Social support and adolescent mental health in Kenya: a parallel mediation analysis of perceived control and gratitude.

Introduction: Adolescent mental health is a global concern. While social support is a known protective factor, the mechanisms through which it impacts mental health, particularly in diverse settings like Kenya, require further exploration. This study aimed to investigate how perceived control and gratitude mediate the relationship between social support and mental health (symptoms of depression and anxiety) among Kenyan adolescents.

Biased Usage of V/D/J Genes and Clonal Diversity in IgG Repertoires Correlates with Disease Activity and Clinical Features in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases.

Objective: To examine whether features of the B cell receptor (BCR) IgG repertoire correlate with disease activity and clinical phenotypes in systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs).

Methods: High-throughput sequencing was performed on IgG heavy chain repertoires from 138 patients with SAIDs, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma (SSc), and idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), as well as 36 healthy controls (HC). We analyzed V/D/J gene usage, clonal distribution and diversity, CDR3 length distribution and amino acid usage, and the correlation between specific BCR features and clinical features.

Tissue metabolomics reveals metabolic dysregulation associated with intimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous fistula stenosis.

Objective: This study performed untargeted LC-MS metabolomics on venous tissues from maintenance hemodialysis patients undergoing arteriovenous fistula (AVF) reconstruction surgery.

Methods: A total of six stenotic and six non-stenotic AVF tissues were analyzed. Paired samples were collected from stenotic AVF segments and non-stenotic regions (control group).

Multi-Ancestry Mendelian Randomization Reveals Lipid-Associated Genetic Risk Factors for COPD.

Background: Previous Mendelian randomization (MR) studies investigating the causal relationship between lipid traits and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have primarily focused on individuals of European (EUR) ancestry, limiting the generalizability of findings. This study aimed to address this limitation.

Methods: Summary-level data for individuals of East Asian (EAS), African (AFR), and Hispanic (HIS) ancestry were obtained from large-scale genetic databases.

Risk factors of linezolid-associated hyponatremia from a retrospective case-control study: decreased serum albumin as a selective predictor in elder patients.

Background: The incidence of linezolid-associated hyponatremia is approximately 20% in real-world studies. However, there are limited case reports and rare research on linezolid-induced hyponatremia. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with linezolid-induced hyponatremia, particularly in older patients.

The value of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of periampullary mass.

Background: Periampullary masses encompass both benign and malignant lesions that are clinically challenging to differentiate. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CH-EUS) for periampullary masses and compare its performance with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 54 patients with pathologically confirmed malignant periampullary masses or benign lesions validated by ≥1-year follow-up.

Polyglutamic acid and Pluronic F127-based hydrogel for loading sinomenine hydrochloride liposomes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Sinomenine hydrochloride (SNH), a key therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is limited by its low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and frequent dosing requirements. This study innovatively developed a composite delivery system (SNH-Lip@PPGels) based on polyglutamic acid-poloxamer F127 thermosensitive hydrogel-encapsulated liposomes. In vitro drug release conformed to the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model, demonstrating sustained-release characteristics.

Deepath-MSI: a clinic-ready deep learning model for microsatellite instability detection in colorectal cancer using whole-slide imaging.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is crucial for immunotherapy selection and Lynch syndrome diagnosis in colorectal cancer. Despite recent advances in deep learning algorithms using whole-slide images, achieving clinically acceptable specificity remains challenging. In this large-scale multicenter study, we developed Deepath-MSI, a feature-based multiple instances learning model specifically designed for sensitive and specific MSI prediction, using 5070 whole-slide images from seven diverse cohorts.

Preparation of -Derived Immune Modulators and Alleviation of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immune Suppression and Intestinal Microbiota Dysbiosis in Mice.

With the acceleration of the pace of life, increased stress levels, and changes in lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, the incidence of diseases such as cancer and immunodeficiency has been on the rise, which is closely associated with the impaired antioxidant capacity of the body. Polypeptides and polysaccharides derived from edible fungi demonstrate significant strong antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory effects. , the second most cultivated mushroom in China, is not only nutritionally rich but also offers considerable health benefits.

Combinations of A1-R, Recombinant Methioninase, and Chloroquine, Each Targeting Fundamental Cancer Hallmarks, Are Selectively Effective on Colon Cancer Cells Compared to Normal Fibroblasts.

Background/aim: Metastatic colon cancer is a recalcitrant disease. Previous studies have shown efficacy of A1-R (A1-R), recombinant methioninase (rMETase), and chloroquine (CQ) on cancer cells as they target fundamental hallmarks of cancer. The present study examined these agents alone and all combinations against colon-cancer cells compared to normal fibroblasts.

Aberrant Enhancer Regulation, Phase Separation, and Autoimmune Diseases.

In the intricate regulation of gene expression, multiple regulatory elements play crucial roles. Among these, enhancers stand out as important elements that can boost the activity of promoters and make target genes more likely to be transcribed. Recent studies have revealed that sequence variations and gene rearrangements in enhancer regions could disrupt enhancer-promoter interactions, contributing to disease susceptibility and developmental abnormalities.

Relative sensitivity and preference of indicators in pharmaceutical trials of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: Numerous indicators have been proposed to evaluate the efficacy for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but their comparability and correlation remain unknown. We aim to evaluate the preference and relative sensitivity of the most widely used indicators that report response rate, and to offer guidance for the primary endpoint selection for Pso and PsA trials.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search, including five databases and four registries, to identify all pharmacological intervention-controlled RCTs.

Epidemiology and surgical management of the lower lumbar spinal metastases in China: a multicenter retrospective study.

Between 2000 and 2019, data of hospitalizations with lower lumbar spinal metastasis were extracted from six medical centers in China. A total of 505 patients were identified in this study. Peak patients occurred in the group aged from 60 to 69 years, the age at diagnosis of female patients was 2.

Three Ursolic Acid-Based Amphipathic Supramolecular Hydrogels for Highly Efficient and Reversible Removal of Chromium(VI).

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is an extremely poisonous heavy metal ion that poses a major risk to both human health and the environment. In this study, three types of amphipathic supramolecular hydrogels (C2-MUP, C2-MUBP, and C4-MUP) were prepared using ursolic acid (UA) as a substrate and covalently modified with pyridine (Pyr). The synergistic reduction and adsorption performances of these three hydrogels for the removal of Cr(VI) from water were then evaluated.

Strategies for nanoscale drug delivery systems to evade hepatic uptake.

Research on nanoscale drug delivery systems (NDDS) has grown significantly due to their potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects while offering new approaches for treating various diseases. However, after entering the body, nanoparticles (NPs) undergo substantial hepatic capture, leading to poor extrahepatic targeting and limiting their clinical application. This review begins with an overview of NDDS concepts, characteristics, and medical applications, and then elucidates hepatic uptake and clearance mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of evading hepatic uptake.

Evaluating forecasting models for health service demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We combine daily internet search data and monthly information on medical expenditures for anti-depressants to test two distinct hypotheses in eight Australian states, covering the period from 2020 to 2022. First, whether using daily search data can help predict future demand for health services; and second, whether nowcasting and machine learning models yield better predictions vis-à-vis autoregressive forecast models. Our aim is to assess the use of such data and techniques to improve the planning and possible deployment of health resources across space.

The Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Severe Infection: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and severe infection remains inconclusive. We investigated the potential associations between MetS and its components and severe infection in a large population-based cohort.

Methods: We used data from Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank which includes 35,193 participants who were enrolled in 2016 and 2017 with follow-up until March 2024.

Engineering Anion-Diluent Matrix for Ion-Decoupled Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes toward Highly Stable Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries suffer from electrolyte-induced degradation despite their inherent safety advantages. While localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) mitigate interfacial instability, the excessive cation-anion association elevate ionic transport barriers, resulting in sluggish migration kinetics. Herein, ion-decoupled LHCE (ID-LHCE) are proposed using amphiphilic 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol (TFP) as anion-affinity diluent.

Factors associated with symptom relief in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Symptom relief in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) varies widely, influenced by demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. Identifying factors associated with symptom relief can enhance management strategies for IBS patients.

Objective: This study aimed to examine factors associated with symptom relief in a cohort of IBS patients, focusing on the role of demographic, lifestyle, psychological, and physiological characteristics.

B cell-targeted therapies in autoimmune skin disease: current advances and challenges.

Autoimmune skin diseases (AISDs) constitute a group of skin disorders driven by B cell-mediated autoimmunity or dysregulation of other immune cell populations. AISD can be further divided into systemic autoimmune disease with skin involvement, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and skin-specific autoimmune disease, such as pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Due to autoreactivity, B cells and autoantibody production play a pivotal role in B cell-driven AISDs.

Lipid metabolism, microglia, and stroke.

Microglia, lipids, and their interaction are found to play important roles in post-stroke immunity. Microglia are sensitive to detect environment change in injured brain. Activated microglia undergo phenotypical remodeling and trigger complex signal cascades to regulate immune responses after stroke.

A Novel Experimental Method and Setup to Quantify Evaporation-Induced Foaming Behavior of Polymer Solutions.

This study provides a novel experimental setup and methodology for the quantitative investigation of evaporation-induced foaming behaviors in a polymer/small-molecule solution system (PSMS). In traditional dynamic test methods, it is difficult to precisely describe the evaporation-induced foaming process of a multicomponent solution because the concentration of light components in solution continuously decreases during ebullition, causing undesired changes in foaming behavior. In this study, a precisely controlled condensation reflux module was introduced into the setup to maintain pressure, temperature, and concentration of the PSMS at constant levels during the entire ebullition process, allowing dynamic test methods to quantify the evaporation-induced foamability.

Comparing a Whole Grain Blend with Polished White Rice for Starch Digestibility and Gut Microbiota Fermentation in Diabetic Patients: An In Vitro Study.

The high glycemic index (GI) of polished white rice (WR) presents challenges for blood glucose control in diabetes. This study investigated the in vitro digestibility of a whole grain blend (WGB, composed of black, red, and brown rice) and its effects on the gut microbiota in elderly diabetic individuals. WGB exhibited lower starch digestibility (69.

Immunotherapy versus lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma: the need for granular data and prospective validation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with systemic therapies constituting the cornerstone of treatment for advanced-stage disease. While lenvatinib has been a widely used first-line agent, the advent of immunotherapy-particularly combinations such as atezolizumab-bevacizumab and the durvalumab plus tremelimumab (STRIDE regimen)-has redefined the therapeutic landscape. Recent retrospective and real-world studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the comparative effectiveness of lenvatinib and immunotherapy.