Circulating tumor DNA methylation markers for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health concern, being the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Less than 30% of HCC patients are eligible for curative treatment, primarily due to diagnosis at advanced stages. This emphasizes the importance of early detection in improving survival outcomes.

High-gradient microstructured hybrid microfluidic chip for rare tumor cell capture.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and early detection can significantly reduce patient mortality. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are tumor cells shed from the primary tumor and transported to distant sites through the bloodstream, are key biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and contain critical information reflecting the primary tumor, making them important for monitoring cancer progression. Microfluidic chips utilizing a purely physical capture technique based on the size and deformability differences between CTCs and other blood cells have proven to be effective in capturing CTCs.

Brain Morphometrics Correlations With Age Among 350 Participants Imaged With Both 3T and 7T MRI: 7T Improves Statistical Power and Reduces Required Sample Size.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7T has a superior signal-to-noise ratio to 3T but also presents higher signal inhomogeneities and geometric distortions. A key knowledge gap is to robustly investigate the sensitivity and accuracy of 3T and 7T MRI in assessing brain morphometrics. This study aims to (a) aggregate a large number of paired 3T and 7T scans to evaluate their differences in quantitative brain morphological assessment using a widely available brain segmentation tool, FreeSurfer, as well as to (b) examine the impact of normalization methods for subject variability and smaller sample sizes on data analysis.

Traditional Chinese medicine in synergy with conventional therapy improves renal outcomes and provides survival benefit in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cohort study from the largest health care system in Taiwan.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder that significantly impacts renal function. Despite conventional treatments, morbidity and mortality remain high, necessitating the exploration of safer and more effective therapies, including the potential benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for improving kidney health and survival rates.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed with SLE with catastrophic illness certificate were retrospectively enrolled from CGRD between 2005 and 2020.

Advances in Novel Diagnostic Techniques for Alveolar Echinococcosis.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm , is a serious parasitic disease that presents significant health risks and challenges for both patients and healthcare systems. Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential for effective management and improved patient outcomes. This review summarizes the latest diagnostic methods for AE, focusing on serological tests and imaging techniques such as ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).