METTL3 blocked the progression of diabetic retinopathy through m6A-modified SOX2.

We aimed to explore the regulatory effects of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) on diabetic retinopathy (DR) by regulating the m6A modification of mRNA and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism. The DR model was established by stimulating human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) with high glucose (HG). METTL3, insulin-like growth factor 2 binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), and SOX2 levels in the sera of patients with DR and HRECs were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting.

Acute Septic Epididymitis of the Spermatic Cord Leading to Ischemic Necrosis of the Testis in an Adolescent: A Case Report.

Acute epididymal septic inflammation is a common scrotal emergency among adolescents. Nevertheless, cases of testicular ischemia and necrosis are still rare. We report a rare case of testicular ischemic necrosis caused by inflammation in a 16-year-old male youth.

Oily liquid waste emergency management for offshore oil spill response through a factorial inventory-theory-based mixed-integer approach.

Effective management of oily waste generated during offshore spill responses is a complex task. In this research, a factorial inventory-theory-based mixed-integer optimization (FIMO) model was developed for oily liquid waste management through factorial analysis and optimization of facility locations, waste flows, batch sizes, and order cycles to minimize costs. A hypothetical case study in Newfoundland, Canada, was used to demonstrate the model's applicability.

Efficacy and Safety of Hormone Replacement Combined With Escitalopram in the Treatment of Chronic Insomnia in Perimenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aims: To explore the efficacy of Femoston plus escitalopram for perimenopausal women with chronic insomnia and the relevant biomarkers.

Methods: A total of 166 patients randomly received: escitalopram plus placebo (Escitalopram Group), Femoston plus placebo (Hormone Group), and Femoston plus escitalopram (Combined Group) for 3 months and followed for 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was changes in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores at week 12 from baseline.

"Weibing" in traditional Chinese medicine-biological basis and mathematical representation of disease-susceptible state.

"Weibing" is a fundamental concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), representing a transitional state characterized by diminished self-regulatory abilities without overt physiological or social dysfunction. This perspective delves into the biological foundations and quantifiable markers of Weibing, aiming to establish a research framework for early disease intervention. Here, we propose the "Health Quadrant Classification" system, which divides the state of human body into health, sub-health, disease-susceptible state, and disease.

The role of noncoding RNAs in rare gynecological cancers.

Gynecological cancers are cancers that begin in the female reproductive organs. Gynecological cancer is the second most common cancer type among women and has become a global health burden for the female population. More than 50 % of all gynecological cancers can be defined as rare cancers.

Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study.

Background: A substantial number of previous studies have concentrated on the prevalence of depression among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, research regarding the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression remains relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression and to identify the associated risk factors.

Maternal Exposure to Surface Ozone and Reduced Fecundity in China: Evidence from a Nationwide Survey.

The influence of ground-level O, which possesses a higher oxidative concentration than other ambient pollutants, on reproductive health has received relatively limited scrutiny. In this study, we collected information on reproductive history, sociodemographic profiles, lifestyle, and residential details of 10,153 couples at risk of pregnancy. Each participant's 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year average O exposure levels were estimated using a previously developed randomized trees model.

Multifunctional Additive for Electrolyte Stabilization and Electrode/Electrolyte Interphase Regulation in High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) incorporating nickel-rich cathodes have the potential to achieve superior energy densities. However, challenges associated with the electrolyte-electrode interphases (EEIs) have impeded the successful transition of these advanced systems into practical applications. In this study, azidotrimethylsilane (ATMS) is introduced as a multifunctional additive for traditional carbonate-based electrolytes.

RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling reveals distinct immune response landscapes to identifying inflammation-related diagnostic markers in latent endometrial tuberculosis.

Latent Endometrial Tuberculosis (LETB) is a significant yet under-recognized cause of female infertility, particularly in TB-prevalent regions. Current diagnostic methods for LETB lack specificity, complicating early detection. Through RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling, we aimed to uncover distinct immune response landscapes and identify novel inflammation-related diagnostic markers for LETB.

Development of in-situ MOF-modified ceramic filters for enhancing fluoride removal in water supply for remote communities.

Ensuring the safe removal of fluoride from drinking water poses a significant challenge in numerous remote communities affected by fluoride contamination. Therefore, this study focuses on the in-situ growth of MOF-AlFu on ceramic filters (CFs), thereby synthesizing in-situ MOF-modified ceramic filters (IMCFs) for effective fluoride removal from drinking water in such communities. Initially, we conducted response surface optimization of the IMCF preparation process, followed by comprehensive characterization.

Development of an EOR-produced petroleum wastewater treatment system through integrated polyacrylonitrile membrane and ZrO/sericin technologies: revelation of interactive mechanism based on synchrotron and XDLVO analyses.

Ultrafiltration technology is one of the most efficient methods to address the issues of enhanced oil recovery-produced petroleum wastewater (EOR-PW) treatment. However, membrane fouling significantly impairs the efficiency of PW treatment. Moreover, the impacts of the complex components (e.

Molecular insights into the antifreeze mechanism of collagen peptides based on their interaction with ice crystals.

This study explores the molecular-level cryoprotective effect of cod collagen peptide-1 (CCP-1) on surimi during freeze-thaw cycles, examining its interaction with ice crystals and its role in maintaining the structural integrity of surimi. Results indicated that CCP-1 exhibited the most effective cryoprotection on catalase, preserving 83.4 % of its residual enzyme activity, and prevented myofibrillar protein (MP) from freeze denaturation by sustaining the activity of Ca-ATPase and maintaining structural integrity.

De novo designed mini-binders targeting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus provided partial protection in mice model of infection.

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (Streptococcus zooepidemicus, SEZ) is an important zoonotic pathogen that greatly threatens the health of pigs in China. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been identified as a critical virulence factor that contributes to the adhesion of SEZ to host.

Rapid discovery of pseudorabies virus inhibitors repurposed from the antimicrobial agent ciprofloxacin.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a significant pathogen impacting swine health and poses high zoonotic risks to humans. Effective antiviral treatments for PRV remain limited, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, ciprofloxacin was identified as a repurposed promising candidate with significant in vitro inhibition of PRV replication based on our inference from PNU-183792, an HSV-1 DNA polymerase inhibitor, that quinolones have the potential to act as anti-PRV drugs.

Phenotypic Consensus Clustering and Treatment Heterogeneity Analysis in Critically Ill Patients with Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Aims: This study aimed to establish a phenotypic clustering model for critically ill patients with comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus (CIP T2DM), define distinct subtypes, and analyze differences in clinical characteristics and treatment response.

Methods: Patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database were phenotyped based on demographic, physiological, and biochemical parameters, along with critically ill scores, using a consensus clustering algorithm. Subtype validity was assessed using the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU).

Mini-binders targeting Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus M-like protein inhibit the bacterial adhesion and exert protective effects in vivo.

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (Streptococcus zooepidemicus, SEZ) is one of the most common pathogens causing streptococcal disease in pigs in China and has been identified as a zoonotic pathogen, and thus poses great threat to the health of humans and pigs. The M-like protein (SzM) is the primary virulence factor of SEZ.

Knowledge and attitudes of premenopausal women in southern China toward menopause and menopausal hormone therapy.

Objective: Menopause is a significant and natural phase in a woman's life, representing a transition that requires early understanding to manage its effects and promote overall well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, understanding and perceptions of menopause and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) among premenopausal women in southern China.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to enroll women aged 18-40 years ( = 1631) from August 2022 to January 2023 at a public hospital in Fujian, China.

Identification of crucial pathways and genes linked to endoplasmic reticulum stress in PCOS through combined bioinformatic analysis.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic condition impacting millions of women worldwide. This study sought to identify granulosa cell endoplasmic reticulum stress (GCERS)-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between women with PCOS and those without PCOS using bioinformatics and to investigate the related molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Two datasets were downloaded from GEO and analysed using the limma package to identify DEGs in two groups-PCOS and normal granulosa cells.

The effect of pH on structural properties and interaction mechanisms of zein/epicatechin gallate complexes.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of pH on the structural properties and interaction mechanisms of zein/epicatechin gallate (ECG) complexes. QCM-D data demonstrated that the binding capacity of ECG to zein was significantly higher under alkaline condition (pH 9) compared to neutral and acidic conditions ( < 0.05).

Identification and pharmacological properties of 2-(1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (MDMB-INACA), N-(1-amino-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (ADB-INACA), and N-(1-amino-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-hexyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (ADB-HINACA).

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are an evolving class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) with structurally various compounds that are increasing over the past few years. Therefore, they are initially hard to identify because of the lack of analytical information. Moreover, there is little to no information regarding the pharmacology of these compounds despite human abuse.

The cryoprotective effect of peptides and its ice-binding mechanism.

Although discarded as waste, shrimp heads are a potential source of antifreeze peptides, which can be used as cryoprotectants in the food industry. Their utilization in frozen foods can help mitigate the negative effects caused by the freezing technique. hrimp heads were autolyzed, and the shrimp head autolysate (SHA) was separated ultra-filtration and ion exchange chromatography.

Insight into the structure-activity relationship of thermal hysteresis activity of cod collagen peptides through peptidomics and bioinformatics approaches.

To elucidate the correlation between variations in thermal hysteresis activity (THA) and the physicochemical properties and structure, antifreeze peptides (AFPs) of isolated fractions (CCP-1 and CCP-2) were characterized on based peptidomics and bioinformatics. The results revealed a positive correlation between the THA of cod collagen antifreeze peptide (CCAFP) and peptide chain length, isoelectric point, and hydrophobic amino acid content. Notably, the THA of CCP-1, which has higher alkaline amino acid content, was 2.

Brain structural changes in diabetic retinopathy patients: a combined voxel-based morphometry and surface-based morphometry study.

The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in gray matter structure among individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study included a cohort of 32 diabetic patients with retinopathy (DR group, n = 32) and 38 healthy adults (HC group, n = 38). Both cohorts underwent comprehensive psychological and cognitive assessments alongside structural magnetic resonance imaging.