The evolution of concomitant mitral regurgitation in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a prospective multi-center China-DVD2 cohort study.

Background: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) often coexists with mitral regurgitation (MR). This study evaluated the significant evolution of MR in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for AS.

Methods: This multi-center China Degenerative Valve Disease II Cohort (China-DVD2) Study enrolled patients undergoing TAVR for AS from January 2020 to October 2023.

Raw event-based adversarial attacks for Spiking Neural Networks with configurable latencies.

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) and data from Dynamic Vision Sensors (DVSs) offer energy-efficient solutions for edge devices with limited battery life. The input latencies of event data to SNNs are critical for energy savings, and reducing these latencies through configurable parameters is essential. However, security concerns, particularly adversarial attacks on SNNs, are increasingly significant.

Preferential Texture of Surface Coating on Zn Anodes for Advanced Aqueous Batteries: Small Change but Big Gain.

Zinc metal, as the mainstream anode material of aqueous batteries, faces severe side reactions and notorious dendrite growth. Surface passivation of Zn anodes with a protective layer is one of the effective strategies to address these issues. The previous reports have focused on applying different components as surface layers while neglecting the impact of their crystallographic orientation on electrochemical performance.

Comprehensive analysis of mode of action for cadmium-induced renal tubular dysfunction: a case study integrating high-throughput sequencing, targeted cellular assays, and human data.

Environmental cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal known to induce renal tubular dysfunction. Although a provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) of 25 μg/kg body weight has been established as a health-based guidance value for Cd exposure, renal damage may still occur at lower exposure levels. This study employed a mode of action (MOA)-based framework to explore more sensitive and reliable toxicological endpoints for Cd-induced renal tubular dysfunction.

Targeted urinary metabolomics combined with machine learning to identify biomarkers related to central carbon metabolism for IBD.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Current diagnostic approaches are invasive, costly, and time-consuming, underscoring the need for non-invasive, accurate diagnostic methods.

Methods: We conducted a targeted metabolomic analysis of 49 metabolites related to central carbon metabolism in urinary samples from individuals with IBD and control group.

Real-world study of first-line immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness, safety, and recurrence patterns of first-line immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. A retrospective analysis of 79 eligible ESCC patients was conducted. Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary outcomes being objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DOR), treatment-related adverse events (trAEs), and treatment failure patterns.

Prognostic value of immunotrophic inflammatory markers in ESCC undergoing chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy.

This study aimed to investigate the role of immunotrophic inflammatory markers in assessing the prognosis and treatment-related toxicity in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing first-line radiotherapy and chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. We retrospectively enrolled 67 patients with ESCC and determined the optimal cutoff values for prognostic nutrition index (PNI), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.

Mapping the lung-brain axis: Causal relationships between brain network connectivity and respiratory disorders.

Background: The mechanistic relationship between respiratory disorders and brain function remains poorly understood, despite growing evidence of cognitive and neurological manifestations in respiratory diseases. We aim to identify whether specific brain network connectivity patterns causally influence respiratory disease susceptibility, while respiratory conditions might reciprocally affect brain network architecture.

Methods: We performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of brain network connectivity from UK Biobank resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data (N = 31,453) and GWAS data from ten major respiratory conditions: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), hospitalized COVID-19, very severe COVID-19, and bronchiectasis.

Effectiveness and Methodologies of Virtual Reality Dental Simulators for Veneer Tooth Preparation Training: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) simulators are increasingly used in dental education, offering advantages such as repeatable practice and immediate feedback. However, evidence comparing their efficacy to traditional phantom heads for veneer preparation training remains limited.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of 2 widely used VR simulators (Unidental and Simodont) against traditional phantom heads for veneer tooth preparation training and evaluate the impact of training sequence (simulator-first vs phantom-head-first) on skill acquisition.

Haptic rendering for multi-phase tooth extraction process.

Tooth extraction simulation with force feedback can provide a valuable training tool for dental students, familiarizing them with the detailed motion and force patterns involved in this procedure. This simulation encounters two major challenges - replicating the forceps' 7-DoF motion and accurately simulating the distinct phases of tooth extraction. This paper presents a comprehensive haptic simulation framework for simulating tooth extraction with force feedback, combining both hardware and software solutions.

LINC02679 regulates TRIML2 to promote gastric cancer proliferation and invasion via targeting miR-5004-3p.

As a key protein, Tripartite motif family-like 2 (TRIML2) is crucial to the p53-mediated apoptosis and is correlated with tumorigenesis. Emerging evidence showed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play roles in the malignant progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the function and underlying mechanism of LINC02679 in GC are still unclear.

A two-transcript classifier model for assessing disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis: A discovery and validation study.

Aims: We aimed to develop and validate classifier models to assess disease activity in UC patients by evaluating potential classifier genes expression levels.

Methods: The study comprised UC and healthy control participants undergoing colonoscopy. We screened candidate genes (TGF-β1, CEACAM1 and CD177) using Differentially Expressed Genes.

Effectiveness evaluation of a serious game for dental lost wax casting training.

Background: A serious game module called "D-Casting" was developed in the previous study. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the D-Casting module.

Methods: The experiment consisted of two parts: construct validity assessment and skill transfer assessment.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG induces STING-dependent IL-10 in intestinal monocytes and alleviates inflammatory colitis in mice.

Preclinical and clinical observations indicate that the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) can modulate colonic inflammation. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been explored in depth. Here, we demonstrate that oral administration of live LGG alleviated inflammatory colitis by increasing IL-10 expression in intestinal Ly6C+ monocytes.

Regulating the Thermodynamic Uniformity and Kinetic Diffusion of Zinc Anodes for Deep Cycling of Ah-Level Aqueous Zinc-Metal Batteries.

Zn metal anodes in mildly acidic electrolytes usually suffer from a series of problems, including parasitic dendrite growth and severe side reactions, significantly limiting the Zn utilization efficiency and cycling life. A deep understanding of the Zn stripping/plating process is essential to obtain high-efficiency and long-life Zn metal anodes. Here, the factors affecting the Zn stripping/plating process are revealed, suggesting that thermodynamic uniformity in bulk structures promotes an orderly Zn stripping process, and a fast kinetic diffusion rate on the Zn surface facilitates uniform Zn deposition.

Treatment and Valorization of Waste Wind Turbines: Component Identification and Analysis.

Recycling end-of-life wind turbines poses a significant challenge due to the increasing number of turbines going out of use. After many years of operation, turbines lose their functional properties, generating a substantial amount of composite waste that requires efficient and environmentally friendly processing methods. Wind turbine blades, in particular, are a problematic component in the recycling process due to their complex material composition.

Genetic correlation between genes targeted by lipid-lowering drugs and venous thromboembolism: A drug-target Mendelian randomization study.

Dyslipidemia has been established as a potential risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in several observational studies. Statins and novel lipid-modifying agents are being explored for their potential in VTE prevention, encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE). Nonetheless, conclusive evidence supporting the effectiveness remains uncertain.

Bioinformatics- and quantitative proteomics-based identification of gastric adenocarcinoma-related proteins and analysis.

Background: The emergence of immune resistance and a lack of effective therapeutic targets have become significant challenges in immunotherapy, highlighting the urgent need for new molecular markers and treatment targets. Moreover, the significance and mechanisms of PGRN (Progranulin) in gastric cancer remain ambiguous.

Objective: To identify differentially expressed proteins in gastric cancer and elucidate the function and mechanism of PGRN.

AncestryPainter 2.0: Visualizing Ancestry Composition and Admixture History Graph.

The earlier version of AncestryPainter is a Perl program that displays the ancestry composition of numerous individuals using a rounded graph. Motivated by the requests of users in practical applications, we updated AncestryPainter to version 2.0 by coding in an R package and improving the layout, providing more options and compatible statistical functions for graphing.

PTPN20 promotes metastasis through activating NF-κB signaling in triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: Cancer metastasis remains a major challenge in the clinical management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The NF-κB signaling pathway has been implicated as a crucial factor in the development of metastases, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear.

Methods: PTPN20 expression was evaluated using data from the Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network-Breast and The Cancer Genome Atlas database, as well as by western blotting and immunohistochemistry in 88 TNBC patients.

Dose escalation in radical radio(chemo)therapy for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer with 3DCRT/IMRT (ChC&UES): a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer (ESCA) presents treatment challenges due to limited clinical evidence. This multi-center study (ChC&UES) explores radical radio(chemo)therapy efficacy and safety, especially focusing on radiation dose.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1,422 cases across 8 medical centers.

Multivariate HPLC system assessment and optimization for traditional Chinese medicine: a case study of .

The development of HPLC analytical methods for traditional Chinese medicine is intricate and time-consuming, influenced by factors such as column wear, solvent purity, and instrumental settings. A comprehensive evaluation of the HPLC system is crucial to mitigate potential variability and ensure the reliability of data. This is especially important given the complex and synergistic nature of the chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine, necessitating a multivariate measurement system analysis (MSA) to assess multiple correlated quality characteristics effectively.

Improving management in gastroesophageal reflux disease through leveraging WeChat platform for mobile health care: A randomized control trial.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to a clinical condition characterized by gastric content reflux into the esophagus, causing symptoms like acid regurgitation and heartburn. While patient education is essential for GERD treatment, traditional educational models often struggle to effectively improve treatment outcomes.

Methods: Between January 2021 and April 2022, we enrolled 257 patients and assessed their GERD knowledge.

Interaction between microglial cells and CD1C+ B dendritic cells leads to CD8+ T cells depletion during the early stages of renal clear cell carcinoma.

Renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC) is a type of malignant tumor, which, in addition to surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, has been widely treated through immunotherapy recently. However, the influence of the tumor microenvironment and the infiltrating immune cells within it on immunotherapy remains unclear. It is imperative to study the interactions between various immune cells of RCC.