Advancing microvascular invasion diagnosis: a multi-center investigation of novel MRI-based models for precise detection and classification in early-stage small hepatocellular carcinoma (≤ 3 cm).

Purpose: This study aimed to develop two preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based models for detecting and classifying microvascular invasion (MVI) in early-stage small hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC) patients.

Methods: MVI is graded as M0 (no invasion), M1 (invasion of five or fewer vessels located within 1 cm of the tumor's peritumoral region), and M2 (invasion of more than five vessels or those located more than 1 cm from the tumor's surface). This study enrolled 395 early-stage sHCC (≤ 3 cm) patients from three centers who underwent preoperative gadopentetate-enhanced MRI.

Large Scale Synthesis of a Stable Prefunctionalized Silver Nanocluster.

Due to the stability issue, It is difficult to prepare a silver nanocluster bearing functional sites, especially at a large scale. We report the synthesis and structure of a stable silver nanocluster bearing multiple surface aldehyde groups [Ag(PhPO)(p-CHOPhC≡C)]SbF, which allows for postsynthesis modification such as surface functionalization through aldimine condensation to give homochiral clusters. Remarkably, the preparation of this cluster can be done in ~90 % high yield at gram scale, which facilitates further studies and potential applications.

Nomogram prediction of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters in small hepatocellular carcinoma ≤ 3 cm based on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) represent a recently discovered vascular pattern associated with novel metastasis mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it seems that no one have focused on predicting VETC status in small HCC (sHCC). This study aimed to develop a new nomogram for predicting VETC positivity using preoperative clinical data and image features in sHCC (≤ 3 cm) patients.

Near-unity NIR phosphorescent quantum yield from a room-temperature solvated metal nanocluster.

Metal nanoclusters have emerged as promising near-infrared (NIR)-emissive materials, but their room-temperature photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), especially in solution, is often low (<10%). We studied the photophysics of Au(BuPhC≡C) (Au) and its alloy counterpart AuCu(BuPhC≡C) (AuCu) (where Bu is -butyl and Ph is phenyl) and found that copper (Cu) doping suppressed the nonradiative decay (~60-fold less) and promoted intersystem crossing rate (~300-fold higher). The AuCu nanocluster exhibited >99% PLQY in deaerated solution at room temperature with an emission maximum at 720 nanometers tailing to 950 nanometers and 61% PLQY in the oxygen-saturated solution.

Integration of Metal Catalysis and Organocatalysis in a Metal Nanocluster with Anchored Proline.

Chiral metal nanoclusters have recently been attracting great attention. It is challenging to realize asymmetric catalysis via atomically precise metal nanoclusters. Herein, we report the synthesis and total structure determination of chiral clusters [AuAg(dppf)(l-/d-proline)](BF) (-/d-Au).

Disc-Like Silver Nanocluster Ag Built with Bicapped Hexagonal Prismatic Ag and Ino Decahedral Ag Units.

The reduction of alkynyl-silver and phosphine-silver precursors with a weak reducing reagent Ph SiH led to the formation of a novel silver nanocluster [Ag (PPh ) (C≡CR) ] (R=4-CH OC H ), which is the largest structurally characterized cluster of clusters. This disc-shaped cluster has a Ag kernel consisting of a bicapped hexagonal prismatic Ag unit wrapped by six Ino decahedra through edge-sharing. This is the first time that Ino decahedra are used as a building block to assemble a cluster of clusters.

Activating α7nAChR helps post-myocardial infarction healing by regulating macrophage polarization via the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Background: Monocytes/macrophages play critical roles in inflammation and cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) modulates local and systemic inflammatory responses by activating α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) in monocytes/macrophages. We investigated the effect of α7nAChR on MI-induced monocyte/macrophage recruitment and polarization and its contribution to cardiac remodeling and dysfunction.

Spin Selectivity in Chiral Hybrid Cobalt Halide Films with Ultrasmooth Surface.

Introducing chirality into low-dimensional hybrid organic-inorganic halides (HOIHs) creates brand-new opportunities for HOIHs in spintronics and spin-related optoelectronics owing to chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS). However, preparing smooth films of low-dimensional HOIHs with small roughness is still a great challenge due to the hybrid and complex crystal structure, which severely inhibits their applications in spintronic devices. Exploring new lead-free chiral HOIHs with both efficient spin selectivity and excellent film quality is urgently desired.

Cardiac-Specific Overexpression of Caveolin-1 in Rats With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Improves Arrhythmogenicity and Cardiac Remodelling.

Background: Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is associated with electrical and structural remodelling, leading to arrhythmias. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is a membrane protein involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic injury. Cav1 deficiency has been associated with arrhythmogenicity.

Face-Centered Cubic Silver Nanoclusters Consolidated with Tetradentate Formamidinate Ligands.

Growing attention has been paid to nanoclusters with face-centered cubic (fcc) metal kernels, due to its structural similarity to bulk metals. We demonstrate that the use of tetradentate formamidinate ligands facilitate the construction of two fcc silver nanoclusters: [Ag(5-F-dpf)Cl](SbF) (, 5-F-Hdpf = ,'-di(5-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)formamidine) and [Ag(5-Me-dpf)](NO) (, 5-Me-Hdpf = ,'-di(5-methyl-2-pyridinyl)formamidine). Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis revealed that the silver atoms in both clusters are in a layer-by-layer arrangement, which can be viewed as a portion of the fcc packing of silver.

Overcoming High Impedance in the Transitional Area of the Distal Great Cardiac Vein during Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmia.

(1) Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an essential treatment for ventricular arrhythmia (VA). However, high impedance in the transitional area of the distal great cardiac vein (TAODGCV) often leads to ablation failure. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing impedance and identify effective ways to reduce impedance.

Ligand Engineering toward the Trade-Off between Stability and Activity in Cluster Catalysis.

We report the structures, stability and catalysis properties of two Ag nanoclusters, namely [Ag (H BTCA) (O PPh ) ]SbF (1) and [Ag (C≡CC H -3,5-R ) (O PPh ) ]SbF (2) (H BTCA=p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene, R=OMe). Both Ag structures possess an identical icosahedral kernel that is surrounded by eight peripheral Ag atoms. Single-crystal structural analysis and ESI-MS revealed that 1 is an 8-electron cluster and 2 has four free electrons.

Robust Gold Nanocluster Protected with Amidinates for Electrocatalytic CO Reduction.

The first all-amidinate-protected gold nanocluster [Au (Ph-form) ](OTf) (Ph-form=N,N'-diphenylformamidinate) (Au ) has been synthesized and structurally resolved. Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that Au has a compact Au @Au tetrahedral core-shell structure of T symmetry, which is fully protected by 12 bridging formamidinate ligands. This cluster is quite robust as indicated by the fact that it can stay intact in solution at 80 °C for 6 d.

Total Structure Determination of the Largest Alkynyl-Protected fcc Gold Nanocluster Au and the Study on Its Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics.

Great attention has been paid to nanoclusters having face-centered-cubic (fcc) metal kernels, because of the similarity of metal packing to that of bulk gold. So far, there is no precedent example of an all-alkynyl-protected fcc gold nanocluster with more than 100 gold atoms. We report the synthesis and total structure determination of an alkynyl-protected gold nanocluster [NEtH][Au(CFCHC≡C)] ().

Increased serum levels of miR-214 in patients with PCa with bone metastasis may serve as a potential biomarker by targeting PTEN.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are identified to serve key functions in the progression of various tumors. miR-214 is aberrantly expressed in various types of cancer. In the present study, the function of miR-214 and its feasibility as a potential non-invasive biomarker for patients with prostate cancer (PCa) in a hyperplasia group and a control group were investigated.

Associations of Caspase-3 gene polymorphism with lumbar disc herniation.

To investigate Caspase-3 gene polymorphisms (rs4647693 G/A, rs4647610 A/G, and rs12108497 T/C) and susceptibility to lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LDH). The genotype frequency distributions of the polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 107 LDH patients (case group) and 121 healthy individuals (control group). SHEsis software was used to conduct gene linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis.

Review on antibacterial biocomposites of structural laminated veneer lumber.

In this review, the characteristics and applications of structural laminated veneer lumber made from planted forest wood is introduced, and its preparation is explained, including various tree species and slab qualities, treatments for multiple effects and reinforced composites. The relevant factors in the bonding technology and pressing processes as well as the mechanical properties, research direction and application prospects of structural laminated veneer lumber made from planted forest wood are discussed.

Review on antibacterial characteristics of bridge engineering biomaterials.

This review summarizes the research on timber construction materials used in bridge construction. It focuses on the application of antiseptic treatments and the use of timber engineering materials in decks and bridges. This review also provides an overview on the future research and prospects of engineered timber materials.