Longitudinal artificial intelligence-based deep learning models for diagnosis and prediction of the future occurrence of polyneuropathy in diabetes and prediabetes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop artificial intelligence-based deep learning models and assess their potential utility and accuracy in diagnosing and predicting the future occurrence of diabetic distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes.

Methods: In 394 patients (T2DM=300, Prediabetes=94), we developed a DSPN diagnostic and predictive model using Random Forest (RF)-based variable selection techniques, specifically incorporating the combined capabilities of the Clinical Toronto Neuropathy Score (TCNS) and nerve conduction study (NCS) to identify relevant variables. These important variables were then integrated into a deep learning framework comprising Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks.

The Effects of Biologics on Hematologic Malignancy Development in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriasis, or Psoriatic Arthritis: A National Cohort Study.

Biologics are used for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment. The association between biologics and the development of hematologic malignancies is controversial, and data on patients with AS, psoriasis, and PsA are scarce. This retrospective cohort study used data from 2010 to 2020 from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Breast Cancer Follow-Ups: Comparison of Virtual Monoenergetic Images and Iodine-Map.

Differentiating tumor tissue from dense breast tissue can be difficult. Dual-energy CT (DECT) could be suitable for making diagnoses at breast cancer follow-ups. This study investigated the contrast in DECT images and iodine maps for patients with breast cancer being followed-up.

Optimization of Emulsification Conditions on Ethanol Extract of Taiwanese Green Propolis Using Polysorbate and Its Immunomodulatory Effects in Broilers.

Beeswax and resin are the main components of propolis, both of which are hydrophobic. The use of emulsifiers helps to improve the extraction of active propolis compounds and makes them more widely used. In this study, we investigated the optimal parameters for the emulsification of Taiwanese green propolis (TGP) using different polysorbates (polysorbate-20, polysorbate-60, and polysorbate-80) and evaluated the effects on the immunomodulatory response in broilers.

Variation in global distribution, population structures, and demographic history for four cutlassfishes.

Background: Species-specific information on distribution and demographic patterns provides important implications for conservation and fisheries management. However, such information is often lacking for morphologically-similar species, which may lead to biases in the assessments of these species and even decrease effort towards sustainable management. Here, we aimed to uncover the distribution range, population structure and demographic history for four exploited cutlassfishes using genetics.

Cerebral capillary blood flow upsurge during REM sleep is mediated by A2a receptors.

Sleep is generally viewed as a period of recovery, but how the supply of cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes across sleep/wake states has remained unclear. Here, we directly observe red blood cells (RBCs) within capillaries, where the actual substance exchange between the blood and neurons/glia occurs, by two-photon microscopy. Across multiple cortical areas, average capillary CBF is largely increased during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, whereas it does not differ between periods of active wakefulness and non-REM sleep.

Synthetic dysmobility screen unveils an integrated STK40-YAP-MAPK system driving cell migration.

Integrating signals is essential for cell survival, leading to the concept of synthetic lethality. However, how signaling is integrated to control cell migration remains unclear. By conducting a "two-hit" screen, we revealed the synergistic reduction of cell migration when serine-threonine kinase 40 (STK40) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were simultaneously suppressed.

Lenvatinib Induces AKT/NF-κB Inactivation, Apoptosis Signal Transduction and Growth Inhibition of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer .

Background/aim: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer with poor prognosis. Lenvatinib is a multi-kinase inhibitor that has the potential to suppress tumor progression. Our previous study suggested that lenvatinib induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in CL-1-5-F4 cells in vitro.

Anticancer Efficacy and Mechanism of Amentoflavone for Sensitizing Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Cisplatin.

Background/aim: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inactivation and apoptosis activation have been shown to enhance the anticancer effect of cisplatin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Amentoflavone may suppress NF-κB activity and trigger apoptosis in different types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect and mechanism of amentoflavone in combination with cisplatin in OSCC.

The Radiosensitizing Effect of Magnolol on Tumor Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Radiation (RT) induced ERK/NF-κB in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported in our previous works; it weakens the toxicity of RT or triggers a radioresistance effect. Thus, combining RT with a suitable NF-κB inhibitor may sensitize HCC to RT. Magnolol, a bioactive compound, was known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor functions.

Copine-7 is required for REM sleep regulation following cage change or water immersion and restraint stress in mice.

Sleep is affected by the environment. In rodents, changes in the amount of rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) can precede those of other sleep/wake stages. The molecular mechanism underlying the dynamic regulation of REMS remains poorly understood.

Quantitative evaluation of breast density using a dual-energy technique on a digital breast tomosynthesis system.

Purpose: Although breast density is considered a strong risk factor of breast cancer, its quantitative assessment is difficult. To investigate a quantitative method of measuring breast density using dual-energy mammographic imaging with central digital breast tomosynthesis in physically uniform and nonuniform phantoms.

Material And Methods: The dual-energy imaging unit used a tungsten anode and silver filter with 30 kVp for high-energy images and 20 kVp for low-energy images.

Mechanism and pathways underlying the self-sensitized photodegradation of methotrexate under simulated solar irradiation.

Methotrexate, a chemotherapeutic agent, was found to undergo self-sensitized photodegradation in aqueous environments. As the initial concentration increased, methotrexate was able to enhance its own direct photolysis reaction not only in DI but also in natural waters. The methotrexate degradation rate increased through the production of singlet oxygen (O), the triplet excited state of methotrexate (MTX), and the triplet excited state of the pteridine structure (PT) from the phototransformation byproducts.

Feasibility and Characterization Mortar Blended with High-Amount Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag.

Basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS) was ground to three levels of fineness as a replacement for cement at weight proportions of 10, 30, 50, and 70 wt.%. Fineness and weight proportion were shown to have significant effects on the flowability and setting time of the mortars.

The role of conformational heterogeneity in regulating the apoptotic activity of BAX protein.

While activation of BAX is required for initiating mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, the underlying mechanisms remain unsettled. We studied conformations of BAX protein using pressure- and temperature-resolved ESR techniques and obtained the thermodynamic properties of the conformations. We show that inactive BAX is structurally heterogeneous and exists in equilibrium between two major populations of the conformations, UM and UM', of which the former is thermodynamically favored at room temperature.

Acquisition of Mycobacterium abscessus among ventilator-dependent patients in Taiwan chronic respiratory care facilities.

Aim: To investigate the acquisition of Mycobacterium abscessus among ventilator-dependent patients.

Materials & Methods: We prospectively recruited ventilator-dependent patients in five respiratory care wards (RCWs). Respiratory specimens were cultured for mycobacteria on day 1 (D1), 3 months (M3) and 6 months (M6) after enrollment.

Identification of Weissella species by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Although some Weissella species play beneficial roles in food fermentation and in probiotic products, others such as Weissella confusa are emerging Gram-positive pathogens in immunocompromised hosts. Weissella species are difficult to identify by conventional biochemical methods and commercial automated systems and are easily misidentified as Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc species. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is increasingly being used for bacterial identification.

Plasma Biomarkers Can Predict Treatment Response in Tuberculosis Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

Despite numerous studies, there has been little progress in the use of biomarkers for predicting treatment response in patients with tuberculosis (TB). Patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB between 2010 and 2014 were prospectively recruited. Blood samples were taken upon diagnosis and 2 months after the start of standard anti-TB treatment.

Nuclear HDAC6 inhibits invasion by suppressing NF-κB/MMP2 and is inversely correlated with metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a unique member of the histone deacetylase family. Although HDAC6 is mainly localized in the cytoplasm, it can regulate the activities of the transcription factors in the nucleus. However, a correlation of intracellular distribution of HDAC6 with tumor progression is lacking.

Clinical characteristics of bacteraemia caused by Lactobacillus spp. and antimicrobial susceptibilities of the isolates at a medical centre in Taiwan, 2000-2014.

The clinical characteristics of 89 patients with Lactobacillus bacteraemia treated at a university-affiliated hospital in northern Taiwan during 2000-2014 were retrospectively evaluated. Lactobacillus spp. were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS).

Local bone quality affects the outcome of prosthetic total knee arthroplasty.

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis commonly coexist in the elderly. In patients undergoing prosthetic total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the bone quality around the knee joint may affect the safety of prosthetic implantation and consequently satisfaction with the surgical outcome. We recruited 50 postmenopausal women undergoing TKA for primary osteoarthritis; 43 completed the study protocol.

Recycling of Sustainable Co-Firing Fly Ashes as an Alkali Activator for GGBS in Blended Cements.

This study investigates the feasibility of co-firing fly ashes from different boilers, circulating fluidized beds (CFB) or stokers as a sustainable material in alkali activators for ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). The mixture ratio of GGBS and co-firing fly ashes is 1:1 by weight. The results indicate that only CF fly ash of CFB boilers can effectively stimulate the potential characteristics of GGBS and provide strength as an alkali activator.

BAX-induced apoptosis can be initiated through a conformational selection mechanism.

BAX protein plays a key role in the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. However, it remains unclear by what mechanism BAX is triggered to initiate apoptosis. Here, we reveal the mechanism using electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques.

Side-chain packing interactions stabilize an intermediate of BAX protein against chemical and thermal denaturation.

Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) protein plays a gatekeeper role in transmitting apoptotic signaling from cytosol to mitochondria. However, little is known about its stability. This study reports a comprehensive investigation on the stability of BAX using spin-label ESR, CD, and ThermoFluor methods.