Visceral Adiposity Thresholds for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification: A Simplified Biomarker-Driven Model.

Objective: VAT volume is a critical determinant of cardiometabolic risk, yet population-specific thresholds and accessible predictive tools remain undefined.

Methods: Using US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, we analyzed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived VAT volume. Threshold effects and sex/ethnicity interactions were evaluated via multivariable regression, while LASSO regularization and ROC analyses identified a simplified predictive model.

Genetic Evidence on the Role of Blood Phytosterols in Frailty: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Phytosterols have been recommended as a lifestyle intervention for early lipid management-which has a significant impact on frailty. However, their effect on frailty remains unclear. Studies have shown that genetic proxied total blood phytosterol affects the development of cardiovascular disease through non-HDL-c and apolipoprotein B mediation, which makes phytosterol an underlying risk factor for frailty.

Exploring -Six-Membered--Heterocycle BODIPY Rotors as AIE Probes for Fluorescence Imaging Subcellular Viscosity in Organelles.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-type small-molecular fluorescent rotors have attracted wide interest due to their inherent excellent properties in bioimaging viscosity, which can potentially reveal the relationships between microviscosity and related diseases. Although many fluorescent probes have been designed, easy-to-prepare and multifunctional AIE rotors remain a hot topic and less reported. Herein, four easy-to-prepare and water-soluble -pyrimidine/pyridine BODIPY-based multifunctional fluorescent probes were rationally designed to investigate the effects of the number and position of nitrogen in six-membered--heterocycles on viscosity, AIE, and viscosity imaging.

A U shaped association between the HCT-ALB and hospital mortality in patients with sepsis.

The difference between hematocrit and serum albumin (HCT-ALB) demonstrates diagnostic significance in infectious diseases, yet the nonlinear relationship between HCT-ALB and hospital mortality in ICU patients with sepsis remains unexplored. This retrospective multicenter cohort study analyzed 7,546 ICU sepsis patients (mean age 66 ± 16 years) to elucidate the HCT-ALB-mortality relationship. Using Cox proportional hazards models with smooth curve fitting, we identified a U-shaped association: Threshold analysis revealed an inflection point at 6.

Causal Pathways Between Breast Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Through Mediator Factors: A Two-Step Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Background: The causal relationship of breast cancer (BC) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the underlying mediating pathways remains elusive. Our study endeavors to investigate the causal association between BC and CVD, with a focus on identifying potential metabolic mediators and elucidating their mediation effects in this causality.

Methods: In this study, we conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to estimate the causal effect of BC (overall BC, ER+ BC, ER- BC) from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) on CVD including coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertensive heart disease (HHD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and heart failure (HF) from the FinnGen consortium.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Not Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Two-Year Cohort Study.

Introduction: Previous studies reported inconsistent results of the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: A cohort study of 2,063 adults without NAFLD at baseline, who participated in a repeated health checkup including a 13C-urea breath test and abdominal ultrasonography, was conducted to evaluate the link between H. pylori infection and NAFLD development.

Waist circumference glucose, a novel and effective predictor of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Waist circumference (WC) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) have been demonstrated as risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Evidence is limited regarding the association of the combination of WC and FPG (WyG) with the risk of T2DM. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between WyG and T2DM.

The combination of body mass index and fasting plasma glucose is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan: a secondary retrospective analysis.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) are known risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but data on the prospective association of the combination of BMI and FPG with T2DM are limited. This study sought to characterize the association of the combination of BMI and FPG (ByG) with T2DM.

Methods: The current study used the NAGALA database.

What Strengthens Protein-Protein Interactions: Analysis and Applications of Residue Correlation Networks.

Identifying residues critical to protein-protein binding and efficient design of stable and specific protein binders are challenging tasks. Extending beyond the direct contacts in a protein-protein binding interface, our study employs computational modeling to reveal the essential network of residue interactions and dihedral angle correlations critical in protein-protein recognition. We hypothesized that mutating residues exhibiting highly correlated dynamic motion within the interaction network could efficiently optimize protein-protein interactions to create tight and selective protein binders.

A U-shaped association between the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japanese men with normal glycemic levels: a population-based longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Several studies have verified that a high baseline TG/HDL-C ratio is a risk factor for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, for low baseline TG/HDL-C levels, the findings were inconsistent with ours. In addition, the association between baseline TG/HDL-C ratio and the risk of incident T2DM in Japanese men with normal glycemic levels is unclear.

Robust Design of Effective Allosteric Activators for Rsp5 E3 Ligase Using the Machine Learning Tool ProteinMPNN.

We used the deep learning tool ProteinMPNN to redesign ubiquitin (Ub) as a specific and functionally stimulating/enhancing binder of the Rsp5 E3 ligase. We generated 20 extensively mutated─up to 37 of 76 residues─recombinant Ub variants (UbVs), named R1 to R20, displaying well-folded structures and high thermal stabilities. These UbVs can also form stable complexes with Rsp5, as predicted using AlphaFold2.

What Strengthens Protein-Protein Interactions: Analysis and Applications of Residue Correlation Networks.

Identifying critical residues in protein-protein binding and efficiently designing stable and specific protein binders to target another protein is challenging. In addition to direct contacts in a protein-protein binding interface, our study employs computation modeling to reveal the essential network of residue interaction and dihedral angle correlation critical in protein-protein recognition. We propose that mutating residues regions exhibited highly correlated motions within the interaction network can efficiently optimize protein-protein interactions to create tight and selective protein binders.

Relationship between lipid accumulation product and new-onset diabetes in the Japanese population: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Diabetes has become a global public health problem. Obesity has been established as a risk factor for diabetes. However, it remains unclear which of the obesity indicators (BMI, WC, WhtR, ABSI, BRI, LAP, VAI) is more appropriate for monitoring diabetes.

Direct Synthesis of Aliphatic Polyesters with Pendant Hydroxyl Groups from Bio-Renewable Monomers: A Reactive Precursor for Functionalized Biomaterials.

Introducing desired functionalities into biomaterials is an effective way to obtain functionalized biomaterials. A versatile platform with the possibility of postsynthesis functionalization is highly desired but challenging in biomedical engineering. In this work, linear aliphatic polyesters with pendant hydroxyl (PEOH) groups were directly synthesized using renewable malic acid/tartaric acid as raw materials under mild conditions through the polyesterification reaction promoted by 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG).

Non-invasive auditory and visual stimulation attenuates α-Synuclein deposition and improves motor and non-motor symptoms in PD mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss and α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates, but lacks effective treatments for the disease progression and non-motor symptoms. Recently, combined 40 Hz auditory and visual stimulation is emerging as a promising non-invasive method to decrease amyloid and improve cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but whether this treatment can modify α-Syn-induced PD pathology remains unclear. Here we evaluated the effects of chronic exposure to 40 Hz and 80 Hz auditory and visual stimulation on α-Syn accumulation and the functional effects of 40 Hz stimulation on motor, cognitive and mood dysfunctions in PD mice.

What Strengthens Protein-Protein Interactions: Analysis and Applications of Residue Correlation Networks.

Identifying critical residues in protein-protein binding and efficiently designing stable and specific protein binders is challenging. In addition to direct contacts in a protein-protein binding interface, our study employs computation modeling to reveal the essential network of residue interaction and dihedral angle correlation critical in protein-protein recognition. We propose that mutating residues regions exhibited highly correlated motions within the interaction network can efficiently optimize protein-protein interactions to create tight and selective protein binders.

Biodegradable and Light-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Environmentally Safe Herbicide Delivery.

The low utilization efficiency of pesticides exerts an adverse impact on the environment and human health. Polymer-related controlled-release nanosized pesticide systems provide a promising and efficient way to overcome the problem. In this work, a biodegradable and light-responsive amphiphilic polymer was synthesized via 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine-promoted polyesterification under mild conditions (low temperature, no vacuum, and no inert gas protection).

Triglyceride Glucose-Body Mass Index and Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Japanese People With Normal Glycemic Level: A Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: It has been proved that triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) is a readily available and clinically significant indicator of insulin resistance (IR). Nevertheless, the association between TyG-BMI and incident Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains uncertain. This study aimed to study the relationship between TyG-BMI and T2DM and explore the predictive characteristics of TyG-BMI.

Residual Risk of Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease and Severity of Coronary Atherosclerosis Assessed by ApoB and LDL-C in Participants With Statin Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the primary target of lipid-lowering therapy on the management of hypercholesterolemia in the United States and European guidelines, while apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the secondary target. The objective was to determine if elevated levels of apoB is superior to LDL-C in assessing residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in participants with statin treatment.

Methods: This study included 131 participants with statin treatment.

Direct reprogramming of hepatocytes into insulin-producing cells for anti-diabetic treatment by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction enhanced hydrodynamic gene delivery.

In animal models, hepatocytes can be reprogrammed into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) for a novel antidiabetic treatment. However, the potential for an immunologic reaction and issues with gene integration of the viral vehicle hamper system efficacy. Here, we adopted an Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Destruction (UTMD) enhanced hydrodynamic gene delivery system in a streptozotocin induced mouse diabetic model to examine its treatment effect.

Capsular adhesion to intraocular lens in highly myopic eyes evaluated in vivo using ultralong-scan-depth optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the in vivo capsular apposition to the intraocular lens (IOL) in subjects with high myopia by ultralong-scan-depth optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Methods: Forty eyes from 40 cataract patients scheduled for phacoemulsification surgery at the Affiliated Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College were studied, of which 20 eyes were highly myopic (axial length >26 mm) and 20 eyes were emmetropic (22 mm < axial length <24.