Int J Med Sci
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Background Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that most frequently affects the extraocular muscles (EOMs), which causes symptoms such as ptosis and restricted eye movement. The EOMs in MG patients are representative of autoimmune inflammatory changes in muscle tissue. Currently, there is no reliable, and sensitive imaging technique for monitoring EOM changes to assist in the evaluation of underlying pathological changes. ⋯ Combined MTR and T2-mapping values effectively distinguished between MG patients and healthy controls, and between different severities of EOM involvement, with a superior diagnostic accuracy compared with each parameter alone. Conclusion The combination of MTI and T2-mapping MRI techniques can provide key insight into the pathological changes in EOMs in MG patients. This approach enhances early diagnosis and treatment planning, and therefore may improve clinical outcomes.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, chronic and progressively worsening lung disease that poses a significant threat to patient prognosis, with a mortality rate exceeding that of some common malignancies. Effective methods for early diagnosis and treatment remain for this condition are elusive. ⋯ Furthermore, we mapped out the immune landscape of IPF, which revealed potential roles for novel kinase 1 and CD8+T cells in disease progression and outcome. These findings can aid the development of new strategies for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IPF.
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Background: Alterations in circulating CCL4 levels have been implicated in coronary artery disease (CAD), but the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: This study aims to analyse the role of CCL4 and its receptor (CCR5) in CAD using Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis, bulk RNA and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Methods: The MR analysis was used to determine the causal relationship between 91 circulating inflammatory proteins and CAD. ⋯ Clinical specimens confirmed high levels of serum CCL4 expression in CAD patients by ELISA. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that CCL4 was primarily enriched in the cytokines and cytokine receptors, viral proteins with cytokines and cytokine receptors, and chemokine signaling pathways. Conclusion: Our study presented a genetic insight into the pathogenetic role of CCL4-CCR5 in CAD, which may provide new insights for further mechanistic and clinical investigations of inflammatory cytokine-mediated CAD.
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Background: The exposure of the human skin to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) results in adverse health outcomes, such as skin aging, wrinkle formation, pigment spots, and atopic dermatitis. It has previously been shown that rosmarinic acid (RA) can protect keratinocytes from ultraviolet B radiation by enhancing cellular antioxidant systems and reducing oxidative damage; however, its protective action against the adverse effects of PM2.5 on skin cells remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we explored the mechanism underlying the protective effects of RA against PM2.5-mediated oxidative stress in HaCaT keratinocytes. ⋯ It also significantly attenuated PM2.5-induced apoptosis by downregulating Bcl-2-associated X, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels, while upregulating B-cell lymphoma 2 protein level. Further, our results indicated that PM2.5-induced apoptosis was associated with the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and that MAPK inhibitors as well as RA exhibited protective effects against PM2.5-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: RA protected HaCaT cells from PM2.5-induced apoptosis by lowering oxidative stress.
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Introduction: Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal disorder influenced by age, hormonal changes, medication use, nutrition, and genetics. The relationship between MTHFR and osteoporosis remains unclear, especially in Asians. The aim of our study was to elucidate the impact of MTHFR on osteoporosis and fracture risk. ⋯ Conclusion: Our study revealed a notable increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis among individuals carrying the MTHFR rs1801133 variant. Nevertheless, these individuals did not exhibit a heightened risk of major or hip fractures compared to non-carriers. Our findings could be of value in raising awareness of the increased risk of osteoporosis among individuals with this genetic variant.