Causal relationship between systemic circulatory inflammatory regulators and intervertebral disc degeneration: A bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization study.

In the context of the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), inflammatory mediators play a pivotal role. Nevertheless, due to the influence of the inflammatory microenvironment, the causal relationship between specific inflammatory mediators and the development of IDD remains uncertain. The understanding of the causal relationship between inflammatory mediators and IDD is of great importance in preventing and delaying disc degeneration in the future.

Network pharmacology- and molecular docking-based investigation on the mechanism of action of Si-ni San in the treatment of depression combined with anxiety and experimental verification in adolescent rats.

Background: The incidence rate of adolescent depression and anxiety has been increasing since the outbreak of COVID-19, which there are no effective therapeutic drugs available. Si-ni San is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of depression-like as well as anxiety-like behavior, but its mechanism for treating depression combined with anxiety during adolescence is not yet clear.

Methods: Network pharmacology was used to explore potential drug molecules and related targets, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were used to evaluate the interaction between the potential drug molecules and related targets, and a model of anxiety combined with depression in adolescent rats as well as the following behavioral tests and molecular biology tests were used to verify the results from network pharmacology and molecular docking.

The scoring system combined with radiomics and imaging features in predicting the malignant potential of incidental indeterminate small (<20 mm) solid pulmonary nodules.

Objective: Develop a practical scoring system based on radiomics and imaging features, for predicting the malignant potential of incidental indeterminate small solid pulmonary nodules (IISSPNs) smaller than 20 mm.

Methods: A total of 360 patients with malignant IISSPNs (n = 213) and benign IISSPNs (n = 147) confirmed after surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The whole cohort was randomly divided into training and validation groups at a ratio of 7:3.

Efficacy and safety of intraoperative injection of mitomycin C during trabeculectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Trabeculectomy, a primary surgical treatment for glaucoma, often employs mitomycin C (MMC) to reduce scar formation and improve surgical outcomes. However, the optimal application method of MMC, whether by injection or sponge, remains a subject of debate. This meta-analysis aims to compare injectable and sponge-based MMC application in terms of efficacy and safety, focusing on various clinical outcomes in glaucoma patients.

The Relationship Between Central Obesity and Osteoarthritis in US Adults: The Mediating Role of Biological Aging Acceleration.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between central obesity and the risk of osteoarthritis, and the mediating role of biological age and biological aging advance in this relationship.

Methods: The study is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2005-2018. Thirteen commonly used clinical traits were used to calculate the Klemera-Doubal method age (KDM-Age) and phenotypic age (Pheno-Age) as two measures of biological aging.

Fibrosis to carcinogenesis: unveiling the causal dynamics between pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.

Background: Previous clinical evidence has shown a correlation between pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and lung cancer (LC), but their causal relationship remains unknown.

Methods: This study utilized a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to explore the causal relationship between PF and LC, including its subtypes. Genetic data were obtained from the IEU and FinnGen Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Integrin-β aggravates paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis by activation of FAK/ ERK1/2 pathway depending on fibrotic ECM.

Background: Irreversible pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat is the most prevalent cause of death in patients with paraquat poisoning. Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Currently, the role of fibrotic ECM microenvironment in paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis has not been established.

A novel syringe tube combined guide-wire technique for repositioning a nasobiliary catheter in endoscopic nasobiliary drainage.

Background: In endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD), it is complicated to reposition the catheter from the mouth to nostril. We developed a new technique using an 1-mL syringe tube combined with guide-wire when repositioning an ENBD tube from mouth to nose. The aim of this study was to verify its utility.

Protective effects of puerarin on metabolic diseases: Emphasis on the therapeutical effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Metabolic diseases (MetD) such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hyperlipidemia have become global health challenges. As a naturally occurring plant component, puerarin has been verified to possess a wide range of pharmacological effects including lowering blood glucose, improving insulin resistance, and regulating lipid metabolism, which has attracted extensive attention in recent years, and its potential in the treatment of MetD has been highly acclaimed. In addition, puerarin has exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective effects, which are of great significance in the prevention and treatment of MetD.

Hes Yangchao recipe improves premature ovarian insufficiency by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis of granulose cells via ER/PGC1/TFAM pathway.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of Chinese medicine He's Yangchao recipe on premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and its relationship with mitochondrial function of ovarian granulose cells in an animal model.

Methods: Thirty-six female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, low-, medium- and high-dose He's Yangchao recipe treatment group and coenzyme Q10 (Q10) treatment group (positive control). The POI model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (90 mg/kg).

A novel cataract-related mutation R10P in γA-crystallin increases susceptibility to thermal shock and ultraviolet radiation of γA-crystallin.

Congenital cataract is one of the most common causes of childhood blindness, typically resulting from genetic mutations. Over a hundred gene mutations associated with congenital cataract have been identified, with approximately half occurring in the Crystallin genes. In this study, we identified a novel γA-crystallin pathogenic mutation (c.

Association between serum vitamin D and the risk of diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: This investigation explored the potential correlation between serum vitamin D concentration and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 4,570 patients with T2DM drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. Restricted cubic splines were utilized to examine the dose-response relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the risk of DKD in patients with T2DM.

From thinning to disappearance: A case report on the healing pattern of multiple and giant plantar warts.

Rationale: Plantar warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, are a common skin condition on the plantar surface. Despite the availability of various treatments, achieving satisfactory outcomes remains elusive. This study explores a novel therapeutic approach combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) soaking therapy with cryotherapy to address this challenge.

[Reasons and strategies of reoperation after oblique lateral interbody fusion].

Objective: To summarize the reasons and management strategies of reoperation after oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF), and put forward preventive measures.

Methods: From October 2015 to December 2019, 23 patients who underwent reoperation after OLIF in four spine surgery centers were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 14 females with an average age of (61.

Associations of genetically predicted iron status with 24 gastrointestinal diseases and gut microbiota: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Iron status has been implicated in gastrointestinal diseases and gut microbiota, however, confounding factors may influence these associations.

Objective: We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the associations of iron status, including blood iron content, visceral iron content, and iron deficiency anemia with the incidence of 24 gastrointestinal diseases and alterations in gut microbiota.

Methods: Independent genetic instruments linked with iron status were selected using a genome-wide threshold of = 5 × 10-6 from corresponding genome-wide association studies.

Zhiqiao Gancao decoction regulated JAK2/STAT3/ macrophage M1 polarization to ameliorate intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background: Zhiqiao Gancao decoction (ZQGCD) was created by Professor Gong Zhengfeng, a renowned Chinese medicine expert. Clinical studies have shown its efficacy in alleviating pain and enhancing lumbar function in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) patients. However, the precise mechanism of ZQGCD in treating IDD remains unclear.