Pathogenic mechanisms and potential applications of extracellular vesicles from periodontal pathogens in periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease characterized by chronic destruction of the periodontal supporting tissues and is closely associated with the dysbiosis of the plaque biofilm. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are released from bacteria, which range in size from 20 to 400 nm.

Epidemiology of pulmonary embolism in China, 2021: a nationwide hospital-based study.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) as a preventable and potentially fatal noncommunicable disease was believed to have a lower incidence in Asian populations compared to Western populations. However, the incidence and mortality rates of PE in China and the impact of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention system constructions on PE still lack nationwide evidence.

Methods: For this nationwide hospital-based observational study, we used data from the National Hospital Quality Monitoring System (HQMS) and public database in China.

Attenuated afferent inhibition correlated with impaired gait performance in Parkinson's disease patients with freezing of gait.

Background: The neural mechanisms underlying freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) have not been completely comprehended. Sensory-motor integration dysfunction was proposed as one of the contributing factors. Here, we investigated short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and long-latency afferent inhibition (LAI), and analyzed their association with gait performance in FOG PD patients, to further validate the role of sensorimotor integration in the occurrence of FOG in PD.

Integration analysis of microRNAs as potential biomarkers in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma: the diagnostic and therapeutic significance of miR-183-3p.

Introduction: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) poses a significant therapeutic challenge, primarily due to delayed diagnosis and the limited efficacy of existing treatments.

Methods: To understand the pathogenesis and identify diagnostic biomarkers for LUAD in the early stage, we investigated differential miRNA expression in 33 stage I LUAD patients between tumor and matched paracancerous tissues by Illumina Sequencing. Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using TargetScan and miRDB databases and further analyzed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.

An MRI-based radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of Ki-67 index in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a two-center study.

Background: The expression level of Ki-67 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) affects the prognosis and treatment options of patients. Our study developed and validated an MRI-based radiomics nomogram for preoperative evaluation of Ki-67 expression levels in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: In all, 133 patients with pathologically-confirmed (post-operatively) NPC who underwent MRI examination in one of two medical centers.

Predictive Value of Epicardial Adipose Tissue for Hemorrhagic Transformation and Functional Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Intravenous Thrombolysis Therapy.

Purpose: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a severe complication in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing intravenous thrombolysis therapy (IVT). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) contributes to the development of AIS and the disruption of the blood-brain barrier. This study aims to investigate the relationship between EAT and the risk of HT, as well as functional outcomes, in AIS patients treated with IVT.

Tumor burden with AFP improves survival prediction for TACE-treated patients with HCC: An international observational study.

Background & Aims: Current prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are not extensively validated and widely accepted. We aimed to develop and validate a continuous model incorporating tumor burden and biology for individual survival prediction and risk stratification.

Methods: Overall, 4,377 treatment-naive candidates for whom TACE was recommended, from 39 centers in five countries, were enrolled and divided into training, internal validation, and two external validation datasets.

Melanin-concentrating hormone attenuates the hedonic feeding induced by orexin-A in the ventral tegmental area of high-fat diet male mice.

Objective: The ventral tegmental area (VTA), a pivotal hub in the brain's reward circuitry, receives inputs from the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). However, it remains unclear whether melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and orexin-A (OX-A) neurons in the LHA exert individual or cooperative influence on palatable food consumption in the VTA. This study aims to investigate the modulatory role of MCH and OX-A in hedonic feeding within the VTA of high-fat diet (HFD) mice.

Severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia combined with cold agglutinin disease and pulmonary embolism in childhood: A case report and review of the literature.

This was a case report and literature review, aimed to strengthen the understanding and therapy of mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia combined with cold agglutinin disease and pulmonary embolism in children. A 7-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with fever for 7 days, cough for 5 days, and recurrent cyanosis at the extremities of one day duration. Pulmonary artery computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, and pleural effusion.

Predicting hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes and immune therapy response with ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling-related genes, highlighting MORF4L1 as a promising target.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to be a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide, primarily due to delays in diagnosis and resistance to existing treatments. Recent research has identified ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling-related genes (ACRRGs) as promising targets for therapeutic intervention across various types of cancer. This development offers potential new avenues for addressing the challenges in HCC management.

A rare glisoprenin analogue from an endophytic fungus sp. F1.

Glisoprenins are unique fungal polyisoprenepolyols with nine isoprene units from spp. Herein, glisoprenin G (), a new member of glisoprenins group, along with a biosynthetically related known analogue glisoprenin F (), were isolated and identified from an endophytic fungus, sp. F1, harboured in the roots of the Chinese medicinal plant .

Oxidized hyaluronic acid/ε-polylysine/quaternized chitosan hydrogel with shear thinning injectability and self-healing properties for full-time and multipurpose wound healing.

Complex wound closure scenarios necessitate the development of advanced wound dressings that can effectively address the challenges of filling irregularly shaped wounds and managing fatigue failures encountered in daily patient activities. To tackle these issues, we develop a multifunctional hydrogel from natural polysaccharides and polypeptides with injectability and self-healing properties for promoting full-time and multipurpose wound healing. Synthesized through dynamic Schiff base linkages between oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA), ε-polylysine (ε-PL), and quaternized chitosan (QCS), the OHA/ε-PL/QCS hydrogel can gel rapidly within 50 s.

Understanding structural-functional connectivity coupling in patients with major depressive disorder: A white matter perspective.

Purpose: To elucidate the structural-functional connectivity (SC-FC) coupling in white matter (WM) tracts in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: A total of 178 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 173 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. The Euclidean distance was calculated to assess SC-FC coupling.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of endovascular treatment of carotid blowout syndrome.

Unlabelled: Carotid Blowout Syndrome (CBS) is a rare and life-threatening condition that necessitates prompt intervention to prevent fatal hemorrhage. This study compares the outcomes of two primary endovascular approaches: reconstructive interventions, which aim to preserve carotid artery function using stents or balloon angioplasty, and deconstructive interventions, which involve vessel occlusion to halt bleeding. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by searching multiple databases for relevant studies published from January 2000 to August 2023.

A Zero-gap Electrolyzer Enables Supporting Electrolyte-free Seawater Splitting for Energy-saving Hydrogen Production.

Membrane-assisted direct seawater splitting (DSS) technologies are actively studied as a promising route to produce green hydrogen (H2), whereas the indispensable use of supporting electrolytes that help to extract water and provide electrochemically-accelerated reaction media results in a severe energy penalty, consuming up to 12.5% of energy input when using a typical KOH electrolyte. We bypass this issue by designing a zero-gap electrolyzer configuration based on the integration of cation exchange membrane and bipolar membrane assemblies, which protects stable DSS operation against the precipitates and corrosion in the absence of additional supporting electrolytes.

Experimental investigation and finite element analysis on the durability of root-filled teeth treated with multisonic irrigation.

Objective: This study compared the fracture load, stress distribution, and survival probability under cyclic loading of extensively restored teeth treated with multisonic irrigation with those treated with conventional instrumentation, with or without a post.

Methods: Mesial-occlusal-distal cavities were prepared in 30 human mandibular premolars. The teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 based on the endodontic and restorative procedures: (1) Root canal treatment (RCT) followed by resin composite restoration (control group), (2) RCT followed by a glass fiber post restoration (conventional group), and (3) minimal instrumentation plus multisonic irrigation followed by resin composite restoration (GW group).

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 in cancer: Dual roles, mechanistic insights, and therapeutic potential - A comprehensive review.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1) is a key gluconeogenic enzyme that plays complex and context-dependent roles in cancer biology. This review comprehensively examines FBP1's dual functions as both a tumor suppressor and an oncogene across various cancer types. In many cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and lung cancer, downregulation of FBP1 contributes to tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming, promoting glycolysis, and altering the tumor microenvironment.

Multiparametric quantitative diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging can effectively predict the response to neoadjuvant therapy in borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate whether multiparametric quantitative diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) can effectively predict the neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) response in borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BRPC).

Methods: The clinicopathological data, including tumor size, location, and CA19-9 values, as well as DWI parameters(ADC, D, and f values) from 72 patients with BRPC, were analyzed. The differences and changes in these factors before and after NAT were compared to identify those most accurately reflect the response to NAT.

Carbocation charge as an interpretable descriptor for the catalytic activity of hydrolytic nanozymes.

A universal theory for predicting the catalytic activity of hydrolytic nanozymes has yet to be developed. Herein, by investigating the polarization and hydrolysis mechanisms of nanomaterials towards amide bonds, carbocation charge was identified as a key electronic descriptor for predicting catalytic activity in amide hydrolysis. Through machine learning correlation analysis and the Sure Independence Screening and Sparsifying Operator (SISSO) algorithm, this descriptor was interpreted to associate with the d-band center and Lewis acidity on the nanomaterial surface.

Spatio-temporal variation of air quality and its driving factors in Jinan and Qingdao during 2014-2022.

Over the past 20 years, urbanization of Shandong Province has strongly supported the rapid growth and sustained transformation of economy, however, this region has suffered from serious atmospheric pollution due to intense human activity. Identifying and qualifying the spatio-temporal variation of air pollution and its driving forces of Shandong Province would help in the formulation of effective mitigation policies. A deep understanding of the coupling relationship between air quality and socioeconomic drivers was essential for evaluating the quality of urbanization and long term sustainability.

How does industrial intelligence affect the ecological efficiency of China's mariculture industry? Empirical analysis based on panel data from coastal regions of China.

Exploring new pathways for the growth of output in the mariculture industry and its alignment with environmentally coordinated and sustainable development has become an urgent task. Against the backdrop of the new technological revolution, the burgeoning development of industrial intelligence offers new opportunities for enhancing the ecological efficiency of China's mariculture. Based on panel data from coastal provinces of China from 2008 to 2022, this paper measures the ecological efficiency of mariculture while comprehensively considering both positive and negative externalities of the industry.

Diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma by an MRI-based deep learning model.

Background: Cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a well-established poor prognosticator of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), in which occult metastasis is a subtype that makes prediction challenging. Here, we developed and validated a deep learning (DL) model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the identification of LNM in OSCC patients.

Methods: This retrospective diagnostic study developed a three-stage DL model by 45,664 preoperative MRI images from 723 patients in 10 Chinese hospitals between January 2015 and October 2020.

Repressing cytokine storm-like response in macrophages by targeting the eIF2α-integrated stress response pathway.

Cytokine storm is a life-threatening systemic hyper-inflammatory state caused by different etiologies, in which the bulk production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from activated macrophages has a central role. Integrated stress response (ISR) comprises several protective signaling pathways, leading to phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) and repression of protein translation. Emerging evidence suggests that ISR induction may elicit anti-inflammatory effects.