A bibliometric analysis of research on organizational resilience.

Organizational resilience is a key concept in the study of sustainable corporate growth and indicates an organization's capacity to recover from adversity. It plays a crucial role in responding to uncertain crises. In recent years, academic interest in organizational resilience has increasingly gained prominence. This research uses CiteSpace and VOSviewer to provide a thorough visual analysis of pertinent international literature based on 342 pieces of closely linked literature about organizational resilience. The findings suggest that organizational resilience research is currently experiencing a development phase. Within this field, there is a substantial number of scholars involved, with the most prolific among them including Aleksic Aleksandar, Prayag Girish, and Griffiths Andrew. The networks of collaboration among these authors, nevertheless, are very scattered. Co-citation network research reveals the academics with the biggest sway in the field. Organizational resilience, conservation of resources theory, crisis management, corporate social responsibility, and emergency management are identified as research hotspots within the keyword co-citation network. Furthermore, to determine which countries and regions are the most influential, this study has created a cooperative network among them. China, the United States, and England are the top three nations with articles published. Not only are the highly cited journals respected in the management sector, but they also showcase noteworthy research accomplishments within the field. The purpose of this study is to investigate potential avenues for future research and offer helpful sources for choosing research subjects and developing theoretical frameworks in this area. The analysis is highly valuable as a reference for research on organizational resilience in different settings in the future.

Altered regional brain activity and functional connectivity in primary intravaginal anejaculation patients revealed by resting-state fMRI.

ABSTRACT: Ejaculation is regulated by the central nervous system. However, the central pathophysiology of primary intravaginal anejaculation (PIAJ) is unclear. The present study aimed to examine the changes in regional brain activity and functional connectivity underlying PIAJ. A total of 20 PIAJ patients and 16 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled from September 2020 to September 2022 in the Department of Andrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Nanjing, China). Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from all participants and then were preprocessed. The measures of fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) were calculated and compared between the groups. PIAJ patients showed increased fALFF values in the left precuneus compared with HCs. Additionally, PIAJ patients showed increased ReHo values in the left precuneus, left postcentral gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus, left calcarine fissure, right precuneus, and right middle temporal gyrus, and decreased ReHo values in the left inferior parietal gyrus, compared with HCs. Finally, brain regions with altered fALFF and ReHo values in PIAJ patients showed increased FC with widespread cortical regions, which included the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital regions, compared with HCs. In conclusion, increased regional brain activity in the parietal, temporal, and occipital regions, and increased FC between these brain regions, may be associated with PIAJ occurrence.

Dose-Response Study of Phenylephrine for Preventing Spinal-Induced Hypotension During Cesarean Delivery with Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia Under the Effect of Prophylactic Intravenous Ondansetron.

Background: Ondansetron reduces the median effective dose (ED50) of prophylactic phenylephrine to prevent spinal-induced hypotension (SIH) during cesarean delivery. However, the exact dose response of phenylephrine in combination with prophylactic ondansetron for preventing SIH is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the dose-response of phenylephrine to prevent SIH in cesarean delivery when 4 mg of ondansetron was used as a preventive method. Methods: A total of 80 parturients were enrolled and divided randomly into four groups (n = 20 in each group) who received either 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, or 0.5 µg/kg/min of prophylactic phenylephrine. Ten minutes before the initiation of spinal induction, 4 mg prophylactic ondansetron was administered. The effective dose of prophylactic phenylephrine was defined as the dose required to prevent hypotension after the period of intrathecal injection and up to neonatal delivery. The ED50 and ED90 of prophylactic phenylephrine and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using probit analysis. Results: The ED50 and ED90 for prophylactic phenylephrine to prevent SIH were 0.25 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.30), and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.39 to 0.59) µg/kg/min, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the side effects and neonatal outcomes between the four groups. Conclusion: The administration of 4 mg of prophylactic ondansetron was associated with an ED50 of 0.25 (95% CI, 0.15~0.30) and ED90 of 0.45 (95% CI, 0.39~0.59) µg/kg/min for phenylephrine to prevent SIH.

Real-time coronary artery segmentation in CAG images: A semi-supervised deep learning strategy.

BACKGROUND: When treating patients with coronary artery disease and concurrent renal concerns, we often encounter a conundrum: how to achieve a clearer view of vascular details while minimizing the contrast and radiation doses during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our goal is to use deep learning (DL) to create a real-time roadmap for guiding PCI. To this end, segmentation, a critical first step, paves the way for detailed vascular analysis. Unlike traditional supervised learning, which demands extensive labeling time and manpower, our strategy leans toward semi-supervised learning. This method not only economizes on labeling efforts but also aims at reducing contrast and radiation exposure. METHODS AND RESULTS: CAG data sourced from eight tertiary centers in Taiwan, comprising 500 labeled and 8952 unlabeled images. Employing 400 labels for training and reserving 100 for validation, we built a U-Net based network within a teacher-student architecture. The initial teacher model was updated with 8952 unlabeled images inputted, employing a quality control strategy involving consistency regularization and RandAugment. The optimized teacher model produced pseudo-labels for label expansion, which were then utilized to train the final student model. We attained an average dice similarity coefficient of 0.9003 for segmentation, outperforming supervised learning methods with the same label count. Even with only 5 % labels for semi-supervised training, the results surpassed a supervised method with 100 % labels inputted. This semi-supervised approach's advantage extends beyond single-frame prediction, yielding consistently superior results in continuous angiography films. CONCLUSIONS: High labeling cost hinders DL training. Semi-supervised learning, quality control, and pseudo-label expansion can overcome this. DL-assisted segmentation potentially provides a real-time PCI roadmap and further diminishes radiation and contrast doses.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Randomized-Controlled Trial at Hospital-Based Hemodialysis Center.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequent in patients with hemodialysis (HD) and occurs predominantly in its most severe forms. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for RLS in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at hospital-based HD center. Methods: This single-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed on patients with HD and RLS who were randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. Data were collected using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLSRS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and heart rate variability (HRV) records at baseline, after the therapeutic course (12 times/4 weeks), and 1-week follow-up. Result: A total of 47 patients were evaluated with IRLSRS score from 11 to 30 in this study. There were 41 patients enrolled in the study based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and allocated randomly into two groups. A total of 35 participants completed the trial, including 18 subjects in the experimental group and 17 subjects in the control group. The comparison of IRLSRS and ISI showed a significant reduction between two groups after acupuncture treatment (p = 0.002, p = 0.003). The ISI after 1-week follow-up also revealed significant decrease (p = 0.003). This HRV results showed that high frequency (HF%) increased significantly (p = 0.021) and low frequency (LF%) decreased significantly in the acupuncture group (p = 0.021). The generalized estimating equation showed that the IRLSRS improved by 2.902 points (p < 0.001) in the acupuncture group compared with the control group and by 1.340 points (p = 0.003) after 1-week follow-up. There were no adverse effects observed during HD in this study. Discussion: The authors conclude that acupuncture could effectively improve the symptoms of RLS significantly. The results from this study provide clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture to treat the patients with RLS at the HD center.

The application of large language models in medicine: A scoping review.

This study systematically reviewed the application of large language models (LLMs) in medicine, analyzing 550 selected studies from a vast literature search. LLMs like ChatGPT transformed healthcare by enhancing diagnostics, medical writing, education, and project management. They assisted in drafting medical documents, creating training simulations, and streamlining research processes. Despite their growing utility in assisted diagnosis and improving doctor-patient communication, challenges persisted, including limitations in contextual understanding and the risk of over-reliance. The surge in LLM-related research indicated a focus on medical writing, diagnostics, and patient communication, but highlighted the need for careful integration, considering validation, ethical concerns, and the balance with traditional medical practice. Future research directions suggested a focus on multimodal LLMs, deeper algorithmic understanding, and ensuring responsible, effective use in healthcare.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and human health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence on the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and human health outcomes has grown exponentially, specific health outcomes and their potential associations with PFASs have not been conclusively evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search through the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to February 29, 2024, to identify systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies examining the associations between the PFASs and multiple health outcomes. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool, and credibility of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria. The protocol of this umbrella review (UR) had been registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42023480817). RESULTS: The UR identified 157 meta-analyses from 29 articles. Using the AMSTAR measurement tool, all articles were categorized as of moderate-to-high quality. Based on the GRADE assessment, significant associations between specific types of PFASs and low birth weight, tetanus vaccine response, and triglyceride levels showed high certainty of evidence. Moreover, moderate certainty of evidence with statistical significance was observed between PFASs and health outcomes including lower BMI z-score in infancy, poor sperm progressive motility, and decreased risk of preterm birth as well as preeclampsia. Fifty-two (33%) associations (e.g., PFASs and gestational hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc) presented low certainty evidence. Additionally, eighty-five (55%) associations (e.g., PFASs with infertility, lipid metabolism, etc) presented very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: High certainty of evidence supported that certain PFASs were associated with the incidence of low birth weight, low efficiency of the tetanus vaccine, and low triglyceride levels.

The biomedical knowledge graph of symptom phenotype in coronary artery plaque: machine learning-based analysis of real-world clinical data.

A knowledge graph can effectively showcase the essential characteristics of data and is increasingly emerging as a significant means of integrating information in the field of artificial intelligence. Coronary artery plaque represents a significant etiology of cardiovascular events, posing a diagnostic challenge for clinicians who are confronted with a multitude of nonspecific symptoms. To visualize the hierarchical relationship network graph of the molecular mechanisms underlying plaque properties and symptom phenotypes, patient symptomatology was extracted from electronic health record data from real-world clinical settings. Phenotypic networks were constructed utilizing clinical data and protein‒protein interaction networks. Machine learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks, Dijkstra's algorithm, and gene ontology semantic similarity, were employed to quantify clinical and biological features within the network. The resulting features were then utilized to train a K-nearest neighbor model, yielding 23 symptoms, 41 association rules, and 61 hub genes across the three types of plaques studied, achieving an area under the curve of 92.5%. Weighted correlation network analysis and pathway enrichment were subsequently utilized to identify lipid status-related genes and inflammation-associated pathways that could help explain the differences in plaque properties. To confirm the validity of the network graph model, we conducted coexpression analysis of the hub genes to evaluate their potential diagnostic value. Additionally, we investigated immune cell infiltration, examined the correlations between hub genes and immune cells, and validated the reliability of the identified biological pathways. By integrating clinical data and molecular network information, this biomedical knowledge graph model effectively elucidated the potential molecular mechanisms that collude symptoms, diseases, and molecules.

Cancer on motors: How kinesins drive prostate cancer progression?

Prostate cancer causes numerous male deaths annually. Although great progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer during the past several decades, much about this disease remains unknown, especially its pathobiology. The kinesin superfamily is a pivotal group of motor proteins, that contains a microtubule-based motor domain and features an adenosine triphosphatase activity and motility characteristics. Large-scale sequencing analyses based on clinical samples and animal models have shown that several members of the kinesin family are dysregulated in prostate cancer. Abnormal expression of kinesins could be linked to uncontrolled cell growth, inhibited apoptosis and increased metastasis ability. Additionally, kinesins may be implicated in chemotherapy resistance and escape immunologic cytotoxicity, which creates a barrier to cancer treatment. Here we cover the recent advances in understanding how kinesins may drive prostate cancer progression and how targeting their function may be a therapeutic strategy. A better understanding of kinesins in prostate cancer tumorigenesis may be pivotal for improving disease outcomes in prostate cancer patients.

Discovery of a Potent Antiosteoporotic Drug Molecular Scaffold Derived from Angelica sinensis and Its Bioinspired Total Synthesis.

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as Dong Quai in Europe and America and as Dang-gui in China, is a medicinal plant widely utilized for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. In this study, we report the discovery of a new category of phthalide from Angelica sinensis, namely falcarinphthalides A and B (1 and 2), which contains two fragments, (3R,8S)-falcarindiol (3) and (Z)-ligustilide (4). Falcarinphthalides A and B (1 and 2) represent two unprecedented carbon skeletons of phthalide in natural products, and their antiosteoporotic activities were evaluated. The structures of 1 and 2, including their absolute configurations, were established using extensive analysis of NMR spectra, chemical derivatization, and ECD/VCD calculations. Based on LC-HR-ESI-MS analysis and DFT calculations, a production mechanism for 1 and 2 involving enzyme-catalyzed Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder reactions was proposed. Falcarinphthalide A (1), the most promising lead compound, exhibits potent in vitro antiosteoporotic activity by inhibiting NF-κB and c-Fos signaling-mediated osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, the bioinspired gram-scale total synthesis of 1, guided by intensive DFT study, has paved the way for further biological investigation. The discovery and gram-scale total synthesis of falcarinphthalide A (1) provide a compelling lead compound and a novel molecular scaffold for treating osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.

Curcumin regulates autophagy through SIRT3-SOD2-ROS signaling pathway to improve quadriceps femoris muscle atrophy in KOA rat model.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) usually leads to quadriceps femoris atrophy, which in turn can further aggravate the progression of KOA. Curcumin (CUR) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and has been shown to be a protective agent for skeletal muscle. CUR has been shown to have a protective effect on skeletal muscle. However, there are no studies related to whether CUR improves KOA-induced quadriceps femoris muscle atrophy. We established a model of KOA in rats. Rats in the experimental group were fed CUR for 5 weeks. Changes in autophagy levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and changes in the expression of the Sirutin3 (SIRT3)-superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) pathway were detected in the quadriceps femoris muscle of rats. KOA led to quadriceps femoris muscle atrophy, in which autophagy was induced and ROS levels were increased. CUR increased SIRT3 expression, decreased SOD2 acetylation and ROS levels, inhibited the over-activation of autophagy, thereby alleviating quadriceps femoris muscle atrophy and improving KOA. CUR has a protective effect against quadriceps femoris muscle atrophy, and KOA is alleviated after improvement of quadriceps femoris muscle atrophy, with the possible mechanism being the reduction of ROS-induced autophagy via the SIRT3-SOD2 pathway.

Association of circulating inflammatory proteins with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that immune response underlies the pathology of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nevertheless, the specific inflammatory regulators involved in this pathogenesis remain unclear. Methods: We systematically explored circulating inflammatory proteins that are causally associated with T2D via a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study and further investigated them in prevalent complications of T2D. Genetic instruments for 91 circulating inflammatory proteins were derived from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that enrolled 14,824 predominantly European participants. Regarding the summary-level GWASs of type 2 diabetes, we adopted the largest meta-analysis of European population (74,124 cases vs. 824,006 controls) and a prospective nested case-cohort study in Europe (9,978 cases vs. 12,348 controls). Summary statistics for five complications of T2D were acquired from the FinnGen R9 repository. The inverse variance-weighted method was applied as the primary method for causal inference. MR-Egger, weighted median and maximum likelihood methods were employed as supplementary analyses. Results from the two T2D studies were combined in a meta-analysis. Sensitivity analyses and phenotype-wide association studies (PheWAS) were performed to detect heterogeneity and potential horizontal pleiotropy in the study. Results: Genetic evidence indicated that elevated levels of TGF-α (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.15-1.17) and CX3CL1 (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.04-1.63) promoted the occurrence of T2D, and increased concentrations of FGF-21 (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.81-0.93) and hGDNF (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.95-0.98) mitigated the risk of developing T2D, while type 2 diabetes did not exert a significant influence on said proteins. Elevated levels of TGF-α were associated with an increased risk of ketoacidosis, neurological complications, and ocular complications in patients with T2D, and increased concentrations of FGF-21 were potentially correlated with a diminished risk of T2D with neurological complications. Higher levels of hGDNF were associated with an increased risk of T2D with peripheral vascular complications, while CX3CL1 did not demonstrate a significant association with T2D complications. Sensitivity analyses and PheWAS further ensure the robustness of our findings. Conclusion: This study determined four circulating inflammatory proteins that affected the occurrence of T2D, providing opportunities for the early prevention and innovative therapy of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Investigation of Structures, Stabilities, and Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Niobium Carbon Clusters Nb7Cn (n = 1-7).

The geometrical structures, relative stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of niobium carbon clusters, Nb7Cn (n = 1-7), are investigated in this study. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, coupled with the Saunders Kick global search, are conducted to explore the structural properties of Nb7Cn (n = 1-7). The results regarding the average binding energy, second-order difference energy, dissociation energy, HOMO-LUMO gap, and chemical hardness highlight the robust stability of Nb7C3. Analysis of the density of states suggests that the molecular orbitals of Nb7Cn primarily consist of orbitals from the transition metal Nb, with minimal involvement of C atoms. Spin density and natural population analysis reveal that the total magnetic moment of Nb7Cn predominantly resides on the Nb atoms. The contribution of Nb atoms to the total magnetic moment stems mainly from the 4d orbital, followed by the 5p, 5s, and 6s orbitals.

Effect of inflammatory response on joint function after hip fracture in elderly patients: A clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Excellent hip joint function facilitates limb recovery and improves the quality of survival. This study aimed to investigate the potential risk factors affecting postoperative joint functional activity and outcomes in elderly hip fractures patients and to provide evidence for patient rehabilitation and clinical management. AIM: To explore the relationship between inflammatory factors and hip function and the interaction between inflammation and health after hip fracture in elderly patients. METHODS: The elderly patients who had hip fracture surgery at our hospital between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022 were chosen for this retrospective clinical investigation. Patients with excellent and fair postoperative hip function had their clinical information and characteristics gathered and compared. Age, gender, fracture site, surgical technique, laboratory indices, and other variables that could have an impact on postoperative joint function were all included in a univariate study. To further identify independent risk factors affecting postoperative joint function in hip fractures, risk factors that showed statistical significance in the univariate analysis were then included in a multiple logistic regression analysis. In addition to this, we also compared other outcome variables such as visual analogue scale and length of hospital stay between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 119 elderly patients with hip fractures were included in this study, of whom 37 were male and 82 were female. The results of univariate logistic regression analysis after excluding the interaction of various factors showed that there was a statistically significant difference in interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), and complement C1q (C1q) between the fair and excellent joint function groups (P < 0.05). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6 > 20 pg/mL [(Odds ratio (OR) 3.070, 95%CI: 1.243-7.579], IL-8 > 21.4 pg/ mL (OR 3.827, 95%CI: 1.498-9.773), CRP > 10 mg/L (OR 2.142, 95%CI: 1.020-4.498) and C1q > 233 mg/L (OR 2.339, 95%CI: 1.094-5.004) were independent risk factors for poor joint function after hip fracture surgery (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: After hip fractures in older patients, inflammatory variables are risk factors for fair joint function; therefore, early intervention to address these markers is essential to enhance joint function and avoid consequences.

Precise prostate cancer diagnosis using fluorescent nanoprobes for detecting PSA and PSMA in serum.

Novel Au-Se bond-based nanoprobes were designed for concurrent detection of PSA and PSMA in serum samples, aiming to enhance the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. These probes demonstrate robust stability, specificity and accuracy, underscoring their potential as non-invasive tools for diagnosis.

Inhibition of PARP1 improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction via up-regulated NLRC5.

The incidence and mortality rate of myocardial infarction are increasing per year in China. The polarization of macrophages towards the classically activated macrophages (M1) phenotype is of utmost importance in the progression of inflammatory stress subsequent to myocardial infarction. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1(PARP1) is the ubiquitous and best characterized member of the PARP family, which has been reported to support macrophage polarization towards the pro-inflammatory phenotype. Yet, the role of PARP1 in myocardial ischemic injury remains to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that a myocardial infarction mouse model induced cardiac damage characterized by cardiac dysfunction and increased PARP1 expression in cardiac macrophages. Inhibition of PARP1 by the PJ34 inhibitors could effectively alleviate M1 macrophage polarization, reduce infarction size, decrease inflammation and rescue the cardiac function post-MI in mice. Mechanistically, the suppression of PARP1 increase NLRC5 gene expression, and thus inhibits the NF-κB pathway, thereby decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß and TNF-α. Inhibition of NLRC5 promote infection by effectively abolishing the influence of this mechanism discussed above. Interestingly, inhibition of NLRC5 promotes cardiac macrophage polarization toward an M1 phenotype but without having major effects on M2 macrophages. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of PARP1 increased NLRC5 gene expression, thereby suppressing M1 polarization, improving cardiac function, decreasing infarct area and attenuating inflammatory injury. The aforementioned findings provide new insights into the proinflammatory mechanisms that drive macrophage polarization following myocardial infarction, thereby introducing novel potential targets for future therapeutic interventions in individuals affected by myocardial infarction.

Gestational diabetes-related gut microbiome dysbiosis is not influenced by different Asian ethnicities and dietary interventions: a pilot study.

Gut microbiome dysbiosis contributes to the pathophysiology of both gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its associated adverse outcomes in the woman and offspring. Even though GDM prevalence, complications, and outcomes vary among different ethnic groups, limited information is available about the influence of ethnicity on gut microbiome dysbiosis in pregnancies complicated by GDM. This pilot prospective cohort study examined the impact of ethnicity on gut dysbiosis in GDM among three Asian ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay, Indian) living in Singapore, and investigated the potential modulatory roles of diet and lifestyle modifications on gut microbiome post-GDM diagnosis. Women with GDM (n = 53) and without GDM (n = 16) were recruited. Fecal samples were collected at 24-28- and 36-40-weeks' gestation and analyzed by targeted 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) analysis was performed to evaluate differences between groups. Differentially abundant taxa were identified by DeSeq2 based analysis. Functional prediction was performed using the phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt2). Among women with GDM, gut microbiome from different ethnicities harbored common microbial features. However, among those without GDM, there was contrasting microbiome composition between ethnic groups. Microbial members such as Collinsella, Blautia, Ruminococcus, Ruminococcus gnavus, Ruminococcus torques, and Eubacterium hallii groups were differentially enriched (p < 0.05) in women with GDM compared to those without. Among women with GDM, no differences in alpha- and beta- diversity were observed when comparing 24-28 weeks' samples with 36-40 weeks' samples, a period covering intense dietary and lifestyle modification, suggesting an inability to modulate gut microbiota through classic GDM management. Women with GDM have a distinct gut microbiome profile which harbours common features across different Asian ethnic groups, consistent with the notion that specific microbes are involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory conditions, and other metabolic dysregulation known to be present in GDM.

Accessing Benzoazepine Derivatives via Photoinduced Radical Relay Formal [5 + 2] Reaction of Amide/Alkyne Enabled by Palladium Catalysis.

A novel class of alkyne-tethered amides facilitates an unprecedented photoinduced palladium-catalyzed radical relay formal [5 + 2] reaction. This innovative strategy allows for the rapid construction of diverse fused benzoazepine structures, yielding structurally novel and compelling compounds. With a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance, the methodology synthesizes biologically active compounds. Notably, the resulting tricyclic benzo[b]azepines offer diversification opportunities through simple transformations. DFT calculations elucidate a seven-membered ring closure mechanism involving the alkenyl radical and Pd(I) rebound alongside a concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) process.

Cell-excreted proteins mediate the interactions of differently sized silica nanoparticles during cellular uptake.

Exposure to different types of nanoparticles (NPs) results in their deposition in human bodies. While most studies have examined the cellular uptake of only one type of NP at a time, how the dynamics of NP uptake may change in the presence of other types of NPs remains unclear. We therefore investigated the interplay of two differently sized SiO2 NPs during their uptake by A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Both NPs contained a CdSeTe core, which was labeled with different Cd isotopes to differentiate between them. Our study showed that the uptake of one size of SiO2 NPs either increased or decreased with the concentration of the other size of SiO2 NPs. This variation in uptake was attributable to the concentration-dependent aggregation of SiO2 NPs, as determined by the amount of cell-excreted proteins adsorbed on the NP surface. Further, the effects of the protein corona on the attachment of SiO2 NPs to the cell surface and uptake competition between differently sized SiO2 NPs also played important roles. Cell-excreted proteins were then analyzed by proteomics. Overall, the complex interactions between coexisting NPs of different physicochemical properties and cell-excreted proteins should be considered during bio-applications and bio-safety evaluations of NPs.