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Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare condition caused by a defect in the production, secretion or action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. The absence of puberty and varying degrees of gonadotropic deficiency are common symptoms of this disorder. Heterogeneity exists in the clinical presentation of the different clinical subtypes and multiple genes have been implicated in CHH. A number of genetic defects have been identified as causes normosmic CHH, including mutations of GnRHR, GNRH1, KISS1R, KISS1, TACR3 and TAC3. Loss-of-function mutations in KISS1R gene are a rare cause of normosmic CHH. We described an 11.5 years old Chinese patient who presented at birth with micropenis, microorchidia and bilateral cryptorchidism. Whole-exome sequencing was also performed and identified a homozygous mutation of KISS1R gene, c.1010_1028del (p.V337Afs*82). The variant was predicted as "deleterious" and classified as "likely pathogenic". This variant has never been reported in patients with CHH. Furthermore, we summarized the clinical presentations and analyzed the phenotype-genotype correlation between CHH and KISS1R mutations in previous reports. This study details the clinical phenotypes and hormone levels of the patient and expands the spectrum of mutations in the KISS1R gene associated with CHH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address challenges in screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD), we devised a deep learning-based CKD screening model named UWF-CKDS. It utilizes ultra-wide-field (UWF) fundus images to predict the presence of CKD. We validated the model with data from 23 tertiary hospitals across China. Retinal vessels and retinal microvascular parameters (RMPs) were extracted to enhance model interpretability, which revealed a significant correlation between renal function and RMPs. UWF-CKDS, utilizing UWF images, RMPs, and relevant medical history, can accurately determine CKD status. Importantly, UWF-CKDS exhibited superior performance compared to CTR-CKDS, a model developed using the central region (CTR) cropped from UWF images, underscoring the contribution of the peripheral retina in predicting renal function. The study presents UWF-CKDS as a highly implementable method for large-scale and accurate CKD screening at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving intervention for patients with circulatory and/or pulmonary failure; however, the rate of complications remains high. ECMO induces systemic inflammation, which may activate and damage the endothelium, thereby causing edema and organ dysfunction. Advancing our understanding in this area is crucial for improving patient outcomes during ECMO. The goal of this review is to summarize the current evidence of the effects of ECMO on endothelial activation and damage in both animals and patients. PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched for both clinical and animal studies including ECMO support. The outcome parameters were markers of endothelial activation and damage or (in)direct measurements of endothelial permeability, fluid leakage and edema. In total, 26 studies (patient n = 16, animal n = 10) fulfilled all eligibility criteria, and used VA-ECMO (n = 13) or VV-ECMO (n = 6), or remained undefined (n = 7). The most frequently studied endothelial activation markers were adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and selectins (E- and P-selectin). The levels of endothelial activation markers were comparable to or higher than in healthy controls. Compared to pre-ECMO or non-ECMO, the majority of studies showed stable or decreased levels. Angiopoietin-2, von Willebrand Factor and extracellular vesicles were the most widely studied circulating markers of endothelial damage. More than half of the included studies showed increased levels when compared to normal ranges, and pre-ECMO or non-ECMO values. In healthy animals, ECMO itself leads to vascular leakage and edema. The effect of ECMO support in critically ill animals showed contradicting results. ECMO support (further) induces endothelial damage, but endothelial activation does not, in the critically ill. Further research is necessary to conclude on the effect of the underlying comorbidity and type of ECMO support applied on endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to analyse the global prevalence and disability trends of heart failure (HF) from 1990 to 2019, considering both sexes and country‐specific economic strata. Methods: This study conducted a secondary analysis employing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The analysis is stratified by sex and Socio‐demographic Index (SDI) levels. Through age‐period‐cohort and Joinpoint regression analyses, we investigated the temporal trends in HF prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) during this period. Results: Between 1990 and 2019, the global prevalence of HF surged by 106.3% (95% uncertainty interval: 99.3% to 114.3%), reaching 56.2 million cases in 2019. While all‐age prevalence and YLDs increased over the 30 year span, age‐standardized rates decreased by 2019. Countries with higher SDI experienced a more pronounced percentage decrease compared with those with lower SDI. Longitudinal analysis revealed an overall improvement in both prevalence and YLDs for HF, albeit with notable disparities between SDI quintiles and sexes. Ischaemic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease emerged as the most rapidly increasing and primarily contributing causes of HF, albeit with variations observed across different countries. The average annual percentage change for prevalence and YLDs over the period was −0.26% and −0.25%, respectively. Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights into the global burden of HF, considering factors such as population aging, regional disparities, sex differences and aetiological variations. The findings hold significant implications for healthcare planning and resource allocation. Continued assessment of these trends and innovative strategies for HF prevention and management are crucial for addressing this pressing global health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-lived stratospheric ozone-depleting substance with an atmospheric lifetime of 116 years. It is also a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential value of about 310. Due to its high kinetic stability and thermal decomposition temperature exceeding 1000°C, the treatment and recovery of nitrous oxide pose significant engineering and climate challenges. In this study, we introduce a Cu–Fe oxide catalyst that demonstrates efficient and low-temperature conversion of N2O to N2 using readily available reductant CO. The oxide catalyst was synthesized by a solvothermal method and a "from bottom to top" technique. Characterizations by X-ray diffraction (XRD), CO temperature-programmed desorption (C-O‑TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET indicate that the catalyst with weaker CO adsorption sites, fewer strong CO adsorption sites, suitable particle size, good dispersion and high specific surface area performs excellent reaction activity in the reduction of N2O to N2 by CO. The active site of Cu is stronger, and the addition of Fe can promote dispersion of the Cu active site and increase the exposure to the active site. A new approach has been proposed to address nitrous oxide emissions, a greenhouse gas with high thermodynamic stability, in the chemical industrial process that generates nitrous oxide as a byproduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]