On the analysis of functional PET (fPET)-FDG: Baseline mischaracterization can introduce artifactual metabolic (de)activations.

Functional Positron Emission Tomography (fPET) with (bolus plus) constant infusion of [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), known as fPET-FDG, is a recently introduced technique in human neuroimaging, enabling the detection of dynamic glucose metabolism changes within a single scan. However, the statistical analysis of fPET-FDG data remains challenging because its signal and noise characteristics differ from both classic bolus-administration FDG PET and from functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), which together compose the primary sources of inspiration for analytical methods used by fPET-FDG researchers. In this study, we present an investigation of how inaccuracies in modeling baseline FDG uptake can introduce artifactual patterns to detrended time-activity curve (TAC) residuals, potentially introducing spurious (de)activations to general linear model (GLM) analyses.

Functional MRI signatures of autonomic physiology in aging.

While traditionally regarded as "noise", blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) fluctuations coupled to systemic physiology-such as heart rate and respiratory changes-also hold valuable information about brain vascular properties and autonomic function. In this study, we leverage these physiological signals to characterize age-related changes in brain physiology, drawing on a large dataset from the Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging study. Our findings reveal that aging is associated with globally slower respiratory fMRI responses, alongside faster cardiac fMRI responses and enhanced brain-cardiac signal coupling.

The physiological component of the BOLD signal: Impact of age and heart rate variability biofeedback training.

Aging is associated with declines in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, impaired neurovascular coupling, and diminished cerebrovascular responsiveness-factors that may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how aging alters the integration of physiological signals in the brain is crucial for identifying potential interventions to promote brain health. This study examines age-related differences in coupling between low-frequency cardiac rate and respiratory volume fluctuations and the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal, using two independent resting-state fMRI datasets with concurrent physiological recordings from younger and older adults.

Functional MRI signals exhibit stronger covariation with peripheral autonomic measures as vigilance decreases.

Vigilance naturally drifts over time, coinciding with marked changes in brain-wide functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals. Though the precise origins of these hemodynamic changes are unclear, largely separate lines of research have linked different vigilance levels not only to changes in fMRI signal fluctuation amplitudes and functional connectivity, but also to significant variations in autonomic physiology. These findings raise the possibility that vigilance-related modulations in fMRI signals may arise in part from changes in autonomic physiology and their effects on cerebral hemodynamics.

Visual stimulus-evoked blood velocity responses in individual human posterior cerebral arteries measured with dynamic phase-contrast functional MR angiography.

Functional MRI (fMRI) tracks brain activity through the associated hemodynamic changes via neurovascular coupling. Neurons communicate with the microvessels of the parenchyma to initiate a hemodynamic response, and these microvessels then communicate with upstream arterioles and arteries. The role of the larger feeding arteries-far upstream from the site of neuronal activity-in coordinating this response is incompletely understood, yet is important for the interpretation of fMRI.

Multi-omics reveals manure-borne doxycycline and fragmented oversized microplastics co-disrupt pak choi growth and amplify antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems.

The intensification of livestock farming and plastic consumption has led to widespread co-contamination of agricultural soils with veterinary antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline, DOX) and microplastics (MPs).

FABP4 Inhibitor Improves Right Ventricular Fibrosis in Metabolic Syndrome- Related Pulmonary Hypertension due to Left Heart Disease in Mice.

Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease (PH-LHD) is a prevalent and fatal condition with limited therapeutic options. This study investigates the role and mechanisms of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in PH-LHD development. Plasma FABP4 levels were significantly elevated in PH-LHD patients (n = 36) compared to left heart disease patients without PH (noPH-LHD, n = 33) and correlated positively with NT-proBNP.

Facilely prepared N-modified carbon quantum dots as microalgal photosynthesis promoters for wastewater treatment.

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment integrates wastewater purification with bioenergy recovery, aligning with the principles of the circular bioeconomy. However, the limited utilization of the solar spectrum by microalgae and light attenuation caused by wastewater turbidity constrain microalgal growth. To address these challenges, this study synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) with down-conversion properties that convert UV light (∼380 nm) from the solar spectrum into blue light (450-475 nm) useable by microalgae, thereby enhancing their solar energy utilization efficiency.

Comparison the Impacts of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis on Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps.

Objective: Asthma (AS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) are the two most common comorbidities for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (NP). This study aims to compare the different impacts of AS and AR on NP, including disease severity, inflammatory profiles, and surgical outcomes.

Methods: The retrospective study enrolled NP patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and 12 months follow-up.

Establishment of cell size-dependent growth rate via differential scaling of metabolite uptake and release.

Metabolism fuels cell growth and functions. While it is well established that cellular growth rate scales with cell size, how cells alter their metabolism as they change size remains largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a systematic analysis of cell size-dependent metabolism across the NCI60 cancer cell line panel comprising a diverse range of cell sizes.

Connecting the dots: approaching a standardized nomenclature for molecular connectivity in positron emission tomography.

Positron emission tomography (PET)-based connectivity analysis provides a molecular perspective that complements fMRI-derived functional connectivity. However, lack of standardized terminology and diverse methodologies in PET connectivity studies has resulted in inconsistencies, complicating the interpretation and comparison of results across studies. A standardized nomenclature is thus needed to reduce ambiguity, enhance reproducibility, and facilitate interpretability across radiotracers, imaging modalities and studies.

Mito-Kaede photoactivation and chase experiment for mitophagy: mitophagy flux response toward various stimulations.

Mitophagy, a crucial mitochondrial quality control system for cellular stress adaptation, is a key focus in pathophysiology and drug discovery. Developing a simple and versatile mitophagy flux assay is vital for advancing our understanding of cellular responses. Addressing a gap in systematic methods, we employ the photoactivatable fluorescent protein mito-Kaede in C2C12 myocytes, demonstrating its remarkable versatility in quantifying mitophagy flux responses under various stimuli, including carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), TNF-α, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and hypoxia.

CIRBP regulates mitochondrial respiratory function and modulates neuronal developmental abnormalities induced by perinatal hypoxia.

The Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) plays a crucial role in modulating cellular responses to environmental stressors, including hypothermia, hypoxia, and ultraviolet radiation. It has been reported to have a significant impact on cognitive function. The proper functioning of mitochondrial respiration is essential for the growth and maturation of neural synapses, as well as cognitive function.

Exploring the Mechanism of Microstructural Changes in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Under Microwave Influence: Experiments and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

To elucidate the mechanisms of microstructural changes in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) under microwave exposure, this study characterizes the microstructure at multiple scales using a combination of microscopic experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The hydration products, pore structure, morphology, and interface transition zone (ITZ) of UHPC specimens were analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the uniaxial tensile behavior, free volume, and radial distribution of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel, the primary hydration product.

Side selection of cochlear implant in patients after head trauma: a new perspective.

Background: Head trauma often leads to bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and determining the optimal side for cochlear implantation (CI) remains a critical issue that requires further investigation. Objective: To evaluate the role of preoperative aided threshold (AT) testing in selecting the optimal CI side for patients with bilateral SNHL caused by head trauma.

Methods: This study included 9 patients with bilateral SNHL resulting from head trauma.

Accumulation of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids in the airway inflammatory microenvironment drives eosinophil etosis and corticosteroid resistance.

Background: Eosinophilic inflammation is a feature of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP (ENP) tend to be refractory and prone to recurrence. Although there is increasing evidence linking lipid metabolic irregularities to eosinophilia, the particular lipid responsible for promoting eosinophilic inflammation and the precise molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear.

Serological Surveillance and Risk Factor Analysis for Parrot Bornavirus in Taiwan.

Parrots are traded globally and pose a substantial risk for disease transmission involving parrot-specific pathogens. Parrot bornavirus (PaBV) belongs to the family and encompasses two clades: (PaBV-1 to -4, PaBV-7, and -8) and (PaBV-5 and PaBV-6). These clades cause proventricular dilatation disease, a chronic disease affecting all parrot species.

The Physiological Component of the BOLD Signal: Impact of Age and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training.

Aging is associated with declines in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, including reduced heart rate variability (HRV), impaired neurovascular coupling, and diminished cerebrovascular responsiveness-factors that may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how aging alters physiological signal integration in the brain is crucial for identifying potential interventions to promote brain health. This study examines age-related differences in how cardiac and respiratory fluctuations influence the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal, using two independent resting-state fMRI datasets with concurrent physiological recordings from younger and older adults.

Functional MRI Signatures of Autonomic Physiology in Aging.

While traditionally regarded as "noise", blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI fluctuations coupled to systemic physiology-such as heart rate and respiratory changes-also hold valuable information about brain vascular properties and autonomic function. In this study, we leverage these physiological BOLD signals to characterize age-related changes in brain physiology. Using a large dataset from the Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging study, we investigated how the spatiotemporal BOLD-fMRI signatures of autonomic physiology, specifically heart rate and respiratory variation, change with advancing age.

Critical review of patient outcome study in head and neck cancer radiotherapy.

Rapid technological advances in radiation therapy have significantly improved dose delivery and tumor control for head and neck cancers. However, treatment-related toxicities caused by high-dose exposure to critical structures remain a significant clinical challenge, underscoring the need for accurate prediction of clinical outcomes-encompassing both tumor control and adverse events (AEs). This review critically evaluates the evolution of data-driven approaches in predicting patient outcomes in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation therapy, from traditional dose-volume constraints to cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and causal inference framework.

Effortless rule: Effects of oversized microplastic management on lettuce growth and the dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes from fertilization to harvest.

The complexity of soil microplastic pollution has driven deeper exploration of waste management strategies to evaluate environmental impact. This study introduced oversized microplastics (OMPs, 1-5 mm) during membrane composting to produce organic fertilizers, and conducted a 2 × 2 pot experiment: exogenous OMPs were added when normal fertilizer (no OMPs intervention) was applied, while artificial removal of OMPs was implemented when contaminated fertilizer (with OMPs) was used. The study assessed the effects of these management strategies on lettuce growth, soil environments, and potential biological safety risks related to the spread and expression of high-risk antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in humans.

Enabling clinical use of linear energy transfer in proton therapy for head and neck cancer - A review of implications for treatment planning and adverse events study.

Proton therapy offers significant advantages due to its unique physical and biological properties, particularly the Bragg peak, enabling precise dose delivery to tumors while sparing healthy tissues. However, the clinical implementation is challenged by the oversimplification of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) as a fixed value of 1.1, which does not account for the complex interplay between dose, linear energy transfer (LET), and biological endpoints.

[The regulation and mechanism of apolipoprotein A5 on myocardial lipid deposition].

The current study aimed to clarify the roles of apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) and milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (Mfge8) in regulating myocardial lipid deposition and the regulatory relationship between them. The serum levels of ApoA5 and Mfge8 in obese and healthy people were compared, and the obesity mouse model induced by the high-fat diet (HFD) was established. In addition, primary cardiomyocytes were purified and identified from the hearts of suckling mice.

Elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying degradation of nicosulfuron and its derivative by Klebsiella jilinsis 2N3 using multiomic analysis.

Nicosulfuron is a herbicide used in agricultural production. Its prolonged application causes significant ecological risks to soil and water environment. In this study, the molecular mechanisms underlying degradation of nicosulfuron and its derivative by Klebsiella jilinsis 2N3 was determined.

Activated Microglia Mediate the Motor Neuron-, Synaptic Denervation- and Muscle Wasting-Changes in Burn Injured Mice.

Background: Muscle wasting (MW) of burn injury (BI) remains unresolved. Microglia-mediated inflammatory cytokine/chemokine release, motor neuron loss (MNL) and MW is observed after BI but connection of the central changes to synaptic-denervation and MW is unelucidated. Stimulation of microglia α7acetylcholine receptors (α7AChRs), a Chrna7gene-product, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties (decreased cytokine/chemokines).