Focus on Upper Urinary Tract Stones Combined with Parenchymal Infiltrative Renal Pelvis Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Upper urinary tract stones combined with parenchymal infiltrative renal pelvic cancer are challenging to detect on imaging and to evaluate the differential diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: The symptoms and diagnoses in three cases of parenchymal infiltrative renal pelvic cancer and upper urinary tract stones that occurred between June 2019 and June 2022 were reviewed. Primary symptoms of lumbar discomfort and hematuria were evident in all 3 patients. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) abdominal imaging revealed that all three cases had hydronephrosis along with renal stones, while the other two cases only had localized hypoenhancement of the renal parenchyma, which was only thought to be limited inflammatory changes in the renal cortex as a result of the combination of renal pelvis infection. After percutaneous nephrolithotomy or ureteroscopic lithotripsy, a combined renal pelvis tumor was discovered in all of these instances. Radical tumor surgery was later performed. One patient who had several tumor metastases passed away 6 months after surgery. A case with multiple metastases was discovered 15 months after surgery and survived with the help of the current chemotherapy. A case with a bladder tumor recurrence was discovered 16 months after surgery and had transurethral bladder tumor electrosurgery and routine bladder perfusion chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Upper urinary tract stones and parenchymal infiltrative pyel carcinoma have atypical imaging, easily confused with infectious diseases. CT or computed tomography urography (CTU) must be considered by urologists. Patients who have a CT with local renal parenchyma density should be suspected of having parenchymal invasive renal pelvis carcinoma; a needle biopsy ought to be performed; and repeat biopsies may be performed if necessary. High-risk individuals need multiple, sufficient biopsies as needed and a comprehensive intraoperative assessment of the renal pelvic mucosa.

The effects of the predictability of acclimatory temperature on the growth and thermal tolerance of juvenile Spinibarbus sinensis.

Heated effluent injection, cold hypolimnetic water inputs from dams, and extreme weather events can lead to unpredictable temperature fluctuations in natural waters, impacting fish performance and fitness. We hypothesized that fish exposed to such unpredictable fluctuations would exhibit weaker growth and enhanced thermal tolerance compared to predictable conditions. Qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis) was selected as the experimental subject in this study. The qingbo were divided into a constant temperature group (C, 22 ± 0.5 °C), a predictable temperature fluctuation group (PF, 22 ± 4 °C, first warming, then cooling within a day) and an unpredictable temperature fluctuation group (UF, 22 ± 4 °C, the order of warming or cooling is random). After 40 days of temperature acclimation, the growth, metabolic rate, spontaneous activity, thermal tolerance, plasma cortisol concentration and liver hsp70 level of the fish were measured. Unexpectedly, neither the PF nor the UF group showed decreased growth compared to the C group. This could be attributed to the fact that temperature variation did not lead to a substantial increase in basic energy expenditure. Furthermore, feeding rates increased due to temperature fluctuations, although the difference was not significant. Both the PF and UF groups exhibited increased upper thermal tolerance, but only the UF group exhibited improved lower thermal tolerance and higher liver hsp70 levels compared to the C group. The qingbo that experienced unpredictable temperature fluctuations had the best thermal tolerance among the 3 groups, which might have occurred because they had the highest level of hsp70 expression. This may safeguard fish against the potential lethal consequences of extreme temperatures in the future. These findings suggested that qingbo exhibited excellent adaptability to both predictable and unpredictable temperature fluctuations, which may be associated with frequent temperature fluctuations in its natural habitat.

Femoral Tunnel Malposition, Increased Lateral Tibial Slope, and Decreased Notch Width Index Are Risk Factors for Non-Traumatic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Failure.

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for patients who sustain nontraumatic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) failure. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing primary or revision ACLR in our institution between 2010 and 2018. Patients sustaining insidious-onset knee instability without history of trauma were identified as nontraumatic ACLR failure and assigned to the study group. The control group of subjects who showed no evidence of ACLR failure with minimum 48-month follow-up were matched in a 1:1 ratio based on age, sex, and body mass index. Anatomic parameters including tibial slope (lateral [LTS], medial [MTS]); tibial plateau subluxation (lateral [LTPsublx], medial [MTPsublx]); notch width index (NWI); and lateral femoral condyle ratio were measured with magnetic resonance imaging or radiography. Graft tunnel position was assessed using 3-dimensional computed tomography and reported in 4 dimensions: deep-shallow ratio (DS ratio) and high-low ratio for femoral tunnel, anterior-posterior ratio and medial-lateral ratio for tibial tunnel. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Patients' demographic data, surgical factors, anatomic parameters, and tunnel placements were compared between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to discriminate and assess the identified risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients who sustained nontraumatic ACLR failure were included and matched with 52 control subjects. Compared to patients with intact ACLR, those who sustained nontraumatic ACLR failure showed significantly increased LTS, LTPsublx, MTS, and deceased NWI (all P < .001). Moreover, the average tunnel position in the study group was significantly more anterior (P < .001) and superior (P = .014) at the femoral side and more lateral (P = .002) at the tibial side. Multivariate regression analysis identified LTS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.313; P = .028), DS ratio (OR = 1.091; P = .002), and NWI (OR = 0.813; P = .040) as independent predictors of nontraumatic ACLR failure. LTS appeared to be the best independent predictive factor (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.804; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.721-0.887), followed by DS ratio (AUC = 0.803; 95% CI, 0.717-0.890), and NWI (AUC = 0.756; 95% CI, 0.664-0.847). The optimal cutoff values were 6.7° for increased LTS (sensitivity = 0.615, specificity = 0.923); 37.4% for increased DS ratio (sensitivity = 0.673, specificity = 0.885); and 26.4% for decreased NWI (sensitivity = 0.827, specificity = 0.596). Intraobserver and interobserver reliability was good to excellent, with ICCs ranging from 0.754 to 0.938 for all radiographical measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Increased LTS, decreased NWI, and femoral tunnel malposition are predictive risk factors for nontraumatic ACLR failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of quinazoline derivatives as novel and potent pan-JAK inhibitors.

Janus kinases (JAKs) play a critical role in modulating the function and expression of inflammatory cytokines related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of a series of novel quinazoline derivatives as JAK inhibitors. Among these inhibitors, compound 11n showed high potency against JAKs (JAK1/JAK2/JAK3/TYK2, IC50 = 0.40, 0.83, 2.10, 1.95 nM), desirable metabolic characters, and excellent pharmacokinetic properties. In collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) models, compound 11n exhibited significant reduction in joint swelling with good safety, which could be served as a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Activation of TRPV1 receptor facilitates myelin repair following demyelination via the regulation of microglial function.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel that is activated by capsaicin (CAP), the main component of chili pepper. Despite studies in several neurological diseases, the role of TRPV1 in demyelinating diseases remains unknown. Herein, we reported that TRPV1 expression was increased within the corpus callosum during demyelination in a cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination mouse model. TRPV1 deficiency exacerbated motor coordinative dysfunction and demyelination in CPZ-treated mice, whereas the TRPV1 agonist CAP improved the behavioral performance and facilitated remyelination. TRPV1 was predominantly expressed in Iba1+ microglia/macrophages in human brain sections of multiple sclerosis patients and mouse corpus callosum under demyelinating conditions. TRPV1 deficiency decreased microglial recruitment to the corpus callosum, with an associated increase in the accumulation of myelin debris. Conversely, the activation of TRPV1 by CAP enhanced the recruitment of microglia to the corpus callosum and potentiated myelin debris clearance. Using real-time live imaging we confirmed an increased phagocytic function of microglia following CAP treatment. In addition, the expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 was increased, and that of the glycolysis regulators Hif1a and Hk2 was decreased. We conclude that TRPV1 is an important regulator of microglial function in the context of demyelination and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Retracted: Obestatin Plays Beneficial Role in Cardiomyocyte Injury Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion In Vivo and In Vitro.

The Editors of Medical Science Monitor wish to inform you that the above manuscript has been retracted from publication due to concerns with the credibility and originality of the study, the manuscript content, and the Figure images. Reference: Qin Zhang, Xin-wei Dong, Jia-ying Xia, Ke-ying Xu, Zhe-rong Xu. Obestatin Plays Beneficial Role in Cardiomyocyte Injury Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion In Vivo and In Vitro. Med Sci Monit, 2017; 23: 2127-2136. DOI: 10.12659/MSM.901361.

Performance of the European Society of Cardiology 0/1-Hour, 0/2-Hour, and 0/3-Hour Algorithms for Rapid Triage of Acute Myocardial Infarction : An International Collaborative Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The 2020 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines recommend using the 0/1-hour and 0/2-hour algorithms over the 0/3-hour algorithm as the first and second choices of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn)-based strategies for triage of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracies of the ESC 0/1-hour, 0/2-hour, and 0/3-hour algorithms. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2020. (PROSPERO: CRD42020216479). STUDY SELECTION: Prospective studies that evaluated the ESC 0/1-hour, 0/2-hour, or 0/3-hour algorithms in adult patients presenting with suspected AMI. DATA EXTRACTION: The primary outcome was index AMI. Twenty unique cohorts were identified. Primary data were obtained from investigators of 16 cohorts and aggregate data were extracted from 4 cohorts. Two independent authors assessed each study for methodological quality. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 32 studies (20 cohorts) with 30 066 patients were analyzed. The 0/1-hour algorithm had a pooled sensitivity of 99.1% (95% CI, 98.5% to 99.5%) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.8% (CI, 99.6% to 99.9%) for ruling out AMI. The 0/2-hour algorithm had a pooled sensitivity of 98.6% (CI, 97.2% to 99.3%) and NPV of 99.6% (CI, 99.4% to 99.8%). The 0/3-hour algorithm had a pooled sensitivity of 93.7% (CI, 87.4% to 97.0%) and NPV of 98.7% (CI, 97.7% to 99.3%). Sensitivity of the 0/3-hour algorithm was attenuated in studies that did not use clinical criteria (GRACE score <140 and pain-free) compared with studies that used clinical criteria (90.2% [CI, 82.9 to 94.6] vs. 98.4% [CI, 88.6 to 99.8]). All 3 algorithms had similar specificities and positive predictive values for ruling in AMI, but heterogeneity across studies was substantial. Diagnostic performance was similar across the hs-cTnT (Elecsys; Roche), hs-cTnI (Architect; Abbott), and hs-cTnI (Centaur/Atellica; Siemens) assays. LIMITATION: Diagnostic accuracy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and cardiac troponin sampling time varied among studies. CONCLUSION: The ESC 0/1-hour and 0/2-hour algorithms have higher sensitivities and NPVs than the 0/3-hour algorithm for index AMI. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Taiwan University Hospital.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of ceftazidime and cefazolin in the treatment of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.

OBJECTIVE: Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis (PDRP) presents a significant challenge for nephrologists. Continuous intraperitoneal cefazolin and ceftazidime are recommended for the treatment of peritonitis. However, some pharmacokinetic studies have shown that doses of 15-20 mg/kg/d may not achieve sufficient therapeutic levels. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime and cefazolin in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis and compared the pharmacokinetic characteristics between traditional and modified treatment groups. METHODS: From February 2017 to December 2019, 42 PDRP patients (17 males, 25 females; mean age: 50.7 ± 12.1 years; mean body weight: 60.9 ± 11.8 kg) were recruited for the study, all participants were anuric. Twenty patients were enrolled in the traditional group and treated with cefazolin (1.0 g) and ceftazidime (1.0 g) via intraperitoneal administration once daily for 14 days. Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the modified group and received the same dose of antibiotics twice daily for the initial five days, followed by once daily for the subsequent nine days. Serum and dialysate samples were collected after days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 and analyzed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: In the traditional group, the highest and lowest serum concentrations of ceftazidime were 35.9 and 21.7 µg/mL, respectively. The highest concentration of cefazolin was 54.6 µg/mL on day 5 and the lowest concentration was 30.4 µg/mL on day 1. In the modified group, the highest and lowest serum concentrations of ceftazidime were 102.2 and 54.8 µg/mL, respectively. The highest concentration of cefazolin was 141.7 µg/mL and the lowest concentration was 79.8 µg/mL. All antibiotic concentrations were above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) level (8 µg/mL of ceftazidime and 2 µg/mL of cefazolin) throughout the treatment period. However, on day 1, the concentration of ceftazidime in the third bag of dialysate effluent from the traditional group fell below the MIC level. Despite remaining above the MIC, cefazolin concentration was consistently lower in the third bag of dialysate effluent from the traditional group throughout the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal administration of cefazolin and ceftazidime at a dose of 1 g twice daily for 5 days and then once daily for the rest of the treatment period ensured adequate therapeutic levels of antibiotics for treating anuric PDRP patients.

Effect of quilt thermal resistance on bedding system and sleep thermal comfort.

Ambient temperature and the bedding thermal resistance are two key factors affecting sleepers' thermal comfort. Six duvets with thermal resistance of 3.81, 5.12, 6.19, 7.81, 8.75 and 8.93 clo were included to investigate the effects of duvet thermal resistance on the sleep thermal comfort zone. Six males and six females were enrolled in a whole night sleep experiment, and the ambient temperature of the sleep room was adjusted to be thermally comfortable. Skin temperature, bed climate temperature and sleep stages were all acquired. Subjective evaluations including thermal perception and sleep quality were also assessed through questionnaires. The results indicated that increasing the thermal resistance of duvets widened the thermal comfort zone of ambient temperature, with the highest thermal resistance ranging from 8.2 to 17.7 °C and the lowest from 16.4 to 22.2 °C. The upper and lower temperature limits of the comfort zone did not significantly differ in their effect on sleep quality. The recommended bed climate temperature for comfortable sleep would be in the small range of 30-33 °C, and a good quality of sleep can be guaranteed in the scenario.

Preparation of fat replacer utilizing gluten and barley ß-glucan and the interaction between them.

BACKGROUND: Fat replacers prepared from polysaccharides and proteins possess functional properties of both polysaccharides and proteins. In this study, an aqueous system of barley ß-glucan (BBG) and gluten was prepared. The interactions between BBG and gluten (with/without extrusion modification) were studied. Triple analysis methods, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), were utilized to analyze the freezing-thawing and thermal evaporation process, as well as the distribution state of water. Meanwhile, fluorescence microscopic analysis, dynamic rheological analysis and electrophoresis analysis were used to study the structure and rheological properties of the system. RESULTS: The results showed that BBG significantly increased the water-holding capacity of gluten, regardless of extrusion treatment, with the water absorption reaching about 4.8 to 6.4 times of its weight, which was 1 to 2.5 times higher than that without BBG. The triple analysis results suggested that BBG increased the binding capacity of the system to weakly bound water, hindered the aggregation of gluten and reduced the thermal decomposition temperature of the BBG and gluten composite system. After the gluten was extruded and homogenized with the BBG solution, the appearance of the composite system was more uniform and delicate. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, BBG increased the water-holding capacity of the BBG and gluten composite system. With these changes, the composite system presented great potential for the preparation of polysaccharide-gluten fat replacer. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Building 2D/2D CdS/MOLs Heterojunctions for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

2D lamellar materials can offer high surface area and abundant reactive sites, thus showing an appealing prospect in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, it is still difficult to build cost-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution systems based on 2D materials. Herein, an in situ growth method is employed to build 2D/2D heterojunctions, with which 2D Ni-based metal-organic layers (Ni-MOLs) are closely grown on 2D porous CdS (P-CdS) nanosheets, affording traditional P-CdS/Ni-MOL heterojunction materials. Impressively, the optimized P-CdS/Ni-MOL catalyst exhibits superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance, with an H2 yield of 29.81 mmol g-1 h-1 . This value is 7 and 2981 times higher than that of P-CdS and Ni-MOLs, respectively, and comparable to those of reported state of the art catalysts. Photocatalytic mechanism studies reveal that the enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the 2D/2D intimate interface between P-CdS and Ni-MOLs, which facilitates the fast charge carriers' separation and transfer. This work provides a strategy to develop 2D MOL-based photocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion.

Genome-wide association study of primary dysmenorrhea in the Taiwan Biobank validates associations near the NGF and IL1 gene loci.

Using the Taiwan Biobank, we aimed to identify traits and genetic variations that could predispose Han Chinese women to primary dysmenorrhea. Cases of primary dysmenorrhea included those who self-reported "frequent dysmenorrhea" in a dysmenorrhea-related Taiwan Biobank questionnaire, and those who have been diagnosed with severe dysmenorrhea by a physician. Controls were those without self-reported dysmenorrhea. Customized Axiom-Taiwan Biobank Array Plates were used to perform whole-genome genotyping, PLINK was used to perform association tests, and HaploReg was used to conduct functional annotations of SNPs and bioinformatic analyses. The GWAS analysis included 1186 cases and 24,020 controls. We identified 53 SNPs that achieved genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8, which clustered in 2 regions. The first SNP cluster was on chromosome 1, and included 24 high LD (R2 > 0.88) variants around the NGF gene (lowest P value of 3.83 × 10-13 for rs2982742). Most SNPs occurred within NGF introns, and were predicted to alter regulatory binding motifs. The second SNP cluster was on chromosome 2, including 7 high LD (R2 > 0.94) variants around the IL1A and IL1B loci (lowest P value of 7.43 × 10-10 for rs11676014) and 22 SNPs that did not reach significance after conditional analysis. Most of these SNPs resided within IL1A and IL1B introns, while 2 SNPs may be in the promoter histone marks or promoter flanking regions of IL1B. To conclude, data from this study suggest that NGF, IL1A, and IL1B may be involved in the pathogenesis of primary dysmenorrhea in the Han Chinese in Taiwan.

Exploration and validation of related hub gene expression during SARS-CoV-2 infection of human bronchial organoids.

BACKGROUND: In the novel coronavirus pandemic, the high infection rate and high mortality have seriously affected people's health and social order. To better explore the infection mechanism and treatment, the three-dimensional structure of human bronchus has been employed in a better in-depth study on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: We downloaded a separate microarray from the Integrated Gene Expression System (GEO) on a human bronchial organoids sample to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGS) and analyzed it with R software. After processing with R software, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto PBMCs of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were analyzed, while a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to show the interactions and influence relationships between these differential genes. Finally, the selected highly connected genes, which are called hub genes, were verified in CytoHubba plug-in. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 966 differentially expressed genes, including 490 upregulated genes and 476 downregulated genes were used. Analysis of GO and KEGG revealed that these differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to immune response and cytokines. We construct protein-protein interaction network and identify 10 hub genes, including IL6, MMP9, IL1B, CXCL8, ICAM1, FGF2, EGF, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, and FN1. Finally, with the help of GSE150728, we verified that CXCl1, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL5, EGF differently expressed before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we used mRNA expression data from GSE150819 to preliminarily confirm the feasibility of hBO as an in vitro model to further study the pathogenesis and potential treatment of COVID-19. Moreover, based on the mRNA differentiated expression of this model, we found that CXCL8, CXCL10, and EGF are hub genes in the process of SARS-COV-2 infection, and we emphasized their key roles in SARS-CoV-2 infection. And we also suggested that further study of these hub genes may be beneficial to treatment, prognostic prediction of COVID-19.

Temporal Trends in the Microbiological Characteristics of Sepsis in the United States: A Population Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies are needed for monitoring population-level trends in sepsis. This study examines sepsis-causing microorganisms from 2006 to 2014 in the United States using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. METHODS: 7 860 686 adults hospitalized with sepsis were identified using a validated ICD-9 coding approach. Associated microorganisms were identified by ICD-9 code and classified by major groups (Gram-positive, Gram-negative, fungi, anaerobes) and specific species for analysis of their incidence and mortality. RESULTS: The rate of sepsis incidence has increased for all four major categories of pathogens, while the mortality rate decreased. In 2014, Gram-negative pathogens had a higher incidence than Gram-positives. Anaerobes increased the fastest with an average annual increase of 20.17% (p < 0.001). Fungi had the highest mortality (19.28%) and the slowest annual decrease of mortality (-2.31%, p = 0.006) in 2013, while anaerobic sepsis had the highest hazard of mortality (adjusted HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.53-1.66). CONCLUSIONS: Gram-negative pathogens have replaced Gram-positives as the leading cause of sepsis in the United States in 2014 during the study period (2006-2014). The incidence of anaerobic sepsis has an annual increase of 20%, while the mortality of fungal sepsis has not decreased at the same rate as other microorganisms. These findings should inform the diagnosis and management of septic patients, as well as the implementation of public health programs.

Effects of quilts on comfortable indoor temperatures and human thermal responses during sleep.

Quilts play a vital role in the thermal comfort of sleeping people. This study aims to investigate the comfortable indoor temperatures and thermal responses when people sleep in different quilts. The experiment tested three kinds of quilts (down, silk, and polyester), and each kind of quilt involved six filling weights. Sixteen participants (eight males and eight females) conducted whole-night sleeping trials to acquire skin temperatures, bedding temperatures, and thermal perceptual responses. The lower and upper limits of air temperatures ( T lower $$ {T}_{lower} $$ and T upper $$ {T}_{upper} $$ ) for comfortable sleeping were obtained. The results indicated that thermal sensation votes were in the range from 0.1 (close to "neutral") to 1.3 (close to "slightly warm") when participants felt comfortable and preferred "no change" in thermal preference. The corresponding comfortable mean skin and bedding temperatures were 34.6 ~ 35.2°C and 31.2 ~ 32.7°C, respectively. T lower $$ {T}_{lower} $$ and T upper $$ {T}_{upper} $$ had good linear correlations with bedding insulations. For the same bedding insulation, the T lower $$ {T}_{lower} $$ and T upper $$ {T}_{upper} $$ were highest for using silk quilts, followed by down and polyester quilts. The comfort ranges of air temperatures and quilt insulations were finally determined. The findings may benefit understanding the thermal requirement of quilts and help people select and design quilts to achieve thermal comfort.

Calf circumference predicts frailty in older adults: the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey.

BACKGROUND: Although frailty is a common geriatric syndrome in old adults, a simple method to assess the degree of frailty in a person has not yet been established. In this study we have tried to establish the association between calf circumference (CC) and frailty among older Chinese people. METHODS: We used the data obtained from the 2014 edition of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey; 1216 participants aged ≥60 years were included for the study. Body mass index, CC and waist circumference measurement data, and laboratory test results were collected. Frailty status was measured using the frailty index (FI). Participants were then classified into non-frail (FI < 0.25) and frail (FI ≥ 0.25) groups. RESULTS: There were 874 participants (71.9%) in the non-frail group and 342 (28.1%) in the frail group. The CC was significantly different between the two groups (31.54 ± 4.16 versus 28.04 ± 4.53, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that CC (odds ratio = 0.947, 95% confidence interval: 0.904-0.993, P = 0.023) was an independent impact factor associated with frailty. The CC value of 28.5 cm was considered the best cut-off value in women with area under the curve (AUC) was 0.732 (P < 0.001) and 29.5 cm in men with AUC was 0.592 (P = 0.004);We created a simple prediction model for frailty that included age,sex and CC:[Formula: see text]P = elogit(P) /1 + elogit(P), and AUC is 0.849 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CC is a convenient and predictable marker of frailty in older adults.

Screening the hub genes and analyzing the mechanisms in discharged COVID-19 patients retesting positive through bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: After encountering COVID-19 patients who test positive again after discharge, our study analyzed the pathogenesis to further assess the risk and possibility of virus reactivation. METHODS: A separate microarray was acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and its samples were divided into two groups: a "convalescent-RTP" group consisting of convalescent and "retesting positive" (RTP) patients (group CR) and a "healthy-RTP" group consisting of healthy control and RTP patients (group HR). The enrichment analysis was performed with R software, obtaining the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of each group were established, and the hub genes were discovered using the cytoHubba plugin. RESULTS: In this study, 6622 differentially expressed genes were identified in the group CR, among which RAB11B-AS1, DISP1, MICAL3, PSMG1, and DOCK4 were up-regulated genes, and ANAPC1, IGLV1-40, SORT1, PLPPR2, and ATP1A1-AS1 were down-regulated. 7335 genes were screened in the group HR, including the top 5 up-regulated genes ALKBH6, AMBRA1, MIR1249, TRAV18, and LRRC69, and the top 5 down-regulated genes FAM241B, AC018529.3, AL031963.3, AC006946.1, and FAM149B1. The GO and KEGG analysis of the two groups revealed a significant enrichment in immune response and apoptosis. In the PPI network constructed, group CR and group HR identified 10 genes, respectively, and TP53BP1, SNRPD1, and SNRPD2 were selected as hub genes. CONCLUSIONS: Using the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression data from GSE166253, we found TP53BP1, SNRPD1, and SNRPD2 as hub genes in RTP patients, which is vital to the management and prognostic prediction of RTP patients.

An overview of antimicrobial properties of kombucha.

Kombucha is a traditional beverage of Manchurian origin, typically made by fermenting sugared black or green tea with the symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The beverage has gained increasing popularity in recent years, mainly due to its heralded health benefits. The fermentation process of kombucha also results in the production of various bioactive compounds with antimicrobial potential, making it a promising candidate in the exploration of alternative sources of antimicrobial agents, and may be helpful in combating the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. Literature survey performed on Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed revealed the extensive research that has firmly established the antimicrobial activity of kombucha against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi. This activity could be attributed to the synergistic activities of the microbial species in the kombucha microbiota that led to the synthesis of compounds with antimicrobial properties such as acetic acid and various polyphenols. However, research thus far only involved screening for the antimicrobial activity of kombucha. Therefore, there is still a research gap about the molecular mechanism of the kombucha reaction against specific pathogens and its influence on human health upon consumption. Future research may focus on investigating this aspect. Further characterization of the biological activity of the microbial community in kombucha may also facilitate the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds, such as bacteriocins produced by the microorganisms.

Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 promotes insulin resistance in adipocytes via degradation of insulin receptor substrate 1.

AIMS: Accumulating evidence indicates that serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) plays a role in the development of metabolic syndrome via a poorly understood mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the direct effect of SGK1 on insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We ectopically expressed or silenced SGK1 in adipocytes via lentiviral transfection, measured glucose uptake and evaluated insulin signalling using western blotting. In vivo insulin resistance was measured at the whole-body and adipose tissue levels in db/db mice treated with an inhibitor of SGK1. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of SGK1 inhibitor treatment, the serum insulin level and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index were significantly decreased, and AKT phosphorylation in adipose tissue was enhanced in db/db mice. Overexpression of constitutively active SGK1 in adipocytes in vitro decreased AKT phosphorylation and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Dexamethasone and oleic acid increased SGK1 expression and decreased AKT phosphorylation and insulin receptor substrate expression in adipocytes. Administration of an inhibitor of SGK1 or Lv-shSGK1 reversed the suppression of insulin signalling induced by dexamethasone and oleic acid. SGK1 overexpression increased FoxO1 phosphorylation, and administration of Lv-shSGK1 reversed an increase in FoxO1 phosphorylation induced by dexamethasone and oleic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, SGK1 mediates the effect of glucocorticoids and high-fat feeding and induces insulin resistance in adipocytes. Our data suggest that SGK1 is a possible therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome and related complications.

An improved experimental method for simultaneously isolating hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells in mouse liver infected with Echinococcus multilocularis.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis parasitizing in the human liver, causing local pathological changes in the liver and manifesting as hyperplasia, liver fibrosis, atrophy, degeneration, and necrosis. Here, we report a method that can simultaneously isolate hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. METHODS: A mouse model of AE was established. Hepatocytes and HSCs were isolated from mouse liver using a two-step method combining in situ collagenase perfusion and gradient centrifugation. Expressions of Alb, Desmin, and α-SMA were detected with immunofluorescence to identify the isolated hepatocytes and HSCs. RESULTS: The viability and purity of hepatocytes and HSCs both reached 90% or above. For hepatocytes, clear cell boundaries were observed, and the nuclei were round or oval, with clear nucleoli. There was a homogeneous distribution of the hepatocyte marker Alb in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Lipid droplets and Desmin expression were observed in the cytoplasm of freshly isolated HSCs. During the activation of HSCs, the lipid droplets gradually decreased and disappeared with a high expression of α-SMA. CONCLUSION: Hepatocytes and HSCs are simultaneously isolated. This may provide a research tool to investigate the interaction between hepatocytes and HSCs and to investigate the mechanism of Echinococcus multilocularis infection-induced liver pathological changes.