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Huan Ma,1 Lei Wang,1 Daozheng Huang,2 Guoqing Liu,3 Minzhou Zhang1 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong General Hospital, 3Medical Imaging Central, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaAbstract: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, with coronary heart disease as the major contributor to this related mortality. There is a growing trend in the application of Chinese medicine in clinical practice for the treatment of coronary heart disease. However, there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the pharmacological, toxicological, and biological profiles of Chinese medicine. In this case report, we describe the therapeutic effects of Tongguan capsule in a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with stable angina pectoris. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case documented of the therapeutic effect of Tongguan capsule in the treatment of coronary heart disease.Keywords: Chinese medicine, Tongguan capsule, cardiovascular disease, stable angina pectoris

The kidney has a local intrarenal dopaminergic system, and in the kidney, dopamine modulates renal hemodynamics, inhibits salt and fluid reabsorption, antagonizes the renin-angiotensin system, and inhibits oxidative stress. The current study examined the effects of alterations in the intrarenal dopaminergic system on kidney structure and function in models of type 1 diabetes. We studied catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT)(-/-) mice, which have increased renal dopamine production due to decreased dopamine metabolism, and renal transplantation was used to determine whether the effects seen with COMT deficiency were kidney-specific. To determine the effects of selective inhibition of intrarenal dopamine production, we used mice with proximal tubule deletion of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (ptAADC(-/-)). Compared with wild-type diabetic mice, COMT(-/-) mice had decreased hyperfiltration, decreased macula densa cyclooxygenase-2 expression, decreased albuminuria, decreased glomerulopathy, and inhibition of expression of markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. These differences were also seen in diabetic mice with a transplanted kidney from COMT(-/-) mice. In contrast, diabetic ptAADC(-/-) mice had increased nephropathy. Our study demonstrates an important role of the intrarenal dopaminergic system to modulate the development and progression of diabetic kidney injury and indicate that the decreased renal dopamine production may have important consequences in the underlying pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disabling autoimmune disease in young adults which does not have an effective treatment. The prevalence of immune-mediated diseases is higher in developed countries with hygienic environments, suggesting that helminthic infection may protect from autoimmune diseases. Previously, we reported that soluble egg antigens (SEA) from Schistosoma japonicum suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, through up-regulating T helper-2 (Th2) immune responses in both the peripheral and central target organs. Neurotrophins (NTs) are not exclusive to the nervous system. While immune cells, especially Th2 cells, can produce and secrete a variety of NTs resulting in neuroprotective immunity. NTs can also modulate immune responses by augmenting Th2 responses and downregulating Th1 responses. Interestingly, nerve growth factor (NGF) has been found in liver granulomas of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. Moreover, in the central nervous system of chronic schistosomiasis, NGF is increased. A hypothesis is hereby proposed – SEA derived from S. japonicum bears neuroprotective properties beyond its immunomodulatory effects. SEA can induce the expression of NTs, which in turn augment Th2 immune responses induced by SEA; whereby a positive regulatory circuit between Th2 responses and NTs comes into being. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: According to the diagnostic criteria for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)-negative/idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) proposed by Castleman Disease Collaborative Network in 2017, there is a group of HHV-8-negative patients with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) who do not have symptoms and hyperinflammatory state and do not meet the iMCD criteria. This retrospective study enrolled 114 such patients, described as asymptomatic MCD (aMCD), from 26 Chinese centers from 2000 to 2021. With a median follow-up time of 46.5 months (range, 4-279 months), 6 patients (5.3%) transformed to iMCD. The median time between a diagnosis of aMCD and iMCD in these 6 patients was 28.5 months (range, 3-60). During follow-up, 7 patients died; 3 of them died from progression of MCD. Despite that, 37.7% of patients received systemic treatment targeting MCD; this strategy was neither associated with a lower probability of iMCD transformation nor a lower death rate. The 5-year estimated survival of all patients with aMCD was 94.1% (95% confidence interval, 88.8-99.6). Transformation to iMCD was an important predictor of death (log-rank P = .01; 5-year estimated survival, 83.3%). This study suggests that patients with aMCD may represent a potential early stage of iMCD, who may not require immediate treatment but should be closely monitored., (© 2024 by The American Society of Hematology. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting only noncommercial, nonderivative use with attribution. All other rights reserved.)

Inadequate dietary potassium (K + ) consumption is a significant contributor to poor cardiovascular outcomes. A diet with reduced K + content has been shown to cause salt-sensitive increases in blood pressure. More recently, we have also shown that reductions in blood K + can cause direct kidney injury, independent of dietary sodium (Na + ) content. Here, we investigated the role of the kinase Ste20p-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) in this kidney injury response. We observed that global SPAK deletion protected the kidney from the damaging effects of a diet high in Na + and low in K + . We hypothesized that kidney macrophages were contributing to the injury response and that macrophage-expressed SPAK is essential in this process. We observed SPAK protein expression in isolated macrophages in vitro. Culture in K + -deficient medium increased SPAK phosphorylation and caused SPAK to localize to cytosolic puncta, reminiscent of with-no-lysine kinase (WNK) bodies identified along the distal nephron epithelium. WNK1 also adopted a punctate staining pattern under low K + conditions, and SPAK phosphorylation was prevented by treatment with the WNK inhibitor WNK463. Macrophage-specific SPAK deletion in vivo protected against the low K + -mediated renal inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Our results highlight an important role for macrophages and macrophage-expressed SPAK in the propagation of kidney damage that occurs in response to reduced dietary K + consumption. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Global Ste20p-related proline alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) deletion protects against harmful kidney effects of dietary K + deficiency. Exposure to low K + conditions increases SPAK phosphorylation and induces SPAK to adopt a punctate staining pattern. Macrophage-specific deletion of SPAK confers protection to low K + -induced kidney injury in vivo. Macrophage-expressed SPAK plays a key role in the development of kidney injury in response to a low K + diet.

Introduction: Distal gastrectomy remains the predominant therapeutic approach for gastric cancer, with digestive tract reconstruction as an integral procedure. The implementation of Braun anastomosis following Billroth II anastomosis is common in distal gastrectomy. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the clinical utility of Braun anastomosis by comparing the outcomes and quality of life between Billroth II (B-II) and Billroth II with Braun (B-IIB) anastomosis in the treatment of gastric cancer., Methods: A retrospective cohort study examined clinical and pathological data from 377 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer treatment at The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, from October 2016 to October 2021.185 patients received B-II anastomosis, while the other 192 received B-IIB anastomosis, forming the B-II and B-IIB groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics, perioperative variables, short-term and long-term complications, and nutritional indicators at 1 mo and 1 y postsurgery were compared across both groups. Additionally, gastric endoscopy results at 6 mo and 1 y postsurgery were evaluated. Quality of life at 1 y postsurgery was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30., Results: Baseline characteristics between the two groups revealed no statistically significant differences (all P > 0.05), confirming their equivalence. All 377 patients successfully underwent curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer without intraoperative procedural modifications. No intraoperative complications or perioperative mortality occurred. Notable differences included extended operative time (222.1 ± 41.0 vs. 199.4 ± 24.9 min, P < 0.001), reduced postoperative nasogastric tube removal time (1.8 ± 0.9 vs. 2.2 ± 1.1 d, P < 0.001), decreased average gastric drainage volume (100.7 ± 35.2 vs. 112.2 ± 32.0 mL, P = 0.001), and increased incidence of internal hernia and ileus (4.7% vs. 1.1% and 8.3% vs. 3.2%, P = 0.038 and P = 0.035) in the B-IIB group compared to the B-II group. No significant differences were observed in estimated blood loss, lymph node dissection, postoperative flatus time, transition to a semiliquid diet, length of hospital stay, or short-term and long-term complications (all P > 0.05). Nutritional assessments conducted 1 mo and 1 y postsurgery indicated no statistically significant differences in body mass index, total protein, and serum albumin levels between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Gastric endoscopy evaluations at 6 mo and 1 y postsurgery, including food residue grade, gastritis severity, extent of gastritis, and bile reflux, demonstrated no significant discrepancies between the groups (all P > 0.05). At the 1-y follow-up, neither group exhibited tumor recurrences, deaths from tumor-related diseases, postoperative complications, or other diseases. Additionally, quality of life assessments using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core revealed no significant differences across various domains or items between the groups (all P > 0.05)., Conclusions: A comparative analysis between B-II and B-IIB anastomosis demonstrated no notable variations in intraoperative parameters, postoperative nutritional outcomes, gastric endoscopic results, or postoperative quality of life. Nevertheless, incorporating Braun anastomosis can extend the duration of surgery and may elevate the likelihood of postoperative internal hernia., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To summarize and discuss3-days MRI changes after uterine artery embolization (UAE) and their predictive value for efficacy., Methods: From August 2016 to April 2023, 52 patients underwent enhanced MRI within 3 days post-embolization. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and imaging data, focusing on MR characteristics at the 3-day mark, comparing pre- and post-embolization images. Patients were categorized based on 3-day MR findings into complete and incomplete necrosis groups, with clinical efficacy compared over 6 months., Results: Our study included 30 cases of multiple leiomyomas and 22 of single leiomyomas. Postoperative MRI revealed complete necrosis in 31 tumors and incomplete necrosis in 21 tumors. At 3 days, MR ADC imaging showed increased signals in necrotic areas, mildly increased signals on T2-weighted images, and minimal changes on T1-weighted images. Six-month follow-up showed no significant difference in symptom improvement between groups (p = 0.524, p = 0.587, p = 0.615). However, a significant difference was found in leiomyoma volume reduction, with 70.63 ± 15.53% in the complete necrosis group and 51.36 ± 25.20% in the incomplete necrosis group (p＜0.001), highlighting the impact of necrosis extent on volumetric reduction., Conclusion: Short-term MRI changes after UAE can reflect changes in blood supply to fibroids and normal uterine tissue, and have good predictive value for medium-term embolization efficacy., Advances in Knowledge: This study describes short-term MR manifestations of complete and incomplete embolism, aiding in predicting long-term outcome., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Institute of Radiology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a reliable surrogate biomarker of insulin resistance (IR), is highlighted recently as related to cardiac disorders. However, the associations of the TyG index and its combination with blood pressure (BP) on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertension remain unclear. In this study, we included 9,635 hypertension patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018. During a median follow-up of 8.00 years, a total number of 853 and 2,489 in cardiovascular and all-cause deaths occurred, respectively. After full adjustments, the individual TyG index was positively associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality with J-shaped dose-response relationships. The lowest risk thresholds of the TyG index for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were 9.5551 and 9.3405, respectively. In joint analyses, the highest risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were observed among those with elevated levels of both BP and IR [1.64 (1.18, 2.28), P = 0.0031; 1.39 (1.14, 1.70), P = 0.0011; respectively]. In sensitivity and subgroup analyses, the results were generally robust. Our data appeal a hypothesis that future treatments for hypertension may require a combination of BP controlled and IR improvement., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xu, Peng, Guo, Zhao, Chen, Mai, Tan, Chen, Zeng and Zhang.)

In fixed prosthodontics, clear exposure of the preparation margin is the prerequisite for obtaining accurate digital impressions and improving the marginal fit of restorations. To resolve the issues associated with the cord retraction technique, such as pain, acute injury, and prolonged procedural time, this study proposes a new technology for intraoral digital impression taking with pneumatic gingival retraction. The new scanning head blows a high-speed airflow that instantaneously separates the free gingiva, locally exposing the subgingival preparation margin. Combined with the farthest point preservation stitching algorithm based on the distance from the normal vector and high-speed laser scanning photography, it achieves global preparation edge data and gingival reconstruction, realizing painless, non-invasive, and efficient precise acquisition of the preparation margin. Using this new technique, a patient with a full porcelain crown restoration on a posterior tooth was treated. The digital impression revealed a clear margin of the preparation, and the crown made from this data has a good marginal fit.

To examine the association of household fuel use with prehypertension regression among middle-aged and older people based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we included a total of 3501 participants with prehypertension at baseline, and they were followed up from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016 with information on blood pressure and household solid fuel use (heating and cooking fuels). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) between fuel use and prehypertension regression. Additionally, we investigated the impact of switching fuels (2011-2013) on the regression to normotension during the 4-year follow-up. Linear regression was used to examine the effect of household fuel use on changes in blood pressure. Compared to solid fuel users, those who used clean fuel for heating at baseline had a positive effect on the regression of prehypertension (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.08-1.53). Participants who used clean fuels for both heating and cooking had increased odds for the regression of prehypertension (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.09-1.60). Compared to consistent solid fuel users, those who consistently used clean fuel for heating had a higher likelihood of transitioning from prehypertension to normotension (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.73) and exhibited 2.45 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure. In conclusion, household clean fuel use for heating was positively associated with the regression of prehypertension to normotension. Furthermore, switching from solid fuel to clean fuel for heating could reduce the risk of prehypertension in Chinese middle-aged and older adults., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Hypertension.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shuanglongjiegu pill (SLJGP) on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and explore its mechanism based on miR-217/RUNX2 axis. Results found that drug-containing serum of SLJGP promoted BMSCs viability with a dose-dependent effect. Under osteogenic differentiation conditions, SLJGP promoted the expression of ALP, OPN, BMP2, RUNX2, and the osteogenic differentiation ability of BMSCs. In addition, SLJGP significantly reduced miR-217 expression, and miR-217 directly targeted RUNX2. After treatment with miR-217 mimic, the promoting effects of SLJGP on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were significantly inhibited. MiR-217 mimic co-treated with pcDNA-RUNX2 further confirmed that the miR-217/RUNX2 axis was involved in SLJGP to promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In addition, analysis of Wnt/β-catenin pathway protein expression showed that SLJGP activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through miR-217/RUNX2. In conclusion, SLJGP promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by regulating miR-217/RUNX2 axis and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: To investigate the relationships of the dynamic changes in triglyceride glucose index-body mass index (TyG‑BMI) and cumulative TyG-BMI with the risk of hypertension among middle-aged and elderly Chinese., Methods: Data were used from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants who participated in the baseline study (2011-2012) and in subsequent surveys (2015-2018) were included in this study. The primary exposures were changes in TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI from 2012 to 2015. Changes in TyG-BMI were categorized using k-means clustering methods, while cumulative TyG-BMI was categorized into quartiles. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed to examine the association between changes in TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI with the incidence of hypertension. Linear regression analyzes were performed to examine the association between changes in TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI with cumulative systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cumulative diastolic blood pressure (DBP)., Results: Of a total of 2,561 participants aged 56.93 ± 8.08 years old at baseline, 253 individuals (9.9%) developed hypertension during the 7-year follow-up period. The hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension were 1.50 (1.10-2.03) for class 2 (persistently medium class) and 2.35 (1.61-3.42) for class 3 (persistently high class), compared to class 1 (persistently low class). Additionally, class 2 showed increases of 7.70 mmHg (95% CI: 5.18-10.21) in cumulative SBP and 6.53 mmHg (95% CI: 4.68-8.38) in cumulative DBP, while class 3 exhibited increases of 14.10 mmHg (95% CI: 10.56-17.64) in cumulative SBP and 12.64 mmHg (95% CI: 10.03-15.25) in cumulative DBP, compared with class 1. Regarding cumulative TyG-BMI, the HR for hypertension were 1.75 (95% CI: 1.18-2.59) for quartile 3 and 2.15 (95% CI: 1.43-3.23) for quartile 4, compared with quartile 1. In quartile 2, cumulative SBP increased by 3.99 mmHg (95% CI: 0.88-7.11) and cumulative DBP by 2.74 mmHg (95% CI: 0.45-5.02). Quartile 3 showed increases of 8.32 mmHg (95% CI: 5.09-11.54) in cumulative SBP and 7.13 mmHg (95% CI: 4.76-9.49) in cumulative DBP. Quartile 4 exhibited the highest increases, with cumulative SBP rising by 13.15 mmHg (95% CI: 9.70-16.60) and cumulative DBP by 12.20 mmHg (95% CI: 9.67-14.74). Furthermore, a linear relationship was observed between cumulative TyG-BMI and the risk of hypertension., Conclusions: Changes in TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI were associated with an increased risk of hypertension, as well as higher cumulative SBP and DBP in Chinese middle-aged and elderly population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The contractile function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) typically undergoes significant changes with advancing age, leading to severe vascular aging-related diseases. The precise role and mechanism of stromal interaction molecule-1 (STIM1) in age-mediated Ca 2+ signaling and vasocontraction remain unclear. The connection between STIM1 and age-related vascular dysfunction was investigated using a multi-myograph system, immunohistochemical analysis, protein blotting, and SA-β-gal staining. Results showed that vasoconstrictor responses in the thoracic aorta, intrarenal artery, and coronary artery decreased with age. STIM1 knockdown in the intrarenal and coronary arteries reduced vascular tone in young mice, while no change was observed in the thoracic aorta. A significant reduction in vascular tone occurred in the STIM1 knockout group with nifedipine. In the thoracic aorta, vasoconstriction significantly decreased with age following the use of nifedipine and thapsigargin and almost disappeared after STIM1 knockdown. The proportion of senescent VSMCs increased significantly in aged mice and further increased in sm-STIM1 KO aged mice. Moreover, the expression of senescence markers p21, p16, and IL-6 significantly increased with age, with p21 expression further increased in the STIM1 knockdown aged group, but not p16 or IL-6. These findings indicate that different arteries exhibit distinct organ-specific features and that STIM1 downregulation may contribute to age-related vasoconstrictive dysfunction through activation of the p21 pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Insulin resistance (IR) is a well-established major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown an association between increased serum albumin (ALB) levels and the risk of IR. However, there is a lack of studies simultaneously evaluating the association of total protein (TP), ALB, and globulin (GLB) with IR., Methods: A total of 14,828 individuals (average age 49 ± 18 years) with complete data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were enrolled and divided into two groups (non-IR group, n = 8,653 and IR group, n = 6,175). Spearman's correlation analysis, multivariable logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline curves, and subgroup analysis were performed to explore those associations., Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that scaled per 10g/L increment, the fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for IR prevalence were 1.54 (95% CI 1.41-1.69, P < 0.0001), 1.09 (95% CI 0.95-1.25), P = 0.1995), and 1.62 (95% CI 1.47-1.79, P < 0.0001) for TP, ALB, and GLB respectively. Compared to those in the lowest quantiles, the prevalence of IR in subjects in the highest TP and GLB quantiles was 2.06 and 1.91 times, respectively. Furthermore, restrictive cubic curves confirmed that the relationship of TP, ALB, and GLB with IR prevalence was a linear relationship., Conclusions: The present cross-sectional study, for the first time, provided supportive evidence of positive associations of TP and GLB with IR, but not ALB, and demonstrated that TP and GLB might be useful markers for IR prevalence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zeng, Xu, Zhang, Tan, Kong, Zhang and Guo.)

Background: For patients with sepsis receiving non-invasive ventilation (NIV), early rehabilitation is crucial. The Sitting Baduanjin (SBE) is an efficient early rehabilitation exercise suitable for bed patients. There is no consensus about the effect of SBE on the early rehabilitation of septic patients with NIV. This study focused on how the SBE affected the early rehabilitation of sepsis patients with NIV., Methods: 96 sepsis patients with NIV were randomly assigned to either an Baduanjin group that received the SBE based on the routine rehabilitation exercise (n = 48) or a control group (n = 48) that received routine rehabilitation exercise. The primary outcome was the Medical Research Council(MRC)score, and the Barthel Index score, the duration of NIV, length of ICU stay, length of total stay, hospitalization expense as secondary outcomes., Results: A total of 245 sepsis patients were screened, with 96 randomly assigned. The study was completed by 90 patients out of the 96 participants.Results revealed that the MRC score increased in both groups, but the improvement of muscle strength in Baduanjin group was more obvious, with statistical significance (p < 0.001).There was statistically significantly difference between the two groups in Barthel Index at the day of transfer out of ICU(P = 0.028).The patients in the Baduanjin group had an average reduction of 24.09 h in the duration of NIV and 3.35 days in total length of hospital stay compared with the control group (p < 0.05).Of note, the Baduanjin group had significantly reduction the total hospitalization expense. No serious adverse events occurred during the intervention period., Conclusions: In patients with sepsis, the SBE appears to improve muscle strength and activities of daily living (ADL), and lowed the duration of NIV, the length of the total stay, and the hospitalization expense., Trial Registration: The study registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ), Clinical Trials identifier ChiCTR1800015011 (28/02/2018)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of handgrip strength (HGS) and obesity phenotype on the risk of stroke in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people., Methods: The data was used from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Middle-aged and older adults who participated in surveys between 2011 and 2018 were included in the study. They were divided into 4 different types of obesity phenotypes based on obesity and metabolic status: metabolically healthy non-overweight/obesity (MHNO), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHO), metabolically abnormal non-overweight/obesity (MANO), and metabolically abnormal overweight/obesity (MAO). The HGS level was divided into low and high groups according to the median values. Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the joint effect of HGS and obesity phenotype on the risk of stroke among participants., Results: A total of 7904 participants aged 58.89±9.08 years were included in this study. After adjusting for potential confounders, high HGS&MHO (HR=1.86, 95 % CI=1.12-3.09), high HGS&MANO (HR=2.01, 95 %CI=1.42-2.86), high HGS&MAO (HR=2.01, 95 % CI=1.37-2.93), low HGS&MHNO (HR=1.57, 95 % CI=1.00-2.46), low HGS&MHO (HR=2.09, 95 % CI=1.29-3.38), low HGS&MANO (HR=2.02, 95 % CI=1.35-3.03), and low HGS&MAO (HR=2.48, 95 % CI=1.72-3.58) group had significantly higher risks of stroke than the high HGS&MHNO group., Conclusion: The coexistence of metabolically unhealthy and low HGS can synergistically increase the risk of stroke in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The continual emergence of tick-borne rickettsioses has garnered widespread global attention. Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae ( Candidatus R. barbariae), which emerged in Italy in 2008, has been detected in humans from northwestern China. However, the lack of Candidatus R. barbariae genome and isolated strains limits the understanding of its biological characteristics and genomic features. Here, we isolated the Rickettsia for the first time from eggs of Rhipicephalus turanicus in northwestern China, and assembled its whole genome after next-generation sequencing, so we modified the proposed name to Rickettsia barbariae ( R. barbariae ) to conform to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome revealed that it was most closely related to the pathogenic Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia africae . All virulence factors, present in the pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsiae, were identified in the R. barbariae isolate. These findings highlight the pathogenic potential of R. barbariae and the necessity for enhanced surveillance of the emerging Rickettsia in the human population.

Objective: To analyze the current treatment status and prognostic regression of the chronic NK cell lymphoproliferative disorder (CLPD-NK)., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of 18 patients with CLPD-NK who were treated at our Hospital between September 2016 and September 2022., Results: Eighteen patients were included: three patients were treated with chemotherapy, five patients underwent immune-related therapy, one patient was treated with glucocorticoids alone, five patients were administered granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, blood transfusion therapy, or anti-infection therapy, followed by observation and follow-up, and four patients were observed without treatment. Fifteen patients survived, including two patients who achieved complete remission (CR) and seven patients who achieved partial remission (PR), of whom one patient progressed to Aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL) and sustained remission after multiple lines of treatment; three patients were not reviewed, of which one patient was still in active disease, three patients developed hemophagocytic syndrome during treatment and eventually died, one of them had positive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) expression. The 5-years overall survival rate was 83%., Conclusion: Most patients with CLPD-NK have inert progression and a good prognosis, whereas some patients have a poor prognosis after progressing to ANKL and combined with hemophagocytic syndrome. Abnormal NK cells invading the center suggest a high possibility of ANKL development, and immunosuppressants and hormones are effective treatments for this disease.

5-(3'-Indolyl)oxazole moiety is a privileged heterocyclic scaffold, embedded in many biologically interesting natural products and potential therapeutic agents. Compounds containing this scaffold, whether from natural sources or synthesized, have demonstrated a wide array of biological activities. This has piqued the interest of synthetic chemists, leading to a large number of reported synthetic approaches to 5-(3'-indolyl)oxazole scaffold in recent years. In this review, we comprehensively overviewed the different biological activities and chemical synthetic methods for the 5-(3'-indolyl)oxazole scaffold reported in the literatures from 1963 to 2024. The focus of this study is to highlight the significance of 5-(3'-indolyl)oxazole derivatives as the lead compounds for the lead discovery of anticancer, pesticidal, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, to summarize the synthetic methods for the 5-(3'-indolyl)oxazole scaffold. In addition, the reported mechanism of action of 5-(3'-indolyl)oxazoles and advanced molecules studied in animal models are also reviewed. Furthermore, this review offers perspectives on how 5-(3'-indolyl)oxazole scaffold as a privileged structure might be exploited in the future., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In this study, a series of novel hydrazide-containing flavonol derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for antifungal activity. In the in vitro antifungal assay, most of the target compounds exhibited potent antifungal activity against seven tested phytopathogenic fungi. In particular, compound C32 showed the best antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani (EC 50 = 0.170 μg/mL), outperforming carbendazim (EC 50 = 0.360 μg/mL) and boscalid (EC 50 = 1.36 μg/mL). Compound C24 exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Valsa mali , Botrytis cinerea , and Alternaria alternata with EC 50 values of 0.590, 0.870, and 1.71 μg/mL, respectively. The in vivo experiments revealed that compounds C32 and C24 were potential novel agricultural antifungals. 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were used to analyze the structure-activity relationships of these compounds. The analysis results indicated that introducing appropriate electronegative groups at position 4 of a benzene ring could effectively improve the anti- R. solani activity. In the antifungal mechanism study, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that C32 disrupted the normal growth of hyphae by affecting the structural integrity of the cell membrane and cellular respiration. Furthermore, compound C32 exhibited potent succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 8.42 μM), surpassing that of the SDH fungicide boscalid (IC 50 = 15.6 μM). The molecular dynamics simulations and docking experiments suggested that compound C32 can occupy the active site and form strong interactions with the key residues of SDH. Our findings have great potential for aiding future research on plant disease control in agriculture.

The colonization of alien plants in new habitats is typically facilitated by microorganisms present in the soil environment. However, the diversity and structure of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities in the latitudinal spread of alien plants remain unclear. In this study, the rhizosphere and bulk soil of Chromolaena odorata were collected from five latitudes in Pu' er city, Yunnan Province, followed by amplicon sequencing of the soil archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities. Alpha and beta diversity results revealed that the richness indices and the structures of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities significantly differed along the latitudinal gradient. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the bacterial Shannon index, as well as in the structures of the bacterial and fungal communities between the rhizosphere and bulk soils. Due to the small spatial scale, trends of latitudinal variation in the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities were not pronounced. Total potassium, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, available potassium and total nitrogen were the important driving factors affecting the soil microbial community structure. Compared with those in bulk soil, co-occurrence networks in rhizosphere microbial networks presented lower complexity but greater modularity and positive connections. Among the main functional fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizae and soil saprotrophs were more abundant in the bulk soil. The significant differences in the soil microbes between rhizosphere and bulk soils further underscore the impact of C. odorata invasion on soil environments. The significant differences in the soil microbiota along latitudinal gradients, along with specific driving factors, demonstrate distinct nutrient preferences among archaea, bacteria, and fungi and indicate complex microbial responses to soil nutrient elements following the invasion of C. odorata., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of child-centered playful companionship and sedative medication in alleviating preoperative anxiety in preschool children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 3 825 preschool children (3-6 years) who underwent elective surgery at Shanghai Children's Medical Center from April 2021 to March 2022. The children were divided into three groups based on the preoperative anxiolytic intervention: child-centered playful companionship group ( n =2 198), pharmacological sedation group ( n =1 281), and no intervention group ( n =346). The pharmacological sedation group received intranasal dexmedetomidine at 2 μg/kg or oral midazolam syrup at 0.5 mg/kg. The child-centered playful companionship group received care from certified preoperative sedation nurses using a child-centered playful nursing model. The no intervention group did not receive any anti-anxiety measures due to various subjective and objective reasons. Preoperative separation anxiety scores (PSAS), sedation medication usage, and Ramsay sedation scores were recorded for all children. The primary outcome was the success rate of separation based on PSAS scores across different anxiolytic intervention groups, while the secondary outcome was the Ramsay sedation score. Results: The child-centered playful companionship group included 1 462 boys and 736 girls, with a median age [ M ( Q 1 , Q 3 )]of 59 (49, 69) months. The pharmacological sedation group included 824 boys and 457 girls, with a median age of 52 (42, 61) months; and the no intervention group included 212 boys and 134 girls, with a median age of 57 (48, 69) months. The success rate of separation in the child-centered playful companionship group was 95.6% (2 102/2 198), and in the pharmacological sedation group was 93.8% (1 202/1 281), both significantly higher than the 43.6% (151/346) of the no intervention group (all P <0.05). Among the 1 281 children in the pharmacological sedation group, 785 received oral midazolam and 496 received intranasal dexmedetomidine. Compared to the intranasal dexmedetomidine group, the oral midazolam group was younger, had a lower body weight and a higher proportion of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class Ⅲ (all P <0.05). The success rate of separation was 93.4% (733/785) in the oral midazolam group and 94.6% (469/496) in the intranasal dexmedetomidine group, with no statistically significant difference ( P =0.392). The Ramsay sedation score was 2 (2, 2) in the intranasal dexmedetomidine group, better than the 2 (2, 2) of the oral midazolam group ( P =0.024). Conclusion: Both child-centered playful companionship and pharmacological sedation effectively alleviate preoperative anxiety in preschool children.

This study presents a portable, low-cost, point-of-care (POC) system for the simultaneous detection of blood glucose and hematocrit. The system consists of a disposable origami microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for plasma separation, filtration, and reaction functions and a 3D-printed cassette for hematocrit and blood glucose detection using a smartphone. The origami μPAD is patterned using a cost-effective label printing technique instead of the conventional wax printing method. The 3D-printed cassette incorporates an array of LED lights, which mitigates the effects of intensity variations in the ambient light and hence improves the accuracy of the blood glucose and hematocrit concentration measurements. The hematocrit concentration is determined quantitatively by measuring the distance of plasma wicking along the upper layer of the origami μPAD, which is pretreated with sodium chloride and Tween 20 to induce dehydration and aggregation of the red blood cells. The filtered plasma also penetrates to the lower layer of the origami μPAD, where it reacts with embedded colorimetric assay reagents to produce a yellowish-brown complex. A color image of the reaction complex is captured using a smartphone inserted into the 3D-printed cassette. The image is analyzed using self-written RGB software to quantify the blood glucose concentration. The calibration results indicate that the proposed detection platform provides an accurate assessment of the blood glucose level over the range of 45-630 mg/dL (R 2 = 0.9958). The practical feasibility of the proposed platform is demonstrated by measuring the blood glucose and hematocrit concentrations in 13 human whole blood samples. Taking the measurements obtained from commercial glucose and hematocrit meters as a benchmark, the proposed system has a differential of no more than 6.4% for blood glucose detection and 9.1% for hematocrit detection. Overall, the results confirm that the proposed μPAD is a promising solution for cost-effective and reliable POC health monitoring.

The ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants poses challenges to the immunity induced by infections and vaccination. We conduct a 6-month longitudinal evaluation of antibody binding and neutralization of sera from individuals with six different combinations of vaccination and infection against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86. We find that most individuals produce spike-binding IgG or neutralizing antibodies against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 2 months after infection or vaccination. However, compared to ancestral strain and BA.5 variant, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 exhibit comparable but significant immune evasion. The spike-binding IgG and neutralizing antibody titers decrease in individuals without additional antigen exposure, and <50% of individuals neutralize XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 during the 6-month follow-up. Approximately 57% of the 107 followed up individuals experienced an additional infection, leading to improved binding IgG and neutralizing antibody levels against these variants. These findings provide insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on immunity following repeated exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Various SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses have been increasingly identified in pangolins, showing a potential threat to humans. Here we report the infectivity and pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2-related virus, PCoV-GX/P2V, which was isolated from a Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica). PCoV-GX/P2V could grow in human hepatoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, and human primary nasal epithelial cells. It replicated more efficiently in cells expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as SARS-CoV-2 did. After intranasal inoculation to the hACE2-transgenic mice, PCoV-GX/P2V not only replicated in nasal turbinate and lungs, but also caused interstitial pneumonia, characterized by infiltration of mixed inflammatory cells and multifocal alveolar hemorrhage. Existing population immunity established by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination may not protect people from PCoV-GX/P2V infection. These findings further verify the hACE2 utility of PCoV-GX/P2V by in vivo experiments using authentic viruses and highlight the importance for intensive surveillance to prevent possible cross-species transmission., (© 2024. Science China Press.)

Spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause spotted fever. The limitations of gene manipulation pose great challenges to studying the infection mechanisms of Rickettsia. By combining bioorthogonal metabolism and click chemistry, we developed a method to label R. heilongjiangensis via azide moieties and achieved rapid pathogen localization without complex procedures. Moreover, we constructed a C57BL/6 mice infection model by simulating tick bites and discovered that the stomach is the target organ of R. heilongjiangensis infection through in vivo imaging systems, which explained the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms following R. heilongjiangensis infection in some cases. This study offers a unique perspective for subsequent investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms of SFGR and identifies a potential target organ for R. heilongjiangensis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: With rapid urbanization, massive migration, and non-family-based eldercare involvement, Chinese concepts of eldercare responsibility and filial piety are shifting. We performed age-period-cohort (APC) analyses to assess the transition of old-age pension coverage, eldercare responsibility, and filial piety concepts and its urban-rural differences among Chinese adults using data from the China General Social Survey (2006-2017)., Methods: Old-age pension coverage (yes/no) and primary eldercare responsibility (government/offspring/self/sharing) were investigated in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Filial piety was evaluated using customized questionnaires in 2006 and 2017. The APC effects were estimated using mixed effects and generalized additive models., Results: Among 66,182 eligible participants (mean age: 48.8 years, females: 51.7%) in the six waves, APC analyses indicated that old-age pension coverage increased with aging and over time. Across cohort groups, it grew as the cohort was younger in urban residents but decreased in rural residents. The concept of offspring-based (> 50%) and government/self/offspring-shared eldercare (> 30%) predominated. APC analyses revealed that the offspring-based concept declined with aging (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.79-0.84), whereas the government-based (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.33-1.41) and self-based (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.47-1.63) concepts increased with aging. People born around the 1940s have a comparatively higher possibility to perceive that the primary eldercare responsibility should be undertaken by the government and elder parents. In contrast, people born in the younger cohort were more likely to perceive that adult children are responsible for their parents' primary eldercare. Filial piety score slightly increased with aging (β = 0.18, SD: 0.05) but decreased as the birth cohort was younger. In addition, rural participants were more likely to perceive offspring-based eldercare and maintain filial piety, and the related urban-rural difference was intensified by aging., Conclusions: The traditional concept that eldercare solely relies on offspring has changed to relying on multiple entities, including the government and self-reliance. Diluted filial piety in people born in the young cohort requires reinforcement. Moreover, future healthy aging policies need to focus more on urban-rural disparities to promote equity in social well-being., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common inflammatory condition of aging that causes myriad end-organ damage. We have recently shown associations for CHIP with acute kidney injury and with kidney function decline in the general population, with stronger associations for CHIP driven by mutations in genes other than DNMT3A (non- DNMT3A CHIP). Longitudinal kidney function endpoints in individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CHIP have been examined in two previous studies, which reported conflicting findings and were limited by small sample sizes., Methods: In this study, we examined the prospective associations between CHIP and CKD progression events in four cohorts of CKD patients (total N = 5,772). The primary outcome was a composite of 50% kidney function decline or kidney failure. The slope of eGFR decline was examined as a secondary outcome. Mendelian randomization techniques were then used to investigate potential causal effects of CHIP on eGFR decline. Finally, kidney function was assessed in adenine-fed CKD model mice having received a bone marrow transplant recapitulating Tet2 -CHIP compared to controls transplanted wild-type bone marrow., Results: Across all cohorts, the average age was 66.4 years, the average baseline eGFR was 42.6 ml/min/1.73m 2 , and 24% had CHIP. Upon meta-analysis, non- DNMT3A CHIP was associated with a 59% higher relative risk of incident CKD progression (HR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.47). This association was more pronounced among individuals with diabetes (HR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.62) and with baseline eGFR ≥ 30 ml/min/1.73m (HR 1.80, 95% CI: 1.11-2.90). Additionally, the annualized slope of eGFR decline was steeper among non- DNMT3A CHIP carriers, relative to non-carriers (β -0.61 ± 0.31 ml/min/1.73m 2 , p = 0.04). Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a causal role for CHIP in eGFR decline among individuals with diabetes. In a dietary adenine mouse model of CKD, Tet2 -CHIP was associated with lower GFR as well as greater kidney inflammation, tubular injury, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis., Conclusion: Non- DNMT3A CHIP is a potentially targetable novel risk factor for CKD progression.

Background Purpose: Rituximab (RTX),an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody can effectively treat minimal change disease (MCD),with low toxicity and a reduced steroid dosage. The optimal dosage of RTX for treating MCD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of an ultra-low-dose regimen of RTX (100 mg per week for 4 weeks) for treating MCD., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 31 patients with MCD who received RTX. Seventeen patients received ultra-low-dose RTX (ULD-RTX) therapy, and 14 patients received standard-dose RTX (SD-RTX) therapy (500 mg weekly for 4 weeks). All patients were followed up for at least 6 months., Results: Both groups showed significant increases in the serum albumin levels and notable decreases in the urinary protein levels in the 1st and 6th months after RTX therapy. There were no significant differences in the plasma albumin or urinary protein levels between the groups (p > 0.05). B-cell depletion was observed in all patients after 1 month of RTX administration. At 6 months after RTX treatment, the remission rate was 93% in the SD-RTX group and 88% in the ULD-RTX group (p > 0.05). The ULD-RTX therapy incurred lower costs than did the SD-RTX therapy. One patient in the SD-RTX group developed community-acquired pneumonia., Conclusion: Ultra-low-dose RTX is effective at inducing remission in patients with MCD at a lower cost., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no potential economic or noneconomic conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The renal epithelium is sensitive to changes in blood potassium (K + ). We identify the basolateral K + channel, Kir4.2, as a mediator of the proximal tubule response to K + deficiency. Mice lacking Kir4.2 have a compensated baseline phenotype whereby they increase their distal transport burden to maintain homeostasis. Upon dietary K + depletion, knockout animals decompensate as evidenced by increased urinary K + excretion and development of a proximal renal tubular acidosis. Potassium wasting is not proximal in origin but is caused by higher ENaC activity and depends upon increased distal sodium delivery. Three-dimensional imaging reveals Kir4.2 knockouts fail to undergo proximal tubule expansion, while the distal convoluted tubule response is exaggerated. AKT signaling mediates the dietary K + response, which is blunted in Kir4.2 knockouts. Lastly, we demonstrate in isolated tubules that AKT phosphorylation in response to low K + depends upon mTORC2 activation by secondary changes in Cl - transport. Data support a proximal role for cell Cl - which, as it does along the distal nephron, responds to K + changes to activate kinase signaling., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Benzodiazepines, commonly used for anxiolytics, hinder conditioned fear extinction, and the underlying circuit mechanisms are unclear. Utilizing remimazolam, an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, here we reveal its impact on the thalamic nucleus reuniens (RE) and interconnected hippocamposeptal circuits during fear extinction. Systemic or RE-specific administration of remimazolam impedes fear extinction by reducing RE activation through A type GABA receptors. Remimazolam enhances long-range GABAergic inhibition from lateral septum (LS) to RE, underlying the compromised fear extinction. RE projects to ventral hippocampus (vHPC), which in turn sends projections characterized by feed-forward inhibition to the GABAergic neurons of the LS. This is coupled with long-range GABAergic projections from the LS to RE, collectively constituting an overall positive feedback circuit construct that promotes fear extinction. RE-specific remimazolam negates the facilitation of fear extinction by disrupting this circuit. Thus, remimazolam in RE disrupts fear extinction caused by hippocamposeptal intermediation, offering mechanistic insights for the dilemma of combining anxiolytics with extinction-based exposure therapy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Calcaneal osteomyelitis (CO) still poses great challenges to orthopaedic surgeons due to unique anatomic and functional features of the calcaneus. This study summarized the current data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment and efficacy of CO, based on an analysis of literature-reported cases., Materials and Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to find English and Chinese studies reporting on CO patients between 2000 and 2021, with available data for synthesis analysis. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) assessment scale. Effective data were extracted and pooled for analysis., Results: Altogether 198 studies involving 1118 patients were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.3 (724 males and 310 females). The median age at CO diagnosis was 46 years, with a median symptom duration of 3 months. Injury-related infections (524 cases) and diabetic foot infections (336 cases) were the two most common causes, with ulcer (468 cases) and wound sinus or exudation (209 cases) being the predominant symptoms. The overall positive culture rate was 80.2%, with polymicrobial infections accounting for 18.1%. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently detected pathogen (42.7%), with fungal-related infections isolated in 17 cases. Although most patients received surgical interventions (96.9%), the recurrence rate was 20.1%. The incidence of infection relapse following partial calcanectomy, total calcanectomy, debridement with implantation of local antibiotics, and debridement with or without flap or skin coverage were 31.7%, 45.0%, 16.8%, and 15.1%, respectively. The overall incidence of limb amputation was 12.4%, with all-cause and CO-related mortalities of 2.8% and 0.2%, separately., Conclusions: CO shared similar characteristics with extremity chronic osteomyelitis, primarily affecting young males, with trauma and diabetic foot as the leading causes and Staphylococcus aureus as the most frequently detected pathogen. Despite surgery being the primary treatment modality, clinical outcomes remained unsatisfactory, marked by high rates of infection recurrence and limb amputation., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and Objectives: The prognosis of patients diagnosed with melanoma is highly dependent on staging, early detection, and early intervention. In this systematic review, the authors aimed to investigate the impact of surgical delay (time between diagnostic biopsy and definitive surgical excision) on melanoma-specific outcomes., Material and Methods: A systematic review was conducted from Embase (1974-present), MEDLINE (1946-present), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2005-present), Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 977 studies were included for review after removal of duplicates. A total of 10 studies were included for final analysis., Results: In total, 70% (7/10) of the studies found that longer wait times between initial biopsy and surgical intervention are correlated with lower overall survival. Among the 9 studies that reported overall survival as a percentage, the median and SD overall survival was 82% ± 5.87., Conclusion: There is evidence that prolonged surgical delay in patients diagnosed with Stage I cutaneous melanoma is associated with worsened overall mortality, whereas the effect of surgical delay on overall mortality in Stages II and III melanomas is uncertain. Future prospective studies and randomized clinical trials are needed to better define the appropriate surgical wait times between biopsy and surgical treatment., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To study the clinical efficacy of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) absorbable biological membrane in alveolar bone defect repair., Methods: A total of 102 patients with alveolar bone defect who received guided bone regeneration (GBR) in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were selected and divided into Bio-Gide group (51 cases using Bio-Gide absorbable biofilm) and SIS group (51 cases using SIS absorbable biofilm) by computer random number generator. The perioperative related indicators, blood calcium, blood phosphorus, biocompatibility, periodontal attachment loss (PAL) length, pulp sensitivity, tooth mobility, alveolar bone volume and adverse events of the two groups were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 24.0 software package., Results: There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS) score of pain on the first day after operation, VAS score on the fifth day after operation, wound healing time, blood calcium and phosphorus levels before operation, 1 d and 12 d after operation, PAL length before operation, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after operation, pulp sensitivity and tooth looseness grade 1 and 2 percentage at 3, 6 and 12 months after operation, bone width increase, bone height increase at 12 months after operation and adverse event rate between the two groups (P＞0.05). Compared with Bio-Gide group, the wound healing time and biofilm absorption time were shortened in SIS group(P＜0.05), and the incidence of rejection was decreased 12 d after operation (P＜0.05)., Conclusions: SIS absorbable biofilm and Bio-Gide absorbable biofilm have similar efficacy and safety in repairing GBR for alveolar bone defects, but the former is more biocompatible and the latter can provide longer barrier function.

The emerging evidence of human infections with emerging viruses suggests their potential public health importance. A novel taxon of viruses named Statoviruses (for stool-associated Tombus-like viruses) was recently identified in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple mammals. Here we report the discovery of respiratory Statovirus-like viruses (provisionally named Restviruses) from the respiratory tracts of five patients experiencing acute respiratory disease with Human coronavirus OC43 infection through the retrospective analysis of meta-transcriptomic data. Restviruses shared 53.1%-98.8% identities of genomic sequences with each other and 39.9%-44.3% identities with Statoviruses. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Restviruses together with a Stato-like virus from nasal-throat swabs of Vietnamese patients with acute respiratory disease, formed a well-supported clade distinct from the taxon of Statoviruses. However, the consistent genome characteristics of Restviruses and Statoviruses suggested that they might share similar evolutionary trajectories. These findings warrant further studies to elucidate the etiological and epidemiological significance of the emerging Restviruses., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

A novel visible-light-induced radical cascade bromocyclization of N -arylacrylamides has been accomplished. This reaction overcomes the overbromination at the benzene rings suffered in traditional electrophilic reactions, thus enabling the first highly chemoselective synthesis of valuable 3-bromomethyloxindoles. The combination of pyridine and anhydrous medium is identified as the key factor for the high chemoselectivity in the current photoreaction system, which might work by suppressing the in situ generation of low-concentration Br 2 from N -bromosuccinimide. Moreover, the mild reaction conditions ensure the generation of a wide range of the new desired products with excellent functional group tolerance.