Research progress in the biosynthesis of xylitol: feedstock evolution from xylose to glucose.

Xylitol, as an important food additive and fine chemical, has a wide range of applications, including food, medicine, chemical, and feed. This review paper focuses on the research progress of xylitol biosynthesis, from overcoming the limitations of traditional chemical hydrogenation and xylose bioconversion, to the full biosynthesis of xylitol production using green and non-polluting glucose as substrate. In the review, the molecular strategies of wild strains to increase xylitol yield, as well as the optimization strategies and metabolic reconfiguration during xylitol biosynthesis are discussed.

Disrupted resting-state brain functional network properties in non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Introduction: Previous fMRI studies revealed that the abnormal functional connectivity (FC) was related to cognitive impairment in patients with SLE. However, it remains unclear how the disease severity affects the functional topological organization of the whole-brain network in SLE patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms (non-NPSLE).

Objective: We aim to examine the impairment of the whole-brain functional network in SLE patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms (non-NPSLE), which may improve the understanding of neural mechanism in SLE.

Kartogenin (KGN)/synthetic melanin nanoparticles (SMNP) loaded theranostic hydrogel scaffold system for multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging guided cartilage regeneration.

Cartilage regeneration after injury is still a great challenge in clinics, which suffers from its avascularity and poor proliferative ability. Herein we designed a novel biocompatible cellulose nanocrystal/GelMA (gelatin-methacrylate anhydride)/HAMA (hyaluronic acid-methacrylate anhydride)-blended hydrogel scaffold system, loaded with synthetic melanin nanoparticles (SMNP) and a bioactive drug kartogenin (KGN) for theranostic purpose. We found that the SMNP-KGN/Gel showed favorable mechanical property, thermal stability, and distinct magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement.

Parametric MRI Detects Aristolochic Acid Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Exposure to aristolochic acid (AA) is of increased concern due to carcinogenic and nephrotoxic effects, and incidence of aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is increasing. This study characterizes renal alterations during the acute phase of AAN using parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An AAN and a control group of male Wistar rats received administration of aristolochic acid I (AAI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), respectively, for six days.

Application of amide proton transfer imaging for the diagnosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate cerebral amide proton transfer signal intensity (SI) among controls, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) neonates with normal conventional magnetic resonance imaging (HIE/MRI-) findings, and HIE neonates with abnormal conventional MRI (HIE/MRI+) findings.

Methods: Forty neonates diagnosed with neonatal HIE and sixteen normal neonates were evaluated. All neonates underwent conventional MRI scans and APT imaging.

Quantitative evaluation of the characteristic of infrapatellar fat pad Fat Content and Unsaturation Index by using hydrogen proton MR spectroscopy.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of fat content and component in IFP using hydrogen proton MR spectroscopy (H-MRS), and to explore the correlation with the severity of OA, Hoffa-synovitis, and knee pain.

Materials And Methods: 80 volunteers were enrolled. Subjects were grouped based on Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading.

Combining Magnetic Resonance Diffusion-Weighted Imaging with Prostate-Specific Antigen to Differentiate Between Malignant and Benign Prostate Lesions.

BACKGROUND We aimed to develop a combined model of quantitative parameters derived from 3 different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion models and laboratory data related to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for differentiating between prostate cancer (PCa) and benign lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-four patients pathologically confirmed as having PCa or benign disease were enrolled. All patients underwent multiparametric MRI before biopsy, added intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging, and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI).

Use of intravoxel incoherent motion MRI to assess placental perfusion in normal and Fetal Growth Restricted pregnancies on their third trimester.

Introduction: Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) MRI is a non-invasive, in vivo techniques which can assess placental perfusion quantitatively, and be useful for evaluating placental microcirculation. Our primary aim was to investigate whether fetal growth restriction (FGR) pregnancies have different placental perfusion and diffusion compared with normal pregnancies using IVIM. A secondary aim was to investigate correlations between placental IVIM parameters and gestational age in normal pregnancy.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in rat kidney using two-dimensional navigated, interleaved echo-planar imaging at 7.0 T.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of two-dimensional (2D) navigated, interleaved multishot echo-planar imaging (EPI) to enhance kidney diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in rats at 7.0 T. Fully sampled interleaved four-shot EPI with 2D navigators was tailored for kidney DWI (Sprague-Dawley rats, n = 7) on a 7.

Carotid arterial wall MRI of apolipoprotein e-deficient mouse at 7 T using DANTE-prepared variable-flip-angle rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement.

Purpose: To optimize a sequence combining the delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) preparative module with the variable-flip-angle rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (VF-RARE) sequence (DANTE-VF-RARE) and to investigate its feasibility for vessel wall imaging in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient (ApoE) mouse at 7 Tesla (T).

Materials And Methods: Specific T1/T2 values were used for producing a sharper vessel wall in the variable-flip-angle optimization scheme. The DANTE RF pulse flip angle and pulse train length were optimized for maximizing the wall-lumen contrast.

Quantitative evaluation of bone marrow fat content and unsaturated fatty index in young male soccer players using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS): a preliminary study.

Background: Marrow fat exists as a distinct adipose tissue and plays a critical role in affecting both the quantity and quality of bone. However, the effect of soccer training on marrow fat has been rarely reported. This study aims to evaluate and characterize the marrow fat content and composition in different bone areas of soccer players and age-matched healthy subjects using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS).

Value of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in Santorinicele and Wirsungocele.

Background: Former studies showed that magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is useful in diagnosing the presence of santorinicele; however, few studies have evaluated MRCP in diagnosing wirsungocele and the association between pancreatitis and santorinicele or wirsungocele. The purpose of the study was to explore the performance of MRCP in diagnosing santorinicele and wirsungocele and investigate the potential association among pancreatitis, pancreas divisum, and santorinicele or wirsungocele.

Methods: Sixty-five patients (mean age, 55.

Inflow-based vascular-space-occupancy (iVASO) might potentially predict IDH mutation status and tumor grade in diffuse cerebral gliomas.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess the diagnostic performance of inflow-based vascular-space-occupancy (iVASO) MR imaging for differentiating glioblastomas (grade IV, GBM) and lower-grade diffuse gliomas (grade II and III, LGG) and its potential to predict IDH mutation status.

Methods: One hundred and two patients with diffuse cerebral glioma (56 males; median age, 43.5 years) underwent iVASO and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MR imaging.

T1 mapping and feature tracking imaging of left ventricular extracellular remodeling in severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) extracellular remodeling is a critical process in aortic stenosis (AS), which is related to functional abnormalities. Data regarding the use of combined T1 mapping and feature tracking (FT) to assess LV extracellular remodeling in severe AS are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the ability of T1-derived and FT-derived parameters to identify and assess the changes in process of LV extracellular remodeling in patients with severe AS.

Physiological system analysis of the kidney by high-temporal-resolution monitoring of an oxygenation step response.

Purpose: Examine the feasibility of characterizing the regulation of renal oxygenation using high-temporal-resolution monitoring of the response to a step-like oxygenation stimulus.

Methods: For mapping, multi-echo gradient-echo imaging was used (temporal resolution = 9 seconds). A step-like renal oxygenation challenge was applied involving sequential exposure to hyperoxia (100% O ), hypoxia (10% O + 90% N ), and hyperoxia (100% O ).

Applying Amide Proton Transfer-Weighted Imaging (APTWI) to Distinguish Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas and Predominantly Solid Adenomatous Nodules: Comparison With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging.

Amide proton transfer-weighted (ATPw) imaging is a novel MRI technique that has been used to identify benign and malignant tumors. The present study evaluated the role of APTw imaging in differentiating papillary thyroid carcinoma from predominantly solid adenomatous nodule. This study included 24 cases of solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma, and 20 cases of solid adenomatous nodules.

Combination of hepatocyte fraction and diffusion-weighted imaging as a predictor in quantitative hepatic fibrosis evaluation.

Objective: To investigate the performance of the combined hepatocyte fraction (HepF) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values to stage hepatic fibrosis (HF) in patients with hepatitis B/C.

Materials And Methods: A total of 281 patients with hepatitis B/C prospectively underwent gadoxetate disodium-based T1 mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging. HepF was determined from pre and postcontrast T1 mapping with pharmacokinetics.

Non-Gaussian Diffusion Models and T rho Quantification in the Assessment of Hepatic Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome in Rats.

Background: Non-Gaussian diffusion models and T rho quantification may reflect the changes in tissue heterogeneity in hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS).

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), stretched exponential model (SEM), and T rho quantification in detecting and staging SOS in a monocrotaline (MCT)-induced rat model.

Study Type: Animal study.

A robust electrical conductivity imaging method with total variation and wavelet regularization.

Purpose: This study aims to develop and evaluate a robust conductivity imaging method that combines total variation and wavelet regularization to enhance the accuracy of conductivity maps.

Theory And Methods: The proposed approach is based on a gradient-based method. The central equation is derived from Maxwell's equation and describes the relationship between conductivity and the transceive phase.

NiSe/Ni(OH) Heterojunction Composite through Epitaxial-like Strategy as High-Rate Battery-Type Electrode Material.

Constructing heterojunction is a promising way to improve the charge transfer efficiency and can thus promote the electrochemical properties. Herein, a facile and effective epitaxial-like growth strategy is applied to NiSe nano-octahedra to fabricate the NiSe-(100)/Ni(OH)-(110) heterojunction. The heterojunction composite and Ni(OH) (performing high electrochemical activity) is ideal high-rate battery-type supercapacitor electrode.

Differential detection of metastatic and inflammatory lymph nodes using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging.

Purpose: This study sought to monitor the dynamic process of lymph node (LN) metastasis with intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI), and to investigate the impact of disease course on the detection of metastatic LNs by IVIM-DWI.

Methods: Twenty female New Zealand rabbits with 2.5-3.

"HOT" Alkaline Hydrolysis of Amorphous MOF Microspheres to Produce Ultrastable Bimetal Hydroxide Electrode with Boosted Cycling Stability.

Nickel/cobalt hydroxide is a promising battery-type electrode material for supercapacitors. However, its low cycle stability hinders further applications. Herein, Ni Co (OH) core-shell microspheres exhibiting extreme-prolonged cycling life are successfully synthesized, employing Ni-Co-metal-organic framework (MOF) as the precursor/template and a specific hydrolysis strategy.

Intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging for differentiating malignant lesions in spine: A pilot study.

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic potential of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) MRI for differentiating malignant spinal tumours from acute vertebral compression fractures and tuberculous spondylitis, and to compare IVIM with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and chemical shift imaging (CSI).

Methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this prospective study, and informed consent was obtained. IVIM MRI, DWI, and CSI at 1.

Early identification of neonatal mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy by amide proton transfer magnetic resonance imaging: A pilot study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the amide proton transfer (APT) values in neonates with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) using APT imaging.

Method: A total of 30 full-term neonates with mild HIE (16 males and 14 females; mean postnatal age 4.2 days, age range 2-7 days) and 12 normal neonates (six males and six females; mean postnatal age 3.