Influence of hydrocortisone infusion method on the clinical outcome of patients with septic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effect of the modality of hydrocortisone administration on clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the impact of intermittent bolus and continuous infusion of hydrocortisone on these outcomes.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase databases, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies published from inception to January 1, 2023.

Cholesterol metabolism regulator SREBP2 inhibits HBV replication via suppression of HBx nuclear translocation.

The intricate link between cholesterol metabolism and host immune responses is well recognized, but the specific mechanisms by which cholesterol biosynthesis influences hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication remain unclear. In this study, we show that SREBP2, a key regulator of cholesterol metabolism, inhibits HBV replication by interacting directly with the HBx protein, thereby preventing its nuclear translocation. We also found that inhibiting the ER-to-Golgi transport of the SCAP-SREBP2 complex or blocking SREBP2 maturation significantly enhances HBV suppression.

Exploring age and gender disparities in cardiometabolic phenotypes and lipidomic signatures among Chinese adults: a nationwide cohort study.

Understanding sex disparities in modifiable risk factors across the lifespan is essential for crafting individualized intervention strategies. We aim to investigate age-related sex disparity in cardiometabolic phenotypes in a large nationwide Chinese cohort. A total of 254,670 adults aged 40 years or older were selected from a population-based cohort in China.

Synergistic antitumor effect of MK-1775 and CUDC-907 against prostate cancer.

Due to the emergence of drug resistance, androgen receptor (AR)-targeted drugs still pose great challenges in the treatment of prostate cancer, and it is urgent to explore an innovative therapeutic strategy. MK-1775, a highly selective WEE1 inhibitor, is shown to have favorable therapeutic benefits in several solid tumor models. Recent evidence suggests that the combination of MK-1775 with DNA-damaging agents could lead to enhanced antitumor efficacy.

Association between complete blood cell count-derived inflammatory biomarkers and gallstones prevalence in American adults under 60 years of age.

Background: The trend of gallstones occurring in younger populations has become a noteworthy public health issue. This study aims to investigate the association between complete blood cell count (CBC)-derived inflammatory indicators and gallstones in adults under 60 years of age in the United States.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020.

Mung bean-derived carbon dots suppress ferroptosis of Schwann cells the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 pathway to promote peripheral nerve repair.

Schwann cells (SCs) can potentially transform into the repair-related cell phenotype after injury, which can promote nerve repair. Ferroptosis occurs in the SCs of injured tissues, causing damage to the SCs and exacerbating nerve injury. Targeting ferroptosis in SCs is a promising therapeutic strategy for effective repair; however, research on ferroptosis in the peripheral nervous system remains limited.

Prolonged screen time is associated with increased severity of tic symptoms in children with tic disorders.

Background: Recent studies have emphasized the association between prolonged screen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, though its correlation with tic disorders (TDs) remains ambiguous. We thus conducted this study to investigate the association between screen time (ST) and the severity of tic symptoms in children diagnosed with TDs.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study with 342 cases of TDs and 270 controls, collecting data from March 2021 to December 2023.

[Expert consensus on visualized tele-round and quality control management based on the improvement of clinical practice ability].

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor's professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China.

Protocol for extraction of gut interstitial fluid in mice with two-front nutrient supply.

The intestine features a two-front nutrient supply environment, comprising an enteral side enriched with microbial and dietary metabolites and a serosal side supplied by systemic nutrients, collectively supporting intestinal and systemic homeostasis, but there is currently no optimal approach for extracting and assessing the local intestinal microenvironment. Here, we present a protocol for constructing a nutrient supply model in mice and extracting gut interstitial fluid (GIF) via centrifugation. This model and the extracted GIF are suitable for downstream analyses.

A Patient with a Delayed Diagnosis of Zinc Powder Inhalation Poisoning: A Case Report.

Objective: Overexposure to zinc can lead to zinc poisoning. Zinc poisoning from zinc powder inhalation has rarely been reported.

Case Report: A 66-year-old male presented with nausea, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

Three cases of hemoglobin M disease in a family lineage: Case report and literature review.

Rationale: This study presents a case of hemoglobin M disease (HMD), a rare inherited disorder characterized by persistent cyanosis and hypoxemia, observed across 3 generations within a single family. The diagnosis of HMD poses significant challenges, particularly in asymptomatic individuals, due to its rarity and the subtlety of its symptoms. Notably, there is a scarcity of reports on methemoglobinemia in pediatric populations, which further complicates early detection and intervention.

Diverse autoinhibitory mechanisms of FIIND-containing proteins: Insight into regulation of NLRP1 and CARD8 inflammasome.

Function-to-find domain (FIIND)-containing proteins, including NLRP1 and CARD8, are vital components of the inflammasome signaling pathway, critical for the innate immune response. These proteins exist in various forms due to autoproteolysis within the FIIND domain, resulting in full-length (FL), cleaved N-terminal (NT), and cleaved C-terminal (CT) peptides, which form autoinhibitory complexes in the steady state. However, the detailed mechanism remains elusive.

Predicting Polymerase Chain Reaction Success: Integrating the K-Word Order Model, Physicochemical Properties Modeling of Double Bases, and Support Vector Machine.

Introduction: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has been a pivotal scientific technique since the twentieth century, and it is widely applied across various domains. Despite its ubiquity, challenges persist in efficiently amplifying specific DNA templates.

Method: While PCR experimental procedures have garnered significant attention, the analysis of the DNA template, which is the experiment's focal point, has been notably overlooked.

Targeted lipidomics analysis of possible molecular mechanisms of lipid changes in temporal lobe epilepsy models.

Background: Lipids are vital biomolecules involved in the formation of various biofilms. Seizures can cause changes in lipid metabolism in the brain. In-depth studies at multiple levels are urgently needed to elucidate lipid composition, distribution, and metabolic pathways in the brain after seizure.

Predictive factors for clinical cure in the treatment of HBeAg(-) chronic hepatitis B or compensated cirrhosis: a prospective observational study.

Background: Sequential or combined treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) and pegylated interferon alpha-2b (Peg-IFN--2b) can improve the clinical cure rate. However, its clinical application is limited due to the adverse reactions associated with IFN.

Methods: A multi-center prospective observational study was conducted involving 59 NAs-treated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who were treated with a combination therapy of NAs and Peg-IFN--2b for 48 weeks.

Mesenchymal stromal cell exosomes for drug delivery of prostate cancer treatments: a review.

Interest in prostate cancer as a research topic has gradually increased. As a result, a series of innovative treatment strategies have emerged with an in-depth understanding of the disease. Owing to their unique biological characteristics, mesenchymal stromal cell exosomes (MSC-Exos) have garnered significant attention for their potential to deliver targeted drugs and enable precise prostate cancer treatment.

Detecting mitochondrial hypochlorous acid and viscosity in atherosclerosis models via NIR fluorescent probes.

The assessment of early atherosclerosis (AS) via fluorescence imaging is crucial for advancing early diagnosis research. Abnormal inflammation biomarkers, including hypochlorous acid (HClO) and viscosity within mitochondria, have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of AS. However, current fluorescent probes predominantly rely on unimodal imaging that targets a single biomarker and lacks mitochondrial specificity, which can result in potential false signal readouts due to the complex intracellular environment.

Transanal vs Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision and 3-Year Disease-Free Survival in Rectal Cancer: The TaLaR Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Previous studies have demonstrated the advantages of short-term histopathological outcomes and complications associated with transanal total mesorectal excision (TME) compared with laparoscopic TME. However, the long-term oncological outcomes of transanal TME remain ambiguous. This study aims to compare 3-year disease-free survival of transanal TME with laparoscopic TME.

Anti-Scattering Perovskite Scintillator Arrays for High-Resolution Computed Tomography Imaging.

Computed tomography (CT) imaging has emerge as an effective medical diagnostic technique due to its rapid and 3D imaging capabilities, often employing indirect imaging methods through scintillator materials. Arraying scintillators that can confine light scattering to enable high-resolution CT imaging remains an area of ongoing exploration for emerging perovskite scintillators. Here an anti-scattering cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr) scintillator array embedded within a polyurethane acrylate matrix for CT imaging using a cost-effective solution-processed method is reported.

Maternal Smoking Around Birth Is a Risk Factor for Gastrointestinal Diseases in Offspring: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: The effect of maternal smoking around birth (MSAB) on gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in the offspring is still not fully understood.

Aim: We conducted a rigorous Mendelian randomization (MR) study to examine the association between MSAB and 24 GI diseases in offspring.

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with MSAB were obtained from a recent study.

Quantification and clinical performance of serum parathyroid hormone 1-84 via immunocapture coupled to LC-MS/MS in chronic renal failure.

Accurate measurement of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) is crucial for diagnosing and managing endocrine and osteological diseases. Conventional immunoassay methods struggle with cross reactivity issues between full-length PTH and truncated fragments or post-translationally modified forms. Both the standardization of PTH assays and the peptide's stability are concerning.

Association of serum calcium level with periodontitis: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2009-2014.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between serum calcium levels and periodontitis in a U.S. adult population, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014.

The role of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing and managing post-kidney transplantation infections.

Kidney transplantation (KT) is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease, but post-transplant infections remain one of the most significant challenges. These infections, caused by a variety of pathogens, can lead to prolonged hospitalization, graft dysfunction, and even mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Traditional diagnostic methods often fail to identify the causative organisms in a timely manner, leading to delays in treatment and poorer patient outcomes.

Oxidative stress and retinopathy: evidence from epidemiological studies.

Background: Previous studies have suggested oxidative stress may play a key role in the pathogenesis of retinopathy, while evidence from observational studies directly linking oxidative biomarkers to clinically relevant outcomes has been limited. This study aims to investigate the association between oxidative balance score (OBS) and prevalence of retinopathy in a nationally representative sample of U.S.