How best to combine DWI and T2WI to predict pathologic complete response: a multi-center study on interpreting MRI following chemoradiotherapy of rectal cancer.

Objectives: To explore the different criteria of integrating diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) of rectal cancer on post-chemoradiotherapy (CRT) MRI.

Materials And Methods: In this multi-center retrospective study, five radiologists reviewed pre- and post-CRT MRIs of patients with rectal cancer diagnosed in 2017-2021. In addition to mrTRG, three criteria were assessed: "AND" criterion (mrTRG 1-2 and absence of DWI restriction considered as CR), "OR" criterion (mrTRG 1-2 or absence of restriction), and a modified MR tumor regression grade (modMR-TRG).

Peptidoglycan-outer membrane attachment generates periplasmic pressure to prevent lysis in Gram-negative bacteria.

Bacteria are subject to a substantial concentration differential of osmolytes between the interior and exterior of the cell, resulting in turgor pressure. Failure to mechanically balance this turgor pressure causes cells to burst. Here, using microfluidics, imaging, biochemistry and mathematical modelling, we analysed how Escherichia coli cells with structural mutations in the envelope respond to hypoosmotic shocks.

Variability in personal exposure to ultrafine and fine particles by microenvironment among adolescents in Cincinnati.

Personal exposure to air pollution is influenced by an individual's time-activity patterns, but data regarding personal exposure to air pollution among children populations is lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize personal exposure to both PM and ultrafine particles (UFPs) using two portable real-time monitors, combined with GPS logging, and describe the relationship between these exposures across time and microenvironments among adolescents with asthma. Participants completed personal exposure monitoring for seven consecutive days and PM2.

Interpretation of Complete Tumor Response on MRI Following Chemoradiotherapy of Rectal Cancer: Inter-Reader Agreement and Associated Factors in Multi-Center Clinical Practice.

Objective: To measure inter-reader agreement and identify associated factors in interpreting complete response (CR) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study involved 10 readers from seven hospitals with experience of 80-10210 cases, and 149 patients who underwent surgery after CRT for rectal cancer. Using MRI-based tumor regression grading (mrTRG) and methods employed in daily practice, the readers independently assessed mrTRG, CR on T2-weighted images (T2WI) denoted as mrCR, and CR on all images including diffusion-weighted images (DWI) denoted as mrCR.

Sources of personal PM exposure during pregnancy in the MADRES cohort.

Background: Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is impacted by different sources each with different chemical composition. Determining these sources is important for reducing personal exposure and its health risks especially during pregnancy.

Objective: Identify main sources and their contributions to the personal PM exposure in 213 women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in Los Angeles, CA.

Clinical Role of Upfront F-18 FDG PET/CT in Determining Biopsy Sites for Lung Cancer Diagnosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of FDG PET/CT timing for biopsy site selection in patients with stage IV lung cancer regarding complications and diagnostic yield.

Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed on 1297 patients (924 men and 373 women with a mean age of 71.4 ± 10.

Long-term Complications of Laparoscopic or Robotic Lateral Pelvic Node Dissection After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Background: Patients with rectal cancer who underwent lateral pelvic node dissection might be at a higher risk of postoperative complications derived from technical complexity. However, little is known regarding the long-term complications after lateral pelvic node dissection.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the long-term complications of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, followed by total mesorectal excision with lateral pelvic node dissection for locally advanced rectal cancers.

Suboptimal hepatobiliary phase image in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI for the evaluation of the HCC: Predictive factors.

To determine the relevant laboratory values for hepatobiliary phase (HBP) imaging and predictive factors for suboptimal HBP images on gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). This study included 307 patients with CLD who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI for HCC evaluation. The liver-portal vein contrast ratio and liver-spleen contrast ratio were calculated from the measurements of the HBP images.

Sequential Lateral Lymphatic Metastasis Shows Similar Oncologic Outcomes to Upward Spread in Advanced Rectal Cancer After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Whether lateral pelvic node metastasis should be considered as a regional or systemic disease is a long-standing debate. Although previous Japanese studies have considered it to be locoregional disease, Western countries consider it a systemic disease and do not perform lateral pelvic node dissection after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate whether lateral pelvic node metastasis is a systemic or regional disease that is amenable to curative resection.

Preoperative sequential short-course radiation therapy and FOLFOX chemotherapy versus long-course chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial (SOLAR trial).

Background: Preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy has been widely used as an effective treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), leading to a significant reduction in pelvic recurrence rates. Because early administration of intensive chemotherapy for LARC has more advantages than adjuvant chemotherapy, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) has been introduced and evaluated to determine whether it can improve tumor response or treatment outcomes. This study aims to investigate whether short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by intensive chemotherapy improves oncologic outcomes compared with traditional preoperative long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Response Prediction after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer Using CT Tumor Regression Grade: A Preliminary Study.

Purpose: To investigate whether CT-based tumor regression grade (ctTRG) can be used to predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in colon cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 53 patients were enrolled. Two radiologists independently assessed the ctTRG using the length, thickness, layer pattern, and luminal and extraluminal appearance of the tumor.

A Comparison of Measured Airborne and Self-Reported Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort Study.

Introduction: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy is linked to adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and preterm birth. While questionnaires are commonly used to assess SHS exposure, their ability to capture true exposure can vary, making it difficult for researchers to harmonize SHS measures. This study aimed to compare self-reported SHS exposure with measurements of airborne SHS in personal samples of pregnant women.

Predictors of Extraprostatic Extension in Patients with Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: To identify effective factors predicting extraprostatic extension (EPE) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study recruited 898 consecutive patients with PCa treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The patients were divided into EPE and non-EPE groups based on the analysis of whole-mount histopathologic sections.

Ultrasound-guided lung biopsy for small (≤2 cm) subpleural lung lesions: comparison of diagnostic yield and safety with larger lesions.

Background: Ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) has been used to diagnose subpleural lung lesions with high diagnostic performance and acceptable complication rates. However, with regard to the role of US-guided needle biopsy for the diagnosis of small (≤2 cm) subpleural lesions, limited information is available.

Methods: From April 2011 to October 2021, a total of 572 US-guided PCNBs in 572 patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Effect of Types of Dementia Care on Quality of Life and Mental Health Factors in Caregivers of Patients with Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Eastern cultures, particularly in South Korea, caregiving for dementia patients at home is common, yet even after facility placement, families may experience ongoing burden due to cultural factors. The aim of this study was to examine the burden experienced by caregivers of dementia patients, considering cultural factors influencing in-home care and facility-based care. Using a cross-sectional study design, we compared the quality of life, depression, subjective happiness, and subjective health of family caregivers providing in-home care (FCHC) and informal family caregivers (IFCGs).

Robotic and laparoscopic salvage lateral pelvic node dissection for the treatment of recurrent rectal cancer.

Background: The lateral pelvic sidewall is a major site of local recurrence after radical resection of rectal cancer. Salvage lateral pelvic node dissection (LPND) may be the only way to eliminate recurrent lateral pelvic nodes (LPNs). This study aimed to describe the technical details of robotic and laparoscopic salvage LPND and assess the short-term clinical and oncological outcomes in patients with recurrent LPNs who underwent salvage LPND by a minimally invasive approach for curative intent.

Plasma cell myeloma initially diagnosed as light-chain deposition disease on liver biopsy: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Light-chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a rare condition characterized by the abnormal deposition of monoclonal light chains (LCs) in multiple organs, leading to progressive organ dysfunction. Herein, we report a case of plasma cell myeloma initially diagnosed as LCDD on liver biopsy performed for prominent cholestatic hepatitis.

Patient Concerns: A 55-year-old Korean man complained of dyspepsia as the main symptom.

Envelope-Stress Sensing Mechanism of Rcs and Cpx Signaling Pathways in Gram-Negative Bacteria.

The global public health burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is intensified by Gram-negative bacteria, which have an additional membrane, the outer membrane (OM), outside of the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) aid in maintaining envelope integrity through a phosphorylation cascade by controlling gene expression through sensor kinases and response regulators. In Escherichia coli, the major TCSs defending cells from envelope stress and adaptation are Rcs and Cpx, which are aided by OM lipoproteins RcsF and NlpE as sensors, respectively.

Comparison of Radiation Dose and Image Quality between the 2nd Generation and 3rd Generation Dual-Source Single-Energy and Dual-Source Dual-Energy CT of the Abdomen.

Purpose: We compared the radiation dose and image quality between the 2nd generation and the 3rd generation dual-source single-energy (DSSE) and dual-source dual-energy (DSDE) CT of the abdomen.

Materials And Methods: We included patients undergoing follow-up abdominal CT after partial or radical nephrectomy in the first 10 months of 2019 (2nd generation DS CT) and the first 10 months of 2020 (3rd generation DS CT). We divided the 320 patients into 4 groups (A, 2nd generation DSSE CT; B, 2nd generation DSDE CT; C, 3rd generation DSSE CT; and D, 3rd generation DSDE CT) ( = 80 each) matched by sex and body mass index.

Effects of Multimodal Rehabilitation on the Activities of Daily Living, Quality of Life, and Burden of Care for Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Control Study.

Background: Parkinson’s disease reduces patients’ function, activities of daily living, and quality of life, and increases their guardians’ burden of care. This study verified the effectiveness of a multimodal rehabilitation programme for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Trial design: This study was a multicentre parallel randomised controlled, single-blind, trial conducted in three hospitals in Korea.

Ectopic Adrenal Adenoma in Renal Sinus: A Case Report.

The kidney is a rare site of ectopic adrenal adenoma. To the best of our knowledge, some cases of ectopic adrenal adenoma have been found in the kidney, but few of these cases explain the CT and MRI findings of the lesion. We reported a case of ectopic adrenal adenoma in the left renal sinus.

Two cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the small intestine presenting with ileus: A case report.

Background: Extramedullary (extraosseous) plasmacytoma (EMP) of the small intestine is a rare plasma cell neoplasm (PCN) that presents with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. We describe 2 cases of EMP of the small intestine that presented with ileus.

Methods: A 78-year-old woman and 68-year-old man visited our clinic with complaints of abdominal discomfort and obstruction.

Synergistic antitumor activity of sorafenib and MG149 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most challenging cancers to overcome, and there is a need for better therapeutic strategies. Among the different cancer drugs that have been used in clinics, sorafenib is considered the standard first-line drug for advanced HCC. Here, to identify a chemical compound displaying a synergistic effect with sorafenib in HCC, we screened a focused chemical library and found that MG149, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor targeting the MYST family, exhibited the most synergistic anticancer effect with sorafenib on HCC cells.

Coherent terahertz wireless communication using dual-parallel MZM-based silicon photonic integrated circuits.

Coherent terahertz (THz) wireless communication using silicon photonics technology provides critical solutions for achieving high-capacity wireless transmission beyond 5G and 6G networks and seamless connectivity with fiber-based backbone networks. However, high-quality THz signal generation and noise-robust signal detection remain challenging owing to the presence of inter-channel crosstalk and additive noise in THz wireless environments. Here, we report coherent THz wireless communication using a silicon photonic integrated circuit that includes a dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) and advanced digital signal processing (DSP).