Search

Extraskeletal osteochondroma, a variant of chondroma, typically arises in the para-articular location of hands and feet. It is a rare disease and is particularly uncommon when joint components are not involved or localized away from joints. Herein, we report a case of extraskeletal osteochondroma in the posterior neck of a 66-year-old female. The characteristic radiologic finding of our case is presented, along with the typical findings of the disease and review of related literature reports.

Abstract Background While many studies investigated changes in working status in cancer survivors, most studies have been performed in survivors of breast cancer and few studies evaluated factors associated with changes in the working status of cancer survivors comprehensively. We aimed to evaluate the changes in the working status of cancer survivors after diagnosis and socio-demographic, clinical, work-related and psychological factors associated with it. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult patients with cancer who were working at the time of diagnosis. A trained interviewer inquired about participants’ current working status, including leave of absence, discontinuing, continuing, and changing work. Sociodemographic, clinical, work-related and psychological factors were measured. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with changes in the working status. Results Among the 730 patients, 29%, 18% and 6% were currently on a discontinued working, leave of absence and had changed jobs, respectively. Patients who discontinued working after cancer diagnosis were more likely to be female, have ≥ $3,000 of monthly family income, not be the principal wage earners for their families and be blue-collar workers. In clinical characteristics, advanced-stage cancer and experienced cancer recurrence was associated with leave of absence and discontinued working. In work-related and psychological factors, stress due to insufficient job control (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 2.26), interpersonal conflict (RRR = 1.86), job insecurity (RRR = 2.63), organizational system (RRR = 3.49), and lack of reward (RRR = 11.76), and less meaning to work were more likely to discontinue working after a cancer diagnosis. Conclusion Occupational health care professionals and other stakeholders need to openly communicate with patients with cancer about potential barriers during the return-to-work trajectory.

Abstract Alpelisib is the first alpha-specific phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, PI3K catalytic subunit alpha-mutated, advanced, or metastatic breast cancer. Substantial attempts have been made to extend its clinical use to other types of cancer. Analytical methods proven to accurately quantify alpelisib would improve the reliability of the preclinical and clinical data of alpelisib. Therefore, we developed and validated a quantification method based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for alpelisib in mouse and human plasma samples. Alpelisib and an internal standard (IS; enzalutamide) were separated from endogenous substances using an XTerra MS C18 column with a linear gradient of 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Multiple reaction monitoring transitions for alpelisib and the IS were m/z 442.1 > 328.0 and m/z 465.0 > 209.1, respectively. The calibration curve for alpelisib was confirmed to be linear in the range of 1–2000 ng/mL in both mouse and human plasma. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision met the acceptance criteria, and no significant matrix effects were observed. Alpelisib was stable under various storage and handling conditions, and the carryover effect was overcome using the injection loop flushing method. We successfully used this assay to study the in vitro metabolic profiles and in vivo pharmacokinetics of alpelisib in mice. Here, to the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time a valid quantitative method for alpelisib in mouse and human plasma, which could aid in providing valuable pharmacokinetic information on alpelisib to increase its clinical availability.

Background Patients with gastric cancer often encounter impaired quality of life and reduced tolerability to adjuvant treatments after surgery. Weight preservation is crucial for the overall prognosis of these patients, and exercise and supplemental nutrition play the main role. This study is the first randomized clinical trial to apply personalized, treatment stage-adjusted digital intervention with wearable devices in gastric cancer rehabilitation intervention for 12 months, commencing immediately after surgery. Methods This is a prospective, multicenter, two-armed, randomized controlled trial and aims to recruit 324 patients from two hospitals. Patients will be randomly allocated to two groups for 1 year of rehabilitation, starting immediately after the operation: a personalized digital therapeutic (intervention) group and a conventional education-based rehabilitation (control) group. The primary objective is to clarify the effect of mobile applications and wearable smart bands in reducing weight loss in patients with gastric cancer. The secondary outcomes are quality of life measured by the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and STO22; nutritional status by mini nutrition assessment; physical fitness level measured by grip strength test, 30-s chair stand test and 2-min walk test; physical activity measured by IPAQ-SF; pain intensity; skeletal muscle mass; and fat mass. These measurements will be performed on enrollment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Conclusions Digital therapeutic programs include exercise and nutritional interventions modified by age, body mass index, surgery type and postoperative days. Thus, expert intervention is pivotal for precise and safe calibration of this program. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04907591 (registration date: June 11, 2020; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04907591 ).

Emphysematous cystitis is an extremely rare, complicated urinary tract infection with the presence of gas in the bladder wall and lumen caused by gas-producing bacterial infections. A 7-year-old spayed female pomeranian dog was presented with a 3-day history of hematuria and pollakiuria (case 1), and a 9-year-old spayed female jindo dog was presented with a 4-day history of intermittent hematuria (case 2). Imaging modalities, including radiography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography, and bacterial culture tests were used for the diagnosis. Emphysematous cystitis due to Escherichia coli infection with the extension of gas into multiple locations was identified in both cases. Based on the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing, systemic antibiotics were initiated. Both animals had an excellent response to antibiotic treatment, and the clinical signs of the gas collection were completely resolved within ~1 month after treatment initiation. This response was sustained without recurrence in the follow-up period. This case report describes clinical details of extremely rare canine cases of emphysematous cystitis with the extension of gas into multiple locations and evaluates the clinical efficacy of antibiotic therapy.

PurposeThis study aimed to discover electrophysiologic markers correlated with clinical responses to vigabatrin-based treatment in infants with epileptic spasms (ES).MethodThe study involved a descriptive analysis of ES patients from a single institution, as well as electroencephalogram (EEG) analyses of 40 samples and 20 age-matched healthy infants. EEG data were acquired during the interictal sleep state prior to the standard treatment. The weighted phase-lag index (wPLI) functional connectivity was explored across frequency and spatial domains, correlating these results with clinical features.ResultsInfants with ES exhibited diffuse increases in delta and theta power, differing from healthy controls. For the wPLI analysis, ES subjects exhibited higher global connectivity compared to control subjects. Subjects who responded favorably to treatment were characterized by higher beta connectivity in the parieto-occipital regions, while those with poorer outcomes exhibited lower alpha connectivity in the frontal regions. Individuals with structural neuroimaging abnormalities exhibited correspondingly low functional connectivity, implying that ES patients who maintain adequate structural and functional integrity are more likely to respond favorably to vigabatrin-based treatments.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential utility of EEG functional connectivity analysis in predicting early response to treatments in infants with ES.

The horizontal flatbed electrophoresis method is employed to separate protein samples, providing greater flexibility for various electrophoretic applications and easier sample loading compared to its vertical counterpart. In the currently available equipment setup, cathode and anode electrodes are positioned on top of a gel at each end. Since an electric field enters the gel from the top, its strength gradually weakens from the top to the bottom of the gel. When examining the interior of gels following electrophoretic separation, the uneven electric field causes the protein bands to lie down forward in the direction of migration, leading to an increase in bandwidth. This issue has remained unaddressed for several decades. To address this problem, new clamp-shaped and double-deck electrodes were developed to apply an electric field simultaneously from both the top and bottom of the gel. Both of these new electrodes facilitated the formation of perpendicular protein band shapes and enhanced resolution at a comparable level. Due to their ease of use, double-deck electrodes are recommended. By combining these new electrodes with the field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE) technique, the protein bands could be focused and aligned nearly vertically, resulting in the highest level of electrophoretic resolution. Our electrodes are compatible with polyacrylamide gels of varying sizes, buffer systems, and sample well formats. They can be easily manufactured and seamlessly integrated into existing laboratory instruments for practical use.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and deadly cancers in the world. However, no effective treatment for the disease has yet been found. For this reason, several studies are being carried out on the treatment of CRC. Currently, there is limited understanding of the role of CPNE7 (copine-7) in CRC progression and metastasis. The results of this study show that CPNE7 exerts an oncogenic effect in CRC. First, CPNE7 was shown to be significantly up-regulated in CRC patient tissues and CRC cell lines compared to normal tissues according to IHC staining, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. Next, this study used both systems of siRNA and shRNA to suppress CPNE7 gene expression to check the CPNE7 mechanism in CRC. The suppressed CPNE7 significantly inhibited the growth of CRC cells in in vitro experiments, including migration, invasion, and semisolid agar colony-forming assay. Moreover, the modified expression of CPNE7 led to a decrease in the levels of genes associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The epithelial genes E-cadherin (CDH1) and Collagen A1 were upregulated, and the levels of mesenchymal genes such as N-cadherin (CDH2), ZEB1, ZEB2, and SNAIL (SNAL1) were downregulated after CPNE7 inhibition. This study suggests that CPNE7 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC patients.

Osteoporosis, which is often associated with increased osteoclast activity due to menopause or aging, was the main focus of this study. We investigated the inhibitory effects of water extract of desalted Salicornia europaea L. (WSE) on osteoclast differentiation and bone loss in ovariectomized mice. Our findings revealed that WSE effectively inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, as demonstrated by TRAP staining, and also suppressed bone resorption and F-actin ring formation in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of genes related to osteoclast differentiation, including NFATc1, ACP5, Ctsk, and DCSTAMP, were downregulated by WSE. Oral administration of WSE improved bone density and structural parameters in ovariectomized mice. Dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) and saponins were detected in WSE, with 3,4-DCQA, 3,5-DCQA, and 4,5-DCQA being isolated and identified. All tested DCQAs, including the aforementioned types, inhibited osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, and the expression of osteoclast-related genes. Furthermore, WSE and DCQAs reduced ROS production mediated by RANKL. These results indicate the potential of WSE and its components, DCQAs, as preventive or therapeutic agents against osteoporosis and related conditions.

With the advances in chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a small subset of patients may be eligible for conversion surgery after achieving tumor regression with chemotherapy. This is a retrospective cohort study of 118 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who received palliative chemotherapy and conversion surgery with a negative resection margin at Samsung Medical Center. Baseline features included comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, primary tumor size, biopsy histology, distant metastatic sites, and molecular markers—HER2, MSI/MMR, PD-L1, and EBV. Post-chemotherapy features included BMI, CEA level, chemotherapy regimen, objective response to chemotherapy, and number of preoperative chemotherapy cycles. Post-operational features included tumor size, histologic differentiation and Lauren’s classification, pathologic tumor and nodal stages, invasion of lymphatics/vessels/nerves, peritoneal cytology, and the receipt of postoperative chemotherapy. Of 118 patients, 60 patients received total gastrectomy and 58 patients received subtotal gastrectomy. In all, 21 patients achieved a pathologic complete response, and 97 patients achieved downstaging to yp stage I, II, or III. Before conversion surgery, patients received first-line capecitabine/oxaliplatin (62%), HER2 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy (18%), immune checkpoint inhibitors (15%), and inhibitors of MET or VEGFR2 (5%). In the multivariable analysis, BMI at the time of diagnosis, either HER2 positive, high MSI, or deficient MMR, and the use of targeted agents were significant prognostic factors. Conversion surgery could be considered in patients with stage IV gastric cancer regardless of the initial disease burden. BMI and molecular markers are important prognostic factors that can be used to select candidates.

A new type of soft actuators based on a vertical stack of nanoporous 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs) and atomically thin 2D platinum ditelluride (PtTe2) layers is reported. The actuation of TOCNs is driven by the interfacing 2D PtTe2 layers whose electrothermal proficiency precisely controls their hydration/dehydration states sensitive to mechanical deformation. These vertically stacked TOCN/2D PtTe2 actuators present excellent actuation characteristics such as high linearity of bending curvature versus applied voltage and well‐preserved reversibility during cyclic operations. Most notably, they exhibit an extremely large weight‐lifting ratio, i.e., ≈1000 times the mass of the TOCN layers, confirming superior mechanical robustness. Furthermore, complicated actuations such as twisting in a 3D manner are demonstrated by judiciously controlling the surface wettability of TOCN layers. This study unveils opportunities for CNFs and 2D materials for actuator applications, as well as suggests new design strategies broadly applicable to soft robotics and biomimetic devices.

A hazardous noxious substance (HNS) spill accident is one of the most devastating maritime disasters as it is accompanied by toxicity, fire, and explosions in the ocean. To monitor an HNS spill, it is necessary to develop a remote sensing–based HNS monitoring technique that can observe a wide area with high resolution. We designed and performed a ground HNS spill experiment using a hyperspectral sensor to detect HNS spill areas and estimate the spill volume. HNS images were obtained by pouring 1 L of toluene into an outdoor marine pool and observing it with a hyperspectral sensor capable of measuring the shortwave infrared channel installed at a height of approximately 12 m. The pure endmember spectra of toluene and seawater were extracted using principal component analysis and N-FINDR, and a Gaussian mixture model was applied to the toluene abundance fraction. Consequently, a toluene spill area of approximately 2.4317 m2 was detected according to the 36% criteria suitable for HNS detection. The HNS thickness estimation was based on a three-layer two-beam interference theory model. Because toluene has a maximum extinction coefficient of 1.3055 mm at a wavelength of 1,678 nm, the closest 1,676.5 nm toluene reflectance image was used for thickness estimation. Considering the detection area and ground resolution, the amount of leaked toluene was estimated to be 0.9336 L. As the amount of toluene used in the actual ground experiment was 1 L, the accuracy of our estimation is approximately 93.36%. Previous studies on HNS monitoring based on remote sensing are lacking in comparison to those on oil spills. This study is expected to contribute to the establishment of maritime HNS spill response strategies in the near future based on the novel hyperspectral HNS experiment.

Background Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to an impaired functionality of natural killer (NK) cells that have emerged as a promising therapeutic modality. The interaction between CAFs and NK cells within the TME exerts major inhibitory effects on immune responses, indicating CAF-targeted therapies as potential targets for effective NK-mediated cancer killing.Methods To overcome CAF-induced NK dysfunction, we selected an antifibrotic drug, nintedanib, for synergistic therapeutic combination. To evaluate synergistic therapeutic efficacy, we established an in vitro 3D Capan2/patient-derived CAF spheroid model or in vivo mixed Capan2/CAF tumor xenograft model. The molecular mechanism of NK-mediated synergistic therapeutic combination with nintedanib was revealed through in vitro experiments. In vivo therapeutic combination efficacy was subsequently evaluated. Additionally, the expression score of target proteins was measured in patient-derived tumor sections by the immunohistochemical method.Results Nintedanib blocked the platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) signaling pathway and diminished the activation and growth of CAFs, markedly reducing CAF-secreted IL-6. Moreover, coadministration of nintedanib improved the mesothelin (MSLN) targeting chimeric antigen receptor-NK-mediated tumor killing abilities in CAF/tumor spheroids or a xenograft model. The synergistic combination resulted in intense NK infiltration in vivo. Nintedanib alone exerted no effects, whereas blockade of IL-6 trans-signaling ameliorated the function of NK cells. The combination of the expression of MSLN and the PDGFRβ+-CAF population area, a potential prognostic/therapeutic marker, was associated with inferior clinical outcomes.Conclusion Our strategy against PDGFRβ+-CAF-containing pancreatic cancer allows improvements in the therapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Tuberculosis (TB) in one of the dreadful diseases present globally. This is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis dethiobiotin synthetase (MtDTBS) is an essential enzyme in biotin biosynthesis and is an ideal target to design and develop novel inhibitors. In order to effectively combat this disease six natural compound (butein) analogues were subjected to molecular docking to determine their binding mode and the binding affinities. The resultant complex structures were subjected to 500 ns simulation run to estimate their binding stabilities using GROMACS. The molecular dynamics simulation studies provided essential evidence that the systems were stable during the progression of 500 ns simulation run. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) of all the systems was found to be below 0.3 nm stating that the systems are well converged. The radius of gyration (Rg) profiles indicated that the systems were highly compact without any major fluctuations. The principle component analysis (PCA) and Gibbs energy landscape studies have revealed that the comp3, comp5 and comp11 systems navigated marginally through the PC2. The intermolecular interactions have further demonstrated that all the compounds have displayed key residue interactions, firmly holding the ligands at the binding pocket. The residue Lys37 was found consistently to interact with all the ligands highlighting its potential role in inhibiting the MtDTBS. Our investigation further put forth two novel compounds (comp10 and comp11) as putative antituberculosis agents. Collectively, we propose six compounds has plausible inhibitors to curtail TB and further can act as scaffolds in designing new compounds.

Abstract Background Mini-screws are widely used as temporary anchorages in orthodontic treatment, but have the disadvantage of showing a high failure rate of about 10%. Therefore, orthodontic mini-screws should have high biocompatibility and retention. Previous studies have demonstrated that the retention of mini-screws can be improved by imparting bioactivity to the surface. The method for imparting bioactivity proposed in this paper is to sequentially perform anodization, periodic pre-calcification, and heat treatments with a Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy mini-screw. Materials and methods A TiO2 nanotube-structured layer was formed on the surface of the Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloy mini-screw through anodization in which a voltage of 20 V was applied to a glycerol solution containing 20 wt% H2O and 1.4 wt% NH4F for 60 min. Fine granular calcium phosphate precipitates of HA and octacalcium phosphate were generated as clusters on the surface through the cyclic pre-calcification and heat treatments. The cyclic pre-calcification treatment is a process of immersion in a 0.05 M NaH2PO4 solution and a saturated Ca(OH)2 solution at 90 °C for 1 min each. Results It was confirmed that the densely structured protrusions were precipitated, and Ca and P concentrations, which bind and concentrate endogenous bone morphogenetic proteins, increased on the surface after simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion test. In addition, the removal torque of the mini-screw fixed into rabbit tibias for 4 weeks was measured to be 8.70 ± 2.60 N cm. Conclusions A noteworthy point in this paper is that the Ca and P concentrations, which provide a scaffold suitable for endogenous bone formation, further increased over time after SBF immersion of the APH group specimens. The other point is that our mini-screws have a significantly higher removal torque compared to untreated mini-screws. These results represent that the mini-screw proposed in this paper can be used as a mini-screw for orthodontics.

Abstract Herein, an unprecedented report is presented on the incorporation of size-dependent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) capping into a conventional hole transport layer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The hole transport layer blocks ion-diffusion/migration in methylammonium-lead-bromide (MAPbBr3)-based perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) as a modified interlayer. The PVP-capped 90 nm AuNP device exhibited a seven-fold increase in efficiency (1.5%) as compared to the device without AuNPs (0.22%), where the device lifetime was also improved by 17-fold. This advancement is ascribed to the far-field scattering of AuNPs, modified work function and carrier trapping/detrapping. The improvement in device lifetime is attributed to PVP-capping of AuNPs which prevents indium diffusion into the perovskite layer and surface ion migration into PEDOT:PSS through the formation of induced electric dipole. The results also indicate that using large AuNPs (> 90 nm) reduces exciton recombination because of the trapping of excess charge carriers due to the large surface area.

Abstract The advantages of laparoscopic resection over open surgery in the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are not conclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative and oncologic outcome of laparoscopic resection for gastric GIST, compared to open surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively collected database of 1019 patients with gastric GIST after surgical resection at 13 Korean and 2 Japanese institutions. The surgical and oncologic outcomes were compared between laparoscopic and open group, through 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). The laparoscopic group (N = 318) had a lower rate of overall complications (3.5% vs. 7.9%, P = 0.024) and wound complications (0.6% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.037), shorter hospitalization days (6.68 ± 4.99 vs. 8.79 ± 6.50, P

With the rapid expansion of the virtual reality (VR) market, user interest in VR games has increased significantly. However, empirical research on the user experience in VR games remains relatively underdeveloped. Despite the growing popularity and commercial success of VR gaming, there is a lack of comprehensive studies analyzing the impact of different aspects of VR games on user satisfaction and engagement. This gap includes insufficient research on the categorization of VR game genres, the identification of user challenges, and variations in user experiences across these genres. Our study aims to fill this gap by analyzing data from the Meta Quest store using K-means clustering and LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) to categorize the representative genres of VR games. By employing text-mining techniques to conduct a detailed analysis of user experience, we effectively elucidate the primary issues and nuanced differences in user responses across various genres. Our findings serve as a valuable reference for researchers aiming to design games that align with VR user expectations. Furthermore, our study provides a foundational dataset for researchers aiming to enhance the user experience in VR games and suggests ways to increase the immersion and enjoyment of VR gameplay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titanium distribution ratio ( L Ti ) between ferrosilicon (FeSi) melt and the CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 slag was measured at 1773 K (1500 °C). FeSi-slag equilibration was carried out using various slag compositions. The L Ti was presented against the Vee ratio (pct CaO/pct SiO2 = C/S) between 0.3 and 1.2, and Al2O3 content from 5 to 20 mass pct. The L Ti exhibited minima at about C/S=0.7(±0.1) at a fixed Al2O3 content. In a C/S < 0.7 regime, i.e., relatively acidic melts, Ti4+ ions were considered as network forming [TiO4]-tetrahedron unit in the aluminosilicate framework. However, in a C/S > 0.7 regime, i.e., relatively basic melts, Ti4+ ions were considered to form the [TiO5]-pyramid structure unit compensated by Ca2+. When adding Al2O3 into the basic melts over 10 mass pct, [AlO4]-tetrahedrons take Ca2+ ions for charge compensation, resulting in a decrease of stability of [TiO5] unit because of Ca2+ depletion. At a greater than 10 mass pct Al2O3 content in the basic melts, Ti4+ replaced Al3+ to form the [TiO4]-tetrahedron unit, decreasing the activity coefficient of TiO2 in the slag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Si content of steel melts containing 1.5% Al as well as alloying sequence of Si and Al on the evolution of inclusions are investigated. The SiO2 inclusion is primarily formed when Si (=0.5–3.0 wt%) is added to the melts at 1873 K, and the area fraction (AF) of the inclusions decreases over time. The subsequent addition of 1.5% Al to the Si‐alloyed steel (i.e., 3.0Si→1.5Al) increases the AF of inclusions due to the formation of Al2O3. The population density function (PDF) analysis for the preferential Si alloying shows a fractal distribution, indicating that the inclusions grow by a collision mechanism. PDF analysis shows a lognormal distribution because Al2O3 inclusion is formed and grows after subsequent Al alloying. Alternatively, when 1.5% Al is preferentially added to steel, Al2O3 clusters are formed. The AF of Al2O3 cluster decreases over time. When 3.0% Si is subsequently added to the Al‐alloyed steel (i.e., 1.5Al→3.0Si), singular Al2O3 particles are mainly observed. Because the Al alloying results in the formation of Al2O3 regardless of the alloying sequence and Si content, it is important to float up and separate Al2O3 cluster to improve the cleanliness of high‐Si‐Al‐alloyed steels such as electrical steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]