The effect of peer support on HbA1c levels in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Peer support is increasingly recognized as a valuable method for managing blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of chronic complications in patients with diabetes. This systematic review and meta-analysis specifically evaluated the effect of peer support on HbA1c levels in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and explored the potential benefits of peer interactions on glycemic control.

Methodology: A comprehensive search was conducted across six databases from January 2018 to July 2023, with a focus on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared peer support interventions to standard diabetic care in adults.

Hypoxia-induced exosomal circNRIP1 activates cancer-associated fibroblasts to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma migration and invasion.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by a complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in the TME that facilitate tumor progression via interactions with cancer cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the activation of CAFs in TME remain largely unknown.

Structural and functional characterization of human sweet taste receptor.

Sweet taste perception influences dietary choices and metabolic health. The human sweet taste receptor, a class C G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) heterodimer composed of TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 (refs. ), senses a wide range of sweet compounds-including natural sugars, artificial sweeteners and sweet proteins-and affects metabolic regulation beyond taste.

The Opportunities and Challenges in the Molecular Mechanism Research of Congenital Heart Disease: A Review.

Background: Advanced molecular mechanism research incorporated with multidisciplinary collaborations on congenital heart disease has prompted new insight into its cause, development, and outcomes.

Summary: This literature review aims to comprehensively examine the genetic molecular mechanisms of congenital heart disease and explain current prospects and challenges in this field. Through a systematic exploration of etiology, embryology, clinical outcomes, algorithms, and ethics, we seek to shed light on the path toward improved diagnostics, treatments, and outcomes for patients.

Divergent impacts of glycemic control on mortality and complications in patients with early-versus late-onset type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study.

Aims: To investigate whether optimal glycemic control is associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, diabetes-related mortality, cancer-related mortality, and complications among individuals with early-onset and late-onset T2D.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the U.S.

QTL mapping of Fusarium ear rot resistance using genotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) in maize.

Fusarium ear rot (FER) is a global disease caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium verticillioides. Maize FER resistance is a quantitative trait controlled by polygenes. In this study, a doubled haploid (DH) population involving 159 lines, developed from the inbred lines B73 (susceptible) and CXS161 (highly resistant), was inoculated with Fusarium verticillioides across 4-year-location environment combinations in China during 2021 and 2022.

CGG Repeat Expansion in Causing Overlapping Oculopharyngodistal Myopathy and Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease With Diffusion Weighted Imaging Abnormality in the Cerebellum.

Background And Purpose: CGG repeat expansion in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of the Notch 2 N-terminal-like C gene () has been associated with neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) and oculopharyngodistal myopathy type 3 (OPDM3). Few OPDM3 patients have been reported. This report describes two OPDM3 patients with novel imaging findings who presented the typical features of NIID, and reviews all OPDM3 cases available in the literature.

Does the novel artificial cervical joint complex resolve the conflict between stability and mobility after anterior cervical surgery? a finite element study.

Background And Objective: Our group has developed a novel artificial cervical joint complex (ACJC) as a motion preservation instrument for cervical corpectomy procedures. Through finite element analysis (FEA), this study aims to assess this prosthesis's mobility and stability in the context of physiological reconstruction of the cervical spine.

Materials And Methods: A finite element (FE)model of the subaxial cervical spine (C3-C7) was established and validated.

In vivo study of a novel 3D-printed motion-preservation artificial cervical corpectomy construct: short-term imaging and biocompatibility evaluations in a goat model.

Background: Nonfusion technologies, such as motion-preservation devices, have begun a new era of treatment options in spine surgery. Motion-preservation approaches mainly include total disc replacement for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. However, for multisegment fusion, such as anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion, the options are more limited.

Structures and immune recognition of Env trimers from two Asia prevalent HIV-1 CRFs.

Structure-guided immunofocusing HIV-1 vaccine design entails a comprehensive understanding of Envs from diverse HIV-1 subtypes, including circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). Here, we present the cryo-EM structures of Envs from two Asia prevalent CRFs (CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC) at 3.0 and 3.

The predictive value of pressure recording analytical method for the duration of mechanical ventilation in children undergoing cardiac surgery with an XGBoost-based machine learning model.

Objective: Prolonged mechanical ventilation in children undergoing cardiac surgery is related to the decrease in cardiac output. The pressure recording analytical method (PRAM) is a minimally invasive system for continuous hemodynamic monitoring. To evaluate the postoperative prognosis, our study explored the predictive value of hemodynamic management for the duration of mechanical ventilation (DMV).

Bound states in the continuum supported by silicon oligomer metasurfaces.

Oligomer metasurfaces have attracted a lot of attention in recent years because of their ability to drive strong resonance effects. In this work, by perturbing the symmetry of the structure, we find that there are a large number of resonance modes in the oligomer metasurfaces associated with the optical bound states in the continuum (BICs) near the communication wavelength. When the positions of two nanodisks of the hexamer oligomers are moved along the x- or y-directions at the same time, the mirror symmetry is broken, and an electric quadrupole BIC and three magnetic dipole BICs are excited.

Distinct clinical and genetic features of hepatitis B virus-associated follicular lymphoma in Chinese patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been associated with an increased risk for B-cell lymphomas. We previously showed that 20% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients from China, an endemic area of HBV infection, have chronic HBV infection (surface antigen-positive, HBsAg+) and are characterized by distinct clinical and genetic features. Here, we showed that 24% of follicular lymphoma (FL) Chinese patients are HBsAg+.

Inhibitory antibodies identify unique sites of therapeutic vulnerability in rhinovirus and other enteroviruses.

The existence of multiple serotypes renders vaccine development challenging for most viruses in the genus. An alternative and potentially more viable strategy for control of these viruses is to develop broad-spectrum antivirals by targeting highly conserved proteins that are indispensable for the virus life cycle, such as the 3C protease. Previously, two single-chain antibody fragments, YDF and GGVV, were reported to effectively inhibit human rhinovirus 14 proliferation.

3D-printed model-guided endoscopic evacuation for basal ganglia hemorrhage.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and practicality of 3D-printed model-guided endoscopic surgery for the treatment of basal ganglia hemorrhage. The authors retrospectively analyzed the data of all patients who underwent endoscopic evacuation of basal ganglia hemorrhage in the Department of Neurosurgery at Dalang Hospital and Shipai Hospital between December 2017 and February 2019. Twelve patients, in whom the 3D-printed model guidance was used for endoscopic evacuation, were included in this investigation.

Allosteric inhibition of CRISPR-Cas9 by bacteriophage-derived peptides.

Background: CRISPR-Cas9 has been developed as a therapeutic agent for various infectious and genetic diseases. In many clinically relevant applications, constitutively active CRISPR-Cas9 is delivered into human cells without a temporal control system. Excessive and prolonged expression of CRISPR-Cas9 can lead to elevated off-target cleavage.

Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Catheter for Transradial Cerebral Angiography.

Background: The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel catheter for right radial artery approach cerebral angiography.

Methods: Patients from the Neurology Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography of either the left vertebral artery dominant type or balanced type were enrolled in this study.

Results: A total of 167 patients were treated between February 2016 and December 2017, of whom 44 were excluded based on study exclusion criteria and 123 were enrolled in the present analysis.

A new method for calculating the desired laminoplasty opening size based on the target sagittal canal diameter before single-door cervical laminoplasty.

Purpose: To build a mathematical model which could calculate the desired laminoplasty opening size (LOS) based on the target sagittal canal diameter (SCD) before single-door cervical laminoplasty (SDCL) when taking the effects of surgery drill into consideration.

Methods: The model was based on geometric analysis on deformation of spinal canal; the formula was derived and characterized as: y (mm) = 2 [Formula: see text] × sin(β/2) = c - d (y is the size of LOS, [Formula: see text] the size of transverse canal diameter, β the size of laminoplasty opening size, c the size of mini-plate and d the diameter of the drill bit used during the surgery operation). The parameters of pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans of 20 patients who had undergone SDCL were measured by the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) software and a new instrument named as Lei's ruler, respectively.

Survival in 222 Patients With Severe CSCI: An 8-Year Epidemiologic Survey in Western China.

Objective: To assess the survival and the predictors of mortality in patients with severe cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCI).

Design: Retrospective study.

Participants: From January 1, 2010, to May 31, 2018, patients who suffered from severe CSCIs in Western China were enrolled in this study (N=222).

The Effect of Vascular Morphology on Selective Left Vertebral Artery Catheterization in Right-sided Radial Artery Cerebral Angiography.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine, via retrospective study, the effects of vascular morphology and related factors on the success of selective arterial catheterization of the left vertebral artery when approached via right-sided radial artery cerebral angiography.

Methods: Patients who had undergone diagnostic cerebral angiography were enrolled, and their medical history, catheter type, and vessel morphology were analyzed.

Results: A total of 205 patients were enrolled in this study from February 2014 to December 2015.

Crystal structure of the post-fusion core of the Human coronavirus 229E spike protein at 1.86 Å resolution.

Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) usually causes mild upper respiratory infections in heathy adults, but may lead to severe complications or mortality in individuals with weakened immune systems. Virus entry of HCoV-229E is mediated by its spike (S) protein, where the S1 domain facilitates attachment to host cells and the S2 domain is involved in subsequent fusion of the virus and host membranes. During the fusion process, two heptad repeats, HR1 and HR2, in the S2 domain assemble into a six-helix membrane-fusion structure termed the fusion core.

Crystal Structure of ATP-Bound Human ABCF1 Demonstrates a Unique Conformation of ABC Proteins.

Gene translation requires the correct selection of start codon AUG in mRNA. ATP-binding cassette subfamily F member 1 (ABCF1) plays a key role in the accuracy of start codon selection. However, the function of human ABCF1 is not clearly understood.

On the strong convergence for weighted sums of negatively superadditive dependent random variables.

In this article, some strong convergence results for weighted sums of negatively superadditive dependent random variables are studied without assumption of identical distribution. The results not only generalize the corresponding ones of Cai (Metrika 68:323-331, 2008) and Sung (Stat. Pap.