Valorization of agar extracted from Gelidium elegans via ultrasound-assisted extraction as potential film packaging by optimizing the incorporation of chitosan and curcumin.

This study characterized agar extracted from Gelidium elegans using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) compared with conventional extraction (CV). The CV yielded significantly higher agar (21.50 %) than UAE (17.

Efficacy of Molecular-targeted Agents in Vertebral Metastasis Management in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: The effect of modern molecular-targeted agents (MTAs), on vertebral metastases in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains inadequately characterized. We investigated the local control effects of MTAs on vertebral metastases in patients with NSCLC.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 307 vertebral metastases in 85 patients with NSCLC, treated between 2019 and 2021.

Diffusion equation quantification: selective enhancement algorithm for bone metastasis lesions in CT images.

Diffusion equation (DE) imaging processing is promising to enhance images showing lesions of bone metastasis (LBM). The Perona-Malik diffusion (PMD) model, which has been widely used and studied, is an anisotropic diffusion processing method to denoise or extract objects from an image effectively. However, the smoothing characteristics of PMD or its related method hinder extraction and enhancement of soft tissue regions of medical image such as computed tomography (CT), typically leaving an indistinct region with ambient tissues.

Cone-Beam CT to CT Image Translation Using a Transformer-Based Deep Learning Model for Prostate Cancer Adaptive Radiotherapy.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely utilized in image-guided radiation therapy; however, its image quality is poor compared to planning CT (pCT), thus restricting its utility for adaptive radiotherapy (ART). Our objective was to enhance CBCT image quality utilizing a transformer-based deep learning model, SwinUNETR, which we compared with a conventional convolutional neural network (CNN) model, U-net. This retrospective study involved 260 patients undergoing prostate radiotherapy, with 245 patients used for training and 15 patients reserved as an independent hold-out test dataset.

Collaborative Effect of Matrix Metalloproteinases on Type I Collagen Degradation and Muscle Softening in Sea Bass () during Cold Storage.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in the degradation of collagens, while their mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in collagen degradation of sea bass muscle during cold storage was explored. Immunohistochemical staining results showed significant degradation of type I collagen in the connective tissue of muscle endomysium during cold storage, thus affecting the muscle structural integrity and quality.

Quality improvement of threadfin bream (Nemipterus virgatus) surimi-gel using soy protein as a natural food additive.

Previously, we identified sarcoplasmic serine proteinase (SSP) as a modori-inducing proteinase from threadfin bream belly muscle. In this study, we investigated the autolytic activity of commercial threadfin bream surimi under modori-inducing conditions. High autolytic activity was detected in commercial surimi and was inhibited by a soybean trypsin inhibitor, indicating that SSP still remained in the commercial surimi.

Single-Fraction Palliative High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Symptom Management in a 97-Year-Old Patient With Dementia.

Delivering cancer treatment to elderly patients with dementia is often challenging. We describe performing palliative surface mold brachytherapy (SMBT) in an elderly patient with advanced dementia for pain control using music therapy to assist with agitation. The patient was a 97-year-old Japanese woman with advanced dementia.

The Dosimetric Analysis of Duodenal and Intestinal Toxicity After a Curative Dose Re-irradiation Using the Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Abdominopelvic Lymph Node Lesions.

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the influence of dosimetric factors on gastrointestinal toxicity after radical re-irradiation for lymph node recurrence in the abdominopelvic region using a composite plan.

Methods: Between January 2008 and March 2017, 33 patients underwent radical re-irradiation for lymph node recurrence in the abdominopelvic region with a complete overlap with previous radiation therapy (RT) with the median prescription dose of the second RT of 71.7 Gy.

Wheat germ agglutinin affinity chromatography enrichment and glyco-proteomic characterization of tetrodotoxin-binding proteins from the plasma of cultured tiger pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes).

Efficient enrichment of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-binding proteins from the plasma of cultured tiger pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) was achieved by ammonium sulfate fractionation and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) affinity chromatography. The enrichment efficiency was validated by ultrafiltration-LC/MS-based TTX-binding assay and proteomics. Major proteins in the WGA-bound fraction were identified as isoform X1 (125 kDa) and X2 variants (88 and 79 kDa) derived from pufferfish saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin-binding protein (PSTBP) 1-like gene (LOC101075943).

Artificial intelligence-aided lytic spinal bone metastasis classification on CT scans.

Purpose: Spinal bone metastases directly affect quality of life, and patients with lytic-dominant lesions are at high risk for neurological symptoms and fractures. To detect and classify lytic spinal bone metastasis using routine computed tomography (CT) scans, we developed a deep learning (DL)-based computer-aided detection (CAD) system.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2125 diagnostic and radiotherapeutic CT images of 79 patients.

Identification of a Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2: An Endogenous Inhibitor of -Inducing Insoluble Metalloproteinase from Yellowtail Muscle.

The existence of an endogenous protease inhibitor (EPI) was expected from the comparison of the gel properties between washed and nonwashed yellowtail gels. A possible candidate, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), was partially purified from the soluble fraction of yellowtail muscle, and an 18 kDa protein band was detected by sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under nonreducing conditions and western blot analysis. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined as XSXSPAHPQQAF, with high homology to TIMP-2 from other fish species, suggesting that it was identified as yellowtail TIMP-2.

Cloning, DNA sequence, and expression of flagellins from high and low virulence strains of Edwardsiella tarda and their macrophage-stimulating activities.

Edwardsiella tarda is a causative pathogen of edwardsiellosis in fish. Our previous studies on high (NUF251) and low (NUF194) virulent strains of E. tarda demonstrated that NUF251 strain induced significantly higher levels of NO and TNF-α from fish and mouse macrophages than NUF194 strain.

Identification and Characterization of the Larval Settlement Pheromone Protein Components in Adult Shells of : A Novel Function of Shell Matrix Proteins.

The global decline of natural oyster populations emphasizes the need to improve our understanding of their biology. Understanding the role of chemical cues from conspecifics on how oysters occupy appropriate substrata is crucial to learning about their evolution, population dynamics, and chemical communication. Here, a novel role of a macromolecular assembly of shell matrix proteins which act as Settlement Pheromone Protein Components in adult shells is demonstrated as the biological cue responsible for gregarious settlement on conspecifics.

Impact of different enzymes on biofilm formation and mussel settlement.

Enzymes have been known to impact the biofilm forming capacity. However, how the enzymes mediate the biofilm formation and macrofouling remains little known. Here, we investigated the effects of the three kinds of proteases, four kinds of glycosidases and one kind of lipase on the detachment of biofilms of Shewanella marisflavi ECSMB14101, identified biofilm total proteins response to enzyme treatments, and then tested the effects of biofilms treated with enzymes on the settlement of the mussel Mytilus coruscus plantigrades.

The Combination of Panoramic Imaging and Waters' Projection Contributes to the Diagnosis of Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of adding Waters' projection to panoramic imaging compared with panoramic imaging or Waters' projection alone. Maxillary sinusitis in 106 patients (206 sinuses) was retrospectively assessed with panoramic imaging, Waters' projection, and computed tomography imaging by two oral radiologists. The diagnostic performance was assessed with computed tomography imaging as the gold standard.

Regulatory Role of Sugars on the Settlement Inducing Activity of a Conspecific Cue in Pacific Oyster .

This study evaluated the larval settlement inducing effect of sugars and a conspecific cue from adult shell extract of . To understand how the presence of different chemical cues regulate settlement behavior, oyster larvae were exposed to 12 types of sugars, shell extract-coated and non-coated surfaces, and under varied sugar exposure times. Lectin-glycan interaction effects on settlement and its localization on oyster larval tissues were investigated.

A Conserved Histone H3-H4 Interface Regulates DNA Damage Tolerance and Homologous Recombination during the Recovery from Replication Stress.

In eukaryotes, genomic DNA is packaged into nucleosomes, which are the basal components coordinating both the structures and functions of chromatin. In this study, we screened a collection of mutations for histone H3/H4 mutants in that affect the DNA damage sensitivity of DNA damage tolerance (DDT)-deficient cells. We identified a class of histone H3/H4 mutations that suppress methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) sensitivity of DDT-deficient cells (referred to here as the histone SDD mutations), which likely cluster on a specific H3-H4 interface of the nucleosomes.

Clinical results of transarterial embolization for post-partum hemorrhage in 62 patients.

Aim: The pathology of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) differs depending on its cause, background and timing of bleeding, and the effectiveness of transarterial embolization (TAE) is thought to vary based on these characteristics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment outcomes of TAE for PPH.

Methods: Technical success, initial clinical success (hemostasis without repeat TAE or surgical treatment after initial TAE) and final clinical success (hemostasis with or without repeat TAE, but without surgical treatment) were assessed in 62 Japanese patients.

A bacterial polysaccharide biosynthesis-related gene inversely regulates larval settlement and metamorphosis of .

Larval settlement and metamorphosis is essential for the development of marine invertebrates. Although polysaccharides are involved in larval settlement and metamorphosis of , the molecular basis of polysaccharides underlying this progression remains largely unknown. Here, the roles of the polysaccharide biosynthesis-related gene of ECSMB14103 in the regulation of larval settlement and metamorphosis were examined by gene-knockout technique.

Identification of a modori-inducing proteinase in the threadfin bream: Molecular cloning, tissue distribution and proteinase leakage from viscera during ice storage.

Previously we purified and characterized a sarcoplasmic serine proteinase (SSP) from the belly muscle of the threadfin bream as a modori-inducing proteinase. In our attempt to clarify the structure and physiological functions of SSP, we successfully cloned the full-length cDNA of SSP (ORF 726 bp). The deduced amino acid sequence of SSP (241 residues) was highly homologous to fish trypsinogen.

The Flagellar Gene Regulates Biofilm Formation and Mussel Larval Settlement and Metamorphosis.

Biofilms are critical components of most marine systems and provide biochemical cues that can significantly impact overall community composition. Although progress has been made in the bacteria-animal interaction, the molecular basis of modulation of settlement and metamorphosis in most marine animals by bacteria is poorly understood. Here, showing inducing activity on mussel settlement and metamorphosis was chosen as a model to clarify the mechanism that regulates the bacteria-mussel interaction.

Provocative angiography for lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose: This study evaluated the results of provocative angiography performed to identify the site of hemorrhage in lower gastrointestinal bleeding to enable transcatheter arterial embolization.

Materials And Methods: The subjects of this study were 11 patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding who underwent provocative angiography, after contrast agent extravasation could not be identified during conventional angiography. One patient underwent provocative angiography twice, making 12 cases of provocative angiography that were analyzed in this study.