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Background: We evaluated the feasibility of the reduced field-of-view (rFOV) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with computed DWI technique by comparison and analysis of the inter-method agreement among acquired rFOV DWI (rFOVA), rFOV DWI with computed DWI technique (rFOVS), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A total of 130 patients with biopsy-proven breast cancers who underwent breast MRI from April 2017 to December 2017 were included in this study. The rFOVS were reformatted by calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient curve obtained from rFOVA b = 0 s/mm2 and b = 500 s/mm2. Visual assessment of the image quality of rFOVA b = 1000 s/mm2, rFOVS, and DCE MRI was performed using a four-point grading system. Morphologic analyses of the index cancer was performed on rFOVA, rFOVS, and DCE MRI. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and contrast of tumor-to-parenchyma (TPC) were calculated. Results: Image quality scores with rFOVA, rFOVS, and DCE MRI were not significantly different (p = 0.357). Lesion analysis of shape, margin, and size of the index cancer also did not show significant differences among the three sequences (p = 0.858, p = 0.242, and p = 0.858, respectively). SNR, CNR, and TPC of DCE MRI were significantly higher than those of rFOVA and rFOVS (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.016, respectively). Significant differences were not found between the SNR, CNR, and TPC of rFOVA and those of rFOVS (p > 0.999, p > 0.999, and p > 0.999, respectively). Conclusion: The rFOVA and rFOVS showed nearly equivalent levels of image quality required for morphological analysis of the tumors and for lesion conspicuity compared with DCE MRI.

The seafood processing industry generates significant waste, including mackerel heads (MH), constituting 20–32% of total waste. This study explored the potential of utilizing MH as a feed source for black soldier fly larvae (BSF larvae). BSF larvae are known for their ability to efficiently convert organic materials into nutrient-rich biomass. Five concentrations of MH (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% in chicken feed) were fed to BSF larvae for eight days. After harvesting, their growth, MH conversion efficiency, nutritional content, and heavy metals reduction potential were measured. BSF larvae showed optimal growth when fed with a feed containing 20% MH, resulting in a 14.36-fold increase in weight compared to the control group, as determined by the Fisher’s Least Significant Difference Test. BSF larvae maintained a survival rate of 99.33%. With the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 2.09 at 20% MH, feed efficiency was improved by up to 65.15%, and feed reduction up to 73.53%. MH enhanced lipid and protein content in BSF larvae. Furthermore, BSF larvae in this study showed higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as well as other amino acids which are required for breeding animals. The current study highlights the potential of MH as a feed source for BSF larvae, improving nutritional biomass. It also suggests BSF larvae as an eco-friendly option for handling seafood processing waste and as an alternative feed source for animals.

The edible brown seaweed, Ecklonia cava, is highly valued for its bioactive compounds, and is widely used in food supplements and functional foods. The increasing demand for this seaweed in the food industry emphasizes the necessity for sustainable cultivation practices. This study focused on inducing callus in the meristem and stipe of E. cava using different culture media: Provasoli’s enriched seawater medium (PESI), enriched artificial seawater medium (ESAW), artificial enriched seawater medium (ASP2), or Von Stosch’s enriched seawater medium (VS). Various abiotic stress factors (photoperiod, agar concentration, and temperature), growth regulators, carbon sources, polyamines, and plasma treatments were explored for their impact on callus induction. Both stipe and meristem explants developed callus within three to six weeks across all media except ASP2. Callus development was favored at temperatures between 8 to 13 °C and in the absence of light. Stipe explants showed a higher callus induction rate (up to 65.59 ± 6.24%) compared to meristem (up to 57.53 ± 8.32%). Meristem explants showed optimal callus induction in PESI medium with a low concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; 40.93 ± 8.65%). However, higher concentrations of IAA and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) reduced meristem callus induction. Stipe showed high induced-callus (up to 50.37 ± 5.17%) in PESI medium with low concentrations of IAA, NAA, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Both stipe and meristem explants induced largest callus at 2% sucrose, but higher carbon source concentrations reduced callus induction. Spermine (Spm) at 1 µM resulted in high induced calluses; however, increasing Spm concentrations decreased callus induction. This tissue culture technique not only supports mass cultivation of E. cava, but also holds potential for extending to other seaweed species, contributing to the sustainability of seaweed stocks for the food industry.

The deep-sea whelk Buccinum tenuissimum Kuroda is highly sought-after as food in East Asian countries, notably, Korea and Japan. However, it lacks official recognition as a food product in Korea. This study aimed to assess its nutritional composition and safety for the potential development of seafood products. The nutritional analysis revealed high protein (13.54–20.47 g/100 g whelk), fat (0.85–8.59 g/100 g whelk), carbohydrate (1.55–12.81 g/100 g whelk), and dietary fiber (1.25–1.95 g/100 g whelk) contents in both muscle and gut samples, with energy contents ranging from 339.11 ± 1.64 to 692.00 ± 3.21 kJ/100 g. Key minerals, including iron, potassium, calcium, and sodium, and essential fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids, were abundant, making it a potential supplementary food. Notably, heavy metal levels met the Korean standards for seafood safety. No trans fats, radioactivity concerning the radioactive isotopes 134Cs/137Cs and 131I, or pathogenic bacteria were detected. This confirms the safety and nutritional value of deep-sea whelks, suggesting their potential for developing seafood products rich in beneficial components, which could enhance nutrition and food security while contributing to economic growth.

The use of natural products in developing respiratory-function-protective pharmaceuticals is actively progressing. However, in this context, the improvement effects of young Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) extracts have not been evaluated yet. Thus, this study investigated the anti-inflammatory and lung damage improvement effects of immature Asian pear extract (IAP; 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg) using a particulate matter 2.5 μm (PM2.5)-induced sub-acute lung injury mouse model. The experimental results were compared with dexamethasone (0.75 mg/kg), used as a control drug. After two intranasal instillations of PM2.5 and ten doses of IAP extract for eight days, changes in macroscopic lung autopsy, leukocyte fractionation from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung antioxidant defense system, lung histopathology, and mRNA expression in lung tissue were confirmed. Stress-induced inflammatory lung damage through the increased expression of PM2.5-induced PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK mRNA was significantly suppressed via the administration of IAP extract (400–100 mg/kg). Furthermore, IAP extract administration promoted serous fluid production in lung tissue, increased substance P and ACh levels, and decreased mucus-production-related expression of MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA. Interestingly, the observed effects showed a dose-dependent manner without serious hepatotoxicity. The results of this study indicate that a proper oral administration of IAP extract could be helpful in protecting against lung diseases, positioning IAP extract as a potential candidate for an alternative agent to safeguard the respiratory system.

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the infiltration of leukocytes, particularly eosinophils, into the airways, resulting in respiratory dysfunction. To develop new asthma treatment materials with minimal side effects and excellent bioactivities, we evaluated the efficacy of immature Asian pear extract (IAP extract; 400–100 mg/kg) in alleviating ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in female C57BL/6J mice. This study assesses various parameters associated with OVA-induced allergic asthma including lung weight, macroscopic necropsy findings, the total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the total leukocyte count and leukocyte differential count, serum ovalbumin-specific Ig E (OVA-sIg E) levels, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 contents in BALF, histopathological changes in the lungs, and alterations in oxidative stress and inflammation-related mRNA expressions. The results of this study demonstrate clear asthma-related findings in the OVA control group. However, the oral administration of IAP extract (at doses ranging from 400 to 100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities by regulating the expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/phosphatase and TENsin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PI3K/Akt/PTEN), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in a dose-dependent manner. These effects are comparable to those observed with dexamethasone at a concentration of 0.75 mg/kg. As a result, the oral administration of an appropriate dose of IAP extract holds promise as a potential natural drug or health-functional food material for improving respiratory function.

Alaska pollack roe (APR) is a protein source that is usually salted and fermented, containing a high salt content. Using a combination of superheated steam roasting and smoking, we developed a new low-salt ready-to-eat APR variant, whose quality characteristics we analyzed. The optimal conditions for roasting (216 °C for 4 min) and smoking (64 °C for 14 min) were obtained from sensorial attributes using response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, smoke-roasted APR had an overall acceptance (OA) score of 8.89. The combination of roasting and smoking significantly increased volatile basic nitrogen (VBN, 18.6%) and decreased the total bacterial count (TBC, 38.6%), while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were not affected. Smoke-roasting APR also increased its nutritional content to 30% protein with 44% essential amino acids, and more than 40% DHA and EPA in 4.3% fat. During 30 days of storage, the OA, VBN, TBARS, and TBC values significantly changed with time and storage temperature (p < 0.05). The shelf life of the product was estimated to be 24 d. In conclusion, the combination of roasting and smoking APR could improve product quality and may be an alternative to diversify processed APR.

Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is an immune checkpoint protein that facilitates T cell exhaustion and modulates the tumor-associated microenvironment, and could be a potential target for immune checkpoint inhibition. This study was conducted to assess Gal-9 expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and evaluate its association with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and immune cell infiltration in tumors and the clinical outcome of patients. Overall, 109 patients with TNBC were included. Gal-9 expression was assessed its relationships with tumor clinicopathologic characteristics, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels, PD-L1+ immune cells, and tumor cells by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. Low Gal-9 expression was statistically correlated with higher tumor stage (p = 0.031) and presence of lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.008). High Gal-9 expression was associated with a high level of stromal TILs (sTIL; p = 0.011) and positive PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (p = 0.004). In survival analyses, low Gal-9 expression was associated with significantly poor OS (p = 0.013) in patients with TNBC with PD-L1 negativity in tumor cells. Our findings suggest that increased Gal-9 expression is associated with changes in the antitumor microenvironment, such as increased immune cell infiltration and antimetastatic changes. This study emphasizes the predictive value and promising clinical applications of Gal-9 in TNBC.