Lumbar temperature change after acupuncture or moxibustion at Weizhong (BL40) or Chize (LU5) in healthy adults: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is a gap in understanding the effects of different acupoints and treatment methods (acupuncture and moxibustion) on microcirculatory changes in the lumbar region.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the thermal effects of acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40), with acupuncture at Chize (LU5) and moxibustion at both acupoints as control interventions.

Design, Setting, Participants And Interventions: In this randomized controlled trial, 140 healthy participants were equally divided into four groups: acupuncture at BL40 (Acu-BL40), acupuncture at LU5 (Acu-LU5), moxibustion at BL40 (Mox-BL40) and moxibustion at LU5 (Mox-LU5).

Key considerations based on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic in the design of antibody-drug conjugates.

Background: Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is an anticancer drug that links toxins to specifically targeted antibodies via linkers, offering the advantages of high target specificity and high cytotoxicity. However, complexity of its structural composition poses a greater difficulty for drug design studies.

Objectives: Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) based consideration of ADCs has increasingly become a hot research topic for optimal drug design in recent years, providing possible ideas for obtaining ADCs with desirable properties.

Exploring the role of metabolic pathways in TNBC immunotherapy: insights from single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.

The article provides an overview of the current understanding of the interplay between metabolic pathways and immune function in the context of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It highlights recent advancements in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics technologies, which have revolutionized the analysis of tumor heterogeneity and the immune microenvironment in TNBC. The review emphasizes the crucial role of metabolic reprogramming in modulating immune cell function, discussing how specific metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, can directly impact the activity and phenotypes of various immune cell populations within the TNBC tumor microenvironment.

Unreliable information and fear: Barriers to vaccination among IBD patients in China.

Vaccination plays a crucial role in safeguarding individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from potential epidemics. In light of the resurgence of COVID-19 in China, unvaccinated IBD patients are vulnerable to infection and potentially serious complications. The aim of this study is to assess the vaccination uptake and willingness among IBD patients, as well as to explore the factors influencing their decision to decline vaccination.

Exploring the shared mechanism of fatigue between systemic lupus erythematosus and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: monocytic dysregulation and drug repurposing.

Background: SLE and ME/CFS both present significant fatigue and share immune dysregulation. The mechanisms underlying fatigue in these disorders remain unclear, and there are no standardized treatments. This study aims to explore shared mechanisms and predict potential therapeutic drugs for fatigue in SLE and ME/CFS.

Development of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for rituximab and its application to therapeutic drug monitoring.

Background: Rituximab pharmacokinetics in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) exhibit significant interindividual variability. Accurate measurement of serum rituximab concentrations is essential for effective therapeutic monitoring. This study develops a highly sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) for rituximab (rituximab-TRFIA) with a wide detection range, aimed at enhancing therapeutic drug monitoring in MN treatment.

MFGE8 induces anti-PD-1 therapy resistance by promoting extracellular vesicle sorting of PD-L1.

Anti-PD-1 therapy, effective in patients with various advanced tumors, still encounters the challenge of insensitivity in most patients. Here, we demonstrate that PD-L1 on tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) is critical for anti-PD-1 therapy resistance. Reducing endogenous and transferring exogenous TEVs abrogates and induces anti-PD-1 therapy resistance, respectively.

Genetic analysis of a pedigree with hereditary coagulation factor XII deficiency.

Analyze the clinical phenotype and gene mutations of a family with hereditary FXII deficiency, and preliminarily explore its phenotypic manifestations. The routine coagulation indicators and related coagulation factors were measured.Thromboelastography and thrombin generation tests simulated coagulation and anticoagulation states in vitro and in vivo.

Nanodrugs Targeting Key Factors of Ferroptosis Regulation for Enhanced Treatment of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a globally prevalent degenerative joint disease. Recent studies highlight the role of ferroptosis in OA progression. Targeting ferroptosis regulation presents a promising therapeutic strategy for OA; however, current research primarily focuses on single targets associated with ferroptosis.

External validation of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging-based decision rules for characterizing breast lesions and comparison to Kaiser score and breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category.

Background: Breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) provides standard descriptors but not detailed decision rules for characterizing breast lesions. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) are also not incorporated in the BI-RADS. Several multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-based decision rules have been developed to differentiate breast lesions, but lack external validation.

Curcumin nanocrystals ameliorate ferroptosis of diabetic nephropathy through glutathione peroxidase 4.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin nanocrystals (Cur-NCs) on ferroptosis in high-glucose (HG)-induced HK-2 cells and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy model (DN) rats. The purpose is to determine whether Cur NCs can become a promising treatment option for diabetes nephropathy by reducing ferroptosis.

Methods: Cur-NCs were prepared using microfluidic technology and studied using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy.

Characteristics of tongue coating microbiota in diabetic and non-diabetic kidney patients receiving hemodialysis.

Background: Tongue-coating microbiota, especially known as the tongue microbiome, holds significant value as both a prospective clinical diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target, which plays a crucial role in the oral microecological health. However, there is limited understanding of the composition and function of tongue coating microbiota in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: Thirty-one non-diabetic hemodialysis patients (nonDM_HD), 29 diabetic hemodialysis patients (DM_HD) and 33 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled.

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Low Skeletal Muscle Mass in Adults Based on NHANES 2011-2018.

Sarcopenia, a syndrome characterized by declining muscle mass and function, is associated with various adverse health outcomes. While body mass index (BMI) is a fundamental health indicator, its relationship with sarcopenia is complex and remains inadequately explored. Low BMI has been linked to muscle loss, but the role of other demographic and clinical factors in this relationship is unclear.

The Influence of Body Fat Percentage on Body Type Cognitive Bias Among Young Chinese Hospital Staff Members: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study expanded the existing literature on obesity and distortion of body image by examining subjective and objective body type among young medical workers, specifically investigating whether fat percentage independently influences body type cognitive bias. We recruited 264 participants (41.29% male, mean age 26.

In vitro Antibacterial Effect of Reduning Combined with Polymyxin on Carbapenem Resistant .

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the status of carbapenem-resistant strains of isolated from the Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Tongde Hospital between September 2023 and February 2024, and to examine the in vitro antibacterial effect of Reduning combined with polymyxin on carbapenem-resistant (CRKP), which may provide evidence on the application of Reduning in the clinical anti-infective therapy.

Methods: A total of 50 different isolates of CRKP were collected, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of polymyxin, Reduning and polymyxin plus Reduning were measured with microbroth dilution method. Then, the fractional inhibition concentration index (FICI) was calculated.

Aucubin Promotes BMSCs Proliferation and Differentiation of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Patients by Regulating Ferroptosis and BMP2 Signalling.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a chronic systemic bone metabolism disorder. Promotion in the patterns of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) differentiation towards osteoblasts contributes to alleviating osteoporosis. Aucubin, a natural compound isolated from the well-known herbal medicine Eucommia, was previously shown to possess various pharmacological effects.

A Paper-Based Sensor for the Detection of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Utilizing a Cleavable Fluorescent Polymer.

Nowadays, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has emerged as one of the major hazards to the health of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and there is an urgent need for a low-cost, user-friendly, and non-invasive detection method. Herein, a paper-based sensor (CP sensor) for the non-invasive screening of GERD is proposed. The sensor is structured as a specially shaped cellulose paper strip embedded with fluorescent colloids, which are self-assembled from a cleavable synthetic fluorescent polymer (P4).

The impact of body mass index on the relationship between psoriasis and Osteopenia: a mediating analysis based on NHANES (2003-2006).

The relationship between psoriasis and osteopenia remains undetermined. Patients with psoriasis tend to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) compared to those without the condition. While it appears plausible that BMI could mediate this association, further study is required to confirm this hypothesis.

A recurrence model for non-puerperal mastitis patients based on machine learning.

Objective: Non-puerperal mastitis (NPM) is an inflammatory breast disease affecting women during non-lactation periods, and it is prone to relapse after being cured. Accurate prediction of its recurrence is crucial for personalized adjuvant therapy, and pathological examination is the primary basis for the classification, diagnosis, and confirmation of non-puerperal mastitis. Currently, there is a lack of recurrence models for non-puerperal mastitis.

Value of [F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT for predicting pathological response and survival in patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of [F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT for pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and prognosis in patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LAPDAC).

Methods: This study included 34 patients with histopathologically and radiologically confirmed LAPDAC who received [F]AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT scans before NCT. After 4-6 cycles of NCT, these patients underwent radical resection.

High glucose induces podocyte ferroptosis through BAP1/SLC7A11 pathway.

Background: Ferroptosis plays an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, its specific regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: MPC5 cells were cultured in high glucose (HG) medium to stimulate the HG environment in vitro.

Associations between serum cytokine levels and postmenopausal depression in postmenopausal women with and without menopause hormone therapy.

Background: The etiology of depression involves many biological and environmental factors, among which the inflammatory process is an important contributor. However, the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal depression is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between the serum concentrations of four pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α) and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women who had been receiving menopause hormone therapy (MHT) for at least 6 months and postmenopausal women who had not received MHT.

Clinical outcome changes in sarcopenic obesity: a meta-analysis of exercise training methods.

Aim: Assessing the effect of various forms of exercise training on patients with sarcopenic obesity.

Methods: Two independent reviewers systematically searched English and Chinese databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI) for randomized controlled trials on various exercise training effects in sarcopenic obesity patients until October 2023. Reference materials and grey literature were also included.