Development and validation of a geriatric depression knowledge scale for older adults with depression.

Poor adherence to antidepressants increases the risk of suicide, while greater mental health awareness promotes seeking appropriate treatment, highlighting the urgent need to assess depression knowledge. This study aimed to develop and assess the psychometrics of a Geriatric Depression Knowledge Scale (GDKS) for older adults with depression. In phase 1, 18 items were generated through an intensive literature review and clinical experiences. Phase 2 involved assessing content and face validities of the GDKS. In phase 3, a cross-sectional study (206 older adults, 100 psychiatric professionals) determined construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. GDKS demonstrated excellent content and face validity. Older participants scored significantly lower than psychiatric professionals, confirming excellent construct validity. Reliability was evident with a Kuder-Richardson formula 20 score of 0.72 and a 4-week test-retest reliability of 0.86 (p < 0.01). The GDKS provides a reliable tool for evaluating geriatric depression knowledge in psychiatric outpatient settings.

Comparative study of Scleromitrion diffusum and Oldenlandia corymbosa: Microscopy, TLC, HPLC, and antioxidant activity.

Quality control of herbal medicines is crucial, especially the role of herbal drug identification. This is essential for preventing the misuse of herbs, which can affect efficacy or cause toxicity. Scleromitrion diffusum is a common herb, yet it is often mistaken for Oldenlandia corymbosa. This study analyzed the morphology, microscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using two markers, asperuloside and scandoside methyl ester, to distinguish between S. diffusum and O. corymbosa with the analysis included 10 samples of S. diffusum and 10 samples of O. corymbosa collected from the Taiwan market. By quantifying the total polyphenols and flavonoids, we investigated the antioxidant activity, including the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging effect, 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) scavenging effect, and reducing power to further elucidate the biological effects of the two herbs. The results of this study revealed notable differences in microscopy and suggested a TLC method for distinguishing between the two herbs in the market. In HPLC, the ratios of asperuloside and scandoside methyl ester differed between the two herbs. S. diffusum contained a higher asperuloside content. In contrast, O. corymbosa contained higher concentrations of scandoside methyl esters. With more total polyphenols and flavonoids in S. diffusum than those in O. corymbosa, the antioxidant activity of S. diffusum was superior to that of O. corymbosa. This study provides a comprehensive understanding for the identification and quality evaluation of S. diffusum in the market. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The study consolidates and clarifies the morphological and microscopic differences between Scleromitrion diffusum and Oldenlandia corymbosa - a common adulterant species of S. diffusum on the Taiwan markets. Using Asperuloside and Scandoside methyl ester as two chemical markers, the study proposes a TLC method for rapidly testing S. diffusum and O. corymbosa on the market. Through HPLC analysis, our results showed that S. diffusum and O. corymbosa had a clear difference in the ratio of two markers, Asperuloside and Scandoside methyl ester: Asperuloside/Scandoside methyl ester in S. diffusum is higher than that in O. corymbosa. Through phytochemicals contents, including total phenols content, flavonoids content, and antioxidant activity, including DPPH, ABTS•+ scavenging activity, and reducing power, S. diffusum showed slightly higher levels of phenols and flavonoids as well as a better antioxidant activity than O. corymbosa.

[Research progress in anti-tumor activity and nano-drug delivery system of piperlongumine].

Piperlongumine(PL), a natural alkaloid extracted from Piperis Longi Fructus, has attracted much attention in recent years because of its strong anti-tumor activity, little toxicity to normal cells, and excellent sensitizing effect combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which endow PL with unique advantages as an anti-tumor drug. However, similar to other alkaloids, PL has low water solubility and poor bioavailability. To improve the application of PL in the clinical treatment of tumors, researchers have constructed various nano-drug delivery systems to increase the efficiency of PL delivery. This paper reviewed the physicochemical properties, anti-tumor mechanism, combined therapies, and nano-drug delivery systems of PL in recent years. The review aimed to provide a reference for further research on the anti-tumor effect and nano-drug delivery system of PL. Moreover, this review is expected to provide a reference for the development and application of PL in the anti-tumor therapies.

Nanofiber-induced hierarchically-porous magnesium phosphate bone cements accelerate bone regeneration by inhibiting Notch signaling.

Magnesium phosphate bone cements (MPC) have been recognized as a viable alternative for bone defect repair due to their high mechanical strength and biodegradability. However, their poor porosity and permeability limit osteogenic cell ingrowth and vascularization, which is critical for bone regeneration. In the current study, we constructed a novel hierarchically-porous magnesium phosphate bone cement by incorporating extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking electrospun silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers. The SF-embedded MPC (SM) exhibited a heterogeneous and hierarchical structure, which effectively facilitated the rapid infiltration of oxygen and nutrients as well as cell ingrowth. Besides, the SF fibers improved the mechanical properties of MPC and neutralized the highly alkaline environment caused by excess magnesium oxide. Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) adhered excellently on SM, as illustrated by formation of more pseudopodia. CCK8 assay showed that SM promoted early proliferation of BMSCs. Our study also verified that SM increased the expression of OPN, RUNX2 and BMP2, suggesting enhanced osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. We screened for osteogenesis-related pathways, including FAK signaing, Wnt signaling and Notch signaling, and found that SM aided in the process of bone regeneration by suppressing the Notch signaling pathway, proved by the downregulation of NICD1, Hes1 and Hey2. In addition, using a bone defect model of rat calvaria, the study revealed that SM exhibited enhanced osteogenesis, bone ingrowth and vascularization compared with MPC alone. No adverse effect was found after implantation of SM in vivo. Overall, our novel SM exhibited promising prospects for the treatment of critical-sized bone defects.

Genetically engineered nanomodulators elicit potent immunity against cancer stem cells by checkpoint blockade and hypoxia relief.

Rapid development of checkpoint inhibitors has provided significant breakthroughs for cancer stem cell (CSC) therapy, while the therapeutic efficacy is restricted by hypoxia-mediated tumor immune evasion, especially hypoxia-induced CD47 overexpression in CSCs. Herein, we developed a genetically engineered CSC membrane-coated hollow manganese dioxide (hMnO2@gCMs) to elicit robust antitumor immunity by blocking CD47 and alleviating hypoxia to ultimately achieve the eradication of CSCs. The hMnO2 core effectively alleviated tumor hypoxia by inducing decomposition of tumor endogenous H2O2, thus suppressing the CSCs and reducing the expression of CD47. Cooperating with hypoxia relief-induced downregulation of CD47, the overexpressed SIRPα on gCM shell efficiently blocked the CD47-SIRPα "don't eat me" pathway, synergistically eliciting robust antitumor-mediated immune responses. In a B16F10-CSC bearing melanoma mouse model, the hMnO2@gCMs showed an enhanced therapeutic effect in eradicating CSCs and inhibiting tumor growth. Our work presents a simple, safe, and robust platform for CSC eradication and cancer immunotherapy.

Effects of temporal changes in resting heart rate on future diabetes-related outcomes.

Background and aims: Most studies have analyzed the relationship between resting heart rate (RHR) measured at only one time point and future clinical events. The current study aims to investigate the impact of long-term RHR changes on future clinical outcomes in a decade-long cohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The two-staged follow-up involved 2,513 T2DM participants. The first stage (2008-2014) intended to identify levels and trends in RHR changes, while the second stage (2014-2018) attempted to collect new occurrence records of clinical results. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to predict hazard ratios (HRs), along with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the correlation between RHR changes and future events. Results: There is no significant correlation between baseline RHR levels and long-term clinical events. According to the range of RHR change, compared with the stable RHR group, the adjusted HRs for cardiovascular events and all-cause death in the large increase group were 3.40 (95% CI: 1.33-8.71, p=0.010) and 3.22 (95% CI: 1.07-9.64, p=0.037), respectively. While the adjusted HRs for all-cause death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in the moderate decrease group were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.31-0.96, p=0.037) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.26-0.98, p=0.046). According to the trend of RHR, compared with the normal-normal group, the adjusted HRs for composite endpoint events and cerebrovascular events in the normal-high group were 1.64 (95% CI: 1.00-2.68, p=0.047) and 2.82 (95% CI: 1.03-7.76, p=0.043), respectively. Conclusion: Changes in RHR had predictive value for long-term clinical events in diabetic populations. Individuals with significantly elevated RHR over a particular period of time showed an increased risk of adverse events.

Reliability and validity tests of the Chinese version of the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) in tumor survivors.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese-translated Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) for the assessment of locomotive syndrome (LS) in individuals surviving malignancies. Methods: 393 tumor survivors at a general hospital in China were recruited. The Chinese version of GLFS-25 was utilized to conduct a cross-sectional survey to ascertain the tool's efficacy in measuring LS in this cohort. The scale's validity was examined through content, structural and discriminant validity assessments, while its reliability was investigated by determining the internal consistency (via Cronbach's α coefficient) and test-retest reliability (via intragroup correlation coefficient, ICC). Results: The Chinese-adapted GLFS-25 demonstrated a robust scale-level content validity index of 0.94, while item-level content validity indices ranged from 0.83 to 1.00 across individual items. The suitability of the scale for structural validity assessment was confirmed via exploratory factor analysis, yielding a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of 0.930 and a significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (χ2 = 3217.714, df = 300, P < 0.001). Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) extracted four distinct factors: Social Activity Engagement, Daily Living Ability, Pain Experience and Physical Mobility. These factors accounted for 72.668 % of the variance, indicating substantial construct validity for measuring LS among this population. CFA supported the model's fit with the following indices: χ2/df = 1.559, RMSEA = 0.077, GFI = 0.924, CFI = 0.941, NFI = 0.919, and TLI = 0.933. The factor loadings for the four factors ranged from 0.771 to 0.931, indicating the items corresponding to the four factors effectively represented the constructs they were designed to measure. The correlation coefficients among the four factors were between 0.306 and 0.469, all lower than the square roots of the respective AVEs (0.838-0.867). This suggests a moderate correlation among the four factors and a distinct differentiation between them, indicating the Chinese version of the GLFS-25 exhibits strong discriminant validity in Chinese tumor survivors. Reliability testing revealed a high Cronbach's α coefficient for the overall scale at 0.961, with the subscales yielding coefficients of 0.751, 0.836, 0.930, and 0.952. The overall ICC was determined to be 0.935, with subscale ICCs ranging from 0.857 to 0.941, reinforcing the scale's reliability in this context. Conclusions: The Chinese version of the GLFS-25 exhibits strong reliability and validity for the assessment of LS in tumor survivors. It may serve as a diagnostic tool for LS, contributing to the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders and enhancing the prognosis for this patient population.

Integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to elucidate the crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma with spleen-deficiency syndrome.

Background and aim: Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China have been diagnosed with spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS), which accelerates the progression of HCC by disrupting the tumor microenvironment homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the intercellular crosstalk in HCC with SDS. Experimental procedure: An HCC-SDS mouse model was established using orthotopic HCC transplantation based on reserpine-induced SDS. Single-cell data analysis and cancer cell prediction were conducted using Seurat and CopyKAT package, respectively. Intercellular interactions were explored using CellPhoneDB and CellChat and subsequently validated using co-culture assays, ELISA and histological staining. We performed pathway activity analysis using gene set variation analysis and the Seurat package. The extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling was assessed using a gel contraction assay, atomic force microscopy, and Sirius red staining. The deconvolution of the spatial transcriptomics data using the "CARD" package based on single-cell data. Results and conclusion: We successfully established the HCC-SDS mouse model. Twenty-nine clusters were identified. The interactions between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were significantly enhanced via platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling in HCC-SDS. CAFs recruited in HCC-SDS lead to ECM remodeling and the activation of TGF-ß signaling pathway. Deconvolution of the spatial transcriptome data revealed that CAFs physically surround cancer cells in HCC-SDS. This study reveals that the crosstalk of CAFs-cancer cells is crucial for the tumor-promoting effect of SDS. CAFs recruited by HCC via PDGFA may lead to ECM remodeling through activation of the TGF-ß pathway, thereby forming a physical barrier to block immune cell infiltration under SDS.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for quality control of rhubarb in Taiwan's markets.

Introduction: Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to release heat and has cathartic effects. Official rhubarb in Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopeias 4th edition (THP 4th) and China Pharmacopeia 2020 (CP 2020) are the roots and rhizomes of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf., and Rheum officinale Baill. However, the Rheum genus is a large genus with many different species, and owing to the similarity in appearance and taste with official rhubarb, there needs to be more clarity in the distinction between the species of rhubarb and their applications. Given the time-consuming and complicated extraction and chromatography methods outlined in pharmacopeias, we improved the qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis methods for rhubarb in the market. Hence, we applied our method to identify the species and quality of official and unofficial rhubarb. Method: We analyzed 21 rhubarb samples from the Taiwanese market using a proposed HPLC-based extraction and qualitative analysis employing eight markers: aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, rhapontigenin, rhaponticin, and resveratrol. Additionally, we developed a TLC method for the analysis of rhubarb. KEGG pathway analysis was used to clarify the phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge of official and unofficial rhubarb. Results: Rhein and rhapontigenin emerged as key markers to differentiate official and unofficial rhubarb. Rhapontigenin is abundant in unofficial rhubarb; however, rhein content was low. In contrast, their contents in official rhubarb were opposite to their contents in unofficial rhubarb. The TLC analysis used rhein and rhapontigenin to identify rhubarb in Taiwan's markets, whereas the KEGG pathway analysis revealed that anthraquinones and stilbenes affected different pathways. Discussion: Eight reference standards were used in this study to propose a quality control method for rhubarb in Taiwanese markets. We propose a rapid extraction method and quantitative analysis of rhubarb to differentiate between official and unofficial rhubarb.

Dimerization and antidepressant recognition at noradrenaline transporter.

The noradrenaline transporter has a pivotal role in regulating neurotransmitter balance and is crucial for normal physiology and neurobiology1. Dysfunction of noradrenaline transporter has been implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric diseases, including depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder2. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of noradrenaline transporter in apo and substrate-bound forms, and as complexes with six antidepressants. The structures reveal a noradrenaline transporter dimer interface that is mediated predominantly by cholesterol and lipid molecules. The substrate noradrenaline binds deep in the central binding pocket, and its amine group interacts with a conserved aspartate residue. Our structures also provide insight into antidepressant recognition and monoamine transporter selectivity. Together, these findings advance our understanding of noradrenaline transporter regulation and inhibition, and provide templates for designing improved antidepressants to treat neuropsychiatric disorders.

A Child With Concomitant Neuroblastoma and IgA Nephropathy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Concurrent malignancy and IgA nephropathy are rare. Despite the lack of solid experimental evidence, there are theoretical hypotheses of pathophysiology for the development of glomerular damage in cancer patients, like aberrant immune activities. Here, we describe a nine-year-old child who was admitted due to nephrotic syndrome. Abdominal imaging examination accidentally revealed a retroperitoneal tumor, and surgical resection was performed with a pathological diagnosis of neuroblastoma. However, complete removal of the tumor had no impact on the clinical manifestation of nephrotic syndrome, like proteinuria. The use of corticosteroids alone only led to a partial resolution of proteinuria, and resistance developed after one month of treatment. A further kidney biopsy was performed, which suggested IgA nephropathy. Clinical remission of IgA nephropathy was achieved after standard combination treatment of corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil for 10 months. This study represented the first case report of neuroblastoma associated with IgA nephropathy. We postulated that IgA nephropathy pathogenesis might be associated with neuroblastoma, though a coincidence of these two conditions cannot be fully excluded. Standard treatment for IgA nephropathy is applicable for patients with concomitant cancer.

Knowledge and attitude of spouses of puerperas towards breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of knowledge about breastfeeding and attitudes towards infant feeding among spouses of puerperas at the time of discharge from hospital, and explore the factors influencing spousal attitudes toward breastfeeding. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey among 204 spouses of puerperas who were admitted in the maternity wards at a tertiary hospital in Shaanxi Province between October 2021 and December 2021. Respondents who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were identified using convenient sampling. RESULTS: (1) The score of breastfeeding knowledge among spouses prior to discharge from the hospital was (10.56 ± 3.78), with an accuracy rate of 59.6%, and the lowest accuracy rate was for Item 1 "Newborns should be fed on time, not on demand" (42.6%) and Item 5 "Breastfeeding can prevent infant rickets" (49.5%). (2) The average score of spouses' infant feeding attitudes was (58.15 ± 5.55), and the lowest scoring was for Item 17 "Daily urine volume of infants is a reliable indicator to judge whether they get enough breast milk" (1.99 ± 1.14). (3) Generalized linear model analysis showed a more positive attitude (higher score) among spousal attitudes towards infant feeding in those who had received breastfeeding education [OR = 4.588, 95% CI (0.160 ∼ 3.598)] and those with a master's degree or above [OR = 18.278, 95% CI (3.471 ∼ 9.346)]. CONCLUSION: (1) Spouses that received breastfeeding education and those that had a Masters Degree and above had more positive attitude towards infant feeding. (2) Medical staff should focus on puerperas'spouses with degrees below master's level who had not received breastfeeding education. We recommend using a variety of education methods to enable them to acquire more knowledge on breastfeeding and develop a more positive attitude towards breastfeeding, which will further enhance spousal support for breastfeeding, thus positivizing postpartum co-parenting attitudes and improving the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 Composite for Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction of Pyrethroid Pesticides in Vegetables.

Pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) have found widespread application in agriculture for the protection of fruit and vegetable crops. Nonetheless, excessive usage or improper application may allow the residues to exceed the safe limits and pose a threat to consumer safety. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop efficient technologies for the elimination or trace detection of PYRs from vegetables. Here, a simple and efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) strategy was developed for the simultaneous purification and enrichment of five PYRs in vegetables, employing the magnetic covalent organic framework nanomaterial COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 as an adsorbent. COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was prepared by a straightforward solvothermal method, using Fe3O4 as a magnetic core and benzidine and 3,3,5,5-tetraaldehyde biphenyl as the two building units. COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 could effectively capture the targeted PYRs by virtue of its abundant π-electron system and hydroxyl groups. The impact of various experimental parameters on the extraction efficiency was investigated to optimize the MSPE conditions, including the adsorbent amount, extraction time, elution solvent type and elution time. Subsequently, method validation was conducted under the optimal conditions in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Within the range of 5.00-100 µg·kg-1 (1.00-100 µg·kg-1 for bifenthrin and 2.5-100 µg·kg-1 for fenpropathrin), the five PYRs exhibited a strong linear relationship, with determination coefficients ranging from 0.9990 to 0.9997. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.3-1.5 µg·kg-1, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.9-4.5 µg·kg-1. The recoveries were 80.2-116.7% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 7.0%. Finally, COF-SiO2@Fe3O4, NH2-SiO2@Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 were compared as MSPE adsorbents for PYRs. The results indicated that COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was an efficient and rapid selective adsorbent for PYRs. This method holds promise for the determination of PYRs in real samples.

Development of erythrina-based PARP-1/FTase dual-target inhibitors against lung cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vivo and in vitro.

A novel series of erythrina derivatives as PARP-1/FTase inhibitors were synthesized, and evaluated for their biological activities. Compound T9 had excellent inhibitory effects on cell viability (A549: IC50 = 1.74 µM; A549/5-Fu: IC50 = 1.03 µM) and in vitro enzyme activities (PARP-1: IC50 = 0.40 µM; FTase: IC50 = 0.067 µM). Molecular docking and point mutation assays demonstrated the interaction of compound T9 with key amino acid residues. The compound T9 exhibited potent anti-proliferation and anti-migration capabilities against A549 and A549/5-Fu cells. PCR array and western blot results showed that compound T9 could effectively inhibit EMT-related proteins in A549 and A549/5-Fu cells, thereby inhibiting the development of lung cancer. Importantly, compound T9 could significantly inhibit tumor growth in the A549 xenograft tumor model (TGI = 65.3 %). In conclusion, this study was the first presentation of the concept of dual-target inhibitors of the PARP-1/FTase enzymes. It also provides the basis for further research and development of novel PARP-1/FTase inhibitors.

The Reduction of PSMB4 in T24 and J82 Bladder Cancer Cells Inhibits the Angiogenesis and Migration of Endothelial Cells.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a malignant tumor of the urinary system with high mortality and recurrence rates. Proteasome subunit type 4 (PSMB4) is highly expressed and has been identified as having oncogenic properties in a variety of cancer types. This study aimed to explore the effect of PSMB4 knockdown on the survival, migration, and angiogenesis of human bladder cancer cells with different degrees of malignancy. We analyzed the effects of PSMB4 knockdown in bladder cancer cells and endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment. PSMB4 was highly expressed in patients with low- and high-grade urothelial carcinoma. Inhibition of PSMB4 reduced protein expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and myosin light chain (MLC), leading to reduced migration. Furthermore, the suppression of PSMB4 decreased the levels of vascular endothelial factor B (VEGF-B), resulting in lower angiogenic abilities in human bladder cancer cells. PSMB4 inhibition affected the migratory ability of HUVECs and reduced VEGFR2 expression, consequently downregulating angiogenesis. In the metastatic animal model, PSMB4 knockdown reduced the relative volumes of lung tumors. Our findings suggest the role of PSMB4 as a potential target for therapeutic strategies against human bladder cancer.

Comparison of myopic control between orthokeratology contact lenses and defocus incorporated multiple segments spectacle lenses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in myopic control effects between orthokeratology (OK) contact lenses and defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included patients who had received OK lens, DIMS spectacle lens or single-vision spectacle treatments. A total of 54 eyes from 27 individuals, 38 eyes from 19 individuals and 42 eyes from 21 individuals were enrolled into the OK lens, DIMS and control groups, respectively. The primary outcomes were the changes in the spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AXL) among the groups. A repeated-measure ANCOVA was adopted to calculate the SER progression and AXL elongation of the OK lens group compared with the DIMS group. Results: The difference in the SER progression was clinically non-significant in the OK lens group compared with the DIMS and control groups (P = 0.001). The total AXL elongation results were similar between the OK lens and DIMS groups, but these were lower than in the control group (P = 0.005). The repeated-measure ANCOVA revealed that the SER progression difference during the study interval was clinically non-significant in the OK lens group when compared with the DIMS group (P = 0.028). The AXL elongation results between the OK lens and DIMS populations did not illustrate a significant difference (P = 0.607). In a subgroup analysis of moderate astigmatism, better AXL control was observed in the DIMS subgroup compared with the OK lens subgroup (P = 0.016). Conclusions: The OK lens demonstrated a clinically non-significant effect on the SER and AXL controls compared with the DIMS spectacle lens.

Autologous PRP therapy for thin endometrium: A self-controlled case series study across menstrual cycles.

OBJECTIVES: Thin endometrium (TE) compromises endometrial receptivity, often leading to implantation failure and lower clinical pregnancy rates. As autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) emerges as a potential remedy, the present study focused on its therapeutic effects on TE in infertile women who underwent frozen embryo transfer. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with TE who underwent frozen embryo transfer treatment in our hospital were included. To diminish individual variability, a self-controlled series approach was used. Two menstrual study cycles were arranged for each participant before the actual embryo transfer cycle; PRP treatment was conducted in the second cycle. Key metrics analyzed included endometrial thickness and the expression of specific endometrial biomarkers including HOXA-10, Ki67, and αvß3 integrin. Transvaginal ultrasound was employed to measure endometrial thickness on Days 11 and 14, and an endometrial biopsy was conducted on progesterone Day 5 of the first two cycles. Pregnancy outcomes were observed after the embryo transfer cycle. RESULTS: PRP treatment significantly increased the median endometrial thickness, from 5.8 mm to 6.5 mm (P = 0.0066). Additionally, PRP treatment resulted in a statistically significant increase in the H-score for all endometrial markers. Importantly, during the subsequent embryo transfer cycle with PRP treatment, two patients successfully achieved pregnancies, both culminating in live births. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the potential of PRP in improving endometrial conditions, especially for individuals grappling with thin endometrium issues, as underscored by this self-comparison methodology.

A review on micro- and nanoplastics in humans: Implication for their translocation of barriers and potential health effects.

As emerging contaminants, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) can absorb and leach various toxic chemicals and ultimately endanger the health of the ecological environment and humans. With extensive research on MNPs, knowledge about MNPs in humans, especially their translocation of barriers and potential health effects, is of utmost importance. In this review, we collected literature published from 2000 to 2023, focusing on MNPs on their occurrence in humans, penetrating characteristics in the placental, blood-brain, and blood-testis barriers, and exposure effects on mammalian health. The characteristics and distributions of MNPs in human samples were analyzed, and the results demonstrated that MNPs were ubiquitous in most human samples, except for kidneys and cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, the phenomenon of MNPs crossing barriers and their underlying mechanisms were discussed. We also summarized the potential factors that may affect the barrier crossing and health effects of MNPs, including characteristics of MNPs, exposure doses, administration routes, exposure durations, co-exposure to other pollutants, and genetic predisposition. Exposure to MNPs may cause cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and developmental and reproductive toxicity in mammals. People are encouraged to reduce their exposure to MNPs to prevent these adverse health effects. Finally, we discussed the shortcomings of current research on MNPs in humans, providing a valuable reference for understanding and evaluating the potential health risks from MNP exposure in mammals, including humans.

Acacetin inhibits activation of microglia to improve neuroinflammation after subarachnoid hemorrhage through the PERK signaling pathway mediated autophagy.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of acacetin on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and its possible mechanism. METHODS: SAH model of rat was established, and intraperitoneally injected with three doses of acacetin. To verify the role of PERK pathway, we used the CCT020312 (PERK inhibitor) and Tunicamycin (activators of endoplasmic reticulum stress). The SAH score, neurological function score, brain edema content, and Evans blue (EB) exudate were evaluated. Western blot was used to determine the expression of inflammation-associated proteins and PERK pathway. The activation of microglia was also determined through Iba-1 detection. TEM and immunofluorescence staining of LC3B were performed to observe the autophagy degree of SAH rats after acacetin. Tunel/NeuN staining, HE and Nissl' staining were performed for neuronal damage. RESULTS: Acacetin increased the neurological function score, reduce brain water content, Evans blue exudation and SAH scores. The microglia in cerebral cortex were activated after SAH, while acacetin could inhibit its activation, and decreased the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 proteins. The pathological staining showed the severe neuronal damage and increased neuronal apoptosis after SAH, while acacetin could improve these pathological changes. We also visualized the alleviated autophagy after acacetin. The expression of Beclin1 and ATF4 proteins were increased, but acacetin could inhibit them. Acacetin also inactivated PERK pathway, which could improve the neuronal injury and neuroinflammation after SAH, inhibit the microglia activation and the overactivated autophagy through PERK pathway. CONCLUSION: Acacetin may alleviate neuroinflammation and neuronal damage through PERK pathway, thus having the protective effect on EBI after SAH.