Developing and validating a computed tomography radiomics strategy to predict lymph node metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a key prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer (PC). Accurate preoperative prediction of LNM remains challenging. Radiomics offers a noninvasive method to extract quantitative imaging features that may aid in predicting LNM.

On-Demand Ammonia Capture and Separation with Open Aluminophosphate Frameworks.

The development of adsorbents for ammonia capture and separation is a challenging task, with significant industrial relevance. We report herein, for the first time, open aluminophosphate frameworks for on-demand ammonia adsorption. Under ambient conditions, the AlPO-18 molecular sieve exhibits exceptional dynamic ammonia uptake of 3.

The associations between pancreatic fat infiltration and its combination with the triglyceride glucose index and the risk of coronary calcification: A multicenter study.

Introduction: Intrapancreatic fat deposition is related to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the association between intrapancreatic fat deposition and coronary artery disease has not been well studied. In this study, we investigated the associations between intrapancreatic fat deposition alone or in combination with triglyceride glucose index (TYG) and the risk of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a general population.

Mechanical Behavior of Topology-Optimized Lattice Structures Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing.

Lattice-based metamaterials have attracted much attention due to their excellent mechanical properties. Nevertheless, designing lattice materials with desired properties is still challenging, as their mesoscopic topology is extremely complex. Herein, the bidirectional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) method is adopted to design lattice structures with maximum bulk modulus and elastic isotropy.

NTCP-constrained combined proton-photon treatment planning to maximize utilization of limited proton slots.

Background: Proton therapy provides superior organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) benefits compared to photon therapy, but is less accessible and more expensive.

Purpose: This study introduces an NTCP-constrained combined proton-photon treatment (NTCP-CPPT) planning method to optimize the utilization of limited proton resources. The method aims to determine minimal proton fractions and an optimal fluence map to achieve target dose quality, OAR sparing, and NTCP benefits comparable to proton therapy.

Paternal separation as an independent risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome in rural Chinese left-behind children: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: No study has assessed the relationship between separation factors and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We assess the association between the separation factors and IBS in Chinese left-behind children (LBC).

Methods: In this school-based study, we analyzed data from eight representative primary and secondary schools to assess the association between separation factors and IBS in Chinese LBC based on the Rome IV criteria.

A Multisite Fusion-Based Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Classification of Helicobacter pylori Infection Status Using Endoscopic Images: A Multicenter Study.

Background And Aim: We aimed to develop a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) that integrates features from multiple sites of the stomach to classify Hp infection status, distinguishing between uninfected, previously infected, and currently infected.

Methods: Ten deep learning architectures were employed to develop DCNN models using a training dataset comprising 3380 white-light images collected from 676 subjects across eight centers. External validation was conducted with a separate dataset consisting of images from 126 individuals.

Correlation between material, structure, and drug release of Nexplanon®: an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) based long-acting implant.

Nexplanon® is a subdermal implant that provides contraception protection for up to three years. Despite extensive clinical use, the implant's complex structure and drug release mechanisms are not thoroughly investigated. Moreover, conducting drug release testing over three years is time-consuming and labor-intensive, posing challenges on drug release characterization.

Exploring the change of coastal saline agroecosystem diversity, composition and predicted function of soil microbial community mediated by soybean and corn intercropping.

Introduction: Soil microbial community is the key determinant of coastal agroecosystem soil health. However, the response of soil microbial community and its anticipated functions to soybean and corn intercropping in coastal saline agroecosystems is not well understood.

Method: Soybean and corn intercropping was done in Putian city of Fujian province.

Understanding the impact of accelerated release testing conditions on physicochemical properties and drug release mechanisms from etonogestrel implants based on ethylene vinyl acetate.

Accelerated release testing is a useful tool for both development and validation of controlled release polymeric implants, as it can shorten development cycles. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of ethanol and elevated temperature on drug release mechanisms of etonogestrel implants. Based on studies conducted using EVA films, ethanol caused swelling, which increased permeability primarily by increasing solubility while having no impact on polymer crystal structure.

Identification and Comprehensive Evaluation of Drought Tolerance in Sorghum During Germination and Seedling Stages.

Drought is a major factor limiting crop growth and yield. Enhancing drought resistance is an important strategy to sustain higher yields, with an emphasis on developing drought-tolerant cultivars. In this study, 19 sorghum varieties from both domestic and international sources were selected as experimental materials.

Reshaping the Substrate-Binding Pocket of Leucine Dehydrogenase for Efficient Synthesis of l-Phenylglycine and Its Substituted Derivatives.

l-Leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH)-mediated direct asymmetric reduction amination of prochiral α-keto acids represents an ideal approach for the synthesis of l-phenylglycine and its derivatives. However, limited substrate acceptance hinders their applications. Herein, we systematically investigated the substrate acceptance of LeuDHs for benzoylformic acid and its monosubstituted derivatives, revealing the correlation between substrate structure and enzyme activity.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of esophageal reflux hypersensitivity: A multicenter study.

Background: Reflux hypersensitivity (RH) constitutes roughly 14% of patients with heartburn and 34% of those with refractory heartburn, yet it is inadequately comprehended.

Aim: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with RH.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 109 patients with RH and 384 healthy controls from three medical centers between January 2022 and December 2023.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Decarboxylative N-Alkylation.

Introduction of alkyl substituents onto nucleophilic nitrogen atoms in amines is a central synthetic strategy for increasing molecular complexity and structural diversity in medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and materials science. Although the direct transfer of a stereogenic alkyl group onto a nitrogen atom by N-alkylation is one of the most efficient approaches to asymmetric C()-N bond formation, few methods are available for the enantioconvergent N-alkylation of amines with racemic alkyl transfer reagents. We report herein a previously unexplored enantioconvergent decarboxylative N-alkylation of aromatic amines with racemic carboxylic acids.

TiC quantum dots/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose modified BiWO for enhancing piezo-photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline.

A ternary composite of TiC quantum dots, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and BiWO effectively harnesses both optical and mechanical energy to achieve a strong piezo-phototronic effect for the removal of tetracycline hydrochloride. Under external mechanical stress, this system maintains a tightly integrated heterostructure, dynamically facilitating charge transfer across the nanosheets. Notably, the catalytic activity of the TiC quantum dots/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose/BiWO composite has been significantly enhanced, exhibiting a kinetic rate constant of 0.

Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy and Reduced Cardiotoxicity of Ultrasound-Mediated Doxorubicin Delivery by Microbubble-Liposome Complexes.

Objective: Doxorubicin (Dox) is standard of care for treatment of sarcomas, but cumulative dosing is often limited by cardiotoxicity. We hypothesized that ultrasound targeted microbubble (MB) cavitation (UTMC) of a liposomal doxorubicin (LDox) conjugated polymer microbubble complex (DoxLPX) would enhance tumor inhibition and limit Dox cardiotoxicity.

Methods: DoxLPX was intravenously injected in MCA205 sarcoma-bearing mice and concurrent ultrasound was delivered to the tumor site (DoxLPX + UTMC).

Understanding drug release mechanisms of risperidone in situ forming implant depots in rabbits.

Injectable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based in situ forming implants are a promising long-acting drug delivery system. They are liquid formulations that solidify through solvent exchange to form drug-PLGA depots that become isolated from the surrounding tissue following injection. There have been limited studies focusing on in vivo drug release mechanisms for this dosage form.

Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis of Acute Cerebral Microinfarcts in CADASIL.

Introduction: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common monogenic cerebral small vessel disease in adults. This study investigates the occurrence, risk factors, and prognosis of acute cerebral microinfarcts (ACMIs) in patients with CADASIL.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with genetically confirmed or pathologically verified CADASIL were enrolled in the study.

Zinc-Doping-Induced Electronic States Modulation of Molybdenum Carbide: Expediting Rate-Determining Steps of Sulfur Conversion in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Enhancing LiS deposition and oxidation kinetics in lithium-sulfur batteries, especially the potential-limiting step under lean electrolyte, can be effectively achieved by developing conductive catalysts. In this study, by using ZnMoO as precursors, Zn-doped molybdenum carbide microflowers (Zn-MoC) composed of speared porous sheets are fabricated with a hierarchically ordered structure. Density functional theory calculations indicate that Zn doping shifts the d-band center on Mo atoms in MoC upward, promotes the elevation of certain antibonding orbitals in Mo─S bonds above the Fermi level, enhances d-p interaction between lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and catalysts, weakens both S─S and Li─S bonds of LiPSs.

Aging-induced microstructural evolution in risperidone loaded PLGA microspheres.

This study demonstrates the application of innovative imaging-based characterization techniques to quantify structural changes as a function of ageing for poly (lactic-co glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres. Aging of polymers can potentially alter the performance of polymer-based therapeutics and therefore an understanding of the impact of aging on microsphere structure is important. Correlative focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and X-ray microscopy (XRM) were used to quantify the change in structural critical quality attributes (CQAs) of risperidone loaded microspheres at the single microsphere scale and overall batch scale.

Comparative Outcomes of Robot-Assisted vs Traditional Laparoscopic Ureteral Reimplantation for Lower Ureteral Stenosis: A Single Center Study.

BACKGROUND Robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral bladder reimplantation (RALUR) has shown fewer operative and postoperative complications than traditional laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (LUR) in treating ureteral stenosis. This study from a single center aimed to compare clinical outcomes from RALUR and LUR in treating 34 lower ureteral stenosis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinical data [visual analogue scale (VAS), complications, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), degree of pelvis separation, and degree of ureteral dilation] from lower ureteral stenosis patients treated with RALUR (n=14) and LUR (n=20) from January 2019 to January 2023 were analyzed.

Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Material (FGM) Double-Layered Cabin-like Structure by the Spectro-Geometric Method.

This study presents a spectro-geometric vibration model for analyzing free as well as forced vibration properties for FGM cylindrical double-walled shells with internal structures. The boundary conditions and coupling effects are modeled using an artificial virtual spring approach, which allows for the simulation of arbitrary boundary and coupling conditions by varying the elastic spring stiffness coefficients. The spectral geometry method is employed to represent the displacement variables of the FGM substructure, overcoming the discontinuity phenomenon commonly observed when traditional Fourier series are used.

Asymmetric Synthesis of CF-Substituted β-Hydroxyketones and 1,3-Diols by Engineered Ketoreductases.

Chiral CF-substituted β-hydroxy ketones and 1,3-diols were prepared via the ketoreductase-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of the corresponding benzoyl trifluoroacetones. The variants of two ketoreductases, LfSDR1 and CgKR1, were screened or engineered for stereocomplementary synthesis of CF-substituted β-hydroxy ketones with up to >99% conversions and up to >99% enantiomeric excess (ee) values. In addition, the cascade reduction or one pot reduction of diketones could afford the CF-substituted 1,3-diols with up to >99% ratios and >99% ee values.