Assessment of liver stiffness measurement-related markers in predicting liver-related events in viral cirrhosis with clinically significant portal hypertension.

Background: Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) is a crucial prognostic determinant for liver-related events (LREs) in patients with compensated viral cirrhosis. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM)-related markers may help to predict the risk of LREs.

Aim: To evaluate the value of LSM and its composite biomarkers [LSM-platelet ratio (LPR), LSM-albumin ratio (LAR)] in predicting LREs.

Efficacy and Safety of Fuzheng Jiedu Xiaoji Formula Combined with Conventional Western Therapy in Advanced HBV-HCC: A Single-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate whether adding Fuzheng Jiedu Xiaoji (FZJDXJ) therapy improves survival in advanced hepatitis B virus-related HCC (HBV-HCC) patients.

Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled study was performed at a major academic medical center in Beijing, China from October 2020 to October 2022. Eligible patients with advanced HBV-HCC were randomly divided equally (1:1) to receive either the combination of FZJDXJ and conventional Western medical therapy (63 cases, FZJDXJ group) or solely Western medicine (66 cases, control group).

Primary hyperoxaluria type I diagnosed after a kidney transplant presenting with subcutaneous calcification: a case report of sodium thiosulfate treatment.

Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that results from the overproduction of endogenous oxalate. The diagnosis of PH is often delayed or missed owing to its rarity, variable clinical expression and other diagnostic challenges. In this study, we report a patient with a frameshift variant, c.

Flourishing and its influencing factors among maintenance hemodialysis patients in Shanghai, China: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients face substantial psychological challenges that impacting their overall quality of life. Flourishing, a concept within positive psychology, refers to a state of mental well-being and personal growth. Despite its importance, the factors influencing flourishing in MHD patients remain underexplored.

Benefit finding in individuals undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in Shanghai: a latent profile analysis.

Objective: This multi-center cross-sectional study aimed to delineate latent profiles of benefit finding (BF) in individuals undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in Shanghai and examine associations between these BF profiles, social support, and coping style.

Methods: A total of 384 individuals undergoing MHD (mean age = 57.90, SD = 13.

Benefit finding in chronic kidney disease patients receiving hemodialysis: a cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: The psychological problems of hemodialysis (HD) patients are prominent, and benefit finding (BF) have been proven beneficial to physical and mental health, fewer researchers explored BF in HD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of BF in patients with chronic kidney disease and to analyze the factors influencing it in order to provide a reference for subsequent interventions.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 246 HD patients by convenience sampling in the hemodialysis center of a 3 A hospital in Shanghai from March to September 2019.

The analysis of low-dose glucocorticoid maintenance therapy in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome suffering from COVID-19.

This study aimed to describe the effects of low-dose (prednisolone acetate 2.5-7.5 mg/day) glucocorticoids (GCs) maintenance therapy in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS) suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

What's the clinical significance of VAS, AOFAS, and SF-36 in progressive collapsing foot deformity.

Background: This study aimed to ascertain the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) in progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD) surgery.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 84 patients with PCFD (84 feet) who underwent surgery between July 2015 and April 2021 were included. The study assessed the patients' subjective perception, as well as their VAS, AOFAS, and SF-36 scores at a minimum two-year follow-up, and these data were subjected to statistical analysis.

[On-line Measurement of Trace Elements in PM in Winter in Urban Taiyuan, China: Levels and Source Apportionment].

In order to better identify the sources of PM in Taiyuan, hourly concentrations of 13 trace elements (K, Ca, Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Pb, and Sr) in PM were monitored at an urban site in Taiyuan from January 1 to 29, 2022. The pollution characteristics of trace elements were analyzed and sources were apportioned using positive matrix factorization (PMF). The results showed that the average concentration of 13 total trace elements was (3901.

Qingyi decoction protects against myocardial injuries induced by severe acute pancreatitis.

Background: We studied the protective effects of Qingyi decoction (QYD) (a Traditional Chinese Medicine) against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)-induced myocardial infarction (MI).

Aim: To study the function and mechanism of QYD in the treatment of myocardial injuries induced by SAP.

Methods: Ultrasonic cardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and apoptosis staining techniques were used to determine the effects of QYD following SAP-induced MI in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Effect of balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty combined with tympanic tube insertion in the treatment of chronic recurrent secretory otitis media.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term clinical effect of balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty (BET) combined with tympanic tube insertion (TTI) in the treatment of chronic recurrent secretory otitis media (CRSOM).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 30 cases of CRSOM treated with BET combined with TTI under general anesthesia between August 2014 and September 2016. Thirty cases of CRSOM treated with TTI in the same period were taken as the control group.

Antitumor potential of a novel camptothecin derivative, ZBH-ZM-06.

Camptothecin (CPT) is a cytotoxic quinoline alkaloid that is used clinically as an anticancer drug. However, the clinical application of CPT is limited due to its low solubility as well as serious and unfathomable side-effects. In the present study, we created a novel 10-hydroxy CPT prodrug, ZBH-ZM‑06.

Gsα deficiency in the dorsomedial hypothalamus underlies obesity associated with Gsα mutations.

Gsα, encoded by Gnas, mediates hormone and neurotransmitter receptor-stimulated cAMP generation. Heterozygous Gsα-inactivating mutations lead to obesity in Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) patients, but only when the mutations occur on the maternal allele. This parent-of-origin effect is due to Gsα imprinting in the CNS, although the relevant CNS regions are unknown.

Immobilization of a rhodium catalyst using a diphosphine-functionalized ionic liquid in RTIL for the efficient and recyclable biphasic hydroformylation of 1-octene.

A highly efficient and stable Rh-P catalytic system in the RTIL of [PEmim]BF4 was developed for the biphasic hydroformylation of 1-octene by using the diphosphine-functionalized ionic liquid (FIL) of 2. While 2-Rh(acac)(CO)2 was immobilized in [PEmim]BF4 (solvent), a typical biphasic catalysis was fulfilled with advantages of facile separation and recycling ability - 9 runs without any loss of activity. It was found that not only the acquired π-acceptor character of 2, but also the synergetic role of the piperidyl group in [PEmim]BF4 as an N-containing donor, cooperatively contributed to the efficient hydroformylation due to the facilitated formation and stability of the Rh-H active species (ν 2045 cm(-1)).

Gsα deficiency in adipose tissue improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity without an effect on body weight.

Gsα, the G protein that transduces receptor-stimulated cAMP generation, mediates sympathetic nervous system stimulation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT), which are both potential targets for treating obesity, as well as lipolysis. We generated a mouse line with Gsα deficiency in mature BAT and WAT adipocytes (Ad-GsKO). Ad-GsKO mice had impaired BAT function, absent browning of WAT, and reduced lipolysis, and were therefore cold-intolerant.

G(q/11)α and G(s)α mediate distinct physiological responses to central melanocortins.

Activation of brain melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4Rs) leads to reduced food intake, increased energy expenditure, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced linear growth. MC4R effects on energy expenditure and glucose metabolism are primarily mediated by the G protein G(s)α in brain regions outside of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). However, the G protein(s) that is involved in MC4R-mediated suppression of food intake and linear growth, which are believed to be regulated primarily though action in the PVN, is unknown.

Protective effect of pranlukast on Aβ₁₋₄₂-induced cognitive deficits associated with downregulation of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1.

Deposition of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulation of Aβ is thought to associate with cognition deficits, neuroinflammation and apoptosis observed in AD. However, effective neuroprotective approaches against Aβ neurotoxicity are unavailable.

Pioglitazone ameliorates memory deficits in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice by reducing brain β-amyloid through PPARγ activation.

Aim: To examine the effects of pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, on memory performance and brain amyloidogenesis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.

Methods: ICR male mice were injected with STZ (150 mg/kg, iv) to induce experimental diabetes. Pioglitazone (9 and 18 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), po) was administered for 6 weeks.

Leukotriene D4 induces amyloid-β generation via CysLT(1)R-mediated NF-κB pathways in primary neurons.

Although the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not clearly understood, neuroinflammation has been known to play a role in the pathogenesis of AD. To investigate a functional link between the neuroinflammation and AD, the effect of leukotriene D4 (LTD4), an inflammatory lipid mediator, was studied on amyloid-β generation in vitro. Application of LTD4 to cell monolayers at concentrations up to 40 nM LTD4 caused increases in the Aβ releases.

Leukotriene D4 induces cognitive impairment through enhancement of CysLT₁ R-mediated amyloid-β generation in mice.

Amyloid plaques in the extracellular parenchyma mainly consist of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ), one of the pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we examined neuroinflammation, amyloidogenesis, and memory performance following intracerebral infusions of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) in mice. The results demonstrated that intracerebral infusions of LTD4 (1 ng/mouse) produced memory impairment as determined by Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice, and caused the accumulation of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in the hippocampus and cortex through increased activity of β- and γ-secretases accompanied with increased expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP).

[Vertigo due to enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia: an analysis of clinical characteristics].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and possible pathological mechanisms of vertigo due to enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for 5 cases of peripheral vertigo due to enlarged vestibule with lateral semicircular canal dysplasia. Their characteristics of medical history, precipitating factors, course of vertigo, auditory tests, vestibular tests and imaging examine results were analyzed.

Dose-dependent effects of genistein on bone homeostasis in rats' mandibular subchondral bone.

Aim: To investigate the effect of genistein on bone homeostasis in mandibular subchondral bone of rats.

Methods: Female SD rats were administered with genistein (10 and 50 mg/kg) or placebo by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Then the animals were sacrificed, and histomorphology and micro-structure of mandibular condyle were examined using HE staining and micro-CT analysis, respectively.

Effects of lateral cortical anchorage on the primary stability of implants subjected to controlled loads: an in vitro study.

Our aim was to evaluate the effects of lateral cortical anchorage on the primary stability of implants subjected to immediate loading. Implants were placed into bovine bones with monocortical anchorage (implant placed through the cortical bone of the crest) and bicortical anchorage (the crest cortical bone plus one cortical bone on the lateral side). Loads of 25N and 50N were applied to the implants in different cycles.

[The clinical characteristics of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo associated with Meniere's disease].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) associated with Meniere's disease (MD) in retrospect in an effort to improve the diagnosis and efficacy of treatment.

Method: Fifteen cases (1 male and 14 female, aged 46 to 68 years old) of BPPV associated with MD from July 2007 to June 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient clinically characterized with positional paroxysmal vertigo were diagnosed as MD by ECochG and glycerol test and were confirmed as BPPV associated with MD by Dix Hallpike test or roll test.

Glucocorticoid receptor expression and glucocorticoid therapeutic effect in nasal polyps.

Purpose: To investigate the expression and quantity of glucocorticoid receptor-alpha and -beta in polyp tissues taken from the patients treated were subsequently treated with topical glucocorticoid (GC).

Methods: Eighty patients with nasal polyps were initially enrolled in the study. All polyp specimens were obtained prior to treatment.