Numerical modeling and validation of combination embolization-ablation therapy in the liver using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI.

Combination transarterial embolization and ablation is an increasingly common strategy for treating solitary, non-resectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) greater than 3 cm in size. However, manufacturer guidelines do not provide information as to the size of the ablation zone after embolization. This can put the patient at risk for inadvertent thermal damage to nearby anatomy such as the liver capsule, biliary ducts, diaphragm, and body wall.

Multi-attention Mechanism for Enhanced Pseudo-3D Prostate Zonal Segmentation.

This study presents a novel pseudo-3D Global-Local Channel Spatial Attention (GLCSA) mechanism designed to enhance prostate zonal segmentation in high-resolution T2-weighted MRI images. GLCSA captures complex, multi-dimensional features while maintaining computational efficiency by integrating global and local attention in channel and spatial domains, complemented by a slice interaction module simulating 3D processing. Applied across various U-Net architectures, GLCSA was evaluated on two datasets: a proprietary set of 44 patients and the public ProstateX dataset of 204 patients.

Changes in optic nerve head microvasculature following disc hemorrhage absorption in glaucomatous eyes.

This study investigated the changes in optic nerve head (ONH) microvasculature, circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness, and visual field (VF) sensitivity following the absorption of optic disc hemorrhage (DH). Intradisc vessel density (dVD) was calculated using a 3 × 3 mm optic disc scan in 60 eyes of 60 patients with primary open angle glaucoma and DH who had undergone two or more swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography exams. Clinical parameters at the time of DH occurrence and after absorption, as well as those between the subgroups based on DH recurrence and location, were compared.

Factors Associated with Lamina Cribrosa Microvasculature Determined via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Prcis: The lamina cribrosa microvasculature reduction was associated with the posterior deformation of lamina cribrosa, as well as the functional deterioration, in all spectrums of open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the factors associated with the lamina cribrosa vessel density (LCVD) determined via swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA).

Materials And Methods: The optic nerve head (ONH) scan was obtained using SS-OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.

Advancing alternative methods to reduce animal testing.

Emerging approaches show promise for regulatory use.

Correction: Kim et al. Neuroprotective Effect of Statins in a Rat Model of Chronic Ocular Hypertension. 2021, , 12500.

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On-chip human lymph node stromal network for evaluating dendritic cell and T-cell trafficking.

The lymph node paracortex, also known as the T-cell zone, consists of a network of fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) that secrete chemokines to induce T-cell and dendritic cell (DC) trafficking into the paracortex. To model the lymph node paracortex, we utilize multi-channel microfluidic devices to engineer a 3D lymph node stromal network from human cultured FRCs embedded in a collagen I-fibrin hydrogel. In the hydrogel, the FRCs self-assemble into an interconnected network, secrete the extracellular matrix proteins entactin, collagen IV, and fibronectin, as well as express an array of immune cell trafficking chemokines.

Changes in Iridotrabecular Contact and Intraocular Pressure after Phacoemulsification in Primary Angle-Closure Disease Spectrum.

Purpose: To compare changes in the swept-source (SS) anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) parameters and intraocular pressure (IOP) control after lens extraction in various spectra of primary angle-closure disease (PACD).

Methods: A total 92 eyes from 92 patients with PACD who underwent lens extraction were included in the study. All patients underwent IOP measurement preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

Potential value of animal microphysiological systems.

Microphysiological systems (MPS) are designed to recapitulate aspects of tissue/organ physiology in vivo, thereby providing potential value in safety and efficacy assessments of FDA-regulated products and regulatory decision-making. While there have been significant advances in the development, use, and proposals of qualification criteria for human organ MPS, there remains a gap in the development using animal tissues. Animal MPS may be of value in many areas including the study of zoonotic diseases, assessment of the safety and efficacy of animal therapeutics, and possibly reduction of the use of animals in regulatory submissions for animal therapeutics.

Anterior Chamber Angle and Intraocular Pressure Control After Phacoemulsification in Primary Angle Closure With Different Mechanisms.

Prcis: Different mechanisms of angle closure represented distinct aspects of intraocular pressure (IOP) control after phacoemulsification. Classification of angle closure mechanisms is necessary for postoperative IOP management and glaucoma progression in primary angle closure eyes.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the anterior chamber angle (ACA) characteristics, measured by swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS AS-OCT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) control after phacoemulsification in eyes with primary angle closure disease (PACD) with different angle closure mechanisms.

From animal testing to systems: advancing standardization in microphysiological systems.

Limitations with cell cultures and experimental animal-based studies have had the scientific and industrial communities searching for new approaches that can provide reliable human models for applications such as drug development, toxicological assessment, and pre-clinical evaluation. This has resulted in the development of microfluidic-based cultures that may better represent organs and organ systems than conventional monolayer cell cultures. Although there is considerable interest from industry and regulatory bodies in this technology, several challenges need to be addressed for it to reach its full potential.

Progress in developing microphysiological systems for biological product assessment.

Microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as miniaturized physiological environments, have been engineered to create and study functional tissue units capable of replicating organ-level responses in specific contexts. The MPS has the potential to provide insights about the safety, characterization, and effectiveness of medical products that are different and complementary to insights gained from traditional testing systems, which can help facilitate the transition of potential medical products from preclinical phases to clinical trials, and eventually to market. While many MPS are versatile and can be used in various applications, most of the current applications have primarily focused on drug discovery and testing.

Modulation of TRPV4-mediated TNF-α expression in Müller glia and subsequent RGC apoptosis by statins.

In addition to regulating cholesterol synthesis, statins have neuroprotective effects. Apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) causes a gradual loss of visual function in glaucoma. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of statins on the RGC apoptosis induced by activated Müller glia.

Modeling immunity in microphysiological systems.

There is a need for better predictive models of the human immune system to evaluate safety and efficacy of immunomodulatory drugs and biologics for successful product development and regulatory approvals. Current models, which are often tested in two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture polystyrene, and preclinical animal models fail to fully recapitulate the function and physiology of the human immune system. Microphysiological systems (MPSs) that can model key microenvironment cues of the human immune system, as well as of specific organs and tissues, may be able to recapitulate specific features of the inflammatory response.

Topographic comparison of the retinal microvascular changes between patients with compressive and glaucomatous optic neuropathies.

We investigated the difference in optical coherence tomography angiography characteristics between the patients with compressive optic neuropathy (CON, n = 26) and glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON, n = 26), who were matched for the severity of visual field defect. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the nasal and temporal sectors was thinner in the CON group, whereas the inferior pRNFL thickness was thinner in the GON group. Accordingly, the CON group had lower peripapillary vessel density (pVD) in the nasal and temporal sectors, and the GON group in the inferior sector.

Evaluation of a microphysiological human placental barrier model for studying placental drug transfer.

Understanding drug transport across the placental barrier is important for assessing the potential fetal drug toxicity and birth defect risks. Current in vivo and in vitro models have structural and functional limitations in evaluating placental drug transfer and toxicity. Microphysiological systems (MPSs) offer more accurate and relevant physiological models of human tissues and organs on a miniature scale for drug development and toxicology testing.

Assessment of growing condition variables on alfalfa productivity.

This study was conducted to assess the impact of growing condition variables on alfalfa ( L.) productivity. A total of 197 alfalfa yield results were acquired from the alfalfa field trials conducted by the South Korean National Agricultural Cooperative Federation or Rural Development Administration between 1983 and 2008.

Progressive Changes in the Anterior Segment and Their Impact on the Anterior Chamber Angle in Primary Angle Closure Disease.

Purpose: To investigate longitudinal changes in the anterior segment (AS) using serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and determine the impact of these changes on the anterior chamber angle (ACA) in eyes with primary angle closure disease (PACD) treated with laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI).

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: This study included 103 patients with PACD who underwent LPI and were followed up by a mean 6.

Association Between Optic Disc Perfusion Determined by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma.

Prcis: Reduced optic disc vessel density determined by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) was associated with visual field (VF) deterioration in glaucomatous eyes, which suggested that this parameter can be a potential biomarker that correlates well with functional deterioration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between optic disc perfusion evaluated by SS-OCTA and VF progression in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes.

Methods: A total of 266 POAG eyes of 266 patients (5.

Rate of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning in Glaucomatous Eyes With Optic Disc and Parapapillary Deep-Layer Microvasculature Loss.

Prcis: Microvasculature dropout in the parapapillary choroidal layer was a more important biomarker of glaucomatous nerve fiber layer thinning when it presented with deep-layer microvasculature of the optic disc rather than when it presents by itself.

Purpose: To characterize open angle glaucoma eyes with optic nerve head deep-layer microvasculature dropout (MvD-D) and parapapillary choroidal layer microvasculature dropout (MvD-P) and compare their retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning rate.

Material And Methods: This study included 122 open angle glaucoma eyes that underwent ≥5 serial spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans during a mean follow-up of 5.

Characterizing On-Chip Angiogenesis Induction in a Microphysiological System as a Functional Measure of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Bioactivity.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) continue to be proposed for clinical investigation to treat myriad diseases given their purported potential to stimulate endogenous regenerative processes, such as angiogenesis. However, MSC functional heterogeneity has hindered clinical success and still poses a substantial manufacturing challenge from a product quality control perspective. Here, a quantitative bioassay based on an enhanced-throughput is described, microphysiological system (MPS) to measure the specific bioactivity of MSCs to stimulate angiogenesis as a potential measure of MSC potency.

Change of Choroidal Microvasculature Dropout After Trabeculectomy as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Prcis: Reduction in the angular circumference of choroidal microvascular dropout (CMvD AC) was found in POAG patients after trabeculectomy. Greater percentage of IOP reduction was significantly associated with decreased CMvD AC.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of choroidal microvasculature dropout (CMvD) after trabeculectomy and its associated factors in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of the Retinal Circulation Following Trabeculectomy for Glaucoma.

Prcis: Despite successful trabeculectomy, eyes with similar levels of peripapillary and macular vessel densities but with worse preoperative visual field mean deviations may experience functional and vascular decline after surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal microcirculation change after trabeculectomy according to glaucoma severity using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: We enrolled 59 eyes of primary open angle glaucoma patients who underwent trabeculectomy.