Evaluating the efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty using quantitative analysis of SPECT pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) ventilation perfusion imaging is the main imaging method for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, and its application in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has been paid more and more attention. In recent years, with the development of computer software technology, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging quantitative analysis technology has become more and more mature. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of quantitative analysis of pulmonary V/Q scintigraphy in evaluating the efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in patients with CTEPH.

Dynamic changes in cardiac biomarkers in radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer and their correlations with cardiac radiation dosimetry.

Background And Purpose: To investigate the dynamic changes in cardiac enzymes, high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during radiotherapy (RT) and 6 months after RT for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the middle and lower locations and to analyse the correlations between these indicators and cardiac radiation dosimetry parameters.

Methods: For 35 patients with ESCC in the middle and lower locations receiving radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT), intensity-modulated RT was performed at 1.8 Gy or 2.

Magnolin alleviated DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting ALOX5-mediated ferroptosis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and incurable disorder associated with higher cancer risk and currently faces unsatisfactory treatment outcomes. Ferroptotic cells secrete damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that recruit and activate immune cells, particularly macrophages. Magnolin has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effect on IBD has not yet been clearly understood.

Type I Mirizzi syndrome treated by electrohydraulic lithotripsy under the direct view of SpyGlass: A case report.

Background: Mirizzi syndrome is an uncommon clinical complication for which the available treatment options mainly include open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and laser lithotripsy. Here, a patient diagnosed with type I Mirizzi syndrome was treated with electrohydraulic lithotripsy under SpyGlass direct visualization, which may provide a reference to explore new treatments for Mirizzi syndrome.

Case Summary: This paper describes a middle-aged female patient with suspected choledocholithiasis who complained for over 1 mo of intermittent abdominal pain, dark yellow urine, jaundice, and was proposed to undergo ERCP lithotomy.

Copper-Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation Reaction.

This review describes recent advances in copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation reactions. The RCF radical is generally proposed in the mechanism of these reactions. At present, various types of copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation reactions have been realized.

Esophageal wall thickness on CT scans: can it predict the T stage of primary thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?

Background: CT is the most commonly used method to stage esophageal cancer (EC). However, the reported CT T-staging criteria for EC are controversial.

Purpose: To determine and validate the optimal esophageal wall thickness (EWT) threshold on CT to distinguish lesions with different T stages in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.

A comparative study of the normal oesophageal wall thickness based on 3-dimensional, 4-dimensional, and cone beam computed tomography.

Background: The study aimed to compare normal oesophageal wall thickness based on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT), 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: Contrast-enhanced 3DCT, 4DCT, and CBCT scans were acquired from 50 patients with lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. The outer oesophageal wall was manually contoured on each 3DCT, the maximum intensity projection of 4DCT (4DCTMIP) the end expiration phase of 4DCT (4DCT50) (the end expiration phase of 4DCT) and the CBCT data sets.

miR-16 integrates signal pathways in myofibroblasts: determinant of cell fate necessary for fibrosis resolution.

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to myofibroblasts and poor response to treatment. This can be attributed to the myofibroblast-specific resistance to phenotype reversal. In this study, we complemented miR-16 into miR-16-deficient myofibroblasts and analyzed the global role of miR-16 using transcriptome profiling and generating a pathway-based action model underlying transcriptomic regulation.

Definition of Internal Mammary Node Target Volume Based on the Position of the Internal Mammary Sentinel Lymph Nodes Presented on SPECT/CT Fusion Images.

Mapping the distribution of internal mammary sentinel lymph nodes (IM-SLNs) presented on single photon emission computed tomography in conjunction with computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images to explore the value of IM-SLN to guide tailored clinical target volume (CTV) delineation of postoperative prophylactic IMNI. Ninety-seven patients who underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy by SPECT/CT and had imaging of IM-SLN were selected in this study. The imaging IM-SLNs on SPECT/CT of eligible patients were projected onto corresponding anatomical positions of a representative axial CT image.

[Effects of sustained military physical related activity on balance ability].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of sustained military physical related activity on balance abilities and the role of visual system in it, so as to provide the basis for precise training.

Methods: Fifty-four healthy males (age: 20.28±3.

Time-Course Responses of Muscle-Specific MicroRNAs Following Acute Uphill or Downhill Exercise in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

The physiological characteristics and acute responses underpinning uphill running differ from those of downhill running and remain less understood. This study aimed to evaluate time-course changes of muscle-specific microRNA (miRNA) responses in striated muscle or circulation in response to uphill and downhill running. Male Sprague-Dawley rats ( = 84) were randomly assigned to a sedentary group ( = 12) and an exercise group ( = 72).

Changes in cardiac volume determined with repeated enhanced 4DCT during chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is considered curative intent treatment for patients with non-operative esophageal cancer. Radiation-induced heart damage receives much attention. We performed repeated four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) to detect changes in cardiac volume during radiotherapy for esophageal cancer patients, and explored potential factors responsible for those changes.

Exosomes in the Oncobiology, Diagnosis, and Therapy of Hepatic Carcinoma: A New Player of an Old Game.

Exosomes are emerging as essential vehicles mediated cross-talk between different types of cells in tumor microenvironment. The extensive exploration of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) enhances our comprehension of cancer biology referring to tumor growth, metastasis, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. Besides, the versatile roles of exosomes provide reasonable explanations for the propensity for liver metastasis of gastric cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.

PNPLA3 rs738409 underlies treatment response in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has now become the leading cause of chronic liver disease with its growing incidence worldwide. Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 C > G reflects one of the critical genetic factors that confers high-risk to NAFLD. However, the role of PNPLA3 polymorphism in NAFLD treatment remains uncertain.

Comparison of gross tumor volume of primary oesophageal cancer based on contrast-enhanced three-dimensional, four-dimensional, and cone beam computed tomography.

Background: To explore motion information included in 3DCT, 4DCT and CBCT by comparing volumetric and positional differences of GTV.

Results: Independent of tumor location, significant differences were observed among volumes [IGTV > (IGTV or IGTV) > (GTV or GTV)]. The underestimations or overestimations between IGTV and IGTV were larger than those between IGTV and IGTV ( < 0.

Inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase and depletion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide contribute to arsenic trioxide suppression of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Emerging evidence suggests that increased nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) expression is associated with the development and prognosis of many cancers, but it remains unknown regarding its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In the present study, the results from tissue microarray showed that NAMPT was overexpressed in OSCC patients and its expression level was directly correlated with differential grades of cancer. Interestingly, treatment of OSCC cells with chemotherapy agent arsenic trioxide (ATO) decreased the levels of NAMPT protein and increased cellular death in an ATO dose- and time-dependent manner.

Upregulation and biological function of transmembrane protein 119 in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is suggested to be caused by genetic and molecular alterations that disrupt osteoblast differentiation. Recent studies have reported that transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119) contributes to osteoblast differentiation and bone development. However, the level of TMEM119 expression and its roles in osteosarcoma have not yet been elucidated.

Effects of Hot-Pressure Extraction Time on Composition and Gelatin Properties of Chicken Bone Extracts.

Hot-pressure extraction was utilized in this study to extract proteins from chicken bones at 130 °C. The obtained extracts were further used to prepare gelatin gels. Results demonstrated that the extraction time can significantly affect the composition of the chicken bone extracts (P < 0.

Safety assessment of Maillard reaction products of chicken bone hydrolysate using Sprague-Dawley rats.

Background: The Maillard reaction products of chicken bone hydrolysate (MRPB) containing 38% protein, which is a derived product from chicken bone, is usually used as a flavor enhancer or food ingredient. In the face of a paucity of reported data regarding the safety profile of controversial Maillard reaction products, the potential health effects of MRPB were evaluated in a subchronic rodent feeding study.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (SD, 5/sex/group) were administered diets containing 9, 3, 1, or 0% of MRPB derived from chicken bone for 13 weeks.

Effect of contrast enhancement in delineating GTV and constructing IGTV of thoracic oesophageal cancer based on 4D-CT scans.

Objective: To investigate the effect of contrast enhancement on delineating the gross tumour volumes (GTVs) of different respiratory phases and constructing the corresponding internal GTVs (IGTVs) of primary thoracic oesophageal cancer based on four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) scans.

Methods: Forty-five patients with upper (14 cases), middle (16 cases), or lower (15 cases) thoracic oesophageal cancer sequentially underwent conventional plain and contrast-enhanced 4D-CT scans during free breathing. First, the GTVs were delineated on plain 4D-CT, and the corresponding IGTVs were constructed by a physician.

Preparation of Substrate for Flavorant from Chicken Bone Residue with Hot-Pressure Process.

Hot-pressure extraction (HPE), which is regarded as a "green" technology, was applied to extract nutrients (protein, collagen, and minerals) from chicken bone residue (CBR). Amino acids (AA), color, and volatile flavor compounds of chicken bone extract (CBE) were also investigated. Results showed that contents of protein, total soluble solids, minerals, and collagen of CBE were positively correlated with extraction time and temperature.

Flavor compounds and sensory profiles of a novel Chinese marinated chicken.

Background: Marinating is a Chinese traditional meat-processing method using aged brine that brings popular flavor together with food safety issues. In this study a novel method named quantitative marinating (QM) was developed to improve Chinese traditional marinating (TM). Flavor compounds and sensory profiles of two marinated products were determined to verify if the improved marinating method could maintain the characteristic flavors of TM.

Changes in tumour volume and motion during radiotherapy for thoracic oesophageal cancer.

Background And Purpose: Variations of target volume and position were important factors in correction of radiotherapy planning. The purpose was to investigate the changes in volume and motion of oesophageal cancer during radiotherapy using four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT).

Methods And Materials: In total, 109 enhanced 4D-CT data sets were acquired for 38 patients throughout treatment.

Changes of flavor compounds of hydrolyzed chicken bone extracts during Maillard reaction.

Flavor quality, including non-volatile and volatile compounds, of hydrolyzed chicken bone extracts (HCBE) during Maillard reaction (MR) was evaluated with HPLC, tasting sensory system, Electronic-Nose (E-nose), and GC-MS. Results showed that flavor amino acids (AA) accounted for 72% to 74% of total free AA in HCBE. Taste of umami increased first and then decreased during MR, while equivalent umami concentration remained at a stable level.