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ABSTACT: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) originate from the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs originate outside the gastrointestinal tract, referred to as extra GISTs, which is rare. Primary liver gastrointestinal stromal tumor (PLGIST) and liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (LMGIST) may present isolated liver lesion, making it difficult to determine their origin. A 38‐year‐old man who presented with isolated multiple giant cystic‐solid liver lesions, ultimately diagnosed as liver GIST through CT‐guided fine‐needle aspiration. However, distinguishing between PLGIST and LMGIST in this case is challenging due to the absence of detailed medical records of emergency small intestine resection 5 years ago. Over 2‐year follow‐up period, the maximum lesion size increased from 16 to 21 cm, still, no extra liver lesions were observed. This study aims to provide a review to enhance understanding of this rare liver entity, aiding in tumor diagnosis and staging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcoid myositis is a rare and often debilitating extrapulmonary manifestation of sarcoidosis that can be difficult to recognize without a prior sarcoidosis diagnosis. Sarcoidosis with muscle nodules or masses as the first symptom is the least common form, occurring in approximately 0.5%–2.3% of cases. This article presents four middle‐aged female patients who initially sought medical attention for a lower limb mass. Ultrasound examinations revealed consistent characteristic changes indicative of myositis. All patients underwent ultrasound‐guided muscle biopsy and were diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Therefore, ultrasonography plays a pivotal role as the primary diagnostic tool for the early detection of sarcoid myositis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes to enhance entanglement and control quantum steering via dissipative coupling in an open cavity magnomechanical system connected to a common reservoir shared by photon and magnon modes. In such a system, dissipative coupling induced by the common reservoir plays a crucial role in producing entanglements and quantum steering. The photon‐magnon‐phonon tripartite entanglement is significantly enhanced, exhibiting periodic sudden death and resurgence with the relative phase between coherent and dissipative couplings. It is revealed that the collaboration between dissipative and coherent couplings can produce entanglement and steering even in the absence of nonlinearity within the system. Moreover, the steering directivity can be controlled by adjusting the dissipative coupling strength and the relative phase. These findings are counterintuitive in terms of dissipation, which provides a novel approach for preparing quantum entanglement and manipulating quantum steering in an open system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary hepatic angiosarcoma (PHA) is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy. There is no specificity in clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and imaging examinations. The definitive diagnosis of PHA depends on pathological analysis. The gold standard method to obtain specimens is percutaneous transhepatic biopsy under the guidance of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). However, CEUS‐guided biopsy for PHA is controversial. If a biopsy is necessary, a comprehensive preoperative evaluation is essential. In addition, CEUS has an auxiliary value in diagnosing PHA. In this case, we present an elderly woman who underwent CEUS‐guided liver mass biopsy. The patient developed hemorrhagic shock after biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical scheme for a single‐magnon generator based on a hybrid cavity‐magnonic system, in which a microwave cavity is coupled to the magnetostatic mode through the magnetic dipole interaction and coupled to a superconducting qubit (transmon) through electric dipole interaction, and the virtual excitation of microwave photons mediates the interaction between the magnon mode and the transmon qubit, is proposed. The magnon blockade effect is studied based on the coexistence mechanism of anharmonicity of energy levels and multipath interference, and a global optimal condition of magnon blockade is obtained. The numerical results with accessible experimental parameters demonstrate that under this global optimal condition, a perfect single‐magnon generator with a second‐order correlation function tends to zero and a higher single‐magnon number can be achieved even at ambient temperature up to 25 mK. The current scheme is proposed based on the lithographically scalable and superconducting circuit compatible design, which provides convenience for precisely and flexibly engineering in experiments. It is expected to be used as an integrated single‐quanta generator in quantum network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the inter‐ and intra‐observer reliability of Sonography‐based Volume Computer Aided Diagnosis (SonoVCAD) in the display of 8 diagnostic planes of fetal echocardiography and to evaluate its efficiency. Methods: Three‐dimensional volume data sets of the 56 normal singleton fetuses were acquired from a 4‐chamber view by using a volume probe. After processing the data sets by using SonoVCAD, 8 cardiac diagnostic planes were displayed automatically. Three doctors with different experiences of performing fetal echocardiography evaluated each diagnostic plane and the success rates of 8 diagnostic planes were calculated. Inter‐observer and intra‐observer reliabilities were estimated by Cohen's kappa statistics. Results: A total of 276 volume data sets acquired from the 56 normal fetuses were used for SonoVCAD analysis and display. The success rate of each diagnostic section was more than 90%, ranging from 90.6% to 99.6%. Among 276 volumes, 81.5% (225/276) of volumes were able to generate all 8 diagnostic views successfully. Moderate to substantial agreement (kappa, 0.509–0.794) was found between 2 less experienced operators. Moderate to near‐perfect agreement (kappa, 0.439–0.933) was found between an expert and 2 less experienced sonographers. Intra‐observer reliability was substantial to near‐perfect (kappa, 0.602–0.903). The efficiency of SonoVCAD was assessed. The expert spent less time than 2 less experienced examiners (P < 0.001) but no significant difference was found between 2 less experienced examiners (P = 0.176). Besides, SonoVCAD consumed significantly less time than 2‐dimensional ultrasound (P < 0.001). Conclusions: SonoVCAD can significantly improve the success rates of 8 diagnostic planes in fetal echocardiography with low operator dependency, good reproducibility and high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enlargement of the left atrium is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and an accurate, convenient imaging modality is necessary for clinical practice. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of a novel imaging technique, two-dimensional tissue tracking (2 DTT), for assessment of left atrial (LA) volume and function and to compare its correlation and agreement with biplane area length ( AL) method and real time three-dimensional echocardiography ( RT3 DE). A total of 105 patients prospectively underwent 2 DTT, AL and RT3 DE. The LA volume index (LAVI) and emptying fraction were measured. In addition, intra- and inter-observer agreement were calculated by using the intraclass correlation coefficient. There were no significant differences in LAVI and emptying fraction measured by 2 DTT in comparison with those made by AL or RT3 DE, furthermore Bland-Altman analysis showed that 2 DTT had significantly better agreement for LAVI and emptying fraction with AL and RT3 DE. 2 DTT also exhibited smaller intra- and inter-observer variability as compared with AL or RT3 DE. Furthermore, the time to measure LA volume and acquire time-volume curve was significantly less by 2 DTT than that by RT3 DE (U = 49.00, P < 0.001). These observations suggest that the 2 DTT could provide valuable information which is consistent with the standard AL and RT3 DE measurements for LAVI and function with potentially lower intra- and inter-observer variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Increased oxidative stress plays a significant role in the etiology of cardiovascular disease. Lipid peroxidation, initiated in the presence of hydroxy radicals resulting in the production of malondialdehyde, directly produces oxidative stress. This study was designed to examine the direct impact of malondialdehyde on ventricular contractile function at the single cardiac myocyte level. Ventricular myocytes from adult rat hearts were stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz, and mechanical and intracellular Ca(2+) properties were evaluated using an IonOptix Myocam system. Contractile properties analyzed included peak shortening amplitude (PS), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90)), maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/-dLdt), and Ca(2+)-induced intracellular Ca(2+) fluorescence release (CICR) and intracellular Ca(2+) decay (tau). p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation was assessed with Western blot. (2) Our results indicated that malondialdehyde directly depressed PS, +/-dLdt and CICR in a concentration-dependent manner and shortened TPS without affecting TR(90) and tau. Interestingly, the malondialdehyde-induced cardiac mechanical effect was abolished by both the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 (1 and 10 micro M) and the antioxidant vitamin C (100 micro M). Western blot analysis confirmed direct phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase by malondialdehyde. (3) These findings revealed a novel role of malondialdehyde and p38 MAP kinase in lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress-associated cardiac dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although red algae are known to be obligatory photoautotrophs, the red microalga Porphyridium sp. was shown to assimilate and metabolize floridoside. A pulse-chase experiment with [14 C]floridoside showed that at the end of a 240-min pulse, 70% of total 14 C-uptake by the cells remained in the floridoside fraction. To evaluate the assimilation of floridoside by Porphyridium sp. cells, we exposed Porphyridium sp. not only to [14 C]floridoside but also to its constituents, [14 C]glycerol and [14 C]galactose, as compared with [14 C]bicarbonate. The extent of incorporation of [14 C] galactose by the Porphyridium sp. cells was insignificant (50–80 dpm·mL-1 ), whereas uptake of 14 C from [14 C]glycerol into the algal cells was evident (2.4 × 103 dpm·mL-1 ) after 60 min of the pulse. The pattern of 14 C distribution among the major constituent sugars, xylose, glucose and galactose, of the labeled soluble polysaccharide was dependent on the 14 C source. The relative content of [14 C]galactose in the soluble polysaccharide was highest (28.8%) for [14 C]floridoside-labeled culture and lowest (19.8%) for the [14 C]glycerol-labeled culture. Upon incubation of [14 C]floridoside with a crude extract of a cell-free system prepared from nonlabeled cells of Porphyridium sp., the label was indeed found to be incorporated into the sulfated polysaccharide. Our results suggested that the carbon metabolic pathway in Porphyridium sp. passes through the low molecular weight photoassimilatory product—floridoside—toward sulfated cell-wall polysaccharide production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although red algae are known to be obligatory photoautotrophs, the red microalga Porphyridium sp. was shown to assimilate and metabolize floridoside. A pulse-chase experiment with [14 C]floridoside showed that at the end of a 240-min pulse, 70% of total 14 C-uptake by the cells remained in the floridoside fraction. To evaluate the assimilation of floridoside by Porphyridium sp. cells, we exposed Porphyridium sp. not only to [14 C]floridoside but also to its constituents, [14 C]glycerol and [14 C]galactose, as compared with [14 C]bicarbonate. The extent of incorporation of [14 C] galactose by the Porphyridium sp. cells was insignificant (50–80 dpm·mL-1 ), whereas uptake of 14 C from [14 C]glycerol into the algal cells was evident (2.4 × 103 dpm·mL-1 ) after 60 min of the pulse. The pattern of 14 C distribution among the major constituent sugars, xylose, glucose and galactose, of the labeled soluble polysaccharide was dependent on the 14 C source. The relative content of [14 C]galactose in the soluble polysaccharide was highest (28.8%) for [14 C]floridoside-labeled culture and lowest (19.8%) for the [14 C]glycerol-labeled culture. Upon incubation of [14 C]floridoside with a crude extract of a cell-free system prepared from nonlabeled cells of Porphyridium sp., the label was indeed found to be incorporated into the sulfated polysaccharide. Our results suggested that the carbon metabolic pathway in Porphyridium sp. passes through the low molecular weight photoassimilatory product—floridoside—toward sulfated cell-wall polysaccharide production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main products of carbon fixation in the red algae are sulfated cell-wall polysaccharides, floridean starch, and low molecular weight (LMW) carbohydrates, mainly floridoside. In the red microalga Porphyridium sp., sulfated polysaccharide—cell bound and soluble—comprises up to 70% of the algal biomass. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the partitioning of fixed carbon in Porphyridium sp. toward the different products of carbon fixation. Using pulse-chase technique with [14C]bicarbonate, we followed 14C flow into the major compounds, namely, cell-wall polysaccharide, floridoside, starch, and protein, under various environmental conditions (i.e. carbon dioxide enrichment and nitrate starvation). 13C-NMR and gas chromatography analysis showed the main LMW product in Porphyridium sp. to be floridoside. After the short [14C]bicarbonate pulse (20 min), 42%–53% of total 14C uptake was initially found in floridoside. The appearance of 14C in the soluble polysaccharide was evident immediately at the end of the 20-min [14C]bicarbonate pulse. The specific radioactivity in the floridoside fraction declined by 80% after the 48-h chase, this decline being accompanied by increased labeling of starch and the soluble polysaccharide. In cells exposed to high CO2 concentration, larger amounts of 14C (about twice as much) were channeled into starch and soluble polysaccharide than in cells under low CO2 concentration. The most significant increase (1500%) in labeling during chase was found in the soluble polysaccharide of the nitrate-deprived cultures. It therefore seems likely that the large amounts of carbon incorporated by Porphyridium sp. cells into floridoside were subsequently used for the synthesis of macromolecular components. The data thus support the premise that floridoside serves as a dynamic carbon pool, which channels the fixed carbon toward polysaccharides and other end products according to the ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is manifested by compromised systolic and diastolic function. This study was designed to examine the role of advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) and AGE receptor (RAGE) in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Heart function was assessed in isolated control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic hearts following in vivo RAGE gene knockdown using RNA interference. Cardiomyocyte mechanical properties were evaluated including peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS) and time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90)). RAGE was assayed by RT-PCR and immunoblot. Diabetes significantly enhanced cardiac MG, AGE and RAGE levels accompanied with colocalization of AGE and RAGE in cardiomyocytes. Diabetes-elicited increase in RAGE was inhibited by in vivo siRNA interference. The AGE formation inhibitor benfotiamine significantly attenuated diabetes-induced elevation in MG, AGE, RAGE and collagen cross-linking without affecting hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia in diabetes. Diabetes markedly decreased LV contractility, as evidenced by reduced +/-dP/dt and LV developed pressure (LVDP), which were protected by RAGE gene knockdown. In addition, MG-derived AGE (MG-AGE) up-regulated cardiac RAGE mRNA and triggered cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction reminiscent of diabetic cardiomyopathy. The MG-AGE-elicited prolongation of TPS and TR(90) was ablated by an anti-RAGE antibody in cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, MG-AGE-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction was associated with mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) depolarization and reduced GSK-3beta inactivation in control cardiomyocytes, similar to those from in vivo diabetes. Treatment with siRNA-RAGE ablated diabetes-induced MMP depolarization and GSK-3beta inactivation. Collectively, our result implicated a role of AGE-RAGE in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

1. Oxidative stress plays a role in senescence-associated organ deterioration. This is supported by the beneficial effects of anti-oxidants against ageing-related organ damage, although their role in cardiac ageing has not been elucidated. 2. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of cardiac-specific overexpression of catalase, an enzyme for H(2)O(2) detoxification, on cardiac contractile function and protein damage in young (3-4 months) and old (26-28 months) male mice. Lifespan was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Cardiomyocyte contractile indices at various stimulus frequencies (0.1-5.0 Hz) were analysed, including peak shortening (PS), time to 90% PS, time to 90% relengthening (TR(90)) and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/-dL/dt). Protein damage was assessed using protein carbonyl formation. Catalase transgenic mice showed longer lifespan than wild-type FVB mice. The catalase transgene itself did not alter bodyweight or organ weight, or myocyte function. Ageing depressed +/-dL/dt and prolonged TR(90), but had no effect on other indices in FVB mice. Increased frequency triggered decreases in PS amplitude were exaggerated in aged FVB myocytes. Interestingly, ageing-induced mechanical defects were significantly attenuated in myocytes from catalase mice. Protein carbonyl formation was elevated in aged FVB compared with young FVB mice, which was significantly diminished in catalase mice. The proteomes of the myocardium of young or old FVB and catalase mice were compared using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Six proteins with differential expression between young and old FVB groups were tentatively identified, some of which were reversed by catalase. 3. In summary, the present data suggest that catalase protects cardiomyocytes from ageing-induced contractile defects and protein damage.

Evidence suggests that aging, per se, is a major risk factor for cardiac dysfunction. Oxidative modification of cardiac proteins by non-enzymatic glycation, i.e. advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), has been implicated as a causal factor in the aging process. This study was designed to examine the role of aging on cardiomyocyte contractile function, cardiac protein oxidation and oxidative modification. Mechanical properties were evaluated in ventricular myocytes from young (2-month) and aged (24-26-month) mice using a MyoCam system. The mechanical indices evaluated were peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR90) and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/- dL/dt). Oxidative stress and protein damage were evaluated by glutathione and glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) ratio and protein carbonyl content, respectively. Activation of NAD(P)H oxidase was determined by immunoblotting. Aged myocytes displayed a larger cell cross-sectional area, prolonged TR90, and normal PS, +/- dL/dt and TPS compared with young myocytes. Aged myocytes were less tolerant of high stimulus frequency (from 0.1 to 5 Hz) compared with young myocytes. Oxidative stress and protein oxidative damage were both elevated in the aging group associated with significantly enhanced p47phox but not gp91phox expression. In addition, level of cardiac AGEs was approximately 2.5-fold higher in aged hearts than young ones determined by AGEs-ELISA. A group of proteins with a molecular range between 50 and 75 kDa with pI of 4-7 was distinctively modified in aged heart using one- or two-dimension SDS gel electrophoresis analysis. These data demonstrate cardiac diastolic dysfunction and reduced stress tolerance in aged cardiac myocytes, which may be associated with enhanced cardiac oxidative damage, level of AGEs and protein modification by AGEs.