Predictive Model for Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Receiving Maintenance Infliximab Therapy.

Background: No models predict future outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients receiving maintenance infliximab therapy. We created a predictive model for unfavorable outcomes.

Methods: Adult patients with IBD receiving maintenance infliximab therapy at 2 centers with matched serum infliximab concentrations and blinded histologic scores (Robarts Histopathologic Index [RHI]) were included.

Development of 3D-iNET ORION: a novel, pre-clinical, three-dimensional in vitro cell model for modeling human metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the pancreas are rare neoplasms that present complex challenges to diagnosis and treatment due to their indolent course. The incidence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors has increased significantly over the past two decades. A limited number of pancreatic neuroendocrine cell lines are currently available for the research.

Hot luminescence from single-molecule chromophores electrically and mechanically self-decoupled by tripodal scaffolds.

Control over the electrical contact to an individual molecule is one of the biggest challenges in molecular optoelectronics. The mounting of individual chromophores on extended tripodal scaffolds enables both efficient electrical and mechanical decoupling of individual chromophores from metallic leads. Core-substituted naphthalene diimides fixed perpendicular to a gold substrate by a covalently attached extended tripod display high stability with well-defined and efficient electroluminescence down to the single-molecule level.

Clinical and histologic factors associated with discordance between steatosis grade derived from histology vs. MRI-PDFF in NAFLD.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) is an excellent biomarker for the non-invasive quantification of hepatic steatosis.

Aim: To examine clinical and histologic factors associated with discordance between steatosis grade determined by histology and MRI-PDFF in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) METHODS: We included 728 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD from UC San Diego (n = 414) and Yokohama City University (n = 314) who underwent MRI-PDFF and liver biopsy. Patients were stratified by steatosis, and matched with MRI-PDFF cut-points for each steatosis grade: 0 (MRI-PDFF < 6.

Correlations Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Endoscopic-Histologic Disease Activity in Adults with Ulcerative Colitis.

Introduction: Discordance between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and endoscopic inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is known. However, the correlations between symptoms and endoscopic and histologic (endo-histologic) mucosal healing and remains unknown.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of prospectively collected clinical, endoscopic, and histologic data on 254 colonoscopies from 179 unique adults at a tertiary referral center from 2014 to 2021.

Activating Electroluminescence of Charged Naphthalene Diimide Complexes Directly Adsorbed on a Metal Substrate.

Electroluminescence from single molecules adsorbed on a conducting surface imposes conflicting demands for the molecule-electrode coupling. To conduct electrons, the molecular orbitals need to be hybridized with the electrodes. To emit light, they need to be decoupled from the electrodes to prevent fluorescence quenching.

Prevalence and Correlations of Gastrointestinal Symptoms With Endoscopic and Histologic Mucosal Healing in Crohn's Disease.

To characterize the associations between clinical disease activity with endoscopic and histologic (endohistologic) mucosal healing in Crohn's disease, we performed a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data on 424 ileocolonoscopies from 258 unique adults at a tertiary referral center from 2014 to 2021. One-third of patients (34%, 25/73) in endoscopic-histologic remission reported gastrointestinal symptoms. The 2-item patient-reported outcome measure for abdominal pain and stool frequency correlated weakly with endoscopic (Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease; r = 0.

Self-Assembled Monolayers of Molecular Conductors with Terpyridine-Metal Redox Switching Elements: A Combined AFM, STM and Electrochemical Study.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of terpyridine-based transition metal (ruthenium and osmium) complexes, anchored to gold substrate via tripodal anchoring groups, have been investigated as possible redox switching elements for molecular electronics. An electrochemical study was complemented by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) methods. STM was used for determination of the SAM conductance values, and computation of the attenuation factor β from tunneling current-distance curves.

Head-to-head comparison between MEFIB, MAST, and FAST for detecting stage 2 fibrosis or higher among patients with NAFLD.

Background & Aims: Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and significant fibrosis (fibrosis stage ≥2) are candidates for pharmacological trials. The aim of this study was to perform a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic test characteristics of three non-invasive stiffness-based models including MEFIB (magnetic resonance elastography [MRE] plus FIB-4), MAST (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-aspartate aminotransferase [AST]), and FAST (FibroScan-AST) for detecting significant fibrosis.

Methods: This prospective study included 563 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD undergoing contemporaneous MRE, MRI proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and FibroScan from two prospective cohorts derived from Southern California and Japan.

Reliability of histologic assessment for NAFLD and development of an expanded NAFLD activity score.

Background And Aims: The NASH Clinical Research Network histologic scoring system, the gold-standard NASH histology assessment for clinical trials, has demonstrated intrarater and interrater variability. An expert panel in a previous systematic Research and Development/University of California Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) study determined that existing histologic scoring systems do not fully capture NASH disease activity and fibrosis, and standardized definitions of histologic features are needed. We evaluated the reliability of existing and alternate histologic measures and their correlations with a disease activity visual analog scale to propose optimal components for an expanded NAFLD activity score (NAS).

Two-Step Strategy, FIB-4 Followed by Magnetic Resonance Elastography, for Detecting Advanced Fibrosis in NAFLD.

Background & Aims: A two-step strategy combining a serum marker and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for detecting advanced fibrosis (stage 3-4) among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been proposed, but its diagnostic accuracy has not been evaluated. In this multicenter study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of a two-step strategy including Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) followed by MRE.

Methods: In this multicenter study, 806 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD who underwent contemporaneous MRE were enrolled and randomly assigned to training and validation cohorts.

Comparative diagnostic performance of ultrasound shear wave elastography and magnetic resonance elastography for classifying fibrosis stage in adults with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of US shear wave elastography (SWE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for classifying fibrosis stage in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Patients from a prospective single-center cohort with clinical liver biopsy for known or suspected NAFLD underwent contemporaneous SWE and MRE. AUCs for classifying biopsy-determined liver fibrosis stages ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and = 4, and their respective performance parameters at cutoffs providing ≥ 90% sensitivity or specificity were compared between SWE and MRE.

Establishment of PANDA - a new human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line with 3D cell culture technology.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive type of malignancy with one of the worst prognoses amongst any type of cancer. Surgery is applicable only to the limited number of patients with locally resectable tumors and currently represents the only curative treatment option. Treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy can only extend patient survival.

Diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and transient elastography in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Introduction: Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) provide noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis. We compared performance of 2D-SWE and VCTE for fibrosis detection in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We performed a prospective study of adults with NAFLD who underwent 2D-SWE, VCTE, and liver biopsy analysis (using Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network scoring system).

Magnetic resonance elastography plus Fibrosis-4 versus FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase in detection of candidates for pharmacological treatment of NASH-related fibrosis.

Background And Aims: Patients with NAFLD with significant hepatic fibrosis (Stage ≥ 2) are at increased risk of liver-related morbidity and are candidates for pharmacologic therapies. In this study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of MEFIB (the combination of magnetic resonance elastography [MRE] and Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4]) and FAST (FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase; combined liver stiffness measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography, controlled attenuation parameter, and aspartate aminotransferase) for detecting significant fibrosis.

Approach And Results: This prospective cohort study included 234 consecutive patients with NAFLD who underwent liver biopsy, MRE, and FibroScan at the University of California San Diego (UCSD cohort) and an independent cohort (N = 314) from Yokohama City University, Japan.

Synthesis and Surface Behaviour of NDI Chromophores Mounted on a Tripodal Scaffold: Towards Self-Decoupled Chromophores for Single-Molecule Electroluminescence.

This paper reports the efficient synthesis, absorption and emission spectra, and the electrochemical properties of a series of 2,6-disubstituted naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxdiimide (NDI) tripodal molecules with thioacetate anchors for their surface investigations. Our studies showed that, in particular, the pyrrolidinyl group with its strong electron-donating properties enhanced the fluorescence of such core-substituted NDI chromophores and caused a significant bathochromic shift in the absorption spectrum with a correspondingly narrowed bandgap of 1.94 eV.

International consensus to standardise histopathological scoring for small bowel strictures in Crohn's disease.

Objective: Effective medical therapy and validated trial outcomes are lacking for small bowel Crohn's disease (CD) strictures. Histopathology of surgically resected specimens is the gold standard for correlation with imaging techniques. However, no validated histopathological scoring systems are currently available for small bowel stricturing disease.

Ki67 does not predict recurrence for low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms with peritoneal dissemination after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMN) can disseminate to become low-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei (LGMCP), which is optimally treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). Approximately half of the patients with LGMCP recur despite complete cytoreduction, and risk factors for recurrence are poorly understood. We sought to evaluate if Ki67 predicts progression of LGMCP after CRS/HIPEC.

Magnetic resonance elastography biomarkers for detection of histologic alterations in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the absence of fibrosis.

Objectives: To investigate associations between histology and hepatic mechanical properties measured using multiparametric magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in adults with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without histologic fibrosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 88 adults who underwent 3T MR exams including hepatic MRE and MR imaging to estimate proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) within 180 days of liver biopsy. Associations between MRE mechanical properties (mean shear stiffness (|G*|) by 2D and 3D MRE, and storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), wave attenuation (α), and damping ratio (ζ) by 3D MRE) and histologic, demographic and anthropometric data were assessed.

Clinical utility of 30% relative decline in MRI-PDFF in predicting fibrosis regression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: Emerging data suggest that a 30% relative decline in liver fat, as assessed by MRI-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), may be associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score improvement, but the association between decline in MRI-PDFF and fibrosis regression is not known. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between ≥30% relative decline in MRI-PDFF and fibrosis regression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Design: This prospective study included 100 well-characterised patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD with paired contemporaneous MRI-PDFF assessment at two time points.

Predictors and significance of histologic response to neoadjuvant therapy for gastric cancer.

Background: Perioperative therapy is the standard-of-care for locally-advanced gastric cancer but many patients do not respond. There are currently no known factors that predict response to therapy.

Methods: This was a retrospective study aimed to evaluate treatment effect grade (TEG) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgery at a single center.

Enantiomeric Separation of Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Acid Cleavable Chiral Polyfluorene.

Helical wrapping by conjugated polymer has been demonstrated as a powerful tool for the sorting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) according to their electronic type, chiral index, and even handedness. However, a method of one-step extraction of left-handed () and right-handed () semiconducting SWCNTs (s-SWCNTs) with subsequent cleavage of the polymer has not yet been published. In this work, we designed and synthesized one pair of acid cleavable polyfluorenes with defined chirality for handedness separation of s-SWCNTs from as-produced nanotubes.

Addressing a lattice of rotatable molecular dipoles with the electric field of an STM tip.

Functional molecular groups mounted on specific foot structures are ideal model systems to study intermolecular interactions, due to the possibility to separate the functionality and the adsorption mechanism. Here, we report on the rotational switching of a thioacetate group mounted on a tripodal tetraphenylmethane (TPM) derivative adsorbed in ordered islands on a Au(111) surface. Using low temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy, individual freestanding molecular groups of the lattice can be switched between two bistable orientations.

An International Consensus to Standardize Integration of Histopathology in Ulcerative Colitis Clinical Trials.

Background & Aims: Histopathology is an emerging treatment target in ulcerative colitis (UC) clinical trials. Our aim was to provide guidance on standardizing biopsy collection protocols, identifying optimal evaluative indices, and defining thresholds for histologic response and remission after treatment.

Methods: An international, interdisciplinary expert panel of 19 gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal pathologists was assembled.