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It is an undisputed fact that aging increases the risk of low-temperature cracking in asphalt pavement. Previous studies on aging have focused on oxidative aging, but few studies on thermoreversible aging have been reported. The existing literature has shown that thermoreversible aging has the same effect as oxidative aging on cracking of asphalt pavement in cold region, so it is obvious that the study of thermoreversible aging is of great practical significance to improve cracking of asphalt pavement. This paper introduces the current status of thermoreversible aging research from the concept, mechanisms, characterisation methods and effects, presents the problems of existing research and indicates the direction of further research, which is important for accurately characterising the mechanical properties of asphalt binders, controlling the waste addition ratio and improving the durability of asphalt pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain organoids are widely used to model brain development and diseases. However, a major challenge in their application is the insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to the core region, restricting the size and maturation of the organoids. In order to vascularize brain organoids and enhance the nutritional supply to their core areas, two-photon polymerization (TPP) 3D printing is employed to fabricate high-resolution meshed vessels in this study. These vessels made of photoresist with densely distributed micropores with a diameter of 20 μm on the sidewall, are cocultured with brain organoids to facilitate the diffusion of culture medium into the organoids. The vascularized organoids exhibit dimensional breaking growth and enhanced proliferation, reduced hypoxia and apoptosis, suggesting that the 3D-printed meshed vessels partially mimic vascular function to promote the culture of organoids. Furthermore, cortical, striatal and medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) organoids are respectively differentiated to generate Cortico-Striatal-MGE assembloids by 3D-printed vessels. The enhanced migration, projection and excitatory signaling transduction are observed between different brain regional organoids in the assembloids. This study presents an approach using TPP 3D printing to construct vascularized brain organoids and assembloids for enhancing the development and assembly, offering a research model and platform for neurological diseases.

Introduction and Importance: Colon cancer presenting as a large abdominal mass accompanied by abscess and rupture is rare and prone to be misdiagnosed and delayed. In addition, the treatment plan is not clear when combined with abdominal wall metastasis., Case Presentation: A 79-year-old woman presented with a large abdominal mass accompanied by abscess and rupture. It was misdiagnosed as a soft tissue infection in a local hospital, and after a comprehensive examination, it was diagnosed as sigmoid colon cancer with abdominal wall metastasis and abscess formation. The patient underwent a one-stage surgery, including en bloc resection of the tumor and invaded abdominal wall, as well as autologous tissue abdominal wall reconstruction, with a good clinical prognosis., Clinical Discussion: For the diagnosis of large abdominal masses, abdominal CT, and pus culture are more valuable than ultrasound. For colon cancer with abdominal wall metastasis, one-stage surgery to completely remove the tumor and full-thickness of the abdominal wall, and the use of autologous tissue abdominal wall reconstruction technology to repair defects is feasible., Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of using colon cancer as one of the differential diagnoses for the diagnosis for large abdominal mass accompanied by abscess and rupture in elderly patients, as well as the possibility of one-stage surgical resection of the tumor and invasion of the abdominal wall and reconstruction of the abdominal wall with autologous tissue when there is abdominal wall metastasis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Despite the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy, people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) are at an increased risk for cardiac disease., Purpose: To explore the presence and extent of diastolic atrial and left ventricular dysfunction in PLWH using cardiac MRI in correlation with clinical markers of disease activity., Study Type: Prospective., Population: A total of 163 participants comprising 101 HIV-infected individuals (age: 52 years [42-62 years]; 92% male) and 62 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (age: 51 years [30-72 years]; 85% male)., Field Strength/sequence: 3.0 T, cardiac MRI including balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) for the short-axis, two-, three-, and four-chamber views were performed., Assessment: Assessment of cardiac function and strain analysis were accomplished by CVI42 software. Blood samples for CD4 + T cells and cardiac risk factors were also collected before MRI., Statistical Tests: Independent t tests, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multivariate linear analyses (significance level: P < 0.05)., Results: PLWH had a significantly larger left atrial volume maximum index (LAVImax: 32.6 ± 8.7 vs. 28.7 ± 8.1 mL/m 2 ), minimum (LAVImin: 14.8 ± 5.5 vs. 11.5 ± 5.4 mL/m 2 ,), and prior to atrial contraction (LAVIpre-a: 23.4 ± 6.7 vs. 19.7 ± 7.2 mL/m 2 ) as compared to healthy volunteers. The LA reservoir (LAtEF: 55.0 ± 10.2 vs. 61.4 ± 10.4; Sls: 29.0 ± 8.1 vs. 33.8 ± 11.8), conduit (LApEF: 28.4 ± 8.2 vs. 32.3 ± 11.3, P = 0.01; Sle: 16.3 ± 6.5 vs. 18.9 ± 8.2), and booster pump function (LAaEF: 37.4 ± 12.4 vs. 42.7 ± 13.1, P = 0.01, Sla: 12.7 ± 5.1 vs. 14.9 ± 5.7) were all significant impaired in PLWH. Global circumferential left ventricular diastolic strain rate (LVGCS-d) was significantly lower in the HIV patients. Multivariate analysis results showed that Nadir CD4 + T cells had a significant adverse association with LVGCS-d (β = 0.51)., Conclusion: LA structure abnormalities and LV diastolic dysfunction were manifested in PLWH, with Nadir CD4+ T cell counts potentially serving as a risk factor for early cardiac diastolic dysfunction., Level of Evidence: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3., (© 2024 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

Background: People infected with human immunodeficiency virus (PIWH) have a higher risk of cardiovascular events. This study was designed to compare the differences in plaque characteristics and perivascular fat between subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in PIWH and healthy controls (HC) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We also assessed the associations between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and coronary artery disease (CAD)., Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 158 PIWH and 79 controls. CCTA was used to evaluate coronary artery plaque prevalence, coronary stenosis severity, plaque composition, plaque volume, and perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between the prevalence of coronary artery plaque and HIV-related clinical indicators., Results: There was no difference in total coronary artery plaque prevalence between PIWH and controls (44.3% vs. 32.9%; P=0.09), but the prevalence of noncalcified plaque was significantly higher in PIWH compared with the controls (33.5% vs. 16.5%; P=0.006). After adjustment for age, sex, statin use, and family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the prevalence of noncalcified plaque remained 2 times higher in PIWH [odds ratio (OR), 2.082; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007-4.304; P=0.048]. The perivascular FAI measured around the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was higher in PIWH (-71.4±5.7 vs. -73.5±7.0; P=0.03) compared with that of the controls. The intra-group analyses of PIWH suggested that the decrease in nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with the increased prevalence of noncalcified plaque (OR, 4.139; 95% CI: 1.312-13.060; P=0.02)., Conclusions: PIWH have a higher risk of developing noncalcified plaque and greater perivascular fat. In addition, the increased noncalcified plaque prevalence in PIWH may be associated with the immunodeficiency caused by HIV., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://qims.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/qims-24-79/coif). T.L. serves as an unpaid editorial board member of Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. All rights reserved.)

The current research on fracture conductivity ignores the placement of the proppant in fractures and relies on single-fracture conductivity testing and calculation, which cannot represent the overall conductivity of complex fracture systems. This research proposes a calculation method for the long-term conductivity of complex fractures based on proppant placement. This method considers fracture morphology, proppant placement, proppant embedment, and deformation under high closing pressure. The research results show that fracture conductivity decreases with increasing time, which can be divided into three stages: the embedding stage, the creep stage, and the stabilization stage. The long-term conductivity of the main fracture is higher than that of the branching fracture. With increasing closing pressure, the conductivities of both the main fracture and the branching fracture decrease. This is because increasing closure stress accelerates proppant embedment and creep, compressing the fluid flow space and further reducing fracture conductivity. Fracture conductivity is related to the placement of the proppant and sand concentration. Increasing the sand ratio can significantly increase the placement of the proppant in the main fracture and branching fractures, thereby improving fracture conductivity. Increasing the fracturing fluid viscosity can increase its proppant migration capacity. The proppant does not easily settle prematurely in high-viscosity fracturing fluid and can enter more into branching fractures, thereby improving their conductivity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

This study employs network pharmacology to uncover the pharmacological mechanisms underlying Shen-qi-di-huang decoction's efficacy in treating uremia. We identified a total of 927 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through differential expression analysis and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform, of which 607 were downregulated and 320 were upregulated. We also obtained the effective biological components and related target gene information of Chinese herbal medicines such as Renshen, Huangqi, shudihuang, Shanyao, Fuling, Mudanpi, and Shanzhuyu in Shen-qi-di-huang decoction and constructed a regulatory relationship network between molecular components and target genes in Shen-qi-di-huang decoction. We then constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of 15 targeted genes (RXRA, ND6, CYP1B1, SLPI, CDKN1A, RB1, HIF1A, MYC, HSPB1, IFNGR1, NQO1, IRF1, RASA1, PSMG1 and MAP2K4) using the STRING database and visualized the PPI network using the software Cytoscape. In addition, we revealed the key molecular functions of uremia through Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, mainly including neuron apoptotic process, cellular response to oxidative stress, regulation of neuron apoptotic process, neuron projection cytoplasm, RNA polymerase II transcription regulator complex, plasma membrane bounded cell projection cytoplasm, NADH and NADPH dehydrogenase (quinone) activity, protein kinase inhibitor and ubiquitin protein ligase binding, etc. Finally, we identified important biological pathways in uremia through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, which mainly concentrated in Kaposi sarcoma-associated, small cell lung cancer, Gastric cancer, Hepatitis B and C, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Thyroid cancer, Bladder cancer, MAPK signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, HIF-1 signaling pathway, Thyroid hormone signaling pathway and Cell cycle, etc. Using integrated bioinformatical analysis, we elucidated key pharmacological mechanisms based on targeted genes, which was enable early identification of patients with uremia and would contribute to early clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients.