Fatty Acid Esterification of Octacosanol Attenuates Triglyceride and Cholesterol Synthesis in Mice.

This study aimed to evaluate the cholesterol-regulatory effects of lauric-acid-esterified octacosanol (LEO) and oleic-acid-esterified octacosanol (OEO) compared to their unmodified counterparts and to investigate the underlying mechanisms by partially substituting the fat content in obese C57BL/6J mice induced with a high-fat diet (HFD). Rice bran oil and coconut oil were also investigated as they are rich in oleic acid and lauric acid, respectively. The results showed that all supplemented groups significantly inhibited weight gain induced by the HFD, but the groups treated with esterified octacosanol exhibited a more pronounced effect.

Metabolic consequences and tubular function after augmentation cystoplasty in children with neurogenic bladder.

Background: Many studies have reported the renal outcomes and metabolic consequences after augmentation cystoplasty (AC), however few studies have discussed changes in renal tubular function. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic disturbances, evaluate renal tubular function and 24-hour urine chemistry to evaluate the association between metabolic alterations and urolithiasis after AC.

Methods: We investigated serum biochemistry, blood gas, and 24-hour urinary metabolic profile of children who underwent AC between January 2000 and December 2020.

Topical Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Quercetin Glycosides on Atopic Dermatitis-Like Lesions: Influence of the Glycone Type on Efficacy and Skin Absorption.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifaceted inflammatory skin condition characterized by the involvement of various cell types, such as keratinocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and mast cells. Research indicates that flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial in the management of AD. However, the investigation of the glycoside forms for anti-AD therapy is limited.

Analysis of macular retinal thickness in polyarteritis nodosa using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To identify the macular retinal layer thickness changes in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) patients without pathological findings appearing in color fundus photography (CFP), and to investigate the correlations with disease durations.

Methods: A total of 24 PAN patients who had been for 3 years or more and underwent SD-OCT were recruited from the UK Biobank, with exclusions for diabetes, eye disease, or abnormal CFP findings. Only the right eyes were included, with each PAN patient paired one-to-one with a control matched for age, sex, and ethnicity.

New acorane-sesequiterpenes and anti-retinoblastoma constituents from the marine algicolous fungus Trichoderma harzianum NTU2180 guided by molecular networking strategy.

Background: Trichoderma species, known as biocontrol agents against plant diseases, contain diverse compounds, especially terpenoids, with various bioactivities. To facilitate the exploration of bioactive secondary metabolites of Trichoderma harzianum NTU2180, the OSMAC approach MS/MS molecular networking was applied in the current study.

Results: The feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) analysis showed that T.

New Atg9 Phosphorylation Sites Regulate Autophagic Trafficking in Glia.

We previously identified a role for dAuxilin (dAux), the fly homolog of Cyclin G-associated kinase, in glial autophagy contributing to Parkinson's disease (PD). To further dissect the mechanism, we present evidence here that lack of glial dAux enhanced the phosphorylation of the autophagy-related protein Atg9 at two newly identified threonine residues, T62 and T69. The enhanced Atg9 phosphorylation in the absence of dAux promotes autophagosome formation and Atg9 trafficking to the autophagosomes in glia.

Creating an extracellular matrix-like three-dimension structure to enhance the corrosion resistance and biological responses of titanium implants.

Background/purpose: Titanium (Ti) is extensively used in dental and orthopedic implants due to its excellent mechanical properties. However, its smooth and biologically inert surface does not support the ingrowth of new bone, and Ti ions may have adverse biological effects. The purpose is to improve the corrosion resistance of titanium and create a 3D structured coating to enhance osseointegration through a very simple and fast surface treatment.

NRICM101 in combatting COVID-19 induced brain fog: Neuroprotective effects and neurovascular integrity preservation in hACE2 mice.

Amidst growing concerns over COVID-19 aftereffects like fatigue and cognitive issues, NRICM101, a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise. Used by over 2 million people globally, it notably reduces hospitalizations and intubations in COVID-19 patients. To explore whether NRICM101 could combat COVID-19 brain fog, we tested NRICM101 on hACE2 transgenic mice administered the S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2, aiming to mitigate S1-induced cognitive issues by measuring animal behaviors, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis.

When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research.

The sensation of sng (pronounced/səŋ/, the Romanization form of or soreness in Taiwanese Southern Min) associated with a composite of unique sensations, is a novel phenotype for acupoint stimulation. It is perceived by test participants but also by experienced practitioners as a sensation of "taking the bait" (by fish when fishing), a characteristic heavy and tight sensation from the needle. Here, we propose that sng is a powerful biomarker for associated with successful manual acupuncture.

Trends of dental service utilization and expenditure in Taiwan from 2000 to 2020.

Background: /purposeSince 1995, Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) has offered a comprehensive dental coverage to over 99 % of the population. This study mainly analyzed the dental service utilization and expenditure trends by the gender, age, and service type and evaluated the resource allocation across different demographics from 2000 to 2020.

Materials And Methods: Nationwide NHI administrative data were used to assess the dental visit rates, average visits per user, and per capita expenditure by the gender, age, and 11 service categories for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.

The virtual assessment in dental education: A narrative review.

The shift towards virtual assessment in dental education represents a significant advancement over traditional evaluation methods, offering new opportunities for assessing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This review examines the use of virtual assessment tools within the context of dental education. A narrative literature review was conducted, analyzing studies published between 2000 and 2024, sourced from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase.

Accuracy of intraoral scanners in maxillary multiple restorations: An study.

Background/purpose: The accuracy of intraoral scanners (IOSs) plays a crucial role in the success of final restorations in digital workflows. Previous studies have shown that numerous factors affect the accuracy of IOSs. Most studies have evaluated the accuracy of IOS under one restoration condition.

A nationwide study of the influence of training institutions in the postgraduate year training program for dentists on the future dental practice choices in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The postgraduate year training program for dentists (PGYD) provides the comprehensive clinical training to bridge the gap between the academic education and the hands-on clinical practice. This study mainly explored the influence of training institutions on the future dental practice choices (in clinics or hospitals) after the completion of the PGYD program in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: A nationwide, register-based cohort analysis was conducted on all 3,966 PGYD trainees from July 2010 to April 2023.

Developing competency-based medical education for dental education in Taiwan: A pilot study of tooth extraction entrustable professional activities.

Background/purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the initial implementation of competency-based medical education (CBME) through entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in Taiwan dental education, focusing on tooth extraction EPAs across undergraduate year (UGY), postgraduate year (PGY), and oral and maxillofacial surgery-residency (OS-R) levels.

Materials And Methods: Using the Delphi method, an advisory team developed and validated three levels of trial EPAs, which were implemented through the Emyway platform. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate teachers' and students' experiences and satisfaction with Emyway and the EPAs.

Exploring Mortality and Prognostic Factors of Heart Failure with In-Hospital and Emergency Patients by Electronic Medical Records: A Machine Learning Approach.

Purpose: As HF progresses into advanced HF, patients experience a poor quality of life, distressing symptoms, intensive care use, social distress, and eventual hospital death. We aimed to investigate the relationship between morality and potential prognostic factors among in-patient and emergency patients with HF.

Patients And Methods: A case series study: Data are collected from in-hospital and emergency care patients from 2014 to 2021, including their international classification of disease at admission, and laboratory data such as blood count, liver and renal functions, lipid profile, and other biochemistry from the hospital's electrical medical records.

Fluorescent nanodiamond scintillators for beam diagnostics of EUV and soft X-ray in photolithographic applications.

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is a cutting-edge technology in contemporary semiconductor chip manufacturing. Monitoring the EUV beam profiles is critical to ensuring consistent quality and precision in the manufacturing process. This study uncovers the practical use of fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) coated on optical image sensors for profiling EUV and soft X-ray (SXR) radiation beams.

Plasma Hepatic Transaminases and Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome Before Midlife in Military Adults: A CHIEF Cohort Study.

Background: Plasma AST and ALT may reflect the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) severity and have been associated with the risk of MetS in middle- or old-aged individuals.

Aims: This study aimed to examine the associations of plasma hepatic aspartate and alanine transaminases (AST and ALT) levels with incident metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young adults, which have not been verified before.

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify the association between plasma hepatic transaminases and the incidence of new-onset MetS among young adults.

Harnessing the tumor microenvironment: targeted cancer therapies through modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is integral to cancer progression, impacting metastasis and treatment response. It consists of diverse cell types, extracellular matrix components, and signaling molecules that interact to promote tumor growth and therapeutic resistance. Elucidating the intricate interactions between cancer cells and the TME is crucial in understanding cancer progression and therapeutic challenges.

A Deep Learning and PSSM Profile Approach for Accurate SNARE Protein Prediction.

SNARE proteins play a pivotal role in membrane fusion and various cellular processes. Accurate identification of SNARE proteins is crucial for elucidating their functions in both health and disease contexts. This chapter presents a novel approach employing multiscan convolutional neural networks (CNNs) combined with position-specific scoring matrix (PSSM) profiles to accurately recognize SNARE proteins.

High interindividual variability of indoxyl sulfate production identified by an oral tryptophan challenge test.

Indoxyl sulfate (IS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. IS is converted from indole, a metabolite of dietary tryptophan through the action of gut microbial tryptophanase, by two hepatic enzymes: CYP2E1 and SULT1A1. We hypothesized that the effect of tryptophan intake on IS production might differ from person to person.

Neutrophil adhesion to vessel walls impairs pulmonary circulation in COVID-19 pathology.

Microthrombus formation is associated with COVID-19 severity; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated mouse models with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection by using our in vivo two-photon imaging system. In the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice, increased expression of adhesion molecules in intravascular neutrophils prolonged adhesion time to the vessel wall, resulting in platelet aggregation and impaired lung perfusion.

The impact of clinical phenotypes of coronary artery disease on outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: A post-hoc analysis of GLORIA-AF registry.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) often coexist, but the impact of clinical phenotypes of CAD on outcomes in AF patients in the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant drugs (NOACs) era is less well understood.

Methods: This was a post-hoc of the GLORIA-AF registry, a global, multicenter, prospective AF registry study. Patients were divided into three groups: prior history of myocardial infarction (MI)/unstable angina group (Group 1); stable angina group (Group 2); and a control group without stable angina or history of MI/unstable angina.

The Optimal Dosage and Duration of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in Heart Failure Management: Evidence from a Network Meta-Analysis.

Heart failure is a progressive condition associated with a high mortality rate. Despite advancements in treatment, many patients continue to experience less-than-ideal outcomes. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been studied as a potential supplementary therapy for heart failure, but the optimal dosage and duration of supplementation remain unclear.

Clinical practices on acute acquired comitant esotropia: A consensus statement proposed by the Council of Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Society.

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is a concomitant strabismus characterized by sudden onset, mostly associated with diplopia. The prevalence of AACE has significantly increased, and various management approaches have been recommended in recent years. This study by the Council of Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Society aimed to provide an overview of the clinical features, etiology and the nonsurgical and surgical treatment recommendations for the condition to equip strabismus specialists with the most updated knowledge.