Interaction of general obesity and abdominal obesity with frailty in patients with chronic kidney disease: a nationally representative analysis.

Background: General and abdominal obesity are prevalent, with established associations to frailty in the elderly. However, few studies have investigated these associations in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), yielding inconsistent results. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2018). Frailty was evaluated by the 36-item frailty index. General obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2; abdominal obesity was identified if waist circumference (WC) reached 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women. The associations of general and abdominal obesity with frailty were analysed using weighted multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic splines. The interaction of general and abdominal obesity with frailty was examined. Results: A total of 5604 adult patients (median age 71 years, 42% men) with CKD were included in this analysis, with a median estimated glomerular filtration rate of 57.3 ml/min/1.73 m2. A total of 21% were frail with general obesity and 32% were frail with abdominal obesity. Neither general nor abdominal obesity alone was associated with frailty. There was an interaction between general and abdominal obesity with frailty. Compared with individuals with normal BMI and WC, those with both general and abdominal obesity, rather than either alone, exhibited significantly increased odds of frailty {odds ratio [OR] 1.53 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-1.95]}. General obesity was associated with being frail only when CKD patients had abdominal obesity [OR 1.59 (95% CI 1.08-2.36)]. Conclusions: There may be an interaction between general and abdominal obesity with frailty in patients with CKD. Interventions aimed at preventing frailty should consider both aspects.

FASTKD1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for STAD: Insights into m6A modification and immune infiltration.

Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase domain 1 (FASTKD1), a known modulator of mitochondrial-mediated cell death and survival processes, has garnered attention for its potential role in various biological contexts. However, its involvement in gastric cancer remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between FASTKD1 expression and key factors, including clinicopathological characteristics, immune infiltration and m6A modification in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). The expression of FASTKD1 was analyzed in STAD and normal adjacent tissues to assess its association with clinicopathological characteristics and survival prognosis. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used in this study. Additionally, the findings were validated through immunohistochemical staining. Co-expression analysis of FASTKD1 was performed using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (GO/KEGG) enrichment analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and LinkedOmics database analysis. An in-depth analysis was conducted using databases, such as Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), GEO and TCGA to explore the potential correlation between FASTKD1 expression and immune infiltration and m6A modification in STAD. The results revealed that FASTKD1 was significantly upregulated across different tumor types, including STAD. Notably, FASTKD1 was able to distinguish between tumor and normal tissue samples with accuracy. Furthermore, the expression levels of FASTKD1 were significantly associated with clinical stage and survival. Through GO/KEGG enrichment analysis and GSEA, it was revealed that the genes co-expressed with FASTKD1 were active in a variety of biological processes. Within the TIMER, GEPIA and TCGA databases, a notable inverse correlation was observed between FASTKD1 expression and the abundance of immune cell subsets. Notably, significant correlations were established between FASTKD1 and m6A modification genes, YTHDF1 and LRPPRC, in both TCGA and GEO datasets. In conclusion, FASTKD1 may serve a significant role in m6A modification and immune infiltration processes, making it a potentially valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in STAD.

Development and validation of prediction model for fall accidents among chronic kidney disease in the community.

Background: The population with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has significantly heightened risk of fall accidents. The aim of this study was to develop a validated risk prediction model for fall accidents among CKD in the community. Methods: Participants with CKD from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included. The study cohort underwent a random split into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 70 to 30%. Logistic regression and LASSO regression analyses were applied to screen variables for optimal predictors in the model. A predictive model was then constructed and visually represented in a nomogram. Subsequently, the predictive performance was assessed through ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Result: A total of 911 participants were included, and the prevalence of fall accidents was 30.0% (242/911). Fall down experience, BMI, mobility, dominant handgrip, and depression were chosen as predictor factors to formulate the predictive model, visually represented in a nomogram. The AUC value of the predictive model was 0.724 (95% CI 0.679-0.769). Calibration curves and DCA indicated that the model exhibited good predictive performance. Conclusion: In this study, we constructed a predictive model to assess the risk of falls among individuals with CKD in the community, demonstrating good predictive capability.

A combined AIMD and DFT study of the low-energy radiation responses of GaN.

Although GaN is a promising candidate for semiconductor devices, degradation of GaN-based device performance may occur when the device is bombarded by high-energy charged particles during its application in aerospace, astronomy, and nuclear-related areas. It is thus of great significance to explore the influence of irradiation on the microstructure and electronic properties of GaN and to reveal the internal relationship between the damage mechanisms and physical characteristics. Using a combined density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) study, we explored the low-energy recoil events in GaN and the effects of point defects on GaN. The threshold displacement energies (Eds) significantly depend on the recoil directions and the primary knock-on atoms. Moreover, the Ed values for nitrogen atoms are smaller than those for gallium atoms, indicating that the displacement of nitrogen dominates under electron irradiation and the created defects are mainly nitrogen vacancies and interstitials. The formation energy of nitrogen vacancies and interstitials is smaller than that for gallium vacancies and interstitials, which is consistent with the AIMD results. Although the created defects improve the elastic compliance of GaN, these radiation damage states deteriorate its ability to resist external compression. Meanwhile, these point defects lead the Debye temperature to decrease and thus increase the thermal expansion coefficients of GaN. As for the electronic properties of defective GaN, the point defects have various effects, i.e., VN (N vacancy), Gaint (Ga interstitial), Nint (N interstitial), and GaN (Ga occupying the N lattice site) defects induce the metallicity, and NGa (N occupying the Ga lattice site) defects decrease the band gap. The presented results provide underlying mechanisms for defect generation in GaN, and advance the fundamental understanding of the radiation resistances of semiconductor materials.

Renal protective effects and mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus for diabetic kidney disease in animal models: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Astragalus membranaceus (AM) shows potential therapeutic benefits for managing diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a leading cause of kidney failure with no cure. However, its comprehensive effects on renal outcomes and plausible mechanisms remain unclear. PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the effects and mechanisms of AM on renal outcomes in DKD animal models. METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched for animal studies until September 2023. Risk of bias was assessed based on SYRCLE's Risk of Bias tool. Standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) were estimated for the effects of AM on serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albuminuria, histological changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis and glucolipids. Effects were pooled using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was presented as I2. Subgroup analysis investigated treatment- and animal-related factors for renal outcomes. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the results' robustness. RevMan 5.3 and Stata MP 15 software were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Forty studies involving 1543 animals were identified for analysis. AM treatment significantly decreased SCr (MD = -19.12 µmol/l, 95 % CI: -25.02 to -13.23), BUN (MD = -6.72 mmol/l, 95 % CI: -9.32 to -4.12), urinary albumin excretion rate (SMD = -2.74, 95 % CI: -3.57, -1.90), histological changes (SMD = -2.25, 95 % CI: -3.19 to -1.32). AM treatment significantly improved anti-oxidative stress expression (SMD = 1.69, 95 % CI: 0.97 to 2.41), and decreased inflammation biomarkers (SMD = -3.58, 95 % CI: -5.21 to -1.95). AM treatment also decreased fibrosis markers (i.e. TGF-ß1, CTGF, collagen IV, Wnt4 and ß-catenin) and increased anti-fibrosis marker BMP-7. Blood glucose, lipids and kidney size were also improved compared with the DM control group. CONCLUSION: AM could improve renal outcomes and alleviate injury through multiple signaling pathways. This indicates AM may be an option to consider for the development of future DKD therapeutics.

A Chinese patent medicine's long-term efficacy on non-dialysis patients with CKD stages 3-5: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Chinese patent medicine is commonly used in China as an important treatment mechanism to thwart the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5, among which Niaoduqing granules are a representative Chinese patent medicine; however, its long-term efficacy on CKD prognosis remains unclear. Methods: Patients were grouped according to Niaoduqing granule prescription duration (non-Niaoduqing granule (non-NDQ) group vs Niaoduqing granule (NDQ) group). Serum creatinine (SCr) variation was compared using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). Multivariate Cox regression models were constructed, adjusting for confounding factors, to explore the risk of composite outcomes (receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) or having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<5 mL/min/1.73 m2, ≥50% decline in the eGFR from the baseline, and doubling of SCr) in individuals consuming Niaoduqing granules. Results: A total of 1,271 patients were included, with a median follow-up duration of 29.71 (12.10, 56.07) months. The mean SCr Z-scores for the non-NDQ group and NDQ group were -0.175 and 0.153, respectively, at baseline (p = 0.015). The coefficients of the NDQ group from visit 1 to visit 5 were -0.207 (95% CI: -0.346, -0.068, p = 0.004), -0.214 (95% CI: 0.389, -0.039, p = 0.017), -0.324 (95% CI: 0.538, -0.109, p = 0.003), -0.502 (95% CI: 0.761, -0.243, p = 0.000), and -0.252 (95% CI: 0.569, 0.065, p = 0.119), respectively. The survival probability was significantly higher in the NDQ group (p = 0.0039). Taking Niaoduqing granules was a significant protective factor for thwarting disease progression (model 1: HR 0.654 (95% CI 0.489-0.875, p = 0.004); model 2: HR 0.646 (95% CI 0.476, 0.877, p = 0.005); and model 3: HR 0.602 (95% CI 0.442, 0.820, p = 0.001)). Conclusion: The long-term use of Niaoduqing granules improved SCr variation and lowered the risk of CKD progression by 39.8%.

Pan-cancer analysis reveals correlation between RAB3B expression and tumor heterogeneity, immune microenvironment, and prognosis in multiple cancers.

RAB3B is essential for the transportation and secretion within cells. Its increased expression is linked to the development and progression of various malignancies. However, understanding of RAB3B's involvement in carcinogenesis is mostly limited to specific cancer subtypes. Hence, exploring RAB3B's regulatory roles and molecular mechanisms through comprehensive cancer datasets might offer innovative approaches for managing clinical cancer. To examine the potential involvement of RAB3B in the development of cancer, we analyzed data from various sources including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), cBioPortal, HPA, UALCAN, and tissue microarray (TAM). Using bioinformatics techniques, we examined the correlation between RAB3B expression and prognosis, tumor heterogeneity, methylation modifications, and immune microenvironment across different cancer types. Our findings indicate that elevated RAB3B expression can independently predict prognosis in many tumors and has moderate accuracy for diagnosing most cancers. In most cancer types, we identified RAB3B mutations that showed a significant correlation with tumor mutational burden (TMB), mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Abnormal DNA methylation patterns were also observed in most cancers compared to normal tissues. Additionally, we found significant correlations between RAB3B expression, immune cell infiltration, and immune scores across various cancers. Through pan-cancer analysis, we observed significant differences in RAB3B expression levels between tumors and normal tissues, making it a potential primary factor for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The IHC results revealed that the expression of RAB3B in six types of tumors was consistent with the results of the pan-cancer analysis of the database. Furthermore, RAB3B showed potential associations with tumor heterogeneity and immunity. Thus, RAB3B can be utilized as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for early tumor detection and a prognostic biomarker for various tumor types.

METTL3 as a novel diagnosis and treatment biomarker and its association with glycolysis, cuproptosis and ceRNA in oesophageal carcinoma.

METTL3 has been shown to be involved in regulating a variety of biological processes. However, the relationship between METTL3 expression and glycolysis, cuproptosis-related genes and the ceRNA network in oesophageal carcinoma (ESCA) remains unclear. ESCA expression profiles from databases were obtained, and target genes were identified using differential analysis and visualization. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining assessed METTL3 expression differences. Functional enrichment analysis using GO, KEGG and GSEA was conducted on the co-expression profile of METTL3. Cell experiments were performed to assess the effect of METTL3 interference on tumour cells. Correlation and differential analyses were carried out to assess the relationship between METTL3 with glycolysis and cuproptosis. qRT-PCR was used to validate the effects of METTL3 interference on glycolysis-related genes. Online tools were utilized to screen and construct ceRNA networks based on the ceRNA theory. METTL3 expression was significantly higher in ESCA compared to the controls. The IHC results were consistent with the above results. Enrichment analysis revealed that METTL3 is involved in multiple pathways associated with tumour development. Significant correlations were observed between METTL3 and glycolysis-related genes and cuproptosis-related gene. Experiments confirmed that interfered with METTL3 significantly inhibited glucose uptake and lactate production in tumour cells, and affected the expression of glycolytic-related genes. Finally, two potential ceRNA networks were successfully predicted and constructed. Our study establishes the association between METTL3 overexpression and ESCA progression. Additionally, we propose potential links between METTL3 and glycolysis, cuproptosis and ceRNA, presenting a novel targeted therapy strategy for ESCA.

A CTL - Lys immune function maintains insect metamorphosis by preventing gut bacterial dysbiosis and limiting opportunistic infections.

BACKGROUND: Gut bacteria are beneficial to the host, many of which must be passed on to host offspring. During metamorphosis, the midgut of holometabolous insects undergoes histolysis and remodeling, and thus risks losing gut bacteria. Strategies employed by holometabolous insects to minimize this risk are obscure. How gut bacteria affect host insects after entering the hemocoel and causing opportunistic infections remains largely elusive. RESULTS: We used holometabolous Helicoverpa armigera as a model and found low Lactobacillus load, high level of a C-type lectin (CTL) gene CD209 antigen-like protein 2 (CD209) and its downstream lysozyme 1 (Lys1) in the midgut of the wandering stage. CD209 or Lys1 depletion increased the load of midgut Lactobacillus, which further translocate to the hemocoel. In particular, CD209 or Lys1 depletion, injection of Lactobacillus plantarum, or translocation of midgut L. plantarum into the hemocoel suppressed 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling and delayed pupariation. Injection of L. plantarum decreased triacylglycerol and cholesterol storage, which may result in insufficient energy and 20E available for pupariation. Further, Lysine-type peptidoglycan, the major component of gram-positive bacterial cell wall, contributed to delayed pupariation and decreased levels of triacylglycerols, cholesterols, and 20E, in both H. armigera and Drosophila melanogaster. CONCLUSIONS: A mechanism by which (Lactobacillus-induced) opportunistic infections delay insect metamorphosis was found, namely by disturbing the homeostasis of lipid metabolism and reducing 20E production. Moreover, the immune function of CTL - Lys was characterized for insect metamorphosis by maintaining gut homeostasis and limiting the opportunistic infections.

Functional enrichment analysis reveals the involvement of DARS2 in multiple biological pathways and its potential as a therapeutic target in esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The enzyme Aspartyl tRNA synthetase 2 (DARS2) is a crucial enzyme in the mitochondrial tRNA synthesis pathway, playing a critical role in maintaining normal mitochondrial function and protein synthesis. However, the role of DARS2 in ESCA is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcriptional data of pan-cancer and ESCA were downloaded from UCSC XENA, TCGA, and GEO databases to analyze the differential expression of DARS2 between tumor samples and normal samples, and its correlation with clinicopathological features of ESCA patients. R was used for GO, KEGG, and GSEA functional enrichment analysis of DARS2 co-expression and to analyze the connection of DARS2 with glycolysis and m6A-related genes. In vitro experiments were performed to assess the effects of interfering with DARS2 expression on ESCA cells. TarBase v.8, mirDIP, miRTarBase, ENCORI, and miRNet databases were used to analyze and construct a ceRNA network containing DARS2. RESULTS: DARS2 was overexpressed in various types of tumors. In vitro experiments confirmed that interfering with DARS2 expression significantly affected the proliferation, migration, apoptosis, cell cycle, and glycolysis of ESCA cells. DARS2 may be involved in multiple biological pathways related to tumor development. Furthermore, correlation and differential analysis revealed that DARS2 may regulate ESCA m6A modification through its interaction with METTL3 and YTHDF1. A ceRNA network containing DARS2, DLEU2/has-miR-30a-5p/DARS2, was successfully predicted and constructed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal the upregulation of DARS2 in ESCA and its association with clinical features, glycolysis pathway, m6A modification, and ceRNA network. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ESCA.

Risk of fall in patients with chronic kidney disease: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study (CHARLS).

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), often coexisting with various systemic disorders, may increase the risk of falls. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk of falls among patients with CKD in China. METHODS: We included patients with/without CKD from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our primary outcome was the occurrence of fall accidents within the past 2 years. To enhance the robustness of our findings, we employed a multivariable logistic regression model, conducted propensity score analysis, and applied an inverse probability-weighting model. RESULTS: A total of 12,658 participants were included, the prevalence of fall accident rates were 17.1% (2,028/11,837) among participants without CKD and 24.7% (203/821) among those with CKD. In the inverse probability-weighting model, participants with CKD exhibited higher fall accident rates (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.08-1.53, p = 0.005 ). Sensitivity and subgroup analysis showed the results still stable. CONCLUSIONS: The population in China afflicted with CKD has a significantly heightened risk of experiencing falls, underscoring the crucial importance of intensifying efforts in assessing and preventing fall risks.

Antibacterial, ROS scavenging and angiogenesis promotingϵ-Polylysine/gelatin based hydrogel containing CTLP to regulate macrophages for pressure ulcer healing.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) have emerged as a substantial burden on individuals and society. The introduction of innovative dressings that facilitate the healing of pressure ulcer wounds represents a cost-effective alternative for treatment. In this study, the emphasis is on the preparation of Carthamus tinctorius L. polysaccharide (CTLP) as hydrogel microspheres (MPs), which are then encapsulated within a hydrogel matrix crosslinked with phenylboronic acid gelatin (Gelatin-PBA) andϵ-polylysine-grafted catechol (ϵ-PL-Cat) to enable sustained release for promoting pressure ulcer healing. The presented Gelatin-PBA/ϵ-PL-Cat (GPL)/CTLP-MPs hydrogel demonstrated outstanding self-healing properties. In addition,in vitroexperiments revealed that the hydrogel exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity, excellent biocompatibility. And it showed the capacity to promote vascular formation, effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species, and facilitate macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype.In vivowound healing of mice PUs indicated that the prepared GPL/CTLP-MPs hydrogel effectively accelerated the formation of granulation tissue and facilitated the healing of the wounds. In summary,in vivoandin vitroexperiments consistently highlight the therapeutic potential of GPL/CTLP-MPs hydrogel in facilitating the healing process of PUs.

TRIP6 a potential diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer with glycolysis and immune infiltration association.

Thyroid hormone receptor interactor 6 (TRIP6) it is an adaptor protein belonging to the zyxin family of LIM proteins, participating in signaling events through interactions with various molecules. Despite this, TRIP6's role in colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly its correlation with glucose metabolism and immune cell infiltration, remains unclear. Through the TCGA and GEO databases, we obtained RNA sequencing data to facilitate our in-depth study and analysis of TRIP6 expression. To investigate the prognostic value of TRIP6 in CRC, we also used univariate Cox regression analysis. In addition, this study also covered a series of analyses, including clinicopathological analysis, functional enrichment analysis, glycolysis correlation analysis, immunoinfiltration analysis, immune checkpoint analysis, and angiogenesis correlation analysis, to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of this biological phenomenon. It has been found that TRIP6 expression is significantly upregulated in CRC and correlates with the stage of the disease. Its overexpression portends a worse survival time. Functional enrichment analysis reveals that TRIP6 is associated with focal adhesion and glycolysis. Mechanistically, TRIP6 appears to exert its tumorigenic effect by regulating the glycolysis-related gene GPI. A higher level of expression of TRIP6 is associated with an increase in the number of iDC immune cells and a decrease in the number of Th1 immune cells. Also, TRIP6 may promote angiogenesis in tumor cells by promoting the expression of JAG2. Our study uncovers the upregulation of TRIP6 in CRC, illuminating its prognostic and diagnostic value within this context. Furthermore, we examine the relationship between TRIP6 expression levels, glycolysis, angiogenesis and immune cell infiltration. This underscores its potential as a biomarker for CRC treatment and as a therapeutic target.

Anti-friction gold-based stretchable electronics enabled by interfacial diffusion-induced cohesion.

Stretchable electronics that prevalently adopt chemically inert metals as sensing layers and interconnect wires have enabled high-fidelity signal acquisition for on-skin applications. However, the weak interfacial interaction between inert metals and elastomers limit the tolerance of the device to external friction interferences. Here, we report an interfacial diffusion-induced cohesion strategy that utilizes hydrophilic polyurethane to wet gold (Au) grains and render them wrapped by strong hydrogen bonding, resulting in a high interfacial binding strength of 1017.6 N/m. By further constructing a nanoscale rough configuration of the polyurethane (RPU), the binding strength of Au-RPU device increases to 1243.4 N/m, which is 100 and 4 times higher than that of conventional polydimethylsiloxane and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene-based devices, respectively. The stretchable Au-RPU device can remain good electrical conductivity after 1022 frictions at 130 kPa pressure, and reliably record high-fidelity electrophysiological signals. Furthermore, an anti-friction pressure sensor array is constructed based on Au-RPU interconnect wires, demonstrating a superior mechanical durability for concentrated large pressure acquisition. This chemical modification-free approach of interfacial strengthening for chemically inert metal-based stretchable electronics is promising for three-dimensional integration and on-chip interconnection.

Oral Chinese Herbal Medicine plus usual care for diabetic kidney disease: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has become the leading cause of kidney failure, causing a significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. The usual care for DKD fails to achieve satisfactory effects in delaying the persistent loss of renal function. A Chinese herbal medicine, Tangshen Qushi Formula (TQF), showed preliminary clinical benefits with a sound safety profile for people with stage 2-4 DKD. We present the protocol of an ongoing clinical trial investigating the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of TQF compared to placebo in delaying the progressive decline of renal function for people with stage 2-4 DKD. Methods: A mixed methods research design will be used in this study. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial will evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of TQF compared to placebo on kidney function for people with stage 2-4 DKD. An embedded semi-structured interview will explore the acceptability of TQF granules and trial procedures from the participant's perspective. Sixty eligible participants with stage 2-4 DKD will be randomly allocated to the treatment group (TQF plus usual care) or the control group (TQF placebo plus usual care) at a 1:1 ratio for 48-week treatment and 12-week follow-up. Participants will be assessed every 12 weeks. The feasibility will be assessed as the primary outcome. The changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary protein/albumin, renal function, glycemic and lipid markers, renal composite endpoint events, and dampness syndrome of Chinese medicine will be assessed as the efficacy outcomes. Safety outcomes such as liver function, serum potassium, and adverse events will also be evaluated. The data and safety monitoring board will be responsible for the participants' benefits, the data's credibility, and the results' validity. The intent-to-treat and per-protocol analysis will be performed as the primary statistical strategy. Discussion: Conducting a rigorously designed pilot trial will be a significant step toward establishing the feasibility and acceptability of TQF and trial design. The study will also provide critical information for future full-scale trial design to further generate new evidence supporting clinical practice for people with stage 2-4 DKD. Trial registration number: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2200062786.

Uterine Burkitt Lymphoma with Rare Extranodal Deposits in the Bone, Breast, and Sacral Canal: A Case Report.

Burkitt lymphoma is a highly invasive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma is commonly found in the abdomen. However, Burkitt lymphoma infiltrating the uterus is uncommon in occurrence. We report the results of 18F-FDG PET/CT examination of a 36-year-old woman. The report indicates that in addition to the strong uptake of FDG imaging agent in the uterus, bilateral cervical and abdominal lymph nodes also have strong activity. At the same time, it was also found that bilateral small breast nodules, sacral canal and multiple bones in the whole body showed a radiation uptake pattern similar to that of the uterus. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging can help determine the extent of the disease and the affected body area, which is helpful to guide the treatment decision. This case report shows the application of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis, staging and post-treatment evaluation of Burkitt lymphoma of the uterus. It provides very useful information for clinicians and helps to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment effect.

SPC25 as a novel therapeutic and prognostic biomarker and its association with glycolysis, ferroptosis and ceRNA in lung adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Spindle pole body component 25 (SPC25) is an important cyclin involved in chromosome segregation and spindle dynamics regulation during mitosis. However, the role of SPC25 in lung adenocarcinoma (LAUD) is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The differential expression of SPC25 in tumor samples and normal samples was analyzed using TIMER, TCGA, GEO databases, and the correlation between its expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis in LUAD patients. Biological pathways that may be enriched by SPC25 were analyzed using GSEA. In vitro cell experiments were used to evaluate the effect of knocking down SPC25 expression on LUAD cells. Correlation analysis and differential analysis were used to assess the association of SPC25 expression with genes related to cell cycle, glycolysis, and ferroptosis. A ceRNA network involving SPC25 was constructed using multiple database analyses. RESULTS: SPC25 was highly expressed in LUAD, and its expression level could guide staging and predict prognosis. GSEA found that high expression of SPC25 involved multiple cell cycles and glycolytic pathways. Knocking down SPC25 expression significantly affected the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of LUAD cells. Abnormal SPC25 expression levels can affect cell cycle progression, glycolytic ability and ferroptosis regulation. A ceRNA network containing SPC25, SNHG15/hsa-miR-451a/SPC25, was successfully predicted and constructed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal the association of up-regulation of SPC25 in LUAD and its expression with clinical features, prognosis prediction, proliferation migration, cell cycle, glycolysis, ferroptosis, and ceRNA networks. Our results indicate that SPC25 can be used as a biomarker in LUAD therapy and a target for therapeutic intervention.

Renal-protective effects of Chinese medicinal herbs and compounds for diabetic kidney disease in animal models: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common and severe complication of diabetes that can lead to end-stage renal disease with no cure. The first-line drugs recommended by clinical guidelines fail to achieve satisfactory effects for people with DKD. A Chinese herbal medicine Tangshen Qushi Formula (TQF) shows preliminary efficacy and safety in preserving renal function for people with DKD, but the effects on comprehensive renal outcomes remain unclear. We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of TQF herbs and their compounds identified from ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS in diabetic animal models with renal outcomes. METHODS: This protocol complies with the guideline Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. We will include studies investigating the effects of TQF herbs and compounds on diabetic rats or mice with renal outcomes. Six electronic databases will be searched from their inception to February 2023. Quality assessment will be conducted using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Standardized or weighted mean differences will be estimated for renal outcomes (creatinine, urea, proteinuria, histological changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, and kidney fibrosis). Data will be pooled using random-effects models. Heterogeneity across studies will be expressed as I2. Sensitivity analyses will explore treatment effects in adjusted models and within subgroups. Funnel plots and Egger's test will be used to explore publication bias. DISCUSSION: The results of this review will provide valuable insights into the potential effects of TQF in managing DKD. The limitation is that the included studies will be animal studies from specific databases, and the interpretation of the findings must be cautious. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023432895. Registered on 19 July 2023 ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails ).

Lipid parameters, adipose tissue distribution and prognosis prediction in chronic kidney Disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Lipid management in clinic is critical to the prevention and treatment of Chronic kidney disease (CKD), while the manifestations of lipid indicators vary in types and have flexible association with CKD prognosis. PURPOSE: Explore the associations between the widely used indicators of lipid metabolism and their distribution in clinic and CKD prognosis; provide a reference for lipid management and inform treatment decisions for patients with non-dialysis CKD stage 3-5. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the Self-Management Program for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Cohort (SMP-CKD) database of 794 individuals with CKD stages 3-5. It covers demographic data, clinical diagnosis and medical history collection, laboratory results, circulating lipid profiles and lipid distribution assessments. Primary endpoint was defined as a composite outcome(the initiation of chronic dialysis or renal transplantation, sustained decline of 40% or more in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), doubled of serum creatinine (SCr) from the baseline, eGFR less than 5 mL/min/1.73m2, or all-cause mortality). Exposure variables were circulating lipid profiles and lipid distribution measurements. Association were assessed using Relative risks (RRs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) computed by multivariate Poisson models combined with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression according to categories of lipid manifestations. The best model was selected via akaike information criterion (AIC), area under curve (AUC), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and net reclassification index (NRI). Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the interaction effects and robustness.. RESULTS: 255 individuals reached the composite outcome. Median follow-up duration was 2.03 [1.06, 3.19] years. Median age was 58.8 [48.7, 67.2] years with a median eGFR of 33.7 [17.6, 47.8] ml/min/1.73 m2. Five dataset were built after multiple imputation and five category-based Possion models were constructed for each dataset. Model 5 across five datasets had the best fitness with smallest AIC and largest AUC. The pooled results of Model 5 showed that total cholesterol (TC) (RR (95%CI) (per mmol/L) :1.143[1.023,1.278], P = 0.018) and percentage of body fat (PBF) (RR (95%CI) (per percentage):0.976[0.961,0.992], P = 0.003) were significant factors of composite outcome. The results indicated that comprehensive consideration of lipid metabolism and fat distribution is more critical in the prediction of CKD prognosis.. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive consideration of lipid manifestations is optimal in predicting the prognosis of individuals with non-dialysis CKD stages 3-5.

SFXN1 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of LUAD is associated with 18F-FDG metabolic parameters.

BACKGROUND: Sideroflexin 1 (SFXN1) has been discovered as a novel tumor marker for lung adenocarcinoma, but data on its importance in the development of lung adenocarcinoma is still limited. This study evaluated the correlation between SFXN1 and parameters related to 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and further explored the role of SFXN1 in the value-added and glycolytic processes of LUAD. METHOD: The expression and prognostic value of SFXN1 mRNA in LUAD were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data base. Retrospective analysis of 18F-FDG PET imaging and metabolic parameters in 42 patients to explore the relationship between the expression of SFXN1 and glucose metabolism levels in lung adenocarcinoma and its clinical significance. H1975 cells were selected as the in vitro research object, and the biological effects of SFXN1 on LUAD were further elucidated through Edu proliferation assay, CCK8 activity assay, wound healing experiment, and cell flow cytometry. RESULT: SFXN1 is highly expressed in various tumors, including LUAD, and its high expression can serve as an independent predictor of overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, the expression of SFXN1 in LUAD was significantly correlated with 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters: maximum and average standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean), as well as total lesion glycolysis (TLG) (rho = 0.574, 0.589, and 0.338, p < 0.05), which can predict the expression of SFXN1 with an accuracy of 0.934. In vitro functional experiments have shown that knocking down SFXN1 inhibits the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells, promotes cell apoptosis, and may inhibit tumor activity by regulating the expression of glycolytic related genes SLC2A1, HK2, GPI, ALDOA, GAPDH, ENO1, PKM, and LDHA. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of SFXN1 is closely related to FDG uptake, and SFXN1, as a promising prognostic biomarker, may mediate the development of LUAD through the glycolytic pathway.