Global development

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers globally, with non-small cell lung cancers constituting the majority. These cancers have a high incidence and mortality rate. In recent years, a growing body of research has demonstrated the intricate link between inflammation and cancer, highlighting that inflammation and cancer are inextricably linked and that inflammation plays a pivotal role in cancer development, progression, and prognosis of cancer. The Systemic Immunoinflammatory Index (SII), comprising neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, is a more comprehensive indicator of the host's systemic inflammation and immune status than a single inflammatory index...

There has been a consistent and notable increase in the global prevalence of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Although genetic factors are closely associated with the occurrence and development of melanoma, the potential influence of environmental factors cannot be overlooked. The existing literature lacks a definitive consensus on the correlation between air pollution and the incidence rate of SKCM. This study seeks to investigate the causal relationship between air pollution, specifically focusing on particulate matter (PM) 2...

BACKGROUND: Benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) represent a prevalent clinical challenge globally, with various ultrasound-guided ablation techniques developed for their management. Despite the availability of these methods, a comprehensive evaluation to identify the most effective technique remains absent. This study endeavors to bridge this knowledge gap through a network meta-analysis (NMA), aiming to enhance the understanding of the comparative effectiveness of different ultrasound-guided ablation methods in treating BTNs...

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors globally and often develops on the foundation of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a clinically prevalent chronic progressive liver disease characterized by diffuse liver damage resulting from long-term or repeated actions of 1 or more etiological factors. However, the impact of CENPF and nuclear division cycle 80 (NDC80) genes on rehabilitation nursing of HCC and cirrhosis remains unclear. HCC and cirrhosis datasets GSE63898 and GSE89377 profile files were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database generated on platforms GPL13667 and GPL6947, respectively...

In mammals, males and females show marked differences in immune responses. Males are globally more sensitive to infectious diseases, while females are more susceptible to systemic autoimmunity. X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), the epigenetic mechanism ensuring the silencing of one X in females, may participate in these sex biases. We perturbed the expression of the trigger of XCI, the noncoding RNA Xist , in female mice. This resulted in reactivation of genes on the inactive X, including members of the Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) signaling pathway, in monocyte/macrophages and dendritic and B cells...

Fiber has been considered as an ideal material for virus insulation due to the readily available electrostatic adsorption. However, restricted by the electrostatic attenuation and filtration performance decline, their long-lasting applications are unable to satisfy the requirements of medical protective equipment for major medical and health emergencies such as global epidemics, which results in both a waste of resources and environmental pollution. We overcame these issues by constructing a fiber-in-tube structure, achieving the robust reusability of fibrous membranes...

BACKGROUND: Myocardial work (MW) is a novel echocardiographic modality, which has been shown to have diagnostic and prognostic values in patients with cardiovascular diseases, patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, in particular. However, only a handful of studies have examined the MW analysis in ischemia with nonobstructive coronary artery (INOCA) disease. This study, therefore, aimed to detect the early left ventricular involvement in INOCA patients diagnosed by an invasive coronary angiography performing the MW analysis...

Spending time outdoors is associated with increased time spent in physical activity, lower chronic disease risk, and wellbeing. Many studies rely on self-reported measures, which are prone to recall bias. Other methods rely on features and functions only available in some GPS devices. Thus, a reliable and versatile method to objectively quantify time spent outdoors is needed. This study sought to develop a versatile method to classify indoor and outdoor (I/O) GPS data that can be widely applied using most types of GPS and accelerometer devices...

Myogenesis is regulated mainly by transcription factors known as Myogenic Regulatory Factors (MRFs), and the transcription is affected by epigenetic modifications. However, the epigenetic regulation of myogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we focused on the epigenomic modification enzyme, PHF2, which demethylates histone 3 lysine 9 dimethyl (H3K9me2) during myogenesis. Phf2 mRNA was expressed during myogenesis, and PHF2 was localized in the nuclei of myoblasts and myotubes. We generated Phf2 knockout C2C12 myoblasts using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and analyzed global transcriptional changes via RNA-sequencing...

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues its global spread, the exploration of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies is still needed. The virus enters host cells by binding the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor through the spike protein. Here, we develop an engineered, small, stable, and catalytically inactive version of ACE2, termed miniature ACE2 (mACE2), designed to bind the spike protein with high affinity. Employing a magnetic nanoparticle-based assay, we harnessed the strong binding affinity of mACE2 to develop a sensitive and specific platform for the detection or neutralization of SARS-CoV-2...

The first 1,000 days of human life lay the foundation for brain development and later cognitive growth. However, the developmental rules of the functional connectome during this critical period remain unclear. Using high-resolution, longitudinal, task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 930 scans of 665 infants aged 28 postmenstrual weeks to 3 years, we report the early maturational process of connectome segregation and integration. We show the dominant development of local connections alongside a few global connections, the shift of brain hubs from primary regions to high-order association cortices, the developmental divergence of network segregation and integration along the anterior-posterior axis, the prediction of neurocognitive outcomes, and their associations with gene expression signatures of microstructural development and neuronal metabolic pathways...

In the United States, there are millions of globally displaced children who travel with family to seek immigration relief, many of whom have experienced family separation or live under the constant threat of separation. Family separation constitutes a significant trauma with lifelong impacts on a child's mental health, physical health, and development. This review provides a summary of the various contexts within which family separation occurs as well as the current literature on long-term health sequelae. These include mental illness, externalizing behaviors, developmental challenges, family stability, economic impacts, and educational attainment...

This article examines the influx of migrants to the United States and highlights current global and local immigration trends. The authors focus on migrant children-specifically the effect of migration trauma in the context of humanitarian responses to the intentional movement of migrants to Democrat-led cities across the US to humanize the compounded effects of migration trauma, restrictive immigration policies, and the current resettlement landscape for migrants. The authors are directly involved with supporting migrant arrivals who have relocated to Chicago from the southern border, and apply field knowledge to articulate current barriers to accessing health care and best practices within pediatric settings supporting migrant arrivals...

Antibiotics are designed to effectively treat bacterial infections while minimizing harm to the human body. They work by targeting specific components of bacteria or by disrupting essential processes such as cell wall synthesis, membrane function, protein production, and metabolic pathways. However, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of drug resistance in humans, animals, and agriculture, contributing to the global spread of this problem. Drug resistance can be either innate or acquired, with acquired resistance involving changes in the bacterial chromosomes or transferable elements...

IMPORTANCE: Many epidemiologic studies have suggested that low levels of plasma leptin, a major adipokine, are associated with increased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia and cognitive decline. Nevertheless, the mechanistic pathway linking plasma leptin and AD-related cognitive decline is not yet fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of plasma leptin levels with in vivo AD pathologies, including amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau deposition, through both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches among cognitively unimpaired older adults...

IMPORTANCE: Observational studies often report that anemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are associated with a higher risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there is a temporal association between 72-hour hazard periods of exposure to RBC transfusions and NEC among ELBW infants randomized to either higher or lower hemoglobin transfusion thresholds. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This post hoc secondary analysis of 1690 ELBW infants who survived to postnatal day 10 enrolled in the Transfusion of Prematures (TOP) randomized multicenter trial between December 1, 2012, and April 12, 2017, was performed between June 2021 and July 2023...

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) prevalence has risen globally, with regional variation and sociodemographic disparities affecting diagnosis and intervention. This study examines ASD trends from 1990 to 2018 in California (CA), focusing on sociodemographic factors that may inform policy/interventions. Using CA Department of Public Health birth records (1990-2018) and Developmental Services ASD cases (1994-2022), we analyzed diagnosis incidence by age 4 or 8, stratified by sociodemographic and regional factors...

Global community is increasingly alarmed by resource depletion and environmental pollution. In light of pressing environmental concerns and depletion of finite resources, the surge in fossil fuel usage has sparked twin crises: dwindling fossil fuel reserves and escalating environmental pollution. The current study introduces a novel approach to minimize waste by transforming it into briquettes suitable for large-scale production. Production of briquettes involves multiple stages, including collection, drying, crushing, screening, blending, compacting, and storage...

Climate change due to natural human activity is a significant global phenomenon affecting the sustainability of most countries' livestock industries. Climate change factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, direct and indirect sun radiation, and wind have significant consequences on feed, water, pasture availability, and the re-emergence of diseases in livestock. All these variables have a considerable impact on livestock production and welfare. However, animals' ability to respond and adapt to changes in climate differs within species and breeds...

This study aims to analyze the main risk factors for acute kidney injury in the subgroup of very-low birth weight newborns, using the diagnosing criteria of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) or the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN). A systematic review of the literature was performed on the EMBASE® and PubMed® platforms. Studies that evaluated the risk factors for developing AKI in VLBW newborns were included. For the meta-analysis, we only included the risk factors that were associated with AKI in the univariate analysis of at least two studies...