakistan. Bignoniaceae is a remarkable family for its various medicinal properties and anatomical characterization is an important feature for the identification and classification of plants.

Methodology: In this study, several anatomical structures were examined, including stomata type and shape, leaf epidermis shape, epidermal cell size, and the presence or absence of trichomes and crystals (e.

Bibliometric analysis of published works in ocular trauma: a growing focus on open globe injury.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the trends and characteristics of ocular trauma research published from 2000 to 2022 to delineate the trajectory of the field's research, provide information about the network of key contributors, and help determine future research strategies and direction.

Methods: Web of Science was queried for published works using a series of keywords relating to ocular trauma: "globe rupture", "ruptured globe", "globe injury", "ocular trauma", "intraocular foreign body", "eye trauma", "eye injury", and "traumatic endophthalmitis". All article information was compiled using the VOSviewer software.

Developing Soluplus®-Based Microparticle Amorphous Solid Dispersions with High Drug Loading for Enhanced Celecoxib Dissolution via Electrospraying.

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is one of the most studied strategies for improving the dissolution performance of poorly water-soluble drugs, but ASDs often have low drug loadings, thereby necessitating larger dosage sizes. This study intended to create Soluplus® (SOL)-based microparticle ASDs with high drug loading (up to 60 w/w%) and long-term stability (at least 16 months) using electrospraying to enhance the dissolution of poorly water-soluble celecoxib (CEL). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed that the electrosprayed SOL-CEL microparticles were amorphous, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data indicated the presence of hydrogen bonding between SOL and CEL in the microparticles, which helped stabilize the ASDs.

Alien toxic toads suppress individual growth and phenotypic development of native predatory salamanders.

Alien species can influence populations of native species through individual-level effects such as predation, competition, and poisoning. For alien species that possess strong defensive chemicals, poisoning is one of the most powerful mechanisms of individual-level effects on native biota. Although toxic alien species could potentially negatively affect survival (lethal effects) or life history traits (sub-lethal effects) of native predators via poisoning, previous studies have mainly focused on acute lethal effects.

A neural network for long-term super-resolution imaging of live cells with reliable confidence quantification.

Super-resolution (SR) neural networks transform low-resolution optical microscopy images into SR images. Application of single-image SR (SISR) methods to long-term imaging has not exploited the temporal dependencies between neighboring frames and has been subject to inference uncertainty that is difficult to quantify. Here, by building a large-scale fluorescence microscopy dataset and evaluating the propagation and alignment components of neural network models, we devise a deformable phase-space alignment (DPA) time-lapse image SR (TISR) neural network.