Functional evaluation of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition as an in vitro screening tool for pulmonary fibrosis.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), a major component of humidifier disinfectants (HDs) linked to fatal lung injuries, has been implicated in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. However, most previous studies have primarily focused on epithelial injury, with limited attention to fibroblast activation - a central mechanism in fibrogenesis. In this study, we present an integrated testing strategy (ITS) designed for the early in vitro screening of fibrogenic agents, centered on fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) as a core functional and mechanistic endpoint.

One-step synthesis of 2-arylindoles from indolines Pd-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation and C2-selective arylation.

We report an efficient synthetic approach to 2-arylindoles from indolines a one-step process involving Pd-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation and a sequential C2-regioselective Heck-type reaction. The mild reaction conditions, which utilize O as the sole oxidant, show a broad substrate scope and good functional group compatibility.

Comparison of CNNs and Transformer Models in Diagnosing Bone Metastases in Bone Scans Using Grad-CAM.

Purpose: Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been studied for detecting bone metastases on bone scans; however, the application of ConvNeXt and transformer models has not yet been explored. This study aims to evaluate the performance of various deep learning models, including the ConvNeXt and transformer models, in diagnosing metastatic lesions from bone scans.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed bone scans from patients with cancer obtained at 2 institutions: the training and validation sets (n=4626) were from Hospital 1 and the test set (n=1428) was from Hospital 2.

Correction to: Recent Update on PET/CT Radiotracers for Imaging Cerebral Glioma.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13139-024-00847-4.].

One-Step Synthesis of 2-Arylquinolin-4(1)-Ones from 1-(2-Aminoaryl)-3-Arylpropan-1-Ones via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cyclization.

In this study, we developed palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization to transform 1-(2-aminoaryl)-3-arylpropan-1-ones into 2-arylquinolin-4(1)-ones, also known as aza-flavones which are the bioisosteres of flavones, in an atom-economic manner. This method exhibited excellent chemical compatibility with a broad substrate scope, accommodating up to 25 derivatives. Additionally, kinetic studies were performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.

Recent Update on PET/CT Radiotracers for Imaging Cerebral Glioma.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has dramatically altered the landscape of noninvasive glioma evaluation, offering complementary insights to those gained through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PET/CT scans enable a multifaceted analysis of glioma biology, supporting clinical applications from grading and differential diagnosis to mapping the full extent of tumors and planning subsequent treatments and evaluations. With a broad array of specialized radiotracers, researchers and clinicians can now probe various biological characteristics of gliomas, such as glucose utilization, cellular proliferation, oxygen deficiency, amino acid trafficking, and reactive astrogliosis.

[F]FDG PET/CT is useful in discriminating invasive adenocarcinomas among pure ground-glass nodules: comparison with CT findings-a bicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: Predicting the malignancy of pure ground-glass nodules (GGNs) using CT is challenging. The optimal role of [F]FDG PET/CT in this context has not been clarified. We compared the performance of [F]FDG PET/CT in evaluating GGNs for predicting invasive adenocarcinomas (IACs) with CT.

Assessment of the Mutation Profile of Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinomas Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing.

Data regarding driver mutation profiles in tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas (TSCCs) remain scarce, limiting the understanding of its pathogenesis and unexpected behavior in the updated staging system. We investigated the incidence of clinically relevant mutations and their contribution in the prognosis of the condition, and their association with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and adjuvant therapy. We subjected 43 surgically resected TSCC samples to targeted next-generation sequencing, determined their HPV status using polymerase chain reaction, and performed The Cancer Genomic Atlas and Gene Set Enrichment analyses.

Striatal Subregion Analysis Associated with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Parkinson's Disease.

Background And Purpose: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with characteristic clinical subtypes and prognosis. In addition, nigrostriatal pathway, the most vulnerable anatomical area in PD, formed neuronal network interplaying with cortical and subcortical structures, and which may cause PD clinical phenotype. We evaluated the regional selectivity of presynaptic striatal dopaminergic denervation associated with RBD in PD.

Tissue Fraction Correction and Visual Analysis Increase Diagnostic Sensitivity in Predicting Malignancy of Ground-Glass Nodules on [F]FDG PET/CT: A Bicenter Retrospective Study.

We investigated the role of [18F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in evaluating ground-glass nodules (GGNs) by visual analysis and tissue fraction correction. A total of 40 pathologically confirmed ≥1 cm GGNs were evaluated visually and semiquantitatively. [18F]FDG uptake of GGN distinct from background lung activity was considered positive in visual analysis.

Negative Prognostic Implication of Promoter Mutations in Human Papillomavirus-Negative Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma Under the New 8th AJCC Staging System.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase gene promoter () mutation is a potential candidate for pathogenesis and therapeutic target of tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas (TSCCs) in association with human papillomavirus (HPV). Their clinical relevance has not been validated under the new 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. We analyzed real-time peptide nucleic acid-mediated PCR and sequencing methods ( mutation) and real-time PCR-based assay (HPV) in 80 surgically resected TSCCs.

REM sleep behavior disorder in early Parkinson's disease predicts the rapid dopaminergic denervation.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in early Parkinson's disease (PD) predicts rapid progression of dopaminergic denervation.

Methods: 123I-FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans were performed sequentially at baseline, 1 year, 2 years, and 4 years in 416 de novo patients with PD. RBD screening questionnaire scores >5 at baseline placed the participant in the likely-RBD group.

Using Light Quality for Growth Control of Cucumber Seedlings in Closed-Type Plant Production System.

During seedling production, growth control of seedlings is an important problem because the overgrowth of seedlings causes a decrease of seedling quality and has disadvantages after transplanting. In this study, we aim to evaluate the possibility of replacing chemical plant growth regulators using light quality in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS) for cucumber seedling production. We used various light treatments, such as monochromatic or combined red (R) and blue (B), and combined R and B with UV-A or Far-red (Fr) light, to compare with a chemical plant growth regulator conventionally using in nursery farms.

Correlation between KRAS mutation and F-FDG uptake in stage IV colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between KRAS mutation, F-FDG uptake, and metastatic pattern in advanced stage colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods: Medical records of stage IV CRC patients who underwent F-FDG PET/CT for staging and KRAS mutation analysis were selected. On PET scans, a volume of interest (VOI) was drawn on the primary lesion.

Visual and quantitative comparison of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT findings in the detection of pelvic tumor recurrence in colorectal cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to visually and quantitatively compare (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging in determining postoperative pelvic recurrence in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective analysis focused on 96 patients (age: mean 62.6 ± 10.

Relationship between Preoperative ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Status in Primary Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: Both ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) uptake and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status are prognostic variables of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between ¹⁸F-FDG uptake on preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and EGFR status in primary CRC.

Materials And Methods: Records of 132 patients (66 men and 66 women; mean age=67.

The Clinical Utility of FDG PET-CT in Evaluation of Bone Marrow Involvement by Lymphoma.

Purpose: Bone marrow biopsy is a standard method for the evaluation of bone marrow infiltration by lymphoma; however, it is an invasive and painful procedure. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) is a noninvasive imaging technique with the potential to detect bone marrow involvement by lymphoma.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of lymphoma patients.

A simple and precise diagnostic method for spinal muscular atrophy using a quantitative SNP analysis system.

A simple and precise diagnostic method for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) using high-resolution CE-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) was developed in this study. SMA is a common genetic disorder caused by an abnormality in the relative copy numbers of SMN1 and its centromeric copy SMN2, which differ only in two nucleotides, namely at exons 7 and 8. Therefore, the precise discrimination of the differences in sequence as well as their relative quantities is crucial for the diagnosis of SMA.

Sieving properties of end group-halogenated Pluronic polymer matrix in DNA separation under nondenaturing CE analysis.

CE-SSCP analysis is a well-established DNA separation method that is based on variations in mobility caused by sequence-induced differences in the conformation of single-stranded DNA. The resolution of CE-SSCP analysis was improved by using a Pluronic polymer matrix, and it has been successfully applied in various genetic analyses. Because the Pluronic polymer forms a micellar cubic structure in the capillary, it provides a stable internal structure for high-resolution CE-SSCP analysis.

(18)F-FDG PET as a single imaging modality in pediatric neuroblastoma: comparison with abdomen CT and bone scintigraphy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) as a single imaging agent in neuroblastoma in comparison with other imaging modalities.

Methods: A total of 30 patients with pathologically proven neuroblastoma who underwent FDG PET for staging were enrolled. Diagnostic performance of FDG PET and abdomen CT was compared in detecting soft tissue lesions.

A multiplex single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping method using ligase-based mismatch discrimination and CE-SSCP.

Accuracy, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness are the most important criteria for a genotyping method for SNPs compatible with clinical use. One method developed for SNP genotyping, ligase-based discrimination, is considered the simplest for clinical diagnosis. However, multiplex assays using this method are limited by the detection method.

Effect of temperature gradients on single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis in a capillary electrophoresis system using Pluronic polymer matrix.

Capillary electrophoresis-single strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) analysis is a prominent bioseparation method based on the mobility diversity caused by sequence-induced conformational differences of single-stranded DNA. The use of Pluronic polymer matrix has opened up new opportunities for CE-SSCP, because it improved the resolution for various genetic analyses. However, there still exists a challenge in optimizing Pluronic-based CE-SSCP, because the physical properties of Pluronic solutions are sensitive to temperature, particularly near the gelation temperature, where the viscoelasticity of Pluronic F108 solutions sharply changes from that of a Newtonian fluid to a hydrogel upon heating.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of clinically suspected Marjolin ulcer.

Objective: The purpose of our study is to retrospectively determine the diagnostic role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT at the primary lesion site in burned patients with chronic nonhealing ulcers who are suspected of having Marjolin ulcers.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three burn scar contractures with nonhealing chronic ulcer in 28 patients were included in this study. The lesions were sorted into two groups: 22 squamous cell carcinomas and one basal cell carcinoma were assigned to group 1 (Marjolin ulcer), and 10 lesions of chronic ulcer with inflammation and fibrosis were assigned to group 2.

Micellar ordered structure effects on high-resolution CE-SSCP using Pluronic triblock copolymer blends.

Pluronic F108 block copolymers have shown a great promise to achieve the desirable high resolution in the conformation-sensitive separation of ssDNA using CE-SSCP. However, fundamental understanding of the structures and properties of Pluronic matrix affecting the resolution is still limited. Unlike conventional gel-forming homopolymers, Pluronic F108 block copolymers are amphiphilic macromolecules consisting of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers, which are capable of forming a highly ordered micellar structure in aqueous solution.