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Indirect to direct band gap transition and excellent optical properties in novel MoSi2N4-BP bilayer and trilayer vdW heterostructures
Multilevel thresholding of color images using globally informed artificial bee colony algorithm
2D Ruddlesden–Popper X-FPEA2PbI4 perovskites for highly stable PeLED with improved opto-electro-mechanical properties
Mediating role of sleep quality in the relationship between diabetes mellitus and visual function: a cross-sectional study
Exploring the toxicological effects of DOTP exposure on periodontitis by combining molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations
In vivo study of intraoral scanner trueness in partial edentulism
Improving education in perinatal mental health, a participatory qualitative analysis
Effect of endovascular management and anticoagulation alone on acute deep venous thrombosis in patients with inferior vena cava thrombosis
A comparative study of the effectivity of MSC-based, NP-based and combined therapies in an experimental model of NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration
Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent the promising options for retinal therapy and combined therapy with nanoparticles (NPs) could currently provide increased immunoregulatory and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, we tested the effect of silver (Ag)NPs on the properties of MSCs in an experimental model of chronic retinal degeneration. The results showed that simultaneous administration had no effect on the survival of MSCs, but a less effective local regulation of Iba-1 expression compared to MSC- or AgNP-only treated groups was observed. In addition, MSCs applied alone or in combination with AgNPs and sorted from the degenerated retina had increased expression of genes for retinal markers (rhodopsin, S-antigen, recoverin), and for TGF-β and IGF-1. These effects were confirmed also on protein level by increased production of IGF-1 and proportion of rhodopsin+ MSCs. Nevertheless, the increased expression of the gene for GDNF was observed only in the MSCs combined with AgNPs. Regarding the immune response, the application of MSCs with AgNPs triggered increased expression of the IL-6 gene in the CD45 cells separated from the retina. In conclusion, applications of MSCs or AgNPs, as a single therapy, were able to modulate the inflammation. However, the combined applications decreased the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs or AgNPs.
Study of biochar in cementitious materials for developing green concrete composites
Response to therapy with direct antiviral drugs in HCV-infected patients with diabetes
Abstract The clinical and metabolic interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) are well documented. The study aimed to compare HCV-infected patients with and without DM. The analysis included 18,968 patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) between 2015 and 2023, whose data were collected retrospectively. In the study population, 2179 patients (11.5%) were diagnosed with DM. Compared to the non-diabetic population, they were male-dominated (p = 0.003), had a significantly higher proportion of patients aged ≥ 50 years (p < 0.001), and were more burdened with comorbidities (p < 0.001). The most common HCV genotype was 1b with a significantly higher prevalence in the diabetic group (p < 0.001). Liver disease advancement was higher in diabetic patients, with 17.9% advanced fibrosis and 48% cirrhosis compared to 13.2% (p < 0.001) and 21.8% (p < 0.001) in the non-diabetic population. The effectiveness of DAA therapy in patients with DM was significantly lower compared to the population without diabetes, both in intent-to-treat analysis 93.1% vs. 94.6%, p = 0.015, and per-protocol analysis 96.8% vs. 97.7%, p = 0.0128, however, logistic regression analysis did not confirm the role of diabetes as an independent predictor of treatment failure, suggesting that in the absence of other negative prognostic factors, DM alone does not reduce the chances of cure.
Ox-LDL induces a non-inflammatory response enriched for coronary artery disease risk in human endothelial cells
Abstract Oxidised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) is critical in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. While excessive atherogenic lipids in the arterial intima can trigger endothelial dysfunction in advanced lesions, the response of endothelial cells to ox-LDL in the early stages of atherogenesis remains unclear. Here, we conducted a comprehensive, genome-wide multi-omics characterisation of the cellular response to ox-LDL in primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Our results reveal that the exposure of HAECs to ox-LDL leads to pathogenic changes in metabolism, transcriptome and epigenome, but in the absence of a typical inflammatory endothelial phenotype. An integrative analysis implicates the role of AP-1, NFE-2 and CEBP transcription factors in regulating ox-LDL-induced transcription. We further demonstrate that ox-LDL activates endothelial cell migration through the epigenomic rewiring of transcription factor binding. Notably, these ox-LDL-induced dynamic binding sites are enriched for the genetic risk of coronary artery disease, enabling the discovery of the gene-environment interaction of rs62172376 and ox-LDL at the CALCRL / TFPI locus. Collectively, our findings provide an unbiased understanding of the transcriptional regulation in endothelial cells in response to ox-LDL, together with its interaction with the genetic element of coronary artery disease.
Neutrophil-mediated degradation of type III collagen is elevated in inflammatory bowel disease and DSS-induced colitis reflecting early mucosal damage
Knowledge, attitude, and practices of butcher shop workers about foodborne pathogens and safety measures in Addis Ababa city and Burayu town, Ethiopia
Automatic melanoma detection using an optimized five-stream convolutional neural network
Predictors of fatigue improvement in multimodal, multimodal-aerobic and aerobic exercise intervention studies in breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue
Abstract Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common among breast cancer (BC) survivors. In addition to aerobic training, psychoeducation, sleep education/restriction, and mindfulness-based therapies are shown to reduce CRF. This study investigates the predictive effect of hygiogenetic and salutogenetic concepts, such as autonomic regulation (aR), self-regulation (SRS) and internal coherence (ICS) along with sleep quality (PSQI) and quality of life (EORTC QLQ C30, including cognitive, emotional and physical functioning) on the success of CRF therapies. Two studies are analyzed: a pilot (CRF-1) with 36 BC patients and a follow-up study (CRF2) with 126 patients either randomized or assigned to therapy by preference. All parameters were assessed at baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention (T1), and in CRF-2 also six months later (T2), and after four years (T3). Multiple linear regression models were applied. Trait aR and ICS are shown to be significant predictors of CRF when all timepoints of the CRF-2 study are included (βTrait aR = −0.170, df = 70, p < 0.001; βICS = −0.210, df = 70, p < 0.01) as well as when combined with data of the CRF-1 study (βTrait aR = −0.144, df = 101, p = 0.001; βICS = −0.211, df = 101, p < 0.01). Cognitive Function showed a borderline significance only at T3 and when all CRF-2 study time measurements were combined (βCF = −0.073, df = 70, p < 0.05). Using data from two studies with multimodal, aerobic and combined CRF treatments, this study highlights Trait aR and ICS at baseline as long-term predictors of CRF even four years after intervention. A stable autonomic regulation including rest/activity regulation and internal coherence are predictors for therapy response of a multimodal, combination or aerobic treatment in breast cancer survivors with CRF.