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Background: The influence of alcohol intake on metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) development and remission remains unclear; thus, we aimed to investigate their longitudinal associations. Methods: This observational cohort study included 6349 patients who underwent more than two health check‐ups over >2 years between April 2013 and March 2021. Generalized estimation equations were used to analyse the longitudinal associations between changes in alcohol intake and MAFLD according to repeated measures at baseline and the most recent stage. Results: The MAFLD development and remission rates were 20.4 and 5.1 and 9.1 and 4.7% in men and women, respectively. Although alcohol consumption was not a significant factor for MAFLD development, consuming 0.1–69.9 g/week (odds ratio [OR]: 0.672, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.469–0.964, p <.05) and ≥280 g/week were significant factors for MAFLD development in males (OR: 1.796, 95% CI: 1.009–3.196, p <.05) and females (OR: 16.74, 95% CI: 3.877–72.24, p <.001). Regardless of quantity and frequency, alcohol consumption was not a significant factor for MAFLD remission. Several noninvasive liver fibrosis scores were significantly associated with alcohol intake quantity and frequency in males with MAFLD development and remission (p <.05). The nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score differed significantly between males with and without reduced alcohol intake (p <.05) who showed MAFLD remission. Conclusions: Although the influence of alcohol intake on MAFLD development and remission differed, alcohol consumption was not beneficial for MAFLD remission in either sex. Alcohol intake reduction or cessation is recommended to prevent liver fibrosis, even in those who achieve MAFLD remission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ratiometric thermometry is among the emerging applications in phosphor materials. Particularly, the technique of ultrafine-space thermometry has garnered significant attention in bio-imaging. Near-infrared (NIR) light, with its high tissue permeability, serves not only as an excitation source for up-conversion photoluminescence (UCPL) but also induces down-shifting photoluminescence (DSPL) at longer wavelengths. These luminescence mechanisms offer promising avenues for bio-available thermometry. In this study, we focused on highly bio-adaptable yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), Zr0.85Y0.15O1.925, and prepared phosphor materials with yttrium partially substituted by ytterbium (Yb), erbium (Er), and thulium (Tm) using a hydrothermal reaction method. The synthesized YSZ:Yb–Er/Tm phosphors with different Yb3+ contents showed multi-line UCPL in the visible to NIR region due to Er3+ and Tm3+ ions under the laser irradiation at 980 nm; in particular, it showed strong UCPL at 800 nm originating from Tm3+. Furthermore, under the same excitation conditions, the phosphor exhibited not only UCPL but also DSPL due to 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ in the deeper NIR region of 1400–1700 nm. Interestingly, these DSPLs exhibit significant PL enhancement (anti-thermal quenching; anti-TQ) with increasing temperature. The thermometric properties based on the luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) of UCPL, which shows normal thermal quenching, and DSPL, which shows anti-thermal quenching, demonstrated excellent temperature sensitivity (Sr > 3% K−1 @ 283 K) and temperature resolution (δT < 0.1 K @ 283 K). This study suggests that the LIR thermometry technique using UCPL/DSPL, specifically anti-TQ/normal-TQ, can contribute to further advancements in luminescence-based temperature measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoluminescence properties of f–f emission-type phosphors strongly depend on the electronic structure of the host materials. This study investigated in detail the relationship between the bandgap energy and the photoluminescence properties of Pr3+-activated CaTa2/3Mg1/3O3–CaTaO2N solid solutions. Ca3Ta3−xMgxO6+3xN3−3x (0.00 ≦ x ≦ 1.00) were chosen as the host materials for the approach used herein. The bandgap energy level (Eg) for the Ca3Ta3−xMgxO6+3xN3−3x solid solutions was systematically changed from 2.7 to 5.1 eV by controlling the Mg/Ta and O/N ratios. The photoluminescence excitation and emission control was systematically performed by engineering Eg for the samples. In the excitation spectra, the maximum photoluminescence excitation wavelength shifted to a shorter wavelength according to the Eg expansion. In the emission spectra, the red emission assigned to the 1D2–3H4 levels of Pr3+ in the samples with x = 0.25–0.50 could be excited in near-UV light regions (350 nm) when the Eg in the host materials was adjusted to approximately 3.0 eV. Conversely, several emissions, including a green emission belonging to the 3P0–3H4 levels of Pr3+, were observed when the Eg of the samples with x = 0.75–0.95 became larger than 3.0 eV. The results indicate that the photoluminescence properties of the f–f emission-type phosphors are attributed to the Eg in the host materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The influence of metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease on gallstone development remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease and gallstone development in both men and women. Methods: This observational cohort study included 5398 patients without gallstones who underwent > 2 health check‐ups between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2020. A generalized estimation equation model was used to analyze the association between metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease and gallstone development according to repeated measures at baseline and most recent stage. Results: After adjustment, the odds ratios of metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease for gallstone development in men and women were 3.019 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.901–4.794) and 2.201 (95% CI: 1.321–3.667), respectively. Among patients aged ≥ 50 years, the odds ratio for gallstone development was significantly enhanced with increasing metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease component numbers in both sexes; however, no significance was observed in those aged < 50 years. Other significant risk factors for gallstone development were age (odds ratio: 1.093, 95% CI: 1.060–1.126) and waist circumference (odds ratio: 1.048, 95% CI: 1.018–1.079) in men and age (odds ratio: 1.035, 95% CI: 1.003–1.067) and current smoking (odd ratio: 5.465, 95% CI: 1.881–15.88) in women. Conclusion: Although the risk factors for gallstone development differed between sexes, metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease was common. Paying attention to an increase in the number of metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease components in patients aged ≥ 50 years is important for gallstone prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]