Improved Value of Multiplexed Sensitivity Encoding DWI with Reversed Polarity Gradients in Diagnosing Prostate Cancer: A Comparison Study with Single-Shot DWI and MUSE DWI.

Rationale And Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the value of multiplexed sensitivity encoding with reversed polarity gradients in improving the quality of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) images of the prostate and the diagnostic efficacy of prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three patients with prostate disease underwent multiplexed sensitivity encoding with reversed polarity gradients (RPG-MUSE), multiplexed sensitivity encoding (MUSE), and single-shot echo-planar imaging (ssEPI) DWI. Three radiologists performed a qualitative image analysis of the three DWI sequences.

Association of culprit plaque enhancement ratio, hypoperfusion and HbA1c with recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atherosclerotic stenosis of the middle cerebral artery.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in intracranial culprit plaque characteristics of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), collateral circulation and hypoperfusion in patients with and without recurrent ischemic stroke and to identify the association with the recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Method: Eighty-six patients with acute/subacute ischemic stroke caused by atherosclerotic plaques of the MCA were retrospectively enrolled and grouped into patients with recurrence (n = 36) and without recurrence (n = 50). All patients underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion weighted imaging.

Online decision tools for personalized survival prediction and treatment optimization in elderly patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Despite major advances in cancer therapeutics, the therapeutic options of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC)-specific remain limited. Furthermore, the current staging system is imperfect for defining a prognosis and guiding treatment due to its simplicity and heterogeneity. We sought to develop prognostic decision tools for individualized survival prediction and treatment optimization in elderly patients with LSCC.

Isolation and insecticidal activities of new cyclic peptides from mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-4QQY1a.

An investigation on bioactive metabolites from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. GXNU-4QQY1a led to the isolation of two undescribed cyclic peptides, guaspertide A (1) and guaspertide B (2), together with six known compounds, 3-8. These structures and the new compounds' absolute configuration were determined by mass spectrometry analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum, electronic circular dichroism, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

A New Process for Efficient Recovery of Rhodium from Spent Carbonyl Rhodium Catalyst by Microreactor.

Triphenylphosphine acetylacetone carbonyl rhodium (ROPAC) is an important catalyst in the petrochemical industry, and its deactivated waste catalyst holds significant value for recovery. This study focuses on the existing forms of rhodium (Rh) in waste catalysts and the current status of traditional processes. A green, efficient, and continuous recovery technique was developed using a sealed stainless steel microchannel reactor.

Anisotropic magnetoresistance and electronic features of the candidate topological compound praseodymium monobismuthide.

PrBi, a sister member of the rare-earth monopnictide family, is an excellent candidate for studying extreme magnetoresistance and nontrivial topological electronic states. In this study, we perform angular magnetoresistance measurements as well as bulk and surface band structure calculations on this compound. PrBi's magnetoresistance is revealed to be significantly angle-dependent and shows a fourfold symmetry as always observed in the nonmagnetic isostructural counterparts, including LaSb, LaBi, and LuBi.

A biocatalytic platform for asymmetric alkylation of α-keto acids by mining and engineering of methyltransferases.

Catalytic asymmetric α-alkylation of carbonyl compounds represents a long-standing challenge in synthetic organic chemistry. Herein, we advance a dual biocatalytic platform for the efficient asymmetric alkylation of α-keto acids. First, guided by our recently obtained crystal structures, we develop SgvM as a general biocatalyst for the enantioselective methylation, ethylation, allylation and propargylation of a range of α-keto acids with total turnover numbers (TTNs) up to 4,600.

Decoupling Electrochromism and Energy Storage for Flexible Quasi-Solid-State Aqueous Electrochromic Batteries with High Energy Density.

Currently, reported aqueous electrochromic batteries (ECBs) show only limited capacity with insufficient energy density and power density. Such a limitation is naturally imposed by the rationale that the cathode of ECBs stores charge by an ion intercalation/deintercalation mechanism, where the inherent inhibition of ion diffusion and structural collapse of cathode materials through repetitive charge/discharge cycles lead to low areal capacity and unsatisfactory electrochemical performance with short lifetime. Herein, we decouple the dual functions of electrochromism and energy storage in conventional cathodes of ECBs by introducing a polyaniline/triiodide composite cathode that is formed by direct electrolysis of an iodide-based quasi-solid-state aqueous electrolyte during charging.

Multiple regulatory roles of the transfer RNA-derived small RNAs in cancers.

With the development of sequencing technology, transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have received extensive attention as a new type of small noncoding RNAs. Based on the differences in the cleavage sites of nucleases on tRNAs, tsRNAs can be divided into two categories, tRNA halves (tiRNAs) and tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), each with specific subcellular localizations. Additionally, the biogenesis of tsRNAs is tissue-specific and can be regulated by tRNA modifications.

Spatiotemporally Controllable Electrical Stimulator via Independent Photobending and Upconversion Photoluminescence Using Two Different Wavelengths of Near-Infrared/Visible Light as Dual Stimuli.

Multistimuli responsive materials are advantageous in that they can enhance the desired response or bypass unwanted reactions. Light is one of the most attractive stimuli since it allows remote spatiotemporal control and multiplexing of properties (e.g.

New mechanisms and biomarkers of lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer: reflections from plasma proteomics.

Objective: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) and lymphatic vasculature space infiltration (LVSI) in cervical cancer patients indicate a poor prognosis, but satisfactory methods for diagnosing these phenotypes are lacking. This study aimed to find new effective plasma biomarkers of LNM and LVSI as well as possible mechanisms underlying LNM and LVSI through data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteome sequencing.

Methods: A total of 20 cervical cancer plasma samples, including 7 LNM-/LVSI-(NC), 4 LNM-/LVSI + (LVSI) and 9 LNM + /LVSI + (LNM) samples from a cohort, were subjected to DIA to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) for LVSI and LNM.

Combined Treatment of and Mori Cortex Radicis Ameliorate Obesity in Mice via UCP-1 in Brown Adipocytes.

Mori Folium ( leaf, MF) and Mori Cortex Radicis ( root cortex, MR) have been studied for their anti-obesity effects by enhancing the browning process and inhibiting adipogenesis. However, important aspects of their protective mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated, which could aid in developing functional food. Thus, this study aims to determine the synergistic effects of MF and MR against obesity and its associated mechanisms.

Hsa_circ_0001479 accelerates tumorigenesis of gastric cancer and mediates immune escape.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common fatal malignant tumor of the digestive tract, particularly in Asia. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been proved to regulate malignancy progression and immunotherapeutic efficacy in multiple tumors, including GC. Notably, the function of circRNAs in GC has not been completely revealed.

Enhanced mitochondrial buffering prevents Ca overload in naked mole-rat brain.

Deleterious Ca accumulation is central to hypoxic cell death in the brain of most mammals. Conversely, hypoxia-mediated increases in cytosolic Ca are retarded in hypoxia-tolerant naked mole-rat brain. We hypothesized that naked mole-rat brain mitochondria have an enhanced capacity to buffer exogenous Ca and examined Ca handling in naked mole-rat cortical tissue.

Best-Fit Circle for the Replication of Humeral Head Anatomy in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Background: Anatomic restoration of the humeral head is critical for successful shoulder replacement. Accurate measurements of the humeral head are essential for anatomic substitution.

Purpose: To evaluate whether a best-fit circle of the humeral head, as determined from different projections of plain radiographs, can predict the humeral head implant size for either the left or right shoulder.

MRI-Based Radiomics and Deep Learning in Biological Characteristics and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Opportunities and Challenges.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC exhibits strong inter-tumor heterogeneity, with different biological characteristics closely associated with prognosis. In addition, patients with HCC often distribute at different stages and require diverse treatment options at each stage.

Reversion of liver cirrhosis after endovascular treatment in Chinese patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Aims: To investigate the impact of endovascular (EV) treatment on liver cirrhosis in Chinese patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).

Methods: From September 2011 to March 2022, 97 patients from four hospitals in China who were diagnosed with primary BCS complicated with liver cirrhosis and received EV treatment were retrospectively enrolled in this study for clinical analysis. In addition, liver tissues for basic research were acquired from 25 patients between June 2022 and March 2023, including six with benign liver tumors, 11 with BCS before EV treatment, and eight with EV-treated BCS.

Evaluation of vertical distribution characteristics of microplastics under 20 μm in lake and river waters in South Korea.

Following the alarming reports of microplastic pollution in the marine environment, increased attention has been given to microplastics in other environmental media. Despite the attention, there is limited research available on the depth-distribution of microplastics in freshwater. Specifically, in the case of water sources used for drinking or tap, the height of intake facilities varies, and it is highly likely that there is a correlation between the vertical distribution of microplastics and these water intake structures.

Association between discrimination in the workplace and insomnia symptoms.

Background: In Korea, little research has focused on the relationship between discrimination in the workplace and sleep health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the association between such discriminatory experiences and insomnia, a common sleep disorder, using Korean employees' data.

Methods: This study used data from the 6th Korea Working Conditions Survey.

Reconfigurable Manipulation of Oxygen Content on Metal Oxide Surfaces and Applications to Gas Sensing.

Oxygen vacancies and adsorbed oxygen species on metal oxide surfaces play important roles in various fields. However, existing methods for manipulating surface oxygen require severe settings and are ineffective for repetitive manipulation. We present a method to manipulate the amount of surface oxygen by modifying the oxygen adsorption energy by electrically controlling the electron concentration of the metal oxide.

Conservation of the enzyme-like activity and biocompatibility of CeO nanozymes in simulated body fluids.

Cerium oxide nanozymes (CeONZs) are attracting vast attention due to their antioxidant and catalytic properties and mimic the activities of multiple endogenous enzymes. However, as is the case for nanomedicines in general, the success in showing their unique medical applications has not been matched by an understanding of their pharmacokinetics, which is delaying their implementation in clinical settings. Furthermore, the data of their modifications in body fluids and the impact on their activity are scarce.

GIRK2 potassium channels expressed by the AgRP neurons decrease adiposity and body weight in mice.

It is well known that the neuropeptide Y (NPY)/agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons increase appetite and decrease thermogenesis. Previous studies demonstrated that optogenetic and/or chemogenetic manipulations of NPY/AgRP neuronal activity alter food intake and/or energy expenditure (EE). However, little is known about intrinsic molecules regulating NPY/AgRP neuronal excitability to affect long-term metabolic function.

Predicting post-resection recurrence by integrating imaging-based surrogates of distinct vascular patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Distinct vascular patterns, including microvascular invasion (MVI) and vessels encapsulating tumour clusters (VETC), are associated with poor outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Imaging surrogates of these vascular patterns potentially help to predict post-resection recurrence. Herein, a prognostic model integrating imaging-based surrogates of these distinct vascular patterns was developed to predict postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with HCC.

Serum tRF-27-FDXXE6XRK45 as a Promising Biomarker for the Clinical Diagnosis in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) has high morbidity and mortality due to inefficient early screening. Therefore, we are searching for more sensitive and specific diagnostic markers for GC. tRNA-derived small RNAs are novel non-coding small RNAs with good abundance and stable presence in body fluids, which may play multiple biological regulatory roles.

Risk factors for at-risk foot and peripheral artery disease among the population with diabetes: A multicommunity-based cross-sectional study.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and influence factors of the at-risk foot with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This study included 3030 DM patients from the at-risk foot screening program of Shanghai in China between March 21 and April 30 in 2021. Data were collected from the questionnaire survey, physical examination, and fasting blood sample.