Size-Dependent Separation of Extracellular Vesicle Subtypes with Exodisc Enabling Proteomic Analysis in Prostate Cancer.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as crucial biomarkers in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics with their heterogeneity presenting both challenges and opportunities in prostate cancer research. However, existing methods for isolating and characterizing EV subtypes have been limited by inefficient separation and inadequate proteomic analysis. Here we show an optimized centrifugal microfluidic device, Exodisc, that efficiently isolates large quantities of EV subtypes from particle-enriched medium, enabling comprehensive proteomic analysis of small (EV-S, 20-200 nm) and large (EV-L, >200 nm) EVs.

[F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT-based radiomics may help enhance the interpretation of bone focal uptakes in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients.

Purpose: We hypothesised that applying radiomics to [F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT images could help distinguish Unspecific Bone Uptakes (UBUs) from bone metastases in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. We compared the performance of radiomic features to human visual interpretation.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analysed 102 hormone-sensitive PCa patients who underwent [F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT and exhibited at least one focal bone uptake with known clinical follow-up (reference standard).

Fabrication of Hypoxia-Mimicking Supramolecular Hydrogels for Cartilage Repair.

Despite advancements in chronic arthritis treatment, there remains a significant demand for advanced nanotechnologies capable of efficiently delivering a wide range of therapeutic agents to provide symptomatic relief and facilitate the healing of inflamed cartilage tissue. Considering the significant impact of hypoxia on the development and maintenance of chondral tissue, replicating its effects on stem cells could be a potential approach for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Cobalt is a prominent hypoxia-inducing agent, owing to its ability to activate the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway regardless of cellular oxygen levels.

Sexual Dimorphism in the Downregulation of Extracellular Matrix Genes Contribute to Aortic Structural Stiffness in Female Mice.

The contribution of sex hormones to cardiovascular disease, including arterial stiffness, is established; however, the role of sex chromosome interaction with sex hormones, particularly in women, is lagging. Arterial structural stiffness depends on the intrinsic properties and transmural wall geometry that comprise a network of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins expressed in a sex-dependent manner. In this study, we used four-core genotype (FCG) mice to determine the relative contribution of sex hormones versus sex chromosomes or their interaction with arterial structural stiffness.

Use of AI in Cardiac CT and MRI: A Scientific Statement from the ESCR, EuSoMII, NASCI, SCCT, SCMR, SIIM, and RSNA.

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promising solutions for many steps of the cardiac imaging workflow, from patient and test selection through image acquisition, reconstruction, and interpretation, extending to prognostication and reporting. Despite the development of many cardiac imaging AI algorithms, AI tools are at various stages of development and face challenges for clinical implementation. This scientific statement, endorsed by several societies in the field, provides an overview of the current landscape and challenges of AI applications in cardiac CT and MRI.

Open-Source Large Language Models in Radiology: A Review and Tutorial for Practical Research and Clinical Deployment.

Integrating large language models (LLMs) into health care holds substantial potential to enhance clinical workflows and care delivery. However, LLMs also pose serious risks if integration is not thoughtfully executed, with complex challenges spanning accuracy, accessibility, privacy, and regulation. Proprietary commercial LLMs (eg, GPT-4 [OpenAI], Claude 3 Sonnet and Claude 3 Opus [Anthropic], Gemini [Google]) have received much attention from researchers in the medical domain, including radiology.

Photoregulation of the biosynthetic activity of fungus using colloidal solutions of biogenic metal nanoparticles and low-intensity laser radiation.

This article presents new data on the integrated use of colloidal solutions of nanoparticles and low-intensity laser radiation on the biosynthetic activity of the medicinal mushroom . Traditional mycological methods, colloidal solutions of biogenic metals, and unique photobiological methods have also been used. It was found that colloidal solutions of nanoparticles of all metals used increased the growth characteristics of (55-60%), while irradiation of the fungal inoculum with laser light in a medium with nanoparticles reduced the growth activity of mycelia by 12.

Biomechanical comparison of locking femoral neck plate versus cannulated screws with or without a medial buttress plate in Pauwels type 3 femoral neck fractures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the locking femoral neck plate (LFNP) can be an alternative fixation method to the cannulated screws with a medial buttress plate. For this purpose, we compared biomechanically the LFNP and cannulated screws with or without a medial buttress plate in Pauwels type 3 femoral neck fractures.

Methods: A vertical fracture model was created at an 80-degree angle to the femoral neck in 28 synthetic bone models.

Investigation of Immunoreactivity Profiles and Epitope Landscape in Divergent COVID-19 Trajectories and SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

This study aimed to elucidate the complexity of the humoral immune response in COVID-19 patients with varying disease trajectories using a SARS-CoV-2 whole proteome peptide microarray chip. The microarray, containing 5347 peptides spanning the entire SARS-CoV-2 proteome and key variants of concern, was used to analyze IgG responses in 10 severe-to-recovered, 9 nonsevere-to-severe cases, and 10 control case (5 pre-pandemic and 5 SARS-CoV-2-negative) plasma samples. We identified 1151 IgG-reactive peptides corresponding to 647 epitopes, with 207 peptides being cross-reactive across 124 epitopes.

Frequently arising ESX-1-associated phase variants influence fitness in the presence of host and antibiotic pressures.

Unlabelled: (Mtb) exhibits an impressive ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments, despite its genome's apparent stability. Recently, phase variation through indel formation in homopolymeric tracts (HT) has emerged as a potentially important mechanism promoting adaptation in Mtb. This study examines the impact of common phase variants associated with the ESX-1 type VII secretion system, focusing on a highly variable HT upstream of the ESX-1 regulatory factor, .

Combining Hyperpolarized Xe MR Imaging and Spectroscopy to Non-Invasively Estimate Pulmonary Vascular Resistance.

Hyperpolarized Xe MRI/MRS enables quantitative mapping of function in lung airspaces, membrane tissue, and red blood cells (RBCs) within the pulmonary capillaries. The RBC signal also exhibits cardiogenic oscillations that are reduced in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). This effect is obscured in patients with concomitant defects in transfer from airspaces to RBCs, which increase RBC oscillation amplitudes.

Characterisation of sleep in a mouse model of CLN3 disease revealed sex-specific sleep disturbances.

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a group of recessively inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterizsed by lysosomal storage of fluorescent materials. CLN3 disease, or juvenile Batten disease, is the most common NCL that is caused by mutations in the Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene. Sleep disturbances are among the most common symptoms associated with CLN3 disease that deteriorate the patients' life quality, yet this is understudied and has not been delineated in animal models of the disease.

Duodenogastric Reflux in Health and Disease: Insights from a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of the Stomach.

The stomach is responsible for physically and chemically processing the ingested meal before controlled emptying into the duodenum through the pyloric sphincter. An incompetent pylorus allows reflux from the duodenum back into the stomach, and if the amount of reflux is large enough, it could alter the low pH environment of the stomach and erode the mucosal lining of the lumen. In some cases, the regurgitated contents can also reach the esophagus leading to additional complications.

A hypoxia-targeting and hypoxia-responsive nano-probe for tumor detection and early diagnosis.

Accurate imaging of tumor hypoxia is critical for early cancer diagnosis and clinical outcomes, highlighting the great need for its detection specificity and sensitivity. In this report, we propose a probe (HTRNP) that simultaneously has hypoxia-targeting and hypoxia-responsive capabilities to enhance the tumor hypoxia imaging efficiency. HTRNP was successfully prepared through the encapsulation of Pt(II)-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtPFPP), which exhibits hypoxia-dependent phosphorescence, within the amphiphilic block copolymer OPDMA-PF, which has hypoxia-targeting tertiary amine -oxide moieties and hydrophobic perfluorobenzene ring structures, which highly improved the loading content and water solubility of PtPFPP.

CCN5 suppresses injury-induced vascular restenosis by inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and facilitating endothelial repair via thymosin β4 and Cd9 pathway.

Background And Aims: Members of the CCN matricellular protein family are crucial in various biological processes. This study aimed to characterize vascular cell-specific effects of CCN5 on neointimal formation and its role in preventing in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Stent-implanted porcine coronary artery RNA-seq and mouse injury-induced femoral artery neointima single-cell RNA sequencing were performed.

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid induced by the spider mite Tetranychus urticae or alamethicin, is involved in the defense of lima bean against spider mites.

Background: Phaseolus lunatus, commonly known as the lima bean, is a leguminous crop cultivated in various regions worldwide. It is native to tropical America and is extensively grown in both tropical and temperate climates. Lima beans are highly nutritious and versatile, serving not only as a food and vegetable, but also as a source of green manure.

Preclinical and First-In-Human Imaging of Novel [F]F-FAPI-FUSCC-07 Tracer: Comparative Prospective Study with [F]F-FAPI-42 and [F]F-FAPI-74.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-specific tracer, fluorine-18-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-FUSCC-07 ([F]F-FAPI-FUSCC-07), for use in both preclinical and clinical settings. Preclinical evaluations were conducted to assess the stability and partition coefficient of [F]F-FAPI-FUSCC-07. Experiments involving human glioma U87MG cells demonstrated its cellular uptake and inhibitory properties.

Enhancement of titanium surfaces using different acid solutions at room temperature to improve bone cell responses.

Background/purpose: Early osseointegration of titanium (Ti) dental implants relies on the surface topography. Surface modification of Ti seeks to enhance bone regeneration around implants. Acid etching is the simple, less technique sensitive and cost-effective technique for surface treatment.

Investigation of the cushioning mechanism of a novel dental implant system with composite hydrogel.

Background/purpose: Dental implants can restore both function and aesthetics in edentulous areas. However, the absence of cushioning mechanical behavior in implants may limit their clinical performance and reduce the long-term survival rates. This study aimed to establish an implant cushion mechanism that mimicked the natural periodontal ligament, utilizing the properties of composite hydrogels.

Antimicrobial properties of bimetallic-containing mesoporous bioglass against .

Background/purpose: Various pulp-covering materials offer advantages in regenerative root canal treatment, but each has limitations, highlighting the need for more effective antibacterial strategies for pulp repair and regeneration. Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG) show significant biological activity, making them valuable in tissue/dental repair. Silver-incorporated MBG exhibits promising antibacterial effects against various bacteria; copper ions are crucial in regulating angiogenesis signals.

Improving osteogenic properties of zirconia ceramic via glow discharge plasma-enhanced deposition of amine organic compound.

Background/purpose: Osseointegration potential is greatly depended on the interaction between bone cells and dental implant surface. Since zirconia ceramic has a bioinert surface, functionalization of the surface with an organic compound allylamine was conducted to overcome its drawback of minimal interaction with the surrounding bone.

Materials And Methods: The zirconia surface was initially treated with argon glow discharge plasma (GDP), then combined with amine plasma at three different conditions of 50-W, 75-W and 85-W, to prepare the final samples.

Using optimization approach to design dental implant in three types of bone quality - A finite element analysis.

Background/purpose: The use of finite element (FE) analysis in implant biomechanics offers many advantages over other approaches in simulating the complexity of clinical situations. The aim of this study was to perform an optimization analysis of dental implants with different thread designs in three types of bone quality.

Materials And Methods: The three-dimensional FE model of a mandibular bone block with a screw-shaped dental implant and superstructure was simulated.

Evaluation of cortical bone thickness at the nasomaxillary and zygomaticomaxillary buttresses using cone-beam computed tomography imaging for Le Fort I osteotomy.

Background/purpose: Studies have indicated that 50%-55% of the population have malocclusion, and approximately 5%-10% require orthognathic surgery to correct this condition. Optimal placement of plates and screws significantly affects the success rate of the surgery and postoperative stability. This study evaluates the cortical thickness of the maxillary bone in the nasomaxillary and zygomaticomaxillary buttress regions in Taiwanese patients based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

AI-Assisted Compressed Sensing Enables Faster Brain MRI for the Elderly: Image Quality and Diagnostic Equivalence with Conventional Imaging.

Purpose: Conventional brain MRI protocols are time-consuming, which can lead to patient discomfort and inefficiency in clinical settings. This study aims to assess the feasibility of using artificial intelligence-assisted compressed sensing (ACS) to reduce brain MRI scan time while maintaining image quality and diagnostic accuracy compared to a conventional imaging protocol.

Patients And Methods: Seventy patients from the department of neurology underwent brain MRI scans using both conventional and ACS protocols, including axial and sagittal T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences and T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence.