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Objectives: To investigate the risk factors for death in anti-melanoma differentiation–associated protein-5-positive dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods: Studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Results: Twenty studies were selected. Factors that may increase death risk included older age (SMD: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.42–0.81), elevated Krebs von den Lungen-6 (SMD: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47–0.86), lactate dehydrogenase (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.72–1.02), C-reactive protein (SMD: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44–0.80), ferritin (SMD: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.71–1.15), creatine kinase (SMD: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.44), neutrophil (SMD: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.04–0.64), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (SMD: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.24–0.79), aspartate aminotransferase (SMD: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.45–0.94), shorter disease duration (SMD: −0.44, 95% CI: −0.67 to −0.21), rapidly progressive ILD (RR: 4.08, 95% CI: 3.01–5.54), fever (RR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.46–2.69), dyspnoea (RR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.32–2.02), and anti-Ro52 antibody positive (RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11–1.49). Female (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78–0.94), increased albumin (SMD: −1.20, 95% CI: −1.76 to −0.64), lymphocyte (SMD: −0.49, 95% CI: −0.67 to −0.30), and arthralgia (RR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37–0.78) were protective factors. Conclusion: Older age, shorter disease duration, rapidly progressive ILD, fever, dyspnoea, anti-Ro52 antibody positive, and some inflammatory markers were risk factors for death in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation–associated protein-5-positive dermatomyositis-associated ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the effect of sex on the clinical characteristics, prognoses, and therapeutic selection of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Methods. We retrospectively enrolled 170 hospitalized patients with EGPA who were managed at our hospital between 2007 and 2020. Detailed clinical data were reviewed. Manifestations, prognoses, treatments, and outcomes were compared between female and male patients. Cumulative survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Results. In this cohort, the male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Renal involvement was more frequent in male patients, including serum creatinine elevation, and proteinuria > 1 g/24 h. Severe gastrointestinal (GI) involvement occurred more commonly in male patients. Female patients had longer allergy duration and higher ratios of allergic rhinitis and asthma. Sex differences in proteinuria > 1 g/24 h, serum creatinine > 150 mmol/L, severe GI involvement, and weight loss were more significant in patients aged ≤ 55 years than those in patients aged > 55 years. Overall, male patients had a higher Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and a worse prognosis assessed at diagnosis, with a lower proportion of 1996 Five Factor Score = 0 than females. Regarding treatment selection, methylprednisolone pulse and cyclophosphamide were administered more frequently to male patients. All-cause mortality and cumulative survival rates were comparable between the sexes. Conclusion. In this Chinese EGPA cohort, male and female patients showed distinct disease phenotypes. Male patients with EGPA had a higher disease activity at diagnosis and required more aggressive treatment for remission induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is one of the common complications in patients with postoperative breast cancer (BC). Conventional therapies for postoperative depression of BC always have modest treatment outcomes and undesirable side effects. Clinical practice and many studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a good effect on postoperative depression of BC. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the clinical effect of TCM as an add-on treatment for postoperative depression of BC. Methods: A systematic and thorough search was conducted on eight online electronic databases up to 20 July 2022. The control group received conventional therapies, and intervention groups received what control groups received plus TCM treatment. Review Manager 5.4.1 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Nine RCTs involved 789 participants who met the inclusion standards. The results showed the intervention group was better at decreasing the score of the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) (mean difference, MD = −4.21, 95% CI −5.54 to −2.88) and the self-rating depression scale (SDS) (MD = −12.03, 95% CI −15.94 to −8.13), improving clinical efficacy (RR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.14–1.37), increasing the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (MD = 0.27, 95% CI 0.20–0.34), dopamine (DA) (MD = 26.28, 95% CI 24.18–28.77), and norepinephrine (NE) (MD = 11.05, 95% CI 8.07–14.04), and influencing the immune index, including the levels of CD3+ (MD = 15.18, 95% CI 13.61–16.75), CD4+ (MD = 8.37, 95% CI 6.00–10.74), and CD4+/CD8+ (MD = 0.33, 95% CI 0.27–0.39). The level of CD8+ (MD = −4.04, 95% CI −11.98 to 3.99) had no obvious difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The meta-analysis stated that a therapeutic regimen involving TCM could better improve the depression status in postoperative BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruption of iron homeostasis plays a negative role in follicle development. The dynamic changes in follicle growth are dependent on Hippo/YAP signaling and mechanical forces. However, little is known about the liaison between iron overload and the Hippo/YAP signalling pathway in term of folliculogenesis. Here, based on the available evidence, we established a hypothesized model linking excessive iron, extracellular matrix (ECM), transforming growth factor-b (TGF-β) and Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP) signal regarding follicle development. Hypothetically, the TGF-b signal and iron overload may play a synergistic role in ECM production via YAP. We speculate that the dynamic homeostasis of follicular iron interacts with YAP, increasing the risk of ovarian reserve loss and may enhance the sensitivity of follicles to accumulated iron. Hence, therapeutic interventions targeting iron metabolism disorders, and Hippo/YAP signal may alter the consequences of the impaired developmental process based on our hypothesis, which provides potential targets and inspiration for further drug discovery and development applied to clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Human follicular fluid (FF) is a complex biological fluid that contributes to the micro-environment of oocyte development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of steroid and gonadotropic hormones levels and mitochondrial function in embryo development during in vitro fertilization cycles. Methods: This was a cohort study of 138 women receiving IVF/ICSI, including 136 FF samples from 109 infertile women. FF steroid and gonadotropic hormones levels were tested by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and immunoassays. The mRNA expression levels of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex genes from FF exosomes were detected by qPCR. Results: Analysis of these individual FF concentrations revealed that LH and FSH concentrations were higher in follicles in which the oocyte developed into a top quality (TQ) blastocyst (LH: 9.44 ± 2.32mIU/ml, FSH: 9.32 ± 1.01mIU/ml) than those in which there was a failure of fertilization (LH: 5.30 ± 0.84mIU/ml, FSH: 6.91 ± 0.62mIU/ml). In contrast, follicular cortisone concentrations were lower for oocytes that resulted in a TQ blastocyst (12.20 ± 0.82mIU/ml). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that FF LH and FSH levels predicted TQ blastocyst with excellent AUC value of 0.711 and 0.747. Mitochondrial ETC complex I and III mRNA levels were increased in the FF exosomes of TQ blastocyst. Correlation analysis showed that mRNA levels of ETC complex I was positively correlated with LH and FSH levels in FF. Conclusion: The levels of FF steroid and gonadotropic hormones from single follicle can predetermine subsequent embryo development to some extent. Furthermore, impaired exosome mitochondrial dysfunction is a potiential event that causes hormone change in embryo development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial communities form biofilms on various surfaces by synthesizing a cohesive and protective extracellular matrix, and these biofilms protect microorganisms against harsh environmental conditions. Bacillus subtilis is a widely used experimental species, and its biofilms are used as representative models of beneficial biofilms. Specifically, B. subtilis biofilms are known to be rich in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and other biopolymers such as DNA and proteins like the amyloid protein TasA and the hydrophobic protein BslA. These materials, which form an interconnected, cohesive, three-dimensional polymer network, provide the mechanical stability of biofilms and mediate their adherence to surfaces among other functional contributions. Here, we explored how genetically-encoded components specifically contribute to regulate the growth status, mechanical properties, and antibiotic resistance of B. subtilis biofilms, thereby establishing a solid empirical basis for understanding how various genetic engineering efforts are likely to affect the structure and function of biofilms. We noted discrete contributions to biofilm morphology, mechanical properties, and survival from major biofilm components such as EPS, TasA and BslA. For example, EPS plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the mechanical properties and the antibiotic resistance of biofilms, whereas BslA has a significant impact on the resolution that can be obtained for printing applications. This work provides a deeper understanding of the internal interactions of biofilm components through systematic genetic manipulations. It thus not only broadens the application prospects of beneficial biofilms, but also serves as the basis of future strategies for targeting and effectively removing harmful biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, and oocyte developmental competence is altered in patients with PCOS. In recent years microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of gene expression, the aim of the study was to study miRNAs expression patterns of cumulus cells from PCOS patients. Methods: The study included 20 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): 10 diagnosed with PCOS and 10 matching controls. We used deep sequencing technology to identify the miRNAs differentially expressed in the cumulus cells of PCOS. Results: There were 17 differentially expressed miRNAs in PCOS cumulus cells, including 10 miRNAs increase and 7 miRNAs decrease. These miRNAs were predicted to target a large set of genes with different functions, including Wnt- and MAPK- signaling pathways, oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation and cell cycle. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated that there was a specific miRNAs expression pattern in PCOS cumulus cells. Conclusion: We found that the miRNAs expression profile was different in cumulus cells isolated from PCOS patients compared with control. This study provided new evidence for understanding the pathogenesis of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ronidazole (RNZ), metronidazole (MNZ) and dimetridazole (DMZ) residues in swine liver. Following liquid–liquid extraction, the HLB solid-phase extraction was used for further purification. The targets were detected by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) following the reverse phase liquid chromatography separation. Consequently, the detection limits for the method were 0.5 μg/kg for MNZ, 1.0 μg/kg for RNZ and 0.5 μg/kg for DMZ, respectively. The accuracies were determined using swine liver samples fortified at levels of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 μg/kg and the mean recoveries of the analytes were between 66% and 81%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple method using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection is presented for the simultaneous determination of the antiparasitic agents avermectins (abamectin, ivermectin and doramectin) in bovine liver. Samples were extracted using acetonitrile and cleaned up on an alumina SPE column and derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride. The derivatives were detected using fluorescence detector set at 365 nm excitation and 475 nm emission wavelengths. As the results, the limit of quantification for three avermectins was about 1 μg/kg. Inter-assay showed the mean recoveries of avermectins in bovine liver ranged from 72% to 81%, with RSD less than 9.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive method was developed and validated for the quantitation of trenbolone residues in bovine liver. Target analytes were extracted from liver homogenate using solid phase cartridges, separated on a Phenyl column and detected using an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer operating in positive ion mode. The mean recovery of the analytes was between 62% and 69%. The method provided detection capabilities of 1 μg/kg for trenbolone. The method is suitable for application in veterinary drug residue in surveillance programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]