Combination of red ginseng and velvet antler extracts prevents skin damage by enhancing the antioxidant defense system and inhibiting MAPK/AP-1/NF-κB and caspase signaling pathways in UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes and SKH-1 hairless mice.

Background: Studies have reported that the combination of two or more therapeutic compounds at certain ratios has more noticeable pharmaceutical properties than single compounds and requires reduced dosage of each agent. Red ginseng and velvet antler have been extensively used in boosting immunity and physical strength and preventing diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the skin-protective potentials of red ginseng extract (RGE) and velvet antler extract (VAE) alone or in combination on ultraviolet (UVB)-irradiated human keratinocytes and SKH-1 hairless mice. Methods: HaCaT cells were preincubated with RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 2 h before UVB (30 mJ/cm2) irradiation. SKH-1 mice were orally given RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 15 days before exposure to single dose of UVB (600 mJ/cm2). Treated cells and treated skin tissues were collected and subjected to subsequent experiments. Results: RGE/VAE pretreatment alone or in combination significantly prevented UVB-induced cell death, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species production, and DNA damage in keratinocytes and SKH-1 mouse skins by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases/activator protein 1/nuclear factor kappa B and caspase signaling pathways. These extracts also strengthened the antioxidant defense systems and skin barriers in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells and SKH-1 mouse skins. Furthermore, RGE/VAE co-administration appeared to be more effective in preventing UVB-caused skin injury than these extracts used alone. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the consumption of RGE/VAE, especially in combination, offers a protective ability against UVB-caused skin injury by preventing inflammation and apoptosis and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

White matter microstructure organization across the transition to fatherhood.

The transition to parenthood remains an understudied window of potential neuroplasticity in the adult brain. White matter microstructural (WMM) organization, which reflects structural connectivity in the brain, has shown plasticity across the lifespan. No studies have examined how WMM organization changes from the prenatal to postpartum period in men becoming fathers. This study investigates WMM organization in men transitioning to first-time fatherhood. We performed diffusion-weighted imaging to identify differences in WMM organization, as indexed by fractional anisotropy (FA). We also investigated whether FA changes were associated with fathers' postpartum mental health. Associations between mental health and WMM organization have not been rarely examined in parents, who may be vulnerable to mental health problems. Fathers exhibited reduced FA at the whole-brain level, especially in the cingulum, a tract associated with emotional regulation. Fathers also displayed reduced FA in the corpus callosum, especially in the forceps minor, which is implicated in cognitive functioning. Postpartum depressive symptoms were linked with increases and decreases in FA, but FA was not correlated with perceived or parenting stress. Findings provide novel insight into fathers' WMM organization during the transition to parenthood and suggest postpartum depression may be linked with fathers' neuroplasticity during the transition to parenthood.

The Alzheimer's Knowledge Base: A Knowledge Graph for Alzheimer Disease Research.

BACKGROUND: As global populations age and become susceptible to neurodegenerative illnesses, new therapies for Alzheimer disease (AD) are urgently needed. Existing data resources for drug discovery and repurposing fail to capture relationships central to the disease's etiology and response to drugs. OBJECTIVE: We designed the Alzheimer's Knowledge Base (AlzKB) to alleviate this need by providing a comprehensive knowledge representation of AD etiology and candidate therapeutics. METHODS: We designed the AlzKB as a large, heterogeneous graph knowledge base assembled using 22 diverse external data sources describing biological and pharmaceutical entities at different levels of organization (eg, chemicals, genes, anatomy, and diseases). AlzKB uses a Web Ontology Language 2 ontology to enforce semantic consistency and allow for ontological inference. We provide a public version of AlzKB and allow users to run and modify local versions of the knowledge base. RESULTS: AlzKB is freely available on the web and currently contains 118,902 entities with 1,309,527 relationships between those entities. To demonstrate its value, we used graph data science and machine learning to (1) propose new therapeutic targets based on similarities of AD to Parkinson disease and (2) repurpose existing drugs that may treat AD. For each use case, AlzKB recovers known therapeutic associations while proposing biologically plausible new ones. CONCLUSIONS: AlzKB is a new, publicly available knowledge resource that enables researchers to discover complex translational associations for AD drug discovery. Through 2 use cases, we show that it is a valuable tool for proposing novel therapeutic hypotheses based on public biomedical knowledge.

Revolutionizing Robotic Depalletizing: AI-Enhanced Parcel Detecting with Adaptive 3D Machine Vision and RGB-D Imaging for Automated Unloading.

Detecting parcels accurately and efficiently has always been a challenging task when unloading from trucks onto conveyor belts because of the diverse and complex ways in which parcels are stacked. Conventional methods struggle to quickly and accurately classify the various shapes and surface patterns of unordered parcels. In this paper, we propose a parcel-picking surface detection method based on deep learning and image processing for the efficient unloading of diverse and unordered parcels. Our goal is to develop a systematic image processing algorithm that emphasises the boundaries of parcels regardless of their shape, pattern, or layout. The core of the algorithm is the utilisation of RGB-D technology for detecting the primary boundary lines regardless of obstacles such as adhesive labels, tapes, or parcel surface patterns. For cases where detecting the boundary lines is difficult owing to narrow gaps between parcels, we propose using deep learning-based boundary line detection through the You Only Look at Coefficients (YOLACT) model. Using image segmentation techniques, the algorithm efficiently predicts boundary lines, enabling the accurate detection of irregularly sized parcels with complex surface patterns. Furthermore, even for rotated parcels, we can extract their edges through complex mathematical operations using the depth values of the specified position, enabling the detection of the wider surfaces of the rotated parcels. Finally, we validate the accuracy and real-time performance of our proposed method through various case studies, achieving mAP (50) values of 93.8% and 90.8% for randomly sized and rotationally covered boxes with diverse colours and patterns, respectively.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Enhances Osteogenesis and May Improve Bone Microarchitecture in an Ovariectomized Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has gained attention as a therapeutic agent due to its potential biological activities, including osteogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the osteogenic activity of BDNF have not been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the action of BDNF on the osteoblast differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells, and its influence on signaling pathways. In addition, to evaluate the clinical efficacy, an in vivo animal study was performed. METHODS: Preosteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1), bone marrow-derived stromal cells (ST2), and a direct 2D co-culture system were treated with BDNF. The effect of BDNF on cell proliferation was determined using the CCK-8 assay. Osteoblast differentiation was assessed based on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and staining and the protein expression of multiple osteoblast markers. Calcium accumulation was examined by Alizarin red S staining. For the animal study, we used ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats and divided them into BDNF and normal saline injection groups. MicroCT, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) stain were performed for analysis. RESULTS: BDNF significantly increased ALP activity, calcium deposition, and the expression of osteoblast differentiation-related proteins, such as ALP, osteopontin, etc., in both ST-2 and the MC3T3-E1 and ST-2 co-culture systems. Moreover, the effect of BDNF on osteogenic differentiation was diminished by blocking tropomyosin receptor kinase B, as well as inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK signals. Although the animal study results including bone density and histology showed increased osteoblastic and decreased osteoclastic activity, only a portion of parameters reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results showed that BDNF affects osteoblast differentiation through TrkB receptor, and JNK and p38 MAPK signal pathways. Although not statistically significant, the trend of such effects was observed in the animal experiment.

Results from 228 Patients with Hemifacial Spasm Undergoing Microvascular Decompression without Intraoperative Neuroelectrophysiology Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuroelectrophysiology monitoring (IONM) has been used to decrease complications and to increase the successful rate of microvascular decompression (MVD) MVD for hemifacial spasm (HFS). Still, it is not available at limited resource centers. We report the outcome of patients undergoing MVD for HFS without using IONM. METHODS: The variables concerning the patients' demographics (age and gender), clinical characteristics, offending vessels (vertebral artery type and non-vertebral artery type), postoperative grade of HFS, and postoperative complications of HFS patients undergoing MVD were retrospectively reviewed and collected. The scoring system provided by the Japan Society for MVD was used to evaluate the postoperative outcome of HFS. Postoperative hearing ability was evaluated according to a subjective assessment of the patients. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients were recruited. Their median age was 51.0 (44.0-57.0) years old. The total cure effect was observed in 207 (90.8%) patients within the first week after the surgery and in 200 (96.1%) patients in a 2-year follow-up. Permanent hearing disturbance happened in 2 patients (0.9%). No patient had permanent unilateral deafness (0%). No postoperative permanent facial paralysis was reported. CONCLUSIONS: MVD without IONM may be performed safely and effectively to treat patients with HFS.

JAXA's new high-resolution land use land cover map for Vietnam using a time-feature convolutional neural network.

Land use land cover (LULC) maps are crucial for various applications, such as disaster management, natural resource conservation, biodiversity evaluation, climate modeling, etc. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has released several high-resolution LULC maps for national and regional scales. Vietnam, due to its rich biodiversity and cultural diversity, is a target country for the production of high-resolution LULC maps. This study introduces a high-resolution and high-accuracy LULC map for Vietnam, utilizing a CNN approach that performs convolution over a time-feature domain instead of the typical geospatial domain employed by conventional CNNs. By using multi-temporal data spanning 6 seasons, the produced LULC map achieved a high overall accuracy of 90.5% ± 1.2%, surpassing other 10-meter LULC maps for Vietnam in terms of accuracy and/or the ability to capture detailed features. In addition, a straightforward and practical approach was proposed for generating cloud-free multi-temporal Sentinel-2 images, particularly suitable for cloudy regions. This study marks the first implementation of the time-feature CNN approach for the creation of a high-accuracy LULC map in a tropical cloudy country.

The Outcome of the Miniaturized Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Lateral Position with Guidance of Non-Rotational C-Arm.

Objective: Evaluation of the outcome of the miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis with a lateral position based on the principle of a right triangle under the guidance of a C-Arm without contrast fluid. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine cases of Mini-PCNL with the assistance of a vacuum-assisted sheath in the lateral position were performed at Central Hospital from March 2021 to August 2022. Percutaneous renal access was under the guidance of a non-rotational C-arm without contrast medium, and we determined the puncture location and depth of the needle based on the principle of right triangles. Results: The median age was 51.6 ± 12.5 years, and males accounted for 68.1% of the cases. 60.9% of all patients had normal weight. The median stone surface area was 361.1mm2, and 59.4% of all cases were graded as 2 regarding Guy's stone score. The successful renal access rate was 100%. The tunnel access from the middle and lower calyx accounted for 94.2%. The median access duration, fluoroscopy duration, and hospital length of stay were 271.7 seconds, 14.79 seconds, and 6.3 days, respectively. The complete stone clearance rate was 78.3%. Bleeding complications occurred in 2 patients without mortality. Three patients required an additional procedure. Conclusion: The puncture technique into the renal calyxes based on the principle of the right triangle under the guidance of a non-rotational C-Arm without contrast medium in PCNL is a fast, exact, and safe technique.

Comparative efficacies and safeties of cylindrical interstitial laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation on swine pancreas.

Laser ablation (LA) has been evaluated for the minimally invasive thermal treatment of various cancers, but conventional unidirectional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided LA has limitations. Therefore, we developed a cylindrical laser diffuser to overcome the limitations of unidirectional EUS-guided LA. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies and safeties of EUS-guided LA using a novel cylindrical laser diffuser and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in vivo in swine pancreas. EUS-guided RFA (15 W, 30 s, 450 J) and cylindrical interstitial LA (CILA) (5 W, 90 s, 450 J) were applied to normal pancreatic tissue in six anesthetized pigs (three per group). Laboratory tests were performed at baseline, immediately after ablation (day 0), and 2 days after procedures (day 2). Two days after procedures, all pigs were sacrificed, and histopathological safety and efficacy assessments were performed. Technically, EUS-guided RFA and CILA were performed successfully in all cases. No major complications, including perforation or acute pancreatitis, occurred during the experiment in either group. All animals remained in excellent condition throughout the experimental period, and laboratory tests provided no evidence of a major complication. Average necrotic volumes in the RFA and CILA groups were 424.2 mm3 and 3747.4 mm3, respectively, and average necrotic volume was significantly larger in CILA group (p < 0.001). EUS-guided RFA and CILA had acceptable safety profiles in the normal swine pancreas model. Our findings indicate EUS-guided CILA has potential for the effective local treatment of pancreatic cancer as an alternative to EUS-guided RFA.

Utility of Surveillance Angiography in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Study of 223 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) who survive the rupture are at risk for delayed neurologic deficits and cerebral infarction. The ideal method(s) of surveillance for cerebral vasospasm, and the link between radiographic vasospasm and delayed neurologic deficits, remain controversial. We instituted a postbleed day 7 angiography protocol with the stated goals of identification of vasospasm, improving neurologic outcomes, and possibly lowering cost of care. METHODS: We conducted a quality improvement project in which we retrospectively analyzed consecutive cases of aSAH from a single institution over a 5-year period. Patients were excluded if they did not receive treatment for their aneurysm or were < 18 years of age. We analyzed demographic and outcome information for patients managed by protocolled angiography versus those who were managed by as-needed endovascular rescue therapy. Statistical tests were performed comparing means and proportions in both cohorts, as appropriate. RESULTS: In total, 223 patients were identified who met inclusion criteria. In total, 157 patients were identified in the protocolled day 7 angiography group, and 66 were in the nonprotocolled angiography group. Demographics were similar between the day 7 angiogram and medical management cohorts, except for a higher mean age among the latter group (p = 0.016). The protocolled angiography group underwent a significantly greater number of angiograms (p < 0.001) and had a significantly higher cost of hospitalization ($240,327 vs. $205,719, p = 0.03), with no significant difference in rate of cerebral infarction, length of intensive care unit stay, length of hospital stay, discharge location, or discharge modified Rankin Score. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort comparison analysis draws into question the practice of protocolized cerebral angiography in patients with aSAH.

Maternal prenatal social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic predicts infant birth weight.

BACKGROUND: Social connectedness and mental health have been associated with infant birth weight, and both were compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic. AIMS: We sought to examine whether changes in maternal prenatal social contact due to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with infant birth weight and if maternal prenatal mental health mediated this association. STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal study of mothers and their infants born during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of 282 United States-based mother-infant dyads. OUTCOME MEASURES: Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II, anxiety was measured with the State Anxiety Inventory, and stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale 14. We also asked participants about pandemic-related changes in social contact across various domains. Adjusted birth weight was calculated from birth records or participant-report when birth records were unavailable. RESULTS: Decreases in social contact during the pandemic were associated with lower adjusted infant birth weight (B = 76.82, SE = 35.82, p = .035). This association was mediated by maternal prenatal depressive symptoms [Effect = 15.06, 95 % CI (0.19, 35.58)] but not by prenatal anxiety [95 % CI (-0.02, 32.38)] or stress [95 % CI (-0.31, 26.19)]. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight concerns for both mothers and infants in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, since birth weight can have long-term health implications and the social restructuring occasioned by the pandemic may lead to lasting changes in social behavior.

Plasmodium vivax merozoite-specific thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (PvMTRAP) interacts with human CD36, suggesting a novel ligand-receptor interaction for reticulocyte invasion.

BACKGROUND: The Plasmodium vivax merozoite restrictively invades immature erythrocytes, suggesting that its ligand(s) might interact with corresponding receptor(s) that are selectively abundant on reticulocytes to complete the invasion. Finding the ligand‒receptor interaction involved in P. vivax invasion is critical to vivax malaria management; nevertheless, it remains to be unraveled. METHODS: A library of reticulocyte receptors and P. vivax ligands were expressed by a HEK293E mammalian cell expression system and were then used to screen the interaction using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A flow cytometry-based erythrocyte binding assay and bio-layer interferometry experiment were further utilized to cellularly and quantitatively identify the ligand‒receptor interaction, respectively. RESULTS: Plasmodium vivax merozoite-specific thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (PvMTRAP) was found to interact with human CD36 using systematic screening. This interaction was specific at a molecular level from in vitro analysis and comparable to that of P. vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) and Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) (KD: 37.0 ± 1.4 nM and 7.7 ± 0.5 nM, respectively). Flow cytometry indicated that PvMTRAP preferentially binds to reticulocytes, on which CD36 is selectively present. CONCLUSIONS: Human CD36 is selectively abundant on reticulocytes and is able to interact specifically with PvMTRAP, suggesting that it may function as a ligand and receptor during the invasion of reticulocytes by P. vivax.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Lipophilic Fraction from Liriope platyphylla Seeds Using Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Experiments.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms counteract the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, aging, and cancer. Therefore, enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions may help manage these pathological conditions. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of lipophilic fraction of Liriope platyphylla seeds (LLPS) using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments. Here GC-MS analysis tentatively identified forty-three lipophilic compounds in LLPS. LLPS exhibited powerful antioxidant activity, according to the results from chemical-based antioxidant assays on DPPH, ABTS+, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radicals scavenging, lipid peroxidation, reducing antioxidant powers, and total antioxidant capacity. Additionally, LLPS enhanced cellular antioxidant capacity by inhibiting reactive oxygen species formation and elevating antioxidant enzyme levels, including catalase and heme oxygenase-1. Moreover, LLPS attenuated inflammatory response by reducing nitric oxide secretion and downregulating the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1ß in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses showed that key compounds in LPPS, particularly phytosterols and fatty acid esters, exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through regulating NFKB1, PTGS1, PTGS2, TLR4, PRKCA, PRKCD, KEAP1, NFE2L2, and NR1l2. Overall, these data suggest that LLPS may be a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for developing functional foods.

Pharmacological Activities and Safety of Ganoderma lucidum Spores: A Systematic Review.

Ganoderma lucidum is traditionally used to prevent and treat some diseases such as liver disorders, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, and cancer. G. lucidum spore extracts are also reported to share similar bioactivities as extracts from its other parts. However, there is no systematic review that elucidates its pharmacological effect. Our aim is to comprehensively summarise current evidence of G. lucidum spore extracts to clarify its benefits to be applied in further studies. We searched five primary databases: PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE), and Google Scholar on September 13, 2021. Articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A manual search was applied to find more relevant articles. Ninety studies that reported the pharmacological effects and/or safety of G. lucidum spores were included in this review. The review found that G. lucidum spore extracts showed quite similar effects as other parts of this medicinal plant including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, and immunomodulation. G. lucidum sporoderm-broken extract demonstrated higher efficiency than unbroken spore extract. G. lucidum extracts also showed their effects on some genes responsible for the body's metabolism, which implied the benefits in metabolic diseases. The safety of G. lucidum should be investigated in depth as high doses of the extract could increase levels of cancer antigen (CA)72-4, despite no harmful effect shown on body organs. Generally, there is a lot of potential in the studies of compounds with pharmacological effects and new treatments. Sporoderm breaking technique could contribute to the production of extracts with more effective prevention and treatment of diseases. High doses of G. lucidum spore extract should be used with caution as there was a concern about the increase in CA.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Lipophilic Fractions from Polyscias fruticosa Leaves Based on Network Pharmacology, In Silico, and In Vitro Approaches.

Polyscias fruticosa leaf (PFL) has been used in food and traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, ischemia, and neuralgia. However, the lipophilic components of PFL and their biological properties remain unknown. This study, integrating network pharmacology analysis with in silico and in vitro approaches, aimed to elucidate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of lipophilic extracts from PFL. A total of 71 lipophilic compounds were identified in PFL using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses showed that key active compounds, mainly phytosterols and sesquiterpenes, were responsible for regulating core target genes, such as PTGS2, TLR4, NFE2L2, PRKCD, KEAP1, NFKB1, NR1l2, PTGS1, AR, and CYP3A4, which were mostly enriched in oxidative stress and inflammation-related pathways. Furthermore, lipophilic extracts from PFL offered powerful antioxidant capacities, as evident in our cell-free antioxidant assays. These extracts also provided a protection against oxidative stress by inducing the expression of catalase and heme oxygenase-1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, lipophilic fractions from PFL showed anti-inflammatory potential in downregulating the level of pro-inflammatory factors in LPS-treated macrophages. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lipophilic extracts from PFL, which can be used as a fundamental basis for developing nutraceuticals and functional foods.

The use of mtCOI gene sequences in identifying Butis species in the Southwest of Vietnam.

Butis genus is characterised by their small body size and morphological variability, allowing them to adapt to different habitats. This paper analyses the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene sequences and morphology of Butis for identification purposes and to understand genetic relationships. The morphological characteristics of Butis koilomatodon differed obviously from Butis humeralis and Butis butis. After classification based on morphology, the total deoxyribonucleic acid of fish samples was isolated, and the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I genes were successfully amplified using the polymerase chain reaction method. At approximately 617bp, the obtained mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene sequences were highly similar to the reference sequences on Genbank (85.90-100%). The phylogenetic graphic was divided into five distinct groups, where B. koilomatodon was grouped in one group; and B. humeralis and B. butis were grouped together. The results suggest that B. humeralis was an entirely different species from B. butis, with a mean genetic divergence of up to 14%. However, further studies using a combination of other types of deoxyribonucleic acid barcoding together with morphological features should be undertaken to confirm these findings.

Ancient Schwannoma of the Radial Nerve: A Case Report.

Ancient schwannoma is a very rare subtype of schwannoma. In this report, a case of ancient schwannoma in the upper extremity is reported. A 40-year-old man presented with a slowly growing tumor in the right forearm. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Investigation revealed an ancient schwannoma originated from the right radius. Careful preoperative imaging evaluation is important for correct preoperative diagnosis and surgical strategy.

Balloon-assisted laser application for endoscopic treatment of biliary stricture.

OBJECTIVES: Malignant biliary stricture is a ductal narrowing of the bile duct that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to difficulty in resection. The current study aims to evaluate the feasibility of endobiliary laser treatment by quantifying the extent of coagulative necrosis in tissue under various conditions. METHODS: Ex vivo and in vivo porcine bile tissues were used for endobiliary laser treatment to characterize the dosimetric responses of the tissue to various treatment conditions: power level, irradiation time, and number of treatments. 532 nm laser light was coupled with a balloon-integrated diffusing applicator (BDA) to deliver the laser light endoscopically for tissue coagulation. The coagulated regions (maximum length and depth) in the treated tissues were evaluated histologically for quantitative comparison. RESULTS: Dosimetric evaluations with ex vivo liver tissue confirmed that both maximum length and depth of coagulative necrosis (CN) increased with applied power and number of treatments. Ex vivo bile duct tests demonstrated that BDA-assisted laser treatment at 10 W for 12 s reproducibly yielded CN with a length of 5.8 ± 1.6 mm and a depth of 0.6 ± 0.2 mm. In vivo tests presented that endoscopic laser treatment using the BDA created CN on the ductal surface without any perforation. Microscopic examinations revealed that a dense inflammatory cell infiltration and eosinophilic area in the in vivo treated tissue. The extent of CN in the in vivo tissue was 40% longer and 120% deeper (length: 8.1 ± 0.7 mm; depth: 1.3 ± 0.2 mm), compared to that in the ex vivo tissue. CONCLUSION: BDA-assisted laser treatment could be a feasible option for endoscopic treatment of biliary stricture with uniform ablation at the circumference of bile duct. Further in vivo studies will be performed in a large number of stricture-developed porcine models to examine both efficacy and safety of the proposed endobiliary laser treatment for clinical translations.

Developing functional relationships between waterlogging and cotton growth and physiology-towards waterlogging modeling.

Cotton crop is known to be poorly adapted to waterlogging, especially during the early growth stages. Developing functional relationships between crop growth and development parameters and the duration of waterlogging is essential to develop or improve existing cotton crop models for simulating the impact of waterlogging. However, there are only limited experimental studies conducted on cotton specifically aimed at developing the necessary functional relationships required for waterlogging modeling. Further research is needed to understand the effects of waterlogging on cotton crops and improve modeling capabilities in this area. The current study aimed to conduct waterlogging experiments and develop functional relationships between waterlogging and cotton growth and physiology. The experiments were conducted in pots, and the waterlogging was initiated by plugging the drain hole at the bottom of the pot using a wooden peg. In the experiments, eight waterlogging treatments, including the control treatment, were imposed at the vegetative growth stage (15 days after sowing). Control treatment had zero days of water-logged condition; other treatments had 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days of waterlogging. It took five days to reach zero oxygen levels and one to two days to return to control after the treatment. After a total treatment duration of 14 days (30 days after sowing), the growth, physiological, reproductive, and nutrient analysis was conducted. All physiological parameters decreased with the number of days of waterlogging. Flavonoid and anthocyanin index increased with increased duration of waterlogging. Photosynthesis and whole plant dry weight in continuously waterlogged conditions were 75% and 78% less compared to 0, and 2-day water-logged plants. Plant height, stem diameter, number of main stem leaves, leaf area, and leaf length also decreased with waterlogging duration. When waterlogging duration increased, leaf, stem, and root macronutrients decreased, while micronutrients showed mixed trends. Based on the experimental study, functional relationships (linear, quadratic, and exponential decay) and waterlogging stress response indices are developed between growth and development parameters and the duration of waterlogging. This can serve as a base for developing or improving process-based cotton models to simulate the impact of waterlogging.

Assessing the Performance of Prognostic Scores in Patients with Spinal Metastases from Lung Cancer Undergoing Non-surgical Treatment.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to see how well the Tomita score, revised Tokuhashi score, modified Bauer score, Van der Linden score, classic Skeletal Oncology Research Group (SORG) algorithm, SORG nomogram, and New England Spinal Metastasis Score (NESMS) predicted 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year survival of non-surgical lung cancer spinal metastases. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There has been no study assessing the performance of prognostic scores for non-surgical lung cancer spinal metastases. METHODS: Data analysis was carried out to identify the variables that had a significant impact on survival. For all patients with spinal metastasis from lung cancer who received non-surgical treatment, the Tomita score, revised Tokuhashi score, modified Bauer score, Van der Linden score, classic SORG algorithm, SORG nomogram, and NESMS were calculated. The performance of the scoring systems was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The predictive accuracy of the scoring systems was quantified using the area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients are included in the present study. The median survival of the population study was 5.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-9.6 months). Low hemoglobin was associated with shorter survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.00-2.23; p =0.049), while targeted therapy after spinal metastasis was associated with longer survival (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.51; p <0.001). In the multivariate analysis, targeted therapy was independently associated with longer survival (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.17-0.5; p <0.001). The AUC of the time-dependent ROC curves for the above prognostic scores revealed all of them performed poorly (AUC <0.7). CONCLUSIONS: The seven scoring systems investigated are ineffective at predicting survival in patients with spinal metastasis from lung cancer who are treated non-surgically.