mbSparse: an autoencoder-based imputation method to address sparsity in microbiome data.

The involvement of gut microbiota in host physiological activities is crucial, yet the high sparsity of microbiome data, marked by numerous zeros in count matrices, presents huge analytical challenges. To overcome this, we developed mbSparse, an imputation algorithm that leverages deep learning rather than traditional predefined count distributions. Utilizing a feature autoencoder for learning sample representations and a conditional variational autoencoder (CVAE) for data reconstruction, mbSparse effectively integrates these processes to enhance imputation.

E3 ligase RAD18 targets phosphorylated IRF3 to terminate IFNB1 transcription.

The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) initiates type I interferon transcription, which is required for host defense. Here, we identify RAD18 as a central E3 ubiquitin ligase that selectively targets phosphorylated IRF3 (p-IRF3) for autophagic degradation. RAD18 specifically promotes the dissociation of p-IRF3 from the IFNB promoter and in turn terminates its transcriptional activity.

Global trends and hotspots in artificial intelligence for high myopia: a bibliometric analysis.

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of global publications on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in high myopia (HM).

Methods: We retrieved publications on AI in HM from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, MEDLINE and Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD) with data up to 2024. The analysis focused on publication and citation trends, identifying key articles, influential countries, institutions, authors, and journals.

Diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space and quantitative susceptibility mapping in the diagnosis and severity assessment of Parkinson's disease.

Background: Increased iron accumulation measured by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has been observed in various brain regions, especially substantia nigra (SN), in Parkinson's disease (PD). Glymphatic dysfunction evaluated by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) in PD has also attracted much attention recently. This study aimed to compare and combine DTI-ALPS and QSM of SN in the diagnosis and severity assessment of PD.

Aging-enhanced autophagy activity promotes fibrotic progression via the TGF-β2/Smad signaling pathway in trabecular meshwork cells-a new insight from POAG.

Introduction: Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is characterized by optic neuropathy and retinopathy, with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) being the most prevalent form. The primary pathogenic mechanism of POAG involves elevated intraocular pressure caused by chronic fibrosis of the trabecular meshwork (TM). Autophagy, a critical process for maintaining cellular homeostasis, has been implicated in fibrosis across various organs.

The association of Serum Klotho with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and prognosis in general population: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016.

Background: Previous studies have extensively investigated traditional predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development, progression, and prognosis. However, the influence of novel indicators such as Klotho, on CVD prevalence and prognosis in the general population remains unclear.

Method: This was an observational study that utilized cross-sectional and longitudinal methods to examine the general population in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2016.

Risk factors of positive lymph node metastasis after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and construction of prediction models.

Positive lymph node metastasis after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer is a key factor affecting the prognosis of patients, and its mechanism is complex and multifactorial. The aim of this study is to identify the relevant risk factors for positive lymph node metastasis after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and to construct corresponding predictive models. Through a retrospective analysis of clinical data of 316 gastric cancer patients who underwent radical surgery for gastric cancer, we found that age, maximum tumor diameter, degree of tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, depth of tumor infiltration, and CA199 were important factors affecting lymph node metastasis positivity in gastric cancer patients.

Continuous chromatography system with 6-zone and 18-column dynamic tandem connection technique for the enrichment of total flavonoids from Epimedium koreanum Nakai.

Natural flavonoids have been shown to have many pharmacological activities. Efficient and continuous enrichment of total flavonoids with high content and low mobile phase usage from complex natural products is greatly needed at the moment. In this study, a new continuous chromatography system (CCS) with 6 zones and the 18-column dynamic tandem connection technique was developed and used to enrich total flavonoids from Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN).

Tonsils: the next frontier in the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis.

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology characterized by erythema, scaling, and aseptic pustules, which pose a significant clinical, psychological, and economic burden to patients. Studies have shown that the tonsils play a key role in the exacerbation and pathogenesis of certain diseases. This paper systematically summarizes the evidence supporting the close association between tonsils and PPP, and proposes mechanisms by which tonsils may contribute to the pathogenesis of PPP.

Dosing strategy of tacrolimus when co-administered with tablet in renal transplant recipients.

Objective: Tacrolimus (TAC) is a first-line immunosuppressant to prevent allograft rejection. tablet is widely used as a TAC-sparing agent in China that could significantly elevate TAC exposure. However, insufficient data support the dose recommendation of TAC when co-administered with .

Confining Nano-ZrO in Nanodomains Leads to Electroactive Artificial Muscle with Large Deformation.

Dielectric elastomers generate muscle-like electroactive actuation, which is applicable in soft machines, medical devices, etc. However, the actuation strain and energy density of most dielectric elastomers, in the absence of prestretch, have long been limited to ∼20% and ∼10 kJ m, respectively. Here, we report a dielectric elastomer with ZrO nanoparticles confined in nanodomains, which achieves an actuation strain >100% and an energy density of ∼150 kJ m without prestretch.

Clinical study: the impact of goal-directed fluid therapy on volume management during enhanced recovery after surgery in gastrointestinal procedures.

Goal-directed fluid therapy, as a crucial component of accelerated rehabilitation after surgery, plays a significant role in expediting postoperative recovery and enhancing the prognosis of major surgical procedures. In line with this, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of target-oriented fluid therapy on volume management during ERAS protocols specifically for gastrointestinal surgery. Patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery at our hospital between October 2019 and May 2021 were selected as the sample population for this research.

A retrospective study to determine the correlation among HBV PreS1 antigen, HBV e antigen, alanine aminotransferase, and HBV DNA.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection presents with indicators of varying clinical significance. We aimed to evaluate the correlation among HBV Pre-S1 antigen (HBV PreS1-Ag), HBV e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 6180 serum samples collected between 2020 and 2022 at the Shanghai General Hospital, China.

Ultra-high b-value DWI accurately identifies isocitrate dehydrogenase genotypes and tumor subtypes of adult-type diffuse gliomas.

Objectives: To distinguish isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genotypes and tumor subtypes of adult-type diffuse gliomas based on the fifth edition of the World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors (WHO CNS5) in 2021 using standard, high, and ultra-high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study enrolled 70 patients with adult-type diffuse gliomas who underwent multiple b-value DWI. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values including ADC, ADC, ADC, ADC, ADC, ADC, and ADC in tumor parenchyma (TP) and contralateral normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) were calculated.

An optimized non-T cell transfection system based on HEK293FT cells for CD3ζ phosphorylation and ubiquitination.

CD3ζ is part of the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex that plays a critical role in antigen recognition and subsequent T cell activation. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate CD3ζ can provide new insights into the T cell-mediated immune responses. However, it is challenging to deliver exogenous genes into T cells for functional and mechanistic analyses.

Mobility, speciation of cadmium, and bacterial community composition along soil depths during microbial carbonate precipitation under simulated acid rain.

An overexploitation of earth resources results in acid deposition in soil, which adversely impacts soil ecosystems and biodiversity and affects conventional heavy metal remediation using immobilization. A series of column experiments was conducted in this study to compare the cadmium (Cd) retention stability through biotic and abiotic carbonate precipitation impacted by simulated acid rain (SAR), to build a comprehensive understanding of cadmium speciation and distribution along soil depth and to elucidate the biogeochemical bacteria-soil-heavy metal interfaces. The strain of Sporosarcina pasteurii DSM 33 was used to trigger the biotic carbonate precipitation and cultivated throughout the 60-day column incubation.

Emission characteristics of carbonyl compounds from open burning of typical subtropical biomass in South China.

Open biomass burning (OBB) is one of the largest primary emission sources for atmospheric carbonyl compounds, key precursors for ozone and secondary organic aerosol pollution. To clarify the carbonyl emissions, the comprehensive characteristics of C1-C10 carbonyl compounds from open burning of seven typical subtropical biomass in China were investigated in this study, which included subtropical plants and agricultural residues. Total 27 carbonyl compounds were detected.

Composite elastomers with on-demand convertible phase separations achieve large and healable electro-actuation.

Phase separation has been widely exploited for fabricating structured functional materials. Generally, after being fabricated, the phase structure in a hybrid material system has been set at a specific length scale and remains unchanged during the lifespan of the material. Herein, we report a strategy to construct on-demand and reversible phase switches among homogenous, nano- and macro-phase separation states in a composite elastomer during its lifespan.

Long-term outcomes and potential mechanisms of offspring exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia.

Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, which can be classified into pregestational diabetes and gestational diabetes, has become much more prevalent worldwide. Maternal diabetes fosters an intrauterine abnormal environment for fetus, which not only influences pregnancy outcomes, but also leads to fetal anomaly and development of diseases in later life, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, neuropsychiatric outcomes, reproduction malformation, and immune dysfunction. The underlying mechanisms are comprehensive and ambiguous, which mainly focus on microbiota, inflammation, reactive oxygen species, cell viability, and epigenetics.

gutMDisorder v2.0: a comprehensive database for dysbiosis of gut microbiota in phenotypes and interventions.

Gut microbiota plays a significant role in maintaining host health, and conversely, disorders potentially lead to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbial community. Intervention approaches, such as medications, diets, and several others, also alter the gut microbiota in either a beneficial or harmful direction. In 2020, the gutMDisorder was developed to facilitate researchers in the investigation of dysbiosis of gut microbes as occurs in various disorders as well as with therapeutic interventions.

NBR1 mediates autophagic degradation of IRF3 to negatively regulate type I interferon production.

In the setting of virus infection, autophagy regulates the synthesis of type I interferon (IFN) via multiple mechanisms to prevent adverse overreaction. Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3, the dominant transcriptional factor of type I IFN, can be degraded via autophagy-lysosomal pathway. However, the exact regulatory mechanism is not yet well elucidated.

Clinical outcomes for Day 3 double cleavage-stage embryo transfers versus Day 5 or 6 single blastocyst transfer in frozen-thawed cycles: a retrospective comparative analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes for transfer of Day 3 (D3) double cleavage-stage embryos and Day 5/6 (D5/6) single blastocysts in the frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle to formulate a more appropriate embryo transplantation strategy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 609 FET cycles from 518 women from April 2017 to March 2021. All FETs were assigned to the D3-DET group (transfer of a Day 3 double cleavage-stage embryo), D5-SBT group (transfer of a Day 5 single blastocyst), or D6-SBT group (transfer of a Day 6 single blastocyst).

gutMGene: a comprehensive database for target genes of gut microbes and microbial metabolites.

gutMGene (http://bio-annotation.cn/gutmgene), a manually curated database, aims at providing a comprehensive resource of target genes of gut microbes and microbial metabolites in humans and mice. Metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples has identified 3.