Birth weight is a critical determinant of neonatal morbidity, mortality, and long-term health outcomes. In low-resource settings, where access to reliable weighing equipment may be limited, simple anthropometric measurements can serve as practical proxies for identifying low birth weight (LBW) neonates. This hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted at Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital from November 2022 to December 2023, aimed to evaluate the usefulness of head circumference, chest circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) in predicting LBW. A total of 261 newborns delivered via normal vaginal delivery or cesarean section without gross anomalies were enrolled. Birth weight, chest circumference, and MUAC were measured within 24 hours of birth, while head circumference was recorded after 24 hours using standard techniques. Of the total, 58% were male and 42% female. The mean birth weight was 3004 ± 560.33 g. Mean head circumference, chest circumference, and MUAC were 33.85 ± 1.48 cm, 31.00 ± 1.76 cm, and 9.88 ± 0.80 cm, respectively. Statistical analysis using SPSS 21.0 revealed strong positive correlations between birth weight and both head circumference (R = 0.831) and chest circumference (R = 0.822), and a moderate correlation with MUAC (R = 0.653), all with P < .001. These findings suggest that head circumference and chest circumference, followed by MUAC, are reliable predictors of birth weight. Incorporating these simple, low-cost measurements into routine neonatal assessments can facilitate early identification and management of LBW infants in resource-limited settings.

Thyroid cancer (THCA) patients may be affected by circadian rhythm disorder (CRD). Since melatonin (MT) has both antitumor and regulatory effects on CRD, this study aimed to evaluate the functional role and potential mechanism of action of MT as a therapeutic agent against THCA and regulation of CRD. The intersection between differentially expressed genes of THCA and circadian rhythm-related genes (CRGs) was identified and hub genes were further screened to construct a prognostic model. The relationship between the expression of THCA/CRGs and immune infiltration was evaluated in the low-risk and high-risk groups. The molecular targets of MT acting on THCA/CRGs were screened and topological analysis was performed. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified 3 core genes, COL18A1, DPP4, and APOE, to construct the prognostic model. The clinical information analysis and immunohistochemical analysis of core genes showed that in THCA, COL18A1 was downregulated (P < .05), while DPP4 and APOE were upregulated (P < .05). Subgroup analysis showed that COL18A1, DPP4, and APOE may be associated with different factors in different subgroups. The results of immune infiltration analysis showed that compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group had higher stromal score (P < .001), lower immune score (P < .001), and ESTIMATE score (P < .001). Additionally, the expression of THCA/CRGs was closely associated with the infiltration of various immune cells. A total of 25 molecular targets of MT against THCA/CRD were identified by online databases. Topological analysis identified 6 molecular targets with the best performance, including LGALS3, MMP9, CTSB, DPP4, PPARG, and ALB, with binding energy <−5 kcal/mol for molecular docking with MT. The prediction model constructed in this study shows good diagnostic and prognostic performance. In addition, this study revealed the pharmacological targets of MT against THCA/CRD, providing a potential theoretical basis for exploring new clinical treatment options.

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is considered the gold standard for the subtyping diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA), which is essential for preventing adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Nevertheless, the AVS procedure might induce anxiety in patients with PA because of discomfort and the uncertainty of the outcome. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of psycho-cardiology care in alleviating anxiety and stress, as well as enhancing sleep quality and satisfaction with care in patients undergoing AVS. A total of 516 patients who desired to undergo AVS were randomized into either the usual care group (n = 258) or the psycho-cardiology care group (n = 258). Usual care was defined as conventional cardiovascular care management, whereas psycho-cardiology care comprised conventional care and adjuvant psychotherapy. The effectiveness of psycho-cardiology care was assessed on the basis of various outcomes, including anxiety, stress, sleep quality, and patient satisfaction with care. Compared with those in the usual care group, the scores for anxiety, stress, and sleep quality in the psycho-cardiology care group were significantly lower. The plasma cortisol levels during the perioperative AVS period were also lower in the psycho-cardiology care group than in the usual care group. Furthermore, patients who received psycho-cardiology care demonstrated dramatic increases in satisfaction scores after AVS in comparison to those who received usual care. Our results suggest that psycho-cardiology care has beneficial effects on anxiety, stress status, sleep quality, and patient satisfaction with care in patients with PA. The use of psycho-cardiology care may substantially improve the practice of patients undergoing AVS.

Heart failure is a major global health burden with increasing incidence and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota (GM) and lipid metabolism may play key roles in heart failure, but their causal relationships remain unclear. We performed a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genome-wide association study data from European cohorts to investigate the causal effects of GM on heart failure. To assess mediation, a 2-step MR and multivariable MR were applied to quantify the role of 179 lipid metabolites. Robustness of findings was evaluated through multiple sensitivity analyses. Significant causal associations were observed between several GM taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Lawsonibacter sp000492175) and heart failure. Multiple lipid metabolites, particularly phosphatidylcholine (PC) subtypes, were identified as mediators, with mediation proportions ranging from 7% to 13%. Sensitivity analyses supported the stability of the results. This study provides evidence for a causal pathway linking GM to heart failure through lipid metabolism. The findings highlight potential microbiota-based and metabolic intervention targets, offering new insights into heart failure pathogenesis and informing precision prevention strategies.

Background:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of CTS by meta-analysis.Methods:Wanfang database, CNKI, VIP database, China Biological Literature Database, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane were searched for RCTS about PRP in the treatment of patients with CTS published up to October 2024. The PRP treatment group was treated with PRP on the basis of conventional treatment for CTS. The control group was treated with conventional conservative treatment of CTS. The main evaluation index of meta-analysis was BCTQ severity score. The secondary outcome measures were cross-sectional area of the median nerve, SNCV, DML, and VAS of pain.Results:A total of 7 studies involving 365 patients were included in this meta-analysis. There were 183 patients in PRP group and 182 patients in control group. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with the conventional treatment group, the PRP group had significant reductions in the symptom severity scale at 1, 3, and 6 months and the functional status scale at 3 and 6 months (P < .05). Compared with the conventional treatment group, PRP group increased the cross-sectional area of median nerve at 1 month but decreased the cross-sectional area of median nerve at 3 and 6 months, and the differences were not statistically significant (P > .05). The Sensory nerve conduction velocity of PRP treatment group was lower than that of conventional control group at 1 (P < .0001), 3 (P = .35) and 6 (P = .69) months after treatment. Compared with the conventional treatment group, the PRP treatment group increased distal motor latency at 1, 3, and 6 months, but the difference was not statistically significant. Compared with the conventional control group, the PRP treatment group decreased the visual analogue scale of pain at 1 (P = .56) and 3 (P = .02) months. There were no serious adverse reactions after PRP treatment in the 4 studies which recorded adverse reactions.Conclusion:PRP is a safe and effective treatment for patients with CTS. PRP can improve the subjective efficacy of patients with CTS but has little effect on the cross-sectional area of median nerve, SNCV, and DML.

Rationale:Hepatic metastases from abdominal leiomyosarcoma are an extremely rare clinical condition. The multimodal imaging features of this condition have not been systematically described in the current literature, which may lead to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and adversely affect patient prognosis. We herein report a case of hepatic metastases from abdominal leiomyosarcoma that occurred 5 years after surgical resection, and describe in detail its imaging features on ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Through literature review, we aim to enhance clinicians’ ability to diagnose hepatic metastasis from abdominal leiomyosarcoma.Patients Concerns:A 78-year-old woman presented to our hospital in January 2025 with bilateral lower limb edema. She had undergone abdominal tumor resection 5 years prior. Postoperative pathology confirmed the primary tumor as abdominal leiomyosarcoma.Diagnoses:Ultrasonography identified multifocal large masses within the hepatic parenchyma. Abdominal CT demonstrated hepatomegaly with multiple heterogeneously hypodense lesions. MRI revealed multiple hypervascular masses in the liver. In conjunction with the patient’s history, these findings suggested hepatic metastases from abdominal leiomyosarcoma, which was subsequently confirmed by ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of the hepatic mass.Interventions:Due to advanced age and poor performance status, surgery was contraindicated. Liposomal doxorubicin plus anlotinib was administered as first-line treatment.Outcomes:The patient completed 6 treatment cycles stably without severe adverse events leading to discontinuation.Lessons:Hepatic metastases from abdominal leiomyosarcoma are rare but clinically significant. Comprehensive multimodal imaging (ultrasonography, CT, MRI) plays a pivotal role in characterizing these lesions: ultrasound serves as a noninvasive screening tool, while CT and MRI provide detailed anatomical, morphological and vascular information. Histopathological confirmation via ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis. Early detection of hepatic metastases through comprehensive imaging and timely intervention is critical to improving patient outcomes. This case highlights the need for increased awareness of the imaging features of hepatic metastases from abdominal leiomyosarcoma to facilitate early diagnosis and personalized treatment.

Poria cocos (PC) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that plays an important role in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR); however, its specific mechanism of action has rarely been reported. This study was based on network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the molecular mechanisms of PC in the treatment of AR. TCMSP, GeneCards, DrugBank, TTD, and OMIM databases were used to screen potential targets of Poria cocos for AR treatment. The STRING platform and Cytoscape 3.7.0 software (Cytoscape Consortium, San Diego) were used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and screen core targets. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted on potential target genes. Finally, molecular docking was conducted between the key active components and the core targets to validate their relevance. Fifteen active components of PC were identified and 94 common targets related to both PC and AR were screened. The top ten hub genes identified were TNF, IL1B, AKT1, prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MMP9, PPARG, BCL2, NR3C1, and PTGS1. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that these core targets were involved in various biological processes, including the regulation of inflammatory responses, responses to exogenous stimuli, and modulation of defense responses. These targets influence AR through pathways such as the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking results indicated that pachymic acid-PTGS2, polyporenic acid C-EGFR, and PTGS2 exhibited strong binding activity, while pachymic acid, polyporenic acid C-TNF and cerevisterol-AKT1 demonstrated good binding activity. Our study found that the key active components of PC for treating AR are pachymic acid, polyporenic acid C, and cerevisterol. PTGS2, EGFR, TNF, and AKT1 are the key targets, while the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway are the key pathways. These results indicate that PC may intervene in the intrinsic molecular mechanism of AR through multiple targets and pathways. Although further experimental verification is required, our study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of PC in AR treatment and subsequent related research.