Exploring the effects of altered concentrations of PM and its constituents on the incidence risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and glucose and lipid indicators: a cohort study in Northwestern China.

Background: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and its constituents (SO, NO, NH, OM, BC) is strongly linked to the incidence of diabetes. This study aimed to assess the health benefits of improved air quality on the incidence risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Data from 19,884 participants in the Jinchang Cohort were analyzed.

Severe and enduring prostate cancer burden attributable to smoking among old men amid global decline and socioeconomic disparities.

Prostate cancer (PC) is a significant global health concern, particularly among older men (OM), and smoking is a well-established modifiable risk factor contributing to its incidence and mortality. However, a comprehensive assessment of the global burden of PC attributable to smoking among OM, with specific analyses by age and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions, is still lacking. This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 to systematically analyze the global burden of PC attributable to smoking among OM (aged 55 years and older) from 1990 to 2021.

Microplastic Distribution Patterns in Fish and Implications for Safe Consumption.

Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the ocean and can be ingested by fish. Despite fish being a major source of aquatic protein for humans, no study has yet addressed how to reduce the risk of human exposure to MPs when consuming fish. This study investigated 1,075 fish from 37 species across representative fishing areas, and the presence of MPs in various tissues, such as the gills, guts, and muscles, was analyzed to assess fish food safety comprehensively.

RNA m6A methylation regulates CDH6 to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cholangiocytes of biliary atresia.

Purpose: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is involved in biliary atresia (BA), however the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study aims to explore the involvement of m6A modification and its role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BA cholangiocytes.

Method: A published single-cell RNA sequencing dataset (HRA003163) was analyzed, focusing on cholangiocytes for differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, and correlation analyses.

The value of serial [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in predicting pathological response and evaluating therapeutic efficacy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Objective: To investigate the clinical utility of serial [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT for predicting pathological response and evaluating therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: A total of 64 biopsy-confirmed patients with BC were retrospectively included. Serial [Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT scans were conducted at three time points: prior to NAC (baseline, PET), after two cycles of NAC (interim, PET), and before surgery (pre-surgery, PET).

CXCL6 Is a Novel Biliary Marker and a Downstream Target of MMP7 in Biliary Atresia.

Aim: MMP7 has been identified as a potential biomarker for biliary atresia (BA) diagnosis. However, the mechanism of MMP7 and its downstream signaling pathway remain unknown in the pathogenesis of BA. Herein, this study was performed to figure out MMP7's downstream target.

Deriving a Health-Based Guidance Value for 9,10-Anthraquinone via integrating PBTK modeling-based reverse dosimetry and In Vitro bioassays.

Anthraquinones, both naturally occurring and synthetic, are widely distributed in the environment. Recent years, human exposure to 9,10-anthraquinone (9,10-AQ) through contaminated food has been raising significant health concerns due to its potential toxicity upon chronic exposure. Among these, 9,10-AQ has been studied in traditional toxicology, with few of established Points of Departure (PoDs) and Health-Based Guidance Values (HBGV).

Primary Prostatic Synovial Sarcoma With Intravenous Tumor Thrombus Presented on 18 F-FDG and Al 18 F-Thretide PET/CT.

A 35-year-old man with painful and difficult urination underwent 18 F-FDG and Al 18 F-Thretide PET/CT scans after a pelvic MRI suggested a prostate mass. The 18 F-FDG and Al 18 F-Thretide PET/CT scans revealed a prostate mass accompanied by an intravenous tumor thrombus. Both the prostate mass and the intravenous tumor thrombus demonstrated increased FDG uptake.

Single-cell transcription reveals hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte reprogramming and biliary gene profile in biliary atresia.

Background: Ductular reaction (DR), characterized by the expansion of biliary epithelial cells in the portal area, is a typical hepatic pathology for biliary atresia (BA). The cellular source and function of DR remain poorly understood. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in BA to resolve the complexity of DR in BA.

Challenges of integrating HIV prevention and treatment in China's border mountain regions: a grounded theory study.

Background: HIV remains a critical global public health challenge, with 39 million people living with HIV as of 2022 and over 40.4 million lives lost to the epidemic. In China, the burden is similarly significant, with over 1.

Serum FGF19 combined with GGT and other biomarkers predicted native liver survival following Kasai portoenterostomy in early biliary atresia.

Background: Accurately predicting the prognosis of biliary atresia (BA) prior to Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) remains a challenge. The identification of the specific BA population that may benefit from primary liver transplantation (pLT) instead of KPE remains elusive.

Methods: A total of 196 BA patients and 31 age-matched non-BA cholestasis patients were recruited.

Integration of single-nuclei and spatial transcriptomics to decipher tumor phenotype predictive of relapse-free survival in Wilms tumor.

Background: Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common childhood renal malignancy, with recurrence linked to poor prognosis. Identifying the molecular features of tumor phenotypes that drive recurrence and discovering novel targets are crucial for improving treatment strategies and enhancing patient outcomes.

Methods: Single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics (ST), bulk RNA-seq, and mutation/copy number data were curated from public databases.

Clinical value of [F]AlF-Thretide PET/CT and early-time-point PET acquisition in the detection and staging of prostate cancer.

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of PET/CT with F-labeled ligands targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), as a promising method for prostate cancer (PCa) management. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical value of [F]AlF-Thretide ([F]AlF-PSMA-BCH) PET/CT and early time-point PET acquisition for detecting and staging PCa. From November 2022 to May 2023, a total of 73 PCa patients were included in our study.

Clinical Validation of a Targeted RNA-Sequencing Assay for Driver Gene Alteration Detection in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background And Objective: With the increasing number of diagnostic biomarkers associated with tumor diagnosis, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, access to clinical pathological specimens of an appropriate size for analysis is becoming a problem. Conventional high-throughput sequencing assays for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often necessitate the extraction of separate DNA and RNA samples to achieve precise detection of various mutation types. This study aimed to employ RNA-next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to simultaneously detect different types of mutations in NSCLC samples, including single nucleotide variations, insertions and deletions, fusions/rearrangements, and exon skipping, thereby addressing the issue of limited sample availability.

The role of necroptosis in pathological pregnancies: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.

Necroptosis, a distinctive form of programmed cell death differs mechanistically from apoptosis pyroptosis, and autophagy, is characterized by the activation of receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPK1/RIPK3) and their downstream effector, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). This programmed cell death pathway serves as a crucial mediator of inflammatory responses and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse pathological conditions. Recent evidence has implicated dysregulated necroptosis in the pathogenesis of severe pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR), recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Association of exposure to ambient particulate matter with asthma in children: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

To assess the association between airborne particulate matter (PM) exposure and the development of asthma in children, a systematic review and meta-analysis that included nearly 10 years of related literature was conducted. The study investigators conducted a systematic review of relevant research articles published between March 2013 and March 2023, which were accessible through several medical literature data bases of. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to analyze the effects of PM on childhood asthma.

Clinical Course and Outcome of COVID-19 in Children With Biliary Atresia: A Retrospective Study.

Background And Aims: To investigate the infection status and outcomes of biliary atresia (BA) patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Chinese population.

Methods: This retrospective study involved Kasai-postoperative BA patients who had achieved jaundice-free during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak from December 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023. Children without hepatobiliary diseases hospitalized during the same period were as control group.

Spatiotemporal evolution of PM and its components and drivers in China, 2000-2023: effects of air pollution prevention and control actions in China.

This study evaluated the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) in China using 2000-2023 data. The average annual PM concentration dropped from 46.11 ± 16.

Potential therapeutic effect of dimethyl fumarate on Treg/Th17 cell imbalance in biliary atresia.

The imbalance between Tregs and proinflammatory Th17 cells in children with biliary atresia (BA) causes immune damage to cholangiocytes. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an immunomodulatory drug, regulates the Treg/Th17 balance in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). This study explores DMF's effect on Treg/Th17 balance in BA and its potential mechanism.

Exposure to PM and its components leads to obesity: role of socioeconomic status.

Exposure to air pollutants is linked to an increased risk of obesity, and socioeconomic status (SES) could modulate this risk. We employed the "Jinchang Cohort" as a platform to investigate the influence of SES (education level, monthly income per household, and marital status) on the obesity risk associated with PM and its constituents. Study has demonstrated that air pollutant exposure enhances the likelihood of overweight/obesity, with a risk ratio (HR) of 1.

Medium- to long-term outcomes of seton placement for fistula-in-ano in children: the experience of 103 patients from a single institution.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of seton placement for anal fistula in children.

Methods: The clinical data of children with anal fistula treated by seton placement admitted from January 2017 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Our primary treatments for perianal abscess (PA) are conservative treatment and drainage.

AMPK-mTOR pathway modulates glycolysis reprogramming in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Background: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), whose underlying cause has yet to be fully elucidated, is often classified as unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). Promoting the differentiation of CD4 T cells into Tregs may be the key to prevent URSA. The differentiation of CD4 T cells was controlled by mTOR, but the regulatory mechanism is still unclear.

Bioturbation effects and behavioral changes in buried bivalves after exposure to microplastics.

Microplastic pollution has become an increasing concern. Vertical transport of microplastics is one of the major research questions concerning the distribution and fate of microplastics in the marine environment, and biologically mediated vertical transport is particularly significant. However, studies on the effects of different types of benthic organisms on the vertical distribution of microplastics in sediments are still scarce.