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Purpose: This study investigated the relationships between perceived autonomy support, coach-athlete relationship, team efficacy, aggressive behavior, and athlete burnout among team sports athletes. It verified the mediating effects of the coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy on the relationship between autonomy support and athlete burnout. Design methodology and approach: A questionnaire survey on autonomy support, coach-athlete relationships, aggressive behavior, and athlete burnout was administered to 336 team sports athletes (292 male athletes and 44 female athletes). A cross-sectional research design was used to collect the data. To analyze the collected data, frequency, reliability, descriptive statistical, and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity tests, and structural model analysis were conducted using AMOS version 24.0. Bootstrapping was used to examine the mediating effects. Results: The fit of the measurement model was assessed by calculating the fit indices as follows: x 2 = 329.689, df = 124, p < 0.001, TLI = 0.945, CFI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.070 (90% CI = 0.061-0.080), and SRMR = 0.060. Autonomy support positively affected the coach-athlete relationship (ß = 0.841) and team efficacy (ß = 0.338). The coach-athlete relationship positively affected team efficacy (ß = 0.479). Furthermore, autonomy support did not significantly influence aggressive behavior (ß = -0.053), and negatively affected athlete burnout (ß = -0.305). The coach-athlete relationship also did not significantly affect aggressive behavior (ß = 0.054), and negatively affected athlete burnout (ß = -0.303). Team efficacy negatively affected aggressive behavior (ß = -0.516) and athlete burnout (ß = -0.201). Finally, autonomy support was found to affect athlete burnout through the coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy. Conclusion: Considering that autonomy support affects athlete burnout through coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy, coaches need to enhance the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and improve team efficacy to reduce athlete burnout. Above all, the study findings suggest that coaches need to provide autonomy-supportive behaviors.
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Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is defined as dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome associated with the depletion of Lactobacilli and excessive growth of commensal or pathogenic bacteria. This study investigated the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) mixture (LM; InoRexyne™) on the vaginal bacterial community of Gardnerella vaginalis (G. vaginalis)-infected BV mice. Single LAB and LM exhibited antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting G. vaginalis growth and pro-inflammatory markers in RAW 264.7 cells. Administering LM did not significantly alter the vaginal architecture or fecal short-chain fatty acids but did significantly inhibit the vaginal interleukin-6 levels in the high LM group compared to the GV group. LM administration decreased the relative abundances of Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides vulgatus in vaginal flushing fluids compared to the GV group. LM partially alleviated BV by inhibiting G. vaginalis growth and modulating the vaginal bacterial community, providing new insights into its modulatory effects on the vaginal microbiome in BV. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-024-01641-w.
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BACKGROUND: As South Korea grapples with a declining birthrate, maternity care accessibility has become challenging. This study examines the association with labour intervention and pregnancy complication, specifically focusing on C-section and dystocia in maternity disparities. METHODS: Data from the South Korean NHIS-NID was used to analyze 1,437,186 women with childbirths between 2010 and 2015. The research defines 50 specific districts as Obstetrically Underserved Areas produced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2011. C-Section were assessed through using medical procedure and DRG codes, while dystocia was defined using ICD-10 code. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the significance of the association. RESULTS: Among the population residing in underserved areas, 42,873 out of a total of 1,437,186 individuals were identified. For nationwide cases, the odds ratios (ORs) for C-Section were 1.11 (95% CI: 1.08-1.13) and dystocia were 1.07 (95% CI: 1.05-1.09). In relatively accessible urban areas, the ORs for C-Section and dystocia, based on whether they were obstetrically underserved areas, were 1.16 (95% CI: 1.13-1.18) and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.08-1.19), respectively. CONCLUSION: Poor accessibility to maternity care facilities is closely linked to high-risk pregnancies, including an increased incidence of dystocia and a higher rate of C-sections. Insufficient access to maternity care not only raises the risk of serious pregnancy complications. Consequently, there is a pressing need for multi-faceted efforts to bridge this disparity.
Subject(s)
Cesarean Section , Dystocia , Health Services Accessibility , Maternal Health Services , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Dystocia/epidemiology , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Adult , Maternal Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Medically Underserved Area , Young Adult , Healthcare Disparities/statistics & numerical data , Logistic Models , Odds RatioABSTRACT
Monolayer materials typically display intriguing temperature-dependent dielectric and optical properties, which are crucial for improving the structure and functionality of associated devices. Due to its unique photoelectric capabilities, monolayer WSe2 has recently received a lot of attention in the fields of atomically thin electronics and optoelectronics. In this work, we focus on the evolution of the temperature-dependent dielectric function (ε = ε1 + i ε2) of monolayer WSe2 over energies from 0.74 to 6.40 eV and temperatures from 40 to 350 K. We analyze the second derivatives of ε with respect to energy to accurately locate the critical points (CP). The dependence of the observed CP energies on temperature is consistent with the alternative domination of the declining exciton binding energy as the temperature increases.
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BACKGROUND: Angelica Gigas (Purple parsnip) is an important medicinal plant that is cultivated and utilized in Korea, Japan, and China. It contains bioactive substances especially coumarins with anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties. This medicinal crop can be genetically improved, and the metabolites can be obtained by embryonic stem cells. In this context, we established the protoplast-to-plant regeneration methodology in Angelica gigas. RESULTS: In the present investigation, we isolated the protoplast from the embryogenic callus by applying methods that we have developed earlier and established protoplast cultures using Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium and by embedding the protoplast in thin alginate layer (TAL) methods. We supplemented the culture medium with growth regulators namely 2,4-dichlorophenoxyaceticacid (2,4-D, 0, 0.75, 1.5 mg L- 1), kinetin (KN, 0, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L- 1) and phytosulfokine (PSK, 0, 50, 100 nM) to induce protoplast division, microcolony formation, and embryogenic callus regeneration. We applied central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) for the optimization of 2,4-D, KN, and PSK levels during protoplast division, micro-callus formation, and induction of embryogenic callus stages. The results revealed that 0.04 mg L- 1 2,4-D + 0.5 mg L- 1 KN + 2 nM PSK, 0.5 mg L- 1 2,4-D + 0.9 mg L- 1 KN and 90 nM PSK, and 1.5 mg L- 1 2,4-D and 1 mg L- 1 KN were optimum for protoplast division, micro-callus formation and induction embryogenic callus. MS basal semi-solid medium without growth regulators was good for the development of embryos and plant regeneration. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated successful protoplast culture, protoplast division, micro-callus formation, induction embryogenic callus, somatic embryogenesis, and plant regeneration in A. gigas. The methodologies developed here are quite useful for the genetic improvement of this important medicinal plant.
Subject(s)
Angelica , Plant Growth Regulators , Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques , Protoplasts , Angelica/embryology , Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology , Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques/methods , Protoplasts/drug effects , Cell Division/drug effectsABSTRACT
Introduction: Mucins play a pivotal role in epithelial carcinogenesis; however, their role remains elusive in ampulla of Vater (AoV) cancer, regardless of histological subtype. Therefore, we investigated the clinical significance of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 expression in AoV cancer. Methods: Using samples from 68 patients with AoV cancer, we performed immunohistochemical staining for MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 using a tissue microarray. Subsequently, we analyzed their expression patterns in relation to clinicopathological parameters and patient outcomes. Results: Of the patients, 98.5% exhibited positive expression for MUC1, while MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 were expressed in 44.1%, 47.1%, and 41.2% of the patients, respectively. Correlation analyses between mucin expression and clinicopathological factors revealed no significant associations, except between MUC5AC expression and N stage. Univariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between MUC5AC expression and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis further confirmed that MUC5AC expression was a significant predictor of OS, along with the N stage. However, MUC5AC expression was not meaningfully associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). The patients positive for MUC5AC expression had a considerably shorter OS than those with negative expression. Conclusions: Our study provides insights into the clinical impact of mucins on AoV cancer, regardless of the histological subtype. Although MUC1 expression is universal, MUC5AC expression is a significant prognostic indicator that correlates with lymph node metastasis and poor OS. These results emphasize the possible utility of MUC5AC as a biomarker for extensive lymph node dissection and the prognostic evaluation of patients with AoV cancer.
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Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) contributes to reactive oxygen species production. We investigated the cytoprotective mechanisms of XOR inhibition against high glucose (HG)-induced glomerular endothelial injury, which involves activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Human glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) exposed to HG were subjected to febuxostat treatment for 48 h and the expressions of AMPK and its associated signaling pathways were evaluated. HG-treated GECs were increased xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase levels and decreased intracellular AMP/ATP ratio, and these effects were reversed by febuxostat treatment. Febuxostat enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK, the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α and PPAR-α and suppressed the phosphorylation of forkhead box O (FoxO)3a in HG-treated GECs. Febuxostat also decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox)1, Nox2, and Nox4 expressions; enhanced superoxide dismutase activity; and decreased malondialdehyde levels in HG-treated GECs. The knockdown of AMPK inhibited PGC-1α-FoxO3a signaling and negated the antioxidant effects of febuxostat in HG-treated GECs. Despite febuxostat administration, the knockdown of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase 1 (HPRT1) also inhibited AMPK-PGC-1α-FoxO3a in HG-treated GECs. XOR inhibition alleviates oxidative stress by activating AMPK-PGC-1α-FoxO3a signaling through the HPRT1-dependent purine salvage pathway in GECs exposed to HG conditions.
Subject(s)
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases , Acute Kidney Injury , Endothelial Cells , Glucose , Purines , Xanthine Dehydrogenase , Humans , AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/drug effects , AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Endothelial Cells/drug effects , Febuxostat/pharmacology , Glucose/metabolism , Kidney Glomerulus/metabolism , Kidney Glomerulus/pathology , Kidney Glomerulus/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Purines/pharmacology , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Xanthine Dehydrogenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Xanthine Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced , Acute Kidney Injury/metabolismABSTRACT
In this study, we propose a generative data augmentation technique to overcome the challenges of severely limited data when designing a deep learning-based automated strabismus diagnosis system. We implement a generative model based on the StyleGAN2-ADA model for system design and assess strabismus classification performance using two classifiers. We evaluate the capability of our proposed method against traditional data augmentation techniques and confirm a substantial enhancement in performance. Furthermore, we conduct experiments to explore the relationship between the diagnosis agreement among ophthalmologists and the generation performance of the generative model. Beyond FID, we validate the generative samples on the classifier to establish their practicality. Through these experiments, we demonstrate that the generative model-based data augmentation improves overall quantitative performance in scenarios of extreme data scarcity and effectively mitigates overfitting issues during deep learning model training.
Subject(s)
Deep Learning , Strabismus , Humans , Strabismus/diagnosis , Strabismus/classification , AlgorithmsABSTRACT
Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is an economically important pathogen in the duck industry worldwide that causes high mortality and morbidity in infected birds. We previously found that upregulated IL-17A expression in ducks infected with RA participates in the pathogenesis of the disease, but this mechanism is not linked to IL-23, which primarily promotes Th17 cell differentiation and proliferation. RNA sequencing analysis was used in this study to investigate other mechanisms of IL-17A upregulation in RA infection. A possible interaction of IL-26 and IL-17 was discovered, highlighting the potential of IL-26 as a novel upstream cytokine that can regulate IL-17A during RA infection. Additionally, this process identified several important pathways and genes related to the complex networks and potential regulation of the host immune response in RA-infected ducks. Collectively, these findings not only serve as a roadmap for our understanding of RA infection and the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches for this disease, but they also provide an opportunity to understand the immune system of ducks.
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Adapted immune cells are known to develop memory functions that increase resistance to subsequent infections after initial pathogen exposure, however, it is unclear whether non-immune cells, like tissue-resident stem cells, have similar memory functions. Here, it is found that tissue-resident stem cells crucial for tissue regeneration show diminished adverse effects on diverse stem cell functions against successive exposure to foreign antigen (ß-glucan) to maintain tissue homeostasis and stability both in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that endometrial stem cells may possess a robust memory function, in contrast, fully differentiated cells like fibroblasts and vesicular cells do not show these memory mechanisms upon consecutive antigen exposure. Moreover, the pivotal role of Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) in regulating the memory functions of endometrial stem cells is identified through specific shRNA knockdown in vitro and knockout mice in vivo experiments. ANGPTL4 is associated with the alteration of diverse stem cell functions and epigenetic modifications, notably through histone H3 methylation changes and two pathways (i.e., PI3K/Akt and FAK/ERK1/2 signaling) upon consecutive antigen exposure. These findings imply the existence of inherent self-defense mechanisms through which local stem cells can adapt and protect themselves from recurrent antigenic challenges, ultimately mitigating adverse consequences.
Subject(s)
Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4 , Mice, Knockout , Stem Cells , Animals , Mice , Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4/genetics , Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4/metabolism , Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4/immunology , Stem Cells/metabolism , Stem Cells/immunology , Female , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Signal Transduction/immunology , Immunologic Memory/immunology , Cell Differentiation/immunologyABSTRACT
Curcuma longa and Sargassum coreanum are commonly used in traditional pharmaceutical medicine to improve immune function in chronic diseases. The present study was designed to systematically elucidate the in vitro and in vivo immuno-enhancing effects of a combination of C. longa and S. coreanum extracts (CS) that contain polyphenols and saccharides as functional molecules in a cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced model of immunosuppression. In primary splenocytes, we observed the ameliorative effects of CS on a Cy-induced immunosuppression model with low cytotoxicity and an optimal mixture procedure. CS treatment enhanced T- and B-cell proliferation, increased splenic natural killer-cell activity, and restored cytokine release. Wistar rats were orally administered low (30 mg/kg), intermediate (100 mg/kg), or high (300 mg/kg) doses of CS for four weeks, followed by oral administration of Cy (5 mg/kg) for four weeks. Compared with the vehicle group, low-, intermediate-, and high-dose CS treatment accelerated dose-dependent recovery of the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-2, and interleukin-12. These results suggest that CS treatment accelerates the amelioration of immune deficiency in Cy-treated primary splenocytes and rats, which supports considering it for immunity maintenance. Our findings provide experimental evidence for further research and clinical application in immunosuppressed patients.
Subject(s)
Killer Cells, Natural , Polyphenols , Rats, Wistar , Spleen , Animals , Polyphenols/pharmacology , Polyphenols/chemistry , Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Rats , Spleen/drug effects , Spleen/immunology , Spleen/cytology , Cytokines/metabolism , Male , Cyclophosphamide/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/chemistryABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluated the impact of a deep learning (DL)-based image reconstruction on multi-arterial-phase magnetic resonance imaging (MA-MRI) for small hypervascular hepatic masses in patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 55 adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with small hepatic hypervascular mass (≤ 3 cm) between December 2022 and February 2023. All patients underwent MA-MRI, subsequently reconstructed with a DL-based application. Qualitative assessment with Linkert scale including motion artifact (MA), liver edge (LE), hepatic vessel clarity (HVC) and image quality (IQ) was performed. Quantitative image analysis including signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and noise was performed. RESULTS: On both arterial phases (APs), all qualitative parameters were significantly improved after DL-based image reconstruction. (LE on 1st AP, 1.22 vs 1.61; LE on 2nd AP, 1.21 vs 1.65; HVC on 1st AP, 1.24 vs 1.39; HVC on 2nd AP, 1.24 vs 1.44; IQ on 1st AP, 1.17 vs 1.45; IQ on 2nd AP, 1.17 vs 1.47, all p values < 0.05). The SNR, CNR and noise were significantly improved after DL-based image reconstruction. (SNR on AP1, 279.08 vs 176.14; SNR on AP2, 334.34 vs 199.24; CNR on AP1, 106.09 vs 64.14; CNR on AP2, 129.66 vs 73.73; noise on AP1, 1.51 vs 2.33; noise on AP2, 1.45 vs 2.28, all p values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MA-MRI with DL-based image reconstruction improved the qualitative and quantitative parameters. Despite the short acquisition time, high-quality MA-MRI is now achievable.
Subject(s)
Contrast Media , Deep Learning , Gadolinium DTPA , Liver Neoplasms , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Female , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Aged , Adult , Image Enhancement/methods , Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods , Liver/diagnostic imaging , Signal-To-Noise RatioABSTRACT
FeâS cluster-harboring enzymes, such as carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODH), employ sophisticated artificial electron mediators like viologens to serve as potent biocatalysts capable of cleaning-up industrial off-gases at stunning reaction rates. Unraveling the interplay between these enzymes and their associated mediators is essential for improving the efficiency of CODHs. Here we show the electron mediator-interaction site on ChCODHs (Ch, Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans) using a systematic approach that leverages the viologen-reactive characteristics of superficial aromatic residues. By enhancing mediator-interaction (R57G/N59L) near the D-cluster, the strategically tailored variants exhibit a ten-fold increase in ethyl viologen affinity relative to the wild-type without sacrificing the turn-over rate (kcat). Viologen-complexed structures reveal the pivotal positions of surface phenylalanine residues, serving as external conduits for the D-cluster to/from viologen. One variant (R57G/N59L/A559W) can treat a broad spectrum of waste gases (from steel-process and plastic-gasification) containing O2. Decoding mediator interactions will facilitate the development of industrially high-efficient biocatalysts encompassing gas-utilizing enzymes.
Subject(s)
Electrons , Multienzyme Complexes , Multienzyme Complexes/chemistry , Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/genetics , Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/chemistry , Gases , Viologens , Carbon Monoxide/chemistryABSTRACT
Background/Aims: This study compared the effectiveness and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) in real-life clinical practice. Methods: The data from genotype 1 or 2 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with GLE/PIB or sofosbuvir + ribavirin or SOF/LDV in South Korea were collected retrospectively. The analysis included the treatment completion rate, sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) test rate, treatment effectiveness, and adverse events. Results: Seven hundred and eighty-two patients with genotype 1 or 2 chronic hepatitis C who were treated with GLE/PIB (n=575) or SOF/LDV (n=207) were included in this retrospective study. The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics revealed significant statistical differences in age, genotype, ascites, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma between the GLE/PIB and SOF/LDV groups. Twenty-two patients did not complete the treatment protocol. The treatment completion rate was high for both regimens without statistical significance (97.7% vs. 95.7%, p=0.08). The overall SVR12 of intention-to-treat analysis was 81.2% vs. 80.7% without statistical significance (p=0.87). The overall SVR12 of per protocol analysis was 98.7% vs. 100% without statistical significance (p=0.14). Six patients treated with GLE/PIB experienced treatment failure. They were all male, genotype 2, and showed a negative hepatitis C virus RNA level at the end of treatment. Two patients treated with GLE/PIB stopped medication because of fever and abdominal discomfort. Conclusions: Both regimens had similar treatment completion rates, effectiveness, and safety profiles. Therefore, the SOF/LDV regimen can also be considered a viable DAA for the treatment of patients with genotype 1 or 2 chronic hepatitis C.
Subject(s)
Aminoisobutyric Acids , Benzimidazoles , Cyclopropanes , Fluorenes , Hepatitis C, Chronic , Lactams, Macrocyclic , Leucine/analogs & derivatives , Liver Neoplasms , Proline/analogs & derivatives , Pyrrolidines , Quinoxalines , Sulfonamides , Humans , Male , Sofosbuvir/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Hepacivirus/genetics , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Genotype , Drug Therapy, CombinationABSTRACT
Protoplast regeneration has become a key platform for genetic and genome engineering. However, we lack reliable and reproducible methods for efficient protoplast regeneration for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars. Here, we optimized cell and tissue culture methods for protoplast isolation, microcallus proliferation, shoot regeneration, and plantlet establishment of the tomato cultivar Micro-Tom. A thin layer of alginate was applied to protoplasts isolated from third to fourth true leaves and cultured at an optimal density of 1 × 105 protoplasts/ml. We determined the optimal culture media for protoplast proliferation, callus formation, de novo shoot regeneration, and root regeneration. Regenerated plantlets exhibited morphologically normal growth and sexual reproduction. The entire regeneration process, from protoplasts to flowering plants, was accomplished within 5 months. The optimized protoplast regeneration platform enables biotechnological applications, such as genome engineering, as well as basic research on plant regeneration in Solanaceae species.
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Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Many studies have reported an association between FGR and fetal Doppler indices focusing on umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and ductus venosus (DV). The uteroplacental-fetal circulation which affects the fetal growth consists of not only UA, MCA, and DV, but also umbilical vein (UV), placenta and uterus itself. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of large-scale cohort studies that have assessed the association between UV, uterine wall, and placental thickness with perinatal outcomes in FGR, in conjunction with all components of the uteroplacental-fetal circulation. Therefore, this multicenter study will evaluate the association among UV absolute flow, placental thickness, and uterine wall thickness and adverse perinatal outcome in FGR fetuses. This multicenter retrospective cohort study will include singleton pregnant women who undergo at least one routine fetal ultrasound scan during routine antepartum care. Pregnant women with fetuses having structural or chromosomal abnormalities will be excluded. The U-AID indices (UtA, UA, MCA, and UV flow, placental and uterine wall thickness, and estimated fetal body weight) will be measured during each trimester of pregnancy. The study population will be divided into two groups: (1) FGR group (pregnant women with FGR fetuses) and (2) control group (those with normal growth fetus). We will assess the association between U-AID indices and adverse perinatal outcomes in the FGR group and the difference in U-AID indices between the two groups.
Subject(s)
Fetus , Placenta , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Biometry , Cohort Studies , Fetal Development , Fetal Growth Retardation/diagnostic imaging , Fetal Growth Retardation/epidemiology , Fetus/diagnostic imaging , Fetus/blood supply , Gestational Age , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Placenta/diagnostic imaging , Retrospective Studies , Ultrasonography, Doppler , Ultrasonography, Prenatal/methods , Umbilical Arteries/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no standard adjuvant therapy for patients with resected ampulla of Vater (AoV) cancer. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with advanced AoV cancer who underwent curative resection. METHODS: This single-centered, retrospective study included 29 patients with advanced AoV cancer who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2006 and 2018. The impact of CCRT on advanced AoV cancer was analyzed. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-yr recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates for patients with advanced AoV cancer were 82.8%, 48.3%, and 40.8%, respectively, and the overall survival (OS) rates were 89.7%, 62.1%, and 51.7%, respectively. Lymphovascular invasion was found to be a significant risk factor for RFS and OS in patients with advanced AoV cancer in the univariate analysis, whereas T stage and lymph node metastasis were significantly associated with OS in the multivariate analysis. Compared to the patients who did not receive adjuvant CCRT, those who received adjuvant CCRT did not show statistically significant improvements in the RFS and OS, although they had a significantly lower average age and significantly higher platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant CCRT did not improve survival outcomes in patients with advanced AoV cancer. These findings contribute to existing knowledge on the effectiveness of CCRT in this patient population and provide important insights for clinical decision-making.
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BACKGROUND: The histological subtype is an important prognostic factor for ampulla of Vater (AoV) cancer. This study proposes a classification system for the histological subtyping of AoV cancer based on immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and its prognostic significance. METHODS: Seventy-five AoV cancers were analyzed for cytokeratin 7 (CK7), CK20, and causal-type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) expression by IHC staining. We differentiated the subtypes (INT, intestinal; PB, pancreatobiliary; MIX, mixed; NOS, not otherwise specified) into classification I: CK7/CK20, classification II: CK7/CK20 or CDX2, classification III: CK7/CDX2 and examined their associations with clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: Classifications I, II, and III subtypes were INT (7, 10, and 10 cases), PB (43, 37, and 38 cases), MIX (13, 19, and 18 cases), and NOS (12, 9, and 9 cases). Significant differences in disease-free survival among the subtypes were observed in classifications II and III using CDX2; the PB and NOS subtype exhibited shorter survival time compared with INT subtype. In classification III, an association was revealed between advanced T/N stage, poor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), the PB and NOS subtypes, and recurrence risk. In classification III, the subtypes differed significantly in T/N stage and LVI. Patients with the PB subtype had advanced T and N stages and a higher incidence of LVI. CONCLUSIONS: Classification using CDX2 revealed subtypes with distinct prognostic significance. Combining CK7 and CDX2 or adding CDX2 to CK7/CK20 is useful for distinguishing subtypes, predicting disease outcomes, and impacting the clinical management of patients with AoV cancer.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma , Ampulla of Vater , Common Bile Duct Neoplasms , Humans , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , CDX2 Transcription Factor/metabolism , Ampulla of Vater/pathology , Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/pathology , Immunohistochemistry , Prognosis , Keratin-20/metabolism , Keratin-7/metabolismABSTRACT
In this study, carbon blocks were fabricated using isotropic coke and coal tar pitch as raw materials, with a variation in pressure during cold isostatic pressing (CIP). The CIP pressure was set to 50, 100, 150, and 200 MPa, and the effect of the CIP pressure on the mechanical and electrical properties of the resulting carbon blocks was analyzed. Microstructural observations confirmed that, after the kneading, the surface of isotropic coke was covered with the pitch components. Subsequently, after the CIP, granules, which were larger than isotropic coke and the kneaded particles, were observed. The formation of these granules was attributed to the coalescence of kneaded particles under the applied pressing pressure. This granule formation was accompanied by the development of pores, some remaining within the granules, while others were extruded, thereby existing externally. The increase in the applied pressing pressure facilitated the formation of granules, and this microstructural development contributed to enhanced mechanical and electrical properties. At a pressing pressure of 100 MPa, the maximum flexural strength was achieved at 33.3 MPa, and the minimum electrical resistivity was reached at 60.1 µΩm. The higher the pressing pressure, the larger the size of the granules. Pores around the granules tended to connect and grow larger, forming crack-like structures. This microstructural change led to degraded mechanical and electrical properties. The isotropic ratio of the carbon blocks obtained in this study was estimated based on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The results confirmed that all carbon blocks obtained proved to be isotropic. In this study, a specimen type named CIP-100 exhibited the best performance in every aspect as an isotropic carbon block.