Inter-relationships of depression and insomnia symptoms with life satisfaction in stroke and stroke-free older adults: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study based on network analysis and propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: Depression and insomnia are common co-occurring psychiatric problems among older adults who have had strokes. Nevertheless, symptom-level relationships between these disorders remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we compared inter-relationships of depression and insomnia symptoms with life satisfaction among older stroke patients and stroke-free peers in the United States. METHODS: The study included 1026 older adults with a history of stroke and 3074 matched controls. Data were derived from the US Health and Retirement Study. Depression, insomnia and life satisfaction were assessed. Propensity score matching was employed to identify demographically-similar groups of stroke patients and controls. Central and bridge symptoms were assessed using Expected influence (EI) and bridge EI, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in the stroke group (25.0 %) was higher than that of controls (14.3 %, P < 0.001). In stroke group, "Feeling depressed" (CESD1; EI: 5.80), "Feeling sad" (CESD7; EI: 4.67) and "Not enjoying life" (CESD6; EI: 4.51) were the most central symptoms, while "Not feel rested in the morning" (JSS4; BEI: 1.60), "Everything was an effort" (CESD2; BEI: 1.21) and "Waking up during the night" (JSS2; BEI: 0.98) were key bridge symptoms. In controls, the most central symptoms were "Lack of happiness" (CESD4; EI: 6.45), "Feeling depressed" (CESD1; EI: 6.17), and "Feeling sad" (CESD7; EI: 6.12). Furthermore, "Feeling tired in the morning" (JSS4; BEI: 1.93), "Everything was an effort" (CESD2; BEI: 1.30), and "Waking up too early" (JSS3; BEI: 1.12) were key bridge symptoms. Life satisfaction had the most direct associations with "Not enjoying life" (CESD6) and "Feeling lonely" (CESD5) in the two groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Older adults with stroke exhibited more severe depression and insomnia symptoms. Interventions targeting central and bridge symptoms may help to mitigate the co-occurrence of these symptoms.

Low initial cell density promotes the differentiation and maturation of human pluripotent stem cells into erythrocytes.

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived red blood cells (RBCs) possess great potential for compensating shortages in transfusion medicine. For better RBC generation from hPSCs, we compared the cell seeding density in the embryoid body formation-based hPSC induction protocol. In the selection of low- and high-density inoculation conditions, we found that low-density culture performed better in the final RBC product with more cell output and increased average cellular hemoglobin content. An elaborate study using flow cytometry demonstrated that low inoculation density promoted endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition, followed by improved hematopoietic progenitor formation and erythrocyte generation. The improved transformation from glycolysis to mitochondrial oxidation and reduced apoptosis might be responsible for this effect. Hints from RNA sequencing suggested that molecules involved in microenvironment interaction and metabolic regulation might respond for the different developmental potential. The possible mediators between outer message and intracellular response could be the nutrition sensors FOXO, PRKAA1 (AMPK) and MTOR genes. It is possible that low inoculation density triggered metabolic regulation signals, promoted mitochondrial oxidation, and resulted in enhanced cell amplification and hematopoietic differentiation. The low cell culture density will improve RBC generation from human PSCs.

The Burden of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss From 1990 to 2019: An Analysis of Global Burden of Disease Data.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between long-term exposure to occupational noise and hearing loss has been extensively documented. We aimed to assess spatial and temporal changes in the burden of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) in 204 countries and territories with varying socio-demographic indexes (SDI) from 1990 to 2019. DESIGN: Temporal and spatial trends in age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rates (ASDR) for ONIHL were estimated by sex, age, SDI level, country, and geographic region from 1990 to 2019. We used the Joinpoint model to calculate annual average percentage changes to assess such trends and projected trends in ASDR for ONIHL globally and across different income regions from 2020 to 2044 using an age-period-cohort model. We fitted the relationship between ASDR and SDI, ASDR and healthcare access and quality index, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, the global burden of ONIHL has decreased since 1990, especially in middle and lower SDI regions. In 2019, the global ASDR for ONIHL was 84.23 (95% confidence interval: 57.46 to 120.52) per 100,000 population. From 1990 to 2019, the global ASDR for ONIHL decreased by 1.72% (annual average percentage change = -0.05, 95% confidence interval: -0.07 to -0.03). Our projections showed a decreasing trend in the global ONIHL burden until 2044. ASDR and SDI (R = -0.8, p < 0.05), ASDR and healthcare access and quality index (R = -0.75, p < 0.05) showed significant negative correlations. CONCLUSIONS: The global ONIHL burden has decreased over the past three decades, especially in regions with middle and lower SDI levels. However, the global ONIHL burden still remained severe in 2019, notably among males, the middle-aged and elderly, and regions with lower SDI levels.

[Prevalence and trends of low body weight among elderly population aged 60 years and above in China in 2002-2015].

OBJECTIVE: Understand the current situation and changing trends of low body weight in elderly population aged 60 years and above. METHODS: Data was collected from 2002 Chinese Nutrition and Health Survey, 2010-2013 Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance and 2015 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance. Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used for all surveys or surveillance. In 2002, 27 778 samples of people aged 60 and over were taken from 132 monitoring sites in mainland China. In 2010-2013, 34 581 subjects were selected from 150 monitoring points in mainland China. In 2015, 59 576 subjects were selected from 302 monitoring points in mainland China. Questionnaires collected basic information such as gender, and date of birth, and information such as height and weight were collected through physical examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of low body weight in the elderly aged 60 years and above showed a downward trend from 2002 to 2015 in China(P<0.01). The prevalence of low body weight decreased from 11.67% in 2002 to 5.19% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight among males decreased from 11.51% in 2002 to 5.21% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight among females decreased from 11.83% in 2002 to 5.17% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight in the elderly aged 60 years and above showed an upward trend with age. The prevalence of low body weight in urban areas decreased from 5.85% in 2002 to 3.31% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight in rural areas decreased from 16.25% in 2002 to 6.67% in 2015. The prevalence of low body weight in seven geographic regions of China decreased from 2002 to 2015. The prevalence of low body weight was highest in the elderly population aged 60 years and above in South China(9.49%(95%CI 8.61%-10.38%)) and lowest in North China(2.55%(95%CI 2.15%-2.95%)) in 2015. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of low body weight among the elderly aged 60 years and above in China decreased from 2002 to 2015. The prevalence of low body weight increased with age. The prevalence was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and the prevalence in South China was higher than in other geographic regions.

Occurrence of ochratoxin A in Sichuan bacon from different geographical regions and characterization and biocontrol of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus westerdijkiae strain 21G2-1A.

Sichuan bacon represents the most prevalent dry-cured meat product across Southwest China, but it is vulnerable to fungal spoilage. In the present study, a total of 47 Sichuan bacons were obtained from different regions of the Sichuan Province and analyzed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA), yielding a positive rate of 23.4 % (11/47). All the observed OTA concentrations exceeded the maximum admissible dose in meat products (1 µg/kg) established by some EU countries, with the highest OTA concentration being 250.75 µg/kg, which raises a food safety concern and reveals the need for a standardized scientific processing protocol. Then, an OTA-producing fungus named 21G2-1A was isolated from positive samples and found to be Aspergillus westerdijkiae. Further characterization suggested a positive correlation between fungal growth and OTA production. The optimal temperature for the former was 25 °C, while it was 20 °C for the latter. Although the A. westerdijkiae strain 21G2-1A demonstrated greater mycelium growth in the presence of NaCl, OTA production was significantly dismissed when the salinity was greater than 5 %. Four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened out as antagonists against the ochratoxigenic fungus. In vitro evaluation of the antagonists revealed that live cells inhibited fungal growth, and adsorption also contributed to OTA removal at different levels. This study sheds some light on OTA control in Sichuan bacon through a biological approach.

Development of a robust cell-based potency assay for a coxsackievirus A21 oncolytic virotherapy.

Oncolytic viruses (OV) are part of a burgeoning field of investigational oncolytic therapy (OT), in which lytic viruses dissolve advanced tumors productively and specifically. One such OT is a Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21) based OV that is currently under clinical evaluation. A tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assay was used for CVA21 potency release and stability testing in early clinical development. The titer measured in this method was an extrapolated value from cytopathic effect (CPE) observed during the serial dilution but doesn't represent direct viral killing of cells. Moreover, the assay was not deemed to be optimal to carry into late phase clinical development due to limitations in assay precision, turn-around time, and sample throughput. To address these points, we developed a plaque assay to measure viral plaque forming units to measure the potency value for drug substance (DS), drug product (DP) and virus seed (master and working) stocks. In this manuscript, we describe the steps taken to develop this plaque assay for the late-stage clinical development, which include the assay qualification, validation, and robustness protocols, and describe statistical methods for data analysis. Moreover, the method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and specificity. Furthermore, the plaque assay quantifies OV infectivity with better precision (32% vs 58%), with higher sample throughput (22 samples/week vs 3 samples/week) and shorter assay turnaround time (4 days vs 7 days) than the TCID50 method. This assay development strategy can provide guidance for the development of robust cell-based potency methods for OVs and other infectious viral products.

Lower serum uric acid to serum creatinine ratio as a predictor of poor functional outcome after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ratio of serum uric acid (SUA) to serum creatinine (SCr), representing normalized SUA for renal function, is associated with functional outcome in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients. However, its effect on AIS patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the SUA/SCr ratio on clinical outcome in MT-treated AIS patients. METHODS: Acute ischaemic stroke patients who underwent MT were continuously enrolled from January 2018 to June 2023. Upon admission, SUA and SCr levels were recorded within the initial 24 h. Stroke severity was determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Clinical outcome included poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2) at 90 days, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and death. RESULTS: Amongst 734 patients, 432 (58.8%) exhibited poor functional outcome at 90 days. The SUA/SCr ratio exhibited a negative correlation with NIHSS score (ρ = -0.095, p = 0.010). Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between SUA/SCr ratio and poor functional outcome. After adjusting for confounders, the SUA/SCr ratio remained an independent predictor of functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio 0.348, 95% confidence interval 0.282-0.428, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis highlighted the ability of the SUA/SCr ratio to predict functional outcome, with a cutoff value of 3.62 and an area under the curve of 0.757 (95% confidence interval 0.724-0.788, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The SUA/SCr ratio is correlated with stroke severity and may serve as a predictor of 90-day functional outcome in AIS patients undergoing MT.

Advances in the mechanism of inflammasomes activation in herpes virus infection.

Herpesviruses, prevalent DNA viruses with a double-stranded structure, establish enduring infections and play a part in various diseases. Despite their deployment of multiple tactics to evade the immune system, both localized and systemic inflammatory responses are triggered by the innate immune system's recognition of them. Recent progress has offered more profound understandings of the mechanisms behind the activation of the innate immune system by herpesviruses, specifically through inflammatory signaling. This process encompasses the initiation of an intracellular nucleoprotein complex, the inflammasome associated with inflammation.Following activation, proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß and IL-18 are released by the inflammasome, concurrently instigating a programmed pathway for cell death. Despite the structural resemblances between herpesviruses, the distinctive methods of inflammatory activation and the ensuing outcomes in diseases linked to the virus exhibit variations.The objective of this review is to emphasize both the similarities and differences in the mechanisms of inflammatory activation among herpesviruses, elucidating their significance in diseases resulting from these viral infections.Additionally, it identifies areas requiring further research to comprehensively grasp the impact of this crucial innate immune signaling pathway on the pathogenesis of these prevalent viruses.

Status of mental and social activities of young and middle-aged patients after papillary thyroid cancer surgery.

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is prevalent among younger populations and has a favorable survival rate. However, a significant number of patients experience psychosocial stress and a reduced quality of life (QoL) after surgical treatment. Therefore, comprehensive evaluations of the patients are essential to improve their recovery. Methods: The present study enrolled 512 young and middle-aged patients diagnosed with PTC who underwent surgery at our institution between September 2020 and August 2021. Each participant completed a series of questionnaires: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (THYCA-QoL), and Readiness to Return-to-Work Scale (RRTW). Results: GAD-7 data showed that almost half of the study subjects were experiencing anxiety. Regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL), participants reported the highest levels of fatigue, insomnia, voice problems, and scarring, with patients in anxious states reporting worse symptoms. Based on RRTW, more than half of the subjects had returned to work and had better HRQoL compared to the others who were evaluating a possible return to work. Age, gender, BMI, education, diet, residence, health insurance, months since surgery, monthly income, and caregiver status were significantly correlated with return to work. Additionally, having a caregiver, higher monthly income, more time since surgery, and living in a city or village were positively associated with return to work. Conclusion: Young and middle-aged patients with PTC commonly experience a range of health-related issues and disease-specific symptoms following surgery, accompanied by inferior psychological well-being, HRQoL, and work readiness. It is crucial to prioritize timely interventions targeting postoperative psychological support, HRQoL improvement, and the restoration of working ability in PTC patients.

Identification of ecological security patterns of alpine wetland grasslands based on landscape ecological risks: A study in Zoigê County.

Climate change and human activities have increased ecological risks and degraded ecosystem functions in alpine wetland grassland regions, where ecological security remains largely unexplored. The construction of ecological security patterns (ESP) can help to synchronize regional ecological security and sustainable development and provide ideas to address these challenges. This article determines the current ESP of Zoigê County, China, by analyzing the spatial and temporal characteristics of landscape ecological risk (LER) and generating an ecological network by combining the InVEST model, the landscape connectivity index, and the circuit theory model. Management zoning and targeted conservation recommendations are proposed. The results indicate that the region has significant spatial heterogeneity in IER. Ecological risk exposure is increasing, with high values mainly concentrated in the central part of the region. Meanwhile, ecological protection areas were identified, which included 2578.44 km2 of ecological sources, 71 key ecological corridors, 25 potential ecological corridors, 4 river ecological corridors, 66 pinch points, and 58 barriers. This study provides a valuable reference for the ecological development of Zoigê County, as well as insights into the formation of ESP in other alpine wetland grassland regions.

The Water Extracts from the Oil Cakes of Prinsepia utilis Repair the Epidermal Barrier via Up-Regulating Corneocyte Envelope-Proteins, Lipid Synthases, and Tight Junction Proteins.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Prinsepia utilis Royle, native to the Himalayan region, has a long history of use in traditional medicine for its heat-clearing, detoxification, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Oils extracted from P. utilis seeds are also used in cooking and cosmetics. With the increasing market demand, this extraction process generates substantial industrial biowastes. Recent studies have found many health benefits with using aqueous extracts of these biowastes, which are also rich in polysaccharides. However, there is limited research related to the reparative effects of the water extracts of P. utilis oil cakes (WEPUOC) on disruptions of the skin barrier function. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the reparative efficacy of WEPUOC in both acute and chronic epidermal permeability barrier disruptions. Furthermore, the study sought to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in repairing the epidermal permeability barrier. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse models with induced epidermal disruptions, employing tape-stripping (TS) and acetone wiping (AC) methods, were used. The subsequent application of WEPUOC (100 mg/mL) was evaluated through various assessments, with a focus on the upregulation of mRNA and protein expression of Corneocyte Envelope (CE) related proteins, lipid synthase-associated proteins, and tight junction proteins. RESULTS: The polysaccharide was the major phytochemicals of WEPUOC and its content was determined as 32.2% by the anthranone-sulfuric acid colorimetric method. WEPUOC significantly reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and improved the damaged epidermal barrier in the model group. Mechanistically, these effects were associated with heightened expression levels of key proteins such as FLG (filaggrin), INV (involucrin), LOR (loricrin), SPT, FASN, HMGCR, Claudins-1, Claudins-5, and ZO-1. CONCLUSIONS: WEPUOC, obtained from the oil cakes of P. utilis, is rich in polysaccharides and exhibits pronounced efficacy in repairing disrupted epidermal barriers through increased expression of critical proteins involved in barrier integrity. Our findings underscore the potential of P. utilis wastes in developing natural cosmetic prototypes for the treatment of diseases characterized by damaged skin barriers, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitors combined with antiangiogenic agents in the maintenance treatment of ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent monotherapy have shown to be effective as maintenance treatment in patients with ovarian cancer (OC). However, there is currently a lack of evidence-based study to directly compare the effects of combination therapy with these two drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with PARP inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents in women with OC using a meta-analysis. Methods: An exhaustive search of literature was undertaken using multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify pertinent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up until 17 December 2023. The data on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were pooled. We computed the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PFS and OS, along with the relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs for AEs. Trial sequential analysis, heterogeneity test, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were performed. Stata 12.0 and Software R 4.3.1 were utilized for all analyses. Results: This meta-analysis included 7 RCTs with a total of 3,388 participants. The overall analysis revealed that combination therapy of PARP inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents significantly improved PFS (HR = 0.615, 95% CI = 0.517-0.731; 95% PI = 0.379-0.999), but also increased the risk of AEs, including urinary tract infection (RR = 1.500, 95% CI = 1.114-2.021; 95% PI = 0.218-10.346), fatigue (RR = 1.264, 95% CI = 1.141-1.400; 95% PI = 1.012-1.552), headache (RR = 1.868, 95% CI = 1.036-3.369; 95% PI = 0.154-22.642), anorexia (RR = 1.718, 95% CI = 1.320-2.235; 95% PI = 0.050-65.480), and hypertension (RR = 5.009, 95% CI = 1.103-22.744; 95% PI = 0.016-1580.021) compared with PARP inhibitor or antiangiogenic agent monotherapy. Our study has not yet confirmed the benefit of combination therapy on OS in OC patients (HR = 0.885, 95% CI = 0.737-1.063). Additionally, subgroup analyses further showed that combination therapy resulted in an increased risk of AEs, encompassing thrombocytopenia, vomiting, abdominal pain, proteinuria, fatigue, headache, anorexia, and hypertension (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the PFS benefit of combination therapy with PARP inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents in patients with OC. The OS result need to be updated after the original trial data is mature. Clinicians should be vigilant of AEs when administering the combination therapy in clinical practice. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023494482.

The casual relationship between autoimmune diseases and multiple myeloma: a Mendelian randomization study.

Observational studies showed possible associations between systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple myeloma. However, whether there is a casual relationship between different types of autoimmune diseases (type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and multiple myeloma (MM) is not well known. We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to estimate the casual relationship. Summary-level data of autoimmune diseases were gained from published genome-wide association studies while data of MM was obtained from UKBiobank. The Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis method to interpret the study results, with MR-Egger and weighted median as complementary methods of analysis. There is causal relationship between primary sclerosing cholangitis [OR = 1.00015, 95% CI 1.000048-1.000254, P = 0.004] and MM. Nevertheless, no similar causal relationship was found between the remaining seven autoimmune diseases and MM. Considering the important role of age at recruitment and body mass index (BMI) in MM, we excluded these relevant instrument variables, and similar results were obtained. The accuracy and robustness of these findings were confirmed by sensitivity tests. Overall, MR analysis suggests that genetic liability to primary sclerosing cholangitis could be causally related to the increasing risk of MM. This finding may serve as a guide for clinical attention to patients with autoimmune diseases and their early screening for MM.

Gap-free X and Y chromosome assemblies of Salix arbutifolia reveal an evolutionary change from male to female heterogamety in willows, without a change in the position of the sex-determining locus.

In the Vetrix clade of Salix, a genus of woody flowering plants, sex determination involves chromosome 15, but an XY system has changed to a ZW system. We studied the detailed genetic changes involved. We used genome sequencing, with chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) and PacBio HiFi reads to assemble chromosome level gap-free X and Y of Salix arbutifolia, and distinguished the haplotypes in the 15X- and 15Y-linked regions, to study the evolutionary history of the sex-linked regions (SLRs). Our sequencing revealed heteromorphism of the X and Y haplotypes of the SLR, with the X-linked region being considerably larger than the corresponding Y region, mainly due to accumulated repetitive sequences and gene duplications. The phylogenies of single-copy orthogroups within the SLRs indicate that S. arbutifolia and Salix purpurea share an ancestral SLR within a repeat-rich region near the chromosome 15 centromere. During the change in heterogamety, the X-linked region changed to a W-linked one, while the Z was derived from the Y.

Exposure to Progestin 17-OHPC Induces Gastrointestinal Dysfunction through Claudin 1 Suppression in Female Mice with Increased Anxiety-Like Behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: Progestin, commonly used in oral contraception and preventing preterm birth, elicits various off-target side effects on brain and gastrointestinal (GI) functions, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to probe progestin's impact on GI function and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. METHODS: Colon stem cells were utilized to explore the mechanism underlying progestin 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC)-mediated suppression of claudin-1 (CLDN1), crucial for epithelial integrity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays identified potential progestin-response elements on the CLDN1 promoter, with subsequent assessment of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Manipulation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) or estrogen receptor ß (ERß) expression elucidated their roles in 17-OHPC-mediated effects. Intestine-specific VDR deficient mice were generated to evaluate 17-OHPC's impact on GI dysfunction and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. Additionally, gene expression was analyzed in various brain regions, including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. RESULTS: Exposure to 17-OHPC suppressed CLDN1 expression via epigenetic modifications and VDR dissociation from the CLDN1 promoter. Furthermore, 17-OHPC intensified oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine release. VDR knockdown partly mimicked, while overexpression of either VDR or ERß partly restored 17-OHPC-mediated effects. Intestinal VDR deficiency partly mirrored 17-OHPC-induced GI dysfunction, with minimal impact on 17-OHPC-mediated anxiety-like behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: 17-OHPC suppresses CLDN1 expression through VDR, contributing to GI dysfunction in female mice, distinct from 17-OHPC-induced anxiety-like behaviors. This study reveals a new mechanism and potential negative impact of progestin exposure on the gastrointestinal tract, alongside inducing anxiety-like behaviors in female mice.

Time-dependent systolic blood pressure within 72 h after endovascular treatment in large vessel occlusion stroke.

BACKGROUND: The association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and ischemic stroke outcome has recently been proved to be varied at different time points within 72 h after acute ischemic stroke onset; however, the specific status of how SBP affects prognosis at different time points within 72 h after endovascular treatment (EVT) among patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) remains unclear. METHODS: Consecutive LVO patients treated with EVT were enrolled in our study. BP data were collected at eight time points (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 h post-EVT). Outcome measure of interest was functional dependence, which was defined as mRS >2 at 90 days. RESULTS: A total of 406 LVO patients treated with EVT from 2016 to 2022 were included. At 16 h after EVT, the relationship between SBP and functional dependence showed a nonlinear association. At other time points after EVT, SBP had linear relationships with functional dependence. Furthermore, higher SBP, as either a linear or quadratic term, had an adverse effect on functional outcome. In addition, three SBP trajectories were observed, and the high-to-low group was independently associated with functional dependence. CONCLUSION: Taken together, higher SBP within the first 72 h after EVT has a time-dependent association with adverse clinical outcomes. Optimal blood pressure management during the first 72 h after EVT may be important to improve clinical outcome.

The Relationship between Birth Weight and the Risk of Overweight and Obesity among Chinese Children and Adolescents Aged 7-17 Years.

Obesity is a major public health issue in children and adolescents. Our study aimed to examine the impacts of birth weight on overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Using data from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers in 2016-2017, we included 10,041 participants aged 7-17 years. According to birth weight, participants were categorized into six groups, and the birth weight category of 3000 to 3499 g was chosen as the reference group, containing the largest number of children. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of birth weight with the risk of being obese at 7 to 17 years of age in multivariable-adjusted models. A restricted cubic spline was utilized to show the odds ratios (ORs) of obesity at different birth weight levels. The adjusted ORs for overweight were 0.98 (95%CI 0.63, 1.53), 1.02 (95%CI 0.84, 1.25), 1.34 (95%CI 1.16, 1.55), 1.72 (95%CI 1.35, 2.18), and 1.17 (95%CI 0.71, 1.96) in several birth weight groups, compared with group C (3000-3499 g). The adjusted ORs for obesity were 0.82 (95%CI 0.48, 1.40), 0.77 (95%CI 0.60, 0.98), 1.33 (95%CI 1.13, 1.57), 1.97 (95%CI 1.53, 2.53), and 2.01 (95%CI 1.27, 3.19). Furthermore, children in the post-pubertal stage had a slightly higher risk of overweight and obesity than those in the pre-pubertal and pubertal stage. Moreover, these associations were stronger among boys. The lower part of normal birth weight range is associated with a lower risk of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. However, higher levels of birth weight increase risk.

A case control study of vNOTES hysterectomy with the da Vinci surgical system and conventional vNOTES hysterectomy.

The aim of the case control study was to compare surgical outcomes of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy with the da Vinci surgical system (dVSS) and conventional vNOTES. A case control study was performed on 25 cases in our hospital. Patients (n = 8) who underwent vNOTES hysterectomy with dVSS were selected to compare with the control group (n = 17) consisted of patients who underwent conventional vNOTES. Patients in the 2 groups underwent different operations respectively, and no case was transferred to transabdominal laparoscopy. In the conventional vNOTES group, 1 patient happened intraoperative hemorrhage of about 1000 mL, and was treated with blood transfusion, and the other one of vNOTES hysterectomy with dVSS had poor incision healing within 1 month after surgery. The other patients had no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The difference of pain scores on the first day (P = .006) and the third day (P = .045) after the 2 surgical methods differed significantly. No statistical differences were observed in operation time, median hospital stay, blood loss, decreased hemoglobin 3 days after surgery, and postoperative white blood cell count. vNOTES hysterectomy with dVSS is safe and feasible, and can achieve the same effect as the conventional vNOTES hysterectomy. And this method may alleviate the pain of patients.

Wild Cordyceps proteins reinforce intestinal epithelial barrier through MAPK/NF-κB pathway in MRL/lpr mice.

OBJECTIVES: The effects of wild Cordyceps proteins (WCPs) on the gut microbiota and the immune system of MRL/lpr mice were studied. METHODS: The effects of WCP on serum metabolic indexes (total triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) content was measured by a biochemical analyzer. CD4+, CD8+ cells, intestinal inflammation, and intestinal barrier function in MRL/lpr mice were measured by flow cytometry, 16S ribosomal RNA, western blot, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR. KEY FINDINGS: The results showed that after the intervention of WCP, the content of CD4+ cells in lupus mice increased, and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were down-regulated, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Secondly, WCP up-regulated the proteins and mRNA levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin. Thirdly, it also increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and the abundance of Oscillospirales, Lachnospirales, Lachnospiraceae, and Clostridia, as well as negatively regulated the MAPK/NF-кB signaling pathway in lupus nephritis (LN) mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that WCP may improve the symptoms of LN by altering immune factors and the intestinal barrier.