A flow-cytometry-based assessment of global protein synthesis in human senescent cells.

Senescent cells constantly experience stressful conditions and restrain their protein translation to cope with it. Here, we present a detailed protocol to measure the rate of global protein synthesis using L-azidohomoalanine (L-AHA)-based click chemistry in human senescent fibroblasts. We optimized several aspects of the procedure, including senescence induction, a flow cytometry analysis of senescent cells, and the duration of L-AHA incorporation. This protocol uses senescent human fibroblasts but can be applied to other types of cells or circumstances. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Lee et al. (2021).

Prevalence of significant hepatic fibrosis using magnetic resonance elastography in a health check-up clinic population.

BACKGROUND: Significant hepatic fibrosis is associated with higher mortality. However, data on the estimated prevalence of liver fibrosis in the general population are scarce. AIM: To use magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to investigate the prevalence of hepatic fibrosis in a Korean health check-up clinic cohort. METHODS: We enrolled 2170 participants at our health check-up clinic between January 2015 and May 2018, all of whom had MR with chemical shift technique and MRE. The primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of liver fibrosis. For generalisation, sex- and age-standardised prevalence was calculated based on the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) during the period 2015-2018. RESULTS: The prevalence of F2 (≥3.0 kPa) and F3 (≥3.6 kPa) in the overall cohort was 5.1% and 1.3% respectively (sex- and age-adjusted prevalence of 3.8% and 1.3%). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence (>5% fat fraction) was 27.7% in the average risk population (after excluding alcohol use and viral hepatitis), and the prevalence of significant and advanced fibrosis in NAFLD participants was 8.0% and 1.5% respectively. In participants with diabetes, 12.5% had ≥F2 and 4.3% ≥F3. In participants with NAFLD plus diabetes, 24.1% had ≥F2 and 6.0% ≥F3. On multivariate analysis, only age, insulin, diabetes and fatty liver on MR were independently associated with significant fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In a Korean health check-up clinic setting, the prevalence of significant and advanced liver fibrosis was 5.1% and 1.3% (sex- and age-adjusted prevalence of 3.8% and 1.3%). The prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis was five times higher for diabetic participants with NAFLD.

Ablation margin assessment of liver tumors with intravenous contrast-enhanced C-arm computed tomography.

AIM: To determine the influence of anthropomorphic parameters on the relationship between patient centering, mean computed tomography (CT) numbers and quantitative image noise in abdominal CT. METHODS: Our Institutional Review Board approved study included 395 patients (age range 21-108, years; male:female = 195:200) who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT on a 16-section multi-detector row scanner (GE LightSpeed 16). Patient centering in the gantry isocenter was measured from the lateral localizer radiograph (off center S = patient off centered superior to isocenter; off center I = patient off centered inferior to isocenter). Mean CT numbers (Hounsfield Units: HU) and noise (standard deviation of CT numbers: SD) were measured in the anterior (aHU, aSD) and posterior (pHU, pSD) abdominal wall subcutaneous fat and liver parenchyma (LivHU, LivSD) at the level of the porta hepatis. Patients' age, gender, weight, body mass index and maximal anteroposterior diameter were recorded. The data were analyzed using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Most patients (81%; 320/395) were not correctly centered in the gantry isocenter for abdominal CT scanning. Mean CT numbers in the abdominal wall increased significantly with an increase in the off-centering distance, regardless of the direction of the off-center (P < 0.05). There was a substantial increase in pSD (P = 0.01) and LivSD (P = 0.017) with off-centering. Change in mean CT numbers and image noise along the off-center distance was influenced by the patient size (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Inappropriate patient centering for CT scanning adversely affects the reliability of mean CT numbers and image noise.

Understanding economic abuse in the lives of survivors.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) often includes economic abuse as one tactic commonly used by an abuser; unfortunately, there is a lack of empirical understanding of economic abuse. Additionally, research is limited on the predictors of economic self-sufficiency in the lives of women experiencing IPV. This paper furthers our knowledge about economic abuse and its relationship with economic self-sufficiency by presenting the results from an exploratory study with IPV survivors participating in a financial literacy program. Of the 120 individuals who participated in the first wave, 94% experienced some form of economic abuse, which also correlated highly with other forms of IPV. Seventy-nine percent experienced some form of economic control, 79% experienced economic exploitative behaviors, and 78% experienced employment sabotage. MANOVA results also indicated that economic control differed significantly based on education with those with a high school education experiencing higher rates than those with less than high school education or those with some college. Finally, results from the OLS regressions indicated that experiencing any form of economic abuse as well as economic control significantly predicted a decrease in economic self sufficiency. Implications suggest that advocates should assess for economic abuse when working with survivors and should be prepared to offer financial tools to increase survivors' economic self-sufficiency. Policymakers should understand the ramifications of economic abuse and create policies that support survivors and prohibit economic abuse. Finally, more research is needed to fully understand economic abuse and its impact on survivors and their economic self-sufficiency.