The American journal of the medical sciences
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Up to 66% of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute respiratory failure (ARF) develop ICU-acquired weakness, which is diagnosed by muscle strength testing. Muscle power, different from strength, is an important determinant of function that is not a common focus in patients surviving critical illness. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess muscle power in survivors of ARF. ⋯ Muscle power is significantly reduced in survivors of critical illness and associated with deficits in physical function. These preliminary findings may support therapeutic interventions aimed at improving muscle power to potentially increase functional benefit.
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The present study explored the effects of miR-152-mediated targeting of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) on hepatic insulin resistance (HIR) in mice with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Healthy SPF C57BL/6J mice were selected to establish a GDM model. ⋯ miR-152 can inhibit HIR in GDM mice by downregulating the expression of SOCS3.
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Prolonged exposure to mercury can cause membranous nephropathy. Mercury-associated membranous nephropathy (M-MN) and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (I-MN) have similar clinical manifestations, making misdiagnoses likely. We compared the clinicopathological and ultrastructural features of M-MN and I-MN. ⋯ Foot process effacement was less severe in M-MN than in I-MN. In patients with mercury toxic exposure, MN with less severe foot processes effacement suggested mercury could be the cause. Better prognosis in patients with M-MN may be associated with minor podocyte damage.
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This study aimed to explore the associations between the complement factor H (CFH) rs6677604 and clinico-pathological characteristics of lupus nephritis. ⋯ The rs6677604-A genotype in CFH was associated with milder renal pathological features in lupus nephritis, and its protective effect on the pathogenesis of the disease remained to be elucidated.
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We aimed to explore the biomarkers associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) with mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ Dysregulation of the metabolic pathway may play a critical role in AF with MR. Changes in functions related to the extracellular matrix and vitamin D response may also be associated with AF progression in patients with MR. Furthermore, APP, STC2, and SPP1 may serve as potential therapeutic targets of AF.