SUMO2 Inhibition Reverses Aberrant Epigenetic Rewiring Driven by Synovial Sarcoma Fusion Oncoproteins and Impairs Sarcomagenesis.

Synovial Sarcoma (SySa) is an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma that accounts for 5 - 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Current treatment involves radiation and radical surgery including limb amputation, highlighting the urgent need to develop targeted therapies. We reasoned that transcriptional rewiring by the fusion protein SS18-SSX, the sole oncogenic driver in SySa, creates specific vulnerabilities that can be exploited for treatment. To uncover genes that are selectively essential for SySa, we mined The Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) data to identify genes that specifically impact the fitness of SySa compared to other tumor cell lines. Targeted CRISPR library screening of SySa-selective candidates revealed that the small ubiquitin-like modifier 2 (SUMO2) was one of the strongest dependencies both in vitro as well as in vivo . TAK-981, a clinical-stage small molecule SUMO2 inhibitor potently inhibited growth and colony-forming ability. Strikingly, transcriptomic studies showed that pharmacological SUMO2 inhibition with TAK-981 treatment elicited a profound reversal of a gene expression program orchestrated by SS18-SSX fusions. Of note, genetic or pharmacological SUMO2 inhibition reduced global and chromatin levels of the SS18-SSX fusion protein with a concomitant reduction in histone 2A lysine 119 ubiquitination (H2AK119ub), an epigenetic mark that plays an important role in SySa pathogenesis. Taken together, our studies identify SUMO2 as a novel, selective vulnerability in SySa. Since SUMO2 inhibitors are currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for other cancers, our findings present a novel avenue for targeted treatment of synovial sarcoma. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study identifies SUMO2 as a selective dependency in synovial sarcoma. We demonstrate that the SUMO2/3 inhibitor TAK-981 impairs sarcomagenesis and reverses the SS18-SSX fusion-driven oncotranscriptome. Our study indicates that SUMO2 inhibition may be an attractive therapeutic option in synovial sarcoma.

Recurrent and De Novo Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis After Kidney Transplantation: Comparison of Clinical Features and Transplant Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a notable subtype of glomerulonephritis in kidney transplantation, often resulting in graft failure. Yet, research comparing transplant outcomes between de novo and recurrent FSGS is scarce. This study aims to compare clinical features and transplant outcomes between these two categories. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 773 kidney transplant recipients from two centers between January 2008 and October 2021. Patients diagnosed with FSGS through graft kidney biopsy were included. They were categorized into two groups based on the time of FSGS occurrence and results of native kidney biopsy: the recurrent FSGS group and the de novo FSGS group. RESULTS: Of 773 kidney transplant patients, 24 had primary FSGS-causing end-stage renal disease. During a median 65-month follow-up, 5 of these patients developed recurrent FSGS (incidence: 26.3%). Among 749 patients with other kidney diseases causing end-stage renal disease, 9 had de novo FSGS (incidence: 1.2%). In the recurrent FSGS group, 2 out of 5 patients experienced graft failure, with no deaths or acute rejections. Similarly, in the de novo FSGS group, 3 out of 9 patients experienced graft failure, with no deaths or acute rejections. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed slower graft loss in de novo FSGS, resulting in a higher graft survival rate compared to recurrent FSGS (probability of graft survival, 60% vs 33.3%, P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: Graft loss progresses more slowly in de novo FSGS compared to recurrent FSGS, resulting in a higher long-term graft survival rate in de novo FSGS than in recurrent FSGS.

Sub-lethal effects of metals and pesticides on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus and environmental implications.

Microalgae are unicellular, photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments and are sensitive to water quality and contaminants. While green algae and diatoms are widely used for toxicity assessments, there is a relatively limited amount of toxicity data available for freshwater dinoflagellates. Here, we evaluated the sub-lethal effects of the metals Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn and the herbicides atrazine and S-metolachlor on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus. Based on the 72-h median effective concentration (EC50), P. apiculatus showed sensitive responses to metals in the order of Cu (0.052 mg L-1), Cr (0.085 mg L-1), Zn (0.098 mg L-1), and Ni (0.13 mg L-1). Among the tested herbicides, P. apiculatus was more sensitive to atrazine (0.0048 mg L-1) than S-metolachlor (0.062 mg L-1). In addition, we observed morphological alterations and significant increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cells exposed to 0.05 mg L-1 of Cu and 0.005 mg L-1 of atrazine. These indicated that metals and pesticides induced oxidative stress in cellular metabolic processes and consequently caused severe physiological damage to the cells. Our results provide baseline data on the toxic effects of typical environmental contaminants on freshwater dinoflagellate, suggesting that P. apiculatus could be used as a bioindicator in freshwater toxicity assessments. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The sub-lethal effects of metals and pesticides on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus were evaluated. Palatinus sensitively responded to metals and pesticides; of test chemicals, atrazine (0.0048 mg L-1 of EC50) was the most sensitive. Metals and pesticides induced oxidative stress and consequently caused severe physiological damage to the Palatinus cells. The freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus can be used as a bioindicator in freshwater toxicity assessments.

Macrophage-induced Expression of TonEBP/NFAT5 Is Associated With Gefitinib Resistance and Migration in PC-9 Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Macrophages prevail in the microenvironment of several tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where they secrete pro-tumorigenic factors that contribute to cancer progression. This study investigated the role of macrophages on the resistance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated NSCLC cells to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: EGFR-mutated cell lines PC-9 and HCC827 were cocultured with macrophages and treated with TKIs (erlotinib and gefitinib). The effects of the macrophage-conditioned medium (macrophage CM) on gefitinib resistance and cell migration were also evaluated. RESULTS: Co-culture with macrophages significantly enhanced the resistance to erlotinib and gefitinib in PC-9 and HCC827 cells compared to that in cells cultured independently. Macrophage CM markedly induced gefitinib resistance in PC-9 cells, with maximum resistance observed at 50% CM concentration. This resistance persisted for up to 48 h post-CM removal. Macrophage CM inhibited gefitinib-induced apoptosis, as evidenced by the decreased expression of cleaved caspase-3, PARP, and BIM. Additionally, macrophage CM increased the migration ability of PC-9 cells, as shown by the wound healing and transwell migration assays. Studies have shown that TonEBP is crucial in cancer metastasis and drug resistance; we found that inhibition of TonEBP/NFAT5 expression reduced gefitinib resistance and migration in macrophage CM-induced PC-9 cells, indicating its role as mediator of these effects. CONCLUSION: Macrophages contribute to TKI resistance and enhance the migration of EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells through mechanisms involving TonEBP/NFAT5. Therefore, targeting TonEBP/NFAT5 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming macrophage-induced TKI resistance in NSCLC cells.

Effects of Ulmus macrocarpa Extract and Catechin 7-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside on Muscle Loss and Muscle Atrophy in C2C12 Murine Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Muscle atrophy is known to be one of the symptoms leading to sarcopenia, which significantly impacts the quality of life, mortality, and morbidity. Therefore, the development of therapeutics for muscle atrophy is essential. This study focuses on addressing muscle loss and atrophy using Ulmus macrocarpa extract and its marker compound, catechin 7-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside, by investigating their effects on biomarkers associated with muscle cell apoptosis. Additionally, protein and gene expression in a muscle atrophy model were examined using Western blotting and RT-PCR. Ulmus macrocarpa has been used as food or medicine due to its safety, including its roots, barks, and fruit. Catechin 7-O-ß-D apiofuranoside is an indicator substance of plants of the Ulmus genus and has been reported to have various effects such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The experimental results demonstrated that catechin glycoside and Ulmus macrocarpa extract decreased the expression of the muscle-degradation-related proteins Atrogin-1 and Muscle RING-Finger protein-1 (MuRF1) while increasing the expression of the muscle-synthesis-related proteins Myoblast determination (MyoD) and Myogenin. Gene expression confirmation experiments validated a decrease in the expression of Atrogin and MuRF1 mRNA and an increase in the expression of MyoD and Myogenin mRNA. Furthermore, an examination of muscle protein expression associated with the protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway confirmed a decrease in the expression of FoxO, a regulator of muscle protein degradation. These results confirm the potential of Ulmus macrocarpa extract to inhibit muscle apoptosis, prevent muscle decomposition, and promote the development of functional materials for muscle synthesis, health-functional foods, and natural-product-derived medicines.

Complete chloroplast genome of Asarum chungbuensis (C.S. Yook & J.G. Kim) B.U. Oh 2005 (Aristolochiaceae), a Korean endemic species.

Asarum chungbuensis, a species endemic to Korea, has a limited distribution across the Korean Peninsula and is used in traditional medicine. Despite its importance, the genome structure, genetic composition, and phylogenetic relationships based on its chloroplast genome have not been documented. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of A. chungbuensis was newly assembled. The chloroplast genome is 190,179 base pairs (bp) long, and the overall GC content (%) of the plastid was 36.8%. The chloroplast genome size of A. chungbuensis is longer than that of the normal chloroplast genome (160 kb) because of an inverted small single-copy (SSC) duplication that incorporates the SSC into an inverted repeat (IR) region. By extension, this duplication event causes this chloroplast genome to lack an SSC, unlike other formal structures. The chloroplast genome, with a tripartite structure, consisted of a single-copy region of 93,351 bp with a 34.6% GC content and two IR regions, each with a length of 48,414 bp and a 38.8% GC content. Additionally, it was found to have 113 genes, including 79 PCG genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. chungbuensis was grouped with A. heterotropoides var. seoulense, which diverged from the clade comprising A. koreanum and A. patens. The newly sequenced A. chungbuensis chloroplast genome could provide valuable genomic information for determining unique genome structures, especially for the assessment of genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, species conservation, and biogeographic studies of the genus Asarum.

Sculpting the Electronic Nano-Terrain on a Perovskite Film for Efficient Charge Transport.

Nanopatterned halide perovskites have emerged to improve the performance of optoelectronic devices by controlling the crystallographic and optical properties via morphological modification. However, the correlation between the photophysical property and morphology transformation in nanopatterned perovskite films remains elusive, which hinders the rational design of nanopatterned halide perovskites for optoelectronic devices. In this study, we employed nanoimprinting lithography on a perovskite film to exert a precise control over grain growth and manipulate electronic structures at the level of individual grains. Surface-selective fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) analyzes the spatiotemporally disentangled geometrical variations in carrier recombination rate and band structure modulation according to different pattern morphologies. Consequently, the stereoscopic mechanism of confined grain growth was unveiled, highlighting the quantitative grain size-based parameters that are crucial for nanoscale material engineering. Notably, the pattern-induced reduction of effective charge mass enabled exclusive control over the subdiffusive carrier transport dynamics on perovskite surfaces, ultimately realizing the surface-selective perovskite photodetectors. The implications of this study are expected to provide valuable guidelines, inspiring innovative design protocols for advancing the next-generation optoelectronic technologies.

Advanced parametrization for the production of high-energy solid-state lithium pouch cells containing polymer electrolytes.

Lithium batteries with solid-state electrolytes are an appealing alternative to state-of-the-art non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes because of safety and energy aspects. However, engineering development at the cell level for lithium batteries with solid-state electrolytes is limited. Here, to advance this aspect and produce high-energy lithium cells, we introduce a cell design based on advanced parametrization of microstructural and architectural parameters of electrode and electrolyte components. To validate the cell design proposed, we assemble and test (applying a stack pressure of 3.74 MPa at 45 °C) 10-layer and 4-layer solid-state lithium pouch cells with a solid polymer electrolyte, resulting in an initial specific energy of 280 Wh kg-1 (corresponding to an energy density of 600 Wh L-1) and 310 Wh kg-1 (corresponding to an energy density of 650 Wh L-1) respectively.

Does COVID-19 vaccination increase the risk of interstitial lung disease at a population level?

This study showed a significantly lower incidence of ILD among COVID-19 vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated, suggesting that the risk of COVID-19 vaccine-related ILD is not as high as previously reported https://bit.ly/3TWzzxP.

The Impact of Ulmus macrocarpa Extracts on a Model of Sarcopenia-Induced C57BL/6 Mice.

Aging leads to tissue and cellular changes, often driven by oxidative stress and inflammation, which contribute to age-related diseases. Our research focuses on harnessing the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Korean Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a traditional herbal remedy, to address muscle loss and atrophy. We evaluated the effects of Ulmus extract on various parameters in a muscle atrophy model, including weight, exercise performance, grip strength, body composition, muscle mass, and fiber characteristics. Additionally, we conducted Western blot and RT-PCR analyses to examine muscle protein regulation, apoptosis factors, inflammation, and antioxidants. In a dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy model, Ulmus extract administration promoted genes related to muscle formation while reducing those associated with muscle atrophy. It also mitigated inflammation and boosted muscle antioxidants, indicating a potential improvement in muscle atrophy. These findings highlight the promise of Ulmus extract for developing pharmaceuticals and supplements to combat muscle loss and atrophy, paving the way for clinical applications.

Sn-Doped Zinc Oxide as an Electron Transporting Layer for Enhanced Performance in PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells.

Colloidal PbS quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) have been primarily demonstrated in n-i-p structures by incorporating a solution-processed ZnO electron transporting layer (ETL). Nevertheless, the inherent energy barrier for the electron extraction at the ZnO/PbS junction along with the defective nature significantly diminishes the performance of the PbS QDSCs. In this study, by employing Sn-doped ZnO (ZTO) ETL, we have tuned the conduction band offset at the junction from spike-type to cliff-type so that the electron extraction barrier can be eliminated and the overall photovoltaic parameters can be enhanced (open-circuit voltage of 0.7 V, fill factor over 70%, and efficiency of 11.3%) as compared with the counterpart with the undoped ZnO ETL. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed a mitigation of oxygen vacancies in the ZTO ETL of our PbS QDSCs. Our work signifies the importance of Sn doping into the conventional ZnO ETL for the superior electron extraction in PbS QDSCs.

Multifunctional Microneedle Patch with Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol for Potential Wound Dressing.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of skin wounds with diverse pathological characteristics presents significant challenges due to the limited specific and efficacy of current wound healing approaches. Microneedle (MN) patches incorporating bioactive and stimulus materials have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations and integrating bioactive materials with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for advanced wound dressing. METHODS: We isolated diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) from Ishige okamurae and assessed its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects on macrophages and its antibacterial activity against Cutibacterium acnes. Subsequently, we fabricated polylactic acid (PLA) MN patches containing DPHC at various concentrations (0-0.3%) (PDPHC MN patches) and evaluated their mechanical properties and biological effects using in vitro and in vivo models. RESUTLS: Our findings demonstrated that DPHC effectively inhibited nitric oxide production in macrophages and exhibited rapid bactericidal activity against C. acnes. The PDPHC MN patches displayed potent antibacterial effects without cytotoxicity. Moreover, in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene-stimulated mouse model, the PDPHC MN patches significantly suppressed inflammatory response and cutaneous lichenification. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the PDPHC MN patches holds promise as a multifunctional wound dressing for skin tissue engineering, offering antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory properties to promote wound healing process.

Partially oxidized inter-doped RuNi alloy aerogel for the hydrogen evolution reaction in both alkaline and acidic media.

A facile reduction and doping process is employed with the supercritical ethanol drying method to form RuNi alloy aerogels. The optimized heterostructure comprising RuNi metal, RuO2, and NiO phases is synthesized through partial oxidation. When applied to the surface of Ni foam, the multiphase aerogels form a morphology of highly porous 0D colloidal aerogel networks on the surface. RuNi alloy-Ni foam oxidized at 350 °C (RuNi-350@NF) has an overpotential of 89 and 61 mV in 1 M KOH and 0.5 M H2SO4 media at 50 mA cm-2, as well as satisfactory long-term stability. Additionally, the Tafel slopes in alkaline and acidic media are found to be 34 and 30.9 mV dec-1, respectively. Furthermore, it exhibits long-term stability (35 h) in alkaline and acidic media at high current densities of 50 mA cm-2, respectively. This study presents a novel strategy for developing exceptionally efficient and free-standing 3D porous aerogel electrocatalysts with potential applications in hydrogen production.

Circularly Polarized Luminescence Without External Magnetic Fields from Individual CsPbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dots.

Lead halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs), the latest generation of the colloidal QD family, exhibit outstanding optical properties, which are now exploited as both classical and quantum light sources. Most of their rather exceptional properties are related to the peculiar exciton fine-structure of band-edge states, which can support unique bright triplet excitons. The degeneracy of the bright triplet excitons is lifted with energetic splitting in the order of millielectronvolts, which can be resolved by the photoluminescence (PL) measurements of single QDs at cryogenic temperatures. Each bright exciton fine-structure-state (FSS) exhibits a dominantly linear polarization, in line with several theoretical models based on the sole crystal field, exchange interaction, and shape anisotropy. Here, we show that in addition to a high degree of linear polarization, the individual exciton FSS can exhibit a non-negligible degree of circular polarization even without external magnetic fields by investigating the four Stokes parameters of the exciton fine-structure in individual CsPbBr3 QDs through Stokes polarimetric measurements. We observe a degree of circular polarization up to ∼38%, which could not be detected by using the conventional polarimetric technique. In addition, we found a consistent transition from left- to right-hand circular polarization within the fine-structure triplet manifold, which was observed in magnetic-field-dependent experiments. Our optical investigation provides deeper insights into the nature of the exciton fine structures and thereby drives the yet-incomplete understanding of the unique photophysical properties of this class of QDs for the benefit of future applications in chiral quantum optics.

Respiratory pathogen and clinical features of hospitalized patients in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after COVID 19 pandemic.

Respiratory infections are common causes of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease (AECOPD). We explored whether the pathogens causing AECOPD and clinical features changed from before to after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. We reviewed the medical records of patients hospitalized with AECOPD at four university hospitals between January 2017 and December 2018 and between January 2021 and December. We evaluated 1180 patients with AECOPD for whom medication histories were available. After the outbreak, the number of patients hospitalized with AECOPD was almost 44% lower compared with before the outbreak. Patients hospitalized with AECOPD after the outbreak were younger (75 vs. 77 years, p = 0.003) and more often stayed at home (96.6% vs. 88.6%, p < 0.001) than patients of AECOPD before the outbreak. Hospital stay was longer after the outbreak than before the outbreak (10 vs. 8 days. p < 0.001). After the COVID-19 outbreak, the identification rates of S. pneumoniae (15.3 vs. 6.2%, p < 0.001) and Hemophilus influenzae (6.4 vs. 2.4%, p = 0.002) decreased, whereas the identification rates of P. aeruginosa (9.4 vs. 13.7%, p = 0.023), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.3 vs. 9.8%, p = 0.004), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (1.0 vs. 2.8%, p = 0.023) increased. After the outbreak, the identification rate of influenza A decreased (10.4 vs. 1.0%, p = 0.023). After the outbreak, the number of patients hospitalized with AECOPD was lower and the identification rates of community-transmitted pathogens tended to decrease, whereas the rates of pathogens capable of chronic colonization tended to increase. During the period of large-scale viral outbreaks that require quarantine, patients with AECOPD might be given more consideration for treatment against strains that can colonize chronic respiratory disease rather than community acquired pathogens.

Association Between Lifestyle Behaviors and Obesity Among Stroke Survivors.

AIM: The aim was to investigate factors influencing obesity among stroke survivors based on demographics and lifestyle behaviors. BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors are more likely to experience stroke recurrence within a few years. As obesity is a traditional risk factor for stroke, obesity should be managed in stroke survivors to prevent stroke recurrence. METHODS: A cross-sectional secondary data analysis analyzed data from the 2017 United States Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Demographics, frequency of vegetable and fruit intake, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep were examined. RESULTS: Among 1032 stroke survivors, 57.8% were obese. Advanced age, female sex, veteran status, at least once-daily fruit intake, current smoking, and lack of physical activity were associated with obesity. CONCLUSION: Stroke survivors should be encouraged to pursue healthy behaviors to manage obesity. Appropriate transitional care, including diet education and tailored exercise, can be an effective strategy.

Development of saxitoxin biosynthesis gene sxtB-targeted qPCR assay for the quantification of toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium catenella (group I) and A. pacificum (group IV) occurring in the Korean coast.

Toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium can produce saxitoxins (STXs) and cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), and thus they are monitored for environmental safety management. Microscopic discrimination of dinoflagellates is difficult to distinguish between toxic and non-toxic species due to their similar morphology. Meanwhile, an alternative quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay is sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective for harmful species monitoring. Herein, we developed a novel qPCR assay to detect the STXs biosynthesis gene sxtB of Alexandrium catenella and A. pacificum, the leading cause of PSP outbreaks in Asian coasts and worldwide. The newly designed sxtB TaqMan probes target the species without any positive signal in other relative dinoflagellates. Deming regression analysis revealed that the sxtB copy number of A. catenella and A. pacificum was 3.6 and 4.1 copies per cell, respectively. During the blooming periods (April 13th-14th, 2020), only A. catenella cells were detected through the qPCR assay, ranging from 5.0 × 10 to 2.5 × 104 eq cells L-1. In addition, sxtB qPCR quantified more accurately compared to large subunit (LSU) rRNA targeting qPCR assay that overestimate cell density. Besides, the sensitivity of sxtB was higher compared to the microscope when the species were rarely present (5.0 × 102 cells L-1). These suggest that the sxtB qPCR assay can be applied to toxic Alexandrium monitoring in the Korean coast, even in the early stage of bloomings.

Capturing anatomy in computed tomography scans for genital pathology.

PURPOSE: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to characterize how frequently the anatomy of interest (AOI) was excluded when evaluating genital pathology using the current CT pelvis protocol recommended by the American College of Radiology and evaluate how AOI exclusion affects patient management. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records, using diagnosis and CPT codes, of patients admitted with genital pathology who obtained a CT scan at our institution from July 1, 2020-April 30, 2023. Baseline patient demographics were included. Data about each index CT scan (scan obtained at our institution) were recorded and assessed for exclusion of the AOI. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the rate of AOI exclusion and to compare patient management between patients with AOI excluded versus those without AOI exclusion. RESULTS: 113 presentations for genital pathology included an index CT scan and were included for analysis. Patients were primarily men (98%) with a mean age of 53.1 years (SD 13.9). The most common diagnoses were Fournier's gangrene (35%), scrotal abscess (22%) and unspecified infection (19%). 26/113 scans (23%) did not capture the entire AOI. When the AOI was missed during the index scan, there was a higher rate of obtaining additional scans (38% vs. 21%), but a similar rate of intervention (77% vs. 63%) when compared to index scans that captured the entire AOI. 35 scans (31%) had protocol-extending instructions; index scans that captured the entire AOI were more likely to have specific protocol-extending instructions (38% vs. 8% p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Creating a specific CT protocol for genital pathology could decrease the amount of inappropriate irradiation and improve AOI capture rates without relying on specific request for protocol deviation.

Pamidronate-induced irreversible symptomatic hypocalcemia in a dog with hypercalcemia after glucocorticoid withdrawal: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pamidronate is used for the treatment of hypercalcemia. However, a rare but potential adverse event of pamidronate treatment is hypocalcemia. This report describes an unusual case of severe, irreversible hypocalcemia after a single injection of pamidronate for the treatment of hypercalcemia due to glucocorticoid withdrawal in a dog. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old castrated male Maltese dog presented with anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea (day 0). The patient had calcinosis cutis throughout the body, calcification of intraabdominal organs, mild azotemia, and severe hypercalcemia. The severe calcification was attributed to long-term glucocorticoid administration, which was discontinued 1 month before presentation. Fluid therapy, diuretics, calcitonin, and a single intravenous injection of pamidronate were used for the treatment of hypercalcemia. On day 14, normocalcemia was achieved, but renal failure occurred. On day 20, severe and irreversible hypocalcemia occurred, and on day 42, the patient was euthanized at the owner's request because of worsened hypocalcemia and renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: Although hypocalcemia is an extremely rare adverse event of bisphosphonate treatment, bisphosphonates like pamidronate can result in potentially life-threatening conditions according to the patient's underlying conditions. Therefore, the patient's condition should be closely monitored and any underlying conditions should be carefully evaluated before initiating the treatment for hypercalcemia using pamidronate.

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell high-nickel cobalt-free layered LiNi0.95Mg0.02Al0.03O2@Li2ZrO3 cathode for high-performance lithium ion batteries.

High-nickel cobalt-free layered cathode is regarded as a highly potential cathode material for the next generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high energy density, low cost and environmentally benign. However, the poor cycle performance caused by its intrinsic unstable structure and chemo-mechanical instability frustrates its practical applications. Herein, we have developed a new core-shell high-nickel cobalt-free layered LiNi0.95Mg0.02Al0.03O2@Li2ZrO3 (LZO-NMA9523) cathode for high-performance LIBs. The Li2ZrO3 coating layer firstly helps to suppress and reduce the degree of Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing during the material preparation process. In addition, the Li2ZrO3 coating layer can not only accommodate the volume variations and enhance the electricity of the active materials, but also effectively inhibit the harmful irreversible phase transition during the charging/discharging process, thus greatly stabilizing the structure of the high-nickel cobalt-free cathode. As an advanced cathode for LIBs, the LZO-NMA9523 exhibits an excellent reversible capacity of 146.9 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 C with capacity retention of about 80%. This study provides a possible high-nickel cobalt-free layered cathode material for the next generation LIBs.