A Randomized, Comparative Trial of a Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker (X842) and Lansoprazole for the Treatment of Patients with Erosive Esophagitis.

Introduction: X842 is a new type of gastric acid-suppressing agent with a rapid onset of action and a long duration of effect. We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of different doses of X842 versus lansoprazole in the treatment of patients with erosive esophagitis (EE).

Methods: This phase 2 study included 90 patients with EE (Los Angeles grades A-D) who were randomized (1:1:1) to receive oral low-dose X842 (50 mg/day, n=31), high-dose X842 (100 mg/day, n=31), or lansoprazole (30 mg/day, n=30) for 4 weeks.

Hypoxia Promotes Malignant Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Inducing POSTN Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Formation.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies. Hypoxia can promote the occurrence and development of CRC. However, how hypoxia regulates the CRC immune microenvironment needs to be further explored.

Modulation of mitochondrial functions contributes to the protection of lamotrigine against Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Our previous studies have established that the broad-spectrum anti-epileptic drug lamotrigine (LTG) confers protection against cognitive impairments, synapse and nerve cell damage, as well as characteristic neuropathologies in APP/PS1 mice, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms responsible for this protective effect induced by LTG remain largely elusive.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of LTG against AD.

Location-specific net water uptake and malignant cerebral edema in acute anterior circulation occlusion ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Early identification of malignant cerebral edema (MCE) in patients with acute ischemic stroke is crucial for timely interventions. We aimed to identify regions critically associated with MCE using the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) to evaluate the association between location-specific-net water uptake (NWU) and MCE.

Materials And Methods: This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included patients with acute ischemic stroke following large anterior circulation occlusion.

Significance of Relative Left Ventricle Wall Thickness in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Given the strong association between relative wall thickness (RWT) and cardiovascular dysfunction, this study aims to explore RWT as a novel cardiovascular indicator to predict the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) after lung cancer surgery and guide clinical interventions. This study retrospectively analyzed 170 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer in Nanjing First Hospital, China, between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients were divided into AKI group (n = 52) and non-AKI group (n = 118) based on the occurrence of AKI.

Bioengineered NanoAid synergistically targets inflammatory pro-tumor processes to advance glioblastoma chemotherapy.

Through transcriptomic analysis of patient-derived glioblastoma tissues, we identify an overactivation of inflammatory pathways that contribute to the development of a tumor-promoting microenvironment and therapeutic resistance. To address this critical mechanism, we present NanoAid, a biomimetic nanoplatform designed to target inflammatory pro-tumor processes to advance glioblastoma chemotherapy. NanoAid employs macrophage-membrane-liposome hybrids to optimize the delivery of COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib and paclitaxel.

Microfluidic Synthesis of miR-200c-3p Lipid Nanoparticles: Targeting ZEB2 to Alleviate Chondrocyte Damage in Osteoarthritis.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration. Chondrocyte inflammation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation accelerated OA progression. MicroRNA (miRNA) has the potential to be a therapeutic method for osteoarthritis.

Neurovascular coupling dysfunction associated with inflammatory factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Purpose: The neuropathologic mechanisms of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of neurovascular coupling (NVC) in patients with SSNHL and its association with hematologic inflammatory factors.

Methods: The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC) were calculated in 48 patients with SSNHL and 54 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy control (HC), and also utilized the arterial spin labeling imaging (ASL) to calculate cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Sacubitril/Valsartan for Blood Pressure Lowering in Non-Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3-5 Patients With Hypertension: A Multicenter Clinical Study.

To assess the effectiveness and safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan in reducing blood pressure in individuals with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) Stage 3-5 complicated by hypertension. This study was a multicenter retrospective analysis conducted from March 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024, involving adult patients with NDD-CKD Stage 3-5 and hypertension, who received Sacubitril/Valsartan either as a monotherapy or in addition to current antihypertensive treatments that were insufficient. The main outcomes measured were blood pressure control, changes in blood pressure and laboratory parameters within 8 weeks post-treatment initiation, and incidence of adverse events.

Effect of a mobile APP-based self-care diary combined with nursing for the management of post-heart transplantation diabetes.

Objectives: To retrospectively investigate the effect of a mobile app-based self-care diary, a nursing management method, on post-heart transplantation diabetes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the general data of 87 patients who underwent heart transplantation in the Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery Department of Nanjing First Hospital between January 2018 and December 2023. Based on the nursing method, the patients were divided into a control group that received routine nursing measures (n=47 cases) and an observation group that implemented a mobile APP-based self-care diary combined with nursing (n=40 cases).

Factors related to cough strength before tracheal extubation in post-cardiac surgery patients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Tracheal extubation failure after cardiac surgery is associated with diminished cough strength, albeit the information on cough strength in post-cardiac surgery patients is limited.

Aim: To investigate the cough strength in patients after cardiac surgery before tracheal extubation and the related influencing factors.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was designed, with adherence to the STROBE guidelines.

Correlation between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an enzyme implicated in inflammation and oxidative stress, and has been associated with cardiovascular conditions and adverse outcomes, particularly in diabetes and its complications. However, no prior studies have examined the relationship between Lp-PLA2 and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This research aims to explore the potential association between Lp-PLA2 and DPN.

Activation of TFEB protects against diabetic vascular calcification by improving autophagic flux and activating Nrf2 antioxidant system.

Autophagic flux blockade and excessive oxidative stress play important roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular calcification (VC). Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is an important regulator of many autophagy-lysosomal related components, which is mainly involved in promoting autophagy process in cells. Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant system is considered as one of the key pathways in response to intracellular oxidative stress.

Association of Dietary Intake of Vitamin A With Adolescent Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on NHANES 1999-2018.

We aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake of vitamin A and risk of hypertension during adolescence. We interrogated the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, from which individual-level data on dietary intake of vitamin A were garnered from 13,909 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) participating in the 1999-2018 study cycle. After dividing vitamin A intake into four quartiles, we leveraged weighted multivariate logistic regression to investigate the association of vitamin A intake with hypertension by each quartile, with the restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve plotted to assess the nonlinearity of association.

Relationship between imaging changes of the pancreas and islet beta-cell function.

Imaging changes in the pancreas can provide valuable information about the status of islet beta-cell function in different pancreatic diseases, such as diabetes, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, fatty pancreas, and insulinoma. While imaging cannot directly measure beta-cell function; it can be used as a marker of disease progression and a tool to guide therapeutic interventions. As imaging technologies continue to advance, they will likely play an increasingly important role in diagnosing, monitoring, and managing diabetes.

Application of machine learning in depression risk prediction for connective tissue diseases.

This study retrospectively collected clinical data from 480 patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) at Nanjing First Hospital between August 2019 and December 2023 to develop and validate a multi-classification machine learning (ML) model for assessing depression risk. Addressing the limitations of traditional assessment tools, six ML models were constructed using univariate analysis and the LASSO algorithm, with the categorical boosting (Catboost) model emerging as the best performer, demonstrating strong predictive ability across different depression severity levels (none_F1 = 0.879, mild_F1 = 0.

Clinical Characteristics of Primary and Overlap Sjögren's Syndrome-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors for adverse outcomes in patients with Sjögren's Syndrome-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SS-PAH).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on SS-PAH patients diagnosed by right heart catheterization (RHC) between March 2013 and March 2024 across four Chinese medical centers. Patients were categorized into primary SS-PAH (pSS-PAH) and overlap SS-PAH, based on the presence of additional autoimmune diseases.

Spread of local anaesthetic after erector spinae plane block: a randomised, three-dimensional reconstruction, imaging study.

Background: Spread of local anaesthetic solution in the paravertebral space after erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is variable. We evaluated whether paravertebral spread of local anaesthetic is affected by patient position after ESPB.

Methods: We randomised 84 patients to receive ESPB at T with a mixture of 0.

Intermittent Use of Flash Glucose Monitoring Improves Glycemic Control in Chinese Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of intermittent use of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) for improving glycemic control in Chinese elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This is a prospective observational study involving patients with T2DM aged ≥60 years. The study period spans 12 weeks, with participants wearing FGM at weeks 0, 5, and 10.

Identification of a ceRNA Network Regulating Malignant Transformation of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutant Astrocytoma: An Integrated Bioinformatics Study.

Introduction: Astrocytoma is the most common glioma, accounting for about 65% of glioblastoma. Its malignant transformation is also one of the important causes of patient mortality, making it the most prevalent and difficult to treat in primary brain tumours. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this transformation.

The Associations Between Myopia and Fundus Tessellation in School Children: A Comparative Analysis of Macular and Peripapillary Regions Using Deep Learning.

Purpose: To evaluate the refractive differences among school-aged children with macular or peripapillary fundus tessellation (FT) distribution patterns, using fundus tessellation density (FTD) quantified by deep learning (DL) technology.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1942 school children aged six to 15 years, undergoing ocular biometric parameters, cycloplegic refraction, and fundus photography. FTD was quantified for both the macular (6 mm) and peripapillary (4 mm) regions, using DL-based image processing applied to 45° color fundus photographs.

Pleiotropic Effects of PCSK9 Inhibitors on Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and ischemic stroke (IS) are the primary causes of mortality worldwide. Hypercholesterolemia has been recognized as an independent risk factor for CVD and IS. Numerous clinical trials have unequivocally demonstrated that reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) significantly mitigates the risk of both cardiac and cerebral vascular events, thereby enhancing patient prognosis.

SPI1 facilitates microfracture-mediated cartilage regeneration in the elderly by enhancing bone marrow stromal cells ctemness.

Bone marrow stimulation treatment by bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) released from the bone medullary cavity and differentiated into cartilage via microfracture surgery is a frequently employed technique for treating articular cartilage injuries, yet the treatment presents a main drawback of poor cartilage regeneration in the elderly. Prior research indicated that aging could decrease the stemness capacity of BMSCs, thus we made a hypothesis that increasing old BMSCs (OBMSCs) stemness might improve the results of microfracture in the elderly. First, we investigated the correlation between microfracture outcomes and BMSCs stemness using clinical data and animal experiments.

Disturbed shear stress promotes atherosclerosis through TRIM21-regulated MAPK6 degradation and consequent endothelial inflammation.

Rationale: Coronary artery plaques often develop in regions subjected to disturbed shear stress (DSS), yet the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. Our study aimed to elucidate the unknown role of MAPK6 in shear stress and plaque formation.

Methods: In vitro and in vivo experiments, RNA-seq, CO-IP and proteomic analysis, combined with single-cell RNA-seq datasets were used to reveal the upstream and downstream mechanisms involved.

NLRP3 inflammasome-modulated angiogenic function of EPC via PI3K/ Akt/mTOR pathway in diabetic myocardial infarction.

Background: Inflammatory diseases impair the reparative properties of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC); however, the involvement of diabetes in EPC dysfunction associated with myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown.

Methods: A model was established combining high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice with myocardial infarction. The therapeutic effects of transplanted wild-type EPC, Nlrp3 knockout EPC, and Nlrp3 overexpression EPC were evaluated.