Differential Impacts of Environmentally Relevant Microplastics on Gut Barrier Integrity in Mice Fed High-Fat Diet Versus Normal Chow Diet.

Background: Despite escalating global pollution from microplastics (MPs) and the concurrent surge in high-fat food consumption, the health impacts of MP exposure on individuals under different dietary patterns remain poorly understood.

Methods: This study investigated the differential effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics (5 μm, 8 mg/kg) on gut barrier function in mice fed either a normal chow diet (CD) or a high-fat diet (HFD).

Results: Key findings revealed that, in HFD-fed mice, MP exposure significantly reduced ( < 0.

Time-Varying Strong Coupling and the Induced Time Diffraction of Magnon Modes.

Time-varying media break temporal translation symmetry, enabling advanced wave manipulation. However, this phenomenon remains largely unexplored in magnonic systems due to the challenge of achieving rapid and significant changes in magnon dispersion. Here, we construct a time-varying strong coupling between two magnon modes and observe chirped Rabi-like oscillations near the pulse edges.

The construction and evaluation of a prognostic risk score model for HCC based on MPT-related lncRNAs.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China. It has a high rate of postoperative recurrence and lacks prognostic markers. In this study, we first analyzed mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) necrosis-associated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), integrated multi-omics, and constructed a prognostic model.

VDAC2 brake release: unleashing inflammation via IFNγ.

Identification of therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer remains a high priority for cancer research. A recent CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified that VDAC2 deletion in tumors enhanced their sensitivity to interferon-γ (IFNγ) through the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway. These data suggest that VDAC2 inhibition could enhance antitumor therapies.

Dynamic Rendition of Adipose Genes Under Epigenetic Regulation: Revealing New Mechanisms of Obesity Occurrence.

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder and a growing global public health challenge, affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. While diet and physical activity are well-established contributors, increasing evidence underscores the critical role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating obesity-related processes. Epigenetic modifications-such as DNA methylation, RNA methylation (particularly N6-methyladenosine), histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and chromatin remodeling-modulate gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.

CKAP4 and PLOD2 as novel prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma: a proteomics-driven risk stratification model.

Background: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a research hotspot. This study aimed to identify novel prognostic protein markers for HCC using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) and develop an integrative predictive model to enhance clinical decision-making and patient stratification.

Methods: DIA-MS were implemented to identify valuable prognostic HCC biomarkers in 31 patients with different prognoses.

Recent advances of organic long persistent luminescence: Design strategy and internal mechanism.

Organic afterglow materials have drawn increasing attention for their great potential in practical applications. Until now, most of them just show the lifetimes in milliseconds or seconds, while the realization of long persistent luminescence (LPL) lasting for minutes or even hours is difficult. In 2017, Adachi and Kabe successfully realize the LPL with a duration longer than 1 hour in a purely organic system, which can be even comparable to some excellent inorganic materials.

Association of ambient air pollutants with maternal thyroid hormones during the entire pregnancy.

This study aims to investigate associations between PM, PM, and NO and maternal thyroid hormones. We investigated 443 pregnant women in Zhejiang, China with repeated examinations of serum thyroid hormones at 10, 17, and 32 weeks. Individual exposures to ambient air pollution were retrospectively calculated by inverse distance weighting interpolation.

A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of human lens epithelium: identification and functional insights into lens stem/progenitor cells.

Background: The existence of stem/progenitor cells in the lens epithelium has been demonstrated, but their identification remains challenging. Accurate identification requires advanced technologies and a comprehensive understanding of lens epithelial cell (LEC) subtypes, presenting a significant challenge in age-related cataract research.

Methods: Eight pairs of human donor lens epithelium samples were collected for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).

HPV Infection Prevalence, Vaccination-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Among Women Aged 30-64 in Shenzhen, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, vaccination rates, and awareness levels varies across China. : this study examined HPV infection prevalence, vaccine uptake, and barriers among 2440 women aged 30-64 in Shenzhen, China, using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze associated factors. : The overall HPV prevalence was 14.

Immune System Alterations in the Development of Three Urological Cancers: Insights from Large-Sample Mendelian Randomization.

Urological cancers (UCs) greatly impact global public health. While immunity plays an important role, the contribution of specific immune cell traits to the development of UCs remains unclear. In our study, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to elucidate the causal relationship between 731 immune cell traits and three common UCs, namely kidney cancer (KC), bladder cancer (BC), and prostate cancer (PC).

Gestational diabetes risk associated with early pregnancy blood pressure characteristics and trajectories: A Chinese prospective cohort study.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding early pregnancy pulse pressure (PP) and blood pressure (BP) trajectories in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development. Understanding these associations may provide valuable insights for early interventions to mitigate the risk of GDM.

Methods: Included were 16 020 pregnant women from the Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital.

Correlation study between clinical phenotypes and autoantibodies in systemic sclerosis in Southwest China.

This study investigates the characteristics of baseline data and the correlation between autoantibodies and clinical phenotypes in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from Southwest China. A total of 346 patients diagnosed with SSc between 2021 and 2023 were included. Clinical data and laboratory data were collected to analyze the relationship between autoantibodies and clinical phenotypes.

Current Status and Challenges in Pediatric Radiation Therapy in China: A Nationwide Survey.

Purpose: This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of pediatric radiation therapy (RT) in China, identifying key challenges in infrastructure, workforce, and access to advanced technologies while exploring opportunities for improving care delivery.

Methods And Materials: A 29-item online questionnaire was distributed to radiation oncologists and clinical teams across China, with 123 responses from 103 hospitals. The survey explored six domains: hospital characteristics, radiotherapy equipment and techniques, pediatric oncology staffing, patient admission and treatment status, treatment and follow-up, and social work support and charitable partnerships.

Epitranscriptomic Role of m6A in Obesity-Associated Disorders and Cancer Metabolic Reprogramming.

The global rise in obesity and its associated metabolic disorders underscores the need for a deeper investigation into their underlying molecular mechanisms. While genetic factors are well-established contributors, recent research has increasingly focused on epigenetic regulators, particularly N6-methyladenosine (mA)-the most prevalent internal RNA modification in eukaryotes. This post-transcriptional modification plays a crucial role in RNA metabolism by regulating mRNA stability, splicing, nuclear export, and translation efficiency.

Associations of long-term exposure to fine particle and its components with ischemic stroke: A cohort study in China.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that prolonged exposure to PM is associated with elevated risks of developing ischemic stroke (IS). However, evidence on the association of PM components with IS is still lacking. Thus, we aimed to estimate the association of 15 chemical components of PM with risk of IS in a cohort study.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances mixture impairs intestinal barrier function through microbiota-derived 21-deoxycortisol and cortisol metabolism dysregulation.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent environmental pollutants linked to various health risks, including intestinal disorders. However, the effect of real-world PFASs mixture on intestinal health remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a PFASs mixture by mimicking the exposure composition in a population on intestinal homeostasis in rats.

Modifiable factors affects cancer-specific survival: findings from a large population-based prospective cohort study.

Background: Modifiable factors affect cancer's survival but literature did not differentiate prior to versus after cancer diagnosis. It is essential to provide references for the intervention prioritized at different stages.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed national data from the UK Biobank, including 121,399 participants, to assess the association of modifiable factors with cancer-specific survival (CSS) in two independent cohorts: a pre-cancer cohort (n = 78,027) and a post-cancer cohort (n = 43,372).

Associations of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Genotoxic Biomarkers: New Insights from Cross-Sectional and In Vivo Evidence.

The effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on genomic stability remain unclear. Here, a cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the associations of PFAS with genotoxic biomarkers. We recruited a cohort of 453 residents in 2021 in Zhejiang, China.

Urinary iodine levels and thyroid disorder prevalence in the adult population of China: a large-scale population-based cross-sectional study.

In the past decade, the incidence of thyroid disorders has been steadily increasing, emerging as a prominent public health concern. Consequently, there is a growing interest in understanding the association between iodine nutritional status and thyroid disorders. We selected 13,487 adults (aged 18-69 years) from the baseline population of Zhejiang Environmental Health Cohort (ZEHC) research.

Advances in stem cell-based therapeutic transfers for glioblastoma treatment.

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly malignant brain tumor, has a poor prognosis despite standard treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play a critical role in recurrence and therapy resistance. Stem cell-based therapies have emerged as innovative approaches, leveraging the tumor-targeting abilities of stem cells to deliver treatments directly to GBM.

Exposure to low concentrations of PM and its constituents with preterm birth in Shenzhen, China: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Due to the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Measures issued by the Chinese government, air quality has significantly improved, particularly with respect to PM. However, studies on the relationship between low concentrations of PM and preterm birth (PTB) remain limited in China.

Objective: To examine the associations between low concentrations of PM and its constituents and PTB.

The impact of chemotherapy on survival in patients aged ≥65 years with locoregionally cervical cancer who undergo radiotherapy: a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database analysis.

Objective: Cervical cancer remains a global health challenge, particularly among patients aged ≥65 years, who often face poorer outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the clinical significance of chemotherapy in older patients (≥65 years) who undergo definitive radiotherapy for cervical cancer, using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 Registries, focusing on patients with cervical cancer aged ≥65 years who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2017.

Unveiling causal relationships between tobacco use phenotypes and neuroimaging: Insights from bidirectional Mendelian randomization and bibliometric analysis.

Smoking is considered the most common addictive behavior worldwid. However, it is not systematically investigated whether there are bidirectional causal associations between tobacco use and neuroimaging, which might provide potential neural biomarkers or therapeutic neuro-targets for tobacco abuse or rehabilitation. In this study, using Mendelian randomization (MR), we explored both forward and reverse causal relationships between 4 tobacco use phenotypes (including Cigarettes per day, Smoking initiation, Age of initiation and Smoking cessation) and 209 neuroimaging features involving brain function and structure.