Mammography-based deep learning model for coronary artery calcification.

Aims: Mammography, commonly used for breast cancer screening in women, can also predict cardiovascular disease. We developed mammography-based deep learning models for predicting coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores, an established predictor of coronary events.

Methods And Results: We evaluated a subset of Korean adults who underwent image mammography and CAC computed tomography and randomly selected approximately 80% of the participants as the training dataset, used to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict detectable CAC.

Neurologic Dysfunction Assessment in Parkinson Disease Based on Fundus Photographs Using Deep Learning.

Importance: Until now, other than complex neurologic tests, there have been no readily accessible and reliable indicators of neurologic dysfunction among patients with Parkinson disease (PD). This study was conducted to determine the role of fundus photography as a noninvasive and readily available tool for assessing neurologic dysfunction among patients with PD using deep learning methods.

Objective: To develop an algorithm that can predict Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) scale and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III) score using fundus photography among patients with PD.

Generating future fundus images for early age-related macular degeneration based on generative adversarial networks.

Background And Objective: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common diseases that can lead to blindness worldwide. Recently, various fundus image analyzing studies are done using deep learning methods to classify fundus images to aid diagnosis and monitor AMD disease progression. But until now, to the best of our knowledge, no attempt was made to generate future synthesized fundus images that can predict AMD progression.

Triggered Electrooculography for Identification of Oculomotor and Abducens Nerves during Skull Base Surgery.

Objective: Electrooculography (EOG) records eyeball movements as changes in the potential difference between the negatively charged retina and the positively charged cornea. We aimed to investigate whether reliable EOG waveforms can be evoked by electrical stimulation of the oculomotor and abducens nerves during skull base surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 18 patients who had undergone a skull base tumor surgery using EOG (11 craniotomies and seven endonasal endoscopic surgeries).

Suppression of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Dimerization by 1-[5-Methoxy-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl]pyrrolidine.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) recognizes lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and triggers the activation of myeloid differention factor 88 (MyD88) and the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter, inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent major downstream signaling pathways. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of 1-[5-methoxy-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl]pyrrolidine (MNP), previously synthesized in our laboratory, its effect on signal transduction via the TLR signaling pathways was examined. Here, we investigated whether MNP modulates the TLR4 signaling pathways and which anti-inflammatory target in TLR4 signaling is regulated by MNP.

Suppression of TLRs signaling pathways by 1-[5-methoxy-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl]pyrrolidine.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play significant roles in recognizing the pathogen-associated molecular patterns that induce innate immunity, and subsequently, acquired immunity. In general, TLRs have two downstream signaling pathways, the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways, which lead to the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). 1-[5-methoxy-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl]pyrrolidine (MNP) has been previously synthesized in our laboratory.

Suppression of the TRIF-dependent signaling pathway of Toll-like receptor by CDr10b in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize distinct pathogen-associated molecular patterns and play a critical role in innate immune responses. TLR signaling pathways can be largely classified as either myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- or toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways. Compound of Designation red 10 binding (CDr10b) was synthesized to investigate its role in neuroinflammatory diseases.

Suppressive effects of 1-[4-fluoro-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl]pyrrolidine on the Toll-like receptor signaling pathways.

When various pathogens invade a host, toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a significant role in recognizing the pathogen-associated molecular patterns carried by the pathogens to induce innate immune reaction, followed by acquired immunity reaction. TLRs have two downstream signaling pathways, the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of 1-[4-fluoro-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl]pyrrolidine (FPP), previously synthesized in our laboratory, its effect on signal transduction via the TLR signaling pathways was examined.

Quantum cascade lasers with a tilted facet utilizing the inherent polarization purity.

We report on quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with a tilted facet utilizing their polarization property. Contrary to diode lasers, QCLs generate purely TM polarized light due to the intersubband selection rules. This property enables the utilization of reflectivity in terms of only TM polarized light (TM reflectivity).

CDr10b inhibits the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by lipopolysaccharide.

The pathophysiological processes of inflammation can lead to a host of diseases, such as periodontitis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer. The dysregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activation play important roles in the development of certain inflammatory diseases. Here, we investigated the effects of CDr10b which is originally developed for a microglia staining probe on inflammation, by modulating NF-κB activation and iNOS and COX-2 expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in murine macrophages.

Enhanced light output power of quantum cascade lasers from a tilted front facet.

We present a technique for enhancing the light output power of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) by tilting of the front facet, which leads to a change of the modal reflectivity, resulting in an asymmetric light intensity distribution along the laser cavity. This asymmetry provides most of the light being emitted through one facet of the laser. An experimental study of threshold current, slope efficiency and light output power as a function of the front facet angles were performed and compared to conventional QCLs.

Inhibition of homodimerization of toll-like receptor 4 by 6-shogaol.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in sensing microbial components and inducing innate immune and inflammatory responses by recognizing invading microbial pathogens. Lipopolysaccharide-induced dimerization of TLR4 is required for the activation of downstream signaling pathways including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). Therefore, TLR4 dimerization may be an early regulatory event in activating ligand-induced signaling pathways and induction of subsequent immune responses.

Guggulsterone suppresses the activation of transcription factor IRF3 induced by TLR3 or TLR4 agonists.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are vital in the induction of innate immune responses. The microbial components trigger the activation of the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-beta (TRIF)-dependent downstream TLR signaling pathways. Guggulsterone, which has been used for centuries to treat many chronic diseases, inhibits the MyD88-dependent pathway by inhibiting the activity of inhibitor-kappaB kinase.

SRG3, a core component of mouse SWI/SNF complex, is essential for extra-embryonic vascular development.

The SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex functions as a transcriptional regulator and plays a significant role in cell proliferation, differentiation and embryonic development. SRG3, a homologue of human BAF155, is a core component of the mouse SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. Mutant mice deficient in Srg3 expression are peri-implantation lethal.