Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 is a significant genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's Disease and appears to be closely related with brain amyloidosis. Current identification methods for APOE ε4 carriers are mostly based on genotyping which cannot always predict the specific ApoE protein isoform. We present a case study of a sample with a discordant result for genotype compared to the protein isoform (proteotype) and we reflect on possible implications for future applications.

Predictive model using autism diagnostic observation schedule, second edition for differential diagnosis between schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Although schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are currently conceptualized as distinct disorders, the similarity in their symptoms often makes differential diagnosis difficult. This study aimed to identify similarities and differences in the symptoms of schizophrenia and ASD to establish a more useful and objective differential diagnostic method and to identify ASD traits in participants with schizophrenia.

Methods: A total of 40 participants with schizophrenia (13 females, mean age: 34 ± 11 years) and 50 participants with ASD (15 females, mean age: 34 ± 8 years) were evaluated using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) and other clinical measures.

Automated chest CT three-dimensional quantification of body composition: adipose tissue and paravertebral muscle.

This retrospective study developed an automated algorithm for 3D segmentation of adipose tissue and paravertebral muscle on chest CT using artificial intelligence (AI) and assessed its feasibility. The study included patients from the Boston Lung Cancer Study (2000-2011). For adipose tissue quantification, 77 patients were included, while 245 were used for muscle quantification.

Safety and preliminary efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on chronic knee pain: A pilot trial.

Objective: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation () may be an innovative treatment for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) due to possible shared pathological mechanisms between diminished parasympathetic function, central pain mechanisms, and knee pain. Thus, we sought to test the safety and preliminary efficacy of tVNS in people with knee OA.

Design: A pilot trial in which participants received a 60-min tVNS was conducted.

Clinical usefulness of an ultra-high-sensitivity hepatitis B surface antigen assay to determine the cessation of treatment for HBV reactivation.

Introduction And Objectives: We aimed to compare the usefulness of the ultra-high-sensitivity hepatitis B surface antigen (iTACT-HBsAg), high-sensitivity hepatitis B core-related antigen (iTACT-HBcrAg), and anti-HBs assays in determination of cessation of nucleot(s)ide analogue (NA) treatment to prevent against hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two patients who developed HBV reactivation under immunosuppressive therapy or chemotherapy and had been administered NA and subsequently discontinued were enrolled. The stored serum samples taken at NA cessation were applied to iTACT-HBsAg (lower limit of detection; 0.