Alkaptonuria presenting as lumbar degenerative disease: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare, inherited metabolic disease caused by deficient activity of homogentisic acid oxidase, leading to the accumulation of homogentisic acid and its oxidized product, benzoquinone acetic acid. These compounds cause black discoloration of cartilage, degeneration, inflammation, and calcification of intervertebral disks and large joints, resulting in pain and impaired quality of life. Despite its debilitating effects, there are no curative treatments for AKU, and management remains supportive.

Development and assessment of a mortality risk prediction nomogram model for pneumocystis disease in ICU within 28 days.

To develop and assess a nomogram predictive model for evaluating the 28-day mortality risk in patients diagnosed with Pneumocystis who have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). From 2008 to 2022, clinical data on patients with Pneumocystis were collected using the American Critical Care Medical Information Database IV (MIMIC-IV). Initially, 63 significant predictive indicators were included, with ICU admission as the time node and all-cause mortality within 28 days as the outcome.

Association Between Systemic Inflammatory Response Index and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI) and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD), focusing on its key imaging markers.

Methods: We enrolled 344 patients admitted to the neurology department between January 2022 and September 2024, comprising 223 patients diagnosed with CSVD and 121 without CSVD. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the impact of SIRI on CSVD risk.

Application and advantage analysis of triangular gastric suspension technique in laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

Background: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is a safe and effective surgical method for treating benign and malignant tumors of the pancreatic body and tail. However, laparoscopic surgery requires good intraoperative exposure, and since the pancreas is obstructed by the stomach and duodenum, making surgical operations and the management of intraoperative emergencies challenging. Therefore, gastric traction is crucial in laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

A light-cured injectable composite hydrogel based on chitosan and decellularized matrix modulates stem cell aggregation behavior for accelerating cartilage defect repair.

Cartilage repair remains a formidable challenge because of its limited regenerative capacity. Construction of a biomimetic hydrogel matrix that can induce cell aggregation is a promising therapeutic option. Cell aggregates are more beneficial than dissociated cells for improving survival and chondrogenic differentiation, thereby facilitating cartilage repair.

IP6K1 rewires LKB1 signaling to mediate hyperglycemic endothelial senescence.

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic vasculopathy have been elusive. Here we report that inositol hexakisphosphate kinase 1 (IP6K1) mediates hyperglycemia-induced endothelial senescence by rewiring the liver kinase B1 (LKB1) signaling from activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway to the p53 pathway. We found that hyperglycemia upregulated IP6K1, which disrupts the Hsp/Hsc70 and carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP)-mediated LKB1 degradation, leading to increased expression levels of LKB1.

Computational exploration of the self-aggregation mechanisms of phenol-soluble modulins β1 and β2 in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

The formation of functional bacterial amyloids by phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) in Staphylococcus aureus is a critical component of biofilm-associated infections, providing robust protective barriers against antimicrobial agents and immune defenses. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of PSM self-assembly within the biofilm matrix is essential for developing strategies to disrupt biofilm integrity and combat biofilm-related infections. In this study, we analyzed the self-assembly dynamics of PSM-β1 and PSM-β2 by examining their folding and dimerization through long-timescale atomistic discrete molecular dynamics simulations.

Computational insights into the aggregation mechanism of human calcitonin.

Human calcitonin (hCT) is a peptide hormone that regulates calcium homeostasis, but its abnormal aggregation can disrupt physiological functions and increase the risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying hCT aggregation, we investigated the self-assembly dynamics of hCT segments (hCT, hCT, and hCT) and the folding and dimerization of full-length hCT through microsecond atomistic discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) simulations. Our results revealed that hCT and hCT predominantly existed as isolated monomers with transient small-sized oligomers, indicating weak aggregation tendencies.

Dl-3-n-butylphthalide Alleviates Cardiac Dysfunction and Injury Possibly by Inhibiting Cell Pyroptosis and Inflammation via the cGAS-STING-TBK1 Pathway in a Porcine Model of Hemorrhage-Induced Cardiac Arrest.

Introduction: Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), a small molecular compound extracted from celery seeds, has been shown to exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-apoptotic effects. Recent studies have highlighted its efficacy in treating various cardiovascular conditions, such as myocardial infarction, hypertrophy, heart failure, and cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate whether NBP could alleviate cardiac dysfunction and injury following hemorrhage-induced cardiac arrest (HCA) in a porcine model and elucidate its potential mechanisms.

Comparative analysis of cryopreserved adipose stem cells expanded in hollow fiber bioreactor versus conventional tissue culture flasks.

Cryopreservation enhances the availability of "off-the-shelf" cell therapies. However, the choice between tissue culture polystyrene (TCP) and hollow fiber system (HFB) system for adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) production remains a critical decision, with implications for scalability, reproducibility, and the clinical efficacy. Therefore, the characteristics of ASCs expanded in TCP and HFB and cryopreserved were compared.

Unraveling 's biofunction in human disease.

Interferon-induced protein 44-like () is regarded as an immune-related gene and is a member of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). They participate in network transduction, and its own epigenetic modifications, apoptosis, cell-matrix formation, and many other pathways in tumors, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of the onset and biological mechanisms of and its potential clinical applications in malignant tumors and non-neoplastic diseases.

Assessing Wound Healing in Vivo Using a Dual-Function Phosphorescent Probe Sensitive to Tissue Oxygenation and Regenerating Collagen.

Levels of tissue oxygenation and collagen regeneration are critical indicators in the early evaluation of wound healing. Traditionally, these factors have been assessed using separate instruments and different methodologies. Here, we adopt the spatially averaged phosphorescence lifetime approach using Re-diimine complexes (Re-probe) to enable simultaneous quantification of these two critical factors in healing wounds.

Increased GABBR2 Expression on Cell Membranes Causes Increased Ca2 + Inward Flow, Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Early Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are a serious global public health problem. The aim of this study was to analyze the key molecular pathological mechanisms that occur in early AD progression as well as MCI. Expression profiling data from brain homogenates of 8 normal volunteers, and 6 patients with prodromal AD who had developed MCI were analyzed, and the data were obtained from GSE12685.

Pharmacologically induced autoimmune encephalitis-disproportionality analysis utilizing FAERS database.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a neuroimmune disorder that presents significant diagnostic challenges. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database can help explore the relationship between drugs and AE, but comprehensive studies are lacking. This study aims to analyze the association between drugs and AE using the FAERS database, providing insights for clinical practice and pharmacovigilance.

Identification of ALDH7A1 as a DNA-methylation-driven gene in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) methylation is an important epigenetic modification that plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. Identifying key methylation-driven genes that affect the prognosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) can provide direction for targeted therapy research.

Methods And Results: Methylation and RNA-seq data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

NORAD exacerbates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease development via the miR-511-3p/Rock2 axis and inhibits ubiquitin-mediated degradation of ROCK2.

Background & Aims: Abnormal regulation of lncRNA is strongly linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study explores the roles of noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD)/miR-511-3p/Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (Rock2) axis and the NORAD/ROCK2 interaction in the development of MASLD.

Comparison of thoracoscopic-guided intercostal nerve block and ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve block in postoperative analgesia of uniportal video-assisted lobectomy: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve block (UINB) and thoracoscopic-guided intercostal nerve block (TINB) are often used for analgesia after thoracic surgery. Herein, we compared the application of TINB and UINB for analgesia after uniportal video-assisted lobectomy.

Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups: UINB and TINB.

A mitochondrial targeted fluorescent probe for imaging nitroreductase activity and photodynamic therapy in tumor cells.

The hypoxic environment in tumors is closely linked to tumor structure, function, dissemination, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Nitroreductase (NTR) is often recognized as a biomarker to evaluate the hypoxia degree for tumor cells. Traditional detection methods such as PET, MRI and multispectral photoacoustic tomography have limitations.

Tough and self-adhesive zwitterionic hydrogels with mechano-responsive release of bFGF for tympanic membrane repair.

The tympanic membrane (TM) is constantly in a state of vibrating. However, there is currently a lack of drug-delivery scaffolds suitable for the dynamic environment of TM perforation. In this study, a mechano-responsive tough hydrogel was developed.

TRF-16 Inhibits Lung Cancer Progression by Hindering the N6-Methyladenosine Modification of CPT1A mRNA.

Transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are a new class of small non-coding RNAs. Recent studies suggest that tRFs participate in some pathological processes. However, the biological activities and processes of tRFs in lung cancer cells remain mainly unclear.

Late Age at First Birth is a Protective Factor for Preterm Labor and Delivery: The Evidence From the Genetic Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic link between the age at first birth (AFB) and the occurrence of preterm labor and delivery, utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR) data alongside genomewide association analysis (GWAS). We obtained AFB-related GWAS summary data from the European Bioinformatics Institute database and preterm labor and delivery data was sourced from the FinnGen Consortium. The study considered AFB as exposure variables, with the incidence of preterm labor and delivery serving as the outcome variable.

Assessing the prevalence of human enteric viruses in hospital wastewater to evaluate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment systems.

In this experiment, we employed Real-time PCR(RT-PCR) and metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) techniques to detect the presence of Norovirus, Rotavirus Group A, Adenovirus Group F, and Astrovirus in untreated sewage from three major hospitals. A comparison with clinical lab test outcomes revealed Norovirus as having the highest infection rate, followed by Adenovirus Group F and Rotavirus Group A. Despite not testing for Astrovirus in clinical labs, its sewage detection rate was surpassed only by Norovirus, suggesting a potentially high clinical infection rate.

Serpina3n in neonatal microglia mediates its protective role for damaged adult microglia by alleviating extracellular matrix remodeling-induced tunneling nanotubes degradation in a cell model of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces significant neuroinflammation, primarily driven by microglia. Neonatal microglia (NMG) may have therapeutic potential by modulating the inflammatory response of damaged adult microglia (AMG). This study investigates the influence of NMG on AMG function through extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and the formation of tunneling nanotubes (TnTs), with a focus on the role of Serpina3n.