Time to progression predicts outcome of patients with multiple myeloma that can be influenced by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objectives: Currently, there is limited understanding regarding the prognostic significance of time to progression (TTP) after first remission in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 209 patients with MM. These patients were categorized into ≤ 6 months, ≤ 12 months, ≤ 24 months, > 24 months, 6-12 months, and 12-24 months subgroups based on TTP.

Accuracy of Capillary Blood for Assessing Vitamin A Nutritional Status Among Children Under 7 Years of Age: A Multicenter Study.

Vitamin A deficiency remains a major public health problem worldwide, particularly among young children. Capillary blood has the potential for application in vitamin A assessment. The aim of this study is to validate the accuracy of capillary blood for assessing vitamin A nutritional status among young children.

A transformer-based deep learning survival prediction model and an explainable XGBoost anti-PD-1/PD-L1 outcome prediction model based on the cGAS-STING-centered pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recent studies suggest cGAS-STING pathway may play a crucial role in the genesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), closely associated with classical pathways and tumor immunity. We aimed to develop models predicting survival and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 outcomes centered on the cGAS-STING pathway in HCC. We identified classical pathways highly correlated with cGAS-STING pathway and constructed transformer survival model preserving raw structure of pathways.

Body mass index mediates the association between plasma lipid concentrations and the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among US adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and plasma lipid concentrations is not consistent. This study aimed to investigate the association of plasma lipid concentrations with the prevalence of OSA among US adults, with an additional examination of the mediating effect of body mass index (BMI).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 8,086 individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted from 2005 to 2008 and 2015-2018.

Fatigue in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In recent years, there has been an observed increase in the global diagnosis rate of inflammatory bowel disease among children and adolescents. In inactive disease states, fatigue has emerged as the most debilitating symptom, while in active disease states, it ranks second. However, there remains a notable lack of understanding regarding fatigue in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Comparison of a Series of Ga-Labeled DOTA-LLP2A Conjugates for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Very Late Antigen-4 in Melanoma.

Melanoma, with its steadily rising global incidence, is characterized by high invasiveness, leading to poor prognosis in advanced stages. There remains an unmet clinical need for the development of radiolabeled PET imaging probes for the early diagnosis of melanoma. Integrin VLA-4, a key factor in melanoma metastasis, presents a promising protein target to address the specificity shortcomings of existing probes in melanoma imaging.

Leptin action on ARC-PVN neural circuit regulates ejaculation behavior by altering sympathetic neuroplasticity.

Background: Although some studies have revealed the close relationship between leptin and premature ejaculation in clinical practice, whether and how leptin participates in the regulation of ejaculatory behaviors are still unknown.

Objective: To explore the role of leptin on ejaculatory behaviors and its underlying mechanism.

Materials And Methods: Copulation behavior tests were performed after acute and chronic leptin administration at peripheral and central levels.

Research Paradigm of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) With Item Response Theory: Clarification, Classification, and Challenge.

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the worldwide terminology system for measuring health and disability at both individual and population levels. However, the underlying challenges remain in achieving widespread adoption and implementation of ICF within healthcare contexts, including the unequal interval scale of the ICF Likert-type qualifier system ranging from 0 to 4, a lack of consensus on conceptualization and grading criteria of ICF items, and an excessive number of ICF items associated with each disease. The utilization of item response theory (IRT) for ICF studies demonstrated potential benefits in addressing these issues.

Cerebrospinal fluid β2-microglobulin promotes the tau pathology through microglia-astrocyte communication in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) β2-microglobulin (β2M) has been demonstrated as an important factor in β-amyloid (Aβ) neurotoxicity and a potential target for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, more investigation is required to ascertain the relationship between β2M and glial activities in AD pathogenesis.

Methods: In this study, 211 participants from the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) with CSF and Plasma β2M, CSF glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2), Aβ, phosphorylated-tau (P-tau) and total tau (T-tau) were divided into four groups, stage 0, 1, 2, and suspected non-AD pathology (SNAP) based on the National Institute on Aging- Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) criteria.

Ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computer tomography features of hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma and hepatic sarcoma: a retrospective study of 23 cases.

Background: Hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma (HSC) and hepatic sarcoma (HS) are rare malignancies. Without pathology, the differential diagnosis between these two tumors is difficult due to their frequent overlaps in clinical presentations and imaging features. Currently, there are limited analyses about the ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CECT) characteristics of HSC and HS.

Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia - evolutionary aspects on chest CT.

Purpose: To present the different findings of Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) pneumonia on computed tomography (CT) according to the progression of the disease, to improve diagnostic accuracy, guide early clinical diagnosis, evaluate treatment efficacy, and reduce the mortality associated with the disease.

Methods: In total, 80 cases of C.

Integrating Plasma Metabolomics, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation to Investigate the Action Mechanism of Qiangxin Lishui Prescription in Chronic Heart Failure.

The high mortality rate of chronic heart failure (CHF) makes it a primary battlefield in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Qiangxin Lishui Prescription (QLP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used clinically for treating CHF, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study integrated plasma metabolomics, network pharmacology, and experimental validation to reveal the pharmacological effects of QLP and its potential mechanism of anti-CHF.

A new peptide inhibitor of C1QBP exhibits potent anti-tumour activity against triple negative breast cancer by impairing mitochondrial function and suppressing homologous recombination repair.

C1QBP exhibits heightened expression across a spectrum of tumours, thereby fostering their proliferation and metastasis, rendering it a pivotal therapeutic target. Nevertheless, to date, no pharmacological agents capable of directly targeting and inducing the degradation of C1QBP have been identified. In this study, we have unveiled a new peptide, PDBAG1, derived from the precursor protein GPD1, employing a peptidomics-based drug screening strategy.

Association of serum lycopene with low-frequency hearing loss in adults in their 70s based on NHANES database.

Age-related hearing loss is the third most common health condition affecting elderly individuals. The relationship between lycopene in blood and sensorineural hearing loss in elderly adults has rarely been reported. This study aimed to elucidate the connection between serum lycopene levels and sensorineural hearing loss among elderly individuals.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between double arterial cannulation and single arterial cannulation in type A aortic dissection.

It remains controversial as to which optimal cannulation strategy ought to be employed in surgery for type A aortic dissection (TAAD). The aim of this study was to make a comparison of the clinical outcomes between single and double arterial cannulation. From January 2018 to December 2022, 403 individuals with TAAD were recruited for the study and were divided into two groups based on the cannulation approach.

Gestational diabetes mellitus causes genome hyper-methylation of oocyte via increased EZH2.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy disease, has long-term negative effects on offspring health. Epigenetic changes may have important contributions to that, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report the influence of GDM on DNA methylation of offspring (GDF1) oocytes and the possible mechanisms.

ECSIT-X4 is Required for Preventing Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy via Regulating Mitochondrial STAT3.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key factor in exacerbating pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and is linked to increased morbidity and mortality. ECSIT, a crucial adaptor for inflammation and mitochondrial function, has been reported to express multiple transcripts in various species and tissues, leading to distinct protein isoforms with diverse subcellular localizations and functions. However, whether an unknown ECSIT isoform exists in cardiac cells and its potential role in regulating mitochondrial function and pathological cardiac hypertrophy has remained unclear.

Effects of a self-efficacy-centered self-management program on neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The present research aimed to investigate the effects of a self-efficacy-centered self-management program on persons with neurogenic bladder (NGB) after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-two individuals with NGB after spinal cord injury (SCI) were randomized into either the control or intervention group.

Altered functional network topology properties to detect anxiety and depression caused by Crohn's disease and disease severity.

Objective: Here we investigated changes in topological properties of functional brain networks among individuals with Crohn's disease (CD) and to determine whether these changes are related to CD severity, as well as CD-associated anxiety and depression, which are regulated by the brain-gut axis mechanism.

Methods: In total, 31 individuals with CD, 21 with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and 20 healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Individuals with CD or IBS were also evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) and Depression (HADS-D) scales, as well as the simple endoscopic score for CD (SES-CD).

A randomized comparison of bencycloquidium bromide, mometasone furoate and a combination for persistent allergic rhinitis.

Background: Moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) poses a substantial socioeconomic burden.

Objectives: We aimed to establish the superiority of bencycloquidium bromide (BCQB) nasal spray and BCQB combined with mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) over MFNS alone in adults with moderate-to-severe persistent AR.

Methods: In this multicentre, randomised controlled clinical trial (NCT05038202), adults with moderate-to-severe persistent AR were randomly assigned to receive the BCQB, MFNS, or a combination treatment, for 4-week periods.

Integrated network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experiment analysis to decipher the molecular mechanism of Salidroside on Gastric cancer via targeting NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy. The process of ferroptosis regulates tumor growth and represents a promising therapeutic target for GCs. Despite Salidroside (Sal) being able to regulate ferroptosis in a variety of diseases, there are still limited reports on its therapeutic effects and potential targets in treating GC.

The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and risk of infertility among US adults: A cross-sectional NHANES study.

Background: Infertility affects millions worldwide, with a significant proportion of cases remaining unexplained. Recent evidence suggests a potential link between lipid metabolism and reproductive health, prompting investigations into novel biomarkers like the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) for assessing infertility risk.

Methods: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of 5,524 women aged 20-45 in the United States.

Retinal Müller Cell-Released Exosomal MiR-92a-3p Delivers Interleukin-17A Signal by Targeting Notch-1 to Promote Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: Inflammatory processes have been involved in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Interleukin (IL)-17A, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is associated with DR occurrence and development. However, mechanisms underlying the IL-17A impact on DR need further investigations.

Revealing NOD1-Activating Gram-Positive Gut Microbiota via in Vivo Labeling with a meso-Diaminopimelic Acid Probe.

As an important receptor in a host's immune and metabolic systems, NOD1 is usually activated by Gram-negative bacteria having -diaminopimelic acid (-DAP) in their peptidoglycan (PGN). But some atypical Gram-positive bacteria also contain -DAP in their PGN, giving them the potential to activate NOD1. The prevalence of -DAP-type Gram-positive bacteria in the gut, however, remains largely unknown.

Diagnosis and treatment recommendations for glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome.

Background: Glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS) was initially reported by De Vivo and colleagues in 1991. This disease arises from mutations in the SLC2A1 and presents with a broad clinical spectrum. It is a treatable neuro-metabolic condition, where prompt diagnosis and initiation of ketogenic dietary therapy can markedly enhance the prognosis.