MANF overexpression ameliorates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of human nucleus pulposus cells by facilitating mitophagy through promoting MFN2 expression.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a degenerative condition associated with impaired mitophagy. MANF has been shown to promote mitophagy in murine kidneys; however, its role in IDD remains unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which MANF influences IDD development through the regulation of mitophagy.

Rapid quantitative PCR on tongue swabs for pulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a prospective multicentre study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of infectious disease mortality globally, with significant underdiagnosis perpetuating transmission. Tongue swab analysis has emerged as a promising non-invasive method for pulmonary TB diagnosis. This study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of the TB-EASY quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay using tongue swab specimens.

Insight into the history and trends of liver transplantation for echinococcosis: A bibliometric analysis.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated favorable efficacy in managing end-stage alveolar echinococcosis. Nevertheless, the current research focal points and advancement trends remain ambiguous.

Aim: To map the research landscape to underscore critical areas of focus, influential studies, and future directions of LT for echinococcosis treatment.

Identification of JNK-JUN-NCOA axis as a therapeutic target for macrophage ferroptosis in chronic apical periodontitis.

This study aimed to investigate the involvement of macrophage ferroptosis in chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) and determine if blocking JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis could alleviate CAP by regulating macrophage ferroptosis. Firstly, the models of apical periodontitis (AP) and models of CAP, including clinical specimens and rats' periapical lesions, were utilized to investigate the role of macrophage ferroptosis in CAP by detecting the ferroptosis related factors. The activation of the JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis was observed in CAP models.

Genetic associations between immune-related plasma proteins and neurodegenerative diseases.

Background: Immune dysregulation is commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), yet the underlying causes and mechanisms still require further investigation.

Objective: This study investigates the correlation between immune-related plasma proteins and the risk of NDs by integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS) with plasma proteome analysis.

Methods: By analyzing GWAS data for 4907 immune-related plasma proteins, this research evaluates the direct impact of plasma proteins on the risk of four NDs: AD, PD, ALS, and MS.

Remote ischemic preconditioning on perioperative autonomic nervous system function and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Background: Cholecystectomy often disrupts autonomic balance, impacting recovery. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) may enhance ANS function and protect organs, but its role in cholecystectomy is unclear.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients aged 45 to 65 years, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were randomly assigned to either the RIPC group or the control group.

Expert consensus on apical microsurgery.

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus.

Transcriptome-wide association identifies as a regulator of mitophagy in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without palate.

This study investigated pathogenic genes associated with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) through transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS). By integrating expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we identified key susceptibility genes, including . Notably, the variant rs12884809 G>A was associated with an increased risk of NSCL/P by enhancing the binding of the transcription factor ELK1 to the promoter, thereby activating its expression.

LncRNA Tug1 Regulates Post-Stroke Microglial Pyroptosis via PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy.

Microglia, the central nervous system's primary immune cells, play a key role in the progression of cerebral ischemic stroke, particularly through their involvement in pyroptosis. The long non-coding RNA taurine up-regulated gene 1 (Tug1) is elevated during ischemic stroke and is critical in driving post-stroke neuroinflammation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Identification of serum biomarkers for cystic echinococcosis in sheep through untargeted metabolomic analysis using LC-MS/MS technology.

Background: Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by an Echinococcus tapeworm infection. While diagnostic methods for humans often rely on ultrasound imaging and immunodiagnostic techniques, diagnosis in intermediate hosts typically has no widely used diagnostic markers, hampering disease control efforts.

Methods: The differences in serum metabolites of sheep infected with Echinococcus granulosus and a control group were analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) separation with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection.

Analysis of risk factors for surgical site infection in spinal surgery patients and study of direct economic losses.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious complication of spine surgery, leading to prolonged hospital stays, re-operations, and economic losses. The aim of the study was to explore the types and quantities of pathogenic bacteria involved, the incidence of SSI, and to identify the independent risk factors and direct economic impact on patients with postoperative SSI in spine surgery.

Methods: The medical records of spine surgery patients from January 2023 to April 2024 at two hospitals in Xinjiang were retrospectively reviewed.

Locking compression plate as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase for the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by fracture-related infection: experiences from 22 cases.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and psychological outcomes of using a locking compression plate (LCP) as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase in the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by fracture-related infection (FRI).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records and consecutive X-ray images of patients with tibial bone defects who were treated with an LCP as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase, between June 2017 and December 2022. The ASAMI criteria were applied to assess the bone and functional outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated by using the Paley classification.

Bioinformatics identification based on causal association inference using multi-omics reveals the underlying mechanism of Gui-Zhi-Shao-Yao-Zhi-Mu decoction in modulating rheumatoid arthritis.

Object: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent and currently incurable autoimmune disease. Existing conventional medical treatments are limited in their efficacy, prolonged disease may lead to bone destruction, joint deformity, and loss of related functions, which places a huge burden on RA patients and their families. For millennia, the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), exemplified by the Gui-Zhi-Shao-Yao-Zhi-Mu decoction (GZSYZM), has been demonstrated to offer distinct therapeutic advantages in the management of RA.

Research Progress on the Role of the Interleukin Family in the Pathogenesis of Cerebral Palsy in Children.

Cerebral palsy (CP), a common neurological disorder in children, remains a significant research focus. The interleukin (IL) family, pivotal mediators in inflammatory responses, shows increased expression in various neuroinflammatory diseases, markedly influencing their onset and progression. Elevated IL levels in the brains of children with CP, in contrast to healthy peers, reflect similar elevations in neurological conditions linked to CP, indicating a strong association between CP and the IL family.

Protective effect of appendectomy against the onset of ulcerative colitis: A case-control study.

Background: Previous studies suggest that appendectomy has a protective effect against ulcerative colitis (UC); however, relatively few studies focusing on this topic have been reported in China.

Aim: To explore the correlation between appendectomy and the onset of UC.

Methods: A total of 313 patients with newly diagnosed UC and 313 healthy individuals were selected for this study.

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage in essential hypertension with secondary insomnia: Implications for Alzheimer's disease risk.

Essential hypertension (EH) with secondary insomnia is associated with increased risks of neuroinflammation, neuronal damage, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its relationship with specific cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of neuronal damage and neuroinflammation remains unclear. This case-control study compared CSF biomarker levels across three groups: healthy controls (HC, n = 64), hypertension-controlled (HTN-C, n = 54), and hypertension-uncontrolled (HTN-U, n = 107) groups, all EH participants experiencing secondary insomnia.

Risk prediction of new-onset thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicenter prospective cohort study based on Chinese SLE treatment and research group (CSTAR) registry.

Background: Thrombocytopenia (TP) is a hematological manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is associated with unfavorable prognostic outcomes. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for new-onset TP in SLE patients.

Methods: Based on the multicenter prospective Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group (CSTAR) registry, newly diagnosed SLE patients without TP at registration were enrolled.

Role of PCBP2 in regulating nanovesicles loaded with curcumin to mitigate neuroferroptosis in neural damage caused by heat stroke.

Objective: This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which nanovesicles (NVs) transport curcumin(CUR) across the blood-brain barrier to treat hypothalamic neural damage induced by heat stroke by regulating the expression of poly(c)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2).

Methods: Initially, NVs were prepared from macrophages using a continuous extrusion method. Subsequently, CUR was loaded into NVs using sonication, yielding engineered cell membrane Nanovesicles loaded with curcumin (NVs-CUR), which were characterized and subjected to in vitro and in vivo tracking analysis.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the genetic aging landscape of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Despite numerous studies, specific age-related factors remain unidentified. This study employed a multi-omics approach to investigate the link between PD and aging.

Large Language Models in Worldwide Medical Exams: Platform Development and Comprehensive Analysis.

Background: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly integrated into medical education, with transformative potential for learning and assessment. However, their performance across diverse medical exams globally has remained underexplored.

Objective: This study aims to introduce MedExamLLM, a comprehensive platform designed to systematically evaluate the performance of LLMs on medical exams worldwide.

Determining the Optimal Age for Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery: A Post Hoc Analysis of the CMOSS Randomized Trial.

Background: Previous trials have failed to demonstrate the benefits of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery for patients with carotid or middle cerebral artery occlusion. However, little evidence has focused on the effect of age on prognosis. This study aimed to explore whether EC-IC bypass surgery can provide greater benefits than medical therapy alone in specific age groups.

Minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for intraspinal tumors: a meta-analysis based on 15 observational studies.

Objectives: This study compared the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery (OS) for patients with intraspinal tumors.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Continuous variables, including estimated blood loss, surgery duration, time to mobilization, length of hospitalization, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and incision length, were reported as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

[Role of the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway in the repair of white matter injury in neonatal rats through human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation].

Objectives: To observe the reparative effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) transplantation on white matter injury (WMI) in neonatal rats and explore its mechanism through the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway mediated by microglial cells.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2 days, were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation,WMI, and hUC-MSC (=18 each). Fourteen days after modeling, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the white matter, and immunofluorescence staining was used to measure the expression level of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1).

[Discussion on the genetic mechanisms and efficacy of growth hormone therapy in children with idiopathic short stature].

Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is a term that encompasses a group of short stature disorders with unknown etiology. The genetic factors associated with ISS are complex, and the known genetic mechanisms include alterations in hormones, hormone receptors, or related pathways, defects in fundamental cellular processes (such as intracellular signaling pathways and transcriptional regulation), issues with extracellular matrix or paracrine signaling, as well as genetic variations in the genes encoding these proteins. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy is currently an effective clinical method for improving height in children with ISS.