Enhanced accuracy and stability in automated intra-pancreatic fat deposition monitoring of type 2 diabetes mellitus using Dixon MRI and deep learning.

Purpose: Intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) is closely associated with the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to develop an accurate and automated method for assessing IPFD on multi-echo Dixon MRI.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, 534 patients from two centers who underwent upper abdomen MRI and completed multi-echo and double-echo Dixon MRI were included.

A nomogram to preoperatively predict the aggressiveness of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors based on CT features and 3D CT radiomic features.

Objectives: Combining Computed Tomography (CT) intuitive anatomical features with Three-Dimensional (3D) CT multimodal radiomic imaging features to construct a model for assessing the aggressiveness of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) prior to surgery.

Methods: This study involved 242 patients, randomly assigned to training (170) and validation (72) cohorts. Preoperative CT and 3D CT radiomic features were used to develop a model predicting pNETs aggressiveness.

Multi-parametric MRI combined with radiomics for the diagnosis and grading of endometrial fibrosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the application of multi-parametric MRI (MP-MRI) combined with radiomics in diagnosing and grading endometrial fibrosis (EF).

Methods: A total of 74 patients with severe endometrial fibrosis (SEF), 41 patients with mild to moderate fibrosis (MMEF) confirmed by hysteroscopy, and 40 healthy women of reproductive age were prospectively enrolled. The enrolled data were randomly stratified and divided into a train set (108 cases: 28 healthy women, 29 with MMEF, and 51 with SEF) and a test set (47 cases: 12 healthy women, 12 MMEF and 23 SEF) at a ratio of 7:3.

Akkermansia muciniphila relieves inflammatory response in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice through regulating macrophage polarization via SCFAs-SLC52A2/FFAR2 pathway.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) remains an intractable and relapsing disease featured by intestinal inflammation. The anti-UC activity of Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK), an intestinal microorganism, has been widely investigated. The current work is to explore the impacts of AKK on UC and its possible reaction mechanism.

Identification of a novel butenolide signal system to regulate high production of tylosin in Streptomyces fradiae.

Identifying hormone-like quorum sensing (QS) molecules in streptomycetes is challenging due to low production levels but is essential for understanding secondary metabolite biosynthesis and morphological differentiation. This work reports the discovery of a novel γ-butenolide-type signaling molecule (SFB1) via overexpressing its biosynthetic gene (orf18) in Streptomyces fradiae. SFB1 was found to be essential for production of tylosin through dissociating the binding of its receptor TylP (a transcriptional repressor) to target genes, thus activating the expression of tylosin biosynthetic gene cluster (tyl).

Genetic analysis of a pedigree with hereditary coagulation factor XII deficiency.

Analyze the clinical phenotype and gene mutations of a family with hereditary FXII deficiency, and preliminarily explore its phenotypic manifestations. The routine coagulation indicators and related coagulation factors were measured.Thromboelastography and thrombin generation tests simulated coagulation and anticoagulation states in vitro and in vivo.

Successful application of microspore culture by adding kinetin and methylene blue to improve microspore embryogenesis in Chinese kale breeding.

Microspore culture is an efficient and rapid method that produces doubled haploid (DH) lines for hybrid breeding in crops and vegetables. However, the low frequency of microspore embryogenesis and spontaneous diploidization in Chinese kale still require improvement. In the present work, an efficient microspore culture protocol was constructed and used for DH producing in Chinese kale breeding.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Among Postpartum and Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This research sought to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) among postpartum and postmenopausal women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among postpartum and postmenopausal women between May and August 2023. Demographic data, along with KAP scores, were collected using a self-designed questionnaire-based approach.

Grade ≥ 3 hematologic adverse events of immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The impact of incorporating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) into standard chemotherapy on the severity and risk of myelosuppression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated ICIs in people with NSCLC. A comprehensive search of four databases, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, was carried out from inception to 30 October 2023.

PTPN23-dependent activation of PI3KC2α is a therapeutic vulnerability of BRAF-mutant cancers.

BRAF mutations drive initiation and progression of various tumors. While BRAF inhibitors are effective in BRAF-mutant melanoma patients, intrinsic or acquired resistance to these therapies is common. Here, we identify non-receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase 23 (PTPN23) as an alternative effective target in BRAF-mutant cancer cells.

Intrinsic Solution to the Dilemma between High-Efficiency and External-Field-Free Spin-Orbit Torque Switching Based on Biaxial Devices.

Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is widely considered to be a fast and robust writing scheme for magnetic random-access memories (MRAMs). However, the requirements of field-free switching and high switching efficiency are often incompatible in SOT devices, placing a critical challenge on its improvement. Here we propose that by utilizing biaxial systems the dilemma between high-efficiency and external-field-free SOT switching can be solved intrinsically.

Atomically Dispersed Ta-O-Co Sites Capable of Mitigating Side Reaction Occurrence for Stable Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

The side reactions accompanying the charging and discharging process, as well as the difficulty in decomposing the discharge product lithium peroxide, have been important issues in the research field of lithium-oxygen batteries for a long time. Here, single atom Ta supported by CoO hollow sphere was designed and synthesized as a cathode catalyst. The single atom Ta forms an electron transport channel through the Ta-O-Co structure to stabilize octahedral Co sites, forming strong adsorption with reaction intermediates and ultimately forming a film-like lithium peroxide that is highly dispersed.

Altered asymmetry of amygdala volume mediates food addiction and weight gain.

Background: Food addiction and an impulsive personality can increase overeating, which can lead to weight gain. The amygdala and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) are critical for regulating obesogenic behaviour. However, whether the amygdala or the NAcc acts as the neural basis for the regulation of food addiction, impulsive personality, and body weight remains unclear.

Prefrontal cortex responses to game rewards and losses in individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder: Insights from fNIRS during mobile gameplay.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the brain activity characteristics of individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) during mobile gameplay, focusing on neural responses to positive and negative game events. The findings may enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying IGD.

Methods: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was employed to measure hemodynamic responses (HbO/HbR) in the prefrontal cortex of both IGD participants and recreational gaming users (RGU), during solo and multiplayer mobile gameplay.

Targeting EPHB2/ABL1 restores antitumor immunity in preclinical models of ependymoma.

Ependymoma (EPN) is a common form of brain tumor in children, often resistant to available cytotoxic therapies. Molecular profiling studies have led to a better understanding of EPN subtypes and revealed a critical role of oncogenes ZFTA-RELA fusion and EPHB2 in supratentorial ependymoma (ST-EPN). However, the immune system's role in tumor progression and response to therapy remains poorly understood.

Nanocomposites of Epoxy with FeO Featuring Dynamic Disulfide Bonds: Fracture Toughness, Reprocessing, and Functional Properties.

Nanocomposites of epoxy with FeO featuring dynamic disulfide bonds were fabricated. To facilitate the dispersion of FeO nanoparticles, we synthesized poly(ε-caprolactone)-grafted FeO nanoparticles, which were then incorporated into epoxy to generate robust interfacial interactions between epoxy and the inorganic nanoparticles. Through this approach, a fine dispersion of the inorganic nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix was successfully obtained.

Risk factors associated with pain and pain relief in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Abdominal pain is one of the most prominent symptoms in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and can manifest intermittently or persistently. The mechanism of pain is not yet clear, and no effective treatment is currently available. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for pain in patients with CP, which may provide new insights for developing effective pain control modalities.

Self-powered Wraparound (Abaxial) Droplet Deposition via a Superhydrophobic Surface Aid.

Many diseases and pests are fond of the backs of leaves, making wraparound deposition essential for enhancing agrochemical utilization and minimizing environmental hazards. We present a superhydrophobic surface decorated with fluorinated-SiO nanoparticles on the adaxial (front) side, improving sprayed droplet wraparound behaviors and achieving a 10-fold increase in abaxial (backside) deposition without using an electrostatic sprayer. Solid-liquid contact electrification boosts the positive charge-to-mass ratio of rebound spraying from 17 to 454 nC g, with the abaxial surface acquiring opposite electric charges at kilovolt-level voltages.

New Algorithms to Generate Permutationally Invariant Polynomials and Fundamental Invariants for Potential Energy Surface Fitting.

Symmetric functions, such as Permutationally Invariant Polynomials (PIPs) and Fundamental Invariants (FIs), are effective and concise descriptors for incorporating permutation symmetry into neural network (NN) potential energy surface (PES) fitting. The traditional algorithm for generating such symmetric polynomials has a factorial time complexity of , where is the number of identical atoms, posing a significant challenge to applying symmetric polynomials as descriptors of NN PESs for larger systems, particularly with more than 10 atoms. Herein, we report a new algorithm which has only linear time complexity for identical atoms.

Evaluation of the effect of 2-borneol on the model through oxidative stress and acute toxicity tests.

Borneol, a compound found in resin-rich plants, is known for its aromatic and therapeutic properties. Widely used in countries, such as China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, borneol has also demonstrated efficacy in nanodrug administration. The primary objective of this study is to understand how borneol induces oxidative stress, its impact on the attraction and repulsion of , and its acute toxicity.

Pupil responds spontaneously to visuospatial regularity.

Beyond the light reflex, the pupil responds to various high-level cognitive processes. Multiple statistical regularities of stimuli have been found to modulate the pupillary response. However, most studies have used auditory or visual temporal sequences as stimuli, and it is unknown whether the pupil size is modulated by statistical regularity in the spatial arrangement of stimuli.

Bispecific Aptamer-Drug Conjugates Selectively Eliminate Malignant Hematologic Cells for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Surface antigen-directed immunotherapy is a curative treatment modality for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that is characterized by the abundance and stability expression of surface antigens. However, current surface antigen-directed immunotherapies have shown poor outcomes and undesirable mortality rates in treating AML patients, primarily due to acquired resistance that arises from using single-target therapies to address the heterogeneous expression of surface antigens. Hence, in order to improve the efficacy of antigen-specific therapies for treating AML, we designed a bispecific aptamer-drug conjugate.

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution-Based Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Racemic 2-Substituted Quinolines.

The synthesis of chiral tetrahydroquinolines (THQs) has garnered significant interest from medicinal chemists due to their frequent presence as pharmacophores in bioactive compounds. While existing synthetic methods have primarily focused on THQs with single or multiple endocyclic chiral centers, the selective construction of THQs with both and cyclic chiral centers remains a significant challenge that requires further development. This study introduces a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR)-based transfer hydrogenation of racemic 2-substituted quinolines, which yields structurally novel chiral THQs with consecutive and cyclic chiral centers in excellent yields and stereoselectivities (59 examples, with generally >20:1 dr and >90% ee, up to three consecutive stereocenters).