Aldosterone's impact on kidney health: exploring the benefits of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for renal protection.

Aldosterone, a hormone synthesized by the adrenal cortex, plays a crucial role in regulating sodium and potassium levels in the kidneys through interaction with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the distal tubules and collecting ducts. While aldosterone aids in maintaining fluid balance by promoting sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion, elevated levels can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and organ damage. Experimental evidence highlights aldosterone's involvement in renal inflammation, collagen deposition, and fibrosis, often exacerbating the effects of therapies like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) by increasing proteinuria and vascular damage.

Oral health self-management barriers among rural older adults in Guangxi, China: A qualitative study.

Background: Objective: To understand the barriers associated with self-management of oral health among rural older adults in Guangxi, and to explore the high incidence of oral problems. This information will assist in the formulation of relevant strategies to solve the oral health problems in this population.

Methods: Taking a phenomenological approach, the current status of, and barriers to, oral health self-management in rural older adults from different regions of Guangxi were explored.

Yulangsan polysaccharide inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion in NSCLC by attenuating the TGF-β1/ERK signaling pathway.

Active polysaccharides have unique advantages in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis and inducing apoptosis. Yulangsan polysaccharide (YLSPS) is derived from the root of var. (Dunn) Z.

Comprehensive analysis to long non-coding RNA-mediated high expression of GNG5 correlates with better prognosis and tumor immune infiltration of colon carcinoma.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths. Prognosis is poor. The majority of patients are diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Construction of prediction model of lymph node metastasis of early cervical cancer based on machine learning algorithm and its application: experience of 204 cases in a single center.

Objectives: The prediction model of para-aortic lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with early cervical cancer was constructed based on the logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) algorithms in the machine learning algorithm. The prediction efficiencies of the two models were compared.

Methods: The clinical data of 204 patients with early cervical cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were retrospectively collected.

Association of ATG7 gene polymorphisms with microscopic polyangiitis in Chinese individuals.

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a type of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-related vasculitis. Autophagy-related gene 7 (ATG7) protects against complicated disorder states in model organisms, but the way ATG7 dysfunction contributes to MPA remains elusive. This investigation assessed the impacts of ATG7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in China.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms in patients with pulmonary infection.

Objective: To explore the clinical value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in diagnosing pulmonary infectious diseases.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 82 patients with pulmonary infection who were admitted to the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University & Guigang City People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. The pathogens were detected by mNGS and conventional methods (culture and PCR).

Aerosol inhalation of Mycobacterium bovis can reduce the Th2 dominant immune response induced by ovalbumin sensitization.

Objective: To investigate whether inhalation affects asthma via γδ T cell regulation.

Methods: Forty male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group, asthma group, control group and intervention group. The normal group was given no treatment.

Expression of LncRNA KCNQ1Ot1 in diabetic nephropathy and its correlation with MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the expression of LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 in diabetic nephropathy (DN), and its correlation with MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Methods: 148 patients with type 2 diabetes in our hospital were selected as research subjects, including 83 patients with simple type 2 diabetes (T2D group) and 65 patients with type 2 diabetes with DN (DN group). Another 50 non-diabetic patients were enrolled as the control group.

Serum cortisol levels and adrenal gland size in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: To determine the clinical significance of serum Cortisol (Cor) levels and adrenal gland size in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We assigned 80 patients with COPD admitted to our hospital to an observation group, and 80 healthy individuals to a control group. Serum Cor, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and adrenal gland size were measured.

Nintedanib ameliorates tracheal stenosis by activating HDAC2 and suppressing IL-8 and VEGF in rabbit.

Acquired tracheal stenosis is a common disease occurring after endotracheal intubation or tracheotomy. Currently, surgery is the main option to treat the stenosis. This study investigated therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of nintedanib on tracheal stenosis.

Identification of three glioblastoma subtypes and a six-gene prognostic risk index based on the expression of growth factors and cytokines.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and invasive tumor of the central nervous system. Growth factors and cytokines (GFCKs) play a crucial role in tumor invasion. In the present study, GFCK expression profiles from GBM patients in the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas were used to perform sample clustering with nonnegative matrix factorization.

Two gene set variation indexes as potential diagnostic tool for sepsis.

Accurate diagnosis of sepsis remains challenging, new markers or combinations of markers are urgently needed. In the present study, we screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between sepsis and non-sepsis blood samples across three previously published gene expression data sets. Common upregulated and downregulated DEGs were ranked according to their average functional similarity.

Clinical and biologic roles of PDGFRA in papillary thyroid cancer: a study based on immunohistochemical and in vitro analyses.

Background: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) plays essential roles in several malignant tumors. Nevertheless, its clinical function in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is still unclear. This study aimed to examine the clinicopathologic implication and potential molecular underpinning of PDGFRA in PTC.

High mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) interacts with receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) to promote airway smooth muscle cell proliferation through ERK and NF-B pathways.

Background: High-mobility graoup box protein 1 (HMGB1) has been shown to mediate a wide range of pathologic responses by interacting with RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation endproducts) and TLRs (Toll-like receptors). Our previous study showed that HMGB1 has been involved in pathogenesis of airway remodeling in an allergen-induced chronic mice asthma model. Increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass is a vital feature of airway remodeling.

microRNA-1908-5p inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis by targeting PP5 in NSCLC.

MicroRNA-1908 is involved in the occurrence and development of various tumors. However, the mechanism of microRNA-1908-5p in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not thoroughly studied. Protein phosphatase 5 catalytic subunit (PP5), a member of the protein phosphatase catalytic subunit family, may be a target of the microRNA-1908-5p.

Relationship of vasculogenic mimicry, SphK1 expression, and Cx43 expression to metastasis and prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Objective: To determine the presence of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and expression of Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and Connexin43 (Cx43) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, and to identify their inter-relationships and associations with multiple pathologic parameters.

Methods: Ninety-two CRC specimens and normal pericarcinoma tissues were analyzed for expression of SphK1 and Cx43 using immunohistochemistry, and for identification of VM using CD34-periodic acid-Schiff dual staining.

Results: The positive rate of SphK1 expression was greater in CRC cells than pericarcinoma cells (85.