Int J Med Sci
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Comparative Study
A comparative analysis of Marburg virus-infected bat and human models from public high-throughput sequencing data.
Marburg virus (MARV) disease (MVD) is an uncommon yet serious viral hemorrhagic fever that impacts humans and non-human primates. In humans, infection by the MARV is marked by rapid onset, high transmissibility, and elevated mortality rates, presenting considerable obstacles to the development of vaccines and treatments. Bats, particularly Rousettus aegyptiacus, are suspected to be natural hosts of MARV. ⋯ Our analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that these genes are mainly associated with pathways related to the complement system, innate immune response via interferons (IFNs), Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and Hedgehog signaling, which played crucial roles in MARV infection across both models. Furthermore, we also identified several potential compounds that may be useful against MARV infection. These findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying MARV's pathophysiology and suggest potential strategies for preventing transmission, managing post-infection effects, and developing future vaccines.
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Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health concern, and recent clinical evidence suggests the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to slow CKD progression. This offers alternative strategies for CKD patients, mitigating risks related to polypharmacy and adverse drug reactions. Our self-controlled, prospective study aims to assess the impact of Eefooton (EFT), a TCM-based regimen, on kidney health in stage 3-5 CKD patients. ⋯ EFT decreased IS-induced expression of fibrosis-related proteins (α-smooth muscle actin) without affecting apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase 3). Conclusions: When combined with conventional CKD medications, EFT has shown effectiveness in enhancing kidney function in individuals with stage 3-5 CKD, with no reported safety concerns. The PARP-1 inhibition and anti-fibrosis properties of EFT present potential benefits in the context of CKD.
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Background: A multitude of studies have presented inconsistent outcomes regarding the association between maternal folic acid (FA) and/or multivitamin (MV) supplementation and congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring. This study aimed to estimate supplementation time and CHD based on a prospective China birth cohort study (CBCS). Methods: In the CBCS, 114,670 singleton pregnant women who had pregnancy outcomes until August 2021 and responded to the early pregnancy questionnaire were recruited. ⋯ The pooled RR from the forest plot was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.95-1.01), which is consistent with the findings of this study. Furthermore, the results remained approximately the same in the stratification or sensitivity analyses in different datasets, including performing 1:1 or 1:2 propensity score matching. Conclusions: The present study suggests that FA or MV supplementation before or during early pregnancy may not influence the risk of offspring developing CHD.
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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are both major health burdens worldwide. There is a suspected link between the two conditions, but the nature of the relationship is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of T2DM in patients with HBV, compared to matched non-HBV patients. ⋯ Through multivariate analysis, we identified age, obesity, smoking, and specific HBV-related parameters, such as chronic active disease or evidence of advanced fibrosis at presentation, as independent risk factors for T2DM in HBV patients. Conclusions: This study revealed a higher prevalence of T2DM in HBV patients compared to controls, and identified specific risk factors associated with T2DM in HBV patients. Enhanced screening and management of metabolic risk factors should be considered in this population.
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Background and Objective: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) represents a critical and life-threatening condition requiring urgent surgical intervention, which is often life-saving. However, postoperative acute lung injury (ALI) has emerged as a prominent complication that significantly impacts patient outcomes and prognosis. This study aims to systematically analyze the risk factors associated with the development of severe ALI following ATAAD surgery, providing insights to improve postoperative management strategies. ⋯ ROC curve analysis revealed the diagnostic performance of preoperative OI, BMI, CRP, D-dimer, MHCA time, and CPB duration, with AUC values of 0.715, 0.844, 0.871, 0.955, 0.944, and 0.833, respectively (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative oxygenation index, BMI, CRP, D-dimer levels, MHCA time, and CPB duration are independent risk factors for the development of severe ALI following ATAAD surgery. These findings underscore the importance of preoperative risk assessment and perioperative optimization to mitigate the risk of severe ALI and improve patient outcomes.