SILAR Growth of ZnO NSs/CdS QDs on the Optical Fiber-Based Opto-Electrode with Guided In Situ Light and Its Application for the "Signal-On" Detection of Inflammatory Cytokine.

In this study, a novel integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor platform was proposed, utilizing an optical fiber (OF) as the working electrode for guided in situ light. A CdS quantum dots (QDs)/ZnO nanosheets (NSs) n-n heterojunction was quickly and easily constructed on the OF surface by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Au nanoparticles (NPs)@dsDNA as a capturing probe were modified on the CdS QDs/ZnO NSs@OF (CZ@OF). Due to the energy transfer between Au NPs@dsDNA and CdS QDs, the resultant opto-electrode has a lower background near zero, enabling the "signal-on" detection of biomarkers (interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a model). The OF-PEC biosensor demonstrated a wide linear range from 1 to 100 pg mL-1 with a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9958 and an impressive detection limit (LOD) of 0.19 pg mL-1. More significantly, the proposed OF-PEC can be successfully used for the detection of IL-6 in serum samples from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and it showed consistency and is more sensitive to trace concentrations compared to BD FACSCanto II flow cytometry used at the hospital. This holds significance for an early disease diagnosis. Therefore, the proposed OF-PEC not only achieves integration of the light source and sensing interface but also enables sensitive and accurate "signal-on" detection of IL-6. Furthermore, due to the flexibility and remote detection capabilities of OF, the application of OF-PEC is expected to be expanded more widely. This approach opens up possibilities for advances in PEC sensing.

Celecoxib ameliorates diabetic sarcopenia by inhibiting inflammation, stress response, mitochondrial dysfunction, and subsequent activation of the protein degradation systems.

Aim: Diabetic sarcopenia leads to disability and seriously affects the quality of life. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic strategies for diabetic sarcopenia. Our previous studies have shown that inflammation plays a critical role in skeletal muscle atrophy. Interestingly, the connection between chronic inflammation and diabetic complications has been revealed. However, the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib on diabetic sarcopenia remains unclear. Materials and Methods: The streptozotocin (streptozotocin)-induced diabetic sarcopenia model was established. Rotarod test and grip strength test were used to assess skeletal muscle function. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence staining were performed to evaluate inflammatory infiltration and the morphology of motor endplates in skeletal muscles. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) staining was used to determine the number of succinate dehydrogenase-positive muscle fibers. Dihydroethidium staining was performed to assess the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Western blot was used to measure the levels of proteins involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, ubiquitination, and autophagic-lysosomal pathway. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate mitophagy. Results: Celecoxib significantly ameliorated skeletal muscle atrophy, improving skeletal muscle function and preserving motor endplates in diabetic mice. Celecoxib also decreased infiltration of inflammatory cell, reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and suppressed the activation of NF-κB, Stat3, and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways in diabetic skeletal muscles. Celecoxib decreased reactive oxygen species levels, downregulated the levels of Nox2 and Nox4, upregulated the levels of GPX1 and Nrf2, and further suppressed endoplasmic reticulum stress by inhibiting the activation of the Perk-EIF-2α-ATF4-Chop in diabetic skeletal muscles. Celecoxib also inhibited the levels of Foxo3a, Fbx32 and MuRF1 in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, as well as the levels of BNIP3, Beclin1, ATG7, and LC3Ⅱ in the autophagic-lysosomal system, and celecoxib protected mitochondria and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis by elevating the levels of SIRT1 and PGC1-α, increased the number of SDH-positive fibers in diabetic skeletal muscles. Conclusion: Celecoxib improved diabetic sarcopenia by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and protecting mitochondria, and subsequently suppressing proteolytic systems. Our study provides evidences for the molecular mechanism and treatment of diabetic sarcopenia, and broaden the way for the new use of celecoxib in diabetic sarcopenia.

Small-Molecule Copper Chloride Modulating the Buried Interfaces of Perovskite Solar Cells.

In perovskite solar cells (PSCs), tin dioxide (SnO2) is a highly effective electron transport material. On the other hand, the low intrinsic conductivity of SnO2, the high trap-state density on the surface and bulk of SnO2, and inadequate interface contacts between SnO2 and perovskite significantly impact device performance. Herein, small-molecule copper(II) chloride (CuCl2) is introduced into the SnO2 dispersion, which inhibits the agglomeration of SnO2 colloids and improves the quality of the electron transport layer. Furthermore, the introduction of CuCl2 optimizes the energy-level array between the ETL and perovskite layer (PVK) and passivates the anion/cation defects in SnO2, perovskite, and their interface, realizing the systematic modulation of the photoelectronic properties of the ETLs and PVKs as well as the PVK/ETL. As a result, the CuCl2-opmized PSC exhibits an impressive power conversion efficiency of 23.71%, along with improved stability.

A Catalyst-Like System Enables Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

High-quality perovskite films are essential for achieving high performance of optoelectronic devices; However, solution-processed perovskite films are known to suffer from compositional and structural inhomogeneity due to lack of systematic control over the kinetics during the formation. Here, the microscopic homogeneity of perovskite films is successfully enhanced by modulating the conversion reaction kinetics using a catalyst-like system generated by a foaming agent. The chemical and structural evolution during this catalytic conversion is revealed by a multimodal synchrotron toolkit with spatial resolutions spanning many length scales. Combining these insights with computational investigations, a cyclic conversion pathway model is developed that yields exceptional perovskite homogeneity due to enhanced conversion, having a power conversion efficiency of 24.51% for photovoltaic devices. This work establishes a systematic link between processing of precursor and homogeneity of the perovskite films.

Ultrathin LayCoOx Nanosheets with High Porosity Featuring Boosted Catalytic Oxidation of Benzene: Mechanism Elucidation via an Experiment-Theory Combined Paradigm.

Designing transition-metal oxides for catalytically removing the highly toxic benzene holds significance in addressing indoor/outdoor environmental pollution issues. Herein, we successfully synthesized ultrathin LayCoOx nanosheets (thickness of ∼1.8 nm) with high porosity, using a straightforward coprecipitation method. Comprehensive characterization techniques were employed to analyze the synthesized LayCoOx catalysts, revealing their low crystallinity, high surface area, and abundant porosity. Catalytic benzene oxidation tests demonstrated that the La0.029CoOx-300 nanosheet exhibited the most optimal performance. This catalyst enabled complete benzene degradation at a relatively low temperature of 220 °C, even under a high space velocity (SV) of 20,000 h-1, and displayed remarkable durability throughout various catalytic assessments, including SV variations, exposure to water vapor, recycling, and long time-on-stream tests. Characterization analyses confirmed the enhanced interactions between Co and doped La, the presence of abundant adsorbed oxygen, and the extensive exposure of Co3+ species in La0.029CoOx-300 nanosheets. Theoretical calculations further revealed that La doping was beneficial for the formation of oxygen vacancies and the adsorption of more hydroxyl groups. These features strongly promoted the adsorption and activation of oxygen, thereby accelerating the benzene oxidation processes. This work underscores the advantages of doping rare-earth elements into transition-metal oxides as a cost-effective yet efficient strategy for purifying industrial exhausts.

Dual chemodynamic/photothermal therapeutic nanoplatform based on DNA-functionalized prussian blue.

The combination of chemodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy has a promising application owing to its impressive anti-cancer effects. However, the degradability of the material and the lack of targeting severely limit its further clinical application. Herein, DNAs containing nucleolin aptamer (AS1411) and different bases sequences were used to functionalize PB NPs for the targeted treatment. Compared to prussian blue, DNA-functionalized prussian blue does not reduce the photothermal properties of prussian blue. Moreover, DNA confers DNA-functionalized prussian blue targeting and higher enzymatic activity, thereby achieving a more effective combination of chemodynamic and photothermal treatment. The therapeutic efficacy of this nanoplatform was evaluated in vivo and in vitro experiments, exhibiting that DNA-functionalized prussian blue nanozyme can maximize the precise control of the therapeutic effect, reduce the toxic and side effects caused by non-specific accumulation on other normal cells, and effectively achieve targeted killing of cancer cells. This work demonstrates that DNA-functionalized prussian blue can improve the efficiency of combined tumor treatment and enhance the application value of prussian blue in tumor treatment, which is expected to provide theoretical support for clinical application.

Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/perovskite Heterointerface by Spinodal Decomposition Enabling Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

The best research-cell efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is comparable with that of mature silicon solar cells (SSCs); However, the industrial development of PSCs lags far behind SSCs. PSC is a multiphase and multicomponent system, whose consequent interfacial energy loss and carrier loss seriously affect the performance and stability of devices. Here, by using spinodal decomposition, a spontaneous solid phase segregation process, in situ introduces a poly(3-hexylthiophene)/perovskite (P3HT/PVK) heterointerface with interpenetrating structure in PSCs. The P3HT/PVK heterointerface tunes the energy alignment, thereby reducing the energy loss at the interface; The P3HT/PVK interpenetrating structure bridges a transport channel, thus decreasing the carrier loss at the interface. The simultaneous mitigation of energy and carrier losses by P3HT/PVK heterointerface enables n-i-p geometry device a power conversion efficiency of 24.53% (certified 23.94%) and excellent stability. These findings demonstrate an ingenious strategy to optimize the performance of PSCs by heterointerface via Spinodal decomposition.

Multifunctional Imidazolidinyl Urea Additive Initiated Complex with PbI2 Toward Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

High-quality perovskite absorption layer is the fundamental basis for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Due to the ionic nature of perovskite components, plentiful charged defects and suspension bonds remain on the surface of perovskite grains after continuous high-temperature annealing. Here, the complex initiated by the introduction of a multifunctional imidazolidinyl urea (IU) additive into the PbI2 precursor solution could serve as nucleation sites and crystallization templates for perovskite crystals to optimize the growth of high-quality perovskite films. By anchoring at the grain boundaries of perovskite films, IU molecules could passivate various types of defects, improve the hydrophobic properties, and inhibit lead leakage. Attributed to reduced defect density, improved charge transport, and inhibited α-FAPbI3 transition, the PSCs prepared based on IU additives achieved a champion power conversion efficiency of 23.18% (21.51% for the control PSCs) with negligible hysteresis and satisfactory stability.

Thrombospondin 2 is a novel biomarker of essential hypertension and associated with nocturnal Na+ excretion and insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Thrombospondins (TSPs) play important roles in several cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between circulating (plasma) thrombospondin 2 (TSP2) and essential hypertension remains unclear. The present study was aimed to investigate the association of circulating TSP2 with blood pressure and nocturnal urine Na+ excretion and evaluate the predictive value of circulating TSP2 in subjects with hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: 603 newly diagnosed essential hypertensive subjects and 508 healthy subjects were preliminarily screened, 47 healthy subjects and 40 newly diagnosed essential hypertensive subjects without any chronic diseases were recruited. The results showed that the levels of circulating TSP2 were elevated in essential hypertensive subjects. The levels of TSP2 positively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and other clinical parameters, including homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and serum triglycerides, but negatively associated with nocturnal urine Na+ concentration and excretion and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Results of multiple linear regressions showed that HOMA-IR and nocturnal Na+ excretion were independent factors related to circulating TSP2. Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test displayed linear relationships between TSP2 and SBP (χ2 = 35.737) and DBP (χ2 = 26.652). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of hypertension prediction was 0.901. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests for the first time that the circulating levels of TSP2 may be a novel potential biomarker for essential hypertension. The association between TSP2 and blood pressure may be, at least in part, related to the regulation of renal Na+ excretion, insulin resistance, and/or endothelial function.

Hydroxyl-Decorated Pt as a Robust Water-Resistant Catalyst for Catalytic Benzene Oxidation.

In catalytic oxidation reactions, the presence of environmental water poses challenges to the performance of Pt catalysts. This study aims to overcome this challenge by introducing hydroxyl groups onto the surface of Pt catalysts using the pyrolysis reduction method. Two silica supports were employed to investigate the impact of hydroxyl groups: SiO2-OH with hydroxyl groups and SiO2-C without hydroxyl groups. Structural characterization confirmed the presence of Pt-Ox, Pt-OHx, and Pt0 species in the Pt/SiO2-OH catalysts, while only Pt-Ox and Pt0 species were observed in the Pt/SiO2-C catalysts. Catalytic performance tests demonstrated the remarkable capacity of the 0.5 wt % Pt/SiO2-OH catalyst, achieving complete conversion of benzene at 160 °C under a high space velocity of 60,000 h-1. Notably, the catalytic oxidation capacity of the Pt/SiO2-OH catalyst remained largely unaffected even in the presence of 10 vol % water vapor. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited exceptional recyclability and stability, maintaining its performance over 16 repeated cycles and a continuous operation time of 70 h. Theoretical calculations revealed that the construction of Pt-OHx sites on the catalyst surface was beneficial for modulating the d-band structure, which in turn enhanced the adsorption and activation of reactants. This finding highlights the efficacy of decorating the Pt surface with hydroxyl groups as an effective strategy for improving the water resistance, catalytic activity, and long-term stability of Pt catalysts.

[Corrigendum] Carvacrol may alleviate vascular inflammation in diabetic db/db mice.

Following the publication of the above article, the authors contacted the Editorial Office to explain that they made a couple of inadvertent errors in the assembly of the data panels showing the results of immunohistochemical experiments in Fig. 5K on p. 983 (the 'TLR4' experiments); essentially, the data panels selected for the '10 mg/mg Carvacrol' and '5 mg/kg Carvacrol' experiments were copied across from those shown for the 'NF­κB' experiments in the row above (Fig. 5I). The revised version of Fig. 5, showing the correct data for the'10 mg/mg Carvacrol' and '5 mg/kg Carvacrol' experiments in Fig. 5K, is shown on the next page. The authors can confirm that the errors associated with this figure did not have any significant impact on either the results or the conclusions reported in this study, and all the authors agree with the publication of this Corrigendum. The authors are grateful to the Editor of International Journal of Molecular Medicine for allowing them the opportunity to publish this Corrigendum; furthermore, they apologize to the readership of the Journal for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Molecular Medicine 46: 977­988, 2020; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4654].

Comparison of antegrade robotic assisted VS laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive modifications of inguinal lymphadenectomy (IL), including laparoscopic IL (LIL) and robotic-assisted IL (RAIL), have been utilized for penile cancer. Comparative study is necessary to guide the decision about which minimally invasive technique to select for IL. Therefore we compared RAIL with LIL performed via an antegrade approach in terms of perioperative outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 43 patients who underwent RAIL (n = 20) or LIL (n = 23) for penile cancer from 2016 to 2020. The key surgical procedures and techniques are described. Complications were graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification, and operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), lymph nodal yield, nodal positivity, postoperative drain duration, and disease recurrence during follow-up were assessed. Categorical variables were compared using chi-squared whereas continuous variables were compared by t-tests. RESULTS: The operative time for RAIL was significantly shorter than that of LIL (median 83 vs 95 min). Significantly less blood loss was reported with RAIL than with LIL (median 10 vs 35 ml). Lymph node yield, pathological positive nodes, the hospital stay, postoperative drain duration, postoperative complications and recurrence were similar for RAIL and LIL. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with penile cancer, perioperative outcomes of RAIL and LIL were similar, but there was less blood loss, a shorter operative time for robotic cases.

Chitosan Nerve Grafts Incorporated with SKP-SC-EVs Induce Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Repair of long-distance peripheral nerve defects remains an important clinical problem. Nerve grafts incorporated with extracellular vesicles (EVs) from various cell types have been developed to bridge peripheral nerve defects. In our previous research, EVs obtained from skin-derived precursor Schwann cells (SKP-SC-EVs) were demonstrated to promote neurite outgrowth in cultured cells and facilitate nerve regeneration in animal studies. METHODS: To further assess the functions of SKP-SC-EVs in nerve repair, we incorporated SKP-SC-EVs and Matrigel into chitosan nerve conduits (EV-NG) for repairing a 15-mm long-distance sciatic nerve defect in a rat model. Behavioral analysis, electrophysiological recording, histological investigation, molecular analysis, and morphometric assessment were carried out. RESULTS: The results revealed EV-NG significantly improved motor and sensory function recovery compared with nerve conduits (NG) without EVs incorporation. The outgrowth and myelination of regenerated axons were improved, while the atrophy of target muscles induced by denervation was alleviated after EVs addition. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated SKP-SC-EVs incorporation into nerve grafts represents a promising method for extended peripheral nerve damage repair.

A narrative review on traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and bioactive components in epilepsy treatment.

Background and Objective: In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), natural drugs and their bioactive components have been widely used to treat epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic disease caused by abnormal discharge of brain neurons that leads to brain dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Several factors are involved in the mechanisms of epilepsy, and the current treatments do not seem promising. The potential efficacy of natural drugs with lower toxicity and less side effects have attracted increasing attention. Methods: We used the terms, "TCM", "traditional Chinese medicine", "herbal", "epilepsy", "seizure", and the name of each prescription and bioactive components in the review to collect papers about application of TCM in epilepsy treatment from PubMed online database and Chinese database including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and Weipu. Key Content and Findings: We summarized some common TCM prescriptions and related active components used for the treatment of epilepsy. Six prescriptions (Chaihu Shugan decoction, Tianma Gouteng decoction, Kangxian capsules, Taohong Siwu decoction, Liujunzi decoction, Compound Danshen dropping pills) and nine main bioactive compounds (Saikosaponin A, Rhynchophylline, Tetramethylpyrazine, Gastrodin, Baicalin and baicalein, α-Asarone, Ginsenoside, Tanshinone, Paeoniflorin) were reviewed to provide a scientific basis for the development of potential antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Conclusions: The pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of epilepsy are complex, targeting several pathological aspects of epilepsy. However, the limitations of TCM, such as the lack of standardized treatments, have prevented its clinical application in epilepsy treatment. Thus, additional clinical trials are required to further evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TCM prescriptions and their bioactive components in the future.

Ultra-processed food intake and risk of depression: a systematic review / Ingestión de alimentos ultraprocesados y riesgo de depresión: revisión sistemática

Objective: to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analyzing the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and the risk of depression. Design: the search adhered to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); a search for observational studies published until June 2020 was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, followed by additional manual searches. Eight reviewers, working independently in teams of two, screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We resolved disagreements through discussion or, if necessary, through adjudication by a third (LH). And the study assessed cross-sectional studies using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodological checklist and cohort and case-control studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for quality. We used a tabular format to summarize the articles. Results: twenty-eight studies evaluating UPF intake and risk of depression were finally selected, 21 of which had a cross-sectional design, 6 studies had a cohort design, and 1 had a case-control design. Of these, 4 cohort studies and 17 cross-sectional studies found that consumption of UPF were positively associated with depression or depressive symptoms. Conclusions: our review demonstrated that most studies included in the systematic review showed that UPF consumption is associated with the risk of depression. Future studies should consider the use of validated food intake assessments and standardized depression assessment methods to promote comparability between studies. (AU)

Objetivo: realizar una revisión sistemática de los estudios observacionales que analizan la asociación entre la ingesta de alimentos ultraprocesados (UPF) y el riesgo de depresión. Material y métodos: la búsqueda se adhirió a las directrices Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); se realizó una búsqueda de estudios observacionales publicados hasta junio de 2020 en las bases de datos PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library y Web of Science, seguida de búsquedas manuales adicionales. Ocho revisores, que trabajaron de forma independiente en equipos de dos, seleccionaron los estudios para su elegibilidad, extrajeron los datos y evaluaron el riesgo de sesgo. Los desacuerdos se resolvieron a través de la discusión o, si era necesario, a través de la adjudicación de un tercero. Se evaluaron los estudios transversales mediante la lista de comprobación metodológica de la Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) y los estudios de cohortes y de casos y controles mediante la escala Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) para la calidad. Se utilizó un formato tabular para resumir los artículos. Resultados: finalmente se seleccionaron 28 estudios que evaluaban la ingesta de UPF y el riesgo de depresión, 21 de los cuales tenían un diseño transversal, 6 un diseño de cohortes y 1 un diseño de casos y controles. De ellos, 4 estudios de cohortes y 17 estudios transversales encontraron que el consumo de UPF se asociaba positivamente con la depresión o los síntomas depresivos. Conclusiones: nuestra revisión demostró que la mayoría de los estudios incluidos en la revisión sistemática mostraron que el consumo de UPF está asociado con el riesgo de depresión. Los estudios futuros deberían considerar el uso de evaluaciones validadas del consumo de alimentos y métodos estandarizados de evaluación de la depresión para promover la comparabilidad entre los estudios. (AU)

Ultra-processed food intake and risk of depression: a systematic review.

Introduction: Objective: to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analyzing the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and the risk of depression. Design: the search adhered to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); a search for observational studies published until June 2020 was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, followed by additional manual searches. Eight reviewers, working independently in teams of two, screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We resolved disagreements through discussion or, if necessary, through adjudication by a third (LH). And the study assessed cross-sectional studies using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodological checklist and cohort and case-control studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for quality. We used a tabular format to summarize the articles. Results: twenty-eight studies evaluating UPF intake and risk of depression were finally selected, 21 of which had a cross-sectional design, 6 studies had a cohort design, and 1 had a case-control design. Of these, 4 cohort studies and 17 cross-sectional studies found that consumption of UPF were positively associated with depression or depressive symptoms. Conclusions: our review demonstrated that most studies included in the systematic review showed that UPF consumption is associated with the risk of depression. Future studies should consider the use of validated food intake assessments and standardized depression assessment methods to promote comparability between studies.

Introducción: Objetivo: realizar una revisión sistemática de los estudios observacionales que analizan la asociación entre la ingesta de alimentos ultraprocesados (UPF) y el riesgo de depresión. Diseño: la búsqueda se adhirió a las directrices Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); se realizó una búsqueda de estudios observacionales publicados hasta junio de 2020 en las bases de datos PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library y Web of Science, seguida de búsquedas manuales adicionales. Ocho revisores, que trabajaron de forma independiente en equipos de dos, seleccionaron los estudios para su elegibilidad, extrajeron los datos y evaluaron el riesgo de sesgo. Los desacuerdos se resolvieron a través de la discusión o, si era necesario, a través de la adjudicación de un tercero. Se evaluaron los estudios transversales mediante la lista de comprobación metodológica de la Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) y los estudios de cohortes y de casos y controles mediante la escala Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) para la calidad. Se utilizó un formato tabular para resumir los artículos. Resultados: finalmente se seleccionaron 28 estudios que evaluaban la ingesta de UPF y el riesgo de depresión, 21 de los cuales tenían un diseño transversal, 6 un diseño de cohortes y 1 un diseño de casos y controles. De ellos, 4 estudios de cohortes y 17 estudios transversales encontraron que el consumo de UPF se asociaba positivamente con la depresión o los síntomas depresivos. Conclusiones: nuestra revisión demostró que la mayoría de los estudios incluidos en la revisión sistemática mostraron que el consumo de UPF está asociado con el riesgo de depresión. Los estudios futuros deberían considerar el uso de evaluaciones validadas del consumo de alimentos y métodos estandarizados de evaluación de la depresión para promover la comparabilidad entre los estudios.

Perinatal outcomes associated with ICP in twin pregnancies were worse than singletons: an almost 5-year retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes leading to high perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have examined twin pregnancies complicated by ICP. To assess the perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies with ICP, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. METHODS: A total of 633 twin pregnancies and 1267 singleton pregnancies with ICP were included. In addition, a correlation study was performed on the matched total bile acid (TBA) levels from maternal serum, fetal umbilical venous blood, and amniotic fluid of 33 twin pregnancies from twin groups. RESULTS: When compared to singletons, twin pregnancies with ICP had a higher risk of cesarean section (CS) (96.4% vs. 76.1%), preterm birth (PTB) (82.6% vs. 19.7%), fetal distress (2.0% vs. 1.3%), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (23.6% vs. 5.1%), which was significantly related to increasing TBA levels (P < 0.05). In twin pregnancies with TBA ≥100 µmol/L, the incidences of CS, PTB, fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid were 94.4, 100, 11.1, 5.6, and 36.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum maternal TBA levels were positively correlated with TBA levels in the amniotic fluid (r = 0.61, P < 0.05) and umbilical cord blood (r = 0.44, P < 0.05), and a similar correlation was found for maternal TBA levels at delivery. TBA levels in umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid also had a significant and positive correlation (r = 0.52, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Twin pregnancies with ICP had a higher risk for adverse perinatal outcomes than singletons, which was associated with higher TBA levels. TBA can be transported through the placenta and is involved in uterus-placenta-fetal circulation.

Comparison of transvaginal cervical cerclage versus laparoscopic abdominal cervical cerclage in cervical insufficiency: a retrospective study from a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cerclage has been proposed as an effective treatment for cervical insufficiency, but there has been controversy regarding the surgical options of cervical cerclage in singleton and twin pregnancies. This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes between transvaginal cervical cerclage (TVC) and laparoscopic abdominal cervical cerclage (LAC) in patients with cervical insufficiency. We also aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety, and provide more evidence to support the application of cervical cerclage in twin pregnancies. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out from January 2015 to December 2021. The primary outcomes were the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) < 24 weeks, < 28, < 32, < 34 weeks, and < 37weeks, gestational age at delivery, and the incidence of admission for threatened abortion or preterm birth after cervical cerclage. The secondary outcomes included admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, adverse neonatal outcomes and neonatal death. We also analysed the pregnancy outcomes of twin pregnancies after cervical cerclage. RESULTS: A total of 289 patients were identified as eligible for inclusion. The LAC group (n = 56) had a very low incidence of sPTB ˂ 34 weeks, and it was associated with a significant decrease in sPTB < 28 weeks, ˂32 weeks, ˂34 and < 37 weeks, and admission to the hospital during pregnancy for threatened abortion or preterm birth after cervical cerclage (0 vs.27%; 1.8% vs. 40.3%; 7.1% vs. 46.8%; 14% vs. 63.5%, 8.9% vs. 62.2%, respectively; P < 0.001), and high in gestational age at delivery compared with the TVC group (n = 233) (38.3 weeks vs.34.4 weeks,P < 0.001). Neonatal outcomes in the LAC group were significantly better than those in the TVC group. The mean gestational age at delivery was 34.3 ± 1.8 weeks, with a total foetal survival rate of 100% without serious neonatal complications in twin pregnancies with LAC. CONCLUSION: In patients with cervical insufficiency, LAC appears to have better pregnancy outcomes than TVC. For some patients, LAC is a recommended option and may be selected as the first choice. Even in twin pregnancies, cervical cerclage can improve pregnancy outcomes with a longer latency period, especially in the LAC group.

Inflammation: Roles in Skeletal Muscle Atrophy.

Various diseases can cause skeletal muscle atrophy, usually accompanied by inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, decreased protein synthesis, and enhanced proteolysis. The underlying mechanism of inflammation in skeletal muscle atrophy is extremely complex and has not been fully elucidated, thus hindering the development of effective therapeutic drugs and preventive measures for skeletal muscle atrophy. In this review, we elaborate on protein degradation pathways, including the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP), the calpain and caspase pathways, the insulin growth factor 1/Akt protein synthesis pathway, myostatin, and muscle satellite cells, in the process of muscle atrophy. Under an inflammatory environment, various pro-inflammatory cytokines directly act on nuclear factor-κB, p38MAPK, and JAK/STAT pathways through the corresponding receptors, and then are involved in muscle atrophy. Inflammation can also indirectly trigger skeletal muscle atrophy by changing the metabolic state of other tissues or cells. This paper explores the changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and fat metabolism under inflammatory conditions as well as their effects on skeletal muscle. Moreover, this paper also reviews various signaling pathways related to muscle atrophy under inflammatory conditions, such as cachexia, sepsis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and nerve injury. Finally, this paper summarizes anti-amyotrophic drugs and their therapeutic targets for inflammation in recent years. Overall, inflammation is a key factor causing skeletal muscle atrophy, and anti-inflammation might be an effective strategy for the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy. Various inflammatory factors and their downstream pathways are considered promising targets for the treatment and prevention of skeletal muscle atrophy.

Diabetic Muscular Atrophy: Molecular Mechanisms and Promising Therapies.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a typical chronic disease that can be divided into 2 types, dependent on insulin deficiency or insulin resistance. Incidences of diabetic complications gradually increase as the disease progresses. Studies in diabetes complications have mostly focused on kidney and cardiovascular diseases, as well as neuropathy. However, DM can also cause skeletal muscle atrophy. Diabetic muscular atrophy is an unrecognized diabetic complication that can lead to quadriplegia in severe cases, seriously impacting patients' quality of life. In this review, we first identify the main molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy from the aspects of protein degradation and synthesis signaling pathways. Then, we discuss the molecular regulatory mechanisms of diabetic muscular atrophy, and outline potential drugs and treatments in terms of insulin resistance, insulin deficiency, inflammation, oxidative stress, glucocorticoids, and other factors. It is worth noting that inflammation and oxidative stress are closely related to insulin resistance and insulin deficiency in diabetic muscular atrophy. Regulating inflammation and oxidative stress may represent another very important way to treat diabetic muscular atrophy, in addition to controlling insulin signaling. Understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of diabetic muscular atrophy could help to reveal new treatment strategies.