Elevated IL-6 Expression in Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Regulates RANKL Mediated Inflammation in Osteoarthritis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to play a pivotal role in modulating cartilage regeneration and immune responses, particularly in the context of diseases that involve both degenerative processes and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis (OA). However, the precise mechanism through which IL-6 and other immune-regulatory factors influence the therapeutic efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) transplantation in OA treatment remains to be fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the relationship between IL-6 expression in autologous ASCs isolated from OA patients and their impact on immune modulation, particularly focusing on the regulation of Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa-Β Ligand (RANKL), a key mediator of immune-driven cartilage degradation in OA.

Osteochondral Abnormalities on Three-Dimensional Ultrashort Echo Time MRI Scans Are Associated with Knee Cartilage Degradation.

Background The calcified cartilage layer and subchondral bone plate (SBP) contribute to osteoarthritis development. Three-dimensional (3D) ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI can help to evaluate calcified cartilage and SBP in various stages of cartilage degradation. Purpose To compare calcified cartilage and SBP abnormalities using 3D UTE MRI with cartilage degradation and osteochondral junction (OCJ) abnormalities observed at proton-density fast spin-echo with fat suppression (PDFS) MRI.

Automated Comprehensive CT Assessment of the Risk of Diabetes and Associated Cardiometabolic Conditions.

Background CT performed for various clinical indications has the potential to predict cardiometabolic diseases. However, the predictive ability of individual CT parameters remains underexplored. Purpose To evaluate the ability of automated CT-derived markers to predict diabetes and associated cardiometabolic comorbidities.

Deep Learning Model Using Stool Pictures for Predicting Endoscopic Mucosal Inflammation in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

Introduction: Stool characteristics may change depending on the endoscopic activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). We developed a deep learning model using stool photographs of patients with UC (DLSUC) to predict endoscopic mucosal inflammation.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study conducted in 6 tertiary referral hospitals.

Model-based interspecies interpretation of botulinum neurotoxin type A on muscle-contraction inhibition.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are commonly used in therapeutic and cosmetic applications. One such neurotoxin, BoNT type A (BoNT/A), has been studied widely for its effects on muscle function and contraction. Despite the importance of BoNT/A products, determining the blood concentrations of these toxins can be challenging.

Direct and Indirect Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Imaging with PET/MRI in a Tumor Xenograft Model.

Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a promising cancer therapy; however, reliable and repeatable methods for tracking and monitoring CAR T cells in vivo remain underexplored. Purpose To investigate direct and indirect imaging strategies for tracking the biodistribution of CAR T cells and monitoring their therapeutic effect in target tumors. Materials and Methods CAR T cells co-expressing a tumor-targeting gene (anti-CD19 CAR) and a human somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (hSSTr2) reporter gene were generated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Regorafenib plus nivolumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: the phase 2 RENOBATE trial.

Regorafenib has anti-tumor activity in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) with potential immunomodulatory effects, suggesting that its combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor may have clinically meaningful benefits in patients with uHCC. The multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 RENOBATE trial tested regorafenib-nivolumab as front-line treatment for uHCC. Forty-two patients received nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks and regorafenib 80 mg daily (3-weeks-on/1-week-off schedule).

Clinical Characteristics and Associated Factors to the Development of Glaucoma in Eyes With Myopic Optic Neuropathy.

Purpose: To observe the development of glaucoma in myopic eyes with and without myopic optic neuropathy (MON) and analyze associated factors to the development of typical glaucomatous damage.

Design: A prospective, observational, cohort study.

Methods: A total of 233 myopic eyes with no definite evidence of glaucomatous damage were included.

Time Window for Induced Hypertension in Acute Small Vessel Occlusive Stroke With Early Neurological Deterioration.

Background: Therapeutic-induced hypertension treatment (iHTN) is helpful for alleviating early neurological deterioration (END) in acute small vessel occlusive stroke. We examined the time parameters related to iHTN effectiveness in these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with acute small vessel occlusive stroke who underwent iHTN for END, defined as an increase of ≥2 points in total National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score or ≥1 point in motor items of NIHSS.

Improvement in Delivery of Ischemic Stroke Treatments but Stagnation of Clinical Outcomes in Young Adults in South Korea.

Background: There is limited information on the delivery of acute stroke therapies and secondary preventive measures and clinical outcomes over time in young adults with acute ischemic stroke. This study investigated whether advances in these treatments improved outcomes in this population.

Methods: Using a prospective multicenter stroke registry in Korea, young adults (aged 18-50 years) with acute ischemic stroke hospitalized between 2008 and 2019 were identified.

Discovery of a novel NAMPT inhibitor that selectively targets NAPRT-deficient EMT-subtype cancer cells and alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Exploiting synthetic lethality (SL) relationships between protein pairs has emerged as an important avenue for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the NAD+ salvage pathway, having an SL relationship with nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (NAPRT), the key enzyme in the NAD+ Preiss-Handler pathway. NAMPT inhibitor holds clinical potential not only as a promising cancer treatment but also as a means of protection against chemotherapy-induced-peripheral-neuropathy (CIPN).

1,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid from Pseudognaphalium affine ameliorates dry eye disease via suppression of inflammation and protection of the ocular surface.

Purpose: Pseudognaphalium affine (P. affine), a medicinal plant, has long been used to treat various diseases due to its astringent and vulnerary effects. These therapeutic benefits are largely attributed to high contents of phytochemicals, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, that have anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective activities.

Safety assessment of a three-dimensional-printed autologous omentum patch: An application on the kidneys as a new treatment approach.

Recently, the field of regenerative medicine has made great strides in the development of new treatments for various organ dysfunctions. One of the most promising new approaches is the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing and autologous tissues. In this study, we evaluated the safety of a 3D-printed autologous omentum patch to kidneys using large animals.

Covert Brain Infarction as a Risk Factor for Stroke Recurrence in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: We aimed to evaluate covert brain infarction (CBI), frequently encountered during the diagnostic work-up of acute ischemic stroke, as a risk factor for stroke recurrence in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: For this prospective cohort study, from patients with acute ischemic stroke hospitalized at 14 centers between 2017 and 2019, we enrolled AF patients without history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and divided them into the CBI (+) and CBI (-) groups. The 2 groups were compared regarding the 1-year cumulative incidence of recurrent ischemic stroke and all-cause mortality using the Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard model with nonstroke death as a competing risk and the Cox frailty model, respectively.

Combined IgE neutralization and Bifidobacterium longum supplementation reduces the allergic response in models of food allergy.

IgE is central to the development of allergic diseases, and its neutralization alleviates allergic symptoms. However, most of these antibodies are based on IgG1, which is associated with an increased risk of fragment crystallizable-mediated side effects. Moreover, omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody approved for therapeutic use, has limited benefits for patients with high IgE levels.

Stroke of Other Determined Etiology: Results From the Nationwide Multicenter Stroke Registry.

Background: Stroke of other determined etiology (OE) includes patients with an uncommon cause of stroke. We described the general characteristics, management, and outcomes of stroke in OE and its subgroups.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospective, multicenter, nationwide registry, the Clinical Research Center for Stroke-Korea-National Institutes of Health registry.

Clinical Feasibility of Ultrafast Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted 3D-EPI for Evaluating Intracranial Enhancing Lesions in Oncology Patients: Comparison with Standard 3D MPRAGE Sequence.

Background And Purpose: Contrast-enhanced 3D T1WI is a preferred sequence for brain tumor imaging despite the long scan time. This study investigated the clinical feasibility of ultrafast contrast-enhanced T1WI by 3D echo-planar imaging compared with a standard contrast-enhanced 3D MPRAGE sequence for evaluating intracranial enhancing lesions in oncology patients.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-one patients in oncology underwent brain MR imaging including both contrast-enhanced T1WI, 3D-EPI and 3D MPRAGE, in a single examination session for evaluating intracranial tumors.

Altered Structural Covariance of Insula, Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex Is Associated with Somatic Symptom Levels in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Somatization, defined as the presence of multiple somatic symptoms, frequently occurs in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and may constitute the clinical manifestation of a neurobiological sensitization process. Brain imaging data was acquired with T1 weighted 3 tesla MRI, and gray matter morphometry were analyzed using FreeSurfer. We investigated differences in networks of structural covariance, based on graph analysis, between regional gray matter volumes in IBS-related brain regions between IBS patients with high and low somatization levels, and compared them to healthy controls (HCs).

Treatment evaluation of Kami Guibi-tang on participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment using magnetic resonance imaging on brain metabolites, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and cerebral blood flow.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of Kami Guibi-tang (KGT) in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on brain metabolites, neurotransmitter, and cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Methods: We randomly allocated a total of 30 MCI patients to a KGT (N = 16) or a placebo (N = 14) group and performed MRI scans before and after 24 weeks of treatment. The participants underwent brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI scans to obtain brain metabolites using Point-RESolved Spectroscopy (PRESS) single-voxel spectroscopy, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter using Mescher-Garwood PRESS, and CBF using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling sequences using a 3.

Evaluation for Potential Drug-Drug Interaction of MT921 Using In Vitro Studies and Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Models.

MT921 is a new injectable drug developed by Medytox Inc. to reduce submental fat. Cholic acid is the active pharmaceutical ingredient, a primary bile acid biosynthesized from cholesterol, endogenously produced by liver in humans and other mammals.

Self-rechargeable cardiac pacemaker system with triboelectric nanogenerators.

Self-powered implantable devices have the potential to extend device operation time inside the body and reduce the necessity for high-risk repeated surgery. Without the technological innovation of in vivo energy harvesters driven by biomechanical energy, energy harvesters are insufficient and inconvenient to power titanium-packaged implantable medical devices. Here, we report on a commercial coin battery-sized high-performance inertia-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG) based on body motion and gravity.

MRI-Visible Perivascular Spaces in the Centrum Semiovale Are Associated with Brain Amyloid Deposition in Patients with Alzheimer Disease-Related Cognitive Impairment.

Background And Purpose: The association of perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale with amyloid accumulation among patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment is unknown. We evaluated this association in patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment and β-amyloid deposition, assessed with [F] florbetaben PET/CT.

Materials And Methods: MR imaging and [F] florbetaben PET/CT images of 144 patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment were retrospectively evaluated.