Effect of Hypertension on Long-term Adverse Clinical Outcomes and Liver Fibrosis Progression in MASLD.

Background & Aims: Hypertension is common in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but its impact on long-term clinical outcomes and disease progression remains unclear. This study investigated the association of hypertension and risk of adverse clinical outcomes and progression of liver stiffness/fibrosis in MASLD.

Methods: Three multicenter prospective cohorts were analyzed: the UK BioBank (UKBB) cohort to assess the risk of adverse clinical outcomes, the VCTE-Prognosis cohort to assess liver stiffness/fibrosis progression, and the Paired Liver Biopsy cohort to assess histologic liver fibrosis progression.

Development of dual-ended readout PET detectors achieving high 3D position resolution and high timing resolution using NINO and PICO2023 ASICs.

Background: Time-of-flight (TOF) measurement in positron emission tomography (PET) scanner can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio of images. Despite the significant improvements of the timing resolution of PET detectors in recent years, further development is urgently needed.

Purpose: This work aims to develop a PET detector with high 3D position resolution and excellent timing resolution by using two high timing performance ASICs for whole-body and organ-specific TOF PET scanners.

Reconstruction of total-body multi parametric images with shortened-duration dynamic [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET scans.

The lengthy 1 h dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) scans discomfort patients, add motion artifacts, and inflate costs, highlighting the need for tech advancements to reduce scan times. Therefore, we attempted to reconstruct multi-parametric imaging with only 20 min dynamic PET frames through deep learning techniques.Total-body PET data from 49 subjects (18 [Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 and 31 [Ga]Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-11) at Renji Hospital were used.

Effects of inter-crystal scattering events on the performance of SIAT aPET.

The probability of 511 keV-rays undergoing inter-crystal scattering (ICS) in current positron emission tomography (PET) detectors is high. The objective of this research is to study the impact of the ICS events on the performance of the small animal SIAT aPET scanner.The SIAT aPET scanner is composed of 48 detectors organized in 4 rings with each ring containing 12 detectors.

Clinical significance of anti-mitochondrial antibodies and PBC-specific anti-nuclear antibodies in evaluating atypical primary biliary cholangitis with normal alkaline phosphatase levels.

Objectives: The clinical implications of positive anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) and/or primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)-specific anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) in patients with normal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) remain uncertain.

Methods: Patients at The Second Hospital of Nanjing with positive AMAs/PBC-ANAs and normal ALP levels from January 2016 to July 2024 were categorized into three groups based on autoantibody profiles: [AMA/AMA-M2][gp210/sp100], [AMA/AMA-M2][gp210/sp100], and [AMA/AMA-M2][gp210/sp100]. The study compared PBC diagnostic rates, clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and pathology across these groups.

Superlubricity Between Alkane Molecules and Graphite: Effect of Alkane Chain Length.

Graphite used as an oil lubricant additive demonstrates superior friction-reducing capability, but the optimal oil molecular structure for achieving the best lubrication state remains debated. In this study, the synergistic lubrication between alkane molecules with different chain lengths and graphite is investigated and compared using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Superlubricity occurred in the hexadecane environment with an extremely low friction coefficient of 0.

Disrupted static and dynamic small-world brain network topologies in patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia is a common and severe mental disorder, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of schizophrenia by simultaneously examining changes in the static and dynamic small-world brain network properties.

Methods: In this study, 82 patients with schizophrenia and 76 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited.

Complement C3 predicting acute-on-chronic liver failure in cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection within 90 days: a cohort study.

Objective: Cirrhotic patients with bacterial infections (BI) face high risks of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and mortality. This study assessed the diagnostic value of serum complement component 3 (C3) for predicting 90-day ACLF and mortality in this population.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed clinical data from 105 cirrhotic patients with BI (mean age 57.

Longitudinal Changes in Fibrosis Markers: Monitoring Stiffness/Fibrosis Progression and Prognostic Outcomes in MASLD.

Background & Aims: Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) is a noninvasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, its role of dynamic FIB-4 for assessing fibrosis progression and predicting clinical outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between changes in FIB-4 and changes in liver stiffness, fibrosis progression, and outcomes in MASLD.

Differences between the image-derived input functions of the descending aorta and carotid artery in brain pharmacokinetic parametric analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantitatively reveal the difference between the descending aorta IDIF (IDIFa) and carotid artery IDIF (IDIFc) in the task of brain pharmacokinetic parametric analysis.

Methods: 18F-FDG dynamic PET data from 50 patients collected by UIH uEXPLORER PET/CT were used to extract the IDIFa and IDIFc; the Patlak graphical model (PGM) and irreversible 2-tissue compartmental model (2TCM) were applied for brain pharmacokinetic parametric analysis. The Patlak Ki and Vt images yielded by the two types of IDIFs are compared using relative error (RE), while the parameters K1∼k3 and fv were analyzed via paired t-tests to determine the significance of the differences.

Structural semantic-guided MR synthesis from PET images via a dual cross-attention mechanism.

Background: Multimodal medical imaging methods, such as positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), are widely used for diagnosing diseases because they provide both structural and functional information. However, PET/CT has limitations in terms of visualizing soft tissues, particularly for brain diseases, which highlights the need for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Purpose: Given the limited adoption of PET/ magnetic resonance (MR) devices for making MR images available and the discomfort of elderly cancer patients during long-term MR scanning, a promising solution is to develop methods for synthesizing MR images from other modalities.

Specific association and independent predictive value of HBV RNA in the disease progression of hepatitis B with low-level viremia.

Background And Objective(s): HBV RNA serve as a downstream transcriptional product of cccDNA within the liver. This study is the first to investigate the diagnostic significance of serum HBV RNA in HBV low-level viremia (LLV) patients, elucidating the interrelationships among serum HBV RNA, HBV DNA, and HBsAg.

Methods: A cohort of 514 HBV LLV patients was collected from The Second Hospital of Nanjing and divided into four groups: asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

alveolar macrophages accelerate the progression of precancerous atypical adenomatous hyperplasia by promoting the angiogenic function regulated by fatty acid metabolism.

Lung cancer is preceded by premalignant lesions, and what factors drive this transformation and the potential regulatory mode in the context of tumor initiation remain to be elucidated. In the course of precancerous lesions in mice, we found a phasic shift in metabolic patterns. Macrophages are a heterogeneous cell population with high plasticity in the tumor microenvironment.

Texture features-guided image reconstruction kernel method forF-FDG delayed PET imaging.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a crucial imaging technology that is widely used for cancer staging and treatment response assessment. Delayed PET imaging (or dual-time-point imaging) involves a second PET acquisition step approximately 33 min after the initial scan in this study, providing more dynamic biological information, improving lesion detectability, and allowing patients to rest during the scan. However, with increasing time, the number of photons in the second scan decreases, which raises the difficulty of the second PET image reconstruction process.

Mitochondria-related parameters of lymphocyte subsets can distinguish different disease stages in patients with HBV infection.

To explore the difference of peripheral immune indexes especially T subsets cell mitochondrial indexes in patients with chronic HBV infection (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and healthy controls (HCs). From May 2023 to December 2023, HBV infected patients aged 40-59 years (HBV infection group, 236 cases) and healthy people of the same age group (control group, 112 cases) were selected as the study objects. More than 80 parameters related to lymphocyte including cell percentage, absolute count, mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial low membrane potential were obtained by flow cytometry.

The effect of nano‑selenium application on the quality and flavor of kiwifruit.

This study investigates the impact of foliar spraying with different concentrations of nano‑selenium (0, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/L) on the nutritional value, antioxidant capacity, and volatile compounds of kiwifruit. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and automated amino acid analysis, we analyzed various parameters in the kiwifruit samples. The results indicated that the total soluble solids, selenium content, vitamin C, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase levels initially increased and then decreased with rising nano‑selenium concentrations, with the 15 mg/L concentration showing the most significant improvement in kiwifruit quality.

Mechanism and Multilayer Perceptron prediction model of the removal of -terpineol, terpinen-4-ol and carvone from pasteurized citrus juices by -cyclodextrin encapsulation.

This study revealed the mechanism of improvement in sensory evaluation of citrus juices after pasteurization by the natural cyclodextrin (-CD), and developed a prediction model for encapsulation based on conventional physicochemical indicators. The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that the off-flavor in citrus juice after pasteurization were mainly caused by -terpineol, terpinen-4-ol and carvone, and the addition of -CD could effectively reduce the content of these compounds. The inclusion complexes of -CD and off-flavor compounds were characterized by formation constants, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses, followed by molecular docking to show the possible conformations of -CD and off-flavor compounds to form 1:1 inclusion complex by hydrophobic interaction, van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding.

Developing a generalized nonlinear mixed-effects biomass model at stand-level under different age conditions for Chinese fir based on LiDAR and ground survey data in southern China.

Introduction: Chinese fir is a crucial afforestation and timber species in southern China. Accurate estimation of its stand biomass is vital for forest resource assessment, ecological industry development, and ecosystem management. However, traditional biomass prediction methods often face limitations in terms of accuracy and efficiency, highlighting the need for more robust modeling approaches.

Machine learning positioning algorithms for long semi-monolithic scintillator PET detectors.

In this work, machine learning positioning algorithms are developed to improve the spatial resolutions of the semi-monolithic scintillator detectors in both monolithic () and depth of interaction () directions.Two long semi-monolithic scintillator detectors consisting of 12 lutetium yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) slabs of 0.96 × 56 × 10 mmand 14 LYSO slabs of 0.

Changes in microbial composition during flue-cured tobacco aging and their effects on chemical composition: a review.

The aging is a crucial stage in tobacco processing, which contributes to the reduction of impurities and irritation, and the stabilization of the internal chemical composition of the leaves. However, it usually takes a long time (2-3 years) for the nature aging process of tobacco (20 °C-30 °C, relative humidity of 65-75%), which seriously affects the processing efficiency of tobacco. Microorganisms play an important role in the change of chemical composition and characteristic aromatic substances of tobacco.

Mitochondrial Membrane Potential of CD8 T Cells Predicts Bacterial Infection and Rapid Development of Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure in Cirrhotic Patients.

Background And Aims: Patients with cirrhosis are at an increased risk of bacterial infection (BI), which is the most common precondition for acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the ability of mitochondria-related indicators (mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)) of T cells in peripheral blood to predict BI and ACLF within 90 days in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: We prospectively studied mitochondria-related indicators in various T cells from 235 cirrhotic patients at the Second Hospital of Nanjing.

Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students' professional identity: a qualitative investigation.

Objective: To explore the impact and mechanisms of COVID-19 on the professional identity of nursing students, providing theoretical and practical insights to inform nursing education reform.

Method: This study employed Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method to explore nursing students' experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data collection continued until information saturation was achieved.

Erratum: Author correction to "Up-regulation of glyclipid transfer protein by bicyclol causes spontaneous restriction of hepatitis C virus replication" [Acta Pharm Sin B 9 (2019) 769-781].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.

Multistage Diffusion Model With Phase Error Correction for Fast PET Imaging.

Fast PET imaging is clinically important for reducing motion artifacts and improving patient comfort. While recent diffusion-based deep learning methods have shown promise, they often fail to capture the true PET degradation process, suffer from accumulated inference errors, introduce artifacts, and require extensive reconstruction iterations. To address these challenges, we propose a novel multistage diffusion framework tailored for fast PET imaging.