Interventional treatment combined with immunotargeted therapy in unresectable combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: a real-world retrospective cohort study.

Background: Evidence-based treatment for unresectable combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) has not been established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of interventional treatment combined with immunotargeted therapy (IIT) in unresectable cHCC-CCA patients.

Methods: Patients with a histological diagnosis of unresectable cHCC-CCA who received IIT therapy from January 2019 to March 2024 were retrospectively enrolled.

Effect of the exposure to brominated flame retardants on hyperuricemia using interpretable machine learning algorithms based on the SHAP methodology.

Background: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are classified as important endocrine disruptors and persistent organic pollutants; nevertheless, there is no comprehensive investigation to evaluate the association between BFRs and hyperuricemia, and the available studies related to this field are exceptionally scarce.

Methods: For this study, we enrolled 3,812 individuals from NHANES 2005-2016, with nine different types of BFRs serving as the exposure. We conducted advanced machine learning techniques, along with regression analysis to validate our findings from diverse perspectives.

Environmental enrichment promotes functional recovery from stroke via enhancing neuroplasticity through the action of -HB.

Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability worldwide, unfortunately, no drugs are clinically available to promote functional recovery after stroke. Although animal environmental enrichment is a recognized paradigm for promoting stroke repair, elusive mechanisms hinder its clinical translation. Here, we show that β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) level in the peri-infarct cortex is upregulated after environmental enrichment (EE) exposure.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and structural stability analysis of a rare acidic catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from the metagenome of coal-polluted soil.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that pose substantial health hazards, especially in coal-mining areas. This study presented the metagenomic identification and comprehensive characterization of a novel acidic catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, C23O927, derived from a coal-contaminated soil metagenome. Optimal enzymatic activity for C23O927 was observed at pH 4.

Global burden of thyroid cancer among adolescents and young adults, 1990-2021, and projections to 2050: an analysis based on the GBD 2021.

Objective: To evaluate the global burden of thyroid cancer (TC) among adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 15-39 years from 1990 to 2021, with projections to 2050, and identify demographic and regional disparities.

Methods: Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data, we analyzed incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across 204 countries. Time-series projections to 2050 were generated using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models.

MTCH2 Suppresses Thermogenesis by Regulating Autophagy in Adipose Tissue.

Stimulating adipose tissue thermogenesis has emerged as a promising strategy for combating obesity, with uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) playing a central role in this process. However, the mechanisms that suppress adipose thermogenesis and energy dissipation in obesity are not fully understood. This study identifies mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 (MTCH2), an obesity susceptibility gene, as a negative regulator of energy homeostasis across flies, rodents, and humans.

Inverse association between dietary flavonoid intake and nocturia in middle-aged and older adults from NHANES 2007-2010.

Nocturia is an increasingly prevalent chronic disease that affects the quality of an individual's life. The prevalence of nocturia exceeds 50% among older adults in the U.S.

Effect of trace elements and nutrients on 21 autoimmune diseases: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Numerous clinical studies have observed a close relationship between serum trace elements, nutrients, and autoimmune diseases. However, whether there is a genetic causal effect between serum trace elements, nutrients, and autoimmune diseases remains unclear.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the causal effects of serum trace elements and nutrients on 21 autoimmune diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR).

The effect of green tea on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis.

Background: To systematically evaluate the effect of green tea on patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A computer search Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and other Chinese and English databases were conducted for randomized controlled trials of green tea in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. The duration of these trials spanned from the establishment of the database to January 10, 2024.

A rapid and reproducible method for generating germ-free .

Microbial communities exert a profound influence on various facets of animal behavior and physiology, making the comprehension of their interactions with hosts or the environment essential. , a widely recognized model organism, has been pivotal in elucidating host-microbe interactions. Despite the existence of several protocols for generating germ-free (GF) , their reproducibility has been constrained by the technical difficulty of maintaining airtight conditions in centrifuge tubes.

Genetically predicted serum metabolites mediate the association between inflammatory proteins and polycystic ovary syndrome: a Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: To investigate the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and inflammatory proteins, and to identify and quantify the role of serum metabolites as potential mediators.

Methods: Utilizing summary-level data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, a genetic approach that uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to assess the causal relationships between risk factors and outcomes. This analysis involved genetically predicted PCOS (1,639 cases and 218,970 controls) and inflammatory proteins (14,824 participants of primarily European descent).

Adherence to higher Life's Essential 8 scores is linearly associated with reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among US adults with metabolic syndrome: Results from NHANES 2005-2018.

Background: Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is the American Heart Association (AHA)'s recently updated assessment of cardiovascular health (CVH). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most common chronic noncommunicable diseases associated with CVH impairment and an increased risk of mortality. However, the association of LE8 with all-cause and disease-specific mortality in the MetS population remains unknown.

[Correlations of Ultrasound Features With Gene Mutations and Pathologic Subtypes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma].

The prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is highly dependent on gene mutations and pathologic features.The common gene mutations in PTC include BRAF V600E,RET/PTC rearrangement,and RAS mutations.These mutations have been suggested to be associated with an increased risk of recurrence,poorer efficacy of postoperative radioactive iodine therapy,and reduced survival.

Knocking down RAD51AP1 enhances chemosensitivity by inhibiting the self-renewal of CD133 positive ovarian cancer stem-like cells.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the function of RAD51AP1 in the self-renewal and chemosensitivity of CD133 positive (CD133) ovarian cancer (OC) stem-like cells.

Methods: CD133 (CD133 positive) OVCAR4 and CD133 negative (CD133) OVCAR4 cells were separated from OVCAR4 by flow cytometry. Then, the separated CD133OVCAR4 cells were divided into the following groups: Vector group; RAD51AP1 group; siNC group; si-RAD51AP1 group.

Integrating Mendelian randomization and single-cell RNA sequencing to identify therapeutic targets of baicalin for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Alternative and complementary therapies play an imperative role in the clinical management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and exploring and utilizing natural products from a genetic perspective may yield novel insights into the mechanisms and interventions of the disorder.

Methods: To identify the therapeutic target of baicalin for T2DM, we conducted a Mendelian randomization study. Druggable targets of baicalin were obtained by integrating multiple databases, and target-associated cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) originated from the eQTLGen consortium.

Activation of pregnane X receptor protects against cholestatic liver injury by inhibiting hepatocyte pyroptosis.

Our previous study shows that activation of pregnane X receptor (PXR) exerts hepatoprotection against lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced cholestatic liver injury. In this study we investigated whether PXR activation could inhibit hepatocyte pyroptosis, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Male mice were treated with mouse PXR agonist pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN, 50 mg·kg·d, i.

Association of circulating inflammatory proteins with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that immune response underlies the pathology of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nevertheless, the specific inflammatory regulators involved in this pathogenesis remain unclear.

Methods: We systematically explored circulating inflammatory proteins that are causally associated with T2D via a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study and further investigated them in prevalent complications of T2D.

Tailoring d-band center of high-valent metal-oxo species for pollutant removal via complete polymerization.

Polymerization-driven removal of pollutants in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) offers a sustainable way for the simultaneous achievement of contamination abatement and resource recovery, supporting a low-carbon water purification approach. However, regulating such a process remains a great challenge due to the insufficient microscopic understanding of electronic structure-dependent reaction mechanisms. Herein, this work probes the origin of catalytic pollutant polymerization using a series of transition metal (Cu, Ni, Co, and Fe) single-atom catalysts and identifies the d-band center of active site as the key driver for polymerization transfer of pollutants.

Establishing psychometric properties of the older volunteer competency scale in the community.

Aim(s): To investigate the factorial structure, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency of the Older Volunteer Competency Scale and establish its psychometric properties.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Methods: A total of 1,000 older volunteers were recruited through random sampling and asked to complete the Older Volunteer Competency Scale.

Association between the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Thyroid Function in U.S. Adults.

Background: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is used as an indicator of prognosis for a wide range of diseases. Thyroid function has been found to be strongly associated with inflammation. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the correlation between SII and various thyroid functions.

Precursor ions-guided comprehensive profiling of triterpenoid saponins from the Eleutherococcus senticosus stems and their neuroprotective effect evaluation.

Triterpenoid saponins (TS) are the main constituents of Eleutherococcus senticosus, also termed as Siberian ginseng or Ciwujia, a widely used herb in China, Japan, Korea, and Russia for its beneficial effects on memory enhancement, tonifying, heart-nourishing, and tranquilizing. Although the stems, rhizomes, and roots are used identically, a preliminary experiment found TS were specifically distributed in stems rather than the underground parts. However, a comprehensive profiling of the TS compounds in E.

The correlation of two bone turnover markers with bone mineral density: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: Exploring the correlation between bone turnover marks (BTMs) with lumbar BMD in middle-aged populations.

Methods: The cross-sectional analysis fetched data came from NHANES. The level of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (sBAP) and urinary N-telopeptide (uNTx) were regarded as representative of bone turnover.

The roles of natural triterpenoid saponins against Alzheimer's disease.

The aging of the world population and increasing stress levels in life are the major cause of the increased incidence of neurological disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) creates a huge burden on the lives and health of individuals and has become a big concern for society. Triterpenoid saponins (TS), representative natural product components, have a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities such as anti-inflammation, antioxidation, antiapoptosis, hormone-like, and gut microbiota regulation.

[Influencing Factors and Prediction Model of Performance of Needle Visualization in Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules].

Objective To investigate the influencing factors and establish a model predicting the performance of needle visualization in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. Methods This study prospectively included 175 patients who underwent FNA of thyroid nodules in the Department of Ultrasound in China-Japan Friendship Hospital and compared the display of the needle tips in the examination of 199 thyroid nodules before and after the application of needle visualization.We recorded the location,the positional relationship with thyroid capsule,ultrasonic characteristics,and the distribution of the soft tissue strip structure at the puncture site of the nodules with unclear needle tips display before using needle visualization.

[Nomogram-Based Prediction of Risk of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma].

Objective To establish a nomogram for predicting the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods The patients with complete clinical data of DTC and cervical lymph node ultrasound and diagnosed based on pathological evidence from January 2019 to December 2021 were assigned into a training group (=444) and a validation group (=125).Lasso regression was performed to screen the data with differences between groups,and multivariate Logistic regression to establish a prediction model with the factors screened out by Lasso regression.