Int J Med Sci
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Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is mostly characterized by gastrointestinal tract involvement, however can also be accompanied with cardiac manifestations. QRS prolongation and the presence of QRS fragmentation (fQRS) have been previously evaluated in many chronic inflammatory diseases, as an independent predictor of cardiac events. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the QRS duration and fQRS in patients with IBD. ⋯ Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that QRS prolongation and the presence of fQRS (+) were more common in IBD patients, and associated with longer disease duration. These findings may indicate subclinical cardiac involvement in IBD. Therefore, IBD patients, especially those with long-standing disease, should be followed more closely in terms of cardiac manifestations.
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Background: Metastasis and immunosuppression result in unfavorable prognosis in bladder cancer (BLCA). FGL1 and FGL2 are two members of the fibrinogen-related proteins family, but their potential effects on BLCA remain elusive. Methods: The expression profile of FGL1 and FGL2 in BLCA was analyzed in multiple databases. ⋯ Conclusions: Our research revealed that FGL2 was downregulated in BLCA and was negatively correlated with DNA methylation. High FGL2 expression was confirmed as an independent risk for prognosis. Moreover, FGL2 is a promising indicator for the response to immunotherapy in patients with BLCA.
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Background: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is activated by mechanical stimulation and plays a vital role in distraction osteogenesis (DO), a well-established but lengthy procedure for repairing large bone defects. Both angiogenesis and osteogenesis contribute to bone regeneration during DO. However, the effects of ZINC40099027 (ZN27), a potent FAK activator, on angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and bone regeneration in DO remain unknown. ⋯ The ERK1/2-specific inhibitor PD98059 significantly hindered the effects of ZN27, suggesting the participation of FAK-ERK1/2 signaling in ZN27-enhanced angiogenesis and osteogenesis. As indicated by improved radiological and histological features, ZN27 induced active angiogenesis within the distraction area and accelerated bone regeneration in a rat DO model. Conclusion: Our results show that ZN27 targets FAK-ERK1/2 signaling to stimulate both angiogenesis and osteogenesis, and ZN27 accelerates bone regeneration in DO, suggesting the therapeutic potential of ZN27 for repairing large bone defects in the mechanobiological environment during DO.
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Background and aim: Patients with chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB) with low-level viremia (LLV) are not necessarily at low risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The question of whether CHB patients with LLV require immediate antiviral agent (AVT) or long-term AVT remains controversial. The study aims to investigate the risk of HCC development and the risk factors in CHB patients with LLV and construct a nomogram model predicting the risk of HCC. ⋯ Conclusion: Patients with LLV and MVR are still at risk for developing HCC. The nomogram established for CHB patient with LLV, incorporating identified significant risk factors, serves as an effective tool for predicting HCC-free outcomes. This nomogram model provides valuable information for determining appropriate surveillance strategies and prescribing AVT.
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The Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is an anti-glycemic agent that frequently used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with antioxidant effects. Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecological malignancy that correlates with oxidative stress. The aim in the present study is to survey the potential association between the SGLT2 inhibitor administration and the incidence of EC by the application of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. ⋯ In the subgroup analysis, the correlation between SGLT2 inhibitor administration and lower rate of EC existed in the T2DM individuals with aged under 60. Moreover, the association between SGLT2 inhibitor administration and lower EC incidence only presented in the T2DM population with SGLT2 inhibitor administration under one year (aHR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.45-0.73). In conclusion, the administration of SGLT2 inhibitors correlates to lower incidence of EC in T2DM population.