Generation of tunable dual X-ray pulses in synchrotron light sources.

Synchrotron light sources are powerful platforms for cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research, with dozens currently in operation, construction or commissioning worldwide. It is widely recognized that different research areas have specific demands for source capabilities. For the majority of synchrotron facilities, delivering high-brightness, high-flux synchrotron radiation stably through high-current electron beams is the primary mode of operation.

Lactate and Lactylation in Respiratory Diseases: from Molecular Mechanisms to Targeted Strategies.

Introduction: Lactate has emerged as a multifunctional signaling molecule regulating various physiological and pathological processes. Furthermore, lactylation, a newly identified posttranslational modification triggered by lactate accumulation, plays significant roles in human health and diseases. This study aims to investigate the roles of lactate/lactylation in respiratory diseases.

Cisternal Contrast-Enhanced MRI Reveals Post-Stroke Glymphatic Impairment and Compensatory Metabolic Waste Clearance via Microglia/Macrophages.

Recent studies have shown that the glymphatic system plays a crucial role in driving hyperacute edema after ischemic stroke. This has sparked interest in understanding how this system changes in later phases of ischemic stroke. In this study, we utilized cisternal contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) and immunofluorescence staining to investigate glymphatic system alterations at subacute and chronic phases of ischemic stroke.

Global Research Trends in EV-Based Cell-Free Therapy for Osteoarthritis: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a major global health challenge with no ideal treatment options available. Early-stage treatment typically focuses on symptomatic relief of pain and stiffness; while late-stage patients can only opt for surgical interventions such as joint replacement to improve quality of life. Cell-free therapy based on extracellular vesicles (EVs) has offered a novel therapeutic approach for regulating bone metabolism and repairing cartilage, demonstrating emerging potential.

Lysosome-dependent cell death: disease implications and potential therapeutic targets.

Lysosome-dependent cell death (LDCD) is a regulated form of cell death initiated by increased lysosomal membrane permeability, leading to the cytoplasmic release of lysosomal enzymes and subsequent cellular damage. Molecular mechanisms controlling LDCD include lysosomal membrane instability and lysosomal enzyme release, which together lead to cell damage. A more profound comprehension of these underlying mechanisms may reveal new therapeutic targets for diseases associated with lysosomal dysfunction.

Spirituality and Medicine in the USA, Europe, and the UK: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Integrative Approaches to Patient Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Health Outcomes.

Spiritual interventions, including meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and compassionate care, have gained increasing attention for their potential to enhance both psychological resilience and overall health. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined eight eligible studies conducted across the USA, Europe, and China to assess the impact of such interventions on key outcomes, namely anxiety reduction, quality of life, chronic disease symptom management, and patient satisfaction. Seven studies contributed quantitative data.

What are the key targets to improve quality of life among MSM living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy? A network analysis.

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the interconnection of quality of life (QoL) variables and identify key areas for which interventions could improve QoL among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jinan of Shandong Province, between October to December 2020. Undirected network analyses were conducted to examine and visualize the interconnections between QoL variables among MSM living with HIV.

Utility and performance of cerebrospinal fluid cytology in discriminating central nervous system infections and brain tumors.

Background And Objective: Differentiating central nervous system infections (CNSIs) from brain tumors (BTs) is difficult due to overlapping features and the limited individual indicators, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology remains underutilized. To improve differential diagnosis, we developed a model based on 9 early, cost-effective cerebrospinal fluid parameters, including CSF cytology.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with CNSIs or BTs at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between October 1st, 2017 and March 31st, 2024 were enrolled and divided into the training set and the test set.

Tariff Conflicts and Entrenched Interests: The Deepening Deadlock of US Healthcare Reform.

The US healthcare system is characterized by a persistent deadlock, where high costs, low efficiency, and inequity resist fundamental reform. This stalemate is rooted in deep ideological divides, political polarization, a fragmented fiscal structure, and the power of entrenched interest groups. This article analyzes how recent trade protectionist policies, specifically tariffs on pharmaceuticals and their inputs, intersect with this domestic gridlock.

MRI Assessment of Radiation-Induced Delayed-Onset Microstructural Gray Matter Changes in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients.

Background: The dynamic progression of gray matter (GM) microstructural alterations following radiotherapy (RT) in patients, and the relationship between these microstructural abnormalities and cortical morphometric changes remains unclear.

Purpose: To longitudinally characterize RT-related GM microstructural changes and assess their potential causal links with classic morphometric alterations in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Study Type: Prospective, longitudinal.

Effects of sini decoction-mediated cellular mitochondrial autophagy on M1 macrophage polarization and its impact on a mouse model of peripheral artery disease.

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Sini Decoction on a murine model of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and to explore its potential mechanisms of action related to mitochondrial autophagy and M1 macrophage polarization. A total of 36 specific-pathogen-free Kunming mice were used to establish a PAD model and were randomly assigned into four groups: the experimental group (EG, administered Sini Decoction via gavage), the control group (CG, administered rapamycin via gavage), the model group (MG, administered 0.9% sodium chloride solution via gavage), and the normal group (NG, administered 0.

The oncogenic role of NSUN2 in lung adenocarcinoma by stabilizing CCT5 mRNA via a YBX1-dependent m5C modification.

5-methylcytosine (m5C) methylation is a post-transcriptional modification of RNAs, and its dysregulation plays pro-tumorigenic roles in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, this study elucidated the mechanism of action of NSUN2, a major m5C methyltransferase, on LUAD progression. mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative PCR.

Inflammation in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome: key roles and underlying mechanisms-a comprehensive review.

Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a newly defined systemic disorder, is characterized by the pathological interplay among diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies have identified chronic inflammation not only as a central mediator in the pathological progression of CKM syndrome but also as a pivotal molecular hub that drives coordinated damage across multiple organ systems. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that aberrant activation of signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Wnt, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT, and PPAR constitutes a complex inflammatory regulatory network.

Number of Examined Lymph Nodes in the Highest Quartile Enhances Staging and Prognosis for Patients with Esophageal Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Therapy.

Background: The optimal number of examined lymph nodes (ELN) for accurate staging and prognosis for esophageal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ELN count on pathologic staging and survival outcomes and to develop a predictive model for lymph node positivity in this patient population.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and a multicenter cohort.

Development and Validation of an Individualized Prediction Model for Postoperative Late Recurrence After Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (POLAR-HCC): A Multicenter Study.

Background: Postoperative late recurrence (POLAR) after 2 years from the date of surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a unique surveillance and management challenge. Despite identified risk factors, individualized prediction tools to guide personalized surveillance strategies for recurrence remain scarce. The current study sought to develop a predictive model for late recurrence among patients undergoing HCC resection.

Network Medicine-Based Repurposing of Mesalazine for Atherosclerosis Treatment.

Atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality worldwide, despite advancements in statin therapies. Here, we aimed to identify potential anti-atherosclerosis drugs by an integrated approach combining network medicine-based prediction with empirical validation. Among the top drugs predicted by the preferred algorithm, mesalazine─a drug traditionally used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, was selected for in vivo validation in ApoE mouse model of atherosclerosis.

The role of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) in cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of conditions that significantly affect human health and are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Clinical trials and basic research have demonstrated that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of CVDs. The inflammasome is a critical component of the innate immune system, involved in various inflammatory responses to pathogens and tissue damage.

The implications of host-pathogen co-evolutionary outcomes on macro-epidemics based on a combined-host strategy.

Host defense and pathogen virulence interact and mutually shape each other's evolution. Host-pathogen co-evolutionary outcomes have potentially significant impacts on population dynamics and vice versa. To investigate host-pathogen interactions and explore the impact of micro-level co-evolutionary outcomes on macro-level epidemics, we develop a co-evolutionary model with a combined host-defense strategy.

Integrative analysis identifies FERMT3 as a key regulator of metabolic reprogramming in keloid scarring and metabolic syndrome.

 Keloid scarring and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) are distinct conditions marked by chronic inflammation and tissue dysregulation, suggesting shared pathogenic mechanisms. Identifying common regulatory genes could unveil novel therapeutic targets. Methods.

External root resorption of second molars caused by impacted third molars: CBCT characteristics.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) characteristics of external root resorption (ERR) in second molars associated with impacted third molars.

Methods: This study analyzed 69 s molars diagnosed with ERR caused by impacted third molars in 52 patients (age range: 22-59 years; mean age = 31.2 ± 7.

Construction of a Core Germplasm and Identification of Candidate SNPs Associated with Growth Performance of Epinephelus tukula by Whole-Genome Resequencing.

Epinephelus tukula is an economically important aquaculture animal, and a major parent in grouper crossbreeding. To better preserve and exploit E. tukula germplasm resources, a core collection (containing 34 individuals derived from 10 genetic groups) was first constructed based on phenotypic growth traits and whole-genome resequencing (WGS) data.

Key copper homeostasis genes and inflammatory mechanisms in ischemic stroke: A bioinformatics and experimental study.

Ischemic stroke (IS) has high morbidity/mortality with limited treatments. This study screened core copper homeostasis-related genes in IS and validated their function as precise intervention targets. Human IS gene chip data were retrieved from GEO, and copper homeostasis genes from multiple databases.

The evaluation of non-contrast MRA using a modified balanced steady state free precession technique in the follow-up of renal artery aneurysm after embolotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) using a modified balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) technique combined with arterial spin labeling (ASL) for post-embolotherapy follow-up of renal artery aneurysms (RAAs), with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard.

Method: A total of 57 patients with RAAs underwent embolotherapy between June 2013 and July 2024. Among them, 15 RAAs from 14 patients underwent post-embolization surveillance with the NC-MRA and DSA.