Stereotactic body radiotherapy alone versus stereotactic body radiotherapy after incomplete transarterial therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the clinical outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) alone versus SBRT after incomplete transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for a single recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) smaller than 5 cm. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent SBRT for a single recurrent HCC ≤5 cm, without vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis. Patients were divided into the SBRT-alone group and the TACE-SBRT group. The primary outcome was the local control (LC) rate, and secondary outcomes were survivals and treatment-related toxicities. We additionally conducted a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 477 patients were available for analysis. Among them, 54 patients received SBRT without prior treatment to the target lesion (SBRT-alone group), whereas 423 patients received SBRT for viable HCC after TACE (TACE-SBRT group). The 3-year LC rates did not differ between the two groups (SBRT-alone group, 88.6% vs. TACE-SBRT group, 89.6%, P = 0.918). The 3-year rates of overall survival, out-of-field intrahepatic recurrence-free survival and recurrence-free survival were also not significantly different (P = 0.479, 0.290 and 0.273, respectively). Even after PSM, LC and survival rates at 3 years were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: SBRT alone demonstrated comparable local control and survival outcomes to SBRT following incomplete TACE. SBRT alone may be considered an alternative treatment option for a single recurrent HCC smaller than 5 cm when curative treatments or TACE are not feasible.

Differential Impact of WM Load on Attention in Young Adults Versus Children and Adolescents.

Background: This study aimed to examine how concurrent working memory (WM) loads affect selective attention, and to explore developmental differences between young adults and children/adolescents aged 10 to 14 years. Methods: We employed a modified Stroop task with verbal or spatial WM loads to assess their impact on attention. Results: In adults, we found increased Stroop effects when WM load overlapped with target processing and decreased Stroop effects when WM load overlapped with distractor processing. Conversely, in children/adolescents, WM loads did not significantly impact target or distractor processing, indicating no change in Stroop effects under dual-task conditions. Interestingly, results from the correlational analyses revealed that as participants' ages increase, the interference effect under the WM load that shares resources with distractor processing in the attention task decreases. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the interaction between attention and WM differs across developmental stages. While adults showed distinctive effects of concurrent WM loads on attention processing depending on the cognitive resources utilized, children/adolescents failed to show the interaction between the two cognitive systems. Furthermore, a significant relationship between age and the effects of WM load on attention was observed, providing insights into the development of the interaction between WM and attention.

Comparative Study on Hepatoprotective Effects of Traditional Herbs, Roots of Angelica gigas Nakai, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, Zizyphus jujuba Mill., and Fruits of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., on Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, with few effective treatments besides alcohol abstinence. Angelicae Gigantis Radix (AG), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GR), Paeoniae Radix (PR), and Zizyphi Fructus (ZF) are traditional herbs used to treat various ailments, including liver diseases. While several studies have reported the beneficial effects of GR on ALD, the effects of AG, PR, and ZF remain underexplored. Therefore, their efficacy and mechanisms against ALD were investigated using an alcohol-related liver injury model. The model was induced by ethanol gavage in C57BL/6J mice for 14 days, followed by oral administration of AG, GR, PR, and ZF one hour post-induction. The administration of these herbs reduced liver weight, and improved serum biomarkers of liver injury (ALT, AST, albumin). The herbs enhanced hepatic antioxidant capacity (GSH, SOD, catalase) and suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß) and apoptotic changes (caspase-3). The mechanisms of action involved lipid-lowering gene modulation through regulation of the cytochrome P450 2E1/Sirtuin 1/Nrf2 pathways. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that these herbs attenuated hepatocyte damage and steatosis via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. These findings suggest that traditional herbs, particularly AG, could be promising alternative therapies for treating ALD.

The Effects of Using Adapted Science eBooks Within Shared Reading on Comprehension and Task Engagement of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using adapted science eBooks within shared reading on comprehension and task engagement of high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A grade-level science textbook was selected and converted into an eBook format, incorporating various visual and auditory features (e.g., text-to-speech, summarized sentences, highlighted keywords) and presented on an iPad. The shared reading intervention included before, during, and after reading strategies (i.e., pre-teaching target vocabulary words, sharing information, retelling), with direct instruction on locating literal information. The intervention effects on reading comprehension and task engagement were evaluated using a single-case multiple probe design. The results of this study indicated that all participants demonstrated improvements in reading comprehension. Despite the longer intervention sessions compared to the baseline, all participants exhibited similar or enhanced levels of task engagement during the intervention sessions. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence supporting the use of adapted eBooks within shared reading as a means to increase access to grade-level science texts for high school students with ASD while maintaining a high level of task engagement. This intervention holds promise for improving the learning outcomes for students with ASD in science content area.

Significance of changes in cavity after treatment in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

Cavities are characteristic radiological features related to increased mycobacterial burden and poor prognosis in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). However, cavity changes following treatment and their clinical implications remain unknown. We aimed to elucidate whether cavity obliteration or reduction in cavity size or wall thickness correlates with microbiological cure. In total, 136 adult patients with cavitary MAC-PD treated for ≥ 6 months between January 1st, 2009, and December 31st, 2021, in a tertiary referral centre in South Korea were enrolled. The cavity with the largest diameter at treatment initiation was tracked for size and thickness changes. Following median treatment of 20.0 months, 74 (54.4%) patients achieved microbiological cure. Cavity obliteration, achieved in 58 (42.6%) patients at treatment completion, was independently associated with microbiological cure. In patients with persistent cavities, size reduction of ≥ 10% was significantly associated with microbiological cure, whereas thickness reduction was not. Five-year mortality rates in patients with cavity obliteration, persistent but reduced cavity, and persistent cavity without shrinkage were 95.6%, 72.1%, and 65.3%, respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, cavity obliteration or shrinkage at treatment completion is associated with microbiological cure and reduced mortality in MAC-PD, suggesting that cavity changes could serve as a proxy indicator for treatment response.

Consolidation ALK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Versus Durvalumab or Observation After Chemoradiation in Unresectable Stage III ALK-Positive NSCLC.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC typically have poor response to immunotherapy; the benefit of consolidation durvalumab in patients with unresectable stage III ALK-positive NSCLC remains unclear. Herein, we compare the efficacy and safety of consolidation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) versus durvalumab or observation after concurrent chemoradiation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using a multicenter study of 17 institutions globally. Patients with unresectable stage III ALK-positive NSCLC treated between 2015 and 2022 were included. Patients received ALK TKI, durvalumab, or observation after concurrent chemoradiation. Real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) were classified by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Outcomes were assessed by multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were included, of whom 39 (58%) were female. Median age was 57 (interquartile range: 49-67) years. Furthermore, 15 received consolidation ALK TKI, 30 received durvalumab, and 22 underwent observation. Baseline characteristics were similar across the three groups other than differences in race. After adjusting for stage, age, and nodal status, median rwPFS was significantly longer for ALK TKI (rwPFS not reached, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.7- not reached) versus durvalumab (11.3 mo, 95% CI: 8.9-18.5, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.026-0.5, p-adjusted [p-adj] = 0.006) or observation (7.2 mo, 95% CI: 3.4-10.6, HR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.009-0.2, p-adj < 0.0001). Durvalumab significantly improved median rwPFS compared with observation (HR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.19-0.71, p-adj = 0.002). Median OS in the ALK TKI and durvalumab cohorts was significantly improved compared with patients on observation (ALK TKI-observation: p = 0.04; durvalumab-observation: p = 0.03). TrAE of any grade occurred in eight (53%) and 11 (37%) patients treated with ALK TKI and durvalumab, respectively. Grade greater than or equal to three trAEs occurred in 27% (n = 4) of patients treated with ALK TKI and 6.7% of patients treated with durvalumab. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ALK-positive NSCLC experience significantly improved rwPFS when treated with consolidation ALK TKI therapy, surpassing outcomes found with either durvalumab or observation. Although both ALK TKI therapy and durvalumab offer an extension in OS compared with observation alone, it seems that ALK TKI therapy is the superior choice, underscoring its pivotal role in enhancing patient survival.

Feasibility of automated measurement of fetal right ventricular modified myocardial performance index with development of reference values and clinical application.

To establish normal reference ranges for fetal right ventricular modified myocardial performance index (RV Mod-MPI) using automatic synchronization of the RV inflow and outflow images (MPI+TM). Additionally, we aimed to clinically apply RV Mod-MPI to investigate its changes in fetal right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) compared to normal fetuses. This prospective study included uncomplicated singleton pregnancies between 16 and 38 weeks of gestational age. Cases with any maternal or fetal complications that developed during the enrollment period were excluded. Two experienced operators measured the RV Mod-MPI using the automated and manual methods. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for intra- and inter-operator reproducibility. The mean differences between the manual and automated measurements were also compared. The RV Mod-MPI was then compared between the right CDH fetuses and normal fetuses. Seventy normal fetuses were analyzed for the feasibility of an automated system, and 364 examinations from 272 fetuses were analyzed for developing the normal references. The automated system showed significantly higher intra- and inter-operator reproducibility of Mod-MPI than those of manual measurements (ICC = 0.962 vs. 0.913 and 0.961 vs. 0.889, respectively). The mean difference in Mod-MPI between the manual and automated method was 0.0002 ± 0.0586 with a 95% confidence interval of -0.0095-0.0099. The Mod-MPI and isovolumetric relaxation time increased throughout the gestational weeks. The isovolumetric contraction time increased until 24 weeks of gestation and then slightly decreased afterwards, and the ejection time also increased until 31 weeks of gestation and then decreased. There was no significant difference in the Mod-MPI between right CDH and normal fetuses. The automated system showed high inter- and intra-operator reproducibility. Furthermore, the normal reference values of Mod-MPI for each gestational age were established. Our results suggest that the automated system might be clinically feasible for evaluating fetal cardiac function.

Resorbable Microspheres versus Trisacryl Gelatin Microspheres for Uterine Artery Embolization: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background There are insufficient data comparing resorbable microspheres (RMs) with permanent trisacryl gelatin microspheres (TAGMs) for uterine artery embolization (UAE). Purpose To compare therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcomes in participants with symptomatic fibroids after UAE with RMs or TAGMs. Materials and Methods This randomized controlled trial included participants undergoing UAE for symptomatic fibroids at a single institution (from May 2021 to May 2023). Participants were randomized one-to-one to undergo UAE with either RMs or TAGMs. Numeric rating scale pain scores and cumulative fentanyl consumption were assessed for 24 hours after undergoing UAE. Anti-Mullerian hormone was measured to assess effects of UAE on ovarian function. MRI was performed before and 3 months after UAE to evaluate fibroid necrosis and uterine artery recanalization. Repeated variables such as pain were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test with post hoc Bonferroni correction. Results Sixty female participants (mean age, 45.7 years ± 3.6 [SD]) completed the study, with 30 in each group. No evidence of a difference in pain scores was observed between groups (P > .99). Moreover, there was no evidence of a difference in the total fentanyl consumption at 24 hours after UAE between groups (median: RMs, 423 [IQR, 330-530] vs TAGMs, 562 [IQR, 437-780]; P = .15). Serum anti-Mullerian hormone 3 months after UAE showed no evidence of a difference between groups (RMs vs TAGMs, 0.71 ng/mL ± 0.73 vs 0.49 ng/mL ± 0.45, respectively; P = .09). No evidence of a difference in the rate of complete necrosis of the dominant fibroid was observed between groups (97% [29 of 30] for both groups; P > .99). The rate of uterine artery recanalization was higher in RM versus TAGM groups (70% [21 of 30] vs 17% [five of 30], respectively; P < .001). Conclusion UAE with RMs, compared with UAE with TAGMs, showed no evidence of a difference in terms of therapeutic effectiveness or postprocedural pain scores in participants with symptomatic fibroids. Clinical trial registration no. NCT05086770 © RSNA, 2024 See also the editorial by Spies in this issue.

Postmortem-Derived Exosomal MicroRNA 486-5p as Potential Biomarkers for Ischemic Heart Disease Diagnosis.

Exosomes are nanovesicles 30-150 nm in diameter released extracellularly. Those isolated from human body fluids reflect the characteristics of their cells or tissues of origin. Exosomes carry extensive biological information from their parent cells and have significant potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. However, there are limited studies utilizing exosomes in postmortem diagnostics. In this study, we extended our initial research which identified the presence and established detection methodologies for exosomes in postmortem fluids. We analyzed exosomal miRNA extracted from plasma and pericardial fluid samples of a control group (n = 13) and subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI; n = 24). We employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate whether this miRNA could serve as biomarkers for coronary atherosclerosis leading to acute myocardial infarction. Our analysis revealed 29 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the AMI group compared to the control group. Among these, five miRNAs exhibited more than a twofold increase in expression across all samples from the AMI group. Specifically, miR-486-5p levels were significantly elevated in patients with high-grade (type VI or above) atherosclerotic plaques, as per the American Heart Association criteria, highlighting its potential as a predictive biomarker for coronary atherosclerosis progression. Our results indicate that postmortem-derived exosomal microRNAs can serve as potential biomarkers for various human diseases, including cardiovascular disorders. This finding has profound implications for forensic diagnostics, a field critically lacking diagnostic markers.

Lactobacillus plantarum NCHBL-004 modulates high-fat diet-induced weight gain and enhances GLP-1 production for blood glucose regulation.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus plantarum NCHBL-004 (NCHBL-004) in the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. METHODS: Mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD) with oral administration of NCHBL-004. After euthanasia, blood, liver and adipose tissue were collected. Furthermore, the microbiome and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed from feces. RESULTS: Oral administration of live NCHBL-004 to mice fed a HFD resulted in notable reductions in weight gain, improvements in glucose metabolism, and maintenance of balanced lipid levels. A comparative analysis with other Lactobacillus strains highlighted the superior efficacy of NCHBL-004. Moreover, heat-killed NCHBL-004 demonstrated beneficial effects similar to those of live NCHBL-004. Additionally, administration of live NCHBL-004 induced glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) production and increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate and propionate, in feces, positively influencing liver lipid metabolism and mitigating inflammation. Consistent with this, analysis of the gut microbiome following NCHBL-004 administration showed increases in SCFA-producing microbes with increased proportions of Lactobacillus spp. and a significant increase in the proportion of microbes capable of promoting GLP-1 secretion. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the potential of both live and inactivated NCHBL-004 as potential therapeutic approaches to managing obesity and metabolic disorders, suggesting avenues for further investigation and clinical applications.

Operating Mechanism Principles and Advancements for Halide Perovskite-Based Memristors and Neuromorphic Devices.

With the advent of the generation of artificial intelligence (AI) based on big data-processing technologies, next-generation memristor and memristive neuromorphic devices have been actively studied with great interest to overcome the von Neumann bottleneck limits. Among various candidates, halide perovskites (HPs) have been in the spotlight as potential candidates for these devices due to their unique switching characteristics with low energy consumption and flexible integration compatibility across various sources for scalability. We outline the characteristics and operating principles of HP-based memristors and their neuromorphic devices. We explain filamentary- and interface-type switching according to the type of conducting pathway occurring inside the active HP layer and the operating mechanisms depending on the species that make up this conducting pathway. We summarize the types and mechanisms of current changes beneficial for neuromorphic device applications and finally organize various suggested analysis tools and physical models to enable experimental determination of switching mechanisms from various perspectives.

Lysophosphatidic acid improves development of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos.

This study was conducted to investigate whether lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) could improve the development of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Porcine SCNT-derived embryos were cultured in chemically defined polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based porcine zygote medium (PZM)-4 without or with LPA, and the development, cell proliferation potential, apoptosis, and expression levels of pluripotent markers were evaluated. LPA significantly increased the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation compared to those seen in the LPA un-treatment (control) group. The expression levels of embryonic development-related genes (IGF2R, PCNA and CDH1) were higher (p < 0.05) in the LPA treatment group than in the control group. LPA significantly increased the numbers of total, inner cell mass and EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine)-positive cells in porcine SCNT blastocysts compared to those seen in the control group. TUNEL assay showed that LPA significantly reduced the apoptosis rate in porcine SCNT-derived embryos; this was confirmed by decreases (p < 0.05) in the expression levels of pro-apoptotic genes, BAX and CASP3, and an increase (p < 0.05) in the expression level of the anti-apoptotic gene, BCL2L1. In addition, LPA significantly increased Oct4 expression at the gene and protein levels. Together, our data suggest that LPA improves the quality and development of porcine SCNT-derived embryos by reducing apoptosis and enhancing cell proliferation and pluripotency.

Development and validation of MRI PDFF Cut-offs for living liver donor eligibility assessment.

Hepatic steatosis (HS) criteria for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) donor eligibility should be based on large droplet fat as per Banff consensus recommendations. We aimed to establish MRI PDFF cut-offs for HS assessment in potential LDLT donors. This retrospective study included consecutive potential LDLT donors who underwent MRI and liver biopsy between 2013 and 2023 at two tertiary institutions, each as development (n=3062; 2015 men; median [interquartile range] age of 32 [25-38] years) and external validation (n=472; 287 men; 35 [26-44] years) datasets. PDFF was measured using dedicated MRI sequences. Histologic HS defined as large droplet fat fraction was used as the reference standard. Dual PDFF cut-offs aimed at 95% sensitivity or 95% specificity, for diagnosing histologic HS of ≥10%, ≥20%, ≥30%, and ≥40%, were determined in the development dataset using ten-fold cross validation. The cut-offs were then validated in the external validation dataset. Equation for estimating histologic HS from PDFF was also derived using linear regression. The PDFF cut-offs for histologic HS of ≥10%, ≥20%, ≥30%, and ≥40%, targeting 95% sensitivity, were 3.7%, 5.5%, 8.0%, and 10.0%, respectively. External validation demonstrated high sensitivities ≥ 97.9% with specificities ranging from 60.9% to 95.1%. The PDFF cut-offs targeting 95% specificity were 6.3%, 8.0%, 9.1%, and 10.1%, respectively. External validation rendered high specificities ranging from 88.5% to 95.3% with sensitivities ranging from 76.6% to 100%. For diagnosing histologic HS ≥30%, which is the most prevalently used threshold for LDLT donor eligibility assessment, the PDFF cut-offs achieved sensitivities and specificities of both over 90%. The equation of (Histologic HS=-2.95 + 1.93 * PDFF) was derived.

Secure Triggering Frame-Based Dynamic Power Saving Mechanism against Battery Draining Attack in Wi-Fi-Enabled Sensor Networks.

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have recently evolved into technologies featuring extremely high throughput and ultra-high reliability. As WLANs are predominantly utilized in Internet of Things (IoT) and Wi-Fi-enabled sensor applications powered by coin cell batteries, these high-efficiency, high-performance technologies often cause significant battery depletion. The introduction of the trigger frame-based uplink transmission method, designed to enhance network throughput, lacks adequate security measures, enabling attackers to manipulate trigger frames. Devices receiving such frames must respond immediately; however, if a device receives a fake trigger frame, it fails to enter sleep mode, continuously sending response signals and thereby increasing power consumption. This problem is specifically acute in next-generation devices that support multi-link operation (MLO), capable of simultaneous transmission and reception across multiple links, rendering them more susceptible to battery draining attacks than conventional single-link devices. To address this, this paper introduces a Secure Triggering Frame-Based Dynamic Power Saving Mechanism (STF-DPSM) specifically designed for multi-link environments. Experimental results indicate that even in a multi-link environment with only two links, the STF-DPSM improves energy efficiency by an average of approximately 55.69% over conventional methods and reduces delay times by an average of approximately 44.7% compared with methods that consistently utilize encryption/decryption and integrity checks.

Dynamics of NO Release and Linkage Isomer Formation from S-Nitroso-Mercaptoethanol in Aqueous Solutions: Insights from Femtosecond Infrared Spectroscopy.

Understanding the photodynamics of S-nitroso-thiol (RSNO), an effective NO transporter in biological systems, is essential for its photochemical applications. S-nitroso-mercaptoethanol (MceSNO), a simple water-soluble RSNO, facilitates high-level quantum calculations. We investigated the photoexcitation dynamics of MceSNO in an aqueous solution, focusing on NO dissociation, recombination, and linkage isomerization using quantum calculations and femtosecond infrared spectroscopy. Upon excitation at 320 nm, MceSNO rapidly dissociates into NO and MceS radicals. Approximately 31 ± 3% of MceS reacts with unexcited MceSNO molecules, forming MceSSMce and releasing additional NO. The remaining MceS undergoes geminate recombination with NO, forming either MceSNO (41 ± 4%) or MceSON (28 ± 3%), the latter being a sulfur-ON linkage isomer observed for the first time in a room-temperature solution. MceSON isomerizes back to MceSNO in 470 ± 30 ps. The formation mechanism of MceSON was verified through a potential energy surface constructed at the CASPT2D(16,11)/cc-pVTZ level. The isomerization barrier was determined to be 3.3 ± 1.2 kcal/mol in water.

Comparison of clinical and MRI features of hepatic angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

OBJECTIVE: Differentiating hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and angiosarcoma (AS), the two most common vascular tumors in the liver, is important due to disparities in their prognosis and treatment. We aimed to compare clinical and MRI features of the two tumors. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with pathologically-confirmed AS or EHE who underwent MRI using gadoxetate disodium between 2008 and 2023. Two radiologists independently reviewed MR images. Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare clinical and imaging features. Overall survival was compared using restricted mean survival time at 3 years. RESULTS: 32 patients with AS (18 women [56.3%]; median age, 68 years) and 38 with EHE (24 women [63.2%]; 51 years) were included. Patients with AS were generally older (81.3% ≥ 60 years; P < 0.001), had more frequent laboratory abnormalities (P ≤ 0.018), and poorer overall survival (11.2 vs. 31.8 months; P < 0.001) than those with EHE. On MRI, a large dominant mass accompanied by smaller nodules (14/32, 43.8%), often with ill-defined margins (15/32, 46.9%) was prevalent in AS; compared with nodules of similar sizes (24/38, 63.2%; P = 0.015) with well-defined margin (30/38, 78.9%; P = 0.002) in EHE. Cirrhotic appearance of the liver was more frequent in AS (62.5%, P < 0.001), along with decreased parenchymal enhancement on hepatobiliary phase (31.3%, P < 0.001) and ascites (37.5%, P = 0.010). AS frequently presented with avid enhancement of bizarrely-shaped foci, with a centrifugal enhancement pattern. In comparison, targetoid appearance was characteristic of EHE (78.9% on T2-weighted, 54.1% on diffusion-weighted, 65.8% on multiphase images) (P ≤ 0.002), with enhancement degree typically lower than that of the aorta. On hepatobiliary phase, all the AS exhibited hypointensity, while 39.5% of EHE showed targetoid appearance (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients aged ≥ 60 years presenting with laboratory abnormalities, typically with a large dominant mass accompanied by smaller nodules, exhibiting avid, bizarre, and centrifugal enhancement-particularly in the cirrhotic-appearing liver-suggests the likelihood of AS over EHE.

Push-Pull Mechanism of Attention and Emotion in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Background/Objectives: While deficits in executive attention and alerting systems in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are well-documented, findings regarding orienting attention in ADHD have been inconsistent. The current study investigated the mechanism of attentional orienting in children with ADHD by examining their attentional bias towards threatening stimuli. Furthermore, we explored the modulating role of anxiety levels in ADHD on this attentional bias. Methods: In Experiment 1, 20 children with ADHD and 26 typically developing children (TDC) performed a continuous performance task that included task-irrelevant distractions consisting of angry faces and neutral places. In Experiment 2, 21 children with ADHD and 25 TDC performed the same task, but with angry and neutral faces as distractors. To measure children's anxiety levels, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered before each experiment. Results: In Experiment 1, results revealed no attentional bias effects in children with ADHD, whereas TDC exhibited attentional capture effects by both types of distractors. However, in Experiment 2, ADHD children demonstrated an attentional bias towards angry faces, which revealed a significant positive correlation with their trait anxiety levels (r = 0.61, p < 0.05). Further analyses combining all ADHD children showed that trait anxiety levels in Experiment 2 were significantly higher than those in Experiment 1. Finally, a significant positive correlation was found between anxiety levels and attentional bias towards angry faces in all ADHD children (r = 0.36, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Children with ADHD exhibited atypical attentional-orienting effects to threats, and their levels of trait anxiety appeared to modulate such attentional-orienting mechanisms.

Repurposing of the analgesic Neurotropin for MASLD/MASH treatment.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has increased in recent decades. Approximately 25% of patients with MASLD progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, which is characterized by hepatic steatosis plus hepatocyte damage, inflammation, and fibrosis. We previously reported that Neurotropin (NTP), a drug used for relieving pain in Japan and China, inhibits lipid accumulation in hepatocytes by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction. We hypothesized that inhibiting hepatic steatosis and inflammation by NTP can be an effective strategy for treating MASLD and tested this hypothesis in a MASLD mouse model. METHODS: Six-week-old C57BL/6NJ male mice were fed a normal diet and normal drinking water or a high-fat diet with high fructose/glucose water for 12 weeks. During the last 6 weeks, the mice were also given high-dose NTP, low-dose NTP, or control treatment. Histologic, biochemical, and functional tests were conducted. MitoPlex, a new proteomic platform, was used to measure mitochondrial proteins, as mitochondrial dysfunction was previously reported to be associated with MASLD progression. RESULTS: NTP inhibited the development of hepatic steatosis, injury, inflammation, and fibrosis induced by feeding a high-fat diet plus high fructose/glucose in drinking water. NTP also inhibited HSC activation. MitoPlex analysis revealed that NTP upregulated the expression of mitochondrial proteins related to oxidative phosphorylation, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, mitochondrial dynamics, and fatty acid transport. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that NTP prevents the development of hepatic steatosis, injury, and inflammation by preserving mitochondrial function in the liver and inhibits liver fibrosis by suppressing HSC activation. Thus, repurposing NTP may be a beneficial option for treating MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Geraniin from the methanol extract of Pilea mongolica suppresses LPS-induced inflammatory responses by inhibiting IRAK4/MAPKs/NF-κB/AP-1 pathway in HaCaT cells.

The skin acts as a vital barrier, shielding the body from external threats that can trigger dryness, itching, and inflammation. Pilea mongolica, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, holds promise for various ailments, yet its anti-inflammatory properties remain understudied. This study aimed to explore the potential anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of P. mongolica (MEPM) and its underlying molecular mechanisms and active compounds in LPS-stimulated human keratinocytes. MEPM treatment, at concentrations without cytotoxicity, significantly decreased NO productions and the iNOS, IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels in LPS-induced HaCaT cells. Moreover, MEPM suppressed IRAK4 expression and phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, p38, p65, and c-Jun, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effects of MEPM result from the inhibition of IRAK4/MAPK/NF-κB/AP-1 signaling pathway. Through LC/MS/MS analysis, 30 compounds and 24 compounds were estimated in negative and positive modes, respectively, including various anti-inflammatory compounds, such as corilagin and geraniin. Through HPLC analysis, geraniin was found to be present in MEPM at a concentration of 18.87 mg/g. Similar to MEPM, geraniin reduced iNOS mRNA expression and inhibited NO synthesis. It also decreased mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α, and inhibited IRAK4 expression and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, NF-κB, and AP-1 pathways. Therefore, it can be inferred that the anti-inflammatory effects of MEPM are attributable to geraniin. Thus, MEPM and its active compound geraniin are potential candidates for use in natural functional cosmetics.

Cloning, Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Lactate Dehydrogenase from Plasmodium knowlesi: A Zoonotic Malaria Parasite.

Plasmodium knowlesi is the only Plasmodium that causes zoonotic disease among the Plasmodium that cause infection in humans. It is fatal due to its short asexual growth cycle within 24 h. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme that catalyzes the final step of glycolysis, is a biomarker for diagnosing infection by Plasmodium spp. parasite. Therefore, this study aimed to efficiently produce the soluble form of P. knowlesi LDH (PkLDH) using a bacterial expression system for studying malaria caused by P. knowlesi. Recombinant pET-21a(+)-PkLDH plasmid was constructed by inserting the PkLDH gene into a pET-21a(+) expression vector. Subsequently, the recombinant plasmid was inserted into the protein-expressing Escherichia coli Rosetta(DE3) strain, and the optimal conditions for overexpression of the PkLDH protein were established using this strain. We obtained a yield of 52.0 mg/L PkLDH from the Rosetta(DE3) strain and confirmed an activity of 483.9 U/mg through experiments. This methodology for high-efficiency PkLDH production can be utilized for the development of diagnostic methods and drug candidates for distinguishing malaria caused by P. knowlesi.