Microvascular Rarefaction and Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: A Histopathological Comparison of Pediatric and Adult Patients.

Background: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by microvascular ischemia and myocardial fibrosis. Microvessels play an important role in myocardial fibrosis in HOCM. However, the changes of myocardial microvessels and myocardial fibrosis in pediatric and adult patients with HOCM remain unclear.

Automated In-Line Artificial Intelligence Measured Global Longitudinal Shortening and Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion: Reproducibility and Prognostic Significance.

Background Global longitudinal shortening (GL-Shortening) and the mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) are known markers in heart failure patients, but measurement may be subjective and less frequently reported because of the lack of automated analysis. Therefore, a validated, automated artificial intelligence (AI) solution can be of strong clinical interest. Methods and Results The model was implemented on cardiac magnetic resonance scanners with automated in-line processing.

PD-L1 combined with HDAC9 is a useful prognostic predictor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is associated with the response of patients to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy. It has been demonstrated that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors may alter the expression of PD-L1/PD-L2 and enhance the antitumor immune responses. However, the profile of PD-L1 expression and its association with HDACs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been accurately investigated.

Regulating the Imbalance of Gut Microbiota by L. Polyphenols to Alleviate Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

L. is used not only as a kind of traditional Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients with various pharmacological properties, but also as food in certain parts of China. However, it is by far still unclear whether L.

2-(Naphthalene-2-thio)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone induces apoptosis via ROS-mediated MAPK, AKT, and STAT3 signaling pathways in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives have attracted widespread attention due to their multiple biological activities, such as induction of cancer cell apoptosis; however, most of these compounds have high cytotoxicity. In this study, in order to reduce their toxicity and increase their potential anti-tumor effects, we synthesized a novel 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative named 2-(naphthalene-2-thio)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (NTDMNQ), and investigated its apoptotic effects and underlying mechanism. Our results showed that NTDMNQ inhibited the viability of HepG2, Hep3B, and Huh7 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Identification of alternative protein targets of glutamate-ureido-lysine associated with PSMA tracer uptake in prostate cancer cells.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is highly overexpressed in most prostate cancers and is clinically visualized using PSMA-specific probes incorporating glutamate-ureido-lysine (GUL). PSMA is effectively absent from certain high-mortality, treatment-resistant subsets of prostate cancers, such as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC); however, GUL-based PSMA tracers are still reported to have the potential to identify NEPC metastatic tumors. These probes may bind unknown proteins associated with PSMA-suppressed cancers.

Effects of partial replacement of NaCl by KCl and CaCl on physicochemical properties, microstructure, and textural properties of salted eggs.

KCl and CaCl were used as partial substitutes for NaCl during pickling salted eggs process in this study. The effects on the physicochemical properties, microstructure, textural properties and sensory quality of the salted eggs were evaluated, while comparing with the 18% NaCl group (Na group). The 3% replacement of NaCl by KCl reduced the Na content (p < 0.

Left ventricle reverse remodeling in chronic aortic regurgitation patients with dilated ventricle after aortic valve replacement.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) with a severe dilated left ventricle and dysfunction leads to left ventricle remodeling. But there are rarely reports on the left ventricle reverse remodeling (LVRR) after AVR. This study aimed to investigate the LVRR and outcomes in chronic AR patients with severe dilated left ventricle and dysfunction after AVR.

Camera trap reveals the co-occurrence patterns of two sympatric muntjac species in southern Anhui Province, China: No spatial segregation.

The competitive relationship and coexistence pattern among close related species have long been one of the hot issues in ecological research. Interspecies interactions can exert important influences on the local distribution of rare species. Black muntjac is an endemic species to eastern China, currently restricted to limited regions.

Isolation and screening of umami peptides from preserved egg yolk by nano-HPLC-MS/MS and molecular docking.

The material basis leading to the rich umami flavor of preserved egg yolk is poorly understood. This study used nano-high-performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (nano-HPLC-MS/MS) to isolate, identify, and screen umami peptides from preserved egg yolk. Five novel umami peptides-AGFMPLP, APYSGY, PPMF, SLSSLMK, and VAMNPVDHPH-were identified.

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging After Severe COVID-19 Infection Demonstrates Regional Ischemia Rather Than Global Blood Flow Reduction.

Acute myocardial damage is common in severe COVID-19. Post-mortem studies have implicated microvascular thrombosis, with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrating a high prevalence of myocardial infarction and myocarditis-like scar. The microcirculatory sequelae are incompletely characterized.

Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Stem cell transplantation has been applied to treat spinal cord injury (SCI) in clinical trials for many years. However, the clinical efficacies of stem cell transplantation in SCI have been quite diverse. The purpose of our study was to systematically investigate the efficacy of stem cell transplantation in patients with SCI.

Mechanism of ultrasound and tea polyphenol assisted ultrasound modification of egg white protein gel.

In order to improve the characteristics of egg white protein gel and the stability of egg white protein gel products. In this work, the changes of the texture, physicochemical properties, secondary structure and microstructure of ultrasound modified egg white protein gel (UEP) and tea polyphenols (TP) assisted ultrasound modification of egg white protein gel (TUEP) with different ultrasonic power (0-360 W) were studied. With the increase of ultrasonic power, soluble protein, surface hydrophobicity and disulfide bonds of TUEP and UEP showed an increasing trend.

Differences of Sleep Disorders Between Vestibular Migraine and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Sleep disorders can affect the overall health and quality of life of patients. This study was conducted to compare the differences of sleep disorders in vestibular migraine (VM) patients and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) patients. VM patients, BPPV patients, and healthy controls (HCs) were recruited.

Silencing of cytochrome P450 gene CYP321A1 effects tannin detoxification and metabolism in Spodoptera litura.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450 or CYP) plays an important role in the metabolism of insecticides and plant allelochemicals by insects. CYP321B1, a novel Spodoptera litura P450 gene, was identified and characterized. CYP321B1 contains a 1488 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 495 amino acid protein.

Improvement of gel properties and digestibility of the water-soluble polymer of tea polyphenol-egg white under thermal treatment.

In this study, the improvement of gel properties and digestibility of the water-soluble polymer of tea polyphenol (TP)-egg white protein (TEP) under heat induction (HTEP), was studied. Results indicated that the particle size and turbidity of TEP increased with TP concentration, and the absolute value of ζ-potential decreased. After heat induction, the surface hydrophobicity of HTEP decreased with TP concentration, and the degree of protein aggregation increased.

Optical design and evaluation of an advanced scanning Dyson imaging spectrometer for ocean color.

An advanced Dyson imaging spectrometer in the near ultraviolet-visible-near infrared region was designed, fabricated, and evaluated. A lens with reflective coating on the back surface is applying to replace the traditional lens-reflecting grating combination. The design concept and fabrication and alignment methods as well as the results of evaluations of the proposed spectrometer are described in detail.

Analytical design of an advanced Littrow-Offner spectrometer simultaneously off-axis in meridian and sagittal planes for ultraviolet imaging with high performance.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, configuration of a Littrow-Offner spectrometer that is off-axis in both the meridian and sagittal planes is proposed. Through theoretical analysis, the relationship between the distance of each element and the aperture is obtained, and the theoretical basis of the sagittal plane off-axis is given. Extra aberrations are corrected by a spherical lens with a convex grating.

Tuning the Electronic Structure of CoP Embedded in N-Doped Porous Carbon Nanocubes Via Ru Doping for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution.

Designing and synthesizing stable electrocatalysts with outstanding performance for water splitting is an arduous and urgent task. Herein, Ru-anchored CoP embedded in N-doped porous carbon nanocubes (Ru-CoP/NCs) is successfully prepared. The Ru-CoP/NC reveals superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) properties and stability under alkaline conditions, and the corresponding overpotentials are 22 and 330 mV at 10 mA·cm, respectively.

Eliciting gastric cancer survivors' preferences for follow-up services: a discrete choice experiment protocol.

Introduction: Follow-up care is important for gastric cancer survivors, but follow-up strategies for gastric cancer survivors remain inconsistent, and compliance of gastric cancer survivors with follow-up care is very low. Understanding the needs and preferences of gastric cancer survivors is conducive to developing appropriate and acceptable follow-up strategies, thereby improving patient compliance. Discrete choice experiments can quantify individual needs and preferences.

Bright-blood and dark-blood phase sensitive inversion recovery late gadolinium enhancement and T1 and T2 maps in a single free-breathing scan: an all-in-one approach.

Background: Quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 and T2 mapping are used to detect diffuse disease such as myocardial fibrosis or edema. However, post gadolinium contrast mapping often lacks visual contrast needed for assessment of focal scar. On the other hand, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR which nulls the normal myocardium has excellent contrast between focal scar and normal myocardium but has poor ability to detect global disease.

18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Has Anti-Cancer Effects via Inducing Apoptosis and G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest, and Inhibiting Migration of A549 Lung Cancer Cells.

Background: 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-Gly), which is extracted from licorice root, has various pharmacological properties; however, its anti-cancer effects on lung cancer cells have not been fully established.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms of 18β-Gly.

Results: Our results showed that 18β-Gly had significant cytotoxic effects and no apparent side effects.

Evaluation of Hepatic Iron Overload Using a Contemporary 0.55 T MRI System.

Background: MRI T2* and R2* mapping have gained clinical acceptance for noninvasive assessment of iron overload. Lower field MRI may offer increased measurement dynamic range in patients with high iron concentration and may potentially increase MRI accessibility, but it is compromised by lower signal-to-noise ratio that reduces measurement precision.

Purpose: To characterize a high-performance 0.