Gardnerella vaginalis-binding IgA in the urethra of sexually experienced males.

Background: Genital inflammation increases HIV susceptibility and is associated with the density of pro-inflammatory anaerobes in the vagina and coronal sulcus. The penile urethra is a critical site of HIV acquisition, although correlates of urethral HIV acquisition are largely unknown. While Streptococcus mitis is a consistent component of the urethral flora, the presence of Gardnerella vaginalis has been linked with prior penile-vaginal sex and urethral inflammation.

Understanding retinal tau pathology through functional 2D and 3D iPSC-derived in vitro retinal models.

The generation of retinal models from human induced pluripotent stem cells holds significant potential for advancing our understanding of retinal development, neurodegeneration, and the in vitro modeling of neurodegenerative disorders. The retina, as an accessible part of the central nervous system, offers a unique window into these processes, making it invaluable for both study and early diagnosis. This study investigates the impact of the Frontotemporal Dementia-linked IVS 10 + 16 MAPT mutation on retinal development and function using 2D and 3D retinal models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Extracellular matrix stiffness regulates colorectal cancer progression via HSF4.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has high incidence and mortality rates, with severe prognoses during invasion and metastasis stages. Despite advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, the impact of the tumour microenvironment, particularly extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, on CRC progression and metastasis is not fully understood.

Methods: This study included 107 CRC patients.

Effectively alleviate rheumatoid arthritis via maintaining redox balance, inducing macrophage repolarization and restoring homeostasis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes by metformin-derived carbon dots.

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevated synovial inflammation, synovial hyperplasia and fibrosis are the main characteristic of microenvironment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Macrophages and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play crucial roles in the progression of RA. Hence, synergistic combination of ROS scavenging, macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype towards M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype, and restoring homeostasis of FLSs will provide a promising therapeutic strategy for RA.

Predictive factors of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormality on high-resolution computed tomography scans: a prospective observational study.

Background: Fibrotic types of interstitial lung abnormalities seen on high-resolution computed tomography scans, characterised by traction bronchiolectasis/bronchiectasis with or without honeycombing, are predictors of progression and poor prognostic factors of interstitial lung abnormalities. There are no reports on the clinical characteristics of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans. Therefore, we aimed to examine these clinical characteristics and clarify the predictive factors of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans.

Polyp and tumor microenvironment reprogramming in colorectal cancer: insights from mucosal bacteriome and metabolite crosstalk.

Background: Highly frequent colorectal cancer (CRC) is predicted to have 3.2 million novel cases by 2040. Tumor microenvironment (TME) bacteriome and metabolites are proposed to be involved in CRC development.

NLRP3: a key regulator of skin wound healing and macrophage-fibroblast interactions in mice.

Wound healing is a highly coordinated process driven by intricate molecular signaling and dynamic interactions between diverse cell types. Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) has been implicated in the regulation of inflammation and tissue repair; however, its specific role in skin wound healing remains unclear. This study highlights the pivotal role of NLRP3 in effective skin wound healing, as demonstrated by delayed wound closure and altered cellular and molecular responses in NLRP3-deficient (NLRP3) mice.

λ-cyhalothrin induced sex-specific inflammation, glia activation and GABAergic interneuron disruption in the hippocampus of rats.

Background: Glia mediated neuroinflammation and degeneration of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are some of the hall marks of pyrethroid neurotoxicity. Here we investigated the sex specific responses of inflammatory cytokines, microglia, astrocyte and parvalbumin positive inhibitory GABAergic interneurons to λ-cyhalothrin (LCT) exposures in rats.

Methods: Equal numbers of male and female rats were given oral corn oil, 2 mg/kg.

Molecular and cellular characteristics of cerebrovascular cell types and their contribution to neurodegenerative diseases.

Many diseases and disorders of the nervous system suffer from a lack of adequate therapeutics to halt or slow disease progression, and to this day, no cure exists for any of the fatal neurodegenerative diseases. In part this is due to the incredible diversity of cell types that comprise the brain, knowledge gaps in understanding basic mechanisms of disease, as well as a lack of reliable strategies for delivering new therapeutic modalities to affected areas. With the advent of single cell genomics, it is now possible to interrogate the molecular characteristics of diverse cell populations and their alterations in diseased states.

Pretreatment level of circulating tumor cells is associated with lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with ≤ 55 years old.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of pretreatment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) (central LNM (CLNM) and lateral LNM (LLNM)) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with ≤ 55 years old.

Methods: Clinicopathological data (CTCs level, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid function, multifocal, tumor size, invaded capsule, clinical stage, and LNM) of 588 PTC patients with ≤ 55 years old were retrospectively collected. The relationship of CLNM, LLNM and the clinical features of patients was analyzed.

Diagnostic utility of LEF1 and β-catenin in WNT pathway tumors with CTNNB1 mutation.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the expression of lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) and β-catenin in basal cell adenoma (BA), desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF), and pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) to evaluate their diagnostic utility in tumors associated with the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway harboring the mutation of CTNNB1 gene 3 exon.

Methods: Eighty tumor patients, including 26 BAs, 30 DFs, and 24 SPNs, were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining was identified positive (nuclear staining of LEF1 and β-catenin in > 50% of tumor cells).

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.

Therapeutic exercise protocol for the prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female soccer players with dynamic knee valgus (RCT).

Background: Women's football has experienced exponential growth over the last 10 years. Its popularity is associated with an increase in ACL injuries. They constitute a major current problem as they account for 43% of the injury burden during the sports season.

Epidermal stem cell derived exosomes-induced dedifferentiation of myofibroblasts inhibits scarring via the miR-203a-3p/PIK3CA axis.

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a common fibroproliferative disorders with no fully effective treatments. The conversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is known to play a critical role in HS formation, making it essential to identify molecules that promote myofibroblast dedifferentiation and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. In this study, we used comparative transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing to identify key molecules and pathways that mediate fibrosis and myofibroblast transdifferentiation.

Assessing the disconnect between student interest and education in artificial intelligence in medicine in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Although artificial intelligence (AI) has gained increasing attention for its potential future impact on clinical practice, medical education has struggled to stay ahead of the developing technology. The question of whether medical education is fully preparing trainees to adapt to potential changes from AI technology in clinical practice remains unanswered, and the influence of AI on medical students' career preferences remains unclear. Understanding the gap between students' interest in and knowledge of AI may help inform the medical curriculum structure.

CT-sensitized nanoprobe for effective early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Early diagnosis is critical for providing a timely window for effective therapy in pulmonary fibrosis (PF); however, achieving this remains a significant challenge. The distinct honeycombing patterns observed in computed tomography (CT) for the primary diagnosis of PF are typically only visible in patients with moderate to severe disease, often leading to missed opportunities for early intervention. In this study, we developed a nanoprobe designed to accumulate at fibroblastic foci and loaded with the CT sensitizer iodide to enable effective early diagnosis of PF.

Evaluation of undergraduate forensic medicine education in Nepal: a critical analysis using Schwab's five commonplaces and Schubert's curriculum images.

Following the establishment of Nepal's first medical college in 1972, forensic medicine was introduced in 1978. To date, 25 medical colleges in the country have included forensic medicine as a compulsory subject in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Although this subject has been introduced into the medical curriculum, the outcome is unsatisfactory, as reflected by the poor medico-legal reports prepared by newly graduated medical students.

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.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles alleviate diabetes-exacerbated atherosclerosis via AMPK/mTOR pathway-mediated autophagy-related macrophage polarization.

Introduction: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (BMSC-EVs) are widely used for therapeutic purposes in preclinical studies. However, their utility in treating diabetes-associated atherosclerosis remains largely unexplored. Here, we aimed to characterize BMSC-EV-mediated regulation of autophagy and macrophage polarization.

Primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma of rectal mesentery: a rare case and literature review.

Background: Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is a rare kind of sarcoma with a low preoperative diagnosis and a poor prognosis. ESOS arising from abdominal mesentery is extremely rare. Increasing diagnostic methods and standardizing treatment protocols are crucial issues of ESOS.

The histone demethylase KDM5C enhances the sensitivity of acute myeloid leukemia cells to lenalidomide by stabilizing cereblon.

Background: The protein cereblon (CRBN) mediates the antileukemia effect of lenalidomide (Len). Len binds to CRBN, recruits IKZF1/IKZF3, and promotes their ubiquitination and degradation, through which Len exhibits its antileukemia and antimyeloma activity. Therefore, the protein level of CRBN might affect the antiproliferative effect of Len.

Cecropin AD ameliorates pneumonia and intestinal injury in mice with mycoplasma pneumoniae by mediating gut microbiota.

Animals infected with mycoplasma pneumoniae not only develop respiratory diseases, but also cause digestive diseases through the lung-gut axis mediated by the intestinal flora, and vice versa. Antimicrobial peptides are characterized by their bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and intestinal flora-regulating properties. However, the effect of cecropin AD (CAD) against mycoplasma pneumonia remains unclear.

Vitamin D3/VDR alleviates double-stranded RNA virus -induced biliary epithelial cell damage by inhibiting autophagy.

Background: The increased apoptosis of bile duct epithelial cells (BECs) due to some damage factors is considered the initiating factor in the occurrence and progression of biliary atresia (BA). Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is thought to play a crucial role in maintaining the intrinsic immune balance and integrity of bile duct epithelial cells (BECs). To investigate the role of VDRs in the pathogenesis and progression of BA using in vitro and in vivo models.

Influence of the metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes on their oral health status and the need for orthodontic treatment in a group of Spanish children (aged 6-12 years): a cross-sectional study.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of good metabolic control, based on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, on oral health status and the need for orthodontic treatment in children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Dental Clinic of the University of Salamanca (Spain) during the years 2020 and 2024. A total of 260 children with type 1 diabetes (aged between 6 and 12 years) participated.

Associations between sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia among patients aged 40 and older with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sarcopenia experience poorer clinical prognosis. Although sedentary behaviour (SB) is common risk factor for COPD, its relationship with sarcopenia in this specific population remains unclear.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey of participants aged 40 and above with COPD, involving 27 communities and 2 hospitals' outpatient departments.