A bisulfite-assisted and ligation-based qPCR amplification technology for locus-specific pseudouridine detection at base resolution.

Over 150 types of chemical modifications have been identified in RNA to date, with pseudouridine (Ψ) being one of the most prevalent modifications in RNA. Ψ plays vital roles in various biological processes, and precise, base-resolution detection methods are fundamental for deep analysis of its distribution and function. In this study, we introduced a novel base-resolution Ψ detection method named pseU-TRACE. pseU-TRACE relied on the fact that RNA containing Ψ underwent a base deletion after treatment of bisulfite (BS) during reverse transcription, which enabled efficient ligation of two probes complementary to the cDNA sequence on either side of the Ψ site and successful amplification in subsequent real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), thereby achieving selective and accurate Ψ detection. Our method accurately and sensitively detected several known Ψ sites in 28S, 18S, 5.8S, and even mRNA. Moreover, pseU-TRACE could be employed to measure the Ψ fraction in RNA and explore the Ψ metabolism of different pseudouridine synthases (PUSs), providing valuable insights into the function of Ψ. Overall, pseU-TRACE represents a reliable, time-efficient and sensitive Ψ detection method.

The Relationship Between the Average Decreased Times of Estradiol and Early Miscarriage: An Observational Study.

Decreased estradiol (E2) levels are associated with early miscarriage (EM), but the relationship between decreased times of E2 and EM has not been reported. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the average decreased times of E2 (ADTE) and EM. Women with a history of miscarriage were retrospectively recruited from the Reproductive Center of Lanzhou University Second Hospital (Lanzhou, China) between September 2019 and February 2022. Based on pregnancy outcome, they were divided into ongoing pregnancy group (n = 359) and EM group (n = 104). In addition, subgroup analyses were performed for the number of previous miscarriages and whether E2 levels decreased continuously. The exposure and outcome variables were ADTE and miscarriage before 12 weeks of gestation, respectively. Totally, 1171 patients were recruited and 463 patients were finally analyzed. ADTE was associated with EM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.346, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.154-1.571, P < 0.001). When ADTE ≥ 2.5, the EM risk increased 1.17-fold compared to patients with 0-1.249 times (OR = 2.170, 95% CI 1.144-4.117, P = 0.018). Moreover, a threshold effect existed in the ADTE and the risk of EM with a value of 4.9 times. When exceeding 4.9 times, the EM risk increased 4.713-fold for each increased unit (OR = 5.713, 95% CI 1.255-23.170, P = 0.024). Subgroup analysis showed that ADTE had a greater effect on the occurrence of EM in women with a history of 1-2 miscarriages than in women with 3 miscarriages. Decreased E2 was a risk factor for EM regardless of whether it dropped continuously or not. In conclusion, our study identifies a potential link between ADTE and early miscarriage risk in women with prior miscarriages, yet cautious interpretation is necessary due to inherent design limitations. Further research with prospective designs and large population samples is essential to validate ADTE's utility as a predictive indicator for early miscarriage in clinical settings.

Hearing loss prevalence and burden of disease in China: Findings from provincial-level analysis.

BACKGROUND: Without timely and effective rehabilitation, hearing loss may profoundly affect human life quality. China has a large population of hearing-impaired individuals, which imposes a heavy health burden on society. Moreover, this population is projected to increase rapidly owing to China's aging society. METHODS: We used data from a population-representative epidemiological investigation of hearing loss and ear diseases in four Chinese provinces. We estimated the national prevalence using multiple linear regression of the age-group proportions and prevalence in 31 provinces with clustering analysis. We used years lived with disability (YLDs) to analyze the disease burden and forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss by 2060 in China. RESULTS: An estimated 115 million people had moderate-to-complete hearing loss in 2015 across the 31 provinces of China (8.4% of 1.37 billion people). Of these, 85.7% were older than age 50 years (99 million people) and 2.4% were younger than 20 years old (2.8 million people). Of all YLDs attributable to hearing loss, 68.9% were attributable to moderate-to-complete cases. By 2060, a projected 242 million people in China will have moderate-to-complete hearing loss, a 110.0% increase from 2015. CONCLUSIONS: The hearing loss prevalence in China is high. Population aging and socioeconomic factors substantially affect the prevalence and severity of hearing loss and the disease burden. The prevalence and severity of hearing loss are unevenly distributed across different provinces. Future public health policies should take these trends and regional variations into account.

The molecular mechanisms of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 and its relevance to kidney disease.

Pin1 is a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase subfamily and is widely expressed in various cell types and tissues. Alterations in Pin1 expression levels play pivotal roles in both physiological processes and multiple pathological conditions, especially in the onset and progression of kidney diseases. Herein, we present an overview of the role of Pin1 in the regulation of fibrosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. It plays a significant role in various kidney diseases including Renal I/R injury, chronic kidney disease with secondary hyperparathyroidism, diabetic nephropathy, renal fibrosis, and renal cell carcinoma. The representative therapeutic agent Juglone has emerged as a potential treatment for inhibiting Pin1 activity and mitigating kidney disease. Understanding the role of Pin1 in kidney diseases is expected to provide new insights into innovative therapeutic interventions and strategies. Consequently, this review delves into the molecular mechanisms of Pin1 and its relevance in kidney disease, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches.

High Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency Among Chinese Hospital Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To determine the current status of vitamin D status and the associated factors for its deficiency among Chinese hospital staff. Methods: The physical examination data of 2509 hospital staff members was analyzed alongside that of 1507 patients who visited the hospital during the corresponding period of the examination. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured in the participants. The hospital staff also completed surveys about general information, laboratory examination, and occupational characteristics. Results: The median vitamin D status (serum 25(OH)D concentration) of the participants was 9.0 ng/mL, ranging from 6.5 to 44.7 ng/mL, and the prevalence of deficiency (<12.3 ng/mL) was 81.47% (2044/2509). The multivariable logistic regression revealed that nurses (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.09-2.19, p = 0.015), BMI below 18 (OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.02-5.58, p = 0.045) associated with higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. In the contrast, age above 30 (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.53-0.91, p = 0.009) and a high level of uric acid (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.41-0.78, p = 0.001) associated with lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher among the hospital staff (81.47%) compared to the patients who visited the hospital during the same time period (65.69%). A substantial disparity was observed in the propensity score matching dataset (69.14% vs 79.94%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hospital staff are a high-risk group for vitamin D deficiency. Paying attention to vitamin D status and supplementation of this vitamin are pertinent aspects of hospital staff health care. Outdoor activities, vitamin D supplementation, and foods rich in vitamin D should be advocated.

Effects of integrated nursing and psychological intervention on pain relief and patient satisfaction in urinary calculi patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the impact of integrated nursing and psychological intervention on pain intensity and patient satisfaction in individuals with urinary calculi. METHODS: This retrospective study included 94 urological patients from the Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, between January 2020 and June 2022. Participants were divided into a control group (n=48), receiving routine nursing and psychological intervention, and a study group (n=46), receiving integrated nursing and psychological intervention. We compared pain intensity, pain relief rate, patient satisfaction, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) score, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score, and quality of life scores between the groups. RESULTS: The study group had shorter hospital stays and lower hospitalization costs than the control group (both P < 0.05). Pain relief and satisfaction rates were higher in the study group (both P < 0.05). Post-intervention, both groups showed significant reductions in NRS, PSQI, SDS, and SAS scores, with greater reductions in the study group (all P < 0.05). Quality of life scores increased in both groups, more so in the SG (P < 0.05). The study group also had fewer adverse events (P < 0.05). Both groups showed decreased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels post-intervention, with a more significant decline in the study group (P < 0.05). Education, marital status, and occupation were major factors influencing outcomes in urinary calculi patients. CONCLUSION: Integrated nursing and psychological intervention significantly alleviates pain, improves emotional well-being, enhances sleep quality, increases overall life quality, and contributes to high patient satisfaction among urinary calculi patients.

Comprehensive safety evaluation of a novel multitargeting compound XYY-CP1106: A candidate for Alzheimer's disease.

Multitargeting has become a promising strategy for the development of anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) drugs, considering the complexity of molecular mechanisms in AD pathology. In most pre-clinical studies, the effectiveness of these multi-targeted anti-AD drugs has been demonstrated but comprehensive safety assessments are lacking. Here, the safety evaluation of a novel multi-targeted candidate in AD (XYY-CP1106), characterized by its dual-property of iron chelation and monoamine oxidase B inhibition, was conducted by multifaceted analysis. Acute toxicity in mice was conducted to investigate the safety of oral administration and the maximum tolerated dose of the agent. In vitro Ames analysis, CHL chromosomal aberration analysis, and bone marrow micronucleus analysis were executed to evaluate the genotoxicity. A teratogenesis investigation in pregnant mice were meticulously performed to evaluate the teratogenesis of XYY-CP1106. Furthermore, a 90-day long-term toxicity analysis in rats was investigated to evaluate the cumulative toxicity after long-term administration. Strikingly, no toxic phenomena were found in all investigations, demonstrating relatively high safety profile of the candidate compound. The securing of safety heightened the translational significance of XYY-CP1106 as a novel multi-targeted anti-AD candidate, supporting the rationality of multitargeting strategy in the designs of smart anti-AD drugs.

Efficacy and Safety of Oxymatrine in the Treatment of Patients with Erythrodermic Psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: The management of erythrodermic psoriasis (EP), a rare but severe type of psoriasis, is challenging, especially in patients with concomitant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We previously demonstrated that oxymatrine treatment alleviated severe plaque psoriasis, but its therapeutic potential in treating EP remains unexplored. This study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oxymatrine for the treatment of EP, with attention to concomitant CHB. METHODS: In this investigator-initiated clinical trial, four consecutive patients with EP, including two (A and B) with concomitant CHB, were treated with intravenous administration of oxymatrine as monotherapy for 8 weeks, and scheduled to be followed up for a minimum of 24 weeks. The primary outcome was at least 75% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 75) at week 32. Secondary outcomes included the body surface area (BSA) score, dermatology life quality index (DLQI)], and safety. RESULTS: Patients A, B, and C achieved PASI 75 at treatment completion and week 32, demonstrating improvements of 77.4%, 97.2%, and 100% in PASI, respectively. Their BSA and DLQI were also improved significantly at week 32 and throughout follow-up of 37, 57, and 105 weeks, respectively. The viral loads in patients A and B with CHB decreased modestly. Patient D discontinued after follow-up for 19 weeks, and the primary outcome could not be analyzed. No adverse events were reported during treatment and follow-up. CONCLUSION: Oxymatrine appears to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of patients with EP, including those with concomitant CHB. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ; Registration number ChiCTR-TRC-14004301).

Long-term toxicity evaluation of aristolochic acid-IIIa in mice.

Aristolochic acid (AA)-IIIa is an AA analog present in Aristolochiaceae plants. To evaluate the chronic toxicity of AA-IIIa, mice were intragastrically administered with media control, 1mg/kg AA-IIIa, and 10mg/kg AA-IIIa, and designated as the control (CTL), AA-IIIa low dose (AA-Ⅲa-L), and AA-IIIa high dose (AA-Ⅲa-H) groups, respectively. AA-IIIa was administered three times a week, every other day, for 24 weeks (24-week time point). Thereafter, some mice were sacrificed immediately, while others were sacrificed 29 or 50 weeks after AA-Ⅲa withdrawal (53- or 74-week time point). Serum and organs were collected for biochemical and pathological analyses, respectively. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on the kidney, liver, and stomach tissues of AA-IIIa-treated mice for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection. AA-IIIa-H mice died at 66 weeks, and the remaining mice showed moribund conditions at the 69 weeks. AA-IIIa induced minor kidney tubule injury, fibroblast hyperplasia, and forestomach carcinoma in mice. Bladder, intestine, liver, heart, spleen, lung, and testis tissues were not pathologically altered by AA-IIIa. In addition, AA-IIIa increased the C:G > A:T mutation in the kidney; however, no SNP mutation changes were observed in the liver and forestomach tissues of AA-IIIa-H mice at the 24-week time point compared with control mice. Therefore, we suspect that AA-IIIa is potentially mutagenic for mice after overdose and long-term administration. On the other hand, the forestomach is a unique organ in mice, but it does not exist in humans; thus, we hypothesize that the stomach toxicity induced by AA-Ⅲa is not a suitable reference for toxicological evaluation in humans. We recommend that Aristolochiaceae plants containing AA-IIIa should be properly supervised, and overdosing and long-term administration of drugs containing AA-IIIa should be avoided.

Theoretical simulation of TADF character of 3,9'-bicarbazole-modified 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine.

CONTEXT: Three donor (D)-acceptor (A)-type temperature-activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) molecules of 9-(2-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)phenyl)-9H-3,9'-bicarbazole (o-TrzDCz), 9-(3-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)phenyl)-9H-3,9'-bicarbazole (m-TrzDCz), and 9-(4-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)phenyl)-9H-3,9'-bicarbazole (p-TrzDCz) were designed in this paper, and the photophysical properties, including the intersystem crossing rate, the reorganization energies (λ), and the intersystem crossing/reverse intersystem crossing (ISC/RISC) rate, were simulated to explore the effect of substitution sites on their TADF character. The values of the twist angle between the D and A moieties in ground state and the molecular root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of the S1 and T1 states referenced to the S0 state indicate that o-TrzDCz possess bigger steric hindrance and stabler molecular configuration. The λ values of the ISC/RISC process should be 0.06/0.04 eV for o-TrzDCz, which are much smaller than those of m-TrzDCz (0.51/0.41 eV) and p-TrzDCz (1.93/1.06 eV). At the same time, o-TrzDCz possess the biggest kRISC (7.28 × 106 s-1) and kr (3.12 × 106 s-1) values and the smallest kp (0.10 s-1) value among the three titled molecules. These data indicate that o-TrzDCz should have more excellent TADF character than m-TrzDCz and p-TrzDCz. In a word, this research presents that adjusting the molecular linking manner should be a charming way to explore novel high-efficient TADF molecules. METHODS: Quantum chemical calculations were performed at PBE0/6-31G* level by Gaussian 09 and ORCA 4.1.0 software packages, and reorganization energies and Huang-Rhys were performed by the DUSHIN program and MOMAP 2019B software package based on the Gaussian 09 output files, while the phosphorescence rates were performed at B3LYP/6-31G* level by Dalton 2021.

Advances in combined neuroendocrine carcinoma of lung cancer.

Lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are increasing worldwide, posing a significant public health challenge and an immense burden to affected families. Lung cancer encompasses distinct subtypes, namely, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In clinical investigations, researchers have observed that neuroendocrine tumors can be classified into four types: typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma based on their unique features. However, there exist combined forms of neuroendocrine cancer. This study focuses specifically on combined pulmonary carcinomas with a neuroendocrine component. In this comprehensive review article, the authors provide an overview of combined lung cancers and present two pathological images to visually depict these distinctive subtypes.

Ultraconserved elements from transcriptome and genome data provide insight into the phylogenomics of Sternorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera).

Sternorrhyncha, one of the four major suborders of Hemiptera, is a phytophagous taxon inclusive of nearly 18 000 described species. The phylogenetic relationships within the taxon and the earliest-branching lineage of its infraorders remain incompletely understood. This study attempted to illuminate the phylogenetic relationships within Sternorrhyncha through the use of maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony analyses, employing ultraconserved element (UCE) data from 39 genomic and 62 transcriptomic datasets and thereby representing most families within the taxon. The probe set Hemiptera 2.7Kv1 was used to recover a total of 2731 UCE loci: from 547 to 1699 (with an average of 1084) across all genomic datasets and from 108 to 849 (with an average of 329) across all transcriptomic datasets. All three types of phylogenetic analyses employed in this study produced robust statistical support for Sternorrhyncha being a monophyletic group. The different methods of phylogenetic analysis produced inconsistent descriptions of topological structure at the infraorder level: while maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses produced strong statistical evidence (100%) indicating the clade Psylloidea + Aleyrodoidea to be a sister of the clade Aphidoidea (Aphidomorpha) + Coccoidea (Coccomorpha), the maximum parsimony analysis failed to recover a similar result. Our results also provide detail on the phylogenetic relationships within each infraorder. This study presents the first use of UCE data to investigate the phylogeny of Sternorrhyncha. It also shows the viability of amalgamating genomic and transcriptomic data in studies of phylogenetic relationships, potentially highlighting a resource-efficient approach for future inquiries into diverse taxa through the integration of varied data sources.

Minor (≤ 10%) Ground-Glass Opacity Component in Clinical Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Associations With Pathologic Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: The presence of a ground-glass opacity (GGO) component is a favorable prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although the prognostic impact of a very small GGO component remains poorly investigated. Objective: To investigate the impact of a minor (≤10%) GGO component on the prognosis of clinical stage I NSCLC in comparison with pure-solid nodules. Methods: This retrospective study included 382 patients (mean age, 61 years; 210 men, 172 women) who underwent surgical resection between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 for clinical stage I NSCLC appearing on preoperative chest CT as a nodule with a consolidation-to-tumor (CTR) ratio ≥0.9 and <1.0. Two radiologists independently assigned nodules to a minor-GGO (≥0.9 CTR <1.0) or pure-solid (CTR=1.0) groups. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and compared between groups using log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations with outcomes. Results: The two radiologists agreed for all nodules' classification into the minor-GGO (n=106) or pure-solid (n=276) groups. The mean CTR of the minor-GGO group was 0.93±0.02 (range, 0.90-0.97). Minor-GGO nodules, in comparison with pure-solid nodules, showed greater solid component diameter (2.68 vs 2.16 cm, p<.001) and total nodule diameter (2.89 vs 2.16 cm, p<.001). The minor-GGO group, in comparison with the pure-solid group, showed lower frequencies of visceral pleural invasion (6.6% vs 17.0%, P=.009), pathologic lymph node involvement (4.7% vs 20.3%, P<.001), and epidermal growth factor mutation (71.6% vs 39.9%; P<.001). The minor-GGO group, in comparison with the pure-solid group, showed better 5-year RFS (83.4% vs 55.0%; P<.001) and better 5-year CSS (92.4% vs 76.4%, P=.004). In multivariable analysis adjusting for patient, imaging, pathologic, and genetic factors, a minor-GGO component was independently associated with a decreased likelihood of recurrence (HR=0.37, P=.001) but not with the likelihood of CSS. Conclusion: Among patients with clinical stage I NSCLC, cancers with a minor-GGO component were associated with a better prognosis versus those with a pure-solid appearance. Clinical Impact: Radiologists encountering predominantly solid nodules on CT should carefully assess images for even a minor-GGO component given the favorable prognosis.

Chest Computed Tomography Radiomics for Determining Macrolide Resistance-Associated Gene Mutation Status in Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia: A Two-Center Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene are associated with an increase in resistance to macrolides in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). This study aimed to develop and validate a chest computed tomography (CT) radiomics model for determining macrolide resistance-associated gene mutation status in MPP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 258 MPP patients were retrospectively included from two institutions (training set: 194 patients from the first institution; external test set: 64 patients from the second). The 23S rRNA gene mutation status was tested by nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction. Radiomics features were extracted from chest CT images of pulmonary lesions segmented with semi-automatic delineation. Subsequently, radiomics feature reduction was applied to identify the most relevant features. Logistic regression and random forest algorithms were employed to establish the radiomics models, which were five-fold cross-validated in the training set and validated in the external test set. RESULTS: The radiomics feature selection resulted in eight features. After five-fold cross-validation in the training set, the mean areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the logistic regression and random forest models were 0.868 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.813-0.923) and 0.941 (95% CI: 0.907-0.975), respectively. In the external test set, the corresponding AUCs were 0.855 (95% CI: 0.758-0.952) and 0.815 (95% CI: 0.705-0.925). CONCLUSION: Chest CT radiomics is a promising diagnostic tool for determining macrolide resistance gene mutation status in MPP. AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL: The datasets generated or analyzed during the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

A balance of unsafe care incidents and interactive cooperative care: A constructivist grounded theory study of safe care ecosystem for older inpatients.

AIMS: To explore older inpatients and their caregivers' care experience and how this relates to the gerontology care practice. BACKGROUND: Research interest in the conceptualization of safe care for older inpatients was growing, and these studies were predominantly reported from a single or healthcare perspective. There is a shortage of literature on how patients and their caregivers conceptualise safe care. DESIGN: Constructivist grounded theory. METHODS: Stage 1 included semi-structured interviews with inpatients. Stage 2 included semi-structured interviews with caregivers and six field notes. Purposive and theoretical sampling were used to recruit 61 participants across six healthcare institutions. Data analysis included initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding using constant comparative, field notes and memo writing. RESULTS: The substantive theory to emerge from the data was A balance of unsafe care incidents and interactive cooperative care. This core concept was informed by four categories: unsafe care incidents, interactive cooperative care, person-centred care, contextual conditions, and one care outcome. The relationships between these categories constituted a balance in which patient-centred care was the core, unsafe care incidents were the barriers, interactive cooperative care was the facilitator, and the result of the balance was the care outcome. The balance constituted a safe care ecosystem under the interaction of contextual conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Interactive cooperative care is vital in enabling care stakeholders to reduce unsafe care incidents, which facilitates them in achieving safe care and further constructing a healthy care ecosystem. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This theory identifies barriers and facilitators encountered by care stakeholders to cope with everyday problems and guides them in developing personalised care plans to ensure patient safety.

Anti-hair loss effect of a shampoo containing caffeine and adenosine.

BACKGROUND: Hair loss is a widespread health problem that affects numerous individuals and is associated with age, lack of sleep, stress, endocrine problems, and other problems. Caffeine exerts various pharmacological effects, particularly after ingestion. The caffeine-induced inhibition of phosphodiesterases can increase intracellular cAMP concentrations, ultimately resulting in stimulatory effects on cell metabolism and proliferation. Hence, caffeine has been confirmed to inhibit hair loss caused by premature termination of the hair growth phase. Adenosine also improves hair loss by stimulating hair growth and thickening hair shafts. However, further empirical evidence is required to comprehensively assess the efficacy of hair loss treatment and prevention using a formulation of caffeine and adenosine in specific proportions in shampoos. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate a shampoo with caffeine and adenosine as a daily scalp care product for hair loss in 77 subjects aged 18-60 years. METHODS: The overall and local hair densities were assessed using professional cameras and dermoscopes at different magnifications and distances. Five hairs that came off the participant's head were randomly selected to measure hair diameter. The self-assessment questionnaires were filled on third month of product use. RESULTS: The combination of caffeine and adenosine in the shampoo significantly enhanced hair density compared to that of the baseline. The results revealed a significant reduction in hair loss. The hair diameters of the subjects did not change significantly. Most of the participants (71.05%) were satisfied with their hair after using the product. CONCLUSIONS: Shampoos containing caffeine and adenosine have been demonstrated to exert therapeutic benefits for reducing hair loss.

Assessing the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire for pregnant women from the Chinese Miao ethnic group.

Background: Currently, no food frequency questionnaire is available to be administered exclusively to ethnic minorities in China. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a culturally tailored semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) designed for pregnant women belonging to the Miao ethnic group in China. Methods: A total of 74 questions in the FFQ were administered to collect dietary information from Miao women in China during their pregnancy. This study included 153 and 127 pregnant women, respectively, for testing the validity and reproducibility of the results. Baseline FFQ data (FFQ1) were collected initially, followed by the administration of a repeated FFQ 4-6 weeks later (FFQ2). Two 24-h recalls (24HR) were used as references to compare food groups and nutrient intake. Pearson/Spearman's coefficients were used to measure the validity and reproducibility of the FFQ. Quartile cross-classification, weighted kappa coefficients, and Bland-Altman plots were employed to assess the agreement. Results: Most food groups and nutrient intake estimated by the FFQ were higher than those estimated by the 24HR. Food groups and nutrients' correlations for FFQ vs. 24HR after being energy-adjusted and de-attenuated, respectively, were 0.10 (vegetables) to 0.45 (grains/tubers) and 0.15 (iron) to 0.52 (riboflavin). Comparatively, correlation coefficients for FFQ1 vs. FFQ2 ranged from 0.41 (fruit) to 0.71 (vegetables) and from 0.45 (energy) to 0.64 (calcium). The percentage of pregnant women classified in the same or adjacent quartiles ranged from 64.08% (vegetables) to 95.29% (sour soup) and from 68.88% (vitamin E) to 78.81% (energy). Weighted kappa coefficients exceeded 0.2 for food groups and most nutrients, and Bland-Altman plots demonstrated acceptable agreement between the two tools. Conclusions: This study provides novel information on the validation of FFQ. It demonstrates that the FFQ exhibits ideal reproducibility and acceptable validity in estimating and ranking the intake of food groups and most nutrients among pregnant women belonging to the Chinese Miao ethnic group.

Novel Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Vivo Imaging in Surgical Navigation of Colorectal Cancer.

Despite recent advancements in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, the prognosis remains unfavorable primarily due to high recurrence and liver metastasis rates. Fluorescence molecular imaging technologies, combined with specific probes, have gained prominence in facilitating real-time tumor resection guided by fluorescence. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is overexpressed in CRC, but the advancement of HGF fluorescent probes has been impeded by the absence of effective HGF-targeting small-molecular ligands. Herein, we present the targeted capabilities of the novel V-1-GGGK-MPA probe labeled with a near-infrared fluorescent dye, which targets HGF in CRC. The V-1-GGGK peptide exhibits high specificity and selectivity for HGF-positive in vitro tumor cells and in vivo tumors. Biodistribution analysis of V-1-GGGK-MPA revealed tumor-specific accumulation with low background uptake, yielding signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values of tumor-to-colorectal >6 in multiple subcutaneous CRC models 12 h postinjection. Quantitative analysis confirmed the probe's high uptake in SW480 and HT29 orthotopic and liver metastatic models, with SNR values of tumor-to-colorectal and -liver being 5.6 ± 0.4, 4.6 ± 0.5, and 2.1 ± 0.3, 2.0 ± 0.5, respectively, enabling precise tumor visualization for surgical navigation. Pathological analysis demonstrated the excellent tumor boundaries discrimination capacity of the V-1-GGGK-MPA probe at the molecular level. With its rapid tumor targeting, sustained tumor retention, and precise tumor boundary delineation, V-1-GGGK-MPA merges as a promising HGF imaging agent, enriching the toolbox of intraoperative navigational fluorescent probes for CRC.

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, protects against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury via inhibiting Caspase-8/ASC dependent macrophage pyroptosis.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inevitable adverse event following liver surgery, leading to liver damage and potential organ failure. Despite advancements, effective interventions for hepatic IRI remain elusive, posing a significant clinical challenge. The innate immune response significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of hepatic IRI by promoting an inflammatory cytotoxic cycle. We have reported that blocking GSDMD-induced pyroptosis in innate immunity cells protected hepatic IRI from inflammatory injury. However, the search for effective pyroptosis inhibitors continues. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate whether quercetin, a natural flavonoid, can inhibit GSDMD-induced pyroptosis and mitigate hepatic IRI. METHODS: We established the hepatic IRI murine model and cellular pyroptosis model to evaluate the efficacy of quercetin. RESULTS: Quercetin effectively alleviated hepatic IRI-induced tissue necrosis and inflammation. We found that during hepatic IRI, the cleavage of GSDMD occurred in hepatic macrophages, but not in other non-parenchymal cells. Quercetin inhibited the cleavage of GSDMD in macrophages. Moreover, we found that quercetin blocked the ASC assembly to inhibit the formation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and AIM2 inflammasomes, suppressing macrophage pyroptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that quercetin inhibited the interaction between ASC and Caspase-8, which is the mechanism of ASC complex and inflammasome formation. Overexpression of Caspase-8 abolished the anti-pyroptosis effect of quercetin in NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome signaling. Furthermore, we found that the hepatoprotective activity of quercetin was reduced in myelocytic GSDMD-deficient mice. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that quercetin has beneficial effects on hepatic IRI. Quercetin could attenuate hepatic IRI and target inhibition of macrophage pyroptosis via blocking Caspase-8/ASC interaction. We recommend that quercetin might serve as a targeted approach for the prevention and personalized treatment of hepatic IRI in perioperative patients.