Unveiling new therapeutic horizons in rheumatoid arthritis: an In-depth exploration of circular RNAs derived from plasma exosomes.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory joint disease causing permanent disability, involves exosomes, nanosized mammalian extracellular particles. Circular RNA (circRNA) serves as a biomarker in RA blood samples. This research screened differentially expressed circRNAs in RA patient plasma exosomes for novel diagnostic biomarkers.

Catlet scoring system as a new predictor for in-stent restenosis in patients with chronic coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent.

Background: He's team have recently developed a new Coronary Artery Tree description and Lesion EvaluaTion (CatLet) angiographic scoring system, which is capable of accounting for the variability in coronary anatomy, and risk-stratifying patients with coronary artery disease. Preliminary studies have demonstrated its superiority over the the Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score with respect to outcome predictions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. However, there are fewer studies on the prognostic in chronic coronary artery disease(CAD).

Validating a clinically based MS-MLPA threshold through comparison with Sanger sequencing in glioblastoma patients.

Background: Glioblastoma is the commonest malignant brain tumor and has a very poor prognosis. Reduced expression of the MGMT gene (10q26.3), influenced primarily by the methylation of two differentially methylated regions (DMR1 and DMR2), is associated with a good response to temozolomide treatment.

The kidney reabsorption-related magnesium depletion score is associated with cardiovascular disease and longitudinal mortality in diabetic kidney disease patients.

Background: The kidney reabsorption is essential for maintaining magnesium homeostasis. This study aims to explore the relationship between kidney reabsorption-related magnesium depletion score (MDS) and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and prognosis in diabetic disease kidney (DKD) patients.

Methods: We included 3199 DKD patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, including 1072 CVD patients.

Association of serum and local GRP78 and CHOP expressions with disease progression in patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head.

Background: The endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) has been involved in various musculoskeletal disorders including non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head (NT-ONFH).

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the association of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) as well as CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) expressions in serum and femoral head (FH) tissues with NT-ONFH's severity.

Methods: We enrolled NT-ONFH patients (n = 150) alongside healthy controls (HCs, n = 150).

Construct validity and responsiveness of clinical upper limb measures and sensor-based arm use within the first year after stroke: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Construct validity and responsiveness of upper limb outcome measures are essential to interpret motor recovery poststroke. Evaluating the associations between clinical upper limb measures and sensor-based arm use (AU) fosters a coherent understanding of motor recovery. Defining sensor-based AU metrics for intentional upper limb movements could be crucial in mitigating bias from walking-related activities.

Triglyceride-glucose index predicts adverse cardiovascular events in patients with H-type hypertension combined with coronary heart disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The triglyceride‒glucose index (TyG index) is a reliable surrogate for insulin resistance (IR) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have reported that H-type hypertension is likewise a predictor of adverse events in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the relationship between the TyG index and prognosis in patients with H-type hypertension combined with CHD has not yet been reported.

Cardiometabolic index as a predictor of gallstone incidence in U.S. adults: insights from NHANES 2017-2020.

Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is associated with obesity. The Cardiometabolic Index (CMI), a metric that accurately assesses central adiposity and visceral fat, has not been extensively studied in relation to GSD risk. This study investigates the link between CMI and GSD incidence in U.

AI-based analysis of fetal growth restriction in a prospective obstetric cohort quantifies compound risks for perinatal morbidity and mortality and identifies previously unrecognized high risk clinical scenarios.

Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a leading risk factor for stillbirth, yet the diagnosis of FGR confers considerable prognostic uncertainty, as most infants with FGR do not experience any morbidity. Our objective was to use data from a large, deeply phenotyped observational obstetric cohort to develop a probabilistic graphical model (PGM), a type of "explainable artificial intelligence (AI)", as a potential framework to better understand how interrelated variables contribute to perinatal morbidity risk in FGR.

Methods: Using data from 9,558 pregnancies delivered at ≥ 20 weeks with available outcome data, we derived and validated a PGM using randomly selected sub-cohorts of 80% (n = 7645) and 20% (n = 1,912), respectively, to discriminate cases of FGR resulting in composite perinatal morbidity from those that did not.

MRI-based deep learning radiomics to differentiate dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma from HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a multicenter study.

Objectives: To develop and validate radiomics and deep learning models based on contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) for differentiating dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC) from HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Methods: Our study consisted of 381 patients from four centers with 138 HCCs, 122 DPHCCs, and 121 ICCs (244 for training and 62 for internal tests, centers 1 and 2; 75 for external tests, centers 3 and 4). Radiomics, deep transfer learning (DTL), and fusion models based on CE-MRI were established for differential diagnosis, respectively, and their diagnostic performances were compared using the confusion matrix and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC).

Periapical bone edema volume in 3D MRI is positively correlated with bone architecture changes.

Objectives: To compare and correlate bone edema volume detected by 3D-short-tau-inversion-recovery (STIR) sequence to osseous decay detected by a T1-based sequence and conventional panoramic radiography (OPT).

Materials And Methods: Patients with clinical evidence of apical periodontitis were included retrospectively and received OPT as well as MRI of the viscerocranium including a 3D-STIR and a 3D-T1 gradient echo sequence. Bone edema was visualized using the 3D-STIR sequence and periapical hard tissue changes were evaluated using the 3D-T1 sequence.

Evaluation of the role of circular RNA (circ-FAF1) as a diagnostic biomarker for breast cancer in a cohort of Egyptian breast cancer patients.

Background: The identification of circulating potential biomarkers may help earlier diagnosis of breast cancer, which is critical for effective treatment and better disease outcomes. We aimed to study the role of circ-FAF1 as a diagnostic biomarker in female breast cancer using peripheral blood samples of these patients, and to investigate the relation between circ-FAF1 and different clinicopathological features of the included patients.

Methods And Results: This case-control study enrolled 60 female breast cancer patients and 60 age-matched healthy control subjects.

Determining the status of tertiary lymphoid structures in invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma based on chest CT radiomic features.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the status of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) using radiomic features in patients with invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma (IA).

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with IA from November 2015 to March 2024 were recruited from two independent centers (center 1, training and internal test data set; center 2, external test data set). TLS was divided into two groups according to hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Legalization of surrogacy? Opinions from more than 7700 residents in Taiwan.

This study explores Taiwanese' perspectives on the potential legalization of surrogacy, an issue with diverse legal stances globally. Conducted between 17 December 2023 and 1 January 2024, this mixed-methods cross-sectional study employed Knowledge and Attitudes of Legalizing Surrogacy (KALS) questionnaire. This instrument assessed opinions and ethical considerations on various aspects including ethics and children's rights, surrogate health, offspring welfare, and social justice.

A prospective observational multicenter cohort study of maternal serum sFlt-1 and PlGF concentration in prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in small for gestational age newborns delivered ≥34 weeks of gestation.

Introduction: Small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns are at increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes and the risk is related to the etiology of growth restriction: highest in placental insufficiency, lowest in constitutional SGA. The aim of this study was to investigate if placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1(sFlt-1) or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio are efficient in prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes in SGA newborns delivered ≥34 weeks of gestation.

Methods: A prospective observational multicenter cohort study was performed.

Metabolic Profiles of Pregnancy with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Insights into Maternal-Fetal Metabolic Communication.

Context: PCOS pregnancies are linked to metabolic disorders affecting maternal and fetal outcomes, with maternal metabolites differing from those in normal pregnancies.

Objective: To investigate the metabolic communication at the maternal-fetal interface in PCOS pregnancies.

Design: Placenta and umbilical cord serum were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Circulating miR-574-5p shows diagnostic and prognostic significance and regulates oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced inflammatory activation of microglia by targeting ATP2B2.

Background: Early screening is critical for the prevention of ischemic stroke. miR-574-5p was considered a promising biomarker for ischemic stroke but lacks direct confirmation. This study evaluated miR-574-5p in discriminating ischemic stroke and predicting the severity and prognosis of patients, aiming to provide novel insights into the clinical prevention of ischemic stroke.

Comparison between Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria and protein-energy wasting in patients with kidney failure undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is the chronic kidney disease (CKD)-specific diagnosis encompassing malnutrition. PEW is associated with adverse outcomes, including those receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). Identifying PEW requires accurate methods to improve diagnosis.

Ability of the modified NUTRIC score to predict all-cause mortality among ICU patients with acute pancreatitis: A retrospective analysis using the MIMIC-IV database.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute abdominal condition that can lead to severe complications. Malnutrition significantly impacts the prognosis of patients with AP, so effective tools are needed to identify those at high nutritional risk. This study validated the ability of the modified NUTRIC score to predict all-cause mortality and identify nutritional risk in patients with acute pancreatitis in the ICU.

The naples prognostic score as a new predictor for heart failure: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The Naples prognostic score (NPS), a novel nutritional and inflammatory index, holds great promise for predicting the prognosis of heart failure (HF), but research on its association with HF outcomes is limited.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the NPS and the incidence rate and long-term prognosis of HF.

Methods: Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were allocated into three groups (group 0 (the NPS=0), group 1-2 (the NPS=1-2), and group 3-4 (the NPS=3-4)) based on the NPS level.

Etoposide-loaded lipopolymer nanoparticles promote Smac minetic activity against inhibitor of apoptosis protein for glioblastoma treatment.

Encapsulated BV6 and SM164, two bivalent second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) mimetics, in etoposide (ETO)-lipopolymer nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to deplete inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP), impair DNA, and produce antagonistic effects on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in nude mice. The NPs, composed of cocoa butter (CB) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were stabilized by glycerol monostearate and Pluronic F-127, and grafted with transferrin (Tf) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to dock the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and degenerated dopaminergic neurons. The dual-targeting NPs increased the BBB permeability of BV6, SM164 and ETO via recognizing Tf receptor (TfR) and N-acetylglucosamine that are abundantly expressed on brain microvascular endothelial cells.

First trimester cervical angles for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth.

Objective: First trimester cervical angles for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) remains unclear. The objective is to explore the potential value of first trimester cervical angles for the prediction of sPTB.

Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of data derived from a prospective cohort study for sPTB screening in singleton pregnancies at 11 + 0-13 + 6 weeks in women attending routine Down's syndrome screening at Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, between June 2018 and July 2020.

Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills-Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP): a diagnostic accuracy study.

Purpose: To present the criterion validity, sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off scores for the Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills Test - Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Expanded List.

Methods: This was a quantitative cross-sectional psychometric study. The sample consisted of 30 children with no identified neurodevelopmental disorders aged 24 to 36 months.

Early MRI Can Predict the Indication for Surgery in Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: Results of the NAPTIME Study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been routinely used for infants with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI); instead, the decision to operate is based on the trajectory of clinical recovery by 6 months of age. The aim of this study was to develop an MRI protocol that can be performed without sedation or contrast in order to identify infants who would benefit from surgery at an earlier age than the age at which that decision could be made clinically.

Methods: This prospective multicenter NAPTIME (Non-Anesthetized Plexus Technique for Infant MRI Evaluation) study included infants aged 28 to 120 days with BPBI from 3 tertiary care centers.