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Exploring the potential mechanisms of acetyl tributyl citrate exposure on osteoarthritis based on novel network toxicology
Research on parameter selection and optimization of C4.5 algorithm based on algorithm applicability knowledge base
A nomogram for predicting the risk of coronary artery disease in premenopausal women with suspected coronary artery disease
Abstract Due to the cardioprotective effects of estrogen, premenopausal women have a relatively lower risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the incidence of CAD in premenopausal women has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a clinical prediction model to estimate the risk of CAD in premenopausal women. This study included premenopausal women who underwent coronary angiography at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2018 to December 2021. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression method was used to identify the optimal variables for predicting the risk of CAD in premenopausal women. A nomogram was then constructed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Finally, the predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), its calibration performance was assessed using calibration curves, and clinical net benefit was evaluated using Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). A total of 222 premenopausal women were ultimately included for analysis, of whom 86 were diagnosed with CAD. Through LASSO and multivariate logistic regression, five predictive variables were finally selected: age, diabetes mellitus (DM), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)). These five variables were used to construct a prediction model, which was presented in the form of a nomogram. The calibration curves of the nomogram showed good fit. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the nomogram was 0.819 (95%CI: 0.760–0.878). Additionally, decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that the nomogram can achieve good net benefit in clinical applications.
Artificial intelligence-assisted identification of condensing osteitis and idiopathic osteosclerosis on panoramic radiographs
Tat-specific antibodies associated with better HIV-associated motor function
Abstract Tat is a transactivator of HIV transcription that can be secreted to affect nearby cells. Deleterious central nervous system effects of extracellular Tat include dopaminergic neuron dysfunction, raising the possibility that Tat secretion may be linked to Parkinsonian motor features seen in people with HIV (PWH). This study examined the potential association of anti-Tat antibodies and extrapyramidal motor dysfunction in PWH. In 42 PWH who were chronically infected and characterized for neurological abnormalities, anti-Tat IgG levels were lower in individuals with more severe extrapyramidal motor abnormalities as measured by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The association was observed specifically with IgG against the cysteine-rich Tat region. However, the IgG responses to Tat were weak in comparison to responses against the other HIV antigens. This disparity was evident in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, and was also seen in early infection, before antiretroviral therapy. When the effects of antibodies on Tat function were evaluated, PWH plasma had no activity against Tat-induced transactivation, while Tat-immunized mouse and rabbit sera exhibited a potent inhibitory activity. These data provide initial evidence for a protective potential of anti-Tat antibodies and raise the possibility that a therapeutic Tat vaccine might alleviate clinical signs of HIV-associated dopaminergic dysfunction.
In Silico discovery of novel androgen receptor inhibitors for prostate cancer therapy using virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations
Evaluating ensemble models for fair and interpretable prediction in higher education using multimodal data
Antimalarial drug resistance and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum in Mozambique using genomic surveillance at health facilities in 2021 and 2022
Abstract Monitoring the emergence and spread of drug-resistant parasites is essential for effective malaria control. Here, we describe the prevalence of genetic markers of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance and parasite population structure in Mozambique. Drug resistance loci and microhaplotypes were genotyped by multiplex targeted amplicon sequencing of 1146 P. falciparum samples collected in 2021 ( n = 321) and 2022 ( n = 825 rainy season, and n = 155 dry season). pfpm2 gene copy number (associated to piperaquine resistance) was assessed using real-time quantitative PCR. No pfk13 markers of partial artemisinin resistance nor pfpm2 duplications were observed. Prevalence of pfdhfr/pfdhps quintuple mutants associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance was high across all regions (> 92.5% in 2021 and > 87.8% in 2022), but pfdhps -A581G mutation was rare (1.6% in 2021 and 0.8% 2022). Both prevalence of mutations in pfdhps -436 ( p < 0.001) and genetic complexity of infections increased from South to North. These results support the continued use of artemisinin-based combination therapies in Mozambique, call for a close monitoring of chemopreventive efficacy based on SP, and confirm the spatial genetic distinction in P. falciparum population observed across the country.
Perihematomal changes in glucose metabolism and cell counts in the rat collagenase model for intracerebral hemorrhage
Research on lower limb lightweight of bionic robot based on lattice structure unit
Abstract This study presents a lightweight design methodology for the lower limbs of bionic robots based on lattice structural units. Firstly, an innovative structure configuration library is created by applying topology optimization, and then the lattice structure is regularized. A specific stiffness standard has been established for evaluating the mechanical properties of the lattice structure. The mechanical properties of 20 lattice structural units under basic conditions, including compression, bending, and torsion, are analyzed. A new method for calculating weights in composite conditions is introduced to aid in selecting suitable lattice structures for complex scenarios. An experimental setup is constructed to verify the mechanical performance of the lattice structures. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is utilized to analyze the loads on individual components and to determine the proportion of each condition in complex scenarios, thereby identifying the optimal lattice structure. Finally, this method is applied to the lightweight design of the lower limbs of a bionic quadruped robot, with experimental validation of its effectiveness. The research findings not only extend the scope of current lightweight design methods but also provide technical support and a data foundation for achieving the goals of high speed, precision, and lightweight in significant equipment development.
Delphinidin upregulates microRNA-let-7b expression through family with sequence similarity 222 member B
High-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT of an adult human chest phantom
Abstract Propagation-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging is a promising technique for in vivo medical imaging, offering lower radiation doses than traditional attenuation-based imaging. Previous studies have focused on X-ray energies below 50keV for small-animal imaging and mammography. Here, we investigate the feasibility of high-energy propagation-based computed tomography for human adult-scale lung imaging at the Australian Synchrotron’s Imaging and Medical Beamline. This facility is uniquely positioned for human lung imaging, offering a large field of view, high X-ray energies, and supporting clinical infrastructure. We imaged an anthropomorphic chest phantom (LungMan) between 50keV and 80keV across the range of possible sample-to-detector distances, with a photon-counting and an integrating detector. Strong phase-contrast fringes were observed with the photon-counting detector, even at high X-ray energies and a large pixel size relative to previous work, whereas the integrating detector with lower spatial resolution showed no clear phase effects. Measured X-ray phase-shifting properties of LungMan aligned well with reference soft tissue values, validating the phantom for phase-contrast studies. Imaging quality assessments suggest an optimal configuration at approximately 70keV and the longest available propagation distance of 7.5m, indicating potential benefit in positioning the patient in an upstream hutch. This study represents the first step towards clinical adult lung imaging at the Australian Synchrotron.
Relationships between hand grip strength and gait parameters measured using a foot-mounted sensor in non-laboratory settings in older women
Abstract Muscle weakness is a significant concern in older women, as it increases the risk of falls and fractures. To develop practical tools for early detection, it is important to understand how hand grip strength relates to gait parameters in non-laboratory settings. This study examined the relationship between hand grip strength and gait characteristics in older women, using a foot-mounted sensor during natural walking. Publicly available data from 55 women aged > 70 years were analyzed. Each woman wore an inertial measurement unit attached to their shoe and completed a 30-min walking task. Hand grip strength was used as a general indicator of muscle strength. The mean and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for 18 gait parameters, including spatiotemporal parameters and foot pitch angles. Hand grip strength showed significant correlations with several mean gait parameters, including the percentage of the stance phase (r = −0.57) and the timing of the minimum foot pitch angle (r = −0.59). While hand grip strength was significantly correlated with the CV of several gait parameters, the strongest r value was −0.34. These findings suggest that mean gait parameters may better reflect hand grip strength than their CV.
Metformin and berberine synergistically improve NAFLD via the AMPK–SREBP1–FASN signaling pathway
infomeasure: a comprehensive Python package for information theory measures and estimators
Abstract Information theory, i.e. the mathematical analysis of information and of its processing, has become a tenet of modern science; yet, its use in real-world studies is usually hindered by its computational complexity, the lack of coherent software frameworks, and, as a consequence, low reproducibility. We here introduce infomeasure, an open-source Python package designed to provide robust tools for calculating a wide variety of information-theoretic measures, including entropies, mutual information, transfer entropy and divergences. It is designed for both discrete and continuous variables; implements state-of-the-art estimation techniques; and allows the calculation of local measure values, p-values and t-scores. By unifying these approaches under one consistent framework, infomeasure aims to mitigate common pitfalls, ensure reproducibility, and simplify the practical implementation of information-theoretic analyses. In this contribution, we explore the motivation and features of infomeasure; its validation, using known analytical solutions; and exemplify its utility in a case study involving the analysis of human brain time series.
Association between perception of stigma and caregiver burden among mothers of children with cleft lip and palate surgeries and the mediating role of psychological resilience
Experimental and theoretical study on flexural rigidity reduction of reinforced concrete eccentric column
CAFs exosomal circFOXO1 promotes TNBC autophagy and radioresistance via miR-27a-3p/BNIP3 axis
Resilience changes and occupational resilience factors among healthcare workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A 2-year prospective cohort study
Abstract Healthcare workers (HCWs) in COVID-19 pandemic hotspots were exposed to heightened workplace stressor load. Structural occupational resilience factors could prevent work-related stressor exposure from translating into mental health problems but remain poorly understood. This study identifies resilience factors actionable at the workplace and examines the impact of prior stressor exposure early in the pandemic on the later development of depressive and general distress symptoms. We prospectively followed a convenience sample of HCWs working in Spain during the pandemic using a 3-wave online survey conducted in 2020 (wave 1, n = 2,422), 2021 (wave 2, n = 1,827), and 2022 (wave 3, n = 538). We operationalised resilience as low stressor reactivity (SR), quantified as individual deviations from the normative relation between stressors exposure and either depressive or distress symptoms. Mental health problems and stressor exposure both decreased over time, whereas stressor reactivity remained stable. Stressor exposure at baseline was inversely associated with resilience at follow-up. The structural occupational factors support from colleagues, trust in the workplace, and perceived ability to recover from stress were prospectively associated with resilience and thus identified as resilience factors. These results show that resilient responses of HCWs in times of crisis could be supported by promoting structural occupational resilience factors and mitigating cumulative stressor exposure. Future research should test this association in studies that allow causal inferences.