The Role of Liver Stiffness Measurement and Spleen Stiffness Measurement in Predicting the Risk of Developing HCC.

Background/objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cause of cancer worldwide. More than 90% of cases occur in cirrhotic patients, with the degree of fibrosis being the main risk factor for the development of HCC. Liver biopsy is the gold-standard for fibrosis assessment, but it is an invasive procedure.

Isoquinolinequinone N-oxides with diverging mechanisms of action induce collateral sensitivity against multidrug resistant cancer cells.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in cancer research. Collateral sensitizers, compounds that exploit the enhanced defense mechanisms of MDR cells as weaknesses, are a proposed strategy to overcome MDR. Our previous work reported the synthesis of two novel Isoquinolinequinone (IQQ) N-oxides that induce collateral sensitivity in MDR ABCB1-overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer cells.

Artificial Intelligence and Colposcopy: Automatic Identification of Vaginal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Precursors.

: While human papillomavirus (HPV) is well known for its role in cervical cancer, it also affects vaginal cancers. Although colposcopy offers a comprehensive examination of the female genital tract, its diagnostic accuracy remains suboptimal. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) could enhance the cost-effectiveness of colposcopy, but no AI models specifically differentiate low-grade (LSILs) and high-grade (HSILs) squamous intraepithelial lesions in the vagina.

Discovery of Potent Isoquinolinequinone -Oxides to Overcome Cancer Multidrug Resistance.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of human tumors has resulted in an immediate need to develop appropriate new drugs. This work outlines the development of 20 potent IQQ -oxide derivatives in two isomeric families, both exhibiting nanomolar GI against human tumor cell lines. Preliminary NCI-60 tumor screening sees the C(6) isomers achieve a mean GI > 2 times lower than the corresponding C(7) isomers.

Towards a practical threat assessment methodology for crop landraces.

Crop landraces (LR), the traditional varieties of crops that have been maintained for millennia by repeated cycles of planting, harvesting, and selection, are genetically diverse compared to more modern varieties and provide one of the key components for crop improvement due to the ease of trait transfer within the crop species. However, LR diversity is increasingly threatened with genetic erosion and extinction by replacement with improved cultivars, lack of incentives for farmers to maintain traditional agricultural systems, and rising threats from climate change. Their active conservation is necessary to maintain this critical resource.

Trimethylamine increases intestinal fatty acid absorption: studies in a Caco-2 cell culture system.

Although elevated blood levels of trimethylamine -oxide (TMAO) have been associated with atherosclerosis development in humans, the role of its gut microbiota-derived precursor, TMA, in this process has not been yet deciphered. Taking this into account, and the fact that increased intestinal fatty acid absorption contributes to atherosclerosis onset and progression, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of TMA on fatty acid absorption in a cell line that mimics human enterocytes. Caco-2 cells were treated with TMA 250 μM for 24 h.

IPA and its precursors differently modulate the proliferation, differentiation, and integrity of intestinal epithelial cells.

Background/objectives: Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) is a tryptophan-derived microbial metabolite that has been associated with protective effects against inflammatory and metabolic diseases. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of IPA under physiological conditions and at the intestinal level.

Materials/methods: Human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells were treated for 2, 24, and/or 72 h with IPA or its precursors - indole, tryptophan, and propionate - at 1, 10, 100, 250, or 500 μM to assess cell viability, integrity, differentiation, and proliferation.

Hexose transport in Torulaspora delbrueckii: identification of Igt1, a new dual-affinity transporter.

Torulaspora delbrueckii is a yeast species receiving increasing attention from the biotechnology industry, with particular relevance in the wine, beer and baking sectors. However, little is known about its sugar transporters and sugar transport capacity, frequently a rate-limiting step of sugar metabolism and efficient fermentation. Actually, only one glucose transporter, Lgt1, has been characterized so far.

Designer Nucleases: Gene-Editing Therapies using CCR5 as an Emerging Target in HIV.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a life-threatening disorder that persists worldwide as a severe health problem. Since it was linked with the HIV attachment process, the Chemokine receptor, CCR5, has been at the development leading edge of several gene-based therapies. Given the shortcomings of the current antiretroviral treatment procedure and the non-availability of a licensed vaccine, the aptitude to modify complex genomes with Designer Nucleases has had a noteworthy impact on biotechnology.

Independent and Combined Effects of Sex and Biological Maturation on Motor Coordination and Performance in Prepubertal Children.

Sex differences and maturation-associated variation in fitness and motor coordination were examined in children aged 8-9 years (n = 128, 67 girls). Assessments included stature and body mass, two-component body composition, percentage of predicted adult stature (as an index of biological maturation), and motor performance and coordination (Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder). Compared to girls, boys were less advanced in maturation status, possessed larger fat mass, demonstrated superior performances in six tests of fitness, and obtained one superior score on the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder.

Rosmarinic acid, major phenolic constituent of Greek sage herbal tea, modulates rat intestinal SGLT1 levels with effects on blood glucose.

Scope: Previous results suggested that the effects of Salvia fruticosa tea (SFT) drinking on glucose regulation might be at the intestinal level. Here we aim to characterize the effects of SFT treatment and of its main phenolic constituent--rosmarinic acid (RA)--on the levels and localization of the intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter-1 (SGLT1), the facilitative glucose transporter 2 and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Methods And Results: Two models of SGLT1 induction in rats were used: through diabetes induction with streptozotocin (STZ) and through dietary carbohydrate manipulation.

Improved gene disruption method for Torulaspora delbrueckii.

PCR-based disruption cassettes are one of the most commonly used strategies for gene targeting in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The efficiencies of gene disruption using this conventional method are highly variable among species, and often quite low with nonconventional yeasts. Here we describe an improved strategy to obtain deletion mutants in baker's yeast Torulaspora delbrueckii, one of the most abundant non-Saccharomyces species, present in home-made corn and rye bread dough.

Physical activity and neighborhood resources in high school girls.

Background: Physical activity behavior is influenced by a person's physical environment, but few studies have used objective measures to study the influences of the physical environment on physical activity behavior in youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected neighborhood physical activity resources and physical activity levels in high school girls.

Methods: Participants were students in schools that had participated in a large physical activity intervention trial.

Towards an understanding of salient neighborhood boundaries: adolescent reports of an easy walking distance and convenient driving distance.

Numerous studies have examined the association between the surrounding neighborhood environment and physical activity levels in adolescents. Many of these studies use a road network buffer or Euclidean distance buffer around an adolescent's home to represent the appropriate geographic area for study (i.e.

[Congenital and acquired hemiplegia in children: epileptic crisis and eletrencephalografic signs].

Purpose: The aim of the study is to compare the presence or absence of seizures and their relationship with the electroencephalographic findings in children with congenital and acquired hemiplegia.

Methods: 35 children with congenital and acquired hemiplegia were studied by clinical and electroencephalographic features. We analyzed the frequency and seizures severity and their relationship between the background activity and epileptogenic discharges in the electroencephalogram (EEG).

Factorial validity and invariance of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire among black and white adolescent girls.

Meaningful comparison of physical self-concept among racial or ethnic groups requires that the measurement instruments used have equivalent measurement properties. We tested the factorial validity and invariance of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) among Black (n = 658) and White (n = 479) adolescent girls in the 12th grade. Construct validity was examined by estimating correlations between PSDQ subscales and external criteria (physical activity, physical fitness, body mass index [BMI], and participation in sports).

Commercial venues as supports for physical activity in adolescent girls.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to describe the types and availability of commercial facilities for physical activity (PA) in six diverse geographic areas (Washington DC and Maryland; South Carolina; Minnesota; Louisiana; Arizona; and California) and to assess the relationship between those facilities and the non-school PA of adolescent girls.

Methods: A total of 1556 6th grade girls participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) wore accelerometers for 7 days providing 6 days of complete data, completed questionnaires in 2003 and had their residential addresses geocoded. Nearby commercial facilities available to provide PA (i.

Validation and calibration of an accelerometer in preschool children.

Objective: Obesity rates in young children are increasing, and decreased physical activity is likely to be a major contributor to this trend. Studies of physical activity in young children are limited by the lack of valid and acceptable measures. The purpose of this study was to calibrate and validate the ActiGraph accelerometer for use with 3- to 5-year-old children.

Validation and calibration of the Actical accelerometer in preschool children.

Purpose: Decreased physical activity (PA) is likely a contributor to the rising prevalence of obesity in children. Lack of valid and acceptable measures of PA has been an issue in studies involving young children. The Actical accelerometer is a promising tool for measurement of PA in young children.

Freeze tolerance of the yeast Torulaspora delbrueckii: cellular and biochemical basis.

The freeze stress responses to prolonged storage at -20 degrees C in Torulaspora delbrueckii PYCC5323 were investigated. In this yeast, no loss of cell viability was observed for at least 120 days during freezing at -20 degrees C, whereas a loss of 80% was observed in a commercial baker's yeast after 15 days. In the former strain, freeze resistance was dependent on an adaptation process.

Raloxifene is not associated with biologically relevant changes in hot flushes in postmenopausal women for whom therapy is appropriate.

Objectives: Raloxifene is approved for the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Previous studies have described a raloxifene-associated increase in hot flushes, reported as adverse events. This study was undertaken to provide a detailed evaluation of the potential of raloxifene to induce or exacerbate hot flushes in postmenopausal women.