Prognostic Roles of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Radioiodine-Refractory Thyroid Cancer Treated with Lenvatinib.

Background: Inflammatory biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serve as valuable prognostic indicators in various cancers. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study assessed the treatment outcomes of lenvatinib in 71 patients with radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory thyroid cancer, considering the baseline inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: This study retrospectively included patients from five tertiary hospitals in Korea whose complete blood counts were available before lenvatinib treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated based on the median value of inflammatory biomarkers. Results: No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed among patients grouped according to the inflammatory biomarkers, except for older patients with a higher-than-median NLR (≥2) compared to their counterparts with a lower NLR (P= 0.01). Patients with a higher-than-median NLR had significantly shorter PFS (P=0.02) and OS (P=0.017) than those with a lower NLR. In multivariate analysis, a higher-than-median NLR was significantly associated with poor OS (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.24 to 7.29; P=0.015). However, neither the LMR nor the PLR was associated with PFS. A higher-than-median LMR (≥3.9) was significantly associated with prolonged OS compared to a lower LMR (P=0.036). In contrast, a higher-than-median PLR (≥142.1) was associated with shorter OS compared to a lower PLR (P=0.039). Conclusion: Baseline inflammatory biomarkers can serve as predictive indicators of PFS and OS in patients with RAI-refractory thyroid cancer treated with lenvatinib.

Feasibility of intraoperative pathologic examination for sentinel lymph nodes during sentinel node navigation surgery in early gastric cancer: results of pathologic protocol for SENORITA trial.

BACKGROUND: During sentinel node navigation surgery in patients with gastric cancer, intraoperative pathologic examination of sentinel nodes is crucial in determining the extent of surgery. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of intraoperative pathologic protocols using data from a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the SEntinel Node ORIented Tailored Approach trials from 2013 to 2016. All sentinel lymph nodes were evaluated during surgery with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining using a representative section at the largest plane for lymph nodes. For permanent histologic evaluation, sentinel basin nodes were stained with HE and cytokeratin immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections and examined with HE for three deeper-step sections at 200-µm intervals. The failure rate of identification by frozen section and the metastasis rate in non-sentinel basins were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 237 patients who underwent sentinel node basin dissection, 30 had lymph node metastases on permanent pathology. Thirteen patients had macrometastasis confirmed in frozen sections as well as FFPE sections (failure rate: 0%). Patients with negative sentinel nodes in frozen sections but micrometastasis in FFPE sections had no lymph node recurrence during the follow-up period (0%, 0/6). However, in cases with tumor-positive nodes in frozen sections, metastases in non-sentinel basins were detected in the paraffin blocks (8.3%, 2/24). CONCLUSIONS: The single-section HE staining method is sufficient for detecting macrometastasis via intraoperative pathological examination. If a negative frozen-section result is confirmed, sentinel basin dissection can be performed safely. Otherwise, standard surgery is required.

Retinestatin, a Polyol Polyketide from a Termite Nest-Derived Streptomyces sp.

A new polyol polyketide, named retinestatin (1), was obtained and characterized from the culture of a Streptomyces strain, which was isolated from a subterranean nest of the termite Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of the cumulative analysis of ultraviolet, infrared, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 at 12 chiral centers was successfully assigned by employing a J-based configuration analysis in combination with ROESY correlations, a quantum mechanics-based computational approach to calculate NMR chemical shifts, and a 3 min flash esterification by Mosher's reagents followed by NMR analysis. Biological evaluation of retinestatin (1) using an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease revealed that 1 protected SH-SY5Y dopaminergic cells from MPP+-induced cytotoxicity, indicating its neuroprotective effects.

Identification of IGF-1 Effects on White Adipose Tissue and Hippocampus in Alzheimer's Disease Mice via Transcriptomic and Cellular Analysis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a multitude of pathological manifestations, prominently marked by the aggregation of amyloid beta. Recent investigations have revealed a compelling association between excessive adiposity and glial activation, further correlating with cognitive impairments. Additionally, alterations in levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) have been reported in individuals with metabolic conditions accompanied by memory dysfunction. Hence, our research endeavors to comprehensively explore the impact of IGF-1 on the hippocampus and adipose tissue in the context of Alzheimer's disease. To address this, we have conducted an in-depth analysis utilizing APP/PS2 transgenic mice, recognized as a well-established mouse model for Alzheimer's disease. Upon administering IGF-1 injections to the APP/PS2 mice, we observed notable alterations in their behavioral patterns, prompting us to undertake a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of both the hippocampal and adipose tissues. Our data unveiled significant modifications in the functional profiles of these tissues. Specifically, in the hippocampus, we identified changes associated with synaptic activity and neuroinflammation. Concurrently, the adipose tissue displayed shifts in processes related to fat browning and cell death signaling. In addition to these findings, our analysis enabled the identification of a collection of long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs that exhibited significant changes in expression subsequent to the administration of IGF-1 injections. Furthermore, we endeavored to predict the potential roles of these identified RNA molecules within the context of our study. In summary, our study offers valuable transcriptome data for hippocampal and adipose tissues within an Alzheimer's disease model and posits a significant role for IGF-1 within both the hippocampus and adipose tissue.

Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma as an Acceptable Management Option with Additional Benefits: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.

BACKGRUOUND: Active surveillance (AS) has been introduced as a management strategy for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) due to its typically indolent nature. Despite this, the widespread adoption of AS has encountered several challenges. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the safety of AS related to disease progression and its benefits compared with immediate surgery (IS). METHODS: Studies related to AS in patients with low-risk PTC were searched through the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed databases. Studies on disease progression, surgical complication, quality of life (QoL), and cost-effectiveness were separately analyzed and narratively synthesized. RESULTS: In the evaluation of disease progression, the proportions of cases with tumor growth ≥3 mm and a volume increase >50% were 2.2%-10.8% and 16.0%-25.5%, respectively. Newly detected lymph node metastasis was identified in 0.0%-1.4% of patients. No significant difference was found between IS and delayed surgery in surgical complications, including vocal cord paralysis and postoperative hypoparathyroidism. AS was associated with better QoL than IS. Studies on the cost-effectiveness of AS reported inconsistent data, but AS was more cost-effective when quality-adjusted life years were considered. CONCLUSION: AS is an acceptable management option for patients with low-risk PTC based on the low rate of disease progression and the absence of an increased mortality risk. AS has additional benefits, including improved QoL and greater QoL-based cost-effectiveness.

Usefulness of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using a Multibending Ultraslim Endoscope for the Management of Intrahepatic Bile Duct Lesions (with Videos).

Background/Aims: : Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) has been used to assess intrahepatic duct (IHD) lesions but with a limited role. A new multibending (MB) ultraslim endoscope has been designed to improve POC performance. We evaluated the usefulness of POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for the management of IHD lesions. Methods: : Between March 2017 and March 2020, 22 patients underwent direct POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for IHD lesions documented by previous imaging or cholangiopancreatography. The primary outcome was technical success of POC, and secondary outcomes were technical success of POC-guided interventions, median procedure time, and POC-related adverse events. Results: : The technical success rate for POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for IHD lesions was 95.5% (21/22). Free-hand insertion was successful in 95.2% (20/21). The overall technical success rate for POC-guided intervention was 100% (21/21), including nine diagnostic and 12 therapeutic procedures (eight direct stone removal and four intraductal lithotripsies). The median procedure time was 29 minutes (range, 9 to 79 minutes). There were no procedure-related adverse events. Conclusions: : Direct POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope allows direct visualization of IHD lesions and may be useful for diagnosis and therapeutic management in selected patients.

Trajectory of lung function in diabetic adults: A 16-year follow-up study of community-based prospective cohorts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in lung function according to diabetes status in a community-based prospective study. METHODS: Individuals aged 40-69 years from two community-based cohorts were followed prospectively for 16 years. A spirometer was used to evaluate lung function at baseline, and lung function tests were carried out biennially thereafter. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed for the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses based on diabetes status. RESULTS: Among the 6483 subjects, 2114 (32.6%) had prediabetes and 671 (10.4%) had diabetes. The prediabetes and diabetes groups had lower baseline % predicted values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (mean, -1.853; 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.715 to -0.990 for prediabetes and mean, -4.088; 95% CI -5.424 to -2.752 for diabetes) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (mean, -2.087; 95% CI -2.837 to -1.337 for prediabetes and mean, -4.622; 95% CI -5.784 to -3.460 for diabetes) compared to the normoglycemia group after adjusting for relevant covariates. The rate of decline in FEV1% predicted (mean, -0.227; 95% CI -0.366 to -0.089) and FVC % predicted (mean, -0.232; 95% CI -0.347 to -0.117) during follow-up were faster in the diabetes group than in the normoglycemia group. The diabetes group had a lower proportion of normal ventilation (ptrend = 0.048) and higher proportions of restrictive (ptrend = 0.001) and mixed (ptrend = 0.035) ventilatory disorders at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Diabetes is associated with a lower baseline lung function and a faster rate of deterioration.

FLI-1 is expressed in a wide variety of hematolymphoid neoplasms: a special concern in the differential diagnosis.

Friend Leukemia Virus Integration 1 (FLI-1) is a member of E26 transformation-specific family of transcription factors that participates in hematopoietic and vascular endothelial cell development. Immunohistochemical detection of FLI-1 has been widely used to diagnose vascular tumors or, more evidently, Ewing's sarcoma. However, the expression pattern of FLI-1 in hematolymphoid neoplasms remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of FLI-1 in these tumors, focusing on high-grade lesions, which presents a diagnostic challenge by mimicking Ewing's sarcoma. We evaluated the expression FLI-1 in various types of lymphoid and plasmacytic tumors, including 27 plasmablastic lymphomas, 229 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, 22 precursor T- or B-lymphoblastic lymphomas, 24 angioimmunoblastic-type nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphomas, 52 peripheral T-cell lymphomas, NOS, 18 Burkitt lymphomas, 18 non-gastric lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, 38 chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphomas, 15 mantle cell lymphomas, 23 gastric MALT lymphomas, 50 plasma cell myelomas, and 38 follicular lymphomas. We calculated the H-scores of FLI-1 immunostaining, ranging from 0 to 200, and used the scores to analyze the clinicopathological significance of FLI-1 statistically. FLI-1 was expressed to varying degrees in all types of hematological tumors. FLI-1 expression was detected in 84.1% of patients (466/554). FLI-1 was highly expressed in precursor T- or B-lymphoblastic lymphomas. Follicular lymphomas exhibited low FLI-1 expression. In plasmablastic lymphoma, 85.2% of the patients were focally positive for FLI-1. FLI-1 expression did not correlate with clinicopathological variables, such as demographic data or disease stage, in patients with plasmablastic lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, FLI-1 overexpression was associated with poorer overall survival in patients with plasmablastic lymphoma. This study demonstrates that FLI-1 is expressed in various hematolymphoid neoplasms. FLI-1 expression can lead to diagnostic confusion, especially in small blue round cell tumors, such as lymphoblastic lymphoma, plasmablastic lymphoma, and plasma cell myeloma, when distinguishing tumors positive for CD99 and CD56 without CD3, CD20, or CD45. Our findings also suggested the possibility of FLI-1 as a potential prognostic biomarker for plasmablastic lymphoma.

Association between Weight Change and Incidence of Dyslipidemia in Young Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Korean Male Soldiers.

Background: Recent lifestyle changes have increased the prevalence of dyslipidemia in Korea. Young men are known to have a low awareness of dyslipidemia and a lack of motivation to maintain their weight. However, the association between weight change and dyslipidemia in young adults has not been thoroughly examined. Methods: Data from the Armed Forces Medical Command Defense Medical Information System database were used. In this study, 15,068 soldiers who underwent private and corporal health examinations between May 2020 and April 2022 were included. The difference in weights between the two different health examinations was used to quantify weight change. Four components of the lipid profile were used to assess dyslipidemia during the corporal health examination. Results: After adjusting for relevant covariates, weight gain was associated with increased risk of dyslipidemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.38 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.15 to 1.64] for the 5% to 10% weight gain group; and OR, 2.02 [95% CI, 1.59 to 2.55] for the ≥10% weight gain group), whereas weight loss was associated with decreased risk (adjusted OR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.68 to 0.98] for the 5% to 10% weight loss group; and OR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.27 to 0.53] for the ≥10% weight loss group). In subgroup analysis based on the participants' baseline body mass index, smoking status, regular exercise habits, and hypertension status, there were no significant differences between the subgroups. Conclusion: Weight change was associated with dyslipidemia in Korean male soldiers. The findings suggest that limiting weight gain in young adults by encouraging a healthy lifestyle may help prevent dyslipidemia.

Histiocytic sarcoma mimicking localized tenosynovial giant cell tumor in the pediatric foot: A rare case report with MRI Findings.

We present a rare case of histiocytic sarcoma (HS) occurring in the foot of a 12-year-old male, initially misdiagnosed as localized tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TSGCT). HS is an exceptionally uncommon hematologic malignant neoplasm, with its occurrence in children and extranodal sites being even rarer. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of extranodal HS in the foot, emphasizing comprehensive MRI findings. Initially, the patient was diagnosed with TSGCT based on histological results following surgical resection. However, after recurrence and subsequent surgical resection, histological and immunochemical analyses led to a revised diagnosis of HS. This report focuses on the MRI findings of HS, highlighting the distinctions from localized TSGCT. While both conditions share histopathological similarities, immunohistochemical tests are crucial for accurate diagnosis. The report underscores the importance of differentiating HS for appropriate treatment.

Effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression on quality of life in thyroid lobectomy patients: interim analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients (MASTER study).

Purpose: Current clinical practices favor less or no thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression for low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients who receive thyroid lobectomy. The association of TSH suppression on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients after thyroid lobectomy is not well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TSH suppression on patient HR-QoL after thyroid lobectomy. Methods: This study included patients enrolled in an ongoing, multicenter, randomized controlled study investigating the effects of TSH suppression. Patients were randomized to either the low-TSH group (TSH target range, 0.3-1.99 µIU/mL) or the high-TSH group (TSH target range, 2.0-7.99 µIU/mL). The HR-QoL, hyperthyroidism symptom, and depression symptom questionnaires performed preoperatively and 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively were evaluated. Results: Total of 669 patients (low-TSH group, 340; high-TSH group, 329) were included. Although total HR-QoL score changes were not different between the 2 groups, the high-TSH group had a significantly higher score in the physical domain at postoperative 3 months (P = 0.046). The 2 groups did not have significant differences in hyperthyroidism and depression scores. Conclusion: In the short-term postoperative period, the physical HR-QoL scores in thyroid lobectomy patients were better when they did not receive TSH suppression. This study suggests the importance of considering HR-QoL when setting TSH suppression targets in thyroid lobectomy patients.

Determinants of Quality of Life (QoL) in Female Caregivers in Elderly Care Facilities in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of general characteristics, fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, job stress and interpersonal relationships on the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers in nursing hospitals and use them as basic data for intervention programs to improve the quality of life of caregivers. METHODS: The participants in the study were 137 caregivers, aged 52-76, who were actively working in nursing hospitals. Data were collected from caregivers by visiting 9 hospitals in 6 cities, with a questionnaire of fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, job stress, interpersonal relationship, quality of life. RESULTS: Age, marriage, marital satisfaction, education, education experience of QoL, monthly income, perceived economic status, hobby or leisure activity, and number of disease showed differences in the degree of QoL at a statistically significant level. In stage 1, economic status (ß = -0.18, p = 0.033) and hobby or leisure activity (ß = 0.19, p = 0.025) were influencing factors (F = 4.58, p < 0.001). In stage 2, monthly income (ß = -0.19, p = 0.034) and perceived economic status (ß = -0.18, p = 0.035) were influencing factors. In stage 3, age (ß = -2.80, p = 0.006), perceived economic status (ß = -2.41, p = 0.017), self-efficacy (ß = 3.19, p = 0.002) and interpersonal relationship (ß = 7.12, p < 0.001) were influencing factors which showed 61.5% explanatory power (F = 12.88, p < 0.001). Since the subject's fatigue, depression, and stress did not affect the quality of life, further research is needed. CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve the quality of life of caregivers, it would be necessary to develop interventions for raising their self-efficacy and interpersonal relationship by considering their degree of economic status, hobby or leisure activity, monthly income, and age.

Age and Post-Lobectomy Recurrence after Endoscopic or Robotic Thyroid Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 2348 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients.

The biology of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in young patients is poorly understood, and there are conflicting data regarding the recurrence for younger patients compared to older patients. We retrospectively analyzed 2348 clinically node-negative (cN0) PTC patients who underwent a thyroid lobectomy between 2008 and 2017. Young age was defined as less than 35 years old. The clinicopathological characteristics and oncologic outcomes of the young age group were compared to those of the older age group. The number of young age cN0 PTC patients accounted for 20.7% of the enrolled patients, and 24.2% were upstaged into pathologic N1a. The young age group had a significantly larger proportion of females, endoscopic/robotic thyroid lobectomies, stage N1a, and larger tumor sizes. Post-lobectomy recurrences were significantly higher in the young age group. In the Cox analysis, young age, large tumor size, and stage N1a were significant risk factors. The multivariate analysis reveals that young age and stage N1a are significant risk factors. Conversely, minimally invasive or robot-endoscopic thyroidectomies were not risk factors for post-lobectomy recurrence compared to conventional thyroidectomies. While young patients with a stage N1a had a significant risk factor for post-lobectomy recurrence, endoscopic/robotic thyroidectomy was as feasible and safe as conventional thyroidectomies in the median seven-year oncologic follow-up. Further high-quality studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between age and the risk of post-lobectomy recurrence.

Elevated triglyceride levels are associated with increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events in statin-naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients: A nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between the four components of the lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)) at baseline and composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in statin-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with no previous history of cardiovascular events. METHODS: This nationwide population-based cohort study was performed on a total of 15,216 statin-naïve RA patients. The end point was a composite of clinical events, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular death. We compared the incidence of and risk for clinical events according to each lipid variable. RESULTS: During follow-up (median 4.70 years), the incidence of MACE per 1000 person-years was 7.27. Among the four lipid components, only higher baseline TG levels were significantly associated with increased risk for composite MACE in RA subjects. The risk for composite MACE was significantly higher in the third (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.35 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.78]) and highest quartiles (adjusted HR, 1.74 [95%CI, 1.33-2.28]) of baseline TG level versus the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: In statin-naïve RA patients, increased TG level is associated with increased risk for MACE. Therefore, screening and intervention for increased TG level may be clinically beneficial in this population.

Effect of high-speed sintering on the marginal and internal fit of CAD/CAM-fabricated monolithic zirconia crowns.

This study compared the marginal and internal fit of zirconia crowns fabricated using conventional and high-speed induction sintering. A typodont mandibular right first molar was prepared and 60 zirconia crowns were fabricated: 30 crowns using conventional sintering and 30 crowns using high-speed sintering. We presented a new evaluation methodology to measure the marginal and internal fit of restorations through digital scanning, aligning the two datasets, and measuring the distance between two arbitrary point sets of the datasets. For the marginal fit, we calculated the maximum values of the shortest distances between the marginal line of the prepared tooth and that of the crown. The calculated values ranged from 359 to 444 µm, with smaller values for the high-speed sintered crowns (P < 0.05). For the internal fit, we employed mesh sampling and computed the geodesic distances between the prepared tooth surface and the crown intaglio surface. The measured values ranged from 177 to 229 µm with smaller values for the high-speed sintered crowns, but no significant difference was found (P > 0.05). Based on our results, the high-speed sintering method can be considered a promising option for single-visit zirconia treatment in dental practice.

Ecdysone-induced microRNA miR-276a-3p controls developmental growth by targeting the insulin-like receptor in Drosophila.

Animal growth is controlled by a variety of external and internal factors during development. The steroid hormone ecdysone plays a critical role in insect development by regulating the expression of various genes. In this study, we found that fat body-specific expression of miR-276a, an ecdysone-responsive microRNA (miRNA), led to a decrease in the total mass of the larval fat body, resulting in significant growth reduction in Drosophila. Changes in miR-276a expression also affected the proliferation of Drosophila S2 cells. Furthermore, we found that the insulin-like receptor (InR) is a biologically relevant target gene regulated by miR-276a-3p. In addition, we found that miR-276a-3p is upregulated by the canonical ecdysone signalling pathway involving the ecdysone receptor and broad complex. A reduction in cell proliferation caused by ecdysone was compromised by blocking miR-276a-3p activity. Thus, our results suggest that miR-276a-3p is involved in ecdysone-mediated growth reduction by controlling InR expression in the insulin signalling pathway.

MicroRNA miR-263b-5p Regulates Developmental Growth and Cell Association by Suppressing Laminin A in Drosophila.

Basement membranes (BMs) play important roles under various physiological conditions in animals, including ecdysozoans. During development, BMs undergo alterations through diverse intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory mechanisms; however, the full complement of pathways controlling these changes remain unclear. Here, we found that fat body-overexpression of Drosophila miR-263b, which is highly expressed during the larval-to-pupal transition, resulted in a decrease in the overall size of the larval fat body, and ultimately, in a severe growth defect accompanied by a reduction in cell proliferation and cell size. Interestingly, we further observed that a large proportion of the larval fat body cells were prematurely disassociated from each other. Moreover, we present evidence that miR-263b-5p suppresses the main component of BMs, Laminin A (LanA). Through experiments using RNA interference (RNAi) of LanA, we found that its depletion phenocopied the effects in miR-263b-overexpressing flies. Overall, our findings suggest a potential role for miR-263b in developmental growth and cell association by suppressing LanA expression in the Drosophila fat body.

The Mediating Effects of Social Networks and Wisdom on the Relationship between Lifestyle Habits and Healthy Aging in Older Adults with Chronic Diseases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating effects of social networks and wisdom on the relationship between lifestyle habits and healthy aging in older adults with chronic diseases. METHODS: Participants were 120 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older with at least one chronic disease. Data were collected from elderly people by visiting nursing care worker training centers, senior centers, social gatherings, and home welfare centers in D, G, and S cities, with a questionnaire of lifestyle habits, social networks, wisdom and healthy aging, and general characteristics. RESULTS: There were differences in the degree of healthy aging according to age (F = 3.76, p = 0.026), spousal relationship (t = 3.11, p = 0.002), education (F = 9.08, p < 0.001), number of diseases (F = 8.65, p < 0.001), and economic level (t = -2.45, p = 0.016). The most common diseases among the subjects were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, joint diseases and diabetes mellitus. Social networks (ß = 0.46, p < 0.001) and wisdom (ß = 0.55, p < 0.001) had partial mediating effects (z = 4.15, p < 0.001; z = 5.11, p < 0.001) on the relationship between subjects' lifestyle habits and healthy aging. CONCLUSIONS: To increase the degree of healthy aging of subjects, it is necessary to establish a mediating intervention program that manages to have good lifestyle habits in daily life, increase social networks, and become wise.

MicroRNA miR-274-5p Suppresses Found-in-Neurons Associated with Melanotic Mass Formation and Developmental Growth in Drosophila.

The hematopoietic system plays a crucial role in immune defense response and normal development, and it is regulated by various factors from other tissues. The dysregulation of hematopoiesis is associated with melanotic mass formation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. Here, we observed that the overexpression of miR-274 in the fat body resulted in the formation of melanotic masses. Moreover, abnormal activation of the JNK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways was linked to these consequences. In addition to this defect, miR-274 overexpression in the larval fat body decreased the total tissue size, leading to a reduction in body weight. miR-274-5p was found to directly suppress the expression of found-in-neurons (fne), which encodes an RNA-binding protein. Similar to the effects of miR-274 overexpression, fne depletion led to melanotic mass formation and growth reduction. Collectively, miR-274 plays a regulatory role in the fne-JNK signaling axis in melanotic mass formation and growth control.

Extremely Rare CT and MRI Findings of Peritoneal Leiomyoma Mimicking Hepatic Mass: A Case Report.

Leiomyoma is a common benign tumor from smooth muscle cells, mostly in the uterus. Peritoneal leiomyomas (PLs) are extremely rare and mostly reported as disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis. However, to the best of out knowledge, radiologic findings of isolated PL are not reported in English literature. Herein, we introduce the radiologic findings of PL mimicking hepatic mass in a 34-year-old female. CT showed a mass with curvilinear heterogeneous enhancement at the liver's peripheral area. On MRI, the mass showed gradual and heterogeneous enhancement on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and diffusion restriction. The radiologic diagnosis was a benign hepatic tumor, such as degenerated hemangioma, adenoma, and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor; however, the mass was diagnosed as PL pathologically.