Int J Med Sci
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Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes characterized by an inflammatory response. The H19 gene plays a role in regulating inflammation and is associated with chronic systemic inflammation. This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the H19 gene and the development of DR. ⋯ Additionally, diabetic individuals with the H19 SNP rs3741219 AG+GG genotype also showed significantly higher serum creatinine (p = 0.034), lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p = 0.013), higher total cholesterol/HDL ratio (p = 0.031), and higher triglycerides (p = 0.012). In an age-based subgroup analysis, GFR was significantly lower in diabetic patients with an onset of diabetes before 45 years and with the H19 SNP rs3741219 AG+GG genotype (p = 0.012). In conclusion, the presence of the H19 SNP rs3741219 variant is associated with a higher risk of DR in individuals with early-onset diabetes, and the relationship between the rs3741219 variant and decreased GFR is particularly pronounced in this population.
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Background: Carotene exists naturally in a complex mixture consisting of alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ)-isoforms. Previous studies investigated the effects of individual carotene isomers on bone rather than their actions in a mixture. Purpose: This study explored the bone-protective properties of palm carotene mixture using both two- and three-dimensional co-culture systems. ⋯ Palm carotene mixture also increased bone volume and osteoblast number in the three-dimensional co-culture system. Conclusion: Palm carotene mixture potentially exhibits beneficial effects on bone by accelerating osteoblast proliferation and suppressing osteoclast maturation. The findings of current study serve as the basis for the further validation through animal experiments and human trials.
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Background: Olfactory and gustatory disturbances are commonly overlooked symptoms but may be linked to various health conditions, including cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that these sensory impairments could be early indicators of lung cancer, particularly in individuals with sleep disorders, a group already at elevated cancer risk due to factors like circadian disruption and hormonal changes. Objective: To evaluate whether olfactory and gustatory disturbances can serve as early markers for lung cancer in patients with sleep disorders. ⋯ COVID-19 infection did not have a significant impact on lung cancer risk in this population. Conclusion: Olfactory and gustatory disturbances may serve as early markers for lung cancer, particularly in older patients and males with sleep disorders. These findings suggest the potential for using sensory impairments in early cancer detection strategies.
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Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the involvement of macrophage ferroptosis in chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) and determine if blocking JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis could alleviate CAP by regulating macrophage ferroptosis. Materials and Methods: Firstly, the in vitro models of apical periodontitis (AP) and in vivo models of CAP, including clinical specimens and rats' periapical lesions, were utilized to investigate the role of macrophage ferroptosis in CAP by detecting the ferroptosis related factors. The activation of the JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis was observed in CAP in vivo models. ⋯ Conclusions: The occurrence of ferroptosis in macrophages contributes to the development of CAP. Targeting the JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis is an effective therapeutic strategy to rescue the periapical lesions from inflammation due to its anti-macrophage ferroptosis function. Consequently, the current study provides support for further investigation on the JNK/JUN/NCOA4 axis as a targeted signaling pathway for CAP treatment.
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This study investigates the role of Fundc1 in cardiac protection under high-altitude hypoxic conditions and elucidates its underlying molecular mechanisms. Using cardiomyocyte-specific Fundc1 knockout (Fundc1CKO ) mice, we demonstrated that Fundc1 deficiency exacerbates cardiac dysfunction under simulated high-altitude hypoxia, manifesting as impaired systolic and diastolic function. Mechanistically, we identified that Fundc1 regulates cardiac function through the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mito-UPR) pathway. ⋯ We identified ATF5 as a key downstream effector of Fundc1, as ATF5 overexpression effectively reversed cardiac dysfunction and restored mito-UPR-related gene expression in Fundc1-deficient hearts. Additionally, we discovered that Fundc1-mediated cardioprotection involves regulation of mitophagy, where its activation improved cardiac function and mitochondrial homeostasis in Fundc1-deficient mice. Our findings reveal a novel Fundc1-ATF5-mito-UPR axis in cardioprotection against high-altitude hypoxia and highlight the crucial role of mitophagy in this protective mechanism, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for high-altitude heart disease.