Gingipains disrupt bone homeostasis via dual regulation of osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis through exosomal miR-146a-5p/TRAF6 signaling.

Background: Gingipains are virulence factors released by that contribute to periodontal destruction by disrupting bone metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the dual effects of gingipains on bone metabolism by examining their impact on osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis, hypothesizing that gingipains regulate these processes via direct and exosomal pathways involving microRNA signaling.

Methods: Clinical samples of gingival crevicular fluid, subgingival plaque, and gingival tissues were collected from 15 patients with stage III-IV periodontitis and 15 healthy controls.

Exploration of dietary patterns in southern China: application-based comparison of factor analysis and latent class analysis.

Background: In recent years, compared with traditional dietary analysis (simply focused on individual nutrients or foods), the analysis of dietary patterns has emerged as a comprehensive approach. This study aims to explore the dietary patterns of residents in a certain region of southern China through factor and latent class analysis (LCA), and compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods, providing data support for future research.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using random stratified cluster sampling in the Gaozhou County, Maoming, Guangdong Province, China.

Lung ultrasound findings and therapeutic outcome in a cat with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax caused by paragonimiasis.

Case Summary: A 1-year-old intact female domestic shorthair cat presented for evaluation of worsening respiratory distress and tachypnoea. The cat had been diagnosed with spontaneous pneumothorax 4 days earlier by the primary clinician and treated with therapeutic thoracocentesis. On physical examination, the patient exhibited decreased lung sounds, tachypnoea and increased breathing effort.

Partnership Model of Regionalized Care for Congenital Heart Disease in Resource-Limited Settings: Results From the ASSIST Project.

Background: Equal access to care for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) remains unrealized globally. The ASSIST project (Academic Medical Hospitals-Local Institutions collaboration) is an ongoing national quality initiative implemented in low-resource settings in China attempting to reduce gaps in access to CHD care. This study sought to evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness.

Structural basis of auxin recognition and transport by the plant influx carrier AUX1.

Auxin regulates numerous aspects of plant growth and development, featuring polar auxin transport mediated by auxin efflux and influx carriers. AUX1 is the major auxin importer that actively takes up natural and synthetic auxins. However, the precise mechanisms underlying AUX1-mediated auxin recognition and transport remain elusive.

Right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy for surgical repair of paediatric ventricular septal defect: a propensity score matched cohort study.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and learning curve of a right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (RVIAT) in the surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Methods: Clinical outcomes in paediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing VSD operations between 2018 and 2021 in 2 tertiary hospitals were reviewed retrospectively. After 1:1 propensity score matching, patients undergoing an RVIAT were compared with those undergoing a median sternotomy (MS).

outer membrane vesicles increase ICAM-1 neutrophils exhibiting elevated NET formation via ROS-PAD4 signaling.

Background: (), as an anaerobic Gram-negative coccus, produces outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) to promote bacterial colonization and periodontitis progress. Neutrophils are the first immune cells during bacterial stimulation, while neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are the early triggers in the progress of periodontitis. However, the interactions between neutrophils and are still unknown.

Alterations in tidal volume over recording time during pulmonary function testing by barometric whole-body plethysmography in client-owned cats: a multicenter retrospective investigation.

Background: Pulmonary function assessment in small animal clinical patients typically relies on tidal breathing analysis, such as placing cats in a barometric whole-body plethysmography (BWBP) chamber. Despite its wide application in various clinical scenarios, the recording time for BWBP has not been standardized. Variability in resting tidal volume (TV) during natural breathing is significant, impacting the detection of airflow limitation in obstructive airway disease.

Structure and transport mechanism of human riboflavin transporters.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is the precursor of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which act as key cofactors of many enzymes, thus has essential roles in cell growth and functions. Animals cannot synthesize riboflavin in situ, the intake, distribution and metabolism of which are mediated by three riboflavin transporters (RFVT1-3). Many mutations in RFVTs cause severe consequences.

Serological Surveillance and Risk Factor Analysis for Parrot Bornavirus in Taiwan.

Parrots are traded globally and pose a substantial risk for disease transmission involving parrot-specific pathogens. Parrot bornavirus (PaBV) belongs to the family and encompasses two clades: (PaBV-1 to -4, PaBV-7, and -8) and (PaBV-5 and PaBV-6). These clades cause proventricular dilatation disease, a chronic disease affecting all parrot species.

3D/1D Perovskite Heterojunction for High-Performance Direct X-ray Detector.

Due to the strong X-ray attenuation coefficient, high carrier mobility-lifetime product, remarkable detection efficiency, and high-resolution imaging capability, metal halide perovskites have attracted increasing attention in the field of X-ray detection, known as promising candidates for next-generation high-performance radiation monitoring semiconductor materials. However, critical challenges, such as high dark current and pronounced ion migration, particularly in 3D perovskites, hinder their practical applications. Here, a unique 3D/1D perovskite heterojunction is presented as an effective strategy to address these limitations, where a distinctive, crisscross-structured 1D perovskite crystal with a planar and smooth surface is synthesized to form a robust interface with the 3D perovskite crystal.

A retrospective study to investigate the prevalence and describe the clinicopathological characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of HER2-low Breast Cancer in Taiwan.

Background: The binary classification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) as HER2-positive [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 2+/in situ hybridization (ISH)+ or 3+] or HER2-negative (IHC 0, 1+, or 2+/ISH-) has been reassessed due to the efficacy of an anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH-) unresectable/metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients. However, little is known about the prevalence and outcomes of HER2-low mBC in Taiwan.

Methods: This retrospective study rescored archived HER2 IHC slides of HER2-negative unresectable/mBC patients diagnosed from 2017 to 2020.

Prostaglandin E2 alleviates inflammatory response and lung injury through EP4/cAMP/IKK/NF-κB pathway.

Purpose: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a pivotal lipid metabolite, plays a dual role in inflammation, manifesting both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, which are significantly influenced by the cellular microenvironment and receptor subtype. Although recent studies have highlighted the anti-inflammatory potential of PGE2, its role in toll-like receptor (TLR)-associated inflammation and the underlying mechanisms have not fully elucidated. Consequently, the primary aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory efficacy of PGE2 in TLR-related inflammation and to elucidate the associated mechanisms.

Valsartan to Prevent Acquired Pulmonary Vein Stenosis in Pediatric Patients After Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Surgery.

Background: Recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) following surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is associated with poor prognosis. Preclinical studies have shown that use of an angiotensin receptor blocker can attenuate intimal hyperplasia; notwithstanding, its clinical utility is of uncertain benefit.

Methods: This single-center study included patients undergoing total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair in 2020 to 2021.

Identification of ferroptosis-related genes in periodontitis through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation.

Background: Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease of periodontal tissues. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, which is characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and involved in various inflammatory diseases. This study aims to identify ferroptosis-related genes associated with periodontitis and further validate their relevance through in vitro experiments.

Impact of Various Detectable Interdental Clinical Attachment Loss Thresholds on the Estimated Prevalence, Stage and Extent of Periodontitis Based on the EFP/AAP Definition.

Aims: To investigate the influence of different detectable interdental clinical attachment loss (CAL) thresholds on estimated prevalence, stage and extent of periodontitis and to assess the influence of three methods in upgrading stage III cases to stage IV in completed surveys.

Materials And Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 data of 7651 adults were used. The CDC/AAP definition and the EFP/AAP definition with interdental CAL of 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm as the detectable threshold were applied.

Enhanced breathing effort in pulmonary function tests by CO2/O2 gas mixture and barometric whole-body plethysmography in healthy and feline lower airway disease cats.

Objective: Enhancing ventilatory effort during pulmonary function testing can help reveal flow limitations not evident in normal tidal breathing. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of using a CO2/O2 gas mixture to enhance tidal breathing with a barometric whole-body plethysmography system in both healthy cats and those with feline lower airway disease (FLAD).

Methods: This prospective study included healthy cats and those with FLAD, which underwent pulmonary function testing and were exposed to a 10% CO2/90% O2 gas mixture in a barometric whole-body plethysmography chamber, with CO2 concentrations maintained within the target range of 5% to 10%.

Structural insights into glucose-6-phosphate recognition and hydrolysis by human G6PC1.

The glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) is an integral membrane protein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and plays a vital role in glucose homeostasis. Dysregulation or genetic mutations of G6Pase are associated with diabetes and glycogen storage disease 1a (GSD-1a). Studies have characterized the biophysical and biochemical properties of G6Pase; however, the structure and substrate recognition mechanism of G6Pase remain unclear.

Exploring effects of a booster workshop on progression and retention of resuscitation skills of residents when added to regular low-dose simulation.

Background: Improving the resuscitation and teamwork skills of residents is key to better outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest events. This study aims to explore the effects of regular low-dose simulation combined with a booster workshop on the progression and retention of resuscitation skills and teamwork among residents.

Methods: This comparative study took place at a teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan from August 2019 to June 2021.

Detection of Amyloid-β Peptides in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Its Effect on Oral Pathogens.

Periodontitis is the most common oral inflammatory disease, contributing to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, a full investigation has not been performed on the expression level of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and its effects on oral pathogens. This study aimed to analyze the expression level of Aβ peptides in GCF of patients with periodontitis and the effects of Aβ peptides against common oral pathogens.

The modified exhaust method is used in open-heart surgery for cardiopulmonary bypass in children with congenital heart disease.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a modified exhaust method in pediatric open-heart surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass.

Method: Data from 303 cases conducted at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guizhou Hospital, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, between October 2023 and March 2024 were analyzed. Among these cases, 202 utilized the modified exhaust method, divided into group A (101 cases with median thoracotomy) and group C (101 cases with lateral thoracotomy), while 101 cases used the traditional exhaust method in group B (median thoracotomy).