Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Vascular Disease in Valvular Heart Surgery: A Multi-Centre Study.

Background: The clinical significance of atherosclerotic disease in more than one vascular bed, that is, polyvascular disease, in valvular heart surgery remains poorly understood. This study aims to establish the prevalence and prognostic value of polyvascular disease for long-term outcomes after valvular heart surgery.

Methods: Patients receiving valvular heart surgery at two tertiary centres from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021 were identified.

Computed tomography derived FFR and plaque features in prognosis of aortic stenosis combined with coronary artery disease after TAVR.

To assess the value of computed tomography angiography (CTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) and high-risk plaque characteristics (HRPC) in the prediction of prognosis in patients with concomitant aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The study was a post hoc analysis from a multicenter TAVR registry. Patients with AS and obstructive CAD who underwent successful TAVR treatment were enrolled.

Tunable Site Selectivity and Chemo- and Regioselectivity: Diversification of Indole Alkaloid Privileged Scaffolds Enabled by λ-Iodane-Mediated Cross-Nucleophile Coupling Cascade.

Amidst nature's repertoire of small molecule architectures, indole alkaloid-derived privileged scaffolds continuously support innovation in bioactive compound discovery and propel fragment-based drug design. Herein, we realized a metal-free, site-selective, and chemo- and regioselective cross-nucleophile coupling cascade of pluripotent indole-enamine-aniline intermediates by use of λ-iodane-mediated umpolung chemistry. The protocol is applicable toward the divergent synthesis of valuable benzo[]indolo[3,2-][2,6]naphthyridines and azepino[4,5-]indoles, which are very important privileged scaffolds in communesin-, peroforamidine-, and iboga-type alkaloids.

NRG1 fusion glycoproteins in cancer progression - Structural mechanisms and therapeutic potential: A review.

Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein ligand of the ErbB receptor family, playing a critical role in macromolecular signaling that regulates cell growth and survival. Chromosomal rearrangements can fuse NRG1 to other genes, creating oncogenic variants that hijack ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling. The resulting chimeric fusion proteins retain the EGF-like domain of NRG1, enabling aberrant dimerization and sustained activation of ErbB2/ErbB3 macromolecular complexes, which in turn activate downstream pathways such as PI3K-AKT and MAPK.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Quadricuspid vs Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Importance: Congenital aortic valve disease predominantly manifests as bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), while quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is considerably rarer. Whether outcomes vary between these 2 types of congenital aortic valve disease remains unknown.

Objective: To compare outcomes between patients with QAV and patients with BAV.

Increased Propofol Sensitivity Associated With Hearing Loss in Patients Undergoing Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Propofol is widely used in neurosurgery, with its dosage typically based on patient weight and variability. While factors like age, sex, and cognitive function are known to influence propofol requirements, the impact of preoperative hearing function remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between hearing loss and propofol sensitivity in vestibular schwannoma surgery patients.

Interaction between the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score and vitamin D deficiency on left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired diastolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Fibrosis Score (NFS), vitamin D deficiency, and their interaction on the Left Ventricle (LV) structure and diastolic function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: A total of 595 T2DM patients were recruited and stratified according to NFS grades (low, intermediate, and high) and the level of serum 25(OH)D (with and without vitamin D deficiency). Parameters of LV structure and diastolic dysfunction were measured by echocardiography.

DNA damage response pathway regulates Nrf2 in response to oxidative stress.

Nrf2 acts as a transcriptional master regulator to orchestrate antioxidant responses and maintain redox balance. However, the cellular pathway for translating oxidative stress signals into Nrf2-dependent antioxidant responses remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as signaling molecules in modulating Nrf2's stability and transcriptional activity by activating the DNA damage response (DDR) signaling pathway.

Caregiver Presence Needs and Their Influencing Factors Among Hospitalized Elderly Non-Surgical Patients.

Objective To analyze the caregiver presence needs and their influencing factors among hospitalized elderly non-surgical patients and provide a basis for formulating relevant policies.Methods A descriptive qualitative study method was adopted.Through purposive sampling,semi-structured interviews were conducted on elderly non-surgical patients and their families and medical staff in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September to October 2023.

Artesunate Mitigates Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury via Lactate/AMPK/mTOR-Regulated Autophagy Based on Multi-Omics.

Background: Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is a form of acute renal failure resulting from a systemic inflammatory response triggered by infection, and has emerged as a significant public health challenge. Prior studies have demonstrated that artesunate (ART) exerts therapeutic effects on S-AKI by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated.

Autophagy induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis aggravates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via YAP/TAZ-miR-21-5p axis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a keystone pathogen in adult periodontitis, is linked to an increased risk of many cancers. Although autophagy stimulated by P.

Mechanistic insights into the renoprotective effects of artesunate in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe clinical syndrome marked by rapid renal function decline. Cisplatin (Cis) is a commonly used chemotherapy agent; however, its clinical application has been restricted due to its nephrotoxicity. Artesunate (ART), derived from Artemisia annua, has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on HbA1c variability and cardiovascular and renal adverse outcome in patients with T2DM.

Aims: To compare the effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in reducing haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variability and improving cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and high HbA1c variability.

Methods: This territory-wide cohort study involved patients with T2DM and an HbA1c variability score (HVS) >60% who initiated SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP-4 inhibitors in Hong Kong between 2015 and 2022. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to adjust for confounders.

Meta-analysis of the Effect of Semaglutide on Blood Pressure in Obese Populations.

Objective: The aim was to systematically evaluate the effect of semaglutide on blood pressure in obese populations using meta-analysis methods.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials on the effect of semaglutide on blood pressure regulation published from the inception of the databases to October 2024 were searched for in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Stata software was used for statistical analysis of the outcome measures in all included studies.

Study on the mechanism of niclosamide ethanolamine salt-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in the treatment of colon cancer based on metabolomics and 16S rRNA technology.

Niclosamide (NIC) has anti-tumor activity and less side effects on the body, but its instability and solubility limit its wide application. Niclosamide ethanolamine salt (NES), a derivative of niclosamide, exhibits better solubility than niclosamide, but the anti-tumor activity and solubility are not still ideal. In this study, Niclosamide ethanolamine salt-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (NHC) was formed by using Niclosamide ethanolamine salt as the raw material and containing it in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin to improve the solubility and bioavailability of NES.

Integrated Care Using the ABC Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke.

Background: A recent position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke proposed an integrated ABC pathway to optimise post-stroke management. We evaluated the impact of ABC pathway adherence on post-stroke cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: Patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke in Hong Kong between 2006 and 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Effects of alginate oligosaccharides on the growth performance, immunity, and intestinal health of the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatu ♂).

We investigated the influence of alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) on the growth performance and health of the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatu ♂). Five trial diets with varying AOS inclusion (0.00 %, 0.

Arrestin-biased allosteric modulator of neurotensin receptor 1 alleviates acute and chronic pain.

G-protein-biased agonists have been shown to enhance opioid analgesia by circumventing β-arrestin-2 (βarr2) signaling. We previously reported that SBI-553, a neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1)-positive allosteric modulator biased toward βarr2 signaling, attenuates psychostimulant effects in mice. Here, we demonstrate that its analog, SBI-810, exhibits potent antinociceptive properties in rodent models of postoperative pain, inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain via systemic and local administration.

Predictive value of fecal sulfatide and neutrophil-to‑lymphocyte ratio in coronary heart disease.

The incidence of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is on the rise, posing a serious threat to public health. Emerging evidence highlights the interplay between systemic inflammation and cardiovascular pathophysiology, suggesting novel diagnostic avenues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of fecal sulfatide and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), both individually and in combination, for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Flexible porous organic polymers with 1,2-diol subunits favoring the high loading of Pd nanoparticles.

In recent years, the flexibility of porous organic polymers has demonstrated very unique properties during their applications. This paper reports a novel soluble porous polymer (named BIT-POP-75 and BIT-POP-75-OH) with 1,2-diketone and 1,2-diol subunits in the flexible polymer chain using contorted subunits. The solubility of the porous polymer and the flexible chelating 1,2-diol moiety facilitates the high loading and uniform dispersion of Pd nanoparticles to give the catalyst Pd@BIT-POP-75-OH, which shows high efficiency ( = 0.

Evaluating the efficacy of a smartphone application in reducing preoperative anxiety in children: A randomised controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Preoperative anxiety is a common issue in paediatric patients, which can negatively impact perioperative outcomes. While various interventions have been explored, the use of smartphone applications (apps) remains underinvestigated. This study aims to evaluate whether a specific smartphone app offering video-based tools can effectively alleviate perioperative anxiety in children.

Z-drugs are associated with cardiovascular outcomes among patients with heart failure: a population-based cohort study in Hong Kong.

Aims: Patients with heart failure (HF) often suffered from concomitant insomnia. Non-benzodiazepine GABA receptor agonists (Z-drugs) are hypnotics commonly used for treating insomnia. The effect of Z-drugs on the outcomes of patients with HF is nonetheless sparse.

Enhanced anticancer activity of graphene oxide quantum dot@Cu nanocomposites cation-π interactions.

Despite extensive efforts in the exploration of anticancer drugs, enhancing their anticancer activity and simultaneously overcoming drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, based on cation-π interactions, we prepared graphene oxide quantum dot@Cu (GOQD@Cu) nanocomposites and observed a transition in the valence state of copper ions from Cu to Cu on the graphite surface. As a result, the anticancer activity of GOQD@Cu nanocomposites against HeLa cells exhibited a 2-fold and 1.

Association of atrial cardiopathy and residual shunt after patent foramen ovale closure in patients experiencing migraine.

Aims: Migraine is a prevalent and incapacitating condition. The association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and migraine-type headaches has been extensively documented. In clinical practice, patients may observe residual shunting after PFO closure.

Integrated network pharmacology, proteomics, molecular docking, and experiments in vivo and in vitro to explore the efficacy and potential mechanism of bufalin against hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bufalin is a potent bioactive compound extracted from the venom of toads such as Bufo gargarizans. It has rich pharmacological effects, and its traditional applications mainly include anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, especially in cancer treatment, which has been a hot topic of research. Prior research has suggested that bufalin may have anti-tumor angiogenic effects.