Discordance between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone mineral density and spinal computed tomography texture analysis: An investigation into low correlation rates.

Objectives: This research delves into the application of texture analysis in spine computed tomography (CT) scans and its correlation with bone mineral density (BMD), as determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). It specifically addresses the discordance between the 2 measurements, suggesting that certain spinal-specific factors may contribute to this discrepancy. Methods: The study involved 405 cases from a single institution collected between May 6, 2012 and June 30, 2021. Each case underwent a spinal CT scan and a DXA scan. BMD values at the lumbar region (T12 to S1) and total hip were recorded. Texture features from axial cuts of T12 to S1 vertebrae were extracted using gray-level co-occurrence matrices, and a regression model was constructed to predict the BMD values. Results: The correlation between CT texture analysis results and BMD from DXA was moderate, with a correlation coefficient ranging between 0.4 and 0.5. This discordance was examined in light of factors unique to the spine region, such as abdominal obesity, aortic calcification, and lumbar degenerative changes, which could potentially affect BMD measurements. Conclusions: Emerging from this study is a novel insight into the discordance between spinal CT texture analysis and DXA-derived BMD measurements, highlighting the unique influence of spinal attributes. This revelation calls into question the exclusive reliance on DXA scans for BMD assessment, particularly in scenarios where DXA scanning may not be feasible or accurate.

Analytic-holistic cognitive styles affect consumer responses to food and beverage samples during sensory evaluation.

Recent studies have shown that the analytic-holistic theory is applicable in sensory science-related areas. Analytic and holistic cognitive style groups have been found to have significantly different perceptions and behaviors within food-related scenarios. These differences were further investigated and identified within the current study, focusing on specific areas of common sensory tests and analyses where analytic and holistic cognitive style groups may differ from one another. Before the main study, 419 volunteers were classified into three groups based on their scores to the Analysis-Holism Scale (AHS). The extreme groups (65 adults for each) were identified as the "analytic" and "holistic" cognitive style groups, respectively. Participants evaluated fruit-flavored beverages and fruit samples for their impression of the intensity or hedonic aspects in the study conducted over two sessions. Each session either employed solely category or line scale for the questions. Analyses focused on the analytic and holistic group comparisons in mean, variance, penalty analysis, and pre- and post-AHS score differences. Results showed that the holistic group exhibited significantly higher mean scores and standard deviations in the hedonic ratings of fruit samples than the analytic group did. Compared to the analytic group, the holistic group showed significantly smaller mean drops in overall liking across the five Just-About-Right (JAR) questions related to flavors or tastes of the mixed-fruit flavored water. A significant difference between the AHS scores measured before and after the sensory evaluation was observed in the holistic group, but not in the analytic group. In conclusion, our findings provide empirical evidence that cognitive styles affect consumer responses to food or beverage samples during sensory evaluation tasks. This implies that sensory professionals may consider these analytic-holistic contrasts while exploring consumer responses to their target samples.

Genome-based taxonomic identification and safety assessment of an Enterococcus strain isolated from a homemade dairy product.

The aim of this study was to explore the taxonomic identification and evaluate the safety of a bacterium, Enterococcus lactis IDCC 2105, isolated from homemade cheese in Korea, using whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis. It sought to identify the species level of this Enterococcus spp., assess its antibiotic resistance, and evaluate its virulence potential. WGS analysis confirmed the bacterial strain IDCC 2105 as E. lactis and identified genes responsible for resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin, specifically msrC, and eatAv, which are chromosomally located, indicating a minimal risk for horizontal gene transfer. The absence of plasmids in E. lactis IDCC 2105 further diminishes the likelihood of resistance gene dissemination. Additionally, our investigation into seven virulence factors, including hemolysis, platelet aggregation, biofilm formation, hyaluronidase, gelatinase, ammonia production, and ß-glucuronidase activity, revealed no detectable virulence traits. Although bioinformatic analysis suggested the presence of collagen adhesion genes acm and scm, these were not corroborated by phenotypic virulence assays. Based on these findings, E. lactis IDCC 2105 presents as a safe strain for potential applications, contributing valuable information on its taxonomy, antibiotic resistance profile, and lack of virulence factors, supporting its use in food products.

Repeatable Acoustic Vaporization of Coated Perfluorocarbon Bubbles for Micro-Actuation Inspired by Polypodium aureum.

Polypodium aureum, a fern, possesses a specialized spore-releasing mechanism like a catapult induced by the quick expansion of vaporized bubbles. This study introduces lipid-coated perfluorocarbon droplets to enable repeatable vaporization-condensation cycles, inspired by the repeatable vaporization of Polypodium aureum. Lipid-perfluorocarbon droplets have been considered not to exhibit repeatable oscillations due to bubble collapse of the low surface tension of lipid layers. However, a single lipid-dodecafluoropentane droplet with a diameter of 9.17 µm shows expansion-contraction oscillations over 4000 cycles by changing lipid composition and applying a low-power 1.7 MHz ultrasound to induce the partial vaporization of the droplets. The optimal combinations of shell composition, droplet fabrication, and acoustic conditions can minimize the damage on shell structure and promote a quick recovery of damaged shell layers. The highly expanding oscillatory microbubbles provide a new direction for fuel-free micro- or nanobots, as well as biomedical applications of contrast agents and drug delivery.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) leaf extract modulates the expression of heme oxygenase-1 to attenuate osteoclast differentiation.

Osteoporosis is an aging disease characterized by an imbalance between bone formation and resorption. However, drugs that inhibit bone resorption have various adverse effects. Ginseng (Panax ginseng), a prominent herbal medicine in East Asia for >2000 years, is renowned for its manifold beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-adipogenic activities. Despite its long history of use, the pharmacological functions of ginseng leaves are not yet fully comprehended. In this study, we evaluated the potential effects of ginseng leaf extract (GLE) on receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining revealed that GLE had significant anti-osteoclastogenic activity. GLE significantly reduced mRNA levels of osteoclast differentiation markers including TRAP, nuclear factor of activated T cell cytoplasmic 1, and cathepsin K. It also suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secretion of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) in RANKL-treated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, GLE upregulated dose- and time-dependently the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), eventually suppressing ROS production and HMGB1 secretion. This effects of GLE were significantly reversed by Tin Protoporphyrin IX dichloride, an inhibitor of HO-1, and HO-1 shRNA, indicating that HO-1 potently inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting ROS production and HMGB1 secretion. Taken together, these observations suggest that GLE could have therapeutic potential as a natural product-derived medicine for the treatment of bone disorders.

Retrospective Analysis of Ultrasound-Guided Serial-Injection Triple Nerve Block Efficacy in Cementless Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture.

BACKGROUND: Femoral neck fractures are effectively treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) surgery, yet postoperative pain management remains a challenge. This study explores the efficacy of multimodal pain management in minimizing opioid use and enhancing recovery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 87 patients who underwent BHA between September 2016 and September 2020 was conducted. Patients were analyzed in two groups: Group I (n = 42), receiving serial-injection nerve blocks (SINBs) before and after surgery, and Group II (n = 41), with no SINB. Notably, all nerve blocks for Group I were performed after November 2017, following the implementation of this technique in our protocol. Pain and analgesic medication usage were assessed over 72 h post-surgery, along with hospitalization duration and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Group I patients exhibited significantly lower pain scores at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h post-surgery, alongside reduced incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and delirium compared with Group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing sequential lower limb nerve blocks under ultrasound guidance in BHA surgeries effectively reduces early postoperative pain and associated adverse effects. This approach demonstrates potential benefits in pain management, leading to diminished narcotic usage and lower risks of PONV and delirium.

Complete genome sequence of a new putative member of the genus Pelarspovirus that infects Quercus aliena Blume in South Korea.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a newly discovered virus infecting Quercus aliena Blume, tentatively named "quercus leafroll virus" (QLRV), was determined through high-throughput and Sanger sequencing. The sequence comprises 3,940 nucleotides, has five open reading frames, and has a typical pelarspovirus genome organization, with neither 3' polyadenylation nor a 5' cap. The proteins encoded by QLRV share 17.9 to 44.2% amino acid sequence identity with known pelarspovirus proteins. The highest amino acid sequence identity values for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and coat protein were 67.5% and 55.2%, respectively, which are below the current thresholds for pelarspovirus species demarcation. On the basis of these results, we propose classifying QLRV as a new member of the genus Pelarspovirus, family Tombusviridae.

Multiplexed Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Proteomic Alterations in Two Rodent Traumatic Brain Injury Models.

In many cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI), conspicuous abnormalities, such as scalp wounds and intracranial hemorrhages, abate over time. However, many unnoticeable symptoms, including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dysfunction, often last from several weeks to years after trauma, even for mild injuries. Moreover, the cause of such persistence of symptoms has not been examined extensively. Recent studies have implicated the dysregulation of the molecular system in the injured brain, necessitating an in-depth analysis of the proteome and signaling pathways that mediate the consequences of TBI. Thus, in this study, the brain proteomes of two TBI models were examined by quantitative proteomics during the recovery period to determine the molecular mechanisms of TBI. Our results show that the proteomes in both TBI models undergo distinct changes. A bioinformatics analysis demonstrated robust activation and inhibition of signaling pathways and core proteins that mediate biological processes after brain injury. These findings can help determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie the persistent effects of TBI and identify novel targets for drug interventions.

Inter-rater and Intra-rater Reliability of the Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale with the Standardized Protocol.

This study aimed to develop a standardized protocol for the assessment of videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and to demonstrate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the VDS by applying the new standard protocol. A standardized protocol for the VDS was developed by dysphagia experts, including the original developer. To identify the reliability of the VDS using the protocol, 60 patients who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) for various etiologies were recruited retrospectively from three tertiary medical centers. Ten randomly selected cases were duplicated to evaluate the intra-rater reliability. Six physicians evaluated the VFSS data sets. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the VDS score, and Gwet's kappa values for each VDS item were calculated. The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the total VDS score was 0.966 and 0.896, respectively. Notably, the evaluators' experience did not appear to have a significant impact on the reliability (physiatrists: 0.933/0.869, residents: 0.922/0.922). The reliability was consistent across different centers and dysphagia etiologies. The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the oral and pharyngeal sub-scores were 0.953/0.861 and 0.958/0.907, respectively. The inter-rater agreement of individual items ranged from 0.456 to 0.929, and nine items demonstrated good to very good level of agreement. Assessment of dysphagia using the VDS with the standard protocol showed excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities regardless of the evaluator's experience, VFSS equipment, and dysphagia etiologies. The VDS can be a useful assessment scale in the quantitative analysis of dysphagia based on VFSS findings.

Changes of neural coupling between cognitive and motor networks associated with dual-task performance in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGOUND: Although cognitive control is essential for efficient gait, the associations between cognitive and motor networks regarding gait in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) remain to be determined. Herein, we enrolled 28 PD and 28 controls to compare internetwork coupling among cognitive and motor networks and examine its relationship with single- and dual-task gait performance in PD. METHODS: The dorsal attention network (DAN), left and right frontoparietal control networks (FPNs), sensorimotor network, and lateral motor network were identified using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. The time taken to complete a 10-m walk test during cognitive or physical dual-tasks in PD was calculated representing gait performance. RESULTS: We observed that the internetwork couplings between the DAN and motor networks and between the motor networks decreased whereas those between the left FPN and DAN and motor networks increased in PD compared to controls using a permutation test. There was no significant correlation between the internetwork couplings and single- and dual-task gait performance in PD. Nevertheless, improved cognitive dual-task performance showed a positive correlation with the DAN and left FPN coupling and a negative correlation with the DAN and lateral motor network coupling in a good performance group. The opposite relationship was observed in the poor cognitive dual-task performance group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a neural mechanism of cognitive control on gait to compensate for reduced goal-directed attention in PD who maintain cognitive dual-task performance.

Key factors for the survival of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IDCC 3501 in manufacturing and storage.

Functional microbiome development has steadily increased; with this, the viability of microbial strains must be maintained not only after the manufacturing process but also at the time of consumption. Survival is threatened by various unavoidable factors during freeze-drying and shelf storage. Here, the aim was to optimize the manufacturing process of the functional strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IDCC 3501 after freeze-drying and storage. Explosive growth was achieved using a medium composition with two nitrogen sources and a mineral, and growth was drastically improved by neutralizing the medium pH during the culture of L. plantarum IDCC 3501. Culture optimization involved a smaller cell size, leading to less intracellular free water. Moreover, when maltodextrin (MD) powder was directly added to the harvested cells, some intracellular free water was extracted from the bacterial cells, resulting in a dramatic increase in the viability of L. plantarum IDCC 3501 after freeze-drying and subsequent storage. Furthermore, MD enhanced survival in a dose-dependent manner. Bacterial survival was correlated with lysozyme tolerance; therefore, the positive result might have been caused by the osmotic dehydration of intracellular free water, which would potentially damage the bacterial cells via ice crystallization and/or a phase transition during freeze-drying. These critical factors of L. plantarum IDCC 3501 processing provide perspectives on survival issues for manufacturing microbiome strains. KEY POINTS: • Culture conditions for probiotic bacteria were optimized for high growth yield. • Osmotic dehydration improved bacterial survival after manufacturing and shelf storage. • Reduction in intracellular free water content is crucial for intact survival.

First report of Kalanchoe Latent Virus naturally infecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in South Korea.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris; family: Fabaceae) is an economically and nutritionally important food crop worldwide (Ganesan et al. 2017). In 2021, several plants collected from different provinces in South Korea had symptoms of viral infections (e.g., mild yellow-greenish speckling, stunting, crinkling, and deformed leaves). To identify the causal pathogens, total RNA was isolated from pooled leaf tissues from all samples (n = 29) for paired-end high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The cDNA library was constructed after eliminating ribosomal RNA using the TruSeq RNA Sample Prep Kit and then sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform (Macrogen, Korea). The 297,868,156 paired-end clean reads (150 nt) were de novo assembled using Trinity with default parameters. BLASTx was used for the contig analysis, which revealed the pooled samples were infected with several plant viruses (e.g., turnip mosaic virus, zucchini yellow mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, lily mottle virus). Notably, the assembled contigs included a single viral contig (8,472 nt) comprising the nearly complete KLV genome (HTS mean coverage: 39.46%). Kalanchoe latent virus (KLV; genus: Carlavirus; family: Betaflexiviridae) has been detected in Kalanchoë blossfeldiana (Hearon 1982), Chenopodium quinoa (Dinesen et al. 2009), and Graptopetalum paraguayense (Sorrentino et al. 2017). The sequence was most similar (96.28% nucleotide identity; 99% query coverage) to KLV isolate DSMZ PV-0290 (GenBank: OP525283) from Denmark. The contig sequence was validated via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using total RNA extracted from the 29 individually stored samples and nine primer sets specific for the KLV contig. All nine contig-specific overlapping fragments were amplified from only a P. vulgaris plant with mild yellowing mosaic symptoms collected on July 6, 2021, in Jeongseon County, South Korea. Additionally, 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-specific primers were designed for the KLV contig sequence to determine the terminal ends of the genome of the South Korean KLV isolate using the 5'/3' RACE System (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA). All of the amplified and overlapping fragments were cloned into the RBC T&A Cloning Vector (RBC Bioscience, Taipei, Taiwan) and sequenced using the Sanger method. The obtained full-length genomic sequence of the KLV isolate (KLV-SK22) was 8,517 nt long and was deposited in GenBank OQ718816. According to the BLASTn analysis, KLV-SK22 was highly similar (96.30% sequence identity; 100% query coverage) to the DSMZ PV-0290 isolate. Phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of coat protein and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase amino acid sequences revealed that KLV-SK22 is closely related to the DSMZ PV-0290 and PV-0290B isolates from Denmark, respectively. At the genome and gene levels, the individual sequence identities between the carlaviruses and other KLV isolates were 96.29% to 100% (Adams et al. 2004). Additionally, an RT-PCR analysis using detection primers specific for KLV-SK22 did not detect KLV in 15 samples (P. vulgaris = 3, Glycine max = 8, Pueraria montana = 2, Trifolium repens = 1, and Vigna angularis = 1) randomly collected from different regions in South Korea. Based on these results, KLV infection may not be widespread at this time in South Korea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of KLV in P. vulgaris in South Korea or elsewhere. Our findings will aid future research on the epidemiology and long-term management of KLV-related diseases.

Comparative Analysis of CT Texture in Lumbar and Femur and Its Correlation with Bone Mineral Density and Content over Time: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: This research explores the application of morphometric texture analysis in chest Computed Tomography (CT) scans for determining Bone Mineral Content (BMC) and its temporal changes, both crucial in diagnosing osteoporosis. The study establishes an innovative approach to osteoporosis screening by leveraging Hounsfield Units (HUs) in CT scans to evaluate BMC, offering a comparison with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based BMC. METHODS: A total of 806 instances (encompassing 379 individuals) were meticulously compiled from a sole institution, during the period stretching from 6 May 2012 to 30 June 2020. In this detailed analysis, each participant was subjected to a pair of chest CT scans, sequentially pursued by a DXA scan, spread over two years. Focused records of BMC values at the inaugural lumbar vertebra (L1) were secured from both the DXA and CT axial slices across all instances. A meticulous selection process pinpointed the largest trabecular section from the L1 vertebral body, whereupon 45 distinctive texture attributes were harvested utilizing gray-level co-occurrence matrix methodologies. Utilizing these amassed 45 attributes, a regression architecture was devised, aiming to forecast the precise BMC values individually. Moreover, an alternative regression framework was engaged, leveraging 90 distinct features, to gauge the BMC fluctuations observed between the duo of scans administered to each participant. RESULTS: The precision of the cultivated regression frameworks was scrupulously assessed, benchmarking against the correlation coefficient (CC) and the mean absolute deviation (MAE) in comparison to the DXA-established references. The regression apparatus employed for estimating BMC unveiled a CC of 0.754 and an MAE of 1.641 (g), respectively. Conversely, the regression mechanism devoted to discerning the variations in BMC manifested a CC of 0.680, coupled with an MAE of 0.528 (g), respectively. CONCLUSION: The innovative methodology utilizing morphometric texture analysis in CT HUs offers an indirect, yet promising, approach for osteoporosis screening by providing estimations of BMC and its temporal changes. The estimations demonstrate moderate positive correlations with DXA measures, suggesting a potential alternative in circumstances where DXA scanning is limited.

Proteomic discovery of prognostic protein biomarkers for persisting problems after mild traumatic brain injury.

Some individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, have neuropsychiatric and physical problems that last longer than a few months. Symptoms following mTBI are not only impacted by the kind and severity of the injury but also by the post-injury experience and the individual's responses to it, making the persistence of mTBI particularly difficult to predict. We aimed to identify prognostic blood-based protein biomarkers predicting 6-month outcomes, in light of the clinical course after the injury, in a longitudinal mTBI cohort (N = 42). Among 420 target proteins quantified by multiple-reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry assays of blood samples, 31, 43, and 15 proteins were significantly associated with the poor recovery of neuropsychological symptoms at < 72 h, 1 week, and 1 month after the injury, respectively. Sequential associations among clinical assessments (depressive symptoms and cognitive function) affecting the 6-month outcomes were evaluated. Then, candidate biomarker proteins indirectly affecting the outcome via neuropsychological symptoms were identified. Using the identified proteins, prognostic models that can predict the 6-month outcome of mTBI were developed. These protein biomarkers established in the context of the clinical course of mTBI may have potential for clinical application.

Assessing bone mineral density in non-weight bearing regions of the body: a texture analysis approach using abdomen and pelvis computed tomography Hounsfield units-a cross-sectional study.

Background: Highlighting a gap in comprehending bone microarchitecture's intricacies using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), this study aims to bridge this chasm by analyzing texture in non-weight bearing regions on axial computed tomography (CT) scans. Our goal is to enrich osteoporosis patient management by enhancing bone quality and microarchitecture insights. Methods: Conducted at Busan Medical Center from March 1, 2013, to August 30, 2022, 1,320 cases (782 patients) were screened. After applying exclusion criteria, 458 samples (296 patients) underwent bone mineral density (BMD) assessment with both CT and DXA. Regions of interest (ROIs) included spine pedicle's maximum trabecular area, sacrum Zone 1, superior/inferior pubic ramus, and femur's greater/lesser trochanters. Texture features (n=45) were extracted from ROIs using gray-level co-occurrence matrices. A regression model predicted BMD, spotlighting the top five influential texture features. Results: Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.709 (lowest for total femur BMD) to 0.804 (highest for femur intertrochanter BMD). Mean squared error (MSE) values were also provided for lumbar and femur BMD/bone mineral content (BMC) metrics. The most influential texture features included contrast_32, correlation_32_v, and three other metrics. Conclusions: By melding traditional DXA and CT texture analysis, our approach presents a comprehensive bone health perspective, potentially revolutionizing osteoporosis diagnostics.

A Systematic Review of the Learning Dynamics of Proprioception Training: Specificity, Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify key aspects of the learning dynamics of proprioception training including: 1) specificity to the training type, 2) acquisition of proprioceptive skills, 3) retention of learning effects, and 4) transfer to different proprioceptive skills. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search using the database (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PEDro). The inclusion criteria required adult participants who underwent any training program that could enhance proprioceptive function, and at least 1 quantitative assessment of proprioception before and after the intervention. We analyzed within-group changes to quantify the effectiveness of an intervention. RESULTS: In total, 106 studies with 343 participant-outcome groups were included. Proprioception-specific training resulted in large effect sizes with a mean improvement of 23.4 to 42.6%, nonspecific training resulted in medium effect sizes with 12.3 to 22% improvement, and no training resulted in small effect sizes with 5.0 to 8.9% improvement. Single-session training exhibited significant proprioceptive improvement immediately (10 studies). For training interventions with a midway evaluation (4 studies), trained groups improved by approximately 70% of their final value at the midway point. Proprioceptive improvements were largely maintained at a delayed follow-up of at least 1 week (12 studies). Finally, improvements in 1 assessment were significantly correlated with improvements in another assessment (10 studies). CONCLUSIONS: Proprioceptive learning appears to exhibit several features similar to motor learning, including specificity to the training type, 2 time constant learning curves, good retention, and improvements that are correlated between different assessments, suggesting a possible, common mechanism for the transfer of training.

Exploring the Paradox of Bone Mineral Density in Type 2 Diabetes: A Comparative Study Using Opportunistic Chest CT Texture Analysis and DXA.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to validate the application of CT texture analysis in estimating Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and comparing it with the results of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a normative cohort. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 510 cases (145 T2D patients and 365 normal patients) from a single institution. DXA-derived BMD and CT texture analysis-estimated BMD were compared for each participant. Additionally, we investigated the correlation among 45 different texture features within each group. RESULTS: The correlation between CT texture analysis-estimated BMD and DXA-derived BMD in T2D patients was consistently high (0.94 or above), whether measured at L1 BMD, L1 BMC, total hip BMD, or total hip BMC. In contrast, the normative cohort showed a modest correlation, ranging from 0.66 to 0.75. Among the 45 texture features, significant differences were found in the Contrast V 64 and Contrast V 128 features in the normal group. CONCLUSION: In essence, our study emphasizes that the clinical assessment of bone health, particularly in T2D patients, should not merely rely on traditional measures, such as DXA BMD. Rather, it may be beneficial to incorporate other diagnostic tools, such as CT texture analysis, to better comprehend the complex interplay between various factors impacting bone health.

Assessing Bone Mineral Density in Weight-Bearing Regions of the Body through Texture Analysis of Abdomen and Pelvis CT Hounsfield Unit.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a novel method for opportunistically screening osteoporosis by measuring bone mineral density (BMD) from CT images. We addressed the limitations of commercially available software and introduced texture analysis using Hounsfield units (HU) as an alternative approach. Methods: A total of 458 samples (296 patients) were selected from a dataset of 1320 cases (782 patients) between 1 March 2013, and 30 August 2022. BMD measurements were obtained from the ilium, femoral neck, intertrochanteric region of both femurs, and L1-L5 and sacrum spine body. The region of interest (ROI) for each patient's CT scan was defined as the maximum trabecular area of the spine body, ilium, femoral neck, and femur intertrochanter. Using gray-level co-occurrence matrices, we extracted 45 texture features from each ROI. Linear regression analysis was employed to predict BMD, and the top five influential texture features were identified. Results: The linear regression (LR) model yielded correlation coefficients (R-squared values) for total lumbar BMD, total lumbar BMC, total femur BMD, total femur BMC, femur neck BMD, femur neck BMC, femur intertrochanter BMD, and femur intertrochanter BMC as follows: 0.643, 0.667, 0.63, 0.635, 0.631, 0.636, 0.68, and 0.68, respectively. Among the 45 texture features considered, the top five influential factors for BMD prediction were Entropy, autocorrelate_32, autocorrelate_32_volume, autocorrelate_64, and autocorrelate_64_volume.

PDZ Peptide of the ZO-1 Protein Significantly Increases UTP-Induced MUC8 Anti-Inflammatory Mucin Overproduction in Human Airway Epithelial Cells.

Mucus hyperproduction and hypersecretion are observed often in respiratory diseases. MUC8 is a glycoprotein synthesized by epithelial cells and generally expressed in the respiratory track. However, the physiological mechanism by which extracellular nucleotides induce MUC8 gene expression in human airway epithelial cells is unclear. Here, we show that UTP could induce MUC8 gene expression through P2Y2-PLCß3-Ca2+ activation. Because the full-length cDNA sequence of MUC8 has not been identified, a specific siRNA-MUC8 was designed based on the partial cDNA sequence of MUC8. siRNA-MUC8 significantly increased TNF-α production and decreased IL-1Ra production, suggesting that MUC8 may downregulate UTP/P2Y2-induced airway inflammation. Interestingly, the PDZ peptide of ZO-1 protein strongly abolished UTP-induced TNF-α production and increased IL-1Ra production and MUC8 gene expression. In addition, the PDZ peptide dramatically increased the levels of UTP-induced ZO proteins and TEER (trans-epithelial electrical resistance). These results show that the anti-inflammatory mucin MUC8 may contribute to homeostasis, and the PDZ peptide can be a novel therapeutic candidate for UTP-induced airway inflammation.

Risk Factors of the 2-Year Mortality after Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Displaced Femoral Neck Fracture.

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), albumin, and 2-year mortality in elderly patients having hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fracture (FNF). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 284 elderly patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty for Garden type IV FNF from September 2014 to September 2020. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, optimal cutoff values for LCR, NLR, and albumin were established, and patients were categorized as low or high. Associations with 2-year mortality were evaluated through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results: Of the 284 patients, 124 patients (45.9%) died within 2 years post-surgery. The optimal cutoff values were: LCR at 7.758 (specificity 58.5%, sensitivity 25.0%), NLR at 3.854 (specificity 39.2%, sensitivity 40.0%), and albumin at 3.750 (specificity 65.9%, sensitivity 21.9%). Patients with low LCR (<7.758), high NLR (≥3.854), and low albumin (<3.750) had a statistically significant reduced survival time compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: Lower preoperative LCR and albumin levels, along with higher NLR, effectively predict 2-year mortality and 30-day post-surgery complications in elderly patients with Garden type IV FNF undergoing hemiarthroplasty.