Pictorial Review of Rare Pancreatic Tumors and Tumor-like Lesions: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation.

Rare pancreatic tumors and non-neoplastic tumor-like lesions present a diagnostic challenge due to their uncommon occurrence and overlapping imaging characteristics with more prevalent pancreatic neoplasms. Advances in imaging technologies and diagnostic criteria have contributed to increased detection of these rare entities in clinical practice. This pictorial review focuses on the radiologic-pathologic correlation of rare pancreatic tumors, including colloid carcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma, pancreatoblastoma, primary pancreatic lymphoma, and non-neoplastic tumor-like lesions such as hamartomas and inflammatory pseudotumors.

Exfoliated MoS nanosheets immobilized in porous microbeads as recoverable photocatalysts.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is a highly effective visible light photocatalyst when used as well-exfoliated 2D nanosheets. The ability to make effective use of these properties is significantly compromised by the challenge of preventing nanosheet aggregation or restacking in fluid suspensions. We report a strategy for immobilizing chemically exfoliated MoS as single- and few-layer nanosheets in porous crosslinked polymers prepared as microbeads.

Fabrication of Engineered Drug-Polymer Composite Particles via Piezoelectric Inkjet Technique for Floating Drug Delivery Systems.

This study presents a simple approach for fabricating low-density drug-polymer amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) using a piezoelectric inkjet method, demonstrating potential applications for floating drug delivery systems (FDDS). By adjusting the ratio of two polymers, polylactic acid, and Eudragit RLPO, the floatability and drug release rate of the drug-polymer ASD particles can be easily manipulated. Kinetic model analyses have been conducted to interpret the drug release mechanism.

Controlled Sol-Gel Transitions of Metal-Organic Membrane-Enveloped Cellulose Nanofibrils via Metal Coordination in Aqueous Media.

We report a metal coordination-driven sol-gel transition system where cellulose nanofibrils are enveloped by a rationally designed metal-organic membrane (MOM) in an aqueous medium. Specifically, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBC) is encapsulated within an MOM comprising Zn and the chelator phytic acid (PA), denoted TOBC. Using the DLVO theory, we elucidate how tuning the metal ion valence in TOBC modulates the sol-gel transition by controlling interfibrillar attractive forces.

Local Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2024 Expert Consensus-Based Practical Recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Local ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma, a non-surgical option that directly targets and destroys tumor cells, has advanced significantly since the 1990s. Therapies with different energy sources, such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation, employ different mechanisms to induce tumor necrosis. The precision, safety, and effectiveness of these therapies have increased with advances in guiding technologies and device improvements.

Local ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2024 expert consensus-based practical recommendation of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Local ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a non-surgical option that directly targets and destroys tumor cells, has advanced significantly since the 1990s. Therapies with different energy sources, such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation, employ different mechanisms to induce tumor necrosis. The precision, safety, and effectiveness of these therapies have increased with advances in guiding technologies and device improvements.

Local Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2024 Expert Consensus-Based Practical Recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association.

Local ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a non-surgical option that directly targets and destroys tumor cells, has advanced significantly since the 1990s. Therapies with different energy sources, such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation, employ different mechanisms to induce tumor necrosis. The precision, safety, and effectiveness of these therapies have increased with advances in guiding technologies and device improvements.

Relationships of Jugular Bulb Parameters with Cerebral Perfusion and Metabolism After Resuscitation from Cardiac Arrest: A Post-Hoc Analysis of Experimental Studies Using a Minipig Model.

Background: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreases in the first few hours or days following resuscitation from cardiac arrest, increasing the risk of secondary cerebral injury. Using data from experimental studies performed in minipigs, we investigated the relationships of parameters derived from arterial and jugular bulb blood gas analyses and lactate levels (jugular bulb parameters), which have been used as indicators of cerebral perfusion and metabolism, with CBF and the cerebral lactate to creatine ratio measured with dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 36 sets of the following data obtained during the initial hours following resuscitation from cardiac arrest: percent of measured CBF relative to that at the prearrest baseline (%CBF), cerebral lactate to creatine ratio, and jugular bulb parameters, including jugular bulb oxygen saturation, jugular bulb lactate, arterial-jugular bulb oxygen content difference, cerebral extraction of oxygen, jugular bulb-arterial lactate content difference, lactate oxygen index, estimated respiratory quotient, and arterial-jugular bulb hydrogen ion content difference.

Selective Binding of Tannic Acid-Conjugated Lipid Nanovesicles to Proline-Rich Proteins Enhances Transdermal Lipophilic-Antioxidant Delivery.

Tannic acid (TA) possesses a notable ability to adhere to proline-rich proteins that make up skin cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the skin tissue. Drug carriers with this specific adhesion ability exhibit improved drug delivery efficiency on the skin. Taking advantage of this, this study presents skin-adhesive TA-conjugated lipid nanovesicles (TANVs) for enhanced transdermal antioxidant delivery.

Comprehensive CT Imaging Analysis of Primary Colorectal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the findings of CT scans in patients with pathologically confirmed primary colorectal squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC). The clinical presentation and CT findings in eight patients with pathologically confirmed primary colorectal squamous-cell carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed by two gastrointestinal radiologists. Hematochezia was the most common symptom (n = 5).

Differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules using heterogeneity quantification software on ultrasound images: correlation with the Bethesda system and surgical pathology.

Ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the primary modality for evaluating thyroid nodules. However, in cases of atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS), supplemental tests are necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Accordingly, we aimed to develop a non-invasive quantification software using the heterogeneity scores of thyroid nodules.

Substantial Confinement of Crystal Growth of Organic Crystalline Materials in Metal-Organic Membrane Microshells.

This study proposes a robust microshell encapsulation system in which a metal-organic membrane (MOM), consisting of phytic acids (PAs) and metal ions, intrinsically prevents the molecular crystal growth of organic crystalline materials (OCMs). To develop this system, OCM-containing oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions were enveloped with the MOM, in which anionic pulp cellulose nanofiber (PCNF) primers electrostatically captured zinc ions at the O/W interface and chelated with PA, thus producing the MOM with a controlled shell thickness at the micron scale. We ascertained that the MOM formation fills and covers ∼75% of the surface pore size of PCNF films, which enhances the interfacial modulus by 2 orders of magnitude compared to that when treated with bare PCNFs.

Ultralight, Robust, Thermal Insulating Silica Nanolace Aerogels Derived from Pickering Emulsion Templates.

Synthesis of silica aerogel insulators with ultralight weight and strong mechanical properties using a simplified technique remains challenging for functional soft materials. This study introduces a promising method for the fabrication of mechanically reinforced ultralight silica aerogels by employing attractive silica nanolace (ASNLs)-armored Pickering emulsion templates. For this, silica nanolaces (SiNLs) are fabricated by surrounding a cellulose nanofiber with necklace-shaped silica nanospheres.

Artificial Octopus-Limb-Like Adhesive Patches for Cupping-Driven Transdermal Delivery with Nanoscale Control of Stratum Corneum.

Drug delivery through complex skin is currently being studied using various innovative structural and material strategies due to the low delivery efficiency of the multilayered stratum corneum as a barrier function. Existing microneedle-based or electrical stimulation methods have made considerable advances, but they still have technical limitations to reduce skin discomfort and increase user convenience. This work introduces the design, operation mechanism, and performance of noninvasive transdermal patch with dual-layered suction chamber cluster (SCC) mimicking octopus-limb capable of wet adhesion with enhanced adhesion hysteresis and physical stimulation.

Anti-Inflammatory Artificial Extracellular Vesicles with Notable Inhibition of Particulate Matter-Induced Skin Inflammation and Barrier Function Impairment.

Particulate matter (PM) exposure disrupts the skin barrier, causing cutaneous inflammation that may eventually contribute to the development of various skin diseases. Herein, we introduce anti-inflammatory artificial extracellular vesicles (AEVs) fabricated through cell extrusion using the biosurfactant PEGylated mannosylerythritol lipid (P-MEL), hereafter named AEV. The P-MEL has anti-inflammatory abilities with demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Thermal Injury to the Subhepatic Appendix Following Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report.

We present the first documented case of a fistula between the treated zone and the appendix after RFA in a patient with HCC. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI revealed a subcapsular hepatic nodule with image findings of HCC located adjacent to the ascending colon and cecum. An ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was subsequently performed to distinguish between hepatic metastasis and HCC.

Shear-Responsive Sol-Gel Transition of Phase Change Material Emulsions for an Injectable Thermal Insulation Platform.

Phase change materials (PCMs) have attracted significant attention as promising insulating materials. However, they often suffer from the simple yet critical problem of leakage in practical applications. Therefore, in this study, an injectable PCM emulsion insulation platform is developed.

Tumor-targeted liposomes with platycodin D2 promote apoptosis in colorectal cancer.

Conventional chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC), though efficacious, is discouraging due to its limited targeting capability, lack of selectivity, and chemotherapy-associated side effects. With the advent of nanomedicines, a liposomal delivery system making use of a combination of anticancer phytochemicals is fast gaining popularity as one of the most promising nanoplatforms for CRC treatment. Rising evidence supports phytochemicals such as platycosides for their anticancer potency.

Association between Body Composition Contents and Hepatic Fibrosis in Sarcopenic Obesity.

It is well established that sarcopenic obesity (SO) is linked to many diseases such as metabolic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, but there is little known about the relationship between SO and hepatic fibrosis progression in chronic liver disease. This study compared body composition contents in patients with non-obesity (NOb) and SO using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging and investigated the relationship between hepatic fibrosis and SO factors. This retrospective study enrolled 60 patients (28 NOb; 32 SO) from June 2014 to December 2020.

Feasibility of Magnetic Resonance-Based Conductivity Imaging as a Tool to Estimate the Severity of Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in the First Hours After Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Early identification of the severity of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) after cardiac arrest can be used to help plan appropriate subsequent therapy. We evaluated whether conductivity of cerebral tissue measured using magnetic resonance-based conductivity imaging (MRCI), which provides contrast derived from the concentration and mobility of ions within the imaged tissue, can reflect the severity of HIBI in the early hours after cardiac arrest.

Methods: Fourteen minipigs were resuscitated after 5 min or 12 min of untreated cardiac arrest.

Estimation of brain tissue response by electrical stimulation in a subject-specific model implemented by conductivity tensor imaging.

Electrical stimulation such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is widely used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases and neurological disorders. Computational modeling is an important approach to understand the mechanisms underlying tDCS and optimize treatment planning. When applying computational modeling to treatment planning, uncertainties exist due to insufficient conductivity information inside the brain.

High Internal Phase Emulsion Stabilization through Restricted Interdrop Fusion across Water Drainage Channels.

This study introduces a promising approach to stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) in which droplets are enveloped by octadecane (C18)-grafted bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCNF), which are mainly surrounded by carboxylate anions and hydrophobically modified with C18 alkyl chains. For this purpose, BCNF, in which two octadecyl chains were grafted onto each of several cellulose unit rings on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidized BCNFs, was fabricated using the Schiff base reaction. The wettability of BCNF was adjusted by controlling the amount of the grafted C18 alkyl chain.

Microphase transitions of Langmuir-Blodgett lipid-assembled monolayers with new types of ceramides, ultra-long-chain ceramide and 1-O-acylceramide.

Hypothesis: Intercellular lipid lamellae, consisting of ceramide, cholesterol, and free fatty acids, are the primary pathways for substances in the stratum corneum (SC). The microphase transition of lipid-assembled monolayers (LAMs), mimicking an initial layer of the SC, would be affected by new types of ceramides: ceramide with ultra-long chain (CULC) and 1-O-acylceramide (CENP) with three chains in different direction.

Experiments: The LAMs were fabricated with varying the mixing ratio of CULC (or CENP) against base ceramide via Langmuir-Blodgett assembly.

Hydrophobically modified silica nanolaces-armored water-in-oil pickering emulsions with enhanced interfacial attachment energy.

Hypothesis: Anisotropic particles with a high aspect ratio led to favorable interfacial adhesion, thus enabling Pickering emulsion stabilization. Herein, we hypothesized that pearl necklace-shaped colloid particles would play a key role in stabilizing water-in-silicone oil (W/S) emulsions by taking advantage of their enhanced interfacial attachment energy.

Experiments: We fabricated hydrophobically modified silica nanolaces (SiNLs) by depositing silica onto bacterial cellulose nanofibril templates and subsequently grafting alkyl chains with tuned amounts and chain lengths onto the nanograins comprising the SiNLs.