Glycemic levels and cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes: A cohort study of drugs with different hypoglycemic potentials.

Research indicates a U-shaped association between mortality and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients receiving sulfonylurea or insulin. However, the relationship between glucose levels and cardiovascular events in patients on novel agents with a lower hypoglycemic potential remains unknown. This study was aimed to examine the association between cardiovascular events and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving drugs with different hypoglycemic potentials.

The Natural History Study and Biomarker Collection of the Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA).

Hereditary ataxias are progressive neurodegenerative disorders primarily affecting the cerebellum. Since 2009, the Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxias (CRC-SCA) has studied the natural history of common types of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). The CRC-SCA is a 17-site academic collaboration supported by the National Ataxia Foundation.

Association and interaction of blood homocysteine and p-tau217 levels with temporal cortical thinning and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: The relationships between blood homocysteine (Hcy), amyloid beta (Aβ), tau pathology, and their combined effects on cortical thinning and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain poorly understood.

Methods: Participants were stratified into Aβ+ and Aβ- groups by positron emission tomography. Blood levels of Hcy, AD biomarkers (phosphorylated tau-217 [p-tau217], p-tau181, and Aβ), cortical thickness (via magnetic resonance imaging), and cognitive performance were assessed.

Haplotype-resolved assemblies of the MHC region in five widely used tumor cell lines.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region plays a crucial role in immune function and is implicated in various diseases and cancer immunoediting. However, its high polymorphism poses challenges for accurate genetic profiling using conventional reference genomes. Here, we present high-quality, haplotype-resolved assemblies of the MHC region in five widely used tumor cell lines: A549, HeLa, HepG2, K562, and U2OS.

Impact of Multiple Cardiovascular Events on Long-Term Outcomes and Bleeding Risk in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at high risk for recurrent cardiovascular events and bleeding complications, particularly in Asian populations. The long-term impact of multiple cardiovascular events and bleeding on outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, this retrospective cohort study included 28 086 patients with ACS categorized into single-event and multiple-event groups based on cardiovascular events occurring within 2 years of the index ACS event.

CT-Derived spleen volume accurately diagnoses severe portal hypertension at HVPG thresholds of 16 mmhg.

To investigate the diagnostic utility of a noninvasive method based on spleen volume for the accurate diagnosis of severe portal hypertension (PH). We enrolled 260 patients undergoing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) assessment and enhanced CT at Tianjin Third Central Hospital (December 2019-July 2023), with clinical data collected. Patients were stratified by HVPG levels: ≥16 mmHg (severe PH group) and < 16 mmHg (non-severe PH group).

The efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the progressive incoordination of gait, impaired motor control, and various neurological deficits. Therapeutic options for SCA remain limited. However, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has gained attention as a potential intervention due to its noninvasive nature, ease of application, and favorable safety profile.

Propafenone- vs. amiodarone-associated adverse cardiac outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Aims: Clinical trials have shown an increased risk of death in patients with recent myocardial infarction who received antiarrhythmic drugs such as flecainide, encainide or moricizine, especially in the presence of associated structural heart disease such as cardiac dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the safety outcomes of propafenone use in atrial fibrillation patients with heart failure when compared to those of amiodarone use.

Methods: This population-based cohort study used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Enhanced cartilage repair using gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels combined with icariin and magnesium-doped bioactive glass.

Cartilage repair remains challenging due to limited self-healing, poor biocompatibility, and insufficient mechanical properties of current materials. To overcome these issues, we developed a multifunctional composite hydrogel by integrating gelatine methacrylate (GelMA) with magnesium-doped bioactive glass (Mg-BG) and icariin (ICA). SEM analysis revealed that pure GelMA exhibited a highly porous yet loosely organized structure, whereas the addition of Mg-BG and ICA produced a denser, more interconnected porous network that enhances cell adhesion and nutrient diffusion.

Cerebello-Prefrontal Connectivity Underlying Cognitive Dysfunction in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2.

Objective: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is a hereditary cerebellar degenerative disorder, with motor and cognitive symptoms. The constellation of cognitive symptoms due to cerebellar degeneration is named cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS), which has increasingly been recognized to profoundly impact patients' quality of life; however, the brain circuits underlying these cognitive dysfunctions remain elusive.

Methods: We utilized a novel technique, cerebello-cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), to investigate the resting-state functional connectivity in different frequency domains in 12 SCA2 patients and 24 age-matched controls.

Plasma p-tau217 and p-tau217/Aβ1-42 are effective biomarkers for identifying CSF- and PET imaging-diagnosed Alzheimer's disease: Insights for research and clinical practice.

Introduction: With the advancement of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD), validating plasma biomarkers against cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and positron emission tomography (PET) standards is crucial in both research and real-world settings.

Methods: We measured plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217, p-tau181, amyloid beta (Aβ)1-40, Aβ1-42, and neurofilament light chain in research and real-world cohorts. Participants were categorized by brain amyloid status using US Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Agency-approved CSF or PET methods.

Exploring using HBsAg to predict interferon treatment course to achieve clinical cure in chronic hepatitis B patients: a clinical study.

Objective: Although pegylated interferon α-2b (PEG-IFN α-2b) therapy for chronic hepatitis B has received increasing attention, determining the optimal treatment course remains challenging. This research aimed to develop an efficient model for predicting interferon (IFN) treatment course.

Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis B, undergoing PEG-IFN α-2b monotherapy or combined with NAs (Nucleoside Analogs), were recruited from January 2018 to December 2023 at Tianjin Third Central Hospital.

LOX-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis via the TGF-β/LOX/Snail axis in diabetic mice.

Background: The partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is emerging as a significant mechanism in diabetic nephropathy (DN). LOX is a copper amine oxidase conventionally thought to act by crosslinking collagen. However, the role of LOX in partial EMT and fibrotic progression in diabetic nephropathy has not been investigated experimentally.

Numerical Investigation and Device Architecture Optimization of SbSe Thin-Film Solar Cells Using SCAPS-1D.

Antimony selenide (SbSe) shows promise for photovoltaics due to its favorable properties and low toxicity. However, current SbSe solar cells exhibit efficiencies significantly below their theoretical limits, primarily due to interface recombination and non-optimal device architectures. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of SbSe thin-film solar cells using SCAPS-1D simulation software, focusing on device architecture optimization and interface engineering.

The emerging role of the cerebellum in neurodegeneration linked to cognitive impairment.

The cerebellum has been largely overlooked in Alzheimer's disease, despite increasing evidence implicating its cognitive capacities and functional networks, which interacts with cerebral cortex to subserve cognition. A study by Lin et al. has indicated that the cerebellum is part of the integrated network in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a prodromal state of Alzheimer's disease.

Integrating Reinforcement Learning and Monte Carlo Tree Search for enhanced neoantigen vaccine design.

Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have highlighted the potential of neoantigen-based vaccines. However, the design of such vaccines is hindered by the possibility of weak binding affinity between the peptides and the patient's specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, which may not elicit a robust adaptive immune response. Triggering cross-immunity by utilizing peptide mutations that have enhanced binding affinity to target HLA molecules, while preserving their homology with the original one, can be a promising avenue for neoantigen vaccine design.

A partially flipped physiology classroom improves the deep learning approach of medical students.

This study aimed to compare the impact of the partially flipped physiology classroom (PFC) and the traditional lecture-based classroom (TLC) on students' learning approaches. The study was conducted over 5 mo at Xiangya School of Medicine from February to July 2022 and comprised 71 students majoring in clinical medicine. The experimental group ( = 32) received PFC teaching, whereas the control group ( = 39) received TLC.

Deep learning on tertiary lymphoid structures in hematoxylin-eosin predicts cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been associated with favorable immunotherapy responses and prognosis in various cancers. Despite their significance, their quantification using multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining of T and B lymphocytes remains labor-intensive, limiting its clinical utility. To address this challenge, we curated a dataset from matched mIHC and H&E whole-slide images (WSIs) and developed a deep learning model for automated segmentation of TLSs.

Strategies for developing layered oxide cathodes, carbon-based anodes, and electrolytes for potassium ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the most popular portable secondary energy storage facilities. However, the limited lithium resource results in possible unsustainable development. Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered promising alternatives to LIBs because of their high resource availability, low cost, and environmentally friendly features.