Relationship Between Aortic Valve and Mitral Annular Calcification With Coronary Artery Calcification in Asymptomatic Individuals: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses.

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC), mitral annular calcification (MAC), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) all share common atherosclerotic origins. However, the relationship between these entities is not fully understood.

Methods: A total of 722 asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening with serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively selected for analysis.

Calibration Method for Reducing Ring Artifacts in Energy Bin Images for Photon-Counting CT.

Pixel-to-pixel variation in outputs of photon-counting detectors (PCDs) is a significant challenge in computed tomography (CT) imaging, leading to ring artifacts. This study presents a novel calibration framework to address this issue. Our approach involves a streamlined data acquisition strategy using CT scans of calibration phantoms, enabling comprehensive phantom thickness data acquisition across all pixels, coupled with three dedicated calibration steps.

Detection of sp. nov., the Causal Agent of Pestalotiopsis Leaf Blight on Based on Metagenomic Analysis.

Tree diseases affecting have emerged as a significant threat to the health and longevity of this ornamental tree, particularly in countries where this tree species is widely distributed and cultivated. Among these, spp. have been frequently reported and are considered one of the most impactful fungal pathogens, causing leaf blight or leaf spot, in multiple countries.

SLAMF1 expression in breast cancer cells delays tumor growth in vivo.

Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) family receptors are widely expressed on immune cells, often acting as self-ligands and playing crucial roles in cellular communication and adhesion, thereby modulating immune responses. Several studies have demonstrated that SLAM family receptors are associated with potential immune checkpoints on T cells and play a role in tumor immunity in various cancers. However, the effect of SLAMF1 expression in tumors has been rarely investigated.

Classification of commercial districts based on predicting the survival rate of food service market in Seoul.

The chronic small-business closure has emerged as a critical economic issue in South Korea, considering more than half of businesses have been closed within three years. While some previous literature has analyzed the causes and their negative impacts on the economy, there is still a lack of studies on understanding the pattern dynamics and predicting future possible closure scenarios due to the lack of appropriate data. Using 3,000,000 individual commercial facility data from 2004 to 2018 in Seoul, Korea, the primary purpose of this research is two-fold: (1) to develop a methodological framework to simulate survival rate pattern change using a deep-learning based model and (2) to reclassify the commercial districts based on the prediction outcomes to 8 survival rate change types.

[Corrigendum] Predictive DNA damage signaling for low‑dose ionizing radiation.

Following the publication of the above article, the authors drew to the Editor's attention that two pairs of the data panels shown for the flow cytometric experiments in Fig. 3B on p. 7 had inadvertently been duplicated in the figure, such that these data were derived from the same original source, even though they were intended to have shown the results from different experiments.

Differences in risk factors associated with the initiation and progression of mitral annular calcification in asymptomatic individuals.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is hypothesized to be a representation of atherosclerosis and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, the pathophysiology and risk factors associated with MAC development are not fully understood. Using the KOrea Initiatives on Coronary Artery (KOICA) registry, 738 asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening with echocardiography and serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) were included for analysis.

The Role of Serum Calcium Levels in the Progression of Arterial Stiffness: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in a Multicenter Cohort.

Increased arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a well-known risk factor for hypertension and future cardiovascular events. The relationship between serum calcium levels and increased arterial stiffness is not well understood. Individuals undergoing baPWV measurements as part of a generalized health examination, with normal serum calcium (8.

Giant Modulation of Magnetoresistance in a Van Der Waals Magnet by In-Plane Current Injection.

Efficient magnetization control is a central issue in magnetism and spintronics. Particularly, there are increasing demands for manipulation of magnetic states in van der Waals (vdW) magnets with unconventional functionalities. However, the electrically induced phase transition between ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic states without external magnetic field is yet to be demonstrated.

Reduction in Floor Impact Noise Using Resilient Pads Composed of Machining Scraps.

Floor impact noise is a significant social concern to secure a quiescent living space for multi-story building residents in South Korea. The floating floor, consisting of a concrete structure on resilient pads, is a specifically designed system to minimize noise transmission. This floating structure employs polymeric pads as the resilient materials.

Higher serum phosphate within the normal range is associated with the development of calcified aortic valve disease.

Background: Despite the essential role of ectopic osteogenic calcium-phosphate metabolism in the development of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), the implications of high serum phosphate levels in CAVD development are not fully understood.

Methods: Asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening using serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography were selected from a multicenter registry. CAVD was identified and quantified on CT images using the aortic valve calcification (AVC) score.

Synergistic Effect of Venetoclax and Bendamustine in Early T-cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background/aim: To date, therapeutic options for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) remain very limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of monotherapies and combination therapies including a selective BCL-2 inhibitor for T-ALL cell lines, namely Jurkat, CCRF-CEM, and Loucy.

Materials And Methods: Loucy is an early T-precursor ALL (ETP-ALL) cell line characterized by an immature phenotype, whereas Jurkat and CCRF-CEM are late T-cell progenitor ALL (LTP-ALL) cell lines.

A Novel Architecture for an Intrusion Detection System Utilizing Cross-Check Filters for In-Vehicle Networks.

The Controller Area Network (CAN), widely used for vehicular communication, is vulnerable to multiple types of cyber-threats. Attackers can inject malicious messages into the CAN bus through various channels, including wireless methods, entertainment systems, and on-board diagnostic ports. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a reliable intrusion detection system (IDS) capable of effectively distinguishing between legitimate and malicious CAN messages.

Predictive DNA damage signaling for low‑dose ionizing radiation.

Numerous studies have attempted to develop biological markers for the response to radiation for broad and straightforward application in the field of radiation. Based on a public database, the present study selected several molecules involved in the DNA damage repair response, cell cycle regulation and cytokine signaling as promising candidates for low‑dose radiation‑sensitive markers. The HuT 78 and IM‑9 cell lines were irradiated in a concentration‑dependent manner, and the expression of these molecules was analyzed using western blot analysis.

Role of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Cervical Cancer: Integrating Classical Perspectives with Recent Technological Advances.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in the tumor microenvironment, influencing cancer progression and contributing to poor prognosis. However, in cervical cancer (CC), their significance and involvement are relatively less studied than in other gynecological cancers such as ovarian and endometrial cancer. This review aims to provide an overview of TAMs, covering their origins and phenotypes and their impact on CC progression, along with major TAM-targeted therapeutic approaches.

Clinical Performance Comparison of Ultrahigh-speed Dual Pneumatic Vitrectomy Probes: Is Faster and Smaller Better?

Purpose: Various vitrectomy probes are currently being used commercially, and there are ongoing efforts toward developing probes with higher cutting rates and smaller gauges. This study aimed to compare the efficiency and safety of various commercially available small gauge ultrahigh-speed dual pneumatic vitrectomy probes.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients and recorded intraoperative videos while they underwent microincision three-port vitrectomy surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital.

Improving Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Score Prediction in Breast Cancer with Self-Supervised Learning.

Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in immuno-oncology, which investigates the intricate interactions between tumors and the human immune system. Specifically, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are crucial biomarkers for evaluating the prognosis of breast cancer patients and have the potential to refine immunotherapy precision and accurately identify tumor cells in specific cancer types. In this study, we conducted tissue segmentation and lymphocyte detection tasks to predict TIL scores by employing self-supervised learning (SSL) model-based approaches capable of addressing limited labeling data issues.

Photoredox-Enabled Dearomative [2π + 2σ] Cycloaddition of Phenols.

Dearomative photocycloaddition of monocyclic arenes is an appealing strategy for comprehending the concept of "escape from flatland". This brings the replacement of readily available planar aromatic hydrocarbon units with a 3D fused bicyclic core with -enriched carbon units. Herein, we outline an intermolecular approach for the dearomative photocycloaddition of phenols.

Heterogeneity of gut microbiome compositions in the third decade of life in Japanese women: insights from a comparative analysis.

The reasons for sex-associated gut microbiota differences have not been determined, and although sex hormones, diet, and other factors are considered to contribute to them, many of these factors are age related. To shed light on this complex interplay, our study aimed to investigate and compare the gut microbial compositions of males and females across a broad range of ages, aiming to identify sex-associated disparities and potential causal factors. Our study encompassed a comprehensive analysis of gut microbiota data obtained from 444 Japanese individuals, ranging from newborns to centenarians, sourced from the DNA Data Bank of Japan.

Poliovirus receptor inhibition in breast cancer cells induces antitumor immunity via T cell activation.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a commonly used treatment option for patients with cancer because it can effectively control tumor growth and kill tumor cells. However, the impact of RT goes beyond direct tumor cell killing because it can change the tumor microenvironment by altering surrounding tissues and infiltrating cells and modulating the expression of immune checkpoints. Poliovirus receptor (PVR, cluster of differentiation (CD)155), a member of the nectin-like molecule family, is overexpressed in many human cancers.

Circulating-tumor DNA Assessment in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma to Determine Up-front Stem Cell Transplantation: A Pilot Study.

Background/aim: This study evaluated the possibility of clinical use of circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker to determine up-front autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) for patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in practice.

Patients And Methods: To explore the dynamics of ctDNA in DLBCL, blood samples were collected sequentially before and after treatment from patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL who received rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy. To conduct ctDNA genotyping and ctDNA monitoring simultaneously, targeted sequencing by cancer personalized profiling using deep sequencing was used.

Profiling of Lymphovascular Space Invasion in Cervical Cancer Revealed PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway Overactivation and Heterogenic Tumor-Immune Microenvironments.

Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) is the presence of tumor emboli in the endothelial-lined space at the tumor body's invasive edge. LVSI is one of three Sedlis criteria components-a prognostic tool for early cervical cancer (CC)-essential for indicating poor prognosis, such as lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, or shorter survival rate. Despite its clinical significance, an in-depth comprehension of the molecular mechanisms or immune dynamics underlying LVSI in CC remains elusive.

Improving model-data mismatch for photon-counting detector model using global and local model parameters.

Background: An energy-discriminating capability of a photon counting detector (PCD) can provide many clinical advantages, but several factors, such as charge sharing (CS) and pulse pileup (PP), degrade the capability by distorting the measured x-ray spectrum. To fully exploit the merits of PCDs, it is important to characterize the output of PCDs. Previously proposed PCD output models showed decent agreement with physical PCDs; however, there were still scopes to be improved: a global model-data mismatch and pixel-to-pixel variations.

Does Bladder Cancer Subtype Influence Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) and Pelvic Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI) Response Evaluation After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy? Pathological Perspective.

Introduction: We aimed to provide a pathological perspective on the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) by correlating the prechemotherapy transurethral resection of bladder tumor findings and postchemotherapy radiologic evaluation with final radical cystectomy (RC) findings.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 79 MIBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and RC. Pelvic diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and pathologic reports were retrieved from our institutional database.