Elevated TyG index associated with increased prevalence of gallstones in a United States cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the incidence of cholelithiasis. Research approach: In this investigation, a cross-sectional analysis was undertaken utilizing data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years 2017 to 2020. The TyG index served as an independent predictor, while gallstone prevalence was considered the dependent variable of interest. We employed a multivariate logistic regression model to evaluate the interplay between these independent and dependent variables. To assess the presence of potential non-linear associations, sensitivity analysis was executed, utilizing inverse probability weighted validation, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect analysis. In cases where non-linear relationships were observed, likelihood ratios were utilized to pinpoint potential inflection points. Ultimately, subgroup analyses were conducted to identify specific populations demonstrating heightened susceptibility to gallstone prevalence. Results: Encompassing 838 patients who self-reported gallstones, a total of 7,794 participants were included in the analytical cohort. A statistically significant disparity in the TyG index was observed when all individuals were categorized into gallstone patients and non-patients (p < 0.05). Logistic regression findings indicated a positive correlation between the TyG index and gallstone disease prevalence (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.47), with a strengthening association as the TyG index increased (p trend <0.01). The results were corroborated by the use of inverse probability weighting. Additionally, a non-linear connection between the TyG index and gallstone prevalence was identified (log-likelihood ratio p < 0.01), with the optimal inflection point for TyG calculated at 8.96. In subgroup analysis, the positive relationship between the TyG index and gallstone prevalence was notably pronounced among black Americans under the age of 40 and female participants. Conclusion: Alterations in the TyG index may potentially correlate with shifts in the prevalence of gallstones among adult populations in the United States. Elevated TyG index values may coincide with an augmented likelihood of gallstone occurrence.

RNF125­mediated ubiquitination of MCM6 regulates the proliferation of human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs), particularly MCM2-7, are upregulated in various cancers, including HCC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of MCM2-7 in human liver HCC (LIHC) and the regulation of the protein homeostasis of MCM6 by a specific E3 ligase. Bioinformatics analyses demonstrated that MCM2-7 were highly expressed in LIHC compared with corresponding normal tissues at the mRNA and protein levels, and patients with LIHC and high mRNA expression levels of MCM2, MCM3, MCM6 and MCM7 had poor overall survival rates. Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays revealed that the knockdown of MCM2, MCM3, MCM6 or MCM7 in Huh7 and Hep3B HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation. In addition, pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays demonstrated that RNF125 interacts with MCM6 and mediates its ubiquitination. Furthermore, co-transfection experiments indicated that RNF125 promoted the proliferation of HCC cells mainly through MCM6. In summary, the present study suggests that the RNF125-MCM6 axis plays an important role in the regulation of HCC cell proliferation and is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of LIHC.

Deterministic Quantum Light Arrays from Giant Silica-Shelled Quantum Dots.

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for single-photon sources with applications in photonic quantum information technologies. Developing practical photonic quantum devices with colloidal materials, however, requires scalable deterministic placement of stable single QD emitters. In this work, we describe a method to exploit QD size to facilitate deterministic positioning of single QDs into large arrays while maintaining their photostability and single-photon emission properties. CdSe/CdS core/shell QDs were encapsulated in silica to both increase their physical size without perturbing their quantum-confined emission and enhance their photostability. These giant QDs were then precisely positioned into ordered arrays using template-assisted self-assembly with a 75% yield for single QDs. We show that the QDs before and after assembly exhibit antibunching behavior at room temperature and their optical properties are retained after an extended period of time. Together, this bottom-up synthetic approach via silica shelling and the robust template-assisted self-assembly offer a unique strategy to produce scalable quantum photonics platforms using colloidal QDs as single-photon emitters.

[Factors associated with anastomotic leak following anterior resection for rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the related factors of anastomotic leakfollowing anterior resection for the rectal cancer and the association of the preoperative nutritional risk screening 2002(NRS2002) score. METHODS: Clinical data of 396 rectal cancer patients who underwent elective anterior resection from January 2010 to July 2015 at Affiliated Lu'an Hospital of Anhui Medical University were collected. Patient's nutritional risk score on admission was calculated by NRS2002 scoring system according to original medical records. NRS2002 score less than 3 was defined as nutritious risk. Chi-squared test, or Fisher exact test and multivariate logistic regression wereused to analyze the association of the clinical pathological factors and NRS2002 risk factor with anastomotic leak. RESULTS: Of the 396 patients, NRS2002 score≥3, and anastomotic leak occurred in 157(39.6%) and 13(3.3%), respectively. In univariate analysis, different ages, NRS2002 score, preoperative intestinal obstruction, distance from anastomosis to anal vergeand tumor TNM stage were significantly associated with postoperative anastomotic leak(all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative anastomotic leak among patients with NRS2002 score≥3 was significantly higher than those with NRS2002 score<3[6.4%(10/157) vs. 1.3%(3/239), χ(2)=7.806, P=0.005]. Multivariate analysis showed that NRS2002 score≥3(OR=3.988, 95% CI:1.004-15.837, P=0.049), existence of preoperative intestinal obstruction(OR=5.780, 95% CI:1.320 ~ 25.311, P=0.020),distance from anastomosis to anal verge≤5 cm(OR=0.236, 95% CI: 0.071 ~ 0.785, P=0.019) were the independent risk factors of anastomotic leak following anterior resection for the rectal cancer. CONCLUSION: Rectal cancer patients undergoing anterior resection with preoperative NRS2002 score≥3 should receive reasonable perioperative nutritional support to prevent anastomotic leak.