Preliminary report: Protective effects of probiotics on cefovecin-induced gut dysbiosis in dogs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether supplementation with probiotics over a 2-week period stabilizes the gut microbiota in dogs following prolonged cefovecin treatment. A significant number of clinical veterinarians prescribe oral probiotics to dogs in conjunction with systemic antibiotics with the intention of protecting against gut dysbiosis. The effects of antibiotics and probiotics in dogs have not been extensively studied, however, and the optimal treatment for gut dysbiosis remains uncertain.

Safety and Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection for Pseudoaneurysms Arising after Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules.

Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm is a rare but potentially fatal complication of a thyroid biopsy. However, a standard management strategy has not yet been established. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided thrombin injection (TI) for thyroid pseudoaneurysms.

VEGF inhibition increases expression of HIF-regulated angiogenic genes by the RPE limiting the response of wet AMD eyes to aflibercept.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in the elderly in the developed world. While the introduction of therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has provided the first opportunity to significantly improve vision in patients with nvAMD, many patients respond inadequately to current anti-VEGF therapies. It was recently demonstrated that expression of a second angiogenic mediator, angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), synergizes with VEGF to promote choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice and correlates with reduced response to anti-VEGF therapy in patients with nvAMD.

Enhanced trans-cleavage activity using CRISPR-Cas12a variant designed to reduce steric inhibition by cis-cleavage products.

The CRISPR-Cas12a system has emerged as a promising tool for molecular diagnostics due to its indiscriminate trans-ssDNase activity. However, the sensitivity of Cas12a-based diagnostics remains insufficient for clinical use without a pre-amplification step such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and therefore the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a needs to be enhanced. Here, we present a novel strategy to enhance the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a by reducing the steric hindrance from cis-cleavage products.

A molecular switch from tumor suppressor to oncogene in ER+ve breast cancer: Role of androgen receptor, JAK-STAT, and lineage plasticity.

Cancers develop resistance to inhibitors of oncogenes mainly due to target-centric mechanisms such as mutations and splicing. While inhibitors or antagonists force targets to unnatural conformation contributing to protein instability and resistance, activating tumor suppressors may maintain the protein in an agonistic conformation to elicit sustainable growth inhibition. Due to the lack of tumor suppressor agonists, this hypothesis and the mechanisms underlying resistance are not understood.

MR Lymphangiography: Congenital Lymphatic Flow Disorders.

Congenital lymphatic flow disorders collectively refer to a heterogeneous group of diseases that manifest as chylothorax, chylous ascites, intestinal lymphangiectasia, protein-losing enteropathy, and peripheral extremity or genital lymphedema, all in the absence of identifiable injury to the lymphatic system. We have only recently begun to understand congenital lymphatic flow disorders through the ability to image lymph flow dynamically. Intranodal dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography (DCMRL) is a crucial technique for imaging lymphatic flow in pediatric patients with congenital lymphatic flow disorders.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced automation of left ventricular diastolic assessment: a pilot study for feasibility, diagnostic validation, and outcome prediction.

Background: Evaluating left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) is crucial in echocardiography; however, the complexity and time demands of current guidelines challenge clinical use. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework for automatic LVDF assessment to reduce subjectivity and improve accuracy and outcome prediction.

Methods: We developed an AI-based LVDF assessment framework using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset from five tertiary hospitals.

Ethanol extract from Astilbe chinensis inflorescence suppresses inflammation in macrophages and growth of oral pathogenic bacteria.

Chronic oral inflammation and biofilm-mediated infections drive diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial potential of an ethanol extract from Astilbe chinensis inflorescence (GA-13-6) as a prominent candidate for natural complex substances (NCS) with therapeutic potential. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.

Safety of Gadoxetate Disodium for Hepatobiliary MRI in Children and Adolescents.

Background Despite a proven role in the characterization of liver lesions, use of the gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) gadoxetate disodium at MRI is limited in children due to a lack of comparative safety data. Purpose To evaluate the safety of the GBCA gadoxetate disodium (a linear ionic hepatobiliary contrast agent [HBA]) in children and adolescents, compared with extracellular contrast agents (ECA). Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger who underwent HBA-enhanced MRI at one of three tertiary hospitals from January 2010 to December 2022.

Quantification of Infarct Core Volume in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Using Cerebral Metabolic Rate of Oxygen in CT Perfusion.

Background And Purpose: The cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO) is considered a robust marker of the infarct core in O-tracer-based PET. We aimed to delineate the infarct core in patients with acute ischemic stroke by using commonly used relative CBF (rCBF) < 30% and oxygen metabolism parameter of CMRO on CT perfusion in comparison with pretreatment DWI-derived infarct core volume.

Materials And Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke who met the inclusion criteria were recruited.

Prodrug-conjugated tumor-seeking commensals for targeted cancer therapy.

Prodrugs have been explored as an alternative to conventional chemotherapy; however, their target specificity remains limited. The tumor microenvironment harbors a range of microorganisms that potentially serve as tumor-targeting vectors for delivering prodrugs. In this study, we harness bacteria-cancer interactions native to the tumor microbiome to achieve high target specificity for prodrug delivery.

Association Between Orthostatic Hypertension and Frailty Among Older Patients With Hypertension.

Background: Frailty frequently coexists with hypertension in older patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between frailty and positional change in blood pressure, especially orthostatic hypertension.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 12 University hospitals in South Korea.

Dynamic Contrast-enhanced MRI Quantification of Altered Vascular Permeability in Autoimmune Encephalitis.

Background Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability change is a possible pathologic mechanism of autoimmune encephalitis. Purpose To evaluate the change in BBB permeability in patients with autoimmune encephalitis as compared with healthy controls by using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and to explore its predictive value for treatment response in patients. Materials and Methods This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients with probable or possible autoimmune encephalitis and healthy controls who underwent DCE MRI between April 2020 and May 2021.

Drug Response of Patient-Derived Lung Cancer Cells Predicts Clinical Outcomes of Targeted Therapy.

Intratumor heterogeneity leads to different responses to targeted therapies, even within patients whose tumors harbor identical driver oncogenes. This study examined clinical outcomes according to a patient-derived cell (PDC)-based drug sensitivity test in lung cancer patients treated with targeted therapies. From 487 lung cancers, 397 PDCs were established with a success rate of 82%.

Radiologic Patterns Determine the Outcomes of Initial and Subsequent Transarterial Chemoembolization in Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: Outcomes of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diverse because of the heterogeneity of tumor burden. Radiologic pattern is one criterion for determining whether TACE is unsuitable. However, additional evidence is required.

Clinical Outcomes of Deferred Lesions by IVUS Versus FFR-Guided Treatment Decision.

Background: There are limited data regarding the safety of deferral of percutaneous coronary intervention based on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings. The current study sought to compare the prognosis between deferred lesions based on IVUS and fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided treatment decision.

Methods: This study is a post hoc analysis of the FLAVOUR randomized trial (Fractional Flow Reserve and Intravascular Ultrasound for Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Intermediate Stenosis) that compared 2-year clinical outcomes between IVUS- and FFR-guided treatment decision on intermediate coronary artery lesions using predefined criteria.

Comparative Analysis of Biological Signatures between Freshly Preserved and Cryo-Preserved Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into multiple connective tissue lineages, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. MSCs secrete paracrine molecules that are associated with immunomodulation, anti-fibrotic effects, and angiogenesis. Due to their orchestrative potential, MSCs have been therapeutically applied for several diseases.

Reconstruction of a Severe Open Tibiofibular Fracture using an Ipsilateral Vascularized Fractured Fibula with a Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Free Flap.

The Gustilo IIIB tibiofibular fractures often result in long bone loss and extensive soft tissue defects. Reconstruction of these complex wounds is very challenging, especially when it includes long bone grafts, because the donor site is limited. We describe our experience using a set of chimeric ipsilateral vascularized fibula grafts with a thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap to reconstruct the traumatic tibia defects.

Micellized protein transduction domain-bone morphogenetic protein-2 accelerates bone healing in a rat tibial distraction osteogenesis model.

The clinical application of growth factors such as recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2), for functional bone regeneration remains challenging due to limited in vivo efficacy and adverse effects of previous modalities. To overcome the instability and short half-life of rh-BMP-2 in vivo, we developed a novel osteogenic supplement by fusing a protein transduction domain (PTD) with BMP-2, effectively creating a prodrug of BMP-2. In this study, we first created an improved PTD-BMP-2 formulation using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) micellization, resulting in downsizing from micrometer to nanometer scale and achieving a more even distribution.