Dietary Intake, Menopausal Symptoms, and Body Composition Associated with Possible Sarcopenia Among Vietnamese Middle-Aged Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of possible sarcopenia and its associated factors among middle-aged Vietnamese women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 205 women aged 40-55 years who were admitted to the Can Tho Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between February and December 2023. The presence of possible sarcopenia was determined according to the AWGS 2019 criteria. Associated factors were dietary intake (total energy, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate intake), the severity of menopausal symptoms by using the Kupperman index, and body composition by using the bioelectrical impedance analysis device, Inbody S10. Logistic regressions were built to analyze the association between possible sarcopenia and its associated factors. Results: The prevalence of possible sarcopenia was 29.8%, with a mean age of 47.2. Possible sarcopenia was detected in 23% of the participants based on the criterion of low handgrip strength, whereas 83.6% of the participants when considered low performance in the chair stand test. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.16, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.22-4.72), energy intake <25 kcal/body weight, (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.75-5.06), protein intake <0.91 g/body weight (AOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.51-5.76), skipping breakfast (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 0.91-4.54), mild menopausal symptoms (AOR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.61-5.36), and obesity (AOR: 1.59, 95%CI: 1.29-3.67) were significantly associated with higher risk of possible sarcopenia. Conversely, higher muscle mass and higher upper limb mass were associated with a decreased risk of possible sarcopenia (total muscle mass AOR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.07-0.59). Conclusions: These findings would provide a basis for enhancing management and prevention strategies to reduce the risk of sarcopenia in Vietnam. In particular, attention to nutrient intake and the management of menopausal symptoms may reduce the risk of sarcopenia.

Ultrahigh Sensitivity for Thermographic Human-Machine Interface via Precious Metals Atomic Layer Deposition on V-MXene: Computational and Experimental Exploration.

Global healthcare based on the Internet of Things system is rapidly transforming to measure precise physiological body parameters without visiting hospitals at remote patients and associated symptoms monitoring. 2D materials and the prevailing mood of current ever-expanding MXene-based sensing devices motivate to introduce first the novel iridium (Ir) precious metal incorporated vanadium (V)-MXene via industrially favored emerging atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques. The current work contributes a precise control and delicate balance of Ir single atomic forms or clusters on the V-MXene to constitute a unique precious metal-MXene embedded heterostructure (Ir-ALD@V-MXene) in practical real-time sensing healthcare applications to thermography with human-machine interface for the first time. Ir-ALD@V-MXene delivers an ultrahigh durability and sensing performance of 2.4% °C-1 than pristine V-MXene (0.42% °C-1), outperforming several conventionally used MXenes, graphene, underscoring the importance of the Ir-ALD innovative process. Aberration-corrected advanced ultra-high-resolution transmission/scanning transmission electron microscopy confirms the presence of Ir atomic clusters on well-aligned 2D-layered V-MXene structure and their advanced heterostructure formation (Ir-ALD@V-MXene), enhanced sensing mechanism is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) computations. A rational design empowering the Ir-ALD process on least explored V-MXene can potentially unfold further precious metals ALD-process developments for next-generation wearable personal healthcare devices.

Xelaglifam, a novel GPR40/FFAR1 agonist, exhibits enhanced ß-arrestin recruitment and sustained glycemic control for type 2 diabetes.

Xelaglifam, developed as a GPR40/FFAR1 agonist, induces glucose-dependent insulin secretion and reduces circulating glucose levels for Type 2 diabetes treatment. This study investigated the effects of Xelaglifam in comparison with Fasiglifam on the in vitro/in vivo anti-diabetic efficacy and selectivity, and the mechanistic basis. In vitro studies on downstream targets of Xelaglifam were performed in GPR40-expressing cells. Xelaglifam treatment exhibited dose-dependent effects, increasing inositol phosphate-1, Ca2+ mobilization, and ß-arrestin recruitment (EC50: 0.76 nM, 20 nM, 68 nM), supporting its role in Gq protein-dependent and G-protein-independent mechanisms. Despite a lack of change in the cAMP pathway, the Xelaglifam-treated group demonstrated increased insulin secretion compared to Fasiglifam in HIT-T15 ß cells under high glucose conditions. High doses of Xelaglifam (<30 mg/kg) did not induce hypoglycemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition, Xelaglifam lowered glucose and increased insulin levels in diabetic rat models (GK, ZDF, OLETF). In GK rats, 1 mg/kg of Xelaglifam improved glucose tolerance (33.4 % and 15.6 % for the 1 and 5 h) after consecutive glucose challenges. Moreover, repeated dosing in ZDF and OLETF rats resulted in superior glucose tolerance (34 % and 35.1 % in ZDF and OLETF), reducing fasting hyperglycemia (18.3 % and 30 % in ZDF and OLETF) at lower doses; Xelaglifam demonstrated a longer-lasting effect with a greater effect on ß-cells including 3.8-fold enhanced insulin secretion. Co-treatment of Xelaglifam with SGLT-2 inhibitors showed additive or synergistic effects. Collectively, these results demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy and selectivity of Xelaglifam on GPR40, supportive of its potential for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

A SEER-based analysis of trends in HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The proportional trends of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) according to various factors have not been analyzed in detail in previous studies. We aimed to evaluate the trends of HPV-associated OPSCC in the United States. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 13,081 patients with OPSCC from large population-based data using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 2010-2017 database, 17 Registries. Patients were diagnosed with OPSCC primarily in the base of tongue (BOT), posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW), soft palate (SP), and tonsil and were tested for HPV infection status. We analyzed how the proportional trends of patients with OPSCC changed according to various demographic factors. Additionally, we forecasted and confirmed the trend of HPV (+) and (-) patients with OPSCC using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who performed the HPV testing increased every year, and it has exceeded 50% since 2014 (21.95% and 51.37% at 2010 and 2014, respectively). The HPV-positive rates tended to increase over past 7 years (66.37% and 79.32% at 2010 and 2016, respectively). Positivity rates of HPV were significantly higher in OPSCC located in the tonsil or BOT than in those located in PPW or SP. The ARIMA (2,1,0) and (0,1,0) models were applied to forecast HPV (+) and (-) patients with OPSCC, respectively, and the predicted data generally matched the actual data well. CONCLUSION: This large population-based study suggests that the proportional trends of HPV (+) patients with OPSCC has increased and will continue to increase. However, the trends of HPV (+) and (-) patients differed greatly according to various demographic factors. These results present a direction for establishing appropriate preventive measures to deal with HPV-related OPSCC in more detail.

Clinicopathologic Significance of Quaking Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The RNA binding protein quaking (QKI) is associated with the development and progression of tumor suppressors in various cancers. However, the clinical implications of QKI expression have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of QKI expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed QKI, Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), E-cadherin, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) immunohistochemical staining on 166 HCC patient tissue samples. X-tile bioinformatics software was used to set the cut-off value for high QKI expression. Correlations between QKI expression and various clinicopathological parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The best cut-off value for high QKI expression was 12.5. High QKI expression was observed in 28 of 166 patients (16.9%) and was an independent prognostic factor for inferior recurrence-free survival (RFS). In addition, high ZEB1 and GPX4 expression correlated with high QKI expression, but not with the loss of E-cadherin expression. CONCLUSION: High QKI expression was identified in HCCs and associated with poor RFS. QKI might be a prognostic biomarker of HCCs associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and a potential candidate therapeutic target.

Electronic-grade epitaxial (111) KTaO3 heterostructures.

KTaO3 heterostructures have recently attracted attention as model systems to study the interplay of quantum paraelectricity, spin-orbit coupling, and superconductivity. However, the high and low vapor pressures of potassium and tantalum present processing challenges to creating heterostructure interfaces clean enough to reveal the intrinsic quantum properties. Here, we report superconducting heterostructures based on high-quality epitaxial (111) KTaO3 thin films using an adsorption-controlled hybrid PLD to overcome the vapor pressure mismatch. Electrical and structural characterizations reveal that the higher-quality heterostructure interface between amorphous LaAlO3 and KTaO3 thin films supports a two-dimensional electron gas with substantially higher electron mobility, superconducting transition temperature, and critical current density than that in bulk single-crystal KTaO3-based heterostructures. Our hybrid approach may enable epitaxial growth of other alkali metal-based oxides that lie beyond the capabilities of conventional methods.

Ultrasonographic examination of masticatory muscles in patients with TMJ arthralgia and headache attributed to temporomandibular disorders.

This study used ultrasonography to compare the thickness and cross-sectional area of the masticatory muscles in patients with temporomandibular joint arthralgia and investigated the differences according to sex and the co-occurrence of headache attributed to temporomandibular disorders (HATMD). The observational study comprised 100 consecutive patients with TMJ arthralgia (71 females and 29 males; mean age, 40.01 ± 17.67 years) divided into two groups: Group 1, including 86 patients with arthralgia alone (60 females; 41.15 ± 17.65 years); and Group 2, including 14 patients with concurrent arthralgia and HATMD (11 females; 33.00 ± 16.72 years). The diagnosis of TMJ arthralgia was based on the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders. The parameters of the masticatory muscles examined by ultrasonography were subjected to statistical analysis. The pain area (2.23 ± 1.75 vs. 5.79 ± 2.39, p-value = 0.002) and visual analog scale (VAS) score (3.41 ± 1.82 vs. 5.57 ± 12.14, p-value = 0.002) were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. Muscle thickness (12.58 ± 4.24 mm) and cross-sectional area (4.46 ± 2.57 cm2) were larger in the masseter muscle than in the other three masticatory muscles (p-value < 0.001). When examining sex-based differences, the thickness and area of the masseter and lower temporalis muscles were significantly larger in males (all p-value < 0.05). The area of the masseter muscle (4.67 ± 2.69 vs. 3.18 ± 0.92, p-value = 0.004) and lower temporalis muscle (3.76 ± 0.95 vs. 3.21 ± 1.02, p-value = 0.049) was significantly smaller in Group 2 than in Group 1. An increase in VAS was significantly negatively correlated with the thickness of the masseter (r = - 0.268) and lower temporalis (r = - 0.215), and the cross-sectional area of the masseter (r = - 0.329) and lower temporalis (r = - 0.293). The masseter and lower temporalis muscles were significantly thinner in females than in males, and their volumes were smaller in patients with TMJ arthralgia and HATMD than in those with TMJ arthralgia alone. HATMD and decreased masseter and lower temporalis muscle volume were associated with increased pain intensity.

Utilizing the AJCC 8th Staging to Discriminate Survival Outcomes in HPV-associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging 8th edition introduced major changes in the TNM staging of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) based on the human papillomavirus (HPV) status. This study aimed to observe how well the AJCC staging 8th edition precisely discriminates survival outcomes in patients with HPV-associated OPSCC using a large population database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2016, 7,448 patients with HPV-associated OPSCC were enrolled. Patients diagnosed with OPSCC and tested positive for HPV with information on the TNM staging according to the AJCC staging 7th edition were selected. Next, T-, N-, and clinical staging were reconstructed based on the AJCC staging 8th edition. Survival probabilities in both AJCC staging 7th and 8th editions were estimated and compared. RESULTS: Most patients (93.44%) were down-staged from the 7th to the 8th edition. The AJCC staging 8th edition showed more discriminatory power in predicting survival of patients with HPV-associated OPSCC than the AJCC staging 7th edition, regardless of the primary subsites. Additionally, clinical stage I patients with HPV-associated OPSCC according to the AJCC 8th edition showed better prognosis in case of high T staging than high N staging. Clinical staging according to the AJCC 8th edition compared to that of the 7th edition was an independent prognostic factor in patients with HPV-associated OPSCC. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the advantages of the new classification system for discriminating survival in HPV-associated OPSCC according to various factors.

Mass spectrometry-based ginsenoside profiling: Recent applications, limitations, and perspectives.

Ginseng, the roots of Panax species, is an important medicinal herb used as a tonic. As ginsenosides are key bioactive components of ginseng, holistic chemical profiling of them has provided many insights into understanding ginseng. Mass spectrometry has been a major methodology for profiling, which has been applied to realize numerous goals in ginseng research, such as the discrimination of different species, geographical origins, and ages, and the monitoring of processing and biotransformation. This review summarizes the various applications of ginsenoside profiling in ginseng research over the last three decades that have contributed to expanding our understanding of ginseng. However, we also note that most of the studies overlooked a crucial factor that influences the levels of ginsenosides: genetic variation. To highlight the effects of genetic variation on the chemical contents, we present our results of untargeted and targeted ginsenoside profiling of different genotypes cultivated under identical conditions, in addition to data regarding genome-level genetic diversity. Additionally, we analyze the other limitations of previous studies, such as imperfect variable control, deficient metadata, and lack of additional effort to validate causation. We conclude that the values of ginsenoside profiling studies can be enhanced by overcoming such limitations, as well as by integrating with other -omics techniques.

Comparison of ultrasonography-based masticatory muscle thickness between temporomandibular disorders bruxers and temporomandibular disorders non-bruxers.

To compare masticatory muscle thickness in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) during rest and clenching, and by body position, using ultrasonography. This prospective study included 96 patients with TMD (67 females, 29 males; mean age: 40.41 ± 17.88 years): group 1, comprising 66 patients with TMD without bruxism (TMD_nonbruxer), and group 2, comprising 30 patients with concurrent TMD and bruxism (TMD_bruxer). In patients with TMD, bruxism was correlated with the presence of tinnitus, muscle stiffness, sleep problems, psychological stress, and restricted mouth opening. The masseter muscle significantly thickened during clenching (11.16 ± 3.03 mm vs 14.04 ± 3.47 mm, p < 0.001), whereas the temporalis muscle showed no significant increase in thickness from resting to clenching in an upright position (7.91 ± 1.98 vs 8.39 ± 2.08, p = 0.103). Similarly, during clenching in the supine position, the masseter muscle was significantly thicker compared with rest (11.24 ± 2.42 vs 13.49 ± 3.09, p < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed in temporal muscle thickness (8.21 ± 2.16 vs 8.43 ± 1.94, p = 0.464). In comparison between two groups, the average thickness of the masseter muscle was greater among TMD_bruxers than among TMD_nonbruxers in both the upright and supine positions (all p < 0.05). In the generalized lineal model, female sex (B = - 1.018, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 1.855 to - 0.181, p = 0.017) and bruxism (B = 0.868, 95% CI 0.567 to 1.169, p = 0.048) significantly predicted changes in masseter muscle thickness. Female sex (B = - 0.201, 95% CI - 0.299 to - 0.103, p = 0.011), increased age (B = - 0.003, 95% CI - 0.005 to 0.000, p = 0.038), and muscle stiffness (B = - 1.373, 95% CI - 2.369 to - 0.376, p = 0.007) were linked to decreased temporal muscle thickness. Comparing TMD nonbruxer and bruxer muscle thicknesses in upright and supine positions revealed significant increased thickness in the masseter muscle during clenching but not in the temporalis muscle. Masseter muscle thickness varied significantly by sex, body position, and resting/clenching, notably influenced by bruxism. These findings emphasize the relevance of these factors in clinical examinations of patients with TMD.

Comparison of the 3D-Exoscope and Operating Microscope in Mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The operating microscope (OM) commonly used in ear surgeries has several disadvantages, including a low depth of field, a narrow field of view, and unfavorable ergonomic characteristics. The exoscope (EX) was developed to overcome these disadvantages. Herein, we compared OM and EX during mastoidectomy and found out the feasibility of the EX. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized comparative study. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS: Patients who had mastoidectomy for chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma between January 2022 and April 2022. INTERVENTION: Canal wall-up mastoidectomy (CWUM) or canal wall-down mastoidectomy (CWDM) using OM or EX without endoscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative setting time (the time between the end of general anesthesia and incision), operative time (from incision to suture), postoperative audiologic outcomes, perioperative complications, and the decision to switch from EX to OM. RESULTS: Of 24 patients who were diagnosed with chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma, 12 each were randomly assigned to the OM or EX group. The mean operation time was 175 ± 26.5 minutes and 172 ± 34.6 minutes in the EX and OM group, respectively, which was not significantly different ( p = 0.843). The procedures in the EX group were successfully completed using a three-dimensional (3D)-EX without conversion to OM. All surgeries were completed without any complications. The postoperative difference in the air and bone conduction was 11.2 and 12.4 dB in the EX and OM groups, respectively, which was not significantly different ( p = 0.551). CONCLUSIONS: EX is comparable to OM in terms of surgical time, complications, and audiologic outcomes following mastoidectomy. The EX system is a potential alternative to OM. However, further improvements are required to overcome some drawbacks (deterioration of image resolution at high magnification, requirement of an additional controller for refocusing).

Surface triggered stabilization of metastable charge-ordered phase in SrTiO3.

Charge ordering (CO), characterized by a periodic modulation of electron density and lattice distortion, has been a fundamental topic in condensed matter physics, serving as a potential platform for inducing novel functional properties. The charge-ordered phase is known to occur in a doped system with high d-electron occupancy, rather than low occupancy. Here, we report the realization of the charge-ordered phase in electron-doped (100) SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films that have the lowest d-electron occupancy i.e., d1-d0. Theoretical calculation predicts the presence of a metastable CO state in the bulk state of electron-doped SrTiO3. Atomic scale analysis reveals that (100) surface distortion favors electron-lattice coupling for the charge-ordered state, and triggering the stabilization of the CO phase from a correlated metal state. This stabilization extends up to six unit cells from the top surface to the interior. Our approach offers an insight into the means of stabilizing a new phase of matter, extending CO phase to the lowest electron occupancy and encompassing a wide range of 3d transition metal oxides.

The Impact of ZIF-8 Particle Size Control on Low-Humidity Sensor Performance.

An accurate humidity measurement is essential in various industries, including product stability, pharmaceutical and food preservation, environmental control, and precise humidity management in experiments and industrial processes. Crafting effective humidity sensors through precise material selection is crucial for detecting minute humidity levels across various fields, ultimately enhancing productivity and maintaining product quality. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), exhibit remarkable properties and offer a wide range of applications in catalysis, sensing, and gas storage due to their structural stability, which resembles zeolites. The previous research on MOF-based humidity sensors have primarily used electrical resistance-based methods. Recently, however, interest has shifted to capacitive-based sensors using MOFs due to the need for humidity sensors at low humidity and the resulting high sensitivity. Nevertheless, further studies are required to optimize particle structure and size. This study analyzes ZIF-8, a stable MOF synthesized in varying particle sizes, to evaluate its performance as a humidity sensor. The structural, chemical, and sensing properties of synthesized ZIF-8 particles ranging from 50 to 200 nanometers were examined through electron microscopy, spectroscopic, and electrochemical analyses. The fabricated copper electrodes combined with these particles demonstrated stable and linear humidity sensing capabilities within the range of 3% to 30% relative humidity (RH).

The Effectiveness of Salvage Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Following Combined Steroid Therapy for Refractory Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an accepted treatment option for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), but it is still recommended in combination with corticosteroids. We investigated the efficacy of salvage HBOT in refractory SSNHL that does not respond to corticosteroid combination therapy. METHODS: Eighty-four patients were included, who had unilateral SSNHL with an improvement of pure-tone average (PTA) less than 10 dB after using intratympanic plus systemic corticosteroids (combined therapy) as the initial therapy. The control group (n = 66) received no further treatment, and the HBOT group (n = 18) received additional treatment with HBOT (10 sessions in total with 2.5 atmospheres absolute for 1 hour). RESULTS: No differences in PTA or WDS were found between the 2 groups. However, the mean hearing gain in the HBOT group (16.8 ± 4.49 dB) was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.45 ± 1.03 dB) (P = .015). The proportion of patients with hearing recovery (hearing gain of 10 dB or more) after treatment was significantly higher in HBOT group (38.9%) than in the control group (10.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with refractory SSNHL after steroid combined therapy, salvage HBOT showed a significant effect on hearing gain and recovery rate.

Association of plain water intake with self-reported depression and suicidality among Korean adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Adolescent depression and suicidality are serious health problems worldwide. Lower plain water intake has been proposed as a risk factor for depression in adults. This study investigated the association of daily plain water intake with self-reported depression and suicidality among Korean adolescents. METHODS: We used nationwide data from 112,250 students aged 12-18 years who participated in the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys in 2019 and 2020. Daily plain water intake was categorized as <1 glass, 1-2 glasses, and ≥3 glasses. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for self-reported depression and suicidality were calculated using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence rates of self-reported depression, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts were 26.7%, 12.0%, 3.8%, and 2.5%, respectively. Of the participants, 3.9%, 18.5%, and 77.7% were categorized into the <1 glass/day, 1-2 glass/day, and ≥3 glass/day groups, respectively. Compared to the reference group (≥3 glass/day), the lowest level of water intake (<1 glass/day) was associated with higher odds of self-reported depression (aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.39), suicidal ideation (aOR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.27 to 1.55), suicide planning (aOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.69), and suicide attempts (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.67). Moderately lower water intake (1-2 glass/day) showed slightly increased odds of self-reported depression (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.10) and suicidal ideation (aOR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Lower plain water intake was significantly associated with a higher risk of self-reported depression and suicidality among Korean adolescents. Since this cross-sectional study is unable to establish a causal relationship, it underscores the need for additional longitudinal research.

Recent Advances in Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is a porous carbon nanomaterial that can be produced by irradiation of CO2 laser directly on the polymer substrate under ambient conditions. LIG has many merits over conventional graphene, such as simple and fast synthesis, tunable structure and composition, high surface area and porosity, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and good flexibility and stability. These properties make LIG a promising material for energy applications, such as supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells. In this review, we highlight the recent advances of LIG in energy materials, covering the fabrication methods, performance enhancement strategies, and device integration of LIG-based electrodes and devices in the area of hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, zinc-air batteries, and supercapacitors. This comprehensive review examines the potential of LIG for future sustainable and efficient energy material development, highlighting its versatility and multifunctionality in energy conversion.

Cell Death Induced by the Combination of Ephedra sinica Extract and Radiation in HNSCC is Positively Related to BAX and p-MLKL Expression.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have proven the efficacy and safety of natural products, and are widely used as attractive cancer treatments. The investigation of effective natural products for improving cancer treatment is a promising strategy. Combination treatment with radiosensitizers and radiotherapy (RT) is considered necessary for therapeutic improvement in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate whether Ephedra sinica (ES) extract could induce selective cell death in cancer cells and serve as a radiosensitizer for HNSCC. METHODS: HNSCC cells were pretreated with ES extract before radiation, and the radiosensitizing activity was assessed using a colony formation assay. Radiation-induced cell death was evaluated using an annexinV-FITC assay. Western blotting was performed to confirm cell death-related gene expression, including apoptosis and necrosis markers. RESULTS: ES extract significantly inhibited HNSCC cell viability (FaDu and SNU1076), while having minimal effect on normal HaCaT cells. When HNSCC cells were irradiated with 2, 4, or 8 Gy and cultured with ES extract (25 µg/mL), they exhibited increased radiation sensitivity compared to non-treated cells. The combination of ES extract and radiation resulted in increased cell death compared to non-treated, ES-treated, or irradiated cells. The apoptosis marker BAX and necrosis marker p-MLKL expression levels were also elevated following the combination treatment. CONCLUSION: ES extract demonstrated significant cytotoxic potential in HNSCC cells without affecting normal cells. It enhanced the radiosensitivity of HNSCC cells by upregulating BAX and p-MLKL expression, leading to increased cell death. These results suggest ES extract exhibits a potential radiosensitizing capacity in HNSCC.

Strain Engineering in Perovskites: Mutual Insight on Oxides and Halides.

Perovskite materials have garnered significant attention over the past decades due to their applications, not only in electronic materials, such as dielectrics, piezoelectrics, ferroelectrics, and superconductors but also in optoelectronic devices like solar cells and light emitting diodes. This interest arises from their versatile combinations and physiochemical tunability. While strain engineering is a recognized powerful tool for tailoring material properties, its collaborative impact on both oxides and halides remains understudied. Herein, strain engineering in perovskites for energy conversion devices, providing mutual insight into both oxides and halides is discussed. The various experimental methods are presented for applying strain by using thermal mismatch, lattice mismatch, defects, doping, light illumination, and flexible substrates. In addition, the main factors that are influenced by strain, categorized as structure (e.g., symmetry breaking, octahedral distortion), bandgap, chemical reactivity, and defect formation energy are described. After that, recent progress in strain engineering for perovskite oxides and halides for energy conversion devices is introduced. Promising methods for enhancing the performance of energy conversion devices using perovskites through strain engineering are suggested.

Hepatitis B Virus DNA-Level Change is Associated With Tumor Recurrence in Patients With Resected Hepatitis B Virus Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the significance of perioperative hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA changes for predicting recurrence in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver resection (LR). METHODS: From 2013 to 2020, 241 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent LR in five Hallym university-affiliated hospitals were enrolled. The serum HBV DNA level, together with other clinicopathological variables, was analyzed for association with HCC recurrence. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 99 patients had undetectable HBV DNA and 142 had detectable viral levels. Of those with detectable viral levels, 72 rapidly progressed to undetectable levels within 3 mo after LR (Rapid group), and 70 showed persistently detectable levels (Nonrapid group). The Rapid group had a better recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate than the Nonrapid group (1-y, 3-y RFS = 75.4%, 57.3%, versus 54.7%, 39.9%, respectively, P = 0.012). In the subgroup analysis, the Rapid group had a better RFS rate in early stages (1-y, 3-y RFS = 82.6%, 68.5%, versus 62.8%, 45.8%, respectively, P = 0.005); however, the RFS rates between the two groups were comparable in the advanced stage (1-y, 3-y RFS = 61.1%, 16.7% versus 45.5%, 22.7%, respectively, P = 0.994). Among the 142 patients with preoperatively detectable HBV DNA, persistently detectable HBV DNA within 3 mo postoperatively (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.7, P = 0.022), large tumor size (HR = 2.7, P < 0.001), multiple tumors (HR = 3.2, P < 0.001), and microvascular invasion (HR = 1.7, P = 0.028) were independent risk factors for RFS in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Rapidly undetectable HBV DNA after LR is associated with a better prognosis for recurrence in patients with HCC. Therefore, appropriate treatment and/or screening may be necessary for patients who do not return to undetectable HBV DNA after LR.

Prognostic significance of senescence-related tumor microenvironment genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The impact of the senescence related microenvironment on cancer prognosis and therapeutic response remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the prognostic significance of senescence related tumor microenvironment genes (PSTGs) and their potential implications for immunotherapy response. Using the Cancer Genome Atlas- head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) data, we identified two subtypes based on the expression of PSTGs, acquired from tumor-associated senescence genes, tumor microenvironment (TME)-related genes, and immune-related genes, using consensus clustering. Using the LASSO, we constructed a risk model consisting of senescence related TME core genes (STCGs). The two subtypes exhibited significant differences in prognosis, genetic alterations, methylation patterns, and enriched pathways, and immune infiltration. Our risk model stratified patients into high-risk and low-risk groups and validated in independent cohorts. The high-risk group showed poorer prognosis and immune inactivation, suggesting reduced responsiveness to immunotherapy. Additionally, we observed a significant enrichment of STCGs in stromal cells using single-cell RNA transcriptome data. Our findings highlight the importance of the senescence related TME in HNSC prognosis and response to immunotherapy. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between senescence and the TME, with potential implications for precision medicine and personalized treatment approaches in HNSC.