An Efficient Method for the Selective Syntheses of Sodium Telluride and Symmetrical Diorganyl Tellurides and the Investigation of Reaction Pathways.

Studies on organotellurium compounds have not been extensively conducted due to a lack of tolerable synthetic methods, difficult isolation processes, and their chemical instabilities. Overcoming these hurdles, we developed an efficient and mild method for the selective synthesis of symmetrical diorganyl tellurides , a representative class of organotellurium compounds, using a proper reducing reagent. The reaction condition was optimized for the selective formation of by forming the telluride dianion (Te) using a reducing reagent, sodium borohydride (NaBH), and then followed by the addition of organyl halides.

Usefulness of the mini nutritional assessment short-form for evaluating nutritional status in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: a prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Although the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is recognized as a useful tool for evaluating nutritional status in patients with various diseases, its applicability in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) remains undetermined.

Methods: We designed a prospective cross-sectional study to investigate whether the MNA Short-Form (MNA-SF) score can serve as a screening tool to assess the nutritional status of patients with NTM-PD. The MNA-SF was conducted upon patient enrollment, and correlation analyses were performed to compare MNA-SF scores with other nutritional measurements and disease severity.

Feasibility of the Threshold-Based Quantification of Myocardial Fibrosis on Cardiac CT as a Prognostic Marker in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: This study investigated the feasibility and prognostic relevance of threshold-based quantification of myocardial delayed enhancement (MDE) on CT in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients with NIDCM (59.3 ± 17.

Assessment of Feasibility and Interscan Variability of Short-time Cardiac MRI for Cardiotoxicity Evaluation in Breast Cancer.

Purpose To investigate the feasibility and interscan variability of short-time cardiac MRI protocol after chemotherapy in individuals with breast cancer. Materials and Methods A total of 13 healthy female controls (mean age, 52.4 years ± 13.

Feasibility of UTE-MRI-based radiomics model for prediction of histopathologic subtype of lung adenocarcinoma: in comparison with CT-based radiomics model.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of the UTE-MRI radiomic model in predicting the micropapillary and/or solid (MP/S) patterns of surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 74 lesions from 71 patients who underwent UTE-MRI and CT before curative surgery for early lung adenocarcinoma. For conventional radiologic analysis, we analyzed the longest lesion diameter and lesion characteristics at both UTE-MRI and CT.

Chemotherapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction: Quantitative Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Image Parameters and Their Prognostic Implications.

Objective: To quantitatively analyze the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) and explore their prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Materials And Methods: A total of 145 patients (male:female = 76:69, mean age = 63.0 years) with cancer and heart failure who underwent CMR between January 2015 and January 2021 were included.

Clinical implication of the 2020 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer histologic grading in surgically resected pathologic stage 1 lung adenocarcinomas: Prognostic value and association with computed tomography characteristics.

Objectives: To investigate the incremental prognostic value of the 2020 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) histologic grading system over traditional prognosticators in surgically resected pathologic stage 1 lung adenocarcinomas and to identify the clinical and radiologic characteristics of lung adenocarcinomas reclassified by the 2020 histologic grading system.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 356 patients who underwent surgery for pathologic stage 1 adenocarcinoma between January 2016 and December 2017. The histologic grading was classified according to the predominant histologic subtype (conventional system) and the updated 2020 IASLC grading system.

Myosteatosis as a prognostic factor of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

Quantitative body composition affects the prognosis of patients with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). However, whether the qualitative body composition obtained indirectly through computed tomography (CT) affects their prognosis is debatable. We retrospectively analyzed patients with MAC-PD who underwent non-contrast CT at MAC-PD diagnosis.

Production of a 135-residue long N-truncated human keratinocyte growth factor 1 in Escherichia coli.

Background: Palifermin (trade name Kepivance®) is an amino-terminally truncated recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor 1 (KGF-1) with 140 residues that has been produced using Escherichia coli to prevent and treat oral mucositis following radiation or chemotherapy. In this study, an amino-terminally shortened KGF-1 variant with 135 residues was produced and purified in E. coli, and its cell proliferation activity was evaluated.

Covalent Scrambling in Porous Polyarylthioethers through a Stepwise S Ar for Tunable Bandgap and Porosity.

Porous poly(aryl thioether)s offer stability and electronic tunability by robust sulfur-aryl conjugated architecture, but synthetic access is hindered due to limited control over the nucleophilic nature of sulfides and the air sensitivity of aromatic thiols. Here, we report a simple, one-pot, inexpensive, regioselective synthesis of highly porous poly(aryl thioether)s through polycondensation of perfluoroaromatic compounds with sodium sulfide. The unprecedented temperature-dependent para-directing formation of thioether linkages leads to a stepwise transition of the polymer extension into a network, thereby allowing fine control of the porosity and optical band gaps.

High-level production of keratinocyte growth factor 2 in Escherichia coli.

Recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor 2 (KGF-2), also known as repifermin, is used in various therapeutic applications. However, KGF-2 production has not been optimized for facilitating large-scale production. Therefore, we attempted to attain high-level production of bioactive KGF-2.

The effect of food processing factors on the growth kinetics of Aeromonas strains isolated from ready-to-eat seafood.

Aeromonas are ubiquitous aquatic bacteria and frequently isolated from seafood. There is growing awareness of Aeromonas as foodborne pathogens, particularly in connection with consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of food processing factors on the growth kinetics of eight Aeromonas strains (representing seven species) isolated from RTE seafood.

Synthesis of -substituted quaternary carbon centers through KO-Bu-catalyzed aza-Michael addition of pyrazoles to cyclic enones.

This study reports an efficient and mild method for the synthesis of cyclic -amino ketones containing -substituted quaternary carbon centers the KO-Bu-catalyzed aza-Michael addition reaction of pyrazoles to -substituted cyclic ,-enones. The amination was promoted by KO-Bu (3 mol%) at ambient temperature and a wide range of new and versatile -pyrazolyl ketones were obtained in good yields. Furthermore, the KO-Bu-catalyzed one-pot diamination of a cyclic dienone with pyrazoles an aza-1,6-conjugate addition followed by an aza-1,4-conjugate addition was also explored.

A Challenge for Emphysema Quantification Using a Deep Learning Algorithm With Low-dose Chest Computed Tomography.

Purpose: We aimed to identify clinically relevant deep learning algorithms for emphysema quantification using low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) through an invitation-based competition.

Materials And Methods: The Korean Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine (KSIIM) organized a challenge for emphysema quantification between November 24, 2020 and January 26, 2021. Seven invited research teams participated in this challenge.

Improved Crystallinity of Graphene Grown on Cu/Ni (111) through Sequential Mobile Hot-Wire Heat Treatment.

Over the past few years, many efforts have been devoted to growing single-crystal graphene due to its great potential in future applications. However, a number of issues remain for single-crystal graphene growth, such as control of nanoscale defects and the substrate-dependent nonuniformity of graphene quality. In this work, we demonstrate a possible route toward single-crystal graphene by combining aligned nucleation of graphene nanograins on Cu/Ni (111) and sequential heat treatment over pregrown graphene grains.

Progostic value of coronary artery calcium scores from 1.5 mm slice reconstructions of electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography scans in asymptomatic individuals.

It is unknown whether the thinner slice reconstruction has added value relative to 3 mm reconstructions in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). This retrospective study included 550 asymptomatic individuals who underwent cardiac CT. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores and severity categories were assessed from 1.

The usefulness of patient-specific 3D nasal silicone implant using 3D design and order form.

Purpose: The need for customized implants has continuously increased, but patient-specific silicone implants are not yet commonly used in the plastic surgery market. We sought to validate the effectiveness of a 3D customized nasal implant design in terms of design and lead time compared with a manually customized implant by a surgeon.

Materials And Methods: Based on the computed tomography (CT) findings of 15 patients who planned rhinoplasty, a surgeon wrote order forms reflecting the surgical plan and subsequently designed implants manually using epoxy on a 3D printed skull.

Evaluation of the Ostium in Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery with an Interarterial Course Using Dynamic Cardiac CT and Implications of Ostial Findings.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the ostium of right coronary artery of anomalous origin from the left coronary sinus (AORL) with an interarterial course throughout the cardiac cycle on CT and analyze the clinical significance of the ostial findings.

Materials And Methods: From January 2011 to December 2015, 68 patients (41 male, 57.3 ± 12.

Usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance images for prediction of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with mitral valve prolapse: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: An association has been identified between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and ventricular arrhythmias (VA). This study aimed to elucidate predictive factors for SCA or VA in MVP patients.

Methods: MVP patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were retrospectively included.

Synthetic Extracellular Volume Fraction Derived Using Virtual Unenhanced Attenuation of Blood on Contrast-Enhanced Cardiac Dual-Energy CT in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Current methods for calculating the myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) fraction require blood sampling to determine the serum hematocrit. Synthetic hematocrit and thus synthetic ECV may be derived using unenhanced attenuation of blood. By use of virtual unenhanced (VUE) attenuation of blood, contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT (DECT) may allow synthetic ECV calculations without unenhanced acquisition.