Non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging versus ultrasonography for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance: A randomized, single-center trial.

Background & Aims: This study aimed to compare ultrasonography (US) and non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the surveillance of hepatic malignancy.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, non-blinded, single-center trial at a single center in South Korea. Eligible individuals were aged 20-70 years with liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class A, and no history of liver cancer or other recent malignancy.

Industrial air emissions and breast cancer incidence in a United States-wide prospective cohort.

Background: We evaluated air emissions of industrial compounds, many of which have carcinogenic or endocrine disrupting properties, in relation to breast cancer incidence.

Methods: Using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory, we quantified air emissions of 28 compounds near Sister Study participants' residences during the 10 years leading up to study enrollment (2003-2006; n=46,150). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations of residential emission levels of single pollutants with incident breast cancer.

A new polymer with rich carbonyl delocalized π-conjugated structure for high-performance aqueous zinc ion batteries.

The development of sustainable and clean energy has become a top priority, driven by global carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets. Organics are widely used in aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) due to their environmental friendliness, high structural designability, and safety. However, organic materials often face some challenges, including high solubility, low specific capacity, and unclear mechanism, which hinder its further applications.

Synthesis, molecular dynamics simulation and antimicrobial activity of novel s-triazine clubbed with three different hybrid pharmacophores.

To address microbial infections and combat drug resistance, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated three novel s-triazine clubbed pharmacophores: 1-acetylpyrazoline (5a-e), 2-aminopyrimidine (6a-e), and 1,5-benzodiazepine (7a-e). These were derived from chalcone (4a-e), showing improved pharmacological profiles. The compounds underwent characterization by FTIR, NMR, and Mass Spectroscopy, and their antimicrobial activities, along with structure-activity relationships (SAR), were assessed using in silico and in vitro methods.

Effects of changes in body composition on cardiometabolic diseases by sex and presence of sarcopenia.

Background: Muscle mass loss and fat mass increase are risk factors for cardiometabolic disease. We evaluated the effect of changes in body composition on the incidence of cardiometabolic diseases in older adults with or without sarcopenia, over two-year follow-up.

Materials And Methods: Changes in body composition and the development of cardiometabolic diseases over 2 years were measured in community-dwelling older adults recruited from the Korean Frailty Aging Cohort Study.

Assessing riparian functioning condition for improved ecosystem services: A case study of the Back Creek watershed (Virginia, USA).

Riparian functioning condition refers to a rating and description of the current ecological status of a reach of a riparian ecosystem in consideration of its potential hydrology, vegetation, and geomorphology. Reach rating options are Proper Functioning Condition (PFC), Functional-At-Risk (FAR), Non-Functional, and apparent or monitored trends. We assessed the functioning condition of flowing riverbank areas of Back Creek located in Virginia (USA) following a PFC protocol developed by the U.

Tumour-infiltrating Lymphocytes and Radiation Therapy in Rectal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Aim: Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent a promising cancer biomarker. Different TILs, including CD8+, CD4+, CD3+, and FOXP3+, have been associated with clinical outcomes. However, data are lacking regarding the value of TILs for patients receiving radiation therapy (RT).

Outcomes of Calcaneal Lengthening Osteotomy in Ambulatory Patients with Cerebral Palsy and Planovalgus Foot Deformity.

Background: To date, no studies have evaluated the longevity of calcaneal lengthening osteotomy (CLO) in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and pes planovalgus. This study aimed to explore the changes in foot alignment following CLO in patients with CP, utilizing both radiographic evaluations and dynamic foot-pressure assessments.

Methods: A retrospective study of 282 feet in 180 ambulatory patients was performed.

Evolutionary analysis of landscape ecological risk in Baili Rhododendron National Forest Park.

It is significant to research the ecological risk of land use landscape to promote ecological conservation and restoration. The characteristics of land use dynamic change in Baili Rhododendron National Forest Park were analyzed based on GlobeLand30 data for three periods in 2000, 2010 and 2020. With the support of the landscape ecological risk evaluation model and spatial analysis methods, the features of spatial and temporal differentiation of ecological risk and its spatial correlation in the study area were evaluated.

Assessment of temporospatial and kinematic gait parameters using human pose estimation in patients with Parkinson's disease: A comparison between near-frontal and lateral views.

Gait disturbance is one of the most common symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) that is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes. Recently, video-based human pose estimation (HPE) technology has attracted attention as a cheaper and simpler method for performing gait analysis than marker-based 3D motion capture systems. However, it remains unclear whether video-based HPE is a feasible method for measuring temporospatial and kinematic gait parameters in patients with PD and how this function varies with camera position.

Incidence rates of tuberculosis and inflammatory bowel disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis treated with biologics in Korea.

Objective: To describe the incidence rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and tuberculosis (TB) in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis receiving biologics.

Methods: Data from a Korean claims database between 2010 and 2021 was used to calculate crude incidence rates of TB and IBD using number of events and total patient-years (PYs).

Results: Overall, 43 643 and 43 396 patients were included in TB and IBD cohorts.

Associations between the gut microbiome, inflammation and cardiovascular profiles in people with HIV.

Background: Inflammation and innate immune activation are associated with chronic HIV infection, despite effective treatment. Although gut microbiota alterations are linked to systemic inflammation, the relationships between the gut microbiome, inflammation and HIV remain unclear.

Methods: The UPBEAT-CAD sub-study, examining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in HIV, enrolled participants matched on HIV status and traditional CVD risk factors.

Deciphering the Neural Effects of Emotional, Motivational, and Cognitive Challenges on Inhibitory Control Processes.

Converging lines of research indicate that inhibitory control is likely to be compromised in contexts that place competing demands on emotional, motivational, and cognitive systems, potentially leading to damaging impulsive behavior. The objective of this study was to identify the neural impact of three challenging contexts that typically compromise self-regulation and weaken impulse control. Participants included 66 healthy adults (M/SD = 29.

Polygenic risk discriminates Lewy body dementia from Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Lewy body dementia (LBD) shares genetic risk factors with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including apolipoprotein E (APOE), but is distinguishable at the genome-wide level. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) may therefore improve diagnostic classification.

Methods: We assessed diagnostic classification using AD-PRS excluding APOE (AD-PRS ), APOE risk score (APOE-RS), and plasma phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181), in 83 participants with LBD, 27 with positron emission tomography amyloid beta (Aβ)positive mild cognitive impairment or AD (MCI+/AD), and 57 controls.

Congenital Titinopathy: Comprehensive Characterization of the Most Severe End of the Disease Spectrum.

Unlabelled: Congenital titinopathy has recently emerged as one of the most common congenital muscle disorders.

Objective: To better understand the presentation and clinical needs of the under-characterized extreme end of the congenital titinopathy severity spectrum.

Methods: We comprehensively analyzed the clinical, imaging, pathology, autopsy, and genetic findings in 15 severely affected individuals from 11 families.

The qualitative analysis of trabecular architecture of the proximal femur based on the P45 sectional plastination technique.

The primary weight-bearing structure of the proximal femur, trabecular bone, has a complex three-dimensional architecture that was previously difficult to comprehensively display. This study examined the spatial architecture of trabecular struts in the coronal, sagittal, and horizontal sections of the proximal femur using 21 cases prepared with P45 sectional plasticization. The primary compressive strut (PCS) exhibited a "mushroom-like" shape with upper and lower parts.

Job loss and reemployment of newly diagnosed people with epilepsy: A nationwide cohort study.

Objective: Epilepsy has negative socioeconomic impacts on those affected, resulting not only from actual disability but also from social stigma. However, longitudinal studies examining occupational consequences following an epilepsy diagnosis are limited. We aimed to investigate the occupational outcomes of newly diagnosed epilepsy among Korean employees.

Moracin M promotes hair regeneration through activation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway and angiogenesis.

Hair follicle growth depends on the intricate interaction of cells within the follicle and its vascular supply. Current FDA-approved treatments like minoxidil have limitations, including side effects and the need for continuous use. Moracin M, a compound from Moraceae family, was investigated for its effects on hair growth and vascular regeneration.

Sestrin2 ameliorates age-related spontaneous benign prostatic hyperplasia via activation of AMPK/mTOR dependent autophagy.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), characterized as a chronic disease with unregulated enlargement of prostatic gland, is commonly observed in elderly men leading to lower urinary tract dysfunction. Sestrin2 plays a role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and protects organisms from various stimuli. The exact role of Sestrin2 in the etiology of BPH, a common age-related disease, remains unknown.

The MASCC COG-IMPACT: An unmet needs assessment for cancer-related cognitive impairment impact developed by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) can have a profound impact on the lives of cancer survivors. A multitude of subjective and objective assessment tools exist to assess the presence and severity of CRCI. However, no purpose-built tool exists to assess the unmet needs of cancer survivors directly relating to CRCI.

A new 3D full-body scanner analyzing the sagittal and coronal balance of the adult spine: a preliminary prospective observational study.

Background: The degenerative spondylosis can cause the difficulty in maintaining sagittal and coronal alignment of spine, and X-ray parameters are the gold standard to analyze the malalignment. This study aimed to develop a new 3D full body scanner to analyze the spinal balance and compare it to X-ray parameters.

Methods: Ninety-seven adult participants who suffer degenerative spondylosis underwent 3D full body scanning, whole spine X-rays, clinical questionnaires and body composition analyses.

Absolute quantification of amine metabolites in human cerebrospinal fluid via MS1-centric isotopic N,N-dimethyl leucine (iDiLeu) labeling.

Quantitative measurement of metabolites is essential to understand biological and disease processes. Absolute quantification by spiking heavy isotope-labeled internal standards and analyzing on mass spectrometry (MS) platform is a key method to determine the concentration of metabolites in biological samples. However, MS-based absolute quantification is often challenged by the commercial availability and high costs of isotope-labeled internal standards.

Clinical use of measurable residual disease in adult ALL: recommendations from a panel of U.S. experts.

Measurable residual disease (MRD) is a powerful predictor of clinical outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In addition to its clear prognostic importance, MRD information is increasingly used in clinical decision algorithms to guide therapeutic interventions. While it is well-established that achievement of MRD-negative remission is an important endpoint of ALL therapy, the prognostic and therapeutic implications of MRD in an individual patient are influenced by both disease-related factors (e.

HfO-based ferroelectric synaptic devices: challenges and engineering solutions.

HfO-based ferroelectric memories have garnered significant attention for their potential to serve as artificial synaptic devices owing to their scalability and CMOS compatibility. This review examines the key material properties and challenges associated with HfO-based ferroelectric artificial synaptic devices as well as the recent advancements in engineering strategies to improve their synaptic performance. The fundamental physics and material properties of HfO-based ferroelectrics are reviewed to understand the theoretical origin of the aforementioned technical issues in ferroelectric HfO-based synaptic devices.

TLR Agonist Immunoadjuvants Provide Effective Protection Against PCV2 and PRV Infections in a Bivalent Subunit Vaccine for PCV2 and PRV.

Diseases associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) significantly affect the economy of pig farms, particularly when combined infections lead to bacterial co-infections. Antigens from the pseudorabies variant strain gB and gD proteins and PCV2 (genotyped) Cap protein were mixed with the pattern recognition receptor (PRR) agonist FLICd as adjuvants and formulated with a micro-hydrogel adjuvant into PCV2 and PRV bivalent subunit vaccines. Twenty pigs, aged 30-35 days, were divided into groups A (received bivalent subunit vaccine) and B (received bivalent subunit vaccines with recombinant FLICd adjuvant), as well as C (non-vaccinated challenge control) and D (blank control).