The 100 top-cited articles on chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tremendous scientific research has been conducted on chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), while only a few bibliometric analyses have been conducted in this field. In this study, we aim to identify 100 top-cited articles on CKD-MBD and analyze their main characteristics quantitatively. METHODS: Web of Science was used to search the 100 top-cited articles on CKD-MBD. The following data were extracted and analyzed from the selected articles: author, country of origin, institutions, article type, publication journal, publication year, citation frequency, and keywords. RESULTS: Among the 100 top-cited articles, the number of citations ranged between 181 to 2157, with an average number of citations of approximately 476. These articles were published in 23 different journals, with Kidney International publishing the most articles (n = 32). The largest contributor was the United States (n = 63), which was also the country that conducted the most collaborative studies with other nations. The University of Washington contributed the largest number of articles (n = 37). Block GA was the most common first-author (n = 7). The majority of articles were clinical research articles (n = 73), followed by reviews (n = 15). Although almost half of the articles had no keywords, the most concerned research direction was CKD-associated bone disease. CONCLUSION: This is the first bibliometric study of the 100 top-cited articles on CKD-MBD. This study provides the main academic interests and research trends associated with CKD-MBD research.

Effect of varying auxiliaries on maxillary incisor torque control with clear aligners: A finite element analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying auxiliaries on tooth movement and stress distribution when maxillary central incisors were torqued 1° with a clear aligner through finite element analysis. METHODS: Three-dimensional finite element models, including maxillary alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, dentition, and clear aligner, were constructed. According to the auxiliaries designed on the maxillary central incisor, 5 models were created: (1) without auxiliaries (control model), (2) with the power ridge, (3) with the semi-ellipsoid attachment, (4) with the horizontal rectangular attachment, and (5) with the horizontal cylinder attachment. The tooth movement and periodontal ligament stress distribution after a palatal root torque of 1° were analyzed for each of the 5 models. RESULTS: With 1° torque predicted, the maxillary central incisor without auxiliaries showed a tendency of labial tipping, mesial tipping, and intrusion. The rotation center moved occlusally in the power ridge model. The labiolingual inclination variation increased in the semi-ellipsoid attachment model but decreased in the power ridge model. The maxillary central incisor is twisted in the distal direction in the power ridge model. The maxillary central incisor of the horizontal rectangular attachment and the horizontal cylinder attachment model behaved similarly to the control model. Periodontal stresses were concentrated in the cervical and apical areas. The maximum von Mises stresses were 11.6, 12.4, 3.81, 1.14, and 11.0 kPa in the 5 models. The semi-ellipsoid attachment model exhibited a more uniform stress distribution than the other models. CONCLUSIONS: Semi-ellipsoid attachment performed better efficacy on labiolingual inclination, and power ridge performed better efficacy on root control. However, a distal twist of maxillary incisors could be generated by the power ridge.

The role of the Piezo1 channel in osteoblasts under cyclic stretching: A study on osteogenic and osteoclast factors.

OBJECTIVES: Orthodontic tooth movement is a mechanobiological reaction induced by appropriate forces, including bone remodeling. The mechanosensitive Piezo channels have been shown to contribute to bone remodeling. However, information about the pathways through which Piezo channels affects osteoblasts remains limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the influence of Piezo1 on the osteogenic and osteoclast factors in osteoblasts under mechanical load. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclic stretch (CS) experiments on MC3T3-E1 were conducted using a BioDynamic mechanical stretching device. The Piezo1 channel blocker GsMTx4 and the Piezo1 channel agonist Yoda1 were used 12 h before the application of CS. MC3T3-E1 cells were then subjected to 15% CS, and the expression of Piezo1, Piezo2, BMP-2, OCN, Runx2, RANKL, p-p65/p65, and ALP was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, alkaline phosphatase staining, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: CS of 15% induced the highest expression of Piezo channel and osteoblast factors. Yoda1 significantly increased the CS-upregulated expression of Piezo1 and ALP activity but not Piezo2 and RANKL. GsMTx4 downregulated the CS-upregulated expression of Piezo1, Piezo2, Runx2, OCN, p-65/65, and ALP activity but could not completely reduce CS-upregulated BMP-2. CONCLUSIONS: The appropriate force is more suitable for promoting osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1. The Piezo1 channel participates in osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts through its influence on the expression of osteogenic factors like BMP-2, Runx2, and OCN and is involved in regulating osteoclasts by influencing phosphorylated p65. These results provide a foundation for further exploration of osteoblast function in orthodontic tooth movement.

The complete chloroplast genome of Lagochilus ilicifolius Bunge ex Bentham, Labiat. Gen. 1834 (Lamiaceae) and its phylogenetic analysis.

Lagochilus ilicifolius Bunge ex Bentham, Labiat. Gen is a perennial herb with much-branched stems native to Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Gansu, N Shaanxi. It can be used clinically as a hemostatic agent. The chloroplast genome length is 151,466 bp. It contained two inverted repeat regions of 25,660 bp each, a large single-copy region of length 82,504 bp, and a small single-copy region of length 17,642 bp. Also, the GC content is 38.6%. There were 133 genes annotated, including 88 known protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using Bayesian method for plastome data of 29 species. The entire chloroplast genome of L. ilicifolius within the Lamiaceae is the first to reveal genetic taxonomy at the molecular level, and the new phylogenetic tree data can be used for future evolutionary studies.

Cast versus Kirschner wire fixation in type II paediatric phalangeal neck fractures.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of type II pediatric phalangeal neck fractures (PPNFs) treated with closed reduction and cast immobilization (CRCI) versus closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP), and evaluated the clinical efficacy of conservative versus surgical treatment of type II PPNFs via meta-analysis. METHODS: Patients aged ≤ 14 years with type II PPNFs were divided into conservative (CRCI) and operative (CRPP) groups. Radiographs measured angulation and translation; hand function was assessed with total active range of motion (TAM) and Quick-DASH. Complication rates were also compared between the groups. A meta-analysis of conservative versus operative treatment confirmed the clinical results. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and R studio 3.0 with two-tailed, chi-squared, and Mann-Whitney U or t-tests, P < 0.05. Meta-analysis used fixed or random effects models, calculating mean differences and odds ratios for outcomes, and assessing heterogeneity with I2 and Q tests. RESULTS: Final angulation (3.4° ± 3.7° and 4.9° ± 5.4° vs. 3.6° ± 3.7° and 4.2° ± 4.3°) and displacement (6.3% ± 5.8% and 5.7% ± 4.7% vs. 5.8% ± 5.5% and 3.2% ± 4.2%) in the coronal and sagittal planes were not different statistically between the conservative and surgical groups (P > 0.05), but improved significantly compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05). Although Quick-DASH scores were comparable in both groups (P = 0.105), conservatively treated patients had a significantly better TAM at the last follow-up visit (P = 0.005). The complication rates were 24.2% and 41.7% in the surgical and conservatively treated groups respectively (P = 0.162). However, the latter primarily experienced imaging-related complications, whereas the former experienced functional complications (P = 0.046). Our meta-analysis (n = 181 patients) also showed comparable functional (P = 0.49) and radiographic (P = 0.59) outcomes and complication rates (P = 0.21) between the surgical (94 patients) and conservative (87 patients) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative and surgical treatments are both reliable and safe approaches for managing type II PPNF in children. However, conservatively treated patients generally experience similar radiographic outcomes, lower complication rates, and better functional outcomes than surgically treated ones.

The complete chloroplast genome of Pulsatilla chinensis f. alba D. K. Zang (Ranunculaceae, Pulsatilla Miller).

Pulsatilla chinensis f. alba D. K. Zang 1993 is a forma of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel, the root of P. chinensis is traditional Chinese medicine called Pulsatillae radix. The biggest difference between P. chinensis f. alba and P. chinensis is that P. chinensis f. alba sepals is white. The complete chloroplast genome of P. chinensis f. alba was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq platform for the first time. The lengths of the genome, large single-copy (LSC), small single-copy (SSC), two inverted repeats (IRs), and GC content were 163,654 bp, 82,355 bp, 19,069 bp, 31,115 bp, and 37.2%, respectively. It had 134 genes, including 90 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The maximum-likelihood tree indicated that P. chinensis f. alba had a closer relationship with P. chinensis. This study would provide a theoretical basis for the further study of Pulsatilla plants genetics phylogenetic research.

A pH-Sensitive Stretchable Zwitterionic Hydrogel with Bipolar Thermoelectricity.

Amid growing interest in using body heat for electricity in wearables, creating stretchable devices poses a major challenge. Herein, a hydrogel composed of two core constituents, namely the negatively-charged 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid and the zwitterionic (ZI) sulfobetaine acrylamide, is engineered into a double-network hydrogel. This results in a significant enhancement in mechanical properties, with tensile stress and strain of up to 470.3 kPa and 106.6%, respectively. Moreover, the ZI nature of the polymer enables the fabrication of a device with polar thermoelectric properties by modulating the pH. Thus, the ionic Seebeck coefficient (Si ) of the ZI hydrogel ranges from -32.6 to 31.7 mV K-1 as the pH is varied from 1 to 14, giving substantial figure of merit (ZTi ) values of 3.8 and 3.6, respectively. Moreover, a prototype stretchable ionic thermoelectric supercapacitor incorporating the ZI hydrogel exhibits notable power densities of 1.8 and 0.9 mW m-2 at pH 1 and 14, respectively. Thus, the present work paves the way for the utilization of pH-sensitive, stretchable ZI hydrogels for thermoelectric applications, with a specific focus on harvesting low-grade waste heat within the temperature range of 25-40 °C.

Age-induced Changes in Ginsenoside Accumulation and Primary Metabolic Characteristics of Panax Ginseng in Transplantation Mode.

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Mayer) is an important natural medicine. However, a long culture period and challenging quality control requirements limit its further use. Although artificial cultivation can yield a sustainable medicinal supply, research on the association between the transplantation and chaining of metabolic networks, especially the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthetic pathways, is limited. Methods: Herein, we performed Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry based metabolomic measurements to evaluate ginsenoside accumulation and categorise differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs). Transcriptome measurements using an Illumina Platform were then conducted to probe the landscape of genetic alterations in ginseng at various ages in transplantation mode. Using pathway data and crosstalk DAMs obtained by MapMan, we constructed a metabolic profile of transplantation Ginseng. Results: Accumulation of active ingredients was not obvious during the first 4 years (in the field), but following transplantation, the ginsenoside content increased significantly from 6-8 years (in the wild). Glycerolipid metabolism and Glycerophospholipid metabolism were the most significant metabolic pathways, as Lipids and lipid-like molecule affected the yield of ginsenosides. Starch and sucrose were the most active metabolic pathways during transplantation Ginseng growth. Conclusion: This study expands our understanding of metabolic network features and the accumulation of specific compounds during different growth stages of this perennial herbaceous plant when growing in transplantation mode. The findings provide a basis for selecting the optimal transplanting time.

CaMKIIδ, Stabilized by RNA N6-Methyladenosine Reader IGF2BP2, Boosts Coxsackievirus B3-Induced Myocardial Inflammation via Interacting with TIRAP.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) has been demonstrated to be aberrantly activated in viral myocarditis (VMC), but the role of its subtype CaMKIIδ in VMC remains unclear.VMC mice and cardiomyocytes models were induced by Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) treatment. Mice that underwent sham surgery and saline-treated cardiomyocytes served as controls. Body weight, survival, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and fractional shortening (LVFS) were measured, and HE staining was performed to evaluate heart function in VMC mice model and sham control. Inflammation factors in serum or cell supernatant were detected by ELISA. Expressions of CaMKIIδ, Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), nuclear factor NF-kappaB (NF-κB) signals, and inflammation factors were examined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot. CCK-8, EdU, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate cell behaviors. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down were utilized to validate molecule interaction. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) was performed to measure N6-methyladenosine (m6A) level of specific molecule.CaMKIIδ was upregulated in VMC mice and CVB3-treated primary cardiomyocytes, of which knockdown improved cell viability, proliferation, and suppressed cell apoptosis in vitro, thereby alleviating myocarditis in vivo. The stability of CaMKIIδ was attributed to the presence of IGF2BP2 through m6A modification. Loss of CaMKIIδ repressed NF-κB pathway via negatively and directly regulating TIRAP to be involved in inflammatory damage.CaMKIIδ, stabilized by m6A reader IGF2BP2, modulated NF-κB pathway via interacting with TIRAP to alter cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis, thereby affecting VMC outcome.

T-2 toxin induces mitochondrial dysfunction in chondrocytes via the p53-cyclophilin D pathway.

Kashin-Beck disease is an endemic joint disease characterized by deep chondrocyte necrosis, and T-2 toxin exposure has been confirmed its etiology. This study investigated mechanism of T-2 toxin inducing mitochondrial dysfunction of chondrocytes through p53-cyclophilin D (CypD) pathway. The p53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched in T-2 toxin response genes from GeneCards. We demonstrated the upregulation of the p53 protein and p53-CypD complex in rat articular cartilage and ATDC5 cells induced by T-2 toxin. Transmission electron microscopy showed the damaged mitochondrial structure of ATDC5 cells induced by T-2 toxin. Furthermore, it can lead to overopening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased reactive oxygen species generation in ATDC5 cells. Pifithrin-α, the p53 inhibitor, alleviated the increased p53-CypD complex and mitochondrial dysfunction of chondrocytes induced by T-2 toxin, suggesting that p53 played an important role in T-2 toxin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Mechanistically, T-2 toxin can activate the p53 protein, which can be transferred to the mitochondrial membrane and form a complex with CypD. The increased binding of p53 and CypD mediated the excessive opening of mPTP, changed mitochondrial membrane permeability, and ultimately induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of chondrocytes.

Phlorizin, a novel caloric restriction mimetic, stimulates hypoxia and protects cardiomyocytes through activating autophagy via modulating the Hif-1α/Bnip3 axis in sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory syndrome that can lead to multiple organ dysfunction and life-threatening complications. Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) has been confirmed to be present in half of patients with septic shock, increasing their mortality rate to 70-90%. The pathogenesis of SIMD is complex, and no specific clinical treatment has yet been developed. Caloric restriction mimetics (CRM), compounds that simulate the biochemical and functional properties of CR, can improve cardiovascular injury by activating autophagy. This study investigated the effect of a new type of CRM which can induce hypoxia, the SGLT nonspecific inhibitor phlorizin on SIMD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo, phlorizin was administered at 1 mg/kg/day intragastrically for 28 days. In vitro, AC16 was treated with 120 µM phlorizin for 48 h. Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function. Myocardial injury markers were detected in serum and cell supernatant. Western blotting was employed to detect changed proteins associated with apoptosis and autophagy. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, co-immunoprecipitation, molecular docking, and other methods were also used to illustrate cellular changes. RESULTS: In vivo, phlorizin significantly improved the survival rate and cardiac function after sepsis injury, reduced markers of myocardial injury, inhibited myocardial apoptosis and oxidative stress, and promoted autophagy. In vitro, phlorizin alleviated the apoptosis of AC16, as well as inhibited oxidative stress and apoptotic enzyme activity. Phlorizin acts on autophagy at multiple sites through low energy (activation of AMPK) and hypoxia (release of Beclin-1 by Hif-1α/Bnip3 axis), promoting the formation and degradation of autophagosomes. CONCLUSION: We indicated for the first time that phlorizin could inhibit glucose uptake via GLUT-1 and conforms to the metabolic characteristics of CRM, it can induce the hypoxic transcriptional paradigm. In addition, it inhibits apoptosis and improves SIMD by promoting autophagy generation and unobstructing autophagy flux. Moreover, it affects autophagy by releasing Beclin-1 through the Hif-1α/Bnip3 axis.

High-Index Faceted Cu2 O@CuO Mesocrystals Act as Efficient Catalyst for Si Hydrochlorination to Trichlorosilane.

Mesocrystals (MCs) with high-index facets may have superior catalytic properties to those with low-index facets and their nanocrystal counterparts. However, synthesizing such mesocrystal materials is still very challenging because of the metastability of MCs and energetic high-index crystal facets. This work reports a successful solvothermal method followed by calcination for synthesizing copper oxide-based MCs possessing a core-shell structure (denoted as Cu2 O@CuO HIMCs). Furthermore, these MCs are predominantly bounded by the high-index facets such as {311} or {312} with a high-density of stepped atoms. When used as catalysts in Si hydrochlorination to produce trichlorosilane (TCS, the primary feedstock of high-purity crystalline Si), Cu2 O@CuO HIMCs exhibit significantly enhanced Si conversion and TCS selectivity compared to those with flat surfaces and their nanostructured counterparts. Theoretical calculations reveal that both the core-shell structure and the high-index surface contribute to the increased electron density of Cu sites in Cu2 O@CuO HIMCs, promoting the adsorption and dissociation of HCl and stabilizing the dissociated Cl* intermediate. This work provides a simple method for synthesizing high-index faceted MCs and offers a feasible strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of MCs.

In Situ Defect Engineering of Controllable Carrier Types in WSe2 for Homomaterial Inverters and Self-Powered Photodetectors.

WSe2 has a high mobility of electrons and holes, which is an ideal choice as active channels of electronics in extensive fields. However, carrier-type tunability of WSe2 still has enormous challenges, which are essential to overcome for practical applications. In this work, the direct growth of n-doped few-layer WSe2 is realized via in situ defect engineering. The n-doping of WSe2 is attributed to Se vacancies induced by the H2 flow purged in the cooling process. The electrical measurements based on field effect transistors demonstrate that the carrier type of WSe2 synthesized is successfully transferred from the conventional p-type to the rarely reported n-type. The electron carrier concentration is efficiently modulated by the concentration of H2 during the cooling process. Furthermore, homomaterial inverters and self-powered photodetectors are fabricated based on the doping-type-tunable WSe2. This work reveals a significant way to realize the controllable carrier type of two-dimensional (2D) materials, exhibiting great potential in future 2D electronics engineering.

Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty Combined or Not with Myringotomy in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common disorder causing ear pressure, pain, and hearing loss. Balloon Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) is an emerging technique for dilating the Eustachian tube and treating ETD. Whether adding myringotomy improves BET efficacy is controversial. METHODS: This retrospective study included 95 ETD patients undergoing BET alone (n = 44) or BET with myringotomy (BET + M; n = 51) between June 2020 and August 2021 at a single medical center. The primary outcome was the change in ETDQ-7 symptom scores from baseline to 6 months after treatment. Secondary outcomes included audiometry, endoscopy, Valsalva maneuver, and complications. RESULTS: The ETDQ-7 scores improved significantly after treatment in both groups (p < 0.001), without significant between-group differences (p = 0.417). No significant differences occurred in the audiometry, endoscopy, and Valsalva results or in most complications between groups. One BET + M patient had a persistent tympanic membrane perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Both BET alone and BET + M effectively and safely improved the subjective and objective ETD outcomes. However, adding myringotomy did not further improve the outcomes over BET alone, while it incurred risks such as persistent perforation. BET alone may sufficiently treat ETD without requiring myringotomy in this cohort. Further randomized controlled trials should identify optimal candidates for BET alone versus combined approaches.

A Novel Bifunctional µOR Agonist and σ1R Antagonist with Potent Analgesic Responses and Reduced Adverse Effects.

Bifunctional ligands possessing both µOR agonism and σ1R antagonism have shown promise in producing strong analgesic effects with reduced opioid-related side effects. However, the µOR agonism activity of most dual ligands diminishes compared with classical opioids, raising concern about their effectiveness in managing nociceptive pain. In this study, a new class of dual µOR agonist/σ1R antagonist was reported. Through structure-activity relationship analyses, we identified the optimal compound, 4x, which displayed picomolar µOR agonism activity (EC50: 0.6 ± 0.2 nM) and good σ1R inhibitory activity (Ki: 363.7 ± 5.6 nM) with excellent selectivity. Compound 4x exhibited robust analgesic effects in various pain models, with significantly reduced side effects. Importantly, compound 4x also possessed good safety profiles and no abnormalities were observed in biological parameters even under a high dosage. Our findings suggest that 4x may be a promising lead compound for developing safer opioids and warrants further in-depth studies.

[18F]sodium fluoride positron emission tomography: a systematic bibliometric review from 2008 to 2022.

Background: As a noninvasive diagnostic tool, fluorine-18-labelled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography ([18F]NaF PET) has been increasingly applied in clinical practice due to its excellent imaging performance, attracting more attention from clinical practitioners. However, with the continuous development of technology and growth of knowledge, the field of [18F]NaF PET is changing. Nevertheless, few studies have conducted quantitative analyses of the literature in this field. Therefore, in this study, we used bibliometric methods to analyze the trends, content distribution, and frontiers of this field from multiple perspectives, including social and international structure, conceptual structure, and intellectual structure. Methods: This study used the Web of Science (WOS) core database as the data source and retrieved literature related to [18F]NaF PET between 2008 and 2022. CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were then employed for bibliometric analysis. This study performed co-occurrence analysis and citation analysis to investigate the characteristics of [18F]NaF PET in 3 aspects. Results: A total of 682 articles related to [18F]NaF PET were collected during the period from 2008 to 2022. The author, Alavi, had the highest number of publications (67 articles). In terms of institutions, the University of Edinburgh had the highest number of publications (64 articles). The United States (300 articles) was the country with the highest number of published articles. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed that [18F]NaF PET-related technologies, bone metastasis (prostate cancer and breast cancer), and atherosclerosis were prominent research directions in this field. In terms of highly cited authors, Even-Sapir had the highest citation count (188 citations). Regarding highly cited journals, the Journal of Nuclear Medicine ranked as the most highly cited journal. The literature co-citation clustering and timeline graph showed that atherosclerotic plaques, bone metastasis, and the clinical applications of [18F]NaF PET were topics of active research in this field. Conclusions: There has been an increase in the literature published in the field of [18F]NaF PET from 2008 to 2022. The United States holds a prominent position in the field of [18F]NaF PET. Arteriosclerosis and bone metastasis are the main topics in this field and at the forefront of research.

Diagnostic value of aldo­keto reductase family 1 member B10 in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) is a potential marker of several types of cancer; however, the role of AKR1B10 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. In the present study, AKR1B10 RNA-seq data and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) database to evaluate the role of AKR1B10 in HNSCC. There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of AKR1B10 between HNSCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and high AKR1B10 expression was not associated with poor overall survival according to the public database. The present study further examined the role of AKR1B10 in patients with NPC using data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Analysis of the GSE53819 and GSE61218 datasets showed that the there were no significant differences in the expression levels of AKR1B10 between NPC tissues and normal tissues. However, analysis of the GSE103611 dataset indicated that AKR1B10 may be associated with distance metastasis following radical treatment in NPC. Finally, serum samples from patients with NPC and healthy controls were collected and analyzed. The results revealed that AKR1B10 levels were significantly increased in samples from patients with NPC compared with those from healthy controls, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.909. In conclusion, unlike tissue AKR1B10 expression, serum AKR1B10 levels may be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of NPC.

Gut microbiome and brain transcriptome analyses reveal the effect of walnut oil in preventing scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment.

Walnut Oil (WO) is recognized for its potential to improve cognition, but the mechanisms of its action related to improving cognitive impairment are not yet clear. In this study, the components of walnut oil were measured, and it was found that WO supplementation for 8 weeks could significantly prevent cognitive behavioral deficits and synaptic dysfunction induced by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine (SCOP) in mice. By comparing and analyzing the changes in the hippocampal synaptic structure, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter fluctuations, brain transcriptome, inflammatory factors and gut microbiota in mice from different treatment groups, we observed a significant correlation between synaptic transmission genes, gut microbiota and neurotransmission in the WO supplemented group. It was found that WO supplementation could influence the secretion of neurotransmitters Ach and 5-HT by modulating the gut microbiota in vivo, thereby improving cognitive impairment through the central nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation.

[Analysis of NR2F1 gene variant in a child with optic atrophy and global developmental delay].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with optic atrophy and global developmental delay. METHODS: A child who had presented at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center in January 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data were collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the child. Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: The child, a nine-month-old female, had manifested dysopia and global developmental delay. Genetic testing revealed that she has harbored a de novo c.425G>C (p.Arg142Pro) variant of the NR2F1 gene, which has been associated with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf syndrome. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as pathogenic (PS2+PM1+PM2_Supporting+PM5+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION: The c.425G>C (p.Arg142Pro) variant of the NR2F1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this child. Above finding has enriched the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of the NR2F1 gene.